Le Morte Darthur
Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, then when he and his squires were
upon horseback, he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to
array them so because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto
the keepers of beasts, and all to beat them. Sir Tristram saw them
beaten that were wont to give him meat and drink, then he ran thither
and gat Sir Dagonet by the head, and gave him such a fall to the earth
that he bruised him sore, so that he lay still. And then he wrast his
sword out of his hand and therewith he ran to one of his squires and
smote off his head, and the other fled. And so Sir Tristram took his
way with that sword in his hand, running as he had been wild wood. Then
Sir Dagonet rode to king Mark and told him how he had sped in that
forest. And therefore, said Sir Dagonet, beware, king Mark, that thou
come not about that well in the forest, for there is a fool naked, and
that fool and I fool met together, and he had almost slain me. Ah, said
king Mark, that is Sir Matto le Breune, that fell out of his wit
because he lost his lady. For when Sir Gaheris smote down Sir Matto and
won his lady of him, never since was he in his mind, and that was pity,
for he was a good knight.
CHAP. XX.
_How it was noised how Sir Tristram was dead, and how La Beale Isoud
would have slain herself._
Then Sir Andred that was cousin unto Sir Tristram, made a lady that was
his paramour to say and noise it that she was with Sir Tristram or ever
he died. And this tale she brought unto king Mark’s court, that she
buried him by a well, and that or he died he besought king Mark to make
his cousin, Sir Andred, king of the country of Liones, of the which Sir
Tristram was lord of. All this did Sir Andred because he would have had
Sir Tristram’s lands. And when king Mark heard tell that Sir Tristram
was dead, he wept and made great dole. But when queen Isoud heard of
these tidings, she made such sorrow that she was nigh out of her mind.
And so upon a day she thought to slay herself, and never to live after
Sir Tristram’s death. And so upon a day La Beale Isoud gat a sword
privily, and bare it into her garden, and there she pight the sword
through a plum tree up to the hilts, so that it stack fast, and it
stood breast high. And as she would have run upon the sword and to have
slain herself, all this espied king Mark, how she kneeled down and
said, Sweet Lord Jesu have mercy upon me, for I may not live after the
death of Sir Tristram de Liones, for he was my first love, and he shall
be the last. And with these words came king Mark and took her in his
arms, and then he took up the sword, and bare her away with him into a
strong tower, and there he made her to be kept, and watched her surely.
And after that she lay long sick, nigh at the point of death. This mean
while ran Sir Tristram naked in the forest with the sword in his hand,
and so he came to an hermitage, and there he laid him down and slept,
and in the mean while the hermit stale away his sword, and laid meat
down by him. Thus was he kept there a ten days, and at the last he
departed and came to the herdmen again. And there was a giant in that
country that hight Tauleas, and for fear of Sir Tristram more than
seven years he durst never much go at large, but for the most part he
kept him in a sure castle of his own. And so this Tauleas heard tell
that Sir Tristram was dead, by the noise of the court of king Mark.
Then this Tauleas went daily at large. And so it happed upon a day he
came to the herdmen wandering and lingering, and there he set him down
to rest among them. The mean while there came a knight of Cornwall that
led a lady with him, and his name was Sir Dinant. And when the giant
saw him, he went from the herdmen and hid him under a tree, and so the
knight came to the well, and there he alight to repose him. And as soon
as he was from his horse, the giant Tauleas came betwixt this knight
and his horse, and took the horse and lept upon him. So forthwith he
rode unto Sir Dinant and took him by the collar, and pulled him afore
him upon his horse, and there would have stricken off his head. Then
the herdmen said unto Sir Tristram, Help yonder knight. Help ye him,
said Sir Tristram. We dare not, said the herdmen. Then Sir Tristram was
ware of the sword of the knight there as it lay, and so thither he ran,
and took up the sword and strake off Sir Tauleas’s head, and so he went
his way to the herdmen again.
CHAP. XXI.
_How king Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be borne home
to Tintagil, and how he was there known by a brachet._
Then the knight took up the giant’s head, and bare it with him unto
king Mark, and told him what adventure betid him in the forest, and how
a naked man rescued him from the grimly giant Tauleas. Where had ye
this adventure? said king Mark. Forsooth, said Sir Dinant, at the fair
fountain in your forest where many adventurous knights meet, and there
is the mad man. Well, said king Mark, I will see that wild man. So
within a day or two king Mark commanded his knights and his hunters,
that they should be ready on the morn for to hunt, and on the morn he
went unto that forest. And when the king came to that well, he found
there lying by that well a fair naked man, and a sword by him. Then
king Mark blew and straked, and therewith his knights came to him. And
then the king commanded his knights to take that naked man with
fairness, and bring him to my castle. So they did softly and fair, and
cast mantles upon Sir Tristram, and so led him unto Tintagil; and there
they bathed him and washed him, and gave him hot suppings, till they
had brought him well to his remembrance. But all this while there was
no creature that knew Sir Tristram, nor what man he was. So it fell
upon a day that the queen La Beale Isoud heard of such a man that ran
naked in the forest, and how the king had brought him home to the
court. Then La Beale Isoud called unto her dame Bragwaine, and said,
Come on with me, for we will go see this man that my lord brought from
the forest the last day. So they passed forth, and asked where was the
sick man. And then a squire told the queen that he was in the garden
taking his rest, and reposing him against the sun. So when the queen
looked upon Sir Tristram she was not remembered of him. But ever she
said unto dame Bragwaine, Me seemeth I should have seen him heretofore
in many places. But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her he knew her well
enough, and then he turned away his visage and wept. Then the queen had
always a little brachet with her, that Sir Tristram gave her the first
time that ever she came into Cornwall, and never would that brachet
depart from her, but if Sir Tristram was nigh there as was La Beale
Isoud; and this brachet was sent from the king’s daughter of France
unto Sir Tristram for great love. And anon as this little brachet felt
a savour of Sir Tristram, she leaped upon him, and licked his cheeks
and his ears, and then she whined and quested, and she smelled at his
feet and at his hands, and on all parts of his body that she might come
to. Ah, my lady, said dame Bragwaine unto La Beale Isoud, alas, alas!
