Kabanata Kabanata 215 · How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be

. How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be

borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there known by a brachet.

Then the knight took up the giant’s head and bare it with him unto King

Mark, and told him what adventure betid him in the forest, and how a

naked man rescued him from the grimly giant, Tauleas. Where had ye this

adventure? said King Mark. Forsooth, said Sir Dinant, at the fair

fountain in your forest where many adventurous knights meet, and there

is the mad man. Well, said King Mark, I will see that wild man. So

within a day or two King Mark commanded his knights and his hunters

that they should be ready on the morn for to hunt, and so upon the morn

he went unto that forest. And when the king came to that well he found

there lying by that well a fair naked man, and a sword by him. Then

King Mark blew and straked, and therewith his knights came to him; and

then the king commanded his knights to: Take that naked man with

fairness, and bring him to my castle. So they did softly and fair, and

cast mantles upon Sir Tristram, and so led him unto Tintagil; and there

they bathed him, and washed him, and gave him hot suppings till they

had brought him well to his remembrance; but all this while there was

no creature that knew Sir Tristram, nor what man he was.

So it fell upon a day that the queen, La Beale Isoud, heard of such a

man, that ran naked in the forest, and how the king had brought him

home to the court. Then La Beale Isoud called unto her Dame Bragwaine

and said: Come on with me, for we will go see this man that my lord

brought from the forest the last day. So they passed forth, and spered

where was the sick man. And then a squire told the queen that he was in

the garden taking his rest, and reposing him against the sun. So when

the queen looked upon Sir Tristram she was not remembered of him. But

ever she said unto Dame Bragwaine: Meseemeth I should have seen him

heretofore in many places. But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her he knew

her well enough. And then he turned away his visage and wept.

Then the queen had always a little brachet with her that Sir Tristram

gave her the first time that ever she came into Cornwall, and never

would that brachet depart from her but if Sir Tristram was nigh thereas

was La Beale Isoud; and this brachet was sent from the king’s daughter

of France unto Sir Tristram for great love. And anon as this little

brachet felt a savour of Sir Tristram, she leapt upon him and licked

his lears and his ears, and then she whined and quested, and she

smelled at his feet and at his hands, and on all parts of his body that

she might come to. Ah, my lady, said Dame Bragwaine unto La Beale

Isoud, alas, alas, said she, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram.

And thereupon Isoud fell down in a swoon, and so lay a great while. And

when she might speak she said: My lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye

have your life, and now I am sure ye shall be discovered by this little

brachet, for she will never leave you. And also I am sure as soon as my

lord, King Mark, do know you he will banish you out of the country of

Cornwall, or else he will destroy you; for God’s sake, mine own lord,

grant King Mark his will, and then draw you unto the court of King

Arthur, for there are ye beloved, and ever when I may I shall send unto

you; and when ye list ye may come to me, and at all times early and

late I will be at your commandment, to live as poor a life as ever did

queen or lady. O Madam, said Sir Tristram, go from me, for mickle anger

and danger have I escaped for your love.