areth. And so they
encountered together, and there that knight smote down Sir Gareth over
his horse's croup. How now, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Dinadan, dress
thee now and revenge the good knight Gareth. That shall I not, said Sir
Dinadan, for he hath stricken down a much bigger knight than I am.
Ah, said Sir Tristram, now Sir Dinadan, I see and feel well your heart
faileth you, therefore now shall ye see what I shall do. And then Sir
Tristram hurtled unto that knight, and smote him quite from his horse.
And when Sir Dinadan saw that, he marvelled greatly; and then he deemed
that it was Sir Tristram.
Then this knight that was on foot pulled out his sword to do battle.
What is your name? said Sir Tristram. Wit ye well, said that knight, my
name is Sir Palomides. What knight hate ye most? said Sir Tristram. Sir
knight, said he, I hate Sir Tristram to the death, for an I may meet
with him the one of us shall die. Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, and
wit ye well that I am Sir Tristram de Liones, and now do your worst.
When Sir Palomides heard him say so he was astonied. And then he said
thus: I pray you, Sir Tristram, forgive me all mine evil will, and if I
live I shall do you service above all other knights that be living;
and whereas I have owed you evil will me sore repenteth. I wot not
what aileth me, for meseemeth that ye are a good knight, and none other
knight that named himself a good knight should not hate you; therefore I
require you, Sir Tristram, take no displeasure at mine unkind words. Sir
Palomides, said Sir Tristram, ye say well, and well I wot ye are a good
knight, for I have seen ye proved; and many great enterprises have ye
taken upon you, and well achieved them; therefore, said Sir Tristram, an
ye have any evil will to me, now may ye right it, for I am ready at your
hand. Not so, my lord Sir Tristram, I will do you knightly service in
all thing as ye will command. And right so I will take you, said Sir
Tristram. And so they rode forth on their ways talking of many things.
O my lord Sir Tristram, said Dinadan, foul have ye mocked me, for God
knoweth I came into this country for your sake, and by the advice of
my lord Sir Launcelot; and yet would not Sir Launcelot tell me the
certainty of you, where I should find you. Truly, said Sir Tristram, Sir
Launcelot wist well where I was, for I abode within his own castle.
CHAPTER LVIII. How they approached the Castle Lonazep, and of other
devices of the dea
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