{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart222.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart222.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart222.htm","text":"CHAPTER XXIX\nHow Sir Launcelot jousted with Palomides and overthrew\nhim, and after he was assailed with twelve knights.\nTHEN Sir Palomides sent unto Sir Launcelot a squire, and required\nhim of jousts. Fair fellow, said Sir Launcelot, <402>tell me thy\nlord's name. Sir, said the squire, my lord's name is Sir\nPalomides, the good knight. In good hour, said Sir Launcelot,\nfor there is no knight that I saw this seven years that I had\nliefer ado withal than with him. And so either knights made them\nready with two great spears. Nay, said Sir Dinadan, ye shall see\nthat Sir Palomides will quit him right well. It may be so, said\nSir Tristram, but I undertake that knight with the shield of\nCornwall shall give him a fall. I believe it not, said Sir\nDinadan. Right so they spurred their horses and feutred their\nspears, and either hit other, and Sir Palomides brake a spear\nupon Sir Launcelot, and he sat and moved not; but Sir Launcelot\nsmote him so lightly that he made his horse to avoid the saddle,\nand the stroke brake his shield and the hauberk, and had he not\nfallen he had been slain. How now, said Sir Tristram, I wist\nwell by the manner of their riding both that Sir Palomides should\nhave a fall.\nRight so Sir Launcelot rode his way, and rode to a well to drink\nand to repose him, and they of Northgalis espied him whither he\nrode; and then there followed him twelve knights for to have\nmischieved him, for this cause that upon the morn at the\ntournament of the Castle of Maidens that he should not win the\nvictory. So they came upon Sir Launcelot suddenly, and unnethe\nhe might put upon him his helm and take his horse, but they were\nin hands with him; and then Sir Launcelot gat his spear, and rode\nthrough them, and there he slew a knight and brake a spear in his\nbody. Then he drew his sword and smote upon the right hand and\nupon the left hand, so that within a few strokes he had slain\nother three knights, and the remnant that abode he wounded them\nsore all that did abide. Thus Sir Launcelot escaped from his\nenemies of North Wales, and then Sir Launcelot rode his way till\na friend, and lodged him till on the morn; for he would not the\nfirst day have ado in the tournament\nbecause of his great labour. And on the first day he was with\nKing Arthur thereas he was set on high upon a scaffold to discern\nwho was best worthy of his deeds. So <403>Sir Launcelot was with\nKing Arthur, and jousted not the first day.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XXIX","type":"page"}