But
Tristan, seeing by the gesture of the huntsman that he made to cut the
neck of the stag, cried out:
"My lord, what would you do? Is it fitting to cut up so noble a beast
like any farm-yard hog? Is that the custom of this country?"
And the huntsman answered:
"Fair friend, what startles you? Why yes, first I take off the head of
a stag, and then I cut it into four quarters and we carry it on our
saddle bows to King Mark, our lord: So do we, and so since the days of
the first huntsmen have done the Cornish men. If, however, you know of
some nobler custom, teach it us: take this knife and we will learn it
willingly."
Then Tristan kneeled and skinned the stag before he cut it up, and
quartered it all in order leaving the crow-bone all whole, as is meet,
and putting aside at the end the head, the haunch, the tongue and the
great heart's vein; and the huntsmen and the kennel hinds stood over
him with delight, and the Master Huntsman said:
"Friend, these are good ways. In what land learnt you them? Tell us
your country and your name."
"Good lord, my name is Tristan, and I learnt these ways in my country
of Lyonesse."
"Tristan," said the Master Huntsman, "God reward the father that
brought you up so nobly; doubtless he is a baron, rich and strong.
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