When this was done Sir Tristram asked them: Fair knights, will ye any
more? Be there no bigger knights in the court of King Arthur? it is to
you shame to say of us knights of Cornwall dishonour, for it may happen
a Cornish knight may match you. That is truth, said Sir Sagramore, that
have we well proved; but I require thee, said Sir Sagramore, tell us
your right name, by the faith and troth that ye owe to the high order
of knighthood. Ye charge me with a great thing, said Sir Tristram, and
sithen ye list to wit it, ye shall know and understand that my name is
Sir Tristram de Liones, King Meliodas’ son, and nephew unto King Mark.
Then were they two knights fain that they had met with Tristram, and so
they prayed him to abide in their fellowship. Nay, said Sir Tristram,
for I must have ado with one of your fellows, his name is Sir Bleoberis
de Ganis. God speed you well, said Sir Sagramore and Dodinas. Sir
Tristram departed and rode onward on his way. And then was he ware
before him in a valley where rode Sir Bleoberis, with Sir Segwarides’
lady, that rode behind his squire upon a palfrey.
CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady,
and how the lady was put to choice to whom she would go.
Then Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had overtaken
him. Then spake Sir Tristram: Abide, he said, Knight of Arthur’s court,
bring again that lady, or deliver her to me. I will do neither, said
Bleoberis, for I dread no Cornish knight so sore that me list to
deliver her. Why, said Sir Tristram, may not a Cornish knight do as
well as another knight? this same day two knights of your court within
this three mile met with me, and or ever we departed they found a
Cornish knight good enough for them both. What were their names? said
Bleoberis. They told me, said Sir Tristram, that the one of them hight
Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le Savage. Ah,
said Sir Bleoberis, have ye met with them? so God me help, they were
two good knights and men of great worship, and if ye have beat them
both ye must needs be a good knight; but if it so be ye have beat them
both, yet shall ye not fear me, but ye shall beat me or ever ye have
this lady. Then defend you, said Sir Tristram. So they departed and
came together like thunder, and either bare other down, horse and all,
to the earth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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