07 - Story of King Arthur, in Twelve Tales by Winona Caroline Martin

A retelling of the classic Arthurian legends, this collection of twelve tales captures the grandeur, mystery, and moral depth of King Arthur’s court and the quest for the Holy Grail. Designed for young readers and educators, it brings timeless ideals to life.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
In twelve Tales by Winona Carrolin Martin Tales six Tristram
the Forest Knight, Tristan Rise, Were your sins great as heaven?
Yet your love, being greater still should burn your guilt
away Loris than wards Tristan in Brittany. When Arthur reigned

(00:23):
in Britain, there were many minor kings, who, though they
were allowed to rule over their own countries, nevertheless paid
him yearly homage, and these men had frequent quarrels among themselves.
One of these disputes arose between King Anguish of Ireland
and King Mark of Cornwall about some tribute money, which,
according to the people of Ireland, should have been paid

(00:45):
every year, but which the people of Cornwall had now
refused seven times. King Anguish therefore sent a messenger to
King Mark demanding the payment of the gold, by whom
Mark returned the answer that if Anguish desired the money,
he might send a champion to fight for it. Not
long after this, therefore, there arrived at Tintagel Castle, the

(01:05):
home of Mark, a valiant man of arms, Sir Marhaus,
brother to the Queen of Ireland and one of the
knights of King Arthur's round Table. Now that was a
condition that Mark had scarcely expected, for despite his bluster,
he was a craven at heart, as were in fact
all the knights of his court, so that they had
become known far and wide as the cowardly Knights of Cornwall.

(01:30):
It was with a trembling spirit, therefore, that he heard
the trumpets blown each day at noon, announcing to all
the countryside that Sir mar House of Arthur's round Table
was challenging any gentleman of Cornwall to meet him in
single combat as King Mark's champion for the tribute money.
Day after day the call went forth, and day after

(01:51):
day there was no response, for those dastardly Cornish knights
had hidden themselves away in their strong towers, and the
King himself would rather have submitted to any humiliation than
put his own precious life in jeopardy. But at last,
one morning, when the story of King Mark's predicament had
spread to distant lands, there appeared before the harassed monarch,

(02:13):
a young man, tall of stature and a fair countenance,
who made the following request. Sir King, I am as
yet but a squire, although well versed in the use
of arms, If you will make me knight. I will
promise to serve you faithfully all the days of my life,
and to go forth upon whatever quest you may see
fit to send me. Hearing these words, the king's eyes

(02:35):
gleamed with a crafty light. For what he lacked in
prowess he made up in cunning, so that he was
known as Mark the Fox. Then he replied, young man,
if you will promise to fight the first battle I
assign you, I will make you knight on the spot,
to which the youth answered, willingly sire, the first and
the last, in all others that may come between. Then

(02:58):
he knelt, and, placing his hand and his sovereigns, received
three strokes with the flat of a king's sword, and
took the holy vow of knighthood, which bound him in
loyalty to Mark for all time. After which he arose, saying, eagerly,
and now with whom shall I do battle? Sir King,
your first fight, replied Mark, shall be as my champion

(03:19):
for the tribute money against Sir Marhaus of Ireland. Let
it be so proclaimed, cried the young man, joyfully brandishing
his sword. But when Sir Marhaus received the news which
he had long since ceased to expect that a champion
had been found for Cornwall. He returned the following answer,
I will fight with no man that is not of

(03:40):
royal blood, son of a king or a queen. Now
Mark understood full well by this that his enemy was
trying to draw him personally into the combat, and his
heart sank within him in great distress. Therefore he sent
for his newly made knight and explained the situation to him,
whereupon the brave young man reply, sire, I pray you

(04:02):
give yourself no anxiety. I had hoped to keep my
identity a secret until I had proved myself, But now
I will tell you all. I am the son of
your sister Elizabeth and of King Meliodas of Lioness. They
call me the Fourth Night because I was born in
the deep dark woods, where my mother had wandered in
search of my father when he had been enticed away
by the wiles of a wicked enchantress. As you know,

