Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  And than sir Trystram departed towarde Lonezep, and whan they were departed than cam thydir sir Galyhodyn with his twenty knyghtes unto sir Gawayne, and there he tolde hym all how he had sped.

  ‘Be my trouthe,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘I mervayle what knyghtes they ben that ar so arayed all in grene.’

  ‘And that knyght uppon the whyghte horse smote me downe’, seyde sir Galyhodyn, ‘and three of my felowys.’

  ‘So ded he me,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘and my three felowys. And well I wote,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘that other he uppon the whyghte horse ys sir Trystram othir ellys sir Palomydes, and that well-beseyne lady is quene Isode.’

  And as they talked thus of one thynge and of other, and in the meanewhyle sir Trystram passed on tyll that he cam to the welle where his pavylyons were sette. And there they alyghted, and there they sawe many pavylons and grete aray.

  Than sir Trystram leffte there sir Palomydes and sir Gareth with La Beall Isode, and sir Trystram and sir Dynadan rode unto Lonezep to herkyn tydynges, and sir Trystram rode uppon sir Palomydes whyght horse. And whan he cam into the casteü sir Trystram harde a grete horne blowe, and to the horne drewe many knyghtes.

  Than sir Trystrams asked a knyght, ‘What meanyth the blaste of that horne?’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde that knyght, ‘hit is for all the that shall holde ayenste kynge Arthure at this turnemente: the fyrst ys the kynge of Irelonde, and the kynge of Surluse, and the kynge of Lystenoyse, the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and the kynge of the beste parte of Walys, with many other contreys.’

  And all thes drewe them to a counceyle to undirstonde what governaunce they shall be of. But the kyng of Irelond his name was sir Marhalte, that was fadir unto the good knyght sir Marhalte that sir Trystram slew; and he had the speache, that sir Trystram myght hyre:

  ‘Now, lordis and felowis, lat us loke to oureselff, for wyte you well kynge Arthure ys sure of many good knyghtes, other ellys he wolde nat with feaw knyghtes have ado with us. Therefore, be my rede, lat every knyght have a standarde and a cognyssaunce by hymselff, that every knyght may draw to his naturall lorde. And than may every kynge and captayne helpe his knyght yf he have nede.’

  Whan sir Trystram had harde all their counceyle he rode unto kynge Arthure for to hyre his counceyle. But sir Trystram was nat so sone com unto the place but sir Gawayne and sir Galyhodyn wente unto kynge Arthure and tolde hym that that same grene knyght in the grene harneyse with the whyghte horse ‘smote us two downe and six of oure felowys this same day.”

  ‘Well,’ seyde kynge Arthure.

  And than he called sir Trystram to hym and asked what was his name.

  ‘As for that,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘ye shall holde me excused: as at this tyme ye shall nat know my name.’

  And there sir Trystram returned and rode his way.

  ‘I have mervayle,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘that yondir knyght woll nat tell me his name. But go ye, sir Gryfflet, and pray hym to speke with me betwyxt us twayne.’

  Than sir Gryfflet rode aftir hym and overtoke hym and seyde that kynge Arthure prayde hym to speake with hym.

  ‘Sir, uppon this covenaunte,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘I woll turne agayne, so that ye woll ensure me that the kynge woll nat desyre to hyre my name.’

  ‘I shall undirtake it,’ seyde sir Gryfflet, ‘that he woll nat gretly desyre of you.’

  So they rode togydirs tyll they cam to kynge Arthure.

  ‘Now, fayre sir,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘what is the cause ye woll nat tell me your name?’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘withoute a cause I wolde nat hyde my name.’

  ‘Well, uppon what party woll ye holde?’ seyde kynge Arthure.

  ‘Truly, my lorde,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘I wote nat yet on what party I woll be on untyll I com to the fylde. And thereas my harte gyvyth me, there woll I holde me. But to-morow ye shall se and preve on what party I shall com.’

  And therewithall he returned and went to his pavelons. And uppon the morne they armed them all in grene and cam into the fylde. And there yonge knyghtys began to juste and ded many worshypfull dedis.

  Than spake sir Gareth unto sir Trystram and prayde hym to gyff hym leve to breake his speare, for hym thought shame to beare his speare hole agayne. Whan sir Trystram had harde hym sey so, he lowghe and sayde, ‘I pray you, do youre beste!’

  Than sir Gareth gate his speare and profirde to juste. And that sawe a knyght that was neveaw unto the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes; his name was sir Selyses, a good knyght and a good man of armys. So this Selyses dressed hym unto sir Gareth, and they two mette togydirs so harde that ayther smote other downe, horse and man, to the erthe.

