_How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well._
And thou Sir Tristram faredst all this day as though thou hadst been
asleep, and therefore I call thee coward. Well, Dinadan, said Sir
Tristram, I was never called coward or now, of none earthly knight, in
my life: and, wit thou well, sir, I call myself never the more coward
though Sir Launcelot gave me a fall, for I outcept him of all knights.
And doubt ye not, Sir Dinadan, and Sir Launcelot have a quarrel good,
he is too over good for any knight that now is living; and yet of his
sufferance, largesse, bounty, and courtesy, I call him knight peerless.
And so Sir Tristram was in manner wroth with Sir Dinadan. But all this
language Sir Dinadan said because he would anger Sir Tristram, for to
cause him to awake his spirits, and to be wroth. For well knew Sir
Dinadan that and Sir Tristram were thoroughly wroth, Sir Palamides
should not get the prize upon the morn. And for this intent Sir Dinadan
said all this railing and language against Sir Tristram. Truly, said
Sir Palamides, as for Sir Launcelot, of his noble knighthood, courtesy,
and prowess, and gentleness, I know not his peer: for this day, said
Sir Palamides, I did full uncourteously unto Sir Launcelot, and full
unknightly, and full knightly and courteously he did to me again: for
and he had been as ungentle to me as I was to him, this day I had won
no worship. And therefore, said Palamides, I shall be Sir Launcelot’s
knight whiles my life lasteth. This talking was in the houses of kings.
But all kings, lords, and knights said, of clear knighthood and pure
strength, of bounty, and courtesy, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram bare
the prize above all knights that ever were in Arthur’s days. And there
were never knights in Arthur’s days did half so many deeds as they did:
as the book saith, no ten knights did not half the deeds that they did;
and there was never knight in their days that required Sir Launcelot or
Sir Tristram of any quest, so it were not to their shame, but they
performed their desire.