am an
horse, and so was he horsed again. By then was Sir Palomides horsed, and
with great ire he jousted upon Sir Tristram with his spear as it was in
the rest, and gave him a great dash with his sword. Then Sir Tristram
avoided his spear, and gat him by the neck with his both hands, and
pulled him clean out of his saddle, and so he bare him afore him the
length of ten spears, and then in the presence of them all he let him
fall at his adventure. Then Sir Tristram was ware of King Arthur with a
naked sword in his hand, and with his spear Sir Tristram ran upon King
Arthur; and then King Arthur boldly abode him and with his sword he
smote a-two his spear, and therewithal Sir Tristram stonied; and so King
Arthur gave him three or four strokes or he might get out his sword,
and at the last Sir Tristram drew his sword and [either] assailed
other passing hard. With that the great press departed [them]. Then Sir
Tristram rode here and there and did his great pain, that eleven of the
good knights of the blood of King Ban, that was of Sir Launcelot's kin,
that day Sir Tristram smote down; that all the estates marvelled of his
great deeds and all cried upon the Knight with the Black Shield.

CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and how after Sir
Tristram smote down Sir Palomides.

THEN this cry was so large that Sir Launcelot heard it. And then he gat
a great spear in his hand and came towards the cry. Then Sir Launcelot
cried: The Knight with the Black Shield, make thee ready to joust with
me. When Sir Tristram heard him say so he gat his spear in his hand, and
either abashed down their heads, and came together as thunder; and Sir
Tristram's spear brake in pieces, and Sir Launcelot by malfortune struck
Sir Tristram on the side a deep wound nigh to the death; but yet Sir
Tristram avoided not his saddle, and so the spear brake. Therewithal
Sir Tristram that was wounded gat out his sword, and he rushed to Sir
Launcelot, and gave him three great strokes upon the helm that the fire
sprang thereout, and Sir Launcelot abashed his head lowly toward his
saddle-bow. And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from the field, for he
felt him so wounded that he weened he should have died; and Sir Dinadan
espied him and followed him into the forest. Then Sir Launcelot abode
and did many marvellous deeds.

So when Sir Tristram was departed by the forest's side he alighted, and
unlaced his harness and freshed his wound; then wee