“Since I bare arms,” said King Arthur, “never saw I a knight do more marvellous deeds.”

Then the King of the Hundred Knights and those of North Wales, set upon twenty knights who were of Sir Lancelot’s kin, who fought all together, none failing the others.  When Sir Tristram beheld their nobleness and valour, he marvelled much.  “Well may he be valiant and full of prowess,” said he, “who hath such noble knights for kindred.”  So, when he had looked on them awhile, he thought it shame to see two hundred men assailing twenty, and riding to the King of a Hundred Knights, he said, “I pray thee, Sir king, leave your fighting with those twenty knights, for ye be too many and they be too few.  For ye shall gain no honour if ye win, and that I see verily ye will not do unless ye slay them; but if ye will not stay, I will ride with them and help them.”

“Nay,” said the king, “ye shall not do so; for full gladly I will do you courtesy,” and with that he withdrew his knights.

Then Sir Tristram rode his way into the forest, that no man might know him.  And King Arthur caused the heralds to blow that the tourney should end that day, and he gave the King of North Wales the prize, because Sir Tristram was on his side.  And in all the field there was such a cry that the sound thereof was heard two miles away—­“The knight with the black shield hath won the field.”

“Alas!” said King Arthur, “where is that knight? it is shame to let him thus escape us.”  Then he comforted his knights, and said, “Be not dismayed, my friends, howbeit ye have lost the day; be of good cheer; to-morrow I myself will be in the field, and fare with you.”  So they all rested that night.

And on the morrow the heralds blew unto the field.  So the King of North Wales and the King of a Hundred Knights encountered with King Carados and the King of Ireland, and overthrew them.  With that came King Arthur, and did mighty deeds of arms, and overthrew the King of North Wales and his fellows, and put twenty valiant knights to the worse.  Anon came in Sir Palomedes, and made great fight upon King Arthur’s side.  But Sir Tristram rode furiously against him, and Sir Palomedes was thrown from his horse.  Then cried King Arthur, “Knight of the Black Shield, keep thyself.”  And as he spake he came upon him, and smote him from his saddle to the ground, and so passed on to other knights.  Then Sir Palomedes having now another horse rushed at Sir Tristram, as he was on foot, thinking to run over him.  But he was aware of him, and stepped aside, and grasped Sir Palomedes by the arms, and pulled him off his horse.  Then they rushed together with their swords, and many stood still to gaze on them.  And Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomedes with three mighty strokes upon the helm, crying at each stroke, “Take this for Sir Tristram’s sake,” and with that Sir Palomedes fell to the earth.