第 二百七十三 章 · How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how he

. How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how he

would have slain Sir Sadok for saving his life.

Now I require thee, and charge thee upon my blessing, and upon the high

order of knighthood, that thou be revenged upon King Mark for the death

of thy father. And therewithal she swooned. Then Alisander leapt to his

mother, and took her up in his arms, and said: Fair mother, ye have

given me a great charge, and here I promise you I shall be avenged upon

King Mark when that I may; and that I promise to God and to you. So

this feast was ended, and the Constable, by the advice of Anglides, let

purvey that Alisander was well horsed and harnessed. Then he jousted

with his twenty fellows that were made knights with him, but for to

make a short tale, he overthrew all those twenty, that none might

withstand him a buffet.

Then one of those knights departed unto King Mark, and told him all,

how Alisander was made knight, and all the charge that his mother gave

him, as ye have heard afore time. Alas, false treason, said King Mark,

I weened that young traitor had been dead. Alas, whom may I trust? And

therewithal King Mark took a sword in his hand; and sought Sir Sadok

from chamber to chamber to slay him. When Sir Sadok saw King Mark come

with his sword in his hand he said thus: Beware, King Mark, and come

not nigh me; for wit thou well that I saved Alisander his life, of

which I never repent me, for thou falsely and cowardly slew his father

Boudwin, traitorly for his good deeds; wherefore I pray Almighty Jesu

send Alisander might and strength to be revenged upon thee. And now

beware King Mark of young Alisander, for he is made a knight. Alas,

said King Mark, that ever I should hear a traitor say so afore me. And

therewith four knights of King Mark’s drew their swords to slay Sir

Sadok, but anon Sir Sadok slew them all in King Mark’s presence. And

then Sir Sadok passed forth into his chamber, and took his horse and

his harness, and rode on his way a good pace. For there was neither Sir

Tristram, neither Sir Dinas, nor Sir Fergus, that would Sir Sadok any

evil will. Then was King Mark wroth, and thought to destroy Sir

Alisander and Sir Sadok that had saved him; for King Mark dreaded and

hated Alisander most of any man living.

When Sir Tristram understood that Alisander was made knight, anon

forthwithal he sent him a letter, praying him and charging him that he

would draw him to the court of King Arthur, and that he put him in the

rule and in the hands of Sir Launcelot. So this letter was sent to

Alisander from his cousin, Sir Tristram. And at that time he thought to

do after his commandment. Then King Mark called a knight that brought

him the tidings from Alisander, and bade him abide still in that

country. Sir, said that knight, so must I do, for in my own country I

dare not come. No force, said King Mark, I shall give thee here double

as much lands as ever thou hadst of thine own. But within short space

Sir Sadok met with that false knight, and slew him. Then was King Mark

wood wroth out of measure. Then he sent unto Queen Morgan le Fay, and

to the Queen of Northgalis, praying them in his letters that they two

sorceresses would set all the country in fire with ladies that were

enchantresses, and by such that were dangerous knights, as Malgrin,

Breuse Saunce Pité, that by no mean Alisander le Orphelin should

escape, but either he should be taken or slain. This ordinance made

King Mark for to destroy Alisander.