THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES.
When morning again dawned over the forest and the smiling fields that surrounded the castle of Epinegris, the two brothers rode out, taking with them the blessings and prayers for good fortune of those they left behind. But had they known into what deadly peril they ventured they would not for days have left those hospitable gates.
For they rode on hour by hour, until afternoon came, and then found themselves in front of a noble manor-house from which came to their ears doleful sounds of woe and lamentation.
"What means this woful noise? Shall we enter and see?" said Safere.
"Willingly," answered Palamides.
Leaving their horses at the gates, they entered the court-yard, where they saw an old man tremblingly fumbling his beads. But when they came within the hall they beheld many men weeping and lamenting.
"Fair sirs, why make you such a moaning?" asked Palamides.
"We weep for our lord, who is slain," they dolefully replied.
But one of the knights observed the new-comers closely, and said secretly to his fellows,—
"Know you not this man? Fortune has thrown into our hands the knight who slew our lord at Lonazep. That tall fellow is Palamides. Let him not go as easily as he came."