King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Therewith she turned and cried, "By my faith, this is the felon knight
who slew thy uncle!" And running to her chamber she sought in her casket
for the piece of iron from Sir Marhaus' head and brought it back, and
fitted it in Tristram's sword; and surely did it fit therein as closely
as it had been but yesterday broke out.
Then the queen caught the sword up fiercely in her hand, and ran into
the room where Sir Tristram was yet in his bath, and making straight for
him, had run him through the body, had not his squire, Sir Hebes, got
her in his arms, and pulled the sword away from her.
Then ran she to the king, and fell upon her knees before him, saying,
"Lord and husband, thou hast here in thy house that felon knight who
slew my brother Marhaus!"
"Who is it?" said the king.
"It is Sir Tramtrist!" said she, "whom Isault hath healed."
"Alas!" replied the king, "I am full grieved thereat, for he is a good
knight as ever I have seen in any field; but I charge thee leave thou
him, and let me deal with him."
Then the king went to Sir Tramtrist's chamber and found him all armed
and ready to mount his horse, and said to him, "Sir Tramtrist, it is not
to prove me against thee I come, for it were shameful of thy host to
seek thy life. Depart in peace, but tell me first thy name, and whether
thou slewest my brother, Sir Marhaus."
Then Sir Tristram told him all the truth, and how he had hid his name,
to be unknown in Ireland; and when he had ended, the king declared he
held him in no blame. "Howbeit, I cannot for mine honor's sake retain
thee at this court, for so I should displease my barons, and my wife,
and all her kin."
"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "I thank thee for the goodness thou hast shown
me here, and for the great goodness my lady, thy daughter, hath shown
me; and it may chance to be more for thy advantage if I live than if I
die; for wheresoever I may be, I shall ever seek thy service, and shall
be my lady thy daughter's servant in all places, and her knight in right
and wrong, and shall never fail to do for her as much as knight can do."
Then Sir Tristram went to La Belle Isault, and took his leave of her. "O
gentle knight," said she, "full of grief am I at your departing, for
never yet I saw a man to love so well."
"Madam," said he, "I promise faithfully that all my life I shall be your
knight."
Then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another, and after
that he left her, weeping and lamenting, and went among the barons, and
openly took his leave of them all, saying, "Fair lords, it so befalleth
that I now must depart hence; therefore, if there be any here whom I
have offended or who is grieved with me, let him now say it, and before
I go I will amend it to the utmost of my power. And if there be but one
who would speak shame of me behind my back, let him say it now or never,
and here is my body to prove it on--body against body."
And all stood still and said no word, though some there were of the
queen's kindred who would have assailed him had they dared.
So Sir Tristram departed from Ireland and took the sea and came with a
fair wind to Tintagil. And when the news came to King Mark that Sir
Tristram was returned, healed of his wound, he was passing glad, and so
were all his barons. And when he had visited the king his uncle, he rode
to his father, King Meliodas, and there had all the heartiest welcome
that could be made him. And both the king and queen gave largely to him
of their lands and goods.
Anon he came again to King Mark's court, and there lived in great joy
and pleasure, till within a while the king grew jealous of his fame, and
of the love and favor shown him by all damsels. And as long as King Mark
lived, he never after loved Sir Tristram, though there was much fair
speech between them.
Then it befell upon a certain day that the good knight Sir Bleoberis de
Ganis, brother to Sir Blamor de Ganis, and nigh cousin to Sir Lancelot
of the Lake, came to King Mark's court and asked of him a favor. And
though the king marveled, seeing he was a man of great renown, and a
knight of the Round Table, he granted him all his asking. Then said Sir
Bleoberis, "I will have the fairest lady in your court, at my own
choosing."
"I may not say thee nay," replied the king; "choose therefore, but take
all the issues of thy choice."
So when he had looked around, he chose the wife of Earl Segwarides, and
took her by the hand, and set her upon horseback behind his squire, and
rode forth on his way.
Presently thereafter came in the earl, and rode out straightway after
him in rage. But all the ladies cried out shame upon Sir Tristram that
he had not gone, and one rebuked him foully and called him coward
knight, that he would stand and see a lady forced away from his uncle's
court. But Sir Tristram answered her, "Fair lady, it is not my place to
take part in this quarrel while her lord and husband is here to do it.
Had he not been at this court, peradventure I had been her champion. And
if it so befall that he speed ill, then may it happen that I speak with
that foul knight before he pass out of this realm."
Anon ran in one of Sir Segwarides' squires, and told that his master was
sore wounded, and at the point of death. When Sir Tristram heard that,
he was soon armed and on his horse, and Governale, his servant, followed
him with shield and spear.
And as he rode, he met his cousin Sir Andret, who had been commanded by
King Mark to bring home to him two knights of King Arthur's court who
roamed the country thereabouts seeking adventures.
"What tidings?" said Sir Tristram.
"God help me, never worse," replied his cousin; "for those I went to
bring have beaten and defeated me, and set my message at naught."
"Fair cousin," said Sir Tristram, "ride ye on your way, perchance if I
should meet them ye may be revenged."
So Sir Andret rode into Cornwall, but Sir Tristram rode after the two
knights who had misused him, namely, Sir Sagramour le Desirous, and Sir
Dodinas le Savage. And before long he saw them but a little way before
him.
