was a right wise lady, and she said plainly unto King
Mark, and to Sir Tristram, and to all his barons, that he should never
be whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that the venom
came from, and in that country should he be holpen or else never. Thus
said the lady unto the king.

When King Mark understood that, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a
fair vessel, well victualled, and therein was put Sir Tristram, and
Gouvernail with him, and Sir Tristram took his harp with him, and so
he was put into the sea to sail into Ireland; and so by good fortune
he arrived up in Ireland, even fast by a castle where the king and the
queen was; and at his arrival he sat and harped in his bed a merry lay,
such one heard they never none in Ireland before that time.

And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that was
such an harper, anon the king sent for him, and let search his wounds,
and then asked him his name. Then he answered, I am of the country of
Liones, and my name is Tramtrist, that thus was wounded in a battle as
I fought for a lady's right. So God me help, said King Anguish, ye shall
have all the help in this land that ye may have here; but I let you wit,
in Cornwall I had a great loss as ever had king, for there I lost the
best knight of the world; his name was Marhaus, a full noble knight, and
Knight of the Table Round; and there he told Sir Tristram wherefore Sir
Marhaus was slain. Sir Tristram made semblant as he had been sorry, and
better knew he how it was than the king.

CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of La Beale Isoud
first for to be healed of his wound.

THEN the king for great favour made Tramtrist to be put in his
daughter's ward and keeping, because she was a noble surgeon. And when
she had searched him she found in the bottom of his wound that therein
was poison, and so she healed him within a while; and therefore
Tramtrist cast great love to La Beale Isoud, for she was at that time
the fairest maid and lady of the world. And there Tramtrist learned her
to harp, and she began to have a great fantasy unto him. And at that
time Sir Palamides, the Saracen, was in that country, and well cherished
with the king and the queen. And every day Sir Palamides drew unto La
Beale Isoud and proffered her many gifts, for he loved her passingly
well. All that espied Tramtrist, and full well knew he Sir Palamides
for a noble knight and a mighty man. And wit you well Sir