wist he well by his speech that he was a Cornish
knight. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I understand by your tongue ye be of
Cornwall, wherein there dwelleth the shamefullest king that is now
living, for he is a great enemy to all good knights; and that proveth
well, for he hath chased out of that country Sir Tristram, that is the
worshipfullest knight that now is living, and all knights speak of him
worship; and for jealousness of his queen he hath chased him out of
his country. It is pity, said Sir Lamorak, that ever any such false
knight-coward as King Mark is, should be matched with such a fair lady
and good as La Beale Isoud is, for all the world of him speaketh shame,
and of her worship that any queen may have. I have not ado in this
matter, said King Mark, neither nought will I speak thereof. Well said,
said Sir Lamorak. Sir, can ye tell me any tidings? I can tell you, said
Sir Lamorak, that there shall be a great tournament in haste beside
Camelot, at the Castle of Jagent; and the King with the Hundred Knights
and the King of Ireland, as I suppose, make that tournament.

Then there came a knight that was called Sir Dinadan, and saluted
them both. And when he wist that King Mark was a knight of Cornwall he
reproved him for the love of King Mark a thousand fold more than did
Sir Lamorak. Then he proffered to joust with King Mark. And he was full
loath thereto, but Sir Dinadan edged him so, that he jousted with Sir
Lamorak. And Sir Lamorak smote King Mark so sore that he bare him on
his spear end over his horse's tail. And then King Mark arose again,
and followed after Sir Lamorak. But Sir Dinadan would not joust with
Sir Lamorak, but he told King Mark that Sir Lamorak was Sir Kay, the
Seneschal. That is not so, said King Mark, for he is much bigger than
Sir Kay; and so he followed and overtook him, and bade him abide. What
will you do? said Sir Lamorak. Sir, he said, I will fight with a sword,
for ye have shamed me with a spear; and therewith they dashed together
with swords, and Sir Lamorak suffered him and forbare him. And King Mark
was passing hasty, and smote thick strokes. Sir Lamorak saw he would not
stint, and waxed somewhat wroth, and doubled his strokes, for he was one
of the noblest knights of the world; and he beat him so on the helm that
his head hung nigh on the saddle bow. When Sir Lamorak saw him fare so,
he said: Sir knight, what cheer? meseemeth you have nigh your fill of
fighting, it were pity to do you a