When Sir Tristram saw her do so he was wonderly wroth with that lady,and ashamed to come to the court.Sir Tristram,said Sir Bleoberis,ye are in the default,for I hear by this lady's words she before this day trusted you above all earthly knights,and,as she saith,ye have deceived her,therefore wit ye well,there may no man hold that will away;and rather than ye should be heartily displeased with me I would ye had her,an she would abide with you.Nay,said the lady,so God me help I will never go with him;for he that I loved most I weened he had loved me.
And therefore,Sir Tristram,she said,ride as thou came,for though thou haddest overcome this knight,as ye was likely,with thee never would I have gone.And I shall pray this knight so fair of his knighthood,that or ever he pass this country,that he will lead me to the abbey where my lord Sir Segwarides lieth.
So God me help,said Bleoberis,I let you wit,good knight Sir Tristram,because King Mark gave me the choice of a gift in this court,and so this lady liked me best--notwithstanding,she is wedded and hath a lord,and I have fulfilled my quest,she shall be sent unto her husband again,and in especial most for your sake,Sir Tristram;and if she would go with you I would ye had her.I thank you,said Sir Tristram,but for her love I shall beware what manner a lady I shall love or trust;for had her lord,Sir Segwarides,been away from the court,I should have been the first that should have followed you;but sithen that ye have refused me,as I am true knight I shall her know passingly well that I shall love or trust.And so they took their leave one from the other and departed.
And so Sir Tristram rode unto Tintagil,and Sir Bleoberis rode unto the abbey where Sir Segwarides lay sore wounded,and there he delivered his lady,and departed as a noble knight;and when Sir Segwarides saw his lady,he was greatly comforted;and then she told him that Sir Tristram had done great battle with Sir Bleoberis,and caused him to bring her again.These words pleased Sir Segwarides right well,that Sir Tristram would do so much;and so that lady told all the battle unto King Mark betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis.
CHAPTER XIX
How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for La Beale Isoud toward Ireland,and how by fortune he arrived into England.
THEN when this was done King Mark cast always in his heart how he might destroy Sir Tristram.And then he imagined in himself to send Sir Tristram into Ireland for La Beale Isoud.For Sir Tristram had so praised her beauty and her goodness that King Mark said that he would wed her,whereupon he prayed Sir Tristram to take his way into Ireland for him on message.And all this was done to the intent to slay Sir Tristram.Notwithstanding,Sir Tristram would not refuse the message for no danger nor peril that might fall,for the pleasure of his uncle,but to go he made him ready in the most goodliest wise that might be devised.For Sir Tristram took with him the most goodliest knights that he might find in the court;and they were arrayed,after the guise that was then used,in the goodliest manner.So Sir Tristram departed and took the sea with all his fellowship.And anon,as he was in the broad sea a tempest took him and his fellowship,and drove them back into the coast of England;and there they arrived fast by Camelot,and full fain they were to take the land.
And when they were landed Sir Tristram set up his pavilion upon the land of Camelot,and there he let hang his shield upon the pavilion.And that same day came two knights of King Arthur's,that one was Sir Ector de Maris,and Sir Morganor.And they touched the shield,and bade him come out of the pavilion for to joust,an he would joust.Ye shall be answered,said Sir Tristram,an ye will tarry a little while.So he made him ready,and first he smote down Sir Ector de Maris,and after he smote down Sir Morganor,all with one spear,and sore bruised them.
And when they lay upon the earth they asked Sir Tristram what he was,and of what country he was knight.Fair lords,said Sir Tristram,wit ye well that I am of Cornwall.Alas,said Sir Ector,now am I ashamed that ever any Cornish knight should overcome me.And then for despite Sir Ector put off his armour from him,and went on foot,and would not ride.
CHAPTER XX
How King Anguish of Ireland was summoned to come to King Arthur's court for treason.
THEN it fell that Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamore de Ganis,that were brethren,they had summoned the King Anguish of Ireland for to come to Arthur's court upon pain of forfeiture of King Arthur's good grace.And if the King of Ireland came not in,at the day assigned and set,the king should lose his lands.So it happened that at the day assigned,King Arthur neither Sir Launcelot might not be there for to give the judgment,for King Arthur was with Sir Launcelot at the Castle Joyous Garde.And so King Arthur assigned King Carados and the King of Scots to be there that day as judges.So when the kings were at Camelot King Anguish of Ireland was come to know his accusers.Then was there Sir Blamore de Ganis,and appealed the King of Ireland of treason,that he had slain a cousin of his in his court in Ireland by treason.The king was sore abashed of his accusation,for-why he was come at the summons of King Arthur,and or he came at Camelot he wist not wherefore he was sent after.And when the king heard Sir Blamore say his will,he understood well there was none other remedy but for to answer him knightly;for the custom was such in those days,that an any man were appealed of any treason or murder he should fight body for body,or else to find another knight for him.And all manner of murders in those days were called treason.