THEN came King Arthur,and the King of Northgalis,and Sir Launcelot du Lake;and Sir Bleoberis,Sir Bors de Ganis,Sir Ector de Maris,these three knights came into the field with Sir Launcelot.And then Sir Launcelot with the three knights of his kin did so great deeds of arms that all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot.
And so they beat the King of Wales and the King of Scots far aback,and made them to avoid the field;but Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field and endured all that ever there came,that all men had wonder that any knight might endure so many strokes.But ever Sir Launcelot,and his three kinsmen by the commandment of Sir Launcelot,forbare Sir Tristram.Then said Sir Arthur:Is that Sir Palomides that endureth so well?Nay,said Sir Launcelot,wit ye well it is the good knight Sir Tristram,for yonder ye may see Sir Palomides beholdeth and hoveth,and doth little or nought.And sir,ye shall understand that Sir Tristram weeneth this day to beat us all out of the field.And as for me,said Sir Launcelot,I shall not beat him,beat him whoso will.Sir,said Launcelot unto Arthur,ye may see how Sir Palomides hoveth yonder,as though he were in a dream;wit ye well he is full heavy that Tristram doth such deeds of arms Then is he but a fool,said Arthur,for never was Sir Palomides,nor never shall be,of such prowess as Sir Tristram.And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram,and cometh in with him upon his side he is a false knight.
As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake,Sir Tristram rode privily out of the press,that none espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palomides,for they two would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.And when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions he found Sir Dinadan in his bed asleep.Awake,said Tristram,ye ought to be ashamed so to sleep when knights have ado in the field.Then Sir Dinadan arose lightly and said:What will ye that I shall do?Make you ready,said Sir Tristram,to ride with me into the field.
So when Sir Dinadan was armed he looked upon Sir Tristram's helm and on his shield,and when he saw so many strokes upon his helm and upon his shield he said:In good time was I thus asleep,for had I been with you I must needs for shame there have followed you;more for shame than any prowess that is in me;that I see well now by those strokes that I should have been truly beaten as I was yesterday.Leave your japes,said Sir Tristram,and come off,that [we]were in the field again.What,said Sir Dinadan,is your heart up?
yesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed.So then Sir Tristram was arrayed in black harness.O Jesu,said Dinadan,what aileth you this day?meseemeth ye be wilder than ye were yesterday.Then smiled Sir Tristram and said to Dinadan:Await well upon me;if ye see me overmatched look that ye be ever behind me,and I shall make you ready way by God's grace.So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their horses.All this espied Sir Palomides,both their going and their coming,and so did La Beale Isoud,for she knew Sir Tristram above all other.
CHAPTER LXXVI
How Sir Palomides changed his shield and his armour for to hurt Sir Tristram,and how Sir Launcelot did to Sir Tristram.
THEN when Sir Palomides saw that Sir Tristram was disguised,then he thought to do him a shame.So Sir Palomides rode to a knight that was sore wounded,that sat under a fair well from the field.Sir knight,said Sir Palomides,I pray you to lend me your armour and your shield,for mine is over-well known in this field,and that hath done me great damage;and ye shall have mine armour and my shield that is as sure as yours.
I will well,said the knight,that ye have mine armour and my shield,if they may do you any avail.So Sir Palomides armed him hastily in that knight's armour and his shield that shone as any crystal or silver,and so he came riding into the field.And then there was neither Sir Tristram nor none of King Arthur's party that knew Sir Palomides.And right so as Sir Palomides was come into the field Sir Tristram smote down three knights,even in the sight of Sir Palomides.And then Sir Palomides rode against Sir Tristram,and either met other with great spears,that they brast to their hands.
And then they dashed together with swords eagerly.
Then Sir Tristram had marvel what knight he was that did battle so knightly with him.Then was Sir Tristram wroth,for he felt him passing strong,so that he deemed he might not have ado with the remnant of the knights,because of the strength of Sir Palomides.So they lashed together and gave many sad strokes together,and many knights marvelled what knight he might be that so encountered with the black knight,Sir Tristram.Full well knew La Beale Isoud that there was Sir Palomides that fought with Sir Tristram,for she espied all in her window where that she stood,as Sir Palomides changed his harness with the wounded knight.And then she began to weep so heartily for the despite of Sir Palomides that there she swooned.
Then came in Sir Launcelot with the knights of Orkney.And when the other party had espied Sir Launcelot,they cried:Return,return,here cometh Sir Launcelot du Lake.So there came knights and said:Sir Launcelot,ye must needs fight with yonder knight in the black harness,that was Sir Tristram,for he hath almost overcome that good knight that fighteth with him with the silver shield,that was Sir Palomides.Then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides,and Sir Launcelot said to Palomides:Sir knight,let me have the battle,for ye have need to be reposed.Sir Palomides knew Sir Launcelot well,and so did Sir Tristram,but because Sir Launcelot was far hardier knight than himself therefore he was glad,and suffered Sir Launcelot to fight with Sir Tristram.