THE ROMANCE OF TRISTAN AND ISEULT

The Romance of Tristan & Iseult Drawn from the best French Sources andRetold by J. Bédier Rendered into English by H. Belloc

London: George Allen & Company, Ltd. Ruskin House, Rathbone Place. Mcmxiii

[All rights reserved]

“Le Roman de Tristan et Iseut, ” by M. Joseph Bédier, was crowned bythe French Academy

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & Co. 

at the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh

CONTENTS

PART THE FIRST

The Childhood of TristanThe Morholt out of IrelandThe Quest of the Lady with the Hair of GoldThe PhiltreThe Tall Pine-TreeThe DiscoveryThe Chantry Leap

PART THE SECOND

The Wood of MoroisOgrin the HermitThe FordThe Ordeal by Iron

PART THE THIRD

The Little Fairy BellIseult of the White HandsThe Madness of TristanThe Death of Tristan

PART THE FIRST

THE CHILDHOOD OF TRISTAN

My lords, if you would hear a high tale of love and of death, here isthat of Tristan and Queen Iseult; how to their full joy, but to theirsorrow also, they loved each other, and how at last they died of thatlove together upon one day; she by him and he by her. 

Long ago, when Mark was King over Cornwall, Rivalen, King of Lyonesse, heard that Mark’s enemies waged war on him; so he crossed the sea tobring him aid; and so faithfully did he serve him with counsel andsword that Mark gave him his sister Blanchefleur, whom King Rivalenloved most marvellously. 

He wedded her in Tintagel Minster, but hardly was she wed when thenews came to him that his old enemy Duke Morgan had fallen on Lyonesseand was wasting town and field. Then Rivalen manned his ships inhaste, and took Blanchefleur with him to his far land; but she waswith child. He landed below his castle of Kanoël and gave the Queen inward to his Marshal Rohalt, and after that set off to wage his war. 

Blanchefleur waited for him continually, but he did not come home, till she learnt upon a day that Duke Morgan had killed him in foulambush. She did not weep: she made no cry or lamentation, but herlimbs failed her and grew weak, and her soul was filled with a strongdesire to be rid of the flesh, and though Rohalt tried to soothe hershe would not hear. Three days she awaited re-union with her lord, andon the fourth she brought forth a son; and taking him in her arms shesaid:

“Little son, I have longed a while to see you, and now I see you thefairest thing ever a woman bore. In sadness came I hither, in sadnessdid I bring forth, and in sadness has your first feast day gone. Andas by sadness you came into the world, your name shall be calledTristan; that is the child of sadness. ”

After she had said these words she kissed him, and immediately whenshe had kissed him she died. 

Rohalt, the keeper of faith, took the child, but already Duke Morgan’smen besieged the Castle of Kanoël all round about. There is a wisesaying: “Fool-hardy was never hardy, ” and he was compelled to yield toDuke Morgan at his mercy: but for fear that Morgan might slayRivalen’s heir the Marshal hid him among his own sons. 

When seven years were passed and the time had come to take the childfrom the women, Rohalt put Tristan under a good master, the SquireGorvenal, and Gorvenal taught him in a few years the arts that go withbarony. He taught him the use of lance and sword and ’scutcheon andbow, and how to cast stone quoits and to leap wide dykes also: and hetaught him to hate every lie and felony and to keep his given word;and he taught him the various kinds of song and harp-playing, and thehunter’s craft; and when the child rode among the young squires youwould have said that he and his horse and his armour were all onething. To see him so noble and so proud, broad in the shoulders, loyal, strong and right, all men glorified Rohalt in such a son. ButRohalt remembering Rivalen and Blanchefleur (of whose youth and graceall this was a resurrection) loved him indeed as a son, but in hisheart revered him as his lord. 

Now all his joy was snatched from him on a day when certain merchantsof Norway, having lured Tristan to their ship, bore him off as a richprize, though Tristan fought hard, as a young wolf struggles, caughtin a gin. But it is a truth well proved, and every sailor knows it, that the sea will hardly bear a felon ship, and gives no aid torapine. The sea rose and cast a dark storm round the ship and drove iteight days and eight nights at random, till the mariners caughtthrough the mist a coast of awful cliffs and sea-ward rocks whereonthe sea would have ground their hull to pieces: then they did penance, knowing that the anger of the sea came of the lad, whom they hadstolen in an evil hour, and they vowed his deliverance and got ready aboat to put him, if it might be, ashore: then the wind, and sea felland the sky shone, and as the Norway ship grew small in the offing, aquiet tide cast Tristan and the boat upon a beach of sand. 

Painfully he climbed the cliff and saw, beyond, a lonely rolling heathand a forest stretching out and endless. And he wept, rememberingGorvenal, his father, and the land of Lyonesse. Then the distant cryof a hunt, with horse and hound, came suddenly and lifted his heart, and a tall stag broke cover at the forest edge. The pack and the huntstreamed after it with a tumult of cries and winding horns, but justas the hounds were racing clustered at the haunch, the quarry turnedto bay at a stones throw from Tristan; a huntsman gave him the thrust, while all around the hunt had gathered and was winding the kill. ButTristan, seeing by the gesture of the huntsman that he made to cut theneck of the stag, cried out:

“My lord, what would you do? Is it fitting to cut up so noble a beastlike 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 ofa stag, and then I cut it into four quarters and we carry it on oursaddle bows to King Mark, our lord: So do we, and so since the days ofthe first huntsmen have done the Cornish men. If, however, you know ofsome nobler custom, teach it us: take this knife and we will learn itwillingly. ”

Then Tristan kneeled and skinned the stag before he cut it up, andquartered 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 thegreat heart’s vein; and the huntsmen and the kennel hinds stood overhim with delight, and the Master Huntsman said:

“Friend, these are good ways. In what land learnt you them? Tell usyour country and your name. ”

“Good lord, my name is Tristan, and I learnt these ways in my countryof Lyonesse. ”

“Tristan, ” said the Master Huntsman, “God reward the father thatbrought you up so nobly; doubtless he is a baron, rich and strong. ”

Now Tristan knew both speech and silence, and he answered:

“No, lord; my father is a burgess. I left his home unbeknownst upon aship that trafficked to a far place, for I wished to learn how menlived in foreign lands. But if you will accept me of the hunt I willfollow you gladly and teach you other crafts of venery. ”

“Fair Tristan, I marvel there should be a land where a burgess’s soncan know what a knight’s son knows not elsewhere, but come with ussince you will it; and welcome: we will bring you to King Mark, ourlord. ”

Tristan completed his task; to the dogs he gave the heart, the head, offal and ears; and he taught the hunt how the skinning and theordering should be done. Then he thrust the pieces upon pikes and gavethem to this huntsman and to that to carry, to one the snout toanother the haunch to another the flank to another the chine; and hetaught them how to ride by twos in rank, according to the dignity ofthe pieces each might bear. 

So they took the road and spoke together, till they came on a greatcastle and round it fields and orchards, and living waters and fishponds and plough lands, and many ships were in its haven, for thatcastle stood above the sea. It was well fenced against all assault orengines of war, and its keep, which the giants had built long ago, wascompact of great stones, like a chess board of vert and azure. 

And when Tristan asked its name:

“Good liege, ” they said, “we call it Tintagel. ”

And Tristan cried:

“Tintagel! Blessed be thou of God, and blessed be they that dwellwithin thee. ”

(Therein, my lords, therein had Rivalen taken Blanchefleur to wife, though their son knew it not. )

When they came before the keep the horns brought the barons to thegates and King Mark himself. And when the Master Huntsman had told himall the story, and King Mark had marvelled at the good order of thecavalcade, and the cutting of the stag, and the high art of venery inall, yet most he wondered at the stranger boy, and still gazed at him, troubled and wondering whence came his tenderness, and his heart wouldanswer him nothing; but, my lords, it was blood that spoke, and thelove he had long since borne his sister Blanchefleur. 

That evening, when the boards were cleared, a singer out of Wales, amaster, came forward among the barons in Hall and sang a harper’ssong, and as this harper touched the strings of his harp, Tristan whosat at the King’s feet, spoke thus to him:

“Oh master, that is the first of songs! The Bretons of old wove itonce to chant the loves of Graëlent. And the melody is rare and rareare the words: master, your voice is subtle: harp us that well. ”

But when the Welshman had sung, he answered:

“Boy, what do you know of the craft of music? If the burgesses ofLyonesse teach their sons harp—play also, and rotes and viols too, rise, and take this harp and show your skill. ”

Then Tristan took the harp and sang so well that the barons softenedas they heard, and King Mark marvelled at the harper from Lyonessewhither so long ago Rivalen had taken Blanchefleur away. 

When the song ended, the King was silent a long space, but he said atlast:

“Son, blessed be the master that taught thee, and blessed be thou ofGod: for God loves good singers. Their voices and the voice of theharp enter the souls of men and wake dear memories and cause them toforget many a mourning and many a sin. For our joy did you come tothis roof, stay near us a long time, friend. ”

And Tristan answered:

“Very willingly will I serve you, sire, as your harper, your huntsmanand your liege. ”

So did he, and for three years a mutual love grew up in their hearts. By day Tristan followed King Mark at pleas and in saddle; by night heslept in the royal room with the councillors and the peers, and if theKing was sad he would harp to him to soothe his care. The barons alsocherished him, and (as you shall learn) Dinas of Lidan, the seneschal, beyond all others. And more tenderly than the barons and than Dinasthe King loved him. But Tristan could not forget, or Rohalt hisfather, or his master Gorvenal, or the land of Lyonesse. 

My lords, a teller that would please, should not stretch his tale toolong, and truly this tale is so various and so high that it needs nostraining. Then let me shortly tell how Rohalt himself, after longwandering by sea and land, came into Cornwall, and found Tristan, andshowing the King the carbuncle that once was Blanchefleur’s, said:

“King Mark, here is your nephew Tristan, son of your sisterBlanchefleur and of King Rivalen. Duke Morgan holds his land mostwrongfully; it is time such land came back to its lord. ”

And Tristan (in a word) when his uncle had armed him knight, crossedthe sea, and was hailed of his father’s vassals, and killed Rivalen’sslayer and was re-seized of his land. 

Then remembering how King Mark could no longer live in joy withouthim, he summoned his council and his barons and said this:

“Lords of the Lyonesse, I have retaken this place and I have avengedKing Rivalen by the help of God and of you. But two men Rohalt andKing Mark of Cornwall nourished me, an orphan, and a wandering boy. Soshould I call them also fathers. Now a free man has two thingsthoroughly his own, his body and his land. To Rohalt then, here, Iwill release my land. Do you hold it, father, and your son shall holdit after you. But my body I give up to King Mark. I will leave thiscountry, dear though it be, and in Cornwall I will serve King Mark asmy lord. Such is my judgment, but you, my lords of Lyonesse, are mylieges, and owe me counsel; if then, some one of you will counsel meanother thing let him rise and speak. ”

But all the barons praised him, though they wept; and taking with himGorvenal only, Tristan set sail for King Mark’s land. 

THE MORHOLT OUT OF IRELAND

When Tristan came back to that land, King Mark and all his Barony weremourning; for the King of Ireland had manned a fleet to ravageCornwall, should King Mark refuse, as he had refused these fifteenyears, to pay a tribute his fathers had paid. Now that year this Kinghad sent to Tintagel, to carry his summons, a giant knight; theMorholt, whose sister he had wed, and whom no man had yet been able toovercome: so King Mark had summoned all the barons of his land toCouncil, by letters sealed. 

On the day assigned, when the barons were gathered in hall, and whenthe King had taken his throne, the Morholt said these things:

“King Mark, hear for the last time the summons of the King of Ireland, my lord. He arraigns you to pay at last that which you have owed solong, and because you have refused it too long already he bids yougive over to me this day three hundred youths and three hundredmaidens drawn by lot from among the Cornish folk. But if so be thatany would prove by trial of combat that the King of Ireland receivesthis tribute without right, I will take up his wager. Which among you, my Cornish lords, will fight to redeem this land?”

The barons glanced at each other but all were silent. 

Then Tristan knelt at the feet of King Mark and said:

“Lord King, by your leave I will do battle. ”

And in vain would King Mark have turned him from his purpose, thinking, how could even valour save so young a knight? But he threwdown his gage to the Morholt, and the Morholt took up the gage. 

On the appointed day he had himself clad for a great feat of arms in ahauberk and in a steel helm, and he entered a boat and drew to theislet of St. Samson’s, where the knights were to fight each to eachalone. Now the Morholt had hoisted to his mast a sail of rich purple, and coming fast to land, he moored his boat on the shore. But Tristanpushed off his own boat adrift with his feet, and said:

“One of us only will go hence alive. One boat will serve. ”

And each rousing the other to the fray they passed into the isle. 

No man saw the sharp combat; but thrice the salt sea-breeze had waftedor seemed to waft a cry of fury to the land, when at last towards thehour of noon the purple sail showed far off; the Irish boat appearedfrom the island shore, and there rose a clamour of “the Morholt!” Whensuddenly, as the boat grew larger on the sight and topped a wave, theysaw that Tristan stood on the prow holding a sword in his hand. Heleapt ashore, and as the mothers kissed the steel upon his feet hecried to the Morholt’s men:

“My lords of Ireland, the Morholt fought well. See here, my sword isbroken and a splinter of it stands fast in his head. Take you thatsteel, my lords; it is the tribute of Cornwall. ”

Then he went up to Tintagel and as he went the people he had freedwaved green boughs, and rich cloths were hung at the windows. But whenTristan reached the castle with joy, songs and joy-bells soundingabout him, he drooped in the arms of King Mark, for the blood ran fromhis wounds. 

The Morholt’s men, they landed in Ireland quite cast down. For whenever he came back into Whitehaven the Morholt had been wont to takejoy in the sight of his clan upon the shore, of the Queen his sister, and of his niece Iseult the Fair. Tenderly had they cherished him ofold, and had he taken some wound, they healed him, for they wereskilled in balms and potions. But now their magic was vain, for he laydead and the splinter of the foreign brand yet stood in his skull tillIseult plucked it out and shut it in a chest. 

From that day Iseult the Fair knew and hated the name of Tristan ofLyonesse. 

