o Sir Tristram alighted off his horse because they were on foot, that
they should not slay his horse, and then dressed his shield, with his
sword in his hand, and he smote on the right hand and on the left hand
passing sore, that well-nigh at every stroke he struck down a knight.
And when they espied his strokes they fled all with Breuse Saunce Pite
unto the tower, and Sir Tristram followed fast after with his sword in
his hand, but they escaped into the tower, and shut Sir Tristram without
the gate. And when Sir Tristram saw this he returned aback unto Sir
Palomides, and found him sitting under a tree sore wounded. Ah,
fair knight, said Sir Tristram, well be ye found. Gramercy, said Sir
Palomides, of your great goodness, for ye have rescued me of my life,
and saved me from my death. What is your name? said Sir Tristram. He
said: My name is Sir Palomides. O Jesu, said Sir Tristram, thou hast a
fair grace of me this day that I should rescue thee, and thou art the
man in the world that I most hate; but now make thee ready, for I will
do battle with thee. What is your name? said Sir Palomides. My name is
Sir Tristram, your mortal enemy. It may be so, said Sir Palomides; but
ye have done over much for me this day that I should fight with you; for
inasmuch as ye have saved my life it will be no worship for you to have
ado with me, for ye are fresh and I am wounded sore, and therefore, an
ye will needs have ado with me, assign me a day and then I shall meet
with you without fail. Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, now I assign you
to meet me in the meadow by the river of Camelot, where Merlin set the
peron. So they were agreed.

Then Sir Tristram asked Sir Palomides why the ten knights did battle
with him. For this cause, said Sir Palomides; as I rode upon mine
adventures in a forest here beside I espied where lay a dead knight, and
a lady weeping beside him. And when I saw her making such dole, I asked
her who slew her lord. Sir, she said, the falsest knight of the world
now living, and he is the most villain that ever man heard speak of and
his name is Sir Breuse Saunce Pite. Then for pity I made the damosel to
leap on her palfrey, and I promised her to be her warrant, and to help
her to inter her lord. And so, suddenly, as I came riding by this tower,
there came out Sir Breuse Saunce Pite, and suddenly he struck me from
my horse. And then or I might recover my horse this Sir Breuse slew the
damosel. And so I took my horse agai