The Romance of Tristan: The Tale of Tristan's Madness (Classics) (12 page)

‘I want you to do something for me.’

‘Kind and noble queen, I come without hesitating but I don’t know what you could mean.’

‘I do not want my clothes to get muddy. You will be my donkey and carry me carefully across the plank.’

‘Ah, noble queen,’ he said, ‘don’t ask me to do this! I am a leper and I am hunch-backed and deformed.’

‘Hurry up and make yourself ready,’ she said. ‘Do you think I will catch your disease? Have no fear, I will not.’

‘God,’ he said to himself, ‘what is going to happen? What a pleasure to talk to her!’ He was supporting himself on his crutch.

‘Heavens, leper, you are fat! Turn your face that way and your back this way. I will get on like a boy.’

Then the leper smiled and bent his back. The queen mounted. Everyone was watching, kings and counts. Leaning on his crutch he raised one foot and kept the other firmly on the ground. Several times he pretended to fall, and looked as though he was in great pain. The fair Yseut rode on his back with her legs round him. The onlookers said to each other:

‘Now look [at that strange sight!] See the queen riding on a leper who is hobbling along. He is almost falling off the plank, holding his crutch on his hip. Let us go to meet the leper when he comes out of the marsh.’

The squires ran [to meet the leper]. King Arthur went over, the others following in their turn. The leper kept his face down as he arrived from the other side. Yseut let herself slide off. The leper prepared to return, and as he was going he asked Yseut for food for that night. Arthur said:

‘He has well deserved it, queen, give it to him!’

The fair Yseut said to the king: ‘By the faith I owe you, he is a great scoundrel, he has enough. He will not eat today all that he has. I could feel his belt under his cloak. King, his wallet is far from empty: I felt whole loaves, half loaves, pieces of bread and crumbs in his bag.
He has food and he is well clothed. If he wants to sell your gaiters he can get five pieces of silver for them. And with my lord’s hood he can buy a good bed and become a shepherd, or buy a donkey to carry him over marshes! As far as I can see, he is a good-for-nothing. He has taken a rich crop here today from the kind of people he likes. He will not get so much as a farthing from me!’

The two kings were much amused. They brought her palfrey to her, helped her to mount and rode away. Those who had arms began to joust. Tristan left that gathering and went back to his squire who was waiting for him. Governal had brought two fine Castilian horses, saddled and bridled, two lances and two shields; he had disguised them well. Of the knights themselves, what shall I say? Governal had put a white silk wrap over his head so that only his eyes could be seen. He backed away slowly on his handsome, well-groomed horse. Tristan was riding Bel Joeor, no better horse could be found. His tunic, saddle, horse and shield were all covered with black serge. A black mask hid his face and he had completely covered his head and body. On his lance he had fixed the token his lady had given him. Each was mounted, with a steel blade at his side. Armed like this on horseback, they passed through a green meadow between two valleys and came into sight of Blanche Lande. Gawain, Arthur’s nephew, said to Gerflet:

‘Look at those two coming! They are riding very fast. I do not know them. Do you know who they are?’

‘I know them well,’ replied Gerflet, ‘a black horse and a black pennon must belong to the Black Knight of the Mountain. I know the other by his bright arms: there
are not many like that in this country. I know beyond doubt that they are enchanted!’

The two knights left the road, their shields held tight, their lances raised with the pennons fastened to the blades. They bore their armour as well as if they had been born inside it. King Arthur and King Mark spoke more of those two knights than they did of all their own companies over on the broad plains. The two knights attracted much attention from the throng and many people were watching them. They spurred together through the outposts but found no one to joust with. The queen knew well who they were; she was standing with Brangain to one side of the knights.

Then Andret came up on horseback, armed. With his lance raised he gripped his shield and aimed directly at Tristan’s face. He did not recognize him at all, but Tristan knew Andret, struck him on the shield and unhorsed him in the middle of the track and broke his arm. He lay on his back at the queen’s feet without moving. Governal saw coming from the tents on horseback the forester who found Tristan asleep in the forest and tried to send him to his death. Governal went towards him at great speed – surely he was in mortal danger! Governal thrust his sharp blade at the forester’s body and the steel pierced his skin. He fell dead, and no priest could ever have come to him in time. The noble and frank Yseut smiled at this under her veil. Gerflet and Cinglor, Yvain, Tolas, Coris and Gawain all saw this defeat of their companions.

