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

by Malory, Thomas

  [5]

  This meanwhile came the language and the noise unto King Meliodas, how that Sir Marhalt abode fast by Tintagel, and how King Mark could find no manner of knight to fight for him. So when young Tristram heard of this he was wroth and sore ashamed that there durst no knight in Cornwall have ado with Sir Marhalt of Ireland. Therewith Tristram went unto his father, King Meliodas, and asked him counsel what was best to do for to recover Cornwall from bondage. ‘For as me seemeth,’ said Tristram, ‘it were shame that Sir Marhalt, the queen’s brother of Ireland, should go away unless that he were fought withal.’

  ‘As for that,’ said King Meliodas, ‘wit you well, son Tristram, that Sir Marhalt is called one of the best knights of the world; and therefore I know no knight in this country is able to match him.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘that I were not made knight! And if Sir Marhalt should thus depart into Ireland, God let me never have worship. And sir,’ said Tristram, ‘I pray you give me leave to ride to King Mark; and so ye will be not displeased, of King Mark will I be made knight.’

  ‘I will well’, said King Meliodas, ‘that ye be ruled as your courage will rule you.’

  Then Sir Tristram thanked his father, and then he made him ready to ride into Cornwall.

  So in the meanwhile there came letters of love from King Faramon of France’s daughter unto Sir Tristram, that were piteous letters; but in no wise Tristram had no joy of her letters nor regard unto her. Also she sent him a little brachet that was passing fair. But when the king’s daughter understood that Tristram would not love her, as the book saith, she died.* And then the same squire that brought the letters and the brachet came again unto Sir Tristram, as after ye shall hear in the tale following.

  So after this young Tristram rode unto his erne* King Mark of Cornwall. And when he came there he heard say that there would no knight fight with Sir Marhalt.

  ‘Sir,’ said Tristram, ‘if ye will give me the order of knighthood, I will do battle with Sir Marhalt.’

  ‘What are ye,’ said the king, ‘and from whence be ye come?’

  ‘Sir,’ said Tristram, ‘I come from King Meliodas that wedded your sister; and a gentleman wit you well I am.’

  So King Mark beheld Tristram and saw that he was but a young man of age, but he was passingly well made and big.

  ‘Fair sir,’ said the king, ‘what is your name, and where were ye born?’

  ‘Sir, my name is Tristram, and in the country of Lyonesse was I born.’

  ‘Ye say well,’ said the king, ‘and if ye will do this battle I shall make you knight.’

  ‘Therefore came I to you,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘and for no other cause.’

  But then King Mark made him knight. And therewith, anon as he had made him knight, he sent unto Sir Marhalt that he had found a young knight ready for to take the battle to the utterance.*

  ‘It may well be so,’ said Sir Marhalt. ‘But tell King Mark I will not fight with no knight but he be of blood royal, that is to say either king’s son or queen’s son, born of princes or of princesses.’

  When King Mark understood that, he sent for Sir Tristram de Lyonesse and told him what was the answer of Sir Marhalt. Then said Sir Tristram, ‘Sithen that he sayeth so, let him wit that I am come of father side and mother side of as noble blood as he is. For sir, now shall ye know that I am King Meliodas’ son, born of your own sister, Dame Elizabeth, that died in the forest in the birth of me.’

  ‘Ah, Jesu!’ said King Mark, ‘ye are welcome, fair nephew, to me.’

  Then in all the haste the king horsed Sir Tristram, and armed him in the best manner that might be gotten for gold or silver. And then King Mark sent unto Sir Marhalt, and did him to wit* that a better man born than he was himself should fight with him: ‘and his name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, begotten of King Meliodas and born of King Mark’s sister.’

  Then was Sir Marhalt glad and blithe that he should fight with such a gentleman. And so by the assent of King Mark they let ordain that they should fight within an island nigh Sir Marhalt’s ships. And so was Sir Tristram put into a vessel, both his horse and he, and all that to him longed both for his body and for his horse, that he lacked nothing. And when King Mark and his barons of Cornwall beheld how young Sir Tristram departed with such a carriage to fight for the right of Cornwall, there was neither man nor woman of worship but they wept to see and understand so young a knight to jeopard himself for their right.

