Bab Bab 168 · How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, and how her husband

. How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, and how her husband

fought with Sir Tristram.

And there she welcomed him fair, and either halsed other in arms, and

so she let put up his horse in the best wise, and then she unarmed him.

And so they supped lightly, and went to bed with great joy and

pleasaunce; and so in his raging he took no keep of his green wound

that King Mark had given him. And so Sir Tristram be-bled both the over

sheet and the nether, and pillows, and head sheet. And within a while

there came one afore, that warned her that her lord was near-hand

within a bow-draught. So she made Sir Tristram to arise, and so he

armed him, and took his horse, and so departed. By then was come

Segwarides, her lord, and when he found her bed troubled and broken,

and went near and beheld it by candle light, then he saw that there had

lain a wounded knight. Ah, false traitress, then he said, why hast thou

betrayed me? And therewithal he swang out a sword, and said: But if

thou tell me who hath been here, here thou shalt die. Ah, my lord,

mercy, said the lady, and held up her hands, saying: Slay me not, and I

shall tell you all who hath been here. Tell anon, said Segwarides, to

me all the truth. Anon for dread she said: Here was Sir Tristram with

me, and by the way as he came to me ward, he was sore wounded. Ah,

false traitress, said Segwarides, where is he become? Sir, she said, he

is armed, and departed on horseback, not yet hence half a mile. Ye say

well, said Segwarides.

Then he armed him lightly, and gat his horse, and rode after Sir

Tristram that rode straightway unto Tintagil. And within a while he

overtook Sir Tristram, and then he bade him, Turn, false traitor

knight. And Sir Tristram anon turned him against him. And therewithal

Segwarides smote Sir Tristram with a spear that it all to-brast; and

then he swang out his sword and smote fast at Sir Tristram. Sir knight,

said Sir Tristram, I counsel you that ye smite no more, howbeit for the

wrongs that I have done you I will forbear you as long as I may. Nay,

said Segwarides, that shall not be, for either thou shalt die or I.

Then Sir Tristram drew out his sword, and hurtled his horse unto him

fiercely, and through the waist of the body he smote Sir Segwarides

that he fell to the earth in a swoon. And so Sir Tristram departed and

left him there. And so he rode unto Tintagil and took his lodging

secretly, for he would not be known that he was hurt. Also Sir

Segwarides’ men rode after their master, whom they found lying in the

field sore wounded, and brought him home on his shield, and there he

lay long or that he were whole, but at the last he recovered. Also King

Mark would not be aknown of that Sir Tristram and he had met that

night. And as for Sir Tristram, he knew not that King Mark had met with

him. And so the king askance came to Sir Tristram, to comfort him as he

lay sick in his bed. But as long as King Mark lived he loved never Sir

Tristram after that; though there was fair speech, love was there none.

And thus it passed many weeks and days, and all was forgiven and

forgotten; for Sir Segwarides durst not have ado with Sir Tristram,

because of his noble prowess, and also because he was nephew unto King

Mark; therefore he let it overslip: for he that hath a privy hurt is

loath to have a shame outward.