ir 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
I am 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
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