END OF THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE.
WHILE Sir Tristram and the fair Isoude abode yet at La Joyeuse
Garde, Sir Tristram rode forth one day, without armor, having no
weapon but his spear and his sword. And as he rode he came to a
place where he saw two knights in battle, and one of them had gotten
the better, and the other lay overthrown. The knight who had the
better was Sir Palamedes. When Sir Palamedes knew Sir Tristram, he
cried out, "Sir Tristram, now we be met, and ere we depart we will
redress our old wrongs." "As for that," said Sir Tristram, "there
never yet was Christian man that might make his boast that I ever fled
from him, and thou that art a Saracen shalt never say that of me." And
therewith Sir Tristram made his horse to run, and with all his might
came straight upon Sir Palamedes, and broke his spear upon him. Then
he drew his sword and struck at Sir Palamedes six great strokes,
upon his helm. Sir Palamedes saw that Sir Tristram had not his armor
on, and he marvelled at his rashness and his great folly; and said
to himself, "If I meet and slay him I am ashamed wheresoever I go."
Then Sir Tristram cried out and said, "Thou coward knight, why wilt
thou not do battle with me? for have thou no doubt I shall endure
all thy malice." "Ah, Sir Tristram!" said Sir Palamedes, "thou knowest
I may not fight with thee for shame; for thou art here naked, and I am
armed; now I require that thou answer me a question that I shall ask
you." "Tell me what it is," said Sir Tristram. "I put the case,"
said Sir Palamedes, "that you were well armed, and I naked as ye be;
what would you do to me now, by your true knighthood?" "Ah!" said
Sir Tristram, "now I understand thee well, Sir Palamedes; and, as
God me bless, what I shall say shall not be said for fear that I
have of thee. But if it were so, thou shouldest depart from me, for
I would not have to do with thee." "No more will I with thee," said
Sir Palamedes, "and therefore ride forth on thy way." "As for that,
I may choose," said Sir Tristram, "either to ride or to abide. But,
Sir Palamedes, I marvel at one thing,- that thou art so good a knight,
yet that thou wilt not be christened." "As for that," said Sir
Palamedes, "I may not yet be christened, for a vow which I made many
years ago; yet in my heart I believe in our Saviour and his mild
mother Mary; but I have yet one battle to do, and when that is done
I will be christened, with a good will." "By my head," said Sir
Tristram, "as for that one battle, thou shalt seek it no longer; for
yonder is a knight, whom you have smitten down. Now help me to be
clothed in his armor, and I will soon fulfil thy vow." "As ye will,"
said Sir Palamedes, "so shall it be." So they rode both unto that
knight that sat on a bank; and Sir Tristram saluted him, and he full
weakly saluted him again. "Sir," said Sir Tristram, "I pray you to
lend me your whole armor; for I am unarmed, and I must do battle
with this knight." "Sir," said the hurt knight, "you shall have it,
with a right good will." Then Sir Tristram unarmed Sir Galleron, for
that was the name of the hurt knight, and he as well as he could
helped to arm Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristram mounted upon his own
horse, and in his hand he took Sir Galleron's spear. Thereupon Sir
Palamedes was ready, and so they came hurtling together, and each
smote the other in the midst of their shields. Sir Palamedes' spear
broke, and Sir Tristram smote down the horse. Then Sir Palamedes leapt
from his horse, and drew out his sword. That saw Sir Tristram, and
therewith he alighted and tied his horse to a tree. Then they came
together as two wild beasts, lashing the one on the other, and so
fought more than two hours; and often Sir Tristram smote such
strokes at Sir Palamedes that he made him to kneel, and Sir
Palamedes broke away Sir Tristram's shield, and wounded him. Then
Sir Tristram was wroth out of measure, and he rushed to Sir
Palamedes and wounded him passing sore through the shoulder, and by
fortune smote Sir Palamedes' sword out of his hand. And if Sir
Palamedes had stooped for his sword, Sir Tristram had slain him.
