by Michael Foss
He sailed to Ireland hurt unto death. When the surgeon searched his wound they found in his head a broken piece of Tristram’s sword. But they could not save him, and so he died. His sister, the queen, kept that piece of sword, and ever as she looked on it she thought always of revenge against Tristram.
But Sir Tristram also was sore wounded, for the spear that had struck him was envenomed. None in Cornwall might help him. Needs he must go to Ireland, where that poison was known. They put his bed in a fair ship, and he took his harp with him. And when they bore him unto the shore of Ireland, he sat in bed and played so sweetly and merrily on his harp that the king and queen had heard no harper like him in all the land. He said his name was Tramtrist, a knight wounded for love. Then the king found in his heart great favour for this Tramtrist. He put Tramtrist in the keeping of his daughter, the fairest maid of the land, and wise about the working of poison. She bound his wound and cured him.
So Tramtrist cast his love to La Beale Isoud, the king’s daughter. He sang and played to her and taught her to harp, and her dreams began to rest upon him.
Now Sir Palomides, the Saracen, was also at the court of Ireland, and every day he gave La Beale Isoud gifts, for he loved her well. He was a mighty man, and ready to be christened for her sake. Thus there grew great envy betwixt Tramtrist and Palomides.
About this time the king gave word of a great joust, and Tramtrist was in uncertain mind whether to partake.
‘Why will you not have ado at this tournament?’ asked La Beale Isoud. ‘Sir Palomides will be there, to do what he may. Therefore, Tramtrist, I pray you be there, or else Sir Palomides is like to win the degree.’
‘As you will, so be it,’ said Tramtrist humbly. ‘I will be at your command.’
On the day of the jousts Sir Palomides came unto the lists with a black shield and overthrew so many knights that people marvelled at him. Many were adread to fight him. Then Isoud arrayed Tramtrist in harness and a white horse and let him out at a privy gate, so that he came into the field like a bright angel. Anon he smote Palomides to the earth amid a great shout of the people. The Saracen was ashamed at his fall and went lightly to withdraw. But Tramtrist overtook him and bade him yield or die. Palomides looked into his face. He feared more buffets, so he yielded.
‘Well said,’ cried Tramtrist. ‘Now I charge you first, upon pain of your life, that you forsake my lady La Beale Isoud and draw not to her. Next, this twelvemonth and a day you shall bear no armour nor harness of war. Promise or die.’
‘Alas,’ Sir Palomides lamented, ‘forever I am ashamed.’ Then in anger and despite he cut off his harness and threw it away, and Tramtrist rode smiling back to the privy gate and La Beale Isoud.
Thus Tramtrist was long cherished in the court of Ireland. And upon a day the queen and Isoud made a bath for Tramtrist. As he lay in the bath, and they roamed up and down his chamber, the queen saw his sword upon the bed. She drew the sword. She beheld it a long while and saw there was a great piece broken out of the edge. Then she remembered the piece of sword lodged in the brainpan of the good knight Marhaus, her brother.
‘Alas, daughter,’ she said to Isoud, ‘this is the traitor knight that slew my brother, your uncle.’
When Isoud heard this she was sore abashed, for well she loved Tramtrist, and full well she knew the cruelness of her mother.
The queen ran to her own chamber and fitted the piece she kept into Tramtrist’s sword. Then she gripped that sword fiercely, rushed straight to the bath and would have riven Tramtrist through his naked body had not a squire got her in his arms and pulled the sword from her. Then the queen told the king of the traitor in their midst, and the king demanded of Tramtrist who and what he was. The tale came out, he could no longer hide it, how Tramtrist was truly Sir Tristram, who had honourably overthrown Sir Marhaus in battle. Then the king was sad. For though he might cherish Sir Tristram for his qualities, yet he must banish him as the slayer of the queen’s brother.
‘My lord king,’ replied Sir Tristram, ‘I thank you for the great goodness you and my lady your daughter have showed to me. I promise, as I am a true knight, I shall be your daughter’s servant in right and in wrong. I shall never fail to do as much as a knight may do.’
Then he went sadly to take leave of La Beale Isoud. He told her who and what he was, and promised to be her knight all the days of his life.
