_How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir Breuse Sance Pité, and how Sir
Tristram received a shield of Morgan le Fay._
So as Sir Dinadan rode by a well, he found a lady making great dole.
What aileth you? said Sir Dinadan. Sir knight, said the lady, I am the
wofullest lady of the world, for within these five days here came a
knight called Sir Breuse Sance Pité, and he slew mine own brother, and
ever since he hath kept me at his own will, and of all men in the world
I hate him most. And therefore I require you of knighthood to avenge
me, for he will not tarry but be here anon. Let him come, said Sir
Dinadan, and because of honour of all women I will do my part. With
this came Sir Breuse, and when he saw a knight with his lady, he was
wood wroth. And then he said, Sir knight, keep thee from me. So they
hurled together as thunder, and either smote other passing sore. But
Sir Dinadan put him through the shoulder a grievous wound, and or ever
Sir Dinadan might turn him, Sir Breuse was gone and fled. Then the lady
prayed him to bring her to a castle there beside but four mile thence.
And so Sir Dinadan brought her there, and she was welcome, for the lord
of that castle was her uncle. And so Sir Dinadan rode his way upon his
adventure.
Now turn we this tale unto Sir Tristram, that by adventure he came to a
castle to ask lodging, wherein was queen Morgan le Fay. And so when Sir
Tristram was let into that castle he had good cheer all that night. And
upon the morn when he would have departed, the queen said, Wit ye well
ye shall not depart lightly, for ye are here as a prisoner. God defend,
said Sir Tristram, for I was but late a prisoner. Fair knight, said the
queen, ye shall abide with me till that I wit what ye are, and from
whence ye come. And ever the queen would set Sir Tristram on her side,
and her paramour on the other side, and ever queen Morgan would behold
Sir Tristram, and thereat the knight was jealous, and was in will
suddenly to have run upon Sir Tristram with a sword, but he left it for
shame. Then the queen said to Sir Tristram, Tell me thy name, and I
shall suffer you to depart when you will. Upon that covenant I tell you
my name is Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Morgan le Fay, and I had
wist that thou shouldst not have departed so soon as thou shalt: but
sithen I have made a promise I will hold it, with that thou wilt
promise me to bear upon thee a shield that I shall deliver thee, unto
the castle of the Hard Rock, where king Arthur hath cried a great
tournament, and there I pray you that ye will be, and to do for me as
much deeds of arms as ye may do. For at that Castle of Maidens, Sir
Tristram, ye did marvellous deeds of arms as ever I heard knight do.
Madam, said Sir Tristram, let me see the shield that I shall bear. So
the shield was brought forth, and the shield was goldish, with a king
and a queen therein painted, and a knight standing above them, with one
foot upon the king’s head, and the other upon the queen’s. Madam, said
Sir Tristram, this is a fair shield and a mighty; but what signifieth
this king and this queen and that knight standing upon both their
heads. I shall tell you, said Morgan le Fay, it signifieth king Arthur
and queen Guenever, and a knight that holdeth them both in bondage and
servage. Who is that knight? said Sir Tristram. That shall ye not wit
as at this time, said the queen. But, as the French book saith, queen
Morgan loved Sir Launcelot best, and ever she desired him, and he would
never love her, nor do nothing at her request, and therefore she held
many knights together for to have taken him by strength. And because
she deemed that Sir Launcelot loved queen Guenever, and she him again,
therefore queen Morgan le Fay ordained that shield to put Sir Launcelot
to a rebuke, to that intent that king Arthur might understand the love
between them. Then Sir Tristram took that shield and promised her to
bear it at the tournament at the castle of the Hard Rock. But Sir
Tristram knew not that shield was ordained against Sir Launcelot, but
afterward he knew it.