(04:25):
she died there before finding him, but with her last breath,
as she entrusted me to the care of a faithful
lady in waiting, she named me Tristram, the child of Sorrow.
Thus you see I have never known a mother's love. Nevertheless,
my father has had me carefully trained in the manly
sports of harping, hunting, and hawking, as well as in

(04:47):
the more serious art of the joust and the tourney. Therefore,
hearing that my mother's country was being shamed for lack
of a champion, I came to present myself, and Sir
Marhaus need have no fear, for my rank is higher
than his. Then the King's foxy old heart rejoiced, and
arrangements were made for the combat to take place on

(05:08):
an island near which the ships of the Irish Knight
were anchored. On the day appointed. Therefore, the two champions,
each on horseback, set their spears in rest, and crashed
together with such a mighty shock that both were thrown
to the ground. Then they drew their swords, and, throwing
their shields before them, fought on and on for more

(05:29):
than half a day until both were severely wounded. At last, however,
Tristram was able to give his opponents such a stroke
that Sir Marhaus's armor was pierced, and the young Knight's
swords stuck fast, so that he had to pull mightily
three times before it could be dislodged. Then Marhaus fell
to the ground, but recovering himself, threw away his sword

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and shield and fled for his life to his ships.
Thus was the honor of Cornwall saved for Sir Marhaus,
having failed in his set sail at once for Ireland,
to be cared for by his sister, the Queen, who
was well versed in the art of healing. When his
wound was probed, however, a small jagged piece of the
steel of Tristram's sword was found therein which the Queen,

(06:15):
realizing that she was going to be unable with all
her skill to save her brother, put carefully away, vowing
that in revenge she would take the life of the
man into whose weapon it fitted, should he ever cross
her path. Soon after this, Sir Marhaus died. Now, when
Tristram returned to the mainland victorious, great was the rejoicing,

(06:38):
and loud were the praises of the people for their
valiant young champion. So loud indeed, that King Mark's jealousy
was aroused, and he began to fear his nephew as
a possible rival to the throne. It was with secret joy, therefore,
that he realized how seriously the young Knight had been wounded,
for it was found that Sir Marhaus, contrary to all

(07:01):
the laws of knighthood, had used a poisoned spear. So
Tristram lay ill for a month or more, and all
the skill of surgeons and leeches was of little avail,
until one day there came to court a lady who
gave the following advice. Let the young Knight go to
the land from which the deadly poison came. There he

(07:22):
may be helped, but nowhere else. At this the King
was secretly delighted, for he thought to himself, if Tristram
goes to Ireland, the queen whose brother he slew, will
see to it that he never escapes alive. But aloud,
he said, make ready my ships, for so help me,
I would not that my beloved nephew died. So when

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all was prepared, Tristram, in the care of his trusting
servant Governail, sailed away, followed by the good wishes of
every man and woman in Cornwall, save his own uncle,
who sincerely hoped never to see him set foot on
those shores again. During the crossing, Tristram, who was too
weak to do much else had ample time to think

(08:07):
over the situation in which he was soon to find himself,
and he came to realize that if his true name
were known, he would scarcely be a welcome guest at
the Irish court. He therefore decided to present himself as
a strolling minstrel called tramtrist of Lioness, who had been
accidentally wounded in battle. Now, during some years that he

(08:28):
had spent in France, Tristram had become a very skilled harper,
so that when King Anguish heard him play, he was
greatly pleased with performance, and said, Sir Tramtris, you are
very welcome at our court and to the care of
our leeches and of the Queen, who is the most
skillful of them all in the healing of wounds. Then
when you are stronger, we should count it an honor

(08:48):
if you would consent to give our daughter, the Princess Isolda,
lessons and harping. Sir Tristram remained receiving the ministrations of
the Queen and acting as tutor to the beautiful Isolda.
And so charmed did he become with this latter occupation
that he very soon lost all desire to return either
to his father's kingdom of Lioness or to his uncle's

