‘Alas,’ said the king, ‘now am I shamed forever, that by my own assent my lady and my queen shall be devoured.’*
Then came there forth a knight that hight Lambegus, and he was a knight of Sir Tristram’s.
‘My lord,’ said the knight, ‘sith that ye have such trust in my lord Sir Tristram, wit you well for his sake I will ride after your queen and rescue her, or else shall I be beaten.’
‘Grantmercy,’* said the king. ‘And I live, Sir Lambegus, I shall deserve* it.’
And then Sir Lambegus armed him and rode after them as fast as he might; and then within a while he overtook them. And then Sir Palomides left the queen and said, ‘What art thou?’ said Sir Palomides, ‘art thou Sir Tristram?’
‘Nay,’ he said, ‘I am his servant, and my name is Sir Lambegus.’
‘That me repents,’ said Sir Palomides, ‘I had liever thou had been Sir Tristram.’
‘I believe you well,’ said Sir Lambegus, ‘but when thou meetest with Sir Tristram, thou shalt have both thy hands full.’
And then they hurtled together and all tobrast their spears; and then they pulled out their swords and hewed on their helms and hauberks. At the last Sir Palomides gave Sir Lambegus such a wound that he fell down like a dead man to the earth. Then he looked after La Belle Isode; and then she was gone, he wist not where. Wit you well that Sir Palomides was never so heavy!
So the queen ran into the forest, and there she found a well; and therein she had thought to have drowned herself. And as good fortune would, there came a knight to her that had a castle there beside, and his name was Sir Adtherp. And when he found the queen in that mischief, he rescued her and brought her to his castle. And when he wist what she was, he armed him and took his horse, and said he would be avenged upon Sir Palomides; and so he rode unto the time he met with him. And there Sir Palomides wounded him sore, and by force he made him to tell the cause why he did battle with him; and he told him how he led the queen La Belle Isode into his own castle.
‘Now bring me there,’ said Sir Palomides, ‘or thou shalt of my hands die.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Adtherp, ‘I am so sore wounded I may not follow; but ride you this way, and it shall bring you to my castle, and therein is the queen.’
Sir Palomides rode till that he came to the castle; and at a window La Belle Isode saw Sir Palomides. Then she made the gates to be shut strongly. And when he saw he might not enter into the castle, he put off his horse’s bridle and his saddle, and so put his horse to pasture; and set himself down at the gate like a man that was out of his wit, that recked not of* himself.
[31]
Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that when he was come home and wist that La Belle Isode was gone with Sir Palomides, wit you well he was wroth out of measure.
‘Alas,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I am this day shamed.’ Then he called Gouvernail, his man, and said, ‘Haste thee that I were armed and on horseback, for well I wot Sir Lambegus hath no might nor strength to withstand Sir Palomides. Alas I had not been in his stead!’
So anon he was armed and horsed and rode after into the forest; and within a while he found his knight Sir Lambegus almost to death wounded. And Sir Tristram bare him to a forester, and charged him to keep him well. And then he rode forth and found Sir Adtherp sore wounded. And he told all, and how ‘the queen had drowned herself had I not been, and how for her sake I took upon me to do battle with Sir Palomides.’
‘Where is my lady?’ said Sir Tristram.
‘Sir,’ said the knight, ‘she is sure enough within my castle, and she can hold her within it.’
‘Grantmercy,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘of thy great goodness.’
And so he rode till that he came nigh his castle. And then Sir Palomides sat at the gate and saw where Sir Tristram came; and he sat as had slept, and his horse pastured before him.
‘Now go thou, Gouvernail,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘and bid him awake and make him ready.’
So Gouvernail rode unto him and said, ‘Sir Palomides, arise and take thy harness!’
But he was in such a study that he heard not what he said. So Gouvernail came again to Sir Tristram, and told him he slept, or else he was mad.
‘Go thou again,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘and bid him arise, and tell him I am here, his mortal foe.’
So Gouvernail rode again, and put upon him with the butt of his spear, and said, ‘Sir Palomides, make thee ready, for wit thou well Sir Tristram hoveth yonder, and sendeth thee word he is thy mortal foe.’
