The princess went on board Tristram’s vessel, which was about to sail
for Cornwall. Her dresses and jewels were there also, and as soon as
her old nurse and faithful companion came down to the ship, they were
to set sail. Brangäne was closeted with the queen, who wished to say a
few last words in private.
“Look, Brangäne,” said the mother, “take this goblet, and keep it
carefully. It contains a drink made of the expressed juices of certain
plants, and is a love-potion. See that my daughter and her husband both
drink it on their marriage day, and all will yet be well.”
The nurse promised to be careful, and took leave of the queen.
Wind and weather were favourable to the voyagers. One day when Tristram
had been singing and playing to the princess for a long time, and
trying his best to distract her thoughts from dwelling on her dead
uncle, her old home, and the unknown future, he became so thirsty that
before beginning another song he was fain to ask for something to
drink. One of the attendants opened a cupboard, and finding there a
goblet with a drink all ready prepared, supposed that the nurse had
made it in case it were wanted, and took it to Tristram, who handed the
cup first to Isolde that she might pledge him, as was the custom. The
princess raised the cup to her lips and drank a little; but finding it
very good, she put it to her lips again, and drank half the contents.
Then she returned it to Tristram, who finished it at a draught.
Their eyes met, and they knew that they loved each other.
When Brangäne came in a few minutes later, and saw the empty goblet
upon the table, she burst into tears, and bemoaned what had occurred,
saying that the queen had given her the love-potion to administer to
Isolde and King Mark upon their wedding-day. But the princess comforted
her by asserting that no harm was done, for human beings had free will,
and could struggle against enchantment. And struggle they did; but
their love was strong.
The ship reached the harbour, and King Mark came down to meet his
nephew and his bride. He was much pleased with the appearance of the
princess, whom he welcomed with all ceremony. The marriage took place,
and King Mark thought himself a happy man.
All went on quietly for some time, so carefully did the nurse conceal
her lady’s love for Sir Tristram; but after a time people began to
whisper, and at length the whisper reached the ears of the king. At
first he would not believe the truth of what he heard, but afterwards
the thing was proved to him so clearly that he could no longer doubt.
He determined to bring the lovers to trial. Meanwhile Brangäne had
discovered that the king knew all; she therefore warned Tristram, and
fled into the forest with him and Isolde. There they hid themselves in
a cave for a long time. But winter was coming on, and the nurse feared
for her darling’s life if she remained in such a place during the frost
and snow.
One day as they were talking over what were best to be done, King Mark
suddenly appeared amongst them. Brangäne stepped forward, and assured
him that the stories that he had been told were all gossip; and the
king, who loved both Tristram and Isolde, willingly believed her, and
took them home with him.
But the effect of the philter had not yet passed off, nor had the young
people conquered their love. Whispers again arose about the court, and
Tristram could not call any of the whisperers to account, for he knew
that he had dishonoured the name of knight, and had ill repaid his
uncle’s kindness. Isolde, too, was miserable. They both made up their
minds that they must part, and as they said farewell, it was with the
fervent hope that the magic potion would have lost its power by the
time they met again.
Tristram went away. He wandered through Normandy and Alemannia; he
fought many battles, and led a bold, adventurous life, but he could not
forget Isolde. At last he came to the kingdom of Arundel, and there he
found King Jovelin and his son Kaedin hiding in a thatched cottage in a
great forest, from the bands of robbers who had overrun the land. It
was late in the evening when he arrived at the solitary house, where he
met with a kind reception. The lovely daughter of his host, curiously
enough, was also named Isolde, to which was added the appellation of
“la blanche mains.” It did him good to be with the maiden and her
father. He promised them his aid, and for this purpose went to visit
his own kingdom. There he found his presence much wanted, for old Rual
was dead, and all was confusion in the land. His first action was to
re-establish order and good government, after which he called out his
troops, and marched to Arundel to help King Jovelin. He fought the
robbers there, chased them out of the land, replaced the king on his
throne, and made friends with Kaedin. Weeks passed, and he became
engaged to Isolde of the white hand. He vainly hoped that being married
to another woman would cure him of his love for the Queen of Cornwall,
and he knew that the princess loved him.
His betrothal did not bring him peace. His affection for the Lady
Isolde grew no stronger, so in despair he put off his marriage, and,
unable to feign a love he did not feel, went out to seek death at the
hands of the robber hordes that had again invaded the country. He
conquered them, and forced them to fly. On his return from this
expedition, his marriage day was fixed; but one evening he was induced
to accompany his friend Kaedin on a dangerous adventure, and during the
combat to which this led, he received a spear thrust in the breast. He
fell senseless to the ground. Kaedin carried him out of the fight, and
took him home to the palace, where Isolde succeeded in bringing him to
himself again.
Every one hoped that he would soon recover from his wound; but instead
of that he grew worse. One day he said that the Queen of Cornwall had a
remedy that would cure him, if she could only be induced to bring it.
Kaedin at once set off for Cornwall to appeal to her compassion. No
sooner had the queen heard his tale than she persuaded King Mark to let
her go to Arundel, and cure his nephew. Armed with his permission, she
started on her long journey by sea and land, and never rested till she
arrived at King Jovelin’s palace. There she was greeted with the sad
words, “You have come too late—he is dying.” They led her to his
couch, and she knelt down and took his hand. A slight pressure showed
that he knew who she was; next moment he opened his eyes, gazed at her
with a sad and loving look, and then died. She bent over him and kissed
him, and in that kiss her spirit passed away. They were buried three
days later under the same grave-mound in the distant land of Arundel.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: TANNHÄUSER BETWEEN ECKHARD AND VENUS.]
_LEGEND OF TANNHÄUSER._