had said
betwixt Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot. And in this thought he studied
a great while. Then he bethought him again how his sister was his own
enemy, and that she hated the queen and Sir Launcelot, and so he put all
that out of his thought. Then King Arthur read the letter again, and
the latter clause said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for his mortal
enemy; wherefore he put Arthur out of doubt he would be revenged of
Sir Tristram. Then was King Arthur wroth with King Mark. And when
Queen Guenever read her letter and understood it, she was wroth out of
measure, for the letter spake shame by her and by Sir Launcelot. And
so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot. And when he wist the
intent of the letter he was so wroth that he laid him down on his bed to
sleep, whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his manner to be privy
with all good knights. And as Sir Launcelot slept he stole the letter
out of his hand, and read it word by word. And then he made great sorrow
for anger. And so Sir Launcelot awaked, and went to a window, and read
the letter again, the which made him angry.

Sir, said Dinadan, wherefore be ye angry? discover your heart to me:
forsooth ye wot well I owe you good will, howbeit I am a poor knight
and a servitor unto you and to all good knights. For though I be not of
worship myself I love all those that be of worship. It is truth, said
Sir Launcelot, ye are a trusty knight, and for great trust I will shew
you my counsel. And when Dinadan understood all, he said: This is my
counsel: set you right nought by these threats, for King Mark is so
villainous, that by fair speech shall never man get of him. But ye shall
see what I shall do; I will make a lay for him, and when it is made I
shall make an harper to sing it afore him. So anon he went and made
it, and taught it an harper that hight Eliot. And when he could it, he
taught it to many harpers. And so by the will of Sir Launcelot, and of
Arthur, the harpers went straight into Wales, and into Cornwall, to sing
the lay that Sir Dinadan made by King Mark, the which was the worst lay
that ever harper sang with harp or with any other instruments.

CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King
Mark; and of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue him.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Tristram and to King Mark. As Sir Tristram
was at jousts and at tournament it fortuned he was sore hurt both with
a spear and with a swo