Le Morte Darthur
Tristram. Welcome, said the damsels: Welcome, said the knights:
Welcome, said Arthur, for one of the best knights and the gentlest of
the world, and the man of most worship. For of all manner of hunting
thou bearest the prize, and of all measures of blowing thou art the
beginning, and of all the terms of hunting and hawking ye are the
beginner: of all instruments of music ye are the best; therefore,
gentle knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to this court. And also I
pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon. It shall be at your
commandment, said Tristram. Well, said Arthur, I will desire of you
that ye will abide in my court. Sir, said Sir Tristram, thereto is me
loth, for I have ado in many countries. Not so, said Arthur, ye have
promised it me, ye may not say nay. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I will as
ye will. Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the Round Table, and
looked in every siege the which were void that lacked knights. And then
the king saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that said, This is the
siege of the noble knight Sir Tristram. And then Arthur made Sir
Tristram knight of the Table Round with great nobley and great feast as
might be thought. For Sir Marhaus was slain afore by the hands of Sir
Tristram in an island, and that was well known at that time in the
court of Arthur; for this Marhaus was a worthy knight. And for evil
deeds that he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir Tristram and he
fought. And they fought so long tracing and traversing till they fell
bleeding to the earth, for they were so sore wounded that they might
not stand for bleeding. And Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and Sir
Marhaus died through the stroke on the head. So leave we of Sir
Tristram, and speak we of king Mark.
CHAP. VII.
_How for the despite of Sir Tristram king Mark came with two knights
into England, and how he slew one of the knights._
Then king Mark had great despite of the renown of Sir Tristram, and
then he chased him out of Cornwall: yet was he nephew unto king Mark,
but he had great suspicion unto Sir Tristram, because of his queen, La
Beale Isoud: for him seemed that there was too much love between them
both. So when Sir Tristram departed out of Cornwall into England, king
Mark heard of the great prowess that Sir Tristram did there, the which
grieved him sore. So he sent on his party men to espy what deeds he
did. And the queen sent privily on her part spies to know what deeds he
had done, for great love was between them twain. So when the messagers
were come home, they told the truth as they had heard, that he passed
all other knights, but if it were Sir Launcelot. Then king Mark was
right heavy of these tidings, and as glad was La Beale Isoud. Then in
great despite he took with him two good knights and two squires, and
disguised himself, and took his way into England, to the intent for to
slay Sir Tristram. And one of these two knights hight Sir Bersules, and
the other knight was called Sir Amant. So as they rode, king Mark asked
a knight that he met where he should find king Arthur. He said, at
Camelot. Also he asked that knight after Sir Tristram, whether he heard
of him in the court of king Arthur. Wit you well, said that knight, ye
shall find Sir Tristram there for a man of as great worship as is now
living, for through his prowess he won the tournament of the Castle of
Maidens, that standeth by the Hard Rock. And sithen he hath won with
his own hands thirty knights that were men of great honour. And the
last battle that ever he did he fought with Sir Launcelot, and that was
a marvellous battle. And not by force Sir Launcelot brought Sir
Tristram to the court, and of him king Arthur made passing great joy,
and so made him knight of the Table Round, and his seat was where the
good knight’s Sir Marhaus seat was. Then was king Mark passing sorry
when he heard of the honour of Sir Tristram, and so they departed. Then
said king Mark unto his two knights, Now will I tell you my counsel; ye
are the men that I trust most to on live; and I will that ye wit my
coming hither is to this intent, for to destroy Sir Tristram by wiles
or by treason; and it shall be hard if ever he escape our hands. Alas,
said Bersules, what mean you? for ye be set in such a way ye are
disposed shamefully. For Sir Tristram is the knight of most worship
that we know living, and therefore I warn you plainly I will never
consent to do him to the death; and therefore I will yield my service,
and forsake you. When king Mark heard him say so, suddenly he drew his
sword, and said, A traitor! and smote Sir Bersules on the head, that
the sword went to his teeth. When Amant the knight saw him do that
villainous deed, and his squires, they said it was foul done and
mischievously, wherefore we will do thee no more service; and wit ye
well we will appeach thee of treason afore Arthur. Then was king Mark
wonderly wroth, and would have slain Amant; but he and the two squires
held them together, and set nought by his malice. When king Mark saw he
might not be revenged on them, he said thus unto the knight Amant, Wit
thou well, and thou appeach me of treason I shall thereof defend me
afore king Arthur; but I require thee that thou tell not my name that I
am king Mark, whatsoever come of me. As for that, said Sir Amant, I
will not discover your name. And so they parted; and Amant and his
fellows took the body of Bersules and buried it.
CHAP. VIII.
