King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
for your great renown, I will that ye have all the worship of this
battle, and therefore will I yield me unto you." And therewith he took
his sword by the point to yield him.
"Nay," said Sir Tristram, "ye shall not do so, for well I know ye do it
of courtesy, and not of dread." And therewith he offered his sword to
Sir Lamoracke, saying, "Sir, as an overcome knight, I yield me unto you
as unto the man of noblest powers I have ever met with."
"Hold," said Sir Lamoracke, "let us now swear together nevermore to
fight against each other."
Then did they swear as he said.
Then Sir Tristram returned to Sir Kay Hedius, and when he was whole of
his wounds, they departed together in a ship, and landed on the coast of
Cornwall. And when they came ashore, Sir Tristram eagerly sought news of
La Belle Isault. And one told him in mistake that she was dead. Whereat,
for sore and grievous sorrow, he fell down in a swoon, and so lay for
three days and nights.
When he awoke therefrom he was crazed, and ran into the forest and abode
there like a wild man many days; whereby he waxed lean and weak of body,
and would have died, but that a hermit laid some meat beside him as he
slept. Now in that forest was a giant named Tauleas, who, for fear of
Tristram, had hid himself within a castle, but when they told him he was
mad, came forth and went at large again. And on a certain day he saw a
knight of Cornwall, named Sir Dinaunt, pass by with a lady, and when he
had alighted by a well to rest, the giant leaped out from his ambush,
and took him by the throat to slay him. But Sir Tristram, as he wandered
through the forest, came upon them as they struggled; and when the
knight cried out for help, he rushed upon the giant, and taking up Sir
Dinaunt's sword, struck off therewith the giant's head, and straightway
disappeared among the trees.
Anon, Sir Dinaunt took the head of Tauleas, and bare it with him to the
court of King Mark, whither he was bound, and told of his adventures.
"Where had ye this adventure?" said King Mark.
"At a fair fountain in thy forest," answered he.
"I would fain see that wild man," said the king.
So within a day or two he commanded his knights to a great hunting in
the forest. And when the king came to the well, he saw a wild man lying
there asleep, having a sword beside him; but he knew not that it was Sir
Tristram. Then he blew his horn, and summoned all his knights to take
him gently up and bear him to the court.
And when they came thereto they bathed and washed him, and brought him
somewhat to his right mind. Now La Belle Isault knew not that Sir
Tristram was in Cornwall; but when she heard that a wild man had been
found in the forest, she came to see him. And so sorely was he changed,
she knew him not. "Yet," said she to Dame Bragwaine, "in good faith I
seem to have beheld him ofttimes before."
As she thus spoke a little hound, which Sir Tristram had given her when
she first came to Cornwall, and which was ever with her, saw Sir
Tristram lying there, and leapt upon him, licking his hands and face,
and whined and barked for joy.
"Alas," cried out La Belle Isault, "it is my own true knight, Sir
Tristram."
And at her voice Sir Tristram's senses wholly came again, and wellnigh
he wept for joy to see his lady living.
But never would the hound depart from Tristram; and when King Mark and
other knights came up to see him, it sat upon his body and bayed at all
who came too near. Then one of the knights said, "Surely this is Sir
Tristram; I see it by the hound."
"Nay," said the king, "it cannot be," and asked Sir Tristram on his
faith who he was.
"My name," said he, "is Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, and now ye may do what
ye list with me."
Then the king said, "It repents me that ye are recovered," and sought to
make his barons slay him. But most of them would not assent thereto, and
counseled him instead to banish Tristram for ten years again from
Cornwall, for returning without orders from the king. So he was sworn to
depart forthwith.
And as he went towards the ship a knight of King Arthur, named Sir
Dinadan, who sought him, came and said, "Fair knight, ere that you pass
out of this country, I pray you joust with me!"
"With a good will," said he.
Then they ran together, and Sir Tristram lightly smote him from his
horse. Anon he prayed Sir Tristram's leave to bear him company, and when
he had consented they rode together to the ship.
Then was Sir Tristram full of bitterness of heart, and said to all the
knights who took him to the shore, "Greet well King Mark and all mine
enemies from me, and tell them I will come again when I may. Well am I
now rewarded for slaying Sir Marhaus, and delivering this kingdom from
its bondage, and for the perils wherewithal I brought La Belle Isault
from Ireland to the king, and rescued her at the Castle Pluere, and for
the slaying of the giant Tauleas, and all the other deeds that I have
done for Cornwall and King Mark." Thus angrily and passing bitterly he
spake, and went his way.
And after sailing awhile the ship stayed at a landing-place upon the
coast of Wales; and there Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan alighted, and on
the shore they met two knights, Sir Ector and Sir Bors. And Sir Ector
encountered with Sir Dinadan and smote him to the ground; but Sir Bors
would not encounter with Sir Tristram, "For," said he, "no Cornish
knights are men of worship." Thereat Sir Tristram was full wroth, but
presently there met them two more knights, Sir Bleoberis and Sir Driant;
and Sir Bleoberis proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, who shortly
smote him down.
"I had not thought," cried out Sir Bors, "that any Cornish knight could
do so valiantly."
Then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan departed, and rode into a forest, and
as they rode a damsel met them, who for Sir Lancelot's sake was seeking
any noble knights to rescue him. For Queen Morgan le Fay, who hated him,
had ordered thirty men-at-arms to lie in ambush for him as he passed,
with the intent to kill him. So the damsel prayed them to rescue him.
