Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics)

by Malory, Thomas

  Then Sir Tristram made Hebes a knight, and caused him to put himself forth, and he did right well that day. So after that, Sir Hebes held him with Sir Tristram.

  And when Sir Palomides had received his fall, wit ye well that he was sore ashamed, and as privily as he might he withdrew him out of the field. All that espied Sir Tramtrist, and lightly he rode after Sir Palomides and overtook him and bade him turn, for better he would assay him or ever he departed. Then Sir Palomides turned him, and either lashed at other with their swords; but at the first stroke, Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and gave him such a stroke upon the head that he fell to the earth. So then Sir Tristram bade him yield him and do his commandment, or else he would slay him. When Sir Palomides beheld his countenance, he dreaded his buffets so, that he granted all his askings.

  ‘Well,’ said Sir Tramtrist, ‘this shall be your charge. First, upon pain of your life, that ye forsake my lady La Belle Isode, and in no manner of wise that ye draw no more to her. Also, this twelvemonth and a day that ye bear no arms nor no harness of war. Now promise me this, or here shalt thou die.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Palomides, ‘for ever I am shamed.’

  Then he swore as Sir Tristram had commanded him. So for despite and anger Sir Palomides cut off his harness and threw them away. And so Sir Tristram turned again to the castle where was La Belle Isode; and by the way he met with a damosel that asked after Sir Lancelot, that won the Dolorous Gard.* And this damosel asked Sir Tristram what he was, for it was told her that it was he that smote down Sir Palomides, by whom the ten knights of Arthur’s were smitten down. Then the damosel prayed Sir Tristram to tell her what he was, and whether that he were Sir Lancelot du Lake, for she deemed that there was no knight in the world that might do such deeds of arms but if it were Sir Lancelot.

  ‘Wit you well that I am not Sir Lancelot, fair damosel, for I was never of such prowess. But in God is all; He may make me as good a knight as that good knight Sir Lancelot is.’

  ‘Now, gentle knight, put up thy visor.’ And when she beheld his visage, she thought she saw never a better man’s visage, nor a better-faring* knight.

  So when the damosel knew certainly that he was not Sir Lancelot, then she took her leave and departed from him. And then Sir Tristram rode privily unto the postern where kept* him La Belle Isode; and there she made him great cheer, and thanked God of his good speed.

  So anon within a while the king and the queen and all the court understood that it was Sir Tramtrist that smote down Sir Palomides; and then was he much made of, more than he was before.

  [11]

  Thus was Sir Tramtrist long there well cherished with the king and with the queen, and namely* with La Belle Isode. So upon a day the queen and La Belle Isode made a bain* for Sir Tramtrist.* And when he was in his bain the queen and Isode her daughter roamed up and down in the chamber the while Gouvernail and Hebes attended upon Tramtrist. The queen beheld his sword as it lay upon his bed, and then at unhap* the queen drew out his sword and beheld it a long while. And both they thought it a passing fair sword; but within a foot and a half of the point there was a great piece thereof out broken of the edge. And when the queen had espied that gap in the sword, she remembered her of a piece of a sword that was found in the brain-pan of Sir Marhalt, that was her brother.

  ‘Alas,’ then said she unto her daughter La Belle Isode, ‘this is the same traitor knight that slew my brother, thine eme.’*

  When Isode heard her say so she was passing sore abashed, for passing well she loved Tramtrist, and full well she knew the cruelness of her mother the queen.

  So anon therewith the queen went unto her own chamber and sought her coffer, and there she took out the piece of the sword that was pulled out of Sir Marhalt’s brain-pan after that he was dead. And then she ran with that piece of iron to the sword, and when she put that piece of steel and iron unto the sword, it was as meet* as it might be when it was new broken. And then the queen gripped that sword in her hand fiercely, and with all her might she ran straight upon Tramtrist where he sat in his bain. And there she had rived him through, had not Sir Hebes been: he got her in his arms and pulled the sword from her, and else she had thrust him through. So when she was let of* her evil will she ran to the king her husband and said, ‘Ah, my lord!’ On her knees kneeling, she said, ‘Here have ye in your house that traitor knight that slew my brother and your servant, the noble knight Sir Marhalt.’

