Chương Chương 268 · How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the

. How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the

truage, and how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field.

Not for then when all this was said, they could find no knight that

would do battle with him. Sir king, said they all, here is no knight

that dare fight with Elias. Alas, said King Mark, then am I utterly

ashamed and utterly destroyed, unless that my nephew Sir Tristram will

take the battle upon him. Wit you well, they said all, he had yesterday

overmuch on hand, and he is weary for travail, and sore wounded. Where

is he? said King Mark. Sir, said they, he is in his bed to repose him.

Alas, said King Mark, but I have the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram,

I am utterly destroyed for ever.

Therewith one went to Sir Tristram where he lay, and told him what King

Mark had said. And therewith Sir Tristram arose lightly, and put on him

a long gown, and came afore the king and all the lords. And when he saw

them all so dismayed he asked the king and the lords what tidings were

with them. Never worse, said the king. And therewith he told him all,

how he had word of Elias to find a knight to fight for the truage of

Cornwall, and none can I find. And as for you, said the king and all

the lords, we may ask no more of you for shame; for through your

hardiness yesterday ye saved all our lives. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now

I understand ye would have my succour, reason would that I should do

all that lieth in my power to do, saving my worship and my life,

howbeit I am sore bruised and hurt. And sithen Sir Elias proffereth so

largely, I shall fight with him, or else I will be slain in the field,

or else I will deliver Cornwall from the old truage. And therefore

lightly call his messenger and he shall be answered, for as yet my

wounds be green, and they will be sorer a seven night after than they

be now; and therefore he shall have his answer that I will do battle

to-morn with him.

Then was the messenger departed brought before King Mark. Hark, my

fellow, said Sir Tristram, go fast unto thy lord, and bid him make true

assurance on his part for the truage, as the king here shall make on

his part; and then tell thy lord, Sir Elias, that I, Sir Tristram, King

Arthur’s knight, and knight of the Table Round, will as to-morn meet

with thy lord on horseback, to do battle as long as my horse may

endure, and after that to do battle with him on foot to the utterance.

The messenger beheld Sir Tristram from the top to the toe; and

therewithal he departed and came to his lord, and told him how he was

answered of Sir Tristram. And therewithal was made hostage on both

parties, and made it as sure as it might be, that whether party had the

victory, so to end. And then were both hosts assembled on both parts of

the field, without the Castle of Tintagil, and there was none but Sir

Tristram and Sir Elias armed.

So when the appointment was made, they departed in-sunder, and they

came together with all the might that their horses might run. And

either knight smote other so hard that both horses and knights went to

the earth. Not for then they both lightly arose and dressed their

shields on their shoulders, with naked swords in their hands, and they

dashed together that it seemed a flaming fire about them. Thus they

traced, and traversed, and hewed on helms and hauberks, and cut away

many cantels of their shields, and either wounded other passing sore,

so that the hot blood fell freshly upon the earth. And by then they had

foughten the mountenance of an hour Sir Tristram waxed faint and

for-bled, and gave sore aback. That saw Sir Elias, and followed

fiercely upon him, and wounded him in many places. And ever Sir

Tristram traced and traversed, and went froward him here and there, and

covered him with his shield as he might all weakly, that all men said

he was overcome; for Sir Elias had given him twenty strokes against

one.

Then was there laughing of the Sessoins’ party, and great dole on King

Mark’s party. Alas, said the king, we are ashamed and destroyed all for

ever: for as the book saith, Sir Tristram was never so matched, but if

it were Sir Launcelot. Thus as they stood and beheld both parties, that

one party laughing and the other party weeping, Sir Tristram remembered

him of his lady, La Beale Isoud, that looked upon him, and how he was

likely never to come in her presence. Then he pulled up his shield that

erst hung full low. And then he dressed up his shield unto Elias, and

gave him many sad strokes, twenty against one, and all to-brake his

shield and his hauberk, that the hot blood ran down to the earth. Then

began King Mark to laugh, and all Cornish men, and that other party to

weep. And ever Sir Tristram said to Sir Elias: Yield thee.

Then when Sir Tristram saw him so staggering on the ground, he said:

Sir Elias, I am right sorry for thee, for thou art a passing good

knight as ever I met withal, except Sir Launcelot. Therewithal Sir

Elias fell to the earth, and there died. What shall I do, said Sir

Tristram unto King Mark, for this battle is at an end? Then they of

Elias’ party departed, and King Mark took of them many prisoners, to

redress the harms and the scathes that he had of them; and the remnant

he sent into their country to borrow out their fellows. Then was Sir

Tristram searched and well healed. Yet for all this King Mark would

fain have slain Sir Tristram. But for all that ever Sir Tristram saw or

heard by King Mark, yet would he never beware of his treason, but ever

he would be thereas La Beale Isoud was.