Chapter Chapter 162 · How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived in Ireland died

. How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived in Ireland died

of the stroke that Sir Tristram had given him, and how Tristram was

hurt.

Anon Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into Ireland. And as soon

as he came to the king, his brother, he let search his wounds. And when

his head was searched a piece of Sir Tristram’s sword was found

therein, and might never be had out of his head for no surgeons, and so

he died of Sir Tristram’s sword; and that piece of the sword the queen,

his sister, kept it for ever with her, for she thought to be revenged

an she might.

Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram, that was sore wounded, and full

sore bled that he might not within a little while, when he had taken

cold, unnethe stir him of his limbs. And then he set him down softly

upon a little hill, and bled fast. Then anon came Gouvernail, his man,

with his vessel; and the king and his barons came with procession

against him. And when he was come unto the land, King Mark took him in

his arms, and the king and Sir Dinas, the seneschal, led Sir Tristram

into the castle of Tintagil. And then was he searched in the best

manner, and laid in his bed. And when King Mark saw his wounds he wept

heartily, and so did all his lords. So God me help, said King Mark, I

would not for all my lands that my nephew died. So Sir Tristram lay

there a month and more, and ever he was like to die of that stroke that

Sir Marhaus smote him first with the spear. For, as the French book

saith, the spear’s head was envenomed, that Sir Tristram might not be

whole. Then was King Mark and all his barons passing heavy, for they

deemed none other but that Sir Tristram should not recover. Then the

king let send after all manner of leeches and surgeons, both unto men

and women, and there was none that would behote him the life. Then came

there a lady that was a right wise lady, and she said plainly unto King

Mark, and to Sir Tristram, and to all his barons, that he should never

be whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that the venom

came from, and in that country should he be holpen or else never. Thus

said the lady unto the king.

When King Mark understood that, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a fair

vessel, well victualled, and therein was put Sir Tristram, and

Gouvernail with him, and Sir Tristram took his harp with him, and so he

was put into the sea to sail into Ireland; and so by good fortune he

arrived up in Ireland, even fast by a castle where the king and the

queen was; and at his arrival he sat and harped in his bed a merry lay,

such one heard they never none in Ireland before that time.

And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that was

such an harper, anon the king sent for him, and let search his wounds,

and then asked him his name. Then he answered, I am of the country of

Liones, and my name is Tramtrist, that thus was wounded in a battle as

I fought for a lady’s right. So God me help, said King Anguish, ye

shall have all the help in this land that ye may have here; but I let

you wit, in Cornwall I had a great loss as ever had king, for there I

lost the best knight of the world; his name was Marhaus, a full noble

knight, and Knight of the Table Round; and there he told Sir Tristram

wherefore Sir Marhaus was slain. Sir Tristram made semblant as he had

been sorry, and better knew he how it was than the king.