the Queen, he lost all his hair, and was much disfigured. By the advice of Tantrisel, he went in fool's apparel to Tintaiol, and obtaining the favour of Mark, was recommended by him to the care of Ysolt, during his absence for eight days on a chase. The lovers again resumed their intercourse; but Pfellerin, an enemy of Sir Tristrem's, announcing suddenly the approach of Mark, discovered the knight by a great leap which he made, and followed him to his cost, for the pretended maniac slew both him and his horse with a club, and escaped to his friend Tynas from the pursuit of his uncle. Tristrem, with Kahedin, passes over to Brittany, and the latter, acquainting him with his love for Kassie, the fair wife of Nampotenis, lord of the strong castle of Gamarke, the hero promises to gratify his passion. They ride to the castle, and are most hospitably received; but Tristrem treacherously contrives to convey a letter to the fair one, and according to his request, she furnishes an impression in wax of the key to her chamber. The two lovers depart in the morning, and return to Karke, where Tristrem and Ysolt aux Blanches Mains live together as 66 man and wife should do." Having procured a key after the wax model, Cahedin and his friend issue forth to Gamarke, and, waiting till Nempotenis came forth, and was gone to the chase, they enter the castle. Kahedin and Kassie retire to her chamber, and Tristrem, in the meantime, amuses the other ladies. When they set out on their return, the hat of Kahedin unfortunately fell into the ditch, and was observed by the husband, who, by threats, forced his wife to relate the whole transaction. Accompanied with seven attendants, he overtook the un armed knights, killed Kahedin with his lance, but was himself felled down by Tristrem. The latter then killed five of the attendants, another fled, but the remaining one mortally wounded him. With difficulty he conveyed his brother's body home. The arrival of Ysolt, and the death of Tristrem, are related in the same manner as in the "Conclusion." His body is taken to the cathedral, accompanied with the lamentations of his wife. When Ysolt of Cornwall understands the death of her lover, she swoons, and is scarcely able to reach the cathedral, where she expires upon his body. In the meantime Mark had arrived with an intent to execute the two lovers: but when he hears their lamentable story, and the unavoidable cause of their love, he declares that he would have resigned his spouse had he been informed of it in time. The bodies are then conveyed to Tintaiol, where the King builds the monastery of St. Mary, in which he spends the remainder of his days. He plants a rose-bush on the grave of Tristrem, and a vine on that of Ysolt, which grew up, and intertwined together NOTES ON SIR TRISTREM What ails me I may not, as well as they, What were his knights did Salem's siege maintain; Was physicked from the new-found paradise : HALL'S Satires, Book VL 2 A VOL. V. |