บทที่ บทที่ 190 · How Sir Tristram served in war King Howel of Brittany,

. How Sir Tristram served in war King Howel of Brittany,

and slew his adversary in the field.

There was an earl that hight Grip, and this earl made great war upon

the king, and put the king to the worse, and besieged him. And on a

time Sir Kehydius, that was son to King Howel, as he issued out he was

sore wounded, nigh to the death. Then Gouvernail went to the king and

said: Sir, I counsel you to desire my lord, Sir Tristram, as in your

need to help you. I will do by your counsel, said the king. And so he

yede unto Sir Tristram, and prayed him in his wars to help him: For my

son, Sir Kehydius, may not go into the field. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I

will go to the field and do what I may. Then Sir Tristram issued out of

the town with such fellowship as he might make, and did such deeds that

all Brittany spake of him. And then, at the last, by great might and

force, he slew the Earl Grip with his own hands, and more than an

hundred knights he slew that day. And then Sir Tristram was received

worshipfully with procession. Then King Howel embraced him in his arms,

and said: Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to thee. God

defend, said Sir Tristram, for I am beholden unto you for your

daughter’s sake to do for you.

Then by the great means of King Howel and Kehydius his son, by great

proffers, there grew great love betwixt Isoud and Sir Tristram, for

that lady was both good and fair, and a woman of noble blood and fame.

And for because Sir Tristram had such cheer and riches, and all other

pleasaunce that he had, almost he had forsaken La Beale Isoud. And so

upon a time Sir Tristram agreed to wed Isoud la Blanche Mains. And at

the last they were wedded, and solemnly held their marriage. And so

when they were abed both Sir Tristram remembered him of his old lady La

Beale Isoud. And then he took such a thought suddenly that he was all

dismayed, and other cheer made he none but with clipping and kissing;

as for other fleshly lusts Sir Tristram never thought nor had ado with

her: such mention maketh the French book; also it maketh mention that

the lady weened there had been no pleasure but kissing and clipping.

And in the meantime there was a knight in Brittany, his name was

Suppinabiles, and he came over the sea into England, and then he came

into the court of King Arthur, and there he met with Sir Launcelot du

Lake, and told him of the marriage of Sir Tristram. Then said Sir

Launcelot: Fie upon him, untrue knight to his lady, that so noble a

knight as Sir Tristram is should be found to his first lady false, La

Beale Isoud, Queen of Cornwall; but say ye him this, said Sir

Launcelot, that of all knights in the world I loved him most, and had

most joy of him, and all was for his noble deeds; and let him wit the

love between him and me is done for ever, and that I give him warning

from this day forth as his mortal enemy.