  And so they were bothe hurte and brused, and there they lay tyll the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes halpe up sir Selyses, and sir Trystram and sir Palomydes halpe up sir Gareth ayen, and so they rode wyth hym to their pavylons. And than they pulled of his helme, and whan La Beall Isode saw sir Gareth brused so in the face she asked hym what ayled hym.

  ‘Madame,’ sayde sir Gareth, ‘I had a grete buffette, and I suppose I gaff anothir, but none of my fealowys, God thanke hem, wolde rescowe me.’

  ‘Perdeus,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘hit longyth nat to none of us at this day to juste, for there hath nat this day justed no preved knyghtes. And whan the other party saw that ye profyrd yourself to juste, they sente a passyng good knyght unto you, for I know hym well: his name is sir Selyses. And worshypfully ye mette with hym, and neyther of you ar dishonoured. And therefore refreyshe yourselff, that ye may be redy and hole to juste tomorne.’

  ‘As for that,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘I shall nat fayle you and I may bestryde myne horse.’

  [68] ‘Now, sirs, uppon what party is hyt beste’, seyde sir Trystram, ‘to be withall to-morne?’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘ye shall have myne advyse to be ayenst kynge Arthure as to-morne, for on his party woll be sir Launcelot and many good knyghtes of his blood with hym; and the me men of worship that they be, the more worshyp shall we wynne.’

  ‘That is full knyghtly spokyn,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘and so shall hit be ryght as ye counceyle me.’

  ‘In the name of God,’ seyde they all.

  So that nyght they were reposed with the beste. And in the morne whan hit was day they were arayed all in grene trapurs, bothe shyldis and spearys, and La Beall Isode in the same coloure, and her three damesels. And ryght thes four knyghtes cam into the fylde endlynge and thorow, and so they lad La Beall Isode thidir as she sholde stande and beholde all the justes in a bay-wyndow; but allwayes she was wympled, that no man myght se her vysayge. And than thes four knyghtes rode streyte unto the party of the kynge of Scottis.

  Whan kynge Arthure had seyne hem do all this he asked sir Launcelot what were this knyghtes and this quene.

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I can nat tell you, for no sertayne. But yf sir Trystram be in this contrey or sir Palomydes, sir, wyte you well hit be they, and there is quene La Beall Isode.’

  Than kynge Arthure called unto hym sir Kay and seyde, ‘Go ye lyghtly and wyte how many knyghtes there bene hyre lackynge of the Table Rounde, for by the segis ye may know.’

  So went sir Kay and saw by the wrytynge in the syeges that there lacked ten knyghtes, and thes were hir namys: sir Trystram, sir Palomydes, sir Percivall, sir Gareth, sir Gaherys, sir Epynogrys, sir Mordred, sir Dynadan, sir La Cote Male Tayle, and sir Pelleas, the noble knyght.

  ‘Well,’ seyde kynge Arthur, ‘som of thes, I dare undirtake, ar here this day ayenste us.’

  Than cam therein two bretherne, cousyns unto sir Gawayne: that one hyght sir Edwarde and that other hyght sir Sadok, the whyche were two good knyghtes. And they asked of kynge Arthure that they myght have the fyrste justis, for they were of Orkeney.

  ‘I am pleased,’ seyde kynge Arthure.

  Than sir Edwarde encountirde with the kynge of Scottis, in whos party was sir Trystram and sir Palomydes. And this sir Edwarde of Orkeney smote the kynge of Scottis quyte frome his ho
rse, a grete falle. And sir Sadoke smote the kynge of Northe Walys downe and gaff hym a wondir grete falle, that there was a grete cry on kynge Arthurs party.

  And that made sir Palomydes passyngly wrothe, and so sir Palomydes dressed his shylde and his speare, and wyth all hys myght he mette with sir Edwarde of Orkeney and smote hym so harde that his horse had no myght to stonde on his fyete, and so he hurled downe to the erthe. And than with the same speare sir Palomydes smote downe Sadok over his horse croupe.

  A, Jesu!’ seyde kyng Arthure, ‘what knyght ys that arayed so all in grene? For he justyth myghtyly.’

  ‘Wyte you well,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘he ys a good knyght, and yet shall ye se hym juste bettir or he departe. And yet shall ye se a more bygger knyght in the same colour than he is. For that same knyght,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘that smote downe ryght now my two cousyns, he smote me downe within thes two dayes, and seven felowys mo.’

  This meanewhyle as they stood thus talkynge, there cam into the place sir Trystram uppon a blacke horse. And or ever he stynte he smote downe with one speare four good knyghtes of Orkeney that were of the kynne of sir Gawayne. And sir Gareth and sir Dynadan everyche of them smote downe a good knyght.

