ts, that Sir Tristram this day is
proved the best knight.

CHAPTER LXXVII. How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud, and how
Palomides followed and excused him.

THEN they blew unto lodging, and Queen Isoud was led unto her pavilions.
But wit you well she was wroth out of measure with Sir Palomides, for
she saw all his treason from the beginning to the ending. And all this
while neither Sir Tristram, neither Sir Gareth nor Dinadan, knew not
of the treason of Sir Palomides; but afterward ye shall hear that there
befell the greatest debate betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides that
might be.

So when the tournament was done, Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan, rode
with La Beale Isoud to these pavilions. And ever Sir Palomides rode with
them in their company disguised as he was. But when Sir Tristram had
espied him that he was the same knight with the shield of silver that
held him so hot that day: Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well
here is none that hath need of your fellowship, and therefore I pray you
depart from us. Sir Palomides answered again as though he had not known
Sir Tristram: Wit you well, sir knight, from this fellowship will I
never depart, for one of the best knights of the world commanded me to
be in this company, and till he discharge me of my service I will not be
discharged. By that Sir Tristram knew that it was Sir Palomides. Ah, Sir
Palomides, said the noble knight Sir Tristram, are ye such a knight? Ye
have been named wrong, for ye have long been called a gentle knight,
and as this day ye have showed me great ungentleness, for ye had almost
brought me unto my death. But, as for you, I suppose I should have done
well enough, but Sir Launcelot with you was overmuch; for I know no
knight living but Sir Launcelot is over good for him, an he will do his
uttermost. Alas, said Sir Palomides, are ye my lord Sir Tristram? Yea,
sir, and that ye know well enough. By my knighthood, said Palomides,
until now I knew you not; I weened that ye had been the King of Ireland,
for well I wot ye bare his arms. His arms I bare, said Sir Tristram,
and that will I stand by, for I won them once in a field of a full noble
knight, his name was Sir Marhaus; and with great pain I won that knight,
for there was none other recover, but Sir Marhaus died through false
leeches; and yet was he never yolden to me. Sir, said Palomides, I
weened ye had been turned upon Sir Launcelot's party, and that caused
me to t