Bab Bab 167 · How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each other for the

. How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each other for the

love of a knight’s wife.

So Sir Tristram departed, and took the sea, and with good wind he

arrived up at Tintagil in Cornwall; and when King Mark was whole in his

prosperity there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived, and whole

of his wounds: thereof was King Mark passing glad, and so were all the

barons; and when he saw his time he rode unto his father, King

Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the king and the queen

could make him. And then largely King Meliodas and his queen departed

of their lands and goods to Sir Tristram.

Then by the license of King Meliodas, his father, he returned again

unto the court of King Mark, and there he lived in great joy long time,

until at the last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness betwixt

King Mark and Sir Tristram, for they loved both one lady. And she was

an earl’s wife that hight Sir Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir

Tristram passingly well. And he loved her again, for she was a passing

fair lady, and that espied Sir Tristram well. Then King Mark understood

that and was jealous, for King Mark loved her passingly well.

So it fell upon a day this lady sent a dwarf unto Sir Tristram, and

bade him, as he loved her, that he would be with her the night next

following. Also she charged you that ye come not to her but if ye be

well armed, for her lover was called a good knight. Sir Tristram

answered to the dwarf: Recommend me unto my lady, and tell her I will

not fail but I will be with her the term that she hath set me. And with

this answer the dwarf departed. And King Mark espied that the dwarf was

with Sir Tristram upon message from Segwarides’ wife; then King Mark

sent for the dwarf, and when he was come he made the dwarf by force to

tell him all, why and wherefore that he came on message from Sir

Tristram. Now, said King Mark, go where thou wilt, and upon pain of

death that thou say no word that thou spakest with me; so the dwarf

departed from the king.

And that same night that the steven was set betwixt Segwarides’ wife

and Sir Tristram, King Mark armed him, and made him ready, and took two

knights of his counsel with him; and so he rode afore for to abide by

the way for to wait upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram came riding

upon his way with his spear in his hand, King Mark came hurtling upon

him with his two knights suddenly. And all three smote him with their

spears, and King Mark hurt Sir Tristram on the breast right sore. And

then Sir Tristram feutred his spear, and smote his uncle, King Mark, so

sore, that he rashed him to the earth, and bruised him that he lay

still in a swoon, and long it was or ever he might wield himself. And

then he ran to the one knight, and eft to the other, and smote them to

the cold earth, that they lay still. And therewithal Sir Tristram rode

forth sore wounded to the lady, and found her abiding him at a postern.