  ‘A, Jesu!’ seyde Arthure, ‘yondir knyght uppon the blaeke horse dothe myghtyly and mervaylously well.’

  ‘Abyde you!’ seyde sir Gawayne. ‘That knyght on the blak horse began nat yet.’

  Than sir Trystrams made to horse the two knyghtes agayne that sir Edwarde and sir Sadok had unhorsed at the begynnynge. And than sir Trystram drew his swerde and rode unto the thyckyst prease ayenste them of Orkeney, and there he smote downe knyghtes and raced off helmys and pulled away their shyldis and hurteled downe many of their knyghtes. And so he fared that kynge Arthure and all knyghtes had grete mervayle to se ony o knyght do so muche dedis of armys.

  And sir Palomydes fayled nat uppon the other syde, that he so mervaylously ded and well that all men had wondir; for kynge Arthure lykened sir Trystram, that was on the blak horse, unto a wood lyon; and he lykened sir Palomydes, uppon the whyght horse, unto a wood lybarde, and sir Gareth and sir Dynadan unto egir wolvis.

  But the custom was suche amonge them that none of the kyngys wolde helpe other, but all the felyshyp of every standarde to helpe other as they myght. But ever sir Trystram ded so muche dedis of armys that they of Orkeney wexed wery of hym and so withdrew them unto Lonezep.

  Than was the cry of herowdys and all maner of comyn people, [69] ‘the grene knyght hathe done mervaylously and beatyn all them of Orkeney!’ And there herowdis numbird that sir Trystram, that was uppon the blacke horse, had smytten downe with spearys and swerdis thirty knyghtes, and sir Palomydes had smyttyn downe twenty knyghtes; and the most party of thes fifty knyghtes were of the house of kynge Arthure and preved knyghtes.

  ‘So God me helpe,’ seyde kynge Arthur unto sir Launcelot, ‘this is a grete shame to us to se four knyghtes beate so many knyghtes of myne. And therefore make you redy, for we woll have ado with them!’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘wyte you well that there ar two passynge good knyghtes, and grete worship were hit nat to us now to have ado with them, for they ar gretly travayled.’

  ‘As for that,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘I woll be avenged. And therefore take with you sir Bleoberys and sir Ector de Marys, and I woll be the fourthe,’ seyde kynge Arthure.

  ‘Well, sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘ye shall fynde me redy, and my brother sir Ector and my cousyn sir Bleoberys.’

  And so whan they were redy and on horsebacke, ‘Now chose,’ seyde kynge Arthure unto sir Launcelot, ‘whom that ye woll encountir wythall.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I woll counter wyth the grene knyght uppon the blacke horse.’ That was sir Trystram. ‘And my cousyn sir Bleoberys shall macche the grene knyght uppon the whyght horse.’ That was sir Palomydes. And my brother sir Ector shall macche wyth the grene knyght uppon the dunne horse.’ That was sir Gareth.

  ‘Than muste I,’ seyde kynge Arthur, ‘have ado with the grene knyght uppon the gresylde horse,’ and that was sir Dynadan.

  ‘Now every man take kepe to his felow!’ seyde sir Launcelot.

  And so they trotted on togydyrs, and there encountirde sir Launcelot ayenst sir Trystram, and they smote ayther othir so sore that horse and man yeode to the erthe. But sir Launcelot wente that hit had be sir Palomydes, and so they passed utter.

  And than sir Bleoberys encountyrd wyth sir Palomydes, and he smote hym so harde uppon the shylde that sir Palomydes and his whyght horse rosteled to the erthe. Than sir Ector smote sir Gareth so harde that downe he felle from his horse. And than noble kynge Arthure he encountyrd wyth sir Dynadan, and kynge Arthure smote hym quyte frome his horse. And than the noyse turned awhyle and seyde, ‘The grene knyghtes were felde downe!’

  Whan the kyng of Northe Galys saw that sir Trystram was on foote, and than he remembyrd hym how grete dedis of armys they had done, than he made redy many knyghtes. For the custom and the cry was suche that what knyght were smytten downe and myght nat be horsed agayne by his felowys othir by his owne strengthe, that as that day he sholde be presonere unto the party that smote hym downe.

  So there cam in the kynge of Northe Galys, and he rode streyte unto sir Trystram. And whan he cam nyghe hym he alyght delyvirly and toke sir Trystram hys horse and seyde thus:

  ‘Noble knyght, I know the nat, nothir of what contrey ye be, but for the noble dedis that ye have done this day take there my horse and let me do as well as I may; for, as Jesu be my helpe, ye ar bettir worthy to have myne horse than myselff.’

