Then the gentlewoman said, “Lady, what cheer?” And the Queen said, “Alas, I am sick to death.”  The gentlewoman said, “Lady, cannot you bear up a little until help cometh?” Thereupon the Lady Elizabeth fell to weeping very piteously, and said, “Nay, I cannot bear up any longer, for the cold hath entered into my heart.” (Yea, even at that time death was upon her because of the cold at her heart.)

Then by and by in the midst of her tears and in very sore travail a man-child was born to the Queen, and when that came to pass a great peace fell suddenly upon her.

[Sidenote:  How Tristram is born in the forest] Then she said, speaking to the nurse like one in great weariness, “What child is it that I have given unto the world?” The nurse said, “It is a man-child.”  The Queen said to her, “Hold him up until I see him.”  Thereupon the nurse held the child up and the Queen looked at him, though she could hardly see him because it was as though a mist lay upon her eyes which she could not clear away from her sight; for at that time she was drawing deep draughts of death.  Then, when she had seen the child and had beheld that he was very strong and lusty and exceedingly comely, she said:  “Behold, this is my child, born in the midst of sore travail and great sorrow; wherefore his name shall be called Tristram because he hath caused so many tears to be shed.”

Then in a little while the Lady died, and the gentlewoman stood weeping beside her, making great outcry in that cold and lonely forest.

Anon there came those knights who were sent from the castle to find the Queen; and when they came to that place, they beheld that she lay upon the ground all cold and white like to a statue of marble stone.  So they lifted her up and bare her away upon a litter, and the gentlewoman followed weeping and wailing in great measure, and bearing the child wrapped in a mantle.

So Tristram was born in that wise, and so his name was given to him because of the tears that were shed at his birth.

And now it is to be told how King Meliadus returned from that castle of enchantment where he was held prisoner.

[Sidenote:  King Meliadus is released from durance] At this time Merlin was still living in the world, for Vivien had not yet bewitched him, as hath been told in the Book of King Arthur.  So by and by it came to pass that he discovered where King Meliadus was imprisoned and how it fared with him in the castle of that enchantress.  So he made greater spells than those that enmeshed King Meliadus, and he brought King Meliadus back into his memory of the Queen and his kingdom.  Then straightway the King broke out from the castle of the enchantress and returned to his kingdom.  But when he came there it was to find everything in great sorrow and dole; for the Lady Elizabeth was no longer upon this earth to bring joy to the heart of the King.  So for a long while after his return King Meliadus lay altogether stricken down with the grief of that bereavement.