ote a stroke of
might unto Palomides, sore upon the helm; but the helm was so hard that
the sword might not bite, but slipped and smote off the head of the
horse of Sir Palomides. When the haut prince wist and saw the good
knight fall unto the earth he was ashamed of that stroke. And therewith
he alighted down off his own horse, and prayed the good knight,
Palomides, to take that horse of his gift, and to forgive him that deed.
Sir, said Palomides, I thank you of your great goodness, for ever of a
man of worship a knight shall never have disworship; and so he mounted
upon that horse, and the haut prince had another anon. Now, said the
haut prince, I release to you that maiden, for ye have won her. Ah, said
Palomides, the damosel and I be at your commandment.
So they departed, and Sir Galahalt did great deeds of arms. And right so
came Dinadan and encountered with Sir Galahalt, and either came to other
so fast with their spears that their spears brake to their hands. But
Dinadan had weened the haut prince had been more weary than he was. And
then he smote many sad strokes at the haut prince; but when Dinadan saw
he might not get him to the earth he said: My lord, I pray you leave me,
and take another. The haut prince knew not Dinadan, and left goodly for
his fair words. And so they departed; but soon there came another and
told the haut prince that it was Dinadan. Forsooth, said the prince,
therefore am I heavy that he is so escaped from me, for with his mocks
and japes now shall I never have done with him. And then Galahalt rode
fast after him, and bade him: Abide, Dinadan, for King Arthur's sake.
Nay, said Dinadan, so God me help, we meet no more together this day.
Then in that wrath the haut prince met with Meliagaunce, and he smote
him in the throat that an he had fallen his neck had broken; and with
the same spear he smote down another knight. Then came in they of
Northgalis and many strangers, and were like to have put them of Surluse
to the worse, for Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, had ever much in hand.
So there came the good knight, Semound the Valiant, with forty knights,
and he beat them all aback. Then the Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot
let blow to lodging, and every knight unarmed him, and dressed him to
the feast.
CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Archade appealed Sir Palomides of treason, and
how Sir Palomides slew him.
WHEN Palomides was unarmed he asked lodging for himself and the damosel.
Anon the ha
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