‘My lords,’ said Gawain, ‘what shall we do? The forester is lying there with his mouth wide open. Those
two are surely enchanted. We have no idea who they are, and now they take us for fools. Let us hasten after them and capture them!’

‘Whoever can deliver them to us,’ said the king, ‘will do us a great service.’

Tristan drew back towards the ford with Governal and they crossed over. The others dared not follow them, they were afraid and stayed where they were. Indeed, they thought the two knights were phantoms. They wanted to make for their lodgings for they had finished jousting. Arthur rode on the queen’s right, and their journey seemed to him very short. [The edge of the forest was on their left] and the path continued to the right. They dismounted at their lodgings, of which there were plenty on the heath. Tent-ropes were at a high price. In place of reeds and rushes, they had all carpeted their tents with flowers. By roads and by-ways people came to the Blanche Lande until it was crowded. Many a knight had brought his lover. The knights who were in the meadow found many a stag to pursue. That night they stayed on the heath. Each king sat to hear the requests of his people. Those who were rich were quick to exchange presents. After his meal King Arthur went to the tent of King Mark to pay his respects, taking his private household with him. Little coarse cloth was worn there, almost everything was of silk! Of the clothes what shall I say? There were garments made of the finest wool, dyed scarlet; many people were richly clad. No one ever saw two richer courts. Nothing that they needed was lacking. They made great joy in their tents. That night they discussed the matter in hand, how the queen
was to vindicate herself against the accusation in the presence of the kings and their barons. King Arthur went back to his bed with his barons and friends.

Anyone who was in the wood that night could have heard the sounds of flute and shawm coming from the tents. Before daybreak there was thunder, a sure sign of heat. The watchmen sounded their horns at daybreak, and everywhere people woke up and rose without delay. The sun was already hot soon after dawn and the mist and hoar-frost had dispersed. The Cornish people had gathered in front of the tents of the two kings. No knight in the whole kingdom had failed to attend this court with his wife. A cloth of dark grey silk, embroidered with small animal figures, was placed before the king’s tent and spread out on the green grass. The cloth had been bought in Nicaea. Not one holy relic was left anywhere in Cornwall in a treasure-chest, in a casket or a phylactery, in reliquaries or boxes or shrines, not even those that were set in gold or silver crosses or amulets, for they had all been placed on the cloth and arranged in their order. The kings drew to one side. They wanted to come to a fair decision. King Arthur, always quick to speak, spoke first:

‘King Mark,’ he said, ‘whoever advised you to make this accusation did you a terrible wrong and certainly acted disloyally. You are easily influenced, but you must not believe false words. The man who made you convene this meeting was preparing a bitter sauce for you. Whoever brought this about deserves to be severely punished. The noble, good Yseut has not asked for any delay. I want those who have come to hear her trial to know this for sure: I will see them hanged if they make any spiteful
accusations of wickedness after her trial. They will deserve their death. Now listen, King Mark: whoever is to be proved wrong, let the queen come forward so that everyone can see her. She shall swear to the Heavenly King, holding her right hand over the holy relics, that there was never love between her and your nephew which was in any way shameful, and that she has never loved anyone wrongfully. My lord Mark, this has been going on too long: when Yseut has sworn that oath, tell your barons to hold their tongues.’

‘My lord Arthur, what can I do? You reproach me and you are right, for only a fool believes an envious man; yet I believed them against my will. If the queen is vindicated in this meadow, no one will ever be so bold again. If anyone, after the trial, speaks of the queen otherwise than to her honour, he will suffer for it. Arthur, noble king, know that this has been done against my will. From now on let them take heed!’

Then the counsellors separated. Everyone sat down in rows except the two kings, for Yseut was between them holding their hands. Gawain stood near the relics, and the household of Arthur was seated round the cloth. Arthur, who was nearest Yseut, began to speak:

‘Listen to me, fair Yseut, and hear what you are accused of. You must swear that Tristan never loved you wickedly or wrongfully, and only bore you the love he owed to his uncle and his wife.’

