er. But
for all this King Mark thought falsely, as it proved after, for he put
Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly would have slain him.

Then soon after King Mark took his leave to ride into Cornwall, and Sir
Tristram made him ready to ride with him, whereof the most part of the
Round Table were wroth and heavy, and in especial Sir Launcelot, and Sir
Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan, were wroth out of measure For well they wist
King Mark would slay or destroy Sir Tristram. Alas, said Dinadan, that
my lord, Sir Tristram, shall depart. And Sir Tristram took such sorrow
that he was amazed like a fool. Alas, said Sir Launcelot unto King
Arthur, what have ye done, for ye shall lose the most man of worship
that ever came into your court. It was his own desire, said Arthur, and
therefore I might not do withal, for I have done all that I can and made
them at accord. Accord, said Sir Launcelot, fie upon that accord, for ye
shall hear that he shall slay Sir Tristram, or put him in a prison, for
he is the most coward and the villainest king and knight that is now
living.

And therewith Sir Launcelot departed, and came to King Mark, and said to
him thus: Sir king, wit thou well the good knight Sir Tristram shall go
with thee. Beware, I rede thee, of treason, for an thou mischief that
knight by any manner of falsehood or treason, by the faith I owe to God
and to the order of knighthood, I shall slay thee with mine own hands.
Sir Launcelot, said the king, overmuch have ye said to me, and I have
sworn and said over largely afore King Arthur in hearing of all his
knights, that I shall not slay nor betray him. It were to me overmuch
shame to break my promise. Ye say well, said Sir Launcelot, but ye
are called so false and full of treason that no man may believe you.
Forsooth it is known well wherefore ye came into this country, and for
none other cause but for to slay Sir Tristram. So with great dole King
Mark and Sir Tristram rode together, for it was by Sir Tristram's will
and his means to go with King Mark, and all was for the intent to see La
Beale Isoud, for without the sight of her Sir Tristram might not endure.

CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and how
a dumb maid spake, and brought him to the Round Table.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Lamorak, and speak we of his brethren, Sir
Tor, which was King Pellinore's first son and begotten of Aryes, wife
of the cowherd, for he was a bastard; and Sir Aglov