“Friend, these are good ways. In what land learnt you them? Tell us
your country and your name.”

“Good lord, my name is Tristan, and I learnt these ways in my country
of Lyonesse.”

“Tristan,” said the Master Huntsman, “God reward the father that
brought you up so nobly; doubtless he is a baron, rich and strong.”

Now Tristan knew both speech and silence, and he answered:

“No, lord; my father is a burgess. I left his home unbeknownst upon a
ship that trafficked to a far place, for I wished to learn how men
lived in foreign lands. But if you will accept me of the hunt I will
follow you gladly and teach you other crafts of venery.”

“Fair Tristan, I marvel there should be a land where a burgess’s son
can know what a knight’s son knows not elsewhere, but come with us
since you will it; and welcome: we will bring you to King Mark, our
lord.”

Tristan completed his task; to the dogs he gave the heart, the head,
offal and ears; and he taught the hunt how the skinning and the
ordering should be done. Then he thrust the pieces upon pikes and gave
them to this huntsman and to that to carry, to one the snout to
another the haunch to another the flank to another the chine; and he
taught them how to ride by twos in rank, according to the dignity of
the pieces each might bear.