When Sir Tristram heard them say so he sent for his shield and for his spear,and lightly within a while he had overtaken them,and bade them turn and amend that they had misdone.What amends wouldst thou have?said the one knight.And therewith they took their course,and either met other so hard that Sir Tristram smote down that knight over his horse's tail.Then the other knight dressed him to Sir Tristram,and in the same wise he served the other knight.And then they gat off their horses as well as they might,and dressed their shields and swords to do their battle to the utterance.Knights,said Sir Tristram,ye shall tell me of whence ye are,and what be your names,for such men ye might be ye should hard escape my hands;and ye might be such men of such a country that for all your evil deeds ye should pass quit.
Wit thou well,sir knight,said they,we fear not to tell thee our names,for my name is Sir Agravaine,and my name is Gaheris,brethren unto the good knight Sir Gawaine,and we be nephews unto King Arthur.Well,said Sir Tristram,for King Arthur's sake I shall let you pass as at this time.But it is shame,said Sir Tristram,that Sir Gawaine and ye be come of so great a blood that ye four brethren are so named as ye be,for ye be called the greatest destroyers and murderers of good knights that be now in this realm;for it is but as I heard say that Sir Gawaine and ye slew among you a better knight than ever ye were,that was the noble knight Sir Lamorak de Galis.An it had pleased God,said Sir Tristram,I would I had been by Sir Lamorak at his death.Then shouldst thou have gone the same way,said Sir Gaheris.Fair knight,said Sir Tristram,there must have been many more knights than ye are.And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from them toward Joyous Gard.And when he was departed they took their horses,and the one said to the other:We will overtake him and be revenged upon him in the despite of Sir Lamorak.
CHAPTER LVI
How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris,and how Sir Dinadan was sent for by La Beale Isoud.
SO when they had overtaken Sir Tristram,Sir Agravaine bade him:Turn,traitor knight.That is evil said,said Sir Tristram;and therewith he pulled out his sword,and smote Sir Agravaine such a buffet upon the helm that he tumbled down off his horse in a swoon,and he had a grievous wound.And then he turned to Gaheris,and Sir Tristram smote his sword and his helm together with such a might that Gaheris fell out of his saddle:and so Sir Tristram rode unto Joyous Gard,and there he alighted and unarmed him.So Sir Tristram told La Beale Isoud of all his adventure,as ye have heard to-fore.And when she heard him tell of Sir Dinadan:Sir,said she,is not that he that made the song by King Mark?That same is he,said Sir Tristram,for he is the best bourder and japer,and a noble knight of his hands,and the best fellow that Iknow,and all good knights love his fellowship.Alas,sir,said she,why brought ye not him with you?Have ye no care,said Sir Tristram,for he rideth to seek me in this country;and therefore he will not away till he have met with me.And there Sir Tristram told La Beale Isoud how Sir Dinadan held against all lovers.Right so there came in a varlet and told Sir Tristram how there was come an errant knight into the town,with such colours upon his shield.That is Sir Dinadan,said Sir Tristram;wit ye what ye shall do,said Sir Tristram:send ye for him,my Lady Isoud,and I will not be seen,and ye shall hear the merriest knight that ever ye spake withal,and the maddest talker;and I pray you heartily that ye make him good cheer.
Then anon La Beale Isoud sent into the town,and prayed Sir Dinadan that he would come into the castle and repose him there with a lady.With a good will,said Sir Dinadan;and so he mounted upon his horse and rode into the castle;and there he alighted,and was unarmed,and brought into the castle.Anon La Beale Isoud came unto him,and either saluted other;then she asked him of whence that he was.Madam,said Dinadan,I am of the court of King Arthur,and knight of the Table Round,and my name is Sir Dinadan.What do ye in this country?
said La Beale Isoud.Madam,said he,I seek Sir Tristram the good knight,for it was told me that he was in this country.It may well be,said La Beale Isoud,but I am not ware of him.Madam,said Dinadan,I marvel of Sir Tristram and mo other lovers,what aileth them to be so mad and so sotted upon women.Why,said La Beale Isoud,are ye a knight and be no lover?it is shame to you:wherefore ye may not be called a good knight [but]if ye make a quarrel for a lady.God defend me,said Dinadan,for the joy of love is too short,and the sorrow thereof,and what cometh thereof,dureth over long.Ah,said La Beale Isoud,say ye not so,for here fast by was the good knight Sir Bleoberis,that fought with three knights at once for a damosel's sake,and he won her afore the King of Northumberland.It was so,said Sir Dinadan,for I know him well for a good knight and a noble,and come of noble blood;for all be noble knights of whom he is come of,that is Sir Launcelot du Lake.
Now I pray you,said La Beale Isoud,tell me will you fight for my love with three knights that do me great wrong?and insomuch as ye be a knight of King Arthur's I require you to do battle for me.Then Sir Dinadan said:I shall say you ye be as fair a lady as ever I saw any,and much fairer than is my lady Queen Guenever,but wit ye well at one word,I will not fight for you with three knights,Jesu defend me.Then Isoud laughed,and had good game at him.So he had all the cheer that she might make him,and there he lay all that night.And on the morn early Sir Tristram armed him,and La Beale Isoud gave him a good helm;and then he promised her that he would meet with Sir Dinadan,and they two would ride together into Lonazep,where the tournament should be:And there shall I make ready for you where ye shall see the tournament.Then departed Sir Tristram with two squires that bare his shield and his spears that were great and long.
CHAPTER LVII