[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot reproves King Mark] Now two days after those things aforesaid had come to pass, Sir Launcelot returned unto Tintagel from that quest which he had been upon, and so soon as he came thither he made inquiry of King Mark concerning the welfare of that madman of the forest whom he had left in the care of King Mark.  But when he heard that that madman was Sir Tristram, he was astonished beyond all measure; but when he heard how Sir Tristram had been served by King Mark and by the people of the castle under the lead of Sir Andred, he was filled with a great and violent indignation.  So he arose and stood before King Mark and said:  “Lord King, I have heard much ill said of thee and shameful things concerning thy unknightliness in several courts of chivalry where I have been; and now I know that those things were true; for I have heard from the lips of many people here, how thou didst betray Sir Tristram into bringing the Lady Belle Isoult unto thee; and I have heard from many how thou dost ever do ill and wickedly by him, seeking to take from him both his honor and his life.  And yet Sir Tristram hath always been thy true and faithful knight, and hath served thee in all ways thou hast demanded of him.  I know that thou hast jealousy for Sir Tristram in thy heart and that thou hast ever imputed wickedness and sin unto him.  Yet all the world knoweth that Sir Tristram is a true knight and altogether innocent of any evil.  For all the evil which thou hast imputed to him hath no existence saving only in thine own evil heart.  Now I give thee and all thy people to know that had ill befallen Sir Tristram at your hands I should have held you accountable therefor and should have punished you in such a way that you would not soon have forgotten it.  But of that there is no need, for Sir Tristram himself hath punished you in full measure without any aid from me.  So now I will go away from this place and will never come hither again; nor will I acknowledge you should I meet you in court or in field.”

So saying, Sir Launcelot turned and went away from that place very proudly and haughtily, leaving them all abashed at his rebuke.

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot findeth Sir Tristram and Belle Isoult in the forest] So that day Sir Launcelot went forward through the forest until he reached that castle whereunto Sir Tristram had taken the Lady Belle Isoult, and there he was received by Sir Tristram with all joy and honor.  And Sir Launcelot abided at that place for two days, with great pleasure to himself and to Sir Tristram and to Belle Isoult.

At the end of that time Sir Launcelot said to Sir Tristram:  “Messire, it is not well that you and this dear lady should abide here so nigh to Tintagel.  For, certes, King Mark will some time work some grievous ill upon you.  So I beseech you to come with me unto my castle of Joyous Gard.  There this lady shall reign queen paramount and we shall be her very faithful servants to do her pleasure in all ways.  That castle is a very beautiful place, and there she may dwell in peace and safety and tranquillity all the days of her life if she chooses to do so.”