Chapter 10

CHAPTER X.
THE STORY OF TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE. MELIADUS was king of Leonois, or Lyonesse, a country famous in the
annals of romance, which adjoined the kingdom of Cornwall, but has now
disappeared from the map, having been, it is said, overwhelmed by
the ocean. Meliadus was married to Isabella, sister of Mark, king of
Cornwall. A fairy fell in love with him, and drew him away by
enchantment while he was engaged in hunting. His queen set out in
quest of him, but was taken ill on her journey, and died, leaving an
infant son, whom, from the melancholy circumstances of his birth,
she called Tristram.
Gouvernail, the queen's squire, who had accompanied her, took charge
of the child, and restored him to his father, who had at length
burst the enchantments of the fairy, and returned home.
Meliadus, after seven years, married again, and the new queen, being
jealous of the influence of Tristram with his father, laid plots for
his life, which were discovered by Gouvernail, who, in consequence,
fled with the boy to the court of the king of France, where Tristram
was kindly received, and grew up improving in every gallant and
knightly accomplishment, adding to his skill in arms the arts of music
and of chess. In particular, he devoted himself to the chase and to
all woodland sports, so that he became distinguished above all other
chevaliers of the court for his knowledge of all that relates to
hunting. No wonder that Belinda, the king's daughter, fell in love
with him; but as he did not return her passion, she, in a sudden
impulse of anger, excited her father against him, and he was
banished the kingdom. The princess soon repented of her act, and in
despair destroyed herself, having first written a most tender letter
to Tristram, sending him at the same time a beautiful and sagacious
dog, of which she was very fond, desiring him to keep it as a memorial
of her. Meliadus was now dead, and as his queen, Tristram's
stepmother, held the throne, Gouvernail was afraid to carry his
pupil to his native country, and took him to Cornwall, to his uncle
Mark, who gave him a kind reception.
King Mark resided at the castle of Tintadel, already mentioned in
the history of Uther and Iguerne. In this court Tristram became
distinguished in all the exercises incumbent on a knight; nor was it
long before he had an opportunity of practically employing his valor
and skill. Moraunt, a celebrated champion, brother to the queen of
Ireland, arrived at the court, to demand tribute of King Mark. The
knights of Cornwall are in ill repute, in romance, for their cowardice
and they exhibited it on this occasion. King Mark could find no
champion who dared to encounter the Irish knight, till his nephew
Tristram, who had not yet received the