HOW KING MARK WAS SORRY FOR THE GOOD
RENOWN OF SIR TRISTRAM
The queen departed from Sir Tristram but the little dog would not from
him. Therewithal came King Mark, and the dog set upon him and bayed at
all the barons. Thereupon Sir Andred saw by the dog that it was Sir
Tristram, and King Mark repented that he had brought the mad man in
from the forest. Then he let call his barons to judge Sir Tristram to
death. They would not assent thereto, but by the advice of them all he
was banished out of the country for ten years.
So Sir Tristram was made to depart out of the country of Cornwall, and
there were many barons brought him into his ship. When he was ready to
set sail he said: "Greet well King Mark and all mine enemies, and say I
will come again when I may. And well am I rewarded for the fighting
with Sir Marhaus, and delivering all this country from servage, and
well am I rewarded for the fetching of the Fair Isoud out of Ireland,
and the danger I was in first and last."
So Sir Tristram departed over sea, and arrived in Wales. As he rode
there through the Forest Perilous, a lady in great distress met him,
that said: "O my lord, come with me, and that in all the haste ye may,
for ye shall see the most honourable knight of the world hard bestead,
and he is none other than the noble King Arthur himself."
"God defend," said Sir Tristram, "that ever he should be in such
distress. I am ready to help him if I may."
So they rode at a great pace, till they saw a knight, that was King
Arthur, on foot fighting with two knights, and anon the one knight was
smitten down, and they unlaced his helm to slay him. Therewithal came
Sir Tristram with all his might, and smote the two traitors so that
they fell dead. Then he horsed King Arthur, and as they rode forth
together, the King thanked heartily Sir Tristram and desired to wit his
name. He would not tell him, but said that he was a poor knight
adventurous. So he bare King Arthur fellowship, till he met with some
of his knights.
Then departed Sir Tristram, and rode straight toward Camelot. Then was
he ware of a seemly knight riding against him with a covered shield.
They dressed their shields and spears, and came together with all the
mights of their horses. They met so fiercely that both horses and
knights fell to the earth. As fast as they were able they then gat
free from their horses, and put their shields before them; and they
strake together with bright swords, like men of might, and either
wounded other wonderly sore, so that the blood ran out upon the grass.
Thus they two fought the space of four hours. Never one would speak to
other one word, and of their harness they hewed off many pieces. Then
at the last spake the one with the covered shield; "Knight, thou
fightest wonderly well as ever I saw knight; therefore if it please you
tell me your name."
"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "that is me loath to tell any man my name."
"Truly," said the other, "if I was requested, I was never loath to tell
my name. I am Sir Launcelot of the Lake."
"Alas," said Sir Tristram, "what have I done, for ye are the man in the
world that I love best."
"Fair knight," said Sir Launcelot, "tell me now your name."
"Truly," said he, "my name is Sir Tristram of Lyonesse."
"Oh," said Sir Launcelot, "what adventure is befallen me!"
Therewith Sir Launcelot kneeled adown, and yielded him up his sword.
And therewithal Sir Tristram kneeled adown, and yielded him up his
sword. So either gave other the victory. Thereupon they both
forthwithal went to a stone, and sat down upon it, and took off their
helms to cool themselves. Then after a while they took their helms and
rode together to Camelot.
There soon they met King Arthur, and when he wist that it was Sir
Tristram, he ran unto him and took him by the hand and said, "Sir
Tristram, ye be as welcome as any knight that ever came to this court."
Then they went to the Table Round, where Queen Guenever came, and many
ladies with her, and all the ladies said at one voice, "Welcome, Sir
Tristram." "Welcome," said the damsels; "Welcome," said the knights;
"Welcome," said Arthur, "for one of the best knights and the gentlest
of the world, and the man of most honour. For of all manner of hunting
ye bear the prize; and of all the terms of hunting and hawking ye are
the beginner; of all instruments of music ye are the best. Therefore,
gentle knight, ye are welcome to this court. Now I pray you, grant me
a boon."
"It shall be at your commandment," said Tristram.
"Well," said Arthur, "I will desire of you that ye will abide in my
court."
"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "thereto is me loath, for I have ado in many
countries."
"Not so," said Arthur; "ye have promised it me, and ye may not say nay."
So Tristram agreed to remain with King Arthur, who then went unto the
sieges about the Round Table, and looked in every siege that lacked a
knight. Then the King saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that said,
"This is the siege of the noble knight Sir Tristram." And then Arthur
made Sir Tristram knight of the Table Round with great splendour and
great feast, as might be thought. For that Sir Marhaus, a worthy
knight, was slain afore by the hands of Sir Tristram was well known at
that time in the court of Arthur; and that for evil deeds that he did
unto the country of Cornwall Sir Tristram and he fought; and that they
fought so long tracing and traversing till they fell bleeding to the
earth, for they were so sore wounded that they might not stand; and
that Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and Sir Marhaus died through
the stroke on the head.
