ANON Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into Ireland.And as soon as he came to the king,his brother,he let search his wounds.And when his head was searched a piece of Sir Tristram's sword was found therein,and might never be had out of his head for no surgeons,and so he died of Sir Tristram's sword;and that piece of the sword the queen,his sister,kept it for ever with her,for she thought to be revenged an she might.
Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram,that was sore wounded,and full sore bled that he might not within a little while,when he had taken cold,unnethe stir him of his limbs.And then he set him down softly upon a little hill,and bled fast.Then anon came Gouvernail,his man,with his vessel;and the king and his barons came with procession against him.And when he was come unto the land,King Mark took him in his arms,and the king and Sir Dinas,the seneschal,led Sir Tristram into the castle of Tintagil.And then was he searched in the best manner,and laid in his bed.And when King Mark saw his wounds he wept heartily,and so did all his lords.So God me help,said King Mark,Iwould not for all my lands that my nephew died.So Sir Tristram lay there a month and more,and ever he was like to die of that stroke that Sir Marhaus smote him first with the spear.For,as the French book saith,the spear's head was envenomed,that Sir Tristram might not be whole.Then was King Mark and all his barons passing heavy,for they deemed none other but that Sir Tristram should not recover.Then the king let send after all manner of leeches and surgeons,both unto men and women,and there was none that would behote him the life.Then came there a lady that was a right wise lady,and she said plainly unto King Mark,and to Sir Tristram,and to all his barons,that he should never be whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that the venom came from,and in that country should he be holpen or else never.Thus said the lady unto the king.
When King Mark understood that,he let purvey for Sir Tristram a fair vessel,well victualled,and therein was put Sir Tristram,and Gouvernail with him,and Sir Tristram took his harp with him,and so he was put into the sea to sail into Ireland;and so by good fortune he arrived up in Ireland,even fast by a castle where the king and the queen was;and at his arrival he sat and harped in his bed a merry lay,such one heard they never none in Ireland before that time.
And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that was such an harper,anon the king sent for him,and let search his wounds,and then asked him his name.Then he answered,I am of the country of Liones,and my name is Tramtrist,that thus was wounded in a battle as I fought for a lady's right.So God me help,said King Anguish,ye shall have all the help in this land that ye may have here;but I let you wit,in Cornwall I had a great loss as ever had king,for there I lost the best knight of the world;his name was Marhaus,a full noble knight,and Knight of the Table Round;and there he told Sir Tristram wherefore Sir Marhaus was slain.Sir Tristram made semblant as he had been sorry,and better knew he how it was than the king.
CHAPTER IX
How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of La Beale Isoud first for to be healed of his wound.
THEN the king for great favour made Tramtrist to be put in his daughter's ward and keeping,because she was a noble surgeon.
And when she had searched him she found in the bottom of his wound that therein was poison,and so she healed him within a while;and therefore Tramtrist cast great love to La Beale Isoud,for she was at that time the fairest maid and lady of the world.
And there Tramtrist learned her to harp,and she began to have a great fantasy unto him.And at that time Sir Palamides,the Saracen,was in that country,and well cherished with the king and the queen.And every day Sir Palamides drew unto La Beale Isoud and proffered her many gifts,for he loved her passingly well.All that espied Tramtrist,and full well knew he Sir Palamides for a noble knight and a mighty man.And wit you well Sir Tramtrist had great despite at Sir Palamides,for La Beale Isoud told Tramtrist that Palamides was in will to be christened for her sake.Thus was there great envy betwixt Tramtrist and Sir Palamides.
Then it befell that King Anguish let cry a great jousts and a great tournament for a lady that was called the Lady of the Launds,and she was nigh cousin unto the king.And what man won her,three days after he should wed her and have all her lands.
This cry was made in England,Wales,Scotland,and also in France and in Brittany.It befell upon a day La Beale Isoud came unto Sir Tramtrist,and told him of this tournament.He answered and said:Fair lady,I am but a feeble knight,and but late I had been dead had not your good ladyship been.Now,fair lady,what would ye I should do in this matter?well ye wot,my lady,that Imay not joust.Ah,Tramtrist,said La Beale Isoud,why will ye not have ado at that tournament?well I wot Sir Palamides shall be there,and to do what he may;and therefore Tramtrist,Ipray you for to be there,for else Sir Palamides is like to win the degree.Madam,said Tramtrist,as for that,it may be so,for he is a proved knight,and I am but a young knight and late made;and the first battle that I did it mishapped me to be sore wounded as ye see.But an I wist ye would be my better lady,at that tournament I will be,so that ye will keep my counsel and let no creature have knowledge that I shall joust but yourself,and such as ye will to keep your counsel,my poor person shall Ijeopard there for your sake,that,peradventure,Sir Palamides shall know when that I come.Thereto,said La Beale Isoud,do your best,and as I can,said La Beale Isoud,I shall purvey horse and armour for you at my device.As ye will so be it,said Sir Tramtrist,I will be at your commandment.
