_How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his adversary,
and how his adversary would never yield him._
Now make your answer that your champion is ready, for I shall die in
your quarrel rather than to be recreant. I have no doubt of you, said
the king, that and ye should have ado with Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir,
said Sir Tristram, as for Sir Launcelot, he is called the noblest
knight of the world, and wit ye well that the knights of his blood are
noble men and dread shame; and as for Sir Bleoberis, brother to Sir
Blamor, I have done battle with him, therefore upon my head it is no
shame to call him a good knight. It is noised, said the king, that
Blamor is the hardier knight. Sir, as for that, let him be, he shall
never be refused, and as he were the best knight that now beareth
shield or spear. So king Anguish departed unto king Carados and the
kings that were that time as judges, and told them that he had found
his champion ready. And then by the commandments of the kings Sir
Blamor de Ganis and Sir Tristram were sent for, to hear the charge. And
when they were come before the judges, there were many kings and
knights beheld Sir Tristram, and much speech they had of him because he
slew Sir Marhaus the good knight, and because he forjusted Sir
Palamides the good knight. So when they had taken their charge they
withdrew them for to make them ready to do battle. Then said Sir
Bleoberis to his brother Sir Blamor, Fair dear brother, remember of
what kin we be come of, and what a man is Sir Launcelot du Lake,
neither further nor nearer but brothers’ children, and there was never
none of our kin that ever was shamed in battle, and rather suffer
death, brother, than to be shamed. Brother, said Blamor, have ye no
doubt of me, for I shall never shame none of my blood, how be it I am
sure that yonder knight is called a passing good knight, as of his time
one of the world, yet shall I never yield me, nor say the loth word:
well may he happen to smite me down with his great might of chivalry,
but rather shall he slay me than I shall yield me as recreant. God
speed you well, said Bleoberis, for ye shall find him the mightiest
knight that ever ye had ado withall, for I know him, for I have had ado
with him. God me speed, said Blamor de Ganis. And therewith he took his
horse at the one end of the lists, and Sir Tristram at the other end of
the lists, and so they feutred their spears and came together as it had
been thunder, and there Sir Tristram through great might smote down Sir
Blamor and his horse to the earth. Then anon Sir Blamor avoided his
horse, and pulled out his sword and threw his shield afore him, and bad
Sir Tristram alight; for though an horse hath failed me, I trust the
earth will not fail me. And then Sir Tristram alight and dressed him
unto battle, and there they lashed together strongly as racing and
tracing, foining and dashing many sad strokes, that the kings and
knights had great wonder that they might stand, for ever they fought
like wood men, so that there were never knights seen fight more
fiercely than they did, for Sir Blamor was so hasty that he would have
no rest, that all men wondered that they had breath to stand on their
feet; and all the place was bloody that they fought in. And at the
last, Sir Tristram smote Sir Blamor such a buffet upon the helm that he
there fell down upon his side, and Sir Tristram stood and beheld him.