Tristram

Tristram's narrative moves through several distinct phases, each with its own tensions and characteristic episodes.

His early life establishes both his mortal vulnerability and his capacity for mercy. His stepmother lets "poison be put in a piece of silver in the chamber whereas Tristram and her children were together" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. II). When caught and condemned, Tristram intercedes: "Give me the life of thy queen, my stepmother... as for that, I beseech you of your mercy that you will forgive it her" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. II). He saves her from the fire "by the commandment of the king" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. II), and "by the good means of young Tristram he made the king and her accorded" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. II). She "did never hate him more after, but loved him ever after, and gave Tristram many great gifts" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. III). But the king "would not suffer young Tristram to abide no longer in his court" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. II).

His education in France under Gouvernail produces a knight of unusual breadth. He "learned to be an harper passing all other, that there was none such called in no country" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. III), spent "more than seven years" abroad (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. III), and "endured in Cornwall until he was big and strong, of the age of eighteen years" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. III). His father "had great joy of Sir Tristram, and so had the queen, his wife" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. III).

The combat with Sir Marhaus marks his entry into public knighthood. He volunteers to fight for Cornwall: "it were shame that Sir Marhaus, the queen's brother of Ireland, should go away unless that he were foughten withal" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. V). Mark saw that though "but a young man of age," he "was passingly well made and big" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. V). He declares his lineage: "my name is Tristram, and in the country of Liones was I born" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. V), and "I am King Meliodas' son, born of your own sister, Dame Elizabeth, that died in the forest in the birth of me" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. V). When the people "beheld how young Sir Tristram departed with such a carriage to fight for the right of Cornwall, there was neither man nor woman of worship but they wept" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. V). The king "let horse Sir Tristram, and armed him in the best manner" and "Sir Tristram lacked nothing" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. V).

On the island, Tristram commands Gouvernail to "bring his horse to the land, and dress his harness" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VI), and orders: "come thou not nigh this island till that thou see me overcome or slain, or else that I win yonder knight" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VI). During the fight, "Sir Tristram waxed more fresher than Sir Marhaus, and better winded and bigger" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VII). After Marhaus dies, "a piece of Sir Tristram's sword was found therein, and might never be had out of his head" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VIII). Tristram is left "sore wounded, and full sore bled" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VIII), lying there "a month and more" because "the spear's head was envenomed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VIII). A wise lady tells Mark he "should never be whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that the venom came from" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VIII), and he sails to Ireland, taking "his harp with him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VIII). In Ireland, "Sir Tristram made semblant as he had been sorry" about Marhaus's death, but "better knew he how it was than the king" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. VIII).

In Ireland under Isoud's care, Tristram wins a tournament: Isoud "ordained and well arrayed Sir Tristram in white horse and harness" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. X), and "Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palamides unto the earth" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. X). He humbly tells a damosel who asks if he is Launcelot: "I am not Sir Launcelot, for I was never of such prowess" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. X). He makes his squire Hebes a knight (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. X), and returns "privily unto the postern, where kept him La Beale Isoud" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. X). When his identity risks exposure, he "ran unto his squire, whose name was Hebes le Renoumes, and prayed him heartily in no wise to tell his name" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. IX). His disguise eventually unravels and he explains to Isoud: "my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King Meliodas, and born of his queen" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XII). Before departing, "Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XII).

Tristram fights for King Anguish in a trial by combat, finding "the best tidings that ever came to me this seven years" when he hears the Irish king needs his help (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXI). He defeats Sir Blamore but shows mercy: "when Sir Tristram heard him say so knightly, he wist not what to do with him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIII), remembering both the opponent's noble blood and Launcelot's fellowship. He beseeches the judges "for King Arthur's and Sir Launcelot's sake" to take the matter in hand, saying "it were shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder lieth should be slain" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIII). The resolution brings general accord: "Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis took up Sir Blamore, and the two brethren were accorded with King Anguish" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIII). On his return, "the king let make it known throughout all the land how and in what manner Sir Tristram had done for him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIII), and "the joy that La Beale Isoud made of Sir Tristram there might no tongue tell, for of all men earthly she loved him most" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIII).

When Anguish offers Isoud, Tristram requests her not for himself: "this is all that I will desire, that ye will give me La Beale Isoud, your daughter, not for myself, but for mine uncle, King Mark" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIV). On the voyage, the accidental drinking of the love potion seals their fate: "Sir Tristram took the flasket in his hand, and said, Madam Isoud, here is the best drink that ever ye drank" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIV). The narrator marks the moment: "thus it happed the love first betwixt Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud, the which love never departed the days of their life" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIV).