‘My lords,’ she said, ‘by the mercy of God I see holy relics here before me. Listen now to what I swear, and may it reassure the king: so help me God and St Hilary, and by these relics, this holy place, the relics that are not
here and all the relics there are in the world, I swear that no man ever came between my thighs except the leper who carried me on his back across the ford and my husband, King Mark. Those two I exclude from my oath; I exclude no one else in the world. From two men I cannot exculpate myself: the leper and King Mark my lord. The leper was between my legs [as everyone who was watching could see]. If anyone wants me to do more, I am ready here and now.’

All those who heard her oath could bear no more.

‘God,’ said everyone, ‘that would be a cruel wrong! She has done everything that justice demands, and she put more into her oath than the villains required her to. She needs to make no defence concerning the king and his nephew beyond what all of us have already heard. She swore in her oath that no man ever came between her thighs, except the leper who carried her across the ford yesterday morning and King Mark, her husband. A curse on anyone who mistrusts her now!’

King Arthur rose to his feet and addressed King Mark so that all the barons could hear:

‘King, we have seen and heard the queen’s defence. Now let the three villains Denoalan, Ganelon and the evil Godwin, take care never to speak of it again. As long as they remain in this land, we shall be ready to come swiftly to defend the rights of the fair Queen Yseut as soon as she sends a message.’

‘Sire,’ she said, ‘I thank you.’

The three villains were greatly hated by all the court. The courtiers separated and made their departure. The lovely, fair-haired Yseut thanked King Arthur deeply.

‘My lady,’ he said, ‘I am your surety. As long as I am alive and healthy, you will never again find that anyone says anything that is not to your honour. The villains have had evil thoughts. I have begged the king your lord, in loyalty and friendship, never to believe what the villains say about you.’

King Mark said: ‘If I do from now on, I shall be greatly to blame.’

Then they parted from each other and each returned to his own kingdom. King Arthur went to Durham and King Mark stayed in Cornwall. Tristan remained where he was, with few worries.

‘My lords,’ he said, ‘listen to me: if I lie, you can hang me. The king was angry with you the other day and began to hate you because of his wife’s vindication. You may hang me or punish me in any way if I cannot clearly show you Tristan waiting at leisure to talk to his dear love. He is concealed, but I know his hiding-place. Tristan knows all about Malpertis! When the king is
going off on a hunting trip he first takes leave of the queen in her room. Now, you can burn me to ashes if you go to her window on the right at the back and do not see Tristan coming in, wearing his sword and holding a bow with a couple of arrows in his other hand. You will be able to see him tonight in the early hours.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I have seen him.’

‘Tristan?’

‘Yes, indeed, and I recognized him.’

‘When was he there?’

‘I saw him there this morning.’

‘Who was with him?’

‘His friend.’

‘His friend? Who?’

‘Governal.’

‘Where are they staying?’

‘They are lodged very comfortably somewhere.’

‘At Dinas’s house?’

‘How should I know?’

‘They are not here without his knowledge.’

‘That is likely.’

‘Where can we see this?’

‘Through the bedroom window, I tell you. But if I show you, I must have a lot of money as a reward.’

‘How much?’

‘A silver mark.’

‘You may have more than we promise, so help you Church and Mass. If you show us this you cannot fail to make yourself rich.’

‘Now listen,’ said the evil spy, ‘there is a little narrow
opening just by the queen’s bedroom with a curtain hanging in front of it. Beyond the room there is a wide brook where lilies grow thickly: one of you three go there after midnight. Through a gap in the new garden you can easily go up to that opening, but you must not go past the window. Cut a point on the end of a long twig with a sharp knife. Catch the cloth of the curtain with the sharp end of the twig and pull the curtain gently away from the opening – it is not fastened – so that you can see inside clearly when Tristan comes. If you keep watch like that for only three days, then you can burn me if you do not see what I say!’

Each of the three barons said: ‘We swear to keep to this agreement.’ They sent the spy away. Then they arranged which of the three of them should go first to see the sport that Tristan was enjoying with the woman who was still loyal to him. They agreed that Godwin would go the first time. They parted, each going his own way – tomorrow they would know what Tristan was doing. The noble queen, alas, was not on her guard against the villains and their schemes. She had sent a message to Tristan through her attendant Perinis to come to her next day after midnight, when the king would have gone to St Lubin.

