“Alas! good knight,” said King Arthur, “will you not tell me your name?”
“Not at this time,” answered Tristram, and so departed.
Soon after this, Sir Tristram found means to meet again with Queen Isoude—who had returned to her husband’s court—to the great joy of both of them. But by mishap Sir Tristram was led mistakenly to believe that Isoude had proved false to him, and he grieved so sorely that he went out of his mind, and ran wild in a wood among herdmen, where he remained a long time. And there he soused Sir Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, in a well; and also slew a great giant named Taüleas and rescued a knight whom Taüleas had conquered. When King Marke heard of the wild man that did such deeds, he had him brought to his castle. There Sir Tristram came to his wits again; and when King Marke knew who it was, he would have had him put to death. But this the barons would not agree to, and so at last it was agreed that he should be banished from Cornwall for ten years. As he went to the ship there came to him a knight of King Arthur’s named Sir Dinadan, who had travelled to Cornwall to seek fellowship with him, and this knight asked leave to go with him. Sir Tristram assented, for Dinadan was a good knight, and ever full of mirth. Then he and Sir Dinadan went into the ship together, and Sir Tristram sent back a message of defiance to King Marke, that he would come again when he chose.
After he and Sir Dinadan had landed in King Arthur’s realm, there came to them a damsel that was seeking good knights to defend Sir Lancelot against the treason of Morgan le Fay, who had ordained thirty knights to lie in wait for him. The damsel knew of this plot, and sought for knights to hinder it. When she told Sir Tristram, he said,—
“Fair damsel, bring me to the place where they are to meet Sir Lancelot.”
“Why!” cried Dinadan, “what will you do? It is not for us to fight with thirty knights. I am ready enough to deal with one or two, but to fight with fifteen will I never undertake.”
“Fie for shame,” said Tristram; “surely you will do your part?”
“Nay,” answered Sir Dinadan, “I will meddle not. But if you will go, lend me your shield, for it bears Cornish arms, and yon knights of Cornwall have such a name for cowardice that you are forborne, so I shall be left in peace.”
“No,” said Tristram, “I will not part with my shield, for her sake that gave it me. But if you will not go with me, I swear that I will slay you; for I only ask of you to answer one knight, and if that be too much, then stand by and look on.”
“Sir,” said Dinadan, “I promise to do what I can to save myself, but I heartily wish I had never met with you.”