Le Morte Darthur
But Sir Tristram answered her thus: Fair lady, it is not my part to
have ado in such matters, while her lord and husband is present here.
And if it had been that her lord had not been here in this court, then
for the worship of this court peradventure I would have been her
champion, and if so be Sir Segwarides speed not well, it may happen
that I will speak with that good knight or ever he pass from this
country. Then within awhile came one of Sir Segwarides’s squires, and
told in the court that Sir Segwarides was beaten sore and wounded to
the point of death: as he would have rescued his lady Sir Bleoberis
overthrew him, and sore hath wounded him. Then was king Mark heavy
thereof, and all the court. When Sir Tristram heard of this he was
ashamed and sore grieved. And then was he soon armed and on horseback,
and Gouvernail his servant bare his shield and spear. And so as Sir
Tristram rode fast he met with Sir Andret his cousin, that by the
commandment of king Mark was sent to bring forth, and ever it lay in
his power two knights of king Arthur’s court, that rode by the country
to seek their adventures. When Sir Tristram saw Sir Andret he asked him
what tidings. Truly, said Sir Andret, there was never worse with me,
for here by the commandment of king Mark I was sent to fetch two
knights of king Arthur’s court, and that one beat me and wounded me,
and set nought by my message. Fair cousin, said Sir Tristram, ride on
your way, and if I may meet them it may happen I shall revenge you. So
Sir Andret rode into Cornwall, and Sir Tristram rode after the two
knights, the which one hight Sagramore le Desirous, and that other
hight Dodinas le Savage.
CHAP. XVI.
_How Sir Tristram fought with two knights of the Round Table._
Then within awhile Sir Tristram saw them afore him two likely knights.
Sir, said Gouvernail unto his master, Sir, I would counsel you not to
have ado with them, for they be two proved knights of Arthur’s court.
As for that, said Sir Tristram, have ye no doubt but I will have ado
with them to encrease my worship, for it is many day sithen I did any
deeds of arms. Do as ye list, said Gouvernail. And therewithal anon Sir
Tristram asked them from whence they came, and whither they would, and
what they did in those marches. Sir Sagramore looked upon Sir Tristram,
and had scorn of his words, and asked him again, Fair knight, be ye a
knight of Cornwall? Whereby ask ye it? said Sir Tristram. For it is
seldom seen, said Sir Sagramore, that ye Cornish knights be valiant men
of arms: for within these two hours there met us one of you Cornish
knights, and great words he spake, and anon with little might he was
laid to the earth. And, as I trow, said Sir Sagramore, ye shall have
the same handsel that he had. Fair lords, said Sir Tristram, it may so
happen that I may better withstand than he did, and whether ye will or
nill I will have ado with you, because he was my cousin that ye beat.
And therefore here do your best; and wit ye well but if ye quit you the
better here upon this ground one knight of Cornwall shall beat you
both. When Sir Dodinas le Savage heard him say so, he gat a spear in
his hand, and said, Sir knight, keep well thyself. And then they
departed, and came together as it had been thunder. And Sir Dodinas’
spear brast in sunder, but Sir Tristram smote him with a more might,
that he smote him clean over the horse croup, that nigh he had broken
his neck. When Sir Sagramore saw his fellow have such a fall he
marvelled what knight he might be, and he dressed his spear with all
his might, and Sir Tristram against him, and they came together as the
thunder, and there Sir Tristram smote Sir Sagramore a strong buffet,
that he bare his horse and him to the earth, and in the falling he
brake his thigh. When this was done Sir Tristram asked them, Fair
knights, will ye any more? Be there no bigger knights in the court of
king Arthur? It is to you shame to say of us knights of Cornwall
dishonour, for it may happen a Cornish knight may match you. That is
truth, said Sir Sagramore, that have we well proved; but I require
thee, said Sir Sagramore, tell us your right name, by the faith and
truth that ye owe to the high order of knighthood. Ye charge me with a
great thing, said Sir Tristram, and sithen ye list to wit it, ye shall
know and understand that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, king
Meliodas’ son, and nephew unto king Mark. Then were they two knights
fain that they had met with Sir Tristram, and so they prayed him to
abide in their fellowship. Nay, said Sir Tristram, for I must have ado
with one of your fellows, his name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis. God speed
you well, said Sir Sagramore and Dodinas. Sir Tristram departed, and
rode onward on his way, and then was he ware before him in a valley
where rode Sir Bleoberis with Sir Segwarides’s lady, that rode behind
his squire upon a palfrey.
CHAP. XVII.
_How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady, and how the
lady was put to choice to whom she would go._
Then Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had overtaken
him. Then spake Sir Tristram: Abide, he said, knight of Arthur’s court,
bring again that lady, or deliver her to me. I will do neither, said
Sir Bleoberis, for I dread no Cornish knight so sore that me list to
deliver her. Why, said Sir Tristram, may not a Cornish knight do as
well as another knight? This same day two knights of your court, within
this three mile met with me, and or ever we departed they found a
Cornish knight good enough for them both. What were their names? said
Bleoberis. They told me, said Sir Tristram, that the one of them hight
Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le Savage. Ah,
said Sir Bleoberis, have ye met with them? Truly they were two good
knights, and men of great worship, and if ye have beat them both ye
must needs be a good knight: but if it so be that ye have beat them
both, yet shall ye not fear me, but ye shall beat me or ever ye have
this lady. Then defend you, said Sir Tristram. So they departed and
came together like thunder, and either bare other down, horse and all,
to the earth. Then they avoided their horses and lashed together
eagerly with swords, and mightily, now tracing and traversing on the
right hand and on the left hand more than two hours. And sometimes they
rushed together with such a might that they lay both groveling on the
ground. Then Sir Bleoberis de Ganis start aback, and said thus: Now,
gentle good knight, a while hold your hands and let us speak together.
