uch a fall that he had almost broken his neck, for the
blood brast out at nose, mouth, and his ears, but at the last he
recovered well by good surgeons. Then there came in the Duke Chaleins of
Clarance; and in his governance there came a knight that hight Elis la
Noire; and there encountered with him King Bagdemagus, and he smote Elis
that he made him to avoid his saddle. So the Duke Chaleins of Clarance
did there great deeds of arms, and of so late as he came in the
third day there was no man did so well except King Bagdemagus and Sir
Palomides, that the prize was given that day to King Bagdemagus. And
then they blew unto lodging, and unarmed them, and went to the feast.
Right so came Dinadan, and mocked and japed with King Bagdemagus that
all knights laughed at him, for he was a fine japer, and well loving all
good knights.

So anon as they had dined there came a varlet bearing four spears on his
back; and he came to Palomides, and said thus: Here is a knight by hath
sent you the choice of four spears, and requireth you for your lady's
sake to take that one half of these spears, and joust with him in the
field. Tell him, said Palomides, I will not fail him. When Sir Galahalt
wist of this, he bade Palomides make him ready. So the Queen Guenever,
the haut prince, and Sir Launcelot, they were set upon scaffolds to give
the judgment of these two knights. Then Sir Palomides and the strange
knight ran so eagerly together that their spears brake to their hands.
Anon withal either of them took a great spear in his hand and all
to-shivered them in pieces. And then either took a greater spear, and
then the knight smote down Sir Palomides, horse and man, to the earth.
And as he would have passed over him the strange knight's horse stumbled
and fell down upon Palomides. Then they drew their swords and lashed
together wonderly sore a great while.

Then the haut prince and Sir Launcelot said they saw never two knights
fight better than they did; but ever the strange knight doubled his
strokes, and put Palomides aback; therewithal the haut prince cried: Ho:
and then they went to lodging. And when they were unarmed they knew it
was the noble knight Sir Lamorak. When Sir Launcelot knew that it was
Sir Lamorak he made much of him, for above all earthly men he loved him
best except Sir Tristram. Then Queen Guenever commended him, and so did
all other good knights make much of him, except Sir Gawaine's brethren.
Then Queen Guenever said