{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart237.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart237.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart237.htm","text":"CHAPTER XLIV\nHow Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that\nMorgan le Fay delivered to him.\nTHEN the King of Scots and the King of Ireland held against King\nArthur's knights, and there began a great medley. So came in Sir\nTristram and did marvellous deeds of arms, for there he smote\ndown many knights. And ever he was afore King Arthur with that\nshield. And when King Arthur saw that shield he marvelled\ngreatly in what intent it was made; but Queen Guenever deemed as\nit was, wherefore she was heavy. Then was there a damosel of\nQueen Morgan in a chamber by King Arthur, and when she heard King\nArthur speak of that shield, then she spake openly unto King\nArthur. Sir King, wit ye well this shield was ordained for you,\nto warn you of your shame and dishonour, and that longeth to you\nand your queen. And then anon that damosel picked her away\nprivily, that no man wist where she was become. Then was King\nArthur sad and wroth, and asked from whence came that damosel.\nThere was not one that knew her nor wist where she was become.\nThen Queen Guenever called to her Sir Ector de Maris, and there\nshe made her complaint to him, and said: I wot well this\n<432>shield was made by Morgan le Fay in despite of me and of Sir\nLauncelot, wherefore I dread me sore lest I should be destroyed.\nAnd ever the king beheld Sir Tristram, that did so marvellous\ndeeds of arms that he wondered sore what knight he might be, and\nwell he wist it was not Sir Launcelot. And it was told him that\nSir Tristram was in Petit Britain with Isoud la Blanche Mains,\nfor he deemed, an he had been in the realm of Logris, Sir\nLauncelot or some of his fellows that were in the quest of Sir\nTristram that they should have found him or that time. So King\nArthur had marvel what knight he might be. And ever Sir Arthur's\neye was on that shield. All that espied the queen, and that made\nher sore afeard.\nThen ever Sir Tristram smote down knights wonderly to behold,\nwhat upon the right hand and upon the left hand, that unnethe no\nknight might withstand him. And the King of Scots and the King\nof Ireland began to withdraw them. When Arthur espied that, he\nthought that that knight with the strange shield should not\nescape him. Then he called unto him Sir Uwaine le Blanche Mains,\nand bade him arm him and make him ready. So anon King Arthur and\nSir Uwaine dressed them before Sir Tristram, and required him to\ntell them where he had that shield. Sir, he said, I had it of\nQueen Morgan le Fay, sister unto King Arthur.\nSo here endeth this history of this book, for it is the first\nbook of Sir Tristram de Liones and the second book\nof Sir Tristram followeth.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XLIV","type":"page"}