Fair knight, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Launcelot, of whence be ye? I
am a knight errant, said Sir Launcelot, that rideth to seek many
adventures. What is your name? said Sir Tristram. Sir, at this time I
will not tell you. Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram and to
Palomides: Now either of you are met together I will depart from you.
Not so, said Sir Tristram; I pray you of knighthood to ride with me
unto my castle. Wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride with
you, for I have many deeds to do in other places, that at this time I
may not abide with you. Ah, mercy Jesu, said Sir Tristram, I require
you as ye be a true knight to the order of knighthood, play you with me
this night. Then Sir Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot: howbeit
though he had not desired him he would have ridden with them, outher
soon have come after them; for Sir Launcelot came for none other cause
into that country but for to see Sir Tristram. And when they were come
within Joyous Gard they alighted, and their horses were led into a
stable; and then they unarmed them. And when Sir Launcelot was
unhelmed, Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides knew him. Then Sir Tristram
took Sir Launcelot in arms, and so did La Beale Isoud; and Palomides
kneeled down upon his knees and thanked Sir Launcelot. When Sir
Launcelot saw Sir Palomides kneel he lightly took him up and said thus:
Wit thou well, Sir Palomides, I and any knight in this land, of worship
ought of very right succour and rescue so noble a knight as ye are
proved and renowned, throughout all this realm endlong and overthwart.
And then was there joy among them, and the oftener that Sir Palomides
saw La Beale Isoud the heavier he waxed day by day.
Then Sir Launcelot within three or four days departed, and with him
rode Sir Ector de Maris; and Dinadan and Sir Palomides were there left
with Sir Tristram a two months and more. But ever Sir Palomides faded
and mourned, that all men had marvel wherefore he faded so away. So
upon a day, in the dawning, Sir Palomides went into the forest by
himself alone; and there he found a well, and then he looked into the
well, and in the water he saw his own visage, how he was disturbed and
defaded, nothing like that he was. What may this mean? said Sir
Palomides, and thus he said to himself: Ah, Palomides, Palomides, why
art thou defaded, thou that was wont to be called one of the fairest
knights of the world? I will no more lead this life, for I love that I
may never get nor recover. And therewithal he laid him down by the
well. And then he began to make a rhyme of La Beale Isoud and him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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