[40] But, as the booke tellyth, kynge Marke wolde never stynte tylle he had slayne hym by treson. And by Alis he gate a chylde that hyght Bellengerus le Beuse, and by good fortune he cam to the courte of kynge Arthure and preved a good knyght. And he revenged his fadirs deth, for this false kynge Marke slew bothe sir Trystram and sir Alysaundir falsely and felonsly.
And hit happed so that sir Alysaundir had never grace ne fortune to com to kynge Arthurs courte; for and he had com to sir Launcelot, all knyghtes seyde that knew hym that he was one of the strengyste knyghtes that was in kynge Arthurs dayes. And grete dole was made for hym.
SO LETTE WE HYM PASSE AND TURNE WE TO ANOTHER TALE.
IX. THE TOURNAMENT AT SURLUSE
So hit befelle that sir Galahalte the Haute Prynce, lorde of the contrey of Surluse, whereof cam oute many good knyghtes — and this noble prince was a passynge good man of armys, and ever he hylde a noble felyship togydirs — and than he cam to kynge Arthurs courte and tolde hym his entente, how this was his wyll: he had let cry a justys in the contrey of Surluse, the whyche contrey was within the bandis of kynge Arthur, and there he asked leve to crye a justys.
‘I woll gyff you leve,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘but wyte you well I may not be there myselff.’
‘Sir,’ seyde quene Gwenyver, ‘please hit you to gyff me leve to be at that justis?’
‘Wyth ryght a good wyll,’ seyde kynge Arthur, ‘for sir Galahalte, the good prynce, shall have you in governaunce.’
‘Sir, as ye wyll, so be hit.’ Than the quene seyde, ‘I woll take with me suche knyghtes as lykyth me beste.’
‘Do as ye lyste,’ seyde kynge Arthure.
So anone she commaunded sir Launcelot to make hym redy with suche knyghtes as hym thought beste.
So in every goode towne and casteli off this londe was made a crye that in the contrey of Surluse sir Galahalte shulde make a justis that sholde laste seven dayes, and how the Hawte Prince, with the helpe of quene Gwenyvers knyghtes, sholde juste agayne all maner of men that commyth. Whan this crye was knowyn, kynges and prynces, deukes, erlys and barownes and noble knyghtes made them redy to be at that justys.
And at the day of justenynge there cam in sir Dynadan disgysed, and ded many grete dedis of armys. Than at the requeste of quene [41] Gwenyver and of kynge Bagdemagus sir Launcelot com into the thrange, but he was disgysed; that was the cause that feaw folke knew hym. And there mette wyth hym sir Ector de Marys, his owne brother, and ayther brake their spearys uppon other to their handis. And than aythir gate another speare, and than sir Launcelot smote downe sir Ector, his owne brother.
That sawe sir Bleoberys, and he smote sir Launcelot uppon the helme suche a buffet that he wyste nat well where he was. Than sir Launcelot smote sir Bleoberys so sore uppon the helme that his hed bowed downe bakwarde, and he smote hym efft another stroke, and therewith he avoyded his sadyll. And so he rode by and threste in amonge the thykkyst.
Whan the kynge of North Galys saw sir Ector and sir Bleoberys ley on the grounde, than was he wrothe, for they cam on his party agaynste them of Surluse. So the kynge of North Galys ran unto sir Launcelot and brake a speare uppon hym all to pecis. And therewith sir Launcelot overtoke the kynge of North Galys and smote hym such a buffet on the helme with his swerde that he made hym to avoyde the arson of his sadyll. And anone the kynge was horsed agayne.
So kynge Bagdemagus and the kynge of Northe Galys aythir party hurled to other, and than began a stronge medlé, but they of Northe Galys were muche bygger than the other.
So whan sir Launcelot saw his party go so to the warre, he thrange oute to the thyckyst with a bygge swerde in his honde. And there he smote downe on the ryght honde and on the lyffte hond, and pulled downe knyghtes and russhed of helmys, that all men had wondir that ever knyght myght do suche dedis of armys.
Whan sir Mellyagaunce that was sonne unto kynge Bagdemagus saw how sir Launcelot fared, and whan he undirstood that hit was he, he wyste well that he was disgysed for his sake. Than sir Mellyagaunce prayde a knyght to sle sir Launcelotes horse, other with swerde or speare.
And at that tyme, kynge Bagdemagus mette with another knyght that hyght Sauseyse, a good knyght, and sayde, ‘Now, fayre knyght sir Sauseyse, encountir with my sonne, sir Mellyagaunce, and gyff hym layrge pay, for I wolde that he were well beatyn of thy hondis, that he myght departe oute of this felyship.’
And than sir Sauseyse encountyrd with sir Mellyagaunce, and aythir smote other adowne. And than they fought on foote. And there sir Sauseyse had wonne sir Mellyagaunce, had there nat com rescowys.
