w Sir Gareth bruised in the face she asked him
what ailed him. Madam, said Sir Gareth, I had a great buffet, and as I
suppose I gave another, but none of my fellows, God thank them, would
not rescue me. Forsooth, said Palomides, it longed not to none of us
as this day to joust, for there have not this day jousted no proved
knights, and needly ye would joust. And when the other party saw ye
proffered yourself to joust they sent one to you, a passing good knight
of his age, for I know him well, his name is Selises; and worshipfully
ye met with him, and neither of you are dishonoured, and therefore
refresh yourself that ye may be ready and whole to joust to-morrow.
As for that, said Gareth, I shall not fail you an I may bestride mine
horse.

CHAPTER LXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of the
noble feats that they did in that tourneying.

NOW upon what party, said Tristram, is it best we be withal as to-morn?
Sir, said Palomides, ye shall have mine advice to be against King Arthur
as to-morn, for on his party will be Sir Launcelot and many good knights
of his blood with him. And the more men of worship that they be, the
more worship we shall win. That is full knightly spoken, said Sir
Tristram; and right so as ye counsel me, so will we do. In the name of
God, said they all. So that night they were lodged with the best. And
on the morn when it was day they were arrayed all in green trappings,
shields and spears, and La Beale Isoud in the same colour, and her three
damosels. And right so these four knights came into the field endlong
and through. And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as she should stand
and behold all the jousts in a bay window; but always she was wimpled
that no man might see her visage. And then these three knights rode
straight unto the party of the King of Scots.

When King Arthur had seen them do all this he asked Sir Launcelot what
were these knights and that queen. Sir, said Launcelot, I cannot say you
in certain, but if Sir Tristram be in this country, or Sir Palomides,
wit ye well it be they in certain, and La Beale Isoud. Then Arthur called
to him Sir Kay and said: Go lightly and wit how many knights there be
here lacking of the Table Round, for by the sieges thou mayst know. So
went Sir Kay and saw by the writings in the sieges that there lacked ten
knights. And these be their names that be not here. Sir Tristram, Sir
Palomides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir Epinogri