Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VIII CHAPTER XXXIV

CHAPTER XXXIV

How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to King Mark in despite of
Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram was driven into a chapel.

So he departed from him with Sir Driant, and by the way they met
with a knight that was sent from Morgan le Fay unto King Arthur;
and this knight had a fair horn harnessed with gold, and the horn
had such a virtue that there might no lady nor gentlewoman drink
of that horn but if she were true to her husband, and if she were
false she should spill all the drink, and if she were true to her
lord she might drink peaceable.  And because of the Queen
Guenever, and in the despite of Sir Launcelot, this horn was sent
unto King Arthur; and by force Sir Lamorak made that knight to
tell all the cause why he bare that horn.  Now shalt thou bear
this horn, said Lamorak, unto King Mark, or else choose thou to
die for it; for I tell thee plainly, in despite and reproof of
Sir Tristram thou shalt bear that horn unto King Mark, his uncle,
and say thou to him that I sent it him for to assay his lady, and
if she be true to him he shall prove her.  So the knight went his
way unto King Mark, and brought him that rich horn, and said that
Sir Lamorak sent it him, and thereto he told him the virtue of
that horn.  Then the king made Queen Isoud to drink thereof, and
an hundred ladies, and there were but four ladies of all those
that drank clean.  Alas, said King Mark, this is <336>a great
despite, and sware a great oath that she should be burnt and the
other ladies.

Then the barons gathered them together, and said plainly they
would not have those ladies burnt for an horn made by sorcery,
that came from as false a sorceress and witch as then was living. 
For that horn did never good, but caused strife and debate, and
always in her days she had been an enemy to all true lovers.  So
there were many knights made their avow, an ever they met with
Morgan le Fay, that they would show her short courtesy.  Also Sir
Tristram was passing wroth that Sir Lamorak sent that horn unto
King Mark, for well he knew that it was done in the despite of
him.  And therefore he thought to quite Sir Lamorak.

Then Sir Tristram used daily and nightly to go to Queen Isoud
when he might, and ever Sir Andred his cousin watched him night
and day for to take him with La Beale Isoud.  And so upon a night
Sir Andred espied the hour and the time when Sir Tristram went to
his lady.  Then Sir Andred gat unto him twelve knights, and at
midnight he set upon Sir Tristram secretly and suddenly and there
Sir Tristram was taken naked abed with La Beale Isoud, and then
was he bound hand and foot, and so was he kept until day.  And
then by the assent of King Mark, and of Sir Andred, and of some
of the barons, Sir Tristram was led unto a chapel that stood upon
the sea rocks, there for to take his judgment: and so he was led
bounden with forty knights.  And when Sir Tristram saw that there
was none other boot but needs that he must die, then said he: 
Fair lords, remember what I have done for the country of
Cornwall, and in what jeopardy I have been in for the weal of you
all; for when I fought for the truage of Cornwall with Sir
Marhaus, the good knight, I was promised for to be better
rewarded, when ye all refused to take the battle; therefore, as
ye be good gentle knights, see me not thus shamefully to die, for
it is shame to all knighthood thus to see me die; for I dare say,
said Sir Tristram, that I never met with no knight but I was as
good as he, or better.  Fie upon thee, said Sir <337>Andred,
false traitor that thou art, with thine avaunting; for all thy
boast thou shalt die this day.  O Andred, Andred, said Sir
Tristram, thou shouldst be my kinsman, and now thou art to me
full unfriendly, but an there were no more but thou and I, thou
wouldst not put me to death.  No! said Sir Andred, and therewith
he drew his sword, and would have slain him.

When Sir Tristram saw him make such countenance he looked upon
both his hands that were fast bounden unto two knights, and
suddenly he pulled them both to him, and unwrast his hands, and
then he leapt unto his cousin, Sir Andred, and wrested his sword
out of his hands; then he smote Sir Andred that he fell to the
earth, and so Sir Tristram fought till that he had killed ten
knights.  So then Sir Tristram gat the chapel and kept it
mightily.  Then the cry was great, and the people drew fast unto
Sir Andred, mo than an hundred.  When Sir Tristram saw the people
draw unto him, he remembered he was naked, and sperd fast the
chapel door, and brake the bars of a window, and so he leapt out
and fell upon the crags in the sea.  And so at that time Sir
Andred nor none of his fellows might get to him, at that time.