Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
LXVIII explained
Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan, all arrayed in green, enter a tournament on the side of the King of Scots against King Arthur's party.
What happens
Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan, all arrayed in green, enter a tournament on the side of the King of Scots against King Arthur's party. La Beale Isoud watches from a window. Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides perform extraordinary feats of arms, unhorsing many knights of Orkney, including kin of Sir Gawaine. King Arthur marvels at their prowess, comparing Tristram to a wood lion and Palomides to a wood leopard. The knights of Orkney eventually withdraw to Lonazep.
Themes in this chapter
Chivalry and Knighthood
The tournament showcases knightly prowess, honor, and the pursuit of worship through feats of arms, as Tristram and Palomides seek to win glory against the best knights of Arthur's court.
Honor and Reputation
Knights choose sides to maximize worship, and King Arthur's marvel at their deeds underscores the importance of reputation in the chivalric world.
Characters to notice
- Sir Tristram de Liones
Leads the green-clad knights against King Arthur's party, performs mighty deeds of arms on a black horse, compared to a wood lion by King Arthur.
- Sir Palomides
Fights alongside Tristram, jousts fiercely, unhorses Sir Edward and Sir Sadok, compared to a wood leopard by King Arthur.
- La Beale Isoud
Accompanies the knights in green, watches the tournament from a bay window, her face hidden by a wimple.
- King Arthur
Observes the tournament, inquires about the green knights, marvels at Tristram and Palomides' prowess.
- Sir Launcelot du Lake
Present with King Arthur, speculates that the green knights might be Tristram and Palomides.
- Sir Gawaine
Identifies the green knights as good knights, notes that one of them recently smote him down.
- Sir Gareth of Orkney
Fights on Tristram's side, smites down a good knight, compared to an eager wolf by King Arthur.
- Sir Dinadan
Fights on Tristram's side, smites down a good knight, compared to an eager wolf by King Arthur.
Key passages
“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.”
Palomides advises Tristram to oppose King Arthur's side because facing Launcelot and other worthy knights will bring them greater honor.
Reflects the chivalric desire to earn renown by challenging the best opponents.
“For there King Arthur likened Sir Tristram that was on the black horse like to a wood lion, and likened Sir Palomides upon the white horse unto a wood leopard, and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan unto eager wolves.”
King Arthur compared Tristram to a fierce lion, Palomides to a wild leopard, and Gareth and Dinadan to hungry wolves, emphasizing their ferocity in battle.
Highlights the martial prowess and wild energy of the knights as observed by Arthur.