EvOTr-1: In his prologue the author addresses his audience and tells them to listen attentively to his story, which could be useful and a real help to good people. He will tell the truth just as he found it in the book: about Sir Tristrant, his life and his love for Lady Isalde, who was his death as he was hers.

Motif References:

EvOTr-54: King Marke (Marck) of Cornwall is warring fiercely against the mighty king of Ireland and sends to the neighboring lands to get some help. Many warriors come to his aid because his enemy is arrogant and often sails across the sea with his large army to do him harm. King Rivalin (Rifalin) of Lohenois (Loheniß) also journeys to Tintanjol (Tynthaniol) with his retinue. He serves king Marke because he wants the king’s sister Blancheflur (Blantzefl°ur). He won her favor with a painful wound and lay with the lady. She is with child and leaves with him when the war is over and dies at sea. They cut from her womb a son whom the king brings back to his country and names Tristrant. There is great distress at the lady’s death and they bury her. Rivalin is stricken with grief, he wrings his hands and weeps as do all who stand by her bier.

Motif References:

T 31.1 Lovers’ meeting: Hero in service of lady’s father
R 225 Elopement
Z 255 Hero born [conceived] out of wedlock
T 400 Illicit sexual relations
T 500 Conception and birth.
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)
T 584.2 Child removed from body of dead mother.

EvOTr-120: King Rivalin turns the baby over to a wet nurse who raises the child until it can ride. Then the boy is placed in the charge of a squire named Kurneval who teaches him great skill in manly sports (to hurl a stone, to run and leap, to wrestle and to throw a spear) and how to use a shield in a knightly joust and wield a sword in battle. Tristrant also learns to play the harp and other stringed instruments. He is taught courtly manners, virtue and honor: to speak politely, never to break his word, to be faithful and to serve women and ladies. Tristrant is an excellent pupil and does whatever his teacher says. Then Kurneval tells him to ask his father to let him go to see foreign countries. The king gladly permits him to go on the journey and orders the steward to give Kurneval and Tristrant all they need. When everything is ready and a solid ship has been prepared they take leave and set out over sea to Cornwall.

Motif References:

P 30 Princes
P 50 Noblemen (knights) [rules of chivalry]
J 146.2 (Li) The educated youth
P 340 Teacher and pupil
T 600 Care (education) of children

EvOTr-269: When they come to King Marke’s kingdom the youth makes his retainers not to tell his family or land from which they came. The king receives them well. Tristrant says he wants to take up service with him and the king welcomes him. The boy is commended to the protection of his lord high steward, by the name Tinas of Litan, who is a courteous and high-born nobleman. The king is fond of him and he never carries in the dishes except at great festivals. He is in charge of everything at the court. The youth grows up at Marke’s court until he is ready to be knighted.

Motif References:

P 110 Royal ministers
P 293.2 Mother’s brother as helper.
P 293.4 Young prince sent to his father’s (mother’s) brother
K 1831.0.1 Disguise by changing name

EvOTr-351: At that time there is a lord in Ireland named Morolt who has the strength of four men. The king of Ireland is his sister’s husband and Morolt has subdued the lands all around for him and compelled them to give tribute, except only Cornwall. Morolt decides to cross the sea with a mighty army to invade Marke’s land and enforce tribute from him. When he lands he sends a messenger to demand tribute from the king which he has neglected for more than fifty (D: fifteen) years. Morolt is ready to prove his lord’s right to the tribute in single combat against Marke’s champion or in war against his army. He wants every third child born in the land in the past fifteen years, girls and boys, laity and clergy, poor and rich. The boys are to be his bondsmen, the girls will be put in his brothel to earn money for him. When king Marke is told this message he sends messengers to summon the princes of the country to tell them the news.

Motif References:

P 14.15 King has champion to enforce respect
R 50 Conditions of captivity
S 262.2 Tribute of youths regularly sent to foreign king.
P 531.1.1 Tribute required of conquered foreigners
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
F 610.4.1 Man with four men’s strength.

EvOTr-455: Tristrant asks his tutor for advice about the matter, for he wants to fight the Irish champion. Kurneval fails to talk him out of it and advises him to ask the king to make him a knight. With the steward he goes to stand before the king. Though the king first tries to make him a year to wait he finally gives in. Marke equips him and lets him decide whom he wants to take the sword with him. The youth chooses sixty squires and the princes too bring many warriors. Then Tristrant rides to court with them and everyone says that he is the most handsome. When the noblest men in the land have arrived at court Marke tells them of his distress and promises rich reward to the man who will be his champion against Morolt. No one wants to undertake the combat. When Tristrant comes and is told what the council is about he asks the lords to help him with the king so that he could fight the warrior. Tristrant makes them promise not to tell the king about it until he promises that whoever wants to fight the warrior will be allowed to do so. They inform the king that a champion has been found if the king would grant him the fight. Marke grants it and they make him promise to let him fight if he is a nobleman.

Motif References:

P 53 (Bm) Obtaining knighthood
H 218 Trial by combat
P 557.0.1 (Li) Council of war
F 575.2 Handsome man

EvOTr-622: Then they tell him that Tristrant wants to fight Morolt. The Irish messengers say that their lord would fight only his peer. Tristrant identifies as son of Marke’s sister Blancheflur and Rivalin and as prince of Lohenois. The king who is pleased and pained at the same time tries to make his nephew give up the combat but the youth refuses to change his mind. A message is sent to Morolt to tell him to come to an island close to the shore where Tristrant would fight him on the third day hence. Morolt prepares himself and on the third morning rides up with his army to the place proposed. King Marke gives his steel armor to his nephew, which he ties on him, a strong horse with a fine covering, costly saddle and bridle. Tristrant receives a good sword and a new shield from his uncle as well. Then he embraces and kisses him. They all pray that God would help him. Tristrant goes to the boat and sets out alone to the island.

Motif References:

H 194 (Bm) Recognition only through direct revelation of identity
H 218 Trial by combat
P 253.0.1 Sister’s son
P 557.4 Customs concerning single combat
H 1561.2.1 Holmgang: single combat on an island.

EvOTr-791: Morolt comes toward him down to the strand. Tristrant ties his boat and pushes Morolt’s out into the sea with his spear. At Morolt’s question he replies that one boat will be enough to take back the victor. These words please the Irishman and he offers the youth to come with him to his country. He would share his fiefs and lands with him if only he let the battle go. He promises to make him rich and give him half of his inheritance. Morolt would rather not destroy such a handsome youth. Tristrant answers that he would be glad to do so if his adversary gave up his demands on the king. Morolt refuses and Tristrant takes back the offer. They fight. Tristrant is wounded with a poisoned spear. They fight furiously and strike deep wounds in each other. Morolt presses him hard but the young warrior cuts off his opponent’s hand so that he takes to flight. Tristrant runs after him and strikes a deep wound through the other’s helmet. A piece of his sword remains in the wound which is found later most unfortunately.

Motif References:

W 32 Bravery
N 300 Unlucky accidents
F 833.6 Sword with poisoned edge.
H 1561.2.1 Holmgang: single combat on an island.

EvOTr-935: The combat has ended and they come to get Tristrant with joy and song. Morolt’s men take the warrior away. They are weeping with grief and quickly set out for home sending messengers to their princess to come to their lord as soon as possible. The king’s daughter Isalde is a noble maiden and a skillful healer. She sets out to sea to join him but when she arrives he is dead. In his wound she finds the splinter from Tristrant’s sword which she saves. They sail home and bury Morolt. There is great distress and lamenting on his grave. The king sends forth a decree that anyone coming from Cornwall is to be killed without trial. Many innocent people are killed. No one can come from Cornwall except those who came by ship. But then the king orders that they too be captured and put to death.

