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Houghton Mifflin Company
Boston 2003

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To Ethan, with joy.

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Copyright © 2003 by Gerald Morris

All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce
selections from this book, write to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin
Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10003.

www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com

The text of this book is set in 12.5 Horley Old Style.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Morris, Gerald, 1963-
The ballad of Sir Dinadan / Gerald Morris.
p. cm.
Summary: Though he would rather pursue his talent as a musician,
eighteen-year-old Dinadan is forced to follow his older brother
Tristram's path and become a knight. Set at the time of King Arthur.
ISBN 0-618-19099-6 (hardcover)
1. Iseult (Legendary character)—Fiction. [1. Knights and
knighthood—Fiction. 2. Minstrels—Fiction. 3. Tristan (Legendary
character)—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.M82785Bal 2003 [Fic]—dc21 2002010818

Manufactured in the United States of America
QUM 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Love me little, love me long
Is the burden of my song.
Love that is too hot and strong

Burneeth soon to waste.

Still I would not have thee cold,
Not too backward, nor too bold;
Love that lasteth till 'tis old

Fadeth not in haste

Love me little, love me long
Is the burden of my song.

If thou lovest me too much,
It will not prove as true as touch;
Love me little, more than such,

For I fear the end.
I am with little well content,
And a little from thee sent
Is enough, with true intent

To be a steadfast friend.

Love me little, love me long
Is the burden of my song.

Anonymous Elizabethan Song
about 1570

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Contents

I Prelude 1

II The Noble Tale of Sir Dinadan 24

III Two Tales of Sir Marhavlt 41

IV Sir Tristram 65 V Questing 85

VI The Shadow of the Woods 109

VII The Moor & the Morons 134

VIII The Horn of Igraine 163

IX The Ballad of Sir Palomides 178

X The Lyre 198

XI Love Songs 210

XII A Song for a Lady 229

Author's Note 243