Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How Sir Tristram met with Sir Dinadan, and of their devices, and what he said to Sir Gawaine's brethren explained
Sir Tristram encounters Sir Dinadan while hunting, but refuses to reveal his name, leading to tension.
What happens
Sir Tristram encounters Sir Dinadan while hunting, but refuses to reveal his name, leading to tension. Dinadan mocks lovers, but Tristram defends them. They witness a knight named Epinegris, a lover, joust and defeat Dinadan. Tristram later learns that two knights, Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, have slain a knight for claiming Sir Launcelot was better than Sir Gawaine. Tristram confronts them, reproaches them for their reputation as destroyers of good knights, and lets them pass for King Arthur's sake.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Reputation
The slaying of a knight for claiming Launcelot is better than Gawaine illustrates how reputation and loyalty to one's master can lead to violence.
Love and Adultery
Sir Tristram defends the idea that a knight cannot be of prowess without being a lover, contrasting with Dinadan's disdain for love.
Violence and Vengeance
The townsmen seek revenge for the slain knight, and Tristram confronts the perpetrators, though he ultimately lets them go.
Characters to notice
- Sir Tristram de Liones
Hunting and later confronts Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris for slaying a knight who praised Sir Launcelot.
- Sir Dinadan
Meets Sir Tristram unknowingly, mocks lovers, and is defeated in a joust by Epinegris.
- Sir Agravaine
One of the two knights who slew a knight for praising Sir Launcelot; confronted by Sir Tristram.
- Sir Gaheris
Brother of Sir Agravaine, also involved in slaying the knight; threatened Sir Tristram.
- Sir Gawaine
Mentioned as the brother of Agravaine and Gaheris, and as a knight whose reputation is defended by his brethren.
- Sir Launcelot du Lake
Mentioned as the knight whose praise led to the slaying of a local knight.
Key passages
“That was a simple cause, said Sir Tristram, for to slay a good knight for to say well by his master.”
Tristram remarked that killing a worthy knight merely for praising his lord was a trivial reason.
Tristram criticizes the senseless violence over a matter of opinion.
“For such a foolish knight as ye are, said Sir Dinadan, I saw but late this day lying by a well, and he fared as he slept; and there he lay like a fool grinning, and would not speak, and his shield lay by him, and his horse stood by him; and well I wot he was a lover.”
Dinadan described a knight he saw lying by a well, grinning silently, and concluded he must be a lover.
Dinadan mocks lovers as foolish and idle, setting up the debate on love and knighthood.
“But it is shame, said Sir Tristram, that Sir Gawaine and ye be come of so great a blood that ye four brethren are so named as ye be, for ye be called the greatest destroyers and murderers of good knights that be now in this realm; for it is but as I heard say that Sir Gawaine and ye slew among you a better knight than ever ye were, that was the noble knight Sir Lamorak de Galis.”
Tristram rebuked Agravaine and Gaheris, saying it was disgraceful that they and Gawaine were known as the worst murderers of good knights, having slain the noble Sir Lamorak.
Tristram condemns the Orkney brothers for their infamous deeds, particularly the killing of Sir Lamorak.