The Romance of Tristan and Iseult Part 10

But Tristan said

?For two years I dwelt in a forest, eating nothing save roots and herbs; yet I found it a good life, so open you the door.?

They welcomed him with honour, and Kaherdin showed him the wall and the dungeon keep with all their devices, and from the battlements he showed the plain where far away gleamed the tents of Duke Riol. And when they were down in the castle again he said to Tristan:

?Friend, let us go to the hall where my mother and sister sit.?

So, holding each other?s hands, they came into the women?s room, where the mother and the daughter sat together weaving gold upon English cloth and singing a weaving song. They sang of Doette the fair who sits alone beneath the white-thorn, and round about her blows the wind. She waits for Doon, her friend, but he tarries long and does not come. This was the song they sang. And Tristan bowed to them, and they to him. Then Kaherdin, showing the work his mother did, said:

?See, friend Tristan, what a work-woman is here, and how marvellously she adorns stoles and chasubles for the poor minsters, and how my sister?s hands run thread of gold upon this cloth. Of right, good sister, are you called, ?Iseult of the White Hands.??

But Tristan, hearing her name, smiled and looked at her more gently.

And on the morrow, Tristan, Kaherdin, and twelve young knights left the castle and rode to a pinewood near the enemy?s tents. And sprang from ambush and captured a waggon of Count Riol?s food; and from that day, by escapade and ruse they would carry tents and convoys and kill off men, nor ever come back without some booty; so that Tristan and Kaherdin began to be brothers in arms, and kept faith and tenderness, as history tells. And as they came back from these rides, talking chivalry together, often did Kaherdin praise to his comrade his sister, Iseult of the White Hands, for her simplicity and beauty.

One day, as the dawn broke, a sentinel ran from the tower through the halls crying:

?Lords, you have slept too long; rise, for an a.s.sault is on.?

And knights and burgesses armed, and ran to the walls, and saw helmets s.h.i.+ning on the plain, and pennons streaming crimson, like flames, and all the host of Riol in its array. Then the Duke and Kaherdin deployed their hors.e.m.e.n before the gates, and from a bow-length off they stooped, and spurred and charged, and they put their lances down together and the arrows fell on them like April rain.

Now Tristan had armed himself among the last of those the sentinel had roused, and he laced his shoes of steel, and put on his mail, and his spurs of gold, his hauberk, and his helm over the gorget, and he mounted and spurred, with s.h.i.+eld on breast, crying:

?Carhaix!?

And as he came, he saw Duke Riol charging, rein free, at Kaherdin, but Tristan came in between. So they met, Tristan and Duke Riol. And at the shock, Tristan?s lance s.h.i.+vered, but Riol?s lance struck Tristan?s horse just where the breast-piece runs, and laid it on the field.

But Tristan, standing, drew his sword, his burnished sword, and said:

?Coward! Here is death ready for the man that strikes the horse before the rider.?

But Riol answered:

?I think you have lied, my lord!?

And he charged him.

And as he pa.s.sed, Tristan let fall his sword so heavily upon his helm that he carried away the crest and the nasal, but the sword slipped on the mailed shoulder, and glanced on the horse, and killed it, so that of force Duke Riol must slip the stirrup and leap and feel the ground.

Then Riol too was on his feet, and they both fought hard in their broken mail, their ?scutcheons torn and their helmets loosened and las.h.i.+ng with their dented swords, till Tristan struck Riol just where the helmet buckles, and it yielded and the blow was struck so hard that the baron fell on hands and knees; but when he had risen again, Tristan struck him down once more with a blow that split the helm, and it split the headpiece too, and touched the skull; then Riol cried mercy and begged his life, and Tristan took his sword.

So he promised to enter Duke Hoel?s keep and to swear homage again, and to restore what he had wasted; and by his order the battle ceased, and his host went off discomfited.

Now when the victors were returned Kaherdin said to his father:

?Sire, keep you Tristan. There is no better knight, and your land has need of such courage.?

So when the Duke had taken counsel with his barons, he said to Tristan

?Friend, I owe you my land, but I shall be quit with you if you will take my daughter, Iseult of the White Hands, who comes of kings and of queens, and of dukes before them in blood.?

And Tristan answered:

?I will take her, Sire.?

So the day was fixed, and the Duke came with his friends and Tristan with his, and before all, at the gate of the minster, Tristan wed Iseult of the White Hands, according to the Church?s law.

But that same night, as Tristan?s valets undressed him, it happened that in drawing his arm from the sleeve they drew off and let fall from his finger the ring of green jasper, the ring of Iseult the Fair.

It sounded on the stones, and Tristan looked and saw it. Then his heart awoke and he knew that he had done wrong. For he remembered the day when Iseult the Fair had given him the ring. It was in that forest where, for his sake, she had led the hard life with him, and that night he saw again the hut in the wood of Morois, and he was bitter with himself that ever he had accused her of treason; for now it was he that had betrayed, and he was bitter with himself also in pity for this new wife and her simplicity and beauty. See how these two Iseults had met him in an evil hour, and to both had he broken faith!

Now Iseult of the White Hands said to him, hearing him sigh:

?Dear lord, have I hurt you in anything? Will you not speak me a single word??

But Tristan answered: ?Friend, do not be angry with me; for once in another land I fought a foul dragon and was near to death, and I thought of the Mother of G.o.d, and I made a vow to Her that, should I ever wed, I would spend the first holy nights of my wedding in prayer and in silence.?

?Why,? said Iseult, ?that was a good vow.?

And Tristan watched through the night.

THE MADNESS OF TRISTAN

Within her room at Tintagel, Iseult the Fair sighed for the sake of Tristan, and named him, her desire, of whom for two years she had had no word, whether he lived or no.

Within her room at Tintagel Iseult the Fair sat singing a song she had made. She sang of Guron taken and killed for his love, and how by guile the Count gave Guron?s heart to her to eat, and of her woe. The Queen sang softly, catching the harp?s tone; her hands were cunning and her song good; she sang low down and softly.

Then came in Kariado, a rich count from a far-off island, that had fared to Tintagel to offer the Queen his service, and had spoken of love to her, though she disdained his folly. He found Iseult as she sang, and laughed to her:

?Lady, how sad a song! as sad as the Osprey?s; do they not say he sings for death? and your song means that to me; I die for you.?

And Iseult said: ?So let it be and may it mean so; for never come you here but to stir in me anger or mourning. Ever were you the screech owl or the Osprey that boded ill when you spoke of Tristan; what news bear you now??

And Kariado answered:

?You are angered, I know not why, but who heeds your words? Let the Osprey bode me death; here is the evil news the screech owl brings.

Lady Iseult, Tristan, your friend is lost to you. He has wed in a far land. So seek you other where, for he mocks your love. He has wed in great pomp Iseult of the White Hands, the King of Brittany?s daughter.??

And Kariado went off in anger, but Iseult bowed her head and broke into tears.

Now far from Iseult, Tristan languished, till on a day he must needs see her again. Far from her, death came surely; and he had rather die at once than day by day. And he desired some death, but that the Queen might know it was in finding her; then would death come easily.

So he left Carhaix secretly, telling no man, neither his kindred nor even Kaherdin, his brother in arms. He went in rags afoot (for no one marks the beggar on the high road) till he came to the sh.o.r.e of the sea.

He found in a haven a great s.h.i.+p ready, the sail was up and the anchor-chain short at the bow.

?G.o.d save you, my lords,? he said, ?and send you a good journey. To what land sail you now??

?To Tintagel,? they said.

Then he cried out: