At this all those knights who were there stood still and held their peace,

and no man said anything against Sir Tristram (although there were several

knights and lords who were kin to the Queen), for the boldness of Tristram

overawed them, and no one had the heart to answer him.

So after a little while Sir Tristram left that place, without turning his

head to see if any man followed him.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram departs from Ireland] So he left that castle and

Gouvernail went with him, and no one stopped him in his going. After that,

he and Gouvernail came to the shore and took a boat and they came to the

ship of Sir Tristram, and so they sailed away from Ireland. But the heart

of Sir Tristram was so full of sorrow that he wished a great many times

that he was dead.

So Sir Tristram, though as to his body he was very whole and sound, was, as

to his spirit, very ill at ease; for though he was so well and suffered no

pain, yet it appeared to him that all the joy of his life had been left

behind him, so that he could nevermore have any more pleasure in this world

which lieth outside of the walls of Paradise.

[Illustration: Sir Tristram harpeth before King Mark]

Chapter Fifth

_How Sir Tristram was sent by command of King Mark to go to Ireland to

bring the Lady the Belle Isoult from Ireland to Cornwall and how it fared

with him._

So Sir Tristram came back again to Cornwall, and King Mark and all the

knights and lords of the court of the King gave him great welcome and made

much joy over him because he had returned safely.

But Sir Tristram took no joy in their joy because he was filled with such

heavy melancholy that it was as though even the blue sky had turned to

sackcloth to his eyes, so that he beheld nothing bright in all the world.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram tells of the Lady Bell Isoult] But though he had

no great pleasure in life, yet Sir Tristram made many very good songs about

Belle Isoult; about her beauty and her graciousness; about how he was her

sad, loving knight; about how he was pledged unto her to be true to her all

of his life even though he might never hope to see her again.

These like words he would sing to the music of his shining, golden harp,

and King Mark loved to listen to him. And sometimes King Mark would sigh

very deeply and maybe say: "Messire, that lady of thine must in sooth be a

very wonderful, beautiful, gracious lady." And Sir Tristram would say,

"Yea, she is all that."

So it was at that time that King Mark had great love for Sir Tristram; in a

little while all that was very different, and his love was turned to bitter

hate, as you shall presently hear tell.

Now in those days the knights of Cornwall were considered to be the least

worthy of all knights in that part of the world, for they had so little

skill and prowess at arms that they were a jest and a laughing-stock to

many courts of chivalry. It was said of them that a knight-champion of

Cornwall was maybe a knight, but certes was no champion at all; and this

was great shame to all those of Cornwall, more especially as that saying

was in a great measure true.

[Sidenote: Sir Bleoberis comes to Cornwall] One day there came to the

court of Cornwall a very noble, haughty knight, hight Sir Bleoberis de

Ganys, who was brother to Sir Blamor de Ganys and right cousin to Sir

Launcelot of the Lake. This knight was a fellow of King Arthur's Round

Table, and so he was received with great honor at Cornwall, and much joy

was taken of his being there; for it was not often that knights of such

repute as he came to those parts. At that time Sir Tristram was not present

at the court, having gone hunting into the forest, but a messenger was sent

to him with news that Sir Bleoberis was present at the court of the King

and that King Mark wished him to be at court also.

Now whilst Sir Tristram was upon his way to return to the court in

obedience to these commands, there was held a feast at the castle of the

King in honor of Sir Bleoberis. There was much strong wine drunk at that

feast, so that the brains of Sir Bleoberis and of others grew very much

heated therewith. Then, what with the heat of the wine and the noise and

tumult of the feast, Sir Bleoberis waxed very hot-headed, and boastful. So,

being in that condition and not knowing very well how he spake, he made

great boast of the prowess of the knights of King Arthur's court above

those of Cornwall. And in this boastful humor he said: "It is perfectly

true that one single knight of the Round Table is the peer of twenty

knights of Cornwall, for so it is said and so I maintain it to be."

Upon that there fell a silence over all that part of the feast, for all the

knights and lords who were there heard what Sir Bleoberis said, and yet no

one knew how to reply to him. As for King Mark, he looked upon Sir

Bleoberis, smiling very sourly, and as though with great distaste of his

words, and he said: "Messire, inasmuch as thou art our guest, and sitting

here at feast with us, it is not fit that we should take thy words

seriously; else what thou sayst might be very easily disproved."

Upon this the blood rushed with great violence into the face and head of

Sir Bleoberis, and he laughed very loud. Then he said: "Well, Lord, it need

not be that I should be a guest here very long. And as for what I say, you

may easily put the truth thereof to the proof."

[Sidenote: Sir Bleoberis challenges the knights of Cornwall] Therewith Sir

Bleoberis arose and looked about him, and he perceived that there was near

by where he stood a goblet of gold very beautifully chased and cunningly

carved. This Sir Bleoberis took into his hand, and it was half full of red

wine. So he stood up before them all, and he cried in a very loud voice:

"Messires, and all you knights of Cornwall, here I drink to your more

excellent courage and prowess, and wish that you may have better fortune in

arms than you have heretofore proved yourselves to have?" And therewith he

drank all the wine that was in the goblet. Then he said: "Now I go away

from here and take this goblet with me; and if any knight of Cornwall may

take it away from me and bring it back again to the King, then I am very

willing to own that there are better knights in this country than I

supposed there to be." Therewith he turned and went out from that place

very haughtily and scornfully, taking that goblet with him, and not one of

all those knights who were there made any move to stay him, or to reprove

him for his discourteous speech.

Now after he had come out of the hall and into the cool of the air, the

heat of the wine soon left him, and he began to repent him of what he had

done; and he said: "Alas! meseems I was not very courteous to King Mark,

who was mine host." So for a while he was minded to take that goblet back

again and make amends for what he had said; but afterward he could not do

this because of his pride. So he went to the chamber that had been allotted

to him and clad himself in his armor, and after that he rode away from the

court of King Mark carrying the goblet with him.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram is angry] Now some while after he had gone, Sir

Tristram came into the hall where the others were, and there he found them

all sitting with ill countenances, and no man daring, for shame, to look at

his fellow. So Sir Tristram came to King Mark and said: "Where is Sir

Bleoberis?" And King Mark said, "He is gone away." Sir Tristram said, "Why

did he go?" Thereupon King Mark told Sir Tristram of what had befallen, and

how Sir Bleoberis had taken away that goblet to the great shame and scorn

of all those who were there. Upon this the blood flew very violently into

Sir Tristram's face, and he said: "Was there no knight here with spirit

enough to call reproof upon Sir Bleoberis, or to stay him in his going?"

Therewith he looked all about that hall, and he was like a lion standing

among them, and no man dared to look him in the face or to reply to him.

Then he said: "Well, if there is no knight in Cornwall who hath the will to

defend his King, then is there a knight of Lyonesse who will do so because

he received knighthood at the hands of the King of Cornwall." And therewith

he turned and went away, and left them very haughtily, and they were all

still more abashed than they had been before.

Then Sir Tristram went to his chamber and had himself armed in all wise;

and he took his horse and mounted and rode away in the direction that Sir

Bleoberis had gone, and Gouvernail went with him.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram follows Sir Bleoberis] So Sir Tristram and

Gouvernail rode at a good pace for a long time, making inquiry of

whomsoever they met if Sir Bleoberis had passed that way. At last they

entered the forest and rode therein a great way, meeting no one till toward

the latter part of the afternoon. By and by they saw before them two

knights, very large and strong of frame and clad all in bright and shining

armor, and each riding a great war-horse of Flemish strain.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to two knights] "Gouvernail," said Sir

Tristram, "ride forward apace and see for me who are yonder knights." So

Gouvernail rode forward at a gallop, and so, in a little, came near enough

to the two knights to see the devices upon their shields. Upon that he

returned to Sir Tristram, and said: "Messire, those are two very famous

worthy knights of King Arthur's Court, and of the two you are acquainted

with one, but the other is a stranger to you. For the one is Sir Sagramore

le Desirous, who was at that tournament in Ireland, and the other is Sir

Dodinas le Sauvage."

"Well," said Sir Tristram, "those are indeed two very good, worthy knights.

Now if you will sit here for a while, I will go forward and have speech

with them." "Messire," said Gouvernail, "I would counsel you not to have to

do with those knights, for there are hardly any knights more famous at arms

than they, so it is not likely that you can have success of them if you

should assay them."

But to this Sir Tristram said: "Peace, Gouvernail! Hold thy peace, and bide

here while I go forward!"