(09:09):
court in Cornwall. In fact, he was now beginning to
dread the time when his wound would be completely healed.
He had not been long, however, in these intimate relations
with his pupil, before he discovered that she was strangely
sad for one so young and apparently so free from care.
One evening therefore, when the twilight had overtaken them in

(09:29):
the midst of a lesson, and she sat with her
golden head leaning against her harp, while her white fingers
idly swept the strings, calling forth from time to time
a low and plaintive strain, Tristram leaned forward and asked, gently, Princess,
will you tell me why it is that you are
never merry like other maidens. Then the beautifully's oldest sighed

(09:52):
and bent her head still lower. Presently, she said, Ah,
Sir tramtrist the lot of a king's daughter may seem
to other maidens one to be envied, But I assure
you that it is hard, very hard, indeed, And why
so hard, princess inquired the young man. She hesitated for
a moment, then she said Sir tramtrist I will tell

(10:15):
you all my father has an enemy, a mighty saracen
knight called Palamedes, of whom our whole kingdom is in dread.
He has sued for my hand. Therefore, my father, in
the forlorn hope that some brave man may be found
to overcome him, has proclaimed a great joust and tournament,
in which any knight that pleases may take part, and

(10:35):
for the winning of which I am the prize. You
can well understand then, why I am sad, For I
know full well that no gentleman of Ireland is able
to stand against this mighty Saracen, so I shall be
given to him to save my country from ruin. And
carried far away into a heathen land, Princess cried Sir Tristram,

(10:56):
leaping to his feet, that shall never be. I will
fight in this tournament, and rest assured the love I
bear you will so strengthen my arm that I will
overthrow this man, though his natural strength be ten times
greater than mine. But Hezolda only sighed, shaking her head,
and replied, I wish, oh, I wish, my teacher, that
it might be so. But I fear it would never

(11:19):
be permitted, for you are but a wandering minstrel, and
Palamedes's rank is very high. Besides, your wound is not
yet healed. Then the young man drew himself to his
full height, as he said, as for my wound, fair Princess,
it no longer troubles me. And as for my rank,
I will tell you a part of my secret, though
I dare not as yet tell you all. I am,

(11:41):
in truth a king's son, worthy to be matched in
battle with any man that lives. So I will gladly
risk my life in this cause. But I ask you
not to let it be known beforehand that I am
to take part in this contest. Thus it was arranged
between them. The great day of the joust arrived, the
mighty Palamedes rode proudly into the field on his black

(12:03):
war horse, bearing before him an enormous black shield. There
on the first day of the tournament, he overthrew every
night that dared to come before him, until all the
people marveled at such feats of prowess. Then he retired
to return to the lists the following morning. More certain
than ever, if that were possible, that the fair prize

(12:27):
would soon be his, riding to the center of the field.
Therefore he flourished his sword, calling loudly for any man
who would dare continue the contest. For a moment, there
was an ominous silence. Then suddenly the postern gate of
the castle swung wide, and there rode forth upon a
white horse, a knight in snow white armor. Straight toward Palamedes,

(12:49):
he came, who instantly put his spear in rest, and
the two crashed together, so that the scene appeared to
the breathless onlookers like a deadly struggle between the powers
of light and the powers of darkness. Long and hard
was the combat, but at last the black Knight was
thrown to earth, crying I yield. Then Tristram, standing over

(13:12):
him with his sword upraised, said sternly, promise me, as
you value your life, that you will give up all
claim to the hand of the Princess Zolda, that you
will leave Ireland forever in peace, and that for a
year and a day you will bear no arms in
any Christian country, to all of which Palamedes replied, I
promise alas I am shamed forever, after which Tristram allowed

(13:37):
him to rise. Then he himself rode back to the
postern gate, where Isolda was waiting his coming, with a
strange new light of joy on her face. And now
there followed happy days for Tristram, the child of sorrow,
and for Isolda, the princess, from whose life the shadow
of a dreaded doom seemed forever lifted. The King and

(13:57):
the Queen cherished their brave young champion, and as if
he had been their own son, And despite the mystery
in which his birth was still enshrouded, they were willing
to agree to a union between him and the princess,
for they felt sure that he spoke the truth when
he said that royal blood ran in his veins. So
the preparations for the wedding progressed, and each morning Tristram

