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<h2> CHAPTER XXIX. Of the wedding of King Mark to La Beale Isoud, and of Bragwaine her maid, and of Palamides. </h2>
<p>AND anon they were richly wedded with great noblesse. But ever, as the
French book saith, Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud loved ever together.
Then was there great jousts and great tourneying, and many lords and
ladies were at that feast, and Sir Tristram was most praised of all other.
Thus dured the feast long, and after the feast was done, within a little
while after, by the assent of two ladies that were with Queen Isoud, they
ordained for hate and envy for to destroy Dame Bragwaine, that was maiden
and lady unto La Beale Isoud; and she was sent into the forest for to
fetch herbs, and there she was met, and bound feet and hand to a tree, and
so she was bounden three days. And by fortune, Sir Palamides found Dame
Bragwaine, and there he delivered her from the death, and brought her to a
nunnery there beside, for to be recovered. When Isoud the queen missed her
maiden, wit ye well she was right heavy as ever was any queen, for of all
earthly women she loved her best: the cause was for she came with her out
of her country. And so upon a day Queen Isoud walked into the forest to
put away her thoughts, and there she went herself unto a well and made
great moan. And suddenly there came Palamides to her, and had heard all
her complaint, and said: Madam Isoud, an ye will grant me my boon, I shall
bring to you Dame Bragwaine safe and sound. And the queen was so glad of
his proffer that suddenly unadvised she granted all his asking. Well,
Madam, said Palamides, I trust to your promise, and if ye will abide here
half an hour I shall bring her to you. I shall abide you, said La Beale
Isoud. And Sir Palamides rode forth his way to that nunnery, and lightly
he came again with Dame Bragwaine; but by her good will she would not have
come again, because for love of the queen she stood in adventure of her
life. Notwithstanding, half against her will, she went with Sir Palamides
unto the queen. And when the queen saw her she was passing glad. Now,
Madam, said Palamides, remember upon your promise, for I have fulfilled my
promise. Sir Palamides, said the queen, I wot not what is your desire, but
I will that ye wit, howbeit I promised you largely, I thought none evil,
nor I warn you none evil will I do. Madam, said Sir Palamides, as at this
time, ye shall not know my desire, but before my lord your husband there
shall ye know that I will have my desire that ye have promised me. And
therewith the queen departed, and rode home to the king, and Sir Palamides
rode after her. And when Sir Palamides came before the king, he said: Sir
King, I require you as ye be a righteous king, that ye will judge me the
right. Tell me your cause, said the king, and ye shall have right.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXX. How Palamides demanded Queen Isoud, and how Lambegus rode after to rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud. </h2>
<p>SIR, said Palamides, I promised your Queen Isoud to bring again Dame
Bragwaine that she had lost, upon this covenant, that she should grant me
a boon that I would ask, and without grudging, outher advisement, she
granted me. What say ye, my lady? said the king. It is as he saith, so God
me help, said the queen; to say thee sooth I promised him his asking for
love and joy that I had to see her. Well, Madam, said the king, and if ye
were hasty to grant him what boon he would ask, I will well that ye
perform your promise. Then, said Palamides, I will that ye wit that I will
have your queen to lead her and govern her whereas me list. Therewith the
king stood still, and bethought him of Sir Tristram, and deemed that he
would rescue her. And then hastily the king answered: Take her with the
adventures that shall fall of it, for as I suppose thou wilt not enjoy her
no while. As for that, said Palamides, I dare right well abide the
adventure. And so, to make short tale, Sir Palamides took her by the hand
and said: Madam, grudge not to go with me, for I desire nothing but your
own promise. As for that, said the queen, I fear not greatly to go with
thee, howbeit thou hast me at advantage upon my promise, for I doubt not I
shall be worshipfully rescued from thee. As for that, said Sir Palamides,
be it as it be may. So Queen Isoud was set behind Palamides, and rode his
way.</p>
<p>Anon the king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could be found,
for he was in the forest a-hunting; for that was always his custom, but if
he used arms, to chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas, said the king,
now I am shamed for ever, that by mine own assent my lady and my queen
shall be devoured. Then came forth a knight, his name was Lambegus, and he
was a knight of Sir Tristram. My lord, said this knight, sith ye have
trust in my lord, Sir Tristram, wit ye well for his sake I will ride after
your queen and rescue her, or else I shall be beaten. Gramercy, said the
king, as I live, Sir Lambegus, I shall deserve it. And then Sir Lambegus
armed him, and rode after as fast as he might. And then within a while he
overtook Sir Palamides. And then Sir Palamides left the queen. What art
thou, said Palamides, art thou Tristram? Nay, he said, I am his servant,
and my name is Sir Lambegus. That me repenteth, said Palamides. I had
liefer thou hadst been Sir Tristram. I believe you well, said Lambegus,
but when thou meetest with Sir Tristram thou shalt have thy hands full.
