How shame and envy maketh "the enemy" to go 'round; knights, be ye forever wroth, then with name cast vote, whilst women watch and nearly swoon

        When Sir Palomides saw that Sir Tristram was disguised, he thought to shame him:  he rode to a knight who was sorely wounded and who sat under a tree a good way from the field.
       "Sir knight," said Sir Palomides, "I pray you to lend me your armor and your shield, for mine is overly well known in this field; that hath done me great damage.  Ye shall have my armor and my shield which are as good as yours."
       "I will well," said the knight, "that ye have my armor and my shield.  If they may do you any avail, I am well pleased."
        So Sir Palomides armed hastily in that knight's armor and his shield, which shone like any crystal or silver, and he came riding into the field.  Neither Sir Tristram nor any of Sir Tristram's or King Author's party recognized Sir Palomides.  Just as he came into the field Sir Tristram smote down three knights, right in the sight of Sir Palomides.  Then he rode against Sir Tristram and each met the other with great spears, so hard that the spears burst up to their hands; then they dashed together with swords eagerly.  Sir Tristram marvelled what knight it was who did battle so mightily with him.  Then he was wroth, for he felt that knight to be passing strong, and he deemed he could not have ado with the remnant of the knights because of the strength of Sir Palomides.

      So they lashed together and gave many heavy strokes, and many knights marvelled what knight he might be who so encountered with the black knight, Sir Tristram.  But full well La Belle Isoud knew that it was Sir Palomides who fought with Sir Tristram, for she had spied all from her window where she stoood as Sir Palomides exchanged armor with the wounded knight.  Then she began to weep so bitterly at Sir Palomides' spite that she well-night swooned.
        Then Sir Lancelot came in with the knights of Orkney.  When the other party had spied Sir Lancelot, they cried, "Turn back, turn back, here cometh Sir Lancelot du Lake!"
        So there came a knight who said, "Sir Lancelot, ye must needs fight with yonder knight in black armor" – that was Sir Tristram – "for he hath almost overcome that good knight who fighteth against him and with the silver shield" – that was Sir Palomides.
       Then Sir Lancelot rode between Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides and said to Sir Palomides, "Sir knight, let me have the battle, for ye have need to rest."
       Sir Palomides recognized Sir Lancelot, and so did Sir Tristram.  Because Sir Lancelot was a far hardier and stronger knight Sir Palomides was glad and suffered Sir Lancelot to fight with Sir Tristram.  For well he knew that Sir Lancelot had not recognized Sir Tristram, and he therefore hoped that Sir Lancelot would beat or shame Sir Tristram, for which Sir Palomides was most eager.  Sir Lancelot gave Sir Tristram many heavy strokes; but Sir Lancelot knew not Sir Tristram, while Sir Tristram knew well Sir Lancelot.  Thus they fought long together, so that La Belle Isoud was well-night out of her mind with sorrow.
     Then Sir Dinadan told Sir Gareth how the knight in the black armor was their lord Sir Tristram, "and this other is Sir Lancelot who fightest with him and who must needs have the better of him, for Sir Tristram hath had too much travail this day."
     "Then let us strike him down," said Sir Gareth.
      "It is better that we do," said Sir Dinadan, "rather than that Sir Tristram should be shamed.  For yonder waits the strange knight with the silver shield to fall upon Sir Tristram if need be."
      So forthwith Sir Gareth rushed upon Sir Lancelot and gave him a great stroke upon his helmet, so hard that he was stunned.  Then Sir Dinadan came with a spear, and he smote Sir Lancelot such a buffet that horse and all fell to the earth.
      "Oh, Jesus," said Sir Tristram to Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan, "fie for shame!  Why did ye smite down so good a knight as he is, and namely while I had ado with him?  Now ye do yourselves great shame and him no dis-worship.  I could have held him reasonably well, even though ye had not helped me."
     Then Sir Palomides, who was disguised, came and smote Sir Dinadan from his horse.  Sir Lancelot, because Sir Dinadan had smitten him down beforehand, assailed Sir Dinadan sorely.  Sir Dinadan defended himself mightily; but Sir Tristram well understood that Sir Dinadan could not endure against Sir Lancelot, wherefore Sir Tristram was sorry.
     Then Sir Palomides came freshly upon Sir Tristram, and when Sir Tristram saw him come he thought to dispatch him at once because he wished to help Sir Dinadan, who stood in great peril from Sir Lancelot.  So Sir Tristram hurtled into Sir Palomides and gave him such a buffet, and then he grabbed Sir Palomides and pulled him down underneath his horse's feet.  Sir Tristram fell with him, but he leapt up quickly, left Sir Palomides, and went between Sir Lancelot and Sir Dinadan.  Then Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram began to do battle together again.  Right so Sir Dinadan got Sir Tristram's horse and said on high, so that Sir Lancelot might hear, "My lord Sir Tristram, take your horse!"
     When Sir Lancelot heard the name Sir Tristram, he said, "Ah, Jesus, what have I done?  Now I am dishonored.  Ah, my lord Sir Tristram, why were ye disguised?  Ye have put yourself in great peril this day.  But I pray you, noble knight, to pardon me, for if I had known you we would not have done this battle."
    "Sir," said Sir Tristram, "this is not the first kindness and goodness that ye have showed unto me."
     So they were both horsed again.  Then all the people on the one side gave Sir Lancelot the honor and the prize.  And on the other side all the people gave to the noble knight Sir Tristram the honor and the prize.
      But Sir Lancelot said nay thereto:  "For I am not worthy to have this honor; I will report unto all knights that Sir Tristram hath been longer in the field than I, and he hath smitten down many more knights this day than I have done.  Therefore I will give Sir Tristram my voice and my name, and I pray all my lords and fellows so to do."
     The whole vote of kings, dukes and earls, barons and knights, was "that Sir Tristram this day has proved the best knight."

- Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, 461-463  (version edited 1982, by R.M. Luniansky)