{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart353.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart353.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart353.htm","text":"CHAPTER XIV\nHow Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,\nand after accorded, and how Sir Tristram made him to\nbe christened.\nAND then they came together as two wild boars, lashing\ntogether, tracing and traversing as noble men that oft had\nbeen well proved in battle; but ever Sir Palomides dread\nthe might of Sir Tristram, and therefore he suffered him\nto breathe him. Thus they fought more than two hours,\nbut often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palomides\nthat he made him to kneel; and Sir Palomides brake and\ncut away many pieces of Sir Tristram's shield; and then\nSir Palomides wounded Sir Tristram, for he was a well\nfighting man. Then Sir Tristram was wood wroth out of\nmeasure, and rushed upon Sir Palomides with such a might\nthat Sir Palomides fell grovelling to the earth; and\ntherewithal he leapt up lightly upon his feet, and then Sir\nTristram wounded Palomides sore through the shoulder.\nAnd ever Sir Tristram fought still in like hard, and Sir\nPalomides failed not, but gave him many sad strokes.\nAnd at the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes, and by\nfortune Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides sword out of\nhis hand, and if Sir Palomides had stooped for his sword\nhe had been slain.\nThen Palomides stood still and beheld his sword with\na sorrowful heart. How now, said Sir Tristram unto\nPalomides, now have I thee at advantage as thou haddest\nme this day; but it shall never be said in no court, nor\namong good knights, that Sir Tristram shall slay any\nknight that is weaponless; and therefore take thou thy\nsword, and let us make an end of this battle. As for to\ndo this battle, said Palomides, I dare right well end it,\nbut I have no great lust to fight no more. And for this\ncause, said Palomides: mine offence to you is not so great\nbut that we may be friends. All that I have offended is\nand was for the love of La Beale Isoud. And as for her,\nI dare say she is peerless above all other ladies, and also\nI proffered her never no dishonour; and by her I have\ngotten the most part of my worship. And sithen I offended\nnever as to her own person, and as for the offence that\nI have done, it was against your own person, and for that\noffence ye have given me this day many sad strokes, and\nsome I have given you again; and now I dare say I felt\nnever man of your might, nor so well breathed, but if it\nwere Sir Launcelot du Lake; wherefore I require you,\nmy lord, forgive me all that I have offended unto you;\nand this same day have me to the next church, and first\nlet me be clean confessed, and after see you now that I be\ntruly baptised. And then will we all ride together unto\nthe court of Arthur, that we be there at the high feast.\nNow take your horse, said Sir Tristram, and as ye say so\nit shall be, and all thine evil will God forgive it you, and\nI do. And here within this mile is the Suffragan of\nCarlisle that shall give you the sacrament of baptism.\nThen they took their horses and Sir Galleron rode\nwith them. And when they came to the Suffragan Sir\nTristram told him their desire. Then the Suffragan let\nfill a great vessel with water, and when he had hallowed it\nhe then confessed clean Sir Palomides, and Sir Tristram\nand Sir Galleron were his godfathers. And then soon\nafter they departed, riding toward Camelot, where King\nArthur and Queen Guenever was, and for the most part\nall the knights of the Round Table. And so the king\nand all the court were glad that Sir Palomides was\nchristened. And at the same feast in came Galahad and\nsat in the Siege Perilous. And so therewithal departed\nand dissevered all the knights of the Round Table. And\nSir Tristram returned again unto Joyous Gard, and Sir\nPalomides followed the Questing Beast.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XII CHAPTER XIV","type":"page"}