The World of Camelot by Michael Foss

Author:Michael Foss [Foss, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782432524
Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books
Published: 2014-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

At last Sir Tristram came to Camelot, and King Arthur ran unto Tristram and took him by the hand saying, ‘Sir Tristram, you are as welcome as any knight that ever came to this court.’

Then came Queen Guenevere and many ladies, and many knights of the Round Table. With one voice they called, ‘Welcome, Sir Tristram.’

‘Welcome,’ said Arthur again, ‘for one of the best and gentlest knights of the world. Therefore, gentle knight, grant me a boon, and abide in my court.’

‘Sir, thereto I am loath, for I have ado in many countries.’

‘Not so,’ said Arthur, ‘you may not say nay.’

‘Well, sir,’ replied Sir Tristram, ‘let it be as you wish.’

Then King Arthur looked about the seats of the Round Table that were void and lacked knights. And in the seat of Marhaus, the dead Irish knight, he saw these words: ‘This is the seat of the noble knight, Sir Tristram’. And with great ceremony and feast King Arthur made Sir Tristram a knight of the Round Table.

But King Mark felt great despite of the renown of Sir Tristram. He had chased Tristram out of Cornwall, yet he still had suspicion. It seemed to him that there was too much love between his queen, Isoud, and Sir Tristram. So King Mark took his way into England, intending to slay Sir Tristram.

As King Mark rode forwards, he came upon adventures that did him no honour. Sir Lamorak reproved him for a cowardly knight of Cornwall, and knocked him end over his horse’s tail. And Sir Dinadan reproved him also, when King Mark would have unworthily slain a knight upon the road.

‘You knights of Cornwall,’ Dinadan taunted him, ‘are no men of honour. You govern yourselves shamefully. I see you are full of cowardice, and you would be a murderer. That is the greatest shame that a knight can have.’

And as fast as worthy knights rode forwards to the joust, King Mark rode backwards like a servant boy. When, upon a time, Sir Lancelot came fast at King Mark with a spear, the king made no defence, but tumbled to the earth like a sack and cried Sir Lancelot mercy.

‘Arise, recreant knight and king.’ shouted Lancelot.

‘I will not fight,’ said Mark humbly, ‘but will go as you wish.’

‘Alas, alas,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘that I may not give you one good buffet, for the love of Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud.’

So he brought King Mark to King Arthur, and there Mark threw his helm upon the ground, and his sword, and fell flat on his face at the feet of Arthur.

‘God help me,’ said King Arthur, ‘you are welcome in a manner, and in a manner you are not welcome. You have been ever against me, and a destroyer of my knights. Now, how will you acquit yourself?’

‘Sir, as your Lordship will require me, unto my power, I will make large amends.’ For King Mark was always a fair speaker, and false there-under.

‘Well,’ said Arthur, ‘give me a gift that I shall ask you.

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