Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How Sir Tristram and his wife arrived in Wales, and how he met there with Sir Lamorak explained
Sir Tristram, his wife Isoud la Blanche Mains, and her brother Sir Kehydius are driven by a storm to the Isle of Servage in Wales, where they are shipwrecked.
What happens
Sir Tristram, his wife Isoud la Blanche Mains, and her brother Sir Kehydius are driven by a storm to the Isle of Servage in Wales, where they are shipwrecked. There, Tristram encounters Segwarides, who forgives past grievances, and later meets Sir Lamorak, a knight of King Arthur's court. After initial tension over past conflicts, they reconcile and agree to join forces against the giant Sir Nabon le Noire, lord of the island.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Reputation
Tristram and Lamorak set aside personal malice to pursue worship and knightly honor by confronting the giant Nabon le Noire.
Violence and Vengeance
Past conflicts between Tristram and Lamorak are recalled, but they choose reconciliation over vengeance.
Characters to notice
- Sir Tristram de Liones
Shipwrecked on the Isle of Servage with his wife and brother-in-law; reconciles with Sir Lamorak and proposes they fight the giant Nabon le Noire.
- La Beale Isoud
Isoud la Blanche Mains, Tristram's wife, is injured in the shipwreck.
- Sir Kehydius
Brother of Isoud la Blanche Mains, accompanies Tristram and Isoud on the ill-fated barget.
- Sir Lamorak de Galis
Wrecked on the island and initially hostile toward Tristram due to past grievances, but reconciles and agrees to join him against the giant.
- Sir Segwarides
Encountered by Tristram near a well; forgives Tristram for past love troubles and offers friendship and aid.
Key passages
“I do, for I had liefer strife and debate fell in King Mark’s court rather than Arthur’s court, for the honour of both courts be not alike.”
Lamorak says he would rather cause trouble in King Mark's court than in King Arthur's, because the two courts are not equal in honor.
Lamorak justifies his past actions by prioritizing Arthur's court over Mark's.
“Sir, said Sir Lamorak, now I understand your knighthood, it may not be false that all men say, for of your bounty, noblesse, and worship, of all knights ye are peerless, and for your courtesy and gentleness I showed you ungentleness, and that now me repenteth.”
Lamorak acknowledges Tristram's peerless knighthood and regrets his own earlier discourtesy.
Lamorak's apology and recognition of Tristram's noble character.