hen Sir Tristram saw them
coming upon him, then he wist well he might not endure. Then as a wise
knight of war, he said to Sir Galahad, the haut prince: Sir, ye show to
me no knighthood, for to suffer all your men to have ado with me all at
once; and as meseemeth ye be a noble knight of your hands it is great
shame to you. So God me help, said Sir Galahad, there is none other way
but thou must yield thee to me, other else to die, said Sir Galahad to
Sir Tristram. I will rather yield me to you than die for that is more
for the might of your men than of your hands. And therewithal Sir
Tristram took his own sword by the point, and put the pommel in the hand
of Sir Galahad.

Therewithal came the King with the Hundred Knights, and hard began to
assail Sir Tristram. Let be, said Sir Galahad, be ye not so hardy to
touch him, for I have given this knight his life. That is your shame,
said the King with the Hundred Knights; hath he not slain your father
and your mother? As for that, said Sir Galahad, I may not wite him
greatly, for my father had him in prison, and enforced him to do battle
with him; and my father had such a custom that was a shameful custom,
that what knight came there to ask harbour his lady must needs die but
if she were fairer than my mother; and if my father overcame that knight
he must needs die. This was a shameful custom and usage, a knight for
his harbour-asking to have such harbourage. And for this custom I would
never draw about him. So God me help, said the King, this was a shameful
custom. Truly, said Sir Galahad, so seemed me; and meseemed it had been
great pity that this knight should have been slain, for I dare say he is
the noblest man that beareth life, but if it were Sir Launcelot du Lake.
Now, fair knight, said Sir Galahad, I require thee tell me thy name, and
of whence thou art, and whither thou wilt. Sir, he said, my name is Sir
Tristram de Liones, and from King Mark of Cornwall I was sent on message
unto King Anguish of Ireland, for to fetch his daughter to be his wife,
and here she is ready to go with me into Cornwall, and her name is La
Beale Isoud. And, Sir Tristram, said Sir Galahad, the haut prince, well
be ye found in these marches, and so ye will promise me to go unto Sir
Launcelot du Lake, and accompany with him, ye shall go where ye will,
and your fair lady with you; and I shall promise you never in all my
days shall such customs be used in this castle as have been used. Sir,
said