_How Sir Tristram and king Mark hurt each other for the love of a
knight’s wife._
So Sir Tristram departed, and took the sea, and with good wind he
arrived up at Tintagil in Cornwall. And when king Mark was whole in his
prosperity there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived and whole
of his wounds; thereof was king Mark passing glad, and so were all the
barons. And when he saw his time, he rode unto his father king
Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the king and the queen
could make him. And then largely king Meliodas and his queen parted of
their lands and goods to Sir Tristram. Then by the licence of king
Meliodas his father he returned again unto the court of king Mark, and
there he lived in great joy long time, until at the last there befel a
jealousy and an unkindness between king Mark and Sir Tristram, for they
loved both one lady, and she was an earl’s wife, that hight Sir
Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir Tristram passing well, and he loved
her again, for she was a passing fair lady, and that espied Sir
Tristram well. Then king Mark understood that, and was jealous, for
king Mark loved her passingly well. So it fell upon a day, this lady
sent a dwarf unto Sir Tristram, and bad him say that as he loved her
that he would be with her the next day following. Also she charged you
that ye come not to her but if ye be well armed, for her lover was
called a good knight. Sir Tristram answered to the dwarf, Recommend me
unto my lady, and tell her I will not fail but I will be with her the
term that she hath set me. And with this answer the dwarf departed. And
king Mark espied that the dwarf was with Sir Tristram, upon message
from Sir Segwarides’s wife; then king Mark sent for the dwarf. And when
he was come he made the dwarf by force to tell him all, why and
wherefore that he came on message to Sir Tristram. Now, said king Mark,
go where thou wilt, and upon pain of death that thou say no word that
thou spakest with me. So the dwarf departed from the king. And that
same time that was set betwixt Sir Segwarides’s wife and Sir Tristram,
king Mark armed him, and made him ready, and took two knights of his
council with him, and so he rode afore, for to abide by the way, to
await upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram came riding upon his way,
with his spear in his hand, king Mark came hurtling upon him with his
two knights suddenly. And all three smote him with their spears, and
king Mark hurt Sir Tristram on the breast right sore; and then Sir
Tristram feutered his spear, and smote his uncle king Mark such a
stroke that he rashed him to the earth, and bruised him that he lay
still in a swoon, and it was long or he might move himself; and then he
ran to the one knight, and oft to the other, and smote them to the cold
earth, that they lay still. And therewithal Sir Tristram rode forth
sore wounded to the lady, and found her abiding him at a postern.