Chapter Chapter 244 · How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and of

. How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and of

the great joy that the king and other made for the coming of Sir

Tristram.

Return again, said Sir Launcelot, for your quest is done, for I have

met with Sir Tristram: lo, here is his own person! Then was Sir Gawaine

glad, and said to Sir Tristram: Ye are welcome, for now have ye eased

me greatly of my labour. For what cause, said Sir Gawaine, came ye into

this court? Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, I came into this country

because of Sir Palomides; for he and I had assigned at this day to have

done battle together at the peron, and I marvel I hear not of him. And

thus by adventure my lord, Sir Launcelot, and I met together. With this

came King Arthur, and when he wist that there was Sir Tristram, then he

ran unto him and took him by the hand and said: Sir Tristram, ye are as

welcome as any knight that ever came to this court. And when the king

had heard how Sir Launcelot and he had foughten, and either had wounded

other wonderly sore, then the king made great dole. Then Sir Tristram

told the king how he came thither for to have had ado with Sir

Palomides. And then he told the king how he had rescued him from the

nine knights and Breuse Saunce Pité; and how he found a knight lying by

a well, and that knight smote down Sir Palomides and me, but his shield

was covered with a cloth. So Sir Palomides left me, and I followed

after that knight; and in many places I found where he had slain

knights, and forjousted many. By my head, said Sir Gawaine, that same

knight smote me down and Sir Bleoberis, and hurt us sore both, he with

the covered shield. Ah, said Sir Kay, that knight smote me adown and

hurt me passing sore, and fain would I have known him, but I might not.

Jesu, mercy, said Arthur, what knight was that with the covered shield?

I know not, said Sir Tristram; and so said they all. Now, said King

Arthur, then wot I, for it is Sir Launcelot. Then they all looked upon

Sir Launcelot and said: Ye have beguiled us with your covered shield.

It is not the first time, said Arthur, he hath done so. My lord, said

Sir Launcelot, truly wit ye well I was the same knight that bare the

covered shield; and because I would not be known that I was of your

court I said no worship of your house. That is truth, said Sir Gawaine,

Sir Kay, and Sir Bleoberis.

Then King Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand and went to the Table

Round. Then came Queen Guenever and many ladies with her, and all the

ladies said at one voice: Welcome, Sir Tristram! Welcome, said the

damosels. Welcome, said knights. Welcome, said Arthur, for one of the

best knights, and the gentlest of the world, and the man of most

worship; for of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and of

all measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the terms of

hunting and hawking ye are the beginner, of all instruments of music ye

are the best; therefore, gentle knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to

this court. And also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon. It

shall be at your commandment, said Tristram. Well, said Arthur, I will

desire of you that ye will abide in my court. Sir, said Sir Tristram,

thereto is me loath, for I have ado in many countries. Not so, said

Arthur, ye have promised it me, ye may not say nay. Sir, said Sir

Tristram, I will as ye will. Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the

Round Table, and looked in every siege the which were void that lacked

knights. And then the king saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that

said: This is the siege of the noble knight, Sir Tristram. And then

Arthur made Sir Tristram Knight of the Table Round, with great nobley

and great feast as might be thought. For Sir Marhaus was slain afore by

the hands of Sir Tristram in an island; and that was well known at that

time in the court of Arthur, for this Marhaus was a worthy knight. And

for evil deeds that he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir Tristram

and he fought. And they fought so long, tracing and traversing, till

they fell bleeding to the earth; for they were so sore wounded that

they might not stand for bleeding. And Sir Tristram by fortune

recovered, and Sir Marhaus died through the stroke on the head. So

leave we of Sir Tristram and speak we of King Mark.