ounded, and brought him home on his shield, and there he lay long or
that he were whole, but at the last he recovered. Also King Mark would
not be aknown of that Sir Tristram and he had met that night. And as for
Sir Tristram, he knew not that King Mark had met with him. And so the
king askance came to Sir Tristram, to comfort him as he lay sick in his
bed. But as long as King Mark lived he loved never Sir Tristram after
that; though there was fair speech, love was there none. And thus it
passed many weeks and days, and all was forgiven and forgotten; for Sir
Segwarides durst not have ado with Sir Tristram, because of his noble
prowess, and also because he was nephew unto King Mark; therefore he
let it overslip: for he that hath a privy hurt is loath to have a shame
outward.

CHAPTER XV. How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest lady in King Mark's
court, whom he took away, and how he was fought with.

THEN it befell upon a day that the good knight Bleoberis de Ganis,
brother to Blamore de Ganis, and nigh cousin unto the good knight Sir
Launcelot du Lake, this Bleoberis came unto the court of King Mark, and
there he asked of King Mark a boon, to give him what gift that he would
ask in his court. When the king heard him ask so, he marvelled of his
asking, but because he was a knight of the Round Table, and of a
great renown, King Mark granted him his whole asking. Then, said Sir
Bleoberis, I will have the fairest lady in your court that me list to
choose. I may not say nay, said King Mark; now choose at your adventure.
And so Sir Bleoberis did choose Sir Segwarides' wife, and took her by
the hand, and so went his way with her; and so he took his horse and
gart set her behind his squire, and rode upon his way.

When Sir Segwarides heard tell that his lady was gone with a knight of
King Arthur's court, then he armed him and rode after that knight for
to rescue his lady. So when Bleoberis was gone with this lady, King Mark
and all the court was wroth that she was away. Then were there certain
ladies that knew that there were great love between Sir Tristram and
her, and also that lady loved Sir Tristram above all other knights. Then
there was one lady that rebuked Sir Tristram in the horriblest wise, and
called him coward knight, that he would for shame of his knighthood see
a lady so shamefully be taken away from his uncle's court. But she meant
that either of them had loved other with entire heart. But Sir Tristram
answ