“Alas that I ever came into your company,” said Sir Dinadan.

So they made ready, and Sir Gaheris encountered Sir Tristram and fell before him; but Sir Palomedes overthrew Sir Dinadan.  Then would all fight on foot save Sir Dinadan, for he was sorely bruised and frighted by his fall.  And when Sir Tristram prayed him to fight, “I will not,” answered he, “for I was wounded by those thirty knights with whom we fought this morning; and as to you, ye are in truth like one gone mad, and who would cast himself away!  There be but two knights in the world so mad, and the other is Sir Lancelot, with whom I once rode forth, who kept me evermore at battling so that for a quarter of a year thereafter I lay in my bed.  Heaven defend me again from either of your fellowships!”

“Well,” said Sir Tristram, “if it must be, I will fight them both.”

Therewith he drew his sword and assailed Sir Palomedes and Sir Gaheris together; but Sir Palomedes said, “Nay, but it is a shame for two to fight with one.”  So he bade Sir Gaheris stand by, and he and Sir Tristram fought long together; but in the end Sir Tristram drave him backward, whereat Sir Gaheris and Sir Dinadan with one accord sundered them.  Then Sir Tristram prayed the two knights to lodge there; but Sir Dinadan departed and rode away into a priory hard by, and there he lodged that night.

And on the morrow came Sir Tristram to the priory to find him, and seeing him so weary that he could not ride, he left him, and departed.  At that same priory was lodged Sir Pellinore, who asked Sir Dinadan Sir Tristram’s name, but could not learn it, for Sir Tristram had charged that he should remain unknown.  Then said Sir Pellinore, “Since ye will not tell it me, I will ride after him and find it myself.”

“Beware, Sir knight,” said Sir Dinadan, “ye will repent it if ye follow him.”

But Sir Pellinore straightway mounted and overtook him, and cried to him to joust; whereat Sir Tristram forthwith turned and smote him down, and wounded him full sorely in the shoulder.

On the day after, Sir Tristram met a herald, who told him of a tournament proclaimed between King Carados of Scotland, and the King of North Wales, to be held at the Maiden’s Castle.  Now King Carados sought Sir Lancelot to fight there on his side, and the King of North Wales sought Sir Tristram.  And Sir Tristram purposed to be there.  So as he rode, he met Sir Key, the seneschal, and Sir Sagramour, and Sir Key proffered to joust with him.  But he refused, desiring to keep himself unwearied for the tourney.  Then Sir Key cried, “Sir knight of Cornwall, joust with me, or yield as recreant.”  When Sir Tristram heard that, he fiercely turned and set his spear in rest, and spurred his horse towards him.  But when Sir Key saw him so madly coming on, he in his turn refused, whereat Sir Tristram called him coward, till for shame he was compelled to meet him.  Then Sir Tristram lightly smote him down, and rode away.  But Sir Sagramour pursued him, crying loudly to joust with him also.  So Sir Tristram turned and quickly overthrew him likewise, and departed.