_How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and of the great
joy that the king and other made for the coming of Sir Tristram._
Return again, said Sir Launcelot, for your quest is done, for I have
met with Sir Tristram: lo here is his own person. Then was Sir Gawaine
glad, and said to Sir Tristram, Ye are welcome, for now have ye eased
me greatly of my labour. For what cause, said Sir Gawaine, came ye into
this court? Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, I came into this country
because of Sir Palamides, for he and I had assigned at this day to have
done battle together at the peron, and I marvel I hear not of him. And
thus by adventure my lord Sir Launcelot and I met together. With this
came king Arthur. And when he wist that there was Sir Tristram, then he
ran unto him and took him by the hand and said, Sir Tristram, ye be as
welcome as any knight that ever came to this court. And when the king
had heard how Sir Launcelot and he had foughten, and either had wounded
other wonderly sore, then the king made great dole. Then Sir Tristram
told the king how he came thither for to have had ado with Sir
Palamides. And then he told the king how he had rescued him from the
nine knights and Breuse Sance Pité, and how he found a knight lying by
a well, and that knight smote down Sir Palamides and me, but his shield
was covered with a cloth. So Sir Palamides left me, and I followed
after that knight. And in many places I found where he had slain
knights, and forjusted many. By my head, said Sir Gawaine, that same
knight smote me down and Sir Bleoberis, and hurt us sore both, he with
the covered shield. Ah, said Sir Kay, that knight smote me adown and
hurt me passing sore, and fain would I have known him, but I might not.
Mercy, said Arthur, what knight was that with the covered shield? I
know not, said Sir Tristram; and so said they all. Now, said king
Arthur, then wot I, for it is Sir Launcelot. Then they all looked upon
Sir Launcelot and said, Ye have beguiled us with your covered shield.
It is not the first time, said Arthur, he hath done so. My lord, said
Sir Launcelot, truly wit ye well I was the same knight that bare the
covered shield. And because I would not be known that I was of your
court I said no worship of your house. That is truth, said Sir Gawaine,
Sir Kay, and Sir Bleoberis. Then king Arthur took Sir Tristram by the
hand, and went to the Table Round. Then came queen Guenever and many
ladies with her, and all the ladies said at one voice, Welcome, Sir
Tristram. Welcome, said the damsels: Welcome, said the knights:
Welcome, said Arthur, for one of the best knights and the gentlest of
the world, and the man of most worship. For of all manner of hunting
thou bearest the prize, and of all measures of blowing thou art the
beginning, and of all the terms of hunting and hawking ye are the
beginner: of all instruments of music ye are the best; therefore,
gentle knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to this court. And also I
pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon. It shall be at your
commandment, said Tristram. Well, said Arthur, I will desire of you
that ye will abide in my court. Sir, said Sir Tristram, thereto is me
loth, for I have ado in many countries. Not so, said Arthur, ye have
promised it me, ye may not say nay. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I will as
ye will. Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the Round Table, and
looked in every siege the which were void that lacked knights. And then
the king saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that said, This is the
siege of the noble knight Sir Tristram. And then Arthur made Sir
Tristram knight of the Table Round with great nobley and great feast as
might be thought. For Sir Marhaus was slain afore by the hands of Sir
Tristram in an island, and that was well known at that time in the
court of Arthur; for this Marhaus was a worthy knight. And for evil
deeds that he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir Tristram and he
fought. And they fought so long tracing and traversing till they fell
bleeding to the earth, for they were so sore wounded that they might
not stand for bleeding. And Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and Sir
Marhaus died through the stroke on the head. So leave we of Sir
Tristram, and speak we of king Mark.