And therewith Sir Palomides arose stilly* without any words, and got his horse anon and saddled him and bridled him; and lightly he leapt upon him, and got his spear in his hand. And either fewtered their spears and hurled fast together, and anon Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides over his horse’s tail. Then lightly Sir Palomides put his shield before him and drew his sword; and there began strong battle on both parts, for both they fought for the love of one lady. And ever she lay on the walls and beheld them, how they fought out of measure, and either were wounded passing sore, but Sir Palomides was much sorer wounded. For they fought thus, tracing and traversing, more than two hours, that well nigh for dole and sorrow La Belle Isode swooned, and said,
‘Alas, that one I loved and yet do, and the other I love not, that they should fight! And yet it were great pity that I should see Sir Palomides slain, for well I know by that the end be done Sir Palomides is but a dead man because that he is not christened, and I would be loath that he should die a Saracen.*’
And therewith she came down and besought them for her love to fight no more.
‘Ah, madam,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘what mean you? Will ye have me shamed? For well ye know that I will be ruled by you.’
‘Ah, my own lord,’ said La Belle Isode, ‘full well ye wot I would not your dishonour, but I would that ye would for my sake spare this unhappy Saracen Sir Palomides.’
‘Madam,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will leave for your sake.’
Then said she to Sir Palomides, ‘This shall be thy charge: thou shalt go out of this country while I am queen thereof.’
‘Madam, I will obey your commandment,’ said Sir Palomides, ‘which is sore against my will.’
‘Then take thy way,’ said La Belle Isode, ‘unto the court of King Arthur; and there recommend me unto Queen Guenivere, and tell her that I send her word that there be within this land but four lovers, and that is Sir Lancelot and Dame Guenivere, and Sir Tristram and Queen Isode.’
[32]
And so Sir Palomides departed with great heaviness. And Sir Tristram took the queen and brought her again unto King Mark; and then was there made great joy of her homecoming. Then who was cherished but Sir Tristram! Then Sir Tristram let fetch home Sir Lambegus his knight from the forester’s house; and it was long or he was whole, but so at the last he recovered.
And thus they lived with joy and play a long while. But ever Sir Andret, that was nigh cousin unto Sir Tristram, lay in wait betwixt Sir Tristram and La Belle Isode for to take him and devour* him.*
[33]
And then the king and the queen went an-hunting, and Sir Tristram. So the king and the queen made their pavilions and their tents in that forest beside a river; and there was daily jousting and hunting, for there was ever ready thirty knights to joust unto all that came at that time. And there by fortune came Sir Lamorak de Gales and Sir Driant; and there Sir Driant jousted well, but at the last he had a fall. Then Sir Lamorak proffered, and when he began he fared so with the thirty knights that there was not one of them but he gave a fall, and some of them were sore hurt.
‘I marvel,’ said King Mark, ‘what knight he is that doth such deeds of arms.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I know him well for a noble knight as few now be living, and his name is Sir Lamorak de Gales.’
‘It were shame’, said the king, ‘that he should go thus away unless that he were manhandled.’*
‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘me seemeth it were no worship for a no
bleman to have ado with him, and for this cause: for at this time he hath done overmuch for any mean* knight living. And as me seemeth,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘it were shame to tempt him any more, for his horse is weary and himself both; for the deeds of arms that he hath done this day, well considered, it were enough for Sir Lancelot du Lake.’
‘As for that,’ said King Mark, ‘I require you, as ye love me and my lady the queen La Belle Isode, take your arms and joust with Sir Lamorak de Gales.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘ye bid me do a thing that is against knight-hood; and well I can think that I shall give him a fall, for it is no mastery, for my horse and I be fresh, and so is not his horse and he. And wit you well that he will take it for great unkindness, for ever one good knight is loath to take another at advantage. But because I will not displease, as ye require me, so must I do, and obey your commandment.’
