Then was high preparation made for the marriage, for the king desired it should be at the Michaelmas next following, at Kinkenadon-by-the-Sea.

So Sir Gareth sent out messages to all the knights whom he had overcome in battle that they should be there upon his marriage-day.

Therefore, at the next Michaelmas, came a goodly company to Kinkenadon-by-the-Sea.  And there did the Archbishop of Canterbury marry Sir Gareth and the Lady Lyones with all solemnity.  And all the knights whom Sir Gareth had overcome were at the feast; and every manner of revels and games was held with music and minstrelsy.  And there was a great jousting for three days.  But because of his bride the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust.  Then did King Arthur give great lands and fair, with store of gold, to Sir Gareth and his wife, that so they might live royally together to their lives’ end.

CHAPTER XI

The Adventures of Sir Tristram of Lyonesse

Again King Arthur held high festival at Caerleon, at Pentecost, and gathered round him all the fellowship of the Round Table, and so, according to his custom, sat and waited till some adventure should arise, or some knight return to court whose deeds and perils might be told.

Anon he saw Sir Lancelot and a crowd of knights coming through the doors and leading in their midst the mighty knight, Sir Tristram.  As soon as King Arthur saw him, he rose up and went through half the hall, and held out both his hands and cried, “Right welcome to thee, good Sir Tristram, as welcome art thou as any knight that ever came before into this court.  A long time have I wished for thee amongst my fellowship.”  Then all the knights and barons rose up with one accord and came around, and cried out, “Welcome.”  Queen Guinevere came also, and many ladies with her, and all with one voice said the same.

Then the king took Sir Tristram by the hand and led him to the Round Table and said, “Welcome again for one of the best and gentlest knights in all the world; a chief in war, a chief in peace, a chief in field and forest, a chief in the ladies’ chamber—­right heartily welcome to this court, and mayest thou long abide in it.”

When he had so said he looked at every empty seat until he came to what had been Sir Marhaus’, and there he found written in gold letters, “This is the seat of the noble knight, Sir Tristram.”  Whereat they made him, with great cheer and gladness, a Fellow of the Round Table.

Now the story of Sir Tristram was as follows:—­

There was a king of Lyonesse, named Meliodas, married to the sister of King Mark of Cornwall, a right fair lady and a good.  And so it happened that King Meliodas hunting in the woods was taken by enchantment and made prisoner in a castle.  When his wife Elizabeth heard it she was nigh mad with grief, and ran into the forest to seek out her lord.  But after many days of wandering and sorrow she found no trace of him, and laid her down in a deep valley and prayed to meet her death.  And so indeed she did, but ere she died she gave birth in the midst of all her sorrow to a child, a boy, and called him with her latest breath Tristram; for she said, “His name shall show how sadly he hath come into this world.”