(14:18):
arose with the intention of telling his kind hosts the
whole story, and each day his courage failed him. One afternoon,
he had gone out carelessly, leaving his sword behind him
in the room where the Queen and the princess with
their maidens, were busy upon the wedding garments. Is Isolda,
having bent over an embroidery frame until she was weary,

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rose and stepped across the room till she stood by
the table where the brand lay. It was a beautiful
weapon with a bejeweled hilt, and the princess, thinking proudly
of all the valiant deeds in which it had figured,
drew it curiously from its scabbard. Suddenly she exclaimed, why, mother,
there is a peace broken out from the edge. Wonder
in what wonderful feet of prowess that happened? At those

(15:03):
words so carelessly spoken, the Queen, dropping her work, had
sprung to her feet. Let me see, she cried, almost
snatching the sword from her daughter's hand. Then, to his
oldest surprise, she rushed toward a box where she had
secretly hidden the bit of steel that she had taken
from her brother's wound, and with trembling fingers, fitted it

(15:24):
exactly into the gap. At last, at last, she exclaimed, triumphantly,
I have found him, the foul knight who slew your uncle,
and he shall die. He shall die according to my vow,
not even the snowy wedding gown that had fallen to
the ground. And the excitement was as white as he is.
Olda's face when she heard those words, For she knew

(15:47):
well enough how cruel her mother could be toward an
enemy yet another moment. Therefore, she had rushed from the
room in search of her father, and whose kindliness of
disposition was her only hope for the salvation of her lover.
My child, said he gently, my poor little girl. I
will do all that lies in my power to save

(16:07):
your knight from your mother's wrath. For I am convinced
that though he slew your uncle, he did so in
honorable combat. He should have told us the whole truth
when he came among us. I admit, nevertheless, I will
see to it that he is permitted to leave our
shores in safety. But he must bid farewell to you forever.

(16:28):
For now you can never become his wife. So that
very day the parting came between Tristram and the beautiful Isolda,
who was so soon to have been his bride. I
leave you free, my princess, he said, But for my part,
I will take upon myself such a vow as is
made by the noble knights of Arthur's court, to love

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you only through all the days of my life, and
to worship you by years of noble deeds. Though I
may never win you farewell, and remember, if if ever
you are in need of a champion to do battle
for you, I will come, though it be from the
ends of the earth. So he sailed away. Time went

(17:11):
on Tristram, much to the secret annoyance of King Mark,
returned to Cornwall, where his brave deeds caused him more
and more to be admired and loved by his uncle's people,
so that the old Fox never ceased to ponder upon
some method that should appear entirely accidental of ridding himself
of this troublesome nephew. One day in early spring, when

(17:34):
Mark's knights were feasting and making merry about a lavish board,
it chanced that, the air, being warm, a window was open,
facing the western Sea. Through this window there presently flew
a swallow, carrying in its bill a hair of most
brilliant gold, which it deposited on the arm of the
King's chair, after which it immediately fluttered out into the sunshine. Again.

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By my life, exclaimed the thought, I should like to
see the maiden from whose head this came. Can any
of you tell me where she may be found? Then
the beautiful shining thing was passed from one night to
the other, and each in turn shook his head until
it came to Tristram, who, as the King noticed, had
turned very pale. Glad would he have been to remain silent?

