Le Morte Darthur
foot. I will not so, said Sir Tristram; and wit ye well my name is Sir
Tristram de Liones, and well I know ye be Sir Lamorak de Galis, and
this that I have done to you was against my will, but I was required
thereto; but to say that I will do at your request as at this time, I
will have no more ado with you, for me shameth of that I have done. As
for the shame, said Sir Lamorak, on thy part or on mine, bear thou it
and thou wilt, for though a mare’s son hath failed me, now a queen’s
son shall not fail thee; and therefore, and thou be such a knight as
men call thee, I require thee, alight, and fight with me. Sir Lamorak,
said Sir Tristram, I understand your heart is great, and cause why ye
have, to say the sooth: for it would grieve me and any knight should
keep himself fresh and then to strike down a weary knight, for that
knight nor horse was never formed that alway might stand or endure. And
therefore, said Sir Tristram, I will not have ado with you, for me
forthinketh of that I have done. As for that, said Sir Lamorak, I shall
quit you and ever I see my time.
CHAP. XXXIV.
_How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to king Mark in despite of Sir Tristram,
and how Sir Tristram was driven into a chapel._
So he departed from him with Sir Driant, and by the way they met with a
knight that was sent from Morgan le Fay unto king Arthur, and this
knight had a fair horn harnessed with gold, and the horn had such a
virtue that there might no lady nor gentlewoman drink of that horn but
if she were true to her husband, and if she were false she should spill
all the drink, and if she were true to her lord she might drink
peaceably. And because of queen Guenever, and in the despite of Sir
Launcelot, this horn was sent unto king Arthur, and by force Sir
Lamorak made that knight to tell all the cause why he bare that horn.
Now shalt thou bear this horn, said Lamorak unto king Mark, or else
choose thou to die for it. For I tell thee plainly, in despite and
reproof of Sir Tristram thou shalt bear that horn unto king Mark his
uncle, and say thou to him that I sent it him for to assay his lady,
and if she be true to him he shall prove her. So the knight went his
way unto king Mark, and brought him that rich horn, and said that Sir
Lamorak sent it him, and thereto he told him the virtue of that horn.
Then the king made queen Isoud to drink thereof, and an hundred ladies,
and there were but four ladies of all those that drank clean. Alas,
said king Mark, this is a great despite; and sware a great oath that
she should be burnt, and the other ladies. Then the barons gathered
them together, and said plainly, they would not have those ladies burnt
for an horn made by sorcery, that came from as false a sorceress and
witch as then was living. For that horn did never good, but caused
strife and debate, and always in her days she had been an enemy to all
true lovers. So there were many knights made their avow, if ever they
met with Morgan le Fay that they would shew her short courtesy. Also
Sir Tristram was passing wroth that Sir Lamorak sent that horn unto
king Mark, for well he knew that it was done in the despite of him; and
therefore he thought to quit Sir Lamorak. Then, always, Sir Tristram
used to go to queen Isoud when he might, and ever Sir Andred his cousin
watched him night and day, for to take him with La Beale Isoud. And so,
upon a day, Sir Andred his cousin espied the hour and the time when Sir
Tristram went to his lady. And then Sir Andred gat unto him twelve
knights, and he set upon Sir Tristram secretly and suddenly, and there
Sir Tristram was taken with La Beale Isoud, and then was he bound hand
and foot, and so was he kept until the next day. And then by assent of
king Mark, and of Sir Andred, and of some of the barons, Sir Tristram
was led unto a chapel which stood upon the sea rocks, there for to take
his judgment; and so he was led bound with forty knights. And when Sir
Tristram saw there was none other remedy but needs that he must die,
then said he, Fair lords, remember what I have done for the country of
Cornwall, and in what jeopardy I have been in for the weal of you all.
For when I fought for the truage of Cornwall with Sir Marhaus the good
knight, I was promised for to be better rewarded, when ye all refused
to take the battle; therefore, as ye be good gentle knights, see me not
thus shamefully to die, for it is shame to all knighthood thus to see
me die. For I dare well say, said Sir Tristram, that I never yet met
with no knight but I was as good as he, or better. Fie upon thee, said
Sir Andred, false traitor that thou art with thy vaunting, for all thy
boast thou shalt die this day. O Andred, Andred, said Sir Tristram,
thou shouldst be my kinsman, and now thou art to me full unfriendly,
but and there were no more but thou and I, thou wouldst not put me to
death. No! said Sir Andred, and therewith he drew his sword and would
have slain him. When Sir Tristram saw him make such countenance, he
looked upon both his hands that were fast bound unto two knights, and
suddenly he pulled them both to him and unwrast his hands, and then he
lept unto his cousin Andred and wrested his sword out of his hands,
then he smote Sir Andred that he fell to the earth, and so Sir Tristram
fought till he had killed ten knights. So then Sir Tristram gat the
chapel and kept it mightily. Then the cry was great, and the people
drew fast unto Sir Andred, more than an hundred. When Sir Tristram saw
the people draw unto him, he remembered that he was naked, and shut
fast the chapel door, and brake the bars of a window, and so he lept
out and fell upon the crags in the sea. And so at that time Sir Andred
nor none of his fellows might get to him at that time.
CHAP. XXXV.