But over in Tintagel Tristan languished, for there trickled apoisonous blood from his wound. The doctors found that the Morholt hadthrust into him a poisoned barb, and as their potions and theirtheriac could never heal him they left him in God’s hands. So hatefula stench came from his wound that all his dearest friends fled him, all save King Mark, Gorvenal and Dinas of Lidan. They always couldstay near his couch because their love overcame their abhorrence. Atlast Tristan had himself carried into a boat apart on the shore; andlying facing the sea he awaited death, for he thought: “I must die;but it is good to see the sun and my heart is still high. I would liketo try the sea that brings all chances. … I would have the sea bear mefar off alone, to what land no matter, so that it heal me of mywound. ”

He begged so long that King Mark accepted his desire. He bore him intoa boat with neither sail nor oar, and Tristan wished that his harponly should be placed beside him: for sails he could not lift, nor oarply, nor sword wield; and as a seaman on some long voyage casts to thesea a beloved companion dead, so Gorvenal pushed out to sea that boatwhere his dear son lay; and the sea drew him away. 

For seven days and seven nights the sea so drew him; at times to charmhis grief, he harped; and when at last the sea brought him near ashore where fishermen had left their port that night to fish far out, they heard as they rowed a sweet and strong and living tune that ranabove the sea, and feathering their oars they listened immovable. 

In the first whiteness of the dawn they saw the boat at large: shewent at random and nothing seemed to live in her except the voice ofthe harp. But as they neared, the air grew weaker and died; and whenthey hailed her Tristan’s hands had fallen lifeless on the stringsthough they still trembled. The fishermen took him in and bore himback to port, to their lady who was merciful and perhaps would healhim. 

It was that same port of Whitehaven where the Morholt lay, and theirlady was Iseult the Fair. 

She alone, being skilled in philtres, could save Tristan, but shealone wished him dead. When Tristan knew himself again (for her artrestored him) he knew himself to be in the land of peril. But he wasyet strong to hold his own and found good crafty words. He told a taleof how he was a seer that had taken passage on a merchant ship andsailed to Spain to learn the art of reading all the stars, —of howpirates had boarded the ship and of how, though wounded, he had fledinto that boat. He was believed, nor did any of the Morholt’s men knowhis face again, so hardly had the poison used it. But when, afterforty days, Iseult of the Golden Hair had all but healed him, whenalready his limbs had recovered and the grace of youth returned, heknew that he must escape, and he fled and after many dangers he cameagain before Mark the King. 

THE QUEST OF THE LADY WITH THE HAIR OF GOLD

My lords, there were in the court of King Mark four barons the basestof men, who hated Tristan with a hard hate, for his greatness and forthe tender love the King bore him. And well I know their names:Andret, Guenelon, Gondoïne and Denoalen. They knew that the King hadintent to grow old childless and to leave his land to Tristan; andtheir envy swelled and by lies they angered the chief men of Cornwallagainst Tristan. They said:

“There have been too many marvels in this man’s life. It was marvelenough that he beat the Morholt, but by what sorcery did he try thesea alone at the point of death, or which of us, my lords, couldvoyage without mast or sail? They say that warlocks can. It was sure awarlock feat, and that is a warlock harp of his pours poison dailyinto the King’s heart. See how he has bent that heart by power andchain of sorcery! He will be king yet, my lords, and you will holdyour lands of a wizard. ”

They brought over the greater part of the barons and these pressedKing Mark to take to wife some king’s daughter who should give him anheir, or else they threatened to return each man into his keep andwage him war. But the King turned against them and swore in his heartthat so long as his dear nephew lived no king’s daughter should cometo his bed. Then in his turn did Tristan (in his shame to be thoughtto serve for hire) threaten that if the King did not yield to hisbarons, he would himself go over sea serve some great king. At this, King Mark made a term with his barons and gave them forty days to hearhis decision. 

On the appointed day he waited alone in his chamber and sadly mused:“Where shall I find a king’s daughter so fair and yet so distant thatI may feign to wish her my wife?”

Just then by his window that looked upon the sea two building swallowscame in quarrelling together. Then, startled, they flew out, but hadlet fall from their beaks a woman’s hair, long and fine, and shininglike a beam of light. 

King Mark took it, and called his barons and Tristan and said:

“To please you, lords, I will take a wife; but you must seek her whomI have chosen. ”

“Fair lord, we wish it all, ” they said, “and who may she be?”

“Why, ” said he, “she whose hair this is; nor will I take another. ”

“And whence, lord King, comes this Hair of Gold; who brought it andfrom what land?”

“It comes, my lords, from the Lady with the Hair of Gold, the swallowsbrought it me. They know from what country it came. ”

Then the barons saw themselves mocked and cheated, and they turnedwith sneers to Tristan, for they thought him to have counselled thetrick. But Tristan, when he had looked on the Hair of Gold, rememberedIseult the Fair and smiled and said this:

“King Mark, can you not see that the doubts of these lords shame me?You have designed in vain. I will go seek the Lady with the Hair ofGold. The search is perilous: never the less, my uncle, I would oncemore put my body and my life into peril for you; and that your baronsmay know I love you loyally, I take this oath, to die on the adventureor to bring back to this castle of Tintagel the Queen with that fairhair. ”

He fitted out a great ship and loaded it with corn and wine, withhoney and all manner of good things; he manned it with Gorvenal and ahundred young knights of high birth, chosen among the bravest, and heclothed them in coats of home-spun and in hair cloth so that theyseemed merchants only: but under the deck he hid rich cloth of goldand scarlet as for a great king’s messengers. 

When the ship had taken the sea the helmsman asked him:

“Lord, to what land shall I steer?”

“Sir, ” said he, “steer for Ireland, straight for Whitehaven harbour. ”

At first Tristan made believe to the men of Whitehaven that hisfriends were merchants of England come peacefully to barter; but asthese strange merchants passed the day in the useless games ofdraughts and chess, and seemed to know dice better than the bargainprice of corn, Tristan feared discovery and knew not how to pursue hisquest. 

Now it chanced once upon the break of day that he heard a cry soterrible that one would have called it a demon’s cry; nor had he everheard a brute bellow in such wise, so awful and strange it seemed. Hecalled a woman who passed by the harbour, and said:

“Tell me, lady, whence comes that voice I have heard, and hide menothing. ”

“My lord, ” said she, “I will tell you truly. It is the roar of adragon the most terrible and dauntless upon earth. Daily it leaves itsden and stands at one of the gates of the city: Nor can any come outor go in till a maiden has been given up to it; and when it has her inits claws it devours her. ”

“Lady, ” said Tristan, “make no mock of me, but tell me straight: Can aman born of woman kill this thing?”

“Fair sir, and gentle, ” she said, “I cannot say; but this is sure:Twenty knights and tried have run the venture, because the King ofIreland has published it that he will give his daughter, Iseult theFair, to whomsoever shall kill the beast; but it has devoured themall. ”

Tristan left the woman and returning to his ship armed himself insecret, and it was a fine sight to see so noble a charger and so gooda knight come out from such a merchant-hull: but the haven was emptyof folk, for the dawn had barely broken and none saw him as he rode tothe gate. And hardly had he passed it, when he met suddenly five menat full gallop flying towards the town. Tristan seized one by hishair, as he passed, and dragged him over his mount’s crupper and heldhim fast:

“God save you, my lord, ” said he, “and whence does the dragon come?”And when the other had shown him by what road, he let him go. 

As the monster neared, he showed the head of a bear and red eyes likecoals of fire and hairy tufted ears; lion’s claws, a serpent’s tail, and a griffin’s body. 

Tristan charged his horse at him so strongly that, though the beast’smane stood with fright yet he drove at the dragon: his lance struckits scales and shivered. Then Tristan drew his sword and struck at thedragon’s head, but he did not so much as cut the hide. The beast feltthe blow: with its claws he dragged at the shield and broke it fromthe arm; then, his breast unshielded, Tristan used the sword again andstruck so strongly that the air rang all round about: but in vain, forhe could not wound and meanwhile the dragon vomited from his nostrilstwo streams of loath-some flames, and Tristan’s helm blackened like acinder and his horse stumbled and fell down and died; but Tristanstanding on his feet thrust his sword right into the beast’s jaws, andsplit its heart in two. 

Then he cut out the tongue and put it into his hose, but as the poisoncame against his flesh the hero fainted and fell in the high grassthat bordered the marsh around. 

Now the man he had stopped in flight was the Seneschal of Ireland andhe desired Iseult the Fair: and though he was a coward, he had daredso far as to return with his companions secretly, and he found thedragon dead; so he cut off its head and bore it to the King, andclaimed the great reward. 

The King could credit his prowess but hardly, yet wished justice doneand summoned his vassals to court, so that there, before the Baronyassembled, the seneschal should furnish proof of his victory won. 

When Iseult the Fair heard that she was to be given to this cowardfirst she laughed long, and then she wailed. But on the morrow, doubting some trick, she took with her Perinis her squire and Brangienher maid, and all three rode unbeknownst towards the dragon’s lair:and Iseult saw such a trail on the road as made her wonder—for thehoofs that made it had never been shod in her land. Then she came onthe dragon, headless, and a dead horse beside him: nor was the horseharnessed in the fashion of Ireland. Some foreign man had slain thebeast, but they knew not whether he still lived or no. 

They sought him long, Iseult and Perinis and Brangien together, tillat last Brangien saw the helm glittering in the marshy grass: andTristan still breathed. Perinis put him on his horse and bore himsecretly to the women’s rooms. There Iseult told her mother the taleand left the hero with her, and as the Queen unharnessed him, thedragon’s tongue fell from his boot of steel. Then, the Queen ofIreland revived him by the virtue of an herb and said:

“Stranger, I know you for the true slayer of the dragon: but ourseneschal, a felon, cut off its head and claims my daughter Iseult forhis wage; will you be ready two days hence to give him the lie inbattle?”

“Queen, ” said he, “the time is short, but you, I think, can cure me intwo days. Upon the dragon I conquered Iseult, and on the seneschalperhaps I shall reconquer her. ”

Then the Queen brewed him strong brews, and on the morrow Iseult theFair got him ready a bath and anointed him with a balm her mother hadconjured, and as he looked at her he thought, “So I have found theQueen of the Hair of Gold, ” and he smiled as he thought it. ButIseult, noting it, thought, “Why does he smile, or what have Ineglected of the things due to a guest? He smiles to think I have for—gotten to burnish his armour. ”

She went and drew the sword from its rich sheath, but when she saw thesplinter gone and the gap in the edge she thought of the Morholt’shead. She balanced a moment in doubt, then she went to where she keptthe steel she had found in the skull and she put it to the sword, andit fitted so that the join was hardly seen. 

She ran to where Tristan lay wounded, and with the sword above him shecried:

“You are that Tristan of the Lyonesse, who killed the Morholt, mymother’s brother, and now you shall die in your turn. ”

Tristan strained to ward the blow, but he was too weak; his wit, however, stood firm in spite of evil and he said:

“So be it, let me die: but to save yourself long memories, listenawhile. King’s daughter, my life is not only in your power but isyours of right. My life is yours because you have twice returned itme. Once, long ago: for I was the wounded harper whom you healed ofthe poison of the Morholt’s shaft. Nor repent the healing: were notthese wounds had in fair fight? Did I kill the Morholt by treason? Hadhe not defied me and was I not held to the defence of my body? And nowthis second time also you have saved me. It was for you I fought thebeast. 

“But let us leave these things. I would but show you how my life isyour own. Then if you kill me of right for the glory of it, you mayponder for long years, praising yourself that you killed a woundedguest who had wagered his life in your gaining. ”

Iseult replied: “I hear strange words. Why should he that killed theMorholt seek me also, his niece? Doubtless because the Morholt camefor a tribute of maidens from Cornwall, so you came to boast returningthat you had brought back the maiden who was nearest to him, toCornwall, a slave. ”

“King’s daughter, ” said Tristan, “No. … One day two swallows flew, andflew to Tintagel and bore one hair out of all your hairs of gold, andI thought they brought me good will and peace, so I came to find youover-seas. See here, amid the threads of gold upon my coat your hairis sown: the threads are tarnished, but your bright hair stillshines. ”

Iseult put down the sword and taking up the Coat of Arms she saw uponit the Hair of Gold and was silent a long space, till she kissed himon the lips to prove peace, and she put rich garments over him. 

On the day of the barons’ assembly, Tristan sent Perinis privily tohis ship to summon his companions that they should come to courtadorned as befitted the envoys of a great king. 

One by one the hundred knights passed into the hall where all thebarons of Ireland stood, they entered in silence and sat all in ranktogether: on their scarlet and purple the gems gleamed. 

When the King had taken his throne, the seneschal arose to prove bywitness and by arms that he had slain the dragon and that so Iseultwas won. Then Iseult bowed to her father and said:

“King, I have here a man who challenges your seneschal for lies andfelony. Promise that you will pardon this man all his past deeds, whostands to prove that he and none other slew the dragon, and grant himforgiveness and your peace. ”

The King said, “I grant it. ” But Iseult said, “Father, first give methe kiss of peace and forgiveness, as a sign that you will give himthe same. ”

Then she found Tristan and led him before the Barony. And as he camethe hundred knights rose all together, and crossed their arms upontheir breasts and bowed, so the Irish knew that he was their lord. 

But among the Irish many knew him again and cried, “Tristan ofLyonesse that slew the Morholt!” They drew their swords and clamouredfor death. But Iseult cried: “King, kiss this man upon the lips asyour oath was, ” and the King kissed him, and the clamour fell. 

Then Tristan showed the dragon’s tongue and offered the seneschalbattle, but the seneschal looked at his face and dared not. 

Then Tristan said:

“My lords, you have said it, and it is truth: I killed the Morholt. But I crossed the sea to offer you a good blood-fine, to ransom thatdeed and get me quit of it. 

“I put my body in peril of death and rid you of the beast and have soconquered Iseult the Fair, and having conquered her I will bear heraway on my ship. 

“But that these lands of Cornwall and Ireland may know no more hatred, but love only, learn that King Mark, my lord, will marry her. Herestand a hundred knights of high name, who all will swear with an oathupon the relics of the holy saints, that King Mark sends you by theirembassy offer of peace and of brotherhood and goodwill; and that hewould by your courtesy hold Iseult as his honoured wife, and that hewould have all the men of Cornwall serve her as their Queen. ”

When the lords of Ireland heard this they acclaimed it, and the Kingalso was content. 

Then, since that treaty and alliance was to be made, the King herfather took Iseult by the hand and asked of Tristan that he shouldtake an oath; to wit that he would lead her loyally to his lord, andTristan took that oath and swore it before the knights and the Baronyof Ireland assembled. Then the King put Iseult’s right hand intoTristan’s right hand, and Tristan held it for a space in token ofseizin for the King of Cornwall. 

So, for the love of King Mark, did Tristan conquer the Queen of theHair of Gold. 

