Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur




Sir, said Dinadan, wherefore be ye angry? discover
your heart to me: forsooth ye wot well I owe you good
will, howbeit I am a poor knight and a servitor unto you
and to all good knights. For though I be not of worship
myself I love all those that be of worship. It is truth, said
Sir Launcelot, ye are a trusty knight, and for great trust I
will shew you my counsel. And when Dinadan understood
all, he said: This is my counsel: set you right nought by
these threats, for King Mark is so villainous, that by fair
speech shall never man get of him. But ye shall see what
I shall do; I will make a lay for him, and when it is made
I shall make an harper to sing it afore him. So anon he
went and made it, and taught it an harper that hight Eliot.
And when he could it, he taught it to many harpers. And
so by the will of Sir Launcelot, and of Arthur, the harpers
went straight into Wales, and into Cornwall, to sing the
lay that Sir Dinadan made by King Mark, the which was
the worst lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any
other instruments.



CHAPTER XXVIII

How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King
Mark; and of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue
him.


NOW turn we again unto Sir Tristram and to King Mark.
As Sir Tristram was at jousts and at tournament it fortuned
he was sore hurt both with a spear and with a sword, but
yet he won always the degree. And for to repose him he
went to a good knight that dwelled in Cornwall, in a castle,
whose name was Sir Dinas le Seneschal. Then by misfortune
there came out of Sessoin a great number of men of
arms, and an hideous host, and they entered nigh the Castle
of Tintagil; and their captain's name was Elias, a good
man of arms. When King Mark understood his enemies
were entered into his land he made great dole and sorrow,
for in no wise by his will King Mark would not send for
Sir Tristram, for he hated him deadly.

So when his council was come they devised and cast
many perils of the strength of their enemies. And then they
concluded all at once, and said thus unto King Mark: Sir,
wit ye well ye must send for Sir Tristram, the good knight,
or else they will never be overcome. For by Sir Tristram
they must be foughten withal, or else we row against the
stream. Well, said King Mark, I will do by your counsel;
but yet he was full loath thereto, but need constrained him
to send for him. Then was he sent for in all haste that
might be, that he should come to King Mark. And when
he understood that King Mark had sent for him, he
mounted upon a soft ambler and rode to King Mark.
And when he was come the king said thus: Fair nephew
Sir Tristram, this is all. Here be come our enemies of
Sessoin, that are here nigh hand, and without tarrying they
must be met with shortly, or else they will destroy this
country. Sir, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well all my power
is at your commandment. And wit ye well, sir, these
eight days I may bear none arms, for my wounds be not
yet whole. And by that day I shall do what I may. Ye
say well, said King Mark; then go ye again and repose
you and make you fresh, and I shall go and meet the
Sessoins with all my power.

So the king departed unto Tintagil, and Sir Tristram
went to repose him. And the king made a great host
and departed them in three; the first part led Sir Dinas
the Seneschal, and Sir Andred led the second part, and Sir
Argius led the third part; and he was of the blood of
King Mark. And the Sessoins had three great battles,
and many good men of arms. And so King Mark by the
advice of his knights issued out of the Castle of Tintagil
upon his enemies. And Dinas, the good knight, rode out
afore, and slew two knights with his own hands, and then
began the battles. And there was marvellous breaking of
spears and smiting of swords, and slew down many good
knights. And ever was Sir Dinas the Seneschal the best
of King Mark's party. And thus the battle endured long
with great mortality. But at the last King Mark and Sir
Dinas, were they never so loath, they withdrew them to
the Castle of Tintagil with great slaughter of people; and
the Sessoins followed on fast, that ten of them were put
within the gates and four slain with the portcullis.

Then King Mark sent for Sir Tristram by a varlet,
that told him all the mortality. Then he sent the varlet
again, and bade him: Tell King Mark that I will come as
soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good. Then
King Mark had his answer. Therewith came Elias and
bade the king yield up the castle: For ye may not hold
it no while. Sir Elias, said the king, so will I yield up the
castle if I be not soon rescued. Anon King Mark sent
again for rescue to Sir Tristram. By then Sir Tristram
was whole, and he had gotten him ten good knights of
Arthur's; and with them he rode unto Tintagil. And
when he saw the great host of Sessoins he marvelled wonder
greatly. And then Sir Tristram rode by the woods and
by the ditches as secretly as he might, till he came nigh
the gates. And there dressed a knight to him when he
saw that Sir Tristram would enter; and Sir Tristram
smote him down dead, and so he served three more. And
everych of these ten knights slew a man of arms. So
Sir Tristram entered into the Castle of Tintagil. And
when King Mark wist that Sir Tristram was come he was
glad of his coming, and so was all the fellowship, and of
him they made great joy.



