_How the queen espied that Sir Tristram had slain her brother Sir
Marhaus by his sword, and in what jeopardy he was._
Thus was Sir Tramtrist long there well cherished with the king and the
queen, and namely with La Beale Isoud. So upon a day the queen and La
Beale Isoud made a bath for Sir Tramtrist, and when he was in his bath
the queen and Isoud her daughter roamed up and down in the chamber, and
there whiles Gouvernail and Hebes attended upon Tramtrist, and the
queen beheld his sword there as it lay upon his bed. And then by unhap
the queen drew out his sword and beheld it a long while, and both they
thought it a passing fair sword, but within a foot and an half of the
point there was a great piece thereof out broken of the edge. And when
the queen espied that gap in the sword, she remembered her of a piece
of a sword that was found in the brain-pan of Sir Marhaus, the good
knight that was her brother. Alas, then said she unto her daughter La
Beale Isoud, this is the same traitor knight that slew my brother thine
uncle. When Isoud heard her say so she was passing sore abashed, for
passing well she loved Sir Tramtrist, and full well she knew the
cruelness of her mother the queen. Anon therewithal the queen went unto
her own chamber and sought her coffer, and there she took out the piece
of the sword that was pulled out of Sir Marhaus’ head after that he was
dead. And then she ran with that piece of iron to the sword that lay
upon the bed. And when she put that piece of steel and iron unto the
sword, it was as meet as it might be when it was new broken. And then
the queen griped that sword in her hand fiercely, and with all her
might she ran straight upon Tramtrist, where he sat in his bath, and
there she had rived him through had not Sir Hebes gotten her in his
arms, and pulled the sword from her, and else she had thrust him
through. Then when she was letted of her evil will, she ran to the king
Anguish her husband, and said on her knees, Oh my lord, here have ye in
your house that traitor knight that slew my brother and your servant,
that noble knight Sir Marhaus. Who is that, said king Anguish, and
where is he? Sir, she said, it is Sir Tramtrist, the same knight that
my daughter healed. Alas, said the king, therefore am I right heavy,
for he is a full noble knight as ever I saw in field. But I charge you,
said the king to the queen, that ye have not ado with that knight, but
let me deal with him. Then the king went into the chamber unto Sir
Tramtrist, and then was he gone unto his chamber, and the king found
him all ready armed to mount upon his horse. When the king saw him all
ready armed to go unto horseback, the king said, Nay, Tramtrist, it
will not avail to compare thee against me. But thus much I shall do for
my worship and for thy love; in so much as thou art within my court, it
were no worship for me to slay thee, therefore upon this condition I
will give thee leave to depart from this court in safety, so thou wilt
tell me who was thy father, and what is thy name, and if thou slew Sir
Marhaus, my brother.