Now those knights when they became aware that Sir Tristram and Gouvernail

were there, had halted at a clear part of the woodland to await what should

befall. Unto them Sir Tristram came, riding with great dignity and

haughtiness, and when he had come nigh enough he drew rein and spoke with

great pride of bearing, saying: "Messires, I require of you to tell me

whence you come, and whither you go, and what you do in these marches?"

Unto him Sir Sagramore made reply, speaking very scornfully: "Fair knight,

are you a knight of Cornwall?" and Sir Tristram said: "Why do you ask me

that?" "Messire," said Sir Sagramore, "I ask you that because it hath

seldom been heard tell that a Cornish knight hath courage to call upon two

knights to answer such questions as you have asked of us."

"Well," said Sir Tristram, "for the matter of that, I am at this present a

knight of Cornwall, and I hereby let you know that you shall not go away

from here unless you either answer my question or give me satisfaction at

arms."

Then Sir Dodinas spoke very fiercely, saying: "Sir Cornish knight, you

shall presently have all the satisfaction at arms that you desire and a

great deal more than you desire." Therewith he took a very stout spear in

his hand and rode to a little distance, and Sir Tristram, beholding his

intent to do battle, also rode to a little distance, and took stand in such

a place as seemed to him to be best. Then, when they were in all wise

prepared, they rushed together with such astonishing vehemence that the

earth shook and trembled beneath them.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Dodinas] Therewith they met

in the middle of their course with a great uproar of iron and wood. But in

that onset the spear of Sir Dodinas broke into a great many small pieces,

but the spear of Sir Tristram held, so that in the encounter he lifted Sir

Dodinas entirely out of his saddle, and out behind the crupper of his

horse. And he flung Sir Dodinas down so violently that his neck was nearly

broken, and he lay for a while in a deep swoon like one who has been struck

dead.

Then Sir Sagramore said: "Well, Sir Knight, that was certes a very great

buffet that you gave my fellow, but now it is my turn to have ado with

you."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Sagramore] So therewith he

took also his spear in hand and chose his station for an assault as Sir

Dodinas had done, and Sir Tristram also took station as he had done before.

Then immediately they two ran together with the same terrible force that

Sir Tristram and Sir Dodinas had coursed, and in that encounter Sir

Tristram struck Sir Sagramore so direful a buffet with his spear that he

overthrew both horse and man, and the horse, falling upon Sir Sagramore, so

bruised his leg that he could not for a while arise from where he lay.

Therewith Sir Tristram, having run his course, came back to where those two

knights lay upon the ground, and he said, "Fair Knights, will you have any

more fighting?" They said, "No, we have had fighting enough." Then Sir

Tristram said: "I pray you, tell me, are there any bigger knights at the

court of King Arthur than you? If it is not so, then I should think you

would take great shame to yourselves that you have been overthrown the one

after the other by a single knight. For this day a knight of Cornwall hath

assuredly matched you both to your great despite."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram acknowledges his degree] Then Sir Sagramore said:

"Sir, I pray you upon your true knighthood to tell us who you are, for you

are assuredly one of the greatest knights in the world." Upon this Sir

Tristram laughed, "Nay," quoth he, "I am as yet a young knight, who has had

but little proof in battle. As for my name, since you ask it of me, upon my

knighthood I am not ashamed to tell you that I am hight Sir Tristram, and

that I am King Meliadus' son of Lyonesse."

"Ha!" said Sir Sagramore, "if that be so, then there is little shame in

being overthrown by you. For not only do I well remember how at the court

of the King of Ireland you overthrew six knights of the Round Table, and

how easily you overthrew Sir Palamydes the Saracen, but it is also very

well known how you did battle with Sir Marhaus, and of how you overcame

him. Now Sir Marhaus and Sir Palamydes were two of the best knights in the

world, so it is not astonishing that you should have done as you did with

us. But, since you have overthrown us, what is it you would have us do?"

"Messires," said Sir Tristram, "I have only to demand two things of you.

One of them is that you give me your word that you will go to Cornwall and

confess to King Mark that you have been overthrown by a Cornish knight; and

the second thing is that you tell me if you saw Sir Bleoberis de Ganys pass

this way?"

They say: "Messire, touching that demand you make upon us to go to King

Mark and to confess our fall, that we will do as you desire; and as for Sir

Bleoberis, we met him only a short while ago, and he cannot even now be

very far from this place."

"Well," said Sir Tristram, "I give you good den, and thank you for your

information. I have some words to say to Sir Bleoberis before he leave

these marches."

So thereafter he called Gouvernail, and they two rode into the forest and

on their way as fast as they were able. As for Sir Dodinas and Sir

Sagramore, they betook their course to the court of King Mark, as they had

promised to do.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to Sir Bleoberis] Now, by and by, after Sir

Tristram and Gouvernail had gone some considerable distance farther upon

that road, they beheld Sir Bleoberis before them in a forest path, riding

very proudly and at an easy pass upon his way. At that time the sun was

setting very low toward the earth, so that all the tops of the forest trees

were aflame with a very ruddy light, though all below in the forest was

both cool and gray. Now when Sir Tristram and Gouvernail with him had come

pretty nigh to Sir Bleoberis, Sir Tristram called to him in a very loud

voice, and bade him turn and stand. Therewith Sir Bleoberis turned about

and waited for Sir Tristram to come up with him. And when Sir Tristram was

come near by, he said to Sir Bleoberis: "Messire, I hear tell that you have

with you a very noble goblet which you have taken in a shameful way from

the table of King Mark of Cornwall. Now I demand of you that you give me

that goblet to take back unto the King again." "Well," said Sir Bleoberis,

"you shall freely have that goblet if you can take it from me, and if you

will look, you will see where it hangs here from my saddle-horn. But I may

tell you that I do not believe that there is any Cornish knight who may

take away that goblet against my will."

"As for that," said Sir Tristram, "we shall see in a little while how it

may be."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overcometh Sir Bleoberis] Therewith each knight

took his spear in hand and rode a little distance away, and made himself in

all wise ready for the assault. Then when they were in all ways prepared,

each launched himself against the other, coming together with such violence

that sparks of fire flew out from the points of their spears. And in that

assault the horse of each knight was overthrown, but each knight voided his

saddle and leaped very lightly to earth, without either having had a fall.

Then each drew his sword and set his shield before him, and therewith came

together, foining and lashing with all the power of their might. Each gave

the other many sore strokes, so that the armor of each was indented in

several places and in other places was stained with red. Then at last Sir

Tristram waxed very wode with anger and he rushed at Sir Bleoberis, smiting

him so fiercely that Sir Bleoberis bare back and held his shield low before

him. This Sir Tristram perceived, and therewith, rushing in upon Sir

Bleoberis, he smote that knight such a great buffet upon the head that Sir

Bleoberis fell down upon his knees, without having strength to keep his

feet. Then Sir Tristram rushed off the helmet of Sir Bleoberis, and he

said, "Sir Knight, yield to me or I shall slay you."

"Messire," said Sir Bleoberis, "I yield myself to you, and indeed you are

as right a knight as ever I met in all of my life." Then Sir Tristram took

Sir Bleoberis by the hand and he lifted him up upon his feet, and he said:

"Sir, I am very sorry for to have had to do with you in this fashion, for

almost would I rather that you should have overcome me than that I should

have overcome you. For I do not at any time forget that you are cousin unto

Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I honor Sir Launcelot above all men else in

the world, and would rather have his friendship than that of any man

living. So I have had no despite against you in this battle, but have only

fought with you because it behooved me to do so for the sake of the King of

Cornwall, who is my uncle."

Then Sir Bleoberis said, "Messire, I pray you tell me who you are?" "Lord,"

said Sir Tristram, "I am a very young knight hight Tristram, and I am the

son of King Meliadus of Lyonesse and the Lady Elizabeth, sister unto King

Mark of Cornwall."

[Sidenote: Sir Bleoberis gives the goblet to Sir Tristram] "Ha," said Sir

Bleoberis, "I have heard great report of you, Sir Tristram, and now I know

at mine own cost that you are one of the best knights in the world. Yea; I

have no doubt that at some time you will be the peer of Sir Launcelot of

the Lake himself, or of Sir Lamorak of Gales, and they two are, certes, the

best knights in the world. Now I believe that I would have given you this

goblet, even without your having to fight for it, had I known who you were;

and as it is I herewith give it to you very freely."

