The Romance of Tristan: The Tale of Tristan's Madness (Classics) Page 10

  The king replied: ‘You have spoken well.’

  Then a proclamation was made throughout the land and a time fixed for fifteen days hence. The king sent to inform the three Cornish barons who had left his court in anger; they were very pleased, whatever the outcome was to be. Now everyone throughout the land knew the time arranged for the meeting, and that King Arthur was to be there and most of the knights of his household with him. Nor had Yseut been slow: she had sent Perinis to remind Tristan of all the pain and suffering she had undergone for him that year; now she could be compensated for it! With Tristan’s help she would be able to live in peace.

  ‘Tell him that there is a marsh he knows at the end of a plank bridge at the Malpas – I once soiled my clothes a little there. Let him stand on the mound at the end of the plank bridge on this side of the Blanche Lande wearing the garments of a leper. He is to carry a wooden drinking-cup tied by a strap to a bottle underneath, with a staff in his other hand. Then let him hear my plan: on the day he is to be seated on the mound; his face will be badly pock-marked. He must hold his cup in front of his face, simply asking for alms from the passers-by. They will give him gold and silver – he is to keep the silver for me until I can see him privately in a quiet room!’

  Perinis said: ‘My lady, I promise to tell Tristan all this.’ Perinis left the queen. He entered the wood by going through the middle of a copse and went on into the wood all alone. At evening he came to Tristan’s hiding-place in the cellar, where they had risen from their meal. Tristan was glad to see him for he knew that the noble squire was bringing him news from his beloved. Each took the other’s hand and they sat down on a high seat. Perinis related all the queen’s message. Tristan bowed his head and swore an oath that it would be unlucky for the men who had thought of accusing the queen; it could not fail to happen that they would yet lose their heads or hang high on the gallows.

  ‘Give the queen this message, word for word: I shall be there on the day, let her have no fear; let her be gay, healthy and cheerful! I shall not have another bath in hot water until I have taken vengeance with my sword on the men who are causing her so much grief. They have proved themselves to be wicked traitors. Tell her that I have thought of a good way of saving her from the oath. I shall see her soon. Go and tell her not to worry or be afraid, for I shall be at the place of judgement disguised as a beggar. King Arthur will see me sitting at the end of the Malpas but he will not recognize me. I will have alms from him if I can get them. Tell the queen everything I have said to you in this cellar which Orry built so well in stone. And give the queen from me more good wishes than I shall have blemishes on my skin!’

  ‘I shall do that,’ said Perinis, and went up the steps. ‘Now, my lord, I am going to King Arthur. I have this message to give him: he is to come to hear the queen’s oath with a hundred knights who would afterwards be able to protect her if the villains complain in any way about the queen’s loyalty. Isn’t that a good idea?’

  ‘Now God be with you!’

  Perinis went up the remaining steps, mounted his horse and rode away. He did not cease to spur his horse on until he reached Caerleon. He took great trouble in carrying out this errand and he deserved a fine reward. He inquired for news of the king and learned that he was at Stirling. Fair Yseut’s squire went along the road which led in that direction. He asked a shepherd who was playing a reed-pipe:

  ‘Where is the king?’

  ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘he is seated on his throne. You will see the Round Table which turns like the world; his household sits around it.’

  ‘We shall soon be there,’ said Perinis. When he arrived at the palace he dismounted beside the stone slab outside and entered quickly. Many sons of counts and sons of rich vassals were there, all serving to win their arms. One of them left his group in a hurry and went up to the king, who called to him:

  ‘Where have you come from?’

  ‘I bring you news: there is a horseman outside seeking you urgently.’

  At that moment Perinis came in. Many of the knights watched him as he went up to the king on the dais where all the knights were seated. The squire spoke with assurance:

  ‘God save King Arthur and all his company,’ he said, ‘from his friend Yseut the Fair!’

