The Death of King Arthur Read online

  When a message was brought to the court of King Mark that Tristram had landed, Isolde fainted for joy. ‘Bring him to me,’ she asked the seneschal, Sir Dinas. ‘I must speak to him or my heart will break.’ So as soon as they arrived Dinas led Tristram and Kehadius to the private chambers of Isolde. No tongue can tell, no pen define, no heart reveal, the joy between Tristram and Isolde. No book can begin to describe the love between them.

  This was the first time that Kehadius had seen the queen, and he was so enamoured of her that he could find no rest or relief. From that time forward he sent her poems and songs. She pitied him and, out of a misplaced sense of compassion, she sent a letter of comfort to him. But you will see that, in the end, Kehadius died for love of her.

  Tristram himself was lodged at the queen’s command in a turret of finely dressed stone, where she visited him as often as she could. One day he came into her private chamber with Sir Kehadius, when by chance he found the letters of Kehadius and the pitying reply of the queen. He approached her in a rage. ‘Madam,’ he said, ‘here is a letter that has been sent to you. And here is the letter you sent in reply. Alas, lady, did you not know how much I loved you? Did you not think of the lands and treasures that I have forsaken for you? I am heartbroken that you have betrayed me.’

  Then he turned to Kehadius. ‘As for you, sir, I have brought you out of Brittany. I saved the lands of your father, the king. I married your sister, Isolde of the White Hands, for the goodness she showed to me. By my faith as a knight, she is still pure and untouched. And this is how you repay me! But know this, Sir Kehadius. For all your falsehood and treason, I will have my revenge.’ He drew out his sword. ‘Prepare yourself.’

  At the sight of his sword, Isolde swooned. When Sir Kehadius saw Tristram come for him, he had no choice. He jumped out of the bay window of the chamber, and landed on the earth not far from a garden seat where King Mark was playing chess. The king was surprised. ‘Fellow, who are you? And why have you fallen from your window?’

  ‘My lord king,’ Kehadius replied, ‘I fell asleep in the window above your head. I slipped and fell as I slumbered.’

  Tristram would have followed him, but he did not want to be caught in the queen’s chamber. It would compromise her too badly. He waited to see if anyone would discover him but, when he found himself safe, he took horse and rode through the gates of Tintagel towards the forest. On the way he met one of his fellows, Sir Fergus, who agreed to accompany him. Now that he was beyond Tintagel, he fell a victim to his sorrow. He was bowed down with violent grief, and for three days could not be comforted. He sent Sir Fergus to the court, in an effort to find out news of Isolde. On his way there, Fergus encountered a lady of the court who had been sent to find Tristram and plead with him to return. ‘How is he?’ she asked him.

  ‘Almost out of his mind.’

  ‘That is bad news. Where shall I find him?’

  ‘Take that path. You will soon hear him sighing.’ Fergus went on his way and, when he arrived at the court of King Mark, he learned that Isolde was confined to her bed. She was sick with a great sorrow.

  When the lady found Tristram she wept with pity at his plight, but there was no way of helping him. The more she tried, the more he resented her. He wished to be alone with his sorrow. After three days, he rode away. But she followed him, bearing meat and drink. He would not eat. He left her again, and rode on weeping. By chance he came to a castle. The lady of the castle came out and recognized him. He had once come to this place and, in sheer joy of spirit, had begun playing his harp among the trees. She had been entranced by the music, and begged Tristram to give her the instrument. He gave it to her willingly enough for, as he said, music reveals the harmonies of the world. Now she offered him wine, food and rest. ‘I still have the harp you gave me,’ she said. ‘Will you play it for me? You bear the palm for music in all the world.’

  Gently he put the harp aside. He ate very little. But that night he took up the harp and, through his tears, he played one or two songs. On that same night he took off his armour and untied his horse. He went out into the wilderness, wailing, and broke through the branches and bushes. There were some days when he took up the harp. There were other days when he wandered into the wood. When the lady of the castle could not find him, she sat beneath a tree and played the harp herself. He would come to her, and listen to the music.

  Here we tell of Tristram’s madness

  So passed three months. At the end of this period he ran off, and the lady did not know what had become of him. He was now all but naked, and he was wretchedly thin. He joined the company of some shepherds and herdsmen, who clipped his hair with their shears so that he looked like a fool. They shared their meat and drink with him but, if he displeased them, they beat him with their staffs.

