Tristan With the 'Tristran' of Thomas by Gottfried von Strassburg

Author:Gottfried von Strassburg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Classics, Fairy Tales; Folk Tales; Legends & Mythology, Poetry, Medieval, General
Publisher: Penguin UK
Published: 2004-07-01T05:04:12+00:00

15

THE LOVE-POTION

WHEN this affair had been concluded the King announced to the knights and barons, the companions of the realm, throughout the Palace that the man before them was Tristan. He informed them, in the terms which he had heard, why Tristan had come to Ireland and how the latter had promised to give him guarantees in all the points which he, Gunnun, had stipulated, jointly with Mark’s grandees.

The Irish court was glad to hear this news. The great lords declared that it was fitting and proper to make peace; for long’ drawn enmity between them, as time went on, brought nothing but loss. The King now requested Tristan to ratify the agreement, as he had promised him, and Tristan duly did so. He and all his sovereign’s vassals swore that Isolde should have Cornwall for her nuptial dower, and be mistress of all England. Hereupon Gurmun solemnly surrendered Isolde into the hands of Tristan her enemy. I say ‘enemy’ for this reason: she hated him now as before.

Tristan laid his hand upon Isolde:‘ Sire,’ he said,’ lord of Ireland, we ask you, my lady and I, for her sake and for mine, to deliver up to her any knights or pages that were surrendered to this land as tribute from Cornwall and England; for it is only right and just that they should be in my lady’s charge, now that she is Queen of their country.’

‘With pleasure,’ said the King, ‘it shall be done. It has our royal approval that they should all depart with you!’ This gave pleasure to many.

Tristan then ordered a ship to be procured in addition to his own, to be reserved for Isolde and himself and any others he might choose. And when it had been supplied, he made ready for the voyage. Wherever any of the exiles were traced, up and down the land, at court or in the country, they were sent for at once.

While Tristan and his compatriots were making ready, Isolde, the prudent Queen, was brewing in a vial a love-drink so subtly devised and prepared, and endowed with such powers, that with whomever any man drank it he had to love her above all things, whether he wished it or no, and she love him alone. They would share one death and one life, one sorrow and one joy.

The wise lady took this philtre and said softly to Brangane: ‘Brangane, dear niece, do not let it depress you, but you must go away with my daughter. Frame your thoughts to that, and listen to what I say. Take this flask with its draught, have it in your keeping, and guard it above all your possessions. See to it that absolutely no one gets to hear of it. Take care that nobody drinks any! When Isolde and Mark have been united in love, make it your stria concern to pour out this liquor as wine for them, and see that they drink it all between them. Beware lest anyone share with them – this stands to reason – and do not drink with them yourself.

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