And so Sir Tristram armed him and took his horse and put him forth. And there Sir Lamorak met him mightily; and what with the might of his own spear and of Sir Tristram’s spear, Sir Lamorak’s horse fell to the earth, and he sitting in the saddle. So as soon as he might, he avoided the saddle and his horse, and put his shield before him and drew his sword. And then he bade Sir Tristram, ‘Alight, thou knight, and thou darest!’
‘Nay, sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will no more have ado with you, for I have done thee overmuch unto my dishonour and to thy worship.’
‘As for that,’ said Sir Lamorak, ‘I can thee no thank.* Since thou hast forjousted* me on horseback, I require thee and beseech thee, and thou be Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, fight with me on foot.’
‘I will not,’ said Sir Tristram. ‘And wit you well, my name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, and well I know that ye be Sir Lamorak de Gales. And this have I done to you against my will, but I was required thereto; but to say that I will do at your request as at this time, I will not have no more ado with you at this time, for me shameth of that I have done.’
‘As for the shame,’ said Sir Lamorak, ‘on thy part or on mine, bear thou it and thou will; for though a mare’s son hath failed me now, yet a queen’s son shall not fail thee. And therefore, and thou be such a knight as men call thee, I require thee alight and fight with me.’
‘Sir Lamorak,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I understand your heart is great; and cause why* ye have, to say the sooth, for it would grieve me and any good knight should keep him fresh and then to strike down a weary knight!—for that knight nor horse was never formed that always may endure. And therefore,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will not have ado with you, for me forthinks of that I have done.’
‘As for that,’ said Sir Lamorak, ‘I shall requite you and ever I see my time.’
[34]
So he departed from him with Sir Driant; and by the way they met with a knight that was sent from Dame Morgan le Fay unto King Arthur. And this knight had a fair horn harnessed with gold, and the horn had such a virtue that there might no lady nor gentlewoman drink of that horn but if she were true to her husband; and if she were false she should spill all the drink, and if she were true to her lord she might drink thereof peaceably. And because of the Queen Guenivere and in the despite of Sir Lancelot, this horn was sent unto King Arthur. And so by force Sir Lamorak made that knight to tell all the cause why he bore the horn; and so he told him all whole.
‘Now shalt thou bear this horn’, said Sir Lamorak, ‘to King Mark, or choose to die! For in the despite of Sir Tristram thou shalt bear it him, that horn, and say that I sent it him for to assay his lady; and if she be true he shall prove her.’
So this knight went his way unto King Mark and brought him that rich horn, and said that Sir Lamorak sent it him; and so he told him the virtue of that horn. Then the king made his queen to drink thereof, and a hundred ladies with her; and there were but four ladies of all those that drank cleanly.
‘Alas,’ said King Mark, ‘this is a great despite!’, and swore a great oath that she should be burned and the other ladies also.
Then the barons gathered them together and said plainly they would not have those ladies burned for a horn made by sorcery, that came ‘from the false sorceress and witch most that is now living’. For that horn did never good, but caused strife and debate; and always in her days she was an enemy to all true lovers. So there were many knights that made there a vow that and ever they met with Morgan le Fay, that they would show her short courtesy. Also Sir Tristram was passing wroth that Sir Lamorak sent that horn unto King Mark, for well he knew that it was done in the despite of him; and therefore he thought to requite Sir Lamorak.
Then Sir Tristram used daily and nightly to go to Queen Isode ever when he might; and ever Sir Andret, his cousin, watched him night by night for to take him with La Belle Isode. And so upon a night Sir Andret espied his hour and the time when Sir Tristram went to his lady. Then Sir Andret got unto him twelve knights, and at midnight he set upon Sir Tristram secretly and suddenly; and there Sir Tristram was taken naked abed with La Belle Isode, and so was he bound hand and foot and kept till day.
And then by the assent of King Mark and of Sir Andret and of some of the barons, Sir Tristram was led unto a chapel that stood upon the sea rocks, there for to take his judgement. And so he was led bound with forty knights.
