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

by Malory, Thomas

  Then the herdmen said unto Sir Tristram, ‘Help yonder knight!’

  ‘Help ye him,’ said Sir Tristram.

  ‘We dare not,’ said the herdmen.

  Then Sir Tristram was ware of the sword of the knight there as it lay, and so thither he ran and took up the sword and smote to Sir Tauleas and so struck off his head, and so he yode his way to the herdmen.

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  Then Sir Dinant took up the giant’s head and bore it with him unto King Mark, and told him what adventure betided him in the forest, and how a naked man rescued him from the grimly giant Sir Tauleas.

  ‘Where had ye this adventure?’ said King Mark.

  ‘Forsooth,’ said Sir Dinant, ‘at the fair fountain in the forest where many adventurous knights meet, and there is the mad man.’

  ‘Well,’ said King Mark, ‘I will see that wood man.’

  So within a day or two King Mark commanded his knights and his hunters to be ready, and said that he would hunt on the morn. And so upon the morn he went into that forest; and when the king came to that well he found there lying a fair naked man, and a sword by him. Then King Mark blew and straked,* and therewith his knights came to him; and then he commanded his knights to take the naked man with fairness, ‘and bring him to my castle’. And so they did safely and fair, and cast mantles upon Sir Tristram, and so led him unto Tintagel. And there they bathed him and washed him and gave him hot suppings, till they had brought him well to his remembrance. But all this while there was no creature that knew Sir Tristram, nor what manner man he was.

  So it befell upon a day that the queen, La Belle Isode, heard of such a man that ran naked in the forest, and how the king had brought him home to the court. Then La Belle Isode called unto her Dame Brangwain and said, ‘Come on with me, for we will go see this man that my lord brought from the forest the last day.’

  So they passed forth and spered where was the sick man; and then a squire told the queen that he was in the garden taking his rest to repose him against the sun. So when the queen looked upon Sir Tristram she was not remembered of him; but ever she said unto Dame Brangwain, ‘Me seems I should have seen this man here before in many places.’

  But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her he knew her well enough; and then he turned away his visage and wept.

  Then the queen had always a little brachet that Sir Tristram gave her the first time that ever she came into Cornwall, and never would that brachet depart from her but if Sir Tristram were nigh there as was La Belle Isode; and this brachet was first sent from the king’s daughter of France unto Sir Tristram for great love. And anon this little brachet felt a savour of Sir Tristram, she leapt upon him and licked his leres* and his ears; and then she whined and quested, and she smelled at his feet and at his hands and on all the parts of his body that she might come to.

  ‘Ah, my lady,’ said Dame Brangwain, ‘alas, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram.’

  And thereupon La Belle Isode fell down in a swoon, and so lay a great while. And when she might speak she said, ‘Ah, my lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye have your life! And now I am sure ye shall be discovered by this little brachet, for she will never leave you. And also I am sure, as soon as my lord King Mark do know you he will banish you out of the country of Cornwall, or else he will destroy you. And therefore, for God’s sake, my own lord, grant King Mark his will. And then draw you unto the court of King Arthur, for there are ye beloved; and ever when I may I shall send unto you. And when ye list ye may come to me; and at all times early and late I will be at your commandment, to live as poor a life as ever did queen or lady.’

  ‘Ah, madam,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘go from me, for much anger and danger have I escaped for your love.’

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  Then the queen departed, but the brachet would not from him; and therewith came King Mark, and the brachet set upon him and bayed at them all. And therewith Sir Andret spake and said, ‘Sir, this is Sir Tristram, I see well by that brachet.’

  ‘Nay,’ said the king, ‘I cannot suppose that.’

  Then the king asked him upon his faith what he was, and what was his name.

  ‘So God me help,’ said he, ‘my name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse. Now do by me what ye list.’

  ‘Ah,’ said King Mark, ‘me repents of your recovering.’