  The king rose from the table: ‘May God in Heaven save and protect her, and you too, friend! God, I have tried so hard to get a single message from her! I grant you, squire, before all my knights, whatever gift you wish. You and two others shall be made knights, for you bear a message from the most beautiful woman who could be found from here to Tudela!’

  ‘Sire,’ said Perinis, ‘I thank you. Now hear why I have come, and may your barons please listen too, especially my lord Gawain. It is no secret that Queen Yseut has been reconciled with her lord; all the barons of his kingdom were present when the reconciliation took place. Tristan offered to clear himself and to defend the queen against the accusation of disloyalty; but no one was bold enough to take up arms. Sire, they are telling King Mark now that he ought to hear her defence. There is no nobleman of her own family at the king’s court, either French or Saxon, and it is said that a man can swim more easily when someone supports his chin. If we are not telling the truth about this, sire, then call me an idle tale-bearer. The king’s mind is not steadfast: sometimes he thinks one thing, sometimes another. Fair Yseut told him that she would justify herself only in your presence. She begs and beseeches you, as your dear friend, to be at the Gué Aventurous at the appointed time, and to have a hundred friends with you; may your court be loyal then and your household sincere. She will be exculpated before you, and may God take care of her so that nothing goes wrong! You would then be her surety, and you would never fail to be her protection in that matter. The time is set for a week today.’

  They all wept profusely; there was not one whose face was not wet with tears of pity. ‘God,’ said everyone, ‘what are they demanding from her? King Mark does whatever they tell him to, and Tristan is leaving the country. May the man never go to Paradise who will not go to give her the help she deserves, if it is the king’s wish!’

  Gawain rose to his feet and spoke as a well-taught knight: ‘Uncle, if I have your permission, this trial which has been arranged is going to turn out badly for the three villains. The worst of them is Ganelon, I know him well and he knows me. I once forced him into the mire during a rough and strenuous joust. If I get to him, by St Richier, there will be no need for Tristan to come! If I could get my hands on him I would give him very rough treatment and then hang him on top of a hill.’

  Gerflet rose after Gawain and went over to take his hand:

  ‘King, the queen has been much hated for a long time by Denoalan, Godwin and Ganelon. May God make me lose my reason if I come up against Godwin and do not pass him through with the blade of my stout ash lance – and may I never kiss another lovely woman beneath the sheets!’

  Perinis heard this and bowed towards him.

  Evain, the son of Urien, said: ‘I know Denoalan well: he thinks of nothing but making accusations and he knows how to make a fool out of the king. I will tell the king this and make him believe me. If I meet him on my way, as I did once, then if he cannot defend himself against me, neither law nor faith will stop me hanging him with my own two hands. The wicked should always be punished. These men mock the king and deceive him.’

  Perinis said to King Arthur: ‘Sire, I am quite certain that the villains who have caused the queen such harm are now going to suffer for it. No threats have ever been made to your court, even by a man from some distant kingdom, that have not been properly dealt with; all those who deserved it were sad on their departure.’

  The king was glad to hear this and he blushed a little:

  ‘Squire, go and eat. These men will see to avenging her.’ With great joy in his heart the king addressed his men so that Perinis should hear:

  ‘My noble and honoured men, for this meeting take care that your horses are sleek, your shields and your clothes rich. We
shall joust before the beautiful lady of whom you have all just heard news. Any man who hesitates to take up his arms does not greatly value his life!’

  The king gave that summons to all of them. They were sorry for the delay – by their wish it would have been the following day.

  Hear now of the noble squire. Perinis asked permission to leave. The king mounted his horse Passelande for he wished to accompany the squire. They went along the road talking; all their talk was of the beautiful lady for whom many lances were to be broken. Before their conversation ended the king offered to give Perinis the equipment of a knight; but he would not yet accept it. The king escorted him a little way for the sake of that fair and noble lady, who was full of kindness. They had many things to say as they rode along. The squire had a fine escort of knights and the noble king. They parted from each other very unwillingly. The king called to him:

  ‘Go now, fair friend, do not delay. My greetings to your lady from her loyal servant, and say I am coming to her to help to make peace. I will do everything she wishes, for her sake I am eager to, and she will tell me how I can help her. Remind her of the throwing spear which was fixed in the post; she will know where that was.3 Tell her all this, I beg you.’

