{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart218.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart218.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart218.htm","text":"CHAPTER XXV\nHow Sir Tristram jousted with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore\nle Desirous, and how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram\nfrom Morgan le Fay.\nBUT anon as the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, heard of the shield\nof Cornwall, then wist he well that it was Sir Tristram that\nfought with his enemies. And then Sir Launcelot praised Sir\nTristram, and called him the man of most worship in the world.\nSo there was a knight in that priory that hight Pellinore, and he\ndesired to wit the name of Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could\nnot; and so Sir Tristram departed and left Sir Dinadan in the\npriory, for he was so weary and so sore bruised that he might not\nride. Then this knight, Sir Pellinore, said to Sir Dinadan:\nSithen that ye will not tell me that knight's name I will ride\nafter him and make him to tell me his name, or he shall die\ntherefore. Beware, sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, for an ye\nfollow him ye shall repent it. So that knight, Sir Pellinore,\nrode after Sir Tristram and required him of jousts. Then Sir\nTristram smote him down and wounded him through the shoulder, and\nso he passed on his way. And on the next day following Sir\nTristram met with <395>pursuivants, and they told him that there\nwas made a great cry of tournament between King Carados of\nScotland and the King of North Wales, and either should joust\nagainst other at the Castle of Maidens; and these pursuivants\nsought all the country after the good knights, and in especial\nKing Carados let make seeking for Sir Launcelot du Lake, and the\nKing of Northgalis let seek after Sir Tristram de Liones. And at\nthat time Sir Tristram thought to be at that jousts; and so by\nadventure they met with Sir Kay, the Seneschal, and Sir Sagramore\nle Desirous; and Sir Kay required Sir Tristram to joust, and Sir\nTristram in a manner refused him, because he would not be hurt\nnor bruised against the great jousts that should be before the\nCastle of Maidens, and therefore thought to repose him and to\nrest him. And alway Sir Kay cried: Sir knight of Cornwall,\njoust with me, or else yield thee to me as recreant. When Sir\nTristram heard him say so he turned to him, and then Sir Kay\nrefused him and turned his back. Then Sir Tristram said: As I\nfind thee I shall take thee. Then Sir Kay turned with evil will,\nand Sir Tristram smote Sir Kay down, and so he rode forth.\nThen Sir Sagramore le Desirous rode after Sir Tristram, and made\nhim to joust with him, and there Sir Tristram smote down Sir\nSagramore le Desirous from his horse, and rode his way; and the\nsame day he met with a damosel that told him that he should win\ngreat worship of a knight adventurous that did much harm in all\nthat country. When Sir Tristram heard her say so, he was glad to\ngo with her to win worship. So Sir Tristram rode with that\ndamosel a six mile, and then met him Sir Gawaine, and therewithal\nSir Gawaine knew the damosel, that she was a damosel of Queen\nMorgan le Fay. Then Sir Gawaine understood that she led that\nknight to some mischief. Fair knight, said Sir Gawaine, whither\nride you now with that damosel? Sir, said Sir Tristram, I wot\nnot whither I shall ride but as the damosel will lead me. Sir,\nsaid Sir Gawaine, ye shall not ride with her, for she and her\nlady did never good, but ill. And then Sir Gawaine pulled out\nhis sword and said: Damosel, but if thou tell me anon <396>for\nwhat cause thou leadest this knight with thee thou shalt die for\nit right anon: I know all your lady's treason, and yours.\nMercy, Sir Gawaine, she said, and if ye will save my life I will\ntell you. Say on, said Sir Gawaine, and thou shalt have thy\nlife. Sir, she said, Queen Morgan le Fay, my lady, hath ordained\na thirty ladies to seek and espy after Sir Launcelot or Sir\nTristram, and by the trains of these ladies, who that may first\nmeet any of these two knights they should turn them unto Morgan\nle Fay's castle, saying that they should do deeds of worship; and\nif any of the two knights came there, there be thirty knights\nlying and watching in a tower to wait upon Sir Launcelot or upon\nSir Tristram. Fie for shame, said Sir Gawaine, that ever such\nfalse treason should be wrought or used in a queen, and a king's\nsister, and a king and queen's daughter.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XXV","type":"page"}