  And so he let call his barons to give judgement unto Sir Tristram to the death. Then many of his barons would not assent thereto, and in especial Sir Dinas the Seneschal and Sir Fergus. And so by the advice of them all Sir Tristram was banished out of the country for ten years, and thereupon he took his oath upon a book before the king and his barons. And so he was made to depart out of the country of Cornwall; and there were many barons brought him unto his ship, that some were of his friends and some were of his foes.

  And in the meanwhile there came a knight of King Arthur’s, and his name was Sir Dinadan; and his coming was for to seek after Sir Tristram. Then they showed him where he was, armed at all points, going to the ship.

  ‘Now, fair knight,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘or ye pass this court, that ye will joust with me!’

  ‘With a good will,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘and these lords will give me leave.’

  Then the barons granted thereto; and so they ran together, and there Sir Tristram gave Sir Dinadan a fall. And then he prayed Sir Tristram of his gentleness to give him leave to go in his fellowship.

  ‘Ye shall be right welcome,’ said he.

  And then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their horses and rode to their ships together.

  And when Sir Tristram was in the sea, he said, ‘Greet well King Mark and all mine enemies, and say to them I will come again when I may. And say him, well am I rewarded for the fighting with Sir Marhalt, and delivered all his country from servage. And well am I rewarded for the fetching and costs of Queen Isode out of Ireland, and the danger that I was in first and last.* And well am I rewarded when I fought with Sir Blamor de Ganis for King Angwish, father unto La Belle Isode. And well am I rewarded when I smote down the good knight Sir Lamorak de Gales at King Mark’s request. And well I am rewarded for the slaying of Tauleas, the mighty giant. And many other deeds have I done for him; and now have I my warison.* And tell King Mark that many noble knights of the Round Table have spared the barons of this country for my sake. And also I am not well rewarded when I fought with the good knight Sir Palomides and rescued Queen Isode from him; and at that time King Mark said afore all his barons I should have been better rewarded.’

  And forthwith he took the sea.

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  And at the next landing, fast by the sea, there met with Sir Tristram and with Sir Dinadan, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Bors de Ganis; and there Sir Ector jousted with Sir Dinadan, and he smote him and his horse down. And then Sir Tristram would have jousted with Sir Bors, and Sir Bors said that he would not joust with no Cornish knights, for they are not called men of worship. And all this was done upon a bridge. And with this came Sir Bleoberis and Sir Driant, and Sir Bleoberis proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, and there Sir Tristram smote down Sir Bleoberis.

  Then said Sir Bors de Ganis, ‘I wist never Cornish knight of so great valour nor so valiant as that knight that beareth the trappings embroidered with crowns.’

  And then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan departed from them into a forest, and there met them a damosel that came for the love of Sir Lancelot to seek after some noble knights of King Arthur’s court for to rescue Sir Lancelot. For he was ordained for by the treason of Queen Morgan le Fay to have slain him, and for that cause she ordained thirty knights to lie in wait for Sir Lancelot; and this damosel knew this treason, and for this cause she came for to seek noble knights to help Sir Lancelot. For that night, or the day after, Sir Lancelot should come where these thirty knights were. And so this damosel met with Sir Bors and Sir Ector and with Sir Driant, and there she told them all four of the treason of Morgan le Fay; and then they promised her that they would be nigh her when Sir Lancelot should meet with t
he thirty knights. ‘And if so be they set upon him, we will do rescues as we can.’

  So the damosel departed, and by adventure she met with Sir Tristram and with Sir Dinadan, and there the damosel told them all the treason that was ordained for Sir Lancelot.

  ‘Now, fair damosel,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘bring me to that same place where they should meet with Sir Lancelot.’

  Then said Sir Dinadan, ‘What will ye do? It is not for us to fight with thirty knights, and wit you well I will not thereof! As to match one knight, two or three is enough and they be men; but for to match fifteen knights, that I will never undertake.’

  ‘Fie, for shame,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘do but your part.’