Motif References:

M 50 Other judgments and decrees
P 424.5 Female physician [healer]

EvOTr-1012: Tristrant is very sick from his wound and no doctor can heal him. There is no one who can cure poison but Isalde, the daughter of the Irish king, and she hates him for having killed her uncle. The princess is widely known and greatly praised, for she is beautiful and wise, virtuous and charming. She is the best doctor in the country and has cured many sick men. Tristrant is in great distress, he can neither eat nor drink and the poison in the wound makes him stink so that no one can come near him. He has Kurneval ask the king to have a dwelling built for him outside the city, by the sea. With much lamenting they carry him to the house. Everyone avoids him except the king, Tinas and Kurneval, who take care of him each day.

Motif References:

P 424.5 Female physician [healer]
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman

EvOTr-1092: Tristrant then decides to set forth on the sea and asks to be placed in a small boat. He would rather die alone than annoy people with his stench. He tells Kurneval to wait a year for him with the king. If Tristrant would not come back he should return home and tell his father to reward him, take him as his son in Tristrant’s place and make him his heir. The squire and the others weep bitterly and there is great mourning when they carry him to the sea. Only his harp and his sword are put on the boat with him. King Marke is deeply grieved when Tristrant is floating away. The wind drives the boat here and there and Tristrant has to go as it wishes. Finally a gale drives him to Ireland and throws him ashore in front of the royal castle.

Motif References:

Z 72 Formulas based on the year
N 118.1 Ship’s course left to the winds that it might be carried where fate wills it
N 399.1.1 (Bm) Wind carries ship to hostile [unknown] island [land]
N 781 Hero [heroine] embarks in rudderless boat

EvOTr-1163: When Tristrant sees where he has landed he is sure that he would die. The king sees the boat and sends a messenger who hurries back to say that there is a sick and wounded man in it. The king orders that he be carried into a house and asks him who he is. Tristrant says that his name is Pro and that he comes from England (D: Jemsetir). Once he has been a minstrel, but now he travels as a merchant. He has lost his goods and was wounded on the sea. The wind has driven him there. The king orders the stranger to be given good care and asks his daughter to send a plaster and salves for a very sick man. The plaster does no good and she sends another but plaster and salve do more harm than good. Isalde thinks that the wound has poison in it and sends a plaster that soon causes the sick man to recover. The lady has healed Tristrant without his having seen her.

Motif References:

P 253.11 (Bm) Woman unwittingly nurses brother’s [uncle’s] slayer.
P 322.2 Guest in disguise or under false name
P 424.5 Female physician [healer]
J 647 Avoiding enemy’s revenge
N 831 Girl [woman] as helper
K 1817.3 Disguise as harper (minstrel)
K 1817.4 Disguise as merchant
K 1831.0.1 Disguise by changing name

EvOTr-1221: When Tristrant recovers there is great hunger in Ireland because ships dare not approach its coasts. The king asks his princes for advice what to do about the famine. No one can advise him and he sends for Tristrant who tells him to send ships to England for food. He himself would show them the way and help them to buy food. The king has the money turned over to him, orders the ships prepared and sends Tristrant to England. The hero takes his leave from the court and sails to England, where he hires a merchant who gets the food for him. The Irish take Tristrant for a skillful merchant. As soon as the grain is loaded in the ships they thank him and sail home. Tristrant boards a ship to Cornwall where he is well received. He lands at Tintanjol exactly a year to the day he left. Kurneval is very happy to see him and weeps from joy. A messenger hurries to the king to bring him the news and is given rich reward. King Marke comes to meet him with his retinue and Tinas and all who knew him are happy at his arrival.

Motif References:

Z 72 Formulas based on the year
R 219 Escapes - miscellaneous
J 1113 Clever boy [youth, knight]

EvOTr-1332: Tristrant becomes a man praised for his virtues and his success in tournaments and in battle. He is so dear to the king that the latter wishes to have him as a son and makes him his heir. For his sake Marke does not want to marry which annoys the king’s relatives. They start to urge him to take a wife and when he refuses they begin to hate the young man bitterly. They make no attempt to conceal their hatred and a few even think that the king might be acting on Tristrant’s advice. One day taking Tristrant with them Marke’s friends and vassals go before the king and counsel him to marry. The king sets a time to give them an answer. When the day has come Marke sits in the hall and tries to think of some way to make them give up their request. Two swallows begin to fight in the hall and the king watches them carefully. They let fall a beautiful, long hair coming from a lady. The king decides to demand her as his wife for he thinks the jealous lords would not be able to find her. When Tristrant and the lords come he shows them the hair and tells them that he would take this lady as a wife or no one in the world.

Motif References:

P 17.16 (Bm) Nephew as heir.
T 64 King seeks bride only because counsellors insist
P 90 Royalty and nobility - miscellaneous
M 105 Equivocal oaths
M 146 Vow to marry a certain woman [man]
W 195 Envy
H 1213.1 Quest for princess caused by sight of one of her hairs dropped by a bird (or floating on a river).
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]
K 2310 Deception by equivocation

EvOTr-1419: The lords ask who she is and the king replies that he does not know. They say it is Tristrant’s fault that the king wants to trick them into letting the matter drop. Tristrant says that he never gave the advice to his uncle not to marry and that he would prefer if he did. For the king’s sake he will seek the lady afar and he asks him to give him the hair. Marke orders a good ship be prepared for him with armor for one hundred knights, as well as gold and clothing. With one hundred of the king’s vassals Tristrant sails away. He orders the helmsman to avoid Ireland. Yet a terrible storm drives the ship toward Ireland and throws it up on the sand in front of the castle where Tristrant has been healed. Tristrant orders them to be silent and let him do the talking.

Motif References:

T 51 Wooing by emissary
H 75 Identification by a hair.
P 90 Royalty and nobility - miscellaneous
N 399.1.1 (Bm) Wind carries ship to hostile [unknown] island [land]
H 911 Tasks assigned at suggestion of jealous rivals
H 1213.1 Quest for princess caused by sight of one of her hairs dropped by a bird (or floating on a river).
H 1381.3.1.1 Quest for bride for king (prince)
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

EvOTr-1519: When the king hears that a ship has landed so near he becomes very angry and tells his marshal to cut off the strangers’ heads. The marshal goes to the ship and tells them that he has to execute them. Tristrant gives him a fine golden cup if he would bring his story to the king and let them live in the meantime. The marshal grants the request and accepts the cup. Then Tristrant tells them that he and twelve comrades, all merchants, come from England with twelve vessels with food because they have learnt that there is a famine in Ireland. As they were told that whoever came here would be killed they cast lots to decide who should sail on as their messenger. Tristrant became the messenger, the others remain out at sea. He begs the marshal to ask the king to spare their lives and they will bring him their cargo. Tristrant says his name is Tantris. The marshal believes the story and tells it to the king.

Motif References:

P 50.2 Marshall [Court officials: marshall, steward, etc.]
J 647 Avoiding enemy’s revenge
K 1817.4 Disguise as merchant
K 1831.0.1 Disguise by changing name
K 1900 Impostures
K 2357.10 Disguise as merchant to enter enemy’s castle

EvOTr-1598: Then Tristrant gets the news of a dragon doing great harm to the country and that the king certainly would give his daughter to the man who would kill it. Early the next morning Tristrant arms himself and rides forth. When he sees five men stop at a lookout he rides toward them. One of them flees in great haste and Tristrant races after him. He asks him who is chasing him and the man says that it is a fire-breathing dragon. At his question the man tells him where he can find the beast. Tristrant hides and waits for the dragon to pass. Then he charges and breaks his spear in fight yet cannot harm the dragon, which burns his horse under him. With his sword he finally kills the dragon, then cuts out the beast’s tongue and puts it inside his armor. To cool off he goes to a nearby marsh and lies down in it for he is almost burned to death under his iron armor.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
B 11.2.11 Fire-breathing dragon
B 16.5.1 Giant devastating serpent
T 68 Princess offered as prize
H 105.1 Dragon-tongue proof. Dragon slayer cuts out the tongues and uses them later to prove his identity as slayer
H 335.3 Suitor task: killing ferocious animal
H 1174.2 Task: overcoming dragon

EvOTr-1685: The lord high steward and his servants, whom Tristrant had seen at the look-out, follow the hero and come upon the dead dragon. He promises to his men to make them rich if they say that he killed the dragon and they agree. They look for Tristrant and would have killed him but they cannot find him. The coward steward hurries to the king and tells him that he has slain the dragon and therefore should have the princess. The king wants to have some proof of his exploit. When he tells his daughter about it she is sure that the steward is lying for he never did anything brave. The king follows her advice and makes him wait until next morning. The steward urges the king to fulfill his promise.