So Sir Bleoberis untied the goblet from where it hung at his saddle-bow,

and Sir Tristram took the goblet and gave him gramercy for it; and

therewith having recovered their horses, each knight mounted, and betook

his way whither he was going.

So a little after nightfall Sir Tristram came to the King of Cornwall and

his court, and he said to King Mark: "Here is your goblet which I have

brought back to you; and I would God that some of your knights who are so

much older than I had the courage to do for you what I have had to do." And

therewith he went away and left them all sitting ashamed.

Now it chanced some little while after these things happened as aforesaid,

that King Mark lay down upon his couch after his midday meal for to sleep a

little space during the heat of the day; and it likewise happened that the

window near by where he lay was open so that the air might come into the

room. Now at that time three knights of the court sat in the garden beneath

where the window was. These knights talked to one another concerning Sir

Tristram, and of how he had brought back that goblet from Sir Bleoberis de

Ganys, and of what honor it was to have such a champion in Cornwall for to

stand for the honor of that court. In their talk they said to one another

that if only the King of Cornwall were such a knight as Sir Tristram, then

there would be plenty of knights of good worth who would come to that

court, and Cornwall would no longer have to be ashamed of its chivalry as

it was nowadays. So they said: "Would God our King were such a knight as

Sir Tristram!"

[Sidenote: King Mark takes hatred to Sir Tristram] All this King Mark

overheard, and the words that they said were like a very bitter poison in

his heart. For their words entered into his soul and abided there, and

thereupon at that same hour all his love for Tristram was turned into hate.

Thus it befell that, after that day, King Mark ever pondered and pondered

upon that which he had heard, and the longer he pondered it, the more

bitter did his life become to him, and the more he hated Sir Tristram. So

it came to pass that whenever he was with Sir Tristram and looked upon him,

he would say in his heart: "So they say that you are a better knight than

I? Would God you were dead or away from this place, for I believe that some

day you will be my undoing!" Yea; there were times when he would look upon

Sir Tristram in that wise and whisper to himself: "Would God would send a

blight upon thee, so that thou wouldst wither away!"

But always the King dissembled this hatred for Sir Tristram, so that no one

suspected him thereof; least of all did Sir Tristram suspect how changed

was the heart of the King toward him.

Now one day Sir Tristram was playing upon his harp and singing before King

Mark, and the King sat brooding upon these things as he gazed at Tristram.

And Sir Tristram, as he ofttimes did nowadays, sang of the Lady Belle

Isoult, and of how her face was like to a rose for fairness, and of how her

soul was like to a nightingale in that it uplifted the spirit of whosoever

was near her even though the darkness of sorrow as of night might envelop

him. And whilst Sir Tristram sang thus, King Mark listened to him, and as

he listened a thought entered his heart and therewith he smiled. So when

Sir Tristram had ended his song of the Belle Isoult, King Mark said: "Fair

nephew, I would that you would undertake a quest for me." Sir Tristram

said, "What quest is that, Lord?" "Nay," said King Mark, "I will not tell

you what quest it is unless you will promise me upon your knighthood to

undertake it upon my behalf." Then Sir Tristram suspected no evil,

wherefore he smiled and said: "Dear Lord, if the quest is a thing that it

is in my power to undertake, I will undertake it upon your asking, and unto

that I pledge my knighthood." King Mark said, "It is a quest that you may

undertake." Sir Tristram said, "Then I will undertake it, if you will tell

me what it is."

[Sidenote: King Mark betrays Sir Tristram to a promise] King Mark said: "I

have listened to your singing for this long while concerning the Lady Belle

Isoult. So the quest I would have you undertake is this: that you go to

Ireland, and bring thence the Lady Belle Isoult to be my Queen. For because

of your songs and ballads I have come to love her so greatly that I believe

that I shall have no happiness in life until I have her for my Queen. So

now, since you have pledged me your word upon your knighthood to do my

bidding in this case, such is the quest that I would send you upon." And

therewith he smiled upon Sir Tristram very strangely.

[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram fell into despair] Then Sir Tristram perceived

how he had been betrayed and he put aside his harp and rose from where he

sat. And he gazed for a long while at King Mark, and his countenance was

wonderfully white like that of a dead man. Then by and by he said: "Sir, I

know not why you have put this upon me, nor do I know why you have betrayed

me. For I have ever served you truly as a worthy knight and a kinsman

should. Wherefore I know not why you have done this unto me, nor why you

seek to compass my death. For you know very well that if I return to

Ireland I shall very likely be slain either by the Queen or by some of her

kindred, because that for your sake I slew in battle Sir Marhaus, the

Queen's brother of Ireland. Yet, so far as that is concerned, I would

rather lose my life than succeed in this quest, for if so be I do not lose

my life, then I must do that which I would liever die than do. Yea; I

believe that there was never any knight loved a lady as I love the Lady

Belle Isoult. For I love her not only because of her beauty and

graciousness, but because she healed mine infirmities and lent ease unto my

great sufferings and brought me back from death unto life. Wherefore that

which you bid me fulfil is more bitter to me than death."

"Well," said King Mark, "I know nothing of all this--only I know that you

have given me your knightly word to fulfil this quest."

"Very well," said Sir Tristram, "if God will give me His good help in this

matter, then I will do that which I have pledged my knighthood to

undertake." Therewith he turned and went out from that place in such great

despair that it was as though his heart had been turned into ashes. But

King Mark was filled with joy that he should have caused Sir Tristram all

that pain, and he said to his heart: "This is some satisfaction for the

hate which I feel for this knight; by and by I shall maybe have greater

satisfaction than that."

After that Sir Tristram did not come any more where King Mark was, but he

went straight away from the King's court and into a small castle that King

Mark had given him some while since for his own. There he abided for

several days in great despair of soul, for it seemed to him as though God

had deserted him entirely. There for a while Gouvernail alone was with him

and no one else, but after a while several knights came to him and gave him

great condolence and offered to join with him as his knights-companion. And

there were eighteen of these knights, and Sir Tristram was very glad of

their comradeship.

These said to him: "Sir, you should not lend yourself to such great travail

of soul, but should bend yourself as a true knight should to assume that

burden that God hath assigned you to bear."

So they spoke, and by and by Sir Tristram aroused himself from his despair

and said to himself: "Well, what these gentlemen say is true, and God hath

assuredly laid this very heavy burden upon me; as that is so, I must needs

assume it for His sake."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram departs from Cornwall] So Sir Tristram and the

knights who were with him abode in that place for a day or two or three,

and then one morning Sir Tristram armed himself and they armed themselves,

and all took their departure from that castle and went down to the sea.

Then they took ship with intent to depart to Ireland upon that quest Sir

Tristram had promised King Mark he would undertake, and in a little they

hoisted sail and departed from Cornwall for Ireland.

But they were not to make their quest upon that pass so speedily as they

thought, for, upon the second day of their voyaging, there arose a great

storm of wind of such a sort that the sailors of that ship had never seen

the like thereof in all of their lives. For the waves rose up like

mountains, and anon the waters sank away into deep valleys with hills of

water upon either side all crested over with foam as white as snow. And

anon that ship would be uplifted as though the huge sea would toss it into

the clouds; and anon it would fall down into a gulf so deep that it

appeared as though the green waters would swallow it up entirely. The air

roared as though it were full of demons and evil spirits out of hell, and

the wind was wet and very bitter with brine. So the ship fled away before

that tempest, and the hearts of all aboard were melted with fear because of

the great storm of wind and the high angry waves.

Then toward evening those who were watching from the lookout beheld a land

and a haven, and they saw upon the land overlooking the haven was a noble

castle and a fair large town, surrounded by high walls of stone. So they

told the others of what they saw, and all gave great rejoicing for that

they were so nigh the land. Therewith they sailed the ship toward the

haven, and having entered therein in safety, they cast anchor under the

walls of the castle and the town, taking great joy that God had brought

them safe and sound through that dreadful peril of the tempest.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to Camelot] Then Sir Tristram said to

Gouvernail: "Knowest thou, Gouvernail, what place is this to which we have

come?" "Messire," said Gouvernail, "I think it is Camelot." And then those

knights of Cornwall who stood by said, "Yea, that is true, and it is

Camelot." And one of them said: "Messire, it is likely that King Arthur is

at that place at this very time, for so it was reported that he was, and so

I believe it to be."

