velled of his
woodness, and of his folly. And then Sir Palomides said to himself: An
Sir Tristram were armed, it were hard to cease him of this battle, and
if I turn again and slay him I am ashamed wheresomever that I go.

Then Sir Tristram spake and said: Thou coward knight, what castest thou
to do; why wilt thou not do battle with me? for have thou no doubt I
shall endure all thy malice. Ah, Sir Tristram, said Palomides, full
well thou wottest I may not fight with thee for shame, for thou art here
naked and I am armed, and if I slay thee, dishonour shall be mine.
And well thou wottest, said Sir Palomides to Sir Tristram, I know thy
strength and thy hardiness to endure against a good knight. That is
truth, said Sir Tristram, I understand thy valiantness well. Ye say
well, said Sir Palomides; now, I require you, tell me a question that
I shall say to you. Tell me what it is, said Sir Tristram, and I shall
answer you the truth, as God me help. I put case, said Sir Palomides,
that ye were armed at all rights as well as I am, and I naked as ye
be, what would you do to me now, by your true knighthood? Ah, said Sir
Tristram, now I understand thee well, Sir Palomides, for now must I say
mine own judgment, and as God me bless, that I shall say shall not
be said for no fear that I have of thee. But this is all: wit Sir
Palomides, as at this time thou shouldest depart from me, for I would
not have ado with thee. No more will I, said Palomides, and therefore
ride forth on thy way. As for that I may choose, said Sir Tristram,
either to ride or to abide. But Sir Palomides, said Sir Tristram, I
marvel of one thing, that thou that art so good a knight, that thou wilt
not be christened, and thy brother, Sir Safere, hath been christened
many a day.

CHAPTER XIII. How that Sir Tristram gat him harness of a knight which
was hurt, and how he overthrew Sir Palomides.

AS for that, said Sir Palomides, I may not yet be christened for one
avow that I have made many years agone; howbeit in my heart I believe in
Jesu Christ and his mild mother Mary; but I have but one battle to do,
and when that is done I will be baptised with a good will. By my head,
said Tristram, as for one battle thou shalt not seek it no longer. For
God defend, said Sir Tristram, that through my default thou shouldst
longer live thus a Saracen, for yonder is a knight that ye, Sir
Palomides, have hurt and smitten down. Now help me that I were armed
in his armour, a