_How king Mark came to a fountain where he found Sir Lamorak
complaining for the love of king Lot’s wife._
Then king Mark rode till he came to a fountain, and there he rested
him, and stood in a doubt whether he would ride to Arthur’s court or
none, or return again to his country. And as he thus rested him by that
fountain, there came by him a knight well armed on horseback, and he
alight and tied his horse unto a tree, and set him down by the brink of
the fountain, and there he made great languor and dole, and made the
dolefullest complaint of love that ever man heard; and all this while
was he not ware of king Mark. And this was a great part of his
complaint, he cried and wept, saying, O fair queen of Orkney, king
Lot’s wife, and mother of Sir Gawaine, and to Sir Gaheris, and mother
to many other, for thy love I am in great pains. Then king Mark arose,
and went near him, and said, Fair knight, ye have made a piteous
complaint. Truly, said the knight, it is an hundred part more rueful
than my heart can utter. I require you, said king Mark, tell me your
name. Sir, said he, as for my name, I will not hide it from no knight
that beareth a shield, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. But when
Sir Lamorak heard king Mark speak, then wist he well by his speech that
he was a Cornish knight. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I understand by your
tongue ye be of Cornwall, wherein there dwelleth the shamefullest king
that is now living, for he is a great enemy to all good knights; and
that proveth well, for he hath chased out of that country Sir Tristram,
that is the worshipfullest knight that now is living, and all knights
speak of him worship, and for jealousy of his queen he hath chased him
out of his country. It is pity, said Sir Lamorak, that ever any such
false knight-coward as king Mark is should be matched with such a fair
lady and good as La Beale Isoud is, for all the world of him speaketh
shame, and of her worship that any queen may have. I have not ado in
this matter, said king Mark, neither nought will I speak thereof. Well
said, said Sir Lamorak. Sir, can ye tell me any tidings? I can tell
you, said Sir Lamorak, that there shall be a great tournament in haste
beside Camelot, at the castle of Jagent. And the king with the hundred
knights, and the king of Ireland, as I suppose, make that tournament.
Then there came a knight, that was called Sir Dinadan, and saluted them
both. And when he wist that king Mark was a knight of Cornwall, he
reproved him for the love of king Mark a thousand fold more than did
Sir Lamorak. Then he proffered to just with king Mark. And he was full
loth thereto; but Sir Dinadan edged him so, that he justed with Sir
Lamorak. And Sir Lamorak smote king Mark so sore that he bare him on
his spear end over his horse tail. And then king Mark arose again, and
followed after Sir Lamorak. But Sir Dinadan would not just with Sir
Lamorak, but he told king Mark that Sir Lamorak was Sir Kay the
seneschal. That is not so, said king Mark, for he is much bigger than
Sir Kay. And so he followed and overtook him, and bad him abide. What
will ye do? said Sir Lamorak. Sir, he said, I will fight with a sword,
for ye have shamed me with a spear. And therewith they dashed together
with swords, and Sir Lamorak suffered him and forbare him. And king
Mark was passing hasty, and smote thick strokes. Sir Lamorak saw he
would not stint, and waxed somewhat wroth, and doubled his strokes, for
he was one of the noblest knights of the world, and he beat him so on
the helm that his head hung nigh on the saddle bow. When Sir Lamorak
saw him fare so, he said, Sir knight, what cheer? me seemeth ye have
nigh your fill of fighting; it were pity to do you any more harm for ye
are but a mean knight, therefore I give you leave to go where ye list.
Gramercy, said king Mark, for ye and I be not matches. Then Sir Dinadan
mocked king Mark and said, Ye are not able to match a good knight. As
for that, said king Mark, at the first time that I justed with this
knight ye refused him. Think ye that it is a shame to me? said Sir
Dinadan: nay, sir, it is ever worship to a knight to refuse that thing
that he may not attain: therefore your worship had been much more, to
have refused him as I did: for I warn you plainly he is able to beat
five such as ye and I be; for ye knights of Cornwall are no men of
worship, as other knights are. And because ye are no men of worship, ye
hate all men of worship; for never was bred in your country such a
knight as Sir Tristram.