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

by Beroul

  9

  GOVERNAL’S VENGEANCE

  MY lords, Tristan was long in the wood and he suffered much hardship there. He dared not remain in one place. He did not lie at night in the place where he rose in the morning. He knew that the king was making a search for him and that a proclamation had been made throughout the land that whoever found him was to capture him. They were very short of bread in the wood, they lived on flesh and nothing else. How could they help losing their colour? Their clothes were ragged, for branches tore them. They were a long time in the forest of Morrois. Each of them was suffering equal hardship, but neither was distressed on the other’s account. Yseut feared that Tristan might repent for her sake; and for his part Tristan deeply regretted that there was discord between Yseut and Mark because of him, and he too feared that she might repent of her folly.

  Hear now what happened one day to one of the three villains – may God curse them! – who exposed the lovers. He was a rich man and much esteemed, and he took great interest in dogs. The Cornish people were so afraid of the forest of Morrois that not one dared enter it. They had good cause to be afraid, for if Tristan had captured them he would have hanged them on a tree. They all avoided the forest. One day Governal was with his horse beside a brook which ran down from a little spring. He had taken the saddle off his horse and it was grazing on the fresh grass. Tristan was lying in a bower and the queen, for whom he was suffering such hardship and distress, was held tight in his arms. They had both gone to sleep. From his place of concealment Governal heard the noise of hunting dogs, chasing a stag at great speed. These were the dogs which belonged to one of the three whose plotting had made the king quarrel with the queen. The dogs were in pursuit of the running stag. Governal went along a path to an open space where he could see in the distance the man whom he knew his lord hated more than any other coming along on his own without a squire. He clapped spurs to his horse to urge it on and smacked its neck with his stick. The horse stumbled over a stone. Governal hid beside a tree, waiting for the man who was coming rapidly towards him and was to go slowly away.

  No man can turn aside his fate. The villain was not on his guard against revenge for the harm he had done Tristan. Under the tree Governal saw him coming and awaited him eagerly. He said to himself that he would rather let his ashes be scattered to the winds than not take vengeance. For because of that villain and his actions they were all condemned to death. The dogs went away after the fleeing stag and the squire followed the dogs. Governal sprang out of his ambush, remembering the harm this man had done, cut him to pieces with his sword and carried the head away. When the hunters who were pursuing the stag came up they saw their lord’s headless body under the tree and turned and ran as fast as they could. They thought this had been done by Tristan, about whom the king had issued the proclamation. It was told throughout Cornwall that one of the three who had brought Tristan into conflict with the king had lost his head. Everyone was frightened and dismayed, and after that they left the wood in peace, only going there rarely to hunt. From the moment a man entered the wood, even for hunting, he was afraid of meeting the fierce Tristan, who was feared on the plains and in the wood.

  Tristan was lying in the bower. It was warm and the ground was strewn with leaves. He had gone to sleep and did not know that the man who would have had him killed had lost his life – he was happy when he did know! Governal came to the bower holding the dead man’s head in his hands. He tied it by the hair to a fork in the branches. Tristan awoke, saw the head, started with fear and leaped to his feet. His master cried:

  ‘Do not move, you are safe! I have killed him with my sword. This man was your enemy.’

  Tristan was very glad of this, for now the man he most feared had been killed. Fear of the forest spread throughout the land and no one dared enter it. Now the lovers had the wood to themselves. While they were in the wood Tristan invented a bow which he called ‘Fail Not’. He set it up in the wood in such a way that he found nothing he could not kill. When a stag or deer ran through the wood and touched the branches where the bow was set and stretched, if it knocked the bow high up it was struck high up itself, and if it knocked the bow low down it was as quickly struck low down. When Tristan made the bow he rightfully gave it that name for it never missed anything, high or low, and it was very useful to them for it provided them with many large stags for food. They had to support themselves on game in the wood. They had no more bread and they dared not venture on to the plains. For a long time he hunted like this and it was a wonderful resource, for they had plenty of venison.

  My lords, it was a summer’s day at harvest-time, not long after Pentecost. The birds were singing at dawn as the dew was falling. Tristan girded on his sword and went alone out of the bower where they had slept. He looked first at the bow ‘Fail not’, then went into the wood to hunt. Before he came into the wood, had he known such great suffering? Had anyone ever suffered so much? But neither Tristan nor Yseut felt this for they were able to give each other comfort. Never did two people have as much pleasure as they did while they were in the wood. Nor, as the story says where Beroul saw it written down, did two people ever love each other so much nor pay for it so dearly. The queen rose to greet Tristan on his return. The heat was so great that day that it troubled them. Tristan embraced her and said:

  ‘I will rest awhile from hunting.’

  ‘My love, where have you been?’

  ‘After a stag which has tired me out. I chased it for so long I am aching all over. I am tired, I want to sleep.’