Then Sir Palamedes stood and beheld his sword with a full sorrowful
heart. "Now," said Sir Tristram, "I have thee at a vantage, as thou
hadst me to-day; but it shall never be said, in court, or among good
knights, that Sir Tristram did slay any knight that was weaponless:
therefore take thou thy sword, and let us fight this battle to the
end." Then spoke Sir Palamedes to Sir Tristram: "I have no wish to
fight this battle any more. The offence that I have done unto you is
not so great but that, if it please you, we may be friends. All that I
have offended is for the love of the queen, La Belle Isoude, and I
dare maintain that she is peerless among ladies; and for that
offence ye have given me many grievous and sad strokes, and some I
have given you again, Wherefore I require you, my lord Sir Tristram,
forgive me all that I have offended you, and this day have me unto the
next church; and first I will be clean confessed, and after that see
you that I be truly baptized, and then we will ride together unto
the court of my lord, King Arthur, so that we may be there at the
feast of Pentecost." "Now take your horse," said Sir. Tristram, "and
as you have said, so shall it be done." So they took their horses, and
Sir Galleron rode with them. When they came to the church of Carlisle,
the bishop commanded to fill a great vessel with water; and when he
had hallowed it, he then confessed Sir Palamedes clean, and christened
him; and Sir Tristram and Sir Galleron were his godfathers. Then
soon after they departed, and rode toward Camelot, where the noble
King Arthur and Queen Guenever were keeping a court royal. And the
king and all the court were glad that Sir Palamedes was christened.
Then Sir Tristram returned again to La Joyeuse Garde, and Sir
Palamedes went his way.
Not long after these events Sir Gawain returned from Brittany, and
related to King Arthur the adventure which befell him in the forest of
Breciliande,- how Merlin had there spoken to him, and enjoined him
to charge the king to go without delay upon the quest of the Holy
Greal. While King Arthur deliberated, Tristram determined to enter
upon the quest, and the more readily, as it was well known to him that
this holy adventure would, if achieved, procure him the pardon of
all his sins. He immediately departed for the kingdom of Brittany,
hoping there to obtain from Merlin counsel as to the proper course
to pursue to insure success.
On arriving in Brittany Tristram found King Hoel engaged in a war
with a rebellious vassal, and hard pressed by his enemy. His best
knights had fallen in a late battle, and he knew not where to turn for
assistance. Tristram volunteered his aid. It was accepted; and the
army of Hoel, led by Tristram, and inspired by his example, gained a
complete victory. The king penetrated by the most lively sentiments of
gratitude, and having informed himself of Tristram's birth, offered
him his daughter in marriage. The princess was beautiful and
accomplished, and bore the same name with the Queen of Cornwall; but
this one is designated by the Romancers as Isoude of the White
Hands, to distinguish her from Isoude the Fair.
How can we describe the conflict that agitated the heart of
Tristram? He adored the first Isoude, but his love for her was
hopeless, and not unaccompanied by remorse. Moreover, the sacred quest
on which he had now entered demanded of him perfect purity of life. It
seemed as if a happy destiny had provided for him, in the charming
princess Isoude of the White Hands, the best security for all his good
resolutions. This last reflection determined him. They were married,
and passed some months in tranquil happiness at the court of King
Hoel. The pleasure which Tristram felt in his wife's society increased
day by day. An inward grace seemed to stir within him from the
moment when he took the oath to go on the quest of the Holy Greal;
it seemed even to triumph over the power of the magic love-potion.
The war, which had been quelled for a time, now burst anew.
Tristram, as usual, was foremost in every danger. The enemy was
worsted in successive conflicts, and at last shut himself up in his
principal city. Tristram led on the attack of the city. As he
mounted a ladder to scale the walls, he was struck on the head by a
fragment of rock, which the besieged threw down upon him. It bore
him to the ground, where he lay insensible.
As soon as he recovered consciousness, he demanded to be carried
to his wife. The princess, skilled in the art of surgery, would not
suffer any one but herself to touch her beloved husband. Her fair
hands bound up his wounds; Tristram kissed them with gratitude,
which began to grow into love. At first the devoted cares of Isoude
seemed to meet with great success; but after awhile these flattering
appearances vanished, and, in spite of all her care, the malady grew
more serious day by day.
In this perplexity, an old squire of Tristram's reminded his
master that the princess of Ireland, afterward queen of Cornwall,
had once cured him under circumstances quite as discouraging. He
called Isoude of the White Hands to him, told her of his former
cure, added that he believed that the Queen Isoude could heal him, and
that he felt sure that she would come to his relief if sent for.
Isoude of the White Hands consented that Gesnes, a trusty man and
skilful navigator, should be sent to Cornwall. Tristram called him,
and, giving him a ring, "Take this," he said, "to the Queen of
Cornwall. Tell her that Tristram, near to death, demands her aid. If
you succeed in bringing her with you, place white sails to your vessel
on your return, that we may know of your success when the vessel first
heaves in sight. But if Queen Isoude refuses, put on black sails; they
will be the presage of my impending death."