Motif References:

P 50.2 Marshall [Court officials: marshall, steward, etc.]
W 121 Cowardice
K 1932 Impostors claim reward (prize) earned by hero
K 2242 Treacherous steward

EvOTr-1766: Early next morning Isalde, Brangene, her lady-in-waiting, and the chamberlain Perenis ride out to take a look at the dragon and soon the lady sees the tracks of Tristrant’s horse. She notices that the horse was not shoed in the Irish way and that this must be the track of the dragon-slayer’s horse. They find the dead dragon, a bloody shield and the horse partly burnt. They can easily tell that this horse was not raised in those lands. Isalde thinks the dragon-slayer has been murdered and promises to reward Perenis if he finds the warrior. Brangene comes to the marsh and sees Tristrant’s shining helmet. Isalde then unties his helmet and removes the armor. Perenis brings the man to the city and Isalde and Brangene carry his helmet, sword and hauberk back with them. The princess bathes the hero, revives him by rubbing good salve all over him. As soon as Tristrant recovers he becomes certain that he has found the lady he sought. He looks at her hair and smiles to himself. Isalde thinks she has done something foolish and that he wants her to clean his sword. When she scrubs it she identifies it as Tristrant’s by the notch. Overcome with grief she takes out the fragment and fits it into the notch. Angrily she says that she will reveal him to her father and that he must pay for her uncle’s death. Just as she is about to leave to tell her father Brangene intervenes: Tristrant is a noble man and a fine warrior and if he would be killed Isalde will have to marry the steward which would not bring her honor.

Motif References:

H 75 Identification by a hair.
H 101 Identification by broken weapon.

EvOTr-1959: At Brangene’s words the princess thinks for a moment and again becomes kind to him. She forgets her grief and has fine new clothes brought for him. When the hero is dressed he is so handsome that she kisses him on the lips. Then she goes to her father and tells him that she has found the dragon-slayer. She makes him promise that he will be forgiven everything he may have done to him. A complete and lasting peace is made with him and sealed by the king kissing his daughter in his place. Following her advice the king sends for the lords of the country and puts off the law-court until next morning. The steward sends for his friends as well. Meanwhile Tristrant is concealed in the women’s quarters. Perenis is sent to the ship to bring Kurneval. The hero tells him that all his companions should come in the morning to the law-court dressed in their finest clothes. But they should remain silent until he would appear. Next morning the company puts on beautiful and costly clothes and ornaments. Tristrant is sent splendid clothing as well. Then the lords go to the castle and sit down on a bench as they have been told.

Motif References:

M 223 Blind promise (rash boon)
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)
F 575.2 Handsome man
F 821 Extraordinary dress (clothes, robe, etc.)

EvOTr-2104: When the king asks about the strangers no one can tell anything about them. Then the king sends for his daughter and the hero. She leads him to her father and all rise and go to meet him. The king asks who he is but the princess first makes him kiss the hero and grant a firm pardon to him and his family. Then she reveals that this man killed her uncle. Isalde says that Tristrant killed her uncle unwillingly to save his uncle’s land from the tribute. When she says that Tristrant killed the dragon the steward claims this exploit and reminds the king of his promise. Tristrant angrily offers to meet the steward in single combat. Besides he can easily prove that he is telling the truth, by four of the steward’s friends who were with him and by the dragon-tongue. The steward takes his friends aside and they advise him to avoid fighting such an excellent warrior if he did not kill the beast. The coward who does not want to fight declares that he did not kill the dragon and that Tristrant should have the princess. The steward whom this blunder cost all his honors has to leave the land. The king gives the princess to Tristrant who says that he wants her for his uncle, king Marke, for he himself would be too young to take a wife. The king is quite pleased with this marriage. He says that if Isalde would marry her uncle’s slayer she might begin to brood about this and they might not live as they should.

Motif References:

T 51 Wooing by emissary
T 68 Princess offered as prize
H 105.1 Dragon-tongue proof. Dragon slayer cuts out the tongues and uses them later to prove his identity as slayer
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)
K 1932 Impostors claim reward (prize) earned by hero
K 2242 Treacherous steward

EvOTr-2264: Isalde’s mother brings a potion to Brangene and tells her to give it to drink to the princess and her husband in their wedding-night. She should take care that no one else tastes it. The potion is of such a nature that any man and woman who drink it together have to love each other as long as they live and for four years the passion is so great that they cannot part for half a day. Who would not see the other all day would become sick and if they could not speak to each other for a week they both would die. The king gives great wealth to his daughter, Tristrant takes leave of Isalde’s mother and then they set out for Cornwall. Isalde and her retinue are not used to journeying by sea and it makes her sick. So they rest in a harbor, where all go ashore. Tristrant goes to the lady and when he becomes thirsty he asks for a drink. A maiden gives him what she thinks to be wine. Tristrant drinks it and offers some to Isalde too. As soon as she drinks both fall in love with each other but neither knows about the other’s passion until later. They both become pale and red and their love is so great that they think they would die because of each other.

Motif References:

T 10 Falling in love
T 21 Mutual love through accidental drinking of love philtre
T 24.5 Boy [girl] turns red and white from love
T 24.1 Love-sickness
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

EvOTr-2369: Isalde is ashamed of having fallen in love so quickly with Tristrant and they both are in distress. They both become hot and cold, their appearances change and they shed many tears. They are worried because of their love and neither knows about the other’s affection. Both are sick and go to bed. Isalde considers her oppression through love, she cannot turn away her heart and mind from the man. Lady Love has taught them such feelings that they are bound to him. Isalde considers the real pain she is suffering from love and says that Dame Amor and Cupido have avenged in full measure if ever she has broken in any way one of their commandments. Lady Love has done great harm to her, an inconstant spirit has come over her and she is now hot, now cold. Isalde laments of her pain and begs Love to be merciful. She thinks how she could tell him of her distress without risking her good name. Meanwhile Tristrant is seized by the same passion and thinks of the lady night and day. Both suffer greatly.

Motif References:

T 0 Love
T 24.5 Boy [girl] turns red and white from love
T 24.1 Love-sickness

EvOTr-2611: For three and a half day they lie in bed without eating or drinking and are very sick. Brangene and Kurneval are distressed when they discover it and finally Brangene finds out about the potion. She beats her hands together and weeps. Then she tells Kurneval that they both will die if they do not become lovers. Both decide to bring them together. On the fourth day they enter a harbor and the people go onto the strand. Kurneval asks his lord to go to Isalde which might make him fell better. When he does not dare to come close to her she calls him and he sits down beside her. They tell each other their feelings and are healed by love before they part. They often lie happily together until they come to Cornwall.

Motif References:

T 24.1 Love-sickness
T 24.6 Lover refuses food and drink
P 361 Faithful servant [vassal]
T 400 Illicit sexual relations

EvOTr-2725: In order to preserve Isalde’s good name the lovers think up a ruse and decide to ask Brangene to lie with the king the first night. Isalde makes her give the promise to be her substitute. Tristrant sends a messenger to the king telling him that he will come with the maiden and the king sets out to sea to meet them. With great ceremony he takes her to Tintanjol and there is a splendid wedding ceremony. Tristrant asks his lord to observe a custom of his bride’s land: that there is no light by the bed on the first night. The king grants this and asks his nephew to be his chamberlain and put out the candles. Then he brings Brangene to the king’s bed and lies with the queen. Although this is a great deceit it is not disloyalty for only the fatal potion is to blame. At midnight Isalde takes Brangene’s place. For a year Tristrant stays constantly at court for he cannot remain away for a single day.

Motif References:

P 18 Marriage of kings
P 361 Faithful servant [vassal]
T 481 Adultery
K 1843.1 Bride has maid sleep in husband’s bed to conceal pregnancy [lost virginity].

