Then Palomides rode fast till he came nigh him. And then he said:
Knight, remember ye of the shame ye did to me right now at the castle,
therefore dress thee, for I will have ado with thee. Fair knight, said
he to Palomides, of me ye win no worship, for ye have seen this day
that I have been travailed sore. As for that, said Palomides, I will
not let, for wit ye well I will be revenged. Well, said the knight, I
may happen to endure you. And therewithal he mounted upon his horse,
and took a great spear in his hand ready for to joust. Nay, said
Palomides, I will not joust, for I am sure at jousting I get no prize.
Fair knight, said that knight, it would beseem a knight to joust and to
fight on horseback. Ye shall see what I will do, said Palomides. And
therewith he alighted down upon foot, and dressed his shield afore him
and pulled out his sword. Then the Knight with the Red Shield descended
down from his horse, and dressed his shield afore him, and so he drew
out his sword. And then they came together a soft pace, and wonderly
they lashed together passing thick the mountenance of an hour or ever
they breathed. Then they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly
wroth, and either behight other death; they hewed so fast with their
swords that they cut in down half their swords and mails, that the bare
flesh in some place stood above their harness. And when Sir Palomides
beheld his fellow’s sword over-hylled with his blood it grieved him
sore: some while they foined, some while they struck as wild men. But
at the last Sir Palomides waxed faint, because of his first wound that
he had at the castle with a spear, for that wound grieved him wonderly
sore. Fair knight, said Palomides, meseemeth we have assayed either
other passing sore, and if it may please thee, I require thee of thy
knighthood tell me thy name. Sir, said the knight to Palomides, that is
me loath to do, for thou hast done me wrong and no knighthood to
proffer me battle, considering my great travail, but an thou wilt tell
me thy name I will tell thee mine. Sir, said he, wit thou well my name
is Palomides. Ah, sir, ye shall understand my name is Sir Lamorak de
Galis, son and heir unto the good knight and king, King Pellinore, and
Sir Tor, the good knight, is my half brother. When Sir Palomides heard
him say so he kneeled down and asked mercy, For outrageously have I
done to you this day; considering the great deeds of arms I have seen
you do, shamefully and unknightly I have required you to do battle. Ah,
Sir Palomides, said Sir Lamorak, overmuch have ye done and said to me.
And therewith he embraced him with his both hands, and said: Palomides,
the worthy knight, in all this land is no better than ye, nor more of
prowess, and me repenteth sore that we should fight together. So it
doth not me, said Sir Palomides, and yet am I sorer wounded than ye be;
but as for that I shall soon thereof be whole. But certainly I would
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