Le Morte Darthur
shalt never win the field, for I will never say the loth word. And
therefore if thou dare slay me, slay me I require thee. When Sir
Tristram heard him say so knightly, he wist not what to do with him; he
remembering him of both parties; of what blood he was come, and for Sir
Launcelot’s sake he would be full loth to slay him, and in the other
party in no wise he might not choose but he must make him to say the
loth word, or else to slay him. Then Sir Tristram start aback, and went
to the kings that were judges, and there he kneeled down before them,
and besought them for their worships, and for king Arthur’s, and Sir
Launcelot’s sake, that they would take this matter in their hands. For
my fair lords, said Sir Tristram, it were shame and pity that this
noble knight that yonder lieth should be slain, for ye hear well shamed
will he not be, and I pray to God that he never be slain nor shamed for
me. And as for the king for whom I fight for, I shall require him, as I
am his true champion and true knight in this field, that he will have
mercy upon this good knight. Truly, said king Anguish to Sir Tristram,
I will for your sake be ruled as ye will have me. For I know you for my
true knight. And therefore I will heartily pray the kings that be here
as judges to take it in their hands. And the kings that were judges
called Sir Bleoberis to them, and asked him his advice. My lords, said
Bleoberis, though my brother be beaten, and hath the worse through
might of arms, I dare say, though Sir Tristram hath beaten his body he
hath not beaten his heart, and I thank God, he is not shamed this day.
And rather than he should be shamed I require you, said Bleoberis, let
Sir Tristram slay him out. It shall not be so, said the kings, for his
part adversary, both the king and the champion, have pity of Sir
Blamor’s knighthood. My lords, said Bleoberis, I will right well as ye
will.
Then the kings called the king of Ireland, and found him good and
treatable. And then, by all their advices, Sir Tristram and Sir
Bleoberis took up Sir Blamor, and the two brethren were accorded with
king Anguish, and kissed and made friends for ever. And then Sir Blamor
and Sir Tristram kissed together, and there they made their oaths that
they would never none of them two brethren fight with Sir Tristram, and
Sir Tristram made the same oath. And for that gentle battle all the
blood of Sir Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for ever.
Then king Anguish and Sir Tristram took their leave, and sailed into
Ireland with great nobleness and joy. So when they were in Ireland the
king let make it known throughout all the land, how and in what manner
Sir Tristram had done for him. Then the queen and all that there were
made the most of him that they might. But the joy that La Beale Isoud
made of Sir Tristram there might no tongue tell, for of men earthly she
loved him most.
CHAP. XXIV.
_How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud for king Mark, and how Sir
Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink._
Then upon a day king Anguish asked Sir Tristram why he asked not his
boon, for whatsoever he had promised him he should have it without
fail. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now is it time, this is all that I will
desire, that ye will give me La Beale Isoud your daughter, not for
myself, but for mine uncle king Mark, that shall have her to wife, for
so have I promised him. Alas, said the king, I had lever than all the
land that I have ye would wed her yourself. Sir, and I did, then were I
shamed for ever in this world, and false of my promise. Therefore, said
Sir Tristram, I pray you hold your promise that ye promised me, for
this is my desire, that ye will give me La Beale Isoud to go with me
into Cornwall, for to be wedded to king Mark mine uncle. As for that,
said king Anguish, ye shall have her with you, to do with her what it
please you, that is for to say if that ye list to wed her yourself,
that is to me levest: and if ye will give her unto king Mark your
uncle, that is in your choice.
So to make a short conclusion, La Beale Isoud was made ready to go with
Sir Tristram, and dame Bragwaine went with her for her chief
gentlewoman, with many other. Then the queen, Isoud’s mother, gave to
her and dame Bragwaine, her daughter’s gentlewoman, and unto
Gouvernail, a drink, and charged them that what day king Mark should
wed, that same day they should give him that drink, so that king Mark
should drink to La Beale Isoud; and then, said the queen, I undertake
either shall love other the days of their life. So this drink was given
unto dame Bragwaine and unto Gouvernail. And then anon Sir Tristram
took the sea and La Beale Isoud; and when they were in their cabin, it
happed so that they were thirsty, and they saw a little flacket of gold
stand by them, and it seemed by the colour and the taste that it was
noble wine. Then Sir Tristram took the flacket in his hand, and said,
Madam Isoud, here is the best drink that ever ye drank, that dame
Bragwaine your maiden, and Gouvernail my servant, have kept for
themselves. Then they laughed and made good cheer, and either drank to
other freely, and they thought never drink that ever they drank to
other was so sweet nor so good. But by that their drink was in their
bodies, they loved either other so well that never their love departed
for weal neither for woe. And thus it happed the love first betwixt Sir
Tristram and La Beale Isoud, the which love never departed the days of
their life. So then they sailed till by fortune they came nigh a castle
that hight Pluere, and thereby arrived for to repose them, weening to
them to have had good harbourage. But anon as Sir Tristram was within
the castle they were taken prisoners, for the custom of the castle was
such, who that rode by that castle, and brought any lady, he must needs
fight with the lord, that hight Breunor. And if it were so that Breunor
wan the field, then the knight stranger and his lady he put to death,
what that ever they were; and if it were so that the strange knight wan
the field of Sir Breunor, then should he die and his lady both. This
custom was used many winters, for it was called the Castle Pluere, that
is to say the weeping castle.