_How king Mark came to a fountain where he found Sir Lamorak
complaining for the love of king Lot’s wife._
Then king Mark rode till he came to a fountain, and there he rested
him, and stood in a doubt whether he would ride to Arthur’s court or
none, or return again to his country. And as he thus rested him by that
fountain, there came by him a knight well armed on horseback, and he
alight and tied his horse unto a tree, and set him down by the brink of
the fountain, and there he made great languor and dole, and made the
dolefullest complaint of love that ever man heard; and all this while
was he not ware of king Mark. And this was a great part of his
complaint, he cried and wept, saying, O fair queen of Orkney, king
Lot’s wife, and mother of Sir Gawaine, and to Sir Gaheris, and mother
to many other, for thy love I am in great pains. Then king Mark arose,
and went near him, and said, Fair knight, ye have made a piteous
complaint. Truly, said the knight, it is an hundred part more rueful
than my heart can utter. I require you, said king Mark, tell me your
name. Sir, said he, as for my name, I will not hide it from no knight
that beareth a shield, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. But when
Sir Lamorak heard king Mark speak, then wist he well by his speech that
he was a Cornish knight. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I understand by your
tongue ye be of Cornwall, wherein there dwelleth the shamefullest king
that is now living, for he is a great enemy to all good knights; and
that proveth well, for he hath chased out of that country Sir Tristram,
that is the worshipfullest knight that now is living, and all knights
speak of him worship, and for jealousy of his queen he hath chased him
out of his country. It is pity, said Sir Lamorak, that ever any such
false knight-coward as king Mark is should be matched with such a fair
lady and good as La Beale Isoud is, for all the world of him speaketh
shame, and of her worship that any queen may have. I have not ado in
this matter, said king Mark, neither nought will I speak thereof. Well
said, said Sir Lamorak. Sir, can ye tell me any tidings? I can tell
you, said Sir Lamorak, that there shall be a great tournament in haste
beside Camelot, at the castle of Jagent. And the king with the hundred
knights, and the king of Ireland, as I suppose, make that tournament.
Then there came a knight, that was called Sir Dinadan, and saluted them
both. And when he wist that king Mark was a knight of Cornwall, he
reproved him for the love of king Mark a thousand fold more than did
Sir Lamorak. Then he proffered to just with king Mark. And he was full
loth thereto; but Sir Dinadan edged him so, that he justed with Sir
Lamorak. And Sir Lamorak smote king Mark so sore that he bare him on
his spear end over his horse tail. And then king Mark arose again, and
followed after Sir Lamorak. But Sir Dinadan would not just with Sir
Lamorak, but he told king Mark that Sir Lamorak was Sir Kay the
seneschal. That is not so, said king Mark, for he is much bigger than
Sir Kay. And so he followed and overtook him, and bad him abide. What
will ye do? said Sir Lamorak. Sir, he said, I will fight with a sword,
for ye have shamed me with a spear. And therewith they dashed together
with swords, and Sir Lamorak suffered him and forbare him. And king
Mark was passing hasty, and smote thick strokes. Sir Lamorak saw he
would not stint, and waxed somewhat wroth, and doubled his strokes, for
he was one of the noblest knights of the world, and he beat him so on
the helm that his head hung nigh on the saddle bow. When Sir Lamorak
saw him fare so, he said, Sir knight, what cheer? me seemeth ye have
nigh your fill of fighting; it were pity to do you any more harm for ye
are but a mean knight, therefore I give you leave to go where ye list.
Gramercy, said king Mark, for ye and I be not matches. Then Sir Dinadan
mocked king Mark and said, Ye are not able to match a good knight. As
for that, said king Mark, at the first time that I justed with this
knight ye refused him. Think ye that it is a shame to me? said Sir
Dinadan: nay, sir, it is ever worship to a knight to refuse that thing
that he may not attain: therefore your worship had been much more, to
have refused him as I did: for I warn you plainly he is able to beat
five such as ye and I be; for ye knights of Cornwall are no men of
worship, as other knights are. And because ye are no men of worship, ye
hate all men of worship; for never was bred in your country such a
knight as Sir Tristram.
CHAP. IX.
_How king Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan came to a castle, and how
king Mark was known there._
Then they rode forth all together, king Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir
Dinadan, till that they came unto a bridge. And at the end thereof
stood a fair tower. Then saw they a knight on horseback, well armed,
brandishing a spear, crying and proffering himself to just. Now, said
Sir Dinadan unto king Mark, yonder are two brethren, that one hight
Allein, and that other hight Trian, that will just with any that
passeth this passage. Now proffer yourself, said Dinadan to king Mark,
for ever ye be laid to the earth. Then king Mark was ashamed, and
therewith he feutred his spear, and hurtled to Sir Trian, and either
brake their spears all to pieces, and passed through anon. Then Sir
Trian sent king Mark another spear to just more; but in no wise he
would not just no more. Then they came to the castle, all three
knights, and they prayed the lord of the castle for harbour. Ye are
right welcome, said the knights of the castle, for the love of the lord
of this castle, the which hight Sir Tor le Fise Aries. And then they
came into a fair court, well repaired. And they had passing good cheer
till the lieutenant of this castle that hight Berluse espied king Mark
of Cornwall. Then said Berluse, Sir knight, I know you better than ye
ween, for ye are king Mark, that slew my father afore mine own eyes,
and me had ye slain had I not escaped into a wood; but wit ye well for
the love of my lord of this castle, I will neither hurt you ne harm
you, nor none of your fellowship. But wit ye well when ye are past this
lodging I shall hurt you and I may, for ye slew my father traitourly.
But first for the love of my lord Sir Tor, and for the love of Sir