Then either made of other great joy, for this Sir Gareth was the best knight of all those brethren, and he proved a full good knight. Then they took their horses, and there they spake of Sir Tristram, how he was such a coward. And every word Sir Tristram heard, and laughed them to scorn. Then were they ware where there came a knight before them well horsed and well armed. "Fair knights," said Sir Tristram, "look between you who shall joust with yonder knight, for I warn you I will not have to do with him." "Then shall I," said Sir Gareth. And so they encountered together, and there that knight smote down Sir Gareth over his horse's crupper. "How now?" said Sir Tristram unto Sir Dinadan, "dress thee now, and revenge the good knight Sir Gareth." "That shall I not," said Sir Dinadan, "for he hath stricken down a much bigger knight than I am." "Ah!" said Sir Tristram, "now Sir Dinadan, I see and perceive full well that your heart faileth you, therefore now shall ye see what I shall do." And then Sir Tristram hurled unto that knight, and smote him quite from his horse. And when Sir Dinadan saw that, he marvelled greatly, and then he deemed in himself that it was Sir Tristram. Then this knight that was on foot pulled out his sword to do battle. "What is your name?" said Sir Tristram. "Wit ye well," said the knight, "my name is Sir Palamides." "What knight hate ye most?" said Sir Tristram. "Sir knight," said he, "I hate Sir Tristram to the death, for and I may meet with him the one of us shall die." "Ye say well," said Sir Tristram, "and wit ye well that I am Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, and now do your worst." When Sir Palamides heard him say so he was astonished, and then he said thus, "I pray you, Sir Tristram, forgive me all mine evil will, and if I live I shall do you service above all other knights that be living, and there as I have owed you evil will me sore repenteth. I wot not what aileth me, for me seemeth that ye are a good knight, and none other knight that named himself a good knight should not hate you; therefore I require you, Sir Tristram, take no displeasure at mine unkind words." "Sir Palamides," said Sir Tristram, "ye say well, and well I wot ye are a good knight, for I have seen you proved, and many great enterprises have ye taken upon you, and well achieved them; therefore," said Sir Tristram, "and ye have any evil will to me, now may ye right it, for I am ready at your hand." "Not so, my lord Sir Tristram; I will do you knightly service in all things as ye will command." "And right so I will take you," said Sir Tristram. And so they rode forth on their ways, talking of many things. "Oh my lord Sir Tristram," said Dinadan, "foul have ye mocked me, for truly I came into this country for your sake, and by the advice of my lord Sir Launcelot, and yet would not Sir Launcelot tell me the certainty of you, where I should find you."