Bab Bab 232 · How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir

. How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir

Tristram. Some of King Arthur’s knights jousted with knights of

Cornwall.

Now will we speak, and leave Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir

Dinadan in prison, and speak we of other knights that sought after Sir

Tristram many divers parts of this land. And some yede into Cornwall;

and by adventure Sir Gaheris, nephew unto King Arthur, came unto King

Mark, and there he was well received and sat at King Mark’s own table

and ate of his own mess. Then King Mark asked Sir Gaheris what tidings

there were in the realm of Logris. Sir, said Sir Gaheris, the king

reigneth as a noble knight; and now but late there was a great jousts

and tournament as ever I saw any in the realm of Logris, and the most

noble knights were at that jousts. But there was one knight that did

marvellously three days, and he bare a black shield, and of all knights

that ever I saw he proved the best knight. Then, said King Mark, that

was Sir Launcelot, or Sir Palomides the paynim. Not so, said Sir

Gheris, for both Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides were on the contrary

party against the Knight with the Black Shield. Then was it Sir

Tristram, said the king. Yea, said Sir Gaheris. And therewithal the

king smote down his head, and in his heart he feared sore that Sir

Tristram should get him such worship in the realm of Logris

wherethrough that he himself should not be able to withstand him. Thus

Sir Gaheris had great cheer with King Mark, and with Queen La Beale

Isoud, the which was glad of Sir Gaheris’ words; for well she wist by

his deeds and manners that it was Sir Tristram. And then the king made

a feast royal, and to that feast came Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy Ureine,

and some called him Uwaine le Blanchemains. And this Sir Uwaine

challenged all the knights of Cornwall. Then was the king wood wroth

that he had no knights to answer him. Then Sir Andred, nephew unto King

Mark, leapt up and said: I will encounter with Sir Uwaine. Then he yede

and armed him and horsed him in the best manner. And there Sir Uwaine

met with Sir Andred, and smote him down that he swooned on the earth.

Then was King Mark sorry and wroth out of measure that he had no knight

to revenge his nephew, Sir Andred.

So the king called unto him Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and prayed him

for his sake to take upon him to joust with Sir Uwaine. Sir, said Sir

Dinas, I am full loath to have ado with any knight of the Round Table.

Yet, said the king, for my love take upon thee to joust. So Sir Dinas

made him ready, and anon they encountered together with great spears,

but Sir Dinas was overthrown, horse and man, a great fall. Who was

wroth but King Mark! Alas, he said, have I no knight that will

encounter with yonder knight? Sir, said Sir Gaheris, for your sake I

will joust. So Sir Gaheris made him ready, and when he was armed he

rode into the field. And when Sir Uwaine saw Sir Gaheris’ shield he

rode to him and said: Sir, ye do not your part. For, sir, the first

time ye were made Knight of the Round Table ye sware that ye should not

have ado with your fellowship wittingly. And pardie, Sir Gaheris, ye

knew me well enough by my shield, and so do I know you by your shield,

and though ye would break your oath I would not break mine; for there

is not one here, nor ye, that shall think I am afeard of you, but I

durst right well have ado with you, and yet we be sisters’ sons. Then

was Sir Gaheris ashamed, and so therewithal every knight went their

way, and Sir Uwaine rode into the country.

Then King Mark armed him, and took his horse and his spear, with a

squire with him. And then he rode afore Sir Uwaine, and suddenly at a

gap he ran upon him as he that was not ware of him, and there he smote

him almost through the body, and there left him. So within a while

there came Sir Kay and found Sir Uwaine, and asked him how he was hurt.

I wot not, said Sir Uwaine, why nor wherefore, but by treason I am sure

I gat this hurt; for here came a knight suddenly upon me or that I was

ware, and suddenly hurt me. Then there was come Sir Andred to seek King

Mark. Thou traitor knight, said Sir Kay, an I wist it were thou that

thus traitorly hast hurt this noble knight thou shouldst never pass my

hands. Sir, said Sir Andred, I did never hurt him, and that I will

report me to himself. Fie on you false knight, said Sir Kay, for ye of

Cornwall are nought worth. So Sir Kay made carry Sir Uwaine to the

Abbey of the Black Cross, and there he was healed. And then Sir Gaheris

took his leave of King Mark, but or he departed he said: Sir king, ye

did a foul shame unto you and your court, when ye banished Sir Tristram

out of this country, for ye needed not to have doubted no knight an he

had been here. And so he departed.