[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram follows Sir Bleoberis] So Sir Tristram and Gouvernail rode at a good pace for a long time, making inquiry of whomsoever they met if Sir Bleoberis had passed that way.  At last they entered the forest and rode therein a great way, meeting no one till toward the latter part of the afternoon.  By and by they saw before them two knights, very large and strong of frame and clad all in bright and shining armor, and each riding a great war-horse of Flemish strain.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram comes to two knights] “Gouvernail,” said Sir Tristram, “ride forward apace and see for me who are yonder knights.”  So Gouvernail rode forward at a gallop, and so, in a little, came near enough to the two knights to see the devices upon their shields.  Upon that he returned to Sir Tristram, and said:  “Messire, those are two very famous worthy knights of King Arthur’s Court, and of the two you are acquainted with one, but the other is a stranger to you.  For the one is Sir Sagramore le Desirous, who was at that tournament in Ireland, and the other is Sir Dodinas le Sauvage.”

“Well,” said Sir Tristram, “those are indeed two very good, worthy knights.  Now if you will sit here for a while, I will go forward and have speech with them.”  “Messire,” said Gouvernail, “I would counsel you not to have to do with those knights, for there are hardly any knights more famous at arms than they, so it is not likely that you can have success of them if you should assay them.”

But to this Sir Tristram said:  “Peace, Gouvernail!  Hold thy peace, and bide here while I go forward!”

Now those knights when they became aware that Sir Tristram and Gouvernail were there, had halted at a clear part of the woodland to await what should befall.  Unto them Sir Tristram came, riding with great dignity and haughtiness, and when he had come nigh enough he drew rein and spoke with great pride of bearing, saying:  “Messires, I require of you to tell me whence you come, and whither you go, and what you do in these marches?”

Unto him Sir Sagramore made reply, speaking very scornfully:  “Fair knight, are you a knight of Cornwall?” and Sir Tristram said:  “Why do you ask me that?” “Messire,” said Sir Sagramore, “I ask you that because it hath seldom been heard tell that a Cornish knight hath courage to call upon two knights to answer such questions as you have asked of us.”

“Well,” said Sir Tristram, “for the matter of that, I am at this present a knight of Cornwall, and I hereby let you know that you shall not go away from here unless you either answer my question or give me satisfaction at arms.”

Then Sir Dodinas spoke very fiercely, saying:  “Sir Cornish knight, you shall presently have all the satisfaction at arms that you desire and a great deal more than you desire.”  Therewith he took a very stout spear in his hand and rode to a little distance, and Sir Tristram, beholding his intent to do battle, also rode to a little distance, and took stand in such a place as seemed to him to be best.  Then, when they were in all wise prepared, they rushed together with such astonishing vehemence that the earth shook and trembled beneath them.