am was in the red armour, and on a red horse, wit ye
well that he was glad, and so was Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan, for they
all weened that Sir Tristram had been taken prisoner. And then every
knight drew to his inn. And then King Arthur and every knight spake of
those knights; but above all men they gave Sir Palomides the prize, and
all knights that knew Sir Palomides had wonder of his deeds. Sir, said
Sir Launcelot unto Arthur, as for Sir Palomides an he be the green
knight I dare say as for this day he is best worthy to have the degree,
for he reposed him never, nor never changed his weeds, and he began
first and longest held on. And yet, well I wot, said Sir Launcelot,
that there was a better knight than he, and that shall be proved or we
depart, upon pain of my life. Thus they talked on either party; and so
Sir Dinadan railed with Sir Tristram and said: What the devil is upon
thee this day? for Sir Palomides' strength feebled never this day, but
ever he doubled his strength.

CHAPTER LXXII. How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well.

AND thou, Sir Tristram, farest all this day as though thou hadst been
asleep, and therefore I call thee coward. Well, Dinadan, said Sir
Tristram, I was never called coward or now of no earthly knight in my
life; and wit thou well, sir, I call myself never the more coward though
Sir Launcelot gave me a fall, for I outcept him of all knights. And
doubt ye not Sir Dinadan, an Sir Launcelot have a quarrel good, he
is too over good for any knight that now is living; and yet of his
sufferance, largess, bounty, and courtesy, I call him knight peerless:
and so Sir Tristram was in manner wroth with Sir Dinadan. But all this
language Sir Dinadan said because he would anger Sir Tristram, for
to cause him to awake his spirits and to be wroth; for well knew Sir
Dinadan that an Sir Tristram were thoroughly wroth Sir Palomides should
not get the prize upon the morn. And for this intent Sir Dinadan said
all this railing and language against Sir Tristram. Truly, said Sir
Palomides, as for Sir Launcelot, of his noble knighthood, courtesy, and
prowess, and gentleness, I know not his peer; for this day, said
Sir Palomides, I did full uncourteously unto Sir Launcelot, and full
unknightly, and full knightly and courteously he did to me again; for
an he had been as ungentle to me as I was to him, this day I had won
no worship. And therefore, said Palomides, I shall be Sir Launcelot's
knight whi