“How now?” said Sir Tristram. “Because you and your lady have long used this wicked custom, and have caused the destruction of many good knights and ladies, it were no great damage to destroy you both.”
“Well,” said Brewnor, “it is true that thy lady is fairer than mine; and if thou slay mine, I doubt not I shall slay thee, and so win thy lady.”
“Thou shalt win her dearer than ever lady was won,” answered Tristram; “and because of thine evil custom give me thy lady.” So he took the lady from him, and she bent her neck, and without more words he smote off her head.
“Well, knight,” said Brewnor, “thou hast done me a despite.” Then they took their horses, and ran together; and Sir Tristram unhorsed Sir Brewnor, who thereupon drew his sword, and thrust Sir Tristram’s horse through the shoulders, so that he fell dead to the earth. And Sir Brewnor strove to slay Tristram as the horse fell; but Tristram was too nimble for him, and got out his sword before the other could give him more than one or two strokes. So they fought a long time, for this Sir Brewnor was a proved and wily knight; but at last he was getting the worse, when he rushed on Sir Tristram and took him in his arms with intent to throw him on the ground, for he trusted much in his strength. But at that time Tristram was reckoned the strongest knight in the world, for he was stronger than even Sir Lancelot, though Lancelot was the better winded. He thrust Sir Brewnor on the earth, undid his helm, and struck off his head.
Most of those that belonged to the castle came now and did homage to Sir Tristram, and asked him to abide there a little while; and he assented. But one of the knights of the castle rode to Sir Galahaut the high prince, Sir Brewnor’s son, who was near by with the King of the Hundred Knights, and told him what had happened. So they came forthwith to the castle with a great fellowship of knights. Sir Galahaut challenged Sir Tristram to fight, and they had a long tussle, but in the end Tristram got the better; and then all the knights fell fiercely upon him, so he yielded to Sir Galahaut, but told him that he had done unknightly to suffer his men to meddle. The King of the Hundred Knights would have had Sir Galahaut kill Sir Tristram because he had slain Sir Brewnor; but Sir Galahaut would not, and said he could not blame Sir Tristram, because of the shameful custom that his father had used. And when the King of the Hundred Knights heard what the custom was, he also said it was an evil one. Then Sir Tristram told his name and the errand he was on to Sir Galahaut, who set him at liberty on a pledge that as soon as he might he would go in fellowship with Sir Lancelot.
After that, Tristram brought La Beale Isoude to Cornwall, where she and King Marke were married with much ceremony; but ever she gave all her love to Sir Tristram. Now it befell that some of Queen Isoude’s ladies were jealous of Dame Bragwaine, who had come with her from Ireland, and they got some churls to set upon her while she was gathering herbs in a forest, and bind her to a tree. There she was three days, and then by chance Sir Palomides found her, and saved her from death, and took her to a nunnery near by to be recovered. Queen Isoude greatly loved Bragwaine, and much lamented her absence; and one day she was walking in the forest and lamenting, when Sir Palomides overheard her. So he came to her, and said, “Madam, if you will grant me a boon, I will undertake to bring you Dame Bragwaine safe and sound.”
To hear this Isoude was so glad that, without thinking, she agreed to his offer; and straightway he went to the nunnery, and brought out Bragwaine to her. Then he reminded her of her promise; and she said, “Sir Palomides, I know not what your desire is, but though I promised you largely, I thought no ill, nor will I consent to any.” Palomides said he would make his request before her husband King Marke. Then Isoude went back to the court, and Palomides soon followed. He laid his case before the king, and told him what the queen had promised; and she had to confess that she had promised to give him any boon he might ask.
“Well, madam,” said the king, “if you were hasty to make such a bargain, I must still see that you hold to your word.”
“Then,” said Palomides, “I will have the queen, to lead and govern her as I will.”
At this King Marke was dismayed; but he bethought him of Sir Tristram, and deemed that he would rescue her, so he answered hurriedly, “Take her with the adventures that may befall, for I suppose thou wilt not long keep her.”