So than the Haute Prynce blewe to lodgynge, and every knyght unarmed hym and wente to the grete feyste.
Than in the meanewhyle there came a damesell to the Haute Prynce and complayned that there was a knyght that hyght sir Gonereyes that withhylde all her londis. And so the knyght was there presente, and keste his glove to hir or to ony that wolde fyght in hir name. So the damesell toke up the glove all hevyly for the defaute of a champyon. Than there cam a varlet to her and seyde, ‘Damesell, woll ye do aftir me?’
‘Full fayne,’ seyde the damesell.
‘Than go ye unto suche a knyght that lyeth here besyde in an ermytage, and that knyght folowyth the questynge beeste, and pray hym to take the batayle uppon hym. And anone he woll graunte you.’
So anone she toke her palferey, and within a whyle she founde that knyght whyche was called sir Palomydes. And whan she requyred hym he armed hym and rode with her and made her go to the Haute Prynce and to aske leve for hir knyght to do batayle.
‘I woll well,’ seyde the Haute Prynce.
Than the knyghtes made them redy and cam to the fylde to juste on horsebacke, and aythir gate a grete speare in his honde, and so mette togydirs so hard that theire spearis all to-shevird. And anone they flange oute their swerdis, and sir Palomydes smote sir Gonereyse downe to the erthe. And than he raced of his helme and smote of his hede. Than they wente to souper.
And this damesell loved sir Palomydes as her paramour, but the booke seyth she was of his kynne.
So than sir Palomydes disgysed hymselff in this maner: in his shylde he bare the questynge beste, and in all his trapours. And whan he was thus redy he sente to the Haute Prynce to gyff hym leve to juste with othir knyghtes, but he was adouted of syr Launcelot. Than the Haute Prynce sente hym worde agayne that he sholde be wellcom, and that sir Launcelot sholde nat juste wyth hym. Than sir Galahalte the Haute Prynce lete cry that what knyght somever smote downe sir Palomydes sholde have his damesell to hymselff to his demaynes.
Here begynnyth the secunde day. And anone as sir Palomydes came into the fylde, sir Galahalte the Haute Prynce was at the raunge ende, and mette wyth sir Palomydes and he with hym with two grete spearys. And they came so harde togydyrs that their spearys all to-shevirde. But sir Galahalte smote hym so harde that he bare hym bakwarde over his horse, but yet he loste nat his styroppis. Than they pulled oute their swerdis, and laysshed togydirs many sad strokis, that many worshypfull knyghtes leffte their busynes to beholde them. But at the laste sir Galahalte smote a stroke of myght unto sir Palomydes sore uppon the helme; but the helme was so harde that the swerde myght nat byghte, but slypped and smote of the hede of his horse.
But whan sir Galahalte saw the good knyght sir Palomydes fall to the erthe, he was ashamed of that stroke. And therewithall he alyght adowne of his owne horse, and prayde sir Palomydes to take that horse of his gyffte and to forgyff hym that dede.
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘I thanke you of youre grete goodnes, for ever of a man of worship a knyght shall never have disworshyp.’ And so he mownted uppon that horse, and the Haute Prynce had another horse anone.
‘Now,’ seyde the Haute Prynce, ‘I releace to you that maydyn, for ye have wonne her.’
‘A,’ sayde sir Palomydes, ‘the damesell and I be at youre commaundement.’
So they departed, and sir Galahalte ded grete dedis of armys. And ryght so cam sir Dynadan and encountyrd wyth sir Galahalte, and aythir cam on other
so faste that their spearys brake to there hondis. But sir Dynadan had wente the Haute Prynce had bene more weryar than he was, and than he smote many sad strokes at the Haute Prynce. But whan sir Dynadan saw he myght nat gete hym to the erthe, he seyde, ‘My lorde, I pray you, leve me and take anothir.’
So the Haute Prynce knew nat sir Dynadan, but leffte hym goodly for his fayre wordis, and so they departed. But another knyght there cam and tolde the Haute Prynce that hit was sir Dynadan.
‘Iwys,’ seyde the Haute Prynce, ‘therefore am I hevy that he is so ascaped fro me, for with his mokkis and his japys now shall I never have done with hym.’
And than sir Galahalte rode faste aftyr hym and bade hym, Abyde, sir Dynadan, for kynge Arthurs sake!’
‘Nay,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘so God me helpe, we mete no more togydyrs this day!’
Than in that haste sir Galahalte mett with sir Mellyagaunce, and he smote hym so in the throte that and he had fallyn his necke had be brokyn. And with the same speare he smote downe anothir knyght.
