Le Morte Darthur
the strongest and the highest knight of the world, for he was called
bigger than Sir Launcelot, but Sir Launcelot was better breathed. So
anon Sir Tristram thrust Sir Breunor down groveling, and then he
unlaced his helm and strake off his head. And then all they that longed
to the castle came to him and did him homage and fealty, praying him
that he would abide there still a little while to fordo that foul
custom. Sir Tristram granted thereto. The meanwhile one of the knights
of the castle rode unto Sir Galahad, the haut prince, the which was Sir
Breunor’s son, which was a noble knight, and told him what misadventure
his father had and his mother.
CHAP. XXVII.
_How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram yielded
him and promised to fellowship with Launcelot._
Then came Sir Galahad and the king with the hundred knights with him,
and this Sir Galahad proffered to fight with Sir Tristram hand for
hand. And so they made them ready to go unto battle on horseback with
great courage. Then Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram met together so hard
that either bare other down, horse and all, to the earth. And then they
avoided their horses as noble knights, and dressed their shields and
drew their swords with ire and rancour, and they lashed together many
sad strokes, and one while striking, another while foining, tracing and
traversing as noble knights, thus they fought long, near half a day,
and either were sore wounded. At the last Sir Tristram waxed light and
big, and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Galahad aback on the one
side and on the other, so that he was like to have been slain. With
that came the king with the hundred knights, and all that fellowship
went fiercely upon Sir Tristram. When Sir Tristram saw them coming upon
him, then he wist well he might not endure. Then as a wise knight of
war, he said to Sir Galahad the haut prince, Sir, ye shew to me no
knighthood, for to suffer all your men to have ado with me all at once,
and as me seemeth ye be a noble knight of your hands, it is a great
shame to you. Truly, said Sir Galahad, there is none other way but thou
must yield thee to me, other else to die, said Sir Galahad to Sir
Tristram. I will rather yield me to you than die, for that is more for
the might of your men than for the might of your hands. And therewith
Sir Tristram took his own sword by the point, and put the pommel in the
hand of Sir Galahad. Therewithall came the king with the hundred
knights, and hard began to assail Sir Tristram. Let be, said Sir
Galahad, be ye not so hardy to touch him, for I have given this knight
his life. That is your shame, said the king with the hundred knights;
hath he not slain your father and your mother? As for that, said Sir
Galahad, I may not blame him greatly, for my father had him in prison,
and enforced him to do battle with him, and my father had such a
custom, that was a shameful custom, that what knight came there to ask
harbour, his lady must needs die but if she were fairer than my mother,
and if my father overcame that knight he must needs die. This was a
shameful custom and usage, a knight for his harbour asking to have such
harbourage. And for this custom I would never draw about him. Truly,
said the king, this was a shameful custom. Yea, said Sir Galahad, so
seemed me, and me seemed it had been great pity that this knight should
have been slain, for I dare say he is the noblest man that beareth
life, but if it were Sir Launcelot du Lake. Now fair knight, said Sir
Galahad, I require thee tell me thy name, and of whence thou art, and
whither thou wilt. Sir, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and
from king Mark of Cornwall I was sent on message unto king Anguish of
Ireland, for to fetch his daughter to be his wife, and here she is
ready to go with me into Cornwall, and her name is La Beale Isoud. And
Sir Tristram, said Sir Galahad the haut prince, well be ye found in
these marches, and so ye will promise me to go unto Sir Launcelot du
Lake and accompany with him, ye shall go where ye will, and your fair
lady with you. And I shall promise you never in all my days shall such
customs be used in this castle as have been used. Sir, said Sir
Tristram, now I let you wit I wend ye had been Sir Launcelot du Lake
when I saw you first, and, therefore I dread you the more; and Sir, I
promise you, said Sir Tristram, as soon as I may I will see Sir
Launcelot and enfellowship me with him, for of all the knights of the
world I most desire his fellowship.
CHAP. XXVIII.
_How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away Sir Gawaine, and
of the rescue of Sir Gawaine._
And then Sir Tristram took his leave when he saw his time, and took the
sea. And in the mean while word came unto Sir Launcelot and to Sir
Tristram that Sir Carados the mighty king, that was made like a giant,
had fought with Sir Gawaine, and gave him such strokes that he swooned
in his saddle, and after that he took him by the collar and pulled him
out of his saddle, and fast bound him to the saddle bow, and so rode
his way with him towards his castle. And as he rode, by fortune Sir
Launcelot met with Sir Carados, and anon he knew Sir Gawaine that lay
bound after him. Ah, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, how stands it
with you? Never so hard, said Sir Gawaine, unless that ye help me, for
without ye rescue me I know no knight that may, but either you or Sir
Tristram. Wherefore Sir Launcelot was heavy of Sir Gawaine’s words. And
then Sir Launcelot bad Sir Carados, Lay down that knight, and fight
with me. Thou art but a fool, said Sir Carados, for I will serve you in
the same wise. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, spare me not, for I
warn thee I will not spare thee. And then he bound Sir Gawaine hand and
foot, and so threw him to the ground. And then he gat his spear of his
Squire and departed from Sir Launcelot to fetch his course. And so
either met with other, and brake their spears to their hands, and then
they pulled out swords and hurtled together on horseback more than an
hour. And at the last Sir Launcelot smote Sir Carados such a buffet
upon the helm that it perched his brain-pan. So then Sir Launcelot took
Sir Carados by the collar and pulled him under his horse feet, and then
he alight and pulled off his helm and strake off his head. And then Sir
Launcelot unbound Sir Gawaine. So this same tale was told to Sir
Galahad and to Sir Tristram:—here may ye hear the nobleness that
followeth Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir Tristram, and I had not this
message in hand with this fair lady, truly I would never stint or I had
found Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went to the
sea and came into Cornwall, and there all the barons met them.
