Then Sir Launcelot went to where Sir Tristram lay, and he looked upon him as he slept and he knew him not; for the beard and the hair of Sir Tristram had grown down all over his breast and shoulders and he was very ragged and beaten by the weather.  But though Sir Launcelot knew him not, yet he beheld that the body of Sir Tristram was very beautiful and strong, for he saw how all the muscles and thews thereof were cut very smooth and clean as you might cut them out of wax, wherefore Sir Launcelot gazed for a long while and felt great admiration for his appearance.

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot regards Sir Tristam] Then Sir Launcelot beheld how the sleeping man held a naked sword in his arms very caressingly, as though he loved it, and thereat he was very much surprised to find such a sword as that in the hands of this forest madman.  Wherefore he said to those swineherds, “Where got this man that sword?”

“Messire,” said the swineherd who had afore spoken, “some while since there came a knight hitherward who ill-treated him.  Thereupon this poor man ran at the knight and overthrew him and took the sword away from him and soused him several times in the well.  After that he hath ever held fast to this sword and would not give it up to any of us.”

“Ha!” said Sir Launcelot, “that is a very wonderful story, that a naked man should overthrow an armed knight and take his sword away from him.  Now I deem that this is no mere madman, but some noble knight in misfortune.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot awakens Sir Tristram] Therewith he reached forward and touched Sir Tristram very gently on the shoulder, and at that Sir Tristram awoke and opened his eyes and sat up.  And Sir Tristram looked upon Sir Launcelot, but knew him not, albeit some small memory moved very deeply within him.  Nevertheless, though he knew not Sir Launcelot, yet he felt great tenderness for that noble knight in arms, and he smiled very lovingly upon him.  And Sir Launcelot felt in return a very great deal of regard for Sir Tristram, but wist not why that was; yet it seemed to Sir Launcelot that he should know the face of Sir Tristram, and that it was not altogether strange to him.

Then Sir Launcelot said, “Fair friend, was it thou who slew Sir Tauleas?” And Sir Tristram said, “Ay.”  Sir Launcelot said, “Who art thou?” Whereunto Sir Tristram made reply:  “I know not who I am, nor whence I come, nor how I came hither.”

Then Sir Launcelot felt great pity and tenderness for Sir Tristram, and he said:  “Friend, wilt thou go with me away from this place and into the habitations of men?  There I believe thy mind maybe made whole again, and that it may be with thee as it was beforetime.  And verily, I believe that when that shall come to pass, the world shall find in thee some great knight it hath lost.”

Sir Tristram said:  “Sir Knight, though I know not who I am, yet I know that I am not sound in my mind; wherefore I am ashamed to go out in the world and amongst mankind, but would fain hide myself away in this forest.  Yet I love thee so much that, if thou wert to bid me go with thee to the ends of the world, I believe I would go with thee.”