Than cam in they of the Northe Galys and many straungers with them, and were lyke to have put them of Surluse to the worse, for sir Galahalte the Haute Prynce had overmuche in honde. So there cam the good knyght sir Symounde the Valyaunte with forty knyghtes and bete them all abacke.
Than quene Gwenyver and sir Launcelot let blow to lodgynge, and every knyght unarmed hym and dressed them to the feste.
So whan sir Palomydes was unarmed he axed lodgynge for hymselff and the damesell, and anone the Haute Prynce commaunded them to lodgynge. And he was nat so sone in his lodgynge but there cam a knyght that hyght Archade: he was brothir unto sir Gomoryes that sir Palomydes slewe afore in the damesels quarell. And this knyght Archede called sir Palomydes traytoure, and appeled hym for the deth of his brother.
‘By the leve of the Haute Prynce,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘I shall answere the.’
Whan sir Galahalte undirstood there quarell he bade them go to the dyner:
‘And as sone as ye have dyned, loke that aythir knyght be redy in the fylde.’
So whan they had dyned they were armed bothe and toke their horsys. And the quene and the prynce and sir Launcelot were sette to beholde them. And so they let ren their horsis, and there sir Palomydes and sir Archade mette, and he bare sir Archade on his speare ende over his horse tayle. And than sir Palomydes alyght and drewe his swerde, but sir Archade myght nat aryse. And there sir Palomydes raced of his helme and smote of his hede. Than the Haute Prynce and quene Gwenyver went to souper.
Than kynge Bagdemagus sente away his sonne Mellyagaunce, bycause sir Launcelot sholde nat mete with hym; for he hated sir Launcelot, and that knewe he nat.
“Now BEGYNNYTH THE THIRDE DAY OF JUSTIS. And at that day kynge Bagdemagus made hym redy, and there cam agaynste hym kynge Marsyll that had in gyffte an ilonde of sir Galahalte the Haute Prynce. And this ilonde was called Pomytayne.
Than hit befelle thus that kynge Bagdemagus and kynge Marsyll of Pomytayne mett togydir wyth spearys, and kynge Marsyll had suche a buffet that he felle over his horse croupe. Than cam therein a knyght of kynge Marsyls to revenge his lorde, and kynge Bagdemagus smote hym downe, horse and man, to the erthe.
So there came an erle that hyght sir Arrowse, and sir Breuse, and an hondred knyghtes wyth hem of Pometaynes, and the kynge of Northe Galys was with hem, and all they were agaynste them of Surluse. And than there began a grete batayle, and many knyghtes were caste undir their horse fyete. And ever kynge Bagdemagus ded beste, for he fyrste began and ever he was lengyste that helde on. But sir Gaherys, Gawaynes brother, smote ever at the face of kynge Bagdemagus, and at the laste he smote downe sir Gaherys, horse and man.
And by aventure sir Palomydes mette with sir Blamour de Ganys, brother unto sir Bleoberys, and ayther smote other with grete spearis, that bothe horse and men felle to the erthe. But sir Blamour had suche a falle that he had allmoste broke his necke, for the blood braste oute at the nose, mowthe, and earys. Than cam in deuke Chalens of Claraunce, and undir his governaunce there cam a knyght that hyght sir Elys la Noyre. And there encountyrd with hym kynge Bagdemagus, and he smote sir Elys, that he made hym to avoyde his arson of his sadyll.
So this deuke Chalence of Claraunce ded there grete dedis of armys, and so late as he cam in the thirde day there ded no man so well excepte kynge Bagdemagus and sir Palomydes. And the pryce was gyvyn that day unto kynge Bagdemagus, and than they blew unto lodgyng and unarmed them and wente to the feyste.
Ryght so cam in sir Dynadan and mocked and japed wyth kynge Bagdemagus, that all knyghtes lowghe at hym, for he was a fyne japer and lovynge unto all good knyghtes.
So anone as they had dyned, there cam a varlet beerynge four spearys on his backe, and he cam to sir Palomydes and seyde thus:
‘Here is a knyght by that hath sente the choyse of four spearys, and requyryth you for youre ladyes sake to take that one halff of thes spearys and juste with hym in the fylde.’
‘Telle hym,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘ “I woll nat fayle you”.’
So sir Galahalte seyde, ‘Make you redy!’ So quene Gwenyver, the Haute Prynce, and sir Launcelot, they were sette in scaffoldis to gyve the jugement of these two knyghtis.
Than sir Palomydes and the straunge knyght ran togydirs and brake there spearys to their hondys. And anone aythir of them toke another speare and shyvyrd them in pecis. And than ayther toke a gretter speare, and than the knyght smote downe sir Palomydes, horse and man, and as he wolde have passed over hym the knyghtes horse stombeled and felle downe uppon sir Palomydes. Than they drewe theire swerdis, and laysshed togydirs wondirly sore.
