[Sidenote:  Sir Palamydes disarms himself] But after Sir Tristram had gone, Sir Palamydes arose, weeping aloud.  And he said:  “This is such shame to me that I think there can be no greater shame.”  Thereupon he drew his misericordia, and he cut the thongs of his harness and he tore the pieces of armor from off his body and flung them away very furiously, upon the right hand and upon the left.  And when he had thus stripped himself of all of his armor, he mounted his horse and rode away into the forest, weeping like one altogether brokenhearted.

So Sir Tristram drave Sir Palamydes away from the Lady Belle Isoult as he had promised to do.

Now when Tristram came back to the castle of the King of Ireland once more, he thought to enter privily in by the postern-gate as he had gone out.  But lo! instead of that he found a great party waiting for him before the castle and these gave him loud acclaim, crying, “Welcome, Sir Tramtris!  Welcome, Sir Tramtris!” And King Angus came forward and took the hand of Sir Tristram, and he also said:  “Welcome, Sir Tramtris, for you have brought us great honor this day!”

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram chides Belle Isoult] But Sir Tristram looked at the Lady the Belle Isoult with great reproach and by and by when they were together he said:  “Lady, why did you betray me who I was when you had promised me not to do so?” “Sir,” she said, “I meant not to betray you, but in the joy of your victory I know not very well what I said.”  “Well,” said Sir Tristram, “God grant that no harm come of it.”  She said, “What harm can come of it, Messire?” Sir Tristram said:  “I may not tell you, Lady, but I fear that harm will come of it.”

Anon the Queen of Ireland came and said:  “Tramtris, one so nigh to death as you have been should not so soon have done battle as you have done.  Now I will have a bain prepared and you shall bathe therein, for you are not yet hale and strong.”

“Lady,” said Tristram, “I do not need any bain, for I believe I am now strong and well in all wise.”

“Nay,” said the Queen, “you must have that bain so that no ill may come to you hereafter from this battle which you have fought.”

So she had that bain prepared of tepid water, and it was very strong and potent with spices and powerful herbs of divers sorts.  And when that bain was prepared, Sir Tristram undressed and entered the bath, and the Queen and the Lady Belle Isoult were in the adjoining chamber which was his bed-chamber.

[Sidenote:  The Queen of Ireland beholds Sir Tristram’s sword] Now whilst Sir Tristram was in that bath, the Queen and Belle Isoult looked all about his chamber.  And they beheld the sword of Sir Tristram where it lay, for he had laid it upon the bed when he had unlatched the belt to make himself ready for that bath.  Then the Queen said to the Lady Belle Isoult, “See what a great huge sword this is,” and thereupon she lifted it and drew the blade out of its sheath,