HOW SIR TRISTRAM DEMANDED THE FAIR ISOUD
FOR KING MARK, AND HOW SIR TRISTRAM
AND ISOUD DRANK THE LOVE POTION
When there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived and whole of his
wounds, King Mark was passing glad, and so were all the barons. And
Sir Tristram lived at the court of King Mark in great joy long time,
until at the last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness between
them. Then King Mark cast always in his heart how he might destroy Sir
Tristram.
The beauty and goodness of the Fair Isoud were so praised by Sir
Tristram that King Mark said he would wed her, and prayed Sir Tristram
to take his way into Ireland for him, as his messenger, to bring her to
Cornwall. All this was done to the intent to slay Sir Tristram.
Notwithstanding, Sir Tristram would not refuse the message for any
danger or peril, and made ready to go in the goodliest wise that might
be devised. He took with him the goodliest knights that he might find
in the court, arrayed them after the guise that was then used, and so
departed over sea with all his fellowship.
Anon as he was in the broad sea a tempest took them and drove them back
into the coast of England. They came to land fast by Camelot, and
there Sir Tristram set up his pavilion. Now it fell that King Anguish
of Ireland was accused of slaying by treason a cousin of Sir Launcelot
of the Lake, and just at this time he was come to the court at the
summoning of King Arthur upon pain of forfeiture of his lands; yet ere
he arrived at Camelot he wist not wherefore he was sent after. When he
heard the accusation he understood full well there was no remedy but to
answer it knightly, for the custom was in those days, that if any man
were accused of any treason or murder, he should fight body for body or
else find another knight to fight for him. Now King Anguish grew
passing heavy when he heard his accusing, for the knights of King Ban's
blood, as Sir Launcelot was, were as hard men to win in battle as any
then living.
The meanwhile Sir Tristram was told how King Anguish was come thither
in great distress, and he sent Gouvernail to bring him to his pavilion.
When Sir Tristram saw the king coming he ran unto him and would have
holden his stirrup, but King Anguish leaped lightly from his horse, and
either embraced other heartily. Sir Tristram remembered his promise,
made when departing from Ireland, to do service to King Anguish if ever
it lay in his power, and never had there been so great need of knight's
help as now. So when King Anguish told Sir Tristram all, Sir Tristram
took the battle for the sake of the good lordship showed him in
Ireland, and for the sake of the Fair Isoud, upon the condition that
King Anguish grant two things. One was that he should swear that he
was in the right and had never consented to the death of the knight.
The second request was to be granted after the battle, if God should
speed him therein.
King Anguish quickly granted Sir Tristram whatsoever he asked, and anon
departed unto King Arthur's judges, and told them he had found a
champion ready to do the battle for him. So Sir Tristram fought for
King Anguish and overcame his adversary, a most noble knight. Then
King Anguish and Sir Tristram joyfully took their leave, and sailed
into Ireland with great nobleness.
When they were in Ireland the king let make it known throughout all the
land, how and in what manner Sir Tristram had done for him. Then the
queen and all that were there made the most of him that they might.
But the joy that the Fair Isoud made of Sir Tristram no tongue might
tell, for of men earthly she loved him most.
Then upon a day King Anguish would know from Sir Tristram why he asked
not his boon, for whatsoever had been promised he should have without
fail. "Sir," said Tristram, "now is it time, and this is what I
desire: that ye will give me the Fair Isoud, your daughter, not for
myself, but for mine uncle, King Mark, that shall have her to wife, for
so have I promised him."
"Alas," said the king, "I had rather than all the land that I have ye
would wed her yourself."
"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "if I did, then were I ashamed for ever in
this world, and false of my promise. Therefore I pray you hold your
promise that ye gave me, for this is my desire, that ye will give me
the Fair Isoud to go with me into Cornwall, to be wedded to King Mark,
mine uncle."
[Illustration: Sir Tristram and the Fair Isoud]
"As for that," said King Anguish, "ye shall have her with you, to do
with her what it please you; that is to say, if ye list to wed her
yourself, that is to me lievest[1]; and if ye will give her unto King
Mark, that is in your choice."
So, to make a short conclusion, the Fair Isoud was made ready to go
with Sir Tristram, and Dame Bragwaine went with her for her chief
gentlewoman, with many others. The queen, Isoud's mother, gave to Dame
Bragwaine and unto Gouvernail a drink, and charged them that what day
King Mark should wed, that same day they should give him that drink,
"and then," said the queen, "I undertake either shall love other the
days of their life."
So this drink was given unto Dame Bragwaine and unto Gouvernail, and
then anon Sir Tristram took the sea with the Fair Isoud. When they
were in the cabin, it happened that they were thirsty, and they saw a
little flask of gold stand by them, that seemed by the colour and the
taste to be noble wine. Then Sir Tristram took the flask in his hand,
and said: "Madam Isoud, here is the best drink that ever ye drank, that
Dame Bragwaine your maid and Gouvernail my servant have kept for
themselves."
Then they laughed and made good cheer, and either drank to other,
thinking never drink was so sweet or so good. But after they had drunk
that magic wine, they loved either other so truly that never their love
departed either for weal or for woe.
So they sailed on till by fortune they came into Cornwall. There all
the barons met them, and anon King Mark and the Fair Isoud were richly
wedded with great splendour. But ever, as the French book saith, Sir
Tristram and the Fair Isoud loved each other truly, and his life long
he was her loyal and honourable knight.
[1] Lievest: dearest.