  ‘Who is that,’ said the king, ‘and where is he?’

  ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘it is Sir Tramtrist, the same knight that my daughter healed.’

  ‘Alas,’ said the king, ‘therefore I am right heavy, for he is a full noble knight as ever I saw in field. But I charge you,’ said the king, ‘that ye have not ado with that knight, but let me deal with him.’

  Then the king went into the chamber unto Sir Tramtrist; and then was he gone unto his own chamber, and the king found him all ready armed to mount upon his horse. So when the king saw him all ready armed to go unto horseback, the king said, ‘Nay, Tramtrist, it will not avail to compare* against me; but thus much I shall do for my worship and for thy love. In so much as thou art within my court, it were no worship to slay thee; therefore upon this condition I will give thee leave for to depart from this court in safety, so thou wilt tell me who was thy father and what is thy name, and also if thou slew Sir Marhalt, my brother.’

  [12]

  ‘Sir,’ said Tramtrist, ‘now I shall tell you all the truth. My father’s name is Sir Meliodas, King of Lyonesse, and my mother hight Elizabeth, that was sister unto King Mark of Cornwall; and my mother died of me in the forest, and because thereof she commanded or she died that when I was christened they should christen me Tristram. And because I would not be known in this country, I turned my name and let call me Tramtrist. And for the truage of Cornwall I fought for my eme’s sake and for the right of Cornwall that ye had been possessed many years. And wit you well,’ said Sir Tristram unto the king, ‘I did the battle for the love of my uncle King Mark, and for the love of the country of Cornwall, and for to increase my honour; for that same day that I fought with Sir Marhalt I was made knight, and never or then did I no battle with no knight. And from me he went alive, and left his shield and his sword behind him.’

  ‘So God me help,’ said the king, ‘I may not say but ye did as a knight should do, and it was your part to do for your quarrel, and to increase your worship as a knight should do. Howbeit I may not maintain you in this country with my worship but that I should displease many of my barons and my wife and my kin.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I thank you of your good lordship that I have had within here with you, and the great goodness my lady your daughter hath showed me. And therefore,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘it may so be that ye shall win more by my life than by my death; for in the parts of England it may happen I may do you service at some season, that ye shall be glad that ever ye showed me your good lordship. With more I promise you as I am true knight, that in all places I shall be my lady your daughter’s servant and knight in all right and in wrong, and I shall never fail her to do as much as a knight may do. Also I beseech your good grace that I may take my leave at my lady your daughter, and at all the barons and knights.’

  ‘I will well,’ said the king.

  Then Sir Tristram went unto La Belle Isode and took his leave of her. And then he told what he was, and how a lady told him that he should never be whole ‘until I came into this country where the poison was made wherethrough I was near my death, had not your ladyship been.’

  ‘Ah, gentle knight,’ said La Belle Isode, ‘full woe I am of thy departing, for I saw never man that I owed so good will to.’ And therewith she wept heartily.

  ‘Madam,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘ye shall understand that my name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, begotten of a king and born of a queen. And I promise you faithfully, I shall be all the days of my life your knight.’

  ‘Gramercy,’ said La Belle Isode, ‘and I promise you th
ereagainst,* I shall not be married this seven years but by your assent; and whom that ye will, I shall be married to him and he will have me, if ye will consent thereto.’ And then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another.

  And therewith he departed and came into the court among all the barons, and there he took his leave at most and least. And openly he said among them all, ‘Fair lords, now it is so that I must depart. If there be any man here that I have offended unto, or that any man be with me grieved, let him complain him here before me or that ever I depart, and I shall amend it unto my power. And if there be any man that will proffer me wrong, or say me wrong or shame me behind my back, say it now or else never; and here is my body to make it good, body against body.’

  And all they stood still: there was not one that would say one word. Yet were there some knights that were of the queen’s blood, and of Sir Marhalt’s blood, but they would not meddle with him.

