Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  So thys lady and damesell brought hym mete and drynke, but he ete lityll thereoff. Than uppon a nyght he put hys horse frome hym and unlaced hys armour, and so yeode unto the wyldirnes and braste downe the treys and bowis.

  And othirwhyle, whan he founde the harpe that the lady sente hym, than wolde he harpe and play thereuppon and wepe togydirs. And somtyme, whan he was in the wood, the lady wyst nat where he was. Than wolde she sette hir downe and play uppon the harpe, and anone sir Trystramys wolde com to the harpe and harkyn thereto, and somtyme he wolde harpe hymselff.

  Thus he there endured a quarter off a yere, and so at the laste he ran hys way and she wyst nat where he was becom. And than was he naked, and waxed leane and poore of fleyshe. And so he felle in the felyshyppe of herdemen and shyperdis, and dayly they wolde gyff hym som of their mete and drynke, and whan he ded ony shrewde dede they wolde beate hym with roddis. And so they clypped hym with sherys and made hym lyke a foole.

  And so uppon a day sir Dagonet, kynge Arthurs foole, cam into Cornwayle with two squyers with hym, and as they rode thorow that foreyste they cam by a fayre welle where sir Trystramys was wonte to be. And the weddir was hote, and they alyght to drynke of that welle, and in the meanewhyle theyre horsys brake lowse. Ryght so cam sir Trystramys unto them, and firste he sowsed sir Dagonet in that welle, and aftir that hys squyars, and thereat lowghe the shypperdis. And furthwithall he ran aftir their horsis and brought hem agayne one by one, and ryght so wete as they were he made them lepe up and ryde their wayes.

  Thus sir Trystramys endured there an halff-yere naked, and wolde never com in towne ne village. So the meanewhyle the damesell that sir Palomydes sent to seke sir Trystram, she yode unto sir Palomydes and tolde hym off all the myschyff that sir Trystram endured.

  ‘Alas!’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘hit ys grete pité that ever so noble a knyght sholde be so myscheved for the love of a lady. But nevertheles I woll go and seke hym and comforte hym and I may.’

  Than a lytyll before that tyme La Beall Isode had commaunded sir Kayhydyns oute of the contrey of Cornwayle. So sir Keyhydyns departed with a dolerous harte, and by aventure he mette with sir Palomydes, and they felyshypped togydirs, and aythir complayned to other of there hote love that they loved La Beall Isode.

  ‘Now lat us,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘seke sir Trystramys that lovyth her as well as we, and let us preve whether we may recover hym.’ So they rode into the foreyste, and three dayes and three nyghtes they wolde never take lodgynge, but ever sought sir Trystram. And uppon a tyme by adventure they mette with kynge Marke that was rydden frome hys men all alone. And whan they saw hym sir Palomydes knew hym, but sir Keyhydyns knew hym nat.

  ‘A, false knyght!’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘hit ys pité thou haste thy lyff, for thou arte a destroyer of all worshipfull knyghtes, and by thy myschyff and thy vengeaunce thou haste destroyed that moste noble knyght, sir Trystramys de Lyones. And therefore deffende the,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘for thou shalt dye thys day!’

  ‘That were shame,’ seyde kynge Marke, ‘for ye too ar armed and I am unarmed.’

  As for that,’ seyde sir Palomydes, ‘I shall fynde a remedy therefore: here ys a knyght with me, and thou shalt have hys harneyse.”Nay,’ seyde kynge Marke, ‘I woll nat have ado with you, for cause have ye none to me: for all the mysseease that sir Trystramys hath was for a lettir that he founde. For as for me, I ded to hym no displesure, and God knowith I am full sory for hys maledye and hys myssease.’

  So whan the kynge had thus excused hymselff they were fryndys, and kynge Marke wolde have had them unto the Castell of Tyntagyll. But sir Palomydes wolde nat, but turned unto the realme of Logrys, and sir Keyhydyns seyde that he wolde into Bretayne.

  Now turne we unto sir Dagonet ayen, that whan he and hys squyers were uppon horsebacke he demyd that the shyperdis had sente that foole to aray hem so bycause that they lawghed at them. And so they rode unto the kepers of the bestis and all to-bete them.

  Whan sir Trystramys saw hem betyn that were wonte to gyff hym mete, he ran thydir and gate sir Dagonet by the hede, and there he gaff hym such a falle to the erthe and brusede hym so that he lay stylle. And than he wraste hys swerde oute of hys honde, and therewith he ran to one of hys squyers and smote of hys hede, and hys othir squyer fled. And so sir Trystramys toke his way with the swerde in hys honde, rennynge as he had bene wyld woode.

  Than sir Dagonet rode to kynge Marke and tolde hym how he had spedde in the foreyste, ‘and therefore,’ seyde sir Dagonet, ‘beware, kynge Marke, that thou com nat aboute that well in the foreyste, for there ys a foole naked. And that foole and I, foole, mette togydir, and he had allmoste slayne me.’