  [6]

  So to shorten this tale, when Sir Tristram arrived within the island he looked to the further side, and there he saw at an anchor six other ships nigh to the land; and under the shadow of the ships upon the land there hoved the noble knight Sir Marhalt of Ireland. Then Sir Tristram commanded to have his horse upon the land. And then Governail, his servant, dressed his harness at all manner of rights; and then Sir Tristram mounted upon his horse, and when he was in his saddle well apparelled and his shield dressed upon his shoulder, so Sir Tristram asked Gouvernail, ‘Where is this knight that I shall have ado withal?’

  ‘Sir,’ said Gouvernail, ‘see ye him not? I weened that ye had seen him, for yonder he hoveth under the umber* of his ships, on horseback with his spear in his hand and his shield upon his shoulder.’

  ‘That is truth,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘now I see him.’*

  Then he commanded Gouvernail to go to his vessel again; ‘and commend me unto mine eme King Mark, and pray him, if that I be slain in this battle, for to inter my body as him seemeth best. And as for me, let him wit I will never be yielded for cowardice; and if I be slain and flee not, then they have lost no truage for me. And if so be that I flee or yield me as recreant, bid mine eme bury me never in Christian burials. And upon thy life,’ said Sir Tristram unto Gouvernail, ‘that thou come not nigh this island till that thou see me overcome or slain, or else that I win yonder knight.’

  So either departed from other sore weeping.

  [7]

  And then Sir Marhalt avised* Sir Tristram, and said thus: ‘Young knight, Sir Tristram, what dost thou here? Me sore repents of thy courage, for wit thou well I have been assayed with many noble knights, and the best knights of this land have been assayed of my hands; and also the best knights of the world, I have matched them. And therefore by my counsel return again unto thy vessel.’

  ‘Ah, fair knight and well-proved,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘thou shalt well wit I may not forsake thee in this quarrel, for I am for thy sake made knight. And thou shall well wit that I am a king’s son born, and begotten upon a queen; and such promise I have made at my uncle’s request and my own seeking, that I shall fight with thee unto the uttermost and deliver Cornwall from the old truage. And also wit thou well, Sir Marhalt, that this is the greatest cause that thou couragest me to have ado with thee, for thou art called one of the most renowned knights of the world; and because of that noise and fame that thou hast thou givest me courage to have ado with thee, for never yet was I proved with good knight. And sithen I took the order of knighthood this day, I am right well pleased and to me most worship that I may have ado with such a knight as thou art. And now wit thou well, Sir Marhalt, that I cast me to get worship on thy body; and if that I be not proved, I trust to God to be worshipfully proved upon thy body, and to deliver the country of Cornwall for ever from all manner of truage from Ireland for ever.’

  When Sir Marhalt had heard him say what he would, he said thus again: ‘Fair knight, sithen it is so that thou castest to win worship of me, I let thee wit, worship may thou none lose by me if thou may stand me three strokes. For I let thee wit, for my noble deeds proved and seen King Arthur made me knight of the Table Round.’

  Then they began to fewter their spears, and they met so fiercely together that they smote each other down, both horse and man. But Sir Marhalt smote Sir Tristram a great wound in the side with his spear; and then they avoided their horses and pulled out their swords and threw their shields before them, and then they lashed together as men that were wild and courageous.
And when they had stricken together long, that their arms failed, then they left their strokes, and foined at breasts and visors; and when they saw that that it might not prevail them, then they hurtled together like rams to bear either other down. Thus they fought still together more than half a day, and either of them were wounded passing sore, that the blood ran down from them upon the ground.

  By then Sir Tristram waxed more fiercer than he did, and Sir Marhalt feebled, and Sir Tristram ever more well-winded and bigger; and with a mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhalt upon the helm such a buffet that it went through his helm and through the coif of steel and through the brain-pan, and the sword stuck so fast in the helm and in his brain-pan that Sir Tristram pulled three times at his sword or ever he might pull it out from his head. And there Sir Marhalt fell down on his knees, and the edge of the sword left in his brain-pan. And suddenly Sir Marhalt rose grovelling and threw his sword and his shield from him, and so he ran to his ships and fled his way; and Sir Tristram had ever his shield and his sword.

