Palomides

Le Morte d'Arthur develops Palomides through sustained narrative attention across dozens of chapters, making him one of the most psychologically complex figures in the text. His trajectory moves from tournament rival to reluctant ally to finally christened knight.

The rivalry with Tristram forms the backbone of Palomides's story. Their first significant encounter comes when "Sir Palomides came in the morntide, and proffered to joust thereas King Arthur was in a castle there besides Surluse" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLVI). At tournament after tournament, their encounters follow a pattern of confrontation and uneasy truce. Palomides's own assessment is revealing: "Once in Ireland Sir Tristram put me to the worse, and another time in Cornwall, and in other places in this land" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXI). Yet he acknowledges Tristram's nature even as he rails against his own defeats: "Sir Tristram is the gentlest knight in this world living" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXI). The text captures his internal contradiction -- "I would fight with him, and ease my heart upon him" -- followed immediately by that same admission of Tristram's gentleness (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXI). When they lodge together, "Sir Palomides wailed and wrang his hands" and asks "What art thou that holdeth me so?" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXI).

Their confrontations at tournament are vivid: "foot-hot Sir Palomides came upon Sir Tristram, as he was upon foot, to have overridden him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXII). After being unhorsed, "Sir Palomides lightly arose, and then they dashed together mightily with their swords" before "Sir Palomides fell to the earth grovelling" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXII). After one defeat, Palomides "was nigh-hand araged out of his wit for despite of Sir Tristram" and "as he came by a river, in his woodness he would have made his horse to have leapt over" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXIV). In another encounter, "So thus he rode with her two days; and by fortune there came Sir Palomides and encountered with him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter III), and he acknowledges: "I am not the worse to take a fall of Sir Palomides" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter III).

Palomides's love for La Beale Isoud drives much of his torment. When he sees her at Joyous Gard, "he was ravished so that he might unnethe speak" and at supper "Palomides might not eat, and there was all the cheer that might be had" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXV). His sorrow finds voice in passages overheard by King Mark: "All this language heard King Mark, what Sir Palomides said by him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XIV). When asked his allegiance, he replies: "By my head, I wot not, but as fortune leadeth me" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XVI). He insists on Tristram's superiority: "By my head, Sir Tristram is far bigger than Sir Launcelot, and the hardier knight" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XVI).

The Questing Beast pursuit, inherited from Pellinore, defines Palomides's identity within the chivalric world. He follows "the Questing Beast that had in shape a head like a serpent's head, and a body like a leopard, buttocks like a lion, and footed like an hart" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XII). His mother recognizes his calling when told of the knight who follows the beast: "O sweet Lord Jesu, she said, when shall I see that noble knight, my dear son Palomides?" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XIII). "And the varlet returned unto Sir Palomides, for he was a varlet of King Mark" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XIII). He declares his identity plainly: "ye shall understand my name is Sir Palomides, brother to Safere, the good and noble knight" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XVI).

Palomides's tournament prowess is formidable. "Then Sir Palomides sent unto Sir Launcelot a squire, and required him of jousts" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXVIII), and "Right so they spurred their horses and feutred their spears, and either hit other, and Sir Palomides brake a spear upon Sir Launcelot, and he sat and moved not" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXVIII). At Lonazep, "Sir Palomides returned from the King of Northgalis, and rode to King Arthur's side" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXX), and "Sir Palomides sent the damosel unto Sir Tristram that he sent to seek him when he was out of his mind in the forest" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXX). He slays Launcelot's horse in one encounter (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXX) and even smites down King Arthur himself (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXXIII).

His fight against the brothers Helius and Helake on the Delectable Isle, undertaken to avenge King Hermance, shows him at his most heroic. "Sir Palomides sailed evenlong Humber to the coasts of the sea, where was a fair castle" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXI), and arriving, asks the weeping people: "Tell me, and in what manner was your lord slain" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXI). Before battle, he is assessed: "they beheld him, and saw that he was well made, cleanly and bigly, and unmaimed of his limbs, and neither too young nor too old" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXIII). In the fight, "Sir Palomides smote Helake through his shield and through the breast more than a fathom" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXIV). Against the surviving brother, he endures "an hundred strokes, that it was wonder that he stood on his feet" before rallying to victory, moved by the sight of the common people weeping for him (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXIV). Afterwards, "all that city proffered Sir Palomides the third part of their goods so that he would abide with them; but in no wise as at that time he would not abide" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXIV).

His relationship with Sir Lamorak provides another dimension. After jousting Lamorak when the latter was already exhausted -- "As for that, said Palomides, I will not let, for wit ye well I will be revenged" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XIX) -- he learns his opponent's identity and "kneeled down and asked mercy, For outrageously have I done to you this day" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XIX). Lamorak embraces him: "Palomides, the worthy knight, in all this land is no better than ye, nor more of prowess" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XIX). Later, Palomides mourns Lamorak's treacherous death: "let him be, for his life ye may not get again" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LVIII).

In his dealings with Sir Dinadan, Palomides shows another face. "Nay, said Sir Palomides, it is too much shame for us two knights to fight with one" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXIII). Their companionship is practical: "Sir Palomides, said Dinadan, ye shall not meddle with him by my counsel, for ye shall get no worship of him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XVIII). His combat with Corsabrin for a lady shows his honour: "Corsabrin, said Palomides, wilt thou release me yonder damosel and the pensel?" and when refused, "Palomides arose lightly, and smote him upon the helm that he fell down right to the earth" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLVII).

When imprisoned alongside Tristram, "Sir Palomides saw the falling of sickness of Sir Tristram, then was he heavy for him, and comforted him in all the best wise he could" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXVI). After Tristram saves his life, Palomides is grateful: "Gramercy, of your great goodness, for ye have rescued me of my life, and saved me from my death" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter II). He promises to meet Tristram for their appointed combat: "I shall not fail you" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter II).

His encounters with Bleoberis and Ector show his combative nature: "He that oweth that shield let him dress him to me, for he smote me down here fast by at a fountain" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LIV), and he declares plainly: "wit thou well my name is Palomides the Saracen; and either of them hated other to the death" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LIV). His response to being warned off is characteristic: "With them have I met, but I had never no worship of them" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LIV). When informed "my name is Sir Palomides" at another encounter, "Sir Palomides heard him say so he was astonied" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LVII).

At the tournament of the haut prince, "Anon as Sir Palomides came into the field, Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was at the range end, and met with Sir Palomides" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLII), and after an honourable defeat, the prince "prayed the good knight, Palomides, to take that horse of his gift, and to forgive him that deed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLII). Palomides replies: "I thank you of your great goodness, for ever of a man of worship a knight shall never have disworship" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLII). When his identity is confirmed before the battle with Helius, the people rejoice: "all the city made great joy, for mickle had they heard of Sir Palomides, and of his noble prowess" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXIII).

Palomides is ultimately christened after his final reconciliation with Tristram (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XII, Chapter XIV), completing the arc from outsider to full member of the chivalric community. He remains in the company of the great knights to the end, named among those who ride with Launcelot (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XX, Chapter XVII).