_How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the truage, and how
Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field._
Not for then, when all this was said, they could find no knight that
would do battle with him. Sir king, said they all, here is no knight
that dare fight with Elias. Alas, said king Mark, then am I utterly
shamed, and utterly destroyed, unless that my nephew Sir Tristram will
take the battle upon him. Wit ye well, they said all, he had yesterday
over much on hand, and he is weary for travail, and sore wounded. Where
is he? said king Mark. Sir, said they, he is in his bed to repose him.
Alas, said king Mark, but I have the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram
I am utterly destroyed for ever. Therewith one went to Sir Tristram
where he lay, and told him what king Mark had said. And therewith Sir
Tristram arose lightly, and put on him a long gown, and came afore the
king and all the lords. And when he saw them all so dismayed, he asked
the king and the lords what tidings were with them. Never worse, said
the king. And therewith he told him all how he had word of Elias to
find a knight to fight for the truage of Cornwall, and none can I find;
and as for you, said the king and all the lords, we may ask no more of
you for shame, for through your hardiness yesterday ye saved all our
lives. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now I understand ye would have my
succour, reason would that I should do all that lieth in my power to
do, saving my worship and my life, howbeit I am sore bruised and hurt.
And sithen Sir Elias proffereth so largely, I shall fight with him, or
else I will be slain in the field, or else I will deliver Cornwall from
the old truage. And therefore lightly call his messager, and he shall
be answered: for as yet my wounds be green, and they will be sorer a
seven night after than they be now, and therefore he shall have his
answer, that I will do battle to-morn with him. Then was the messager
departed brought before king Mark. Hark my fellow, said Sir Tristram,
go fast unto thy lord, and bid him make true assurance on his part, for
the truage, as the king here shall make on his part; and then tell thy
lord Sir Elias, that I, Sir Tristram, king Arthur’s knight, and knight
of the Table Round, will as to-morn meet with thy lord on horseback, to
do battle as long as my horse may endure, and after that to do battle
with him on foot to the utterance. The messager beheld Sir Tristram
from the top to the toe; and therewithal he departed, and came to his
lord, and told him how he was answered of Sir Tristram. And therewithal
was made hostage on both parties, and made it as sure as it might be,
that whether party had the victory, so to end. And then were both hosts
assembled, on both parts of the field without the castle of Tintagil,
and there was none but Sir Tristram and Sir Elias armed. So when the
appointment was made, they departed in sunder, and they came together
with all the might that their horses might run. And either knight smote
other so hard that both horses and knights went to the earth. Not for
then they both lightly arose, and dressed their shields on their
shoulders, with naked swords in their hands, and they dashed together
that it seemed a flaming fire about them. Thus they traced and
traversed, and hewed on helms and hauberks, and cut away many cantels
of their shields, and either wounded other passing sore, so that the
hot blood fell freshly upon the earth. And by then they had fought the
mountenance of an hour Sir Tristram waxed faint and for-bled, and gave
sore aback. That saw Sir Elias, and followed fiercely upon him, and
wounded him in many places. And ever Sir Tristram traced and traversed,
and went froward him here and there, and covered him with his shield as
he might all weakly, that all men said he was overcome. For Sir Elias
had given him twenty strokes against one. Then was there laughing of
the Sessoins’ party, and great dole on king Mark’s party. Alas, said
the king, we are ashamed and destroyed all for ever. For, as the book
saith, Sir Tristram was never so matched, but if it were Sir Launcelot.
Thus as they stood and beheld both parties, that one party laughing,
and the other part weeping, Sir Tristram remembered him of his lady, La
Beale Isoud, that looked upon him, and how he was likely never to come
in her presence. Then he pulled up his shield, that erst hung full low;
and then he dressed up his shield unto Elias, and gave him many sad
strokes, twenty against one, and all to-brake his shield and his
hauberk, that the hot blood ran down to the earth. Then began king Mark
to laugh and all Cornish men, and that other party to weep. And ever
Sir Tristram said to Sir Elias, Yield thee! Then when Sir Tristram saw
him so staggering on the ground, he said, Sir Elias, I am right sorry
for thee, for thou art a passing good knight as ever I met withal,
except Sir Launcelot. Therewithal Sir Elias fell to the earth, and
there died. What shall I do? said Sir Tristram unto king Mark, for this
battle is at an end. Then they of Elias’s party departed; and king Mark
took of them many prisoners, to redress the harms and the scathes that
he had of them, and the remnant he sent into their country to ransom
out their fellows. Then was Sir Tristram searched and well healed. Yet
for all this king Mark would fain have slain Sir Tristram. But for all
that ever Sir Tristram saw or heard by king Mark, yet would he never
beware of his treason, but ever he would be there as La Beale Isoud was.