"Ha," quoth Tristram, "that is very good news to me, for I believe that it

would be the greatest joy to me that the world can now give to behold King

Arthur and those noble knights of his court ere I die. More especially do I

desire above all things to behold that great, noble champion, Sir Launcelot

of the Lake. So let us now go ashore, and mayhap it shall come to pass that

I shall see the great King and Sir Launcelot and mayhap shall come to speak

with the one or the other." And that saying of Sir Tristram's seemed good

to those knights who were with him, for they were weary of the sea, and

desired to rest for a while upon the dry land.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sets up his pavilion] So they presently all went

ashore and bade their attendants set up their pavilions in a fair level

meadow that was somewhat near a league distant away from the castle and the

town. In the midst of the other pavilions upon that plain was set the

pavilion of Sir Tristram. It was of fine crimson cloth striped with silver

and there was the figure of a gryphon carved upon the summit of the centre

pole of the pavilion. The spear of Sir Tristram was emplanted by the point

of the truncheon in the ground outside the pavilion, and thereunto his

shield was hung so that those who passed that way might clearly behold what

was the device thereon.

And now shall be told how Sir Tristram became united in friendship with the

brotherhood of good knights at King Arthur's court.

[Illustration: Sir Tristram sits with Sir Launcelot]

Chapter Sixth

_How Sir Tristram had to do in battle with three knights of the Round

Table. Also how he had speech with King Arthur._

So came the next morning, and uprose the sun in all the splendor of his

glory, shedding his beams to every quarter with a rare dazzling effulgence.

For by night the clouds of storm had passed away and gone, and now all the

air was clear and blue, and the level beams of light fell athwart the

meadow-lands so that countless drops of water sparkled on leaf and blade of

grass, like an incredible multitude of shining jewels scattered all over

the earth. Then they who slept were awakened by the multitudinous voicing

of the birds; for at that hour the small fowl sang so joyous a roundelay

that all the early morning was full of the sweet jargon of their chanting.

At this time, so early in the day, there came two knights riding by where

Sir Tristram and his companions had set up their pavilions. These were two

very famous knights of King Arthur's court and of the Round Table; for one

was Sir Ector de Maris and the other was Sir Morganor of Lisle.

[Sidenote: How two knights came to the pavilion of Sir Tristram] When

these two knights perceived the pavilions of Sir Tristram and his

knights-companion, they made halt, and Sir Ector de Maris said, "What

knights are these who have come hither?" Then Sir Morganor looked and

presently he said: "Sir, I perceive by their shields that these are Cornish

knights, and he who occupies this central pavilion must be the champion of

this party." "Well," quoth Sir Ector, "as for that I take no great thought

of any Cornish knight, so do thou strike the shield of that knight and call

him forth, and let us see of what mettle he is made."

"I will do so," said Sir Morganor; and therewith he rode forward to where

the shield of Sir Tristram hung from the spear, and he smote the shield

with the point of his lance, so that it rang with a very loud noise.

Upon this, Sir Tristram immediately came to the door of his pavilion, and

said, "Messires, why did you strike upon my shield?" "Because," said Sir

Ector, "we are of a mind to try your mettle what sort of a knight you be."

Quoth Sir Tristram: "God forbid that you should not be satisfied. So if you

will stay till I put on my armor you shall immediately have your will in

this matter."

Thereupon he went back into his tent and armed himself and mounted his

horse and took a good stout spear of ash-wood into his hand.

Then all the knights of Cornwall who were with Sir Tristram came forth to

behold what their champion would do, and all their esquires, pages, and

attendants came forth for the same purpose, and it was a very pleasant time

of day for jousting.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Morganor] Then first of all Sir

Morganor essayed Sir Tristram, and in that encounter Sir Tristram smote him

so dreadful, terrible a blow that he cast him a full spear's length over

the crupper of his horse, and that so violently that the blood gushed out

of the nose and mouth and ears of Sir Morganor, and he groaned very

dolorously and could not arise from where he lay.

"Hah," quoth Sir Ector, "that was a very wonderful buffet you struck my

fellow. But now it is my turn to have ado with you, and I hope God will

send me a better fortune."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Ector] So he took stand for battle

as did Sir Tristram likewise, and when they were in all wise prepared they

rushed very violently to the assault. In that encounter Ector suffered

hardly less ill fortune than Sir Morganor had done. For he brake his spear

against Sir Tristram into as many as an hundred pieces, whilst Sir

Tristram's spear held so that he overthrew both the horse and the

knight-rider against whom he drove.

Then all the knights of Cornwall gave loud acclaim that their knight had

borne himself so well in those encounters. But Sir Tristram rode back to

where those two knights still lay upon the ground, and he said: "Well,

Messires, this is no very good hap that you have had with me."

Upon that speech Sir Ector de Maris gathered himself up from the dust and

said: "Sir Knight, I pray you of your knighthood to tell us who you be and

what is your degree, for I declare to you, I believe you are one of the

greatest knights-champion of the world."

"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "I am very willing to tell you my name and my

station; I am Sir Tristram, the son of King Meliadus of Lyonesse."

"Ha," quoth Sir Ector, "I would God I had known that before I had ado with

you, for your fame hath already reached to these parts, and there hath been

such report of your prowess and several songs have been made about you by

minstrels and poets. I who speak to you am Sir Ector, surnamed de Maris,

and this, my companion, is Sir Morganor of Lisle."

"Alas!" cried out Sir Tristram, "I would that I had known who you were ere

I did battle with you. For I have greater love for the knights of the Round

Table than all others in the world, and most of all, Sir Ector, do I have

reverence for your noble brother Sir Launcelot of the Lake. So I take great

shame to myself that any mishap should have befallen you this day through

me."

Upon this Sir Ector laughed. "Well," quoth he, "let not that trouble lie

with you, for it was we who gave you challenge without inquiry who you

were, and you did but defend yourself. We were upon our way to Camelot

yonder, when we fell into this mishap, for King Arthur is at this time

holding court at that place. So now, if we have your leave to go upon our

way, we will betake ourselves to the King and tell him that you are here,

for we know that he will be very glad of that news."

Upon this Sir Tristram gave them leave to depart, and they did so with many

friendly words of good cheer. And after they had gone Sir Tristram went

back into his pavilion again and partook of refreshment that was brought to

him.

[Sidenote: There comes a knight in white armor] Now, some while after Sir

Ector and Sir Morganor had left that place, and whilst Sir Tristram was

still resting in his pavilion, there came a single knight riding that way,

and this knight was clad altogether in white armor and his shield was

covered over with a covering of white leather, so that one could not see

what device he bare thereon.

When this white knight came to the place where Sir Tristram and his

companions had pitched their pavilions, he also stopped as Sir Ector and

Sir Morganor had done, for he desired to know what knights these were. At

that time Gouvernail was standing alone in front of Sir Tristram's

pavilion, and unto him the white knight said: "Sir, I pray you, tell me who

is the knight to whom this pavilion belongs."

Now Gouvernail thought to himself: "Here is another knight who would have

ado with my master. Perhaps Sir Tristram may have glory by him also." So he

answered the white knight: "Sir, I may not tell you the name of this

knight, for he is my master, and if he pleases to tell you his name he must

tell it himself."

"Very well," said the white knight, "then I will straightway ask him."

Therewith he rode to where the shield of Sir Tristram hung, and he struck

upon the shield so violent a blow that it rang very loud and clear.

Then straightway came forth Sir Tristram and several of his

knights-companion from out of the pavilion, and Sir Tristram said, "Sir

Knight, wherefore did you strike upon my shield?"

"Messire," quoth the white knight, "I struck upon your shield so that I

might summon you hither for to tell me your name, for I have asked it of

your esquire and he will not tell me."

"Fair Knight," quoth Sir Tristram, "neither will I tell you my name until I

have wiped out that affront which you have set upon my shield by that

stroke you gave it. For no man may touch my shield without my having to do

with him because of the affront he gives me thereby."

"Well," said the white knight, "I am satisfied to have it as you please."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with the white knight] So therewith

Sir Tristram went back into his pavilion and several went with him. These

put his helmet upon his head and they armed him for battle in all ways.

After that Sir Tristram came forth and mounted his horse and took his spear

in hand and made himself in all ways ready for battle, and all that while

the white knight awaited his coming very calmly and steadfastly. Then Sir

Tristram took ground for battle, and the white knight did so likewise. So

being in all ways prepared, each launched forth against the other with such

amazing and terrible violence that those who beheld that encounter stood as

though terrified with the thunder of the onset.

Therewith the two knights met in the midst of the course, and each knight

smote the other directly in the centre of the shield. In that encounter the

spear of each knight broke all to small pieces, even to the truncheon which

he held in his fist. And so terrible was the blow that each struck the

other that the horse of each fell back upon his haunches, and it was only

because of the great address of the knight-rider that the steed was able to

recover his footing. As for Sir Tristram, that was the most terrible buffet

he ever had struck him in all his life before that time.

