by him; and
well I wot he was a lover. Ah, fair sir, said Sir Tristram are ye not
a lover? Mary, fie on that craft! said Sir Dinadan. That is evil said,
said Sir Tristram, for a knight may never be of prowess but if he be a
lover. It is well said, said Sir Dinadan; now tell me your name, sith
ye be a lover, or else I shall do battle with you. As for that, said Sir
Tristram, it is no reason to fight with me but I tell you my name; and
as for that my name shall ye not wit as at this time. Fie for shame,
said Dinadan, art thou a knight and durst not tell thy name to me?
therefore I will fight with thee. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I will
be advised, for I will not do battle but if me list. And if I do battle,
said Sir Tristram, ye are not able to withstand me. Fie on thee, coward,
said Sir Dinadan.

And thus as they hoved still, they saw a knight come riding against
them. Lo, said Sir Tristram, see where cometh a knight riding, will
joust with you. Anon, as Sir Dinadan beheld him he said: That is the
same doted knight that I saw lie by the well, neither sleeping nor
waking. Well, said Sir Tristram, I know that knight well with the
covered shield of azure, he is the king's son of Northumberland, his
name is Epinegris; and he is as great a lover as I know, and he loveth
the king's daughter of Wales, a full fair lady. And now I suppose, said
Sir Tristram, an ye require him he will joust with you, and then shall
ye prove whether a lover be a better knight, or ye that will not love
no lady. Well, said Dinadan, now shalt thou see what I shall do.
Therewithal Sir Dinadan spake on high and said: Sir knight, make thee
ready to joust with me, for it is the custom of errant knights one to
joust with other. Sir, said Epinegris, is that the rule of you errant
knights for to make a knight to joust, will he or nill? As for that,
said Dinadan, make thee ready, for here is for me. And therewithal they
spurred their horses and met together so hard that Epinegris smote down
Sir Dinadan. Then Sir Tristram rode to Sir Dinadan and said: How now,
meseemeth the lover hath well sped. Fie on thee, coward, said Sir
Dinadan, and if thou be a good knight revenge me. Nay, said Sir
Tristram, I will not joust as at this time, but take your horse and let
us go hence. God defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from thy fellowship, for I
never sped well since I met with thee: and so they departed. Well, said
Sir Tristram, peradventure I could tell you tidings of