The Boy's King Arthur: Sir Thomas Malory's History of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
General
The Boy's King Arthur: Sir Thomas Malory's History of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
Then when the fifteenth day was come, Sir Palamides came to the well
with four knights with him of King Arthur's court, and three sergeants
of arms. And the one sergeant brought his helm, the other his spear,
and the third his sword. So Sir Palamides came into the field, and
there he abode nigh two hours, and then he sent a squire unto Sir
Tristram, and desired him to come into the field for to hold his
promise. When the squire was come to Joyous Gard, and that Sir Tristram
heard of his coming, he commanded that the squire should come to his
presence there as he lay in his bed.
"My lord Sir Tristram," said Palamides' squire, "wit you well, my lord
Palamides abideth you in the field, and he would wit whether ye would
do battle or not."
"Ah, my fair brother," said Sir Tristram, "wit thou well that I am
right heavy for these tidings, therefore tell Sir Palamides and I were
well at ease I would not lie here, nor he should have no need to send
for me, and I might either ride or go: and for thou shalt say that I
am no liar," Sir Tristram showed him his thigh, that the wound was six
inches deep:--"and now thou hast seen my hurt, tell thy lord that this
is no feigned matter; and tell him that I had liever than all the gold
of King Arthur that I were whole; and tell Sir Palamides, as soon as I
am whole I shall seek him endlong and overthwart, and that I promise
you as I am true knight; and if ever I may meet with him he shall have
battle of me his fill."
And with this the squire departed. And then departed Sir Palamides
where as fortune led him. And within a month Sir Tristram was whole of
his hurt. And then he took his horse, and rode from country to country,
and all strange adventures he achieved wheresoever he rode, and always
he inquired for Sir Palamides.
* * * * *
[When Sir Tristram was returned, he heard how there should be a great
feast at King Arthur's court on the Pentecost next following. And so
when that day was nigh Sir Tristram set forth unarmed towards Camelot.]
And within a mile after, Sir Tristram saw before him where Sir
Palamides had stricken down a knight, and had almost wounded him to
death. Then Sir Tristram repented him that he was not armed, and then
he hoved still. With that Sir Palamides knew Sir Tristram, and cried on
high: "Sir Tristram, now be we met, for or we depart we will redress
our old sores."
"As for that," said Sir Tristram, "there was never yet Christian man
that might make his boast that ever I fled from him, and wit thou well,
Sir Palamides, thou that art a Saracen shall never make thy boast that
Sir Tristram de Lyonesse shall flee from thee."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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