o the king.

Then Gouvernail went unto King Anguish of Ireland, and saluted him fair.
The king welcomed him and asked him what he would. Sir, said Gouvernail,
here is a knight near hand that desireth to speak with you: he bade me
say he would do you service. What knight is he? said the king. Sir,
said he, it is Sir Tristram de Liones, that for your good grace that
ye showed him in your lands will reward you in this country. Come on,
fellow, said the king, with me anon and show me unto Sir Tristram. So
the king took a little hackney and but few fellowship with him, until he
came unto Sir Tristram's pavilion. And when Sir Tristram saw the king he
ran unto him and would have holden his stirrup. But the king leapt from
his horse lightly, and either halsed other in their arms. My gracious
lord, said Sir Tristram, gramercy of your great goodnesses showed unto
me in your marches and lands: and at that time I promised you to do you
service an ever it lay in my power. And, gentle knight, said the king
unto Sir Tristram, now have I great need of you, never had I so great
need of no knight's help. How so, my good lord? said Sir Tristram.
I shall tell you, said the king: I am summoned and appealed from my
country for the death of a knight that was kin unto the good knight
Sir Launcelot; wherefore Sir Blamore de Ganis, brother to Sir Bleoberis
hath appealed me to fight with him, outher to find a knight in my stead.
And well I wot, said the king, these that are come of King Ban's blood,
as Sir Launcelot and these other, are passing good knights, and hard
men for to win in battle as any that I know now living. Sir, said Sir
Tristram, for the good lordship ye showed me in Ireland, and for my lady
your daughter's sake, La Beale Isoud, I will take the battle for you
upon this condition that ye shall grant me two things: that one is
that ye shall swear to me that ye are in the right, that ye were never
consenting to the knight's death; Sir, then said Sir Tristram, when
that I have done this battle, if God give me grace that I speed, that ye
shall give me a reward, what thing reasonable that I will ask of you. So
God me help, said the king, ye shall have whatsomever ye will ask. It is
well said, said Sir Tristram.

CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his
adversary, and how his adversary would never yield him.

NOW make your answer that your champion is ready, for I shall die in
your quarrel rather than