  ‘Nay,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘I will not thereof but if ye will lend me your shield, for ye bear a shield of Cornwall; and for the cowardice that is named to the knights of Cornwall, by your shields ye be ever forborne.’

  ‘Nay,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will not depart from my shield for her sake that gave it me. But one thing,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I promise thee, Sir Dinadan: but if thou wilt promise me to abide with me, right here I shall slay thee, for I desire no more of thee but answer* one knight. And if thy heart will not serve thee, stand by and look upon.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘I will promise you to look upon, and to do what I may to save myself; but I would I had not met with you!’

  So then anon these thirty knights came fast by these four knights, and they were ware of them, and either of other; and so these thirty knights let* for this cause, that they would not wrath them if case be that they had ado with Sir Lancelot. And the four knights let them pass to this intent, that they would see and behold what they would do with Sir Lancelot. And so the thirty knights passed on and came by Sir Tristram and by Sir Dinadan; and then Sir Tristram cried on high, ‘Lo, here is a knight against you for the love of Sir Lancelot!’

  And there he slew two with a spear and ten with his sword; and then came in Sir Dinadan, and he did passing well. And so of the thirty knights there yode but ten away, and they fled.

  And all this battle saw Sir Bors de Ganis and his three fellows, and then they saw well it was the same knight that jousted with them at the bridge. Then they took their horses and rode unto Sir Tristram, and praised him and thanked him of his good deeds; and they all desired Sir Tristram to go with them to their lodging, and he said he would not go to no lodging. Then they four knights prayed him to tell his name.

  ‘Fair lords,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘as at this time I will not tell you my name.’

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  Then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode forth their way till they came to shepherds and to herdmen, and there they asked them if they knew any lodging there nearhand.

  ‘Sir,’ said the herdmen, ‘hereby is good harbour in a castle; but there is such a custom that there shall no knight harbour there but if he joust with two knights, and if he be but one knight he must joust with two knights. And as ye be, soon shall ye be matched.’

  ‘There is shrewd harbour,’* said Sir Dinadan. ‘Lodge where ye will, for I will not lodge there.’

  ‘Fie, for shame,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘are ye not a knight of the Table Round?—wherefore ye may not with your worship refuse your lodging.’

  ‘Not so,’ said the herdmen, ‘for and ye be beaten and have the worse, ye shall not be lodged there, and if ye beat them ye shall well be harboured.’

  ‘Ah,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘I understand they are two good knights.’

  Then Sir Dinadan would not lodge there in no manner, but as Sir Tristram required him of his knighthood; and so they rode thither. And to make short tale, Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan smote them down both, and so they entered into the castle and had good cheer as they could think or devise. And when they were unarmed, and thought to be merry and in good rest, there came in at the gates Sir Palomides and Sir Gaheris, requiring to have the custom of the castle.

  ‘What array is this?’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘I would fain have my rest.’

  ‘That may not be,’ said Sir Tristram. ‘Now must we needs defend the custom of this castle, insomuch as we have the better of these lords of this castle. And therefore,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘needs must ye make you ready.’

  ‘In the devil’s name’, said Sir Dinadan, ‘came I into your company!’

  And so they made them ready, and Sir Gaheris encountered with Sir Tristram, and Sir Gaheris had a fall; and Sir Palomides encountered with Sir Dinadan, and Sir Dinadan had a fall; then was it fall for fall. So then must they fight on foot; and that would not Sir Dinadan, for he was sore bruised of that fall that Sir Palomides gave him. Then Sir Tristram laced on Sir Dinadan’s helm, and prayed him to help him.

  ‘I will not,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘for I am sore wounded of the thirty knights that we had ado withal. But ye fare,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘as a man were out of his mind that would cast himself away. And I may curse the time that ever I saw you, for in all the world are not two such knights that are so wood as is Sir Lancelot and ye, Sir Tristram; for once I fell in the fellowship of Sir Lancelot as I have done now with you, and he set me so a work that a quarter of a year I kept my bed. Jesu defend me’, said Sir Dinadan, ‘from such two knights, and specially from your fellowship.’