  [13]

  So Sir Tristram departed and took the sea, and with good wind he arrived up at Tintagel in Cornwall. And when King Mark was whole in his prosperity there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived, and whole of his wounds. Thereof was King Mark passing glad, and so were all the barons. And when he saw his time he rode unto his father King Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the king and the queen could make him. And then largely King Meliodas and his queen parted of their lands and goods to Sir Tristram.

  Then by the licence of his father he returned again unto the court of King Mark. And there he lived long in great joy long time, until at the last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness betwixt King Mark and Sir Tristram, for they loved both one lady; and she was an earl’s wife that hight Sir Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir Tristram passingly well, and he loved her again; for she was a passing fair lady, and that espied Sir Tristram well. Then King Mark understood that and was jealous, for King Mark loved her passingly well.

  So it befell upon a day, this lady sent a dwarf unto Sir Tristram and bade him as he loved her that he would be with her the next night following. ‘Also she charged you that ye come not to her but if ye be well armed’—for her lord was called a good knight.

  Sir Tristram answered to the dwarf and said, ‘Recommend me unto my lady and tell her I will not fail, but I shall be with her the term that she hath set me.’ And therewith the dwarf departed.

  And King Mark espied that the dwarf was with Sir Tristram upon message from Segwarides’ wife; then King Mark sent for the dwarf, and when he was come he made the dwarf by force to tell him all why and wherefore that he came on message to Sir Tristram, and then he told him.

  ‘Well,’ said King Mark, ‘go where thou wilt, and upon pain of death that thou say no word that thou spake with me.’ So the dwarf departed.

  And that same night that the Steven* was set betwixt Segwarides’ wife and Sir Tristram, so King Mark armed and made him ready, and took two knights of his counsel* with him. And so he rode before for to abide by the ways for to await upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram came riding upon his way with his spear in his hand, King Mark came hurtling upon him, and his two knights, suddenly, and all three smote him with their spears; and King Mark hurt Sir Tristram on the breast right sore. And then Sir Tristram fewtered his spear, and smote King Mark so sore that he rushed him to the earth and bruised him that he lay still in a swoon; and long it was or he might wield himself. And then he ran to the one knight, and after to the other, and smote them to the cold earth, that they lay still.

  And therewith Sir Tristram rode forth sore wounded to the lady, and found her abiding him at a postern. And there she welcomed him fair, and either halsed* other in arms; and so she let put up his horse in the best wise, and then she unarmed him. And so they supped lightly, and went to bed with great joy and pleasance. And so in his raging* he took no keep of his green* wound that King Mark had given him; and so Sir Tristram be-bled both the over sheet and the nether sheet, and the pillows and the head sheet. And within a while there came one before, that warned her that her lord Sir Segwarides was near hand, within a bow draught.* So she made Sir Tristram to arise, and he armed him and took his horse and so departed. So by then was Sir Segwarides her lord come; and when he found his bed troubled and broken, he went near and looked by candlelight and he saw that there had lain a wounded knight.

  ‘Ah, false traitress,’ he said, ‘why hast thou betrayed me?’ And therewith he swung out a sword and said, ‘But if* thou tell me all, now shalt thou die!’

  ‘Ah, my lord, mercy!’ said the lady, and held up her hands, ‘and slay me not, and I shall tell you all who hath been here.’

  ‘Then anon,’ said Segwarides, ‘say and tell me the truth.’

  Anon for dread she said, ‘Here was Sir Tristram with me, and by the way as he came to me-ward, he was sore wounded.’

  ‘Ah, false traitress, where is he become?’

  ‘Sir,’ she said, ‘he is armed, and departed on horseback not yet hence half a mile.’

  ‘Ye say well,’ said Segwarides.

  Then he armed him lightly and got his horse, and rode after Sir Tristram the straight way unto Tintagel. And within a while he overtook Sir Tristram, and then he bade him, ‘Turn, false traitor knight!’

  And therewith Sir Segwarides smote Sir Tristram with a spear, that it all tobrast; and then he swung out his sword and smote fast at Sir Tristram.

