Then said Sir Bleoberis unto his brother,Sir Blamore:Fair dear brother,remember of what kin we be come of,and what a man is Sir Launcelot du Lake,neither farther nor nearer but brother's children,and there was never none of our kin that ever was shamed in battle;and rather suffer death,brother,than to be shamed.Brother,said Blamore,have ye no doubt of me,for Ishall never shame none of my blood;howbeit I am sure that yonder knight is called a passing good knight as of his time one of the world,yet shall I never yield me,nor say the loath word:well may he happen to smite me down with his great might of chivalry,but rather shall he slay me than I shall yield me as recreant.
God speed you well,said Sir Bleoberis,for ye shall find him the mightiest knight that ever ye had ado withal,for I know him,for I have had ado with him.God me speed,said Sir Blamore de Ganis;and therewith he took his horse at the one end of the lists,and Sir Tristram at the other end of the lists,and so they feutred their spears and came together as it had been thunder;and there Sir Tristram through great might smote down Sir Blamore and his horse to the earth.Then anon Sir Blamore avoided his horse and pulled out his sword and threw his shield afore him,and bade Sir Tristram alight:For though an horse hath failed me,I trust to God the earth will not fail me.And then Sir Tristram alighted,and dressed him unto battle;and there they lashed together strongly as racing and tracing,foining and dashing,many sad strokes,that the kings and knights had great wonder that they might stand;for ever they fought like wood men,so that there was never knights seen fight more fiercely than they did;for Sir Blamore was so hasty that he would have no rest,that all men wondered that they had breath to stand on their feet;and all the place was bloody that they fought in.And at the last,Sir Tristram smote Sir Blamore such a buffet upon the helm that he there fell down upon his side,and Sir Tristram stood and beheld him.
CHAPTER XXIII
How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him,and how Sir Tristram spared him,and how they took appointment.
THEN when Sir Blamore might speak,he said thus:Sir Tristram de Liones,I require thee,as thou art a noble knight,and the best knight that ever I found,that thou wilt slay me out,for I would not live to be made lord of all the earth,for I have liefer die with worship than live with shame;and needs,Sir Tristram,thou must slay me,or else thou shalt never win the field,for I will never say the loath word.And therefore if thou dare slay me,slay me,I require thee.When Sir Tristram heard him say so knightly,he wist not what to do with him;he remembering him of both parties,of what blood he was come,and for Sir Launcelot's sake he would be loath to slay him;and in the other party in no wise he might not choose,but that he must make him to say the loath word,or else to slay him.
Then Sir Tristram stert aback,and went to the kings that were judges,and there he kneeled down to-fore them,and besought them for their worships,and for King Arthur's and Sir Launcelot's sake,that they would take this matter in their hands.For,my fair lords,said Sir Tristram,it were shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder lieth should be slain;for ye hear well,shamed will he not be,and I pray to God that he never be slain nor shamed for me.And as for the king for whom I fight for,I shall require him,as I am his true champion and true knight in this field,that he will have mercy upon this good knight.So God me help,said King Anguish,I will for your sake;Sir Tristram,be ruled as ye will have me,for I know you for my true knight;and therefore I will heartily pray the kings that be here as judges to take it in their hands.And the kings that were judges called Sir Bleoberis to them,and asked him his advice.My lords,said Bleoberis,though my brother be beaten,and hath the worse through might of arms,I dare say,though Sir Tristram hath beaten his body he hath not beaten his heart,and Ithank God he is not shamed this day;and rather than he should be shamed I require you,said Bleoberis,let Sir Tristram slay him out.It shall not be so,said the kings,for his part adversary,both the king and the champion,have pity of Sir Blamore's knighthood.My lords,said Bleoberis,I will right well as ye will.
Then the kings called the King of Ireland,and found him goodly and treatable.And then,by all their advices,Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis took up Sir Blamore,and the two brethren were accorded with King Anguish,and kissed and made friends for ever.
And then Sir Blamore and Sir Tristram kissed together,and there they made their oaths that they would never none of them two brethren fight with Sir Tristram,and Sir Tristram made the same oath.And for that gentle battle all the blood of Sir Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for ever.
Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram took their leave,and sailed into Ireland with great noblesse and joy.So when they were in Ireland the king let make it known throughout all the land how and in what manner Sir Tristram had done for him.Then the queen and all that there were made the most of him that they might.
But the joy that La Beale Isoud made of Sir Tristram there might no tongue tell,for of all men earthly she loved him most.
CHAPTER XXIV
How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud for King Mark,and how Sir Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink.