Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red, and how he demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides slew Launcelot’s horse explained
In a tournament, Sir Tristram dons red armor and, unrecognized, aids Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan.
What happens
In a tournament, Sir Tristram dons red armor and, unrecognized, aids Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan. Sir Palomides, inspired by Queen La Beale Isoud's laughter, performs extraordinary feats, earning the day's prize. Sir Launcelot returns and challenges Palomides, but Palomides cuts Launcelot's horse's neck, causing Launcelot to fall, which many knights deem unknightly.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Adultery
Sir Palomides' extraordinary feats are driven by his enamored love for Queen La Beale Isoud, despite her being Tristram's beloved.
Honor and Reputation
Knights compete for worship and prize; Palomides gains great honor but is criticized for unknightly conduct in killing Launcelot's horse.
Violence and Vengeance
The tournament escalates into deliberate violence when Palomides kills Launcelot's horse, an act deemed unknightly outside of mortal combat.
Characters to notice
- Sir Tristram de Liones
Changes to red armor, aids Palomides and others, and is recognized by La Beale Isoud.
- La Beale Isoud
Weeps when Tristram is unhorsed, then laughs with joy upon recognizing him, inspiring Palomides.
- Sir Palomides
Performs marvelously due to love for Isoud, slays Launcelot's horse, and is praised as the best knight that day.
- Sir Launcelot du Lake
Repents striking Tristram, returns to challenge Palomides, but is unhorsed when Palomides kills his horse.
- Sir Gareth of Orkney
Helped onto horse by Tristram, fights in the tournament.
- Sir Dinadan
Helped onto horse by Tristram, comments on Palomides' motivation.
- King Arthur
Observes and remarks that Palomides should be christened.
Key passages
“But ever Sir Tristram was nigh them and succoured them, and they [knew] not him, because he was changed into red armour”
Sir Tristram stayed close to them and helped them, but they did not recognize him because he was now wearing red armor.
Tristram's disguise allows him to aid his allies anonymously.
“And when he saw her make such cheer he fared like a lion, that there might no man withstand him”
When he saw her joyful expression, he fought like a lion, so that no one could resist him.
Palomides' love for Isoud supernaturally amplifies his combat prowess.
“therefore many knights held there against that it was unknightly done in a tournament to kill an horse wilfully, but that it had been done in plain battle, life for life.”
Many knights considered it unchivalrous to deliberately kill a horse in a tournament, unlike in a real battle where life is at stake.
The knights distinguish between tournament conduct and mortal combat.