Le Morte Darthur
were no worship for me to slay thee, therefore upon this condition I
will give thee leave to depart from this court in safety, so thou wilt
tell me who was thy father, and what is thy name, and if thou slew Sir
Marhaus, my brother.
CHAP. XII.
_How Sir Tristram departed from the king and La Beale Isoud out of
Ireland for to come into Cornwall._
Sir, said Tristram, now I shall tell you all the truth: my father’s
name is Meliodas, king of Liones, and my mother hight Elizabeth, that
was sister unto king Mark of Cornwall; and my mother died of me in the
forest, and because thereof she commanded or she died that when I were
christened that they should christen me Tristram, and because I would
not be known in this country I turned my name, and let me call
Tramtrist; and for the truage of Cornwall I fought for mine uncle’s
sake, and for the right of Cornwall that ye had possessed many years.
And wit ye well, said Tristram unto the king, I did the battle for the
love of mine uncle king Mark, and for the love of the country of
Cornwall, and for to increase mine honour. For that same day that I
fought with Sir Marhaus I was made knight, and never or then did I no
battle with no knight, and from me he went alive, and left his shield
and his sword behind. Truly, said the king, I may not say but ye did as
a knight should, and it was your part to do for your quarrel, and to
increase your worship as a knight should; howbeit I may not maintain
you in this country with my worship, unless that I should displease my
barons, and my wife, and her kin. Sir, said Tristram, I thank you of
your good lordship that I have had with you here, and the great
goodness my lady your daughter hath shewed me, and therefore, said Sir
Tristram, it may so happen that ye shall win more by my life than by my
death, for in the parts of England it may happen I may do you service
at some season that ye shall be glad that ever ye shewed me your good
lordship. With more I promise you as I am true knight, that in all
places I shall be my lady your daughter’s servant and knight in right
and in wrong, and I shall never fail her never to do as much as a
knight may do. Also I beseech your good grace that I may take my leave
at my lady your daughter, and at all the barons and knights. I will
well, said the king. Then Sir Tristram went unto La Beale Isoud and
took his leave of her. And then he told her all, what he was, and how
he had changed his name because he would not be known, and how a lady
told him that he should never be whole till he came into this country
where the poison was made:—Where through I was near my death, had not
your ladyship been. Oh gentle knight, said La Beale Isoud, full wo am I
of thy departing, for I saw never man that I owed so good will to. And
therewithal she wept heartily. Madam, said Sir Tristram, ye shall
understand that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, son of king Meliodas
and of his queen. And I promise you faithfully that I shall be all the
days of my life your knight. Gramercy, said La Beale Isoud, and I
promise you there against that I shall not be married this seven years
but by your assent, and to whom that ye will I shall be married, him
will I have, and he will have me if ye will consent. And then Sir
Tristram gave her a ring and she gave him another, and therewith he
departed from her, leaving her making great dole and lamentation. And
he straight went unto the court among all the barons, and there he took
his leave at most and least, and openly he said among them all, Fair
lords, now it is so that I must depart. If there be any man here that I
have offended unto, or that any man be with me grieved, let complain
him here afore me or that ever I depart, and I shall amend it unto my
power. And if there be any that will proffer me wrong, or say of me
wrong or shame behind my back, say it now or never, and here is my body
to make it good, body against body. And all they stood still, there was
not one that would say one word, yet were there some knights that were
of the queen’s blood, and of Sir Marhaus’s blood, but they would not
meddle with him.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Sir Tristram and king Mark hurt each other for the love of a
knight’s wife._
So Sir Tristram departed, and took the sea, and with good wind he
arrived up at Tintagil in Cornwall. And when king Mark was whole in his
prosperity there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived and whole
of his wounds; thereof was king Mark passing glad, and so were all the
barons. And when he saw his time, he rode unto his father king
Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the king and the queen
could make him. And then largely king Meliodas and his queen parted of
their lands and goods to Sir Tristram. Then by the licence of king
Meliodas his father he returned again unto the court of king Mark, and
there he lived in great joy long time, until at the last there befel a
jealousy and an unkindness between king Mark and Sir Tristram, for they
loved both one lady, and she was an earl’s wife, that hight Sir
Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir Tristram passing well, and he loved
her again, for she was a passing fair lady, and that espied Sir
Tristram well. Then king Mark understood that, and was jealous, for
king Mark loved her passingly well. So it fell upon a day, this lady
sent a dwarf unto Sir Tristram, and bad him say that as he loved her
that he would be with her the next day following. Also she charged you
that ye come not to her but if ye be well armed, for her lover was
called a good knight. Sir Tristram answered to the dwarf, Recommend me
unto my lady, and tell her I will not fail but I will be with her the
term that she hath set me. And with this answer the dwarf departed. And
king Mark espied that the dwarf was with Sir Tristram, upon message
from Sir Segwarides’s wife; then king Mark sent for the dwarf. And when
he was come he made the dwarf by force to tell him all, why and
wherefore that he came on message to Sir Tristram. Now, said king Mark,
go where thou wilt, and upon pain of death that thou say no word that
thou spakest with me. So the dwarf departed from the king. And that
same time that was set betwixt Sir Segwarides’s wife and Sir Tristram,
king Mark armed him, and made him ready, and took two knights of his
council with him, and so he rode afore, for to abide by the way, to
await upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram came riding upon his way,
with his spear in his hand, king Mark came hurtling upon him with his
two knights suddenly. And all three smote him with their spears, and
king Mark hurt Sir Tristram on the breast right sore; and then Sir
Tristram feutered his spear, and smote his uncle king Mark such a
stroke that he rashed him to the earth, and bruised him that he lay
still in a swoon, and it was long or he might move himself; and then he
ran to the one knight, and oft to the other, and smote them to the cold
earth, that they lay still. And therewithal Sir Tristram rode forth
sore wounded to the lady, and found her abiding him at a postern.