(18:19):
But Mark, turning the attention of the whole table to him,
inquired maliciously, nephew, you appear to have some knowledge of
this matter? Can you buy any chance inform us? Whence
this thread of gold came? Then Tristram, who would have
scorned to tell a lie, answered reluctantly, Sire, I can

(18:40):
we await your information? Said the King, And still more
slowly and reluctantly came the words from Tristram's white lips.
Such hair as that sire belongs to but one woman
in all the world, the beautiful Isola, Princess of Ireland.
At that, the old Fox's heart rejoiced, for he now

(19:04):
felt sure that he had hit upon a plan that
could scarcely fail to bring sorrow and possibly destruction to
his nephew. My noble knights, said he, It has suddenly
become the desire of my heart to wed the maiden
to whom this glorious hare belongs. How many of you
are willing to go for me to the court of
King Anguish and bear my request for her hand. Thereupon

(19:27):
there followed a scene that would have acquainted a stranger
with a fact, even had he learned it no other way,
that he was not at Arthur's court. For each of
those cowardly Cornish knights began to fumble with the fastening
of his sword, hoping that his neighbor would have his
drawn first to this unknightly conduct. However, just as King
Mark had expected, there was one exception. Tristram's brand had

(19:50):
leapt from its scabbard, as if of its own volition,
and was now being held aloft while his voice rang
out clear and strong the quest King, at which Mark
smiled his crafty smile and answered, you are willing to
do even this for me, nephew. Then Tristram, true knight

(20:10):
that he was, although he knew in what peril of
his life he would find himself as soon as he
landed on Irish shores, and although he realized that death
would be as nothing to him compared with the pain
of succeeding in his mission, remembered his vow and answered, bravely, sire,
I am so. Within a few days Tristram set sail

(20:32):
for Ireland a second time, disguised on this occasion as
a merchant selling costly silks and samites, and certainly fortune
seemed after all to favor him, for he chanced to
arrive at a time when the whole country was in
great fear because of a terrible dragon that was devastating
the land once again. Therefore, when he looked into the

(20:53):
beautiful face of Iolda, to whose presence he gained admission
under the pretense of selling his wares, he saw that
she was sad, and he soon learned that this time
the king had promised her hand to whoever would kill
the frightful monster. Nothing daunted, therefore, he set out one
bright morning for the forest where the dreaded beast was
supposed to have his layer. There, in the deepest shade

(21:16):
of the oldest tree, he found him at last, with
his great scaly body twisted about one of the mighty trunks.
At the young knight's approach, the ugly head shot forth,
and the immense jaws snapped open, with the evident intention
of closing again immediately upon the intruder. But instead of that,
it was Tristram's good sword upon which the tusks came together,

(21:39):
and in a short time, with a terrible hiss and
a tremendous crash, the monster fell to the ground and
lay motionless for a moment. Tristram, still breathing hard from
the struggle, stood looking down upon his prostrate foe. Then,
realizing that he had no proof of having performed the feat,

(21:59):
he drew his brand and cut out the creature's tongue,
after which he started on his way back to the palace.
He had not gone far, however, when a strange faintness
overcame him, and a little later he fell senseless by
a spring where he had gone to seek a cooling draft.
For the truth was that the tongue which he had
wrapped in his garments contained a deadly poison. Now there

(22:23):
was at the court of King Anguish, a cowardly steward
who had long cherished a dream of advancement by marriage
with the princess, but who was far too much of
a craven to fight either man or beast on her behalf.
As fate would have it, therefore, it happened that this man,
wandering through the forest, came accidentally upon the body of
the dragon, whose head he valiantly cut off, after which

(22:46):
he presented himself before the King as the hero who
had delivered Ireland. But neither King, nor Queen nor princess
believed his story, and a search party was therefore sent
out to make investigations. After a day or two, this
party returned carrying the unconscious form of the merchant, which
they had come across in their wanderings. While there was
still no proof, the king and the whole court soon

(23:08):
became convinced that this stranger was the true hero, and
although in nursing him back to health, the Queen soon
recognized him as Tristram of Cornwall, the slayer of her brother.
She was nevertheless prevailed upon by the entreaties of both
husband and daughter to forego her revenge and spare the
young man's life. At last, the great day came when

(23:29):
the court had assembled to witness the awarding of his
old as hand to him who had killed the dragon,
and as all had expected, the steward was the first
to step forward to claim the fair prize. What proof
have you demanded the king with a sinking heart, sire,
this head, replied the steward, displaying the ghastly trophy. Then Tristram,

