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

by Malory, Thomas

  So Sir Tristram issued out of the town with such fellowship as he might make, and did such deeds that all Brittany spoke of him. And then at the last by great force he slew the Earl Gripe with his own hands, and more than a hundred knights he slew that day. And then Sir Tristram was received into the city worshipfully with procession.

  Then King Howell embraced him in his arms and said, ‘Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to you.’

  ‘God defend!’ said Sir Tristram, ‘for I am beholden thereto for your daughter’s sake to do for you more than that.’

  So by the great means of the king and his son, there grew great love betwixt Isode and Sir Tristram; for that lady was both good and fair and a woman of noble blood and fame, and for because that Sir Tristram had such cheer and riches and all other pleasance that he had almost forsaken La Belle Isode.

  And so upon a time Sir Tristram agreed to wed this Isode les Blanches Mains;* and so at the last they were wedded, and solemnly held their marriage. And so when they were abed both, Sir Tristram remembered him of his old lady La Belle Isode, and then he took such a thought suddenly that he was all dismayed. And other cheer made he none but with clipping* and kissing; as for fleshly lusts, Sir Tristram had never ado with her—such mention maketh the French book. Also it maketh mention that the lady weened there had been no pleasure but kissing and clipping.

  And in the meantime there was a knight in Brittany, his name was Sir Suppinabiles, and he came over the sea into England. And so he came into the court of King Arthur, and there he met with Sir Lancelot du Lake and told him of the marriage of Sir Tristram.

  Then said Sir Lancelot, ‘Fie upon him, untrue knight to his lady! That so noble a knight as Sir Tristram is should be found to his first lady and love untrue, that is the queen of Cornwall! But say ye to him thus,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘that of all knights in the world I have loved him, and all was for his noble deeds. And let him wit that the love between him and me is done for ever, and that I give him warning, from this day forth I will be his mortal enemy.’

  [37]

  So departed Sir Suppinabiles unto Brittany again, and there he found Sir Tristram and told him that he had been in King Arthur’s court.

  Then Sir Tristram said, ‘Heard ye anything of me?’

  ‘So God me help,’ said Sir Suppinabiles, ‘there I heard Sir Lancelot speak of you great shame, and that ye are a false knight to your lady. And he bade me do you to wit* that he will be your mortal foe in every place where he may meet with you.’

  ‘That me repenteth,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘for of all knights I loved most to be in his fellowship.’

  Then Sir Tristram was ashamed and made great moan, that ever any knights should defame him for the sake of his lady.

  And so in this mean while La Belle Isode made a letter unto Queen Guenivere, complaining her of the untruth of Sir Tristram, how he had wedded the king’s daughter of Brittany. So Queen Guenivere sent her another letter and bade her be of good comfort, for she should have joy after sorrow; for Sir Tristram was so noble a knight called, that by crafts of sorcery ladies would make such noble men to wed them. But the end Queen Guinevere said should be thus: ‘that he shall hate her and love you better than ever he did.’*

  [IX. 10]

  Now turn we unto Sir Tristram de Lyonesse that was in Brittany, that when La Belle Isode understood that he was wedded, she sent to him by her maiden, Dame Brangwain, piteous letters as could be thought and made; and her conclusion was thus, that if it pleased Sir Tristram, to come to her court and bring with him Isode les Blanches Mains, and they should be kept as well as herself.

  Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Kehydius, and asked him whether he would go with him into Cornwall secretly: he answered him and said that he was ready at all times. And then he let ordain privily a little vessel, and therein they sailed, Sir Tristram, Sir Kehydius, and Dame Brangwain and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram’s squire. So when they were in the sea a contrarious wind blew them unto the coasts of North Wales, nigh the Forest Perilous.

  Then said Sir Tristram, ‘Here shall ye abide me these ten days, and Gouvernail my squire with you. And if so be I come not again by that day, take the next way into Cornwall; for in this forest are many strange adventures, as I have heard say, and some of them I cast to prove or that I depart.* And when I may I shall hie me after you.’

  Then Sir Tristram and Sir Kehydius took their horses and departed from their fellowship; and so they rode within that forest a mile and more. And at the last Sir Tristram saw before them a likely knight sitting armed by a well, and a strong mighty horse stood passing nigh him tied to an oak, and a man hoving* and riding by him leading a horse loaded with spears. And this knight that sat at the well seemed by his countenance to be passing heavy.