Then said Sir Tristram, "Bring me to that place, fair damsel."
But Sir Dinadan cried out, "It is not possible for us to meet with
thirty knights! I will take no part in such a hardihood, for to match
one or two or three knights is enough; but to match fifteen I will
never assay."
"For shame," replied Sir Tristram, "do but your part."
"That will I not," said he; "wherefore, I pray ye, lend me your shield,
for it is of Cornwall, and because men of that country are deemed
cowards, ye are but little troubled as ye ride with knights to joust
with."
"Nay," said Sir Tristram, "I will never give my shield up for her sake
who gave it me; but if thou wilt not stand by me to-day I will surely
slay thee; for I ask no more of thee than to fight one knight, and if
thy heart will not serve thee that much, thou shalt stand by and look on
me and them."
"Would God that I had never met with ye!" cried Sir Dinadan; "but I
promise to look on and do all that I may to save myself."
Anon they came to where the thirty knights lay waiting, and Sir Tristram
rushed upon them, saying, "Here is one who fights for love of Lancelot!"
Then slew he two of them at the first onset with his spear, and ten more
swiftly after with his sword. At that Sir Dinadan took courage, and
assailed the others with him, till they turned and fled.
But Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode on till nightfall, and meeting
with a shepherd, asked him if he knew of any lodging thereabouts.
"Truly, fair lords," said he, "there is good lodging in a castle hard
by, but it is a custom there that none shall lodge therein save ye first
joust with two knights, and as soon as ye be within, ye shall find your
match."
"That is an evil lodging," said Sir Dinadan; "lodge where ye will, I
will not lodge there."
"Shame on thee!" said Sir Tristram; "art thou a knight at all?"
Then he required him on his knighthood to go with him, and they rode
together to the castle. As soon as they were near, two knights came out
and ran full speed against them; but both of them they overthrew, and
went within the castle, and had noble cheer. Now, when they were unarmed
and ready to take rest, there came to the castle-gate two knights, Sir
Palomedes and Sir Gaheris, and desired the custom of the castle.
"I would far rather rest than fight," said Sir Dinadan.
"That may not be," replied Sir Tristram, "for we must needs defend the
custom of the castle, seeing we have overcome its lords; therefore, make
ready."
"Alas that I ever came into your company," said Sir Dinadan.
So they made ready, and Sir Gaheris encountered Sir Tristram and fell
before him; but Sir Palomedes overthrew Sir Dinadan. Then would all
fight on foot save Sir Dinadan, for he was sorely bruised and frighted
by his fall. And when Sir Tristram prayed him to fight, "I will not,"
answered he, "for I was wounded by those thirty knights with whom we
fought this morning; and as to you, ye are in truth like one gone mad,
and who would cast himself away! There be but two knights in the world
so mad, and the other is Sir Lancelot, with whom I once rode forth, who
kept me evermore at battling so that for a quarter of a year thereafter
I lay in my bed. Heaven defend me again from either of your
fellowships!"
"Well," said Sir Tristram, "if it must be, I will fight them both."
Therewith he drew his sword and assailed Sir Palomedes and Sir Gaheris
together; but Sir Palomedes said, "Nay, but it is a shame for two to
fight with one." So he bade Sir Gaheris stand by, and he and Sir
Tristram fought long together; but in the end Sir Tristram drave him
backward, whereat Sir Gaheris and Sir Dinadan with one accord sundered
them. Then Sir Tristram prayed the two knights to lodge there; but
Dinadan departed and rode away into a priory hard by, and there he
lodged that night.
And on the morrow came Sir Tristram to the priory to find him, and
seeing him so weary that he could not ride, he left him, and departed.
At that same priory was lodged Sir Pellinore, who asked Sir Dinadan Sir
Tristram's name, but could not learn it, for Sir Tristram had charged
that he should remain unknown. Then said Sir Pellinore, "Since ye will
not tell it me, I will ride after him and find it myself."
"Beware, Sir knight," said Sir Dinadan, "ye will repent it if ye follow
him."
But Sir Pellinore straightway mounted and overtook him, and cried to him
to joust; whereat Sir Tristram forthwith turned and smote him down; and
wounded him full sorely in the shoulder.
On the day after, Sir Tristram met a herald, who told him of a
tournament proclaimed between King Carados of Scotland, and the King of
North Wales, to be held at the Maiden's Castle. Now King Carados sought
Sir Lancelot to fight there on his side, and the King of North Wales
sought Sir Tristram. And Sir Tristram purposed to be there. So as he
rode, he met Sir Key, the seneschal, and Sir Sagramour, and Sir Key
proffered to joust with him. But he refused, desiring to keep himself
unwearied for the tourney. Then Sir Key cried, "Sir knight of Cornwall,
joust with me, or yield as recreant." When Sir Tristram heard that, he
fiercely turned and set his spear in rest, and spurred his horse towards
him. But when Sir Key saw him so madly coming on, he in his turn
refused, whereat Sir Tristram called him coward, till for shame he was
compelled to meet him. Then Sir Tristram lightly smote him down, and
rode away. But Sir Sagramour pursued him, crying loudly to joust with
him also. So Sir Tristram turned and quickly overthrew him likewise, and
departed.
Anon a damsel met him as he rode, and told him of a knight adventurous
who did great harm thereby, and prayed him for his help. But as he went