Le Morte Darthur
time. And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that
was such an harper, anon the king sent for him, and let search his
wounds, and then asked him his name. Then he answered, I am of the
country of Liones, and my name is Tramtrist, that thus was wounded in a
battle as I fought for a lady’s right. Truly, said king Anguish, ye
shall have all the help in this land that ye may have here. But I let
you wit in Cornwall I had a great loss as ever had king, for there I
lost the best knight of the world, his name was Marhaus, a full noble
knight, and knight of the Table Round; and there he told Sir Tristram
wherefore Sir Marhaus was slain. Sir Tristram made semblant as he had
been sorry, and better knew he how it was than the king.
CHAP. IX.
_How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of La Beale Isoud for to be
healed of his wound._
Then the king for great favour made Tramtrist to be put in his
daughter’s ward and keeping, because she was a noble surgeon. And when
she had searched him she found in the bottom of his wound that therein
was poison, and so she healed him within a while, and therefore
Tramtrist cast great love to La Beale Isoud, for she was at that time
the fairest maid and lady of the world. And there Tramtrist learned her
to harp, and she began to have a great fancy unto him. And at that time
Sir Palamides the Saracen was in that country, and well cherished with
the king and the queen. And every day Sir Palamides drew unto La Beale
Isoud, and proffered her many gifts, for he loved her passingly well.
All that espied Tramtrist, and full well knew he Sir Palamides for a
noble knight and a mighty man. And wit ye well Sir Tramtrist had great
despite at Sir Palamides, for La Beale Isoud told Tramtrist that Sir
Palamides was in will to be christened for her sake. Thus was there
great envy betwixt Tramtrist and Sir Palamides. Then it befel that King
Anguish let cry a great justs and a great tournament for a lady which
was called the lady of the lawns, and she was nigh cousin unto the
king. And what man won her, three days after he should wed her, and
have all her lands. This cry was made in England, Wales, Scotland, and
also in France and in Britany. It befel upon a day La Beale Isoud came
unto Sir Tramtrist and told him of this tournament. He answered and
said, Fair lady, I am but a feeble knight, and but late I had been dead
had not your good ladyship been. Now, fair lady, what would ye I should
do in this matter? Well ye wot, my lady, that I may not just. Ah
Tramtrist, said La Beale Isoud, why will ye not have ado at that
tournament? well I wot Sir Palamides shall be there and to do what he
may, and therefore Tramtrist I pray you for to be there, for else Sir
Palamides is like to win the degree. Madam, said Tramtrist, as for that
it may be so, for he is a proved knight, and I am but a young knight
and late made, and the first battle that I did it mishapped me to be
sore wounded as ye see. But and I wist ye would be my better lady, at
that tournament I will be, so that ye will keep my counsel, and let no
creature have knowledge that I shall just but yourself, and such as ye
will to keep your counsel; my poor person shall I jeopard there for
your sake, that peradventure Sir Palamides shall know when that I come.
Thereto, said La Beale Isoud, do your best, and as I can, said La Beale
Isoud, I shall purvey horse and armour for you at my devise. As ye will
so be it, said Sir Tramtrist, I will be at your commandment. So at the
day of justs there came Sir Palamides with a black shield, and he
overthrew many knights, that all the people had marvel of him. For he
put to the worse Sir Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, Bagdemagus, Kay,
Dodias le Savage, Sagramore le Desirous, Gumret le Petit, and Griflet
le Fise de Dieu. All these the first day Sir Palamides strake down to
the earth. And then all manner of knights were adread of Sir Palamides,
and many called him the knight with the black shield. So that day Sir
Palamides had great worship. Then came king Anguish unto Tramtrist and
asked him why he would not just. Sir, said he, I was but late hurt, and
as yet I dare not adventure me. Then came there the same squire that
was sent from the king’s daughter of France unto Sir Tristram. And when
he had espied Sir Tristram he fell flat to his feet. All that espied La
Beale Isoud, what courtesy the squire made unto Sir Tristram. And
therewith all suddenly Sir Tristram ran unto his squire, whose name was
Hebes le Renoumes, and prayed him heartily in no wise to tell his name.
Sir, said Hebes, I will not discover your name but if ye command me.
CHAP. X.
_How Sir Tristram won the degree at a tournament in Ireland, and there
made Palamides to bear no harness in a year._
Then Sir Tristram asked him what he did in those countries. Sir, he
said, I came hither with Sir Gawaine for to be made knight, and if it
please you, of your hands that I may be made knight. Await upon me as
to-morn, secretly, and in the field I shall make you a knight. Then had
La Beale Isoud great suspicion unto Tramtrist that he was some man of
worship proved, and therewith she comforted herself, and cast more love
unto him than she had done tofore. And so on the morn Sir Palamides
made him ready to come into the field as he did the first day. And
there he smote down the king with the hundred knights, and the king of
Scotland. Then had La Beale Isoud ordained and well arrayed Sir
Tramtrist in white horse and harness. And right so she let put him out
at a privy postern, and so he came into the field as it had been a
bright angel. And anon Sir Palamides espied him, and therewith he
feutered a spear unto Sir Tramtrist, and he again unto him. And there
Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palamides unto the earth. And then there
was a great noise of people: some said Sir Palamides had a fall, some
said the knight with the black shield had a fall. And wit you well La
Beale Isoud was passing glad. And then Sir Gawaine and his fellows nine
had marvel what knight it might be that had smitten down Sir Palamides.
