The Romance of Tristan: The Tale of Tristan's Madness (Classics) Read online

  She took it from her finger and put it on his. Then each kissed the other to signify possession of the gifts.

  13

  YSEUT’S RETURN TO KING MARK

  THE hermit went to St Michael’s Mount because of all the fine goods that can be found there. He bought bright and dark clothes, silks of deep purple, fine woollen material, linen whiter than a lily, and a gentle palfrey with trappings of shining gold. Ogrin the hermit bought so much – some for cash, some on credit and some by bargaining – that the queen would be richly clad in all the light and dark-coloured silks and ermine. It was proclaimed over the whole of Cornwall that the king was to be reconciled with his wife: ‘The reconciliation between us will take place at the Gué Aventurous.’ The news was heard everywhere and no knight or lady hesitated to come to the gathering. They had a great longing to see the queen, for she was loved by everyone, except the villains – may God destroy them! All four of them had their just deserts: two were killed by the sword, the third by an arrow; they met their deaths in their own country. And the forester who betrayed the lovers also met a cruel death, for the noble and fair Perinis killed him afterwards in the wood with a sling. God avenged them on all these four, for He humbles arrogant pride.

  My lords, on the day of the meeting King Mark was attended by a great number of people. Many pavilions had been erected and many barons had set up tents; they covered a large part of the meadow. Tristan rode beside his love until they came to the boundary stone. Under his tunic he was wearing a hauberk, for he was greatly afraid on account of the wrong he had done King Mark. He saw the tents in the meadow and recognized the king and his attendants. He called to Yseut and said tenderly:

  ‘My lady, keep Husdant. I beg you, for God’s sake, to look after him. If you ever loved him, love him now. There is the king, your lord, with the men of his kingdom. We shall not be able to speak together for much longer now. I can see the knights and the king and his soldiers coming towards us. For the sake of our glorious God, if I send you a message either soon or later, carry out my wishes, my lady!’

  ‘Listen to me, Tristan my love: by the faith I owe you, if you do not send me that ring on your finger I shall not believe anything a messenger says. But as soon as I see that ring, no tower, wall or fortress shall stop me from doing straight away whatever my lover requires, if it is honourable and loyal and I know it is your wish.’

  ‘God bless you, my lady,’ said Tristan, and he drew her towards him and embraced her. Yseut was not unwise, and she said:

  ‘My love, attend to what I have to say. You will do well to listen to me. You have brought me here to be returned to the king by the advice of Ogrin – I wish him well. I beg you, for God’s sake, my fair sweet love, not to leave this land until you know how the king is going to behave towards me, for he may be angry or uneasy. When the king has taken me back I beg you, as one who loves you dearly, to stay with the forester Orry. May it not grieve you to stay there for my sake! We lay there many a night in the bed which he made for us. [I am afraid of the king’s wicked barons.] Those three who caused us trouble will come to harm in the end, their dead bodies will yet lie in the wood. My love, I fear them – may Hell open and swallow them up! I fear them because they are evil men. You can stay in that good cellar under the forester’s hut. I will send you news from court through Perinis. My love, may God honour you, and may it not distress you to stay there! You will see my messenger often. I will tell you my news through my servant and your squire.’

  ‘It will not distress me at all, my dear love. If anyone reproaches you for your folly, he will have to reckon with me as his enemy.’

  ‘Many thanks, my lord!’ said Yseut. ‘I feel much happier now, you have reassured me that everything will go well.’

  They advanced far enough to exchange greetings with those who were coming towards them. The king came proudly forward, a bow-shot in front of his men; with him was Dinas of Dinan. Tristan was holding the queen’s rein as he led her. He gave the king a formal salutation:

  ‘King, I hereby restore to you the noble Yseut. No man ever made a better restitution. I see the men of your land here: in their hearing I want to request you to allow me to clear myself and make my defence in your court. Never at any time did she or I love each other wickedly. You have been led to believe lies; but, as God gives me joy and happiness, they never put it to the test in a combat on foot or otherwise. If I agree to this taking place in your court, then burn me in sulphur if I am found guilty! If I can come safe through the ordeal, let no one, long-haired or bald, [ever accuse us again. If it is your wish,] retain me in your service; otherwise I shall go to Lyoness.’

