with joy, rode away at once to his
uncle's court, and as soon as he arrived there he heard nothing but great
dole made that no one could be found to fight the Irish knight.

"Who are you?" asked the king, when Tristram presented himself before him,
"and whence come you?" he added, looking admiringly at the handsome
stranger.

"Sir, I am Tristram of Lyonesse; I come from King Melodias, whose son I
am; my mother was your sister."

Then King Mark rejoiced greatly, for he saw in this stalwart nephew a
champion for Cornwall, and, having knighted him, he sent word to Sir
Marhaus to say he had found a champion to do battle with him.

"I shall fight with none but of the blood-royal," Sir Marhaus sent back
word; "your champion must be either a king's son or a queen's."

Whereupon King Mark sent word to say that his champion was better born
than ever Sir Marhaus was, and that his name was Tristram of Lyonesse,
whose father was a king, and his mother a queen, and a king's sister.

So it was arranged that the fight should take place on an island near, and
thither Sir Tristram went in a ship with his horse, and his man
Gouvernail, and all that he could need. And so noble he looked, and so
brave, and of so good heart, that not one who saw him depart could refrain
from weeping, for they never thought to see him return alive.

So, on the island those two noble knights met, and Sir Marhaus was sad to
see one so young and well-favoured come against him. "I sore repent,"
said he, "of your courage, for hear me that against all the noblest and
trustiest knights of the world have I been matched and never yet been
beaten. So take my counsel, and return again to your ship while you are
able."

"Sir," said Sir Tristram, throwing up his head proudly, "I have been made
a knight that I might come against you, and I have sworn never to leave
you until you are conquered or I am dead, for I will fight to the death to
rescue Cornwall from the old truage."

So they lowered their spears, and without more ado the fight began, and
such a fight as that was never seen or known before in Cornwall. At the
very first charge they met with such force that Sir Marhaus's spear
wounded Sir Tristram in the side, and horses and riders were sent rolling
on the ground; but soon they were on their feet again, and freeing
themselves of their horses and spears, they pulled out their shields and
fought with swords. With their swords they slashed and smote each