Then would there none just with Tramtrist, but all that were there
forsook him, most and least. Then Sir Tristram made Hebes a knight, and
caused him to put himself forth, and did right well that day. So after
Sir Hebes held him with Sir Tristram. And when Sir Palamides had
received this fall, wit ye well he was sore ashamed: and as privily as
he might he withdrew him out of the field. All that espied Sir
Tristram, and lightly he rode after Sir Palamides, and overtook him,
and bad him turn, for better he would assay him or ever he departed.
Then Sir Palamides turned him, and either lashed at other with their
swords. But at the first stroke Sir Tristram smote down Palamides, and
gave him such a stroke upon the head that he fell to the earth. So then
Tristram bad yield him and do his commandment, or else he would slay
him. When Sir Palamides beheld his countenance, he dread his buffets so
that he granted all his askings. Well said, said Sir Tristram, this
shall be your charge. First upon pain of your life that ye forsake my
lady La Beale Isoud, and in no manner wise that ye draw not to her.
Also this twelvemonth and a day that ye bear none armour nor none
harness of war. Now promise me this, or here shalt thou die. Alas, said
Palamides, for ever am I ashamed. Then he sware as Sir Tristram had
commanded him. Then for despite and anger Sir Palamides cut off his
harness and threw them away. And so Sir Tristram turned again to the
castle where was La Beale Isoud, and by the way he met with a damsel
that asked after Sir Launcelot, that won the Dolorous Gard
worshipfully, and this damsel asked Sir Tristram what he was: for it
was told her that it was he that smote down Sir Palamides, by whom the
ten knights of king Arthur were smitten down. Then the damsel prayed
Sir Tristram to tell her what he was, and whether that he were Sir
Launcelot du Lake, for she deemed that there was no knight in the world
might do such deeds of arms but if it were Launcelot. Fair damsel, said
Sir Tristram, wit ye well that I am not Sir Launcelot, for I was never
of such prowess, but in God is all, that he may make me as good a
knight as the good knight Sir Launcelot. Now, gentle knight, said she,
put up thy visor. And when she beheld his visage she thought she saw
never a better man’s visage, nor a better faring knight. And then when
the damsel knew certainly that he was not Sir Launcelot, then she took
her leave and departed from him. And then Sir Tristram rode privily
unto the postern where kept him La Beale Isoud, and there she made him
good cheer, and thanked God of his good speed. So anon within a while
the king and the queen understood that it was Tramtrist that smote down
Sir Palamides; then was he much made of more than he was before.
CHAP. XI.
_How the queen espied that Sir Tristram had slain her brother Sir
Marhaus by his sword, and in what jeopardy he was._
Thus was Sir Tramtrist long there well cherished with the king and the
queen, and namely with La Beale Isoud. So upon a day the queen and La
Beale Isoud made a bath for Sir Tramtrist, and when he was in his bath
the queen and Isoud her daughter roamed up and down in the chamber, and
there whiles Gouvernail and Hebes attended upon Tramtrist, and the
queen beheld his sword there as it lay upon his bed. And then by unhap
the queen drew out his sword and beheld it a long while, and both they
thought it a passing fair sword, but within a foot and an half of the
point there was a great piece thereof out broken of the edge. And when
the queen espied that gap in the sword, she remembered her of a piece
of a sword that was found in the brain-pan of Sir Marhaus, the good
knight that was her brother. Alas, then said she unto her daughter La
Beale Isoud, this is the same traitor knight that slew my brother thine
uncle. When Isoud heard her say so she was passing sore abashed, for
passing well she loved Sir Tramtrist, and full well she knew the
cruelness of her mother the queen. Anon therewithal the queen went unto
her own chamber and sought her coffer, and there she took out the piece
of the sword that was pulled out of Sir Marhaus’ head after that he was
dead. And then she ran with that piece of iron to the sword that lay
upon the bed. And when she put that piece of steel and iron unto the
sword, it was as meet as it might be when it was new broken. And then
the queen griped that sword in her hand fiercely, and with all her
might she ran straight upon Tramtrist, where he sat in his bath, and
there she had rived him through had not Sir Hebes gotten her in his
arms, and pulled the sword from her, and else she had thrust him
through. Then when she was letted of her evil will, she ran to the king
Anguish her husband, and said on her knees, Oh my lord, here have ye in
your house that traitor knight that slew my brother and your servant,
that noble knight Sir Marhaus. Who is that, said king Anguish, and
where is he? Sir, she said, it is Sir Tramtrist, the same knight that
my daughter healed. Alas, said the king, therefore am I right heavy,
for he is a full noble knight as ever I saw in field. But I charge you,
said the king to the queen, that ye have not ado with that knight, but
let me deal with him. Then the king went into the chamber unto Sir
Tramtrist, and then was he gone unto his chamber, and the king found
him all ready armed to mount upon his horse. When the king saw him all
ready armed to go unto horseback, the king said, Nay, Tramtrist, it
will not avail to compare thee against me. But thus much I shall do for
my worship and for thy love; in so much as thou art within my court, it