So all these knights rode to a woodside,and abode till King Mark came by the way.Then they put forth Sir Dagonet,and he came on all the while his horse might run,straight upon King Mark.And when he came nigh King Mark,he cried as he were wood,and said:Keep thee,knight of Cornwall,for I will slay thee.Anon,as King Mark beheld his shield,he said to himself:Yonder is Sir Launcelot;alas,now am I destroyed;and therewithal he made his horse to run as fast as it might through thick and thin.And ever Sir Dagonet followed after King Mark,crying and rating him as a wood man,through a great forest.When Sir Uwaine and Sir Brandiles saw Dagonet so chase King Mark,they laughed all as they were wood.And then they took their horses,and rode after to see how Sir Dagonet sped,for they would not for no good that Sir Dagonet were shent,for King Arthur loved him passing well,and made him knight with his own hands.And at every tournament he began to make King Arthur to laugh.Then the knights rode here and there,crying and chasing after King Mark,that all the forest rang of the noise.
CHAPTER XIII
How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying,and how he overthrew Dagonet and other knights.
SO King Mark rode by fortune by a well,in the way where stood a knight-errant on horseback,armed at all points,with a great spear in his hand.And when he saw King Mark coming flying he said:Knight,return again for shame and stand with me,and I shall be thy warrant.Ah,fair knight,said King Mark,let me pass,for yonder cometh after me the best knight of the world,with the black bended shield.Fie,for shame,said the knight,he is none of the worthy knights,and if he were Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram I should not doubt to meet the better of them both.When King Mark heard him say that word,he turned his horse and abode by him.And then that strong knight bare a spear to Dagonet,and smote him so sore that he bare him over his horse's tail,and nigh he had broken his neck.And anon after him came Sir Brandiles,and when he saw Dagonet have that fall he was passing wroth,and cried:
Keep thee,knight,and so they hurtled together wonder sore.But the knight smote Sir Brandiles so sore that he went to the earth,horse and man.Sir Uwaine came after and saw all this.Jesu,said he,yonder is a strong knight.And then they feutred their spears,and this knight came so eagerly that he smote down Sir Uwaine.
Then came Ozana with the hardy heart,and he was smitten down.Now,said Sir Griflet,by my counsel let us send to yonder errant-knight,and wit whether he be of Arthur's court,for as I deem it is Sir Lamorak de Galis.So they sent unto him,and prayed the strange knight to tell his name,and whether he were of Arthur's court or not.As for my name they shall not wit,but tell them I am a knight-errant as they are,and let them wit that I am no knight of King Arthur's court;and so the squire rode again unto them and told them his answer of him.By my head,said Sir Agravaine,he is one of the strongest knights that ever I saw,for he hath overthrown three noble knights,and needs we must encounter with him for shame.So Sir Agravaine feutred his spear,and that other was ready,and smote him down over his horse to the earth.And in the same wise he smote Sir Uwaine les Avoutres and also Sir Griflet.
Then had he served them all but Sir Dinadan,for he was behind,and Sir Mordred was unarmed,and Dagonet had his harness.
So when this was done,this strong knight rode on his way a soft pace,and King Mark rode after him,praising him mickle;but he would answer no words,but sighed wonderly sore,hanging down his head,taking no heed to his words.Thus they rode well a three mile English,and then this knight called to him a varlet,and bade him ride until yonder fair manor,and recommend me to the lady of that castle and place,and pray her to send me refreshing of good meats and drinks.And if she ask thee what I am,tell her that I am the knight that followeth the glatisant beast:that is in English to say the questing beast;for that beast wheresomever he yede he quested in the belly with such a noise as it had been a thirty couple of hounds.Then the varlet went his way and came to the manor,and saluted the lady,and told her from whence he came.And when she understood that he came from the knight that followed the questing beast:O sweet Lord Jesu,she said,when shall I see that noble knight,my dear son Palomides?Alas,will he not abide with me?and therewith she swooned and wept,and made passing great dole.And then also soon as she might she gave the varlet all that he asked.
And the varlet returned unto Sir Palomides,for he was a varlet of King Mark.And as soon as he came,he told the knight's name was Sir Palomides.I am well pleased,said King Mark,but hold thee still and say nothing.Then they alighted and set them down and reposed them a while.Anon withal King Mark fell asleep.When Sir Palomides saw him sound asleep he took his horse and rode his way,and said to them:Iwill not be in the company of a sleeping knight.And so he rode forth a great pace.
CHAPTER XIV
How King Mark and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides making great sorrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud.
NOW turn we unto Sir Dinadan,that found these seven knights passing heavy.And when he wist how that they sped,as heavy was he.My lord Uwaine,said Dinadan,Idare lay my head it is Sir Lamorak de Galis.I promise you all I shall find him an he may be found in this country.And so Sir Dinadan rode after this knight;and so did King Mark,that sought him through the forest.So as King Mark rode after Sir Palomides he heard the noise of a man that made great dole.Then King Mark rode as nigh that noise as he might and as he durst.Then was he ware of a knight that was descended off his horse,and had put off his helm,and there he made a piteous complaint and a dolorous,of love.