And when Sir Tristram saw that there was no other boot but needs he must die, then said he, ‘Fair lords, remember what I have done for the country of Cornwall, and what jeopardy I have been in for the weal of you all! For when I fought with Sir Marhalt the good knight, I was promised to be better rewarded, when ye all refused to take the battle. Therefore, as ye be good gentle knights, see me not thus shamefully to die; for it is shame to all knighthood thus to see me die. For I dare say,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘that I met never with no knight but I was as good as he, or better.’
‘Fie upon thee,’ said Sir Andret, ‘false traitor thou art, with thine advantage! For all thy boast, thou shalt die this day.’
‘Ah, Andret, Andret,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘thou shouldst be my kinsman, and now art to me full unfriendly. But and there were no more but thou and I, thou wouldst not put me to death.’
‘No?’ said Sir Andret, and therewith he drew his sword and would have slain him.
So when Sir Tristram saw him make that countenance, he looked upon both his hands that were fast bound unto two knights, and suddenly he pulled them both unto him and unwrast* his hands, and leaped unto his cousin Sir Andret and writhed his sword out of his hands. And then he smote Sir Andret that he fell down to the earth; and so he fought that he killed ten knights. So then Sir Tristram got the chapel and kept it mightily.
[35]
Then the cry was great, and people drew fast unto Sir Andret, more than a hundred. So when Sir Tristram saw the people draw unto him, he remembered he was naked,* and sparred fast the chapel door and broke the bars of a window, and so he leapt out and fell upon the crags in the sea. And so at that time Sir Andret nor none of his fellows might not get him. But when they were departed, Gouvernail and Sir Lambegus and Sir Sentrail de Lushon, that were Sir Tristram’s men, sought sore after their master when they heard he was escaped. And so on the rocks they found him, and with towels* pulled him up. And then Sir Tristram asked where was La Belle Isode.
‘Sir,’ said Gouvernail, ‘she is put in a lazar-cote.’*
‘Alas,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘that is a full ungoodly place for such a fair lady, and if I may she shall not be long there.’
And so he took his men and went there as was La Belle Isode,* and fetched her away, and brought her into a fair forest to a fair manor; and so he abode there with her.
So now this good knight bade his men depart, for at that time he might not help them. And so they departed, all save Gouvernail. And so upon a day Sir Tristram yode into the forest for to disport him, and there he fell asleep. And so happened there came to Sir Tristram a man that he had slain his brother. And so when this man had found him, he shot him through the shoulder, and anon Sir Tristram started up
and killed that man.
And in the meantime it was told unto King Mark how Sir Tristram and La Belle Isode were in that same manor. And thither he came with many knights to slay Sir Tristram; and when he came there he found him gone. And anon he took La Belle Isode home with him and kept her strait, that by no means she might never write nor send. And when Sir Tristram came toward the manor, he found the track of many horses, and looked about in the place and knew that his lady was gone. And then Sir Tristram took great sorrow, and endured with great sorrow and pain long time, for the arrow that he was hurt withal was envenomed.
So by the means of La Belle Isode, she bade a lady that was cousin unto Dame Brangwain, and she came unto Sir Tristram and told him that he might not be whole by no means, ‘for thy lady Isode may not help thee. Therefore she biddeth you, haste you into Brittany unto King Howell, and there shall ye find his daughter that is called Isode les Blanches Mains, and there shall ye find that she shall help you.’
Then Sir Tristram and Gouvernail got them shipping, and so sailed into Brittany. And when King Howell knew that it was Sir Tristram, he was full glad of him.
‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I am come unto this country to have help of your daughter.’
And so she healed him.
[36]
There was an earl that hight Gripe; and this earl made great war upon the king, and put him to the worse and besieged him. And on a time Sir Kehydius that was son to the King Howell, as he issued out he was sore wounded nigh to the death.
Then Gouvernail went to the king and said, ‘Sir, I counsel you to desire my lord Sir Tristram as in your need to help you.’
‘I will do by your counsel,’ said the king. And so he yode unto Sir Tristram and prayed him as in his wars to help him, ‘for my son Sir Keyhidius may not go unto the field.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will go to the field and do what I may.’
Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics) Page 28
