‘Lo here ys a knyght ayenste you for the love of sir Launcelot!’
And there he slew two with a speare and ten with hys swerde. And than cam in sir Dynadan and he ded passyng welle. And so of the thirty knyghtes there yoode but ten away, and they fledde.
And all thys batayle saw sir Bors de Ganys and hys three felowys, and than they saw well hit was the same knyght that justed with hem at the brydge. Than they toke their horsys and rode unto sir Trystramys and praysed hym and thanked hym of hys good dedys. And they all desyred sir Trystram to go with them to their lodgynge, and he seyde he wold nat go to no lodgynge. Than they four knyghtes prayde hym to telle hys name.
‘Fayre lordys,’ seyde sir Trystramys, ‘as at thys tyme I woll nat telle you my name.’
[24] Than sir Trystram and sir Dynadan rode forthe their way tylle they cam to shyperdis and to herdemen. And there they asked them if they knew ony lodgyng there nerehonde.
‘Sir,’ seyde the herdemen, ‘hereby ys good herberow in a castell, but there ys such a custom that there shall no knyght herberow there but if he juste with two knyghtes, and if he be but o knyght he muste juste with two knyghtes. And as ye be, sone shall ye be macched.’
‘There ys shrewde herberow!’ seyde sir Dynadan. ‘Lodge where ye woll, for I woll nat lodge there.’
‘Fye for shame!’ seyde sir Trystramys, ‘ar ye nat a knyght of the Table Rounde? Wherefore ye may nat with your worship reffuse your lodgynge.’
‘Not so,’ seyde the herdemen, ‘for and ye be beatyn and have the warse, ye shall nat be lodged there, and if ye beate them ye shall well be herberowed.’
‘A,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘I undirstonde they ar two good knyghtes.’
Than sir Dynadan wolde nat lodge there in no maner but as sir Trystramys requyred hym of hys knyghthode, and so they rode thydir. And to make shorte tale, sir Trystram and sir Dynadan smote hem downe bothe, and so they entirde into the castell and had good chere as they cowde thynke or devyse.
And whan they were unarmed and thought to be myry and in good reste, there cam in at the yatis sir Palomydes and sir Gaherys, requyryng to have the custum of the castell.
‘What aray ys thys?’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘I wolde fayne have my reste.’
‘That may nat be,’ seyde sir Trystram. ‘Now muste we nedis defende the custum of thys castell insomuch as we have the bettir of this lordes of thys castell. And therefor,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘nedis muste ye make you redy.’
‘In the devyls name,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘cam I into youre company!’
And so they made them redy, and sir Gaherys encountirde with sir Trystram, and sir Gaherys had a falle. And sir Palomydes encountirde with sir Dynadan, and sir Dynadan had a falle: than was hit falle for falle. So than muste they fyght on foote, and that wolde nat sir Dynadan, for he was sore brused of that falle that sir Palomydes gaff hym.
Than sir Trystramys laced on sir Dynadans helme and prayde hym to helpe hym.
‘I woll nat,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘for I am sore wounded of the thirty knyghtes that we had ado withall. But ye fare,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘as a man that were oute of hys mynde that wold caste hymselff away. And I may curse the tyme that ever I sye you, for in all the worlde ar nat such two knyghtes that ar so wood as ys sir Launcelot and ye, sir Trystram! For onys I felle in the felyshyp of sir Launcelot as I have done now with you, and he sette me so a worke that a quarter of a yere I kept my bedde. Jesu deffende me,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘frome such two knyghtys, and specially frome youre felyshyp.’
Than seyde sir Trystram, ‘I woll fyght with hem bothe!’
And anone sir Trystram bade hem com forthe bothe, ‘for I woll fyght with you’. Than sir Palomydes and sir Gaherys dressed and smote at hem bothe. Than sir Dynadan smote at sir Gaherys a stroke or two, and turned frome hym.
‘Nay!’ seyde sir Palomydes. ‘Hit ys to much shame for us two knyghtes to fyght with one!’ And than he ded bydde sir Gaherys, ‘Stonde asyde with that knyght that hath no lyste to fyght.’
Than they rode togydirs and fought longe, and at the laste sir Trystram doubled hys stroke and drove sir Palomydes abak more than three stryddys. And than by one assente sir Gaherys and sir Dynadan wente betwyxte them and departed them in sundir.
And than by the assente of sir Trystramys they wolde have lodged togydirs, but sir Dynadan seyde he wold nat lodge in that castell. And than he cursed the tyme that ever he com in theyre felyship, and so he toke hys horse and hys harneyse and departed.