EvOTr-2863: Not long afterwards Isalde wants to have killed Brangene out of fear that she could tell her secret. She orders two poor knights to put her to death and gives them sixty marks of silver. She directs them to a spring where they should kill whoever would come for water and bring her the liver. Then the queen pretends to be ill and sends Brangene to the spring for some water. The maiden goes to the spring in the orchard. The puzzled knights tell her that she must die. Brangene says she never deserved this death from the queen and begs them to let her live for a time while one should tell her lady that she was dead and what she told them: Isalde’s mother gave to each of them a fine chemise when they left Ireland. Before they arrived in Cornwall Isalde’s chemise was torn and she asked Brangene to lend her hers which was new. Brangene finally gave in and lent it to her the first night she lay with the king. The knights are moved to pity and spare her. One of them takes a dog’s liver to the queen and at her question tells her Brangene’s words.

Motif References:

H 105.2 Tongue [liver] as proof that man [woman] has been murdered.
K 512.2 Compassionate executioner: substituted heart [liver].
K 1843.0.1 (Bm) Substituted bride to be slain to dispose of witness.

EvOTr-2984: Isalde starts lamenting; she beats herself and pulls out her hair in great remorse. One of the knights consoles her by saying that Brangene is still alive and the queen promises to make him rich. The knight goes back to his companion and they bring Brangene to the queen. Isalde gladly welcomes her, falls at her feet and offers her compensation so that she would forget about her plans to have her murdered. Brangene too asks for forgiveness if she had done anything wrong. They kiss and are reconciled. When Kurneval tells Tristrant the story he is grieved and angry and advises the queen to compensate Brangene with honors.

Motif References:

P 361 Faithful servant [vassal]
F 1041.21.6 Tearing hair and clothes from excessive grief

EvOTr-3081: Not long afterwards Tristrant is slandered by three evil dukes and four counts who are staying at the king’s court. They envy him because he lives festively, strives for honor and always does what is best. Wicked people will always be hostile toward an honest man but God and all good people will be pleased with him. They also hate Tristrant because the king likes him better than any of them and they decide to turn the king against him. Their leader is Tristrant’s cousin Antret, a deceitful man who never did anything noble. Though Tristrant is his friend and kinsman he wants to bring him into disgrace. With his companions he goes to the king and says that Tristrant loves the queen and has dishonored the king, besides the king would favor him too much. The king replies that Tristrant only brought him honor and profit and served him loyally. The knights depart angrily and set up a watch to see if Tristrant ever meets the queen in secret for they do not really know and make up a story. The king however does not believe them and tells Antret to stop complaining.

Motif References:

P 90 Royalty and nobility - miscellaneous
W 195 Envy
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]
K 2297 Treacherous friend

EvOTr-3250: The king leaves angrily in order to retire and finds Tristrant with Isalde in his arms. Enraged Marke accuses his nephew of disloyalty and orders him to leave his court at once. Tristrant wants to leave the country but he thinks he would die from grief. The lovers are seized with great pain and they lie in bed and neither eat nor drink. The king does not care for Tristrant’s illness. Isalde tells Brangene of her grief and she tells Tristrant of the queen’s illness from love. He wants to meet her in the orchard the same day. She should wait for a leaf floating down the stream that flows through her room. Then she should go outside and watch for a shaving to come, which will have a five-pointed cross drawn on it. Whenever Isalde sees this message he will wait for her at the lime tree beside the brook. Brangene tells her lady of this arrangement and she recovers. The lovers meet in the orchard at midnight. Thus they outwit the spies and spend the nights together. Tristrant lies in bed all day and pretends to be ill.

Motif References:

T 24.1 Love-sickness
T 24.6 Lover refuses food and drink
H 35.4 Recognition by unique manner of carving chips.
T 35.1 Fountain as lovers’ rendezvous.
T 41.3 Lover’s signal
H 135.0.1 (Bm) Love messages on slips of wood sent downstream.
Q 431 Punishment: banishment (exile)
K 1271 Amorous intrigue observed and exposed
K 1550.1 Husband discovers wife’s adultery

EvOTr-3382: (=3382a) The jealous lords wonder if the queen is still granting Tristrant her favors. Antret proposes that they should seek the aid of a wise dwarf (Aquitain: D 3931) who lives not far away and can see in the stars all that has been or is to be anywhere. They agree to give him riches so that he will tell them the truth. His helper, Satan (Satanaß 4401), shows them the way. The devilish dwarf looks at the stars and tells them that Tristrant is pretending to be sick and that he is holding the queen in his arms. They take him to the king and the dwarf advises him how to find out the truth himself. The king should ride out with his retinue for a hunt in the forest. Then the dwarf would show the king where the lovers will meet so that he can learn the truth. Marke follows the advice and proclaims that he would be away hunting for seven nights.

Motif References:

F 451.8.2 Proper names for dwarfs
F 451.5.2 Malevolent dwarf
F 451.3.12 Dwarfs are intelligent.
K 2277 Treacherous dwarf.

EvOTr-3449: When the dwarf has found out for certain that the lovers would meet he tells the king to ride back with him to spy on them. When they come to the orchard the dwarf and the king climb the lime tree. Soon Tristrant comes, breaks off a leaf and drops it into the stream and lets a shaving with a cross on it follow. Then Tristrant sees the shadows of the two spies in the tree cast onto the water by the moon. As soon as Isalde has got the message she hurries to the orchard. Tristrant warns her by his signals and she notices the shadows of the spies. The lovers do not look up and act just as if they would not know they were there. Isalde asks him why he wanted to see her and Tristrant says he wants her help so that the king will grant him his favor and let him live at his court again. She refuses to help him and accuses him that she has been talked about on his account. She would be glad if the king killed him and refuses to ask him anything for Tristrant. Then the queen leaves. Tristrant complains of his lord’s injustice toward him and leaves too.

Motif References:

T 35.1 Fountain as lovers’ rendezvous.
T 41.3 Lover’s signal
H 135.0.1 (Bm) Love messages on slips of wood sent downstream.
F 451.5.2 Malevolent dwarf
K 1271 Amorous intrigue observed and exposed
K 1533 Gullible husband behind the tree. (Tristan and Isolt.) Husband goes to wife ‘s love tryst and hides behind a tree. The wife, having learned of his presence, tells lover that he should not allow their innocent relations to lead to gossip. Husband is appeased
K 1534 Queen deceives king by unfriendly conversation with lover.
K 1551 Husband returns home secretly and spies on adulteress and paramour
K 2277 Treacherous dwarf.

EvOTr-3614: As soon as Tristrant has left Marke draws his sword and wants to kill the dwarf but he escapes with the help of Satan. The king is very pleased with what he heard and rides back to the forest. In the morning he goes to see his wife and asks her about her conversation with Tristrant the night before. She pretends not to have seen him in twelve days, but Marke tells her that he has watched from the tree and asks her to help him keep Tristrant at his court. Isalde replies that she would rather have him driven away. When the king insists and allows her to be with Tristrant as often as she wishes she advises him to send Brangene to help him keep his nephew with him. The king urges Brangene to persuade Tristrant to stay. He offers her reward and promises that Tristrant will have his favor and could be with the queen early and late. Finally Brangene gives in and brings the news to Tristrant. When he returns to the court the king orders his kinsmen and his vassals to be subject to Tristrant. He makes him his chamberlain and be with him and the queen as often as he would like. Tristrant has Kurneval carry his bed into the royal chamber.

Motif References:

T 92.1 The triangle plot and its solutions
J 2301 Gullible husbands

EvOTr-3770: Tristrant now can meet the queen whenever he wishes until one day the steward Tinas is on a hunt and comes upon the dwarf in the forest. He has him caught and at his question the dwarf tells him that he is out of favor with the king. Tinas takes the dwarf home with him and helps him to calm the king’s anger. Soon after the jealous lords start plotting against Tristrant once again. Antret accuses the dwarf of having deceived him and wants to kill him. The dwarf insists that Tristrant is the queen’s lover and the villains repeat it to the king. They talk Marke into trying the queen and his nephew once again. The king will burn the dwarf if they are innocent. The dwarf advises the king to make Tristrant leave the country as his messenger the next morning. He should promise him reward and say that he will be away for seven nights. Tristrant then will have to see the queen before he leaves. The dwarf will strew white flour on the floor between their beds and will hide under the queen’s bed to wake the king. If Tristrant would not come to see the queen the king could take the dwarf’s life. Antret and his men should guard the door.