Say what ye will, said Sir Tristram, and I will answer you. Sir, said
Bleoberis, I would wit of whence ye be, and of whom ye be come, and
what is your name? Truly, said Sir Tristram, I fear not to tell you my
name: wit ye well I am king Meliodas’ son, and my mother is king Mark’s
sister, and my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and king Mark is mine
uncle. Truly, said Bleoberis, I am right glad of you, for ye are he
that slew Marhaus, knight, hand for hand in an island for the truage of
Cornwall; also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good knight at a
tournament in an island, where ye beat Sir Gawaine and his nine
fellows. Wit ye well, said Sir Tristram, that I am the same knight. Now
I have told you my name, tell me yours with good will. Wit ye well that
my name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and my brother hight Sir Blamor de
Ganis, that is called a good knight, and we be sister’s children unto
my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, that we call one of the best knights of
the world. That is truth, said Sir Tristram; Sir Launcelot is called
peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and for his sake, said Sir
Tristram, I will not with my good will fight no more with you, for the
great love I have to Sir Launcelot du Lake. In good faith, said
Bleoberis, as for me, I will be loth to fight with you. But since ye
follow me here to have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness,
courtesy, and gentleness, right here upon this ground. This lady shall
be betwixt us both, and to whom that she will go, let him have her in
peace. I will well, said Tristram, for, as I deem, she will leave you
and come to me. Ye shall prove it anon, said Bleoberis.
CHAP. XVIII.
_How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and abode with Sir Bleoberis, and
how she desired to go to her husband._
So when she was set betwixt them both, she said these words unto Sir
Tristram: Wit ye well, Sir Tristram de Liones, that but late thou was
the man in the world that I most loved and trusted, and I wend thou
haddest loved me again above all ladies. But when thou sawest this
knight lead me away, thou madest no cheer to rescue me, but suffered my
lord Sir Segwarides to ride after me, but until that time I wend thou
haddest loved me, and therefore now I will leave thee, and never love
thee more. And therewithal she went unto Sir Bleoberis. When Sir
Tristram saw her do so, he was wonderly wroth with that lady, and
ashamed to come to the court. Sir Tristram, said Sir Bleoberis, ye are
in the default, for I hear, by this lady’s words, she, before this day,
trusted you above all earthly knights, and, as she saith, ye have
deceived her; therefore, wit ye well, there may no man hold that will
away, and rather than ye should be heartily displeased with me, I would
ye had her and she would abide with you. Nay, said the lady, I will
never go with him, for he that I loved most I wend he had loved me. And
therefore, Sir Tristram, she said, ride as thou came for though thou
haddest overcome this knight, as ye were likely, with thee never would
I have gone. And I shall pray this knight so fair of his knighthood,
that or ever he pass this country he will lead me to the abbey where my
lord Sir Segwarides lieth. Truly, said Bleoberis, I let you wit, good
knight Sir Tristram, because king Mark gave me the choice of a gift in
this court, and so this lady liked me best, notwithstanding she is
wedded and hath a lord, and I have fulfilled my quest, she shall be
sent unto her husband again, and in especial most for your sake Sir
Tristram: and if she would go with you I would ye had her. I thank you,
said Sir Tristram, but for her love I shall be ware what manner of lady
I shall love or trust. For had her lord Sir Segwarides been away from
the court I should have been the first that should have followed you,
but since ye have refused me, as I am a true knight I shall her know
passingly well that I shall love or trust. And so they took their leave
one from the other and departed. And so Sir Tristram rode unto
Tintagil, and Sir Bleoberis rode unto the abbey where Sir Segwarides
lay sore wounded, and there he delivered his lady and departed as a
noble knight. And when Sir Segwarides saw his lady he was greatly
comforted. And then she told him that Sir Tristram had done great
battle with Sir Bleoberis, and caused him to bring her again. These
words pleased Sir Segwarides right well, that Sir Tristram would do so
much; and so that lady told all the battle unto king Mark betwixt Sir
Tristram and Sir Bleoberis.
CHAP. XIX.
_How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for La Beale Isoud toward Ireland, and
how by fortune he arrived into England._
Then when this was done king Mark cast always in his heart how he might
destroy Sir Tristram. And then he imagined in himself to send Sir
Tristram into Ireland for La Beale Isoud. For Sir Tristram had so
praised her beauty and her goodness that king Mark said he would wed
her, whereupon he prayed Sir Tristram to take his way into Ireland for
him on message. And all this was done to the intent to slay Sir
Tristram. Notwithstanding, Sir Tristram would not refuse the message