CHAPTER XXIX

How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias
desired a man to fight body for body.


SO on the morn Elias the captain came, and bade King
Mark: Come out and do battle; for now the good knight
Sir Tristram is entered it will be shame to thee, said Elias,
for to keep thy walls. When King Mark understood this
he was wroth and said no word, but went unto Sir Tristram
and asked him his counsel. Sir, said Sir Tristram, will ye
that I give him his answer? I will well, said King Mark.
Then Sir Tristram said thus to the messenger: Bear thy
lord word from the king and me, that we will do battle with
him to-morn in the plain field. What is your name? said
the messenger. Wit thou well my name is Sir Tristram
de Liones. Therewithal the messenger departed and told
his lord Elias all that he had heard. Sir, said Sir Tristram
unto King Mark, I pray you give me leave to have the
rule of the battle. I pray you take the rule, said King
Mark. Then Sir Tristram let devise the battle in what
manner that it should be. He let depart his host in six
parties, and ordained Sir Dinas the Seneschal to have the
foreward, and other knights to rule the remnant. And
the same night Sir Tristram burnt all the Sessoins' ships
unto the cold water. Anon, as Elias wist that, he said it
was of Sir Tristram's doing: For he casteth that we shall
never escape, mother son of us. Therefore, fair fellows,
fight freely to-morrow, and miscomfort you nought; for
any knight, though he be the best knight in the world, he
may not have ado with us all.

Then they ordained their battle in four parties,
wonderly well apparelled and garnished with men of arms.
Thus they within issued, and they without set freely upon
them; and there Sir Dinas did great deeds of arms. Not
for then Sir Dinas and his fellowship were put to the worse.
With that came Sir Tristram and slew two knights with
one spear; then he slew on the right hand and on the left
hand, that men marvelled that ever he might do such
deeds of arms. And then he might see sometime the
battle was driven a bow-draught from the castle, and
sometime it was at the gates of the castle. Then came
Elias the captain rushing here and there, and hit King
Mark so sore upon the helm that he made him to avoid
the saddle. And then Sir Dinas gat King Mark again to
horseback. Therewithal came in Sir Tristram like a lion,
and there he met with Elias, and he smote him so sore
upon the helm that he avoided his saddle. And thus they
fought till it was night, and for great slaughter and for
wounded people everych party drew to their rest.

And when King Mark was come within the Castle of
Tintagil he lacked of his knights an hundred, and they
without lacked two hundred; and they searched the
wounded men on both parties. And then they went to
council; and wit you well either party were loath to fight
more, so that either might escape with their worship.
When Elias the captain understood the death of his men
he made great dole; and when he wist that they were
loath to go to battle again he was wroth out of measure.
Then Elias sent word unto King Mark, in great despite,
whether he would find a knight that would fight for him
body for body. And if that he might slay King Mark's
knight, he to have the truage of Cornwall yearly. And
if that his knight slay mine, I fully release my claim
forever. Then the messenger departed unto King Mark,
and told him how that his lord Elias had sent him word
to find a knight to do battle with him body for body.
When King Mark understood the messenger, he bade him
abide and he should have his answer. Then called he all
the baronage together to wit what was the best counsel.
They said all at once: To fight in a field we have no lust,
for had not been Sir Tristram's prowess it had been likely
that we never should have escaped; and therefore, sir, as
we deem, it were well done to find a knight that would do
battle with him, for he knightly proffereth.



CHAPTER XXI

How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the
truage, and how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field.


