“Brother,” answered Sir Blamor, “you need have no doubt of me. I know that knight, Sir Tristram, is one of the best in the world; but though he may overcome me, he shall not shame me, for rather than yield recreant will I die.”
Then each took his horse to an opposite end of the lists, and they met together with great force in the midst; and there Sir Tristram smote Sir Blamor from his horse. After that they did a great battle with their swords; but at the last Sir Tristram struck Sir Blamor so heavy a blow on the helm that he fell down, and might not rise again. As soon as Sir Blamor could speak, he said: “Sir Tristram, I require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best that ever I met, to slay me out of hand; for yield will I never, and I would not live shamed to be lord of all the world.”
Sir Tristram knew not what to do, for he remembered of what blood Sir Blamor was come, and for Sir Lancelot’s sake he was right loath to slay him; but yet Sir Blamor would not yield, and so King Anguisance would not be acquitted. With that Sir Tristram went to the judges, and besought them to take the matter into their hands. “For,” said he, “it were pity that that noble knight should be slain, and you hear that shamed he will not be; and I pray to God that he never be slain or shamed by me.” And he asked King Anguisance, for whom he fought the battle, to have mercy on Sir Blamor. To that King Anguisance assented gladly; and after further talk, Sir Bleoberis and Sir Tristram took up Sir Blamor, and the two brethren were accorded with King Anguisance, and swore friendship with him for ever. And for that gentle battle all the blood of Sir Lancelot loved Sir Tristram ever after.
Then King Anguisance sailed with Sir Tristram into Ireland; and when it was known what Sir Tristram had done for the king, the queen and all the barons received him with great joy, and especially La Beale Isoude. So there Sir Tristram asked for the boon the king had promised him, and that was that Isoude should be given for wife to his uncle King Marke; for so he had sworn to him. King Anguisance assented, though he said he had rather Tristram had asked her for himself. However, in a little while a ship was got ready, and Isoude went into it with Tristram; and she took with her as waiting-woman an ancient lady named Bragwaine. To this lady, just before they set sail, the queen, Isoudes mother, gave a flask containing a potion, and charged her to let Isoude and King Marke drink of it on the day they were married. “And then I undertake,” said the queen, “that they will love each other all their life long.” But as they sailed in the ship, it chanced that Tristram saw the flask standing in the cabin. “Madam,” said he to Isoude, “here is choice wine which your servant Bragwaine and my servant Govemale have put on one side for themselves; but we will disappoint them.” So they drank to each other merrily, thinking no evil; but from that time they loved each other, and their love never changed in weal or woe.
Now the ship put into a harbour by a castle that was named Pluere, and Sir Tristram and Isoude went on shore to refresh themselves. But as soon as they came within the castle they were taken prisoners; for the custom of the castle was that whatever knight came there with a lady must fight with the lord, who was named Sir Brewnor, and his lady must be shown against Sir Brewnors lady. If Sir Brewnor overcame the strange knight, then was the other put to death; and if Sir Brewnor’s lady were the fairer, then must the other lady lose her head. That custom had been kept up for many winters, and therefore was the castle called Pluere; that is, the Castle of Tears.
When Sir Tristram was told of the custom, he said it was a right foul and shameful one. “But,” said he, “one advantage have I, that my lady is the fairest I ever saw, and I do not fear that for lack of beauty she will lose her head; and as for me, rather than lose my head, I will fight for it on a fair field.”
On the morrow Sir Tristram got his horse and armour brought him, and was led with Isoude to an open place within the castle, where was a great assemblage to see what should take place. Then came Sir Brewnor with his lady all veiled, and said to Tristram: “If thy lady be fairer than mine, with thy sword smite off her head; and if my lady be fairer than thine, I will do the like by thy lady. And if I win thee, then shalt thou lose thy head.”
“Sir,” answered Tristram, “this is a foul and horrible custom that you use. Rather than that my lady should lose her head, I would choose to lose mine own.”
“Not so,” said Brewnor; “the ladies shall first be shown and judged.”
“I fear me that there are none here who will give rightful judgment,” quoth Tristram. “Howbeit, I doubt not that my lady is fairer than yours, and whoever may say the contrary, I will prove it upon his body.” Thereupon Sir Tristram unveiled La Beale Isoude, and turned her round thrice, so that all might see her, the while he held his naked sword in his other hand. Sir Brewnor did the like with his lady; but as soon as he had beheld Isoude, he thought he had never seen a fairer lady, and all the people that were present gave judgment that she was the fairer.