Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI

How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him
to be borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there
known by a brachet.

THEN the knight took up the giant's head and bare it with him
unto King Mark, and told him what adventure betid him in the
forest, and how a naked man rescued him from the grimly giant,
Tauleas.  Where had ye this adventure? said King Mark.  Forsooth,
said Sir Dinant, at the fair fountain in your forest where many
adventurous knights meet, and there is the mad man.  Well, said
King Mark, I will see that wild man.  So within a day or two King
Mark commanded his knights and his hunters that they should be
ready on the morn for to hunt, and so upon the morn he went unto
that forest.  And when the king came to that well he found there
lying by that well a fair naked man, and a sword by him.  Then
King Mark blew and straked, and therewith his knights came to
him; and then the king commanded his knights to:  Take that naked
man with fairness, and bring him to my castle.  So they did
softly and fair, and cast mantles upon Sir Tristram, and so led
him unto Tintagil; and there they bathed him, and washed him, and
gave him hot suppings till they had brought him well to his
remembrance; but all this while there was no creature that knew
Sir Tristram, nor what man he was.

So it fell upon a day that the queen, La Beale Isoud, heard of
such a man, that ran naked in the forest, and <387>how the king
had brought him home to the court.  Then La Beale Isoud called
unto her Dame Bragwaine and said:  Come on with me, for we will
go see this man that my lord brought from the forest the last
day.  So they passed forth, and spered where was the sick man. 
And then a squire told the queen that he was in the garden taking
his rest, and reposing him against the sun.  So when the queen
looked upon Sir Tristram she was not remembered of him.  But ever
she said unto Dame Bragwaine:  Meseemeth I should have seen him
heretofore in many places.  But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her
he knew her well enough.  And then he turned away his visage and
wept.

Then the queen had always a little brachet with her that Sir
Tristram gave her the first time that ever she came into
Cornwall, and never would that brachet depart from her but if Sir
Tristram was nigh thereas was La Beale Isoud; and this brachet
was sent from the king's daughter of France unto Sir Tristram for
great love.  And anon as this little brachet felt a savour of Sir
Tristram, she leapt upon him and licked his lears and his ears,
and then she whined and quested, and she smelled at his feet and
at his hands, and on all parts of his body that she might come
to.  Ah, my lady, said Dame Bragwaine unto La Beale Isoud, alas,
alas, said she, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram.  And
thereupon Isoud fell down in a swoon, and so lay a great while
And when she might speak she said:  My lord Sir Tristram, blessed
be God ye have your life, and now I am sure ye shall be
discovered by this little brachet, for she will never leave you. 
And also I am sure as soon as my lord, King Mark, do know you he
will banish you out of the country of Cornwall, or else he will
destroy you; for God's sake, mine own lord, grant King Mark his
will, and then draw you unto the court of King Arthur, for there
are ye beloved, and ever when I may I shall send unto you; and
when ye list ye may come to me, and at all times early and late I
will be at your commandment, to live as poor a life as ever did
queen <388>or lady.  O Madam, said Sir Tristram, go from me, for
mickle anger and danger have I escaped for your love.