THE PHILTRE

When the day of Iseult’s livery to the Lords of Cornwall drew near, her mother gathered herbs and flowers and roots and steeped them inwine, and brewed a potion of might, and having done so, said apart toBrangien:

“Child, it is yours to go with Iseult to King Mark’s country, for youlove her with a faithful love. Take then this pitcher and rememberwell my words. Hide it so that no eye shall see nor no lip go near it:but when the wedding night has come and that moment in which thewedded are left alone, pour this essenced wine into a cup and offer itto King Mark and to Iseult his queen. Oh! Take all care, my child, that they alone shall taste this brew. For this is its power: they whodrink of it together love each other with their every single sense andwith their every thought, forever, in life and in death. ”

And Brangien promised the Queen that she would do her bidding. 

On the bark that bore her to Tintagel Iseult the Fair was weeping asshe remembered her own land, and mourning swelled her heart, and shesaid, “Who am I that I should leave you to follow unknown men, mymother and my land? Accursed be the sea that bears me, for ratherwould I lie dead on the earth where I was born than live out there, beyond. …

One day when the wind had fallen and the sails hung slack Tristandropped anchor by an Island and the hundred knights of Cornwall andthe sailors, weary of the sea, landed all. Iseult alone remainedaboard and a little serving maid, when Tristan came near the Queen tocalm her sorrow. The sun was hot above them and they were athirst and, as they called, the little maid looked about for drink for them andfound that pitcher which the mother of Iseult had given intoBrangien’s keeping. And when she came on it, the child cried, “I havefound you wine!” Now she had found not wine — but Passion and Joy mostsharp, and Anguish without end, and Death. 

The Queen drank deep of that draught and gave it to Tristan and hedrank also long and emptied it all. 

Brangien came in upon them; she saw them gazing at each other insilence as though ravished and apart; she saw before them the pitcherstanding there; she snatched it up and cast it into the shuddering seaand cried aloud: “Cursed be the day I was born and cursed the day thatfirst I trod this deck. Iseult, my friend, and Tristan, you, you havedrunk death together. ”

And once more the bark ran free for Tintagel. But it seemed to Tristanas though an ardent briar, sharp-thorned but with flower most sweetsmelling, drave roots into his blood and laced the lovely body ofIseult all round about it and bound it to his own and to his everythought and desire. And he thought, “Felons, that charged me withcoveting King Mark’s land, I have come lower by far, for it is not hisland I covet. Fair uncle, who loved me orphaned ere ever you knew inme the blood of your sister Blanchefleur, you that wept as you bore meto that boat alone, why did you not drive out the boy that was tobetray you? Ah! What thought was that! Iseult is yours and I am butyour vassal; Iseult is yours and I am your son; Iseult is yours andmay not love me. ”

But Iseult loved him, though she would have hated. She could not hate, for a tenderness more sharp than hatred tore her. 

And Brangien watched them in anguish, suffering more cruelly becauseshe alone knew the depth of evil done. 

Two days she watched them, seeing them refuse all food or comfort andseeking each other as blind men seek, wretched apart and together morewretched still, for then they trembled each for the first avowal. 

On the third day, as Tristan neared the tent on deck where Iseult sat, she saw him coming and she said to him, very humbly, “Come in, mylord. ”

“Queen, ” said Tristan, “why do you call me lord? Am I not your liegeand vassal, to revere and serve and cherish you as my lady and Queen?”

But Iseult answered, “No, you know that you are my lord and my master, and I your slave. Ah, why did I not sharpen those wounds of thewounded singer, or let die that dragon-slayer in the grasses of themarsh? But then I did not know what now I know!”

“And what is it that you know, Iseult?”

She laid her arm upon Tristan’s shoulder, the light of her eyes wasdrowned and her lips trembled. 

“The love of you, ” she said. Whereat he put his lips to hers. 

But as they thus tasted their first joy, Brangien, that watched them, stretched her arms and cried at their feet in tears:

“Stay and return if still you can … But oh! that path has noreturning. For already Love and his strength drag you on and nowhenceforth forever never shall you know joy without pain again. Thewine possesses you, the draught your mother gave me, the draught theKing alone should have drunk with you: but that old Enemy has trickedus, all us three; friend Tristan, Iseult my friend, for that bad wardI kept take here my body and my life, for through me and in that cupyou have drunk not love alone, but love and death together. ”

The lovers held each other; life and desire trembled through theiryouth, and Tristan said, “Well then, come Death. ”

And as evening fell, upon the bark that heeled and ran to King Mark’sland, they gave themselves up utterly to love. 

THE TALL PINE-TREE

As King Mark came down to greet Iseult upon the shore, Tristan tookher hand and led her to the King and the King took seizin of her, taking her hand. He led her in great pomp to his castle of Tintagel, and as she came in hall amid the vassals her beauty shone so that thewalls were lit as they are lit at dawn. Then King Mark blessed thoseswallows which, by happy courtesy, had brought the Hair of Gold, andTristan also he blessed, and the hundred knights who, on thatadventurous bark, had gone to find him joy of heart and of eyes; yetto him also that ship was to bring sting, torment and mourning. 

And on the eighteenth day, having called his Barony together he tookIseult to wife. But on the wedding night, to save her friend, Brangientook her place in the darkness, for her remorse demanded even thisfrom her; nor was the trick discovered. 

Then Iseult lived as a queen, but lived in sadness. She had KingMark’s tenderness and the barons’ honour; the people also loved her;she passed her days amid the frescoes on the walls and floors allstrewn with flowers; good jewels had she and purple cloth and tapestryof Hungary and Thessaly too, and songs of harpers, and curtains uponwhich were worked leopards and eagles and popinjays and all the beastsof sea and field. And her love too she had, love high and splendid, for as is the custom among great lords, Tristan could ever be nearher. At his leisure and his dalliance, night and day: for he slept inthe King’s chamber as great lords do, among the lieges and thecouncillors. Yet still she feared; for though her love were secret andTristan unsuspected (for who suspects a son?) Brangien knew. AndBrangien seemed in the Queen’s mind like a witness spying; forBrangien alone knew what manner of life she led, and held her at mercyso. And the Queen thought Ah, if some day she should weary of servingas a slave the bed where once she passed for Queen … If Tristan shoulddie from her betrayal! So fear maddened the Queen, but not in truththe fear of Brangien who was loyal; her own heart bred the fear. 

Not Brangien who was faithful, not Brangien, but themselves had theselovers to fear, for hearts so stricken will lose their vigilance. Lovepressed them hard, as thirst presses the dying stag to the stream;love dropped upon them from high heaven, as a hawk slipped after longhunger falls right upon the bird. And love will not be hidden. Brangien indeed by her prudence saved them well, nor ever were theQueen and her lover unguarded. But in every hour and place every mancould see Love terrible, that rode them, and could see in these loverstheir every sense overflowing like new wine working in the vat. 

The four felons at court who had hated Tristan of old for his prowess, watched the Queen; they had guessed that great love, and they burntwith envy and hatred and now a kind of evil joy. They planned to givenews of their watching to the King, to see his tenderness turned tofury, Tristan thrust out or slain, and the Queen in torment; forthough they feared Tristan their hatred mastered their fear; and, on aday, the four barons called King Mark to parley, and Andret said:

“Fair King, your heart will be troubled and we four also mourn; yetare we bound to tell you what we know. You have placed your trust inTristan and Tristan would shame you. In vain we warned you. For thelove of one man you have mocked ties of blood and all your Barony. Learn then that Tristan loves the Queen; it is truth proved and many aword is passing on it now. ”

The royal King shrank and answered:

“Coward! What thought was that? Indeed I have placed my trust inTristan. And rightly, for on the day when the Morholt offered combatto you all, you hung your heads and were dumb, and you trembled beforehim; but Tristan dared him for the honour of this land, and tookmortal wounds. Therefore do you hate him, and therefore do I cherishhim beyond thee, Andret, and beyond any other; but what then have youseen or heard or known?”

“Naught, lord, save what your eyes could see or your ears hear. Lookyou and listen, Sire, if there is yet time. ”

And they left him to taste the poison. 

Then King Mark watched the Queen and Tristan; but Brangien noting itwarned them both and the King watched in vain, so that, soon wearyingof an ignoble task, but knowing (alas!) that he could not kill hisuneasy thought, he sent for Tristan and said:

“Tristan, leave this castle; and having left it, remain apart and donot think to return to it, and do not repass its moat or boundaries. Felons have charged you with an awful treason, but ask me nothing; Icould not speak their words without shame to us both, and for yourpart seek you no word to appease. I have not believed them … had Idone so … But their evil words have troubled all my soul and only byyour absence can my disquiet be soothed. Go, doubtless I will soonrecall you. Go, my son, you are still dear to me. 

When the felons heard the news they said among themselves, “He isgone, the wizard; he is driven out. Surely he will cross the sea onfar adventures to carry his traitor service to some distant King. ”

But Tristan had not strength to depart altogether; and when he hadcrossed the moats and boundaries of the Castle he knew he could go nofurther. He stayed in Tintagel town and lodged with Gorvenal in aburgess’ house, and languished oh! more wounded than when in that pastday the shaft of the Morholt had tainted his body. 

In the close towers Iseult the Fair drooped also, but more wretchedstill. For it was hers all day long to feign laughter and all nightlong to conquer fever and despair. And all night as she lay by KingMark’s side, fever still kept her waking, and she stared at darkness. She longed to fly to Tristan and she dreamt dreams of running to thegates and of finding there sharp scythes, traps of the felons, thatcut her tender knees; and she dreamt of weakness and falling, and thather wounds had left her blood upon the ground. Now these lovers wouldhave died, but Brangien succoured them. At peril of her life she foundthe house where Tristan lay. There Gorvenal opened to her very gladly, knowing what salvation she could bring. 

So she found Tristan, and to save the lovers she taught him a device, nor was ever known a more subtle ruse of love. 

Behind the castle of Tintagel was an orchard fenced around and wideand all closed in with stout and pointed stakes and numberless treeswere there and fruit on them, birds and clusters of sweet grapes. Andfurthest from the castle, by the stakes of the pallisade, was a tallpine-tree, straight and with heavy branches spreading from its trunk. At its root a living spring welled calm into a marble round, then ranbetween two borders winding, throughout the orchard and so, on, tillit flowed at last within the castle and through the women’s rooms. 

And every evening, by Brangien’s counsel, Tristan cut him twigs andbark, leapt the sharp stakes and, having come beneath the pine, threwthem into the clear spring; they floated light as foam down the streamto the women’s rooms; and Iseult watched for their coming, and onthose evenings she would wander out into the orchard and find herfriend. Lithe and in fear would she come, watching at every step forwhat might lurk in the trees observing, foes or the felons whom sheknew, till she spied Tristan; and the night and the branches of thepine protected them. 

And so she said one night: “Oh, Tristan, I have heard that the castleis faëry and that twice a year it vanishes away. So is it vanished nowand this is that enchanted orchard of which the harpers sing. ” And asshe said it, the sentinels bugled dawn. 

Iseult had refound her joy. Mark’s thought of ill-ease grew faint; butthe felons felt or knew which way lay truth, and they guessed thatTristan had met the Queen. Till at last Duke Andret (whom God shame)said to his peers:

“My lords, let us take counsel of Frocin the Dwarf; for he knows theseven arts, and magic and every kind of charm. He will teach us if hewill the wiles of Iseult the Fair. ”

The little evil man drew signs for them and characters of sorcery; hecast the fortunes of the hour and then at last he said:

“Sirs, high good lords, this night shall you seize them both. ”

Then they led the little wizard to the King, and he said:

“Sire, bid your huntsmen leash the hounds and saddle the horses, proclaim a seven days’ hunt in the forest and seven nights abroadtherein, and hang me high if you do not hear this night what converseTristan holds. ”

So did the King unwillingly; and at fall of night he left the hunttaking the dwarf in pillion, and entered the orchard, and the dwarftook him to the tall pine-tree, saying:

“Fair King, climb into these branches and take with you your arrowsand your bow, for you may need them; and bide you still. ”

That night the moon shone clear. Hid in the branches the King saw hisnephew leap the pallisades and throw his bark and twigs into thestream. But Tristan had bent over the round well to throw them and sodoing had seen the image of the King. He could not stop the branchesas they floated away, and there, yonder, in the women’s rooms, Iseultwas watching and would come. 

She came, and Tristan watched her motionless. Above him in the tree heheard the click of the arrow when it fits the string. 

She came, but with more prudence than her wont, thinking, “What haspassed, that Tristan does not come to meet me? He has seen some foe. ”

Suddenly, by the clear moonshine, she also saw the King’s shadow inthe fount. She showed the wit of women well, she did not lift hereyes. 

“Lord God, ” she said, low down, grant I may be the first to speak. ”

“Tristan, ” she said, “what have you dared to do, calling me hither atsuch an hour? Often have you called me —to beseech, you said. AndQueen though I am, I know you won me that title—and I have come. Whatwould you?”

“Queen, I would have you pray the King for me. ”

She was in tears and trembling, but Tristan praised God the Lord whohad shown his friend her peril. 

“Queen, ” he went on, “often and in vain have I summoned you; neverwould you come. Take pity; the King hates me and I know not why. Perhaps you know the cause and can charm his anger. For whom can hetrust if not you, chaste Queen and courteous, Iseult?”

“Truly, Lord Tristan, you do not know he doubts us both. And I, to addto my shame, must acquaint you of it. Ah! but God knows if I lie, never went cut my love to any man but he that first received me. Andwould you have me, at such a time, implore your pardon of the King?Why, did he know of my passage here to-night he would cast my ashes tothe wind. My body trembles and I am afraid. I go, for I have waitedtoo long. ”

In the branches the King smiled and had pity. 

And as Iseult fled: “Queen, ” said Tristan, “in the Lord’s name helpme, for charity. ”

“Friend, ” she replied, “God aid you! The King wrongs you but the LordGod will be by you in whatever land you go. ”

So she went back to the women’s rooms and told it to Brangien, whocried: “Iseult, God has worked a miracle for you, for He iscompassionate and will not hurt the innocent in heart. ”

And when he had left the orchard, the King said smiling:

“Fair nephew, that ride you planned is over now. ”

But in an open glade apart, Frocin, the Dwarf, read in the clear starsthat the King now meant his death; he blackened with shame and fearand fled into Wales. 

THE DISCOVERY

King Mark made peace with Tristan. Tristan returned to the castle asof old. Tristan slept in the King’s chamber with his peers. He couldcome or go, the King thought no more of it. 

Mark had pardoned the felons, and as the seneschal, Dinas of Lidan, found the dwarf wandering in a forest abandoned, he brought him home, and the King had pity and pardoned even him. 

