how there was a day set between sir tristram and sir palomides for to fight, and how sir tristram was hurt.
then said sir tristram: i will fight with you to the uttermost. i grant, said palomides, for in a better quarrel keep i never to fight, for an i die of your hands, of a better knight’s hands may i not be slain. and sithen i understand that i shall never rejoice la beale isoud, i have as good will to die as to live. then set ye a day, said sir tristram, that we shall do battle. this day fifteen days, said palomides, will i meet with you hereby, in the meadow under joyous gard. fie for shame, said sir tristram, will ye set so long day? let us fight to-morn. not so, said palomides, for i am meagre, and have been long sick for the love of la beale isoud, and therefore i will repose me till i have my strength again. so then sir tristram and sir palomides promised faith fully to meet at the well that day fifteen days. i am remembered, said sir tristram to palomides, that ye brake me once a promise when that i rescued you from breuse saunce pité and nine knights; and then ye promised me to meet me at the peron and the grave beside camelot, whereas at that time ye failed of your promise. wit you well, said palomides unto sir tristram, i was at that day in prison, so that i might not hold my promise. so god me help, said sir tristram, an ye had holden your promise this work had not been here now at this time.
right so departed sir tristram and sir palomides. and so sir palomides took his horse and his harness, and he rode unto king arthur’s court; and there sir palomides gat him four knights and four sergeants-of-arms, and so he returned againward unto joyous gard. and in the meanwhile sir tristram chased and hunted at all manner of venery; and about three days afore the battle should be, as sir tristram chased an hart, there was an archer shot at the hart, and by misfortune he smote sir tristram in the thick of the thigh, and the arrow slew sir tristram’s horse and hurt him. when sir tristram was so hurt he was passing heavy, and wit ye well he bled sore; and then he took another horse, and rode unto joyous gard with great heaviness, more for the promise that he had made with sir palomides, as to do battle with him within three days after, than for any hurt of his thigh. wherefore there was neither man nor woman that could cheer him with anything that they could make to him, neither queen la beale isoud; for ever he deemed that sir palomides had smitten him so that he should not be able to do battle with him at the day set.
