{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart209.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart209.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart209.htm","text":"CHAPTER XV\nHow Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after of the\nshame spoken of the knights of Cornwall, and how they jousted.\nNOW leave we of this tale, and speak we of Sir Tristram, that as\nhe rode he met with Sir Kay, the Seneschal; and there Sir Kay\nasked Sir Tristram of what country he was. He answered that he\nwas of the country of Cornwall. It may well be, said Sir Kay,\nfor yet heard I never that ever good knight came out of Cornwall.\nThat is evil spoken, said Sir Tristram, but an it please you to\ntell me your name I require you. Sir, wit ye well, said Sir Kay,\nthat my name is Sir Kay, the Seneschal. Is that your name? said\nSir Tristram, now wit ye well that ye are named the shamefullest\nknight of your tongue that now is living; howbeit ye are called a\ngood knight, but ye are called unfortunate, and passing\noverthwart of your tongue. And thus they rode together till they\ncame to a <375>bridge. And there was a knight would not let them\npass till one of them jousted with him; and so that knight\njousted with Sir Kay, and there that knight gave Sir Kay a fall:\nhis name was Sir Tor, Sir Lamorak's half-brother. And then they\ntwo rode to their lodging, and there they found Sir Brandiles,\nand Sir Tor came thither anon after. And as they sat at supper\nthese four knights, three of them spake all shame by Cornish\nknights. Sir Tristram heard all that they said and he said but\nlittle, but he thought the more, but at that time he discovered\nnot his name.\nUpon the morn Sir Tristram took his horse and abode them upon\ntheir way. And there Sir Brandiles proffered to joust with Sir\nTristram, and Sir Tristram smote him down, horse and all, to the\nearth. Then Sir Tor le Fise de Vayshoure encountered with Sir\nTristram and there Sir Tristram smote him down, and then he rode\nhis way, and Sir Kay followed him, but he would not of his\nfellowship. Then Sir Brandiles came to Sir Kay and said: I would\nwit fain what is that knight's name. Come on with me, said Sir\nKay, and we shall pray him to tell us his name. So they rode\ntogether till they came nigh him, and then they were ware where\nhe sat by a well, and had put off his helm to drink at the well.\nAnd when he saw them come he laced on his helm lightly, and took\nhis horse, and proffered them to joust. Nay, said Sir Brandiles,\nwe jousted late enough with you, we come not in that intent. But\nfor this we come to require you of knighthood to tell us your\nname. My fair knights, sithen that is your desire, and to please\nyou, ye shall wit that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, nephew\nunto King Mark of Cornwall. In good time, said Sir Brandiles,\nand well be ye found, and wit ye well that we be right glad that\nwe have found you, and we be of a fellowship that would be right\nglad of your company. For ye are the knight in the world that\nthe noble fellowship of the Round Table most desireth to have the\ncompany of. God thank them said Sir Tristram, of their great\ngoodness, but as yet I feel well that I am unable to be of their\nfellowship, for I was <376>never yet of such deeds of worthiness\nto be in the company of such a fellowship. Ah, said Sir Kay, an\nye be Sir Tristram de Liones, ye are the man called now most of\nprowess except Sir Launcelot du Lake; for he beareth not the\nlife, Christian nor heathen, that can find such another knight,\nto speak of his prowess, and of his hands, and his truth withal.\nFor yet could there never creature say of him dishonour and make\nit good. Thus they talked a great while, and then they departed\neither from other such ways as them seemed best.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XV","type":"page"}