  Then Sir Tristram rode near him and said, ‘Fair knight, why sit you so drooping? Ye seem to be a knight errant by your arms and harness, and therefore dress you to joust with one of us, or with both.’

  Therewithal that knight made no words, but took his shield and buckled it about his neck, and lightly he took his horse and leapt upon him; and then he took a great spear of his squire, and departed his way a furlong.

  Then Sir Kehydius asked leave of Sir Tristram to joust first.

  ‘Sir, do your best,’ said Sir Tristram.

  So they met together, and there Sir Kehydius had a fall, and was sore wounded on high above the paps.

  Then Sir Tristram said, ‘Knight, that is well jousted! Now make you ready unto me.’

  ‘Sir, I am ready,’ said the knight.

  And anon he took a great spear and encountered with Sir Tristram; and there by fortune and by great force that knight smote down Sir Tristram from his horse, and had a great fall. Then Sir Tristram was sore ashamed, and lightly he avoided his horse, and put his shield before his shoulder, and drew his sword. And then Sir Tristram required that knight of his knighthood to alight upon foot and fight with him.

  ‘I will well,’ said the knight.

  And so he alit upon foot and avoided his horse, and cast his shield upon his shoulder and drew out his sword; and there they fought a long battle together nigh two hours.

  Then Sir Tristram said, ‘Fair knight, hold thy hand a little while, and tell me of whence thou art and what is thy name.’

  ‘As for that,’ said the knight, ‘I will be advised; but and ye will tell me your name, peradventure I will tell you mine.’

  [11]

  ‘Now, fair knight,’ he said, ‘my name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse.’

  ‘Sir, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Gales.’

  ‘Ah, Sir Lamorak,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘well be we met! And bethink thee now of the despite thou didst me of the sending of the horn unto King Mark’s court, to the intent to have slain or dishonoured my lady, queen La Belle Isode. And therefore wit thou well,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘the one of us two shall die or we depart.’

  So Sir Tristram would make no longer delays, but lashed at Sir Lamorak; and thus they fought long till either were weary of other.

  Then Sir Tristram said unto Sir Lamorak, ‘In all my life met I never with such a knight that was so big and so well-breathed. Therefore,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘it were pity that any of us both should here be mischieved.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Lamorak, ‘for your renown and your name I will that ye have the worship, and therefore I will yield me unto you.’ And therewith he took the point of his sword to yield him.

  ‘Nay,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘ye shall not do so, for well I know your proffers are more of your gentleness than for any fear or dread ye have of me.’ And therewithal Sir Tristram proffered him his sword and said, ‘Sir Lamorak, as an overcome knight I yield me to you as a man of most noble prowess that I ever met.’

  ‘Nay,’ said Sir Lamorak, ‘I will do you gentleness, I require you! Let us be sworn together that never none of us shall after this day have ado with other.’

  And therewith Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak swore that never none of
them should fight against other, for weal nor for woe.

  [12]

  And this meanwhile there came Sir Palomides, the good knight, following the Questing Beast, that had in shape like a serpent’s head, and a body like a leopard, buttocked like a lion and footed like a hart; and in his body there was such a noise as it had been twenty couple of hounds questing, and such noise that beast made wheresoever he went. And this beast evermore Sir Palomides followed, for it was called his quest. And right so as he followed this beast it came by Sir Tristram, and soon after came Sir Palomides. And to brief this matter, he smote down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak both with one spear, and so he departed after the Beast Glatissant,* that was called the Questing Beast; wherefore these two knights were passing wroth that Sir Palomides would not fight with them on foot.

  Here men may understand that be men of worship, that man was never formed that all times might attain, but some time he was put to the worse by malfortune; and at some time the weaker knight put the bigger knight to a rebuke.

  [16/17]*

  Then Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak got Sir Kehydius upon a shield betwixt them both. And so they rode with him to the ship where they left Dame Brangwain and Gouvernail, and so they sailed into Cornwall all whole together.

  And by assent and by information of Dame Brangwain, when they were landed they rode unto Sir Dinas the Seneschal, a trusty friend of Sir Tristram’s. And so Sir Dinas and Dame Brangwain rode to the court of King Mark, and told the queen La Belle Isode that Sir Tristram was nigh her in the country. Then for very pure joy La Belle Isode swooned; and when she might speak, she said, ‘Gentle seneschal, help that I might speak with him, or my heart will brast.’

