Then at the last Sir Tristram sent unto the court by Sir Fergus,for to spere what tidings.And so as he rode by the way he met with a damosel that came from Sir Palomides,to know and seek how Sir Tristram did.Then Sir Fergus told her how he was almost out of his mind.Alas,said the damosel,where shall I find him?In such a place,said Sir Fergus.Then Sir Fergus found Queen Isoud sick in her bed,making the greatest dole that ever any earthly woman made.And when the damosel found Sir Tristram she made great dole because she might not amend him,for the more she made of him the more was his pain.And at the last Sir Tristram took his horse and rode away from her.And then was it three days or that she could find him,and then she brought him meat and drink,but he would none;and then another time Sir Tristram escaped away from the damosel,and it happed him to ride by the same castle where Sir Palomides and Sir Tristram did battle when La Beale Isoud departed them.And there by fortune the damosel met with Sir Tristram again,making the greatest dole that ever earthly creature made;and she yede to the lady of that castle and told her of the misadventure of Sir Tristram.Alas,said the lady of that castle,where is my lord,Sir Tristram?Right here by your castle,said the damosel.In good time,said the lady,is he so nigh me;he shall have meat and drink of the best;and an harp I have of his whereupon he taught me,for of goodly harping he beareth the prize in the world.So this lady and damosel brought him meat and drink,but he ate little thereof.
Then upon a night he put his horse from him,and then he unlaced his armour,and then Sir Tristram would go into the wilderness,and brast down the trees and boughs;and otherwhile when he found the harp that the lady sent him,then would he harp,and play thereupon and weep together.And sometime when Sir Tristram was in the wood that the lady wist not where he was,then would she sit her down and play upon that harp:then would Sir Tristram come to that harp,and hearken thereto,and sometime he would harp himself.Thus he there endured a quarter of a year.Then at the last he ran his way,and she wist not where he was become.
And then was he naked and waxed lean and poor of flesh;and so he fell in the fellowship of herdmen and shepherds,and daily they would give him some of their meat and drink.And when he did any shrewd deed they would beat him with rods,and so they clipped him with shears and made him like a fool.
CHAPTER XIX
How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well,and how Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram,and how Palomides met with King Mark.
AND upon a day Dagonet,King Arthur's fool,came into Cornwall with two squires with him;and as they rode through that forest they came by a fair well where Sir Tristram was wont to be;and the weather was hot,and they alighted to drink of that well,and in the meanwhile their horses brake loose.Right so Sir Tristram came unto them,and first he soused Sir Dagonet in that well,and after his squires,and thereat laughed the shepherds;and forthwithal he ran after their horses and brought them again one by one,and right so,wet as they were,he made them leap up and ride their ways.Thus Sir Tristram endured there an half year naked,and would never come in town nor village.The meanwhile the damosel that Sir Palomides sent to seek Sir Tristram,she yede unto Sir Palomides and told him all the mischief that Sir Tristram endured.Alas,said Sir Palomides,it is great pity that ever so noble a knight should be so mischieved for the love of a lady;but nevertheless,I will go and seek him,and comfort him an I may.Then a little before that time La Beale Isoud had commanded Sir Kehydius out of the country of Cornwall.So Sir Kehydius departed with a dolorous heart,and by adventure he met with Sir Palomides,and they enfellowshipped together;and either complained to other of their hot love that they loved La Beale Isoud.Now let us,said Sir Palomides,seek Sir Tristram,that loved her as well as we,and let us prove whether we may recover him.So they rode into that forest,and three days and three nights they would never take their lodging,but ever sought Sir Tristram.
And upon a time,by adventure,they met with King Mark that was ridden from his men all alone.When they saw him Sir Palomides knew him,but Sir Kehydius knew him not.Ah,false king,said Sir Palomides,it is pity thou hast thy life,for thou art a destroyer of all worshipful knights,and by thy mischief and thy vengeance thou hast destroyed that most noble knight,Sir Tristram de Liones.And therefore defend thee,said Sir Palomides,for thou shalt die this day.That were shame,said King Mark,for ye two are armed and I am unarmed.As for that,said Sir Palomides,I shall find a remedy therefore;here is a knight with me,and thou shalt have his harness.Nay,said King Mark,I will not have ado with you,for cause have ye none to me;for all the misease that Sir Tristram hath was for a letter that he found;for as to me I did to him no displeasure,and God knoweth I am full sorry for his disease and malady.So when the king had thus excused him they were friends,and King Mark would have had them unto Tintagil;but Sir Palomides would not,but turned unto the realm of Logris,and Sir Kehydius said that he would go into Brittany.
Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again,that when he and his squires were upon horseback he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to array them so,because that they laughed at them,and so they rode unto the keepers of beasts and all to-beat them.