  The bower was made of green branches with foliage in places, and the ground was well covered with leaves. First Yseut lay down; then Tristan drew his sword, put it between their bodies and lay down himself. Yseut was wearing her tunic – if she had been naked that day dreadful harm would have come to them – and Tristan kept his trousers on. The queen had on her finger the gold wedding ring set with emeralds that the king had given her. Her finger was woefully thin, the ring all but slipping off. Hear how they were lying: she had put one arm under Tristan’s neck and the other, I think, over him; her arms were clasped tightly around him. Tristan in his turn had his arms around her, for their affection was not feigned. Their mouths were close together, yet there was a space between them and their bodies were not touching. There was no wind and the leaves were still. A ray of sunlight fell on Yseut’s face where it shone like glass. So the lovers went to sleep, not thinking of any harm that might befall them. They were alone in that part of the country for Governal, I think, had gone on horseback to see a forester some way off in the wood.

  10

  MARK’S DISCOVERY OF THE LOVERS

  LISTEN, my lords, to an adventure which should have been dire and dreadful for the lovers! A forester had found the bower where they had slept and was coming through the wood. He followed their tracks until he reached the place where Tristan had made his abode. He saw the sleeping pair and recognized them. He was very frightened and turned pale. He hurried away in fright. He knew that if Tristan woke up he would not be able to give him any pledges and would leave his head behind – no wonder he fled! He ran out of the wood at an astonishing pace. Tristan was asleep with his beloved and they nearly met their deaths. From the exact place where they were sleeping I believe it was two good leagues to where the king held his court. The forester ran quickly because he had heard the proclamation made about Tristan that whoever reported truly about him to the king would be given a large reward. The forester kept this in mind and ran swiftly. King Mark was holding an assembly of his barons in his palace and the hall was filled. The forester came down the hill and went up to the palace. Do you think he dared stop before he reached the steps of the hall? He entered the hall. The king saw the forester running in so quickly and called to him at once:

  ‘Are you bringing news in such a hurry? You look like a man running with dogs that are pursuing their prey. Do you want to make a complaint here about someone? If you want something tell me your message. Has someone refus
ed to give you your money, or chased you out of my forest?’

  ‘Please listen to me, king, for a moment. It has been proclaimed in Cornwall that if anyone finds your nephew he should either risk his life to take him prisoner or come to tell you. I have found him, but I fear your anger. If I tell you will you kill me? I can lead you to where he is asleep with the queen. I saw him a short while ago, I believe they were fast asleep. I was very frightened when I saw them.’

  The king heard him and sighed deeply, for he was dismayed and very angry. He whispered to the forester: ‘Where are they? Tell me!’

  ‘In a bower in the Morrois. They are sleeping in each other’s arms. Come quickly and we shall be avenged on them. King, if you do not take a cruel vengeance, you have beyond doubt lost your right to rule this land.’

  The king said to him: ‘Go outside. As you hold your body dear, tell no one, stranger or friend, what you know. At the Croiz Rouge, at the side of the road near the cemetery, you are to wait for me without stirring. I shall give you as much gold and silver as you want, I promise you.’

  The forester left the king and went to the Croiz where he sat down. (May he be blinded, for he tried so hard to harm Tristan! It would have been better for him if he had taken himself off for he afterwards died a wretched death, as you will hear later in the story.) The king went into his chamber and sent for all his trusted men. He forbade them to come one step after him. They all said:

  ‘King, is this a jest, to go somewhere alone? There has never been a king who has not always taken great care of himself. What news have you heard? Do not go anywhere on the word of a spy.’

  The king replied: ‘I have received no news, but a girl has sent for me to come quickly. She expressly asks me not to take a companion. I shall go quite alone on horse without a companion or a squire.’

  They said: ‘We are sorry to hear this. Cato ordered his son to avoid solitary places.’

  ‘I know this well enough. Leave me now to do what I want to.’

  The king had his horse saddled and girded on his sword. He lamented Tristan’s wickedness in taking from him the beautiful Yseut, with whom he had now become a fugitive. The king thought menacingly that he would not fail to do them harm if he found them together. The king was determined to kill them; this was a terrible wrong. He went out of the city saying to himself he would rather be hanged than not take vengeance on those who had caused him so much disgrace. He came to the Croiz where the forester was waiting and told him to go on quickly and lead him straight to where they were. They entered the wood in the shade of the trees. The spy went in front and the king followed him, trusting to the sword at his side with which he had struck many good blows. He was acting too presumptuously, for if Tristan were to wake up and the nephew were to fight the uncle, the battle could not end before one was dead. King Mark told the forester he would give him twenty silver marks if he led him quickly to the place where he intended committing this folly. The forester – may he be shamed! – said they were nearing their destination. The spy made the king dismount from his good Gascon horse and ran to the other side to hold the stirrup. They tied the horse’s reins to a branch of a green apple-tree. They went a little further and saw the bower they were heading for. The king undid the clasps of fine gold on his cloak; with his cloak off he had a fine body. He drew his sword from its scabbard and went forward angrily, saying to himself that he would die if he did not kill them now. He entered the bower with his sword in his hand. The forester followed him in and hurried after the king, but the king motioned him back. In anger the king raised his sword, but then his anger left him: the blow was never to fall on them, and it would have been a great sorrow if he had killed them. For he saw that she was wearing her tunic, that there was a space between them and their mouths were not joined. And he saw the naked sword between them which kept them apart and the trousers that Tristan was wearing.