But his goodness did but feed the ire of the barons, who swore thisoath: If the King kept Tristan in the land they would withdraw totheir strongholds as for war, and they called the King to parley. 

“Lord, ” said they, “Drive you Tristan forth. He loves the Queen as allwho choose can see, but as for us we will bear it no longer. ”

And the King sighed, looking down in silence. 

“ King, ” they went on, “we will not bear it, for we know now that thisis known to you and that yet you will not move. Parley you, and takecounsel. As for us if you will not exile this man, your nephew, anddrive him forth out of your land forever, we will withdraw within ourBailiwicks and take our neighbours also from your court: for we cannotendure his presence longer in this place. Such is your balance:choose. ”

“My lords, ” said he, “once I hearkened to the evil words you spoke ofTristan, yet was I wrong in the end. But you are my lieges and I wouldnot lose the service of my men. Counsel me therefore, I charge you, you that owe me counsel. You know me for a man neither proud noroverstepping. ”

“Lord, ” said they, “call then Frocin hither. You mistrust him for thatorchard night. Still, was it not he that read in the stars of theQueen’s coming there and to the very pine-tree too? He is very wise, take counsel of him. ”

And he came, did that hunchback of Hell: the felons greeted him and heplanned this evil. 

“Sire, ” said he, “let your nephew ride hard to-morrow at dawn with abrief drawn up on parchment and well sealed with a seal: bid him rideto King Arthur at Carduel. Sire, he sleeps with the peers in yourchamber; go you out when the first sleep falls on men, and if he loveIseult so madly, why, then I swear by God and by the laws of Rome, hewill try to speak with her before he rides. But if he do so unknown toyou or to me, then slay me. As for the trap, let me lay it, but do yousay nothing of his ride to him until the time for sleep. ”

And when King Mark had agreed, this dwarf did a vile thing. He boughtof a baker four farthings’ worth of flour, and hid it in the turn ofhis coat. That night, when the King had supped and the men-at-arms laydown to sleep in hall, Tristan came to the King as custom was, and theKing said:

“Fair nephew, do my will: ride to-morrow night to King Arthur atCarduel, and give him this brief, with my greeting, that he may openit: and stay you with him but one day. ”

And when Tristan said: “I will take it on the morrow;”

The King added: “Aye, and before day dawn. ”

But, as the peers slept all round the King their lord, that night, amad thought took Tristan that, before he rode, he knew not for howlong, before dawn he would say a last word to the Queen. And there wasa spear length in the darkness between them. Now the dwarf slept withthe rest in the King’s chamber, and when he thought that all slept herose and scattered the flour silently in the spear length that laybetween Tristan and the Queen; but Tristan watched and saw him, andsaid to himself:

“It is to mark my footsteps, but there shall be no marks to show. ”

At midnight, when all was dark in the room, no candle nor any lampglimmering, the King went out silently by the door and with him thedwarf. Then Tristan rose in the darkness and judged the spear lengthand leapt the space between, for his farewell. But that day in thehunt a boar had wounded him in the leg, and in this effort the woundbled. He did not feel it or see it in the darkness, but the blooddripped upon the couches and the flour strewn between; and outside inthe moonlight the dwarf read the heavens and knew what had been doneand he cried:

“Enter, my King, and if you do not hold them, hang me high. ”

Then the King and the dwarf and the four felons ran in with lights andnoise, and though Tristan had regained his place there was the bloodfor witness, and though Iseult feigned sleep, and Perinis too, who layat Tristan’s feet, yet there was the blood for witness. And the Kinglooked in silence at the blood where it lay upon the bed and theboards and trampled into the flour. 

And the four barons held Tristan down upon his bed and mocked theQueen also, promising her full justice; and they bared and showed thewound whence the blood flowed. 

Then the King said:

“Tristan, now nothing longer holds. To-morrow you shall die. ”

And Tristan answered:

“Have mercy, Lord, in the name of God that suffered the Cross!”

But the felons called on the King to take vengeance, saying:

“Do justice, King: take vengeance. ”

And Tristan went on, “Have mercy, not on me—for why should I stand atdying?—Truly, but for you, I would have sold my honour high to cowardswho, under your peace, have put hands on my body—but in homage to youI have yielded and you may do with me what you will. But, lord, remember the Queen!”

And as he knelt at the King’s feet he still complained:

“Remember the Queen; for if any man of your household make so bold asto maintain the lie that I loved her unlawfully I will stand up armedto him in a ring. Sire, in the name of God the Lord, have mercy onher. ”

Then the barons bound him with ropes, and the Queen also. But hadTristan known that trial by combat was to be denied him, certainly hewould not have suffered it. 

For he trusted in God and knew no man dared draw sword against him inthe lists. And truly he did well to trust in God, for though thefelons mocked him when he said he had loved loyally, yet I call you towitness, my lords who read this, and who know of the philtre drunkupon the high seas, and who, understand whether his love weredisloyalty indeed. For men see this and that outward thing, but Godalone the heart, and in the heart alone is crime and the sole finaljudge is God. Therefore did He lay down the law that a man accusedmight uphold his cause by battle, and God himself fights for theinnocent in such a combat. 

Therefore did Tristan claim justice and the right of battle andtherefore was he careful to fail in nothing of the homage he owed KingMark, his lord. 

But had he known what was coming, he would have killed the felons. 

THE CHANTRY LEAP

Dark was the night, and the news ran that Tristan and the Queen wereheld and that the King would kill them; and wealthy burgess, or commonman, they wept and ran to the palace. 

And the murmurs and the cries ran through the city, but such was theKing’s anger in his castle above that not the strongest nor theproudest baron dared move him. 

Night ended and the day drew near. Mark, before dawn, rode out to theplace where he held pleas and judgment. He ordered a ditch to be dugin the earth and knotty vine-shoots and thorns to be laid therein. 

At the hour of Prime he had a ban cried through his land to gather themen of Cornwall; they came with a great noise and the King spoke themthus:

“My lords, I have made here a faggot of thorns for Tristan and theQueen; for they have fallen. ”

But they cried all, with tears:

“A sentence, lord, a sentence; an indictment and pleas; for killingwithout trial is shame and crime. ”

But Mark answered in his anger:

“Neither respite, nor delay, nor pleas, nor sentence. By God that madethe world, if any dare petition me, he shall burn first!”

He ordered the fire to be lit, and Tristan to be called. 

The flames rose, and all were silent before the flames, and the Kingwaited. 

The servants ran to the room where watch was kept on the two lovers;and they dragged Tristan out by his hands though he wept for hishonour; but as they dragged him off in such a shame, the Queen stillcalled to him:

“Friend, if I die that you may live, that will be great joy. ”

Now, hear how full of pity is God and how He heard the lament and theprayers of the common folk, that day. 

For as Tristan and his guards went down from the town to where thefaggot burned, near the road upon a rock was a chantry, it stood at acliff’s edge steep and sheer, and it turned to the sea-breeze; in theapse of it were windows glazed. Then Tristan said to those with him:

“My lords, let me enter this chantry, to pray for a moment the mercyof God whom I have offended; my death is near. There is but one doorto the place, my lords, and each of you has his sword drawn. So, youmay well see that, when my prayer to God is done, I must come past youagain: when I have prayed God, my lords, for the last time. 

And one of the guards said: “Why, let him go in. ”

So they let him enter to pray. But he, once in, dashed through andleapt the altar rail and the altar too and forced a window of theapse, and leapt again over the cliff’s edge. So might he die, but notof that shameful death before the people. 

Now learn, my lords, how generous was God to him that day. The windtook Tristan’s cloak and he fell upon a smooth rock at the cliff’sfoot, which to this day the men of Cornwall call “Tristan’s leap. ”

His guards still waited for him at the chantry door, but vainly, forGod was now his guard. And he ran, and the fine sand crunched underhis feet, and far off he saw the faggot burning, and the smoke and thecrackling flames; and fled. 

Sword girt and bridle loose, Gorvenal had fled the city, lest the Kingburn him in his master’s place: and he found Tristan on the shore. 

“Master, ” said Tristan, “God has saved me, but oh! master, to whatend? For without Iseult I may not and I will not live, and I ratherhad died of my fall. They will burn her for me, then I too will diefor her. ”

“Lord, ” said Gorvenal, “take no counsel of anger. See here thisthicket with a ditch dug round about it. Let us hide therein where thetrack passes near, and comers by it will tell us news; and, boy, ifthey burn Iseult, I swear by God, the Son of Mary, never to sleepunder a roof again until she be avenged. ”

There was a poor man of the common folk that had seen Tristan’s fall, and had seen him stumble and rise after, and he crept to Tintagel andto Iseult where she was bound, and said:

“Queen, weep no more. Your friend has fled safely. ”

“Then I thank God, ” said she, “and whether they bind or loose me, andwhether they kill or spare me, I care but little now. ”

And though blood came at the cord-knots, so tightly had the traitorsbound her, yet still she said, smiling:

“Did I weep for that when God has loosed my friend I should be littleworth. ”

When the news came to the King that Tristan had leapt that leap andwas lost he paled with anger, and bade his men bring forth Iseult. 

They dragged her from the room, and she came before the crowd, held byher delicate hands, from which blood dropped, and the crowd called:

“Have pity on her—the loyal Queen and honoured! Surely they that gaveher up brought mourning on us all—our curses on them!”

But the King’s men dragged her to the thorn faggot as it blazed. Shestood up before the flame, and the crowd cried its anger, and cursedthe traitors and the King. None could see her without pity, unless hehad a felon’s heart: she was so tightly bound. The tears ran down herface and fell upon her grey gown where ran a little thread of gold, and a thread of gold was twined into her hair. 

Just then there had come up a hundred lepers of the King’s, deformedand broken, white horribly, and limping on their crutches. And theydrew near the flame, and being evil, loved the sight. And their chiefIvan, the ugliest of them all, cried to the King in a quavering voice:

“O King, you would burn this woman in that flame, and it is soundjustice, but too swift, for very soon the fire will fall, and herashes will very soon be scattered by the high wind and her agony bedone. Throw her rather to your lepers where she may drag out a lifefor ever asking death. ”

And the King answered:

“Yes; let her live that life, for it is better justice and moreterrible. I can love those that gave me such a thought. ”

And the lepers answered:

“Throw her among us, and make her one of us. Never shall lady haveknown a worse end. And look, ” they said, “at our rags and ourabominations. She has had pleasure in rich stuffs and furs, jewels andwalls of marble, honour, good wines and joy, but when she sees yourlepers always, King, and only them for ever, their couches and theirhuts, then indeed she will know the wrong she has done, and bitterlydesire even that great flame of thorns. ”

And as the King heard them, he stood a long time without moving; thenhe ran to the Queen and seized her by the hand, and she cried:

“Burn me! rather burn me!”

But the King gave her up, and Ivan took her, and the hundred leperspressed around, and to hear her cries all the crowd rose in pity. ButIvan had an evil gladness, and as he went he dragged her out of theborough bounds, with his hideous company. 

Now they took that road where Tristan lay in hiding, and Gorvenal saidto him:

“Son, here is your friend. Will you do naught?”

Then Tristan mounted the horse and spurred it out of the bush, andcried:

“Ivan, you have been at the Queen’s side a moment, and too long. Nowleave her if you would live. ”

But Ivan threw his cloak away and shouted:

“Your clubs, comrades, and your staves! Crutches in the air—for afight is on!”

Then it was fine to see the lepers throwing their capes aside, andstirring their sick legs, and brandishing their crutches, somethreatening: groaning all; but to strike them Tristan was too noble. There are singers who sing that Tristan killed Ivan, but it is a lie. Too much a knight was he to kill such things. Gorvenal indeed, snatching up an oak sapling, crashed it on Ivan’s head till his bloodran down to his misshapen feet. Then Tristan took the Queen. 

Henceforth near him she felt no further evil. He cut the cords thatbound her arms so straightly, and he left the plain so that theyplunged into the wood of Morois; and there in the thick wood Tristanwas as sure as in a castle keep. 

And as the sun fell they halted all three at the foot of a littlehill: fear had wearied the Queen, and she leant her head upon his bodyand slept. 

But in the morning, Gorvenal stole from a wood man his bow and twogood arrows plumed and barbed, and gave them to Tristan, the greatarcher, and he shot him a fawn and killed it. Then Gorvenal gathereddry twigs, struck flint, and lit a great fire to cook the venison. AndTristan cut him branches and made a hut and garnished it with leaves. And Iseult slept upon the thick leaves there. 

So, in the depths of the wild wood began for the lovers that savagelife which yet they loved very soon. 

PART THE SECOND

THE WOOD OF MOROIS

They wandered in the depths of the wild wood, restless and in hastelike beasts that are hunted, nor did they often dare to return bynight to the shelter of yesterday. They ate but the flesh of wildanimals. Their faces sank and grew white, their clothes ragged; forthe briars tore them. They loved each other and they did not know thatthey suffered. 

One day, as they were wandering in these high woods that had never yetbeen felled or ordered, they came upon the hermitage of Ogrin. 

The old man limped in the sunlight under a light growth of maples nearhis chapel: he leant upon his crutch, and cried:

“Lord Tristan, hear the great oath which the Cornish men have sworn. The King has published a ban in every parish: Whosoever may seize youshall receive a hundred marks of gold for his guerdon, and all thebarons have sworn to give you up alive or dead. Do penance, Tristan!God pardons the sinner who turns to repentance. ”

“And of what should I repent, Ogrin, my lord? Or of what crime? Youthat sit in judgment upon us here, do you know what cup it was wedrank upon the high sea? That good, great draught inebriates us both. I would rather beg my life long and live of roots and herbs withIseult than, lacking her, be king of a wide kingdom. ”

“God aid you, Lord Tristan; for you have lost both this world and thenext. A man that is traitor to his lord is worthy to be torn by horsesand burnt upon the faggot, and wherever his ashes fall no grass shallgrow and all tillage is waste, and the trees and the green things die. Lord Tristan, give back the Queen to the man who espoused her lawfullyaccording to the laws of Rome. ”

“He gave her to his lepers. From these lepers I myself conquered herwith my own hand; and henceforth she is altogether mine. She cannotpass from me nor I from her. ”

Ogrin sat down; but at his feet Iseult, her head upon the knees ofthat man of God, wept silently. The hermit told her and re-told herthe words of his holy book, but still while she wept she shook herhead, and refused the faith he offered. 

