[Sidenote:  Sir Lamorack is honored at Tintagel] Now all the court at Tintagel was greatly rejoiced at the presence of so famous a knight as Sir Lamorack of Gales; so there was great celebration upon that account, and everybody did the most that he was able to give pleasure to Sir Lamorack.  And during the time that Sir Lamorack was at Tintagel there were several joustings held in his honor, and in all these assays at arms Sir Lamorack himself took part and overthrew everyone who came against him, so that he approved himself to be so wonderful a champion that all men who beheld his performance exclaimed with astonishment at his prowess.

But from all these affairs at arms Sir Tristram held himself aloof, and would not take part in them.  For he took such pleasure in Sir Lamorack’s glory that he would not do anything that might imperil the credit that his friend thus gained by his prowess.  For though Sir Tristram dearly loved such affairs, he would ever say to himself:  “Perhaps if I should enter the lists against my friend it might be my mishap to overthrow him and then his glory would be forfeited unto me.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Lamorack does famous battle] Now upon a certain time there was held a great day of jousting in honor of Sir Lamorack, and in that affair at arms twenty of the best knights, both of Cornwall and the countries circumadjacent, took the field to hold it against all comers.  Of these knights, several were well-known champions, so that they maintained the field for a long while, to the great credit both of themselves and of Cornwall.  But some while after the prime of day, there came Sir Lamorack into that field, and, the day being cool and fresh, he was filled with a wonderful strength and spirit of battle.  So he challenged first one of those Cornish champions and then another, and in all such challenges he was successful, so that he overthrew of those knights, the one after the other, fifteen men, some of whom were sorely hurt in the encounter.  Upon this, the other five of those champions, beholding the prowess and strength and skill of Sir Lamorack said to one another:  “Why should we venture against this man?  Of a verity, this knight is no mere man, but a demon of strength and skill.  Wherefore no man may hope to stand against him in an assault of arms; for lo! if he doth but touch a man with his lance that man straightway falleth from his saddle.”  So they withdrew themselves from that encounter and would not have to do with Sir Lamorack.

Now at that time Sir Tristram was sitting with the court of the King, and not far from the Lady Belle Isoult, overlooking the meadow of battle.

To him King Mark said:  “Messire, why do you take no part against this knight?  Is it that you fear him?”

To this Sir Tristram replied with great calmness:  “Nay, I fear not him nor any man alive, and that you know, Lord, better than anyone in all of the world.”