shield? I know not,
said Sir Tristram; and so said they all. Now, said King Arthur, then wot
I, for it is Sir Launcelot. Then they all looked upon Sir Launcelot and
said: Ye have beguiled us with your covered shield. It is not the first
time, said Arthur, he hath done so. My lord, said Sir Launcelot, truly
wit ye well I was the same knight that bare the covered shield; and
because I would not be known that I was of your court I said no worship
of your house. That is truth, said Sir Gawaine, Sir Kay, and Sir
Bleoberis.

Then King Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand and went to the Table
Round. Then came Queen Guenever and many ladies with her, and all the
ladies said at one voice: Welcome, Sir Tristram! Welcome, said the
damosels. Welcome, said knights. Welcome, said Arthur, for one of
the best knights, and the gentlest of the world, and the man of most
worship; for of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and of
all measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the terms of
hunting and hawking ye are the beginner, of all instruments of music ye
are the best; therefore, gentle knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to
this court. And also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon. It shall
be at your commandment, said Tristram. Well, said Arthur, I will desire
of you that ye will abide in my court. Sir, said Sir Tristram, thereto
is me loath, for I have ado in many countries. Not so, said Arthur, ye
have promised it me, ye may not say nay. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I will
as ye will. Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the Round Table, and
looked in every siege the which were void that lacked knights. And then
the king saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that said: This is the
siege of the noble knight, Sir Tristram. And then Arthur made Sir
Tristram Knight of the Table Round, with great nobley and great feast
as might be thought. For Sir Marhaus was slain afore by the hands of Sir
Tristram in an island; and that was well known at that time in the court
of Arthur, for this Marhaus was a worthy knight. And for evil deeds that
he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir Tristram and he fought. And they
fought so long, tracing and traversing, till they fell bleeding to
the earth; for they were so sore wounded that they might not stand for
bleeding. And Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and Sir Marhaus died
through the stroke on the head. So leave we of Sir Tristram and speak we
of King Mark.

CHAPTER VII