  It so happened that, one day, Sir Dagonet – the fool of King Mark – rode out with two of his squires for company. They took a path into the forest and after a while came upon a well where Tristram was accustomed to sit. The weather was hot, and they dismounted so that they might drink the water of the well. Their horses wandered off. By chance Tristram came upon them and, quick as a flash, he ducked Sir Dagonet and his men in the well. The shepherds were delighted.

  Dagonet was furious and vowed to be revenged upon the shepherds who, as he believed, had set a poor wretch upon him and his companions. So they searched for the shepherds in the wood and, once they had found them, they beat them soundly with their swords. Tristram saw all this, and rushed out of the undergrowth. He seized Dagonet and hurled him to the ground. He snatched up the fallen man’s sword, and with it beheaded one of the squires. The other squire escaped. Then Tristram, with the sword in his hand, ran howling through the trees like a man possessed.

  Sir Dagonet, on recovering his senses, went back to King Mark and told him that a wild man was dwelling in the wood. ‘Do not go near the well,’ he warned him. ‘That is where he came for me. I am your fool, but the greater fool gained the mastery over me.’

  ‘That will be Sir Matto le Breune,’ the king replied. ‘He lost his mind when he lost his lady. There is much to pity in this world.’

  But pity does not run in the hardened heart. Sir Tristram’s cousin Sir Andred wished to take over Tristram’s lands. So he persuaded his lover to spread it abroad that she was with Tristram at the time of his death. She told King Mark that she had buried him beside the well, and that before his death he had begged the king to award all of his lands to Andred. When the king heard that Tristram was dead he wept with shame and grief. When Isolde was told the news, she cried out. She came close to madness. She decided to kill herself, as she could not live without Tristram.

  Secretly she procured a sword and took it into her garden. There she fastened it to an apple tree, at breast height, with the blade pointing outward. It was her intention to run against it, and thereby end her life. Yet King Mark was watching her. He walked softly towards her as she kneeled in prayer.

  ‘Sweet Lord Jesus,’ she whispered, ‘have mercy on me, a poor sinner. Sir Tristram was my first love, and he will be my last. I cannot exist without him.’

  The king then came up to her, and took her in his arms. He placed her in a high tower, under strict supervision, where she remained for many months close to death.

  Here we tell of Tristram’s battle with a giant

  After his encounter with Sir Dagonet, Tristram ran naked through the wood screaming strange words into the air. Eventually he came to a hermitage, where he laid himself down and slept. The hermit took away his sword, and left meat in its place. Tristram was served with food for ten days, until he had recovered his strength. After that time he went back to the shepherds.

  There was a giant in this region by the name of Tauleas, who, in terror of the reputation of Tristram, had not dared to leave his castle for seven years. But then he heard tidings that Tristram was dead. He felt able to roam at large once again. It so happened that one day he came upon the shepherds, and set himself down to rest a
mong them. As he lay at his ease a Cornish knight called Sir Dinaunt, accompanied by a lady, rode up and alighted by the well. As soon as the giant saw the knight he went to hide himself behind a tree. When the horse ambled off the giant seized it and, mounting on its back, went after Sir Dinaunt. He took him by the scruff of the neck, and seemed about to behead him.

  ‘Help this man!’ the shepherds called out to Tristram.

  ‘You help him.’

  ‘We do not dare.’

  So Tristram, seeing Dinaunt’s sword by the ground, took it up and cut off the head of the giant with the first stroke. Then he made his way back to the shepherds, who rejoiced at his easy victory.

  Sir Dinaunt picked up the giant’s head and carried it back with him to the court of King Mark. He told the king how he had been rescued from a fierce giant by a naked man.

  ‘Where did all this happen?’ the king asked.

  ‘It was by the well, sir, in the dark wood. That is where the madman lives.’

  ‘I have heard of him,’ said the king. ‘I would like to see this fellow.’

  Here we tell of the reunion of Tristram and Isolde

  King Mark commanded his huntsmen to prepare themselves for some sport on the following morning. When dawn broke, he led them into the wood. He made straight for the well, where he found a naked man sleeping with a sword by his side. He called to his knights. ‘Take up this man,’ he told them. ‘Treat him with care. Do not provoke him. When he is calm, bring him to my castle.’

