BUT Sir Tristram was not so soon come into the place,but Sir Gawaine and Sir Galihodin went to King Arthur,and told him:That same green knight in the green harness with the white horse smote us two down,and six of our fellows this same day.Well,said Arthur.And then he called Sir Tristram and asked him what was his name.Sir,said Sir Tristram,ye shall hold me excused as at this time,for ye shall not wit my name.And there Sir Tristram returned and rode his way.I have marvel,said Arthur,that yonder knight will not tell me his name,but go thou,Griflet le Fise de Dieu,and pray him to speak with me betwixt us.Then Sir Griflet rode after him and overtook him,and said him that King Arthur prayed him for to speak with him secretly apart.Upon this covenant,said Sir Tristram,I will speak with him;that I will turn again so that ye will ensure me not to desire to hear my name.I shall undertake,said Sir Griflet,that he will not greatly desire it of you.So they rode together until they came to King Arthur.Fair sir,said King Arthur,what is the cause ye will not tell me your name?Sir,said Sir Tristram,without a cause I will not hide my name.Upon what party will ye hold?said King Arthur.Truly,my lord,said Sir Tristram,I wot not yet on what party I will be on,until I come to the field,and there as my heart giveth me,there will I hold;but to-morrow ye shall see and prove on what party Ishall come.And therewithal he returned and went to his pavilions.
And upon the morn they armed them all in green,and came into the field;and there young knights began to joust,and did many worshipful deeds.Then spake Gareth unto Sir Tristram,and prayed him to give him leave to break his spear,for him thought shame to bear his spear whole again.When Sir Tristram heard him say so he laughed,and said:I pray you do your best.Then Sir Gareth gat a spear and proffered to joust.That saw a knight that was nephew unto the King of the Hundred Knights;his name was Selises,and a good man of arms.
So this knight Selises then dressed him unto Sir Gareth,and they two met together so hard that either smote other down,his horse and all,to the earth,so they were both bruised and hurt;and there they lay till the King with the Hundred Knights halp Selises up,and Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides halp up Gareth again.And so they rode with Sir Gareth unto their pavilions,and then they pulled off his helm.
And when La Beale Isoud saw Sir Gareth bruised in the face she asked him what ailed him.Madam,said Sir Gareth,I had a great buffet,and as I suppose I gave another,but none of my fellows,God thank them,would not rescue me.Forsooth,said Palomides,it longed not to none of us as this day to joust,for there have not this day jousted no proved knights,and needly ye would joust.
And when the other party saw ye proffered yourself to joust they sent one to you,a passing good knight of his age,for I know him well,his name is Selises;and worshipfully ye met with him,and neither of you are dishonoured,and therefore refresh yourself that ye may be ready and whole to joust to-morrow.As for that,said Gareth,I shall not fail you an I may bestride mine horse.
CHAPTER LXVIII
How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted,and of the noble feats that they did in that tourneying.
NOW upon what party,said Tristram,is it best we be withal as to-morn?Sir,said Palomides,ye shall have mine advice to be against King Arthur as to-morn,for on his party will be Sir Launcelot and many good knights of his blood with him.And the more men of worship that they be,the more worship we shall win.That is full knightly spoken,said Sir Tristram;and right so as ye counsel me,so will we do.In the name of God,said they all.So that night they were lodged with the best.And on the morn when it was day they were arrayed all in green trappings,shields and spears,and La Beale Isoud in the same colour,and her three damosels.And right so these four knights came into the field endlong and through.
And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as she should stand and behold all the jousts in a bay window;but always she was wimpled that no man might see her visage.And then these three knights rode straight unto the party of the King of Scots.
When King Arthur had seen them do all this he asked Sir Launcelot what were these knights and that queen.
Sir,said Launcelot,I cannot say you in certain,but if Sir Tristram be in this country,or Sir Palomides,wit ye well it be they m certain,and La Beale Isoud.Then Arthur called to him Sir Kay and said:Go lightly and wit how many knights there be here lacking of the Table Round,for by the sieges thou mayst know.So went Sir Kay and saw by the writings in the sieges that there lacked ten knights.And these be their names that be not here.Sir Tristram,Sir Palomides,Sir Percivale,Sir Gaheris,Sir Epinogris,Sir Mordred,Sir Dinadan,Sir La Cote Male Taile,and Sir Pelleas the noble knight.Well,said Arthur,some of these I dare undertake are here this day against us.
Then came therein two brethren,cousins unto Sir Gawaine,the one hight Sir Edward,that other hight Sir Sadok,the which were two good knights;and they asked of King Arthur that they might have the first jousts,for they were of Orkney.I am pleased,said King Arthur.
Then Sir Edward encountered with the King of Scots,in whose party was Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides;and Sir Edward smote the King of Scots quite from his horse,and Sir Sadok smote down the King of North Wales,and gave him a wonder great fall,that there was a great cry on King Arthur's party,and that made Sir Palomides passing wroth.