said she, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram. And thereupon Isoud
fell down in a swoon, and so lay a great while; and when she might
speak, she said, My lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye have your
life; and now I am sure ye shall be discovered by this little brachet,
for she will never leave you; and also I am sure as soon as my lord
king Mark do know you, he will banish you out of the country of
Cornwall, or else he will destroy you. Therefore mine own lord, grant
king Mark his will, and then draw you unto the court of king Arthur,
for there are ye beloved. And ever when I may I shall send unto you,
and when ye list ye may come to me, and at all times early and late I
will be at your commandment to live as poor a life as ever did queen or
lady. O madam, said Sir Tristram, go from me, for mickle anger and
danger have I escaped for your love.
CHAP. XXII.
_How king Mark, by the advice of his council, banished Sir Tristram out
of Cornwall the term of ten years._
Then the queen departed, but the brachet would not from him. And
therewithal came king Mark, and the brachet sat upon him, and bayed at
them all. Therewithal Sir Andred spake and said, Sir, this is Sir
Tristram, I see by the brachet. Nay, said the king, I cannot suppose
that. So the king asked him upon his faith what he was, and what was
his name. Truly, said he, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, now do by
me what ye list. Ah, said king Mark, me repenteth of your recovery. And
then he let call his barons to judge Sir Tristram to death. Then many
of his barons would not assent thereto, and in especial Sir Dinas the
seneschal and Sir Fergus. And so by the advice of them all Sir Tristram
was banished out of the country for ten year, and thereupon he took his
oath upon a book before the king and his barons. And so he was made to
depart out of the country of Cornwall, and there were many barons
brought him into his ship, of the which some were his friends, and some
his foes. And in the mean while there came a knight of king Arthur’s,
his name was Dinadan, and his coming was to seek after Sir Tristram.
Then they shewed him where he was armed at all points, going to the
ship. Now, fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, or ye pass this court, that
ye will just with me I require you. With a good will, said Sir
Tristram, and these lords will give me leave. Then the barons granted
thereto, and so they ran together, and there Sir Tristram gave Sir
Dinadan a fall. And then he prayed Sir Tristram to give him leave to go
in his fellowship. Ye shall be right welcome, said then Sir Tristram.
And so they took their horses and rode to their ships together. And
when Sir Tristram was in the sea, he said, Greet well king Mark and all
mine enemies, and say them I will come again when I may. And well am I
rewarded for the fighting with Sir Marhaus, and delivering all this
country from servage, and well I am rewarded for the fetching and costs
of La Beale Isoud out of Ireland, and the danger that I was in first
and last, and by the way coming home what danger I had to bring again
queen Isoud from the castle Pluere. And well am I rewarded when I
fought with Sir Bleoberis for Sir Segwarides’ wife. And well am I
rewarded when I fought with Sir Blamor de Ganis for king Anguish,
father unto La Beale Isoud. And well am I rewarded when I smote down
the good knight Sir Lamorak de Galis at king Mark’s request. And well
am I rewarded when I fought with the king with the hundred knights, and
the king of Northgalis, and both these would have put his land in
servage, and by me they were put to a rebuke. And well am I rewarded
for the slaying of Tauleas the mighty giant, and many more deeds have I
done for him, and now have I my warison. And tell king Mark that many
noble knights of the Table Round have spared the barons of this country
for my sake. Also am I not well rewarded when I fought with the good
knight Sir Palamides, and rescued queen Isoud from him. And at that
time king Mark said afore all his barons, I should have been better
rewarded. And forthwithal he took the sea.
CHAP. XXIII.
_How a damsel sought help to help Sir Launcelot against thirty knights,
and how Sir Tristram fought with them._
And at the next landing, fast by the sea, there met with Sir Tristram
and with Sir Dinadan Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Bors de Ganis. And
there Sir Ector justed with Sir Dinadan and he smote him and his horse
down. And then Sir Tristram would have justed with Sir Bors, and Sir