"At any rate you can tell me who you are. You are not knights-errant, I fancy, since you ride unarmed."
"Whether we be or no, we prefer not to tell our names."
"You are not courteous, sir knight, and this is the way I pay discourtesy," said the stranger. "Guard yourself, or you shall die by my hands."
Then, spear in hand, he rode on Sir Tristram, with brutal intent to run him through. But Palamides sprang up hastily, and smote the knight's horse so fierce a blow with his clinched fist that horse and man fell together to the earth. He then drew his sword to slay him.
"Let the dog go," said Tristram. "He is but a fool, and it were a shame to slay him for his folly. Take the fellow's spear from him, though. It is a weapon he has not learned the use of."
The knight rose groaning, and when he had regained his saddle he again requested their names.
"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse, and this knight's name is Palamides. Would you know more?"
"No, by my faith!" cried the other, and, hastily putting spurs to his horse, he rode away as fast as the animal would carry him.
Hardly had he gone when a knight, who bore a bended shield of azure, came riding up at a furious gallop.
"My fair sirs," he asked, "has a knight passed here bearing a shield with a case of red over it?"