Then these twelve knights suddenly turned their horses and said to Sir Launcelot:Sir knight,we counsel thee not to meddle with this knight,for he hath deserved death,and unto death he is judged.That me repenteth,said Launcelot,that I may not borrow him with fairness,for he is over good a knight to die such a shameful death.And therefore,fair knights,said Sir Launcelot,keep you as well as ye can,for I will rescue that knight or die for it.
Then they began to dress their spears,and Sir Launcelot smote the foremost down,horse and man,and so he served three more with one spear;and then that spear brast,and therewithal Sir Launcelot drew his sword,and then he smote on the right hand and on the left hand.Then within a while he left none of those twelve knights,but he had laid them to the earth,and the most part of them were sore wounded.And then Sir Launcelot took the best horse that he found,and loosed Sir Palomides and set him upon that horse;and so they returned again unto Joyous Gard,and then was Sir Palomides ware of Sir Tristram how he came riding.And when Sir Launcelot saw him he knew him well,but Sir Tristram knew him not because Sir Launcelot had on his shoulder a golden shield.
So Sir Launcelot made him ready to joust with Sir Tristram,that Sir Tristram should not ween that he were Sir Launcelot.Then Sir Palomides cried aloud to Sir Tristram:
O my lord,I require you joust not with this knight,for this good knight hath saved me from my death.When Sir Tristram heard him say so he came a soft trotting pace toward them.And then Sir Palomides said:My lord,Sir Tristram,much am I beholding unto you of your great goodness,that would proffer your noble body to rescue me undeserved,for I have greatly offended you.Notwithstanding,said Sir Palomides,here met we with this noble knight that worshipfully and manly rescued me from twelve knights,and smote them down all and wounded them sore.
CHAPTER LXXXVI
How Sir Tristram and Launcelot,with Palomides,came to joyous Gard;and of Palomides and Sir Tristram.
FAIR knight,said Sir Tristram unto Sir Launcelot,of whence be ye?I am a knight errant,said Sir Launcelot,that rideth to seek many adventures.What is your name?
said Sir Tristram.Sir,at this time I will not tell you.
Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram and to Palomides:
Now either of you are met together I will depart from you.Not so,said Sir Tristram;I pray you of knighthood to ride with me unto my castle.Wit you well,said Sir Launcelot,I may not ride with you,for Ihave many deeds to do in other places,that at this time I may not abide with you.Ah,mercy Jesu,said Sir Tristram,I require you as ye be a true knight to the order of knighthood,play you with me this night.Then Sir Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot:howbeit though he had not desired him he would have ridden with them,outher soon have come after them;for Sir Launcelot came for none other cause into that country but for to see Sir Tristram.And when they were come within Joyous Gard they alighted,and their horses were led into a stable;and then they unarmed them.And when Sir Launcelot was unhelmed,Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides knew him.
Then Sir Tristram took Sir Launcelot in arms,and so did La Beale Isoud;and Palomides kneeled down upon his knees and thanked Sir Launcelot.When Sir Launcelot saw Sir Palomides kneel he lightly took him up and said thus:Wit thou well,Sir Palomides,I and any knight in this land,of worship ought of very right succour and rescue so noble a knight as ye are proved and renowned,throughout all this realm endlong and overthwart.And then was there joy among them,and the oftener that Sir Palomides saw La Beale Isoud the heavier he waxed day by day.
Then Sir Launcelot within three or four days departed,and with him rode Sir Ector de Maris;and Dinadan and Sir Palomides were there left with Sir Tristram a two months and more.But ever Sir Palomides faded and mourned,that all men had marvel wherefore he faded so away.So upon a day,in the dawning,Sir Palomides went into the forest by himself alone;and there he found a well,and then he looked into the well,and in the water he saw his own visage,how he was disturbed and defaded,nothing like that he was.What may this mean?said Sir Palomides,and thus he said to himself:Ah,Palomides,Palomides,why art thou defaded,thou that was wont to be called one of the fairest knights of the world?I will no more lead this life,for I love that I may never get nor recover.And therewithal he laid him down by the well.
And then he began to make a rhyme of La Beale Isoud and him.
And in the meanwhile Sir Tristram was that same day ridden into the forest to chase the hart of greese;but Sir Tristram would not ride a-hunting never more unarmed,because of Sir Breuse Saunce Pit .And so as Sir Tristram rode into that forest up and down,he heard one sing marvellously loud,and that was Sir Palomides that lay by the well.And then Sir Tristram rode softly thither,for he deemed there was some knight errant that was at the well.And when Sir Tristram came nigh him he descended down from his horse and tied his horse fast till a tree,and then he came near him on foot;and anon he was ware where lay Sir Palomides by the well and sang loud and merrily;and ever the complaints were of that noble queen,La Beale Isoud,the which was marvellously and wonderfully well said,and full dolefully and piteously made.And all the whole song the noble knight,Sir Tristram,heard from the beginning to the ending,the which grieved and troubled him sore.