_How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady, and how the
lady was put to choice to whom she would go._
Then Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had overtaken
him. Then spake Sir Tristram: Abide, he said, knight of Arthur’s court,
bring again that lady, or deliver her to me. I will do neither, said
Sir Bleoberis, for I dread no Cornish knight so sore that me list to
deliver her. Why, said Sir Tristram, may not a Cornish knight do as
well as another knight? This same day two knights of your court, within
this three mile met with me, and or ever we departed they found a
Cornish knight good enough for them both. What were their names? said
Bleoberis. They told me, said Sir Tristram, that the one of them hight
Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le Savage. Ah,
said Sir Bleoberis, have ye met with them? Truly they were two good
knights, and men of great worship, and if ye have beat them both ye
must needs be a good knight: but if it so be that ye have beat them
both, yet shall ye not fear me, but ye shall beat me or ever ye have
this lady. Then defend you, said Sir Tristram. So they departed and
came together like thunder, and either bare other down, horse and all,
to the earth. Then they avoided their horses and lashed together
eagerly with swords, and mightily, now tracing and traversing on the
right hand and on the left hand more than two hours. And sometimes they
rushed together with such a might that they lay both groveling on the
ground. Then Sir Bleoberis de Ganis start aback, and said thus: Now,
gentle good knight, a while hold your hands and let us speak together.
Say what ye will, said Sir Tristram, and I will answer you. Sir, said
Bleoberis, I would wit of whence ye be, and of whom ye be come, and
what is your name? Truly, said Sir Tristram, I fear not to tell you my
name: wit ye well I am king Meliodas’ son, and my mother is king Mark’s
sister, and my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and king Mark is mine
uncle. Truly, said Bleoberis, I am right glad of you, for ye are he
that slew Marhaus, knight, hand for hand in an island for the truage of
Cornwall; also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good knight at a
tournament in an island, where ye beat Sir Gawaine and his nine
fellows. Wit ye well, said Sir Tristram, that I am the same knight. Now
I have told you my name, tell me yours with good will. Wit ye well that
my name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and my brother hight Sir Blamor de
Ganis, that is called a good knight, and we be sister’s children unto
my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, that we call one of the best knights of
the world. That is truth, said Sir Tristram; Sir Launcelot is called
peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and for his sake, said Sir
Tristram, I will not with my good will fight no more with you, for the
great love I have to Sir Launcelot du Lake. In good faith, said
Bleoberis, as for me, I will be loth to fight with you. But since ye
follow me here to have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness,
courtesy, and gentleness, right here upon this ground. This lady shall
be betwixt us both, and to whom that she will go, let him have her in
peace. I will well, said Tristram, for, as I deem, she will leave you
and come to me. Ye shall prove it anon, said Bleoberis.