Chương Chương 177 · How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how

. How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how

Sir Tristram spared him, and how they took appointment.

Then when Sir Blamore might speak, he said thus: Sir Tristram de

Liones, I require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best knight

that ever I found, that thou wilt slay me out, for I would not live to

be made lord of all the earth, for I have liefer die with worship than

live with shame; and needs, Sir Tristram, thou must slay me, or else

thou shalt never win the field, for I will never say the loath word.

And therefore if thou dare slay me, slay me, I require thee. When Sir

Tristram heard him say so knightly, he wist not what to do with him; he

remembering him of both parties, of what blood he was come, and for Sir

Launcelot’s sake he would be loath to slay him; and in the other party

in no wise he might not choose, but that he must make him to say the

loath word, or else to slay him.

Then Sir Tristram stert aback, and went to the kings that were judges,

and there he kneeled down to-fore them, and besought them for their

worships, and for King Arthur’s and Sir Launcelot’s sake, that they

would take this matter in their hands. For, my fair lords, said Sir

Tristram, it were shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder

lieth should be slain; for ye hear well, shamed will he not be, and I

pray to God that he never be slain nor shamed for me. And as for the

king for whom I fight for, I shall require him, as I am his true

champion and true knight in this field, that he will have mercy upon

this good knight. So God me help, said King Anguish, I will for your

sake; Sir Tristram, be ruled as ye will have me, for I know you for my

true knight; and therefore I will heartily pray the kings that be here

as judges to take it in their hands. And the kings that were judges

called Sir Bleoberis to them, and asked him his advice. My lords, said

Bleoberis, though my brother be beaten, and hath the worse through

might of arms, I dare say, though Sir Tristram hath beaten his body he

hath not beaten his heart, and I thank God he is not shamed this day;

and rather than he should be shamed I require you, said Bleoberis, let

Sir Tristram slay him out. It shall not be so, said the kings, for his

part adversary, both the king and the champion, have pity of Sir

Blamore’s knighthood. My lords, said Bleoberis, I will right well as ye

will.

Then the kings called the King of Ireland, and found him goodly and

treatable. And then, by all their advices, Sir Tristram and Sir

Bleoberis took up Sir Blamore, and the two brethren were accorded with

King Anguish, and kissed and made friends for ever. And then Sir

Blamore and Sir Tristram kissed together, and there they made their

oaths that they would never none of them two brethren fight with Sir

Tristram, and Sir Tristram made the same oath. And for that gentle

battle all the blood of Sir Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for ever.

Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram took their leave, and sailed into

Ireland with great noblesse and joy. So when they were in Ireland the

king let make it known throughout all the land how and in what manner

Sir Tristram had done for him. Then the queen and all that there were

made the most of him that they might. But the joy that La Beale Isoud

made of Sir Tristram there might no tongue tell, for of all men earthly

she loved him most.