HOW YOUNG TRISTRAM SAVED THE LIFE OF THE QUEEN OF LYONESSE
There was a king called Meliodas, as likely a knight as any living, and
he was lord of the country of Lyonesse. At that time King Arthur
reigned supreme over England, Wales, Scotland, and many other realms,
howbeit there were many lords of countries that held their lands under
King Arthur. So also was the King of France subject to him, and the
King of Brittany, and all the lordships as far as Rome. The wife of
this King Meliodas was a full good and fair lady, called Elizabeth, the
sister of King Mark of Cornwall. Well she loved her lord, and he her
again, and there was much joy betwixt them. There was a lady in that
country who bore ill will towards this king and queen, and therefore
upon a day, as he rode on hunting, for he was a great chaser, she by an
enchantment made him chase a hart by himself alone till he came to an
old castle, where anon she had him taken prisoner.
When Queen Elizabeth missed her lord she was nigh out of her wit, and
she took a gentlewoman with her and ran into the forest to seek him.
When she was far in the forest and might go no farther, she sank down
exhausted. For the default of help she took cold there, and she soon
knew that she must die. So she begged her gentlewoman to commend her
to King Meliodas, and to say that she was full sorry to depart out of
this world from him, and that their little child, that was to have such
sorrow even in his infancy, should be christened Tristram.
Therewith this queen gave up the ghost and died. The gentlewoman laid
her under the shadow of a great tree, and right so there came the
barons, following after the queen. When they saw that she was dead
they had her carried home, and much dole[1] was made for her.
The morn after his queen died King Meliodas was delivered out of
prison, and the sorrow he made for her, when he was come home, no
tongue might tell. He had her richly interred, and afterwards, as she
had commanded afore her death, had his child christened Tristram, the
sorrowful born child. For seven years he remained without a wife, and
all that time young Tristram was nourished well.
Then, when he wedded King Howell's daughter of Brittany and had other
children, the stepmother was wroth that Tristram should be heir to the
country of Lyonesse rather than her own son. Wherefore this jealous
queen resolved to become rid of her stepson, and she put poison into a
silver cup in the chamber where Tristram and her children were
together, intending that when Tristram was thirsty he should drink it.
But it happened that the queen's own son espied the cup with poison,
and, because the child was thirsty and supposed it was good drink, he
took of it freely. Therewithal he died suddenly, and when the queen
wist of the death of her son, wit ye well that she was heavy of heart.
But yet the king understood nothing of her treason.
Notwithstanding all this the queen would not leave her jealousy, and
soon had more poison put in a cup. By fortune King Meliodas, her
husband, found the cup where was the poison, and being much thirsty he
took to drink thereout. Anon the queen espied him and ran unto him and
pulled the cup from him suddenly. The king marvelled why she did so,
and remembered how her son was suddenly slain with poison. Then he
took her by the hand, and said: "Thou false traitress, thou shalt tell
me what manner of drink this is." Therewith he pulled out his sword,
and swore a great oath that he should slay her if she told him not the
truth.
Then she told him all, and by the assent of the barons she was
condemned to be burned as a traitress, according to the law. A great
fire was made, and just as she was at the fire to take her execution
young Tristram kneeled afore King Meliodas and besought of him a boon.
"I grant it," said the king, whereupon the youth demanded the life of
the queen, his stepmother.
"That is unrightfully asked," said King Melodias, "for she would have
slain thee, if she had had her will, and for thy sake most is my cause
that she should die."
But Tristram besought his father to forgive her, as he himself did, and
required him to hold his promise. Then said the king, "Since ye will
have it so, I give her to you; go ye to the fire and take her, and do
with her what ye will."
So Sir Tristram went to the fire, and by the commandment of the king
delivered her from death. But thereafter King Meliodas would never
have aught to do with her, though by the good means of young Tristram
he at length forgave her. Ever after in her life she never hated her
stepson more, but loved him and had great joy of him, because he saved
her from the fire. But the king would not suffer him to abide longer
at his court.
[1] Dole: sorrow; mourning.