“What means this?” said Sir Calidore. “You, who are no knight, have slain a knight, a thing plainly contrary to the law of arms.”
“I would not wish,” answered the youth, “to break the law of arms; yet would I break it again, sooner than suffer such wrong as I have of this man, so long as I have two hands wherewith to defend myself. The quarrel with him was not of my seeking, as this lady can testify.”
“Tell me therefore,” said Sir Calidore, “how things fell out.”
“Sir Knight,” answered the lad, “I was hunting in the wood, as I am wont to do for lack of graver employment, for which my years are not fit, when I saw this knight, who lies dead yonder, passing over the plain, with this lady in his company. He was on horseback, but she followed on foot, and when she lagged behind, as she must needs do, so rough was the ground, then he smote her with the butt of his spear, taking no heed of her tears and prayers. This sight I saw with no small indignation, and being moved with wrath said: ‘Surely, Sir Knight, you should rather takeup this lady to ride behind you than make her travel so uneasily.’ To this he answered in angry words, bidding me hold my peace, nor meddle with things that concerned me not. ‘Or,’ said he, ‘I will whip you as a malapert boy should be whipped!’ So after some angry talk, he struck me twice with his spear, and I threw at him a dart, fellow of this which you see here in my hand; nor did I throw it in vain, for it struck him beneath the heart so hard that presently he died.”
Sir Calidore was not a little pleased with his manner of speech, so bold and honest was it, and he admired also the sturdiness of the stroke which had broken to such effect the coat of mail. And when, after question put to the lady, he found that it was even as the lad had told, he said: “I do not condemn this youth, but rather hold him free of blame. ’Tis the duty of knights, and indeed of all men, to bear themselves kindly and courteously to women, and he did well to maintain this good custom. But now I would have you tell me, lady, if you will, how it came about that the man whom he slew treated you in so unseemly a fashion?”
“Sir Knight,” answered the lady, “I am loath to bring accusations against the dead; yet I must needs declare the truth. This day, as this knight and I were passing on our way, we came upon a glade in the wood where there sat two lovers, a comely knight and a fair lady. The knight my companion being taken with the lady’s beauty, bade me dismount. And when I was unwilling to do so, thrust me out of my seat with violence. Which when he had done, he said to the other: ‘Now, yield me up that dame!’ And when the other—though, indeed, he was not prepared for battle—refused, then he wounded him sorely with his spear. This he did, though the other had proffered to do battle with him, if only he would appoint a day when they might try their strength on equal terms. Meanwhile the lady had fled into the wood, and had hidden herself to such good purpose, that when my knight sought to find her, he spent all his labour in vain. At this baulk he was greatly enraged. He would not set me on his horse again, but constrained me to follow on foot, smiting me with his spear if ever I lagged behind, and taking no heed of my tears and complaining. So we went on till we fell in with this young man, and he, being moved with pity at my evil plight, rebuked the knight. How the matter ended you have seen for yourself.”
“This boor has received his due,” said Calidore. Then turning to the lad, he said: “Tell me now who you are, and how you came to be in this place. Never did I see greater promise in anyone, and I would help you to bring it to as good fulfilment as may be.”
“Sir Knight,” the youth made answer, “it may be that the revealing of my name and lineage may be to my hurt, for of such danger I have been warned; nevertheless, so courteously have you borne yourself to me, that I will tell you the whole truth. I am a Briton, Tristram by name, son of good King Meliogras, who once reigned in the land of Cornwall. He dying while I was yet of tender years, his brother took the kingdom. Thereupon my mother, Queen Emiline, conceiving me to be in danger from this same uncle, thought it best to send me into some foreign land, where I should not be within his reach, if the thought of doing me a mischief should arise in his heart. So, according to the counsel of a wise man of whom she inquired in her perplexity, she sent me from the land of Lyonesse, where I was born, to the land of Fairy, where, no one knowing who or what I was, none would seek to do me wrong. I was then ten years of age, and I have abode in this land ever since, not wasting my days in vain delights, but perfecting myself in all the arts of hunting. But now it is time, I hold, to look to higher things. Therefore, this being such an occasion as might not again befall, I would entreat of you that you advance me, unworthy though I be, to a squire’s degree, so that I may duly learn and practise all the use of arms. And for this I have this beginning, to wit, the arms of this knight, whom I slew in fair encounter.”
Sir Calidore answered, “Fair child, I would not by any means baulk this your honourable desire to follow the profession of arms; only I could wish that I could set you to some service that should be worthy of you. Kneel therefore and swear that you will be faithful to any knight whom you shall serve as squire, and be true to all ladies, and never draw back from fear of any deed that it may be fitting for you to do.” So Tristram knelt down upon his knees, and took his oath to do according to these words.
Thereupon Sir Calidore dubbed him a squire, and he bloomed forth straightway in all joy and gladness, even as a bud opens into a flower. But when Tristram besought him that he might go with him on his present adventure, vowing that he would follow him to the death, Sir Calidore answered: “I should be right glad, most courteous squire, to have you with me, so that I might see the valour which you have show itself in honourable achievement, but this may not be. I am bound by vow to my sovereign, who set me this task to accomplish, that I would not take anyone to aid me. For this reason I may not grant your request. But now, seeing that this lady is left desolate, and is in need of safe convoy, you will do well to succour her in this her need.”