“Ah me, ” said Ogrin then, “what comfort can one give the dead? Dopenance, Tristan, for a man who lives in sin without repenting is aman quite dead. ”

“Oh no, ” said Tristan, “I live and I do no penance. We will go backinto the high wood which comforts and wards us all round about. Comewith me, Iseult, my friend. ”

Iseult rose up; they held each other’s hands. They passed into thehigh grass and the underwood: the trees hid them with their branches. They disappeared beyond the leaves. 

The summer passed and the winter came: the two lovers lived, allhidden in the hollow of a rock, and on the frozen earth the coldcrisped their couch with dead leaves. In the strength of their loveneither one nor the other felt these mortal things. But when the openskies had come back with the springtime, they built a hut of greenbranches under the great trees. Tristan had known, ever since hischildhood, that art by which a man may sing the song of birds in thewoods, and at his fancy, he would call as call the thrush, theblackbird and the nightingale, and all winged things; and sometimes inreply very many birds would come on to the branches of his hut andsing their song full-throated in the new light. 

The lovers had ceased to wander through the forest, for none of thebarons ran the risk of their pursuit knowing well that Tristan wouldhave hanged them to the branches of a tree. One day, however, one ofthe four traitors, Guenelon, whom God blast! drawn by the heat of thehunt, dared enter the Morois. And that morning, on the forest edge ina ravine, Gorvenal, having unsaddled his horse, had let him graze onthe new grass, while far off in their hut Tristan held the Queen, andthey slept. Then suddenly Gorvenal heard the cry of the pack; thehounds pursued a deer, which fell into that ravine. And far on theheath the hunter showed — and Gorvenal knew him for the man whom hismaster hated above all. Alone, with bloody spurs, and striking hishorse’s mane, he galloped on; but Gorvenal watched him from ambush: hecame fast, he would return more slowly. He passed and Gorvenal leaptfrom his ambush and seized the rein and, suddenly, remembering all thewrong that man had done, hewed him to death and carried off his headin his hands. And when the hunters found the body, as they followed, they thought Tristan came after and they fled in fear of death, andthereafter no man hunted in that wood. And far off, in the hut upontheir couch of leaves, slept Tristan and the Queen. 

There came Gorvenal, noiseless, the dead man’s head in his hands thathe might lift his master’s heart at his awakening. He hung it by itshair outside the hut, and the leaves garlanded it about. Tristan wokeand saw it, half hidden in the leaves, and staring at him as he gazed, and he became afraid. But Gorvenal said: “Fear not, he is dead. Ikilled him with this sword. ”

Then Tristan was glad, and henceforward from that day no one daredenter the wild wood, for terror guarded it and the lovers were lordsof it all: and then it was that Tristan fashioned his bow “Failnaught”which struck home always, man or beast, whatever it aimed at. 

My lords, upon a summer day, when mowing is, a little afterWhitsuntide, as the birds sang dawn Tristan left his hut and girt hissword on him, and took his bow “Failnaught” and went off to hunt inthe wood; but before evening, great evil was to fall on him, for nolovers ever loved so much or paid their love so dear. 

When Tristan came back, broken by the heat, the Queen said

“Friend, where have you been?”

“Hunting a hart, ” he said, “that wearied me. I would lie down andsleep. ”

So she lay down, and he, and between them Tristan put his naked sword, and on the Queen’s finger was that ring of gold with emeralds settherein, which Mark had given her on her bridal day; but her hand wasso wasted that the ring hardly held. And no wind blew, and no leavesstirred, but through a crevice in the branches a sunbeam fell upon theface of Iseult and it shone white like ice. Now a woodman found in thewood a place where the leaves were crushed, where the lovers hadhalted and slept, and he followed their track and found the hut, andsaw them sleeping and fled off, fearing the terrible awakening of thatlord. He fled to Tintagel, and going up the stairs of the palace, found the King as he held his pleas in hall amid the vassalsassembled. 

“Friend, ” said the King, “what came you hither to seek in haste andbreathless, like a huntsman that has followed the dogs afoot? Have yousome wrong to right, or has any man driven you?”

But the woodman took him aside and said low down:

“I have seen the Queen and Tristan, and I feared and fled. ”

“Where saw you them?”

“In a hut in Morois, they slept side by side. Come swiftly and takeyour vengeance. ”

“Go, ” said the King, “and await me at the forest edge where the redcross stands, and tell no man what you have seen. You shall have goldand silver at your will. ”

The King had saddled his horse and girt his sword and left the cityalone, and as he rode alone he minded him of the night when he hadseen Tristan under the great pine-tree, and Iseult with her clearface, and he thought:

“If I find them I will avenge this awful wrong. ”

At the foot of the red cross he came to the woodman and said:

“Go first, and lead me straight and quickly. ”

The dark shade of the great trees wrapt them round, and as the Kingfollowed the spy he felt his sword, and trusted it for the great blowsit had struck of old; and surely had Tristan wakened, one of the twohad stayed there dead. Then the woodman said:

“King, we are near. ”

He held the stirrup, and tied the rein to a green apple-tree, and sawin a sunlit glade the hut with its flowers and leaves. Then the Kingcast his cloak with its fine buckle of gold and drew his sword fromits sheath and said again in his heart that they or he should die. Andhe signed to the woodman to be gone. 

He came alone into the hut, sword bare, and watched them as they lay:but he saw that they were apart, and he wondered because between themwas the naked blade. 

Then he said to himself: “My God, I may not kill them. For all thetime they have lived together in this wood, these two lovers, yet isthe sword here between them, and throughout Christendom men know thatsign. Therefore I will not slay, for that would be treason and wrong, but I will do so that when they wake they may know that I found themhere, asleep, and spared them and that God had pity on them both. ”

And still the sunbeam fell upon the white face of Iseult, and the Kingtook his ermined gloves and put them up against the crevice whence itshone. 

Then in her sleep a vision came to Iseult. She seemed to be in a greatwood and two lions near her fought for her, and she gave a cry andwoke, and the gloves fell upon her breast; and at the cry Tristanwoke, and made to seize his sword, and saw by the golden hilt that itwas the King’s. And the Queen saw on her finger the King’s ring, andshe cried:

“O, my lord, the King has found us here!”

And Tristan said:

“He has taken my sword; he was alone, but he will return, and willburn us before the people. Let us fly. ”

So by great marches with Gorvenal alone they fled towards Wales. 

OGRIN THE HERMIT

After three days it happened that Tristan, in following a wounded deerfar out into the wood, was caught by night-fall, and took to thinkingthus under the dark wood alone:

“It was not fear that moved the King … he had my sword and I slept …and had he wished to slay, why did he leave me his own blade? … O, myfather, my father, I know you now. There was pardon in your heart, andtenderness and pity … yet how was that, for who could forgive in thismatter without shame? … It was not pardon it was understanding; thefaggot and the chantry leap and the leper ambush have shown him Godupon our side. Also I think he remembered the boy who long ago harpedat his feet, and my land of Lyonesse which I left for him; theMorholt’s spear and blood shed in his honour. He remembered how I madeno avowal, but claimed a trial at arms, and the high nature of hisheart has made him understand what men around him cannot; never can heknow of the spell, yet he doubts and hopes and knows I have told nolie, and would have me prove my cause. O, but to win at arms by God’said for him, and to enter his peace and to put on mail for him again …but then he must take her back, and I must yield her … it would havebeen much better had he killed me in my sleep. For till now I washunted and I could hate and forget; he had thrown Iseult to thelepers, she was no more his, but mine; and now by his compassion hehas wakened my heart and regained the Queen. For Queen she was at hisside, but in this wood she lives a slave, and I waste her youth; andfor rooms all hung with silk she has this savage place, and a hut forher splendid walls, and I am the cause that she treads this ugly road. So now I cry to God the Lord, who is King of the world, and beg Him togive me strength to yield back Iseult to King Mark; for she is indeedhis wife, wed according to the laws of Rome before all the Barony ofhis land. ”

And as he thought thus, he leant upon his bow, and all through thenight considered his sorrow. 

Within the hollow of thorns that was their resting-place Iseult theFair awaited Tristan’s return. The golden ring that King Mark hadslipped there glistened on her finger in the moonlight, and shethought:

“He that put on this ring is not the man who threw me to his lepers inhis wrath; he is rather that compassionate lord who, from the day Itouched his shore, received me and protected. And he loved Tristanonce, but I came, and see what I have done! He should have lived inthe King’s palace; he should have ridden through King’s and baron’sfees, finding adventure; but through me he has forgotten hisknighthood, and is hunted and exiled from the court, leading a randomlife. …”

Just then she heard the feet of Tristan coming over the dead leavesand twigs. She came to meet him, as was her wont, to relieve him ofhis arms, and she took from him his bow, “Failnaught, ” and his arrows, and she unbuckled his sword-straps. And, “Friend, ” said he, “it is theKing’s sword. It should have slain, but it spared us. ”

Iseult took the sword, and kissed the hilt of gold, and Tristan sawher weeping. 

“Friend, ” said he, “if I could make my peace with the King; if hewould allow me to sustain in arms that neither by act nor word have Iloved you with a wrongful love, any knight from the Marshes of Elyright away to Dureaume that would gainsay me, would find me armed inthe ring. Then if the King would keep you and drive me out I wouldcross to the Lowlands or to Brittany with Gorvenal alone. But whereverI went and always, Queen, I should be yours; nor would I have spokenthus, Iseult, but for the wretchedness you bear so long for my sake inthis desert land. ”

“Tristan, ” she said, “there is the hermit Ogrin. Let us return to him, and cry mercy to the King of Heaven. ”

They wakened Gorvenal; Iseult mounted the steed, and Tristan led it bythe bridle, and all night long they went for the last time through thewoods of their love, and they did not speak a word. By morning theycame to the Hermitage, where Ogrin read at the threshold, and seeingthem, called them tenderly:

“Friends, ” he cried, “see how Love drives you still to furtherwretchedness. Will you not do penance at last for your madness?”

“Lord Ogrin, ” said Tristan, “hear us. Help us to offer peace to theKing, and I will yield him the Queen, and will myself go far away intoBrittany or the Lowlands, and if some day the King suffer me, I willreturn and serve as I should. ”

And at the hermit’s feet Iseult said in her turn:

“Nor will I live longer so, for though I will not say one word ofpenance for my love, which is there and remains forever, yet from nowon I will be separate from him. ”

Then the hermit wept and praised God and cried: “High King, I praiseThy Name, for that Thou hast let me live so long as to give aid tothese!”

And he gave them wise counsel, and took ink, and wrote a little writoffering the King what Tristan said. 

That night Tristan took the road. Once more he saw the marble well andthe tall pine-tree, and he came beneath the window where the Kingslept, and called him gently, and Mark awoke and whispered:

“Who are you that call me in the night at such an hour?”

“Lord, I am Tristan: I bring you a writ, and lay it here. ”

Then the King cried: “Nephew! nephew! for God’s sake wait awhile, ” butTristan had fled and joined his squire, and mounted rapidly. Gorvenalsaid to him:

“O, Tristan, you are mad to have come. Fly hard with me by the nearestroad. ”

So they came back to the Hermitage, and there they found Ogrin atprayer, but Iseult weeping silently. 

THE FORD

Mark had awakened his chaplain and had given him the writ to read; thechaplain broke the seal, saluted in Tristan’s name, and then, when hehad cunningly made out the written words, told him what Tristanoffered; and Mark heard without saying a word, but his heart was glad, for he still loved the Queen. 

He summoned by name the choicest of his baronage, and when they wereall assembled they were silent and the King spoke:

“My lords, here is a writ, just sent me. I am your King, and you mylieges. Hear what is offered me, and then counsel me, for you owe mecounsel. ”

The chaplain rose, unfolded the writ, and said, upstanding

“My lords, it is Tristan that first sends love and homage to the Kingand all his Barony, and he adds, ‘O King, when I slew the dragon andconquered the King of Ireland’s daughter it was to me they gave her. Iwas to ward her at will and I yielded her to you. Yet hardly had youwed her when felons made you accept their lies, and in your anger, fair uncle, my lord, you would have had us burnt without trial. ButGod took compassion on us; we prayed him and he saved the Queen, asjustice was: and me also—though I leapt from a high rock, I was savedby the power of God. And since then what have I done blameworthy? TheQueen was thrown to the lepers; I came to her succour and bore heraway. Could I have done less for a woman, who all but died innocentthrough me? I fled through the woods. Nor could I have come down intothe vale and yielded her, for there was a ban to take us dead oralive. But now, as then, I am ready, my lord, to sustain in armsagainst all comers that never had the Queen for me, nor I for her alove dishonourable to you. Publish the lists, and if I cannot prove myright in arms, burn me before your men. But if I conquer and you takeback Iseult, no baron of yours will serve you as will I; and if youwill not have me, I will offer myself to the King of Galloway, or tohim of the Lowlands, and you will hear of me never again. Takecounsel, King, for if you will make no terms I will take back Iseultto Ireland, and she shall be Queen in her own land. ’”

When the barons of Cornwall heard how Tristan offered battle, theysaid to the King:

“Sire, take back the Queen. They were madmen that belied her to you. But as for Tristan, let him go and war it in Galloway, or in theLowlands. Bid him bring back Iseult on such a day and that soon. 

Then the King called thrice clearly:

“Will any man rise in accusation against Tristan?”

And as none replied, he said to his chaplain:

“Write me a writ in haste. You have heard what you shall write. Iseulthas suffered enough in her youth. And let the writ be hung upon thearm of the red cross before evening. Write speedily. ”

Towards midnight Tristan crossed the Heath of Sand, and found thewrit, and bore it sealed to Ogrin; and the hermit read the letter;“How Mark consented by the counsel of his barons to take back Iseult, but not to keep Tristan for his liege. Rather let him cross the sea, when, on the third day hence, at the Ford of Chances, he had givenback the Queen into King Mark’s hands. ” Then Tristan said to theQueen:

“O, my God! I must lose you, friend! But it must be, since I can thusspare you what you suffer for my sake. But when we part for ever Iwill give you a pledge of mine to keep, and from whatever unknown landI reach I will send some messenger, and he will bring back word ofyou, and at your call I will come from far away. ”

Iseult said, sighing:

“Tristan, leave me your dog, Toothold, and every time I see him I willremember you, and will be less sad. And, friend, I have here a ring ofgreen jasper. Take it for the love of me, and put it on your finger;then if anyone come saying he is from you, I will not trust him at alltill he show me this ring, but once I have seen it, there is no poweror royal ban that can prevent me from doing what you bid—wisdom orfolly. ”

“Friend, ” he said, “here give I you Toothold. ”

“Friend, ” she replied, “take you this ring in reward. ”

And they kissed each other on the lips. 

