King Arthur, and smote him down with a spear. When Sir Launcelot saw
that despite of Sir Palomides, he said to himself: I am loath to have
ado with yonder knight, and not for his own sake but for Sir Tristram.
And one thing I am sure of, if I smite down Sir Palomides I must have
ado with Sir Tristram, and that were overmuch for me to match them both,
for they are two noble knights; notwithstanding, whether I live or I
die, needs must I revenge my lord, and so will I, whatsomever befall of
me. And therewith Sir Launcelot cried to Sir Palomides: Keep thee from
me. And then Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides rushed together with two
spears strongly, but Sir Launcelot smote Sir Palomides so hard that he
went quite out of his saddle, and had a great fall. When Sir Tristram
saw Sir Palomides have that fall, he said to Sir Launcelot: Sir knight,
keep thee, for I must joust with thee. As for to joust with me, said
Sir Launcelot, I will not fail you, for no dread I have of you; but I
am loath to have ado with you an I might choose, for I will that ye
wit that I must revenge my special lord that was unhorsed unwarly and
unknightly. And therefore, though I revenged that fall, take ye no
displeasure therein, for he is to me such a friend that I may not see
him shamed.

Anon Sir Tristram understood by his person and by his knightly words
that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake, and verily Sir Tristram deemed that
it was King Arthur, he that Sir Palomides had smitten down. And then
Sir Tristram put his spear from him, and put Sir Palomides again
on horseback, and Sir Launcelot put King Arthur on horseback and so
departed. So God me help, said Sir Tristram unto Palomides, ye did not
worshipfully when ye smote down that knight so suddenly as ye did. And
wit ye well ye did yourself great shame, for the knights came hither
of their gentleness to see a fair lady; and that is every good knight's
part, to behold a fair lady; and ye had not ado to play such masteries
afore my lady. Wit thou well it will turn to anger, for he that ye smote
down was King Arthur, and that other was the good knight Sir Launcelot.
But I shall not forget the words of Sir Launcelot when that he called
him a man of great worship, thereby I wist that it was King Arthur.
And as for Sir Launcelot, an there had been five hundred knights in the
meadow, he would not have refused them, and yet he said he would
refuse me. By that again I wist that it was Sir Launcelot, for ever he