Upon this Sir Launcelot cried out in a loud voice:  “Ha, Messire! why didst thou do such a thing as that?  To break thine own fair sword?”

“Sir,” quoth Sir Tristram, “this sword hath this day received the greatest honor that is possible for any blade to receive; for it hath been baptized in thy blood.  So, because aught else that might happen to it would diminish that honor, I have broken it so that its honor might never be made less than it is at this present time.”

Upon this Sir Launcelot ran to Sir Tristram and catched him in his arms, and he cried out:  “Tristram, I believe that thou art the noblest knight whom ever I beheld!” And Sir Tristram replied:  “And thou, Launcelot, I love better than father or kindred.”  Therewith each kissed the other upon the face, and all they who stood by were so moved at that sight that several of them wept for pure joy.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot feast together] Thereafter they two went into Sir Tristram’s pavilion and disarmed themselves.  Then there came sundry attendants who were excellent leeches and these searched their hurts and bathed them and dressed them.  And several other attendants came and fetched soft robes and clothed the knights therein so that they were very comfortable in their bodies.  Then still other attendants brought them good strong wine and manchets of bread and they sat together at table and ate very cheerfully and were greatly refreshed.

So I have told you of that famous affair-at-arms betwixt Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram, and I pray God that you may have the same pleasure in reading of it that I had in writing of it.

[Sidenote:  King Arthur comes to Sir Tristram’s pavilion] Now, as Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram sat in the pavilion of Sir Tristram making pleasant converse together, there suddenly entered an esquire to where they were sitting.  This esquire proclaimed:  “Messires, hither cometh King Arthur, and he is very near at hand.”  Thereupon, even as that esquire spoke, there came from without the pavilion a great noise of trampling horses and the pleasant sound of ringing armor, and then immediately a loud noise of many voices uplifted in acclamation.

Therewith Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram arose from where they sat, and as they did so the curtains at the doorway of the pavilion were parted and there entered King Arthur himself enveloped, as it were, with all the glory of his royal estate.

Unto him Sir Tristram ran, and would have fallen upon his knees, but King Arthur stayed him from so doing.  For the great king held him by the hand and lifted him up, and he said, “Sir, are you Sir Tristram of Lyonesse?” “Yea,” said Sir Tristram, “I am he.”  “Ha,” said King Arthur, “I am gladder to see you than almost any man I know of in the world,” and therewith he kissed Sir Tristram upon the face, and he said:  “Welcome, Messire, to these parts!  Welcome!  And thrice welcome!”