Kabanata Kabanata 176 · How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his

. How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his

adversary, and how his adversary would never yield him.

Now make your answer that your champion is ready, for I shall die in

your quarrel rather than to be recreant. I have no doubt of you, said

the king, that, an ye should have ado with Sir Launcelot du Lake— Sir,

said Sir Tristram, as for Sir Launcelot, he is called the noblest

knight of the world, and wit ye well that the knights of his blood are

noble men, and dread shame; and as for Bleoberis, brother unto Sir

Blamore, I have done battle with him, therefore upon my head it is no

shame to call him a good knight. It is noised, said the king, that

Blamore is the hardier knight. Sir, as for that let him be, he shall

never be refused, an as he were the best knight that now beareth shield

or spear.

So King Anguish departed unto King Carados and the kings that were that

time as judges, and told them that he had found his champion ready.

Then by the commandment of the kings Sir Blamore de Ganis and Sir

Tristram were sent for to hear the charge. And when they were come

before the judges there were many kings and knights beheld Sir

Tristram, and much speech they had of him because that he slew Sir

Marhaus, the good knight, and because he for-jousted Sir Palamides the

good knight. So when they had taken their charge they withdrew them to

make them ready to do battle.

Then said Sir Bleoberis unto his brother, Sir Blamore: Fair dear

brother, remember of what kin we be come of, and what a man is Sir

Launcelot du Lake, neither farther nor nearer but brother’s children,

and there was never none of our kin that ever was shamed in battle; and

rather suffer death, brother, than to be shamed. Brother, said Blamore,

have ye no doubt of me, for I shall never shame none of my blood;

howbeit I am sure that yonder knight is called a passing good knight as

of his time one of the world, yet shall I never yield me, nor say the

loath word: well may he happen to smite me down with his great might of

chivalry, but rather shall he slay me than I shall yield me as

recreant. God speed you well, said Sir Bleoberis, for ye shall find him

the mightiest knight that ever ye had ado withal, for I know him, for I

have had ado with him. God me speed, said Sir Blamore de Ganis; and

therewith he took his horse at the one end of the lists, and Sir

Tristram at the other end of the lists, and so they feutred their

spears and came together as it had been thunder; and there Sir Tristram

through great might smote down Sir Blamore and his horse to the earth.

Then anon Sir Blamore avoided his horse and pulled out his sword and

threw his shield afore him, and bade Sir Tristram alight: For though an

horse hath failed me, I trust to God the earth will not fail me. And

then Sir Tristram alighted, and dressed him unto battle; and there they

lashed together strongly as racing and tracing, foining and dashing,

many sad strokes, that the kings and knights had great wonder that they

might stand; for ever they fought like wood men, so that there was

never knights seen fight more fiercely than they did; for Sir Blamore

was so hasty that he would have no rest, that all men wondered that

they had breath to stand on their feet; and all the place was bloody

that they fought in. And at the last, Sir Tristram smote Sir Blamore

such a buffet upon the helm that he there fell down upon his side, and

Sir Tristram stood and beheld him.