These and many others gathered at the court of King Angus of Ireland, so that all those meadows and fields coadjacent to the place of battle were gay as beds of flowers with the multitude of tents and pavilions of divers colors that were there emplanted.

And on the day of the tournament there came great crowds of people into the lists, so that all that place was alive with movement.  For it was as though a sea of people had arisen to overflow the seats and stalls thereof.

Now that tournament was to last for three days, and upon the third day there was to be a grand melee in which all these knights contestant were to take stand upon this side or upon that.

But upon the first two of those three days Sir Tristram sat in the stall of the King and looked down upon the jousting, for, because of the illness from which he had recovered, he was minded to save his body until the right time should come, what time he should be called upon to do his uttermost.

[Sidenote:  Sir Palamydes performeth wonders] And in those two days, Sir Tristram beheld that Sir Palamydes did more wonderfully in battle than he would have believed it possible for any knight to do.  For Sir Palamydes was aware that the eyes of the Lady Belle Isoult were gazing upon him, wherefore he felt himself uplifted to battle as with the strength of ten.  Wherefore he raged about that field like a lion of battle, seeking whom he might overthrow and destroy.  And upon the first day he challenged Sir Gawaine to joust with him, and then he challenged Sir Gaheris, and the King of an Hundred Knights, and Sir Griflet, and Sir Sagramore le Desirous and fourteen other knights, and all of these he met and many he overcame, and that without any mishap to himself.  And upon the second day he met with great success Sir Agravaine and Sir Griflet and Sir Kay and Sir Dodinas and twelve other knights.  Wherefore those who beheld how he did gave great shouts and outcries of applause and acclaim, saying:  “Certes, there was never knight in all of the world so great as this knight.  Yea; even Sir Launcelot himself could not do more than that knight doeth.”

Then Belle Isoult was troubled in her mind, and she said:  “Tramtris, yonder in very truth is a most fierce and terrible knight.  Now somewhiles I have fear that you may not be able to overcome him.”

Thereat Sir Tristram smiled very grimly, and said:  “Lady, already I have overcome in battle a bigger knight than ever Sir Palamydes has been or is like to be.”  But the Lady Belle Isoult wist not that that knight of whom Sir Tristram spake was Sir Marhaus of Ireland.

[Sidenote:  Sir Palamydes bespeaks the Lady Belle Isoult] Now upon the evening of the second day of that tournament, Sir Palamydes came to where the Lady Belle Isoult was, and he said:  “Lady, all these things I have done for your sake.  For had it not been for my love for you, I would not have been able to do a third part of that which I did.  Now I think you should have pity and regard for one who loves you so strongly as that; wherefore I beseech you to bestow some part of your good-will upon me.”