NOT for then when all this was said, they could find no
knight that would do battle with him. Sir king, said they
all, here is no knight that dare fight with Elias. Alas,
said King Mark, then am I utterly ashamed and utterly
destroyed, unless that my nephew Sir Tristram will take
the battle upon him. Wit you well, they said all, he had
yesterday overmuch on hand, and he is weary for travail,
and sore wounded. Where is he? said King Mark. Sir,
said they, he is in his bed to repose him. Alas, said King
Mark, but I have the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram,
I am utterly destroyed for ever.

Therewith one went to Sir Tristram where he lay, and
told him what King Mark had said. And therewith Sir
Tristram arose lightly, and put on him a long gown, and
came afore the king and all the lords. And when he saw
them all so dismayed he asked the king and the lords
what tidings were with them. Never worse, said the
king. And therewith he told him all, how he had word
of Elias to find a knight to fight for the truage of
Cornwall, and none can I find. And as for you, said the king
and all the lords, we may ask no more of you for shame;
for through your hardiness yesterday ye saved all our lives.
Sir, said Sir Tristram, now I understand ye would have my
succour, reason would that I should do all that lieth in my
power to do, saving my worship and my life, howbeit I
am sore bruised and hurt. And sithen Sir Elias proffereth
so largely, I shall fight with him, or else I will be slain in
the field, or else I will deliver Cornwall from the old
truage. And therefore lightly call his messenger and he
shall be answered, for as yet my wounds be green, and
they will be sorer a seven night after than they be now;
and therefore he shall have his answer that I will do battle
to-morn with him.

Then was the messenger departed brought before King
Mark. Hark, my fellow, said Sir Tristram, go fast unto
thy lord, and bid him make true assurance on his part for
the truage, as the king here shall make on his part; and
then tell thy lord, Sir Elias, that I, Sir Tristram, King
Arthur's knight, and knight of the Table Round, will as
to-morn meet with thy lord on horseback, to do battle as
long as my horse may endure, and after that to do battle
with him on foot to the utterance. The messenger beheld
Sir Tristram from the top to the toe; and therewithal he
departed and came to his lord, and told him how he was
answered of Sir Tristram. And therewithal was made
hostage on both parties, and made it as sure as it might
be, that whether party had the victory, so to end. And
then were both hosts assembled on both parts of the field,
without the Castle of Tintagil, and there was none but Sir
Tristram and Sir Elias armed.

So when the appointment was made, they departed
in-sunder, and they came together with all the might that
their horses might run. And either knight smote other
so hard that both horses and knights went to the earth.
Not for then they both lightly arose and dressed their
shields on their shoulders, with naked swords in their
hands, and they dashed together that it seemed a flaming
fire about them. Thus they traced, and traversed, and
hewed on helms and hauberks, and cut away many cantels
of their shields, and either wounded other passing sore, so
that the hot blood fell freshly upon the earth. And by
then they had foughten the mountenance of an hour Sir
Tristram waxed faint and for-bled, and gave sore aback.
That saw Sir Elias, and followed fiercely upon him, and
wounded him in many places. And ever Sir Tristram
traced and traversed, and went froward him here and there,
and covered him with his shield as he might all weakly,
that all men said he was overcome; for Sir Elias had given
him twenty strokes against one.

Then was there laughing of the Sessoins' party, and
great dole on King Mark's party. Alas, said the king,
we are ashamed and destroyed all for ever: for as the
book saith, Sir Tristram was never so matched, but if it
were Sir Launcelot. Thus as they stood and beheld both
parties, that one party laughing and the other party
weeping, Sir Tristram remembered him of his lady, La
Beale Isoud, that looked upon him, and how he was likely
never to come in her presence. Then he pulled up his
shield that erst hung full low. And then he dressed up
his shield unto Elias, and gave him many sad strokes,
twenty against one, and all to-brake his shield and his
hauberk, that the hot blood ran down to the earth. Then
began King Mark to laugh, and all Cornish men, and that
other party to weep. And ever Sir Tristram said to Sir
Elias: Yield thee.

Then when Sir Tristram saw him so staggering on the
ground, he said: Sir Elias, I am right sorry for thee, for
thou art a passing good knight as ever I met withal, except
Sir Launcelot. Therewithal Sir Elias fell to the earth, and
there died. What shall I do, said Sir Tristram unto King
Mark, for this battle is at an end? Then they of Elias'
party departed, and King Mark took of them many
prisoners, to redress the harms and the scathes that he had
of them; and the remnant he sent into their country to
borrow out their fellows. Then was Sir Tristram searched
and well healed. Yet for all this King Mark would fain
have slain Sir Tristram. But for all that ever Sir Tristram
saw or heard by King Mark, yet would he never beware
of his treason, but ever he would be thereas La Beale
Isoud was.



