Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
LI explained
King Mark, having escaped Sir Sadok, raises his forces at Tintagil after discovering the deaths of his cousins and the traitor of Magouns.
What happens
King Mark, having escaped Sir Sadok, raises his forces at Tintagil after discovering the deaths of his cousins and the traitor of Magouns. He then forges letters from the Pope to trick Sir Tristram into leaving prison to fight Saracens, but Tristram sees through the deception. Meanwhile, four wounded knights arrive warning Mark that the country has risen against him. Sir Percivale de Galis arrives, frees Tristram by knightly means, and rebukes King Mark for his treachery and for imprisoning Tristram out of jealousy over La Beale Isoud. Percivale departs for Wales, leaving Tristram free.
Themes in this chapter
Betrayal and Treachery
King Mark repeatedly betrays his nephew Sir Tristram by imprisoning him and forging papal letters, despite promises to Sir Percivale.
Honor and Reputation
Sir Percivale rebukes King Mark for dishonoring himself by imprisoning Tristram, emphasizing Tristram's renown and the shame of Mark's actions.
Love and Adultery
The tension between Sir Tristram and King Mark arises from Tristram's love for La Beale Isoud, the queen, though Percivale argues it can be sinless.
Characters to notice
- Sir Tristram de Liones
Imprisoned by King Mark, sees through forged papal letters, and is freed by Sir Percivale.
- King Mark of Cornwall
Escapes Sir Sadok, raises forces, forges letters from the Pope to deceive Tristram, and is rebuked by Sir Percivale for his treachery.
- Sir Percivale de Galis
Arrives in Cornwall seeking Tristram, frees him from prison, and confronts King Mark about his dishonorable actions.
- La Beale Isoud
Grieves over Tristram's imprisonment and conspires with Sir Dinas and Sadok to imprison King Mark so she and Tristram can flee to Logris.
- Sir Dinas
Seneschal who initially raises people against King Mark but later agrees to imprison the king to aid Tristram and Isoud's escape.
- Sir Sadok
Joins with Sir Dinas to imprison King Mark, helping to free Tristram.
Key passages
“for shame, said Sir Percivale, say ye never so more. Are ye not uncle unto Sir Tristram, and he your nephew? Ye should never think that so noble a knight as Sir Tristram is, that he would do himself so great a villainy to hold his uncle’s wife; howbeit, said Sir Percivale, he may love your queen sinless, because she is called one of the fairest ladies of the world.”
Sir Percivale rebukes King Mark, reminding him that Tristram is his nephew and would never dishonor himself by committing adultery with his uncle's wife; he suggests that Tristram's love for the queen can be innocent admiration of her beauty.
Percivale defends Tristram's honor and challenges Mark's accusations of adultery.
“Ah, King Mark, ever hast thou been a traitor, and ever will be; but, Clerk, said Sir Tristram, say thou thus unto King Mark: Since the Apostle Pope hath sent for him, bid him go thither himself; for tell him, traitor king as he is, I will not go at his commandment, get I out of prison as I may, for I see I am well rewarded for my true service.”
Tristram denounces King Mark as a perpetual traitor and refuses to obey the forged papal summons, telling the clerk that Mark should go himself if the Pope truly called him.
Tristram sees through Mark's deception and refuses to be manipulated.