  ‘God,’ said the king, ‘what can this be? Now I have seen their way of life so clearly that, by God, I do not know what to do, whether to kill them or draw back. They have been here in the wood for a long time. I can well believe, if I have any sense, that if they loved each other wickedly they would certainly not be wearing clothes and there would be no sword between them. They would be lying together quite differently. I was intent on killing them, but now I shall not touch them, I shall curb my anger. They have no mind for a wicked love. I shall not strike either of them. They are asleep: if I laid my hands on them I should be doing them too great a wrong. And if I wake this sleeping pair and he kills me or I kill him, there will be ugly talk. I shall give them a sign before they wake up so that they will know for certain that someone found them asleep and took pity on them, and that neither I nor anyone in my kingdom is in any way seeking their death. I can see the precious emerald ring on the queen’s finger which I gave her, and I have one here which was hers. I shall take mine from her finger. I have a pair of fur gloves with me which she brought from Ireland. I shall cover up the ray of sunlight shining on her face, I think it is burning her. When I come to leave I shall take from between them the sword which split Morholt’s head.’

  The king unfastened his gloves and looked at the sleeping pair. With the gloves he kindly shielded Yseut from the ray of sunlight. He saw the ring on her finger and drew it off so gently that the finger did not move. Formerly it had been hard to put on, but now her fingers were so thin that it slipped off easily. The king slid it off very carefully. He gently took the sword from between them and put his own in its place. He went out of the bower, came to his horse and leaped on its back. He told the forester to take himself off and they both departed. The king went away and left them sleeping. This time he did nothing else, and went back to his city. Several people asked him where he had been for so long. But he lied in answer and no one knew where he had gone nor what he had done.

  But now hear of the two lovers whom the king had left sleeping in the wood. The queen dreamed that she was in a richly hung tent in a great forest. Towards her came two lions who wanted to devour her. She wanted to call for mercy but the lions, both famished, each took her by the hand. In her fear Yseut cried out and woke up. The white fur gloves fell on to her breast. Tristan woke up at the cry he heard, his whole face flushed. In his fright he leaped up and snatched his sword. He looked at the blade and could not see the notch. Then he saw the gold pommel and knew that it was the king’s sword. The queen saw on her finger the ring she had given him and knew that hers had been taken from her finger. She cried:

  ‘Mercy, my lord! The king has found us here!’

  He answered: ‘My lady, it is true. We did him a great wrong and now we shall have to leave the Morrois. He has taken my sword and left me his own. He could surely have killed us.’

  ‘Truly, my lord, I think so too.’

  ‘My love, there is nothing for it now but flight. He has gone away, hoping that will deceive us. He was alone and he has gone back for more men. I am sure he intends to capture us. My lady, let us flee towards Wales, I am beginning to feel faint.’

  Tristan went pale. Their squire came back and led the horse in. He saw that his master was pale and asked what was the matter:

  ‘By my faith, master, King Mark found us here while we were asleep. He left his sword and has taken mine away. I fear he is plotting some treachery. He took the fine ring on Yseut’s finger and left his own. By this exchange, master, we can see that he wants to deceive us. For he was alone when he found us, fear gripped him and he went away. He has gone back for men, and he has many fierce and spirited warriors. He will lead them here, for he wants to kill me and Queen Yseut. He wants to capture us, burn us and scatter our ashes in the sight of the Cornish people. Let us flee, we must not delay.’

  They had no cause to delay. If they were afraid, they could not help it: they knew the king was wicked and violent. They rode away in great haste, they feared the king because of what had happened. They crossed the Morrois and went on, fear made them cover great distances in a day. They
were heading for Wales. Their love will yet cause them much hardship. For three full years they had suffered greatly, their flesh had grown pale and limp.

  11

  THE LOVE POTION

  MY lords, you have heard of the wine they drank which caused them to suffer greatly for so long. But you do not know, I think, the duration of the efficacy of the love-drink, the wine mixed with herbs: Yseut’s mother, who brewed it, made it for three years of love. She made it for Mark and her daughter; another tasted it and suffered because of this. For as long as the three years lasted the potion had such power over Tristan and the queen that each of them could say:

  ‘I am not weary.’2

  The day after St John’s day the three years to which the potion was limited came to an end. Tristan had risen from his bed, Yseut remained in the bower. Tristan took aim at a stag and shot an arrow that pierced its side. The stag fled and Tristan gave chase. He followed it until evening. As he was running after the beast, it came to the very hour when he had drunk the love potion, and he stopped. Instantly he began to repent, and said to himself: