Kabanata Kabanata 181 · How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir

. How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir

Tristram yielded him and promised to fellowship with Launcelot.

Then came Sir Galahad, and the King with the Hundred Knights with him;

and this Sir Galahad proffered to fight with Sir Tristram hand for

hand. And so they made them ready to go unto battle on horseback with

great courage. Then Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram met together so hard

that either bare other down, horse and all, to the earth. And then they

avoided their horses as noble knights, and dressed their shields, and

drew their swords with ire and rancour, and they lashed together many

sad strokes, and one while striking, another while foining, tracing and

traversing as noble knights; thus they fought long, near half a day,

and either were sore wounded. At the last Sir Tristram waxed light and

big, and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Galahad aback on the one

side and on the other, so that he was like to have been slain.

With that came the King with the Hundred Knights, and all that

fellowship went fiercely upon Sir Tristram. When Sir Tristram saw them

coming upon him, then he wist well he might not endure. Then as a wise

knight of war, he said to Sir Galahad, the haut prince: Sir, ye show to

me no knighthood, for to suffer all your men to have ado with me all at

once; and as meseemeth ye be a noble knight of your hands it is great

shame to you. So God me help, said Sir Galahad, there is none other way

but thou must yield thee to me, other else to die, said Sir Galahad to

Sir Tristram. I will rather yield me to you than die for that is more

for the might of your men than of your hands. And therewithal Sir

Tristram took his own sword by the point, and put the pommel in the

hand of Sir Galahad.

Therewithal came the King with the Hundred Knights, and hard began to

assail Sir Tristram. Let be, said Sir Galahad, be ye not so hardy to

touch him, for I have given this knight his life. That is your shame,

said the King with the Hundred Knights; hath he not slain your father

and your mother? As for that, said Sir Galahad, I may not wite him

greatly, for my father had him in prison, and enforced him to do battle

with him; and my father had such a custom that was a shameful custom,

that what knight came there to ask harbour his lady must needs die but

if she were fairer than my mother; and if my father overcame that

knight he must needs die. This was a shameful custom and usage, a

knight for his harbour-asking to have such harbourage. And for this

custom I would never draw about him. So God me help, said the King,

this was a shameful custom. Truly, said Sir Galahad, so seemed me; and

meseemed it had been great pity that this knight should have been

slain, for I dare say he is the noblest man that beareth life, but if

it were Sir Launcelot du Lake. Now, fair knight, said Sir Galahad, I

require thee tell me thy name, and of whence thou art, and whither thou

wilt. Sir, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and from King

Mark of Cornwall I was sent on message unto King Anguish of Ireland,

for to fetch his daughter to be his wife, and here she is ready to go

with me into Cornwall, and her name is La Beale Isoud. And, Sir

Tristram, said Sir Galahad, the haut prince, well be ye found in these

marches, and so ye will promise me to go unto Sir Launcelot du Lake,

and accompany with him, ye shall go where ye will, and your fair lady

with you; and I shall promise you never in all my days shall such

customs be used in this castle as have been used. Sir, said Sir

Tristram, now I let you wit, so God me help, I weened ye had been Sir

Launcelot du Lake when I saw you first, and therefore I dread you the

more; and sir, I promise you, said Sir Tristram, as soon as I may I

will see Sir Launcelot and in fellowship me with him; for of all the

knights of the world I most desire his fellowship.