And then they hurtled together and all to-brast their spears, and then
they pulled out their swords, and hewed on helms and hauberks. At the last
Sir Palamides gave Sir Lambegus such a wound that he fell down like a dead
knight to the earth.</p>
<p>Then he looked after La Beale Isoud, and then she was gone he nist where.
Wit ye well Sir Palamides was never so heavy. So the queen ran into the
forest, and there she found a well, and therein she had thought to have
drowned herself. And as good fortune would, there came a knight to her
that had a castle thereby, his name was Sir Adtherp. And when he found the
queen in that mischief he rescued her, and brought her to his castle. And
when he wist what she was he armed him, and took his horse, and said he
would be avenged upon Palamides; and so he rode on till he met with him,
and there Sir Palamides wounded him sore, and by force he made him to tell
him the cause why he did battle with him, and how he had led the queen
unto his castle. Now bring me there, said Palamides, or thou shalt die of
my hands. Sir, said Sir Adtherp, I am so wounded I may not follow, but
ride you this way and it shall bring you into my castle, and there within
is the queen. Then Sir Palamides rode still till he came to the castle.
And at a window La Beale Isoud saw Sir Palamides; then she made the gates
to be shut strongly. And when he saw he might not come within the castle,
he put off his bridle and his saddle, and put his horse to pasture, and
set himself down at the gate like a man that was out of his wit that
recked not of himself.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides, and how he found him and fought with him, and by the means of Isoud the battle ceased. </h2>
<p>NOW turn we unto Sir Tristram, that when he was come home and wist La
Beale Isoud was gone with Sir Palamides, wit ye well he was wroth out of
measure. Alas, said Sir Tristram, I am this day shamed. Then he cried to
Gouvernail his man: Haste thee that I were armed and on horseback, for
well I wot Lambegus hath no might nor strength to withstand Sir Palamides:
alas that I have not been in his stead! So anon as he was armed and horsed
Sir Tristram and Gouvernail rode after into the forest, and within a while
he found his knight Lambegus almost wounded to the death; and Sir Tristram
bare him to a forester, and charged him to keep him well. And then he rode
forth, and there he found Sir Adtherp sore wounded, and he told him how
the queen would have drowned herself had he not been, and how for her sake
and love he had taken upon him to do battle with Sir Palamides. Where is
my lady? said Sir Tristram. Sir, said the knight, she is sure enough
within my castle, an she can hold her within it. Gramercy, said Sir
Tristram, of thy great goodness. And so he rode till he came nigh to that
castle; and then Sir Tristram saw where Sir Palamides sat at the gate
sleeping, and his horse pastured fast afore him. Now go thou, Gouvernail,
said Sir Tristram, and bid him awake, and make him ready. So Gouvernail
rode unto him and said: Sir Palamides, arise, and take to thee thine
harness. But he was in such a study he heard not what Gouvernail said. So
Gouvernail came again and told Sir Tristram he slept, or else he was mad.
