[Le morte darthur]

¶Capitulum xxxj

THenne vpon the morne sire Palomydes retorned from the kynge of Northgalys / and rode to kyng Arthurs syde where was kynge Carados and the kynge of Irland / & syr launcelots kynne and sir Gawayns kynne / S••o sire palo¦mydes sente the damoysel vnto sire Tristram that he sente to seke hym whanne he was oute of his mynde in the forest / and thys damoysel asked sire Tristram / what he was / and what was his name / As for that said sir Tristram telle sir Palomydes ye shalle not wete as at this tyme vnto the tyme I haue broken two speres vpon hym / But lete hym wete thus moche said sir Tristram / that I am the same knyghte that he smote doune in ouer euenyng at the turnement & telle hym playnly / on what party that syre Palomydes be / I wille be of the contrary parte Syre said the damoysel ye shalle vnderstande that sir Palomy¦des wille be on kyng Arthurs syde / where the moost noble kn∣yghtes of the world ben / In the name of god said sir Tris∣tram / thenne wille I be with the kynge of Northgalys by ca∣use syr Palomydes wille be on kynge Arthurs syde / and els I wold not but for his sake / ¶Soo whanne kynge Arthur was come they blewe vnto the felde / and thenne there began a grete party / and soo kynge Carados Iusted with the kynge of the honderd knyghtes / and there kynge Carados hadde a falle / thenne was there hurlynge and rasshynge / and ryght so cam in knyghtes of kynge Arthurs / and they bare on bak the kynge of Northgalys knyghtes / Thenne sir Tristram came in and beganne so roughly and soo bygly that there was none myght withstande hym / and thus sire Tristram dured longe / ¶ And at the last syr Trystram felle amonge the felauship of kynge Ban / and there felle vpon hym syr Bors de ganys / and syr Ector de marys / and sire Blamor de ganys / & many

other knyghtes / And thenne sir Tristram smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand that alle lordes and ladyes spak of his noble dedes / But at the last syre Tristram shold haue had the werse / had not the kynge with the honderd knyghtes ben / And thenne he came with his felauship and rescowed sir Tristram / and brought hym awey from tho knyghtes that bare the sheldes of Cornewaile / and thenne sir Tristram sawe another felauship by them self / and there were a xl Knygh∣tes to gyder / and sir Kay the Sene••chal was there gouerno∣ur / Thenne sire Tristram rode in amongest them / and there he smote doune syr Kay from his hors / and there he fared among tho Knyghtes lyke a grey hound among conyes / Thenne s••re launcelot fond a Knyght that was sore wounded vpon the he∣de / Sir said sir launcelot who wounded you so sore / Sire he sa∣id a Knyght that bereth a black shelde / and I maye curse the tyme that euer I mette with hym for he is a deuyl and no man Soo sire launcelot departed fro hym / & thought to mete with sir Tristram / and soo he rode with his swerd drawen in his hand to seke sir Tristram / and thenne he aspyed hym how he hurled here and there / and at euery stroke syr Tristram wel nygh smo¦te doune a knyght / O mercy Ihesu said the kynge syth the ty∣me I bare armes sawe I neuer no knyght do so merueillous dedes of armes / And yf I shold sette vpon this knyght said sir Launcelot to hym self I dyd shame to my self / & there with al sir launcelot put vp his swerd / And thēne the Kyng with the C Knyʒtes / and an honderd more of Northwalys set vpon the twenty of sir launcelots kyn / and they xx Knyʒtes held them euer to gyder / as wylde swyne and none wold faile other / & so whan sir Tristram beheld the noblesse of these xx Knyghtes / he merueiled of their good dedes / for he sawe by their fare and by theil reule that they had leuer deye than auoyde the felde / ¶Now Ihesu saide syre Tristram wel maye he be valyaunte and ful of prowesse that hath suche a sorte of noble Knygh∣tes vnto his kynne / and ful lyke is he to be a noble man that is their leder and gouernour / he mente hit by sir Launcelot du Lake / ¶ Soo whanne syre Tristram had be holden them long / he thouʒt shame to see / ij / C knyʒtes batteryng

vpon twenty knyghtes / ¶ Thenne sire Tristram rode vnto the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and said syre leue youre fyghtynge with tho twenty knyghtes / for ye wynne no wor∣ship of them / ye be soo many / and they soo fewe / And wete ye well they wille not oute of the felde I see by their chere and countenaunce / and worship gete ye none and ye slee them / therfore leue your fyghtynge with them / for I to encreace my worship / I wyll ryde to the twenty knyghtes and helpe them with all my myghte and power / ¶Nay said the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / ye shall not do so / Now I see youre courage and curtosy / I wille withdrawe my knyʒ∣tes for your pleasyr / for euermore a good knyght wylle fa∣uoure another / and lyke wille drawe to lyke /