En route, they are captured at a castle with a cruel custom. Tristram declares: "this is a foul custom and horrible" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXV), and fights Sir Breunor for Isoud's beauty: "rather than my lady should lose her head, yet had I liefer lose my head" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXV). He "smote Sir Breunor clean from his horse" and defeats him (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXVI). After this victory, "Sir Tristram was called the strongest and the highest knight of the world; for he was called bigger than Sir Launcelot, but Sir Launcelot was better breathed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXVI).

His relationship with King Mark constitutes the political engine of the narrative. Their first clash comes over Segwarides's wife: "there befell a jealousy and an unkindness betwixt King Mark and Sir Tristram, for they loved both one lady" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XIII). Mark ambushes Tristram: "as Sir Tristram came riding upon his way with his spear in his hand, King Mark came hurtling upon him with his two knights suddenly" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XIII). Tristram strikes back and "smote his uncle, King Mark, so sore, that he rashed him to the earth" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XIII). After further incidents, "as long as King Mark lived he loved never Sir Tristram after that; though there was fair speech, love was there none" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XIV). Mark discovers Tristram speaking with Isoud at a window through the surveillance of Andred, and "took a sword in his hand and came to Sir Tristram, and called him false traitor" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXII). But "Sir Tristram was nigh him, and ran under his sword, and took it out of his hand" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXII), then struck Mark "five or six strokes flatling on the neck, that he made him to fall upon the nose" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXII). Later, Mark's knight Andred captures Tristram: "Sir Tristram, thou shouldst be my kinsman, and now thou art to me full unfriendly" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIV). But Tristram "pulled them both to him, and unwrast his hands" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIV), seizing Andred's sword and escaping through a chapel window, leaping "out and fell upon the crags in the sea" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIV). He rescues Isoud from a lazar house: "this is a full ungoodly place for such a fair lady" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXV), and brings her "into a forest to a fair manor" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXV). Mark again hunts him, and when Tristram returns to find "the track of many horses," he knows "his lady was gone" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXV). Mark eventually banishes Tristram "out of Cornwall the term of ten years" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XXI), and later brings him to a tournament "for to have been slain" by treason (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. L). Mark "cast always in his heart how he might destroy Sir Tristram" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XIX).

In Brittany, Tristram serves King Howel in war and "did such deeds that all Brittany spake of him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVI). Howel offers him the kingdom: "Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to thee" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVI). There "grew great love betwixt Isoud and Sir Tristram" -- that is, Isoud la Blanche Mains -- and "Sir Tristram agreed to wed Isoud la Blanche Mains" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVI). But on their wedding night, "Sir Tristram remembered him of his old lady La Beale Isoud" and "took such a thought suddenly that he was all dismayed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVI). When "noble knights should defame him for the sake of his lady," Tristram "made great moan and was ashamed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVII). La Beale Isoud "made a letter unto Queen Guenever, complaining her of the untruth of Sir Tristram" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVII). He later sends "a letter unto Sir Launcelot, excusing him of the wedding of Isoud la Blanche Mains" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. V).

On the Isle of Nabon, Tristram defeats the tyrannous lord: "Sir Tristram slew Sir Nabon, and so forthwith he leapt to his son, and struck off his head" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIX). He declines to rule the island and offers it to Lamorak: "here is a worshipful knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, that for me he shall be lord of this country" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIX). This exchange illustrates Tristram's characteristic generosity with temporal power.

Tristram's encounters with other knights reveal the network of Arthurian fellowship. He fights with Lamorak under Mark's orders, against his own judgment: "ye bid me do a thing that is against knighthood... my horse and I be fresh both, and so is not his horse and he" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIII). After unhorsing Lamorak, he refuses further combat: "I will no more have ado with thee, for I have done to thee over much unto my dishonour" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXIII). He jousts with Bleoberis over a lady and shows deference to Launcelot's family: "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" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XVII). When Galahad the haut prince overwhelms him, Tristram yields with grace: "Sir Tristram took his own sword by the point, and put the pommel in the hand of Sir Galahad" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXVII), saying "I weened ye had been Sir Launcelot du Lake when I saw you first, and therefore I dread you the more" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXVII). He rescues Isoud from Palamides: "Alas, said Sir Tristram, I am this day shamed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXI), pursuing Palamides and fighting until Isoud herself intervenes, and Tristram relents: "Madam, I will leave fighting at this time for your sake" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXI). "Sir Tristram took the queen and brought her again to King Mark" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXII), and "Who was cherished but Sir Tristram!" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXII).

