{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart186.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart186.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart186.htm","text":"CHAPTER XXXIII\nHow Sir Lamorak jousted with thirty knights, and Sir Tristram\nat the request of King Mark smote his horse down.\nTHE king and the queen made their pavilions and their tents in\nthat forest beside a river, and there was daily hunting and\njousting, for there were ever thirty knights ready to joust unto\nall them that came in at that time. And there by fortune came\nSir Lamorak de Galis and Sir Driant; and there Sir Driant jousted\nright well, but at the last he had a fall. Then Sir Lamorak\nproffered to joust. And when he began he fared so with the\nthirty knights that there was not one of them but that he gave\nhim a fall, and some of them were sore hurt. I marvel, said King\nMark, what knight he is that doth such deeds of arms. Sir, said\nSir Tristram, I know him well for a noble knight as few now be\nliving, and his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. It were great\nshame, said the king, that he should go thus away, unless that\nsome of you meet with him better. Sir, said Sir Tristram,\nmeseemeth it were no worship for a noble man to have ado with\nhim: and for because at this time he hath done over much for any\nmean knight living, therefore, as meseemeth, it were great shame\nand villainy to tempt him any more at this time, insomuch as he\nand his horse are weary both; for the <334>deeds of arms that he\nhath done this day, an they be well considered, it were enough\nfor Sir Launcelot du Lake. As for that, said King Mark, I\nrequire you, as ye love me and my lady the queen, La Beale Isoud,\ntake your arms and joust with Sir Lamorak de Galis. Sir, said\nSir Tristram, ye bid me do a thing that is against knighthood,\nand well I can deem that I shall give him a fall, for it is no\nmastery, for my horse and I be fresh both, and so is not his\nhorse and he; and wit ye well that he will take it for great\nunkindness, for ever one good knight is loath to take another at\ndisadvantage; but because I will not displease you, as ye require\nme so will I do, and obey your commandment.\nAnd so Sir Tristram armed him and took his horse, and put him\nforth, and there Sir Lamorak met him mightily, and what with the\nmight of his own spear, and of Sir Tristram's spear, Sir\nLamorak's horse fell to the earth, and he sitting in the saddle.\nThen anon as lightly as he might he avoided the saddle and his\nhorse, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword. And then\nhe bade Sir Tristram: Alight, thou knight, an thou durst. Nay,\nsaid Sir Tristram, I will no more have ado with thee, for I have\ndone to thee over much unto my dishonour and to thy worship. As\nfor that, said Sir Lamorak, I can thee no thank; since thou hast\nfor-jousted me on horseback I require thee and I beseech thee, an\nthou be Sir Tristram, fight with me on foot. I will not so, said\nSir Tristram; and wit ye well my name is Sir Tristram de Liones,\nand well I know ye be Sir Lamorak de Galis, and this that I have\ndone to you was against my will, but I was required thereto; but\nto say that I will do at your request as at this time, I will\nhave no more ado with you, for me shameth of that I have done.\nAs for the shame, said Sir Lamorak, on thy part or on mine, bear\nthou it an thou wilt, for though a mare's son hath failed me, now\na queen's son shall not fail thee; and therefore, an thou be such\na knight as men call thee, I require thee, alight, and fight with\nme. Sir Lamorak, said Sir Tristram, I understand your heart is\ngreat, and cause why ye have, to <335>say thee sooth; for it\nwould grieve me an any knight should keep him fresh and then to\nstrike down a weary knight, for that knight nor horse was never\nformed that alway might stand or endure. And therefore, said Sir\nTristram, I will not have ado with you, for me forthinketh of\nthat I have done. As for that, said Sir Lamorak, I shall quit\nyou, an ever I see my time.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VIII CHAPTER XXXIII","type":"page"}