rode to seek Sir Palomides. And as he came within a
forest he met with a knight, a chaser of a deer. Sir,
said Sir Dinadan, met ye with a knight with a shield
of silver and lions' heads? Yea, fair knight, said the
other, with such a knight met I with but a while agone,
and straight yonder way he yede. Gramercy, said Sir
Dinadan, for might I find the track of his horse I should
not fail to find that knight. Right so as Sir Dinadan
rode in the even late he heard a doleful noise as it were
of a man. Then Sir Dinadan rode toward that noise;
and when he came nigh that noise he alighted off his
horse, and went near him on foot. Then was he ware of
a knight that stood under a tree, and his horse tied by
him, and the helm off his head; and ever that knight
made a doleful complaint as ever made knight. And
always he made his complaint of La Beale Isoud, the
Queen of Cornwall, and said: Ah, fair lady, why love I
thee! for thou art fairest of all other, and yet showest
thou never love to me, nor bounty. Alas, yet must I
love thee. And I may not blame thee, fair lady, for
mine eyes be cause of this sorrow. And yet to love
thee I am but a fool, for the best knight of the world
loveth thee, and ye him again, that is Sir Tristram de
Liones. And the falsest king and knight is your husband,
and the most coward and full of treason, is your lord,
King Mark. Alas, that ever so fair a lady and peerless
of all other should be matched with the most villainous
knight of the world. All this language heard King
Mark, what Sir Palomides said by him; wherefore he
was adread when he saw Sir Dinadan, lest he espied him,