CHAP. XIV.
_How Sir Tristram came to the lady, and how her husband fought with Sir
Tristram._
And there she welcomed him fair, and so she let put up his horse in the
best wise, and then she unarmed him: and so they supped lightly, and
within a while there came one that warned her that her lord was near
hand, within a bow draft. So she made Sir Tristram to arise, and so he
armed him, and took his horse, and so departed. By then was come Sir
Segwarides, and when he found that there had been a knight, Ah, false
traitress, then he said, why hast thou betrayed me? And therewithal he
swung out a sword, and said, But if thou tell me who hath been here,
here thou shalt die. Ah, my lord, mercy, said the lady, and held up her
hands, saying, Slay me not, and I shall tell you all who hath been
here. Tell anon, said Sir Segwarides, to me all the truth. Anon for
dread she said, Here was Sir Tristram with me, and by the way as he
came to me ward he was sore wounded. Ah, thou false traitress, said Sir
Segwarides, where is he become? Sir, she said, he is armed, and
departed on horseback, not yet hence half-a-mile. Ye say well, said
Segwarides. Then he armed him lightly, and gat his horse, and rode
after Sir Tristram, that rode straightway unto Tintagil. And within a
while he overtook Sir Tristram, and then he bad him turn, false traitor
knight, and Sir Tristram anon turned him against him. And therewithal
Segwarides smote Sir Tristram with a spear that it all to-brast; and
then he swung out his sword, and smote fast at Sir Tristram. Sir
knight, said Sir Tristram, I counsel you that ye smite no more,
howbeit, for the wrongs that I have done you, I will forbear you as
long as I may. Nay, said Segwarides, that shall not be, for either thou
shalt die or I. Then Sir Tristram drew out his sword, and hurtled his
horse unto him fiercely, and through the waist of the body he smote Sir
Segwarides that he fell to the earth in a swoon. And so Sir Tristram
departed and left him there, and so he rode unto Tintagil, and took his
lodging secretly, for he would not be known that he was hurt. Also, Sir
Segwarides’s men rode after their master, whom they found lying in the
field sore wounded, and brought him home on his shield, and there he
lay long or that he were whole, but at the last he recovered. Also king
Mark would not be aknown of, that Sir Tristram and he had met that
time. And as for Sir Tristram, he wist not that it had been king Mark
that had met with him. And so the king’s assistance came to Sir
Tristram, to comfort him as he lay sick in his bed. But as long as king
Mark lived he loved never Sir Tristram after that: though there was
fair speech, love was there none. And thus it passed many weeks and
days, and all was forgiven and forgotten. For Sir Segwarides durst not
have ado with Sir Tristram, because of his noble prowess, and also
because he was nephew unto king Mark, therefore he let it over slip,
for he that hath a privy hurt is loth to have a shame outward.
CHAP. XV.
_How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest lady in king Mark’s court, whom
he took away, and how he was fought with._
Then it befel upon a day, that the good knight Bleoberis de Ganis,
brother to Blamore de Ganis, and nigh cousin unto the good knight Sir
Launcelot du Lake,—this Bleoberis came unto the court of king Mark,
and there he asked of king Mark a boon, to give him what gift he would
ask in his court. When the king heard him ask so, he marvelled of his
asking, but because he was a knight of the Round Table, and of a great
renown, king Mark granted him his whole asking. Then, said Sir
Bleoberis, I will have the fairest lady in your court that me list to
choose. I may not say nay, said king Mark; now choose at your
adventure. And so Sir Bleoberis did chose Sir Segwarides’s wife, and
took her by the hand, and so went his way with her, and so he took his
horse and let set her behind his squire, and rode upon his way. When
Sir Segwarides heard tell that his lady was gone with a knight of king
Arthur’s court, then anon he armed him, and rode after that knight for
to rescue his lady. So when Bleoberis was gone with this lady, king
Mark and all the court was wroth that she was away. Then were there
certain ladies that knew that there was great love between Sir Tristram
and her, and also that lady loved Sir Tristram above all other knights.
Then there was one lady that rebuked Sir Tristram in the horriblest
wise, and called him coward knight, that he would for shame of his
knighthood see a lady so shamefully taken away from his uncle’s court.