{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart204.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart204.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart204.htm","text":"CHAPTER X\nHow La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid\nBragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.\nNOW leave we here Sir La Cote Male Taile, and turn we unto Sir\nTristram de Liones that was in Brittany. When La Beale Isoud\nunderstood that he was wedded she sent to him by her maiden\nBragwaine as piteous letters as could be thought and made, and\nher conclusion was that, an it pleased Sir Tristram, that he\nwould come to her <368>court, and bring with him Isoud la Blanche\nMains, and they should be kept as well as she herself. Then Sir\nTristram called unto him Sir Kehydius, and asked him whether he\nwould go with him into Cornwall secretly. He answered him that\nhe was ready at all times. And then he let ordain privily a\nlittle vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius,\nDame Bragwaine, and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's squire. So when\nthey were in the sea a contrarious wind blew them on the coasts\nof North Wales, nigh the Castle Perilous. Then said Sir\nTristram: Here shall ye abide me these ten days, and Gouvernail,\nmy squire, with you. And if so be I come not again by that day\ntake the next way into Cornwall; for in this forest are many\nstrange adventures, as I have heard say, and some of them I cast\nme to prove or I depart. And when I may I shall hie me after\nyou.\nThen Sir Tristram and Kehydius took their horses and departed\nfrom their fellowship. And so they rode within that forest a\nmile and more; and at the last Sir Tristram saw afore him a\nlikely knight, armed, sitting by a well, and a strong mighty\nhorse passing nigh him tied to an oak, and a man hoving and\nriding by him leading an horse laden with spears. And this\nknight that sat at the well seemed by his countenance to be\npassing heavy. Then Sir Tristram rode near him and said: Fair\nknight, why sit ye so drooping? ye seem to be a knight-errant by\nyour arms and harness, and therefore dress you to joust with one\nof us, or with both. Therewithal that knight made no words, but\ntook his shield and buckled it about his neck, and lightly he\ntook his horse and leapt upon him. And then he took a great\nspear of his squire, and departed his way a furlong. Sir\nKehydius asked leave of Sir Tristram to joust first. Do your\nbest, said Sir Tristram. So they met together, and there Sir\nKehydius had a fall, and was sore wounded on high above the paps.\nThen Sir Tristram said: Knight, that is well jousted, now make\nyou ready unto me. I am ready, said the knight. And then that\nknight took a greater spear in his hand, and encountered with Sir\nTristram, <369>and there by great force that knight smote down\nSir Tristram from his horse and had a great fall. Then Sir\nTristram was sore ashamed, and lightly he avoided his horse, and\nput his shield afore his shoulder, and drew his sword. And then\nSir Tristram required that knight of his knighthood to alight\nupon foot and fight with him. I will well, said the knight; and\nso he alighted upon foot, and avoided his horse, and cast his\nshield upon his shoulder, and drew his sword, and there they\nfought a long battle together full nigh two hours. Then Sir\nTristram said: Fair knight, hold thine hand, and tell me of\nwhence thou art, and what is thy name. As for that, said the\nknight, I will be avised; but an thou wilt tell me thy name\nperadventure I will tell thee mine.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER X","type":"page"}