{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart250.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart250.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart250.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER XIII\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK X\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER XIII\n \n How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying,\n and how he overthrew Dagonet and other knights.\n \n \n SO King Mark rode by fortune by a well, in the way\n where stood a knight-errant on horseback, armed at all\n points, with a great spear in his hand. And when he\n saw King Mark coming flying he said: Knight, return\n again for shame and stand with me, and I shall be thy\n warrant. Ah, fair knight, said King Mark, let me pass,\n for yonder cometh after me the best knight of the world,\n with the black bended shield. Fie, for shame, said the\n knight, he is none of the worthy knights, and if he were\n Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram I should not doubt to\n meet the better of them both. When King Mark heard\n him say that word, he turned his horse and abode by\n him. And then that strong knight bare a spear to\n Dagonet, and smote him so sore that he bare him over\n his horse's tail, and nigh he had broken his neck. And\n anon after him came Sir Brandiles, and when he saw\n Dagonet have that fall he was passing wroth, and cried:\n Keep thee, knight, and so they hurtled together wonder\n sore. But the knight smote Sir Brandiles so sore that\n he went to the earth, horse and man. Sir Uwaine came\n after and saw all this. Jesu, said he, yonder is a strong\n knight. And then they feutred their spears, and this\n knight came so eagerly that he smote down Sir Uwaine.\n Then came Ozana with the hardy heart, and he was\n smitten down. Now, said Sir Griflet, by my counsel let\n us send to yonder errant-knight, and wit whether he be\n of Arthur's court, for as I deem it is Sir Lamorak de\n Galis. So they sent unto him, and prayed the strange\n knight to tell his name, and whether he were of Arthur's\n court or not. As for my name they shall not wit, but\n tell them I am a knight-errant as they are, and let them\n wit that I am no knight of King Arthur's court; and\n so the squire rode again unto them and told them his\n answer of him. By my head, said Sir Agravaine, he is\n one of the strongest knights that ever I saw, for he hath\n overthrown three noble knights, and needs we must\n encounter with him for shame. So Sir Agravaine feutred\n his spear, and that other was ready, and smote him down\n over his horse to the earth. And in the same wise he\n smote Sir Uwaine les Avoutres and also Sir Griflet.\n Then had he served them all but Sir Dinadan, for he\n was behind, and Sir Mordred was unarmed, and Dagonet\n had his harness.\n \n So when this was done, this strong knight rode on\n his way a soft pace, and King Mark rode after him,\n praising him mickle; but he would answer no words,\n but sighed wonderly sore, hanging down his head, taking\n no heed to his words. Thus they rode well a three mile\n English, and then this knight called to him a varlet, and\n bade him ride until yonder fair manor, and recommend\n me to the lady of that castle and place, and pray her to\n send me refreshing of good meats and drinks. And if\n she ask thee what I am, tell her that I am the knight\n that followeth the glatisant beast: that is in English to\n say the questing beast; for that beast wheresomever he\n yede he quested in the belly with such a noise as it had\n been a thirty couple of hounds. Then the varlet went\n his way and came to the manor, and saluted the lady, and\n told her from whence he came. And when she understood\n that he came from the knight that followed the\n questing beast: O sweet Lord Jesu, she said, when shall\n I see that noble knight, my dear son Palomides? Alas,\n will he not abide with me? and therewith she swooned\n and wept, and made passing great dole. And then also\n soon as she might she gave the varlet all that he asked.\n And the varlet returned unto Sir Palomides, for he was\n a varlet of King Mark. And as soon as he came, he\n told the knight's name was Sir Palomides. I am well\n pleased, said King Mark, but hold thee still and say\n nothing. Then they alighted and set them down and\n reposed them a while. Anon withal King Mark fell\n asleep. When Sir Palomides saw him sound asleep he\n took his horse and rode his way, and said to them: I\n will not be in the company of a sleeping knight. And\n so he rode forth a great pace.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER XIII","type":"page"}