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CHAPTER XVII
How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady, and
how the lady was put to choice to whom she would go.
THEN Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had
overtaken him. Then spake Sir Tristram: Abide, he said, Knight
of Arthur's court, bring again that lady, or deliver her to me.
I will do neither, said Bleoberis, for I dread no Cornish knight
so sore that me list to deliver her. Why, said Sir
Tristram, may not a Cornish knight do as well as another knight?
this same day two knights of your court within this three mile
met with me, and or ever we departed they found a Cornish knight
good enough for them both. What were their names? said
Bleoberis. They told me, said Sir Tristram, that the one of them
hight Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le
Savage. Ah, said Sir Bleoberis, have ye met with them? so God me
help, they were two good knights and men of great worship, and if
ye have beat them both ye must needs be a good knight; but if it
so be ye have beat them both, yet shall ye not fear me, but ye
shall beat me or ever ye have this lady. Then defend you, said
Sir Tristram. So they departed and came together like thunder,
and either bare other down, horse and all, to the earth.
Then they avoided their horses, and lashed together eagerly with
swords, and mightily, now tracing and traversing on the right
hand and on the left hand more than two hours. And sometime they
rushed together with such a might that they lay both grovelling
on the ground. Then Sir Bleoberis de Ganis stert aback, and said
thus: Now, gentle good knight, a while hold your hands, and let
us speak together. Say what ye will, said Tristram, and I will
answer you. Sir, said Bleoberis, I would wit of whence ye be,
and of whom ye be come, and what is your name? So God me help,
said Sir Tristram, I fear not to tell you my name. Wit ye well I
am King Meliodas' son, and my mother is King Mark's sister, and
my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and King Mark is mine uncle.
Truly, said Bleoberis, I am right glad of you, for ye are he that
slew Marhaus the knight, hand for hand in an island, for the
truage of Cornwall; also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good
knight, at a tournament in an island, where ye beat Sir Gawaine
and his nine fellows. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, wit ye
well that I am the same knight; now I have told you my name, tell
me yours with good will. Wit ye well that my name is Sir
Bleoberis de Ganis, and my brother hight Sir Blamore de Ganis,
that is called a good knight, and we be sister's children
unto my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, that we call one of the best
knights of the world. That is truth, said Sir Tristram, Sir
Launcelot is called peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and
for his sake, said Sir Tristram, I will not with my good will
fight no more with you, for the great love I have to Sir
Launcelot du Lake. In good faith, said Bleoberis, as for me I
will be loath to fight with you; but sithen ye follow me here to
have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness, courtesy, and
gentleness right here upon this ground. This lady shall be
betwixt us both, and to whom that she will go, let him have her
in peace. I will well, said Tristram, for, as I deem, she will
leave you and come to me. Ye shall prove it anon, said
Bleoberis.
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