[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Lamorack] In that encounter the spear of Sir Lamorack brake into as many as twenty or thirty pieces; but the spear of Sir Tristram held, so that the horse of Sir Lamorack, which was weary with the several charges he had made, was overthrown into a great cloud of dust.

But Sir Lamorack did not fall with his steed; for he voided his saddle with a very wonderful agility and dexterity, so that he himself kept his feet, although his horse fell as aforesaid.  Then he was filled with great rage and shame that he had been so overthrown before all those who looked upon him; wherefore he immediately drew his sword and cried out aloud:  “Come down, Sir Knight, and do battle with me afoot, for though my horse hath failed me because of his weariness, yet you shall find that my body shall not so fail me.”

But that while Sir Tristram sat very sorrowful, and he said:  “Nay, I will not have to do with thee again this day, for it was against my will that I came hither to do battle with thee, and it is to my shame that I did so.  Wherefore I will not now do further battle with thee.  But wait until to-morrow and until thou art fresh, and then I will give thee the chance of battle again.”

To this Sir Lamorack made answer very bitterly:  “Sir, I think you talk to amuse me; for first you put shame upon me in this encounter, and then you bid me wait until to-morrow ere I purge me of that shame.  Now I demand of you to do battle with me upon this moment and not to-morrow.”

Sir Tristram said:  “I will not do battle with thee, Lamorack, for I have done wrong already, and I will not do more wrong.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Lamorack reproves Sir Tristram] Upon this, Sir Lamorack was so filled with anger that he scarce knew what to say or to do.  Wherefore he turned him to several who had come down into the meadow of battle, and he said:  “Hear ye all, and listen to my words:  This knight came against me in this field after I had had to do with fifteen other knights.  In that encounter he overthrew me, because of the weariness of my horse.  Having done that unknightly deed, he now refuseth me any further test of battle, but allows me to lie beneath that shame which he put upon me.  Now I bid you who stand here to take this word to Sir Launcelot of the Lake; I bid ye tell Sir Launcelot that Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, having sworn brother-hood-in-arms to me, and being a fellow-knight of the Round Table, hath come against me when I was weary with battle and he was fresh.  Tell Sir Launcelot that so Sir Tristram overthrew me with shame to himself and with discredit to me, and that he then refused me all satisfaction such as one true knight should afford another.”

Then Sir Tristram cried out in a loud voice, “I pray you, hear me speak, Messire!” But Sir Lamorack replied, “I will not hear thee!” and therewith turned and went away, leaving Sir Tristram where he was.  And Sir Tristram sat there without movement, like to a statue of stone.