Motif References:

F 451.5.2 Malevolent dwarf
H 492 Test of faithfulness of husband and wife.
J 1146 Detection by strewing ashes (sand) [flour]: lover leaves footprint.
K 1271 Amorous intrigue observed and exposed
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested
K 2277 Treacherous dwarf.

EvOTr-3861: The king agrees to all this. In the evening he asks Tristrant to carry his message to King Arthur in Britain. The dwarf strews the flour on the floor and the villains guard the door. When Tristrant wants to take leave from the queen he sees the flour but because of the potion he cannot refrain from seeing his lady. He leaps to her bed but in doing so his old wound opens and Isalde becomes red allover. Then the dwarf cries out loudly alarming the king who wakes the guards. Tristrant leaps back to his bed but puts one foot down. The king makes the knights catch Tristrant and bind his hands like a thief. The king wants to end their love affair in a way people would speak of as long as the world endures. He asks his vassals what would be the most shameful death he could give the lovers. Antret wants Tristrant to be condemned to the wheel and Isalde to the stake. Marke orders that a law-court be made without delay and has messengers sent out to alarm the people.

Motif References:

Q 241 Adultery punished
N 386 Lover’s wound breaks while he is in bed with mistress. He bleeds to death
Q 414.0.2 Burning as punishment for adultery
Q 423 Punishment: breaking upon a wheel
Q 450 Cruel punishments.
T 475.3 (Bm) Bloodstain as proof of illicit romance.
J 1146 Detection by strewing ashes (sand) [flour]: lover leaves footprint.
K 1271 Amorous intrigue observed and exposed
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]
K 2297 Treacherous friend

EvOTr-3991: At daybreak the king hurries to hold court before the people. Only the steward Tinas implores the king for his own honor’s sake to calm his wrath and let his nephew live. The king himself would never be happy again if he would kill the knight and his own wife. When the king becomes red from anger the steward dares not oppose him any longer. Overcome with grief he rides away. Many men are greatly distressed. On his way Tinas meets a troop leading Tristrant, his hands bound behind him. Loyal Tinas begins to weep and tells Tristrant how deeply this is grieving him. He is unable to free him but he cuts his bonds and orders that he should not be tied again. Those in charge of the hero become sad on seeing the steward’s distress. When they come to a chapel Tristrant asks to be permitted to go in and pray while they wait outside. At first they refuse but then one of them reminds them that Tinas asked them to be kind to him. The chapel would be easy to guard and so they should allow the penitent to confess his sins. Once inside the chapel Tristrant bars the door, then he jumps out of the window into the sea below. He swims to land and runs along the water.

Motif References:

P 50.2 Marshall [Court officials: marshall, steward, etc.]
R 219.5 (Bm) Escape by jumping out window
K 551.1 Respite from death granted until prayer is finished
N 839.1 (Bm) [Court official] Steward as helper

EvOTr-4144: Meanwhile Kurneval has almost wept himself to death. He rides out of the city with Tristrant’s sword and his horse. When he catches sight of his lord he gallops toward him. Tristrant mounts, girds his sword and hurries off at once. Yet Tristrant is reluctant to leave the country. He wants to help the queen escape or die with her. He rides close to where the law-court is held and hides in a thicket. In the meantime the troop waiting before the chapel find out about Tristrant’s escape. When the king gets the news he promises reward to everyone who catches Tristrant. But none of the knights finds a trace of him which makes some of them sorry and many of them glad. Antret comes back quite soon glad that he did not find Tristrant out of fear.

Motif References:

R 260 Pursuits

EvOTr-4243: The king then begins to threaten the queen cruelly and orders that she be led away and burned on the stake. A leprous duke runs up and advises the king that if he wanted her to have a shameful death he should give the lady to him. He will take her to his lepers and they will all rape her. The king asks him for surety that the queen will be killed and the leper promises that he may have him and all his retinue killed if she lives. With this the king lets him have her. The leper puts Isalde in front of him on his horse. Many people in the country speak ill of the king because this cruel revenge is a great shame to him. Their way passes right in front of Tristrant who laments her great dishonor. When they come near Tristrant cuts the leprous duke in half and then charges into the other lepers and kills many of them. Tristrant takes his lady and hurries toward the forest. One of the lepers escapes and brings the news to the king. Marke promises that whoever seizes Tristrant will share all he has the rest of his life. The knights look for him but cannot find him. The king asks his friends and neighbors that they should kill Tristrant or bring him back if they would get hold of him.

Motif References:

S 62 Cruel husband
R 161 Lover [unwelcome suitor] rescues his lady
R 225 Elopement
Q 241 Adultery punished
T 471 Rape
Q 499.2.1 Humiliating death as punishment for adultery.

EvOTr-4368: Tristrant’s faithful hound (H: Frant; D: Utant) which he likes more than any other dog, is tied up and begins to struggle to get loose. The king orders a squire to have the dog hanged. The squire however, who likes Tristrant takes the dog and turns it loose. The hound follows the scent of its master into the forest. The fugitives think they are being tracked down with the hound. Kurneval entreats Tristrant to ride off with Isalde while he would stay back to fight. Kurneval is happy that the dog comes racing up alone and they ride after Tristrant. When Kurneval loses the trail the dog leads him to its master. Then the company rides on all day deep into the forest where Tristrant thinks they would be safe. They build a hut from branches and live there for more than a year and a half. They eat herbs they find in the forest and sometimes Tristrant hunts with a bow and catches some fish from a stream with a hook. Tristrant is the first man to fish with a hook and the first to learn how to use hounds to track down game.

Motif References:

Z 200 Heroes
B 301 Faithful animal
R 312.1 Forest as refuge for eloping lovers

EvOTr-4546: Tristrant and Isalde have much joy from their love although the company suffers great hardship in the wilderness. They have neither fire (D) nor bread nor wine and their horses have only leaves, grass and moss to eat. Their clothing falls apart from storm and rain. They stay in the wild forest more than two years. Tristrant has a custom to place his sword between them whenever they lie down and they never sleep without having the sword between them. Early one morning one of Marke’s hunters comes to the hut while they are asleep and recognizes Tristrant. He tells the king what he has seen and leads him there. The king replaces Tristrant’s sword with his own and puts his glove on Isalde without awakening the pair. Then he rides away. When the lovers awake they notice the tokens and are frightened. They flee further into the deep forest.

Motif References:

H 88 Recognition by tokens left as trail.
R 312.1 Forest as refuge for eloping lovers
T 351 Sword of chastity

EvOTr-4702: Not far away lives a hermit (H: Ingrim; D: Ugrym) who is the king’s confessor. One day Tristrant rides to him to obtain a penance but the hermit refuses unless he would give up the queen. He warns him that he should do this for God’s sake otherwise he could not escape the devil. Tristrant cannot follow his advice. The lovers remain together in the forest until the power of the potion wanes, which happens four years after they have drunk it. They begin to suffer greatly from the hardship of the forest and think that they should part. Tristrant takes the queen to the hermit and says that he is sorry to have disregarded his warning and that he should do as the hermit counseled. He promises to give back the queen.

Motif References:

T 21 Mutual love through accidental drinking of love philtre
R 312.1 Forest as refuge for eloping lovers
P 426.2 Hermit
Q 520 Penances
N 843 Hermit as helper
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

EvOTr-4764: The hermit writes a letter to the king asking the latter to do what he asks and sends it by Tristrant who sets out to Tintanjol at once. He goes to the king’s chamber and speaks to him through the wall. Then he throws the letter through the window saying that he should listen to what is written in it. He tells him that the hermit grants him God’s salvation and imposes this as a penance for all the king’s sins. The king should have a letter giving his answer hung next day on the cross where the road divides at the tower in front of the city. The king knows Tristrant’s voice and asks him to wait for him but Tristrant leaves. The king has the letter read to him as soon as it is day. It says that the king should take back in love his wife who will be brought back by Tristrant and he should again show his nephew his favor. The hermit begs the king to be gracious.

