[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram goes forth to meet Sir Marhaus] “Yea,” said Sir Tristram, “that is assuredly he.”  So he gazed very steadily at the knight for a long while, and by and by he said:  “Gouvernail, yonder seems to me to be a very great and haughty knight for a knight so young as I am to have to do with in his first battle; yet if God will lend me His strong aid in this affair, I shall assuredly win me great credit at his hands.”  Then after another short while he said:  “Now go, Gouvernail, and leave me alone in this affair, for I do not choose for anyone to be by when I have to do with yonder knight.  For either I shall overcome him in this combat or else I will lay down my life at this place.  For the case is thus, Gouvernail; if Sir Marhaus should overcome me and if I should yield me to him as vanquished, then mine uncle must pay truage to the King of Ireland for the land of Cornwall; but if I died without yielding me to mine enemy, then he must yet do battle with another champion at another time, if my uncle the King can find such an one to do battle in his behalf.  So I am determined either to win this battle or to die therein.”

Now when Gouvernail heard this, he fell a-weeping in great measure; and he cried out:  “Sir, let not this battle be of that sort!” To him Sir Tristram said very steadfastly:  “Say no more, Gouvernail, but go as I bid thee.”  Whereupon Gouvernail turned and went away, as he was bidden to do, weeping very bitterly as he went.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram proclaims his degree] Now by this Sir Marhaus had caught sight of Sir Tristram where he stood in that field, and so presently he came riding thitherward to meet Sir Tristram.  When he had come nigh, Sir Marhaus said:  “Who art thou, Sir Knight?” Unto these Sir Tristram made reply:  “Sir, I am Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, son of King Meliadus of that land, and nephew of King Mark of Cornwall.  I am come to do battle upon behalf of the King of Cornwall, to release him from the demands of truage made by the King of Ireland.”  Quoth Sir Marhaus:  “Messire, are you a knight of approval and of battles?” “Nay,” said Sir Tristram, “I have only been created knight these three days.”

“Alas!” said Sir Marhaus, “I am very sorry for thee and for thy noble courage that hath brought thee hither to this place.  Thou art not fit to have to do with me, for I am one who hath fought in more than twice twenty battles, each one of which was, I believe, greater than this is like to be.  Also I have matched me with the very best knights in the world, and have never yet been overcome.  So I advise thee, because of thy extreme youth, to return to King Mark and bid him send me another champion in thy stead, who shall be better seasoned than thou art.”

“Sir,” said Sir Tristram, “I give thee gramercy for thy advice.  But I may tell thee that I was made knight for no other purpose than to do battle with thee; so I may not return without having fulfilled mine adventure.  Moreover, because of thy great renown and thy courage and prowess, I feel all the more desirous to have to do with thee; for if I should die at thy hand, then there will be no shame to me, but if I should win this battle from thee, then I shall have very great renown in the courts of chivalry.”