{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/arthur/art111.htm","path":"neu/arthur/art111.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/art111.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends/Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n An Arthurian Miscellany\n PALOMYDES' QUEST\n by\n WILLIAM MORRIS\n \n About the middle of the month of June\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sir Palomydes rode upon his quest,\n Twixt sunrise and the setting of the moon:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beast Glatysaunt did give him little rest\n \n At midday, and at midnight must he sleep,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And still the beast trailed on unceasingly\n Waking strange echoes in the forest deep,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Leaving strange scales on many a bush or tree.\n \n So the days went and no lovesickness came\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O'er the knight's heart to weaken it or bow\n His head; he rode on with the same\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Set purpose still in his unwrinkled brow.\n \n Until one day when that he rode thinking\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whether the beast as they met face to face\n Would turn to fight him with a sudden spring,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Or creep away and whine in some dark place\n \n Until he bound his jaws and led him out--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And then he thought until his heart grew hot\n Of how the folk would laugh and sing and shout\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And he should lead the beast through Camelot,\n \n The heralds crying, \"Ho good people, see!\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For this is Palomydes the good knight\n Who hath achieved his quest most gloriously\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And won the Questing Beast in open fight!\"\n \n Thereat in sooth he almost seemed to be\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There in the streets with all the bells ringing\n And all the folk at window him to see,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Damsels and minstrels ready for to sing.\n \n Almost he heard the praises of the King\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And Launcelot saying \"Now beyond all doubt\n Is Palomydes the best knight living\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Though Lamorak and Tristram are most stout.\"\n \n Abroad from thence the bruit shall go of me,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And many a lord shall say, \"Hold we high feast;\n Tomorrow an uncouth sight shall we see:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Here cometh Palomydes and his beast.\"\n \n And so to Cornwall shall I come at last --\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But saying this he sighed, for well he thought:\n When all this noble fame has been compassed\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shall Iseult's love be nearer to me brought?\n \n Now at that time the forest thinner grew\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On the left hand, and all between the trees\n The light of the green fields began to show,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And ever fresher blew the western breeze,\n \n On either side of him the thrushes sang\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And as he drew his rein it seemed to him\n That from some far-off tower the bells rang.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So he passed on to that great forest's rim\n \n And then beneath him by the meadows fair\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With their broad acres of the good green wheat\n Starred with the blood-red poppies burning clear,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There sat he, and the smell of hay came sweet\n \n Upon the wind and therewithal the chimes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Uncertain as the kisses of a maid\n Sang out their tale in sweet outlandish rymes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hard to remember. Therefore down he laid\n \n His bridle, and he cried, How fair, how fair,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You walk within the summer gardens [ ]\n O bright Iseult!--having but little care\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For Palomydes, as I full well know.\n \n \n \n Next: A Good Knight in Prison, by William Morris [1858]","title":"Arthurian Miscellany: Palomyde's Quest, by William Morris [1855]","type":"page"}