  ‘King, you may be sure I shall do so.’

  Perinis set spurs to his horse; and the king turned and rode back. Perinis, who had endured so much in the queen’s service, had delivered his message and now he rode away. He made his way as fast as he could, not resting a single day until he reached the place he had come from. He told Yseut of his journey and she was very happy to hear from King Arthur and from Tristan. That night they were at Lidan.

  15

  YSEUT’S AMBIGUOUS OATH

  IT was the tenth night after new moon. What shall I say? The time was approaching when the queen was to exculpate herself. Tristan, her lover, had no qualms about disguising himself in motley clothes. He wore woollen garments and no shirt. He wore a rough woollen tunic and his shoes were patched. He had had made a wide cloak of coarse wool, which was blackened with smoke.

  He had disguised himself extremely well and looked more like a leper than anything else. Nonetheless his sword was tied securely around his waist. Tristan left his lodging secretly and went to Governal, who gave him some advice and said:

  ‘Tristan, my lord, do not do anything foolish. Take care that the queen does not make you any signs of recognition.’

  ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I shall be careful. Be sure that you do your best for me. Take my shield and my lance and bring them to me with my horse already harnessed. In case I need them, be in hiding near the ford. You know where there is a good crossing, you have known it for a long time. My horse is as white as flour; cover him all over so that he will not be recognized or noticed by anyone. Arthur will be there with all his men and King Mark likewise. The knights from other lands will be jousting to win renown; and for the love of Yseut, I shall myself make a quick sortie. Have the pennant which my love gave me fixed on top of my lance. Go now, master, and I beg you earnestly to do all this with great care.’

  Tristan picked up his cup and staff and took farewell of Governal. Governal went to his lodging to get Tristan’s armour and did nothing else before he set out. He took care that nobody saw him and went on until he was in hiding near Tristan at the Malpas.

  Tristan sat down carelessly on the mound at the end of the marsh. He put his crutch down in front of him; a strap was tied to it and hung around his neck. There was marshy ground all around him. He walked firmly on to the mound. He did not look like a cripple for he was big and well-built; he was not a dwarf, or deformed or hunch-backed. He could hear the people coming and sat down. His face was well covered with bumps. When anyone passed in front of him he would cry out plaintively:

  ‘Woe is me! I never thought I would be a beggar or that I would follow this unhappy calling, but now there is nothing else I can do.’

  Tristan made them take out their purses and persevered until everyone gave him something. He took their alms so that no one would say anything. A man might be a pimp for seven years and not be able to get such booty! Even the errand-boys and the humblest of the servants who were eating as they walked along the road Tristan asked for alms for the love of God, as he held his head down. Some gave to him, others struck him. The wretched and cowardly menials called him worthless and a pimp. Tristan heard them and did not answer back; for God’s sake, he said, he pardoned them. The peasants were greatly excited and they tried to do him harm, shouting that he was a worthless vagabond (and he was saner than they were!). Tristan chased them away, using his crutch, and made more than fourteen of them bleed so much that they could not staunch the flow of blood. The noble, well-born squires gave him farthings or halfpennies, which he took. He told them that he had to drink always; there was such a great fire in his body that he could hardly cast it out. All those who heard him speak like this began to weep for pity. No one who saw him had the slightest doubt that he was a leper. Then the squires and the servants thought they should hurry on to lodge themselves and set up tents for their lords. There were pavilions of many colours, and no rich man was without his tent. The knights came galloping after them along the roads and paths. There was a great crowd in the marsh and they churned up the soft mud. The horses went in up to their ribs. Many fell in and those who could pulled themselves out. Tristan was not at all dismayed at this, but laughed and called out maliciously to them all:

  ‘Hold your reigns tightly and spur on your horses. For God’s sake, use your spurs, the marsh ends ahead of you.’

