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at it.
"Sure this is the best wine that ever I drank," said he, and smiled at her.
"It is truly a most sweet and noble drink," said Isoude, and her heart was
glad to see him smile, who hitherto had kept his face so stern.
Sir Tristram called his squire.
"Governale," said he, "what wine is this thou hast given us this day? Let us
have another flask of the same."
Governale was ever ill at a deception, and began to stammer.
"Mv lord," he said, "I fear me there is none other."
"Ah," said his master, "and where got you that?"
"The gentlewoman of my Lady Isoude, " said he, "brought it and bade me mix it
in your lordship's wine."
"What?" cried Sir Tristram, rising angrily. "What means this? What trickery is
this?"
"Oh, my lord, forgive me," cried Governale. "But we saw the sorrow of both
your hearts, and we gave you the philtre that was meant for my lady and King
Mark ,.andandmy lord, you will break my lady's heart and your own if ye suffer
this."
But Sir Tristram would hear no further, and fiercely sent his squire from his
presence.
"Ah, my lord," said La Belle Isoude, "have those two poor souls done more evil
than we are doing by hiding our hearts from each other? I would have you know
that no ease shall you have all the days of your life, for I
know that you love me; and as to that, there is no living man in all this
world that I love as I love you. If ye think it unmaidenly in me to say that,
then my own wretched heart forgives me."
The gentle sorrow in her voice caused Sir Tristram's heart to swell with rage
because he had promised to take her to wed King Mark.
"Lady," he said, and his face was full pitiful and pale, "Heaven knows that ye
say right, and that nevermore shall I have ease after this. But no more should
I have ease, but rather more shame and remorse, if I should do what my heart
bids me do. I gave my promise to mine uncle, madman that I was, and I must
perform it, and suffer. But I could slay myself to think that you will suffer
also."
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She saw the rage and sorrow in his eyes, and her heart was full of pity.
"Do thyself no harm, 0 noble knight and friend," said Isoude, "for thou art
right, and I wrong. But I would have you promise to be my knight and champion
in things both ill and good, while you shall have life."
"Lady," he replied, "I will be all the days of my life your knight , in weal
and in woe, to come to your aid and battle for your dear name, when you shall
send for me."
Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another, and quickly they
parted, lest they should repent them of their duty.
KING ARTHUR'S KNIGHTS. THE TALES RETOLD FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
IV. HOW SIR TRISTRAM KEPT HIS WORD
56
That evening they got to shore, and landed at the foot of Tintagel, and Sir
Tristram led up La Belle Isoude and gave her into the hands of King Mark,
whose looks, for all that he tried to appear satisfied, were sour as he dwelt
on the noble figure of Sir Tristram. Men noticed how pale and stem the young
knight seemed, and that he said few words.
In a little while, after the wedding of his uncle to La Belle Isoude, Sir
Tristram said farewell to all the court, "for," said he, "he would go fight
the pagans who were ravening in the north," and so departed, with
Governale his squire.
Afterwards, seeing the pale queen seated in hall beside King Mark, and
remembering the heaviness of Sir
Tristram, some guessed how full of woe was their parting, but for love and
sorrow of Sir Tristram they said naught of what they thought.
V. THE DEEDS OF SIR GERAINT
King Arthur was spending Whitsuntide at CaerleonuponUsk, and one day he hunted
the stag in the forests that lay thereby. As he had given permission for his
queen to go and see the hunting, she set out with one handmaiden, and rode in
the misty dawning down to the river, and across the ford.
They climbed up the other bank, following the track of the men and horses
which had formed the king's hunting party, until they stood on the edge of the
dark forest, where the young leaves were fresh and sweetly green. The sun
burst forth, and sucked up the mists along the meadow flats beside the river
below them, and the water flashed and the birds sang.
"Here will we stay," said the queen, who felt happy with the sunlight upon
her, and the smell of the forest blowing out from the trees, "and though we
shall not see the killing, we shall hear the horns when they sound, and we
shall hear the dogs when they are let loose and begin to cry so eagerly."
Suddenly they heard a rushing sound and the thud of hooves behind them, and,
turning, they saw a young man upon a hunter foal of mighty size. The rider was
a fairhaired handsome youth, of princely mien, yet withal kindly of look and
smile.
A ridingrobe and surcoat of satin were upon him, lowcut shoes of soft leather
were on his feet, and in his girdle was a goldenhilted sword. A fillet of gold
bound his curly hair, and a collar of gold, with a blue enamel swastika
pendant, hung about his neck.
He checked his horse as he neared the queen, and it came towards her with step
stately, swift and proud, and the rider bowed full low to Gwenevere.
"Heaven prosper thee, Sir Geraint," she said. "And its welcome be unto thee."
"Heaven accord you long life and happiness, o queen," replied Geraint.
"Why didst thou not go with my lord to hunt?" asked the queen.
"Because I knew not when he went," said Geraint.
But men told me in hall that you had gone out alone, and I came to crave
permission to accompany and guard you."
"Gramercy," said the queen. "Thy protection is very agreeable to me."
KING ARTHUR'S KNIGHTS. THE TALES RETOLD FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
V. THE DEEDS OF SIR GERAINT
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57
As they stood talking, they heard the clatter of steel armour, and looking
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