s for to
beguile Sir Tristram. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Gareth, then must
I trust upon you; wherefore I pray you be not far from me to rescue me.
An need be, said Sir Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I may do.
Then Sir Palomides rode by himself; and then in despite of Sir Tristram
he put himself in the thickest press among them of Orkney, and there he
did so marvellously deeds of arms that all men had wonder of him, for
there might none stand him a stroke.

When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palomides do such deeds, he marvelled and
said to himself: He is weary of my company. So Sir Tristram beheld him
a great while and did but little else, for the noise and cry was so huge
and great that Sir Tristram marvelled from whence came the strength
that Sir Palomides had there in the field Sir, said Sir Gareth unto
Sir Tristram, remember ye not of the words that Sir Dinadan said to you
yesterday, when he called you a coward; forsooth, sir, he said it for
none ill, for ye are the man in the world that he most loveth, and all
that he said was for your worship. And therefore, said Sir Gareth to Sir
Tristram, let me know this day what ye be; and wonder ye not so upon Sir
Palomides, for he enforceth himself to win all the worship and honour
from you. I may well believe it, said Sir Tristram. And sithen I
understand his evil will and his envy, ye shall see, if that I enforce
myself, that the noise shall be left that now is upon him.

Then Sir Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, and then he did
so marvellously well, and did so great deeds of arms, that all men said
that Sir Tristram did double so much deeds of arms as Sir Palomides had
done aforehand. And then the noise went plain from Sir Palomides, and
all the people cried upon Sir Tristram. O Jesu, said the people, see how
Sir Tristram smiteth down with his spear so many knights. And see, said
they all, how many knights he smiteth down with his sword, and of how
many knights he rashed off their helms and their shields; and so he
beat them all of Orkney afore him. How now, said Sir Launcelot unto King
Arthur, I told you that this day there would a knight play his pageant.
Yonder rideth a knight ye may see he doth knightly, for he hath strength
and wind. So God me help, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye say sooth, for I
saw never a better knight, for he passeth far Sir Palomides. Sir, wit
ye well, said Launcelot, it must be so of right, for it is himself, that
noble knigh