Without attempting to give the details of this famous combat, the first and one of the most glorious of Tristram’s exploits, we shall only say that the young knight, though severely wounded, cleft the head of Moraunt, leaving a portion of his sword in the wound.  Moraunt, half dead with his wound and the disgrace of his defeat, hastened to hide himself in his ship, sailed away with all speed for Ireland, and died soon after arriving in his own country.

The kingdom of Cornwall was thus delivered from its tribute.  Tristram, weakened by loss of blood, fell senseless.  His friends flew to his assistance.  They dressed his wounds, which in general healed readily; but the lance of Moraunt was poisoned, and one wound which it made yielded to no remedies, but grew worse day by day.  The surgeons could do no more.  Tristram asked permission of his uncle to depart, and seek for aid in the kingdom of Loegria (England).  With his consent he embarked, and after tossing for many days on the sea, was driven by the winds to the coast of Ireland.  He landed, full of joy and gratitude that he had escaped the peril of the sea; took his rote,[Footnote:  A musical instrument.] and began to play.  It was a summer evening, and the king of Ireland and his daughter, the beautiful Isoude, were at a window which overlooked the sea.  The strange harper was sent for, and conveyed to the palace, where, finding that he was in Ireland, whose champion he had lately slain, he concealed his name, and called himself Tramtris.  The queen undertook his cure, and by a medicated bath gradually restored him to health.  His skill in music and in games occasioned his being frequently called to court, and he became the instructor of the princess Isoude in minstrelsy and poetry, who profited so well under his care, that she soon had no equal in the kingdom, except her instructor.

At this time a tournament was held, at which many knights of the Round Table, and others, were present.  On the first day a Saracen prince, named Palamedes, obtained the advantage over all.  They brought him to the court, and gave him a feast, at which Tristram, just recovering from his wound, was present.  The fair Isoude appeared on this occasion in all her charms.  Palamedes could not behold them without emotion, and made no effort to conceal his love.  Tristram perceived it, and the pain he felt from jealousy taught him how dear the fair Isoude had already become to him.

Next day the tournament was renewed.  Tristram, still feeble from his wound, rose during the night, took his arms, and concealed them in a forest near the place of the contest, and, after it had begun, mingled with the combatants.  He overthrew all that encountered him, in particular Palamedes, whom he brought to the ground with a stroke of his lance, and then fought him hand to hand, bearing off the prize of the tourney.  But his exertions caused his wound to reopen; he bled fast, and in this sad state, yet in triumph, they bore him to the palace.  The fair Isoude devoted herself to his relief with an interest which grew more vivid day by day; and her skilful care soon restored him to health.