‘O gentle Tristram,’ she said, ‘your departing makes me full of woe, for I never saw a man who had so much of my goodwill. And therefore I promise you that I shall not be married this seven years without your assent.’ And then she wept with all her heart.
So Sir Tristram went to the sea, and with good wind came back to King Mark in Cornwall. King Mark was more than glad to see him. But then there arose a jealousy betwixt them, for they both lusted after the same lady. This lady favoured Sir Tristram and welcomed him to her bed, despite her husband. And ever after King Mark cast in his heart how he might destroy Tristram. He thought to send him into Ireland for La Beale Isoud. King Mark said he would wed her, for Tristram had so praised her beauty and her goodness. Yet all this was done in despite, with the intent to slay Sir Tristram.
Tristram departed, for he owed obeisance to the king his uncle. Sailing on the sea road to Ireland, he met a broad tempest that drove him back to England, fast by Camelot. And full glad he was to find the land again. When he was ashore and had hung his shield upon his pavilion, it befell that two knights that were brethren summoned King Agwisance of Ireland to Arthur’s court, to answer treason before his liege lord. Agwisance, said Sir Blamor, had slain Blamor’s cousin in Ireland by treason.
Now, it was custom in those days that a man accused of treason or murder should fight his accuser body for body, or else find another knight to fight for him. King Agwisance was heavy in mind, for Sir Blamor was a knight of great prowess. As the king was casting about for some champion, Gouvernail, Tristram’s man, went to his master and told him of the king’s distress.
‘These tidings, thanks to God,’ rejoiced Tristram, ‘are the best I heard these seven years. Now the King of Ireland has need of my help. To win his love, I will take this battle upon me, for the good he showed me in Ireland and for the sake of my lady his daughter.’
He went to King Agwisance and proffered his help, saying, ‘Sir, I will take this battle upon two conditions. One, that you swear to me that you are right in this matter of treason. Second, if God give me grace to speed in this battle, then you will grant me whatsoever reasonable thing I ask.’
‘You shall have,’ said the king, ‘whatsoever you ask.’ And Tristram answered, ‘It is well said.’
Then Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor fought before the judges, and after long battle Blamor was smote down upon his side on the earth. Then Sir Tristram stood long and beheld him.
At last Sir Blamor might speak, and gasped out, ‘Sir Tristram de Liones, as you are a noble knight, slay me. I would rather die with honour than live with shame.’
But Tristram knew not what to do. He started aback and knelt before the kings that were the judges, and besought them to take this matter in their hands. Then the judges gave Sir Blamor mercy, for he had fought nobly, and though Sir Tristram had beaten his body, he had not beaten his heart.
When this justice was done King Agwisance and Sir Tristram together went into Ireland, and the noise of Tristram’s battle for the king went before them, so that all the people made joy at this noblesse. But the gladness of La Beale Isoud no tongue might tell, for she loved Sir Tristram above all earthly men.
In Ireland, upon a day, Tristram said to the king, ‘Now, sir, it is time to ask my boon. Give me La Beale Isoud, your daughter, not for myself but for my uncle King Mark. He would have her to wife, and I have promised him so upon my honour.’
‘Better than all my land,’ replied Agwisance, ‘I would that you wed her yourself.’
‘Nay, if I did then I were shamed forever in this world, and false to my promise.’
‘Well, ta
ke her to do with her what you please. I would that you wed her yourself. But if you give her unto King Mark, that is in your choice.’
And thus it was. In short time La Beale Isoud was made ready to go with Sir Tristram, and with them were Dame Bragwaine, her chief gentlewoman, and Gouvernail, Tristram’s man. As they departed, Isoud’s mother gave unto Bragwaine and Gouvernail a drink to give King Mark on the day that he wed. ‘And then,’ said the queen, ‘I undertake that either shall love the other all the days of their lives.’
It happened on the sea journey that Tristram and Isoud were thirsty as they sat within their cabin. They saw by them a little flask of gold, and it seemed by the colour and smell that it was noble wine. Tristram took it up, laughing to see such good cheer. He drank freely and then she drank also, and they thought that they had never tasted so sweet or good a wine. As soon as the drink was in their bodies, it fixed their love so that it might never leave them for better or worse. And this love did not depart them to the end of life.