  ‘Grauntemercy!’ seyde sir Trystram. ‘And yf I may, I shall quyte you. And loke that ye go nat far frome us, and as I suppose I shall wynne you sone another horse.’

  And therewythall sir Trystram mounte uppon his horse, and anone he mette wyth kynge Arthure and he gaff hym suche a buffet that kynge Arthure had no power to kepe his sadyll. And than sir Trystram gaff the kynge of Northe Galys kynge Arthurs horse. Than was there grete prease aboute kynge Arthure for to horse hym agayne. But sire Palomydes wold not suffre kynge Arthur to be horsed ageyne, but ever sir Palomydes smote on the ryght honde and on the lyffte honde and raced of helmys myghtyly as a noble knyght.

  And this meanewhyle sir Trystram rode thorow the thyckyste prece and smote downe knyghtes on the ryght honde and on the lyffte honde and raced of helmys, and so passed forthe unto his pavelouns and leffte sir Palomydes on foote. And than sir Trystram chonged his horse and disgysed hymselff all in rede, horse and harnes.

  And whan quene Isode saw sir Trystram unhorsed and she wyst [70] nat where he was becom, than she wepte hartely. But sir Trystram, whan he was redy, cam daysshynge lyghtly into the fylde, and than La Beall Isode aspyed hym. And so he ded grete dedis of armys wyth one speare that was grete, for sir Trystram smote downe fyve knyghtes or ever he stynted.

  Than sir Launcelot aspyed hym redyly that hit was sir Trystram, and than he repented hym of that he had smyttyn hym downe. And so sir Launcelot wente oute of the prees to repose hym, and lyghtly he cam agayne.

  And so whan sir Trystram was com into the prees, thorow his grete forse he put sir Palomydes uppon his horse, and sir Gareth and sir Dynadan, and than they began to do mervaylously. But sir Palomydes nothir none of his two felowys knew nat who had holpen them to horsebak. But ever sir Trystram was nyghe them and knew them and they nat hym, because he had chonged into rede armour. And all this whyle sir Launcelot was away.

  So whan La Beall Isode aspyed sir Trystram agayne uppon his horse bak she was passynge glad, and than she lowghe and made good chere. And as hit happened, sir Palomydes loked up toward her; she was in the wyndow, and sir Palomydes aspyed how she lawghed. And therewyth he toke suche rejoysynge that he smote downe, what wyth his speare and wyth hys swerde, all that ever he mette, for thorow the syght of her he was so enamered in her love that he semed at that tyme that and bothe sir Trystram and sir Launcelot had bene bothe ayenste hym they sholde have wonne no worshyp of hym. And in his har
te, as the booke saythe, sir Palomydes wysshed that wyth his worshyp he myght have ado wyth sir Trystram before all men, bycause of La Beall Isode.

  Than sir Palomydes began to double his strengthe, and he ded so mervaylously all men had wondir; and ever he kaste up his yee unto La Beall Isode. And whan he saw her make suche chere he fared lyke a lyon, that there myght no man wythstonde hym. And than sir Trystram behylde hym how he styrred aboute, and seyde unto sir Dynadan, ‘So God me helpe, sir Palomydes ys a passynge good knyghte and a” well endurynge, but suche dedis sawe I hym never do, nother never erste herde I tell that ever he ded so muche in one day.’

  ‘Sir, hit is his day,’ seyde sir Dynadan, and he wolde sey no more unto sir Trystram, but to hymself he seyde thus: ‘And sir Trystram knew for whos love he doth all this dedys of armys, sone he wolde abate his corrage.’

  ‘Alas,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘that sir Palomydes were nat crystynde!’ So seyde kynge Arthur, and so seyde all that behylde them. Than all people gaff hym the pryse as for the beste knyght that day, and he passed sir Launcelot othir ellys sir Trystram.

  ‘Well,’ seyde sir Dynadan to hymselff, all this worshyp that sir Palomydes hath here thys day, he may thanke the quene Isode: for had she bene away this day, had nat sir Palomydes gotyn the pryse.’ Ryght so cam into the fylde sir Launcelot du Lake, and sawe and harde the grete noyse and the grete worshyp that sir Palomydes had. He dressed hym ayenst sir Palomydes wyth a grete speare and a longe, and thought to have smyttyn hym downe. And whan sir Palomydes saw sir Launcelot com uppon hym so faste, he toke his horse wyth the spurrys and ran uppon hym as faste wyth his swerde. And as sir Launcelot sholde have strykyn hym, he smote the speare on syde and smote hit a-too wyth his swerde. And therewyth sir Palomydes russhed unto sir Launcelot and thought to have put hym to shame, and wyth his swerde he smote of his horse nek that sir Launcelot rode uppon. And than sir Launcelot felle to the erthe.