Right so Sir Dinadan went from King Mark, and went to his own
fellowship; and so they mounted upon their horses, and rode on their
ways, and talked of the Cornish knight, for Dinadan told them that he
was in the castle where they were lodged. It is well said, said Sir
Griflet, for here have I brought Sir Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, that
is the best fellow and the merriest in the world. Will ye do well? said
Sir Dinadan: I have told the Cornish knight that here is Sir Launcelot,
and the Cornish knight asked me what shield he bare. Truly, I told him
that he bare the same shield that Sir Mordred beareth. Will ye do well?
said Sir Mordred; I am hurt and may not well bear my shield nor
harness, and therefore put my shield and my harness upon Sir Dagonet,
and let him set upon the Cornish knight. That shall be done, said Sir
Dagonet, by my faith. Then anon was Dagonet armed him in Mordred’s
harness and his shield, and he was set on a great horse, and a spear in
his hand. Now, said Dagonet, shew me the knight, and I trow I shall
bear him down. So all these knights rode to a woodside, and abode till
King Mark came by the way. Then they put forth Sir Dagonet, and he came
on all the while his horse might run, straight upon King Mark. And when
he came nigh King Mark, he cried as he were wood, and said: Keep thee,
knight of Cornwall, for I will slay thee. Anon, as King Mark beheld his
shield, he said to himself: Yonder is Sir Launcelot; alas, now am I
destroyed; and therewithal he made his horse to run as fast as it might
through thick and thin. And ever Sir Dagonet followed after King Mark,
crying and rating him as a wood man, through a great forest. When Sir
Uwaine and Sir Brandiles saw Dagonet so chase King Mark, they laughed
all as they were wood. And then they took their horses, and rode after
to see how Sir Dagonet sped, for they would not for no good that Sir
Dagonet were shent, for King Arthur loved him passing well, and made
him knight with his own hands. And at every tournament he began to make
King Arthur to laugh. Then the knights rode here and there, crying and
chasing after King Mark, that all the forest rang of the noise.
CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying, and
how he overthrew Dagonet and other knights.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account