Then straightway Sir Tristram voided his saddle and drew his sword and

dressed his shield. And he cried out: "Ha, Sir Knight! I demand of you that

you descend from your horse and do me battle afoot."

"Very well," said the white knight, "thou shalt have thy will." And

thereupon he likewise voided his horse and drew his sword and dressed his

shield and made himself in all ways ready for battle as Sir Tristram had

done.

Therewith they two came together and presently fell to fighting with such

ardor that sparks of fire flew from every stroke. And if Sir Tristram

struck hard and often, the white knight struck as hard and as often as he,

so that all the knights of Cornwall who stood about marvelled at the

strength and fierceness of the knights-combatant. Each knight gave the

other many sore buffets so that the armor was here and there dinted and

here and there was broken through by the edge of the sword so that the red

blood flowed out therefrom and down over the armor, turning its brightness

in places into an ensanguined red. Thus they fought for above an hour and

in all that time neither knight gave ground or gained any vantage over the

other.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram falls in the battle] Then after a while Sir

Tristram grew more weary of fighting than ever he had been in all of his

life before, and he was aware that this was the greatest knight whom he had

ever met. But still he would not give ground, but fought from this side and

from that side with great skill and address until of a sudden, he slipped

upon some of that blood that he himself had shed, and because of his great

weariness, fell down upon his knees, and could not for the instant rise

again.

Then that white knight might easily have struck him down if he had been

minded to do so. But, instead, he withheld the blow and gave Sir Tristram

his hand and said: "Sir Knight, rise up and stand upon thy feet and let us

go at this battle again if it is thy pleasure to do so; for I do not choose

to take advantage of thy fall."

Then Sir Tristram was as greatly astonished at the extraordinary courtesy

of his enemy as he had been at his prowess. And because of that courtesy he

would not fight again, but stood leaning upon his sword panting. Then he

said: "Sir Knight, I pray thee of thy knighthood to tell me what is thy

name and who thou art."

"Messire," said the white knight, "since you ask me that upon my

knighthood, I cannot refuse to tell you my name. And so I will do, provided

you, upon your part, will do me a like courtesy and will first tell me your

name and degree."

Quoth Sir Tristram: "I will tell you that. My name is Sir Tristram of

Lyonesse, and I am the son of King Meliadus of that land whereby I have my

surname."

[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot confesses himself] "Ha, Sir Tristram," said the

white knight, "often have I heard of thee and of thy skill at arms, and

well have I proved thy fame this day and that all that is said of thee is

true. I must tell thee that I have never yet met my match until I met thee

this day. For I know not how this battle might have ended hadst thou not

slipped and fallen by chance as thou didst. My name is Sir Launcelot,

surnamed of the Lake, and I am King Ban's son of Benwick."

At this Sir Tristram cried out in a loud voice: "Sir Launcelot! Sir

Launcelot! Is it thou against whom I have been doing battle! Rather I would

that anything should have happened to me than that, for of all men in the

world I most desire thy love and friendship."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram yields to Sir Launcelot] Then, having so spoken,

Sir Tristram immediately kneeled down upon his knees and said: "Messire, I

yield myself unto thee, being overcome not more by thy prowess than by thy

courtesy. For I freely confess that thou art the greatest knight in the

world, against whom no other knight can hope to stand; for I could fight no

more and thou mightest easily have slain me when I fell down a while

since."

"Nay, Sir Tristram," said Sir Launcelot, "arise, and kneel not to me, for I

am not willing to accept thy submission, for indeed it is yet to be proved

which of us is the better knight, thou or I. Wherefore let neither of us

yield to the other, but let us henceforth be as dear as brothers-in-arms

the one toward the other."

Then Sir Tristram rose up to his feet again. "Well, Sir Launcelot," he

said, "whatsoever thou shalt ordain shall be as thou wouldst have it. But

there is one thing I must do because of this battle."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram breaks his sword] Then he looked upon his sword

which he held naked and ensanguined in his hand and he said: "Good sword;

thou hast stood my friend and hast served me well in several battles, but

this day thou hast served me for the last time." Therewith he suddenly took

the blade of the sword in both hands--the one at the point and the other

nigh the haft--and he brake the blade across his knee and flung the pieces

away.

Upon this Sir Launcelot cried out in a loud voice: "Ha, Messire! why didst

thou do such a thing as that? To break thine own fair sword?"

"Sir," quoth Sir Tristram, "this sword hath this day received the greatest

honor that is possible for any blade to receive; for it hath been baptized

in thy blood. So, because aught else that might happen to it would diminish

that honor, I have broken it so that its honor might never be made less

than it is at this present time."

Upon this Sir Launcelot ran to Sir Tristram and catched him in his arms,

and he cried out: "Tristram, I believe that thou art the noblest knight

whom ever I beheld!" And Sir Tristram replied: "And thou, Launcelot, I love

better than father or kindred." Therewith each kissed the other upon the

face, and all they who stood by were so moved at that sight that several of

them wept for pure joy.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot feast together] Thereafter they

two went into Sir Tristram's pavilion and disarmed themselves. Then there

came sundry attendants who were excellent leeches and these searched their

hurts and bathed them and dressed them. And several other attendants came

and fetched soft robes and clothed the knights therein so that they were

very comfortable in their bodies. Then still other attendants brought them

good strong wine and manchets of bread and they sat together at table and

ate very cheerfully and were greatly refreshed.

So I have told you of that famous affair-at-arms betwixt Sir Launcelot and

Sir Tristram, and I pray God that you may have the same pleasure in reading

of it that I had in writing of it.

[Sidenote: King Arthur comes to Sir Tristram's pavilion] Now, as Sir

Launcelot and Sir Tristram sat in the pavilion of Sir Tristram making

pleasant converse together, there suddenly entered an esquire to where they

were sitting. This esquire proclaimed: "Messires, hither cometh King

Arthur, and he is very near at hand." Thereupon, even as that esquire

spoke, there came from without the pavilion a great noise of trampling

horses and the pleasant sound of ringing armor, and then immediately a loud

noise of many voices uplifted in acclamation.

Therewith Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram arose from where they sat, and as

they did so the curtains at the doorway of the pavilion were parted and

there entered King Arthur himself enveloped, as it were, with all the glory

of his royal estate.

Unto him Sir Tristram ran, and would have fallen upon his knees, but King

Arthur stayed him from so doing. For the great king held him by the hand

and lifted him up, and he said, "Sir, are you Sir Tristram of Lyonesse?"

"Yea," said Sir Tristram, "I am he." "Ha," said King Arthur, "I am gladder

to see you than almost any man I know of in the world," and therewith he

kissed Sir Tristram upon the face, and he said: "Welcome, Messire, to these

parts! Welcome! And thrice welcome!"

Then Sir Tristram besought King Arthur that he would refresh himself, and

the King said he would do so. So Sir Tristram brought him to the chiefest

place, and there King Arthur sat him down. And Sir Tristram would have

served him with wine and with manchets of bread with his own hand, but King

Arthur would not have it so, but bade Sir Tristram to sit beside him on his

right hand, and Sir Tristram did so. After that, King Arthur spake to Sir

Tristram about many things, and chiefly about King Meliadus, the father of

Sir Tristram, and about the court of Lyonesse.

Then, after a while King Arthur said: "Messire, I hear tell that you are a

wonderful harper." And Sir Tristram said, "Lord, so men say of me." King

Arthur said, "I would fain hear your minstrelsy." To which Sir Tristram

made reply: "Lord, I will gladly do anything at all that will give you

pleasure."

So therewith Sir Tristram gave orders to Gouvernail, and Gouvernail brought

him his shining golden harp, and the harp glistered with great splendor in

the dim light of the pavilion.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sings before King Arthur] Sir Tristram took the

harp in his hands and tuned it and struck upon it. And he played upon the

harp, and he sang to the music thereof so wonderfully that they who sat

there listened in silence as though they were without breath. For not one

of them had ever heard such singing as that music which Sir Tristram sang;

for it was as though some angel were singing to those who sat there

harkening to his chanting.

So after Sir Tristram had ended, all who were there gave loud acclaim and

much praise to his singing. "Ha, Messire!" quoth King Arthur, "many times

in my life have I heard excellent singing, but never before in my life have

I heard such singing as that. Now I wish that we might always have you at

this court and that you would never leave us." And Sir Tristram said:

"Lord, I too would wish that I might always be with you and with these

noble knights of your court, for I have never met any whom I love as I love

them."

