Chapter 10 - Page 2

honors of knighthood, craved to
be admitted to the order, offering at the same time to fight the
battle of Cornwall against the Irish champion. King Mark assented with
reluctance; Tristram received the accolade, which conferred knighthood
upon him; and the place and time were assigned for the encounter.
Without attempting to give the details of this famous combat, the
first and one of the most glorious of Tristram's exploits, we shall
only say that the young knight, though severely wounded, cleft the
head of Moraunt, leaving a portion of his sword in the wound. Moraunt,
half dead with his wound and the disgrace of his defeat, hastened to
hide himself in his ship, sailed away with all speed for Ireland,
and died soon after arriving in his own country.
The kingdom of Cornwall was thus delivered from its tribute.
Tristram, weakened by loss of blood, fell senseless. His friends
flew to his assistance. They dressed his wounds, which in general
healed readily; but the lance of Moraunt was poisoned, and one wound
which it made yielded to no remedies, but grew worse day by day. The
surgeons could do no more. Tristram asked permission of his uncle to
depart, and seek for aid in the kingdom of Loegria (England). With his
consent he embarked, and, after tossing for many days on the sea,
was driven by the winds to the coast of Ireland. He landed, full of
joy and gratitude that he had escaped the peril of the sea; took his
rote,* and began to play. It was a summer evening, and the king of
Ireland and his daughter, the beautiful Isoude, were at a window which
overlooked the sea. The strange harper was sent for, and conveyed to
the palace, where, finding that he was in Ireland, whose champion he
had lately slain, he concealed his name, and called himself
Tramtris. The queen undertook his cure, and by a medicated bath
gradually restored him to health. His skill in music and in games
occasioned his being frequently called to court, and he became
instructor of the Princess Isoude in minstrelsy and poetry, who
profited so well under his care, that she soon had no equal in the
kingdom, except her instructor. * A musical instrument. At this time a tournament was held, at which many knights of the
Round Table, and others, were present. On the first day a Saracen
prince, named Palamedes, obtained the advantage over all. They brought
him to the court, and gave him a feast, at which Tristram, just
recovering from his wound, was present. The fair Isoude appeared on
this occasion in all her charms. Palamedes could not behold them
without emotion, and made no effort to conceal his love. Tristram
perceived it, and the pain he felt from jealousy taught him how dear
the fair Isoude had already become to him.
Next day the tournament