Chapter 12 - Page 2

that both
the horses and the knights fell to the earth. And as soon as they
might, they quitted their horses, and struck together with bright
swords as men of might, and each wounded the other wonderfully sore,
so that the blood ran out upon the grass. Thus they fought for the
space of four hours, and never one would speak to the other one
word. Then at last spake the white knight, and said, "Sir, thou
fightest wonderful well, as ever I saw knight; therefore, if it please
you, tell me your name." "Why dost thou ask my name?" said Sir
Tristram; "art thou not Sir Palamedes?" "No, fair knight," said he, "I
am Sir Launcelot of the Lake." "Alas!" said Sir Tristram, "what have I
done? for you are the man of the world that I love best." "Fair
knight," said Sir Launcelot, "tell me your name." "Truly," said he,
"my name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse." "Alas! alas!" said Sir
Launcelot, "what adventure has befallen me!" And therewith Sir
Launcelot kneeled down, and yielded him up his sword; and Sir Tristram
kneeled down, and yielded him up his sword; and so either gave other
the degree. And then they both went to the stone, and sat them down
upon it, and took off their helms, and each kissed the other a hundred
times. And then anon they rode toward Camelot, and on the way they met
with Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris, that had made promise to Arthur never
to come again to the court till they had brought Sir Tristram with
them.
"Return again," said Sir Launcelot, "for your quest is done; for I
have met with Sir Tristram. Lo, here he is in his own person." Then
was Sir Gawain glad, and said to Sir Tristram, "Ye are welcome."
With this came King Arthur, and when he wist there was Sir Tristram,
he ran unto him, and took him by the hand, and said, "Sir Tristram, ye
are as welcome as any knight that ever came to this court." Then Sir
Tristram told the king how he came thither for to have had to do
with Sir Palamedes, and how he had rescued him from Sir Breuse sans
Pitie and the nine knights. Then King Arthur took Sir Tristram by
the hand, and went to the Table Round, and Queen Guenever came, and
many ladies with her, and all the ladies said with one voice,
"Welcome, Sir Tristram." "Welcome," said the knights. "Welcome,"
said Arthur, "for one of the best knights, and the gentlest of the
world, and the man of most worship; for of all manner of hunting
thou bearest the prize, and of all measures of blowing thou art the
beginning, and of all the terms of hunting and hawking ye are the
inventor, and of all instruments of music ye are the best skilled;
therefore, gentle knight," said Arthur, "ye are welcome to this
court." And then King Arthur made Sir Tristram knight of the Table
Round with great nobley and feasting as can be