  ‘A,’ seyde kynge Marke, ‘that ys sir Matto le Breune that felle oute of hys wytte because he loste hys lady, for whan sir Gaherys smote downe sir Matto and wan hys lady of hym, never syns was he in his mynde, and that was grete pité, for he was a good knyght.’

  Than sir Andred that was cousyn unto sir Trystram made a lady [20] that was hys paramour to sey and to noyse hit that she was with sir Trystramys or ever he dyed. And thys tale she brought unto kynge Markis house, that she buryed hym by a welle, and that or he dyed he besoughte kynge Marke to make hys cousyn, sir Andred, kynge of the contrey of Lyonas, of the whych sir Trystramys was lorde of. And all thys ded sir Andred bycause he wolde have had sir Trystramys londis.

  And whan kynge Mark harde telle that sir Trystrames was dede he wepte and made grete dole. But whan quene Isode harde of thes tydyngis, she made such sorow that she was nyghe oute of hir mynde. And so uppon a day she thought to sle hirselff and never to lyve aftir the deth of sir Trystramys.

  And so uppon a day La Beall Isode gate a swerde pryvayly, and bare hit into her gardyne, and there she pyghte the swerde thorow a plum-tre up to the hyltis so that hit stake faste, and hit stoode brestehyghe. And as she wolde have renne uppon the swerde and to have slayne hirselff, all thys aspyed kynge Marke, how she kneled adowne and seyde, ‘Sweyte Lorde Jesu, have mercy uppon me, for I may nat lyve aftir the deth of sir Trystram de Lyones, for he was my firste love and shall be the laste!’

  And with thes wordis cam kynge Marke and toke hir in hys armys. And than he toke up the swerde and bare hir away with hym into a towre, and there he made hir to be kepte, and wacched hir surely. And aftir that she lay longe syke, nyghe at the poynte of dethe.

  So thys meanewhyle ran sir Trystramys naked in the foreyste with the swerde in hys honde, and so he cam to an ermytayge, and there he layde hym downe and slepte. And in the meanewhyle the ermyte stale away the swerde and layde mete downe by hym. Thus was he kepte there a ten dayes, and at the laste he departed and com to the herdemen ayen.

  And there was a gyaunte in that contrey that hyght Tauleas, and for feare of sir Trystram more than seven yere he durste never muche go at large, but for the moste party he kepte hym in a sure castell of hys owne. And so thys Tauleas harde telle that sir Trystramys was dede by the noyse of the courte of kynge Marke. Than thys gyaunt Tauleas yode dayly at hys large.

  And so he happyd uppon a day he cam to the herdemen wandrynge and langeryng, and there he sette hym downe to reste amonge them. And in the meanewhyle there cam a knyght of Cornwayle that led a lady with hym, and hys name was sir Dynaunte. And whan the gyaunte saw hym he wente frome the herdemen and hydde hym under a tre.

  And so the knyght cam to the well and there he alyght to repose hym. And as sone as he was frome hys horse this gyaunte Tauleas com betwyxte thys knyght and hys horse, and toke the horse and leped uppon hym; and so forthewith he rode unto sir Dynaunte and toke hym by the coler and pulled hym afore hym uppon hys horse, and wolde have stryken of hys hede.

  Than the herdemen seyde unto sir Trystram, ‘Helpe yondir knyght!’

  ‘Helpe ye hym,’ seyde sir Trystram.

  ‘We dare nat,’ seyde the herdemen.

  Than sir Trystram was ware of the swerde of the knyght thereas hit lay, and so thydir he ran and toke up the swerde and smote to sir Tauleas, and so strake of hys hede, and so he yode
hys way to the herdemen.

  Than sir Dynaunte toke up the gyauntes hede and bare hit with [21] hym unto kynge Marke, and tolde hym what adventure betydde hym in the foreyste and how a naked man rescowed hym frome the grymly gyaunte sir Tauleas.

  ‘Where had ye thys aventure?’ seyde kynge Marke.

  ‘Forsothe,’ seyde sir Dynaunte, ‘at the fayre fountayne in the foreyst, where many adventures knyghtes mete, and there ys the madde man.’

  ‘Well,’ seyde kynge Marke, ‘I woll se that wood man.’

  So within a day or two kynge Marke commaunded hys knyghtes and his hunters to be redy, and seyde that he wolde hunte on the morne. And so uppon the morne he wente into that foreyste. And whan the kynge cam to that welle he found there lyyng a fayre naked man, and a swerde by hym. Than kynge Marke blew and straked, and therewith hys knyghtes cam to hym, and than he commaunded hys knyghtes to take the naked man with fayrenes, and brynge hym to my castell.’

