{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart169.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart169.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart169.htm","text":"CHAPTER XVI\nHow Sir Tristram fought with two knights of the\nRound Table.\nTHEN within a while Sir Tristram saw them afore him, two likely\nknights. Sir, said Gouvernail unto his master, Sir, I would\ncounsel you not to have ado with them, for they be two proved\nknights of Arthur's court. As for that, said Sir Tristram, have\nye no doubt but I will have ado with them to increase my worship,\nfor it is many day sithen I did any deeds of arms. Do as ye\nlist, said Gouvernail. And therewithal anon Sir Tristram asked\nthem from whence they came, and whither they would, and what they\ndid in those marches. Sir Sagramore looked upon Sir Tristram,\nand had scorn of his words, and asked him again, Fair knight, be\nye a knight of Cornwall? Whereby ask ye it? said Sir Tristram.\nFor it is seldom seen, said Sir Sagramore, that ye Cornish\nknights be valiant men of arms; for within these two hours there\nmet us one of your Cornish knights, and great words he spake, and\nanon with little might he was laid to the earth. And, as I trow,\nsaid Sir Sagramore, ye shall have the same handsel that he had.\nFair lords, said Sir Tristram, it may so happen that I may better\nwithstand than he did, and whether ye will or nill I will have\nado with you, because he was my cousin that ye beat. And\ntherefore here do your best, and wit ye well but if ye quit you\nthe better here upon this ground, one knight of Cornwall shall\nbeat you both.\nWhen Sir Dodinas le Savage heard him say so he gat a spear in his\nhand, and said, Sir knight, keep well thyself: And then they\ndeparted and came together as it had been thunder. And Sir\nDodinas' spear brast in-sunder, but Sir Tristram smote him with a\nmore might, that he smote him clean over the horse-croup, that\nnigh he had broken his neck. When Sir Sagramore saw his fellow\nhave such a <306>fall he marvelled what knight he might be. And\nhe dressed his spear with all his might, and Sir Tristram against\nhim, and they came together as the thunder, and there Sir\nTristram smote Sir Sagramore a strong buffet, that he bare his\nhorse and him to the earth, and in the falling he brake his\nthigh.\nWhen this was done Sir Tristram asked them: Fair knights, will\nye any more? Be there no bigger knights in the court of King\nArthur? it is to you shame to say of us knights of Cornwall\ndishonour, for it may happen a Cornish knight may match you.\nThat is truth, said Sir Sagramore, that have we well proved; but\nI require thee, said Sir Sagramore, tell us your right name, by\nthe faith and troth that ye owe to the high order of knighthood.\nYe charge me with a great thing, said Sir Tristram, and sithen ye\nlist to wit it, ye shall know and understand that my name is Sir\nTristram de Liones, King Meliodas' son, and nephew unto King\nMark. Then were they two knights fain that they had met with\nTristram, and so they prayed him to abide in their fellowship.\nNay, said Sir Tristram, for I must have ado with one of your\nfellows, his name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis. God speed you well,\nsaid Sir Sagramore and Dodinas. Sir Tristram departed and rode\nonward on his way. And then was he ware before him in a valley\nwhere rode Sir Bleoberis, with Sir Segwarides' lady, that rode\nbehind his squire upon a palfrey.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VIII CHAPTER XVI","type":"page"}