Sir Tristram wandered through various countries, achieving the most perilous7 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 vassals8, and drove the enemy out of the country. Mark was full of gratitude9, 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 knight10 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 compassionate11 that it restored him to life. A few days afterwards Tristram found this letter. The most terrible jealousy12 took possession of his soul; he would have slain13 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 brink14 of a fountain. She recognized him, and tried in vain to rouse his attention. At last recollecting15 his love for music she went and got her harp16, and played thereon. Tristram was roused from his reverie; tears flowed; he breathed more freely; he took the harp from the maiden17, and sung this lay, with a voice broken with sobs18:
“Sweet I sang in former days,
Kind love perfected my lays:
Now my art alone displays
The woe19 that on my being preys20.
“Charming love, delicious power,
Worshipped from my earliest hour,
Thou who life on all dost shower,
Love! my life thou dost devour21.
“In death’s hour I beg of thee,
Isoude, dearest enemy,
Thou who erst couldst kinder be,
When I’m gone, forget not me.
“On my gravestone passers-by
Oft will read, as low I lie,
‘Never wight in love could vie
With Tristram, yet she let him die.’?”
Tristram, having finished his lay, wrote it off and gave it to the damsel, conjuring22 her to present it to the queen.
Meanwhile Queen Isoude was inconsolable at the absence of Tristram. She discovered that it was caused by the fatal letter which she had written to Pheredin. Innocent, but in despair at the sad effects of her letter, she wrote another to Pheredin, charging him never to see her again. The unhappy lover obeyed this cruel decree. He plunged23 into the forest, and died of grief and love in a hermit24’s cell.
Isoude passed her days in lamenting25 the absence and unknown fate of Tristram. One day her jealous husband, having entered her chamber26 unperceived, overheard her singing the following lay:
“My voice to piteous wail27 is bent28,
My harp to notes of languishment29;
Ah, love! delightsome days be meant
For happier wights, with hearts content.
“Ah, Tristram! far away from me,
Art thou from restless anguish30 free?
Ah! couldst thou so one moment be,
From her who so much loveth thee?”
The king hearing these words burst forth31 in a rage; but Isoude was too wretched to fear his violence. “You have heard me,” she said; “I confess it all. I love Tristram, and always shall love him. Without doubt he is dead, and died for me. I no longer wish to live. The blow that shall finish my misery32 will be most welcome.”
The king was moved at the distress33 of the fair Isoude, and perhaps the idea of Tristram’s death tended to allay34 his wrath35. He left the queen in charge of her women, commanding them to take especial care lest her despair should lead her to do harm to herself.
Tristram meanwhile, distracted as he was, rendered a most important service to the shepherds by slaying36 a gigantic robber named Taullas, who was in the habit of plundering37 their flocks and rifling their cottages. The shepherds, in their gratitude to Tristram, bore him in triumph to King Mark to have him bestow38 on him a suitable reward. No wonder Mark failed to recognize in the half-clad, wild man, before him his nephew Tristram; but grateful for the service the unknown had rendered he ordered him to be well taken care of, and gave him in charge to the queen and her women. Under such care Tristram rapidly recovered his serenity39 and his health, so that the romancer tells us he became handsomer than ever. King Mark’s jealousy revived with Tristram’s health and good looks, and, in spite of his debt of gratitude so lately increased, he again banished him from the court.
Sir Tristram left Cornwall, and proceeded into the land of Loegria (England) in quest of adventures. One day he entered a wide forest. The sound of a little bell showed him that some inhabitant was near. He followed the sound, and found a hermit, who informed him that he was in the forest of Arnantes, belonging to the fairy Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, who, smitten40 with love for King Arthur, had found means to entice41 him to this forest, where by enchantments43 she held him a prisoner, having deprived him of all memory of who and what he was. The hermit informed him that all the knights44 of the Round Table were out in search of the king, and that he (Tristram) was now in the scene of the most grand and important adventures.
