Then was King Mark sore ashamed, and said but little again. But when
Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan wist that he was King Mark they were sorry
of his fellowship. So after supper they went to lodging. So on the morn
they arose early, and King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode together; and
three mile from their lodging there met with them three knights, and
Sir Berluse was one, and that other his two cousins. Sir Berluse saw
King Mark, and then he cried on high: Traitor, keep thee from me for
wit thou well that I am Berluse. Sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, I
counsel you to leave off at this time, for he is riding to King Arthur;
and because I have promised to conduct him to my lord King Arthur needs
must I take a part with him; howbeit I love not his condition, and fain
I would be from him. Well, Dinadan, said Sir Berluse, me repenteth that
ye will take part with him, but now do your best. And then he hurtled
to King Mark, and smote him sore upon the shield, that he bare him
clean out of his saddle to the earth. That saw Sir Dinadan, and he
feutred his spear, and ran to one of Berluse’s fellows, and smote him
down off his saddle. Then Dinadan turned his horse, and smote the third
knight in the same wise to the earth, for Sir Dinadan was a good knight
on horseback; and there began a great battle, for Berluse and his
fellows held them together strongly on foot. And so through the great
force of Sir Dinadan King Mark had Berluse to the earth, and his two
fellows fled; and had not been Sir Dinadan King Mark would have slain
him. And so Sir Dinadan rescued him of his life, for King Mark was but
a murderer. And then they took their horses and departed and left Sir
Berluse there sore wounded.
Then King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode forth a four leagues English, till
that they came to a bridge where hoved a knight on horseback, armed and
ready to joust. Lo, said Sir Dinadan unto King Mark, yonder hoveth a
knight that will joust, for there shall none pass this bridge but he
must joust with that knight. It is well, said King Mark, for this
jousts falleth with thee. Sir Dinadan knew the knight well that he was
a noble knight, and fain he would have jousted, but he had had liefer
King Mark had jousted with him, but by no mean King Mark would not
joust. Then Sir Dinadan might not refuse him in no manner. And then
either dressed their spears and their shields, and smote together, so
that through fine force Sir Dinadan was smitten to the earth; and
lightly he rose up and gat his horse, and required that knight to do
battle with swords. And he answered and said: Fair knight, as at this
time I may not have ado with you no more, for the custom of this
passage is such. Then was Sir Dinadan passing wroth that he might not
be revenged of that knight; and so he departed, and in no wise would
that knight tell his name. But ever Sir Dinadan thought he should know
him by his shield that it should be Sir Tor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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