_How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to king Mark; and of Sir
Tristram, how he promised to rescue him._
Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram and to king Mark. As Sir Tristram
was at justs and at tournament it fortuned he was sore hurt, both with
a spear and with a sword. But yet he wan always the degree. And for to
repose him he went to a good knight that dwelled in Cornwall in a
castle, whose name was Sir Dinas the seneschal. Then by misfortune
there came out of Sessoin a great number of men of arms, and an hideous
host; and they entered nigh the castle of Tintagil; and their captain’s
name was Elias, a good man of arms. When king Mark understood his
enemies were entered into his land, he made great dole and sorrow, for
in no wise by his will king Mark would not send for Sir Tristram, for
he hated him deadly. So when his council was come, they devised and
cast many perils of the strength of their enemies; and then they
concluded all at once, and said thus unto king Mark, Sir, wit ye well
ye must send for Sir Tristram the good knight, or else they will never
be overcome. For by Sir Tristram they must be fought withal, or else we
row against the stream. Well, said king Mark, I will do by your
counsel. But yet he was full loth thereto, but need constrained him to
send for him. Then was he sent for in all haste that might be, that he
should come to king Mark. When Sir Tristram understood that the king
had sent for him, he mounted upon a soft ambler and rode to king Mark.
And when he was come, the king said thus: Fair nephew Sir Tristram,
this is all: here be come our enemies of Sessoin, that are here nigh
hand; and without tarrying they must be met with shortly, or else they
will destroy this country. Sir, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well, all my
power is at your commandment; and wit ye well Sir, these eight days may
I bear none arms, for my wounds be not yet whole. And by that day I
shall do what I may. Ye say well, said king Mark: then go ye again, and
repose you, and make you fresh; and I shall go and meet the Sessoins
with all my power. So the king departed unto Tintagil, and Sir Tristram
went to repose him. And the king made a great host, and departed them
in three. The first part led Sir Dinas the seneschal, and Sir Andred
led the second part, and Sir Arguis led the third part, and he was of
the blood of king Mark. And the Sessoins had three great battles, and
many good men of arms. And so king Mark, by the advice of his knights,
issued out of the castle of Tintagil upon his enemies. And Dinas the
good knight rode out afore, and slew two knights with his own hands;
and then began the battles. And there was marvellous breaking of
spears, and smiting of swords, and slew down many good knights, and
ever was Sir Dinas the seneschal the best of king Mark’s part. And thus
the battle endured long with great mortality. But at the last king Mark
and Sir Dinas, were they never so loth, they withdrew them to the
castle of Tintagil, with great slaughter of people, and the Sessoins
followed on fast, that ten of them were put within the gates, and four
slain with the portcullis. Then king Mark sent for Sir Tristram by a
varlet, that told him all the mortality. Then he sent the varlet again,
and bade him, Tell king Mark that I will come as soon as I am whole,
for erst I may do him no good. Then king Mark had his answer. Therewith
came Elias, and bade the king yield up the castle, for ye may not hold
it no while. Sir Elias, said the king, so will I yield up the castle,
if I be not soon rescued. Anon king Mark sent again for rescue to Sir
Tristram. By then Sir Tristram was whole, and he had gotten him ten
good knights of Arthur’s, and with them he rode unto Tintagil. And when
he saw the great host of Sessoins he marvelled wonder greatly. And then
Sir Tristram rode by the woods and by the ditches as secretly as he
might, till he came nigh the gates. And there dressed a knight to him,
when he saw that Sir Tristram would enter; and Sir Tristram smote him
down dead. And so he served three more. And every each of these ten
knights slew a man of arms. So Sir Tristram entered into the castle of
Tintagil. And when king Mark wist that Sir Tristram was come, he was
glad of his coming, and so was all the fellowship, and of him they made
great joy.