  The king spoke to his nephew. Andret, who was born in Lincoln, said to him: ‘King, retain him, men will fear you the more.’

  The king’s heart softened and he all but agreed to this. He drew Andret to one side and left the queen with Dinas, who was true and loyal and who always acted honourably. He laughed and talked with the queen and helped her take off the rich woollen cloak round her neck. She was wearing a tunic over a long silk gown. How could I describe her mantle? The hermit who bought it never regretted its high price! She was wearing rich clothes over her noble body, and her eyes shone beneath her glinting hair. The seneschal was happy to be talking with her. This distressed the three barons – may they be cursed, the evil men! – and they quickly went over to the king.

  ‘Sire,’ they said, ‘listen to us, we shall give you good advice. The queen was accused and she fled from your domain. If they are together again at court people will say, it seems to us, that you are consenting to their wickedness; there will be few who do not say this. Let Tristan stay away from your court. When a year has passed and you are sure Yseut is faithful to you, then send for Tristan to come. We give you this advice in good faith.’

  The king replied: ‘Whatever anyone says, I shall always listen to your counsel.’

  The barons drew back and on the king’s behalf announced his decision. When Tristan heard that there was to be no reprieve for him and that the king wanted him to depart, he took his leave of the queen; each looked at the other affectionately. The queen was blushing, she was ashamed in front of the gathering. Tristan departed; many hearts were made heavy on that day. The king asked where he would go and said he would give him whatever he wanted. He offered him gold and silver and rich clothing.

  Tristan answered: ‘King of Cornwall, I will never take a farthing from you. I am going off now, as gladly as I can, to the king who is now at war.’

  Tristan was handsomely escorted by the king and his barons as he made his way to the sea. Yseut followed him with her eyes and did not move for as long as she could see him. Tristan went on and those who were accompanying him only for a short way turned back; but Dinas stayed beside him. He embraced Tristan often and begged him to be sure to come back to them; the two pledged their mutual trust.

  ‘Dinas, listen to me for a moment: I am departing from here, and you know very well why. If I send Governal to you for anything I need urgently, give it to him, for you owe this to me.’

  They kissed each other many times. Dinas begged him to have no fear and to send on all his wishes and he would do everything. Tristan said that he had parted from a lovely woman and swore that he would one day have her with him again, although the king would not allow this. Then Tristan left Dinas, and both were sad at the parting.

  Dinas rejoined the king who was waiting for him on the heath. Then the barons rode back to the city at a gallop. All the townspeople came out to meet them, there were more than four thousand men, women and children, all making great joy for Tristan’s sake as well as Yseut’s. In the city the church bells were ringing. When they heard that Tristan had been sent away there was not a single person who was not saddened. But they were very happy to see Yseut and went to great lengths to show their pleasure: not a street that was not covered over with silk cloth; if there was no silk, tapestry was hung out. Wherever the queen was to walk the road was well strewn. Th
ey went along the main road up to the church of St Samson. The queen went there together with all the barons. The bishop came out to meet her with his clerks, monks and abbots, all wearing albs and copes. The queen dismounted and put on a dark blue cloak. The bishop took her hand and conducted her into the church and up to the altar. The brave Dinas, a fine baron, brought her a garment worth fully a hundred silver marks, made of silk richly embroidered with gold: no count or king ever had such a garment. Queen Yseut took it and with a good heart laid it on the altar. It was afterwards made into a chasuble, which only leaves the church treasury on great annual feasts. Those who have seen it say it is still in St Samson’s. Then she left the church; the king, the princes and the counts led her to the lofty palace; that day they made great joy there. The door was closed to no one: whoever wanted to eat there might come, and no one was stinted. Everyone paid honour to Yseut on that day. Never since the day when she was married was she so greatly honoured as on that day. The king freed a hundred serfs, and gave arms and armour to twenty squires whom he knighted. Now hear what Tristan did.