Motif References:

T 298 Reconciliation [reunion] of (separated) couple
N 843 Hermit as helper

EvOTr-4863: The king tells his counselors how he found the lovers in the forest and swears that Tristrant never deceived him. Then he orders a letter written saying that he would take back his queen in four days. But he would not grant his favor to Tristrant for having offended him. His nephew would only have his protection while bringing Isalde. Tristrant gets the letter that night and the hermit tells him what is in it. The hermit gives him some clothing and Tristrant brings the queen to the meeting. The king tells Tristrant that he will not be allowed to live in this country. Tristrant offers his service to make up for what he did to him but the king refuses. Tristrant speaks angrily to him: He will never again court the king’s favor and he only spares him for the sake of his wife he must leave with great sorrow. Tristrant entrusts his dog to the queen and she should show her fondness of him in her treatment of the hound.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
T 298 Reconciliation [reunion] of (separated) couple
Q 431 Punishment: banishment (exile)
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested
J 2342 Husband refuses to believe in wife’s infidelity

EvOTr-4995: Tristrant rides off to stay at the court of King Ganoye where he is well received but does not remain long. Then he and Kurneval set out to Britain and King Arthur and his retinue give them a cordial welcome. Walwan becomes Tristrant’s companion and takes good care of him. By performing manly deeds Tristrant becomes famous as the most valorous warrior. It is the custom of the young knights at King Arthur’s court to ride off for some days to seek adventure and gain as much honor as they can by fighting. Among them is a valiant knight, called Delekors (H: Dalkorß, D: Deleko), who never has been unhorsed by any adversary. One day Delekors rides into the forest seeking adventure and changes his armor as soon as he is out of sight so that no one would know him. He meets Tristrant who unhorses him and takes the horse which he gives to a poor man afterwards. Delekors walks to the castle and tells what has happened to him. Walwan and the king agree that it must have been Tristrant and Walwan questions his friend. Tristrant only admits that he has overcome Delekors as Walwan asks him for the sake of Isalde. Whatever he is asked for his lady’s sake he will reveal.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
P 310 Friendship
H 1221 Quest for adventure
K 1821 Disguise by changing bodily appearance

EvOTr-5134: When Tristrant complains that he cannot meet Isalde as often as he likes Walwan promises to arrange a meeting on occasion of a hunt. The king has a hunting lodge not far from Tintanjol and he will go to hunt there. Walwan arranges the hunt in this forest which is owned in common by the two kings. Some of the game runs near Tintanjol and Walwan asks the huntsmen to drive the stag toward the city. The killing of the stag is put off until evening and Walwan says they should pass the night with King Marke. Arthur following Walwan’s advice sends Keie as messenger that they would stay overnight at Tintanjol if the king will give safety to all his retinue. King Marke is happy to receive them as his guests and promises hospitality to all who are with him. King Arthur and all his companions are welcomed by the queen. Only Tristrant and Walwan who does not want to leave his companion are left out.

Motif References:

M 223 Blind promise (rash boon)

EvOTr-5260: Marke asks his royal guest to see that none of his companions would try to dishonor him. The guests rest in the main hall at one end, while the queen and the king lie on the other. The host sets a trap for Tristrant, a board with sharp blades (H; a wolf’s trap D); he is sure that Tristrant would try to come to the queen. Tristrant cuts himself badly when he gets to the queen but he binds his wounds. He does not stay long with her and when he returns to his bed he starts lamenting for the blood will betray their adultery. When Walwan learns what happened he laments loudly so that all the companions can hear. They agree to help Tristrant and follow Keie’s advice to start a fight so that everyone gets cut. They all have themselves cut and Walwan throws Keie who has crept away down on the blades so that he gets the worst wound of all. King Marke wakes up and admonishes them for their noise. Arthur tells him that this is his knights’ custom at home as well. They all lie down to sleep and Tristrant comes back to his lady. In the morning the wounded knights complain and Marke is ashamed that this has happened.

Motif References:

T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
K 1565 Blades (broken glass) to wound and detect wife’s lover
K 2150 Innocent made to appear guilty

EvOTr-5462: The kings part and Arthur returns home. Soon afterwards Tristrant leaves Arthur’s court and no one can make him change his mind although Arthur offers him fiefs and lands. He rides ahead for seven days until he comes to a beautiful land which has been burnt and laid waste. He rides through the land for four days seeing neither man nor animal. Then he comes to a chapel where he finds a priest named Michael. Tristrant asks for food and lodging and the priest takes good care of him and his company. At his question the priest tells him the story of the land: Its ruler is called Havelin and he is a noble king. Riole of Nantes, a mighty count, wanted to marry his daughter but the king did not want her to marry below her station. The count therefore decided to take her by force, the other vassals joined him and they destroyed the king’s castles. The king and a small troop have taken refuge in Karahes (H: Karkeß, D: Karaheß), where he is besieged by his enemies. The lord’s son is called Kehenis, who is a bold warrior.

Motif References:

T 75.2.1 Rejected suitors’ revenge
T 104.1 Rejected suitor wages war
T 121 Unequal marriage
P 557.0.4 (Li) Siege

EvOTr-5583: In the morning Tristrant asks his way to Karahes and offers his service to the king and his son. He identifies as prince of Lohenois and nephew of Arthur and offers to serve them without pay. The king says that they have no food and that he cannot retain him. Tristrant tells him that he survived two years in the forest without bread. As his son urges him to let Tristrant stay with them the king has opened the gates. Kehenis and Tristrant promise each other friendship. They go to see the ladies and Kehenis’s beautiful sister, who is called Isalde. Tristrant however knows a more beautiful lady than she is. Kehenis tells his friend that they cannot oppose their enemy Riole for he has very strong forces. Tristrant makes him out of friendship to help him leave the city next morning. Tristrant waits for Riole to fight him and forces him to surrender. Riole has to go into the town as his prisoner.

Motif References:

P 311 Sworn brethren
P 555.4 (Bm) Defeated knights [giant, rescued persons etc.] sent under oath to king [lady, queen] (as proof of victory)
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper

EvOTr-5772: Riole comes to the city. Tristrant orders him to supply the city with food for a week otherwise he would have thrown him into a dungeon. Riole has provisions brought for more than six weeks. The enemies want revenge and send a message that they would destroy the city if the count would not be freed. They would kill the king and all the people. Yet Tristrant refuses. Meanwhile reinforcements have arrived from the king’s relatives. They come by sea and bring their own supplies with them. The king receives them with honor and tells them what Tristrant has done for them. He orders his son and his knights and kinsmen to be subject to Tristrant.

Motif References:

P 555.4 (Bm) Defeated knights [giant, rescued persons etc.] sent under oath to king [lady, queen] (as proof of victory)
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)

EvOTr-5845: The hero as their leader tells them to get armed and leads them out of the gate. He leaves well-armed defenders to protect the city and arranges the troops. Tristrant and Kehenis ride on with their men toward the enemy and when they are seen well they pretend to try concealing themselves. The others charge at once without being fully armed and many of them are killed. Tristrant’s troop does not move until the enemy is close and then they race into them. The enemies put to flight and many of them are slain or captured. The enemy then turns back and Tristrant flees toward the ambush where he has told some of his troops to wait. Many enemies are killed or captured. Then Tristrant has to give way again and he flees to the place where reinforcements lie in ambush. Kehenis and Tristrant fight more dreadfully than Dietrich or Hildebrand ever did.