Tristram's madness in the forest forms one of the most striking episodes. After discovering letters between Kehydius and Isoud -- "Sir Tristram found the letter that Kehydius sent unto La Beale Isoud" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XVI) -- he draws his sword on Kehydius and is forced to flee Tintagil: "Sir Tristram rode his way into the forest, and all this doing saw King Mark" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XVII). He "endured there an half year naked, and would never come in town nor village" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XVIII). In his madness he encounters Dagonet, Arthur's fool, and "soused Sir Dagonet in that well, and after his squires" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XVIII). He runs through the forest "with that sword in his hand, running as he had been wild wood" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XVIII). Even in madness his prowess persists: when a giant attacks, Tristram "took up the sword and struck off Sir Tauleas' head" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XIX). When Mark hears of Tristram's supposed death, even he "wept and made great dole" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XIX), while Isoud "made such sorrow that she was nigh out of her mind" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XIX). He is eventually found and brought to Tintagil, where "they bathed him, and washed him, and gave him hot suppings till they had brought him well to his remembrance" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XX). Recognition comes through a brachet: "anon as this little brachet felt a savour of Sir Tristram, she leapt upon him and licked his lears and his ears" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XX), prompting Bragwaine to cry: "alas, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XX).

Tristram saves Arthur's life in the Forest Perilous when a damosel finds him: "O my lord Sir Tristram, well be ye met, and blessed be the time that I have met with you" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XV). He rides to the rescue and kills two treacherous knights: "Sir Tristram smote the one of the knights through the body that he fell dead; and then he rashed to the other and smote his back asunder" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XV). He refuses to reveal his identity to the grateful king: he says only "that he was a poor knight adventurous" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XV).

When asked about his defaming at Arthur's court, Tristram responds: "That me repenteth, for of all knights I loved to be in his fellowship" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXXVII). His fellowship with Dinadan provides comic counterpoint to the heroic register. After his banishment, Dinadan joins him: "he prayed Sir Tristram to give him leave to go in his fellowship" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XXI). Together they face thirty knights sent against Launcelot, and Tristram cries out: "Lo, here is a knight against you for the love of Sir Launcelot" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XXII). When Dinadan hesitates, Tristram chides him: "Fie for shame, are ye not a knight of the Table Round?" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XXIII). At another encounter, Dinadan is reluctant and Tristram threatens: "but if thou wilt promise me to abide with me, here I shall slay thee" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XXII). Despite such bullying, their partnership is one of the most engaging in the text.

Tristram's return to Cornwall after banishment brings a secret voyage: "he let ordain privily a little vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine, and Gouvernail" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. X). He challenges a knight by a well: "Fair knight, why sit ye so drooping?" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. X), and is himself smote down: "Sir Tristram was sore ashamed, and lightly he avoided his horse" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. X). He later fights Lamorak again until both are weary, and says: "In all my life met I never with such a knight that was so big and well breathed as ye be" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XI). They swear "that never none of them should fight against other, nor for weal nor for woe" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XI). When Palomides smote "down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak both with one spear" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XII), Tristram sets a challenge: "I require you if ye hap to meet with Sir Palomides, say him that he shall find me at the same well" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XII).

Merlin prophesies "that two the best knights of the world should fight" at a certain place (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book II, Ch. VIII). At tournaments, "the second day there jousted Tristram best, and he overthrew forty knights" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VII, Ch. XXXV). He commands his servant "to ordain him a black shield with none other remembrance therein" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XXIX). "When La Beale Isoud understood that he was wedded she sent to him by her maiden Bragwaine as piteous letters as could be thought" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. X). La Beale Isoud's lament distils the romance: "I may not live after the death of Sir Tristram de Liones, for he was my first love and he shall be the last" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Ch. XIX). But "ever, as the French book saith, Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud loved ever together" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Ch. XXIX).

His standing in Malory's world is summarized through comparison: "Sir Tristram was not so behated as was Sir Launcelot within the realm of England" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. L). Where Launcelot's story carries the weight of the Grail quest and the destruction of the Round Table, Tristram's narrative is shaped by love, exile, and the impossible position of a great knight serving a treacherous king.