  Tristan departed after restoring Yseut to Mark. But he left the main road and took a side track and went along paths and by-ways until he arrived secretly at the forester’s dwelling. Orry led him through the concealed entrance to his cellar and found him everything he needed. Orry was wonderfully generous. He caught boars and wild sows in his snares and in his enclosures he trapped great stags and hinds, deer and roe-deer. He was not niggardly with the food and gave plenty to his servants. He lived with Tristan concealed in the cellar. Tristan heard news of his beloved brought by the good squire, Perinis.

  14

  THE VINDICATION OF YSEUT

  HEAR now of the three – may God curse them! They had acted very badly to the king in making him angry with Tristan. Not a full month had passed before King Mark went hunting one day; with him went the traitors. Now hear what they did: on one part of the heath the peasants had burnt a clearing; the king stood there listening to his dogs barking. The three barons came up and addressed the king:

  ‘Sire, listen to us: if the queen has behaved wickedly, she has never exculpated herself. This is spoken of as shameful to you; and the barons of your land have begged you many times to make her defend herself against the accusation of loving Tristan. She must vindicate herself if this is false. Let her decide her own defence, and ask her soon in private when you go to bed. If she will not defend herself, banish her from your kingdom.’

  The king reddened as he listened: ‘By God! Cornish lords, for a long time now you have continually accused her. This time I hear you accusing her of something you might have done better to keep silent about. Tell me, are you trying to have the queen sent back to Ireland? All of you, what do you want from her? Did not Tristan offer to defend her? And you did not dare take up arms! Through you he has left the country. Now you really astonish me: I have already driven him away; am I now to drive away my wife? A hundred curses on the mouth that told me to send him away! By St Stephen the Martyr, you are pestering me and I am very annoyed. I marvel how you can be so quarrelsome! If he did do wrong, he is now suffering for it. You have no care for what pleases me; while you are here I shall never have peace. By St Tresmor of Cahares, I will give you something to think about: before Tuesday is past – today is Monday – you will see Tristan back!’

  The king frightened them so much that they could do nothing but retreat. King Mark said: ‘May God destroy you for seeking to shame me like this! It will certainly not do you any good. I will recall the knight you have made me banish.’

  When they saw how upset and angry the king was, the three barons left him in the clearing and rode to some waste ground on the heath, where they dismounted. They said to each other:

  ‘What shall we do? King Mark is in a very bad mood. Soon he will send for his nephew, and no vows or promises will stop him doing this. And if Tristan comes back, it is the finish for us, for if he finds any of us three in the wood or on a path he will not fail to spill fresh blood from our bodies. Let us tell the king he will be left in peace now. and we shall never again talk to him about it.’

  The king had not moved from the middle of the burnt clearing. They went to him but he quickly repelled them, he no longer paid heed to their words. He swore to himself, by God’s law, that they had come together for an evil purpose. If he had had the power he would have taken all three prisoner.

  ‘Sire,’ they said, ‘listen to us: you are angry and resentful because we have spoken to you about your honour. It is right that a man should advise his lord, yet we have gained your ill will. Cursed be the man who hates you, however strong a knight he is. He would certainly be harshly treated by you and he would go away. But we are faithful to you and we give you loyal advice. If you do not believe us, then do as you will and we shall certainly keep silent. Do not be angry with us.’

  The king listened, saying nothing. He leaned on his saddle-bow and said, without turning his head towards them:

  ‘My lords, it is still only a short time ago that you heard my nephew’s vindication of my wife; you would not take up your weapons. Go away now on foot. I forbid you from now on to make any strife; leave my land. By St Andrew, whom men seek across the sea in Scotland, you have planted a pain in my heart which will not leave me for a year. For your sake I have banished Tristan.’

  Before the king stood the felons, Godwin, Ganelon and the wicked Denoalan; all three addressed him together, but he would not listen. Without staying any longer the king went away. And with evil thoughts the three barons left. They had strong well-defended castles situated on cliffs and high hills; they could do their lord much harm if things did not improve. The king did not stay long and did not wait for his dogs or the huntsmen. He rode back to Tintagel to his castle, dismounted and went in. No one saw this or knew what he was doing. He entered his chamber still wearing his sword. Yseut rose to greet him, came up to him and took the sword; then she sat at his feet. He took her by the hand and lifted her up. She looked at him, saw the cruel, angry expression in his face and realized that he was upset.