  ‘Sir knight,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I counsel you, smite no more, howbeit for the wrongs that I have done you I will forbear you as long as I may.’

  ‘Nay,’ said Segwarides, ‘that shall not be, for either thou shalt die or else I.’

  Then Sir Tristram drew out his sword and hurled his horse unto him freshly, and through the waist of the body he smote Sir Segwarides that he fell to the earth in swoon; and so Sir Tristram departed and left him there. And so he rode unto Tintagel and took his lodging secretly, for he would not be known that he was hurt. Also Sir Segwarides’ men rode after their master, and brought him home on his shield; and there he lay long or he were whole, but at the last he recovered.

  Also King Mark would not be known of that he had done unto Sir Tristram when he met that night; and as for Sir Tristram, he knew not that King Mark had met with him. And so the king came askance* to Sir Tristram to comfort him as he lay sick in his bed. But as long as King Mark lived he loved never after Sir Tristram. So after that, though there were fair speech, love was there none.*

  [19]

  So when this was done King Mark cast all the ways that he might to destroy Sir Tristram; and then imagined in himself to send Sir Tristram into Ireland for La Belle Isode. For Sir Tristram had so praised her for her beauty and her goodness that King Mark said that he would wed her; whereupon he prayed Sir Tristram to take his way into Ireland for him on message—and all this was done to the intent to slay Sir Tristram. Notwithstanding, he would not refuse the message for no danger nor peril that might fall, for the pleasure of his uncle. So he made him ready to go in the most goodliest wise that might be devised; for he took with him the most goodliest knights that he might find in the court, and they were arrayed after the guise that was used in that time in the most goodliest manner.

  So Sir Tristram departed and took the sea with all his fellowship. And anon as he was in the sea a tempest took them, and drove them into the coast of England; and there they arrived fast by Camelot, and full fain they were to take the land. And when they were landed Sir Tristram set up his pavilion upon the land of Camelot, and there he let hang his shield upon the pavilion.

  And that same day came two knights of King Arthur’s: that one was Sir Ector de Maris, and that other was Sir Morganor. And these two touched the shield, and bade him come out of the pavilion for to joust and he would.

  ‘Anon ye shall be answered,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘and ye will tarry a little while.’

  So he made him ready, and first he smote down Sir Ector and then Sir Morganor, all with one spear, and sore bruised them. And when they lay upon the ear
th they asked Sir Tristram what he was, and of what country he was knight.

  ‘Fair lords,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘wit you well that I am of Cornwall.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Ector, ‘now am I ashamed that ever any Cornish knight should overcome me.’ And then for despite Sir Ector put off his armour from him and went on foot, and would not ride.

  [20]

  Then it befell that Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamor de Ganis, that were brethren, they had summoned King Angwish of Ireland for to come to King Arthur’s court upon pain of forfeiture of King Arthur’s good grace; and if the King of Ireland came not in to the day assigned and set, the king should lose his lands. So by King Arthur it was happened that day that neither he nor Sir Lancelot might not be there where the judgement should be given, for King Arthur was with Sir Lancelot at Joyous Gard. And so King Arthur assigned King Carados and the King of Scots to be there that day as judges.

  So when these kings were at Camelot, King Angwish of Ireland was come to know his accusers. Then was Sir Blamor de Ganis there that appealed* the King of Ireland of treason, that he had slain a cousin of theirs in his court in Ireland by treason. Then the king was sore abashed of his accusation for why he was at the summons of King Arthur, and or that he came at Camelot he wist not wherefore he was sent for. So when the king heard him say his will, he understood well there was none other remedy but to answer him knightly; for the custom was such in those days, that and any man were appealed of any treason or of murder he should fight body for body, or else to find another knight for him. And all manner of murders in those days were called treason. So when King Angwish understood his accusing he was passing heavy, for he knew Sir Blamor de Ganis that he was a noble knight and of noble knights come. So the King of Ireland was but simply purveyed* of his answer; therefore the judges gave him respite by the third day to give his answer. So the king departed unto his lodging.*