Than sir Trystram prayde the lordys of that castell to lende hym a man to brynge hym to a lodgyng. And so they ded, and overtoke sir Dynadan and rode to hir lodgynge, two myle thens, with a good man in a pryory; and there they were well at ease.
And that same nyght sir Bors and sir Bleoberys and sir Ector and sir Dryaunt abode stylle in the same place thereas sir Trystram faught with the thirty knyghtes. And there they mette with sir Launcelot the same nyght, and had made promyse to lodge with sir Collgrevaunce the same nyght.
But anone as sir Launcelot harde of the shylde of Cornwayle, he wyste well hit was sir Trystram that had fought with hys enemyes, and than sir Launcelot praysed sir Trystram and called hym the man of moste worshyp in the worlde.
So there was a knyght in that pryory that hyght sir Pellynore, and he desyred to wete the name of sir Trystram, but in no wyse he coude nat. And so sir Trystram departed and leffte sir Dynadan in that pryory, for he was so wery and so sore brused that he myght nat ryde. Than thys knyght sir Pellynore seyde unto sir Dynadan, ‘Sith that ye woll nat telle me that knyghtes name, I shall ryde affter hym and make hym to telle me hys name, other he shall dye therefore.’
‘Yet beware, sir knyght,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘for and ye folow hym ye woll repente hit.’
So that knyght, sir Pellynor, rode aftir sir Trystram and requyred hym of justis. Than sir Trystram smote hym downe and wounded hym thorow the shulder, and so he paste on hys way.
And on the nexte day folowynge sir Trystram mette with pursyvantis, and they tolde hym that there was made a grete crye of turnemente betwene kynge Carados of Scotlonde and the kynge of North Galys, and aythir shulde juste agayne othir afore the Castell of Maydyns. And thes pursyvauntis sought all the contrey aftir good knyghtes, and in especiall kynge Carados lete make grete sykynge for sir Launcelot, and the kynge of North Galis lete seke specially for sir Trystramys de Lyones. And at that tyme sir Trystramys thought to be at that justis.
And so by adventure they mette with sir Kay the Senesciall and sir Sagramoure le Desirous, and sir Kay requyred syr Trystram to juste. And sir Trystram in a maner refused hym, bycause he wolde nat be hurte nothir brused ayenste the grete justis that shuld be before the Castell of Maydyns, and therefore he thought to reste hym and to repose hym. And allway sir Kay cryed, ‘Sir knyght of Cornwayle, juste with me, othir ellys yelde the to me as recreaunte!’
Whan sir Trystram herd hym sey so he turned unto hym, and than sir Kay refused hym and turned hys backe. Than sir Trystram sayde, ‘As I fynde the, I shall take the!’
Than sir Kay turned with evyll wyll, and sir Trystram smote sir Kay downe, and so he rode forthe.
Than sir Sagramoure le Desirous rode aftir sir Trystram and made hym to juste with hym. And there sir Trystram smote downe sir Sagramoure frome hys horse and rode hys way.
And the same day he mette with a damesell that tolde hym that he sholde wynne grete worshyp of a knyght aventures that ded much harme in all that contrey. Whan sir Trystramys herde her sey so he was glad to go with her to wyn worshyp. And so sir Trystram rode with that damesell a six myle. And than there mette with hym sir Gawayne, and therewithall sir Gawayne knew the damesell, that she was longynge to quyne Morgan le Fay. Than sir Gawayne undirstood that she lad that knyght to som myschyeff, and sayde, ‘Fayre knyght, whothir ryde ye now with that damesell?’
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘I wote nat whothir I shall ryde, but as thys damesell woll lede me.’
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘ye shall nat ryde wi
th her, for she and her lady ded never goode but yll.’
And than sir Gawayne pulled oute hys swerde and seyde, ‘Damesell, but yf thou telle me anone for what cause thou ledyst thys knyght, thou shalt dye for hit ryght anone, for I know all youre ladyes treson and yourys.’
‘A, mercy, sir Gawayne,’ seyde she, ‘and yff ye woll save my lyff I woll telle you.’
‘Say on,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘and thou shalt have thy lyff.’
‘Sir,’ she seyde, ‘quene Morgan, my lady, hath ordayned a thirty ladyes to seke and aspye aftir sir Launcelot or aftir sir Trystram, and by the traynys of thes ladyes, who that may fyrste mete ony of thes two knyghtes, they shulde turne hem unto Morgan le Fayes castell, sayyng that they sholde do dedys of worship. And yf ony of the two knyghtes cam, there be thirty knyghtes liyng and wacchyng in a towre to wayte uppon sir Launcelot or uppon sir Trystramys.’
‘Fy for shame,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘that evir such false treson sholde be wrought or used in a quene and a kyngys systir, and a [26] kynge and a quenys doughtir! Sir,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘wyll ye stonde with me, and we woll se the malyce of thes knyghtes.’