  ‘Alas,’ she whispered, ‘my lover has been found, my lord has captured him!’

  She spoke softly between her teeth. The blood mounted swiftly to her face and her heart went cold within her. She fell on her back in front of the king in a swoon; her face was ashen. [The king was greatly startled and he bent down] and raised her in his arms, embraced her and kissed her. He thought that some illness had stricken her. When she had recovered from her swoon, he said:

  ‘My dear love, what is the matter?’

  ‘Sire, I am afraid.’

  ‘You have nothing to fear.’

  When she heard him reassuring her, her colour returned and she felt better; she was soothed once more. She spoke sweetly to the king:

  ‘Sire, I saw by your face that your huntsmen had upset you; you must not be upset by hunting!’

  The king listened to her, laughed and embraced her and said:

  ‘My love, I have three evil barons, who have been here for a long time and who hate my good fortune. If I do not disown them now and banish them from my land the villains will no longer believe in my power. They have tested me enough already and I have given in to them too much: there is no longer any question of changing my mind. Because of the lies they told me I have driven my nephew away. I am no longer paying heed to what they say. My nephew will soon come back and avenge me on the three villains; through him they will yet be hanged.’

  The queen heard him and would have spoken out loud but did not dare. She wisely remained calm and said to herself:

  ‘God has worked a miracle here if my lord is angry against the men who first accused me. May God bring them shame!’

  She spoke softly so that no one could hear. The fair Yseut, who was wise in speaking, said to the king quite innocently:

  ‘Sire, what evil things have they said about me? Everyone can say what he thinks. I have no protection save you; this is why they are see
king to harm me. May God, our Heavenly Father, curse them! They have made me afraid so often!’

  ‘My lady,’ said the king, ‘listen to me now: three of my most worthy barons have gone away in anger.’

  ‘Sire, why? What are their reasons?’

  ‘They are accusing you.’

  ‘Of what, sire?’

  ‘I will tell you,’ said the king. ‘You have not vindicated yourself concerning Tristan.’

  ‘And if I do?’

  ‘And they said to me [it should be done quickly. But I would not believe them, and I did not want to ask you to defend yourself because of all] that they told me.’

  ‘I am ready.’

  ‘When will you do it? This very day?’

  ‘Grant me a short delay.’

  ‘It will be long enough.’

  ‘Sire, for the sake of God and His Holy Name, listen to me and advise me. What can be happening? It is incredible that they do not leave me in peace for a moment! So help me God, I shall make no defence for them except in a way which I shall arrange myself. If I gave my oath, sire, in your court in the presence of your people, three days would not pass before they would be saying that they wanted another defence. Sire, I have no relative in this land who would make war or who would rebel on account of my distress. But I should be perfectly willing to make my defence. I pay no heed to their chatter. If they want me to swear an oath, or if they want a trial by ordeal, let them fix a time – they cannot make any ordeal so harsh that I will not undergo it. At the appointed time and place I will have King Arthur and his household; if I exculpate myself in his presence, then if anyone seeks to calumniate me afterwards, those who have witnessed my defence would come to my protection against any Cornishman or Saxon. For that reason I should be glad if they were there to see my defence with their own eyes. If King Arthur is there, and Gawain his courteous nephew, Gerflet and Kay the Seneschal, the king has a hundred vassals who will not be false concerning what they hear and who would fight against calumnies. Sire, it will be to everyone’s advantage if I can make my defence before them. The Cornish are slanderers and treacherous in many ways. Appoint a time and announce that you want everyone, poor and rich, to be at the Blanche Lande. State expressly that you will take away the inheritance of whoever is not there; then you will be finished with them. I am sure in my own mind that as soon as King Arthur hears my message he will come here. I have known his nobility of heart for long.’