CHAP. XXV.
_How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he fought for her
beauty, and smote off another lady’s head._
Thus as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in prison, it happed a
knight and a lady came unto them where they were, to cheer them. I have
marvel, said Tristram unto the knight and the lady, what is the cause
the lord of this castle holdeth us in prison: it was never the custom
of no place of worship that ever I came in, that when a knight and a
lady asked harbour, and they to receive them, and after to destroy them
that be his guests. Sir, said the knight, this is the old custom of
this castle, that when a knight cometh here, he must needs fight with
our lord, and he that is the weaker must lose his head. And when that
is done, if his lady that he bringeth be fouler than our lord’s wife,
she must lose her head: and if she be fairer proved than is our lady,
then shall the lady of this castle lose her head. Now, said Sir
Tristram, this is a foul custom and a shameful. But one advantage have
I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady is fair enough, fairer saw I never
in all my life days, and I doubt not for lack of beauty she shall not
lose her head, and rather than I should lose my head I will fight for
it on a fair field. Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell your lord
that I will be ready as to-morn with my lady, and myself to battle, if
it be so I may have my horse and mine armour. Sir, said that knight, I
undertake that your desire shall be sped right well.
And then he said, Take your rest, and look that ye be up by times to
make you ready and your lady, for ye shall want no thing that you
behoveth. And therewith he departed, and on the morn betimes that same
knight came to Sir Tristram and fetched him out and his lady, and
brought him horse and armour that was his own, and bad him make him
ready to the field, for all the estates and commons of that lordship
were there ready to behold that battle and judgment. Then came Sir
Breunor, the lord of that castle, with his lady in his hand muffled,
and asked Sir Tristram where was his lady:—For and thy lady be fairer
than mine, with thy sword smite off my lady’s head, and if my lady be
fairer than thine, with my sword I must strike off her head. And if I
may win thee, yet shall thy lady be mine, and thou shalt lose thy head.
Sir, said Tristram, this is a foul custom and horrible; and rather than
my lady should lose her head, yet had I lever lose my head. Nay, nay,
said Sir Breunor, the ladies shall be first shewed together, and the
one shall have her judgment. Nay, I will not so, said Sir Tristram, for
here is none that will give righteous judgment. But I doubt not, said
Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than thine, and that will I prove and
make good with my hand. And whosoever he be that will say the contrary
I will prove it on his head. And therewith Sir Tristram shewed La Beale
Isoud, and turned her thrice about with his naked sword in his hand.
And when Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same wise turn his lady. But
when Sir Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him thought he never saw a
fairer lady, and then he dread his lady’s head should be off. And so
all the people that were there present gave judgment that La Beale
Isoud was the fairer lady, and the better made. How now, said Sir
Tristram, me seemeth it were pity that my lady should lose her head,
but because that thou and she of long time have used this wicked
custom, and by you both there have many good knights and ladies been
destroyed, for that cause it were no loss to destroy you both. Truly,
said Sir Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer than mine,
and that me sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily say; for
of all women I saw none so fair, and therefore if thou wilt slay my
lady, I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou shalt
win her, said Sir Tristram, as dear as ever knight won lady, and
because of thine own judgment, as thou wouldest have done to my lady if
that she had been fouler, and because of the evil custom, give me thy
lady, said Tristram. And therewithall Sir Tristram strode unto him and
took his lady from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off her head
clean. Well knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a despite.
CHAP. XXVI.
_How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, and at the last smote off
his head._
Now take thy horse: since I am ladyless I will win thy lady and I may.
Then they took their horses and came together as it had been the
thunder; and Sir Tristram smote Sir Breunor clean from his horse, and
lightly he rose up; and as Sir Tristram came again by him he thrust his
horse throughout both the shoulders, that his horse hurled here and
there and fell dead to the ground. And ever Sir Breunor ran after to
have slain Sir Tristram, but Sir Tristram was light and nimble and
voided his horse lightly. And or ever Sir Tristram might dress his
shield and his sword, the other gave him three or four sad strokes.
Then they rushed together like two boars, tracing and traversing
mightily and wisely as two noble knights. For this Sir Breunor was a
proved knight, and had been, or then, the death of many good knights,
that it was pity that he had so long endured. Thus they fought, hurling
here and there nigh two hours, and either were wounded sore. Then at
the last Sir Breunor rushed upon Sir Tristram, and took him in his
arms, for he trusted much in his strength. Then was Sir Tristram called