Tristram and Palamides' Duel

Tristram and Palamides' Duel is a compact reversal in a tournament: though wounded and urged to withdraw, Tristram insists on facing Palamides and unhorses him. He then knocks Gaheris from his horse and departs with Dinadan, while Lancelot remains in the field and ultimately redirects the tournament's honor to Tristram.

Setting and Immediate Circumstances

The encounter follows a joust between Tristram and Lancelot. Tristram has received a serious wound and left the field; Dinadan follows him into the forest. When Palamides approaches, Dinadan warns Tristram that his condition makes another fight dangerous and offers to confront Palamides himself, giving Tristram time to escape.

The Agreed Joust

Tristram refuses the offer, thanks Dinadan, arms himself again, and rides toward Palamides. Palamides appears to busy himself with his horse, but in fact waits for Gaheris to arrive. Tristram sends a challenge and proposes terms: if he unhorses Palamides, he will do nothing further to him; if Palamides unhorses Tristram, Palamides may carry the encounter to its conclusion. They agree and meet in the joust.

Reversal and Consequences

Tristram strikes Palamides from his horse, leaving him motionless as if dead. He then turns on Gaheris, who has not agreed to joust, and knocks him across his horse's hindquarters, also leaving him apparently insensible. Tristram rides on with Dinadan, leaving the tournament behind. At an old knight's lodging, they find that the host has five sons competing; all five return beaten.

Honor and the Tournament's Outcome

The larger contest continues after Tristram's departure. Lancelot fights on with exceptional force, and Arthur rides into the field to assist him. Their side puts the King of Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights to the worse. Since Lancelot remains last in the field, the prize is awarded to him, but he refuses it. He has the cry changed in Tristram's favor: Tristram began the contest, endured to its end, and had done so on each of the three days. The episode thus separates the tournament's formal prize from the honor Lancelot publicly assigns to his absent companion.