Go thou again, said Sir Tristram, and bid him arise, and tell him that I
am here, his mortal foe. So Gouvernail rode again and put upon him the
butt of his spear, and said: Sir Palamides, make thee ready, for wit ye
well Sir Tristram hoveth yonder, and sendeth thee word he is thy mortal
foe. And therewithal Sir Palamides arose stilly, without words, and gat
his horse, and saddled him and bridled him, and lightly he leapt upon, and
gat his spear in his hand, and either feutred their spears and hurtled
fast together; and there Tristram smote down Sir Palamides over his
horse's tail. Then lightly Sir Palamides put his shield afore him and drew
his sword. And there began strong battle on both parts, for both they
fought for the love of one lady, and ever she lay on the walls and beheld
them how they fought out of measure, and either were wounded passing sore,
but Palamides was much sorer wounded. Thus they fought tracing and
traversing more than two hours, that well-nigh for dole and sorrow La
Beale Isoud swooned. Alas, she said, that one I loved and yet do, and the
other I love not, yet it were great pity that I should see Sir Palamides
slain; for well I know by that time the end be done Sir Palamides is but a
dead knight: because he is not christened I would be loath that he should
die a Saracen. And therewithal she came down and besought Sir Tristram to
fight no more. Ah, madam, said he, what mean you, will ye have me shamed?
Well ye know I will be ruled by you. I will not your dishonour, said La
Beale Isoud, but I would that ye would for my sake spare this unhappy
Saracen Palamides. Madam, said Sir Tristram, I will leave fighting at this
time for your sake. Then she said to Sir Palamides: This shall be your
charge, that thou shalt go out of this country while I am therein. I will
obey your commandment, said Sir Palamides, the which is sore against my
will. Then take thy way, said La Beale Isoud, unto the court of King
Arthur, and there recommend me unto Queen Guenever, and tell her that I
send her word that there be within this land but four lovers, that is, Sir
Launcelot du Lake and Queen Guenever, and Sir Tristram de Liones and Queen
Isoud.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram brought Queen Isoud home, and of the debate of King Mark and Sir Tristram. </h2>
<p>AND so Sir Palamides departed with great heaviness. And Sir Tristram took
the queen and brought her again to King Mark, and then was there made
great joy of her home-coming. Who was cherished but Sir Tristram! Then Sir
Tristram let fetch Sir Lambegus, his knight, from the forester's house,
and it was long or he was whole, but at the last he was well recovered.
Thus they lived with joy and play a long while. But ever Sir Andred, that
was nigh cousin to Sir Tristram, lay in a watch to wait betwixt Sir
Tristram and La Beale Isoud, for to take them and slander them. So upon a
day Sir Tristram talked with La Beale Isoud in a window, and that espied
Sir Andred, and told it to the King. Then King Mark took a sword in his
hand and came to Sir Tristram, and called him false traitor, and would
have stricken him. But Sir Tristram was nigh him, and ran under his sword,
and took it out of his hand. And then the King cried: Where are my knights
and my men? I charge you slay this traitor. But at that time there was not
one would move for his words. When Sir Tristram saw that there was not one
would be against him, he shook the sword to the king, and made countenance
as though he would have stricken him. And then King Mark fled, and Sir
Tristram followed him, and smote upon him five or six strokes flatling on
the neck, that he made him to fall upon the nose. And then Sir Tristram
yede his way and armed him, and took his horse and his man, and so he rode
into that forest.</p>
<p>And there upon a day Sir Tristram met with two brethren that were knights
with King Mark, and there he struck off the head of the one, and wounded
the other to the death; and he made him to bear his brother's head in his
helm unto the king, and thirty more there he wounded. And when that knight
came before the king to say his message, he there died afore the king and
the queen. Then King Mark called his council unto him, and asked advice of
his barons what was best to do with Sir Tristram. Sir, said the barons, in
especial Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, Sir, we will give you counsel for to
send for Sir Tristram, for we will that ye wit many men will hold with Sir
Tristram an he were hard bestead. And sir, said Sir Dinas, ye shall
understand that Sir Tristram is called peerless and makeless of any
