King Arthur and the Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
General
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
As she thus spoke a little hound, which Sir Tristram had given her when
she first came to Cornwall, and which was ever with her, saw Sir
Tristram lying there, and leapt upon him, licking his hands and face,
and whined and barked for joy.
"Alas," cried out La Belle Isault, "it is my own true knight, Sir
Tristram."
And at her voice Sir Tristram's senses wholly came again, and wellnigh
he wept for joy to see his lady living.
But never would the hound depart from Tristram; and when King Mark and
other knights came up to see him, it sat upon his body and bayed at all
who came too near. Then one of the knights said, "Surely this is Sir
Tristram; I see it by the hound."
"Nay," said the king, "it cannot be," and asked Sir Tristram on his
faith who he was.
"My name," said he, "is Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, and now ye may do what
ye list with me."
Then the king said, "It repents me that ye are recovered," and sought to
make his barons slay him. But most of them would not assent thereto, and
counseled him instead to banish Tristram for ten years again from
Cornwall, for returning without orders from the king. So he was sworn to
depart forthwith.
And as he went towards the ship a knight of King Arthur, named Sir
Dinadan, who sought him, came and said, "Fair knight, ere that you pass
out of this country, I pray you joust with me!"
"With a good will," said he.
Then they ran together, and Sir Tristram lightly smote him from his
horse. Anon he prayed Sir Tristram's leave to bear him company, and when
he had consented they rode together to the ship.
Then was Sir Tristram full of bitterness of heart, and said to all the
knights who took him to the shore, "Greet well King Mark and all mine
enemies from me, and tell them I will come again when I may. Well am I
now rewarded for slaying Sir Marhaus, and delivering this kingdom from
its bondage, and for the perils wherewithal I brought La Belle Isault
from Ireland to the king, and rescued her at the Castle Pluere, and for
the slaying of the giant Tauleas, and all the other deeds that I have
done for Cornwall and King Mark." Thus angrily and passing bitterly he
spake, and went his way.
And after sailing awhile the ship stayed at a landing-place upon the
coast of Wales; and there Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan alighted, and on
the shore they met two knights, Sir Ector and Sir Bors. And Sir Ector
encountered with Sir Dinadan and smote him to the ground; but Sir Bors
would not encounter with Sir Tristram, "For," said he, "no Cornish
knights are men of worship." Thereat Sir Tristram was full wroth, but
presently there met them two more knights, Sir Bleoberis and Sir Driant;
and Sir Bleoberis proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, who shortly
smote him down.
"I had not thought," cried out Sir Bors, "that any Cornish knight could
do so valiantly."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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