and earls, barons and
many bold knights, went unto meat; and well may ye wit there were all
manner of meat plenteously, all manner revels and games, with all manner
of minstrelsy that was used in those days. Also there was great jousts
three days. But the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust, because
of his new bride; for, as the French book saith, that Dame Lionesse
desired of the king that none that were wedded should joust at that
feast.

So the first day there jousted Sir Lamorak de Galis, for he overthrew
thirty knights, and did passing marvellously deeds of arms; and then
King Arthur made Sir Persant and his two brethren Knights of the Round
Table to their lives' end, and gave them great lands. Also the second
day there jousted Tristram best, and he overthrew forty knights, and
did there marvellous deeds of arms. And there King Arthur made Ironside,
that was the Red Knight of the Red Launds, a Knight of the Table Round
to his life's end, and gave him great lands. The third day there jousted
Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he overthrew fifty knights, and did many
marvellous deeds of arms, that all men wondered on him. And there King
Arthur made the Duke de la Rowse a Knight of the Round Table to his
life's end, and gave him great lands to spend. But when these jousts
were done, Sir Lamorak and Sir Tristram departed suddenly, and would
not be known, for the which King Arthur and all the court were sore
displeased. And so they held the court forty days with great solemnity.
And this Sir Gareth was a noble knight, and a well-ruled, and
fair-languaged.

Thus endeth this tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney that wedded Dame Lionesse
of the Castle Perilous. And also Sir Gaheris wedded her sister, Dame
Linet, that was called the Damosel Sabage. And Sir Agrabaine wedded Dame
Laurel, a fair lady and great, and mighty lands with great riches gave
with them King Arthur, that royally they might live till their lives'
end.

Here followeth the viii. book, the which is the first book of Sir
Tristram de Liones, and who was his father and his mother, and how he
was born and fostered, and how he was made knight.

BOOK VIII

CHAPTER I. How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, and how his mother died
at his birth, wherefore she named him Tristram.

IT was a king that hight Meliodas, and he was lord and king of the
country of Liones, and this Meliodas was a likely knight as any was that
time living. And by fortune he wedded Ki