"One must go in disguise in these days, or go untried," laughed Lancelot.
Then Queen Guenever, and many ladies of the court, learning that Tristram was there, came and bade him welcome, ladies and knights together crying, "Welcome, Sir Tristram! welcome to Camelot!"
"Welcome, indeed," said Arthur, "to one of the best and gentlest knights of the world, and the man of highest esteem. For of all modes of hunting, you bear the prize, and of all bugle hunting calls you are the origin, and all the terms of hunting and hawking began with you; on all instruments of music no man surpasses you: therefore, you are trebly welcome to this court. And here I pray you to grant me a boon."
"It is that you abide in my court, and be one of my knights."
"That I am loath to do, for I have work laid out elsewhere."
"Yet you have passed your word. You shall not say me nay."
[Illustration: ADMISSION OF SIR TRISTRAM TO THE KING OF THE ROUND TABLE.]
These words spoken, Arthur took Tristram by the hand and led him to the Round Table, going with him round its circle, and looking into every seat that lacked a knight. When at length he came to that in which Sir Marhaus had formerly sat, he saw there engraved in letters of gold, "This is the seat of the noble knight Sir Tristram."
Then Arthur made Tristram a Knight of the Round Table with noble ceremony and great pomp, and with feasts that lasted many days. Glad were all there to have a knight of such prowess and high esteem in their company, and many friends Tristram made among his new brothers-in-arms.
But chief of all these was Lancelot, and for days together Lancelot and Tristram kept genial company, while their brotherhood gave joy to all, and most of all to King Arthur, who felt that the glory of his reign was now at its height, and that two such knights as these would spread the renown of the Round Table throughout the world.
Fifteen spelling errors have been corrected as follows:
Pg. 38 "Tintagel" to "Tintagil" (15) (the Duke of Tintagil)
Pg. 74 "churchyard" to "church-yard" (4) (near a church-yard)
Pg. 114 "way-side" to "wayside" (2) (they reached a wayside)
Pg. 166 "eat" to "ate" (of which Kay ate heartily)
Pg. 200 "vassels" to "vassals" (4) (dead or my vassals)