CHAPTER XXXI

How at a great feast that King Mark made an harper
came and sang the lay that Dinadan had made.


NOW will we pass of this matter, and speak we of the
harpers that Sir Launcelot and Sir Dinadan had sent into
Cornwall. And at the great feast that King Mark made
for joy that the Sessoins were put out of his country, then
came Eliot the harper with the lay that Dinadan had made
and secretly brought it unto Sir Tristram, and told him
the lay that Dinadan had made by King Mark. And
when Sir Tristram heard it, he said: O Lord Jesu, that
Dinadan can make wonderly well and ill, thereas it shall
be. Sir, said Eliot, dare I sing this song afore King Mark?
Yea, on my peril, said Sir Tristram, for I shall be thy
warrant. Then at the meat came in Eliot the harper, and
because he was a curious harper men heard him sing the
same lay that Dinadan had made, the which spake the
most villainy by King Mark of his treason that ever man
heard.

When the harper had sung his song to the end King
Mark was wonderly wroth, and said: Thou harper, how
durst thou be so bold on thy head to sing this song afore
me. Sir, said Eliot, wit you well I am a minstrel, and I
must do as I am commanded of these lords that I bear the
arms of. And sir, wit ye well that Sir Dinadan, a knight
of the Table Round, made this song, and made me to
sing it afore you. Thou sayest well, said King Mark,
and because thou art a minstrel thou shalt go quit, but I
charge thee hie thee fast out of my sight. So the harper
departed and went to Sir Tristram, and told him how he
had sped. Then Sir Tristram let make letters as goodly
as he could to Launcelot and to Sir Dinadan. And so he
let conduct the harper out of the country. But to say
that King Mark was wonderly wroth, he was, for he
deemed that the lay that was sung afore him was made by
Sir Tristram's counsel, wherefore he thought to slay him
and all his well-willers in that country.



CHAPTER XXXII

How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for
good service that he had done to him.


NOW turn we to another matter that fell between
King Mark and his brother, that was called the good
Prince Boudwin, that all the people of the country loved
passing well. So it befell on a time that the miscreant
Saracens landed in the country of Cornwall soon after
these Sessoins were gone. And then the good Prince
Boudwin, at the landing, he raised the country privily and
hastily. And or it were day he let put wildfire in three
of his own ships, and suddenly he pulled up the sail, and
with the wind he made those ships to be driven among
the navy of the Saracens. And to make short tale, those
three ships set on fire all the ships, that none were saved.
And at point of the day the good Prince Boudwin with
all his fellowship set on the miscreants with shouts and
cries, and slew to the number of forty thousand, and left
none alive.

When King Mark wist this he was wonderly wroth
that his brother should win such worship. And because
this prince was better beloved than he in all that country,
and that also Boudwin loved well Sir Tristram, therefore
he thought to slay him. And thus, hastily, as a man out
of his wit, he sent for Prince Boudwin and Anglides his
wife, and bade them bring their young son with them,
that he might see him. All this he did to the intent to
slay the child as well as his father, for he was the falsest
traitor that ever was born. Alas, for his goodness and
for his good deeds this gentle Prince Boudwin was slain.
So when he came with his wife Anglides, the king made
them fair semblant till they had dined. And when they
had dined King Mark sent for his brother and said thus:
Brother, how sped you when the miscreants arrived by
you? meseemeth it had been your part to have sent me
word, that I might have been at that journey, for it had
been reason that I had had the honour and not you.
Sir, said the Prince Boudwin, it was so that an I had
tarried till that I had sent for you those miscreants had
destroyed my country. Thou liest, false traitor, said
King Mark, for thou art ever about for to win worship
from me, and put me to dishonour, and thou cherishest
that I hate. And therewith he struck him to the heart
with a dagger, that he never after spake word. Then the
Lady Anglides made great dole, and swooned, for she saw
her lord slain afore her face. Then was there no more to
do but Prince Boudwin was despoiled and brought to
burial. But Anglides privily gat her husband's doublet
and his shirt, and that she kept secretly.

