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<h2> CHAPTER XXXIX. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon, and overcame him, and made Sir Segwarides lord of the isle. </h2>
<p>IN the meantime there came word that Sir Nabon had made a cry that all the
people of that isle should be at his castle the fifth day after. And the
same day the son of Nabon should be made knight, and all the knights of
that valley and thereabout should be there to joust, and all those of the
realm of Logris should be there to joust with them of North Wales: and
thither came five hundred knights, and they of the country brought thither
Sir Lamorak, and Sir Tristram, and Sir Kehydius, and Sir Segwarides, for
they durst none otherwise do; and then Sir Nabon lent Sir Lamorak horse
and armour at Sir Lamorak's desire, and Sir Lamorak jousted and did such
deeds of arms that Nabon and all the people said there was never knight
that ever they saw do such deeds of arms; for, as the French book saith,
he for-jousted all that were there, for the most part of five hundred
knights, that none abode him in his saddle.</p>
<p>Then Sir Nabon proffered to play with him his play: For I saw never no
knight do so much upon a day. I will well, said Sir Lamorak, play as I
may, but I am weary and sore bruised. And there either gat a spear, but
Nabon would not encounter with Sir Lamorak, but smote his horse in the
forehead, and so slew him; and then Sir Lamorak yede on foot, and turned
his shield and drew his sword, and there began strong battle on foot. But
Sir Lamorak was so sore bruised and short breathed, that he traced and
traversed somewhat aback. Fair fellow, said Sir Nabon, hold thy hand and I
shall show thee more courtesy than ever I showed knight, because I have
seen this day thy noble knighthood, and therefore stand thou by, and I
will wit whether any of thy fellows will have ado with me. Then when Sir
Tristram heard that, he stepped forth and said: Nabon, lend me horse and
sure armour, and I will have ado with thee. Well, fellow, said Sir Nabon,
go thou to yonder pavilion, and arm thee of the best thou findest there,
and I shall play a marvellous play with thee. Then said Sir Tristram: Look
ye play well, or else peradventure I shall learn you a new play. That is
well said, fellow, said Sir Nabon. So when Sir Tristram was armed as him
liked best, and well shielded and sworded, he dressed to him on foot; for
well he knew that Sir Nabon would not abide a stroke with a spear,
therefore he would slay all knights' horses. Now, fair fellow, Sir Nabon,
let us play. So then they fought long on foot, tracing and traversing,
smiting and foining long without any rest. At the last Sir Nabon prayed
him to tell him his name. Sir Nabon, I tell thee my name is Sir Tristram
de Liones, a knight of Cornwall under King Mark. Thou art welcome, said
Sir Nabon, for of all knights I have most desired to fight with thee or
with Sir Launcelot.</p>
<p>So then they went eagerly together, and Sir Tristram slew Sir Nabon, and
so forthwith he leapt to his son, and struck off his head; and then all
the country said they would hold of Sir Tristram. Nay, said Sir Tristram,
I will not so; here is a worshipful knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, that for
me he shall be lord of this country, for he hath done here great deeds of
arms. Nay, said Sir Lamorak, I will not be lord of this country, for I
have not deserved it as well as ye, therefore give ye it where ye will,
for I will none have. Well, said Sir Tristram, since ye nor I will not
have it, let us give it to him that hath not so well deserved it. Do as ye
list, said Segwarides, for the gift is yours, for I will none have an I
had deserved it. So was it given to Segwarides, whereof he thanked them;
and so was he lord, and worshipfully he did govern it. And then Sir
Segwarides delivered all prisoners, and set good governance in that
valley; and so he returned into Cornwall, and told King Mark and La Beale
Isoud how Sir Tristram had advanced him to the Isle of Servage, and there
he proclaimed in all Cornwall of all the adventures of these two knights,
so was it openly known. But full woe was La Beale Isoud when she heard
tell that Sir Tristram was wedded to Isoud la Blanche Mains.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XL </h2>
<h3> How Sir Lamorak departed from Sir Tristram, and how he met with Sir Frol, and after with Sir Launcelot. </h3>
<p>SO turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that rode toward Arthur's court, and Sir
Tristram's wife and Kehydius took a vessel and sailed into Brittany, unto
King Howel, where he was welcome. And when he heard of these adventures
they marvelled of his noble deeds. Now turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that when
he was departed from Sir Tristram he rode out of the forest, till he came
to an hermitage. When the hermit saw him, he asked him from whence he
came. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I come from this valley. Sir, said the
hermit: thereof I marvel. For this twenty winter I saw never no knight
pass this country but he was either slain or villainously wounded, or pass
as a poor prisoner. Those ill customs, said Sir Lamorak, are fordone, for
Sir Tristram slew your lord, Sir Nabon, and his son. Then was the hermit
glad, and all his brethren, for he said there was never such a tyrant
among Christian men. And therefore, said the hermit, this valley and
franchise we will hold of Sir Tristram.</p>
<p>So on the morrow Sir Lamorak departed; and as he rode he saw four knights
fight against one, and that one knight defended him well, but at the last
the four knights had him down. And then Sir Lamorak went betwixt them, and
asked them why they would slay that one knight, and said it was shame,
four against one. Thou shalt well wit, said the four knights, that he is
false. That is your tale, said Sir Lamorak, and when I hear him also
speak, I will say as ye say. Then said Lamorak: Ah, knight, can ye not
excuse you, but that ye are a false knight. Sir, said he, yet can I excuse
me both with my word and with my hands, that I will make good upon one of
the best of them, my body to his body. Then spake they all at once: We
will not jeopardy our bodies as for thee. But wit thou well, they said, an
King Arthur were here himself, it should not lie in his power to save his
life. That is too much said, said Sir Lamorak, but many speak behind a man
more than they will say to his face; and because of your words ye shall
understand that I am one of the simplest of King Arthur's court; in the
worship of my lord now do your best, and in despite of you I shall rescue
him. And then they lashed all at once to Sir Lamorak, but anon at two
strokes Sir Lamorak had slain two of them, and then the other two fled. So
then Sir Lamorak turned again to that knight, and asked him his name. Sir,
he said, my name is Sir Frol of the Out Isles. Then he rode with Sir
Lamorak and bare him company.</p>
<p>And as they rode by the way they saw a seemly knight riding against them,
and all in white. Ah, said Frol, yonder knight jousted late with me and
smote me down, therefore I will joust with him. Ye shall not do so, said
Sir Lamorak, by my counsel, an ye will tell me your quarrel, whether ye
jousted at his request, or he at yours. Nay, said Sir Frol, I jousted with
him at my request. Sir, said Lamorak, then will I counsel you deal no more
with him, for meseemeth by his countenance he should be a noble knight,
and no japer; for methinketh he should be of the Table Round. Therefore I
will not spare, said Sir Frol. And then he cried and said: Sir knight,
make thee ready to joust. That needeth not, said the White Knight, for I
have no lust to joust with thee; but yet they feutred their spears, and
the White Knight overthrew Sir Frol, and then he rode his way a soft pace.
