at he was. Madam, said Dinadan,
I am of the court of King Arthur, and knight of the Table Round, and my
name is Sir Dinadan. What do ye in this country? said La Beale Isoud.
Madam, said he, I seek Sir Tristram the good knight, for it was told me
that he was in this country. It may well be, said La Beale Isoud, but I
am not ware of him. Madam, said Dinadan, I marvel of Sir Tristram and
mo other lovers, what aileth them to be so mad and so sotted upon women.
Why, said La Beale Isoud, are ye a knight and be no lover? it is shame
to you: wherefore ye may not be called a good knight [but] if ye make a
quarrel for a lady. God defend me, said Dinadan, for the joy of love is
too short, and the sorrow thereof, and what cometh thereof, dureth over
long. Ah, said La Beale Isoud, say ye not so, for here fast by was the
good knight Sir Bleoberis, that fought with three knights at once for a
damosel's sake, and he won her afore the King of Northumberland. It was
so, said Sir Dinadan, for I know him well for a good knight and a noble,
and come of noble blood; for all be noble knights of whom he is come of,
that is Sir Launcelot du Lake.

Now I pray you, said La Beale Isoud, tell me will you fight for my
love with three knights that do me great wrong? and insomuch as ye be
a knight of King Arthur's I require you to do battle for me. Then Sir
Dinadan said: I shall say you ye be as fair a lady as ever I saw any,
and much fairer than is my lady Queen Guenever, but wit ye well at one
word, I will not fight for you with three knights, Jesu defend me. Then
Isoud laughed, and had good game at him. So he had all the cheer that
she might make him, and there he lay all that night. And on the morn
early Sir Tristram armed him, and La Beale Isoud gave him a good helm;
and then he promised her that he would meet with Sir Dinadan, and they
two would ride together into Lonazep, where the tournament should be:
And there shall I make ready for you where ye shall see the tournament.
Then departed Sir Tristram with two squires that bare his shield and his
spears that were great and long.

CHAPTER LVII. How Sir Dinadan met with Sir Tristram, and with jousting
with Sir Palomides, Sir Dinadan knew him.

THEN after that Sir Dinadan departed, and rode his way a great pace
until he had overtaken Sir Tristram. And when Sir Dinadan had overtaken
him he knew him anon, and he hated the fellowship of him above all other
knights. Ah, said Sir Dinadan, art th