  And when Sir Tristram saw Sir Marhalt withdraw him, he said, ‘Ah, sir knight of the Round Table, why withdrawest thou thee? Thou dost thyself and thy kin great shame, for I am but a young knight; or now I was never proved. And rather than I should withdraw me from thee, I had rather be hewn in piecemeal.’

  Sir Marhalt answered no word, but yede his way sore groaning.

  ‘Well, sir knight,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I promise thee thy sword and thy shield shall be mine; and thy shield shall I wear in all places where I ride on my adventures, and in the sight of King Arthur and all the Round Table.’

  [8]

  So Sir Marhalt and his fellowship departed into Ireland. And as soon as he came to the king his brother, they searched his wounds; and when his head was searched, a piece of Sir Tristram’s sword was therein found, and might never be had out of his head for no leechcraft.* And so he died of Sir Tristram’s sword; and that piece of the sword the queen, his sister, kept it for ever with her, for she thought to be revenged and she might.

  Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram, that was sore wounded and sore for-bled, that he might not within a little while stand when he had taken cold, and uneath stir him of his limbs. And then he set him down softly upon a little hill, and bled fast. Then anon came Gouvernail, his man, with his vessel. And the king and the most part of his barons came with procession against Sir Tristram; and when he was come unto the land, King Mark took him in his arms, and he and Sir Dinas the Seneschal led Sir Tristram into the castle of Tintagel, and then was he searched* in the best manner, and laid in his bed. And when King Mark saw his wounds he wept heartily, and so did all his lords.

  ‘So God me help,’ said King Mark, ‘I would not for all my lands that my nephew died.’

  So Sir Tristram lay there a month and more, and ever he was like to die of the stroke that Sir Marhalt smote him first with the spear; for as the French book saith, the spearhead was envenomed, that Sir Tristram might not be whole. Then was King Mark and all his barons passing heavy, for they deemed none other but that Sir Tristram should not recover. Then the king let send after all manner of leeches and surgeons, both unto men and women, and there was none that would behote* him the life.

  Then came there a lady that was a witty* lady; and she said plainly unto King Mark and to Sir Tristram and to all his barons, that he should never be whole but if that Sir Tristram went into the same country that the venom came from, and in that country should he be helped or else never—thus said the lady unto the king. So when the king understood it, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a fair vessel and well victualled, and therein was put Sir Tristram, and Gouvernail with him; and Sir Tristram took his harp with him. And so he was put into the sea to sail into Ireland.

  And so by good fortune he arrived up in Ireland even fast by a castle where the king and the queen was. And at his arrival he sat and harped in his bed a merry lay—such one heard they never none in Ireland before that time. And when it was told the king and the queen of such a sick knight that was such a harper, anon the king sent for him and let search his wounds, and then he asked him his name. Then he answered and said, ‘I am of the country of Lyonesse; and my name is Tramtrist, that was thus wounded in a battle as I fought for a lady’s right.’

  ‘So God me help,’ said King Angwish, ‘ye shall have all the help in this land that ye may have here. But in Cornwall but late I had a great loss as ever had king, for there I lost the best knight of the world; his name was Sir Marhalt, a full noble knight, and knight of the Table Round.’ And there he told Sir Tramtrist wherefore Sir Marhalt was slain. So Sir Tramtrist made semblant as he had been sorry, and better he knew how it was than the king.

  [9]

  Then the king for great favour made Tramtrist to be put in his daughter’s ward and keeping, because she was a noble surgeon. And when she had searched him, she found in the bottom of his wound that therein was poison, and so she healed him in a while; and therefore Sir Tramtrist cast great love to La Belle Isode, for she was at that time the fairest lady and maiden of the world. And there Tramtrist learned* her to harp, and she began to have a great fancy unto him.