_How Sir Tristram was holpen by his men, and of queen Isoud which was
put in a lazar-cote, and how Tristram was hurt._
So when they were departed, Gouvernail and Sir Lambegus, and Sir
Sentraille de Lushon, that were Sir Tristram’s men, sought their
master. When they heard he was escaped, then they were passing glad,
and on the rocks they found him, and with towels they pulled him up.
And then Sir Tristram asked them where La Beale Isoud was, for he wend
she had been had away of Andred’s people. Sir, said Gouvernail, she is
put in a lazar-cote. Alas, said Sir Tristram, this is a full ungoodly
place for such a fair lady; and if I may she shall not be long there.
And so he took his men, and went there as was La Beale Isoud, and
fetched her away, and brought her into a forest to a fair manor, and
Sir Tristram there abode with her. So the good knight bad his men go
from him,—For at this time I may not help you. So they departed all
save Gouvernail. And so upon a day Sir Tristram went into the forest
for to desport him, and then it happened that he fell there on sleep.
And there came a man that Sir Tristram afore hand had slain his
brother; and when this man had found him he shot him through the
shoulder with an arrow, and Sir Tristram lept up and killed that man.
And in the mean while it was told king Mark how Sir Tristram and La
Beale Isoud were in that same manor, and as soon as ever he might
thither he came with many knights to slay Sir Tristram. And when he
came there he found him gone; and there he took La Beale Isoud home
with him, and kept her strait that by no means never she might wit nor
send unto Tristram, nor he unto her. And then when Sir Tristram came
toward the old manor, he found the track of many horses, and thereby he
wist his lady was gone. And then Sir Tristram took great sorrow, and
endured with great pain long time, for the arrow that he was hurt
withall was envenomed.
Then by the means of La Beale Isoud she told a lady that was cousin
unto dame Bragwaine, and she came to Sir Tristram, and told him that he
might not be whole by no means,—For thy lady La Beale Isoud may not
help thee; therefore she biddeth you haste into Britanny to king Howel,
and there ye shall find his daughter Isoud la Blanche Mains, and she
shall help thee. Then Sir Tristram and Gouvernail gat them shipping,
and so sailed into Britanny. And when king Howel wist that it was Sir
Tristram he was full glad of him. Sir, he said, I am come into this
country to have help of your daughter, for it is told me that there is
none other may heal me but she. And so within a while she healed him.
CHAP. XXXVI.
_How Sir Tristram served in war king Howel of Britanny and slew his
adversary in the field._
There was an earl that hight Grip, and this earl made great war upon
the king, and put the king to the worse, and besieged him. And on a
time Sir Kehydius, that was son to king Howel, as he issued out he was
sore wounded nigh to the death. Then Gouvernail went to the king and
said, Sir, I counsel you to desire my lord, Sir Tristram, as in your
need to help you. I will do by your counsel, said the king. And so he
went unto Sir Tristram and prayed him in his wars for to help him, for
my son Sir Kehydius may not go into the field. Sir, said Sir Tristram,
I will go to the field, and do what I may. Then Sir Tristram issued out
of the town with such fellowship as he might make, and did such deeds
that all Britanny spake of him. And then at the last, by great might
and force, he slew the earl Grip with his own hands, and more than an
hundred knights he slew that day. And then Sir Tristram was received
right worshipfully with procession. Then king Howel embraced him in his
arms and said, Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to thee. God
defend, said Sir Tristram, for I am beholden unto you for your
daughter’s sake to do for you. Then by the great means of king Howel
and Kehydius his son, by great proffers there grew great love betwixt
Isoud and Sir Tristram, for that lady was both good and fair, and a
woman of noble blood and fame. And for because that Sir Tristram had
such cheer and riches, and all other pleasance that he had, almost he
had forsaken La Beale Isoud. And so upon a time Sir Tristram agreed to
wed Isoud la Blanche Mains. And at the last they were wedded, and
solemnly held their marriage.
And in the mean while there was a knight in Britanny, his name was
Suppinabiles, and he came over the sea into England, and then he came
unto the court of king Arthur, and there he met with Sir Launcelot du
Lake, and told him of the marriage of Sir Tristram. Then said Sir
Launcelot, Fie upon him, untrue knight to his lady; that so noble a
knight as Sir Tristram is, should be found to his first lady false, La
Beale Isoud, queen of Cornwall. But say ye him this, said Sir
Launcelot, that of all knights in the world I loved him most, and had
most joy of him, and all was for his noble deeds; and let him wit the
love between him and me is done for ever, and that I give him warning
from this day forth as his mortal enemy.
CHAP. XXXVII.
_How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram how he was defamed in the court
of king Arthur, and of Sir Lamorak._
Then departed Sir Suppinabiles unto Britanny again, and there he found
Sir Tristram, and told him that he had been in king Arthur’s court.
Then said Sir Tristram, Heard ye any thing of me? Truly, said Sir
Suppinabiles, there I heard Sir Launcelot speak of you great shame, and
that ye be a false knight to your lady, and he bad me to do you to wit
that he will be your mortal enemy in every place where he may meet you.
That me repenteth, said Tristram, for of all knights I loved to be in
his fellowship. So Sir Tristram made great moan, and was ashamed that
noble knights should defame him for the sake of his lady. And in this
mean while La Beale Isoud made a letter unto queen Guenever,