_Of the treason of king Mark, and how Sir Gaheris, smote him down and
Andred his cousin._
Then there came Sir Kay the seneschal unto king Mark, and there he had
good cheer shewing outward. Now fair lords, said he, will ye prove any
adventures in the forest of Morris, in the which I know well is as hard
an adventure as I know any. Sir, said Sir Kay, I will prove it. And Sir
Gaheris said he would be advised, for king Mark was ever full of
treason. And therewithal Sir Gaheris departed and rode his way. And by
the same way that Sir Kay should ride he laid him down to rest,
charging his squire to wait upon Sir Kay,—and warn me when he cometh.
So within a while Sir Kay came riding that way. And then Sir Gaheris
took his horse and met him, and said, Sir Kay, ye are not wise to ride
at the request of king Mark, for he dealeth all with treason. Then said
Sir Kay, I require you let us prove this adventure. I shall not fail
you, said Sir Gaheris. And so they rode that time till a lake that was
that time called the perilous lake, and there they abode under the
shawe of the wood. The mean while king Mark within the castle of
Tintagil avoided all his barons, and all other save such as were privy
with him were all avoided out of his chamber. And then he let call his
nephew Sir Andred, and bad arm him and horse him lightly, and by that
time it was midnight. And so king Mark was armed in black, horse and
all. And so at a privy postern they two issued out with their varlets
with them, and rode till they came to that lake. Then Sir Kay espied
them first, and gat his spear, and proffered to just. And king Mark
rode against him, and smote each other full hard, for the moon shone as
the bright day. And there at that justs Sir Kay’s horse fell down, for
his horse was not so big as the king’s horse was, and Sir Kay’s horse
bruised him full sore. Then Sir Gaheris was wroth that Sir Kay had a
fall. Then he cried, Knight, sit thou fast in thy saddle, for I will
revenge my fellow. Then king Mark was afeard of Sir Gaheris, and so
with evil will king Mark rode against him: and Sir Gaheris gave him
such a stroke that he fell down. So then forthwithal Sir Gaheris ran
unto Sir Andred, and smote him from his horse quite that his helm smote
in the earth and nigh had broken his neck. And therewith Sir Gaheris
alight, and gat up Sir Kay. And then they went both on foot to them,
and bad them yield them and tell their names, or else they should die.
Then with great pain Sir Andred spake first and said, It is king Mark
of Cornwall, therefore beware what ye do, and I am Sir Andred his
cousin. Fie on you both, said Sir Gaheris, for a false traitor, and
false treason hast thou wrought and he both, under the feigned cheer
that ye made us. It were pity, said Sir Gaheris, that thou shouldst
live any longer. Save my life, said king Mark, and I will make amends;
and consider that I am a king anointed. It were the more shame, said
Sir Gaheris, to save thy life; thou art a king anointed with crism, and
therefore thou shouldest hold with all men of worship; and therefore
thou art worthy to die. With that he lashed at king Mark without saying
any more; and he covered him with his shield, and defended him as he
might. And then Sir Kay lashed at Sir Andred. And therewithal king Mark
yielded him unto Sir Gaheris, and then he kneeled down, and made his
oath upon the cross of the sword that never while he lived he would be
against errant knights. And also he sware to be good friend unto Sir
Tristram, if ever he came into Cornwall. By then Sir Andred was on the
earth, and Sir Kay would have slain him. Let be, said Sir Gaheris, slay
him not I pray you. It were pity, said Sir Kay, that he should live any
longer, for this is nigh cousin unto Sir Tristram, and ever he hath
been a traitor unto him, and by him he was exiled out of Cornwall, and
therefore I will slay him, said Sir Kay. Ye shall not, said Sir
Gaheris; sithen I have given the king his life, I pray you give him his
life. And therewithal Sir Kay let him go. And so Sir Kay and Sir
Gaheris rode forth their way unto Dinas the seneschal, for because they
heard say that he loved well Sir Tristram. So they reposed them there.
And soon after they rode unto the realm of Logris. And so within a
little while they met with Sir Launcelot, that had always dame
Bragwaine with him, to that intent he wend to have met sooner with Sir
Tristram, and Sir Launcelot asked what tidings in Cornwall, and whether
they heard of Sir Tristram or not. Sir Kay and Sir Gaheris answered and
said that they heard not of him. Then they told Sir Launcelot word by
word of their adventure. Then Sir Launcelot smiled, and said, Hard it
is to take out of the flesh that is bred in the bone. And so made them
merry together.