Then immediately Sir Palamydes smote Sir Tristram such a buffet that Sir Tristram thought a bolt of lightning had burst upon him, and for a little while he was altogether bemazed and wist not where he was.  But when he came to himself he was so filled with fury that his heart was like to break therewith.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram smites Sir Palamydes] Thereupon he rushed upon Sir Palamydes and smote him again and again and again with such fury and strength that Sir Palamydes was altogether stunned at the blows he received and bare back before them.  Then Sir Tristram perceived how that Sir Palamydes bare his shield low because of the fierceness of that assault, and thereupon he rose up in his stirrups and struck Sir Palamydes upon the crown of the helmet so dreadful a buffet that the brains of Sir Palamydes swam like water, and he must needs catch the pommel of his saddle to save himself from falling.  Then Sir Tristram smote him another buffet, and therewith darkness came upon the sight of Sir Palamydes and he rolled off from his horse into the dust beneath its feet.

Then all who beheld the encounter shouted very loud and with great vehemence, for it was the very best and most notable assault at arms that had been performed in all that battle.  But most of those who beheld that assault cried out “The Silver Knight!” For at that time no one but the Lady Belle Isoult wist who that silver knight was.  But she wist very well who he was, and was so filled with the glory of his prowess that she wept for joy thereof.

[Sidenote:  Belle Isoult declares Sir Tristram] Then the King of Ireland said:  “Who is yonder knight who hath so wonderfully overthrown Sir Palamydes?  I had not thought there was any knight in the world so great as he; but this must be some great champion whom none of us know.”  Upon that the Lady Belle Isoult, still weeping for joy, could contain herself no longer, but cried out:  “Sir, that is Tramtris, who came to us so nigh to death and who hath now done us so great honor being of our household!  For I knew very well that he was no common knight but some mighty champion when I first beheld him.”

At that the King of Ireland was very much astonished and overjoyed, and he said:  “If that is indeed so, then it is a very great honor for us all.”

Now after that assault Sir Tristram took no more part in that battle but withdrew to one side.  But he perceived where the esquires attendant upon Sir Palamydes came to him and lifted him up and took him away.  Then by and by he perceived that Sir Palamydes had mounted his horse again with intent to leave that meadow of battle, and in a little he saw Sir Palamydes ride away with his head bowed down like to one whose heart was broken.

All this Sir Tristram beheld and did not try to stay Sir Palamydes in his departure.  But some while after Sir Palamydes had quitted that place, Sir Tristram also took his departure, going in that same direction that Sir Palamydes had gone.  Then after he had come well away from the meadow of battle, Sir Tristram set spurs to his horse and rode at a hard gallop along that way that Sir Palamydes had taken.