  They covered the man’s body with their mantles and, very tenderly, led him to the Castle of Tintagel. Tristram seemed to be in a daze, and followed them like a child. They bathed him and dressed him. They gave him soup and hot stews. Despite all this, not one of them recognized Sir Tristram. He was so altered in countenance and behaviour.

  Isolde heard news of this man, who had run naked in the wood, and of his rescue by King Mark. So she called her companion to her. ‘Bragwaine,’ she said, ‘come with me. We will visit this wild man from the wood.’

  They walked through the grounds of the castle, and asked a passing squire where the sick man was being kept. ‘He is in the garden,’ he said. ‘He is resting in the sun.’

  Isolde and Bragwaine went into the garden, and saw the man lying on the grass. Isolde did not recognize him, but whispered, ‘I believe that I have met this man before. There is something familiar about him.’

  Tristram turned towards them, and he knew Isolde at once. He hid his face, and wept.

  There was a dog with the two ladies, a little spaniel that Tristram had given to Isolde as a present when she first came to Cornwall. The dog would never leave her side unless Tristram was close by, in which case it would follow him faithfully. Now, in the garden, the dog caught Tristram’s scent and bounded over to him; it jumped upon him, licking his ears and nose, whining and whimpering with joy.

  ‘Oh, my lady,’ Bragwaine exclaimed. ‘Here is Tristram!’

  At that, Isolde fainted away. When she had recovered, she saw Tristram standing above her. ‘Oh, my lord,’ she murmured. ‘Thank God that you are still alive. Yet now your identity will be discovered. This little dog will never leave you. When King Mark finds you, he will either force you into exile or kill you. I beg you, leave this place. Go to the court of King Arthur, where you are beloved. When I need you, I will send for you. I will always be at your command, your most obedient servant.’

  ‘Ah, fair queen,’ he replied. ‘Your great love has saved me from madness. As soon as I saw you, I felt whole again. But listen. Leave me for now. It is not safe for you to be seen with me.’

  Isolde left him, in tears, but the little spaniel would not move from his side. When Sir Mark and his courtiers came into the garden, the dog sat upon Tristram’s lap and barked at them.

  ‘Well, well.’ It was Sir Andred who spoke out. ‘I believe that we have Tristram among us.’

  ‘Oh no,’ the king replied. ‘I cannot believe that.’ He went up to Tristram, and asked him his name.

  ‘Sir Tristram de Liones,’ he replied. ‘Do with me what you will.’

  Here we read of Tristram’s exile

  ‘I am sorry that I rescued you,’ the king told him. ‘Now you must die.’ He brought Tristram before his barons, but they refused to pronounce the sentence of death upon him. Instead they advised the king that Tristram should be banished for ten years. Tristram swore an oath that he would depart and not return for that length of time; then the lords escorted him to a ship waiting to take him away.

  Just at the moment he was about to embark, Tristram was challenged by a knight from the court of King Arthur. ‘Fair knight,’ he called out, ‘you must joust with me before you leave this land. My name is Dinadan. My seat is at the Round Table.’

  ‘Willingly,’ Tristram replied, ‘if these lords will let me.’ The barons of Cornwall granted the contest, and Tristram easily defeated Dinadan.

  ‘You have got the better of me,’ the knight said, ‘in a fair fight. I have never seen a more valiant knight. So I ask you this. May I accompany you, wherever you are going?’

  ‘You are welcome, sir. We will ride on the waves together.’ They both took their horses and embarked. Before he left, Tristram turned to his escort. ‘My lords, greet King Mark and all of my other enemies. Tell them I will return when the time has come. Do you see how the king rewards me for saving his country? Thank him on my behalf. Thank him, too, for his gratitude that I brought Isolde to him from Ireland. I shall not mention all the other battles I have fought at his request. He has recompensed me enough, I am sure. Banishment is his gift to me.’

