Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VIII CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII

How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived in Ireland died
of the stroke that Sir Tristram had given him, and how
Tristram was hurt.

ANON Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into Ireland.  And
as soon as he came to the king, his brother, he let search his
wounds.  And when his head was searched a piece of Sir Tristram's
sword was found therein, and might never be had out of his head
for no surgeons, and so he died of Sir Tristram's sword; and that
piece of the sword the queen, his sister, kept it for ever with
her, for she thought to be revenged an she might.

Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram, that was sore wounded, and
full sore bled that he might not within a little while, when he
had taken cold, unnethe stir him of his limbs.  And then he set
him down softly upon a little hill, and bled fast.  Then anon
came Gouvernail, his man, with his vessel; and the king and his
barons came with procession against him.  And when he was come
unto the land, King Mark took him in his arms, and the king and
Sir Dinas, the seneschal, led Sir Tristram into the castle of
Tintagil.  And then was he searched in the best manner, and laid
in his bed.  And when King Mark saw his wounds he wept heartily,
and so did all his lords.  So God me help, said King Mark, I
would not for all my lands that my nephew died.  So Sir Tristram
lay there a month and more, and ever he was like to die of that
stroke that Sir Marhaus smote him first with the spear.  For, as
the <291>French book saith, the spear's head was envenomed, that
Sir Tristram might not be whole.  Then was King Mark and all his
barons passing heavy, for they deemed none other but that Sir
Tristram should not recover.  Then the king let send after all
manner of leeches and surgeons, both unto men and women, and
there was none that would behote him the life.  Then came there a
lady that was a right wise lady, and she said plainly unto King
Mark, and to Sir Tristram, and to all his barons, that he should
never be whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that
the venom came from, and in that country should he be holpen or
else never.  Thus said the lady unto the king.

When King Mark understood that, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a
fair vessel, well victualled, and therein was put Sir Tristram,
and Gouvernail with him, and Sir Tristram took his harp with him,
and so he was put into the sea to sail into Ireland; and so by
good fortune he arrived up in Ireland, even fast by a castle
where the king and the queen was; and at his arrival he sat and
harped in his bed a merry lay, such one heard they never none in
Ireland before that time.

And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that
was such an harper, anon the king sent for him, and let search
his wounds, and then asked him his name.  Then he answered, I am
of the country of Liones, and my name is Tramtrist, that thus was
wounded in a battle as I fought for a lady's right.  So God me
help, said King Anguish, ye shall have all the help in this land
that ye may have here; but I let you wit, in Cornwall I had a
great loss as ever had king, for there I lost the best knight of
the world; his name was Marhaus, a full noble knight, and Knight
of the Table Round; and there he told Sir Tristram wherefore Sir
Marhaus was slain.  Sir Tristram made semblant as he had been
sorry, and better knew he how it was than the king.

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