"What amends wish you?" asked one of the knights. "We are ready with spear and sword to make good whatever we have done."
He rode against Tristram, but was met so st.u.r.dily in mid career that he was thrust over his horse"s tail. Then the other rode against him, and was served in the same rough manner.
They rose as quickly as they could, drew their swords, and challenged him to battle on foot.
"You shall tell me your names," he said, sternly. "I warn you that if it comes to sword-play you will find more than your match. Yet you may have that in your lineage which will keep you from my hands, however much you deserve punishment for your evil deeds."
"As for our names, we dread not to tell them. We are Agravaine and Gaheris, brothers to the good knight Gawaine, and nephews of King Arthur."
"For Arthur"s sake, then, I must let you pa.s.s unscathed. Yet it is a crying shame that men of such good blood as you should play the part of murderers. You slew among you a better knight than the best of your kin, Lamorak de Galis, and I would to G.o.d I had been by at that time."
"You would have gone the same road," said Gaheris.
"Not without more knights to do it than you had in your murderous crew."
With these words he turned from them and rode back towards Joyous Gard.
When he had gone they regained their horses, and feeling themselves safe in the saddle their courage returned.
"Let us pursue this boaster," they said, "and see if he fares so much better than Lamorak."
They did so, and when they came near Tristram, who was jogging slowly along, Agravaine cried,--
"Turn, traitor knight!"
"Traitor in your teeth!" cried Tristram, in a rage. "I let you off too cheaply, it seems." And drawing his sword, he turned upon Agravaine and smote him so fiercely on the helm that he fell swooning from his horse, with a dangerous wound.
Then he turned to Gaheris and dealt him a blow that in like manner tumbled him from his saddle to the earth. This done, Tristram turned and rode into the castle, leaving them like dead men in the road.
Here he told La Belle Isolde of his several adventures. When he spoke of Dinadan, she asked,--
"Was it not he that made the song about King Mark?"
"The same," answered Tristram. "He is the greatest jester at Arthur"s court, but a good knight withal, and I know no man whom I like better as a comrade."
"Why did you not bring him with you?"
"No need of that. He is seeking me through this country, and there is no fear that he will give up the search lightly."
As they spoke, a servant came and told Tristram that a knight-errant had entered the town, and described the device on his shield.
"That is our man now," said Tristram. "That is Dinadan. Send for him, Isolde, and you shall hear the merriest knight and the maddest talker that you ever spoke with. I pray you to make him heartily welcome, for he is a cherished friend of mine."
Then Isolde sent into the town with a message to Dinadan, begging that he would come to the castle and rest a while there, at a lady"s wish.
"That will I, with a good will," answered Dinadan. "I were but a churl else."
He hastened to mount and ride to the castle, and here he was shown to a chamber where he laid aside his armor. Then he was brought into the presence of La Belle Isolde, who courteously bade him welcome.
"Whence, come you, and what name do you bear?" she asked.
"Madam," he answered, "I am from King Arthur"s court, and am one of the small fry of Round Table Knights. My name is Dinadan."
"And why came you hither?"
"I am seeking my old friend and comrade, Sir Tristram, who I am told has made his way to this country."
"That I cannot answer for," said Isolde. "He may and he may not be here.
Sir Tristram will be found where love leads him."
"I warrant me that. Your true lover has no will of his own, but is led like an ox, with a ring in his nose. I marvel what juice of folly gets into the pates of these lovers to make them so mad about the women."
"Why, sir," said Isolde, "can it be that you are a knight and no lover?
I fancy that there can be no true man-of-arms who seeks not by his deeds to win the smiles of the fair."
"They who care to be fed on smiles are welcome to them, but I am not made of that fashion," answered Dinadan. "The joy of love is too short, and the sorrow thereof too long, to please my fancy."
"Say you so? Yet near here but to-day was the good knight Sir Bleoberis, he who fought with three knights at once for a maiden"s sake, and won her before the king of Northumberland."
"I know him for a worthy fellow," said Dinadan, "as are all of Lancelot"s kindred. Yet he has crotchets in his head, like all that crew."
"Now, I pray you," said Isolde, "will you not do me the grace to fight for my love with three knights that have done me great wrong? As you are a knight of King Arthur"s, you can never say me nay in such a duty."
"Can I not?" cried Dinadan. "This much I will say, madam, that you are as fair a sample of womankind as ever I saw, and much more beautiful than is my lady Queen Guenever. And yet, heaven defend me, I will not fight for you against three knights; and would not, were you Helen of Troy herself."
At these words, and the odd grimace which he made, La Belle Isolde burst into a merry peal of laughter, and broke out with,--
"I know you better than you fancy, Sir Dinadan. And well you keep up your credit of being a merry fellow. You are very welcome to my castle, good sir."
They had much more of gameful conversation together, and Dinadan was treated with all honor, and slept serenely at the castle that night. But Tristram took good care to keep out of his sight.
Early the next day Tristram armed himself and prepared to ride away, saying to the Lady Isolde that he would contrive to meet with Dinadan, and would ride with him to Lonazep, where the tournament was to be held.
He promised also to make arrangements to provide her with a good place from which to see the pa.s.sage-at-arms. Then he departed, accompanied by two squires, who bore his shield and a brace of great and long spears.
Shortly afterwards Dinadan left the castle, bidding a merry adieu to the lady, and rode so briskly forward that he soon overtook Tristram. He knew him at sight for his yesterday"s comrade, and made a sour grimace at beholding him.
"So," he said, "here again is my easy-going friend, who wears his armor for a holiday parade. You shall not get off so lightly to-day, fellow.
You shall joust with me, despite your head."
"Faith, I am not eager," said Tristram, "but a wilful man will have his way; so let us have it over, if fight we must."
Then they rode at each other, and Dinadan broke a spear on Tristram"s shield, but Tristram purposely missed him.
Dinadan now bade him draw his sword.
"Not I," he answered. "What makes you so warlike? I am not in the humor to fight."
"You shame all knights by your cowardice."