So they sat there in great joy and friendliness of spirit, and, for the

while, Sir Tristram forgot the mission he was upon and was happy in heart

and glad of that terrible storm that had driven him thitherward.

And now I shall tell you the conclusion of all these adventures, and of how

it fared with Sir Tristram.

[Illustration: Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram drink the love draught]

Chapter Seventh

_How Sir Tristram had speech with King Angus of Ireland; how he undertook

to champion the cause of King Angus and of what happened thereafter_.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram hears news of King Angus] Now, as Sir Tristram and

King Arthur and Sir Launcelot sat together in the pavilion of Sir Tristram

in pleasant, friendly discourse, as aforetold, there came Gouvernail of a

sudden into that place. He, coming to Sir Tristram, leaned over his

shoulder and he whispered into his ear: "Sir, I have just been told that

King Angus of Ireland is at this very time at Camelot at the court of the

King."

Upon this Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur and said: "Lord, my esquire

telleth me that King Angus of Ireland is here at Camelot; now I pray you

tell me, is that saying true?" "Yea," said King Arthur, "that is true; but

what of it?" "Well," said Sir Tristram, "I had set forth to seek King Angus

in Ireland, when I and my companions were driven hither by a great storm of

wind. Yet when I find him, I know not whether King Angus may look upon me

as a friend or as an unfriend."

[Sidenote: How Sir Bertrand was killed in Ireland] "Ha," said King Arthur,

"you need not take trouble concerning the regard in which King Angus shall

hold you. For he is at this time in such anxiety of spirit that he needs to

have every man his friend who will be his friend, and no man his enemy whom

he can reconcile to him. He is not just now in very good grace, either with

me or with my court, for the case with him is thus: Some while ago, after

you left the court of Ireland, there came to that place Sir Blamor de Ganys

(who is right cousin to Sir Launcelot of the Lake) and with Sir Blamor a

knight-companion hight Sir Bertrand de la Riviere Rouge. These two knights

went to Ireland with intent to win themselves honor at the court of

Ireland. Whilst they were in that kingdom there were held many jousts and

tourneys, and in all of them Sir Blamor and Sir Bertrand were victorious,

and all the knights of Ireland who came against them were put to shame at

their hands. Many of the Irish knights were exceedingly angry at this, and

so likewise was the King of Ireland. Now it happened one day that Sir

Bertrand was found dead and murdered at a certain pass in the King's

forest, and when the news thereof was brought to Sir Blamor, he was very

wroth that his knight-companion should have been thus treacherously slain.

So he immediately quitted Ireland and returned hither straightway, and when

he had come before me he accused King Angus of treason because of that

murder. Now at this time King Angus is here upon my summons for to answer

that charge and to defend himself therefrom; for Sir Blamor offers his body

to defend the truth of his accusation, and as for the King of Ireland, he

can find no knight to take his part in that contention. For not only is Sir

Blamor, as you very well know, one of the best knights in the world, but

also nearly everybody here hath doubt of the innocence of King Angus in

this affair. Now from this you may see that King Angus is very much more in

need of a friend at this time than he is of an enemy."

"Lord," said Sir Tristram, "what you tell me is very excellent good news,

for now I know that I may have talk with King Angus with safety to myself,

and that he will no doubt receive me as a friend."

So after King Arthur and his court had taken their departure--it being then

in the early sloping of the afternoon--Sir Tristram called Gouvernail to

him and bade him make ready their horses, and when Gouvernail had done so,

they two mounted and rode away by themselves toward that place where King

Angus had taken up his lodging. When they had come there, Sir Tristram made

demand to have speech with the King, and therewith they in attendance

ushered him in to where the King Angus was.

[Sidenote: King Angus welcomes Sir Tristram] But when King Angus saw Sir

Tristram who he was, and when he beheld a face that was both familiar and

kind, he gave a great cry of joy, and ran to Sir Tristram and flung his

arms about him, and kissed him upon the cheek; for he was rejoiced beyond

measure to find a friend in that unfriendly place.

Then Sir Tristram said, "Lord, what cheer have you?" Unto that King Angus

replied: "Tristram, I have very poor cheer; for I am alone amongst enemies

with no one to befriend me, and unless I find some knight who will stand my

champion to-morrow or the next day I am like to lose my life for the murder

of Sir Bertrand de la Riviere Rouge. And where am I to find any one to act

as my champion in defence of my innocence in this place, where I behold an

enemy in every man whom I meet? Alas, Tristram! There is no one in all the

world who will aid me unless it be you, for you alone of all the knights in

the world beyond the circle of the knights of the Round Table may hope to

stand against so excellent and so strong a hero!"

"Lord," quoth Sir Tristram, "I know very well what great trouble overclouds

you at this time, and it is because of that that I am come hither for to

visit you. For I have not at any time forgotten how that I told you when

you spared my life in Ireland that mayhap the time might come when I might

serve as your friend in your day of need. So if you will satisfy me upon

two points, then I myself will stand for your champion upon this occasion."

"Ah, Tristram," quoth King Angus, "what you say is very good news to me

indeed. For I believe there is no other knight in all the world (unless it

be Sir Launcelot of the Lake) who is so strong and worthy a knight as you.

So tell me what are those two matters concerning which you would seek

satisfaction, and, if it is possible for me to do so, I will give you such

an answer as may please you."

"Lord," said Sir Tristram, "the first matter is this: that you shall

satisfy me that you are altogether innocent of the death of Sir Bertrand.

And the second matter is this: that you shall grant me whatsoever favor it

is that I shall have to ask of you."

[Sidenote: King Angus swears innocence to Sir Tristram] Then King Angus

arose and drew his sword and he said: "Tristram, behold; here is my

sword--and the guard thereof and the blade thereof and the handle thereof

make that holy sign of the cross unto which all Christian men bow down to

worship. Look! See! Here I kiss that holy sign and herewith I swear an oath

upon that sacred symbol, and I furthermore swear upon the honor of my

knighthood, that I am altogether guiltless of the death of that noble,

honorable knight aforesaid. Nor do I at all know how it was he met his

death, for I am innocent of all evil knowledge thereof. Now, Messire, art

thou satisfied upon that point?" And Sir Tristram said, "I am satisfied."

Then King Angus said: "As to the matter of granting you a favor, that I

would do in any case for the love I bear you. So let me hear what it is

that you have to ask of me."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram asks his boon] "Lord," cried out Sir Tristram,

"the favor is one I had liever die than ask. It is this: that you give me

your daughter, the Lady Belle Isoult, for wife unto mine uncle, King Mark

of Cornwall."

Upon these words, King Angus sat in silence for a long while, gazing very

strangely upon Sir Tristram. Then by and by he said: "Messire, this is a

very singular thing you ask of me; for from what you said to me aforetime

and from what you said to my daughter I had thought that you desired the

Lady Belle Isoult for yourself. Now I can in no wise understand why you do

not ask for her in your name instead of asking for her in the name of King

Mark."

Then Sir Tristram cried out as in great despair: "Messire, I love that dear

lady a great deal more than I love my life; but in this affair I am

fulfilling a pledge made upon the honor of my knighthood and unto the King

of Cornwall, who himself made me knight. For I pledged him unaware, and now

I am paying for my hastiness. Yet I would God that you might take the sword

which you hold in your hand and thrust it through my heart; for I had

liefer die than fulfil this obligation to which I am pledged."

"Well," said King Angus, "you know very well that I will not slay you, but

that I will fulfil your boon as I have promised. As for what you do in this

affair, you must answer for it to God and to the honor of your own

knighthood whether it is better to keep that promise which you made to the

King of Cornwall or to break it."

Then Sir Tristram cried out again in great travail of soul: "Lord, you know

not what you say, nor what torments I am at this present moment enduring."

And therewith he arose and went forth from that place, for he was ashamed

that anyone should behold the passion that moved him.

And now is to be told of that famous battle betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir

Blamor de Ganys of which so much hath been written in all the several

histories of chivalry that deal with these matters.

Now when the next morning had come--clear and fair and with the sun shining

wonderfully bright--a great concourse of people began to betake themselves

to that place where the lists had been set up in preparation for that

ordeal of battle. That place was on a level meadow of grass very fair

bedight with flowers and not far from the walls of the town nor from the

high road that led to the gate of the same.

