_How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palamides, and how he justed with king
Arthur, and other feats._
So the king of Northgalis and the king with the hundred knights, they
two encountered with king Carados and with the king of Ireland, and
there the king with the hundred knights smote down king Carados, and
the king of Northgalis smote down the king of Ireland. With that came
in Sir Palamides, and when he came he made great work, for by his
indented shield he was well known. So came in king Arthur and did great
deeds of arms together, and put the king of Northgalis and the king
with the hundred knights to the worse. With this came in Sir Tristram
with his black shield, and anon he justed with Sir Palamides, and there
by fine force Sir Tristram smote Sir Palamides over his horse croup.
Then king Arthur cried, Knight with the black shield make thee ready to
me. And in the same wise Sir Tristram smote king Arthur. And then by
force of king Arthur’s knights the king and Sir Palamides were horsed
again. Then king Arthur with a great eager heart gat a spear in his
hand, and there upon the one side he smote Sir Tristram over his horse.
Then foot-hot Sir Palamides came upon Sir Tristram as he was on foot,
to have over-ridden him. Then Sir Tristram was ware of him, and there
he stooped aside, and with great ire he gat him by the arm, and pulled
him down from his horse. Then Sir Palamides lightly arose, and then
they dashed together mightily with their swords, and many kings,
queens, and lords stood and beheld them. And at the last Sir Tristram
smote Sir Palamides upon the helm three mighty strokes, and at every
stroke that he gave him he said, Have this for Sir Tristram’s sake.
With that Sir Palamides fell to the earth groveling. And then came the
king with the hundred knights and brought Sir Tristram an horse, and so
was he horsed again. By then was Sir Palamides horsed, and with great
ire he justed upon Sir Tristram with his spear as it was in the rest,
and gave him a great dash with his spear. Then Sir Tristram avoided his
spear and gat him by the neck with his both hands, and pulled him clean
out of his saddle, and so he bare him afore him the length of ten
spears, and then in the presence of them all he let him fall at his
adventure. Then Sir Tristram was ware of king Arthur with a naked sword
in his hand, and with his spear Sir Tristram ran upon king Arthur, and
then king Arthur boldly abode him, and with his sword he smote a-two
his spear, and therewithal Sir Tristram was astonished, and so king
Arthur gave him three or four great strokes or he might get out his
sword, and at the last Sir Tristram drew his sword and assailed other
passing hard. With that the great press parted, then Sir Tristram rode
here and there and did his great pain, that eleven of the good knights
of the blood of king Ban, that was of Sir Launcelot’s kin, that day Sir
Tristram smote down, that all the estates marvelled of his great deeds,
and all cried upon the knight with the black shield.