at Arthur's court that whoever
overthrows him, shall have herself and all her lands. Many knights
undertake the adventure, but all are defeated by Sir Alysandre.

And whanne La Beale Alys sawe hym juste soo wel, she thought hym a
passynge goodly knyght on horsbak. And thenne she lepte out of her
pauelione, and toke Syr Alisandre by the brydel, and thus she sayd;
Fayre knyght, I require the of thy knyghthode, shewe me thy vysage.
I dar wel, sayd Sir Alysander shewe my vysage. And then he put of
his helme, and she sawe his vysage, she said; O swete Jhesu! the I
must loue and neuer other. Thenne shewe me your vysage, said he.
Thenne she unwympeled her vysage. And whanne he saw her, he sayde,
here haue I fond my loue and my lady. Truly fayre lady, said he, I
promise yow to be your knyghte, and none other that bereth the lyf.
Now, gentil knyghte, said she, telle me your name. My name is, said
he, Alysander le Orphelyn. Now damoysel, telle me your name, said
he. My name is, said she, Alys la Beale Pilggrym. And whan we be
more at oure hertes ease both ye and I shalle telle other of what
blood we be come. Soo there was grete loue betwyxe them. And as
they thus talked, ther came a knyghte that hyght Harsouse le
Berbuse, and axed parte of sir Alysanders speres. Thenne Sir
Alysander encountred with hym, and at the fyrst Sir Alysander smote
hym ouer his hors croupe.[15]

Sir Tristram is thus welcomed at Arthur's court:

Thenne Kynge Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand, and wente to the
table round. Thenne came Quene Guenever and many ladyes with her,
and alle the ladyes sayden at one voyce, welcome Sir Tristram,
welcome, said the damoysels, welcome said knightes, welcome said
Arthur, for one of the best knyghts and the gentylst of the world,
and the man of moost worship, for all manner of hunting thou berest
the pryce, and of all mesures of blowynge thou art the begynninge,
and of alle the termes of huntynge and haukinge ye are the
begynner, of all Instrumentes of musyke ye are the best, therefor
gentyl knyght, said Arthur, ye are welcome to this courte.[16]

The description of the combat between King Arthur and Accolon is
perhaps the most interesting of the kind which the "Morte d'Arthur"
contains. Accolon of Gaul had by the aid of Morgan le Fay obtained
possession of Arthur's enchanted sword and scabbard.[17]