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘go ye to them and hit please you, and ye shall se I woll nat fayle you, for hit ys not longe ago syn I and a felow mette with thirty knyghtes of the quenys felyship, and God spede us so that we won away with worship.’
So than sir Gawayne and sir Trystram rode towarde the castell where Morgan le Fay was; and ever sir Gawayne demed that he was sir Trystram de Lyones, bycause he hard that two knyghtes had slayn and beatyn thirty knyghtes. And whan they cam afore the castell sir Gawayne spake on hyght and seyde, ‘Quene Morgan, sende oute youre knyghtes that ye have layde in wacche for sir Launcelot and for sir Trystram. Now,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘I know youre false treson, and all placis where that I ryde shall know of youre false treson. And now lat se,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘whethir ye dare com oute of youre castell, ye thirty knyghtes.’
Than the quene spake and all the thirty knyghtes at onys, and seyde, A, sir Gawayne, full well wotist thou what thou dost and seyst, for, pardé, we know the passyng well. But all that thou spekyst and doyst, thou sayste hit uppon pryde of that good knyght that ys there with the. For there be som of us know the hondys of that good knyght overall well. And wyte thou well, sir Gawayne, hit is more for his sake than for thyn that we woll not come oute of this castel, for wete ye well, sir Gawayne, the knyght that beryth the armys of Cornwayle, we know hym and what he ys.’
Than sir Gawayne and sir Trystram departed and rode on their wayes a day or two togydirs, and there by adventure they mette with sir Kay and with sir Sagramour le Desyrous. And than they were glad of sir Gawayne and he of them, but they wyst nat what he was with the shylde of Cornwayle but by demyng. And thus they rode togydirs a day or too, and than they were ware of sir Breuse Saunz Pité chasyng a lady for to have slayne her, for he had slayn her paramour afore.
‘Holde you all stylle,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘and shew none of you forth, and ye shall se me rewarde yonder false knyght: for and he aspye you, he ys so well horsed that he woll ascape away.’
And than sir Gawayne rode betwixt sir Breuse and the lady and sayde, ‘False knyght, leve her and have ado with me!’
So whan sir Brewse saw no man but sir Gawayne, he feautred hys speare, and sir Gawayne ayenste hym. And there sir Breuse overthrew sir Gawayne, and than he rode over hym and overtwarte hym twenty tymys to have destroyed hym.
And whan sir Trystram saw hym do so vylaunce a dede he hurled oute ayenste hym, and whan sir Breuse hym saw with the shylde of Cornwayle he knew hym well that hit was sir Trystram. And than he fledde, and sir Trystrams folowed hym, and so sir Breuse was so horsed that he wente hys way quyte. And sir Trystram folowed hym longe affter, for he wolde fayne have bene avenged uppon hym.
And so whan he had longe chaced hym he saw a fayre well, and [27] thydir he rode to repose hym, and tyed hys horse tylle a tre. And than he pulled of hys helme and waysshed hys vysayge and hys hondes, and so he felle on slepe.
And so in the meanewhyle cam a damesell that had sought sir Trystram many wayes and dayes within thys londe. And whan she cam to the welle she loked uppon hym and had forgotyn hym as in remembraunce of sir Trystrames, but by hys horse she knew hym, that hyght Passe-Brewell, that had ben hys horse many yerys; for whan he was madde in the foreyste sir Fergus kepte hym. So thys lady, dame Brangwayne, abode stylle tylle he was awake. And whan she saw hym awaked she salewed hym and he her agayne, for aythir knew other of olde acquyentaunce. Than she tolde sir Trystram how she had sought hym longe and brode, and there she tolde hym how she had lettirs frome the quene La Beall Isode. Than anone sir Trystram redde them, and wete ye well he was gladde, for therein was many a pyteous complaynte. Than sir Trystram sayde, ‘Lady, dame Brangwayne, ye shall ryde with me tylle the turnemente be done at the Castell of Maydyns. And than shall ye beare lettirs and tydynges with you.’
And than sir Trystram toke hys horse and sought lodgynge, and there he mette with a good aunciaunte knyght and prayde hym to lodge with hym. Ryght so com Governayle unto sir Trystram that was glad of the commyng of the lady. And thys olde knyghtes name was sir Pellownes, and he tolde hym of the grete turnemente that shulde be at the Castell of Maydyns: ‘And there sir Launcelot and two and twenty knyghtes of hys blood have ordayne shyldis of Cornwayle.’