Christian knight, and of his might and hardiness we knew none so good a
knight, but if it be Sir Launcelot du Lake. And if he depart from your
court and go to King Arthur's court, wit ye well he will get him such
friends there that he will not set by your malice. And therefore, sir, I
counsel you to take him to your grace. I will well, said the king, that he
be sent for, that we may be friends. Then the barons sent for Sir Tristram
under a safe conduct. And so when Sir Tristram came to the king he was
welcome, and no rehearsal was made, and there was game and play. And then
the king and the queen went a-hunting, and Sir Tristram.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Lamorak jousted with thirty knights, and Sir Tristram at the request of King Mark smote his horse down. </h2>
<p>THE king and the queen made their pavilions and their tents in that forest
beside a river, and there was daily hunting and jousting, for there were
ever thirty knights ready to joust unto all them that came in at that
time. And there by fortune came Sir Lamorak de Galis and Sir Driant; and
there Sir Driant jousted right well, but at the last he had a fall. Then
Sir Lamorak proffered to joust. And when he began he fared so with the
thirty knights that there was not one of them but that he gave him a fall,
and some of them were sore hurt. I marvel, said King Mark, what knight he
is that doth such deeds of arms. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I know him well
for a noble knight as few now be living, and his name is Sir Lamorak de
Galis. It were great shame, said the king, that he should go thus away,
unless that some of you meet with him better. Sir, said Sir Tristram,
meseemeth it were no worship for a noble man to have ado with him: and for
because at this time he hath done over much for any mean knight living,
therefore, as meseemeth, it were great shame and villainy to tempt him any
more at this time, insomuch as he and his horse are weary both; for the
deeds of arms that he hath done this day, an they be well considered, it
were enough for Sir Launcelot du Lake. As for that, said King Mark, I
require you, as ye love me and my lady the queen, La Beale Isoud, take
your arms and joust with Sir Lamorak de Galis. Sir, said Sir Tristram, ye
bid me do a thing that is against knighthood, and well I can deem that I
shall give him a fall, for it is no mastery, for my horse and I be fresh
both, and so is not his horse and he; and wit ye well that he will take it
for great unkindness, for ever one good knight is loath to take another at
disadvantage; but because I will not displease you, as ye require me so
will I do, and obey your commandment.</p>
<p>And so Sir Tristram armed him and took his horse, and put him forth, and
there Sir Lamorak met him mightily, and what with the might of his own
spear, and of Sir Tristram's spear, Sir Lamorak's horse fell to the earth,
and he sitting in the saddle. Then anon as lightly as he might he avoided
the saddle and his horse, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword.
And then he bade Sir Tristram: Alight, thou knight, an thou durst. Nay,
said Sir Tristram, I will no more have ado with thee, for I have done to
thee over much unto my dishonour and to thy worship. As for that, said Sir
Lamorak, I can thee no thank; since thou hast for-jousted me on horseback
I require thee and I beseech thee, an thou be Sir Tristram, fight with me
on foot. I will not so, said Sir Tristram; and wit ye well my name is Sir
Tristram de Liones, and well I know ye be Sir Lamorak de Galis, and this
that I have done to you was against my will, but I was required thereto;
but to say that I will do at your request as at this time, I will have no
more ado with you, for me shameth of that I have done. As for the shame,
said Sir Lamorak, on thy part or on mine, bear thou it an thou wilt, for
though a mare's son hath failed me, now a queen's son shall not fail thee;
and therefore, an thou be such a knight as men call thee, I require thee,
alight, and fight with me. Sir Lamorak, said Sir Tristram, I understand
your heart is great, and cause why ye have, to say thee sooth; for it
would grieve me an any knight should keep him fresh and then to strike
down a weary knight, for that knight nor horse was never formed that alway
might stand or endure. And therefore, said Sir Tristram, I will not have
ado with you, for me forthinketh of that I have done. As for that, said
Sir Lamorak, I shall quit you, an ever I see my time.</p>
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