tling together like two boars, and that same time they fell
both grovelling to the earth.

Thus they fought still without any reposing two hours, and never
breathed; and then Sir Palomides waxed faint and weary, and Sir Helius
waxed passing strong, and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Palomides
overthwart and endlong all the field, that they of the city when they
saw Sir Palomides in this case they wept and cried, and made great dole,
and the other party made as great joy. Alas, said the men of the city,
that this noble knight should thus be slain for our king's sake. And as
they were thus weeping and crying, Sir Palomides that had suffered an
hundred strokes, that it was wonder that he stood on his feet, at the
last Sir Palomides beheld as he might the common people, how they wept
for him; and then he said to himself: Ah, fie for shame, Sir Palomides,
why hangest thou thy head so low; and therewith he bare up his shield,
and looked Sir Helius in the visage, and he smote him a great stroke
upon the helm, and after that another and another. And then he smote Sir
Helius with such a might that he fell to the earth grovelling; and
then he raced off his helm from his head, and there he smote him such a
buffet that he departed his head from the body. And then were the people
of the city the joyfullest people that might be. So they brought him to
his lodging with great solemnity, and there all the people became his
men. And then Sir Palomides prayed them all to take keep unto all the
lordship of King Hermance: For, fair sirs, wit ye well I may not as at
this time abide with you, for I must in all haste be with my lord King
Arthur at the Castle of Lonazep, the which I have promised. Then was
the people full heavy at his departing, for all that city proffered
Sir Palomides the third part of their goods so that he would abide with
them; but in no wise as at that time he would not abide.

And so Sir Palomides departed, and so he came unto the castle thereas
Sir Ebel was lieutenant. And when they in the castle wist how Sir
Palomides had sped, there was a joyful meiny; and so Sir Palomides
departed, and came to the castle of Lonazep. And when he wist that Sir
Tristram was not there he took his way over Humber, and came unto Joyous
Gard, whereas Sir Tristram was and La Beale Isoud. Sir Tristram had
commanded that what knight errant came within the Joyous Gard, as in
the town, that they should warn Sir Tristram. So there came a man