King Mark had had great despite of the renown of Sir Tristram, and
therefore had chased him out of Cornwall. When now he heard of the
great prowess that Sir Tristram did in England he was sore grieved, and
sent men to espy what deeds he did. The Queen Isoud also on her part
sent privily spies to know what deeds he had done, for great love was
between them twain. When the messengers came home, and told that Sir
Tristram passed all other knights at Arthur's court unless it were Sir
Launcelot, King Mark was right heavy of the tidings, and as glad was
the Fair Isoud. Then in great despite King Mark took with him two good
knights and two squires, disguised himself, and took his way into
England, to the intent to slay Sir Tristram.
So King Mark came into England, where he soon became known as the most
horrible coward that ever bestrode horse; and there was much laughing
and jesting at the knight of Cornwall, and much he was despised. Sir
Dagonet, King Arthur's fool, at one time chased him through thick and
thin over the forests; and when on a day Sir Launcelot overtook him and
bade him turn and fight, he made no defence, but tumbled down out off
the saddle to the earth as a sack, and there he lay still, and cried
Sir Launcelot mercy.
So King Mark was soon brought as recreant before King Arthur, who
already knew wherefore he was come into his country, and that he had
not done the service and homage he owed as King Arthur's under-lord.
But King Mark promised to make large amends for the wrongs he had done,
for he was a fair speaker, and false thereunder. So on a day King
Arthur prayed of him one gift, and King Mark promised to give him
whatsoever he desired, if it were in his power. Then King Arthur asked
him to be good lord unto Sir Tristram, and to take him back into
Cornwall, and to cherish him for Arthur's sake. King Mark promised
this, and swore upon a book afore Arthur and all his knights.
Therewith King Arthur forgave him all the evil will that ever he owed
him, and King Mark and Sir Tristram took either other by the hands hard
knit together. But for all this King Mark thought falsely, as it
proved afterward.
Then soon afterward King Mark took his leave to ride into Cornwall, and
Sir Tristram rode with him; wherefore the most part of the Round Table
were passing heavy, and some were wroth, knowing that King Mark was the
most coward and the villainest knight living.
After a while letters came out of Cornwall that spake ill of Sir
Tristram and showed plainly that King Mark took Sir Tristram for his
mortal enemy. Sir Launcelot in especial made great sorrow for anger,
wherefore Dinadan, a gentle, wise, and courteous knight, said to him:
"King Mark is so villainous that by fair speech shall never man get of
him. But ye shall see what I shall do. I will make a lay for him, and
when it is made I shall make a harper sing it afore him."
So anon Dinadan went and made the lay, hoping thereby to humble the
crafty king; and he taught it an harper named Eliot, and when he knew
it, he taught it to many harpers. And so, by the will of Sir Launcelot
and of Arthur, the harpers went straight into Wales and into Cornwall,
to sing the lay that Sir Dinadan made of King Mark, which was the worst
lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any other instrument.
At a great feast that King Mark made came in Eliot the harper, and
because he was a curious harper, men heard him sing the lay that
Dinadan had made, the which spake the most villainy of King Mark's
treason that ever man heard. When the harper had sung his song to the
end, King Mark was wonderly wroth, for he deemed that the lay that was
sung afore him was made by Sir Tristram's counsel, wherefore he thought
to slay him and all his well willers in that country.
So King Mark grew ever more jealous of Sir Tristram because of his
prowess as knight and his great love and loyal devotion to the queen,
the Fair Isoud; and by treason King Mark let take him and put him in
prison, contrary to his promise that he made unto King Arthur. When
Queen Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was in prison, she made as
great sorrow as ever made lady or gentlewoman. Then Sir Tristram sent
a letter unto her, and prayed her to be his good lady; and if it
pleased her to make a vessel ready for her and him, he would go with
her unto the realm of Logris, that is this land.
When the Fair Isoud understood Sir Tristram's letter and his intent,
she sent him another, and bade him be of good comfort, for she would
make the vessel ready, and all things to purpose. Then she had King
Mark taken and put in prison, until the time that she and Sir Tristram
were departed unto the realm of Logris. And then Sir Tristram was
delivered out of prison, and anon in all haste they took their vessel,
and came by water into England.
When Sir Launcelot understood that Sir Tristram was there, he was full
glad. He espied whither he went, and after him he rode, and then
either made of other great joy. And so Sir Launcelot brought Sir
Tristram and the Fair Isoud unto Joyous Gard, that was Sir Launcelot's
own castle that he had won with his own hands. And he charged all his
people to honour them and love them as they would do himself.
Near three years Sir Tristram kept the Fair Isoud with him in Joyous
Gard, and then by means of treaties he brought her again unto King Fox,
which was the name Sir Launcelot gave unto Mark because of his wiles
and treason. But ever the malice of King Fox followed his brave
nephew, and in the end he slew him as he sat harping afore his lady,
the Fair Isoud, with a trenchant glaive, thrust in behind to the heart.
For his death was much bewailing of every knight that ever was in
Arthur's days, for he was traitorously slain. And the Fair Isoud died,
swooning upon the cross of Sir Tristram, whereof was great pity. And
all that were with King Mark that were consenting to the death of Sir
Tristram were slain, as Sir Andred and many others.