celot mounted
upon his horse, and gat his spear in his hand, and rode after the
twelve knights that led Sir Palomides. Fair knights, said Sir Launcelot,
whither lead ye that knight? it beseemeth him full ill to ride bounden.
Then these twelve knights suddenly turned their horses and said to Sir
Launcelot: Sir knight, we counsel thee not to meddle with this knight,
for he hath deserved death, and unto death he is judged. That me
repenteth, said Launcelot, that I may not borrow him with fairness, for
he is over good a knight to die such a shameful death. And therefore,
fair knights, said Sir Launcelot, keep you as well as ye can, for I will
rescue that knight or die for it.

Then they began to dress their spears, and Sir Launcelot smote the
foremost down, horse and man, and so he served three more with one
spear; and then that spear brast, and therewithal Sir Launcelot drew his
sword, and then he smote on the right hand and on the left hand. Then
within a while he left none of those twelve knights, but he had laid
them to the earth, and the most part of them were sore wounded. And
then Sir Launcelot took the best horse that he found, and loosed Sir
Palomides and set him upon that horse; and so they returned again unto
Joyous Gard, and then was Sir Palomides ware of Sir Tristram how he
came riding. And when Sir Launcelot saw him he knew him well, but Sir
Tristram knew him not because Sir Launcelot had on his shoulder a golden
shield. So Sir Launcelot made him ready to joust with Sir Tristram,
that Sir Tristram should not ween that he were Sir Launcelot. Then Sir
Palomides cried aloud to Sir Tristram: O my lord, I require you joust
not with this knight, for this good knight hath saved me from my death.
When Sir Tristram heard him say so he came a soft trotting pace toward
them. And then Sir Palomides said: My lord, Sir Tristram, much am I
beholding unto you of your great goodness, that would proffer your
noble body to rescue me undeserved, for I have greatly offended you.
Notwithstanding, said Sir Palomides, here met we with this noble knight
that worshipfully and manly rescued me from twelve knights, and smote
them down all and wounded them sore.

CHAPTER LXXXVI. How Sir Tristram and Launcelot, with Palomides, came to
joyous Gard; and of Palomides and Sir Tristram.

FAIR knight, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Launcelot, of whence be ye? I
am a knight errant, said Sir Launcelot, that rideth to seek many
adventures. Wha