_How Sir Tristram came to the lady, and how her husband fought with Sir
Tristram._
And there she welcomed him fair, and so she let put up his horse in the
best wise, and then she unarmed him: and so they supped lightly, and
within a while there came one that warned her that her lord was near
hand, within a bow draft. So she made Sir Tristram to arise, and so he
armed him, and took his horse, and so departed. By then was come Sir
Segwarides, and when he found that there had been a knight, Ah, false
traitress, then he said, why hast thou betrayed me? And therewithal he
swung out a sword, and said, But if thou tell me who hath been here,
here thou shalt die. Ah, my lord, mercy, said the lady, and held up her
hands, saying, Slay me not, and I shall tell you all who hath been
here. Tell anon, said Sir Segwarides, to me all the truth. Anon for
dread she said, Here was Sir Tristram with me, and by the way as he
came to me ward he was sore wounded. Ah, thou false traitress, said Sir
Segwarides, where is he become? Sir, she said, he is armed, and
departed on horseback, not yet hence half-a-mile. Ye say well, said
Segwarides. Then he armed him lightly, and gat his horse, and rode
after Sir Tristram, that rode straightway unto Tintagil. And within a
while he overtook Sir Tristram, and then he bad him turn, false traitor
knight, and Sir Tristram anon turned him against him. And therewithal
Segwarides smote Sir Tristram with a spear that it all to-brast; and
then he swung out his sword, and smote fast at Sir Tristram. Sir
knight, said Sir Tristram, I counsel you that ye smite no more,
howbeit, for the wrongs that I have done you, I will forbear you as
long as I may. Nay, said Segwarides, that shall not be, for either thou
shalt die or I. Then Sir Tristram drew out his sword, and hurtled his
horse unto him fiercely, and through the waist of the body he smote Sir
Segwarides that he fell to the earth in a swoon. And so Sir Tristram
departed and left him there, and so he rode unto Tintagil, and took his
lodging secretly, for he would not be known that he was hurt. Also, Sir
Segwarides’s men rode after their master, whom they found lying in the
field sore wounded, and brought him home on his shield, and there he
lay long or that he were whole, but at the last he recovered. Also king
Mark would not be aknown of, that Sir Tristram and he had met that
time. And as for Sir Tristram, he wist not that it had been king Mark
that had met with him. And so the king’s assistance came to Sir
Tristram, to comfort him as he lay sick in his bed. But as long as king
Mark lived he loved never Sir Tristram after that: though there was
fair speech, love was there none. And thus it passed many weeks and
days, and all was forgiven and forgotten. For Sir Segwarides durst not
have ado with Sir Tristram, because of his noble prowess, and also
because he was nephew unto king Mark, therefore he let it over slip,
for he that hath a privy hurt is loth to have a shame outward.