Chapter 11

CHAPTER XI.
TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE. AFTER this affair Tristram was banished from the kingdom, and Isoude
shut up in a tower which stood on the bank of a river. Tristram
could not resolve to depart without some further communication with
his beloved; so he concealed himself in the forest, till at last he
contrived to attract her attention by means of twigs which he
curiously peeled and sent down the stream under her window. By this
means many secret interviews were obtained. Tristram dwelt in the
forest, sustaining himself by game, which the dog Houdain ran down for
him; for this faithful animal was unequalled in the chase, and knew so
well his master's wish for concealment that in the pursuit of his game
he never barked. At length Tristram departed, but left Houdain with
Isoude, as a remembrancer of him.
Sir Tristram wandered through various countries, achieving the
most perilous enterprises, and covering himself with glory, yet
unhappy at the separation from his beloved Isoude. At length King
Mark's territory was invaded by a neighboring chieftain, and he was
forced to summon his nephew to his aid. Tristram obeyed the call,
put himself at the head of his uncle's vassals, and drove the enemy
out of the country. Mark was full of gratitude, and Tristram, restored
to favor and to the society of his beloved Isoude, seemed at the
summit of happiness. But a sad reverse was at hand.
Tristram had brought with him a friend named Pheredin, son of the
king of Brittany. This young knight saw Queen Isoude, and could not
resist her charms. Knowing the love of his friend for the queen, and
that that love was returned, Pheredin concealed his own, until his
health failed, and he feared he was drawing near his end. He then
wrote to the beautiful queen that he was dying for love of her.
The gentle Isoude, in a moment of pity for the friend of Tristram,
returned him an answer so kind and compassionate that it restored
him to life. A few days afterward Tristram found this letter. The most
terrible jealousy took possession of his soul; he would have slain
Pheredin, who with difficulty made his escape. Then Tristram mounted
his horse, and rode to the forest, where for ten days he took no
rest nor food. At length he was found by a damsel lying almost dead by
the brink of a fountain. She recognized him, and tried in vain to
rouse his attention. At last, recollecting his love for music, she
went and got her harp, and played thereon. Tristram was roused from
his reverie; tears flowed; he breathed more freely; he took the harp
from the maiden, and sung this lay, with a voice broken with sobs:- "Sweet I sang in former days,
Kind love perfected my lays:
Now my art alone displays
The woe that on my being preys. "Charming love,