(23:52):
who had been standing quietly in the background, now made
his way to the front and cried aloud, Your majesty,
he sped, seeks falsely, bid your men, I pray you
open the monster's jaws. They will find no tongue therein.
The men did as they were bidden, and whereupon Tristram's
serving man stepped forward, bearing the ugly forked tongue, and

(24:14):
fitted it exactly into the beast's mouth. Then all the
people shouted for joy, for they had loved this young
knight in the old days, and even the Queen's heart
was softened toward him. So as the ladies and gentlemen
of the court stood circling about the throne, and the
beautiful Isolda sat by the side of her parents with
flushed cheeks and lowered eyes, the king arose to make

(24:36):
the proclamation which would so have gladdened the heart of Tristram,
had his mission been other than it was. Sir Knight,
you have once again proved yourself the savior of our
beloved land of Ireland. The hand of the Princess is
therefore yours. Do you claim the prize? The blush upon
his oldest cheeks had deepened, and her head was bent

(24:58):
still lower as she waited with beating heart for the
reply of her hero, who had now risked his life
for her. A second time, presently, as if from some
great distance, in a harsh, strained voice that she could
scarcely believe to be that of her old tutors, these
words reach her ears. Sire I claimed the hand of

(25:20):
the Princess Zolda, for my uncle, King Mark of Cornwall,
who has sent me here to seek her as his bride.
There was silence. Swiftly through the mind of both King
and queen. There passed the same thought. This marriage would
be an advantage to the country, and would settle forever,
as no fighting could do the vexed question of the

(25:42):
tribute money. Presently turning toward his daughter, therefore, King Inglish said, Zolda,
the honor done you is greater than we had supposed.
A king will make a better husband for you than
an ordinary knight, which words were echoed by the Queen, Ah, Yes,
a king will make a better husband than an ordinary knight.

(26:04):
Then the Princess, rising in her place, turned flashing eyes
of scorn upon King Mark's emissary, and answered with profoundly
lifted head. Certainly a king will make a better husband
for me than an ordinary knight. Whereupon Tristram, the deathly
pallor of whose face now matched her own, bowed low

(26:26):
and retired to make his preparations for the departure. Within
a few days, the little ship bearing King Mark's unwilling
bride to tind Tagile Castle, was tossing upon the waves
of the Irish Sea. All during the strange journey, Tristram,
loyal as ever to his uncle, had kept himself apart
from the Princess, whose anger was so kindled at his
apparently inexplicable conduct, that she, in her turn, had made

(26:49):
no attempt to communicate with him in any way. And
now the end so dreaded by both, was drawing near.
It happened, however, that the Queen, fearing that after all
her daughter's heart was still with the young knight, and
being concerned despite her ambition for the maiden's happiness, had
used all her art in preparing a magic love potion,

(27:10):
which she had entrusted to the care of Izolda's maid,
with strict injunctions that it should be given to the
princess when she and Mark were alone together, so that
the maiden's eyes should rest upon her future husband at
the moment of drinking. But it also happened that Isolda
too had brewed a potion which was a deadly draft,
the swallowing of which would result in instant death. Now,

(27:34):
as the turrets of Tintagil Castle began to loom out
of a mist, the princess turned suddenly to her maid
with the command, bring me the small flask that thighs
upon my table. But the faithful maid, having caught the
desperate look in Ezolda's eyes, suspected the truth, and, with
the wild hope of saving her young mistress, substituted the
queen's filter for the one for which the princess was calling. Hastily,

(27:58):
Ezolda took the cup from the girl's hand, and, turning
so that her dying eyes might rest upon her hero,
who was standing in the prow of the boat, gazing
sadly toward the fast approaching Cornish shore, raised it to
her lips instantly, as if in some mystic way he
knew what was happening. Tristram turned and beheld what he
believed to be the maiden's desperate deed. In another moment,

(28:22):
he had reached her side, snatched the fateful goblet from
her shaking fingers, and drained the liquid that she had
left to the last drop. Then, as the glass dropped
from his hand, the pair of ill starred lovers stood
looking into each other's eyes, awaiting death. One two, three