[Sidenote: Of the meadow of battle] And, indeed, that was a very beautiful

place for battle, for upon the one hand was the open countryside, all gay

with spring blossoms and flowers; and upon the other hand were the walls of

the town. Over above the top of those walls was to be seen a great many

tall towers--some built of stone and some of brick--that rose high up into

the clear, shining sky all full of slow-drifting clouds, that floated, as

it were, like full-breasted swans in a sea of blue. And beyond the walls of

the town you might behold a great many fair houses with bright windows of

glass all shining against the sky. So you may see how fair was all that

place, where that fierce battle was presently to be fought.

Meanwhile, great multitudes of people had gathered all about the meadow of

battle, and others stood like flies upon the walls of the town and looked

down into that fair, pleasant meadow-land, spread with its carpet of

flowers. All along one side of the ground of battle was a scaffolding of

seats fair bedraped with fabrics of various colors and textures. In the

midst of all the other seats were two seats hung with cloth of scarlet, and

these seats were the one for King Arthur and the other for King Angus of

Ireland.

In the centre of the meadow-land Sir Blamor rode up and down very proudly.

He was clad in red armor, and the trappings and the furniture of his horse

were all of red, so that he paraded the field like a crimson flame of fire.

"Sir." quoth King Arthur to King Angus, "yon is a very strong, powerful,

noble knight; now where mayst thou find one who can hope to stand against

him in this coming battle?"

[Sidenote: King Angus presents Sir Tristram for his champion] "Lord," said

King Angus, "I do believe that God hath raised up a defender for me in this

extremity. For Sir Tristram of Lyonesse came to me yesterday, and offered

for to take this quarrel of mine upon him. Now I do not believe that there

is any better knight in all of Christendom than he, wherefore I am to-day

uplifted with great hopes that mine innocence shall be proved against mine

accuser."

"Ha!" quoth King Arthur, "if Sir Tristram is to stand thy champion in this

affair, then I do believe that thou hast indeed found for thyself a very

excellent, worthy defender."

So anon there came Sir Tristram riding to that place, attended only by

Gouvernail. And he was clad all in bright, polished armor so that he shone

like a star of great splendor as he entered the field of battle. He came

straight to where King Arthur sat and saluted before him. King Arthur said,

"Sir, what knight art thou?" "Lord," answered he, "I am Sir Tristram of

Lyonesse, and I am come to champion King Angus who sits beside you. For I

believe him to be innocent of that matter of which he is accused, and I

will emperil my body in that belief for to prove the truth of the same."

"Well," quoth King Arthur, "this King accused hath, certes, a very noble

champion in thee. So go and do thy devoirs, and may God defend the right."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Blamor] Thereupon each knight

took a good stout spear into his hand and chose his place for the

encounter, and each set his shield before him and feutered his lance in

rest. Then, when each was ready, the marshal blew a great blast upon his

trumpet, and thereupon, in an instant, each knight launched against the

other like a bolt of thunder. So they met in the very middle of the course

with such violence that the spear of each knight was shattered all into

pieces unto the very truncheon thereof. Each horse fell back upon his

haunches, and each would no doubt, have fallen entirely, had not the

knight-rider recovered his steed with the greatest skill and address.

Then each knight voided his saddle and each drew his sword and set his

shield before him. Therewith they came to battle on foot like two wild

boars--so fiercely and felly that it was terrible to behold. For they

traced this way and that and foined and struck at one another so that whole

pieces of armor were hewn from the bodies of each.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overcomes Sir Blamor] But in all this battle Sir

Tristram had so much the better that, by and by after they had fought for

above an hour, Sir Blamor de Ganys began to bare back before him, and to

give ground, holding his shield low for weariness. This Sir Tristram

perceived, and, running in suddenly upon Sir Blamor, he struck him so

terrible a blow upon the right shoulder that Sir Blamor's arm was

altogether benumbed thereby, and he could no longer hold his sword in his

hand.

So the sword of Sir Blamor fell down into the grass, and Sir Tristram,

perceiving this, ran and set his foot upon it. Then Sir Blamor could not

stand any longer, but fell down upon his knees because of a great weariness

and faintness that lay upon him like the weariness and faintness of

approaching death.

Then Sir Tristram said: "Sir Knight, thou canst fight no longer. Now I bid

thee for to yield thyself to me as overcome in this battle."

Thereunto Sir Blamor made reply, speaking very deep and hollow from out of

his helmet: "Sir Knight, thou hast overcome me by thy strength and prowess,

but I will not yield myself to thee now nor at any time. For that would be

so great shame that I would rather die than endure it. I am a knight of the

Round Table, and have never yet been overcome in this wise by any man. So

thou mayst slay me, but I will not yield myself to thee."

Then Sir Tristram cried out: "Sir Knight, I beseech thee to yield thyself,

for thou art not fit to fight any more this day."

Sir Blamor said, "I will not yield, so strike and have done with it."

So Sir Tristram wist not what to do, but stood there in doubt looking down

upon Sir Blamor. Then Sir Blamor said, again: "Strike, Sir Knight, and have

done with it."

Upon this Sir Tristram said: "I may not strike thee, Sir Blamor de Ganys,

to slay thee, for thou art very nigh of blood to Sir Launcelot of the Lake,

and unto him I have sworn brotherhood in arms; wherefore I pray thee now to

yield thyself to me."

Sir Blamor said, "Nay, I will not yield me to thee."

"Well," said Sir Tristram, "then I must fain act this day in a manner like

as I acted yesterday."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram gives Sir Blamor back his sword] Therewith

speaking, he took his sword into both his hands and he swung it several

times around his head and when he had done that he flung it to a great

distance away, so that he was now entirely unarmed saving only for his

misericordia. After that he gave Sir Blamor his hand and lifted him up upon

his feet. And he stooped and picked up Sir Blamor's sword out of the grass

and gave it back to Sir Blamor into his hands, and he said: "Sir Knight,

now thou art armed and I am entirely unarmed, and so thou hast me at thy

mercy. Now thou shalt either yield thyself to me or slay me as I stand here

without any weapon; for I cannot now strike thee, and though I have

overcome thee fairly yet thou hast it now in thy power to slay me. So now

do thy will with me in this matter."

Then Sir Blamor was greatly astonished at the magnanimity of Sir Tristram,

and he said, "Sir Knight, what is thy name?" Sir Tristram said, "It is

Tristram, surnamed of Lyonesse."

Upon this Sir Blamor came to Sir Tristram and put his arms about his

shoulders, and he said: "Tristram, I yield myself to thee, but in love and

not in hate. For I yield myself not because of thy strength of arms (and

yet I believe there is no knight in the world, unless it be my cousin Sir

Launcelot of the Lake, who is thy peer), but I yield me because of thy

exceeding nobility. Yet I would that I might only be satisfied that this

King of Ireland is no traitor."

"Messire," said Sir Tristram, "of that I have assured myself very strongly

ere I entered into this contest, wherefore I may now freely avouch upon

mine own knightly word that he is innocent."

"Then," said Sir Blamor, "I also am satisfied, and I herewith withdraw all

my impeachment against him."

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor are reconciled] Then those two

noble, excellent knights took one another by the hand and went forward

together to where King Arthur sat in high estate, and all those who looked

on and beheld that reconciliation gave loud acclaim. And when King Arthur

beheld them coming thus, he arose from where he sat and met them and

embraced them both, and he said: "I do not believe that any king can have

greater glory in his life than this, to have such knights about him as ye

be."

So ended this famous battle with great glory to Sir Tristram and yet with

no disregard to that famous knight against whom he did battle.

After that, they and King Arthur and King Angus of Ireland and all the

court went up unto the castle of Camelot, and there the two

knights-combatant were bathed in tepid water and their wounds were searched

and dressed and they were put at their ease in all ways that it was

possible.

Now that very day, as they all sat at feast in the castle of Camelot, there

came one with news that the name of Sir Tristram had suddenly appeared upon

one of the seats of the Round Table. So after they had ended their feast

they all immediately went to see how that might be. When they came to the

pavilion of the Round Table, there, behold! was his name indeed upon that

seat that had once been the seat of King Pellinore. For this was the name

that now was upon that seat:

SIR TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram becomes knight of the Round Table] So the next day

Sir Tristram was duly installed as a knight-companion of the Round Table

with a great pomp and estate of circumstance, and a day or two after that

he set sail for Ireland with King Angus, taking with him Gouvernail and

those Cornish knights who were his companions.