Now Ogrin, having left the lovers in the Hermitage, hobbled upon hiscrutch to the place called The Mount, and he bought ermine there andfur and cloth of silk and purple and scarlet, and a palfrey harnessedin gold that went softly, and the folk laughed to see him spendingupon these the small moneys he had amassed so long; but the old manput the rich stuffs upon the palfrey and came back to Iseult. 

And “Queen, ” said he, “take these gifts of mine that you may seem thefiner on the day when you come to the Ford. ”

Meanwhile the King had had cried through Cornwall the news that on thethird day he would make his peace with the Queen at the Ford, andknights and ladies came in a crowd to the gathering, for all loved theQueen and would see her, save the three felons that yet survived. 

On the day chosen for the meeting, the field shone far with the richtents of the barons, and suddenly Tristan and Iseult came out at theforest’s edge, and caught sight of King Mark far off among his Barony:

“Friend, ” said Tristan, “there is the King, your lord—his knights andhis men; they are coming towards us, and very soon we may not speak toeach other again. By the God of Power I conjure you, if ever I sendyou a word, do you my bidding. ”

“Friend, ” said Iseult, “on the day that I see the ring, nor tower, norwall, nor stronghold will let me from doing the will of my friend. ”

“Why then, ” he said, “Iseult, may God reward you. ”

Their horses went abreast and he drew her towards him with his arm. 

“Friend, ” said Iseult, “hear my last prayer: you will leave this land, but wait some days; hide till you know how the King may treat me, whether in wrath or kindness, for I am afraid. Friend, Orri thewoodman will entertain you hidden. Go you by night to the abandonedcellar that you know and I will send Perinis there to say if anyonemisuse me. ”

“Friend, none would dare. I will stay hidden with Orri, and if anymisuse you let him fear me as the Enemy himself. ”

Now the two troops were near and they saluted, and the King rode abow-shot before his men and with him Dinas of Lidan; and when thebarons had come up, Tristan, holding Iseult’s palfrey by the bridle, bowed to the King and said:

“O King, I yield you here Iseult the Fair, and I summon you, beforethe men of your land, that I may defend myself in your court, for Ihave had no judgment. Let me have trial at arms, and if I amconquered, burn me, but if I conquer, keep me by you, or, if you willnot, I will be off to some far country. ”

But no one took up Tristan’s wager, and the King, taking Iseult’spalfrey by the bridle, gave it to Dinas, and went apart to takecounsel. 

Dinas, in his joy, gave all honour and courtesy to the Queen, but whenthe felons saw her so fair and honoured as of old, they were stirredand rode to the King, and said:

“King, hear our counsel. That the Queen was slandered we admit, but ifshe and Tristan re-enter your court together, rumour will reviveagain. Rather let Tristan go apart awhile. Doubtless some day you mayrecall him. ”

And so Mark did, and ordered Tristan by his barons to go off withoutdelay. 

Then Tristan came near the Queen for his farewell, and as they lookedat one another the Queen in shame of that assembly blushed, but theKing pitied her, and spoke his nephew thus for the first time:

“You cannot leave in these rags; take then from my treasury gold andsilver and white fur and grey, as much as you will. ”

“King, ” said Tristan, “neither a penny nor a link of mail. I will goas I can, and serve with high heart the mighty King in the Lowlands. ”

And he turned rein and went down towards the sea, but Iseult followedhim with her eyes, and so long as he could yet be seen a long way offshe did not turn. 

Now at the news of the peace, men, women, and children, great andsmall, ran out of the town in a crowd to meet Iseult, and while theymourned Tristan’s exile they rejoiced at the Queen’s return. 

And to the noise of bells, and over pavings strewn with branches, theKing and his counts and princes made her escort, and the gates of thepalace were thrown open that rich and poor might enter and eat anddrink at will. 

And Mark freed a hundred of his slaves, and armed a score of squiresthat day with hauberk and with sword. 

But Tristan that night hid with Orri, as the Queen had counselled him. 

THE ORDEAL BY IRON

Denoalen, Andret, and Gondoin held themselves safe; Tristan was farover sea, far away in service of a distant king, and they beyond hispower. Therefore, during a hunt one day, as the King rode apart in aglade where the pack would pass, and hearkening to the hounds, theyall three rode towards him, and said:

“O King, we have somewhat to say. Once you condemned the Queen withoutjudgment, and that was wrong; now you acquit her without judgment, andthat is wrong. She is not quit by trial, and the barons of your landblame you both. Counsel her, then, to claim the ordeal in God’sjudgment, for since she is innocent, she may swear on the relics ofthe saints and hot iron will not hurt her. For so custom runs, and inthis easy way are doubts dissolved. ”

But Mark answered:

“God strike you, my Cornish lords, how you hunt my shame! For you haveI exiled my nephew, and now what would you now? Would you have medrive the Queen to Ireland too? What novel plaints have you to plead?Did not Tristan offer you battle in this matter? He offered battle toclear the Queen forever: he offered and you heard him all. Where thenwere your lances and your shields?”

“Sire, ” they said, “we have counselled you loyal counsel as lieges andto your honour; henceforward we hold our peace. Put aside your angerand give us your safe-guard. ”

But Mark stood up in the stirrup and cried:

“Out of my land, and out of my peace, all of you! Tristan I exiled foryou, and now go you in turn, out of my land!”

But they answered:

“Sire, it is well. Our keeps are strong and fenced, and stand on rocksnot easy for men to climb. ”

And they rode off without a salutation. 

But the King (not tarrying for huntsman or for hound but straightaway) spurred his horse to Tintagel; and as he sprang up the stairsthe Queen heard the jangle of his spurs upon the stones. 

She rose to meet him and took his sword as she was wont, and bowedbefore him, as it was also her wont to do; but Mark raised her, holding her hands; and when Iseult looked up she saw his noble face injust that wrath she had seen before the faggot fire. 

She thought that Tristan was found, and her heart grew cold, andwithout a word she fell at the King’s feet. 

He took her in his arms and kissed her gently till she could speakagain, and then he said:

“Friend, friend, what evil tries you?”

“Sire, I am afraid, for I have seen your anger. 

“Yes, I was angered at the hunt. ”

“My lord, should one take so deeply the mischances of a game?”

Mark smiled and said:

“No, friend; no chance of hunting vexed me, but those three felonswhom you know; and I have driven them forth from my land. ”

“Sire, what did they say, or dare to say of me?”

“What matter? I have driven them forth. ”

“Sire, all living have this right: to say the word they haveconceived. And I would ask a question, but from whom shall I learnsave from you? I am alone in a foreign land, and have no one else todefend me. ”

“They would have it that you should quit yourself by solemn oath andby the ordeal of iron, saying ‘that God was a true judge, and that asthe Queen was innocent, she herself should seek such judgment as wouldclear her for ever. ’ This was their clamour and their demandincessantly. But let us leave it. I tell you, I have driven themforth. ”

Iseult trembled, but looking straight at the King, she said:

“Sire, call them back; I will clear myself by oath. But I bargainthis: that on the appointed day you call King Arthur and Lord Gawain, Girflet, Kay the Seneschal, and a hundred of his knights to ride tothe Sandy Heath where your land marches with his, and a river flowsbetween; for I will not swear before your barons alone, lest theyshould demand some new thing, and lest there should be no end to mytrials. But if my warrantors, King Arthur and his knights, be there, the barons will not dare dispute the judgment. ”

But as the heralds rode to Carduel, Iseult sent to Tristan secretlyher squire Perinis: and he ran through the underwood, avoiding paths, till he found the hut of Orri, the woodman, where Tristan for manydays had awaited news. Perinis told him all: the ordeal, the place, and the time, and added:

“My lord, the Queen would have you on that day and place come dressedas a pilgrim, so that none may know you—unarmed, so that none maychallenge —to the Sandy Heath. She must cross the river to the placeappointed. Beyond it, where Arthur and his hundred knights will stand, be you also; for my lady fears the judgment, but she trusts in God. ”

Then Tristan answered:

“Go back, friend Perinis, return you to the Queen, and say that I willdo her bidding. ”

And you must know that as Perinis went back to Tintagel he caughtsight of that same woodman who had betrayed the lovers before, and thewoodman, as he found him, had just dug a pitfall for wolves and forwild boars, and covered it with leafy branches to hide it, and asPerinis came near the woodman fled, but Perinis drove him, and caughthim, and broke his staff and his head together, and pushed his bodyinto the pitfall with his feet. 

On the appointed day King Mark and Iseult, and the barons of Cornwall, stood by the river; and the knights of Arthur and all their host werearrayed beyond. 

And just before them, sitting on the shore, was a poor pilgrim, wrapped in cloak and hood, who held his wooden platter and beggedalms. 

Now as the Cornish boats came to the shoal of the further bank, Iseultsaid to the knights:

“My lords, how shall I land without befouling my clothes in theriver-mud? Fetch me a ferryman. ”

And one of the knights hailed the pilgrim, and said:

“Friend, truss your coat, and try the water; carry you the Queen toshore, unless you fear the burden. ”

But as he took the Queen in his arms she whispered to him:

“Friend. ”

And then she whispered to him, lower still

“Stumble you upon the sand. ”

And as he touched shore, he stumbled, holding the Queen in his arms;and the squires and boatmen with their oars and boat-hooks drove thepoor pilgrim away. 

But the Queen said:

“Let him be; some great travail and journey has weakened him. ”

And she threw to the pilgrim a little clasp of gold. 

Before the tent of King Arthur was spread a rich Nicean cloth upon thegrass, and the holy relics were set on it, taken out of their coversand their shrines. 

And round the holy relics on the sward stood a guard more than aking’s guard, for Lord Gawain, Girflet, and Kay the Seneschal keptward over them. 

The Queen having prayed God, took off the jewels from her neck andhands, and gave them to the beggars around; she took off her purplemantle, and her overdress, and her shoes with their precious stones, and gave them also to the poor that loved her. 

She kept upon her only the sleeveless tunic, and then with arms andfeet quite bare she came between the two kings, and all around thebarons watched her in silence, and some wept, for near the holy relicswas a brazier burning. 

And trembling a little she stretched her right hand towards the bonesand said: “Kings of Logres and of Cornwall; my lords Gawain, and Kay, and Girflet, and all of you that are my warrantors, by these holythings and all the holy things of earth, I swear that no man has heldme in his arms saving King Mark, my lord, and that poor pilgrim. KingMark, will that oath stand?”

“Yes, Queen, ” he said, “and God see to it. 

“Amen, ” said Iseult, and then she went near the brazier, pale andstumbling, and all were silent. The iron was red, but she thrust herbare arms among the coals and seized it, and bearing it took ninesteps. 

Then, as she cast it from her, she stretched her arms out in a cross, with the palms of her hands wide open, and all men saw them fresh andclean and cold. Seeing that great sight the kings and the barons andthe people stood for a moment silent, then they stirred together andthey praised God loudly all around. 

PART THE THIRD

THE LITTLE FAIRY BELL

When Tristan had come back to Orri’s hut, and had loosened his heavypilgrim’s cape, he saw clearly in his heart that it was time to keephis oath to King Mark and to fly the land. 

Three days yet he tarried, because he could not drag himself away fromthat earth, but on the fourth day he thanked the woodman, and said toGorvenal:

“Master, the hour is come. ”

And he went into Wales, into the land of the great Duke Gilain, whowas young, powerful, and frank in spirit, and welcomed him nobly as aGod-sent guest. 

And he did everything to give him honour and joy; but he found thatneither adventure, nor feast could soothe what Tristan suffered. 

One day, as he sat by the young Duke’s side, his spirit weighed uponhim, so that not knowing it he groaned, and the Duke, to soothe him, ordered into his private room a fairy thing, which pleased his eyeswhen he was sad and relieved his own heart; it was a dog, and thevarlets brought it in to him, and they put it upon a table there. Nowthis dog was a fairy dog, and came from the Duke of Avalon; for afairy had given it him as a love-gift, and no one can well describeits kind or beauty. And it bore at its neck, hung to a little chain ofgold, a little bell; and that tinkled so gaily, and so clear and sosoft, that as Tristan heard it, he was soothed, and his anguish meltedaway, and he forgot all that he had suffered for the Queen; for suchwas the virtue of the bell and such its property: that whosoever heardit, he lost all pain. And as Tristan stroked the little fairy thing, the dog that took away his sorrow, he saw how delicate it was andfine, and how it had soft hair like samite, and he thought how good agift it would make for the Queen. But he dared not ask for it rightout since he knew that the Duke loved this dog beyond everything inthe world, and would yield it to no prayers, nor to wealth, nor towile; so one day Tristan having made a plan in his mind said this:

“Lord, what would you give to the man who could rid your land of thehairy giant Urgan, that levies such a toll?”

“Truly, the victor might choose what he would, but none will dare. ”

Then said Tristan:

“Those are strange words, for good comes to no land save by risk anddaring, and not for all the gold of Milan would I renounce my desireto find him in his wood and bring him down. ”

Then Tristan went out to find Urgan in his lair, and they fought hardand long, till courage conquered strength, and Tristan, having cut offthe giant’s hand, bore it back to the Duke. 

And “Sire, ” said he, “since I may choose a reward according to yourword, give me the little fairy dog. It was for that I conquered Urgan, and your promise stands. ”

“Friend, ” said the Duke, “take it, then, but in taking it you takeaway also all my joy. ”

Then Tristan took the little fairy dog and gave it in ward to a Welshharper, who was cunning and who bore it to Cornwall till he came toTintagel, and having come there put it secretly into Brangien’s hands, and the Queen was so pleased that she gave ten marks of gold to theharper, but she put it about that the Queen of Ireland, her mother, had sent the beast. And she had a goldsmith work a little kennel forhim, all jewelled, and incrusted with gold and enamel inlaid; andwherever she went she carried the dog with her in memory of herfriend, and as she watched it sadness and anguish and regrets meltedout of her heart. 

At first she did not guess the marvel, but thought her consolation wasbecause the gift was Tristan’s, till one day she found that it wasfairy, and that it was the little bell that charmed her soul; then shethought: “What have I to do with comfort since he is sorrowing? Hecould have kept it too and have forgotten his sorrow; but with highcourtesy he sent it to me to give me his joy and to take up his painagain. Friend, while you suffer, so long will I suffer also. ”

And she took the magic bell and shook it just a little, and then bythe open window she threw it into the sea. 

ISEULT OF THE WHITE HANDS

Apart the lovers could neither live nor die, for it was life and deathtogether; and Tristan fled his sorrow through seas and islands andmany lands. 

