For well wist he that Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Tristram,and there he hoped that Sir Launcelot should beat or shame Sir Tristram,whereof Sir Palomides was full fain.And so Sir Launcelot gave Sir Tristram many sad strokes,but Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Tristram,but Sir Tristram knew well Sir Launcelot.And thus they fought long together,that La Beale Isoud was well-nigh out of her mind for sorrow.
Then Sir Dinadan told Sir Gareth how that knight in the black harness was Sir Tristram:And this is Launcelot that fighteth with him,that must needs have the better of him,for Sir Tristram hath had too much travail this day.
Then let us smite him down,said Sir Gareth.So it is better that we do,said Sir Dinadan,than Sir Tristram be shamed,for yonder hoveth the strong knight with the silver shield to fall upon Sir Tristram if need be.Then forthwithal Gareth rushed upon Sir Launcelot,and gave him a great stroke upon his helm so hard that he was astonied.And then came Sir Dinadan with a spear,and he smote Sir Launcelot such a buffet that horse and all fell to the earth.O Jesu,said Sir Tristram to Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan,fie for shame,why did ye smite down so good a knight as he is,and namely when I had ado with him?now ye do yourself great shame,and him no disworship;for I held him reasonable hot,though ye had not holpen me.
Then came Sir Palomides that was disguised,and smote down Sir Dinadan from his horse.Then Sir Launcelot,because Sir Dinadan had smitten him aforehand,then Sir Launcelot assailed Sir Dinadan passing sore,and Sir Dinadan defended him mightily.But well understood Sir Tristram that Sir Dinadan might not endure Sir Launcelot,wherefore Sir Tristram was sorry.Then came Sir Palomides fresh upon Sir Tristram.And when Sir Tristram saw him come,he thought to deliver him at once,because that he would help Sir Dinadan,because he stood in great peril with Sir Launcelot.Then Sir Tristram hurtled unto Sir Palomides and gave him a great buffet,and then Sir Tristram gat Sir Palomides and pulled him down underneath him.And so fell Sir Tristram with him;and Sir Tristram leapt up lightly and left Sir Palomides,and went betwixt Sir Launcelot and Dinadan,and then they began to do battle together.
Right so Sir Dinadan gat Sir Tristram's horse,and said on high that Sir Launcelot might hear it:My lord Sir Tristram,take your horse.And when Sir Launcelot heard him name Sir Tristram:O Jesu,said Launcelot,what have I done?I am dishonoured.Ah,my lord Sir Tristram,said Launcelot,why were ye disguised?ye have put yourself in great peril this day;but I pray you noble knight to pardon me,for an I had known you we had not done this battle.Sir,said Sir Tristram,this is not the first kindness ye showed me.So they were both horsed again.
Then all the people on the one side gave Sir Launcelot the honour and the degree,and on the other side all the people gave to the noble knight Sir Tristram the honour and the degree;but Launcelot said nay thereto:For I am not worthy to have this honour,for I will report me unto all knights that Sir Tristram hath been longer in the field than I,and he hath smitten down many more knights this day than I have done.And therefore I will give Sir Tristram my voice and my name,and so I pray all my lords and fellows so to do.Then there was the whole voice of dukes and earls,barons and knights,that Sir Tristram this day is proved the best knight.
CHAPTER LXXVII
How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud,and how Palomides followed and excused him.
THEN they blew unto lodging,and Queen Isoud was led unto her pavilions.But wit you well she was wroth out of measure with Sir Palomides,for she saw all his treason from the beginning to the ending.And all this while neither Sir Tristram,neither Sir Gareth nor Dinadan,knew not of the treason of Sir Palomides;but afterward ye shall hear that there befell the greatest debate betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides that might be.
So when the tournament was done,Sir Tristram,Gareth,and Dinadan,rode with La Beale Isoud to these pavilions.And ever Sir Palomides rode with them in their company disguised as he was.But when Sir Tristram had espied him that he was the same knight with the shield of silver that held him so hot that day:Sir knight,said Sir Tristram,wit ye well here is none that hath need of your fellowship,and therefore I pray you depart from us.Sir Palomides answered again as though he had not known Sir Tristram:Wit you well,sir knight,from this fellowship will I never depart,for one of the best knights of the world commanded me to be in this company,and till he discharge me of my service I will not be discharged.
By that Sir Tristram knew that it was Sir Palomides.Ah,Sir Palomides,said the noble knight Sir Tristram,are ye such a knight?Ye have been named wrong,for ye have long been called a gentle knight,and as this day ye have showed me great ungentleness,for ye had almost brought me unto my death.But,as for you,I suppose I should have done well enough,but Sir Launcelot with you was overmuch;for I know no knight living but Sir Launcelot is over good for him,an he will do his uttermost.Alas,said Sir Palomides,are ye my lord Sir Tristram?Yea,sir,and that ye know well enough.By my knighthood,said Palomides,until now I knew you not;I weened that ye had been the King of Ireland,for well I wot ye bare his arms.His arms I bare,said Sir Tristram,and that will Istand by,for I won them once in a field of a full noble knight,his name was Sir Marhaus;and with great pain I won that knight,for there was none other recover,but Sir Marhaus died through false leeches;and yet was he never yolden to me.Sir,said Palomides,I weened ye had been turned upon Sir Launcelot's party,and that caused me to turn.Ye say well,said Sir Tristram,and so I take you,and I forgive you.