And so Sir Palomides took his horse and his harness,and he rode unto King Arthur's court;and there Sir Palomides gat him four knights and four sergeants-of-arms,and so he returned againward unto Joyous Gard.And in the meanwhile Sir Tristram chased and hunted at all manner of venery;and about three days afore the battle should be,as Sir Tristram chased an hart,there was an archer shot at the hart,and by misfortune he smote Sir Tristram in the thick of the thigh,and the arrow slew Sir Tristram's horse and hurt him.When Sir Tristram was so hurt he was passing heavy,and wit ye well he bled sore;and then he took another horse,and rode unto Joyous Gard with great heaviness,more for the promise that he had made with Sir Palomides,as to do battle with him within three days after,than for any hurt of his thigh.
Wherefore there was neither man nor woman that could cheer him with anything that they could make to him,neither Queen La Beale Isoud;for ever he deemed that Sir Palomides had smitten him so that he should not be able to do battle with him at the day set.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII
How Sir Palomides kept his day to have foughten,but Sir Tristram might not come;and other things.
BUT in no wise there was no knight about Sir Tristram that would believe that ever Sir Palomides would hurt Sir Tristram,neither by his own hands nor by none other consenting.Then when the fifteenth day was come,Sir Palomides came to the well with four knights with him of Arthur's court,and three sergeants-of-arms.And for this intent Sir Palomides brought the knights with him and the sergeants-of-arms,for they should bear record of the battle betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides.And the one sergeant brought in his helm,the other his spear,the third his sword.So thus Palomides 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 to hold his promise.
When the squire was come to Joyous Gard,anon as Sir Tristram heard of his coming he let command that the squire should come to his presence thereas he lay in his bed.My lord Sir Tristram,said Palomides'squire,wit you well my lord,Palomides,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 Palomides an I were well at ease I would not lie here,nor he should have no need to send for me an 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 liefer than all the gold of King Arthur that I were whole;and tell Palomides 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 when Palomides wist that Tristram was hurt he was glad and said:Now I am sure I shall have no shame,for I wot well I should have had hard handling of him,and by likely I must needs have had the worse,for he is the hardest knight in battle that now is living except Sir Launcelot.
And then departed Sir Palomides whereas 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 wheresomever he rode;and always he enquired for Sir Palomides,but of all that quarter of summer Sir Tristram could never meet with Sir Palomides.But thus as Sir Tristram sought and enquired after Sir Palomides Sir Tristram achieved many great battles,wherethrough all the noise fell to Sir Tristram,and it ceased of Sir Launcelot;and therefore Sir Launcelot's brethren and his kinsmen would have slain Sir Tristram because of his fame.But when Sir Launcelot wist how his kinsmen were set,he said to them openly:Wit you well,that an the envy of you all be so hardy to wait upon my lord,Sir Tristram,with any hurt,shame,or villainy,as I am true knight I shall slay the best of you with mine own hands Alas,fie for shame,should ye for his noble deeds await upon him to slay him.Jesu defend,said Launcelot,that ever any noble knight as Sir Tristram is should be destroyed with treason.Of this noise and fame sprang into Cornwall,and among them of Liones,whereof they were passing glad,and made great joy.And then they of Liones sent letters unto Sir Tristram of recommendation,and many great gifts to maintain Sir Tristram's estate;and ever,between,Sir Tristram resorted unto Joyous Gard whereas La Beale Isoud was,that loved him as her life.
(Here endeth the tenth book which is of Sir Tristram.
And here followeth the eleventh book which is of Sir Launcelot.)