This was enough to animate45 Tristram in the search. He had not wandered far before he encountered a knight of Arthur’s court, who proved to be Sir Kay the Seneschal, who demanded of him whence he came. Tristram answering, “From Cornwall,” Sir Kay did not let slip the opportunity of a joke at the expense of the Cornish knight. Tristram chose to leave him in his error, and even confirmed him in it; for meeting some other knights Tristram declined to just with them. They spent the night together at an abbey, where Tristram submitted patiently to all their jokes. The Seneschal gave the word to his companions that they should set out early next day, and intercept46 the Cornish knight on his way, and enjoy the amusement of seeing his fright when they should insist on running a tilt47 with him. Tristram next morning found himself alone; he put on his armor, and set out to continue his quest. He soon saw before him the Seneschal and the three knights, who barred the way, and insisted on a just. Tristram excused himself a long time; at last he reluctantly took his stand. He encountered them, one after the other, and overthrew48 them all four, man and horse, and then rode off, bidding them not to forget their friend, the knight of Cornwall.
Tristram had not ridden far when he met a damsel, who cried out, “Ah, my lord! hasten forward, and prevent a horrid49 treason!” Tristram flew to her assistance, and soon reached a spot where he beheld50 a knight, whom three others had borne to the ground, and were unlacing his helmet in order to cut off his head.
Tristram flew to the rescue, and slew51 with one stroke of his lance one of the assailants. The knight, recovering his feet, sacrificed another to his vengeance52, and the third made his escape. The rescued knight then raised the visor of his helmet, and a long white beard fell down upon his breast. The majesty53 and venerable air of this knight made Tristram suspect that it was none other than Arthur himself, and the prince confirmed his conjecture54. Tristram would have knelt before him, but Arthur received him in his arms, and inquired his name and country; but Tristram declined to disclose them, on the plea that he was now on a quest requiring secrecy55. At this moment the damsel who had brought Tristram to the rescue darted56 forward, and, seizing the king’s hand, drew from his finger a ring, the gift of the fairy, and by that act dissolved the enchantment42. Arthur, having recovered his reason and his memory, offered to Tristram to attach him to his court, and to confer honors and dignities upon him; but Tristram declined all, and only consented to accompany him till he should see him safe in the hands of his knights. Soon after, Hector de Marys rode up, and saluted57 the king, who on his part introduced him to Tristram as one of the bravest of his knights. Tristram took leave of the king and his faithful follower58, and continued his quest.
We cannot follow Tristram through all the adventures which filled this epoch59 of his history. Suffice it to say, he fulfilled on all occasions the duty of a true knight, rescuing the oppressed, redressing60 wrongs, abolishing evil customs, and suppressing injustice61, thus by constant action endeavoring to lighten the pains of absence from her he loved. In the meantime Isoude, separated from her dear Tristram, passed her days in languor62 and regret. At length she could no longer resist the desire to hear some news of her lover. She wrote a letter, and sent it by one of her damsels, niece of her faithful Brengwain. One day Tristram, weary with his exertions63, had dismounted and laid himself down by the side of a fountain and fallen asleep. The damsel of Queen Isoude arrived at the same fountain, and recognized Passebreul, the horse of Tristram, and presently perceived his master asleep. He was thin and pale, showing evident marks of the pain he suffered in separation from his beloved. She awakened64 him, and gave him the letter which she bore, and Tristram enjoyed the pleasure, so sweet to a lover, of hearing from and talking about the object of his affections. He prayed the damsel to postpone65 her return till after the magnificent tournament which Arthur had proclaimed should have taken place, and conducted her to the castle of Persides, a brave and loyal knight, who received her with great consideration.
Tristram conducted the damsel of Queen Isoude to the tournament, and had her placed in the balcony among the ladies of the queen.
“He glanced and saw the stately galleries,
Dame66, damsel, each through worship of their Queen
White-robed in honor of the stainless67 child,
And some with scatter’d jewels, like a bank
Of maiden snow mingled68 with sparks of fire.