He fled his sorrow still by seas and islands, till at last he cameback to his land of Lyonesse, and there Rohalt, the keeper of faith, welcomed him with happy tears and called him son. But he could notlive in the peace of his own land, and he turned again and rodethrough kingdoms and through baronies, seeking adventure. From theLyonesse to the Lowlands, from the Lowlands on to the Germanies;through the Germanies and into Spain. And many lords he served, andmany deeds did, but for two years no news came to him out of Cornwall, nor friend, nor messenger. Then he thought that Iseult had forgotten. 

Now it happened one day that, riding with Gorvenal alone, he came intothe land of Brittany. They rode through a wasted plain of ruined wallsand empty hamlets and burnt fields everywhere, and the earth desertedof men; and Tristan thought:

“I am weary, and my deeds profit me nothing; my lady is far off and Ishall never see her again. Or why for two years has she made no sign, or why has she sent no messenger to find me as I wandered? But inTintagel Mark honours her and she gives him joy, and that little fairybell has done a thorough work; for little she remembers or cares forthe joys and the mourning of old, little for me, as I wander in thisdesert place. I, too, will forget. ”

On the third day, at the hour of noon, Tristan and Gorvenal came neara hill where an old chantry stood and close by a hermitage also; andTristan asked what wasted land that was, and the hermit answered:

“Lord, it is Breton land which Duke Hod holds, and once it was rich inpasture and ploughland, but Count Riol of Nantes has wasted it. Foryou must know that this Count Riol was the Duke’s vassal. And the Dukehas a daughter, fair among all King’s daughters, and Count Riol wouldhave taken her to wife; but her father refused her to a vassal, andCount Riol would have carried her away by force. Many men have died inthat quarrel. ”

And Tristan asked:

“Can the Duke wage his war?”

And the hermit answered:

“Hardly, my lord; yet his last keep of Carhaix holds out still, forthe walls are strong, and strong is the heart of the Duke’s sonKaherdin, a very good knight and bold; but the enemy surrounds them onevery side and starves them. Very hardly do they hold their castle. ”

Then Tristan asked:

“How far is this keep of Carhaix?”

“Sir, ” said the hermit, “it is but two miles further on this way. ”

Then Tristan and Gorvenal lay down, for it was evening. 

In the morning, when they had slept, and when the hermit had chanted, and had shared his black bread with them, Tristan thanked him and rodehard to Carhaix. And as he halted beneath the fast high walls, he sawa little company of men behind the battlements, and he asked if theDuke were there with his son Kaherdin. Now Hod was among them; andwhen he cried “yes, ” Tristan called up to him and said:

“I am that Tristan, King of Lyonesse, and Mark of Cornwall is myuncle. I have heard that your vassals do you a wrong, and I have cometo offer you my arms. 

“Alas, lord Tristan, go you your way alone and God reward you, forhere within we have no more food; no wheat, or meat, or any stores butonly lentils and a little oats remaining. ”

But Tristan said

“For two years I dwelt in a forest, eating nothing save roots andherbs; yet I found it a good life, so open you the door. ”

They welcomed him with honour, and Kaherdin showed him the wall andthe dungeon keep with all their devices, and from the battlements heshowed the plain where far away gleamed the tents of Duke Riol. Andwhen they were down in the castle again he said to Tristan:

“Friend, let us go to the hall where my mother and sister sit. ”

So, holding each other’s hands, they came into the women’s room, wherethe mother and the daughter sat together weaving gold upon Englishcloth and singing a weaving song. They sang of Doette the fair whosits alone beneath the white-thorn, and round about her blows thewind. She waits for Doon, her friend, but he tarries long and does notcome. This was the song they sang. And Tristan bowed to them, and theyto him. Then Kaherdin, showing the work his mother did, said:

“See, friend Tristan, what a work-woman is here, and how marvellouslyshe adorns stoles and chasubles for the poor minsters, and how mysister’s hands run thread of gold upon this cloth. Of right, goodsister, are you called, ‘Iseult of the White Hands. ’”

But Tristan, hearing her name, smiled and looked at her more gently. 

And on the morrow, Tristan, Kaherdin, and twelve young knights leftthe castle and rode to a pinewood near the enemy’s tents. And sprangfrom ambush and captured a waggon of Count Riol’s food; and from thatday, by escapade and ruse they would carry tents and convoys and killoff men, nor ever come back without some booty; so that Tristan andKaherdin began to be brothers in arms, and kept faith and tenderness, as history tells. And as they came back from these rides, talkingchivalry together, often did Kaherdin praise to his comrade hissister, Iseult of the White Hands, for her simplicity and beauty. 

One day, as the dawn broke, a sentinel ran from the tower through thehalls crying:

“Lords, you have slept too long; rise, for an assault is on. ”

And knights and burgesses armed, and ran to the walls, and saw helmetsshining on the plain, and pennons streaming crimson, like flames, andall the host of Riol in its array. Then the Duke and Kaherdin deployedtheir horsemen before the gates, and from a bow-length off theystooped, and spurred and charged, and they put their lances downtogether and the arrows fell on them like April rain. 

Now Tristan had armed himself among the last of those the sentinel hadroused, and he laced his shoes of steel, and put on his mail, and hisspurs of gold, his hauberk, and his helm over the gorget, and hemounted and spurred, with shield on breast, crying:

“Carhaix!”

And as he came, he saw Duke Riol charging, rein free, at Kaherdin, butTristan came in between. So they met, Tristan and Duke Riol. And atthe shock, Tristan’s lance shivered, but Riol’s lance struck Tristan’shorse just where the breast-piece runs, and laid it on the field. 

But Tristan, standing, drew his sword, his burnished sword, and said:

“Coward! Here is death ready for the man that strikes the horse beforethe rider. ”

But Riol answered:

“I think you have lied, my lord!”

And he charged him. 

And as he passed, Tristan let fall his sword so heavily upon his helmthat he carried away the crest and the nasal, but the sword slipped onthe mailed shoulder, and glanced on the horse, and killed it, so thatof force Duke Riol must slip the stirrup and leap and feel the ground. Then Riol too was on his feet, and they both fought hard in theirbroken mail, their ’scutcheons torn and their helmets loosened andlashing with their dented swords, till Tristan struck Riol just wherethe helmet buckles, and it yielded and the blow was struck so hardthat the baron fell on hands and knees; but when he had risen again, Tristan struck him down once more with a blow that split the helm, andit split the headpiece too, and touched the skull; then Riol criedmercy and begged his life, and Tristan took his sword. 

So he promised to enter Duke Hoël’s keep and to swear homage again, and to restore what he had wasted; and by his order the battle ceased, and his host went off discomfited. 

Now when the victors were returned Kaherdin said to his father:

“Sire, keep you Tristan. There is no better knight, and your land hasneed of such courage. ”

So when the Duke had taken counsel with his barons, he said to Tristan

“Friend, I owe you my land, but I shall be quit with you if you willtake my daughter, Iseult of the White Hands, who comes of kings and ofqueens, and of dukes before them in blood. ”

And Tristan answered:

“I will take her, Sire. ”

So the day was fixed, and the Duke came with his friends and Tristanwith his, and before all, at the gate of the minster, Tristan wedIseult of the White Hands, according to the Church’s law. 

But that same night, as Tristan’s valets undressed him, it happenedthat in drawing his arm from the sleeve they drew off and let fallfrom his finger the ring of green jasper, the ring of Iseult the Fair. It sounded on the stones, and Tristan looked and saw it. Then hisheart awoke and he knew that he had done wrong. For he remembered theday when Iseult the Fair had given him the ring. It was in that forestwhere, for his sake, she had led the hard life with him, and thatnight he saw again the hut in the wood of Morois, and he was bitterwith himself that ever he had accused her of treason; for now it washe that had betrayed, and he was bitter with himself also in pity forthis new wife and her simplicity and beauty. See how these two Iseultshad met him in an evil hour, and to both had he broken faith!

Now Iseult of the White Hands said to him, hearing him sigh:

“Dear lord, have I hurt you in anything? Will you not speak me asingle word?”

But Tristan answered: “Friend, do not be angry with me; for once inanother land I fought a foul dragon and was near to death, and Ithought of the Mother of God, and I made a vow to Her that, should Iever wed, I would spend the first holy nights of my wedding in prayerand in silence. ”

“Why, ” said Iseult, “that was a good vow. ”

And Tristan watched through the night. 

THE MADNESS OF TRISTAN

Within her room at Tintagel, Iseult the Fair sighed for the sake ofTristan, and named him, her desire, of whom for two years she had hadno word, whether he lived or no. 

Within her room at Tintagel Iseult the Fair sat singing a song she hadmade. She sang of Guron taken and killed for his love, and how byguile the Count gave Guron’s heart to her to eat, and of her woe. TheQueen sang softly, catching the harp’s tone; her hands were cunningand her song good; she sang low down and softly. 

Then came in Kariado, a rich count from a far-off island, that hadfared to Tintagel to offer the Queen his service, and had spoken oflove to her, though she disdained his folly. He found Iseult as shesang, and laughed to her:

“Lady, how sad a song! as sad as the Osprey’s; do they not say hesings for death? and your song means that to me; I die for you. ”

And Iseult said: “So let it be and may it mean so; for never come youhere but to stir in me anger or mourning. Ever were you the screechowl or the Osprey that boded ill when you spoke of Tristan; what newsbear you now?”

And Kariado answered:

“You are angered, I know not why, but who heeds your words? Let theOsprey bode me death; here is the evil news the screech owl brings. Lady Iseult, Tristan, your friend is lost to you. He has wed in a farland. So seek you other where, for he mocks your love. He has wed ingreat pomp Iseult of the White Hands, the King of Brittany’sdaughter. ’’

And Kariado went off in anger, but Iseult bowed her head and brokeinto tears. 

Now far from Iseult, Tristan languished, till on a day he must needssee her again. Far from her, death came surely; and he had rather dieat once than day by day. And he desired some death, but that the Queenmight know it was in finding her; then would death come easily. 

So he left Carhaix secretly, telling no man, neither his kindred noreven Kaherdin, his brother in arms. He went in rags afoot (for no onemarks the beggar on the high road) till he came to the shore of thesea. 

He found in a haven a great ship ready, the sail was up and theanchor-chain short at the bow. 

“God save you, my lords, ” he said, “and send you a good journey. Towhat land sail you now?”

“To Tintagel, ” they said. 

Then he cried out:

“Oh, my lords! take me with you thither!”

And he went aboard, and a fair wind filled the sail, and she ran fivedays and nights for Cornwall, till, on the sixth day, they droppedanchor in Tintagel Haven. The castle stood above, fenced all around. There was but the one armed gate, and two knights watched it night andday. So Tristan went ashore and sat upon the beach, and a man told himthat Mark was there and had just held his court. 

“But where, ” said he, “is Iseult, the Queen, and her fair maid, Brangien?”

“In Tintagel too, ” said the other, “and I saw them lately; the Queensad, as she always is. ”

At the hearing of the name, Tristan suffered, and he thought thatneither by guile nor courage could he see that friend, for Mark wouldkill him. 

And he thought, “Let him kill me and let me die for her, since everyday I die. But you, Iseult, even if you knew me here, would you notdrive me out?” And he thought, “I will try guile. I will seem mad, butwith a madness that shall be great wisdom. And many shall think me afool that have less wit than I. ”

Just then a fisherman passed in a rough cloak and cape, and Tristanseeing him, took him aside, and said:

“Friend, will you not change clothes?”

And as the fisherman found it a very good bargain, he said in answer:

“Yes, friend, gladly. ”

And he changed and ran off at once for fear of losing his gain. ThenTristan shaved his wonderful hair; he shaved it close to his head andleft a cross all bald, and he rubbed his face with magic herbsdistilled in his own country, and it changed in colour and skin sothat none could know him, and he made him a club from a young treetorn from a hedge-row and hung it to his neck, and went bare-foottowards the castle. 

The porter made sure that he had to do with a fool and said:

“Good morrow, fool, where have you been this long while?”

And he answered:

“At the Abbot of St. Michael’s wedding, and he wed an abbess, largeand veiled. And from the Alps to Mount St. Michael how they came, thepriests and abbots, monks and regulars, all dancing on the green withcroziers and with staves under the high trees’ shade. But I left themall to come hither, for I serve at the King’s board to-day. ”

Then the porter said:

“Come in, lord fool; the Hairy Urgan’s son, I know, and like yourfather. ”

And when he was within the courts the serving men ran after him andcried:

“The fool! the fool!”

But he made play with them though they cast stones and struck him asthey laughed, and in the midst of laughter and their cries, as therout followed him, he came to that hall where, at the Queen’s side, King Mark sat under his canopy. 

And as he neared the door with his club at his neck, the King said:

“Here is a merry fellow, let him in. ”

And they brought him in, his club at his neck. And the King said:

“Friend, well come; what seek you here?”

“Iseult, ” said he, “whom I love so well; I bring my sister with me, Brunehild, the beautiful. Come, take her, you are weary of the Queen. Take you my sister and give me here Iseult, and I will hold her andserve you for her love. ”

The King said laughing:

“Fool, if I gave you the Queen, where would you take her, pray?”

“Oh! very high, ” he said, “between the clouds and heaven, into a fairchamber glazed. The beams of the sun shine through it, yet the windsdo not trouble it at all. There would I bear the Queen into thatcrystal chamber of mine all compact of roses and the morning. ”

The King and his barons laughed and said:

“Here is a good fool at no loss for words. ”

But the fool as he sat at their feet gazed at Iseult most fixedly. 

“Friend, ” said King Mark, “what warrant have you that the Queen wouldheed so foul a fool as you?”

“O! Sire, ” he answered gravely, “many deeds have I done for her, andmy madness is from her alone. ”

“What is your name?” they said, and laughed. 

“Tristan, ” said he, “that loved the Queen so well, and still tilldeath will love her. ”

But at the name the Queen angered and weakened together, and said:“Get hence for an evil fool!”

But the fool, marking her anger, went on:

“Queen Iseult, do you mind the day, when, poisoned by the Morholt’sspear, I took my harp to sea and fell upon your shore? Your motherhealed me with strange drugs. Have you no memory, Queen?”

But Iseult answered:

“Out, fool, out! Your folly and you have passed the bounds!”

But the fool, still playing, pushed the barons out, crying:

“Out! madmen, out! Leave me to counsel with Iseult, since I come herefor the love of her!”

And as the King laughed, Iseult blushed and said:

“King, drive me forth this fool!”

