_How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he fought for her
beauty, and smote off another lady’s head._
Thus as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in prison, it happed a
knight and a lady came unto them where they were, to cheer them. I have
marvel, said Tristram unto the knight and the lady, what is the cause
the lord of this castle holdeth us in prison: it was never the custom
of no place of worship that ever I came in, that when a knight and a
lady asked harbour, and they to receive them, and after to destroy them
that be his guests. Sir, said the knight, this is the old custom of
this castle, that when a knight cometh here, he must needs fight with
our lord, and he that is the weaker must lose his head. And when that
is done, if his lady that he bringeth be fouler than our lord’s wife,
she must lose her head: and if she be fairer proved than is our lady,
then shall the lady of this castle lose her head. Now, said Sir
Tristram, this is a foul custom and a shameful. But one advantage have
I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady is fair enough, fairer saw I never
in all my life days, and I doubt not for lack of beauty she shall not
lose her head, and rather than I should lose my head I will fight for
it on a fair field. Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell your lord
that I will be ready as to-morn with my lady, and myself to battle, if
it be so I may have my horse and mine armour. Sir, said that knight, I
undertake that your desire shall be sped right well.
And then he said, Take your rest, and look that ye be up by times to
make you ready and your lady, for ye shall want no thing that you
behoveth. And therewith he departed, and on the morn betimes that same
knight came to Sir Tristram and fetched him out and his lady, and
brought him horse and armour that was his own, and bad him make him
ready to the field, for all the estates and commons of that lordship
were there ready to behold that battle and judgment. Then came Sir
Breunor, the lord of that castle, with his lady in his hand muffled,
and asked Sir Tristram where was his lady:—For and thy lady be fairer
than mine, with thy sword smite off my lady’s head, and if my lady be
fairer than thine, with my sword I must strike off her head. And if I
may win thee, yet shall thy lady be mine, and thou shalt lose thy head.
Sir, said Tristram, this is a foul custom and horrible; and rather than
my lady should lose her head, yet had I lever lose my head. Nay, nay,
said Sir Breunor, the ladies shall be first shewed together, and the
one shall have her judgment. Nay, I will not so, said Sir Tristram, for
here is none that will give righteous judgment. But I doubt not, said
Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than thine, and that will I prove and
make good with my hand. And whosoever he be that will say the contrary
I will prove it on his head. And therewith Sir Tristram shewed La Beale
Isoud, and turned her thrice about with his naked sword in his hand.
And when Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same wise turn his lady. But
when Sir Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him thought he never saw a
fairer lady, and then he dread his lady’s head should be off. And so
all the people that were there present gave judgment that La Beale
Isoud was the fairer lady, and the better made. How now, said Sir
Tristram, me seemeth it were pity that my lady should lose her head,
but because that thou and she of long time have used this wicked
custom, and by you both there have many good knights and ladies been
destroyed, for that cause it were no loss to destroy you both. Truly,
said Sir Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer than mine,
and that me sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily say; for
of all women I saw none so fair, and therefore if thou wilt slay my
lady, I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou shalt
win her, said Sir Tristram, as dear as ever knight won lady, and
because of thine own judgment, as thou wouldest have done to my lady if
that she had been fouler, and because of the evil custom, give me thy
lady, said Tristram. And therewithall Sir Tristram strode unto him and
took his lady from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off her head
clean. Well knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a despite.