{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart229.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart229.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart229.htm","text":"CHAPTER XXXVI\nHow Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was,\nand of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made\nfor Sir Tristram.\nAND when he came to the land he took off his harness, and sat\nroaring and crying as a man out of his mind. Right so came a\ndamosel even by Sir Palomides, that was sent from Sir Gawaine and\nhis brother unto Sir Mordred, that lay sick in the same place\nwith that old knight where Sir Tristram was. For, as the French\nbook saith, Sir Persides hurt so Sir Mordred a ten days afore;\nand had it hot been for the love of Sir Gawaine and his brother,\nSir Persides had slain Sir Mordred. And so this damosel came by\nSir Palomides, and she and he had language together, the which\npleased neither of them; and so the damosel rode her ways till\nshe came to the old knight's place, and there she told that old\nknight how she met with the woodest knight by adventure that ever\nshe met withal. What bare he in his shield? said Sir Tristram.\nIt was indented with white and black, said <416>the damosel. Ah,\nsaid Sir Tristram, that was Sir Palomides, the good knight. For\nwell I know him, said Sir Tristram, for one of the best knights\nliving in this realm. Then that old knight took a little\nhackney, and rode for Sir Palomides, and brought him unto his own\nmanor; and full well knew Sir Tristram Sir Palomides, but he said\nbut little, for at that time Sir Tristram was walking upon his\nfeet, and well amended of his hurts; and always when Sir\nPalomides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full marvellously,\nand ever him seemed that he had seen him. Then would he say unto\nSir Dinadan: An ever I may meet with Sir Tristram he shall not\nescape mine hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, that ye boast\nbehind Sir Tristram, for it is but late that he was in your\nhands, and ye in his hands; why would ye not hold him when ye had\nhim? for I saw myself twice or thrice that ye gat but little\nworship of Sir Tristram. Then was Sir Palomides ashamed. So\nleave we them a little while in the old castle with the old\nknight Sir Darras.\nNow shall we speak of King Arthur, that said to Sir Launcelot:\nHad not ye been we had not lost Sir Tristram, for he was here\ndaily unto the time ye met with him, and in an evil time, said\nArthur, ye encountered with him. My lord Arthur, said Launcelot,\nye put upon me that I should be cause of his departition; God\nknoweth it was against my will. But when men be hot in deeds of\narms oft they hurt their friends as well as their foes. And my\nlord, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall understand that Sir Tristram\nis a man that I am loath to offend, for he hath done for me more\nthan ever I did for him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot made\nbring forth a book: and then Sir Launcelot said: Here we are ten\nknights that will swear upon a book never to rest one night where\nwe rest another this twelvemonth until that we find Sir Tristram.\nAnd as for me, said Sir Launcelot, I promise you upon this book\nthat an I may meet with him, either with fairness or foulness I\nshall bring him to this court, or else I shall die therefore.\nAnd the names of these <417>ten knights that had undertaken this\nquest were these following: First was Sir Launcelot, Sir Ector\nde Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis, and Sir Blamore de\nGanis, and Lucan the Butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir Galihud Lionel, and\nGaliodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the court of\nKing Arthur, and so they rode upon their quest together until\nthey came to a cross where departed four ways, and there departed\nthe fellowship in four to seek Sir Tristram.\nAnd as Sir Launcelot rode by adventure he met with Dame Bragwaine\nthat was sent into that country to seek Sir Tristram, and she\nfled as fast as her palfrey might go. So Sir Launcelot met with\nher and asked her why she fled. Ah, fair knight, said Dame\nBragwaine, I flee for dread of my life, for here followeth me Sir\nBreuse Saunce Pite to slay me. Hold you nigh me, said Sir\nLauncelot. Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse Saunce Pite,\nSir Launcelot cried unto him, and said: False knight destroyer\nof ladies and damosels, now thy last days be come. When Sir\nBreuse Saunce Pite saw Sir Launcelot's shield he knew it well,\nfor at that time he bare not the arms of Cornwall, but he bare\nhis own shield. And then Sir Breuse fled, and Sir Launcelot\nfollowed after him. But Sir Breuse was so well horsed that when\nhim list to flee he might well flee, and also abide when him\nlist. And then Sir Launcelot returned unto Dame Bragwaine, and\nshe thanked him of his great labour.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XXXVI","type":"page"}