Le Morte Darthur
complaining her of the untruth of Sir Tristram, and how he had wedded
the king’s daughter of Britanny. Queen Guenever sent her another
letter, and bad her be of good cheer, for she should have joy after
sorrow, for Sir Tristram was so noble a knight called, that by crafts
of sorcery ladies would make such noble men to wed them, but in the
end, queen Guenever said, it shall be thus, that he shall hate her, and
love you better than ever he did tofore.
So leave we Sir Tristram in Britanny, and speak we of Sir Lamorak de
Galis, that as he sailed his ship fell on a rock and perished all, save
Sir Lamorak and his squire, and there he swam mightily, and fishers of
the Isle of Servage took him up, and his squire was drowned, and the
shipmen had great labour to save Sir Lamorak’s life for all the comfort
that they could do. And the lord of that isle hight Sir Nabon le Noire,
a great mighty giant. And this Sir Nabon hateth all the knights of king
Arthur, and in no wise he would do them favor. And these fishers told
Sir Lamorak all the guise of Sir Nabon, how there came never knight of
king Arthur’s but he destroyed him. And at the last battle that he did
was slain Sir Nanowne le Petite, the which he put to a shameful death
in despite of king Arthur, for he was drawn limb-meal. That forthinketh
me, said Sir Lamorak, for that knight’s death, for he was my cousin.
And if I were at mine ease as well as ever I was, I would revenge his
death. Peace, said the fishers, and make here no words, for, or ye
depart from hence, Sir Nabon must know that ye have been here, or else
we should die for your sake. So that I be whole, said Lamorak, of my
disease that I have taken in the sea, I will that ye tell him that I am
a knight of king Arthur’s, for I was never afeard to deny my lord.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
_How Sir Tristram and his wife arrived in Wales, and how he met there
with Sir Lamorak._
Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that upon a day he took a little barge,
and his wife Isoud la Blanch Mains, with Sir Kehydius her brother, to
play them in the coasts. And when they were from the land, there was a
wind drove them into the coast of Wales upon this Isle of Servage,
where as was Sir Lamorak, and there the barge all to-rove, and there
dame Isoud was hurt, and as well as they might they gat into the
forest, and there by a well he saw Segwarides and a damsel. And then
either saluted other. Sir, said Segwarides, I know you for Sir Tristram
de Liones, the man in the world that I have the most cause to hate,
because ye departed the love between me and my wife; but as for that,
said Segwarides, I will never hate a noble knight for a light lady, and
therefore I pray you be my friend, and I will be yours unto my power,
for wit ye well ye are hard bested in this valley, and we shall have
enough to do either of us to succour other. And then Sir Segwarides
brought Sir Tristram unto a lady thereby that was born in Cornwall, and
she told him all the perils of that valley, and how there came never
knight there but he were taken prisoner or slain. Wit you well fair
lady, said Sir Tristram, that I slew Sir Marhaus, and delivered
Cornwall from the truage of Ireland, and I am he that delivered the
king of Ireland from Sir Blamor de Ganis, and I am he that beat Sir
Palamides, and wit ye well, I am Sir Tristram de Liones, that by the
grace of God shall deliver this woful Isle of Servage. So Sir Tristram
was well eased; then one told him there was a knight of king Arthur’s
that was wrecked on the rocks. What is his name? said Sir Tristram. We
wot not, said the fishers, but he keepeth it no counsel but that he is
a knight of king Arthur’s, and by the mighty lord of this isle he
setteth nought by. I pray you, said Sir Tristram, and ye may bring him
hither that I may see him; and if he be any of the knights of Arthur’s
I shall know him. Then the lady prayed the fishers to bring him to her
place. So, on the morrow they brought him thither in a fisher’s
raiment. And as soon as Sir Tristram saw him he smiled upon him and
knew him well, but he knew not Sir Tristram. Fair knight, said Sir
Tristram, me seemeth by your cheer ye have been diseased but late, and
also me thinketh I should know you heretofore. I will well, said Sir
Lamorak, that ye have seen me and met with me. Fair sir, said Sir
Tristram, tell me your name. Upon a covenant I will tell you, said Sir
Lamorak, that is, that ye will tell me whether ye be lord of this
island or no, that is called Nabon le Noire. For sooth, said Sir
Tristram, I am not he, nor I hold not of him, I am his foe as well ye
be, and so shall I be found or I depart out of this isle. Well, said
Sir Lamorak, since ye have said so largely unto me, my name is Sir
Lamorak de Galis, son unto king Pellinore. For sooth, I trow well, said
Sir Tristram, for, and ye said other, I know the contrary. What are ye,
said Sir Lamorak, that knoweth me? I am Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah,
sir, remember ye not of the fall ye did give me once, and after ye
refused me to fight on foot. That was not for fear I had of you, said
Sir Tristram, but me shamed at that time to have more ado with you, for
me seemed ye had enough; but, Sir Lamorak, for my kindness many ladies
ye put to a reproof, when ye sent the horn from Morgan le Fay to king
Mark, where as ye did this in despite of me. Well, said he, and it were
to do again, so would I do, for I had lever strife and debate fell in
king Mark’s court rather than Arthur’s court, for the honour of both
courts be not alike. As to that, said Sir Tristram, I know well. But
that that was done, it was for despite of me, but all your malice hurt
not greatly. Therefore, said Sir Tristram, ye shall leave all your
malice and so will I, and let us assay how we may win worship between
you and me upon this giant Sir Nabon le Noire, that is lord of this
island, to destroy him. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, now I understand your
knighthood, it may not be false that all men say, for of your bounty,
nobless, and worship, of all knights ye are peerless; and for courtesy
and gentleness I shewed you ungentleness, and that now me repenteth.
