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<h2> CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how Sir Tristram spared him, and how they took appointment. </h2>
<p>THEN when Sir Blamore might speak, he said thus: Sir Tristram de Liones, I
require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best knight that ever I
found, that thou wilt slay me out, for I would not live to be made lord of
all the earth, for I have liefer die with worship than live with shame;
and needs, Sir Tristram, thou must slay me, or else thou shalt never win
the field, for I will never say the loath word. And therefore if thou dare
slay me, slay me, I require thee. When Sir Tristram heard him say so
knightly, he wist not what to do with him; he remembering him of both
parties, of what blood he was come, and for Sir Launcelot's sake he would
be loath to slay him; and in the other party in no wise he might not
choose, but that he must make him to say the loath word, or else to slay
him.</p>
<p>Then Sir Tristram stert aback, and went to the kings that were judges, and
there he kneeled down to-fore them, and besought them for their worships,
and for King Arthur's and Sir Launcelot's sake, that they would take this
matter in their hands. For, my fair lords, said Sir Tristram, it were
shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder lieth should be slain;
for ye hear well, shamed will he not be, and I pray to God that he never
be slain nor shamed for me. And as for the king for whom I fight for, I
shall require him, as I am his true champion and true knight in this
field, that he will have mercy upon this good knight. So God me help, said
King Anguish, I will for your sake; Sir Tristram, be ruled as ye will have
me, for I know you for my true knight; and therefore I will heartily pray
the kings that be here as judges to take it in their hands. And the kings
that were judges called Sir Bleoberis to them, and asked him his advice.
My lords, said Bleoberis, though my brother be beaten, and hath the worse
through might of arms, I dare say, though Sir Tristram hath beaten his
body he hath not beaten his heart, and I thank God he is not shamed this
day; and rather than he should be shamed I require you, said Bleoberis,
let Sir Tristram slay him out. It shall not be so, said the kings, for his
part adversary, both the king and the champion, have pity of Sir Blamore's
knighthood. My lords, said Bleoberis, I will right well as ye will.</p>
<p>Then the kings called the King of Ireland, and found him goodly and
treatable. And then, by all their advices, Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis
took up Sir Blamore, and the two brethren were accorded with King Anguish,
and kissed and made friends for ever. And then Sir Blamore and Sir
Tristram kissed together, and there they made their oaths that they would
never none of them two brethren fight with Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram
made the same oath. And for that gentle battle all the blood of Sir
Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for ever.</p>
<p>Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram took their leave, and sailed into
Ireland with great noblesse and joy. So when they were in Ireland the king
let make it known throughout all the land how and in what manner Sir
Tristram had done for him. Then the queen and all that there were made the
most of him that they might. But the joy that La Beale Isoud made of Sir
Tristram there might no tongue tell, for of all men earthly she loved him
most.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud for King Mark, and how Sir Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink. </h2>
<p>THEN upon a day King Anguish asked Sir Tristram why he asked not his boon,
for whatsomever he had promised him he should have it without fail. Sir,
said Sir Tristram, now is it time; this is all that I will desire, that ye
will give me La Beale Isoud, your daughter, not for myself, but for mine
uncle, King Mark, that shall have her to wife, for so have I promised him.
Alas, said the king, I had liefer than all the land that I have ye would
wed her yourself. Sir, an I did then I were shamed for ever in this world,
and false of my promise. Therefore, said Sir I Tristram, I pray you hold
your promise that ye promised me; for this is my desire, that ye will give
me La Beale Isoud to go with me into Cornwall for to be wedded to King
Mark, mine uncle. As for that, said King Anguish, ye shall have her with
you to do with her what it please you; that is for to say if that ye list
to wed her yourself, that is me liefest, and if ye will give her unto King
Mark, your uncle, that is in your choice. So, to make short conclusion, La
Beale Isoud was made ready to go with Sir Tristram, and Dame Bragwaine
went with her for her chief gentlewoman, with many other.</p>
<p>Then the queen, Isoud's mother, gave to her and Dame Bragwaine, her
daughter's gentlewoman, and unto Gouvernail, a drink, and charged them
that what day King Mark should wed, that same day they should give him
that drink, so that King Mark should drink to La Beale Isoud, and then,
said the queen, I undertake either shall love other the days of their
life. So this drink was given unto Dame Bragwaine, and unto Gouvernail.