Gesnes performed his mission successfully. King Mark happened to
be absent from his capital, and the queen readily consented to
return with the bark to Brittany. Gesnes clothed his vessel in the
whitest of sails, and sped his way back to Brittany.
Meantime the wound of Tristram grew more desperate day by day. His
strength, quite prostrated, no longer permitted him to be carried to
the seaside daily, as had been his custom from the first moment when
it was possible for the bark to be on the way homeward. He called a
young damsel, and gave her in charge to keep watch in the direction of
Cornwall, and to come and tell him the color of the sails of the first
vessel she should see approaching.
When Isoude of the White Hands consented that the queen of
Cornwall should be sent for, she had not known all the reasons which
she had for fearing the influence which renewed intercourse with
that princess might have on her own happiness. She had now learned
more, and felt the danger more keenly. She thought, if she could
only keep the knowledge of the queen's arrival from her husband, she
might employ in his service any resources which her skill could
supply, and still avert the dangers which she apprehended. When the
vessel was seen approaching, with its white sails sparkling in the
sun, the damsel, by command of her mistress, carried word to
Tristram that the sails were black.
Tristram, penetrated with inexpressible grief, breathed a profound
sigh, turned away his face, and said, "Alas, my beloved! we shall
never see one another again!" Then he commended himself to God, and
breathed his last.
The death of Tristram was the first intelligence which the queen
of Cornwall heard on landing. She was conducted almost senseless
into the chamber of Tristram, and expired holding him in her arms.
Tristram, before his death, requested that his body should be sent
to Cornwall, and that his sword, with a letter he had written,
should be delivered to King Mark. The remains of Tristram and Isoude
were embarked in a vessel, along with the sword, which was presented
to the king of Cornwall, He was melted with tenderness when he saw the
weapon which slew Moraunt of Ireland,- which had so often saved his
life, and redeemed the honor of his kingdom. In the letter Tristram
begged pardon of his uncle, and related the story of the amorous
draught.
Mark ordered the lovers to be buried in his own chapel. From the
tomb of Tristram there sprung a vine, which went along the walls,
and descended into the grave of the queen. It was cut down three
times, but each time sprung up again more vigorous than before, and
this wonderful plant has ever since shaded the tombs of Tristram and
Isoude.
Spenser introduces Sir Tristram in his Faery Queene. In Book VI.,
Canto ii., Sir Calidore encounters in the forest a young hunter,
whom he thus describes:-
"Him steadfastly he marked, and saw to be
A goodly youth of amiable grace,
Yet but a slender slip, that scarce did see
Yet seventeen yeares; but tall and faire of face,
That sure he deemed him borne of noble race.
All in a woodman's jacket he was clad
Of Lincoln greene, belayed with silver lace;
And on his head an hood with aglets* sprad,
And by his side his hunter's horne he hanging had.
"Buskins he wore of costliest cordawayne,
Pinckt upon gold, and paled part per part,*(2)
As then the guize was for each gentle swayne,
In his right hand he held a trembling dart,
Whose fellow he before had sent apart;
And in his left he held a sharp bore-speare,
With which he wont to launch the salvage heart
Of many a lyon, and of many a beare,
That first unto his hand in chase did happen neare."
* Aglets, points or tags.
*(2) Pinckt upon gold, etc., adorned with golden points, or eyelets,
and regularly intersected with stripes. Paled (in heraldry), striped.
Tristram is often alluded to by the Romancers as the great authority
and model in all matters relating to the chase. In the Faery Queene,
Tristram, in answer to the inquiries of Sir Calidore, informs him of
his name and parentage, and concludes:-
"All which my days I have not lewdly spent,
Nor spilt the blossom of my tender years
In idlesse; but, as was convenient,
Have trained been with many noble feres
In gentle thewes, and such like seemly leers;*
'Mongst which my most delight hath always been
To hunt the salvage chace, amongst my peers,
Of all that rangeth in the forest green
Of which none is to me unknown that yet was seen.
"Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch,
Whether high towering or accosting low,
But I the measure of her flight do search,
And all her prey, and all her diet know.
Such be our joys, which in these forests grow."
* Feres, companions; thewes, labors; leers, learning.