er King Mark. And from thence
a three mile English Sir Launcelot over took him, and bade him: Turn
recreant king and knight, for whether thou wilt or not thou shalt go
with me to King Arthur's court. King Mark returned and looked upon Sir
Launcelot, and said: Fair sir, what is your name? Wit thou well, said
he, my name is Sir Launcelot, and therefore defend thee. And when King
Mark wist that it was Sir Launcelot, and came so fast upon him with
a spear, he cried then aloud: I yield me to thee, Sir Launcelot,
honourable knight. But Sir Launcelot would not hear him, but came fast
upon him. King Mark saw that, and made no defence, but tumbled adown out
of his saddle to the earth as a sack, and there he lay still, and cried
Sir Launcelot mercy. Arise, recreant knight and king. I will not fight,
said King Mark, but whither that ye will I will go with you. Alas, alas,
said Sir Launcelot, that I may not give thee one buffet for the love of
Sir Tristram and of La Beale Isoud, and for the two knights that thou
hast slain traitorly. And so he mounted upon his horse and brought him
to King Arthur; and there King Mark alighted in that same place, and
threw his helm from him upon the earth, and his sword, and fell flat to
the earth of King Arthur's feet, and put him in his grace and mercy. So
God me help, said Arthur, ye are welcome in a manner, and in a manner
ye are not welcome. In this manner ye are welcome, that ye come hither
maugre thy head, as I suppose. That is truth, said King Mark, and else I
had not been here, for my lord, Sir Launcelot, brought me hither through
his fine force, and to him am I yolden to as recreant. Well, said
Arthur, ye understand ye ought to do me service, homage, and fealty.
And never would ye do me none, but ever ye have been against me, and
a destroyer of my knights; now, how will ye acquit you? Sir, said King
Mark, right as your lordship will require me, unto my power, I will make
a large amends. For he was a fair speaker, and false thereunder. Then
for great pleasure of Sir Tristram, to make them twain accorded, the
king withheld King Mark as at that time, and made a broken love-day
between them.

CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palomides of the battle between
Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristam.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Palomides, how Sir Dinadan comforted him in
all that he might, from his great sorrow. What knight are ye? said Sir
Palomides. Sir, I am a knight-errant as ye be, that hat