how that sir tristram gat him harness of a knight which was hurt, and how he overthrew sir palomides.

as for that, said sir palomides, i may not yet be christened for one avow that i have made many years agone; howbeit in my heart i believe in jesu christ and his mild mother mary; but i have but one battle to do, and when that is done i will be baptised with a good will. by my head, said tristram, as for one battle thou shalt not seek it no longer. for god defend, said sir tristram, that through my default thou shouldst longer live thus a saracen, for yonder is a knight that ye, sir palomides, have hurt and smitten down. now help me that i were armed in his armour, and i shall soon fulfil thine avows. as ye will, said palomides, so it shall be.

so they rode both unto that knight that sat upon a bank, and then sir tristram saluted him, and he weakly saluted him again. sir knight, said sir tristram, i require you tell me your right name. sir, he said, my name is sir galleron of galway, and knight of the table round. so god me help, said sir tristram, i am right heavy of your hurts; but this is all, i must pray you to lend me all your whole armour, for ye see i am unarmed, and i must do battle with this knight. sir, said the hurt knight, ye shall have it with a good will; but ye must beware, for i warn you that knight is wight. sir, said galleron, i pray you tell me your name, and what is that knight’s name that hath beaten me. sir, as for my name it is sir tristram de liones, and as for the knight’s name that hath hurt you is sir palomides, brother to the good knight sir safere, and yet is sir palomides unchristened. alas, said sir galleron, that is pity that so good a knight and so noble a man of arms should be unchristened. so god me help, said sir tristram, either he shall slay me or i him but that he shall be christened or ever we depart in-sunder. my lord sir tristram, said sir galleron, your renown and worship is well known through many realms, and god save you this day from shenship and shame.

then sir tristram unarmed galleron, the which was a noble knight, and had done many deeds of arms, and he was a large knight of flesh and bone. and when he was unarmed he stood upon his feet, for he was bruised in the back with a spear; yet so as sir galleron might, he armed sir tristram. and then sir tristram mounted upon his own horse, and in his hand he gat sir galleron’s spear; and therewithal sir palomides was ready. and so they came hurtling together, and either smote other in midst of their shields; and therewithal sir palomides’ spear brake, and sir tristram smote down the horse; and sir palomides, as soon as he might, avoided his horse, and dressed his shield, and pulled out his sword. that saw sir tristram, and therewithal he alighted and tied his horse till a tree.