  And so they ded savely and fayre, and keste mantels uppon sir Trystramys, and so lad hym unto Tyntagyll. And there they bathed hym and wayshed hym, and gaff hym hote suppyngis, tylle they had brought hym well to hys remembraunce. But all thys whyle there was no creature that knew sir Trystramys nothir what maner man he was.

  So hyt befelle uppon a day that the quene La Beall Isode hard of such a man that ran naked in the foreyste, and how the kynge had brought hym home to the courte. Than La Beall Isode called unto her dame Brangwayne and seyde, ‘Com on with me, for we woll go se thys man that my lorde brought frome the foreste the laste day.’

  So they passed forth and spurred where was the syke man, and than a squyer tolde the quene that he was in the gardyne takyng hys reste to repose hym ayenst the sunne. So whan the quene loked uppon sir Trystramys she was nat remembird of hym, but ever she seyde unto dame Brangwayne, ‘Mesemys I shulde have sene thys man here before in many placis.’

  But as sone as sir Trystramys sye her he knew her well inowe, and than he turned away hys vysage and wepte.

  Than the quene had allwayes a lytyll brachett that sir Trystramys gaff hir the first tyme that ever she cam into Cornwayle, and never wold that brachet departe frome her but yf sir Trystram were nyghe thereas was La Beall Isode. And thys brachet was firste sente frome the kynges doughter of Fraunce unto sir Trystrams for grete love.

  And anone thys lityll bracket felte a savoure of sir Trystram. He lepte uppon hym and lycked hys learys and hys earys, and than he whyned and quested, and she smelled at hys feete and at hys hondis and on all the partyes of hys body that she myght com to.

  ‘A, my lady!’ seyde dame Brangwayne, ‘Alas! I se hit ys myne owne lorde sir Trystramys.’

  And thereuppon La Beall Isode felle downe in a sowne and so lay a grete whyle. And whan she myght speke she seyde, ‘A, my lorde, sir Trystram! Blyssed be God ye have youre lyff! And now I am sure ye shall be discoverde by thys lityll brachet, for she woll never leve you. And also I am sure, as sone as my lorde kynge Marke do know you he woll banysh you oute of the contrey of Cornwayle, othir ellis he woll destroy you. And therefore, for Goddys sake, myne owne lorde, graunte kynge Marke hys wyll, and than draw you unto the courte off kynge Arthure, for there ar ye beloved. And ever whan I may I shall sende unto you, and whan ye lyste ye may com unto me, and at all tymes early and late I woll be at youre commaundement, to lyve as poore a lyff as ever ded quyene or lady.’

  ‘A, madame!’ seyde sir Trystramys, ‘go frome me, for much angir and daunger have I ascaped for your love.’

  Than the quene departed, but the brachet wolde nat frome hym, [22] and therewithall cam kynge Marke, and the brachet sate uppon hym and bayed at them all. And therewithall sir Andred spake and sayde, ‘Sir, thys ys sir Trystramys, I se well by that brachet.’

  ‘Nay,’ seyde the kynge, ‘I can nat suppose that.’

  Than the kyng asked hym uppon hys faythe what he was and what was hys name.

  ‘So God me helpe,’ seyde he, ‘my name ys sir Trystramys de Lyones. Now do by me what ye lyst.’

  ‘A,’ sayde kynge Marke, ‘me repentis of youre recoverynge.’

  And so he lete calle hys barownes to geve jugemente unto sir Trystramys to the dethe. Than many of hys barownes wolde nat assente thereto, and in especiall sir Dynas the Senesciall and sir Fergus. And so by the avyse of them all sir Trystramys was banysshed oute of the contrey for ten yere, and thereuppon he toke hys othe uppon a booke before the kynge and hys barownys. And so he was made to departe oute of the contrey of Cornwayle, and there were many barownes brought hym unto hys shyp, that som were of hys frendis and som were of hys fooys.

  And in the meanewhyle there cam a knyght of kynge Arthurs, and hys name was sir Dynadan, and hys commyng was for to seke aftir sir Trystram. Than they shewed hym where he was, armed at all poyntis, going to the shyp.

  ‘Now, fayre knyght,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘or ye passe thys courte, that ye woll juste with me I requyre the.’

  ‘With a good wyll,’ seyde sir Trystramys, and these lordes woll gyffe me leve.’

  Than the barownes graunted thereto, and so they ranne togydir, and there sir Trystramys gaff sir Dynadan a falle. And than he prayde sir Trystram of hys jantylnes to gyff hym leve to go in hys felyshyp.

  ‘Ye shall be ryghr wellcom,’ seyd he.