"Sir," said Governale, "by my advice thou wilt leave them alone, for
they be two well-proved knights of Arthur's court."
"Shall I not therefore rather meet them!" said Sir Tristram, and, riding
swiftly after them, he called to them to stop, and asked them whence
they came, and whither they were going, and what they were doing in
those marches.
Sir Sagramour looked haughtily at Sir Tristram, and made mocking of his
words, and said, "Fair knight, be ye a knight of Cornwall?"
"Wherefore askest thou that?" said Tristram.
"Truly, because it is full seldom seen," replied Sir Sagramour, "that
Cornish knights are valiant with their arms as with their tongues. It is
but two hours since there met us such a Cornish knight, who spoke great
words with might and prowess, but anon, with little mastery, he was laid
on earth, as I trow wilt thou be also."
"Fair lords," said Sir Tristram, "it may chance I be a better man than
he; but, be that as it may, he was my cousin, and for his sake I will
assail ye both; one Cornish knight against ye two."
When Sir Dodinas le Savage heard this speech, he caught at his spear and
said, "Sir knight, keep well thyself;" and then they parted and came
together as it had been thunder, and Sir Dodinas' spear split asunder;
but Sir Tristram smote him with so full a stroke as hurled him over his
horse's crupper, and nearly brake his neck. Sir Sagramour, seeing his
fellow's fall, marveled who this new knight be, and dressed his spear,
and came against Sir Tristram as a whirlwind; but Sir Tristram smote him
a mighty buffet, and rolled him with his horse down on the ground; and
in the falling he brake his thigh.
Then, looking at them both as they lay groveling on the grass, Sir
Tristram said, "Fair knights, will ye joust any more? Are there no
bigger knights in King Arthur's court? Will ye soon again speak shame of
Cornish knights?"
"Thou hast defeated us, in truth," replied Sir Sagramour, "and on the
faith of knighthood I require thee tell us thy right name?"
"Ye charge me by a great thing," said Sir Tristram, "and I will answer
ye."
And when they heard his name the two knights were right glad that they
had met Sir Tristram, for his deeds were known through all the land, and
they prayed him to abide in their company.
"Nay," said he, "I must find a fellow-knight of yours, Sir Bleoberis de
Ganis, whom I seek."
"God speed you well," said the two knights; and Sir Tristram rode away.
Soon he saw before him in a valley Sir Bleoberis with Sir Segwarides'
wife riding behind his squire upon a palfrey. At that he cried out
aloud, "Abide, Sir knight of King Arthur's court, bring back again that
lady or deliver her to me."
"I will not," said Bleoberis, "for I dread no Cornish knight."
"Why," said Sir Tristram, "may not a Cornish knight do well as any
other? This day, but three miles back, two knights of thy own court met
me, and found one Cornish knight enough for both before we parted."
"What were their names?" said Sir Bleoberis.
"Sir Sagramour le Desirous and Sir Dodinas le Savage," said Sir
Tristram.
"Ah," said Sir Bleoberis, amazed; "hast thou then met with them? By my
faith, they were two good knights and men of worship, and if thou hast
beat both thou must needs be a good knight; but for all that, thou shalt
beat me also ere thou hast this lady."
"Defend thee, then," cried out Sir Tristram, and came upon him swiftly
with his spear in rest. But Sir Bleoberis was as swift as he, and each
bore down the other, horse and all, on to the earth.
Then they sprang clear of their horses, and lashed together full eagerly
and mightily with their swords, tracing and traversing on the right hand
and on the left more than two hours, and sometimes rushing together with
such fury that they both lay groveling on the ground. At last Sir
Bleoberis started back and said, "Now, gentle knight, hold hard awhile,
and let us speak together."
"Say on," said Sir Tristram, "and I will answer thee."
"Sir," said Sir Bleoberis, "I would know thy name, and court, and
country."
"I have no shame to tell them," said Sir Tristram. "I am King Meliodas'
son, and my mother was sister to King Mark, from whose court I now come.
My name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse."
"Truly," said Sir Bleoberis, "I am right glad to hear it, for thou art
he that slew Sir Marhaus hand-to-hand, fighting for the Cornish tribute;
and overcame Sir Palomedes at the great Irish tournament, where also
thou didst overthrow Sir Gawain and his nine companions."
"I am that knight," said Sir Tristram, "and now I pray thee tell me thy
name."
"I am Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, cousin of Sir Lancelot of the Lake, one of
the best knights in all the world," he answered.
"Thou sayest truth," said Sir Tristram; "for Sir Lancelot, as all men
know, is peerless in courtesy and knighthood, and for the great love I
bear to his name I will not willingly fight more with thee his
kinsman."
"In good faith, sir," said Sir Bleoberis, "I am as loth to fight thee
more; but since thou hast followed me to win this lady, I proffer thee
kindness, courtesy, and gentleness; this lady shall be free to go with
which of us she pleaseth best."
"I am content," said Sir Tristram, "for I doubt not she will come to
me."
"That shalt thou shortly prove," said he, and called his squire, and set
the lady in the midst between them, who forthwith walked to Sir
Bleoberis and elected to abide with him. Which, when Sir Tristram saw,
he was in wondrous anger with her, and felt that he could scarce for
shame return to King Mark's court. But Sir Bleoberis said, "Hearken to
me, good knight, Sir Tristram, because King Mark gave me free choice of