Sir Tristram's Imprisonment - Le Morte d'Arthur [1/2]

From the end of Book IX Chapter 36 of Sir Thomas Malory's le Morte d'Arthur.
In this touching passage I suspect that Sir Thomas is drawing upon his own experiences to comment on Sir Tristram's plight.

"And, as the French book saith, there came forty knights to Sir Darras that were of his own kin, and they would have slain Sir Tristram and his two fellows, but Sir Darras would not suffer that, but kept them in prison, and meat and drink they had.

So Sir Tristram endured there great pain, for sickness had undertake him, and that is the greatest pain a prisoner may have. For all the while a prisoner may have his health of body, he may endure under the mercy of God, and in hope of good deliverance; but when sickness toucheth a prisoner’s body, then may a prisoner say all wealth is him bereft, and then he hath cause to wail and to weep. And so did Sir Tristram when sickness had undertake him, for then he took such sorrow that he had almost slain himself."

Sir Thomas Malory knight-prisoner.