t is your name? said Sir Tristram. Sir, at this time
I will not tell you. Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram and to
Palomides: Now either of you are met together I will depart from you.
Not so, said Sir Tristram; I pray you of knighthood to ride with me unto
my castle. Wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride with you,
for I have many deeds to do in other places, that at this time I may not
abide with you. Ah, mercy Jesu, said Sir Tristram, I require you as
ye be a true knight to the order of knighthood, play you with me this
night. Then Sir Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot: howbeit though
he had not desired him he would have ridden with them, outher soon have
come after them; for Sir Launcelot came for none other cause into that
country but for to see Sir Tristram. And when they were come within
Joyous Gard they alighted, and their horses were led into a stable;
and then they unarmed them. And when Sir Launcelot was unhelmed,
Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides knew him. Then Sir Tristram took Sir
Launcelot in arms, and so did La Beale Isoud; and Palomides kneeled down
upon his knees and thanked Sir Launcelot. When Sir Launcelot saw Sir
Palomides kneel he lightly took him up and said thus: Wit thou well, Sir
Palomides, I and any knight in this land, of worship ought of very right
succour and rescue so noble a knight as ye are proved and renowned,
throughout all this realm endlong and overthwart. And then was there joy
among them, and the oftener that Sir Palomides saw La Beale Isoud the
heavier he waxed day by day.

Then Sir Launcelot within three or four days departed, and with him rode
Sir Ector de Maris; and Dinadan and Sir Palomides were there left with
Sir Tristram a two months and more. But ever Sir Palomides faded and
mourned, that all men had marvel wherefore he faded so away. So upon
a day, in the dawning, Sir Palomides went into the forest by himself
alone; and there he found a well, and then he looked into the well, and
in the water he saw his own visage, how he was disturbed and defaded,
nothing like that he was. What may this mean? said Sir Palomides, and
thus he said to himself: Ah, Palomides, Palomides, why art thou defaded,
thou that was wont to be called one of the fairest knights of the world?
I will no more lead this life, for I love that I may never get nor
recover. And therewithal he laid him down by the well. And then he began
to make a rhyme of La Beale Isoud and him.

And in the