As for that, said Sir Palomides, I may not yet be christened for one
avow that I have made many years agone; howbeit in my heart I believe
in Jesu Christ and his mild mother Mary; but I have but one battle to
do, and when that is done I will be baptised with a good will. By my
head, said Tristram, as for one battle thou shalt not seek it no
longer. For God defend, said Sir Tristram, that through my default thou
shouldst longer live thus a Saracen, for yonder is a knight that ye,
Sir Palomides, have hurt and smitten down. Now help me that I were
armed in his armour, and I shall soon fulfil thine avows. As ye will,
said Palomides, so it shall be.
So they rode both unto that knight that sat upon a bank, and then Sir
Tristram saluted him, and he weakly saluted him again. Sir knight, said
Sir Tristram, I require you tell me your right name. Sir, he said, my
name is Sir Galleron of Galway, and knight of the Table Round. So God
me help, said Sir Tristram, I am right heavy of your hurts; but this is
all, I must pray you to lend me all your whole armour, for ye see I am
unarmed, and I must do battle with this knight. Sir, said the hurt
knight, ye shall have it with a good will; but ye must beware, for I
warn you that knight is wight. Sir, said Galleron, I pray you tell me
your name, and what is that knight’s name that hath beaten me. Sir, as
for my name it is Sir Tristram de Liones, and as for the knight’s name
that hath hurt you is Sir Palomides, brother to the good knight Sir
Safere, and yet is Sir Palomides unchristened. Alas, said Sir Galleron,
that is pity that so good a knight and so noble a man of arms should be
unchristened. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, either he shall slay
me or I him but that he shall be christened or ever we depart
in-sunder. My lord Sir Tristram, said Sir Galleron, your renown and
worship is well known through many realms, and God save you this day
from shenship and shame.
Then Sir Tristram unarmed Galleron, the which was a noble knight, and
had done many deeds of arms, and he was a large knight of flesh and
bone. And when he was unarmed he stood upon his feet, for he was
bruised in the back with a spear; yet so as Sir Galleron might, he
armed Sir Tristram. And then Sir Tristram mounted upon his own horse,
and in his hand he gat Sir Galleron’s spear; and therewithal Sir
Palomides was ready. And so they came hurtling together, and either
smote other in midst of their shields; and therewithal Sir Palomides’
spear brake, and Sir Tristram smote down the horse; and Sir Palomides,
as soon as he might, avoided his horse, and dressed his shield, and
pulled out his sword. That saw Sir Tristram, and therewithal he
alighted and tied his horse till a tree.
CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,
and after accorded, and how Sir Tristram made him to be christened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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