  And at that time Sir Palomides the Saracen was in that country, and well cherished with the king and the queen. And every day Sir Palomides drew unto La Belle Isode and proffered her many gifts, for he loved her passingly well. All that espied Tramtrist, and full well knew he Palomides for a noble knight and a mighty man. And wit you well, Sir Tramtrist had great despite at Sir Palomides, for La Belle Isode told Tramtrist that Palomides was in will to be christened for her sake. Thus was there great envy betwixt Tramtrist and Sir Palomides.

  Then it befell that King Angwish let cry a great jousts and a great tournament for a lady that was called the Lady of the Launds, and she was nigh cousin unto the king; and what man won her, four days after should wed her and have all her lands. This cry was made in England, Wales, and Scotland, and also in France and in Brittany.

  So it befell upon a day, La Belle Isode came unto Sir Tramtrist and told him of this tournament. He answered and said, ‘Fair lady, I am but a feeble knight, and but late I had been dead had not your good ladyship* been. Now, fair lady, what would ye that I should do in this matter? Well ye wot, my lady, that I may not joust.’

  ‘Ah, Tramtrist,’ said La Belle Isode, ‘why will ye not have ado at that tournament? For well I wot that Sir Palomides will be there, and to do what he may. And therefore, Sir Tramtrist, I pray you for to be there, for else Sir Palomides is like to win the degree.’*

  ‘Madam, as for that, it may be so, for he is a proved knight, and I am but a young knight and late made; and the first battle that ever I did, it mishapped me to be sore wounded as ye see. But and I wist that ye would be my better lady, at that tournament will I be, on this covenant: so that ye will keep my counsel and let no creature have knowledge that I shall joust, but yourself and such as ye will to keep your counsel, my poor person shall jeopard there for your sake, that peradventure Sir Palomides shall know when that I come.’

  ‘Thereto,’ said La Belle Isode, ‘do your best; and as I can, I shall purvey horse and armour for you at my device.’

  ‘As ye will, so be it,’ said Sir Tramtrist. ‘I will be at your commandment.’

  So at the day of jousts there came Sir Palomides with a black shield, and he overthrew many knights, that all people had marvel; for he put to the worse Sir Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, Bagdemagus, Kay, Dodinas le Savage, Sagramore le Desirous, Gumret le Petit, and Griflet le Fils de Dieu—all these the first day Sir Palomides struck down to the earth. And then all manner of knights were adread of Sir Palomides, and many called him the Knight with the Black Shield. So that day Sir Palomides had great worship.

  Then came King Angwish unto Tramtrist, and asked him why he would not joust.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I was but late hurt, and as yet I dare not adventure.’

  Then there came the same squire that was sent from the king’s daughter of France unto Sir T
ramtrist, and when he had espied Sir Tristram he fell flat to his feet; and that espied La Belle Isode, what courtesy the squire made to Tramtrist. And therewith suddenly Sir Tristram ran unto the squire (his name was called Hebes le Renowne) and prayed him heartily in no wise to tell his name.

  ‘Sir,’ said Hebes, ‘I will not discover* your name but if ye command me.’

  [10]

  Then Sir Tristram asked him what he did in these countries.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I came hither with Sir Gawain for to be made knight; and if it please you, of your hands that I may be made knight.’

  ‘Well, await on me tomorrow secretly, and in the field I shall make you knight.’

  Then had La Belle Isode great suspicion unto Tramtrist that he was some man of worship proved; and therewith she comforted herself, and cast more love unto him, for well she deemed he was some man of worship.

  And so on the morn Sir Palomides made him ready to come into the field as he did the first day, and there he smote down the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of Scots. Then had La Belle Isode ordained and well arrayed Sir Tramtrist with white horse and white arms, and right so she let put him out at a privy postern; and he came so into the field as it had been a bright angel. And anon Sir Palomides espied him, and therewith he fewtered his spear unto Sir Tristram, and he again unto him; and there Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides unto the earth. And then there was a great noise of people: some said Sir Palomides had a fall, some said, ‘The Knight with the Black Shield hath a fall!’ And wit you well La Belle Isode was passing glad. And then Sir Gawain and his fellows nine had marvel who it might be that had smitten down Sir Palomides. Then would there none joust with Tramtrist, but all that there were forsook him, most and least.