Bab Bab 179 · How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he

. How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he

fought for her beauty, and smote off another lady’s head.

Thus as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in prison, it happed a

knight and a lady came unto them where they were, to cheer them. I have

marvel, said Tristram unto the knight and the lady, what is the cause

the lord of this castle holdeth us in prison: it was never the custom

of no place of worship that ever I came in, when a knight and a lady

asked harbour, and they to receive them, and after to destroy them that

be his guests. Sir, said the knight, this is the old custom of this

castle, that when a knight cometh here he must needs fight with our

lord, and he that is weaker must lose his head. And when that is done,

if his lady that he bringeth be fouler than our lord’s wife, she must

lose her head: and if she be fairer proved than is our lady, then shall

the lady of this castle lose her head. So God me help, said Sir

Tristram, this is a foul custom and a shameful. But one advantage have

I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady is fair enough, fairer saw I never

in all my life-days, and I doubt not for lack of beauty she shall not

lose her head; and rather than I should lose my head I will fight for

it on a fair field. Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell your lord

that I will be ready as to-morn with my lady, and myself to do battle,

if it be so I may have my horse and mine armour. Sir, said that knight,

I undertake that your desire shall be sped right well. And then he

said: Take your rest, and look that ye be up betimes and make you ready

and your lady, for ye shall want no thing that you behoveth. And

therewith he departed, and on the morn betimes that same knight came to

Sir Tristram, and fetched him out and his lady, and brought him horse

and armour that was his own, and bade him make him ready to the field,

for all the estates and commons of that lordship were there ready to

behold that battle and judgment.

Then came Sir Breunor, the lord of that castle, with his lady in his

hand, muffled, and asked Sir Tristram where was his lady: For an thy

lady be fairer than mine, with thy sword smite off my lady’s head; and

if my lady be fairer than thine, with my sword I must strike off her

head. And if I may win thee, yet shall thy lady be mine, and thou shalt

lose thy head. Sir, said Tristram, this is a foul custom and horrible;

and rather than my lady should lose her head, yet had I liefer lose my

head. Nay, nay, said Sir Breunor, the ladies shall be first showed

together, and the one shall have her judgment. Nay, I will not so, said

Sir Tristram, for here is none that will give righteous judgment. But I

doubt not, said Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than thine, and that

will I prove and make good with my hand. And whosomever he be that will

say the contrary I will prove it on his head. And therewith Sir

Tristram showed La Beale Isoud, and turned her thrice about with his

naked sword in his hand. And when Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same

wise turn his lady. But when Sir Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him

thought he saw never a fairer lady, and then he dread his lady’s head

should be off. And so all the people that were there present gave

judgment that La Beale Isoud was the fairer lady and the better made.

How now, said Sir Tristram, meseemeth it were pity that my lady should

lose her head, but because thou and she of long time have used this

wicked custom, and by you both have many good knights and ladies been

destroyed, for that cause it were no loss to destroy you both. So God

me help, said Sir Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer

than mine, and that me sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily

say, for of all women I saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt

slay my lady, I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou

shalt win her, said Sir Tristram, as dear as ever knight won lady. And

because of thine own judgment, as thou wouldst have done to my lady if

that she had been fouler, and because of the evil custom, give me thy

lady, said Sir Tristram. And therewithal Sir Tristram strode unto him

and took his lady from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off her

head clean. Well, knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a

despite.