And then anon Sir Tristram took the sea, and La Beale Isoud; and when they
were in their cabin, it happed so that they were thirsty, and they saw a
little flasket of gold stand by them, and it seemed by the colour and the
taste that it was noble wine. Then Sir Tristram took the flasket in his
hand, and said, Madam Isoud, here is the best drink that ever ye drank,
that Dame Bragwaine, your maiden, and Gouvernail, my servant, have kept
for themselves. Then they laughed and made good cheer, and either drank to
other freely, and they thought never drink that ever they drank to other
was so sweet nor so good. But by that their drink was in their bodies,
they loved either other so well that never their love departed for weal
neither for woe. And thus it happed the love first betwixt Sir Tristram
and La Beale Isoud, the which love never departed the days of their life.</p>
<p>So then they sailed till by fortune they came nigh a castle that hight
Pluere, and thereby arrived for to repose them, weening to them to have
had good harbourage. But anon as Sir Tristram was within the castle they
were taken prisoners; for the custom of the castle was such; who that rode
by that castle and brought any lady, he must needs fight with the lord,
that hight Breunor. And if it were so that Breunor won the field, then
should the knight stranger and his lady be put to death, what that ever
they were; and if it were so that the strange knight won the field of Sir
Breunor, then should he die and his lady both. This custom was used many
winters, for it was called the Castle Pluere, that is to say the Weeping
Castle.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he fought for her beauty, and smote of another lady's head. </h2>
<p>THUS as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in prison, it happed a knight
and a lady came unto them where they were, to cheer them. I have marvel,
said Tristram unto the knight and the lady, what is the cause the lord of
this castle holdeth us in prison: it was never the custom of no place of
worship that ever I came in, when a knight and a lady asked harbour, and
they to receive them, and after to destroy them that be his guests. Sir,
said the knight, this is the old custom of this castle, that when a knight
cometh here he must needs fight with our lord, and he that is weaker must
lose his head. And when that is done, if his lady that he bringeth be
fouler than our lord's wife, she must lose her head: and if she be fairer
proved than is our lady, then shall the lady of this castle lose her head.
So God me help, said Sir Tristram, this is a foul custom and a shameful.
But one advantage have I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady is fair enough,
fairer saw I never in all my life-days, and I doubt not for lack of beauty
she shall not lose her head; and rather than I should lose my head I will
fight for it on a fair field. Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell your
lord that I will be ready as to-morn with my lady, and myself to do
battle, if it be so I may have my horse and mine armour. Sir, said that
knight, I undertake that your desire shall be sped right well. And then he
said: Take your rest, and look that ye be up betimes and make you ready
and your lady, for ye shall want no thing that you behoveth. And therewith
he departed, and on the morn betimes that same knight came to Sir
Tristram, and fetched him out and his lady, and brought him horse and
armour that was his own, and bade him make him ready to the field, for all
the estates and commons of that lordship were there ready to behold that
battle and judgment.</p>
<p>Then came Sir Breunor, the lord of that castle, with his lady in his hand,
muffled, and asked Sir Tristram where was his lady: For an thy lady be
fairer than mine, with thy sword smite off my lady's head; and if my lady
be fairer than thine, with my sword I must strike off her head. And if I
may win thee, yet shall thy lady be mine, and thou shalt lose thy head.
Sir, said Tristram, this is a foul custom and horrible; and rather than my
lady should lose her head, yet had I liefer lose my head. Nay, nay, said
Sir Breunor, the ladies shall be first showed together, and the one shall
have her judgment. Nay, I will not so, said Sir Tristram, for here is none
that will give righteous judgment. But I doubt not, said Sir Tristram, my
lady is fairer than thine, and that will I prove and make good with my
hand. And whosomever he be that will say the contrary I will prove it on
his head. And therewith Sir Tristram showed La Beale Isoud, and turned her
thrice about with his naked sword in his hand. And when Sir Breunor saw
that, he did the same wise turn his lady. But when Sir Breunor beheld La
Beale Isoud, him thought he saw never a fairer lady, and then he dread his
lady's head should be off. And so all the people that were there present
gave judgment that La Beale Isoud was the fairer lady and the better made.
