PALOMIDES THE SARACEN KNIGHT

 

The Saracen Knight Palomides laments for his love Isolt.

Queen Isolt was one of the most beautiful women of the land. Many a knight and king admired her, but Tristram and Palomides truly loved her.

Tristram waas the lover of the queen and friend to Palomides. While in their company, Palomides kept his feelings to himself, but took every oppotunity to impress Isolt. He was brave and seasoned knight who bested may opponents on Isolt's behalf.

Palomides accompanied the lovers to the tournament of Lonazep. As they traveled, Tristram openly disucssed his plan, in which he hoped to fool his friends by entering the tournament wearing a disguise. Both Tristram and Palomides fared well on the opening day, though Palomides desperately wanted to top the exploits of Tristram. On the second day, Palomides disguised himself and took the field as Tristram's opponent.

In witnessing the deception, Isolt was furious with Palomides. At the end of the dayshe told Tristram of teh treachery of his friend. The couple then confronted Palomides, who maintained that due to Tristram's own disguise he knew not whether he was friend or foe.

Ashamed and hurt by the rebukes and rejection of Isolt, Palomides later rode off into the forest on his own. Deep within the woods he came upon a well. There he dismounted and in privacy cried for his love and lost friendship.

In the monhts that followed, Palomides continued to visit the sanctuary of the site. While out hunting, Tristram happened upon his old friend as he grived by the well. This led to an open confrontation, and though Palomides cared for Tristram, he could not dismiss his love fr Isolt. Given that he would not longer deny his feelings, both men were destined to go their own way. Only now there emerged a lengthy, and open, rivalry between the former friends.

Ferguson, Anna-Marie. Keeper of Words. 1995 Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, Minnesota. (187)



For a deeper see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palamedes_(Arthurian_legend)

 

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