Ireland and boast that all
Cornwall could not furnish a knight ready to break a spear with him. I
pray you, dear father, to let me ride to King Mark's court, and beg of
him to make me a knight and choose me as his champion."

"Your spirit honors you, my son," said Meliodas. "You have it in you to
become an able knight, and I give you full leave to do as your courage
prompts you."

Tristram thanked his father warmly for this assent, and, taking horse,
rode without delay to the castle of his uncle King Mark. When he reached
there he found the king depressed in spirit and the whole court deep in
gloom, for it seemed as if no champion could be found, and that the
tribute must be paid. Tristram went at once to his uncle and said with
modest ardor,--

"Sir, it is a shame and disgrace that Cornwall has no champion. I am but
an untried youth, yet, if you will give me the order of knighthood, I
stand ready to do battle for you with Sir Marhaus."

"Who are you, and whence come you?" asked the king.

"I come from King Meliodas, who wedded your sister, and I am a gentleman
born."

Hope came into the king's eyes when he saw how large and strongly built
was his youthful visitor, and marked the spirit of battle in his eyes,
but he again demanded his name and place of birth.

"My name is Tristram and I was born in the country of Lyonesse,"
answered the youth.

"You speak with spirit, and look like the making of a good warrior,"
said the king. "If you agree to do this battle, I will grant you
knighthood."

"It is that, and that alone, brings me here," answered Tristram.

Then the king knighted him, and at once sent word to Sir Marhaus that he
had a champion ready to do battle with him to the uttermost.

"That may well be," answered Marhaus, "but I fight not with every
springal. Tell King Mark that I shall fight with none but one of royal
blood. His champion must be son either of a king or a queen."

This answer King Mark gave to Tristram, and said, gloomily,--

"I fear this rules out your championship."

"Not so," said Tristram. "I came not here to boast, but if I must tell
my lineage, you may let him know that I am of as noble blood as he. My
father is King Meliodas, and my mother was Elizabeth, your own sister. I
am the heir of Lyonesse."

"Is it so?" cried the king, clasping the youth's hands gladly. "Then I
bid you warmly welcome, my fair nephew, and I could ask no better nor
nobler champion."

He sent word in