_How king Arthur made king Mark to be accorded with Sir Tristram, and
how they departed toward Cornwall._
Now pass we our matter, and leave we Sir Gawaine, and speak of king
Arthur that on a day said unto king Mark, Sir, I pray you to give me a
gift that I shall ask you. Sir, said king Mark, I will give you
whatsoever ye desire, and it be in my power. Sir, gramercy, said king
Arthur: this I will ask you, that ye will be good lord unto Sir
Tristram, for he is a man of great honour; and that ye will take him
with you into Cornwall, and let him see his friends, and there cherish
him for my sake. Sir, said king Mark, I promise you by the faith of my
body, and by the faith I owe to God and to you, I shall worship him for
your sake in all that I can or may. Sir, said Arthur, and I will
forgive you all the evil will that ever I owed you, and so be that ye
swear that upon a book afore me. With a good will, said king Mark. And
so he there sware upon a book afore him and all his knights, and
therewith king Mark and Sir Tristram took either other by the hands
hard knit together. But for all this king Mark thought falsely, as it
proved after, for he put Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly would
have slain him. Then soon after king Mark took his leave to ride into
Cornwall, and Sir Tristram made him ready to ride with him, wherefore
the most part of the Round Table were wroth and heavy; and in especial
Sir Launcelot, and Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan were wroth out of
measure. For well they wist king Mark would slay or destroy Sir
Tristram. Alas, said Dinadan, that my lord Sir Tristram shall depart.
And Sir Tristram took such sorrow that he was amazed like a fool. Alas,
said Sir Launcelot unto king Arthur, what have ye done, for ye shall
lose the most man of worship that ever came into your court? It was his
own desire, said Arthur, and therefore I might not do withal; for I
have done all that I can, and made them at accord. Accord, said Sir
Launcelot, fie upon that accord, for ye shall hear that he shall slay
Sir Tristram, or put him in a prison, for he is the most coward and the
villainest king and knight that is now living. And therewith Sir
Launcelot departed, and came to king Mark, and said to him thus: Sir
king, wit thou well, the good knight Sir Tristram shall go with thee.
Beware, I counsel thee, of treason; for and thou mischieve that knight,
by any manner of falsehood or treason, by the faith I owe to God and to
the order of knighthood, I shall slay thee with mine own hands. Sir
Launcelot, said the king, over much have ye said to me; and I have
sworn and said over largely afore king Arthur, in hearing of all his
knights, that I shall not slay nor betray him. It were to me overmuch
shame to break my promise. Ye say well, said Sir Launcelot, but ye are
called so false and full of treason that no man may believe you.
Forsooth, it is known well wherefore ye came into this country, and for
none other cause but for to slay Sir Tristram. So with great dole king
Mark and Sir Tristram rode together; for it was by Sir Tristram’s will
and his means to go with king Mark, and all was for the intent to see
La Beale Isoud; for without the sight of her Sir Tristram might not
endure.