So they came unto King Mark at Tintagel. And anon the king and La Beale Isoud were richly wedded. After the feast, when Dame Bragwaine was sent to fetch herbs in the forest, two ladies that hated and envied her caught her and bound her hand and foot to a tree. There she was held fast for three days till, by fortune, Sir Palomides found her. He cut her free and brought her to a nunnery.
When Queen Isoud missed her maiden she went to the forest to seek her. Full of heavy thoughts, Isoud rested by a well and sighed for her countrywoman. Suddenly Palomides came before her, saying, ‘Madam Isoud, grant me my boon, and I shall bring you Dame Bragwaine safe and sound.’ Because she loved her woman, Isoud was unadvised and granted all his asking.
Soon Sir Palomides brought Bragwaine from the nunnery to the court, and in the presence of Mark demanded his boon from Queen Isoud.
‘What say you, my lady?’ said the king.
‘It is even so, as he says,’ replied the queen, abashed.
‘Well, madam, if you were hasty to grant a boon, it must be given. I ordain that you perform your promise.’
‘Then know,’ said Palomides, ‘that I will have your queen, to lead her and govern her however I wish.’
The king stood still. What would he do? He bethought him that Sir Tristram would rescue her, so he hastily said, ‘Take her with the adventures that shall befall of it. I suppose you will not enjoy her long.’
Then Sir Palomides took her softly by the hand, saying, ‘Madam, grudge not to go with me, for I desire nothing but your own good.’ He set Isoud behind his saddle and rode on his way.
At once King Mark sent for Sir Tristram. But he was a-hunting and nowhere to be found. Sir Palomides kept close by Isoud but after some adventure she slipped from him in the deep forest and ran to hide in a castle. From the window she saw him following hard, so she had the gates strongly shut. Then Palomides took off bridle and saddle and set his horse to pasture. In the meadow before the gate he sat like a man bereft, caring nothing for himself.
When Tristram returned from hunting and heard what had passed, he was angry beyond measure. He leapt to horse and galloped like a madman, seeking Isoud. At last, by fortune, he came to the castle and saw Sir Palomides asleep at the gate while his horse peacefully grazed.
‘Now go,’ said Tristram grimly to his man Gouvernail, ‘and bring him this news. Bid him arise, for his mortal foe is come.’
Gouvernail went near and said aloud, ‘Sir Palomides, arise and put on your harness.’ But Palomides heard him not, for either he slept or he was mad.
Again Gouvernail came to him and stirred him with the butt of his spear, saying, ‘Sir Palomides, make ready quick. Sir Tristram, your mortal foe, hoves yonder.’
Therewith Sir Palomides rose stiffly and took horse and harness like a man in a dream. They fought and Sir Tristram smote him down, while La Beale Isoud watched from the window with anxiety of heart.
‘Alas, though I love him not,’ she cried, ‘it were pity to see Sir Palomides slain. Then he would die unchristened. I would be loath that he should die a Saracen.’ She came down from the window, and begged Sir Tristram to fight no more.
‘Ah, madam,’ he protested, ‘will you shame me?’
‘Nay, I will nothing for your dishonour, but for my sake spare this unhappy Saracen.’
Then Sir Tristram gave way to her asking, and she turned to Palomides, saying, ‘I charge you, go out of this country all the while that I am herein.’
‘I will obey your command,’ replied Palomides, ‘though it is sore against my will.’ And so he departed with great heaviness.
When Sir Tristram brought the queen again to King Mark there was great joy of her homecoming, and they lived content for a long while. But there was a knight in the court named Sir Andred, who was envious of Tristram though he was his nigh cousin. He lay in wait to see what was betwixt Tristram and La Beale Isoud, to discover them and slander them. Upon a day he saw them close talking in a window, and he told it to the king. Then Mark took a sword and came at Sir Tristram, who ran beneath his arm and pulled the sword from his hand.
‘Where are my knights?’ shouted the king. ‘Slay this traitor.’ But none dared make a move.
When Tristram saw this he shook the sword at the king, looking as if to kill him. King Mark fled and Tristram followed after, striking him five or six times with the flat of the sword, so that the king fell upon his nose. There Tristram left him, and called his men unto him. They armed themselves and rode away into the forest. At this departing, King Mark was angry beyond measure and asked his barons what best to do about Tristram. Sir Dinas, the steward, advised him to beware, for many good knights would hold with Sir Tristram.