Motif References:

P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 552 Battle formations
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 2350 Military strategy

EvOTr-5984: Nampetenis, a bold warrior, tries to force Kehenis to yield but Tristrant comes to his aid and Nampetenis has to let him go. Tristrant and Kehenis continue to fight furiously. At last they have all lost their horses and are fighting afoot. A great number of warriors is slain and the dead of Riole’s army make a great sea of blood which is knee-deep in places. The birds have food for a long time. At last the king appears with his banner and crying “Karahes”. The enemy stops fighting and flees. When the battle is over the king returns to the city and has a council with his lords. he thanks them all and rewards his nephews for their aid before he sends them home. Tristrant stays with him and arranges a peace.

Motif References:

P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)
F 1084.1 Deep streams of blood flow during battle
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

EvOTr-6106: Kehenis fears that his friend would leave and wants to make him stay by making him marry his sister. Tristrant agrees on condition that her father would grant the request. Kehenis carries on his matchmaking until the lady is given to Tristrant. However she does not really become his wife for one year. One day the king and the queen, Tristrant and his wife, and Kehenis ride along a road and Isalde’s horse steps in a pool so that the water splashes up under her dress. She says that no knight’s hand did ever dare to go further up than this water. Puzzled Kehenis asks her about it and she admits that she did not really become Tristrant’s wife. Kehenis complains about this insult to his father and all his vassals. The king gathers his kinsmen and vassals and wants to kill Tristrant at once but Kehenis pleads to wait for the sake of their friendship. Kehenis tells Tristrant that they cannot be friends any longer for he has offended his sister and her family.

Motif References:

T 53 Matchmakers
T 271 The neglected wife
T 315.2 The continent husband
T 315.2.1 The audacious water and the continent husband

EvOTr-6226: Tristrant gives him his reasons: Isalde has never treated him in such a way that she was worthy of becoming his wife. Then he tells him that there is a lady who for his sake treats a dog better than his sister treats him. Kehenis should come with him to see the truth. Tristrant has to promise father and son to return to his wife and if he lied Kehenis could do with him as he liked. Kehenis and Tristrant set out to Cornwall and are welcomed by Tinas at Litan. Tristrant tells him his trouble and sends him as his messenger to the queen. Isalde should ask her husband to go hunting for two days in Blankenland and follow him with a splendid train. He tells him that his life is at stake. Tristrant and his friend will hide in a thicket at a deer stand near the road and Tristrant will throw a twig into the mane of her horse. Then she should stop and caress the dog for his sake so that his friend has to admit that he told the truth. Isalde should come in great state and with many ladies.

Motif References:

T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous
T 92 Rivals in love
M 100 Vows and oaths
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper

EvOTr-6354: Tinas tells the queen all this and gives her Tristrant’s token, a ring she once gave to her lover. Tinas finds the royal couple at a board game and makes the queen notice his ring. She stops playing and has a meeting with Tinas in private. He gives her the ring and the message and she arranges all she is supposed to. Next morning Tristrant and Kehenis hide in the thicket. The cooks, the people with the food, the cupbearers and those who serve the bread come running by, followed by the hunters with many dogs, then comes the king’s wardrobe, a holy relic and behind it the chaplain. Then the king goes by and many knights with greyhounds and falcons, then the ladies’ wardrobe appears and the splendid train of many fine ladies in costly outfit, each of them accompanied by a knight. Kehenis is greatly impressed by the wonderful train. Then they see a lady who is so beautiful that Kehenis thinks this must be the queen but Tristan says that this is lady Gymele of Schitriele (Gymelin von der Schettelin). Beside her rides a handsome youth, count Galiag of Miliag. Then a holy relic follows and after it comes Brangene, whom Kehenis thinks to be even prettier than Gymele.

Motif References:

T 41 Communication of lovers
T 59.1 (Bm) Rings as love tokens
H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
H 82.3 Tokens between lovers
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper

EvOTr-6496: Behind her come two horses carrying between them a gold-trimmed litter and Tristrant tells Kehenis that this is his dog which the queen transports thus for his sake. Then Kehenis sees such a gleam that he thinks there must be two suns and he asks his friend about it. Tristrant says it is the queen. Isalde is riding alone because she has sent Antret off at that moment. Kehenis has to admit that she is the most beautiful woman and that his sister cannot compare with her. Tristrant throws the twig into the mane of her horse and she stops. She bids Brangene send Galiag to the king to tell him that she is not feeling well and he should not come to see her that night. The king should make his camp on the other side of the river. Marke is very sorry about the queen’s illness and does what she has asked. The queen dismounts and takes out the dog of its golden house. She strokes it with her precious mantle, takes it in her arms and caresses it. Kehenis admits that his sister never treated Tristrant so well. Then ruseful Isalde, who dares not speak to Tristrant, tells the birds singing there to come to Blanken Forest to sing for her this night. Antret returns and leads her to the camp. In the evening the king rides over to find out how the queen is but Brangene tells him that she is not well and he rides away.

Motif References:

T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous
T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
K 1514 Adulteress gets rid of husband while she entertains lover
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested

EvOTr-6654: Tristrant and Kehenis come and are received well by Isalde. Only Brangene, Gymele and Perenis are with her. The queen takes Tristrant with her and tells Kehenis to go to Gymele. The knight wants to make love to Gymele which she refuses. As he insists she says that even if he served her for five years she would not do what he asked for she would not ever have a lover. But after thinking a little she says if he would be her countryman and of equal rank, and if her friends would agree she might well accept him. Kehenis gives up his wooing. Isalde, who wants to be with Tristrant, tells Kehenis to have Brangene or Gymele as a lover for the night. He thinks that she cannot mean it but she insists and Kehenis chooses Gymele. The queen bids Gymele to lie with Kehenis. Gymele asks Isalde if she wants her to lose her honor and the queen gives her a magic pillow. Isalde says that she puts it under her head so that she can sleep when she is longing for Tristrant. Kehenis will sleep all night if she puts it under his head until it is taken away again. Thus Kehenis is cheated and he sleeps all night. In the morning Gymele removes the pillow and he is greatly embarrassed at not finding the girl beside him. Gymele mocks at his fine manners in bed and Kehenis is very downcast. The lovers part.

Motif References:

T 75 Man scorned by his beloved
T 311 Woman averse to marriage
T 484 Maidservant given to lover’s companion as bed-partner
K 675 Sleeping potion given to man who is to pass the night with a girl.(Sometimes magic pillow or magic sleeping card.)
D 1154.5 Magic pillow
D 1364.11 Pillow causes magic sleep
D 1960 Magic sleep

EvOTr-6812: When they come to a bad break in the road only to be crossed by horse Tristrant sends Perenis to the place where Kurneval is waiting. Kurneval sets out with him at once and they meet one of the king’s knights, Pleherin, with seven of his men. They do not stop and Pleherin pursues them and thinking this must be Tristrant tries to stop them by asking him to fight for the queen’s sake. The squires barely escape but lose one horse. Shortly afterwards Pleherin comes to the court and tells the queen that he saw Tristrant and that he did not stop for her sake. Isalde pretends to be very angry at Pleherin for having even mentioned Tristrant. But secretly she sends word to her lover to reprimand him for this offense. Tristrant says he is innocent - they have got no horses yet.

Motif References:

P 52.2 (Li) Knight in service of a lady
T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested

EvOTr-6908: Just then Kurneval and Kehenis’s squire arrive with the horses. Kehenis, who blames Tristrant for his great sorrow, says that the horses have found a good pasture since Tristrant and his companions were chased in the morning. Tristrant tells Perenis that he is innocent and he would have stopped for his lady’s sake without any doubt. He will wait for him to know if she thinks him guilty or not. Perenis brings the message to Isalde, but she does not believe him and thinks he has been bribed. Finally he says that it was the squires who did not turn for her sake and goes back to Tristrant to tell him that his lady thinks him guilty. Tristrant is distressed at his words and wants to regain his lady’s favor. Kehenis is sorry to have caused this trouble and he will wait with Kurneval for Tristrant.