CHAP. XXXIX.
_How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon and overcame him, and made Sir
Lamorak lord of the isle._
In the mean time came word that Sir Nabon had made a cry that all the
people of that isle should be at his castle the fifth day after. And
the same day the son of Nabon should be made knight, and all the
knights of that valley and thereabout should be there to just, and all
those of the realm of Logris should be there to just with them of North
Wales; and thither came five hundred knights, and they of the country
brought there Sir Lamorak, and Sir Tristram, and Sir Kehydius, and Sir
Segwarides, for they durst none otherwise do. And then Sir Nabon lent
Sir Lamorak horse and armour at Sir Lamorak’s desire, and Sir Lamorak
justed and did such deeds of arms that Nabon and all the people said
there was never knight that ever they saw do such deeds of arms. For,
as the French book saith, he forjusted all that were there, for the
most part of five hundred knights, that none abode him in his saddle.
Then Sir Nabon proffered to play with him his play:—For I saw never no
knight do so much upon a day. I will well, said Sir Lamorak, play as I
may, but I am weary and sore bruised: and there either gat a spear, but
Nabon would not encounter with Sir Lamorak, but smote his horse in the
forehead and so slew him, and then Sir Lamorak went on foot and turned
his shield and drew his sword, and there began strong battle on foot.
But Sir Lamorak was so sore bruised and short breathed, that he traced
and traversed somewhat aback. Fair fellow, said Sir Nabon, hold thy
hand, and I shall shew thee more courtesy than ever I shewed knight,
because I have seen this day thy noble knighthood. And therefore stand
thou by, and I will wit whether any of thy fellows will have ado with
me. Then when Sir Tristram heard that, he stept forth and said, Nabon,
lend me horse and sure armour, and I will have ado with thee. Well
fellow, said Sir Nabon, go thou to yonder pavilion, and arm thee of the
best thou findest there, and I shall play a marvellous play with thee.
Then, said Sir Tristram, look ye play well, or else peradventure I
shall learn you a new play. That is well said, fellow, said Sir Nabon.
So when Sir Tristram was armed as him liked best, and well shielded and
sworded, he dressed to him on foot, for well he knew that Sir Nabon
would not abide a stroke with a spear, therefore he would slay all
knights’ horses. Now fair fellow, said Sir Nabon, let us play. So then
they fought long on foot, tracing and traversing, smiting and foining
long without any rest. At the last Sir Nabon prayed him to tell him his
name. Sir Nabon, I tell thee my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, a
knight of Cornwall under king Mark. Thou art welcome, said Sir Nabon,
for of all knights I have most desired to fight with thee or with Sir
Launcelot. So then they went eagerly together, and Sir Tristram slew
Sir Nabon, and so forthwith he lept to his son and strake off his head.
And then all the country said they would hold of Sir Tristram. Nay,
said Sir Tristram, I will not so: here is a worshipful knight Sir
Lamorak de Galis that for me he shall be lord of this country, for he
hath done here great deeds of arms. Nay, said Sir Lamorak, I will not
be lord of this country, for I have not deserved it as well as ye,
therefore give ye it where ye will, for I will none have. Well, said
Sir Tristram, since ye nor I will not have it, let us give it to him
that hath not so well deserved it. Do as ye list, said Sir Lamorak, for
the gift is yours, for I will none have and I had deserved it. So it
was given to Segwarides, wherefore he thanked him, and so was he lord,
and worshipfully he did govern it. And then Sir Segwarides delivered
all prisoners, and set good governance in that valley; and so he
returned into Cornwall, and told king Mark and La Beale Isoud how Sir
Tristram had advanced him to the Isle of Servage, and there he
proclaimed in all Cornwall of all the adventures of these two knights,
so was it openly known. But full woe was La Beale Isoud when she heard
tell that Sir Tristram was wedded to Isoud La Blanche Mains.
CHAP. XL.
_How Sir Lamorak departed from Sir Tristram, and how he met with Sir
Frol, and after with Sir Launcelot._
So turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that rode toward Arthur’s court; and Sir
Tristram and his wife and Kehydius took a vessel and sailed into
Britanny unto king Howel, where he was welcome. And when he heard of
these adventures they marvelled of his noble deeds. Now turn we unto
Sir Lamorak, that when he was departed from Sir Tristram, he rode out
of the forest till he came to an hermitage. When the hermit saw him he
asked him from whence he came. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I come from this
valley. Sir, said the hermit, thereof I greatly marvel, for this twenty
winter I saw never no knight pass this country but he was either slain
or villainously wounded, or passed as a poor prisoner. Those ill
customs, said Sir Lamorak, are fordone; for Sir Tristram slew your lord
Sir Nabon, and his son. Then was the hermit glad, and all his brethren,
for he said there was never such a tyrant among Christian men,—and
therefore, said the hermit, this valley and franchise we will hold of
Sir Tristram. So on the morrow Sir Lamorak departed. And as he rode he
saw four knights fight against one, and that one knight defended him
well, but at the last the four knights had him down. And then Sir
Lamorak went betwixt them, and asked them why they would slay that one
knight, and said it was shame four against one. Thou shalt well wit,