‘He is called peerless of any Christian knight, except perhaps Sir Lancelot,’ said Dinas. ‘If he go to King Arthur, he may get such friends as can defy your malice. I counsel you, sir, to take him again into your grace.’
The king assented, and sent for Sir Tristram under a safe conduct. So Tristram came back and was welcomed, and once again there were games and play.
So Sir Tristram went as before, going to La Beale Isoud whenever he might, day and night. And still his cousin Sir Andred watched to find them together, until upon a night he spied the hour of their meeting. At midnight he took twelve knights and set upon Sir Tristram suddenly, when he was naked abed with Isoud. Andred bound him fast, hand and foot, and brought him on the morn before the king. King Mark ordained that Sir Tristram be led to a chapel that stood upon the rocks of the sea, and there wait to be judged.
When that time came, Sir Tristram looked on the faces of his judges, thinking that he must die.
‘Fair lords,’ he said, ‘remember what I have done for Cornwall, and in what jeopardy I have been for the good of you all. Therefore, as you are gentle knights, let me not thus shamefully die. For I daresay I was as good as any knight, or better.’
‘Fie, false traitor,’ replied Sir Andred. ‘For all your boast you shall die this day.’
‘O Andred, Andred, you who should be my kinsman are now my enemy. If I had you alone, you would not put me to death.’
‘No?’ said Andred in rage, and drew his sword to slay him.
With all his might Sir Tristram of a sudden wrenched his hands free from the two knights that held him. He leapt upon his cousin, Sir Andred, twisted the sword from his hand and struck him to the earth. Then he turned upon those that kept him, and he a naked man with a sword in his hand. After hard battle he killed ten knights, drove the others from the door and secured the chapel. Outside there was a great cry, and a hundred or more rushed to help Andred. Sir Tristram locked fast the chapel door, broke the bars of a window and jumped all naked onto the crags of the sea below, where none could reach him.
When Gouvernail and some other of Tristram’s men had found their master and pulled him from the rocks with ropes, they took him to the leper-house where Andred had shut La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Tristram fetched her from that ungodly place and hid her at a manor in the fores
t. But King Mark searched her out, and when he found that Tristram was gone to disport himself, Mark carried her home. In the meantime Sir Tristram was waylaid in ambush and shot in the shoulder with an envenomed arrow. He came fast back to the manor as best he could and saw the tracks of many horses, and he knew that his lady was gone. Then King Mark took Isoud and guarded her strait so that by no means might she see Tristram, or he her. Sir Tristram endured for a long while, with great pain in his poisoned shoulder. At last there was no help for it but he must go into Brittany to be cured of his ill.
In Brittany there was a fair lady named also Isoud, called la Blanche Mains, she of the white hands. She was the daughter of King Howel, and was full wise in the healing of wounds. When she had cured him, Tristram was grateful and took up arms for the king her father. He smote the king’s enemies and slew more than a hundred knights. Then King Howel embraced him, saying, ‘Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to you.’
‘God defend,’ said Tristram, ‘for I am beholden unto you for your daughter’s sake.’
By the encouragement of King Howel and his son Kehydius a love grew betwixt Tristram and Isoud la Blanche Mains, for she was good and fair and of noble blood. And in the midst of this pleasure Sir Tristram had almost forgotten La Beale Isoud.
So upon a time Sir Tristram agreed to wed Isoud of Brittany. After they were wedded, they went joyfully to bed. Then Tristram remembered his first lady, La Beale Isoud. Suddenly he was all dismayed. He had embraced and kissed his wedded wife, but now he made none other pleasure and had no further ado with fleshly lusts.
Soon the noise of this marriage was spread abroad, even to the court of King Arthur in England. There was a knight from Brittany that came to Sir Lancelot and told him what Sir Tristram had done.
‘Fie upon him,’ said Sir Lancelot in disgust, ‘that so noble a knight as Sir Tristram should be found false to La Beale Isoud. But tell him this: of all the knights in the world I loved him most, and had most joy of him, because of his noble deeds. Now let him know that the love between us is done forever. I give him warning that from this day forth he is my mortal enemy.’