damosels. Welcome, said knights. Welcome, said
Arthur, for one of the best knights, and the gentlest of
the world, and the man of most worship; for of all
manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and of all
measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the
terms of hunting and hawking ye are the beginner, of all
instruments of music ye are the best; therefore, gentle
knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to this court. And
also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon. It shall
be at your commandment, said Tristram. Well, said
Arthur, I will desire of you that ye will abide in my court.
Sir, said Sir Tristram, thereto is me loath, for I have ado
in many countries. Not so, said Arthur, ye have promised
it me, ye may not say nay. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I will
as ye will. Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the
Round Table, and looked in every siege the which were
void that lacked knights. And then the king saw in the
siege of Marhaus letters that said: This is the siege of the
noble knight, Sir Tristram. And then Arthur made Sir
Tristram Knight of the Table Round, with great nobley
and great feast as might be thought. For Sir Marhaus
was slain afore by the hands of Sir Tristram in an island;
and that was well known at that time in the court of
Arthur, for this Marhaus was a worthy knight. And for
evil deeds that he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir
Tristram and he fought. And they fought so long,
tracing and traversing, till they fell bleeding to the earth;
for they were so sore wounded that they might not stand
for bleeding. And Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and
Sir Marhaus died through the stroke on the head. So