  ‘Then,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will fight with them both.’ And anon Sir Tristram bade them come forth both, ‘for I will fight with you.’

  Then Sir Palomides and Sir Gaheris dressed and smote at them both. Then Sir Dinadan smote at Sir Gaheris a stroke or two, and turned from him.

  ‘Nay,’ said Sir Palomides, ‘it is too much shame for us two knights to fight with one.’ And then he did bid Sir Gaheris, ‘Stand aside with that knight that hath no list to fight.’

  Then they rode together and fought long, and at the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes and drove Sir Palomides aback more than three strides. And then by one assent Sir Gaheris and Sir Dinadan went betwixt them and departed them in sunder. And then by the assent of Sir Tristram they would have lodged together; but Sir Dinadan would not lodge in that castle, and then he cursed the time that ever he came in their fellowship, and so he took his horse and his harness and departed. Then Sir Tristram prayed the lords of that castle to lend him a man to bring him to a lodging; and so they did, and overtook Sir Dinadan, and rode to their lodging two mile thence with a good man in a priory, and there they were well at ease.

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  And that same night Sir Bors and Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector and Sir Driant abode still in the same place there as Sir Tristram fought with the thirty knights. And there they met with Sir Lancelot the same night, and had made promise to lodge with Sir Colgrevance the same night. But anon as Sir Lancelot heard of the shield of Cornwall, he wist well it was Sir Tristram that had fought with his enemies; and then Sir Lancelot praised Sir Tristram, and called him the man of most worship in the world.*

  And on the next day following, Sir Tristram met with pursuivants,* and they told him that there was made a great cry of tournament between King Carados of Scotland and the King of Northgales, and either should joust against other before the Castle of Maidens. And these pursuivants sought all the country after good knights, and in especial King Carados let make great seeking for Sir Lancelot, and the King of Northgales let seek specially for Sir Tristram de Lyonesse. And at that time Sir Tristram thought to be at that jousts.

  [Sir Tristram appears at the tournament with a black shield, and over the course of three days overthrows all his opponents including Sir Palomides.]

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  Then Sir Lancelot got a great spear in his hand, and cried, ‘Knight with the Black Shield, make ye ready to joust with me!’

  When Sir Tristram heard him say so, he got his spear in his hand; and either abased their heads down low and came together as thunder, that Sir Tristram’s spear broke in pieces. And Sir Lancelot by malfortune struck Sir Tristram on the side a deep wound nigh to the death; but yet Sir Tristram avoided not his saddle, and so the s
pear broke therewithal. And yet Sir Tristram got out his sword, and he rushed to Sir Lancelot and gave him three great strokes upon the helm, that the fire sprang out, and Sir Launcelot abased his head low toward his saddle-bow. And so therewith Tristram departed from the field, for he felt him so wounded that he weened he should have died; and Sir Dinadan espied him and followed him into the forest. Then Sir Lancelot abode* and did marvellous deeds.

  So when Sir Tristram was departed by the forest’s side, he alit, and unlaced his harness and freshed his wound. Then weened Sir Dinadan that he should have died, and wept.

  ‘Nay, nay,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘never dread you, Sir Dinadan, for I am heart-whole, and of this wound I shall soon be whole, by the mercy of God.’

  And anon Sir Dinadan was ware where came Palomides riding straight upon them. Then Sir Tristram was ware that Sir Palomides came to have destroyed him; and so Sir Dinadan gave him warning, and said, ‘Sir Tristram, my lord, ye are so sore wounded that ye may not have ado with him, therefore I will ride against him and do to him what I may; and if I be slain, ye may pray for my soul. And so in the meanwhile ye may withdraw you and go into the castle or into the forest, that he shall not meet with you.’

  Sir Tristram smiled and said, ‘I thank you, Sir Dinadan; but ye shall understand that I am able to handle him.’