to furnish the
battle with Sir Marhaus.

SO to shorten this tale, when Sir Tristram was arrived within the island
he looked to the farther side, and there he saw at an anchor six ships
nigh to the land; and under the shadow of the ships upon the land,
there hoved the noble knight, Sir Marhaus of Ireland. Then Sir Tristram
commanded his servant Gouvernail to bring his horse to the land, and
dress his harness at all manner of rights. And then when he had so
done he mounted upon his horse; and when he was in his saddle well
apparelled, and his shield dressed upon his shoulder, Tristram asked
Gouvernail, Where is this knight that I shall have ado withal? Sir, said
Gouvernail, see ye him not? I weened ye had seen him; yonder he hoveth
under the umbre of his ships on horseback, with his spear in his hand
and his shield upon his shoulder. That is truth, said the noble knight,
Sir Tristram, now I see him well enough.

Then he commanded his servant Gouvernail to go to his vessel again: And
commend me unto mine eme King Mark, and pray him, if that I be slain in
this battle, for to inter my body as him seemed best; and as for me, let
him wit that I will never yield me for cowardice; and if I be slain and
flee not, then they have lost no truage for me; and if so be that I
flee or yield me as recreant, bid mine eme never bury me in Christian
burials. And upon thy life, said Sir Tristram to Gouvernail, come thou
not nigh this island till that thou see me overcome or slain, or else
that I win yonder knight. So either departed from other sore weeping.

CHAPTER VII. How Sir Tristram fought against Sir Marhaus and achieved
his battle, and how Sir Marhaus fled to his ship.

AND then Sir Marhaus avised Sir Tristram, and said thus: Young knight,
Sir Tristram, what dost thou here? me sore repenteth of thy courage,
for wit thou well I have been assayed, and the best knights of this
land have been assayed of my hand; and also I have matched with the best
knights of the world, and therefore by my counsel return again unto thy
vessel. And fair knight, and well-proved knight, said Sir Tristram, thou
shalt well wit I may not forsake thee in this quarrel, for I am for thy
sake made knight. And thou shalt well wit that I am a king's son born,
and gotten upon a queen; and such promise I have made at my uncle's
request and mine own seeking, that I shall fight with thee unto the
uttermost, and deliver Cornwall from the old truage. And also wit t