SIR TRISTREM.

CONCLUSION.

ABRIDGED FROM THE FRENCH METRICAL ROMANCE, IN THE STYLE OF TOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE.

ARGUMENT.

Stanzas 1. 2.-The fate of the battle is recapitulated, in which Tristrem, the younger, was slain, and our hero desperately wounded. The latter is carried to his castle, and every remedy is applied to his wound, but in vain. The gangrene becomes daily worse, and can be cured by none but Ysonde of Cornwall. 3. 4.-Tristrem despatches Ganhardin to Ysonde with his ring, as a token, directing him to communicate to the Queen the extremity of his distress. He desires him to take with him two sails, one white, and the other black; the former to be hoisted upon his return, in case Ysonde should accompany him to Brittany; and the latter if his embassy should be unsuccessful. 5.-Ysonde of Brittany overhears this conversation, and resolves to be avenged of Tristrem for his infidelity. 6. 7. 8.-Ganhardin goes to England, disguised as a merchant. He presents rich gifts to King Mark, and to Ysonde a cup containing

Sir Tristrem's ring. This token procures him a private audience of the Queen, to whom he explains the situation of her lover. Ysonde disguises herself, and accompanies Ganhardin on board of ship, to undertake Sir Tristrem's cure. They approach the coast of Brittany, displaying the white sail. 9. 10. 11.-Ysonde of Brittany perceives the vessel, and knows, from the token of the white sail, that her rival is on board. Fired with jealousy, she hastens to Sir Tristrem, and tells him that his friend Ganhardin's ship is in sight. He conjures her to tell him the colour of the sails. She informs him that they are black; on which, concluding himself forsaken by Ysonde, Tristrem sinks back in despair, and dies. 12.-The mourning for the death of Sir Tristrem. 13. 14. 15.-Ysonde of Cornwall arrives, and meets an old man, from whom she learns the death of her lover. She rushes to the castle, where the corpse of Sir Tristrem was laid out in state, throws herself beside him, and expires for grief.

SIR TRISTREM

CONCLUSION.

I

THE Companyons fiftene,
To death did thai thringe;
And sterveth bidene,

Tho Tristrem the yinge;

Ac Tristrem hath tene,

His wounde gan him wring,

To hostel he hath gene,

On bedde gan him flinge

In ure;

Fele salven thai bringe,

His paine to recure.

II.

But never thai no might,

With coste, nor with payn,

Bring Tristrem the wight,

To heildom ogayn :

His wounde brast aplight,
And blake was the bane;
Non help may that knight,
The sothe for to sayne,
Bidene,

Saue Ysonde the bright,
Of Cornwal was Quene.

III.

Tristrem clepeth aye,

On Ganhardin trewe fere;
"Holp me, brother, thou may,

And bring me out of care;

To Ysonde the gaye,

Of Cornwail, do thou fare;

In tokening I say,

Mi ring with the thou bare,
In dern;

Bot help me sche dare

Sterven wol ich gern.

IV.

"Mi schip do thou take,

With godes that bethe new;

Tuo seyles do thou make,

Beth different in hew;

That tone schall be blake,

That tother white so snewe;