d bade Sir Tristram alight: For though an horse hath failed
me, I trust to God the earth will not fail me. And then Sir Tristram
alighted, and dressed him unto battle; and there they lashed together
strongly as racing and tracing, foining and dashing, many sad strokes,
that the kings and knights had great wonder that they might stand; for
ever they fought like wood men, so that there was never knights seen
fight more fiercely than they did; for Sir Blamore was so hasty that he
would have no rest, that all men wondered that they had breath to stand
on their feet; and all the place was bloody that they fought in. And
at the last, Sir Tristram smote Sir Blamore such a buffet upon the helm
that he there fell down upon his side, and Sir Tristram stood and beheld
him.

CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how Sir
Tristram spared him, and how they took appointment.

THEN when Sir Blamore might speak, he said thus: Sir Tristram de Liones,
I require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best knight that
ever I found, that thou wilt slay me out, for I would not live to be
made lord of all the earth, for I have liefer die with worship than live
with shame; and needs, Sir Tristram, thou must slay me, or else thou
shalt never win the field, for I will never say the loath word. And
therefore if thou dare slay me, slay me, I require thee. When Sir
Tristram heard him say so knightly, he wist not what to do with him; he
remembering him of both parties, of what blood he was come, and for Sir
Launcelot's sake he would be loath to slay him; and in the other party
in no wise he might not choose, but that he must make him to say the
loath word, or else to slay him.

Then Sir Tristram stert aback, and went to the kings that were judges,
and there he kneeled down to-fore them, and besought them for their
worships, and for King Arthur's and Sir Launcelot's sake, that they
would take this matter in their hands. For, my fair lords, said Sir
Tristram, it were shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder
lieth should be slain; for ye hear well, shamed will he not be, and I
pray to God that he never be slain nor shamed for me. And as for
the king for whom I fight for, I shall require him, as I am his true
champion and true knight in this field, that he will have mercy upon
this good knight. So God me help, said King Anguish, I will for your
sake; Sir Tristram, be ruled as ye will have me, for I know you for