{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart312.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart312.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart312.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXXV\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 LXXV\n \n How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir\n Dinadan, and changed his array into black.\n \n \n THEN came King Arthur, and the King of Northgalis,\n and Sir Launcelot du Lake; and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors\n de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these three knights came\n into the field with Sir Launcelot. And then Sir\n Launcelot with the three knights of his kin did so great\n deeds of arms that all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot.\n And so they beat the King of Wales and the King of\n Scots far aback, and made them to avoid the field; but\n Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field and\n endured all that ever there came, that all men had wonder\n that any knight might endure so many strokes. But\n ever Sir Launcelot, and his three kinsmen by the commandment\n of Sir Launcelot, forbare Sir Tristram. Then\n said Sir Arthur: Is that Sir Palomides that endureth\n so well? Nay, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well it is\n the good knight Sir Tristram, for yonder ye may see\n Sir Palomides beholdeth and hoveth, and doth little\n or nought. And sir, ye shall understand that Sir\n Tristram weeneth this day to beat us all out of the\n field. And as for me, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not\n beat him, beat him whoso will. Sir, said Launcelot\n unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Palomides hoveth\n yonder, as though he were in a dream; wit ye well\n he is full heavy that Tristram doth such deeds of arms\n Then is he but a fool, said Arthur, for never was Sir\n Palomides, nor never shall be, of such prowess as Sir\n Tristram. And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram,\n and cometh in with him upon his side he is a false\n knight.\n \n As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir\n Tristram rode privily out of the press, that none espied\n him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palomides, for they two\n would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram. And\n when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions he found Sir\n Dinadan in his bed asleep. Awake, said Tristram, ye\n ought to be ashamed so to sleep when knights have\n ado in the field. Then Sir Dinadan arose lightly and\n said: What will ye that I shall do? Make you\n ready, said Sir Tristram, to ride with me into the field.\n So when Sir Dinadan was armed he looked upon Sir\n Tristram's helm and on his shield, and when he saw\n so many strokes upon his helm and upon his shield he\n said: In good time was I thus asleep, for had I been\n with you I must needs for shame there have followed\n you; more for shame than any prowess that is in me;\n that I see well now by those strokes that I should have\n been truly beaten as I was yesterday. Leave your japes,\n said Sir Tristram, and come off, that [we] were in the\n field again. What, said Sir Dinadan, is your heart up?\n yesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed. So then\n Sir Tristram was arrayed in black harness. O Jesu,\n said Dinadan, what aileth you this day? meseemeth\n ye be wilder than ye were yesterday. Then smiled\n Sir Tristram and said to Dinadan: Await well upon\n me; if ye see me overmatched look that ye be ever\n behind me, and I shall make you ready way by God's\n grace. So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their\n horses. All this espied Sir Palomides, both their going\n and their coming, and so did La Beale Isoud, for she\n knew Sir Tristram above all other.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXXV","type":"page"}