Read The Romance of Tristan: The Tale of Tristan's Madness (Classics) for Free Online

becalmed. While Tristan and Yseut were playing chess he called for a drink. By mistake, Brangain brought the love potion and handed it to Tristan, who drank and passed it to Yseut. Both thought it was good wine: neither knew that it held for them a lifetime of suffering and hardship and that it was to cause their destruction and theirdeath. After some hesitation Tristan and Yseut confessed their love, and it was soon consummated
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    As the ship neared Cornwall, Tristan and Yseut began to fear that Mark would discover what had happened. Accordingly they begged Brangain to take Yseut’s place in Mark’s bed on the wedding night. The unfortunate girl was at first reluctant, but finally acquiesced. When the ship arrived at the port of Tintagel, Tristan and Yseut were warmly welcomed by Mark and his people. The king was much struck with Yseut’s beauty. The marriage of Mark and Yseut was celebrated soon after amid scenes of great festivity. When it was time for Mark and Yseut to retire Tristan conducted them to their chamber and extinguished all the lights, explaining that this was an Irish custom. Brangain took Yseut’s place in bed without Mark noticing the substitution; when the king was asleep Yseut replaced Brangain and the deception was successfully accomplished. As time went on Mark showed Yseut great tenderness. Tristan and Yseut were able to meet in secret, and no one suspected their love
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THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF BRANGAIN
    Yseut realized that Brangain constituted a potential danger, since she alone could betray the lovers to Mark. For her own safety, Yseut decided to have Brangain killed by two of her servants. One day they accompanied Brangain into the forest and suddenly drew their swords and seized her. Before killing her, they asked what wrong she had doneto Yseut. She answered that her only misdeed was to lend Yseut a clean white tunic when Yseut’s was soiled. The two men felt pity for her and, instead of killing her, bound her to a tree. They returned to Yseut and related what Brangain had told them. Yseut was deeply touched by Brangain’s loyalty and at once ordered the men to bring her back. When Brangain appeared Yseut was overcome with remorse and begged her forgiveness. A reconciliation took place
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THE HARP AND THE ROTE
    One day a strange knight came to Mark’s court while Tristan was hunting in the forest. He played the rote before the king and Mark was so enchanted with his playing that he offered the knight any gift he chose. The knight chose Yseut and, since none of the Cornish barons dared fight in her defence, carried her off. As soon as Tristan learned of this he set out in pursuit and came up with the knight and Yseut at the water’s edge. Tristan began to play his harp and greatly pleased the knight, who asked Tristan to accompany him and to take Yseut on horseback out to the waiting vessel. Once Yseut was on Tristan’s horse they galloped back to court, where Tristan warned Mark to take better care of Yseut
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THE TRYST UNDER THE TREE
    As Tristan and Yseut continued their illicit love they managed to
     deceive Mark but not the others at court. A group of barons hostile to Tristan,
     succeeded in arousing the king’s suspicions concerning the relationship
     between his wife and his nephew. Mark forbade Tristan to remain at court for a time,
     and his nephew took lodgings in the town. With the help of Brangain, however,
     Tristan contrived to go on seeing Yseut. In the orchard surrounding the castle at
     Tintagel there was a stream; Tristan used to climb into the orchard at night and
     stand near the spring from which the stream flowed. He used to cut twigs and throw
     them into the stream which carried them to where Yseut could see them. As soon as
     she saw them she would hasten to join her lover in the orchard. But their meetings
     were discovered: at the instigation of Tristan’s enemies a wicked dwarf,
     Frocin, found out by magic the secret of the lovers’ rendezvous. Mark was