He looked but once, and veiled his eyes again.”
—The Last Tournament.
He then joined the tourney. Nothing could exceed his strength and valor69. Launcelot admired him, and by a secret presentiment70 declined to dispute the honor of the day with a knight so gallant71 and so skilful72. Arthur descended73 from the balcony to greet the conqueror74; but the modest and devoted75 Tristram, content with having borne off the prize in the sight of the messenger of Isoude, made his escape with her, and disappeared.
The next day the tourney recommenced. Tristram assumed different armor, that he might not be known; but he was soon detected by the terrible blows that he gave. Arthur and Guenever had no doubt that it was the same knight who had borne off the prize of the day before. Arthur’s gallant spirit was roused. After Launcelot of the Lake and Sir Gawain he was accounted the best knight of the Round Table. He went privately76 and armed himself, and came into the tourney in undistinguished armor. He ran a just with Tristram, whom he shook in his seat; but Tristram, who did not know him, threw him out of the saddle. Arthur recovered himself, and content with having made proof of the stranger knight bade Launcelot finish the adventure, and vindicate78 the honor of the Round Table. Sir Launcelot, at the bidding of the monarch79, assailed80 Tristram, whose lance was already broken in former encounters. But the law of this sort of combat was that the knight after having broken his lance must fight with his sword, and must not refuse to meet with his shield the lance of his antagonist81. Tristram met Launcelot’s charge upon his shield, which that terrible lance could not fail to pierce. It inflicted82 a wound upon Tristram’s side, and, breaking, left the iron in the wound. But Tristram also with his sword smote83 so vigorously on Launcelot’s casque that he cleft84 it, and wounded his head. The wound was not deep, but the blood flowed into his eyes, and blinded him for a moment, and Tristram, who thought himself mortally wounded, retired85 from the field. Launcelot declared to the king that he had never received such a blow in his life before.
Tristram hastened to Gouvernail, his squire86, who drew forth the iron, bound up the wound, and gave him immediate87 ease. Tristram after the tournament kept retired in his tent, but Arthur, with the consent of all the knights of the Round Table, decreed him the honors of the second day. But it was no longer a secret that the victor of the two days was the same individual, and Gouvernail, being questioned, confirmed the suspicions of Launcelot and Arthur that it was no other than Sir Tristram of Leonais, the nephew of the king of Cornwall.
King Arthur, who desired to reward his distinguished77 valor, and knew that his Uncle Mark had ungratefully banished him, would have eagerly availed himself of the opportunity to attach Tristram to his court,—all the knights of the Round Table declaring with acclamation that it would be impossible to find a more worthy88 companion. But Tristram had already departed in search of adventures, and the damsel of Queen Isoude returned to her mistress.
SIR GALAHAD.
From painting by George Frederick Watts89.
KING ARTHUR AND QUEEN GUENEVER.
Original drawing by A. Fredericks.
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1
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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4
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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5
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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8
vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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9
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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10
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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12
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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13
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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14
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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15
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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16
harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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18
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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20
preys
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| v.掠食( prey的第三人称单数 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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21
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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22
conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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24
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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25
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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26
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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27
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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29
languishment
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| 衰弱，无力，呆滞 | |
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30
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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34
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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35
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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36
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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38
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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39
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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40
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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41
entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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42
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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44
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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45
animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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47
tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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48
overthrew
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| overthrow的过去式 | |
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49
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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50
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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51
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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52
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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53
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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56
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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59
epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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redressing
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| v.改正( redress的现在分词 )；重加权衡；恢复平衡 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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63
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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64
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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65
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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66
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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67
stainless
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| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
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68
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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70
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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71
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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73
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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76
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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77
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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vindicate
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| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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80
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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81
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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82
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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84
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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85
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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86
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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87
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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watts
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| （电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 ) | |
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