How now, said Sir Tristram, meseemeth it were pity that my lady should
lose her head, but because thou and she of long time have used this wicked
custom, and by you both have many good knights and ladies been destroyed,
for that cause it were no loss to destroy you both. So God me help, said
Sir Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer than mine, and that
me sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily say, for of all women
I saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt slay my lady, I doubt not
but I shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou shalt win her, said Sir
Tristram, as dear as ever knight won lady. And because of thine own
judgment, as thou wouldst have done to my lady if that she had been
fouler, and because of the evil custom, give me thy lady, said Sir
Tristram. And therewithal Sir Tristram strode unto him and took his lady
from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off her head clean. Well,
knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a despite; [*8]now take
thine horse: sithen I am ladyless I will win thy lady an I may.</p>
<p>[*8] Printed by Caxton as part of chap. xxvi.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, and at the last smote off his head. </h2>
<p>THEN they took their horses and came together as it had been the thunder;
and Sir Tristram smote Sir Breunor clean from his horse, and lightly he
rose up; and as Sir Tristram came again by him he thrust his horse
throughout both the shoulders, that his horse hurled here and there and
fell dead to the ground. And ever Sir Breunor ran after to have slain Sir
Tristram, but Sir Tristram was light and nimble, and voided his horse
lightly. And or ever Sir Tristram might dress his shield and his sword the
other gave him three or four sad strokes. Then they rushed together like
two boars, tracing and traversing mightily and wisely as two noble
knights. For this Sir Breunor was a proved knight, and had been or then
the death of many good knights, that it was pity that he had so long
endured.</p>
<p>Thus they fought, hurling here and there nigh two hours, and either were
wounded sore. Then at the last Sir Breunor rashed upon Sir Tristram and
took him in his arms, for he trusted much in his strength. Then was Sir
Tristram called the strongest and the highest knight of the world; for he
was called bigger than Sir Launcelot, but Sir Launcelot was better
breathed. So anon Sir Tristram thrust Sir Breunor down grovelling, and
then he unlaced his helm and struck off his head. And then all they that
longed to the castle came to him, and did him homage and fealty, praying
him that he would abide there still a little while to fordo that foul
custom. Sir Tristram granted thereto. The meanwhile one of the knights of
the castle rode unto Sir Galahad, the haut prince, the which was Sir
Breunor's son, which was a noble knight, and told him what misadventure
his father had and his mother.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram yielded him and promised to fellowship with Launcelot. </h2>
<p>THEN came Sir Galahad, and the King with the Hundred Knights with him; and
this Sir Galahad proffered to fight with Sir Tristram hand for hand. And
so they made them ready to go unto battle on horseback with great courage.