Then Sir Lamorak rode after him, and prayed him to tell him his name: For
meseemeth ye should be of the fellowship of the Round Table. Upon a
covenant, said he, I will tell you my name, so that ye will not discover
my name, and also that ye will tell me yours. Then, said he, my name is
Sir Lamorak de Galis. And my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then they put
up their swords, and kissed heartily together, and either made great joy
of other. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, an it please you I will do you service.
God defend, said Launcelot, that any of so noble a blood as ye be should
do me service. Then he said: More, I am in a quest that I must do myself
alone. Now God speed you, said Sir Lamorak, and so they departed. Then Sir
Lamorak came to Sir Frol and horsed him again. What knight is that? said
Sir Frol. Sir, he said, it is not for you to know, nor it is no point of
my charge. Ye are the more uncourteous, said Sir Frol, and therefore I
will depart from you. Ye may do as ye list, said Sir Lamorak, and yet by
my company ye have saved the fairest flower of your garland; so they
departed.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous fighting with Sir Belliance his brother. </h2>
<p>THEN within two or three days Sir Lamorak found a knight at a well
sleeping, and his lady sat with him and waked. Right so came Sir Gawaine
and took the knight's lady, and set her up behind his squire. So Sir
Lamorak rode after Sir Gawaine, and said: Sir Gawaine, turn again. And
then said Sir Gawaine: What will ye do with me? for I am nephew unto King
Arthur. Sir, said he, for that cause I will spare you, else that lady
should abide with me, or else ye should joust with me. Then Sir Gawaine
turned him and ran to him that ought the lady, with his spear, but the
knight with pure might smote down Sir Gawaine, and took his lady with him.
All this Sir Lamorak saw, and said to himself: But I revenge my fellow he
will say of me dishonour in King Arthur's court. Then Sir Lamorak returned
and proffered that knight to joust. Sir, said he, I am ready. And there
they came together with all their might, and there Sir Lamorak smote the
knight through both sides that he fell to the earth dead.</p>
<p>Then that lady rode to that knight's brother that hight Belliance le
Orgulus, that dwelt fast thereby, and then she told him how his brother
was slain. Alas, said he, I will be revenged. And so he horsed him, and
armed him, and within a while he overtook Sir Lamorak, and bade him: Turn
and leave that lady, for thou and I must play a new play; for thou hast
slain my brother Sir Frol, that was a better knight than ever wert thou.
It might well be, said Sir Lamorak, but this day in the field I was found
the better. So they rode together, and unhorsed other, and turned their
shields, and drew their swords, and fought mightily as noble knights
proved, by the space of two hours. So then Sir Belliance prayed him to
tell him his name. Sir, said he, my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. Ah, said
Sir Belliance, thou art the man in the world that I most hate, for I slew
my sons for thy sake, where I saved thy life, and now thou hast slain my
brother Sir Frol. Alas, how should I be accorded with thee; therefore
defend thee, for thou shalt die, there is none other remedy. Alas, said
Sir Lamorak, full well me ought to know you, for ye are the man that most
have done for me. And therewithal Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and besought
him of grace. Arise, said Sir Belliance, or else thereas thou kneelest I
shall slay thee. That shall not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will yield
me unto you, not for fear of you, nor for your strength, but your goodness
maketh me full loath to have ado with you; wherefore I require you for
God's sake, and for the honour of knighthood, forgive me all that I have
offended unto you. Alas, said Belliance, leave thy kneeling, or else I
shall slay thee without mercy.</p>
<p>Then they yede again unto battle, and either wounded other, that all the
ground was bloody thereas they fought. And at the last Belliance withdrew
him aback and set him down softly upon a little hill, for he was so faint
for bleeding that he might not stand. Then Sir Lamorak threw his shield
upon his back, and asked him what cheer. Well, said Sir Belliance. Ah,
Sir, yet shall I show you favour in your mal-ease. Ah, Knight Sir
Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a fool, for an I had had thee at
such advantage as thou hast done me, I should slay thee; but thy
gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs forgive thee mine
evil will. And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and unlaced first his
umberere, and then his own, and then either kissed other with weeping
tears. Then Sir Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an abbey fast by, and there
Sir Lamorak would not depart from Belliance till he was whole. And then
they sware together that none of them should never fight against other. So
Sir Lamorak departed and went to the court of King Arthur.</p>
<p>Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram. And here beginneth the
history of La Cote Male Taile.</p>
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