CHAP. XXIX.
_Of the wedding of king Mark to La Beale Isoud, and of Bragwaine her
maid, and of Palamides._
And anon they were richly wedded with great nobley. But ever, as the
French book saith, Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud loved ever together.
Then was there great justs and great tourneying, and many lords and
ladies were at that feast, and Sir Tristram was most praised of all
other. Thus dured the feast long, and after the feast was done, within
a little while after, by the assent of two ladies that were with queen
Isoud, they ordained for hate and envy to destroy dame Bragwaine, that
was maiden and lady unto La Beale Isoud, and she was sent into the
forest for to fetch herbs, and there she was met, and bound feet and
hand to a tree, and so she was bounden three days. And by fortune Sir
Palamides found dame Bragwaine and there he delivered her from the
death, and brought her to a nunnery there beside to be recovered. When
Isoud the queen missed her maiden wit ye well she was right heavy as
ever was any queen, for of all earthly women she loved her best, the
cause was for she came with her out of her country.
And so upon a day the queen Isoud walked into the forest to put away
her thoughts, and there she went herself unto a well and made great
moan. And suddenly there came Sir Palamides to her, and had heard all
her complaint, and said, Madame Isoud, and if ye will grant me my boon
I shall bring to you dame Bragwaine safe and sound. And the queen was
so glad of his proffer that suddenly unadvised she granted all his
asking. Well madam, said Sir Palamides, I trust to your promise, and if
ye will abide here half an hour I shall bring her to you. I shall abide
you, said La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Palamides rode forth his way to that
nunnery, and lightly he came again with dame Bragwaine; but by her good
will she would not have come again, because for love of the queen she
stood in adventure of her life. Notwithstanding, half against her will,
she went with Sir Palamides unto the queen. And when the queen saw her
she was passing glad. Now madam, said Palamides, remember upon your
promise, for I have fulfilled my promise. Sir Palamides, said the
queen, I wot not what is your desire, but I will that ye wit howbeit I
promised you largely I thought none evil, nor I warn you none ill will
I do. Madam, said Sir Palamides, as at this time ye shall not know my
desire, but before my lord your husband there shall ye know that I will
have my desire that ye have promised me. And therewith the queen
departed and rode home to the king, and Sir Palamides rode after her.
And when Sir Palamides came before the king he said, Sir king, I
require you as ye be a righteous king, that ye will judge me the right.
Tell me the cause, said the king, and ye shall have right.
CHAP. XXX.
_How Palamides demanded queen Isoud, and how Lambegus rode after to
rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud._
Sir, said Palamides, I promised your queen Isoud to bring again dame
Bragwaine that she had lost, upon this covenant, that she should grant
me a boon that I would ask, and without grudging other advisement she
granted me. What say ye, my lady? said the king. It is truly as he
saith, said the queen, to say the sooth I promised him his asking for
love and joy that I had to see her. Well madam, said the king, and if
ye were hasty to grant him what boon he would ask, I will well that ye
perform your promise. Then said Sir Palamides, I will that ye wit that
I will have your queen to lead her and govern her where as me list.
Therewith the king stood still, and bethought him of Sir Tristram, and
deemed that he would rescue her. And then hastily the king answered,
Take her with the adventures that shall fall of it, for Sir Palamides
as I suppose thou wilt not keep her no while. As for that, said Sir
Palamides, I dare right well abide the adventure. And so to make short
tale, Sir Palamides took her by the hand and said, Madam, grudge not to
go with me, for I desire nothing but your own promise. As for that,
said the queen, I fear not greatly to go with thee, howbeit thou hast
me at advantage upon my promise. For I doubt not I shall be
worshipfully rescued from thee. As for that, said Sir Palamides, be it
as it be may. So queen Isoud was set behind Palamides, and rode his
way. Anon the king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could be
found, for he was in the forest an hunting; for that was always his
custom, but if he used arms, to chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas,
said the king, now I am shamed for ever, that by mine own assent my
lady and my queen shall be devoured. Then came forth a knight, his name
was Lambegus, and he was a knight of Sir Tristram. My lord, said this
knight, sith ye have trust in my lord Sir Tristram, wit ye well for his
sake I will ride after your queen and rescue her, or else I shall be
beaten. Gramercy, said the king, and I live, Sir Lambegus, I shall