Kabanata Kabanata 205 · How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid

. How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid

Bragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.

Now leave we here Sir La Cote Male Taile, and turn we unto Sir Tristram

de Liones that was in Brittany. When La Beale Isoud understood that he

was wedded she sent to him by her maiden Bragwaine as piteous letters

as could be thought and made, and her conclusion was that, an it

pleased Sir Tristram, that he would come to her court, and bring with

him Isoud la Blanche Mains, and they should be kept as well as she

herself. Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Kehydius, and asked him

whether he would go with him into Cornwall secretly. He answered him

that he was ready at all times. And then he let ordain privily a little

vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine,

and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram’s squire. So when they were in the sea a

contrarious wind blew them on the coasts of North Wales, nigh the

Castle Perilous. Then said Sir Tristram: Here shall ye abide me these

ten days, and Gouvernail, my squire, with you. And if so be I come not

again by that day take the next way into Cornwall; for in this forest

are many strange adventures, as I have heard say, and some of them I

cast me to prove or I depart. And when I may I shall hie me after you.

Then Sir Tristram and Kehydius took their horses and departed from

their fellowship. And so they rode within that forest a mile and more;

and at the last Sir Tristram saw afore him a likely knight, armed,

sitting by a well, and a strong mighty horse passing nigh him tied to

an oak, and a man hoving and riding by him leading an horse laden with

spears. And this knight that sat at the well seemed by his countenance

to be passing heavy. Then Sir Tristram rode near him and said: Fair

knight, why sit ye so drooping? ye seem to be a knight-errant by your

arms and harness, and therefore dress you to joust with one of us, or

with both. Therewithal that knight made no words, but took his shield

and buckled it about his neck, and lightly he took his horse and leapt

upon him. And then he took a great spear of his squire, and departed

his way a furlong. Sir Kehydius asked leave of Sir Tristram to joust

first. Do your best, said Sir Tristram. So they met together, and there

Sir Kehydius had a fall, and was sore wounded on high above the paps.

Then Sir Tristram said: Knight, that is well jousted, now make you

ready unto me. I am ready, said the knight. And then that knight took a

greater spear in his hand, and encountered with Sir Tristram, and there

by great force that knight smote down Sir Tristram from his horse and

had a great fall. Then Sir Tristram was sore ashamed, and lightly he

avoided his horse, and put his shield afore his shoulder, and drew his

sword. And then Sir Tristram required that knight of his knighthood to

alight upon foot and fight with him. I will well, said the knight; and

so he alighted upon foot, and avoided his horse, and cast his shield

upon his shoulder, and drew his sword, and there they fought a long

battle together full nigh two hours. Then Sir Tristram said: Fair

knight, hold thine hand, and tell me of whence thou art, and what is

thy name. As for that, said the knight, I will be avised; but an thou

wilt tell me thy name peradventure I will tell thee mine.