But as Sir Andred could not inherit without proof of the death of Sir Tristram, he suborned a certain very beautiful but wicked lady who dwelt in the forest, persuading her that she should give false evidence of Sir Tristram’s death.  Accordingly, he one day brought that lady before King Mark, and she gave it as her evidence that Sir Tristram had died in the forest and that she had been with him when he died.  And she showed them a new-made grave in the forest, and she said:  “That is the grave of Sir Tristram, for I saw him die and I saw him buried there with mine own eyes.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Adred seizes Sir Tristram’s possessions] So everybody believed this evidence, and thought that Sir Tristram was really dead, and so Sir Andred seized upon all the possessions of Sir Tristram.  And there were many who were very sorry that Sir Tristram was dead and there were others who were glad thereof in the same measure.  But when the news was brought to Belle Isoult that Sir Tristram was dead, she shrieked aloud and swooned away.  And she lay in that swoon so long that they thought for a while she would never recover from it.  But by and by she awoke therefrom, crying, “Would to God that I were dead with Tristram and had never awakened!”

And thereafter she mourned continually for Sir Tristram and would not be comforted; for she was like to a woman who hath been widowed from a lover of her youth.

And now it shall be told of how it fared with Sir Tristram in the forest where he dwelt with the swineherds, and of how he achieved a very notable adventure therein.

[Illustration:  Sir Kay and the Forest Madman]

Chapter Second

How Sir Tristram got him a sword from Sir Kay and how he slew therewith a huge knight in the forest and rescued a lady in very great distress.  Also how Sir Launcelot found Sir Tristram in the forest and brought him thence to Tintagel again.

Now it chanced one day that Sir Kay the Seneschal came riding through those parts of the forest where Sir Tristram abided with the swineherds, and with Sir Kay there came a considerable court of esquires.  And with him besides there travelled Sir Dagonet, King Arthur’s Fool.

[Sidenote:  Sir Kay and Sir Dagonet come to the forest] Now, you are to know that though Sir Dagonet was the King’s jester, and though he was slack of wit, yet he was also a knight of no mean prowess.  For he had performed several deeds of good repute and was well held in all courts of chivalry.  So Sir Dagonet always went armed; though he bore upon his shield the device of a cockerel’s head as a symbol of his calling.

The time that Sir Kay and his court travelled as aforesaid was in the summer season and the day was very warm, so that Sir Kay was minded to take rest during the midday and until the coolness of the afternoon should come.  So they all dismounted from their horses and sat them down under the shade of the trees where it was cool and pleasant and where the breezes reached them to breathe upon their faces.