has that knight gone!" said Arthur. "It is a shame that
those in the field have let him thus vanish. With gentleness and
courtesy they might have brought him to me at the Castle of Maidens,
where I should have been glad to show him the highest honor."

Then he went to the knights of his party and comforted them for their
discomfiture.

"Be not dismayed, my fair fellows," he said, "though you have lost the
field, and many of you are the worst in body and mind. Be of good cheer,
for to-morrow we fight again. How the day will go I cannot say, but I
will be in the lists with you, and lend you what aid is in my arm."

During that day's fight Dame Bragwaine had sat near Queen Guenever,
observing Tristram's valorous deeds. But when the queen asked her why
she had come thither, she would not tell the real reason, but said
only,--

"Madam, I came for no other cause than that my lady, La Belle Isolde,
sent me to inquire after your welfare."

After the fray was done she took leave of the queen and rode into the
forest in search of Sir Tristram. As she went onward she heard a great
cry, and sent her squire to learn what it might mean. He quickly came to
a forest fountain, and here he found a knight bound to a tree, crying
out like a madman, while his horse and harness stood by. When he saw the
squire, he started so furiously that he broke his bonds, and then ran
after him, sword in hand, as if to slay him. The squire at this spurred
his horse and rode swiftly back to Dame Bragwaine, whom he told of his
adventure.

Soon afterwards she found Tristram, who had set up his pavilion in the
forest, and told him of the incident.

"Then, on my head, there is mischief here afloat," said Tristram; "some
good knight has gone distracted."

Taking his horse and sword he rode to the place, and there he found the
knight complaining woefully.

"What misfortune has befallen me?" he lamented; "I, woeful Palamides,
who am defiled with falsehood and treason through Sir Bors and Sir
Hector! Alas, why live I so long?"

Then he took his sword in his hands, and with many strange signs and
movements flung it into the fountain. This done, he wailed bitterly and
wrung his hands, but at the end he ran to his middle in the water and
sought again for his sword. Tristram, seeing this, ran upon him and
clasped him in his arms, fearing he would kill himself.

"Who are you that holds me so tightly?" said Palamides.

"I am a man of this forest, and mea