So they all reached Ireland in safety, and, because Sir Tristram had aided

the King of Ireland in the day of his extremity, the Queen forgave him all

the despite she held against him, so that he was received at the court of

the King and Queen with great friendship and high honor.

[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram dwelt in Ireland] For a while Sir Tristram

dwelt in Ireland and said nothing concerning that purpose for which he had

come. Then one day he said to King Angus: "Lord, thou art not to forget to

fulfil that promise which thou madst to me concerning the Lady Belle

Isoult."

To this King Angus made reply: "I had hoped that now we were come to

Ireland you had changed your purpose in that matter. Are you yet of the

same mind as when you first spake to me?"

"Yea," said Sir Tristram, "for it cannot be otherwise."

"Well, then," said King Angus, "I shall go to prepare my daughter for this

ill-hap that is to befall her, though indeed it doth go against my heart to

do such a thing. After I have first spoken to her, you are to take the

matter into your own hands, for, to tell you the truth, I have not the

heart to contrive it further."

So King Angus went away from where Sir Tristram was, and he was gone a long

while. When he returned he said: "Sir, go you that way and the Lady Belle

Isoult will see you."

So Sir Tristram went in the direction King Angus had said, and a page

showed him the way. So by and by he came to where the Lady Belle Isoult

was, and it was a great chamber in a certain tower of the castle and high

up Under the eaves of the roof.

[Sidenote: How Lady Belle Isoult appeared to Sir Tristram] The Lady Belle

Isoult stood upon the farther side of this chamber so that the light from

the windows shone full upon her face, and Sir Tristram perceived that she

was extraordinarily beautiful, and rather like to a shining spirit than to

a lady of flesh and blood. For she was clad altogether in white and her

face was like to wax for whiteness and clearness, and she wore ornaments of

gold set with shining stones of divers colors about her neck and about her

arms so that they glistered with a wonderful lustre. Her eyes shone very

bright and clear like one with a fever, and Sir Tristram beheld that there

were channels of tears upon her face and several tears stood upon her white

cheeks like to shining jewels hanging suspended there.

So, for a while, Sir Tristram stood still without speaking and regarded her

from afar. Then after a while she spake and said, "Sir, what is this you

have done?" "Lady," he said, "I have done what God set me to do, though I

would rather die than do it."

She said, "Tristram, you have betrayed me." Upon the which he cried out in

a very loud and piercing voice, "Lady, say not so!"

She said: "Tristram, tell me, is it better to fulfil this pledge you have

made, knowing that in so doing you sacrifice both my happiness and your

happiness to satisfy your pride of honor; or is it better that you

sacrifice your pride and break this promise so that we may both be happy?

Tristram, I beseech you to break this promise you have made and let us be

happy together."

At this Sir Tristram cried out in a very loud voice: "Lady, did you put

your hand into my bosom and tear my naked heart, you could not cause me so

much pain as that which I this moment endure. It cannot be as you would

have it, for it is thus with me: were it but myself whom I might consider,

I would freely sacrifice both my life and my honor for your sake. But it

may not be so, lady; for I am held to be one of the chiefest of that order

of knighthood to which I belong, wherefore I may not consider myself, but

must ever consider that order. For if I should violate a pledge given upon

my knighthood, then would I dishonor not myself, but that entire order to

which I belong. For, did I so, all the world would say, what virtue is

there in the order of knighthood when one of the chiefest of that order may

violate his pledge when it pleases him to do so? So, lady, having assumed

that great honor of knighthood I must perform its obligations even to the

uttermost; yea, though in fulfilling my pledge I sacrifice both Thee and

myself."

Then Belle Isoult looked upon Sir Tristram for some little while, and by

and by she smiled very pitifully and said: "Ah, Tristram, I believe I am

more sorry for thee than I am for myself."

"Lady," said Tristram, "I would God that I lay here dead before you. But I

am not able to die, but am altogether strong and hale--only very sorrowful

at heart." And therewith he turned and left that place. Only when he had

come to a place where he was entirely by himself with no one but God to see

him, he hid his face in his hands and wept as though his heart were

altogether broken. So it was that Sir Tristram fulfilled his pledge.

[Sidenote: Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram depart for Cornwall] After that,

King Angus furnished a very noble and beautiful ship with sails of satin

embroidered with figures of divers sorts, and he fitted the ship in all

ways such as became the daughter of a king and the wife of a king to embark

upon. And that ship was intended for the Lady Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram

in which to sail to the court of Cornwall.

And it was ordained that a certain very excellent lady of the court of the

Queen, who had been attendant upon the Lady Belle Isoult when she was a

little child and who had been with her in attendance ever since that time,

should accompany her to the Court of Cornwall. And the name of this lady

was the Lady Bragwaine.

[Sidenote: The Queen of Ireland provides a love potion for King Mark and

Belle Isoult] Now the day before the Lady Belle Isoult was to take her

departure from Ireland, the Queen of Ireland came to the Lady Bragwaine and

she bare with her a flagon of gold very curiously wrought. And the Queen

said: "Bragwaine, here is a flask of a very singular and precious sort of

an elixir; for that liquor it is of such a sort that when a man and a woman

drink of it together, they two shall thereafter never cease to love one

another as long as they shall have life. Take this flask, and when you have

come to Cornwall, and when the Lady Belle Isoult and King Mark have been

wedded, then give them both to drink of this elixir; for after they have

drunk they shall forget all else in the world and cleave only to one

another. This I give you to the intent that the Lady Isoult may forget Sir

Tristram, and may become happy in the love of King Mark whom she shall

marry."

Soon thereafter the Lady Belle Isoult took leave of the King and the Queen

and entered into that ship that had been prepared for her. Thus, with Sir

Tristram and with Dame Bragwaine and with their attendants, she set sail

for Cornwall.

Now it happened that, whilst they were upon that voyage, the Lady Bragwaine

came of a sudden into the cabin of that ship and there she beheld the Lady

Belle Isoult lying upon a couch weeping. Dame Bragwaine said, "Lady, why do

you weep?" Whereunto the Lady Belle Isoult made reply: "Alas, Bragwaine,

how can I help but weep seeing that I am to be parted from the man I love

and am to be married unto another whom I do not love?"

Dame Bragwaine laughed and said: "Do you then weep for that? See! Here is a

wonderful flask as it were of precious wine. When you are married to the

King of Cornwall, then you are to quaff of it and he is to quaff of it and

after that you will forget all others in the world and cleave only to one

another. For it is a wonderful love potion and it hath been given to me to

use in that very way. Wherefore dry your eyes, for happiness may still lay

before you."

When the Lady Belle Isoult heard these words she wept no more but smiled

very strangely. Then by and by she arose and went away to where Sir

Tristram was.

When she came to him she said, "Tristram, will you drink of a draught with

me?" He said, "Yea, lady, though it were death in the draught."

She said, "There is not death in it, but something very different," and

thereupon she went away into the cabin where that chalice aforesaid was

hidden. And at that time Dame Bragwaine was not there.

Then the Lady Belle Isoult took the flagon from where it was hidden, and

poured the elixir out into a chalice of gold and crystal and she brought it

to where Sir Tristram was. When she had come there, she said, "Tristram, I

drink to thee," and therewith she drank the half of the elixir there Was in

the chalice. Then she said, "Now drink thou the rest to me."

Upon that Sir Tristram took the chalice and lifted it to his lips, and

drank all the rest of that liquor that was therein.

[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Belle Isoult drink the love potion] Now

immediately Sir Tristram had drunk that elixir he felt it run like fire

through every vein in his body. Thereupon he cried out, "Lady, what is this

you have given me to drink?" She said: "Tristram, that was a powerful love

potion intended for King Mark and me. But now thou and I have drunk of it

and never henceforth can either of us love anybody in all of the world but

the other."

Then Sir Tristram catched her into his arms and he cried out: "Isoult!

Isoult! what hast thou done to us both? Was it not enough that I should

have been unhappy but that thou shouldst have chosen to be unhappy also?"

Thereat the Lady Belle Isoult both wept and smiled, looking up into Sir

Tristram's face, and she said: "Nay, Tristram; I would rather be sorry with

thee than happy with another." He said, "Isoult, there is much woe in this

for us both." She said, "I care not, so I may share it with thee."

Thereupon Sir Tristram kissed her thrice upon the face, and then

immediately put her away from him and he left her and went away by himself

in much agony of spirit.

Thereafter they reached the kingdom of Cornwall in safety, and the Lady

Belle Isoult and King Mark were wedded with much pomp and ceremony and

after that there was much feasting and every appearance of rejoicing.