Then Sir Tristram went unto La Beale Isoud and took his leave of her.
And then he told her all, what he was, and how he had changed his name
because he would not be known, and how a lady told him that he should
never be whole till he came into this country where the poison was
made, wherethrough I was near my death had not your ladyship been. O
gentle knight, said La Beale Isoud, full woe am I of thy departing, for
I saw never man that I owed so good will to. And therewithal she wept
heartily. Madam, said Sir Tristram, ye shall understand that my name is
Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King Meliodas, and born of his queen.
And I promise you faithfully that I shall be all the days of my life
your knight. Gramercy, said La Beale Isoud, and I promise you
there-against that I shall not be married this seven years but by your
assent; and to whom that ye will I shall be married to him will I have,
and he will have me if ye will consent.
And then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another; and
therewith he departed from her, leaving her making great dole and
lamentation; and he straight went unto the court among all the barons,
and there he took his leave at most and least, and openly he said among
them all: Fair lords, now it is so that I must depart: if there be any
man here that I have offended unto, or that any man be with me grieved,
let complain him here afore me or that ever I depart, and I shall amend
it unto my power. And if there be any that will proffer me wrong, or
say of me wrong or shame behind my back, say it now or never, and here
is my body to make it good, body against body. And all they stood
still, there was not one that would say one word; yet were there some
knights that were of the queen’s blood, and of Sir Marhaus’ blood, but
they would not meddle with him.
CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each other for the
love of a knight’s wife.
So Sir Tristram departed, and took the sea, and with good wind he
arrived up at Tintagil in Cornwall; and when King Mark was whole in his
prosperity there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived, and whole
of his wounds: thereof was King Mark passing glad, and so were all the
barons; and when he saw his time he rode unto his father, King
Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the king and the queen
could make him. And then largely King Meliodas and his queen departed
of their lands and goods to Sir Tristram.
Then by the license of King Meliodas, his father, he returned again
unto the court of King Mark, and there he lived in great joy long time,
until at the last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness betwixt
King Mark and Sir Tristram, for they loved both one lady. And she was
an earl’s wife that hight Sir Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir
Tristram passingly well. And he loved her again, for she was a passing
fair lady, and that espied Sir Tristram well. Then King Mark understood
that and was jealous, for King Mark loved her passingly well.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account