And ryght so there com one unto sir Pellownes and tolde hym that sir Persides de Bloyse was com home. Than that knyght hylde up hys hondys and thanked God of hys commyng home, and there sir Pellownes tolde sir Trystram that of two yere afore he had nat sene hys son, sir Persydes.
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Trystramys, ‘I know youre son well inowgh for a good knyght.’
And so one tyme sir Trystramys and sir Persydes com to their lodgyng both at onys, and so they unarmed hem and put uppon them such clothyng as they had. And than thes two knyghtes ech wellcomyd other, and whan sir Persides undirstood that sir Trystram was of Cornwayle he seyde he was onys in Cornwayle, And there I justed before kynge Marke, and so hit happened me at that same day to overthrow ten knyghtis. And than cam to me sir Trystramys de Lyonas and overthrew me, and toke my lady fro me, and that shall I never forgete, but I shall remembir me and ever I se my tyme.’
‘A’, sayde sir Trystram, ‘now I undirstonde that ye hate sir Trystram. What deme you? That sir Trystram ys nat able to withstonde youre malyce?’
‘Yes,’ seyde sir Persydes, ‘I know well that sir Trystram ys a noble knyght and a muche bettir knyght than I am, yet I shall nat owghe hym my good wyll.’
Ryght as they stood thus talkynge at a bay-wyndow of that castell, they sye many knyghtes ryde to and fro toward the turnemente. And than was sir Trystram ware of a lykly knyght rydyng uppon a grete black horse, and a blacke coverde shylde.
‘What knyght ys that,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘with the blacke shylde and the blacke horse?’
‘I know hym well,’ seyde sir Persides, ‘he ys one of the beste knyghtes of the worlde.’
‘Than hit ys sir Launcelot,’ seyde sir Trystramys.
‘Nay,’ seyde sir Persides, ‘hit ys sir Palomydes that ys yett oncrystynde.’
Than they saw muche people of the contrey salew sir Palomydes, [28] and seyde with a lowde voice, ‘Jesu save the and kepe the, thou noble knyght sir Palomydes!’
And within a whyle aftir there cam a squyer of that castell that tolde sir Pellownes, that was lorde of that castell, that a knyght with a blacke shylde had smyttyn downe thirtene knyghtes.
‘Now, fayre brother,’ seyde sir Trystram unto sir Persydes, ‘lat us caste on us lyght clokys, and lat us go se that play.’
‘Not so,’ seyde sir Persides, ‘we woll nat go lyke knavys thydir, but we woll ryde lyke men and as good knyghtes to withstonde oure enemyes.’
So they armed them and toke their horsys and grete spearys, and thydir they rode thereas many knyghtes assayed themselff byfore the turnemente. And anone sir Palamydes saw sir Persides, and than he sente a squyar unto hy
m and seyde, ‘Go thou to the yondir knyght with the grene shyld and therein a lyon of gooldys, and say hym I requyre hym to juste with me, and telle hym that my name ys sir Palomydes.’
Whan sir Persides undirstood the rekeyst of sir Palomydes he made hym redy. And there anone they mette togydirs, but sir Persides had a falle.
Than sir Trystram dressed hym to be revenged uppon sir Palomydes. And that saw sir Palomydes that was redy, and so was nat sir Trystram, and toke hym at avauntayge and smote hym over hys horse tayle, whan he had no speare in hys reste.
Than sterte up sir Trystram, and toke horse lyghtly, and was wrothe oute of mesure and sore ashamed of that falle. Than sir Trystramys sente unto sir Palomydes by Governayle and prayde hym to juste with hym at hys rekeyste.
‘Nay,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘as at thys tyme I woll nat juste with that knyght, for I know hym bettir than he wenyth. And if he be wroth, he may ryght hit to-morne at the Castell Maydyns, where he may se me and many other knyghtes.’
So with that cam sir Dynadan, and whan he saw sir Trystram wroth he lyste nat to jape, but seyde, ‘Lo, sir Trystram, here may a man preve, be he never so good yet may he have a falle; and he was never so wyse but he myght be oversayne, and he rydyth well that never felle.’
So sir Trystram was passyng wrothe and seyde to sir Persides and to sir Dynadan, ‘I woll revenge me!’
Ryght so as they stoode talkynge, there cam by sir Trystram a lykly knyght, rydyng passyng sobirly and hevyly, with a blacke shylde. ‘What knyght ys that?’ seyde sir Trystram unto sir Persides.
‘I know hym well,’ seyde sir Persides, ‘for hys name ys sir Bryaunte of Northe Walis.’
And so he paste on amonge other knyghtes of North Walis. And there com in sir Launcelot de Lake with a shylde of the armys of Cornwayle, and he sente a squyer unto sir Bryaunte and requyred hym to juste with hym.
Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory Page 44