But the fool still laughed and cried:

“Queen, do you mind you of the dragon I slew in your land? I hid itstongue in my hose, and, burnt of its venom, I fell by the roadside. Ah! what a knight was I then, and it was you that succoured me. ”

Iseult replied:

“Silence! You wrong all knighthood by your words, for you are a foolfrom birth. Cursed be the seamen that brought you hither; rathershould they have cast you into the sea!”

“Queen Iseult, ” he still said on, “do you mind you of your haste whenyou would have slain me with my own sword? And of the Hair of Gold?And of how I stood up to the seneschal?”

“Silence!” she said, “you drunkard. You were drunk last night, and soyou dreamt these dreams. ”

“Drunk, and still so am I, ” said he, “but of such a draught that nevercan the influence fade. Queen Iseult, do you mind you of that hot andopen day on the high seas? We thirsted and we drank together from thesame cup, and since that day have I been drunk with an awful wine. ”

When the Queen heard these words which she alone could understand, sherose and would have gone. 

But the King held her by her ermine cloak, and she sat down again. 

And as the King had his fill of the fool he called for his falcons andwent to hunt; and Iseult said to him:

“Sire, I am weak and sad; let me be go rest in my room; I am tired ofthese follies. ”

And she went to her room in thought and sat upon her bed and mourned, calling herself a slave and saying:

“Why was I born? Brangien, dear sister, life is so hard to me thatdeath were better! There is a fool without, shaven criss-cross, andcome in an evil hour, and he is warlock, for he knows in every partmyself and my whole life; he knows what you and I and Tristan onlyknow. ”

Then Brangien said: “It may be Tristan. ”

But—“No, ” said the Queen, “for he was the first of knights, but thisfool is foul and made awry. Curse me his hour and the ship thatbrought him hither. ”

“My lady!” said Brangien, “soothe you. You curse over much these days. May be he comes from Tristan?”

“I cannot tell. I know him not. But go find him, friend, and see ifyou know him. ”

So Brangien went to the hall where the fool still sat alone. Tristanknew her and let fall his club and said:

“Brangien, dear Brangien, before God! have pity on me!”

“Foul fool, ” she answered, “what devil taught you my name?”

“Lady, ” he said, “I have known it long. By my head, that once wasfair, if I am mad the blame is yours, for it was yours to watch overthe wine we drank on the high seas. The cup was of silver and I heldit to Iseult and she drank. Do you remember, lady?”

“No, ” she said, and as she trembled and left he called out: “Pity me!”

He followed and saw Iseult. He stretched out his arms, but in hershame, sweating agony she drew back, and Tristan angered and said:

“I have lived too long, for I have seen the day that Iseult willnothing of me. Iseult, how hard love dies! Iseult, a welling waterthat floods and runs large is a mighty thing; on the day that it failsit is nothing; so love that turns. ”

But she said

“Brother, I look at you and doubt and tremble, and I know you not forTristan. ”

“Queen Iseult, I am Tristan indeed that do love you; mind you for thelast time of the dwarf, and of the flower, and of the blood I shed inmy leap. Oh! and of that ring I took in kisses and in tears on the daywe parted. I have kept that jasper ring and asked it counsel. ”

Then Iseult knew Tristan for what he was, and she said:

“Heart, you should have broken of sorrow not to have known the man whohas suffered so much for you. Pardon, my master and my friend. ”

And her eyes darkened and she fell; but when the light returned shewas held by him who kissed her eyes and her face. 

So passed they three full days. But, on the third, two maids thatwatched them told the traitor Andret, and he put spies well-armedbefore the women’s rooms. And when Tristan would enter they cried:

“Back, fool!”

But he brandished his club laughing, and said:

“What! May I not kiss the Queen who loves me and awaits me now?”

And they feared him for a mad fool, and he passed in through the door. 

Then, being with the Queen for the last time, he held her in his armsand said:

“Friend, I must fly, for they are wondering. I must fly, and perhapsshall never see you more. My death is near, and far from you my deathwill come of desire. ”

“Oh friend, ” she said, “fold your arms round me close and strain me sothat our hearts may break and our souls go free at last. Take me tothat happy place of which you told me long ago. The fields whence nonereturn, but where great singers sing their songs for ever. Take menow. ”

“I will take you to the Happy Palace of the living, Queen! The time isnear. We have drunk all joy and sorrow. The time is near. When it isfinished, if I call you, will you come, my friend?”

“Friend, ” said she, “call me and you know that I shall come. ”

“Friend, ” said he, “God send you His reward. ”

As he went out the spies would have held him; but he laughed aloud, and flourished his club, and cried:

“Peace, gentlemen, I go and will not stay. My lady sends me to preparethat shining house I vowed her, of crystal, and of rose shot throughwith morning. ”

And as they cursed and drave him, the fool went leaping on his way. 

THE DEATH OF TRISTAN

When he was come back to Brittany, to Carhaix, it happened thatTristan, riding to the aid of Kaherdin his brother in arms, fell intoambush and was wounded by a poisoned spear; and many doctors came, butnone could cure him of the ill. And Tristan weakened and paled, andhis bones showed. 

Then he knew that his life was going, and that he must die, and he hada desire to see once more Iseult the Fair, but he could not seek her, for the sea would have killed him in his weakness, and how couldIseult come to him? And sad, and suffering the poison, he awaiteddeath. 

He called Kaherdin secretly to tell him his pain, for they loved eachother with a loyal love; and as he would have no one in the room saveKaherdin, nor even in the neighbouring rooms, Iseult of the WhiteHands began to wonder. She was afraid and wished to hear, and she cameback and listened at the wall by Tristan’s bed; and as she listenedone of her maids kept watch for her. 

Now, within, Tristan had gathered up his strength, and had half risen, leaning against the wall, and Kaherdin wept beside him. They wepttheir good comradeship, broken so soon, and their friendship: thenTristan told Kaherdin of his love for that other Iseult, and of thesorrow of his life. 

“Fair friend and gentle, ” said Tristan, “I am in a foreign land whereI have neither friend nor cousin, save you; and you alone in thisplace have given me comfort. My life is going, and I wish to see oncemore Iseult the Fair. Ah, did I but know of a messenger who would goto her! For now I know that she will come to me. Kaherdin, my brotherin arms, I beg it of your friendship; try this thing for me, and ifyou carry my word, I will become your liege, and I will cherish youbeyond all other men. ”

And as Kaherdin saw Tristan broken down, his heart reproached him andhe said:

“Fair comrade, do not weep; I will do what you desire, even if it wererisk of death I would do it for you. Nor no distress nor anguish willlet me from doing it according to my power. Give me the word you send, and I will make ready. ”

And Tristan answered:

“Thank you, friend; this is my prayer: take this ring, it is a signbetween her and me; and when you come to her land pass yourself atcourt for a merchant, and show her silk and stuffs, but make so thatshe sees the ring, for then she will find some ruse by which to speakto you in secret. Then tell her that my heart salutes her; tell herthat she alone can bring me comfort; tell her that if she does notcome I shall die. Tell her to remember our past time, and our greatsorrows, and all the joy there was in our loyal and tender love. Andtell her to remember that draught we drank together on the high seas. For we drank our death together. Tell her to remember the oath I sworeto serve a single love, for I have kept that oath. ”

But behind the wall, Iseult of the White Hands heard all these things;and Tristan continued:

“Hasten, my friend, and come back quickly, or you will not see meagain. Take forty days for your term, but come back with Iseult theFair. And tell your sister nothing, or tell her that you seek somedoctor. Take my fine ship, and two sails with you, one white, oneblack. And as you return, if you bring Iseult, hoist the white sail;but if you bring her not, the black. Now I have nothing more to say, but God guide you and bring you back safe. ”

With the first fair wind Kaherdin took the open, weighed anchor andhoisted sail, and ran with a light air and broke the seas. They borerich merchandise with them, dyed silks of rare colours, enamel ofTouraine and wines of Poitou, for by this ruse Kaherdin thought toreach Iseult. Eight days and nights they ran full sail to Cornwall. 

Now a woman’s wrath is a fearful thing, and all men fear it, foraccording to her love, so will her vengeance be; and their love andtheir hate come quickly, but their hate lives longer than their love;and they will make play with love, but not with hate. So Iseult of theWhite Hands, who had heard every word, and who had so loved Tristan, waited her vengeance upon what she loved most in the world. But shehid it all; and when the doors were open again she came to Tristan’sbed and served him with food as a lover should, and spoke him gentlyand kissed him on the lips, and asked him if Kaherdin would soonreturn with one to cure him … but all day long she thought upon hervengeance. 

And Kaherdin sailed and sailed till he dropped anchor in the haven ofTintagel. He landed and took with him a cloth of rare dye and a cupwell chiselled and worked, and made a present of them to King Mark, and courteously begged of him his peace and safeguard that he mighttraffick in his land; and the King gave him his peace before all themen of his palace. 

Then Kaherdin offered the Queen a buckle of fine gold; and “Queen, ”said he, “the gold is good. ”

Then taking from his finger Tristan’s ring, he put it side by sidewith the jewel and said:

“See, O Queen, the gold of the buckle is the finer gold; yet that ringalso has its worth. ”

When Iseult saw what ring that was, her heart trembled and her colourchanged, and fearing what might next be said she drew Kaherdin apartnear a window, as if to see and bargain the better; and Kaherdin saidto her, low down:

“Lady, Tristan is wounded of a poisoned spear and is about to die. Hesends you word that you alone can bring him comfort, and recalls toyou the great sorrows that you bore together. Keep you the ring—it isyours. ”

But Iseult answered, weakening:

“Friend, I will follow you; get ready your ship to-morrow at dawn. ”

And on the morrow at dawn they raised anchor, stepped mast, andhoisted sail, and happily the barque left land. 

But at Carhaix Tristan lay and longed for Iseult’s coming. Nothing nowfilled him any more, and if he lived it was only as awaiting her; andday by day he sent watchers to the shore to see if some ship came, andto learn the colour of her sail. There was no other thing left in hisheart. 

He had himself carried to the cliff of the Penmarks, where itoverlooks the sea, and all the daylight long he gazed far off over thewater. 

Hear now a tale most sad and pitiful to all who love. Already wasIseult near; already the cliff of the Penmarks showed far away, andthe ship ran heartily, when a storm wind rose on a sudden and grew, and struck the sail, and turned the ship all round about, and thesailors bore away and sore against their will they ran before thewind. The wind raged and big seas ran, and the air grew thick withdarkness, and the ocean itself turned dark, and the rain drove ingusts. The yard snapped, and the sheet; they struck their sail, andran with wind and water. In an evil hour they had forgotten to haultheir pinnace aboard; it leapt in their wake, and a great sea broke itaway. 

Then Iseult cried out: “God does not will that I should live to seehim, my love, once—even one time more. God wills my drowning in thissea. O, Tristan, had I spoken to you but once again, it is little Ishould have cared for a death come afterwards. But now, my love, Icannot come to you; for God so wills it, and that is the core of mygrief. ”

And thus the Queen complained so long as the storm endured; but afterfive days it died down. Kaherdin hoisted the sail, the white sail, right up to the very masthead with great joy; the white sail, thatTristan might know its colour from afar: and already Kaherdin sawBritanny far off like a cloud. Hardly were these things seen and donewhen a calm came, and the sea lay even and untroubled. The sailbellied no longer, and the sailors held the ship now up, now down, thetide, beating backwards and forwards in vain. They saw the shore afaroff, but the storm had carried their boat away and they could notland. On the third night Iseult dreamt this dream: that she held inher lap a boar’s head which befouled her skirts with blood; then sheknew that she would never see her lover again alive. 

Tristan was now too weak to keep his watch from the cliff of thePenmarks, and for many long days, within walls, far from the shore, hehad mourned for Iseult because she did not come. Dolorous and alone, he mourned and sighed in restlessness: he was near death from desire. 

At last the wind freshened and the white sail showed. Then it was thatIseult of the White Hands took her vengeance. 

She came to where Tristan lay, and she said:

“Friend, Kaherdin is here. I have seen his ship upon the sea. Shecomes up hardly—yet I know her; may he bring that which shall healthee, friend. ”

And Tristan trembled and said:

“Beautiful friend, you are sure that the ship is his indeed? Then tellme what is the manner of the sail?”

“I saw it plain and well. They have shaken it out and hoisted it veryhigh, for they have little wind. For its colour, why, it is black. ”

And Tristan turned him to the wall, and said:

“I cannot keep this life of mine any longer. ” He said three times:“Iseult, my friend. ” And in saying it the fourth time, he died. 

Then throughout the house, the knights and the comrades of Tristanwept out loud, and they took him from his bed and laid him on a richcloth, and they covered his body with a shroud. But at sea the windhad risen; it struck the sail fair and full and drove the ship toshore, and Iseult the Fair set foot upon the land. She heard loudmourning in the streets, and the tolling of bells in the minsters andthe chapel towers; she asked the people the meaning of the knell andof their tears. An old man said to her:

“Lady, we suffer a great grief. Tristan, that was so loyal and soright, is dead. He was open to the poor; he ministered to thesuffering. It is the chief evil that has ever fallen on this land. ”

But Iseult, hearing them, could not answer them a word. She went up tothe palace, following the way, and her cloak was random and wild. TheBretons marvelled as she went; nor had they ever seen woman of such abeauty, and they said:

“Who is she, or whence does she come?”

Near Tristan, Iseult of the White Hands crouched, maddened at the evilshe had done, and calling and lamenting over the dead man. The otherIseult came in and said to her:

“Lady, rise and let me come by him; I have more right to mourn himthan have you—believe me. I loved him more. ”

And when she had turned to the east and prayed God, she moved the bodya little and lay down by the dead man, beside her friend. She kissedhis mouth and his face, and clasped him closely; and so gave up hersoul, and died beside him of grief for her lover. 

When King Mark heard of the death of these lovers, he crossed the seaand came into Brittany; and he had two coffins hewn, for Tristan andIseult, one of chalcedony for Iseult, and one of beryl for Tristan. And he took their beloved bodies away with him upon his ship toTintagel, and by a chantry to the left and right of the apse he hadtheir tombs built round. But in one night there sprang from the tombof Tristan a green and leafy briar, strong in its branches and in thescent of its flowers. It climbed the chantry and fell to root again byIseult’s tomb. Thrice did the peasants cut it down, but thrice it grewagain as flowered and as strong. They told the marvel to King Mark, and he forbade them to cut the briar any more. 

The good singers of old time, Beroul and Thomas of Built, Gilbert andGottfried told this tale for lovers and none other, and, by my pen, they beg you for your prayers. They greet those who are cast down, andthose in heart, those troubled and those filled with desire. May allherein find strength against inconstancy and despite and loss and painand all the bitterness of loving. 

THE END

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