Than the Haute Prynce and sir Launcelot seyde they saw never two knyghtes fyght bettir; but ever the straunge knyght doubled his strokys and put sir Palomydes abak.
And therewithall the Haute Prynce cryed ‘Whoo!’
And than they wente to lodgynge, and whan they were unarmed anone they knew hym for sir Lamerok. And whan Launcelot knew sir Lamerok he made muche of hym; for of all erthely men he loved hym beste excepte sir Trystram. Than quene Gwenyver comended hym, and so did all good knyghtes, and made muche of hym, excepte sir Gawaynes brethirne. Than quene Gwenyvir seyde unto sir La uncelot, ‘Sir, I requyre you that and ye juste ony more, that ye juste wyth none of the blood of my lorde kynge Arthur.’
And so he promysed he wolde nat at that tyme.
Here begynnyth the fourth day. Than cam into the fylde [45] the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes, and all they of Northe Galys, and deuke Chalens of Claraunce, and kynge Marsyll of Pometayne. And there cam sir Saphir, sir Palomydes brother, and he tolde hym tydynges of hys fadir and of his modir.
‘And his name was called the erle de la Plaunche, and so I appeled hym afore the kynge, for he made warre uppon oure fadir and modir. And there I slewe hym in playne batayle.’
So they two went into the fylde, and the damesell wyth hem. And there cam to encounter agayne them sir Bleoberys de Ganys and sir Ector de Marys. And sir Palomydes encountyrd wyth sir Bleoberys, and aythir smote other downe. In the same wyse ded sir Saphir and sir Ector, and the two couplys ded batayle on foote.
Than cam in sir Lamerok, and he encountyrd with the Kynge of the Hondred Knyghtes and smote hym quyte over his horse tayle. And in the same wyse he served the kynge of Northe Galys, and also he smote downe kynge Marsyll. And so or ever he stynte he smote downe wyth his speare and with his swerde thirty knyghtys. Whan deuke Chalens saw sir Lamerok do so grete proues he wolde nat meddyll with hym for shame. And than he charged all his knyghtes in payne of deth that ‘none of you towche hym, for hit were shame to all goode knyghtes and that knyght were shamed’.
Than the two kynges gadird them togydirs, and all they sett uppon sir Lameroke. And he fayled them nat, but russhed here and there and raced of many helmys, that the Haute Prince and quene Gwenyver seyde they sawe never knyght do suche dedis of armys on horsebacke.
‘Alas!’ seyde sir Launcelot to kynge Bagdemagus, ‘I woll arme me and helpe sir Lamerok.’
&nb
sp; ‘And I woll ryde wyth you,’ seyde kynge Bagdemagus.
And whan they two were horsed they cam to sir Lamerok that stood amonge thirty knyghtes, and well was hym that myght reche hym a buffet; and ever he smote agayne myghtyly. Than cam there into the pres sir Launcelot, and he threwe downe sir Mador de la Porte, and with the troncheon of that speare he threwe downe many knyghtes. And kynge Bagdemagus smote on the lyffte honde and on the ryght honde mervaylusly well. And than the three kynges fledde abak.
And therewithall sir Galahalte lat blow to lodgynge; and all herrowdis gaff sir Lamerok the pryce. And all this whyle fought sir Palomydes, and sir Bleoberys, and sir Safer, and sir Ector on foote, and never was there four knyghtes more evynner macched. And anone they were departed, and had unto their lodgynge, and unarmed; and so they wente to the grete feste. But whan sir Lamerok was com unto the courte quene Gwenyver enbraced hym in her armys and seyde, ‘Sir, well have ye done this day!’
Than cam the Haute Prynce, and he made of hym grete joy, and so ded sir Dynadan, for he wepte for joy. But the joy that sir Launcelot made of sir Lamerok there myght no tonge telle. Than they wente unto reste.
And so on the mome the Haute Prynce sir Galahalte blew unto the fylde.
Here begynnyth the FYFTH DAY. So hit befell that sir Palomydes cam in the morne-tyde, and profyrde to juste thereas kynge Arthur was in a castell there besydys Surluse. And there encountyrd with hym a worshypfull deuke that hyght Adrawns, and there sir Palomydes smote hym over his horse croupyr. And this deuke was uncle unto kynge Arthure.
Than sir Elyce, his sonne, rode unto sir Palomydes, and so he servid sir Elyse in the same wyse. Whan sir Gawayne sawe this he was wrothe. Than he toke his horse and encountird with sir Palomydes, and sir Palomydes smote hym so harde that he wente to the erthe, horse and man. And for to make a short tale, he smote downe his three bretherne, that is for to say sir Mordred, sir Gaherys, and sir Aggravayne.
‘A, Jesu!’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘this is a grete dispyte that suche a Saryson shall smyte downe my blood!’
Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory Page 56