  And than sir Trystramys and sir Dynadan toke their horsys and rode to their shyppys togydir. And whan sir Trystramys was in the se he seyde, ‘Grete well kyng Marke and all myne enemyes, and sey to hem I woll com agayne whan I may. And sey hym well am I rewarded for the fyghtyng with sir Marhalt, and delyverd all hys contrey frome servayge. And well am I rewarded for the fecchynge and costis of quene Isode oute off Irelonde and the daunger that I was in firste and laste. And by the way commyng home what daunger I had to brynge agayne quene Isode frome the Castell Pleure! And well am I rewarded whan I fought with sir Bleoberys for sir Segwarydes wyff. And well am I rewarded whan I faught with sir Blamoure de Ganys for kyng Angwysh, fadir unto La Beall Isode.

  ‘And well am I rewarded whan I smote down the good knyght sir Lamerok de Galis at kynge Markes requeste. And well am I rewarded whan I faught with the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes and the kynge of North Galys, and both thes wolde have put hys londe in servayge, and by me they were put to a rebuke. And well am I rewarded for the sleyng of Tauleas, the myghty gyaunte. And many othir dedys have I done for hym, and now have I my waryson!

  ‘And telle kynge Marke that many noble knyghtes of the Rounde Table have spared the barownes of thys contrey for my sake. And also, I am nat well rewarded whan I fought with the good knyght sir Palomydes and rescowed quene Isode frome hym. And at that tyme kynge Marke seyde afore all hys barownes I sholde have bene bettir rewarded.’

  And furthewithall he toke the see.

  And at the nexte londynge faste by the see there mette with sir Trystram and with sir Dynadan sir Ector de Marys and sir Bors de Ganys, and there sir Ector justed with sir Dynadan and he smote hym and hys horse downe. And than sir Trystram wolde have justed with sir Bors, and sir Bors seyde that he wolde nat juste with no Cornyssh knyghtes, for they ar nat called men of worship. And all thys was done uppon a brydge.

  And with thys cam sir Bleoberys and sir Dryaunte, and sir Bleoberys profird to juste with sir Trystram, and there sir Trystram smote downe sir Bleoberys. Than seyde sir Bors de Ganys, ‘I wyste never Cornysh knyght of so grete a valure nor so valyaunte as that knyght that beryth the trappours enbrowdred with crownys.’

  And than sir Trystram and sir Dynadan departed from them into a foreyst, and there mette them a damesell that cam for the love of sir Launcelot to seke aftir som noble knyghtes of kynge Arthurs courte for to rescow sir Launcelot. For he was ordayned for by the treson of quene Morgan le Fay to have slayne hym, and for that cause she ordayned thirty knyghtes to lye in wayte for sir Launcelot.

  And thys damesell knew thys treson, and for thys cause she cam for to seke noble knyghtis to helpe sir Launcelot; for that nyght other the day affter sir Launcelot sholde com where thes thirty knyghtes
were.

  And so thys damesell mette with sir Bors and sir Ector and with sir Dryaunte, and there she told hem all four of the treson of Morgan le Fay. And than they promysed her that they wolde be nyghe her whan sir Launcelot shold mete with the thirty knyghtes.

  And if so be they sette uppon hym, we woll do rescowis as we can.’

  So the damesell departed, and by adventure she mette with sir Trystram and with sir Dynadan, and there the damesell tolde hem of all the treson that was ordayned for sir Launcelot.

  ‘Now, fayre damesell,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘brynge me to that same place where they shold mete with sir Launcelot.’

  Than seyde sir Dynadan, ‘What woll ye do? Hit ys nat for us to fyght with thirty knyghtes, and wyte you well I woll nat thereoff! As to macche o knyght, two or three ys inow and they be men, but for to matche fiftene knyghtes, that I woll never undirtake.’

  ‘Fy for shame!’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘do but youre parte!’

  ‘Nay,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘I woll nat thereoff but iff ye woll lende me your shylde. For ye bere a shylde of Cornwayle, and for the cowardyse that ys named to the knyghtes of Cornwayle by youre shyldys ye bene ever forborne.’

  ‘Nay,’ sayde sir Trystram, ‘I woll nat departe frome my shylde for her sake that gaff hit me. But one thyng,’ seyde sir Trystram, ‘I promyse the, sir Dynadan: but if thou wolte promyse me to abyde with me ryght here I shall sle the. For I desyre no more of the but answere one knyght. And yf thy harte woll nat serve the, stonde by and loke uppon!’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Dynadan, ‘I woll promyse you to looke uppon and to do what I may to save myselff, but I wolde I had nat mette with you.’

  So than anone thes thirty knyghtes cam faste by thes four knyghtes, and they were ware of them, and aythir of other. And so thes thirty knyghtes lette them passe for thys cause, that they wolde nat wratth them if case be they had ado with sir Launcelot. And the four knyghtes lette them passe to thys entente, that they wolde se and beholde what they wolde do with sir Launcelot. And so the thirty knyghtes paste on and cam by sir Trystram and by sir Dynadan, and than sir Trystramys cryed on hyght: