Now at that moment King Meliadus came into the hall fresh from the chase, and he was much heated and greatly athirst, wherefore, when he saw that cup of wine he said:  “Stay, Tristram, let me drink, for I am greatly athirst.  After I have quenched my thirst, then thou shalt drink.”

Therewith he took the goblet of wine and made to lift it to his lips.  But at that the Lady Moeya cried out, in a very loud and piercing voice, “Do not drink of that wine!” The King said, “Why should I not drink of it?” “No matter,” said the Lady Moeya, “thou shalt not drink of it, for there is death in it.”

Therewith she ran to the King and catched him by the hand, and she plucked away the goblet so that the wine was spilled out of it upon the ground.

[Sidenote:  King Meliadus threatens to slay the Queen] Then King Meliadus gazed at the Lady Moeya, and he thought of many things in very little time.  Thereupon he seized her by the hair and dragged her forward, so that she fell down upon her hands and knees to the pavement of the hall.  And King Meliadus drew his great sword so that it flashed like lightning, and he cried:  “Tell me what thou hast done, and tell me quickly, or thou shalt not be able to tell me at all!” Then the Lady Moeya clutched King Meliadus about the thighs, and she cried out:  “Do not slay me with thine own hand, or else my blood will stain thee with dishonor!  I will tell thee all, and then thou mayst deal with me according to the law, for indeed I am not fit to live.”  So therewithal the Lady Moeya confessed everything to the King.

Then King Meliadus shouted aloud and called the attendants and said:  “Take this woman and cast her into prison, and see that no harm befall her there; for the lords of this country shall adjudge her, and not I.”  And therewith he turned away and left her.

And thereafter, in due season, the Lady Moeya was brought to trial and was condemned to be burned at the stake.

[Sidenote:  Tristram begs mercy for the Queen] Now when the day came that she was to be burnt, Tristram was very sorry for her.  So when he beheld her tied fast to the stake he came to where King Meliadus was and he kneeled before him, and he said, “Father, I crave a boon of thee.”  Thereupon King Meliadus looked upon Tristram, and he loved him very tenderly and he said:  “My son, ask what thou wilt, and it shall be thine.”  Then Tristram said:  “Father, I pray thee, spare the life of this lady, for methinks she hath repented her of her evil, and surely God hath punished her very sorely for the wickedness she hath tried to do.”

Then King Meliadus was very wroth that Tristram should interfere with the law; but yet he had granted that boon to his son and could not withdraw.  So after a while of thought he said:  “Well, I have promised, and so I will perform my promise.  Her life is thine; go to the stake and take her.  But when thou hast done so I bid thee go forth from this place and show thy face here no more.  For thou hast interfered with the law, and hast done ill that thou, the son of the King, should save this murderess.  So thou shalt leave this place, for I mistrust that between you two some murder will befall in this country.”