When Sir Dodinas le Savage heard him say so he gat a spear in his hand,and said,Sir knight,keep well thyself:And then they departed and came together as it had been thunder.And Sir Dodinas'spear brast in-sunder,but Sir Tristram smote him with a more might,that he smote him clean over the horse-croup,that nigh he had broken his neck.When Sir Sagramore saw his fellow have such a fall he marvelled what knight he might be.And he dressed his spear with all his might,and Sir Tristram against him,and they came together as the thunder,and there Sir Tristram smote Sir Sagramore a strong buffet,that he bare his horse and him to the earth,and in the falling he brake his thigh.
When this was done Sir Tristram asked them:Fair knights,will ye any more?Be there no bigger knights in the court of King Arthur?it is to you shame to say of us knights of Cornwall dishonour,for it may happen a Cornish knight may match you.
That is truth,said Sir Sagramore,that have we well proved;but I require thee,said Sir Sagramore,tell us your right name,by the faith and troth that ye owe to the high order of knighthood.
Ye charge me with a great thing,said Sir Tristram,and sithen ye list to wit it,ye shall know and understand that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones,King Meliodas'son,and nephew unto King Mark.Then were they two knights fain that they had met with Tristram,and so they prayed him to abide in their fellowship.
Nay,said Sir Tristram,for I must have ado with one of your fellows,his name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis.God speed you well,said Sir Sagramore and Dodinas.Sir Tristram departed and rode onward on his way.And then was he ware before him in a valley where rode Sir Bleoberis,with Sir Segwarides'lady,that rode behind his squire upon a palfrey.
CHAPTER XVII
How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady,and how the lady was put to choice to whom she would go.
THEN Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had overtaken him.Then spake Sir Tristram:Abide,he said,Knight of Arthur's court,bring again that lady,or deliver her to me.
I will do neither,said Bleoberis,for I dread no Cornish knight so sore that me list to deliver her.Why,said Sir Tristram,may not a Cornish knight do as well as another knight?
this same day two knights of your court within this three mile met with me,and or ever we departed they found a Cornish knight good enough for them both.What were their names?said Bleoberis.They told me,said Sir Tristram,that the one of them hight Sir Sagramore le Desirous,and the other hight Dodinas le Savage.Ah,said Sir Bleoberis,have ye met with them?so God me help,they were two good knights and men of great worship,and if ye have beat them both ye must needs be a good knight;but if it so be ye have beat them both,yet shall ye not fear me,but ye shall beat me or ever ye have this lady.Then defend you,said Sir Tristram.So they departed and came together like thunder,and either bare other down,horse and all,to the earth.
Then they avoided their horses,and lashed together eagerly with swords,and mightily,now tracing and traversing on the right hand and on the left hand more than two hours.And sometime they rushed together with such a might that they lay both grovelling on the ground.Then Sir Bleoberis de Ganis stert aback,and said thus:Now,gentle good knight,a while hold your hands,and let us speak together.Say what ye will,said Tristram,and I will answer you.Sir,said Bleoberis,I would wit of whence ye be,and of whom ye be come,and what is your name?So God me help,said Sir Tristram,I fear not to tell you my name.Wit ye well Iam King Meliodas'son,and my mother is King Mark's sister,and my name is Sir Tristram de Liones,and King Mark is mine uncle.
Truly,said Bleoberis,I am right glad of you,for ye are he that slew Marhaus the knight,hand for hand in an island,for the truage of Cornwall;also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good knight,at a tournament in an island,where ye beat Sir Gawaine and his nine fellows.So God me help,said Sir Tristram,wit ye well that I am the same knight;now I have told you my name,tell me yours with good will.Wit ye well that my name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis,and my brother hight Sir Blamore de Ganis,that is called a good knight,and we be sister's children unto my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake,that we call one of the best knights of the world.That is truth,said Sir Tristram,Sir Launcelot is called peerless of courtesy and of knighthood;and 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.In good faith,said Bleoberis,as for me Iwill be loath to fight with you;but sithen ye follow me here to have this lady,I shall proffer you kindness,courtesy,and gentleness right here upon this ground.This lady shall be betwixt us both,and to whom that she will go,let him have her in peace.I will well,said Tristram,for,as I deem,she will leave you and come to me.Ye shall prove it anon,said Bleoberis.
CHAPTER XVIII
How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and abode with Sir Bleoberis,and how she desired to go to her husband.
So when she was set betwixt them both she said these words unto Sir Tristram:Wit ye well,Sir Tristram de Liones,that but late thou wast the man in the world that I most loved and trusted,and I weened thou hadst loved me again above all ladies;but when thou sawest this knight lead me away thou madest no cheer to rescue me,but suffered my lord Segwarides ride after me;but until that time I weened thou haddest loved me,and therefore now I will leave thee,and never love thee more.And therewithal she went unto Sir Bleoberis.