Le Morte Darthur, Chapter 233 summary

What happens

1. Sir Dinas defeats his lady’s chosen knight, refuses her plea for reconciliation, and returns home with his hounds.
2. Dame Bragwaine leaves for Cornwall, while Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, and Sir Gaheris search for Sir Tristram in Surluse.
3. Sir Dinadan identifies Tristram to the hostile Sir Palamides, but Tristram refuses to fight while they remain prisoners.
4. A maiden assures the captives they are safe; when Tristram becomes ill, both companions mourn and another report reaches Darras.
5. Sir Darras offers freedom, and Tristram identifies himself and promises friendship and service despite having killed three of Darras’s sons.
6. Tristram recovers, and the three knights ride to a crossroads, where he announces that they must separate.

In this chapter

What to notice

Darras places his duty toward a knight above his personal grief. Tristram’s illness prompts him to act on that duty and release the prisoners.

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