"If fight it is, I am ready for you," answered Palamides. "I promised to bring this lady to her lover from whom yonder knight stole her, and it will need more swords than one to make me break my word." "We shall see if that be so," said the other, attacking him so fiercely that Palamides had much ado to protect himself. They fought for so long a time that Palamides marvelled much who this knight could be that withstood him so sturdily after his late hard battle. "Knight," he said, at length, "you fight like a hero. I would know your name." "You shall have it for yours in return." "I agree to that." "Then, sir, my name is Safere. I am son of King Astlobar, and brother to Palamides and Segwarides." "Then heaven defend me for having fought you, for I am your brother Palamides." At these words Safere fell upon his knees and begged his brother's pardon; and then they unlaced their helms and kissed each other with tears of joy. As they stood thus, Epinegris advanced towards them, for he had heard the sounds of fighting, and, wounded as he was, he came to help Palamides if he should stand in need. Palamides, seeing him approach, took the lady by the hand and led her to him, and they embraced so tenderly that all hearts there were touched. "Fair knight and lady," said Safere, "it would be a cruel pity to part you, and I pray heaven to send you joy of each other." "You have my sincere thanks," said Epinegris. "And deeper thanks has Sir Palamides for what he has done for me this day. My castle is near by; will you not ride there with me as a safeguard?" "That we gladly will," they said, and when Epinegris had got his horse they rode with him and the lady to the castle, where they were nobly received and treated with the highest honor. They had such good cheer and such enjoyment as they had rarely before known. And never burned the flame of love more warmly than that between Epinegris and his rescued lady. CHAPTER VIII. THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES. When morning again dawned over the forest and the smiling fields that surrounded the castle of Epinegris, the two brothers rode out, taking with them the blessings and prayers for good fortune of those they left behind. But had they known into what deadly peril they ventured they would not for days have left those hospitable gates. For they rode on hour by hour, until afternoon came, and then found themselves in front of a noble manor-house from which came to their ears doleful sounds of woe and lamentation. "What means this woful noise? Shall we enter and see?" said Safere. "Willingly," answered Palamides. Leaving their horses at the gates, they entered the court-yard, where they saw an old man tremblingly fumbling his beads. But when they came within the hall they beheld many men weeping and lamenting. "Fair sirs, why make you such a moaning?" asked Palamides. "We weep for our lord, who is slain," they dolefully replied.