Chapter Chapter 171 · How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady,

. 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.

Then they avoided their horses, and lashed together eagerly with

swords, and mightily, now tracing and traversing on the right hand and

on the left hand more than two hours. And sometime they rushed together

with such a might that they lay both grovelling on the ground. Then Sir

Bleoberis de Ganis stert aback, and said thus: Now, gentle good knight,

a while hold your hands, and let us speak together. Say what ye will,

said Tristram, and I will answer you. Sir, said Bleoberis, I would wit

of whence ye be, and of whom ye be come, and what is your name? So God

me help, said Sir Tristram, I fear not to tell you my name. Wit ye well

I am King Meliodas’ son, and my mother is King Mark’s sister, and my

name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and King Mark is mine uncle. Truly,

said Bleoberis, I am right glad of you, for ye are he that slew Marhaus

the knight, hand for hand in an island, for the truage of Cornwall;

also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good knight, at a tournament in an

island, where ye beat Sir Gawaine and his nine fellows. So God me help,

said Sir Tristram, wit ye well that I am the same knight; now I have

told you my name, tell me yours with good will. Wit ye well that my

name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and my brother hight Sir Blamore de

Ganis, that is called a good knight, and we be sister’s children unto

my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, that we call one of the best knights of

the world. That is truth, said Sir Tristram, Sir Launcelot is called

peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and for his sake, said Sir

Tristram, I will not with my good will fight no more with you, for the

great love I have to Sir Launcelot du Lake. In good faith, said

Bleoberis, as for me I will be loath to fight with you; but sithen ye

follow me here to have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness,

courtesy, and gentleness right here upon this ground. This lady shall

be betwixt us both, and to whom that she will go, let him have her in

peace. I will well, said Tristram, for, as I deem, she will leave you

and come to me. Ye shall prove it anon, said Bleoberis.