Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VIII CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

How the stepmother of Sir Tristram had ordained poison for
to have poisoned Sir Tristram.

BUT then through the fair speech of the gentlewoman, and by the
means that she made, the most part of the barons would not assent
thereto.  And then they let carry home the dead queen, and much
dole was made for her.

Then this meanwhile Merlin delivered King Meliodas out of prison
on the morn after his queen was dead.  And so when the king was
come home the most part of the barons made great joy.  But the
sorrow that the king made for his queen that might no tongue
tell.  So then the king let inter her richly, and after he let
christen his child as his wife had commanded afore her death. 
And then he let call him Tristram, the sorrowful born child. 
Then the King Meliodas endured seven years without a wife, and
all this time Tristram was nourished well.  Then it befell that
King Meliodas wedded King Howell's daughter of Brittany, and anon
she had children of King Meliodas: then was she heavy and wroth
that her children should not rejoice the country of Liones,
wherefore this queen ordained for to poison young Tristram.  So
she let poison be put in a piece of silver in the chamber whereas
Tristram and her children were together, unto that intent that
when Tristram were thirsty he should drink that drink.  And so it
fell upon a day, the queen's son, as he was in that chamber,
espied the piece with poison, and he weened it had been good
drink, and because the child was thirsty he took the piece with
poison and drank freely; and therewithal suddenly the child brast
and was dead.

When the queen of Meliodas wist of the death of her son, wit ye
well that she was heavy.  But yet the king understood nothing of
her treason.  Notwithstanding the <281>queen would not leave
this, but eft she let ordain more poison, and put it in a piece. 
And by fortune King Meliodas, her husband, found the piece with
wine where was the poison, and he that was much thirsty took the
piece for to drink thereout.  And as he would have drunken
thereof the queen espied him, and then she ran unto him, and
pulled the piece from him suddenly.  The king marvelled why she
did so, and remembered him how her son was suddenly slain with
poison.  And then he took her by the hand, and said:  Thou false
traitress, thou shalt tell me what manner of drink this is, or
else I shall slay thee.  And therewith he pulled out his sword,
and sware a great oath that he should slay her but if she told
him truth.  Ah! mercy, my lord, said she, and I shall tell you
all.  And then she told him why she would have slain Tristram,
because her children should rejoice his land.  Well, said King
Meliodas, and therefore shall ye have the law.  And so she was
condemned by the assent of the barons to be burnt; and then was
there made a great fire, and right as she was at the fire to take
her execution, young Tristram kneeled afore King Meliodas, and
besought him to give him a boon.  I will well, said the king
again.  Then said young Tristram, Give me the life of thy queen,
my stepmother.  That is unrightfully asked, said King Meliodas,
for thou ought of right to hate her, for she would have slain
thee with that poison an she might have had her will; and for thy
sake most is my cause that she should die.

Sir, said Tristram, as for that, I beseech you of your mercy that
you will forgive it her, and as for my part, God forgive it her,
and I do; and so much it liked your highness to grant me my boon,
for God's love I require you hold your promise.  Sithen it is so,
said the king, I will that ye have her life.  Then, said the
king, I give her to you, and go ye to the fire and take her, and
do with her what ye will.  So Sir Tristram went to the fire, and
by the commandment of the king delivered her from the death.  But
after that King Meliodas would never have ado with her, as at bed
and board.  But by the <282>good means of young Tristram he made
the king and her accorded.  But then the king would not suffer
young Tristram to abide no longer in his court.