Hear, my lords, the story of what happened. Next day the night was dark. Tristan had made his way through a thicket of thorn bushes. Going out of the copse he looked round and saw Godwin coming out of his hiding place. Tristan waited in ambush, hidden in the thicket.

‘God,’ he said, ‘help me: let the man who is coming not notice me before he is right in front of me!’

He waited, sword in hand, for Godwin, still a long way off. But Godwin went a different way. Tristan stayed where he was, sad to see Godwin going away. Then he left the copse, looking around carefully. But it was useless, for Godwin was increasing the distance, bent on carrying out his evil purpose. Tristan looked further into the distance and had a brief glimpse of Denoalan, who was riding slowly along with two astonishingly big greyhounds. Tristan hid behind an apple-tree. Denoalan came along the path on a small, black palfrey. He had sent his dogs to start a wild boar in the thicket – before they could dislodge it their master was going to receive a blow that no physician could cure! The brave Tristan took off his cloak. Denoalan had soon ridden up, without suspecting anything, and Tristan leaped on him. Denoalan wanted to escape but he could not, for Tristan was too close to him. Tristan killed him. What else could he do, for the other was seeking his death? To save himself he cut off the villain’s head and did not even give him the time to say, ‘I am wounded.’ With his sword he cut off the hair and stuck it in his boots. When he showed Yseut the hair she would know that he had killed the villain. Tristan hurried away from that place.

‘Alas,’ he said, ‘what has become of Godwin? I saw him moving quickly a short while ago and now he has gone. Has he passed me? Did he ride past a moment ago? If he waited for me he would soon find out that he would get no better deserts than the wicked Denoalan – and I left him dead!’

Tristan left the body lying on its back, bleeding, in the middle of the clearing. He cleaned his sword and replaced
it in its sheath. He put on his cloak and pulled the cowl over his head. He placed a large branch over the body, then set off to his lover’s room. But now hear what happened to him. Godwin had hurried to the same place and had arrived before Tristan. He had pushed aside the curtain and could see the bedroom carpeted with rushes and everything inside. He could see no man there except Perinis. Brangain, the maid, came in; she had been combing Yseut’s hair and still had the comb with her. The villain at the wall saw Tristan come in holding a bow of tough laburnum wood with two arrows in one hand, and in the other some long tresses. He took off his cloak, revealing his well-made body. The lovely, fair-haired Yseut rose to greet him. At her window she caught sight of the shadow of Godwin’s head. The queen was quick to see this, and it made her sweat with fear. Tristan said to her:

‘God keeps me amongst His own! This is Denoalan’s hair, I have avenged you on him. Never again will he buy a sword or lance and use them!’

‘My lord,’ she said, ‘what am I to do? I beg you to stretch this bow and we shall see how it is bent.’

Tristan bent the bow, thinking to himself. He thought hard, realized her meaning and drew his bow. He asked for news of King Mark and Yseut told him all she knew. [Godwin was watching them with evil thoughts in his mind.] If he had escaped alive, he would have made war to the death on King Mark and his wife Yseut; but the man to whom God granted honour would take care that he did not escape. Yseut had no wish to talk.

‘My love, fit an arrow to the string and take care that
the string is not twisted. I can see something that troubles me.’

Tristan stood still and thought for a moment. He realized that she could see something that had displeased her. He looked up and trembled with fear: against the light by the curtain he saw Godwin’s head.

‘God, our true King, I have had many fine shots with bow and arrow: grant me not to miss with this one! I can see one of the three Cornish villains standing outside there. God, who allowed Your Own most holy body to suffer death for your people’s sake, let me avenge myself on these villains for all the wrong they have done me!’

Then he turned to the wall. The bow had many times been bent, and now he shot. The arrow flew so fast that nothing could have escaped it. It pierced Godwin’s eye and went deep into his head and his brain. No hawks or swallows could fly with half the speed of that arrow; it would not have gone more easily into a soft apple. He fell and struck a post; he lay without moving hand or foot. He was not even able to say, ‘I am wounded. God, confession!’

Yseut then said to Tristan
:

‘
You must flee for your own safety! All the villains are now dead, but your hiding-place is known and your life is in danger if you remain here.
’;

So the lovers took a sorrowful farewell of each other and renewed their exchange of love tokens. Each promised to be always at the service of the other
.