  Then Sir Dinas and Dame Brangwain brought Sir Tristram and Sir Kehydius privily unto the court, unto her chamber where as La Belle Isode assigned them. And to tell the joys that were betwixt La Belle Isode and Sir Tristram, there is no maker can make it,* nor no heart can think it, nor no pen can write it, nor no mouth can speak it.

  And as the French book maketh mention, at the first time that ever Sir Kehydius saw La Belle Isode he was so enamoured upon her that for very pure love he might never withdraw it; and at the last, as ye shall hear or the book be ended, Sir Kehydius died for the love of Isode. And then privily he wrote unto her letters and ballads of the most goodliest that were used in those days. And when La Belle Isode understood his letters she had pity of his complaint, and unadvised she wrote another letter to comfort him withal.

  And Sir Tristram was all this while in a turret at the commandment of La Belle Isode, and when she might she yode and came to Sir Tristram.

  So on a day King Mark played at the chess under a chamber window; and at that time Sir Tristram and Sir Kehydius were within the chamber over King Mark. And as it mishapped, Sir Tristram found the letter that Sir Kehydius sent unto La Belle Isode; also he had found the letter that she wrote unto Sir Kehydius, and at the same time La Belle Isode was in the same chamber.

  Then Sir Tristram came unto La Belle Isode and said, ‘Madam, here is a letter that was sent unto you, and here is the letter that ye sent unto him that sent you that letter. Alas, madam, the good love that I have loved you, and many lands and great riches have I forsaken for your love; and now ye are a traitress unto me, which doth me great pain. But as for thee, Sir Kehydius, I brought thee out of Brittany into this country, and thy father, King Howell, I won his lands. Howbeit I wedded thy sister Isode les Blanches Mains for the goodness she did unto me, and yet, as I am a true knight, she is a clean maiden for me. But wit thou well, Sir Kehydius, for this falsehood and treason thou hast done unto me, I will revenge it upon thee.’ And therewith Sir Tristram drew out his sword and said, ‘Sir Kehydius, keep thee!’ And then La Belle Isode swooned to the earth.

  And when Sir Kehydius saw Sir Tristam come upon him, he saw no other boot but leapt out at a bay-window even over the head where sat King Mark playing at the chess. And when the king saw one come hurling over his head, he said, ‘Fellow, what art thou, and what is the cause thou leap out at that window?’

  ‘My lord king,’ said Kehydius, ‘it fortuned me that I was asleep in the window above your head, and as I slept I slumbered, and so I fell down.’

  [17/18]

  Thus Sir Kehydius excused him, and Sir Tristram dread him lest he were discovered unto the king that he was there; wherefore he drew him to the strength of the tower, and armed him in such armour as he had for to fight with them that would withstand him.

  And so when Sir Tristram saw there was no resistance against him he sent Gouvernail for his horse and his spear, and knightly he rode forth out of the castle openly, that was called the castle of Tintagel. And even at the gate he met with Sir Gingalin, Sir Gawain’s son;* and anon Sir Gingalin put his spear in the rest, and ran upon Sir Tristram and broke his spear. And Sir Tristram at that time had but a sword, and gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell down from his saddle, and his sword slid down and carved asunder his horse’s neck. And so Sir Tristram rode his way into the forest.

  And all this doing saw King Mark. And then he sent a squire unto the hurt knight and commanded him to come to him, and so he did. And when King Mark wist that it was Sir Gingalin, he welcomed him and gave him another horse, and so he asked him what knight it was that encountered with him.

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gingalin, ‘I wot not what knight it was, but well I wot he sigheth and maketh great dole.’

  Then Sir Tristram within a while met with a knight of his own (his name was Sir Fergus), and when he had met with him he made such sorrow that he fell down off his horse in a swoon; and in such sorrow he was in three days and three nights. Then at the last Sir Tristram sent unto the court by Sir Fergus, for to spere what tidings.* And so as he rode by the way he met with a damosel that came from Sir Palomides to know and seek how Sir Tristram did. Then Sir Fergus told her how he was almost out of his mind.