Then was there much sorrow and crying, and great
dole made Sir Tristram, Sir Dinas, Sir Fergus, and so did
all knights that were there; for that prince was passingly
well beloved. So La Beale Isoud sent unto Anglides, the
Prince Boudwin's wife, and bade her avoid lightly or else
her young son, Alisander le Orphelin, should be slain
When she heard this, she took her horse and her child;
and rode with such poor men as durst ride with her.



CHAPTER XXXIII

How Anglides, Boudwin's wife, escaped with her young son,
Alisander le Orphelin, and came to the Castle of Arundel.


NOTWITHSTANDING, when King Mark had done this
deed, yet he thought to do more vengeance; and with his
sword in his hand, he sought from chamber to chamber,
to seek Anglides and her young son. And when she was
missed he called a good knight that hight Sadok, and
charged him by pain of death to fetch Anglides again and
her young son. So Sir Sadok departed and rode after
Anglides. And within ten mile he overtook her, and
bade her turn again and ride with him to King Mark.
Alas, fair knight, she said, what shall ye win by my son's
death or by mine? I have had overmuch harm and too
great a loss. Madam, said Sadok, of your loss is dole
and pity; but madam, said Sadok, would ye depart out
of this country with your son, and keep him till he be of
age, that he may revenge his father's death, then would
I suffer you to depart from me, so you promise me
to revenge the death of Prince Boudwin. Ah, gentle
knight, Jesu thank thee, and if ever my son, Alisander le
Orphelin, live to be a knight, he shall have his father's
doublet and his shirt with the bloody marks, and I shall
give him such a charge that he shall remember it while he
liveth. And therewithal Sadok departed from her, and
either betook other to God. And when Sadok came to
King Mark he told him faithfully that he had drowned
young Alisander her son; and thereof King Mark was
full glad.

Now turn we unto Anglides, that rode both night and
day by adventure out of Cornwall, and little and in few
places she rested; but ever she drew southward to the
seaside, till by fortune she came to a castle that is called
Magouns, and now it is called Arundel, in Sussex. And
the Constable of the castle welcomed her, and said she
was welcome to her own castle; and there was Anglides 2t
worshipfully received, for the Constable's wife was nigh
her cousin, and the Constable's name was Bellangere; and
that same Constable told Anglides that the same castle
was hers by right inheritance. Thus Anglides endured
years and winters, till Alisander was big and strong;
there was none so wight in all that country, neither there
was none that might do no manner of mastery afore him.



CHAPTER XXXIV

How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to Alisander, her son,
the same day that he was made knight, and the charge
withal.


THEN upon a day Bellangere the Constable came to
Anglides and said: Madam, it were time my lord Alisander
were made knight, for he is a passing strong
young man. Sir, said she, I would he were made knight;
but then must I give him the most charge that ever
sinful mother gave to her child. Do as ye list, said
Bellangere, and I shall give him warning that he shall be
made knight. Now it will be well done that he may be
made knight at our Lady Day in Lent. Be it so, said
Anglides, and I pray you make ready therefore. So came
the Constable to Alisander, and told him that he should
at our Lady Day in Lent be made knight. I thank God,
said Alisander; these are the best tidings that ever came
to me. Then the Constable ordained twenty of the
greatest gentlemen's sons, and the best born men of the
country, that should be made knights that same day that
Alisander was made knight. So on the same day that
Alisander and his twenty fellows were made knights, at
the offering of the mass there came Anglides unto her
son and said thus: O fair sweet son, I charge thee upon
my blessing, and of the high order of chivalry that thou
takest here this day, that thou understand what I shall
say and charge thee withal. Therewithal she pulled out a
bloody doublet and a bloody shirt, that were be-bled with
old blood. When Alisander saw this he stert aback and
waxed pale, and said: Fair mother, what may this mean?
I shall tell thee, fair son: this was thine own father's
doublet and shirt, that he wore upon him that same day
that he was slain. And there she told him why and
wherefore, and how for his goodness King Mark slew
him with his dagger afore mine own eyen. And therefore
this shall be your charge that I shall give thee.



CHAPTER XXXV

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.

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