  Then he and Sir Dinadan took to the sea. They sailed along the coast until they found safe haven in a small harbour known as the place of lime trees. On first landing they rode into a forest where they were met by a young lady. She was distraught and anxious. She was in search of knights, from the court of King Arthur, who could rescue Sir Lancelot. Morgan le Fay had ordered thirty knights to lie in wait for him and kill him. This young lady knew the place where he was to be ambushed, and she begged Tristram and Dinadan to make their way there. ‘Tell me where it is,’ Tristram said to her. ‘I will ride there at once.’

  ‘What are you saying?’ Dinadan was very indignant. ‘How can two knights beat off thirty? I would be a match for two, or three, but I can hardly defeat fifteen.’

  ‘Shame on you, sir. But do as you wish.’

  ‘I will come with you on one condition. Lend me your shield. With the arms of Cornwall upon it, the knights will consider me to be a coward and refuse to fight with me.’

  ‘Oh no. I will not give up my shield. I bear it in honour of the lady who gave it to me. I will make one promise to you. If you stay here, I will slay you. So come with me. I expect you to kill only one knight. And if you are too scared to take part, then simply look on.’

  ‘Sir,’ Dinadan replied, ‘I will stand by and watch. And I will do whatever necessary to defend myself. I will tell you this also. I wish I had never met you.’

  So, with the lady as their guide, they came upon the thirty knights waiting in ambush. Sir Tristram rode towards them, crying out, ‘Here comes one who loves Lancelot!’ He killed two of them with his spear, and another ten with his sword. Sir Dinadan also fought well, so that in the end only ten knights remained. They saw the way the battle had gone, and fled.

  The two companions now continued on their way until they came upon a group of herdsmen. ‘Tell me,’ Tristram asked them, ‘do you know of any lodging near by?’

  ‘Indeed, sir,’ one of them answered. ‘There is a castle here where you may rest, but it is the custom there that any guest must first joust with two knights.’

  ‘Just what I need now,’ Sir Dinadan said. ‘I have no intention of taking lodging there.’

  ‘Shame on you,’ Tristram replied. ‘You are a knight of the Round Table, are you not? You cannot refuse to fight.’

  ‘If you are beaten,’ the herdsman told them, ‘you will not be allowed to
stay. But if you are victorious, then you will be well cared for.’

  ‘Let us hope then,’ Sir Dinadan said, ‘that they are not too strong for us.’

  So they rode to the castle and, to be short, they duly defeated the two guardians of the castle. They took off their armour, and were about to enjoy a well-earned repast when Sir Palomides and Sir Gaheris arrived at the gates. ‘What is going on?’ Sir Dinadan said. ‘I was about to relax.’

  ‘Not yet,’ Tristram told him. ‘We must carry out the custom of the castle. We now must joust with the two knights. So put on your armour. Prepare yourself.’

  ‘It was an evil day,’ Dinadan replied, ‘when I came into your company. God help me.’

  So he resumed his armour, and rode out with Tristram. He was not so fortunate as before, and received a fall at the hands of Palomides. Tristram got the better of Gaheris, so it was fall for fall. They now had to stand their ground and fight with their swords. Sir Tristram went over to Dinadan, who was still lying badly bruised beside his horse. ‘Get up, man,’ he said. ‘We have to fight.’

  ‘Oh no,’ Dinadan replied, ‘I will do no such thing. I was injured by some of those thirty knights, and now I am wounded again. I can fight no more. A man would be out of his mind to risk another battle. I curse the day I met you. You and Lancelot are two of the maddest knights in the world. I know that well enough. I once sought the company of Lancelot, and it cost me three months in bed. I was in such pain. God save me from both of you. Especially you.’

  ‘All right,’ Tristram replied, ‘I will fight both of them.’

  The outcome of the battle was never in doubt.

  Here we tell of Morgan le Fay’s evil

  Tristram heard news that there was going to be a great tournament, between the kings of Scotland and of North Wales, at the Castle of Maidens. The King of Scotland called for Lancelot to be his champion, and the King of North Wales called upon Tristram. So Tristram was determined to ride there. On his way to the Castle of Maidens, he met a fair lady who asked him to pursue and challenge a knight who was doing great damage all over the land. Tristram was glad to comply with her request, and to win more worship. So he rode with her for six miles, until they met Sir Gawain. Gawain knew the lady to be at the court of the sorceress Morgan le Fay, and he realized that she was leading Tristram into great trouble. ‘Fair knight,’ he said, ‘where are you going with this lady?’