_How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that Morgan le Fay
had delivered him._
Then the king of Scots and the king of Ireland held against king
Arthur’s knights, and there began a great meddle. So came in Sir
Tristram and did marvellous deeds of arms, for there he smote down many
knights. And ever he was afore king Arthur with that shield. And when
king Arthur saw that shield, he marvelled greatly in what intent it was
made. But queen Guenever deemed as it was, wherefore she was heavy.
Then was there a damsel of queen Morgan in a chamber by king Arthur,
and when she heard king Arthur speak of that shield, then she spake
openly unto king Arthur, Sir king, wit ye well this shield was ordained
for you, to warn you of your shame and dishonour, and that longeth to
you and to your queen. And then anon the damsel piked her away privily,
that no man wist where she was become. Then was king Arthur sad and
wroth, and asked from whence came that damsel. There was not one that
knew her, nor wist where she was become. Then queen Guenever called to
her Sir Ector de Maris, and there she made her complaint to him, and
said, I wot well this shield was made by Morgan le Fay, in despite of
me and Sir Launcelot, wherefore I dread sore lest I should be
destroyed. And ever the king beheld Sir Tristram that did so marvellous
deeds of arms, that he wondered sore what knight he might be, and well
he wist it was not Sir Launcelot. And it was told him that Sir Tristram
was in Petit Britain with Isoud la Blanche Mains, for he deemed, and he
had been in the realm of Logris, Sir Launcelot or some of his fellows
that were in the quest of Sir Tristram, that they should have found him
or that time. So king Arthur had marvel what knight he might be. And
ever Sir Arthur’s eye was on that shield. All that espied the queen,
and that made her sore afeard. Then ever Sir Tristram smote down
knights, wonderly to behold, what upon the right hand and upon the left
hand, that unneth no knight might withstand him. And the king of Scots
and the king of Ireland began to withdraw them. When Arthur espied
that, he thought that that knight with the strange shield should not
escape him. Then he called unto him Sir Uwaine la Blanche Mains, and
bade him arm him and make him ready. So anon king Arthur and Sir Uwaine
dressed them before Sir Tristram, and required him to tell them where
he had that shield. Sir, he said, I had it of queen Morgan le Fay,
sister unto king Arthur.
Soo here endeth this history of this book, for it is the firste book of
sire Tristram de lyones, and the second book of sir tristram foloweth.
Here begynneth the second book of sire Tristram. Howe syre Tristram
smote doune kyng Arthur and sir Uwayne, by cause he wold not telle
hem wherfor that shelde was made. But to say the sothe sire Tristram
coude not telle the cause, for he knewe it not.
The Tenth Book.