Then Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram met together so hard that either bare
other down, horse and all, to the earth. And then they avoided their
horses as noble knights, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords
with ire and rancour, and they lashed together many sad strokes, and one
while striking, another while foining, tracing and traversing as noble
knights; thus they fought long, near half a day, and either were sore
wounded. At the last Sir Tristram waxed light and big, and doubled his
strokes, and drove Sir Galahad aback on the one side and on the other, so
that he was like to have been slain.</p>
<p>With that came the King with the Hundred Knights, and all that fellowship
went fiercely upon Sir Tristram. When Sir Tristram saw them coming upon
him, then he wist well he might not endure. Then as a wise knight of war,
he said to Sir Galahad, the haut prince: Sir, ye show to me no knighthood,
for to suffer all your men to have ado with me all at once; and as
meseemeth ye be a noble knight of your hands it is great shame to you. So
God me help, said Sir Galahad, there is none other way but thou must yield
thee to me, other else to die, said Sir Galahad to Sir Tristram. I will
rather yield me to you than die for that is more for the might of your men
than of your hands. And therewithal Sir Tristram took his own sword by the
point, and put the pommel in the hand of Sir Galahad.</p>
<p>Therewithal came the King with the Hundred Knights, and hard began to
assail Sir Tristram. Let be, said Sir Galahad, be ye not so hardy to touch
him, for I have given this knight his life. That is your shame, said the
King with the Hundred Knights; hath he not slain your father and your
mother? As for that, said Sir Galahad, I may not wite him greatly, for my
father had him in prison, and enforced him to do battle with him; and my
father had such a custom that was a shameful custom, that what knight came
there to ask harbour his lady must needs die but if she were fairer than
my mother; and if my father overcame that knight he must needs die. This
was a shameful custom and usage, a knight for his harbour-asking to have
such harbourage. And for this custom I would never draw about him. So God
me help, said the King, this was a shameful custom. Truly, said Sir
Galahad, so seemed me; and meseemed it had been great pity that this
knight should have been slain, for I dare say he is the noblest man that
beareth life, but if it were Sir Launcelot du Lake. Now, fair knight, said
Sir Galahad, I require thee tell me thy name, and of whence thou art, and
whither thou wilt. Sir, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and
from King Mark of Cornwall I was sent on message unto King Anguish of
Ireland, for to fetch his daughter to be his wife, and here she is ready
to go with me into Cornwall, and her name is La Beale Isoud. And, Sir
Tristram, said Sir Galahad, the haut prince, well be ye found in these
marches, and so ye will promise me to go unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, and
accompany with him, ye shall go where ye will, and your fair lady with
you; and I shall promise you never in all my days shall such customs be
used in this castle as have been used. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now I let
you wit, so God me help, I weened ye had been Sir Launcelot du Lake when I
saw you first, and therefore I dread you the more; and sir, I promise you,
said Sir Tristram, as soon as I may I will see Sir Launcelot and in
fellowship me with him; for of all the knights of the world I most desire
his fellowship.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away Sir Gawaine, and of the rescue of Sir Gawaine. </h2>
<p>AND then Sir Tristram took his leave when he saw his time, and took the
sea. And in the meanwhile word came unto Sir Launcelot and to Sir Tristram
that Sir Carados, the mighty king, that was made like a giant, fought with
Sir Gawaine, and gave him such strokes that he swooned in his saddle, and
after that he took him by the collar and pulled him out of his saddle, and
fast bound him to the saddle-bow, and so rode his way with him toward his
castle. And as he rode, by fortune Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados, and
anon he knew Sir Gawaine that lay bound after him. Ah, said Sir Launcelot
unto Sir Gawaine, how stands it with you? Never so hard, said Sir Gawaine,
unless that ye help me, for so God me help, without ye rescue me I know no
knight that may, but outher you or Sir Tristram. Wherefore Sir Launcelot
was heavy of Sir Gawaine's words. And then Sir Launcelot bade Sir Carados:
Lay down that knight and fight with me. Thou art but a fool, said Sir
Carados, for I will serve you in the same wise. As for that, said Sir
Launcelot, spare me not, for I warn thee I will not spare thee. And then
he bound Sir Gawaine hand and foot, and so threw him to the ground. And
then he gat his spear of his squire, and departed from Sir Launcelot to
fetch his course. And so either met with other, and brake their spears to
their hands; and then they pulled out swords, and hurtled together on
horseback more than an hour. And at the last Sir Launcelot smote Sir
Carados such a buffet upon the helm that it pierced his brain-pan. So then
Sir Launcelot took Sir Carados by the collar and pulled him under his
horse's feet, and then he alighted and pulled off his helm and struck off
his head. And then Sir Launcelot unbound Sir Gawaine. So this same tale
was told to Sir Galahad and to Sir Tristram:—here may ye hear the
nobleness that followeth Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir Tristram, an I had
not this message in hand with this fair lady, truly I would never stint or
I had found Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went to
the sea and came into Cornwall, and there all the barons met them.</p>
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