_How Sir Tristram departed from the king and La Beale Isoud out of
Ireland for to come into Cornwall._
Sir, said Tristram, now I shall tell you all the truth: my father’s
name is Meliodas, king of Liones, and my mother hight Elizabeth, that
was sister unto king Mark of Cornwall; and my mother died of me in the
forest, and because thereof she commanded or she died that when I were
christened that they should christen me Tristram, and because I would
not be known in this country I turned my name, and let me call
Tramtrist; and for the truage of Cornwall I fought for mine uncle’s
sake, and for the right of Cornwall that ye had possessed many years.
And wit ye well, said Tristram unto the king, I did the battle for the
love of mine uncle king Mark, and for the love of the country of
Cornwall, and for to increase mine honour. For that same day that I
fought with Sir Marhaus I was made knight, and never or then did I no
battle with no knight, and from me he went alive, and left his shield
and his sword behind. Truly, said the king, I may not say but ye did as
a knight should, and it was your part to do for your quarrel, and to
increase your worship as a knight should; howbeit I may not maintain
you in this country with my worship, unless that I should displease my
barons, and my wife, and her kin. Sir, said Tristram, I thank you of
your good lordship that I have had with you here, and the great
goodness my lady your daughter hath shewed me, and therefore, said Sir
Tristram, it may so happen that ye shall win more by my life than by my
death, for in the parts of England it may happen I may do you service
at some season that ye shall be glad that ever ye shewed me your good
lordship. With more I promise you as I am true knight, that in all
places I shall be my lady your daughter’s servant and knight in right
and in wrong, and I shall never fail her never to do as much as a
knight may do. Also I beseech your good grace that I may take my leave
at my lady your daughter, and at all the barons and knights. I will
well, said the king. Then Sir Tristram went unto La Beale Isoud and
took his leave of her. And then he told her all, what he was, and how
he had changed his name because he would not be known, and how a lady
told him that he should never be whole till he came into this country
where the poison was made:—Where through I was near my death, had not
your ladyship been. Oh gentle knight, said La Beale Isoud, full wo am I
of thy departing, for I saw never man that I owed so good will to. And
therewithal she wept heartily. Madam, said Sir Tristram, ye shall
understand that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, son of king Meliodas
and of his queen. And I promise you faithfully that I shall be all the
days of my life your knight. Gramercy, said La Beale Isoud, and I
promise you there against that I shall not be married this seven years
but by your assent, and to whom that ye will I shall be married, him
will I have, and he will have me if ye will consent. And then Sir
Tristram gave her a ring and she gave him another, and therewith he
departed from her, leaving her making great dole and lamentation. And
he straight went unto the court among all the barons, and there he took
his leave at most and least, and openly he said among them all, Fair
lords, now it is so that I must depart. If there be any man here that I
have offended unto, or that any man be with me grieved, let complain
him here afore me or that ever I depart, and I shall amend it unto my
power. And if there be any that will proffer me wrong, or say of me
wrong or shame behind my back, say it now or never, and here is my body
to make it good, body against body. And all they stood still, there was
not one that would say one word, yet were there some knights that were
of the queen’s blood, and of Sir Marhaus’s blood, but they would not
meddle with him.