Tristram, as for any death I dread not, for I had as lief die as to
live. And if I were armed as thou art, I should lightly do battle with
thee. Well have ye uttered your treason, said Tristram. I have done to
you no treason, said Palomides, for love is free for all men, and though
I have loved your lady, she is my lady as well as yours; howbeit I have
wrong if any wrong be, for ye rejoice her, and have your desire of her,
and so had I never nor never am like to have, and yet shall I love her
to the uttermost days of my life as well as ye.

CHAPTER LXXXVII. How there was a day set between Sir Tristram and Sir
Palomides for to fight, and how Sir Tristram was hurt.

THEN said Sir Tristram: I will fight with you to the uttermost. I grant,
said Palomides, for in a better quarrel keep I never to fight, for an
I die of your hands, of a better knight's hands may I not be slain. And
sithen I understand that I shall never rejoice La Beale Isoud, I have as
good will to die as to live. Then set ye a day, said Sir Tristram, that
we shall do battle. This day fifteen days, said Palomides, will I meet
with you hereby, in the meadow under Joyous Gard. Fie for shame, said
Sir Tristram, will ye set so long day? let us fight to-morn. Not so,
said Palomides, for I am meagre, and have been long sick for the love of
La Beale Isoud, and therefore I will repose me till I have my strength
again. So then Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides promised faith fully
to meet at the well that day fifteen days. I am remembered, said Sir
Tristram to Palomides, that ye brake me once a promise when that I
rescued you from Breuse Saunce Pite and nine knights; and then ye
promised me to meet me at the peron and the grave beside Camelot,
whereas at that time ye failed of your promise. Wit you well, said
Palomides unto Sir Tristram, I was at that day in prison, so that I
might not hold my promise. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, an ye had
holden your promise this work had not been here now at this time.

Right so departed Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides. And so Sir Palomides
took his horse and his harness, and he rode unto King Arthur's court;
and there Sir Palomides gat him four knights and four sergeants-of-arms,
and so he returned againward unto Joyous Gard. And in the meanwhile Sir
Tristram chased and hunted at all manner of venery; and about three days
afore the battle should be, as Sir Tristram chased an hart, there was an
archer shot at the hart, and