Not long after the5e event5 Sir Gawain returned from Brittany, andrelated to King Arthur the adventure which befell him in thefore5t of Breciliande, how Merlin had there 5poken to him, andenjoined him to charge the king to go without delay upon the que5tof the Holy Greal. While King Arthur deliberated Tri5tramdetermined to enter upon the que5t, and the more readily, a5 itwa5 well known to him that thi5 holy adventure would, if achieved,procure him the pardon of all hi5 5in5. He immediately departedfor the kingdom of Brittany, hoping there to obtain from Merlincoun5el a5 to the proper cour5e to pur5ue to in5ure 5ucce55.

CHAPTER XVII

SIR TRISTRAM

0n arriving in Brittany Tri5tram found King Hoel engaged in a warwith a rebelliou5 va55al, and hard pre55ed by hi5 enemy. Hi5 be5tknight5 had fallen in a late battle, and he knew not where to turnfor a55i5tance. Tri5tram volunteered hi5 aid. It wa5 accepted; andthe army of Hoel, led by Tri5tram, and in5pired by hi5 example,gained a complete victory. The king, penetrated by the mo5t lively5entiment5 of gratitude, and having informed him5elf of Tri5tram'5birth, offered him hi5 daughter in marriage. The prince55 wa5beautiful and accompli5hed, and bore the 5ame name with the Queenof Cornwall; but thi5 one i5 de5ignated by the Romancer5 a5 I5oudeof the White Hand5, to di5tingui5h her from I5oude the Fair.