  When they tried to go beyond the marsh, they found that it gave way under their feet. Everyone who went in was covered with mud, and if a man was not wearing boots he was in trouble. The leper stretched out his hand; when he could see someone wallowing in the mud he shook his clapper vigorously. When he saw someone getting deeper in the mud the leper would say:

  ‘Think of me – may God help you out of the Malpas – help me to get new clothes!’

  He struck his bowl with his bottle, although this was a strange place to ask for alms. But he did so mischievously so that when his lover, the fair-haired Yseut, passed by she would laugh when she saw it. There was great commotion in the Malpas. All the passers-by soiled their clothes, from far off you could hear the cries of those who were getting dirty in the mud. No one who passed was sure of his way.

  At that moment King Arthur came up to see the crossing with several of his barons; they were afraid of sinking into the marsh. All the knights of the Round Table had come to the Malpas with well-groomed horses and new shields, each bearing his distinctive arms. They were fully clothed from hands to feet in silk. They were jousting near the ford. Tristan recognized King Arthur and called to him:

  ‘King Arthur, sire, I am a sick man, hunch-backed, a leper, deformed and weak. My father is poor, he never owned any land. I have come here to seek alms. I have heard many good things about you, you must not refuse me. You are wearing fine grey cloth of Regensburg, I think; under your Rheims linen your skin is white and smooth; your legs are covered in rich brocade and green hose, and you have fine woollen gaiters. King Arthur, can you see how I am scratching myself? Some people may be hot but I am freezing! For God’s sake, let me have those gaiters!’

  The noble king took pity on him. Two squires took off his gaiters and gave them to the leper, who took them back quickly to the mound where he sat down again. The leper spared none of those who passed him by. He was given many fine clothes as well as King Arthur’s gaiters. Tristan sat down again by the marsh, and as he was sitting there the proud and powerful King Mark came towards the mire at a gallop. Tristan began to try to get something out of him. He made a loud noise with his clapper and called out with difficulty in a hoarse voice, breathing heavily through his nose:

  ‘For God’s sake, King Mark, a small gift!’

  The king drew off his fur hood and said: ‘Take it, brother, and put it on your head. The weather has made you suffer often enough.’<
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  ‘Sire,’ he said, ‘thank you! Now you have protected me from the cold.’ He put the hood under his cloak, tucked it away and hid it as best he could.

  ‘Where are you from, leper?’ asked the king.

  ‘From Caerleon, the son of a Welshman.’

  ‘How many years have you been living away from people?’

  ‘For three years, sire. I am not lying. For as long as I was healthy I had a very noble lover, now because of her I have these bumps on my skin. She makes me sound these carved clappers night and day and the noise deafens all the people I ask to give me alms for the love of God the Creator.’

  ‘Do not hide anything,’ said the king, ‘how did your lover give you those bumps?’

  ‘Sir King, her lord was a leper. I had my pleasure with her and this malady came to me from our intercourse. But only one woman is more beautiful than she was.’

  ‘Who is that?’

  ‘The fair Yseut. She dresses the same way as that woman did.’

  The king heard this and went off laughing. King Arthur, who had been jousting on the other side, as happy as could be, came up to him and inquired of the queen.

  ‘She is coming through the wood,’ said King Mark. ‘Sire, she is coming with Andret, it is his task to conduct her here.’

  Then they said to each other: ‘I do not know how she will cross this Malpas. Let us stay here and watch out for her.’

  The three villains – may they burn in Hell! – came to the ford and asked the leper which way those who were least muddy had passed across. Tristan lifted his crutch and pointed towards a great quagmire.