الفصل الفصل 157 · How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and had one to

. How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and had one to

govern him named Gouvernail, and how he learned to harp, hawk, and

hunt.

And then he let ordain a gentleman that was well learned and taught,

his name was Gouvernail; and then he sent young Tristram with

Gouvernail into France to learn the language, and nurture, and deeds of

arms. And there was Tristram more than seven years. And then when he

well could speak the language, and had learned all that he might learn

in that country, then he came home to his father, King Meliodas, again.

And so Tristram learned to be an harper passing all other, that there

was none such called in no country, and so on harping and on

instruments of music he applied him in his youth for to learn.

And after, as he grew in might and strength, he laboured ever in

hunting and in hawking, so that never gentleman more, that ever we

heard read of. And as the book saith, he began good measures of blowing

of beasts of venery, and beasts of chase, and all manner of vermin, and

all these terms we have yet of hawking and hunting. And therefore the

book of venery, of hawking, and hunting, is called the book of Sir

Tristram. Wherefore, as meseemeth, all gentlemen that bear old arms

ought of right to honour Sir Tristram for the goodly terms that

gentlemen have and use, and shall to the day of doom, that thereby in a

manner all men of worship may dissever a gentleman from a yeoman, and

from a yeoman a villain. For he that gentle is will draw him unto

gentle tatches, and to follow the customs of noble gentlemen.

Thus Sir Tristram endured in Cornwall until he was big and strong, of

the age of eighteen years. And then the King Meliodas had great joy of

Sir Tristram, and so had the queen, his wife. For ever after in her

life, because Sir Tristram saved her from the fire, she did never hate

him more after, but loved him ever after, and gave Tristram many great

gifts; for every estate loved him, where that he went.