his is a foul custom and horrible;
and rather than my lady should lose her head, yet had I liefer lose
my head. Nay, nay, said Sir Breunor, the ladies shall be first showed
together, and the one shall have her judgment. Nay, I will not so, said
Sir Tristram, for here is none that will give righteous judgment. But
I doubt not, said Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than thine, and that
will I prove and make good with my hand. And whosomever he be that will
say the contrary I will prove it on his head. And therewith Sir Tristram
showed La Beale Isoud, and turned her thrice about with his naked sword
in his hand. And when Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same wise turn
his lady. But when Sir Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him thought he saw
never a fairer lady, and then he dread his lady's head should be off.
And so all the people that were there present gave judgment that La
Beale Isoud was the fairer lady and the better made. How now, said Sir
Tristram, meseemeth it were pity that my lady should lose her head, but
because thou and she of long time have used this wicked custom, and
by you both have many good knights and ladies been destroyed, for that
cause it were no loss to destroy you both. So God me help, said Sir
Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer than mine, and that me
sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily say, for of all women I
saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt slay my lady, I doubt not
but I shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou shalt win her, said Sir
Tristram, as dear as ever knight won lady. And because of thine own
judgment, as thou wouldst have done to my lady if that she had been
fouler, and because of the evil custom, give me thy lady, said Sir
Tristram. And therewithal Sir Tristram strode unto him and took his
lady from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off her head clean. Well,
knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a despite; [*8]now take
thine horse: sithen I am ladyless I will win thy lady an I may.

[*8] Printed by Caxton as part of chap. xxvi.

CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, and at the last
smote off his head.

THEN they took their horses and came together as it had been the
thunder; and Sir Tristram smote Sir Breunor clean from his horse, and
lightly he rose up; and as Sir Tristram came again by him he thrust
his horse throughout both the shoulders, that his horse hurled here and
there and fell dead to the ground.