{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart236.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart236.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart236.htm","text":"CHAPTER XLIII\nHow Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, and how Sir\nTristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin.\nNOW leave to speak of Sir Tristram, and speak we of the knight\nthat was wounded to the death. Then his varlet alighted, and\ntook off his helm, and then he asked his lord whether there were\nany life in him. There is in me life said the knight, but it is\nbut little; and therefore leap thou up behind me when thou hast\nholpen me up, and hold me fast that I fall not, and bring me to\nQueen Morgan le Fay; for deep draughts of death draw to my heart\nthat I may not live, for I would fain speak with her or I died:\nfor else my soul will be in great peril an I die. For[thwith]\nwith great pain his varlet brought him to the castle, and there\nSir Hemison fell down dead. When Morgan le Fay saw him dead she\nmade great sorrow out of reason; and then she let despoil him\nunto his shirt, and so she let him put into a tomb. And about\nthe tomb she let write: Here lieth Sir Hemison, slain by the\nhands of Sir Tristram de Liones.\nNow turn we unto Sir Tristram, that asked the knight his host if\nhe saw late any knights adventurous. Sir, he said, the last\nnight here lodged with me Ector de Maris and a damosel with him,\nand that damosel told me that he was one of the best knights of\nthe world. That is not so, said Sir Tristram, for I know four\nbetter knights of his own blood, and the first is Sir Launcelot\ndu Lake, call him the best knight, and Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir\nBleoberis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Sir Gaheris. Nay, said his\nhost, <431>Sir Gawaine is a better knight than he. That is not\nso, said Sir Tristram, for I have met with them both, and I felt\nSir Gaheris for the better knight, and Sir Lamorak I call him as\ngood as any of them except Sir Launcelot. Why name ye not Sir\nTristram? said his host, for I account him as good as any of\nthem. I know not Sir Tristram, said Tristram. Thus they talked\nand bourded as long as them list, and then went to rest. And on\nthe morn Sir Tristram departed, and took his leave of his host,\nand rode toward the Roche Dure, and none adventure had Sir\nTristram but that; and so he rested not till he came to the\ncastle, where he saw five hundred tents.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XLIII","type":"page"}