.

How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias.
desired a man to fight body for body.
SO on the morn Elias the captain came, and bade King Mark: Come out and do battle; for now the good knight Sir Tristram is entered it will be shame to thee, said Elias, for to keep thy walls.

When King Mark understood this he was wroth and said no word, but went unto Sir Tristram and asked him his counsel.

Sir, said Sir Tristram, will ye that I give him his answer?
I will well, said King Mark.

Then Sir Tristram said thus to the messenger: Bear thy lord word from the king and me, that we will do battle with him to-morn in the plain field.