how sir tristram and launcelot, with palomides, came to joyous gard; and of palomides and sir tristram.

fair knight, said sir tristram unto sir launcelot, of whence be ye? i am a knight errant, said sir launcelot, that rideth to seek many adventures. what is your name? said sir tristram. sir, at this time i will not tell you. then sir launcelot said unto sir tristram and to palomides: now either of you are met together i will depart from you. not so, said sir tristram; i pray you of knighthood to ride with me unto my castle. wit you well, said sir launcelot, i may not ride with you, for i have many deeds to do in other places, that at this time i may not abide with you. ah, mercy jesu, said sir tristram, i require you as ye be a true knight to the order of knighthood, play you with me this night. then sir tristram had a grant of sir launcelot: howbeit though he had not desired him he would have ridden with them, outher soon have come after them; for sir launcelot came for none other cause into that country but for to see sir tristram. and when they were come within joyous gard they alighted, and their horses were led into a stable; and then they unarmed them. and when sir launcelot was unhelmed, sir tristram and sir palomides knew him. then sir tristram took sir launcelot in arms, and so did la beale isoud; and palomides kneeled down upon his knees and thanked sir launcelot. when sir launcelot saw sir palomides kneel he lightly took him up and said thus: wit thou well, sir palomides, i and any knight in this land, of worship ought of very right succour and rescue so noble a knight as ye are proved and renowned, throughout all this realm endlong and overthwart. and then was there joy among them, and the oftener that sir palomides saw la beale isoud the heavier he waxed day by day.

then sir launcelot within three or four days departed, and with him rode sir ector de maris; and dinadan and sir palomides were there left with sir tristram a two months and more. but ever sir palomides faded and mourned, that all men had marvel wherefore he faded so away. so upon a day, in the dawning, sir palomides went into the forest by himself alone; and there he found a well, and then he looked into the well, and in the water he saw his own visage, how he was disturbed and defaded, nothing like that he was. what may this mean? said sir palomides, and thus he said to himself: ah, palomides, palomides, why art thou defaded, thou that was wont to be called one of the fairest knights of the world? i will no more lead this life, for i love that i may never get nor recover. and therewithal he laid him down by the well. and then he began to make a rhyme of la beale isoud and him.

and in the meanwhile sir tristram was that same day ridden into the forest to chase the hart of greese; but sir tristram would not ride a-hunting never more unarmed, because of sir breuse saunce pité. and so as sir tristram rode into that forest up and down, he heard one sing marvellously loud, and that was sir palomides that lay by the well. and then sir tristram rode softly thither, for he deemed there was some knight errant that was at the well. and when sir tristram came nigh him he descended down from his horse and tied his horse fast till a tree, and then he came near him on foot; and anon he was ware where lay sir palomides by the well and sang loud and merrily; and ever the complaints were of that noble queen, la beale isoud, the which was marvellously and wonderfully well said, and full dolefully and piteously made. and all the whole song the noble knight, sir tristram, heard from the beginning to the ending, the which grieved and troubled him sore.

but then at the last, when sir tristram had heard all sir palomides’ complaints, he was wroth out of measure, and thought for to slay him thereas he lay. then sir tristram remembered himself that sir palomides was unarmed, and of the noble name that sir palomides had, and the noble name that himself had, and then he made a restraint of his anger; and so he went unto sir palomides a soft pace and said: sir palomides, i have heard your complaint, and of thy treason that thou hast owed me so long, and wit thou well therefore thou shalt die; and if it were not for shame of knighthood thou shouldest not escape my hands, for now i know well thou hast awaited me with treason. tell me, said sir tristram, how thou wilt acquit thee? sir, said palomides, thus i will acquit me: as for queen la beale isoud, ye shall wit well that i love her above all other ladies in this world; and well i wot it shall befall me as for her love as befell to the noble knight sir kehydius, that died for the love of la beale isoud. and now, sir tristram, i will that ye wit that i have loved la beale isoud many a day, and she hath been the causer of my worship, and else i had been the most simplest knight in the world. for by her, and because of her, i have won the worship that i have; for when i remembered me of la beale isoud i won the worship wheresomever i came for the most part; and yet had i never reward nor bounté of her the days of my life, and yet have i been her knight guerdonless. and therefore, sir tristram, as for any death i dread not, for i had as lief die as to live. and if i were armed as thou art, i should lightly do battle with thee. well have ye uttered your treason, said tristram. i have done to you no treason, said palomides, for love is free for all men, and though i have loved your lady, she is my lady as well as yours; howbeit i have wrong if any wrong be, for ye rejoice her, and have your desire of her, and so had i never nor never am like to have, and yet shall i love her to the uttermost days of my life as well as ye.