And now it shall be told how Sir Tristram discovered Sir Lamorack upon the island and how he made amends to him, so that they became friends and brethren-in-arms once more as they had been before.

[Illustration:  Sir Lamorack herds the swine of Sir Nabon]

Chapter Third

How Sir Tristram did justice in the island, and thereby released Sir Lamorack from captivity.  Also how Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack renewed their great tenderness toward one another.

Now after Sir Tristram had overcome Sir Nabon le Noir, and had slain the son of Sir Nabon as has been just told, he went straightway to the castle that had been Sir Nabon’s, and commanded that they should bring forth the seneschal and the officers thereof unto him.  Meantime, being a little wounded in that battle, he sat himself down upon a bench of wood that stood in the hall of the castle, and there he held his court.

So, in a little while, there came the seneschal and several of the officers of the household to where Sir Tristram was, and when the seneschal came before Sir Tristram, he fell down upon his knees and besought pardon and mercy.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram talks with the castle help] Then Sir Tristram said:  “I will consider thy case anon, and if I may assure myself that thou and these others are truly repentant, and if I may have assurity that ye will henceforth be faithful in your duty toward that lady who is now again the mistress of this castle and land, then I shall have mercy.  But if ye show yourselves recreant and treacherous, according to the manners of this Sir Nabon who is dead, then I shall of a surety return hither and shall punish you even as ye beheld me punish that wicked knight and his young son.”

Then Sir Tristram said, “Who is the porter of this castle?” And the porter lifted his hand and said, “Lord, I am he.”  Sir Tristram said, “What captives have ye in this place?” The porter said:  “Lord, there be four knights and three ladies who are held captive here for ransom.”  Then Sir Tristram said, “Bring them forth hither to me.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram comforts the captives] So the porter and several other of the castle folk departed with all speed and presently returned bringing with them those miserable captives whom they had liberated from the dungeons of the castle.  These they led to where Sir Tristram still sat in justice upon the bench of wood.  And Sir Tristram looked upon them with pity and beheld that they were in a very sad and forlorn condition and so sorrowful from their captivity that some of them wept from pure weakness of heart.  Then Sir Tristram said:  “Comfort ye, and take no more sorrow to yourselves, for now your troubles are past and gone, and happiness lieth before you.  Sir Nabon is dead, and so is his son, and there is no one now to torment you.  Moreover, I dare say that there is much treasure gathered at this place by Sir Nabon, and all that treasure shall be divided amongst you, for to comfort ye, wherefore when ye leave this place, ye shall go away a great deal richer than ye were when ye came.”