(28:43):
long minutes passed while the draft was taking its unexpected effect,
for instead of the chill of death, there began to
sweep through their veins a wonderful tingle of life and
happiness beyond all that their imagination could have conceived. Suddenly,
realizing at last what had happened, and knowing that they
now loved each other ten times more than ever, the

(29:06):
cry burst simultaneously from their lips. Tristram, he Isolda, And
at that moment the ship's keel ground upon the beach. Then,
slowly and painfully, the memory of things as they were
returned to them, and Tristram, reverently, taking Zolda's white hand
in his, said gently, Princess, the honor of my knighthood

(29:31):
binds me to fulfill in letter and in spirit any
mission upon which I am sent by him who made
me knight. If I failed in this I should not
be worthy of you within a few moments. Therefore, I
shall deliver you into the keeping of King Mark, as
whose honored queen I pray you may find happiness. After
that I shall ride away and seek adventure as a

(29:52):
brave knight should. But once again, at this second parting,
I repeat the promise that I made you long ago,
to love you only through all the days of my life,
and to worship you by years of noble deeds. Though
I may never hope to win you, farewell, and remember
that should you ever need a champion, I will come again.

(30:18):
The weary years, crept On and Queen E'sulda lived a
sad and lonely life in her high tower of Tintagil Castle,
looking out upon the Irish Sea. For King Mark proved
no kinder as a husband than he had proved as
an uncle. In fact, his sole reason for seeking the
Irish princess in marriage had been to cause pain to
his nephew and drive him from Cornwall. From time to

(30:40):
time news reached Tintagile of the brave deeds done at
Arthur's court by a knight that had lately come there.
A certain Sir Tristram of Lioness, whose reputation for prowess
was fast becoming almost as great as the mighty Launcelots.
Then Queenie's Olda's sad heart beat with pride, for she
knew that her chaceampion was being true to his vow.

(31:02):
King Mark, however, was beloved neither by his own people
nor by the monarchs of neighboring lands. So it happened
that his troubles with Ireland were not the only difficulties
in which he managed to get himself entangled. When he
and Zolda had been married some years, therefore, it chanced
that Tintagel Castle was besieged by the Saxons under a
captain named Elias, who was a good man of arms.

(31:26):
As usual, when the challenge came to single combat, Mark
refused to risk his own life, as did all the
cowardly knights of Cornwall. At last one of them made
the following valiant suggestion, Sire send to Arthur's court for
a champion, for he is promised, as is well known,
to drive the heathen from the land. Accordingly, one day,

(31:47):
when Arthur's court was in session at Camelot, there arrived
a messenger from King Mark. The moment the man had
ceased speaking after presenting his plea, every sword in the
hall was pointed upward, while across I, so often heard
within those walls, rang out strong and clear. The quest.
Sir King Arthur looked about among that goodly fellowship until

(32:10):
his eye rested upon Tristram, whose relation to the Cornish
king was known to him. Then, with an inclination of
the head, he assigned to him the quest. So Tristram,
rejoicing that once again he was to have an opportunity
of serving Ezouda, rode away to Cornwall with a gladder
heart than he had known in many a day. There,

(32:32):
in single combat, he met Elias and overthrew him, while
Mark and his valiant knights remained bravely behind the sheltering
walls of the castle, but so helpless this man to
escape his doom. Although Tristram came forth from the encounter unharmed,
a stray arrow shot at random by one of the
Saxon soldiers hit King Mark, so that he died soon

(32:55):
after of the wound. Then the people of Cornwall, in
whose hearts Tristram had always lived as a hero, proclaimed
him king in his uncle's stead, and the beautiful Izolda,
after the long years of their separation, became his wife.
When the wedding ceremonies were at an end, the newly
made monarch set out for Arthur's court to pay homage

(33:17):
and to present his bride. And when they reached Camelot,
it was discovered that the siege which had formerly belonged
to Sir Marhaus, the man who had disgraced his knighthood
by using a poisoned spear, bore a new inscription in
letters of shining gold. This is the seat of the
noble knight, Sir Tristram end of Tale six.