But Tristram answered him courteously that he could not do that, for he had undertaken on his own request to fight in his uncle’s quarrel to the uttermost. Moreover, as that was his first battle, he was glad that it was to be with a well-proved knight, for he hoped to win worship.
“Well, fair knight,” said Marhaus, “if you seek to win worship on me, I will tell you that you will lose no worship if you can withstand but three strokes from me.”
Then they set their spears in rest, and ran together so fiercely that both went to the ground, horse and man; but Marhaus gave Tristram a sore wound in the side with his spear. Then they drew their swords and fought full hard for more than half the day, giving each other many great wounds. But at the last Sir Tristram waxed fresher and better winded than Sir Marhaus, and with a mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhaus so hard on the helm that the sword edge went through and stuck in the brain-pan. Then Sir Marhaus fell on his knees, and Tristram pulled thrice at his sword ere he could withdraw it, and even then a piece was broken out of the edge and remained in the wound. Suddenly Sir Marhaus rose, threw his sword and shield from him, and fled to his ships. But Tristram cried,—
“Ah! Sir Knight of the Round Table, dost thou withdraw? Thou dost thyself and thy kin great shame. I am but a young knight, and never fought till now; but rather than withdraw, I would be hewn into a hundred pieces.”
To that Sir Marhaus answered nothing, but went his way groaning; and as soon as he was on board his ship, he caused her to set sail for Ireland. When he reached King Anguisance’ court his wounds were searched, but the piece of Sir Tristram’s sword could not be got out of his skull; so he died. Then the queen, his sister, kept the piece of the sword always by her, for she meant to have vengeance for her brother’s death, if ever she might.
Though Sir Tristram had won the battle, yet he was very badly hurt, and he lay in bed for more than a month. Then all his wounds were healed save that which Sir Marhaus had given him in the side with his spear; and this could not be made whole, because the point of the spear had been in some manner envenomed. King Marke sorrowed greatly, because he began to fear that his nephew would die, so he sent for all the skilled leeches and surgeons he could hear of; but none of them could do anything. Then at last a wise woman told the king that Sir Tristram could not be healed save in the country whence came the poison that was in the wound. Thereupon King Marke fitted up a fair vessel, and sent Tristram over to Ireland, with his tutor Govemale to attend him. By chance he came to land close by a castle where King Anguisance and his queen were; and then Tristram, who was a very skilful harper, took his harp and sang and played in such fashion as never before had been heard in Ireland. This was told to the king, who sent for Tristram to his court, and asked him his name, and why he came there. Tristram said,—
“I am of the country of Lyonesse, and my name is Tramtrist. I have been sore wounded in a battle I fought for a lady’s right, and am come hither to, be healed if I may.”
“Well,” said the king, “you shall have all the help I can give you.”
So he gave Tramtrist in charge to his daughter, who was a very fair lady, and was called La Beale Isoude, and she was one of the most skilful leeches in the world. When she had searched his wound, she found the poison at the bottom of it, and in a little while she had healed it. Tristram soon began to cast great love to Isoude, and he taught her to harp, so that she grew also to love him. But at that time there was in Ireland Sir Palomides, a Saracen knight, who was a man of great worship, and he was much cherished both by the king and the queen. Now Sir Palomides also loved Isoude, and gave her many great gifts; and between him and Tristram there rose much jealousy and envy,—the more as Isoude told Tristram that Palomides was willing to be christened for her sake.
It happened that King Anguisance gave a great tournament, to which knights came from all parts of Britain. La Beale Isoude came to Tristram and told him of it; and when he said that he was yet but feeble, and might not joust, she asked him to do so for her sake, lest Sir Palomides should win the prize. Then he assented, on the condition that she would not let any one know of it. On the first day of the tournament, Sir Palomides came into the field with a black shield, and he won great worship; for he overthrew Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris, King Bagdemagus, Sir Sagramore, Sir Dodinas le Savage, and many other good knights. Then came King Anguisance to Tristram and said,—