  ‘Alas,’ said the damosel, ‘where shall I find him?’

  In such a place, said Sir Fergus.

  Then Sir Fergus found Queen Isode sick in her bed, making the greatest dole that ever any earthly woman made.

  And when the damosel found Sir Tristram, she made great dole because she might not amend him, for the more she made of him the more was his pain. And at the last Sir Tristram took his horse and rode away from her; and then was it three days or that she could find him, and then she brought him meat and drink, but he would none. And then another time Sir Tristram escaped away from the damosel, and it happened him to ride by the same castle where Sir Palomides and Sir Tristram did battle when La Belle Isode parted them. And there by fortune the damosel met with Sir Tristram again, making the greatest dole that ever earthly creature made; and she yode to the lady of that castle and told of the misadventure of Sir Tristram.

  ‘Alas,’ said the lady of that castle, ‘where is my lord Sir Tristram?’

  ‘Right here by your castle,’ said the damosel.

  ‘In good time’, said the lady, ‘is he so nigh me: he shall have meat and drink of the best. And a harp I have of his whereupon he taught me, for of goodly harping he beareth the prize of the world.’

  So this lady and damosel brought him meat and drink, but he ate little thereof. Then upon a night he put his horse from him and unlaced his armour, and so he yode unto the wilderness, and brast down the trees and boughs. And otherwhile, when he found the harp that the lady sent him, then would he harp and play thereupon and weep together. And sometime when he was in the wood the lady wist not where he was; then would she set her down and play upon the harp. And anon Sir Tristram would come to the harp and hearken thereto, and sometime he would harp himself.

  Thus he there endured a quarter of a year. And so at the last he ran his way, and she wist not where he was become; and then was he naked and waxed lean and poor of flesh. And so he fell in the fellowship of herdmen and shepherds, and daily they would give him some of their meat and drink. And when he did any shrewd* deed they would beat him with rods;
and so they clipped him with shears and made him like a fool.*

  [19/20]

  Then Sir Andret, that was cousin unto Sir Tristram, made a lady that was his paramour to say and to noise it that she was with Sir Tristram or ever he died. And this tale she brought unto King Mark’s court, that she buried him by a well, and that or he died he besought King Mark to make his cousin Sir Andret king of the country of Lyonesse, of the which Sir Tristram was lord of. And all this did Sir Andret because he would have had Sir Tristram’s lands.

  And when King Mark heard tell that Sir Tristram was dead he wept and made great dole. But when Queen Isode heard of these tidings she made such sorrow that she was nigh out of her mind. And so upon a day she thought to slay herself, and never to live after the death of Sir Tristram. And so upon a day La Belle Isode got a sword privily and bore it into her garden, and there she pitched the sword through a plum tree up to the hilts, so that it stuck fast, and it stood breast high. And as she would have run upon the sword and to have slain herself, all this espied King Mark, how she kneeled down and said, ‘Sweet Lord Jesu, have mercy upon me, for I may not live after the death of Sir Tristram de Lyonesse! For he was my first love, and shall be the last.’

  And with these words came King Mark and took her in his arms. And then he took up the sword, and bore her away with him into a tower; and there he made her to be kept, and watched her surely. And after that she lay long sick, nigh at the point of death.

  So this meanwhile ran Sir Tristram naked in the forest, and so he came to a hermitage, and there he laid him down and slept; and in the meanwhile the hermit laid meat down by him. Thus was he kept there ten days; and at the last he departed and came to the herdmen again.

  And there was a giant in that country that hight Tauleas, and for fear of Sir Tristram more than seven years he durst never much go at large, but for the most part he kept him in a sure castle of his own. And so this Tauleas heard tell that Sir Tristram was dead, by the noise of the court of King Mark. Then this giant Tauleas yode daily at his large.* And so he happed upon a day he came to the herdmen wandering and lingering, and there he set him down to rest among them. And in the meanwhile there came a knight of Cornwall that led a lady with him, and his name was Sir Dinant; and when the giant saw him he went from the herdmen and hid him under a tree. And so the knight came to that well, and there he alit to repose him; and as soon as he was from his horse, this giant Tauleas came betwixt this knight and his horse and leapt upon him. And so forthwith he rode unto Sir Dinant and took him by the collar and pulled him before him upon his horse, and would have stricken off his head.