Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector Reported to Queen Guenever of the Beauty of La Beale Isoud explained
Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector return to Queen Guenever, who has recovered from her illness, and report on the tournament they attended with Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud.
What happens
Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector return to Queen Guenever, who has recovered from her illness, and report on the tournament they attended with Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud. They praise Isoud's beauty and goodness, and recount the tournament's three days: Palomides won the first, Tristram the second, and Launcelot the third. Queen Guenever reflects on the nature of envy and worship.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Reputation
The knights discuss who won worship at the tournament and Queen Guenever explains how envy can lead to dishonor.
Love and Adultery
La Beale Isoud's beauty and goodness are praised, highlighting her role as a courtly love interest.
Characters to notice
- Sir Bleoberis de Ganis
Returns to Queen Guenever and reports on the tournament and La Beale Isoud's beauty.
- Sir Ector de Maris
Returns with Sir Bleoberis and gives report to Queen Guenever.
- Queen Guenever
Recovered from her malady, she questions the knights about Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud and comments on envy.
- Sir Tristram de Liones
Mentioned as hosting the knights and winning the second day of the tournament.
- La Beale Isoud
Praised for her peerless beauty, bounty, mirth, and goodness.
Key passages
“Truly, said those two knights, he doth as a noble knight should do; and as for the Queen Isoud, she is peerless of all ladies; for to speak of her beauty, bounté, and mirth, and of her goodness, we saw never her match as far as we have ridden and gone.”
The knights affirm that Sir Tristram behaves as a noble knight, and Queen Isoud is unmatched in beauty, generosity, cheerfulness, and goodness.
The knights give a glowing report of Tristram and Isoud to Queen Guenever.
“for an it happeth an envious man once to win worship he shall be dishonoured twice therefore; and for this cause all men of worship hate an envious man, and will shew him no favour, and he that is courteous, and kind, and gentle, hath favour in every place.”
An envious man who gains honor will later be doubly shamed, so honorable people despise envy and favor those who are courteous, kind, and gentle.
Queen Guenever explains the moral consequences of envy versus courtesy.