Motif References:

T 84 Lovers treacherously separated

EvOTr-7026: Tristrant goes to a leper, puts on the man’s clothes, takes his clapper and goes to the queen. She recognizes him at once and orders that he be driven out. As he would not stay away two squires strike and kick him while she looks on laughing. Tristrant departs angrily. When Kurneval is told what has happened he starts to hate the lady and says to Tristrant that he would not stay with him unless he would avoid his lady for a year. Tristrant promises to do so and forgives Kehenis. His anger makes him make Kehenis’s sister truly his wife and they are very happy.

Motif References:

T 75 Man scorned by his beloved
M 100 Vows and oaths
K 1818.1 Disguise as leper

EvOTr-7081: Tristrant met his lady in May and they parted in enmity which endures until St. Michael’s day. Then the queen begins to lament at not seeing her lover. Perenis tells her that she did not do right, for Tristrant was innocent. Brangene advises her to send a letter, confessing that she did wrong and offering to make it up to him. Isalde sends Tristrant word with a page for she fears that her messenger could be caught with her letter. A well-bred and wise page called Piloise (H: Pilorse, D: Piloyse, B: Peloiß). She tells him that she has lost Tristrant’s favor because she watched him beaten and laughed openly. The messenger should tell him of her devotion and that she is wearing a hair garment next to her body for his sake. She will wear it and never take it off until he returns to her.

Motif References:

T 41 Communication of lovers
Q 523.10.1 (Bm) Penance: wearing sackcloth.

EvOTr-7188: The page leaves Cornwall and goes to see Tristrant whom he meets hunting with a falcon before Karahes. They recognize each other and Tristrant asks him about the queen. The messenger tells him of her great suffering because of him and that she is seeking his pardon. She would do anything he wished and is wearing a hair garment for his sake. The page implores Tristrant to show mercy on her but he refuses. Piloise insists and finally Tristrant gives in. He sends her word to take off the chemise and that he forgives her. He will come to see her next May for he promised to avoid her for a year. Then Tristrant asks him to come to the city so that he can give him money before he leaves. No one finds out who he is. He asks Tristrant to have someone direct him to a city of the land which is called St. Michelstein where a fair is going on. In Cornwall there is a city of the same name and both are almost equally rich and both have fairs during the festival of Saint Michael. The squire buys there whatever he wants. Then he returns home. The king and the queen receive him well. When the king asks the squire where he got the goods – thus worrying the lady - he slyly tells that he gained all these riches at St. Michelstein this market day. Relieved the lady weeps with joy. Piloise follows her and gives her Tristrant’s message.

Motif References:

T 41 Communication of lovers
Q 523.10.1 (Bm) Penance: wearing sackcloth.
K 2310 Deception by equivocation

EvOTr-7445: As soon as May has come Tristrant disguises as pilgrim (gray clothes, foreign shoes, a knapsack and a staff). Kurneval dresses himself in like manner and they travel secretly to the castle of Tinas. The steward is not at home and so they wait in the thicket beside the road to look out for some other messenger to Isalde. Next morning a friend of Tristrant rides by alone sleeping soundly. Tristrant seizes his horse and holds it without awakening him. The knight only wakes up when his horse becomes startled. He recognizes Tristrant who asks him to deliver a message for him: He should tell the queen that Tristrant has come and would like to see her. She should arrange for the king to ride out for a hunt in Blankenland so that they could meet near the thorn thicket where she found him the last time. Tristrant gives a ring as a token to his messenger. The knight arrives at the court and the queen is very happy about the message. Isalde has the king make another hunt and asks for Antret to escort the ladies.

Motif References:

T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous
T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
P 426.2 Hermit
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)

EvOTr-7560: The queen is in great grief for the death of Brangene whom everyone mourns with much lamenting. Gymele and Perenis are riding with Isalde. When she comes near Tristrant’s hiding place she tells her retinue to ride on to the town. Only Gymele and Antret stay with her. Antret is the queen’s kinsman and therefore she cannot send him away. Isalde has begun to pick flowers near the hiding place when she hears the hunt approaching. Her horse is startled when the stag appears and gallops into the forest. Antret tries to catch it and the lady goes to talk with her lover. Meanwhile a huntsman drives back the stag so that it runs toward Tristrant’s hiding place and the king follows it closely. At this the lady runs in the direction of the stag and cries loudly so that it flees from her. Thus Tristrant is saved and the hunt chases off with the king. Then Antret who is annoyed of having had to chase the lady’s horse comes back. At night Tristrant comes where Isalde has told him, and they both are filled with joy.

Motif References:

T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous
T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
T 298 Reconciliation [reunion] of (separated) couple

EvOTr-7704: In the morning Tristrant leaves to meet Kurneval but does not find him. Tristrant looks for him but finally makes up his mind to seek him where they are to take ship. He comes to the town where the king’s retinue is halting and up to knightly sports. One of the knights recognizes him but pretends he has not. He follows him and asks him to stop calling him by name. Tristrant refuses but the knight asks him to throw the javelin once, take one leap across the ditch and put the stone once for no one can match him in these things. He promises to bring him back without any trouble. Tristrant thinks this unwise and refuses. Yet the knight asks him to do it for the sake of the queen and so Tristrant does as he requests. He throws the javelin so far that everyone comes running to see it. Then he makes such a leap over the ditch that his trousers split and the fine red underwear is to be seen. When he throws the stone his coat tears and again one can see the fine red garment underneath. He hurries away and escapes. When the king comes he thinks to himself that this must have been Tristrant. He asks his retinue to seek him. But meanwhile Tristrant has traveled home to Karahes.

Motif References:

H 32 Recognition by extraordinary prowess [virtue]
T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
H 151.6.2 Recognition because of imperfection of disguise
R 210 Escapes
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested
H 1562 Test of strength

EvOTr-7865: Not far from Karahes lives a mighty lord named Nampetenis. He formerly often has won high praise with knightly deeds and now is very fond of hunting. He guards his beautiful wife named Gariole very grimly. A man should not do this, for he could never protect his wife if she were not willingly faithful. Nampetenis has the castle walls built very high with three deep and wide moats around them. No man is allowed to stay in the castle when the lord is out and he is the only gatekeeper of the castle and carries the keys of the three gates. Kehenis once has almost been captured by Nampetenis who by now has given up knightly pursuits. He devotes all his efforts to watching over his wife and to hunting almost every day. This sorely vexes his wife but she dares not oppose him for he is a frightful man. Before her marriage the lady secretly promised her love to Kehenis. Nampetenis has heard of the promise and set up the watch over her. But the lady and Kehenis are still in love with each other.

Motif References:

M 149 Vows concerning sex - miscellaneous
W 181 Jealousy
T 257.12 (Bm) Jealous husband confines wife to tower
T 257 Jealous husband or wife.

EvOTr-7965: One day Kehenis secretly rides to her while her husband is hunting. The lady sees him from the wall and welcomes him. She sends her ladies away so that he can give her his message. He reminds her of her promise before her marriage and asks for her love. She says that she would be happy to do his will if he could manage to visit her. This makes the knight very happy and he considers how he could get to her. At last he asks Tristrant for advice who tells him that he should ask the lady to press the keys secretly against pieces of wax and throw them over the moat to him. From this imprint in the wax new keys are to be made so that Kehenis can unlock the castle. Kehenis follows this advice and Gariole gets the wax ready with only three ladies knowing of this plan. Kehenis picks up the wax three days later but cannot find a skillful smith to make the keys for him. He asks Tristrant for help who sends for his smith (he came with him from Tintanjol) and Kehenis has him make the keys.

Motif References:

K 1359.5 Access for seduction gained by removing locks [wax-imprints of keys]
K 1500 Deceptions connected with adultery

EvOTr-8139: Meanwhile a messenger has arrived from Tristrant’s land telling him that his father has died and the country is without a ruler. There is great strife in his kingdom among some of the lords, who want to be king there, and Tristrant’s friends, vassals and kinsmen. Tristrant wants to give the crown and his kingdom to Kurneval but he wants his lord to be king himself and take possession of his land. He only asks to be invested with a piece of land on which he can support himself. But he would accept to be a ruler if Tristrant would want to go back across the sea. This would be the right thing to do and Tristrant should follow his council. Tristrant makes the arrangements for his journey but before losing the service of Kurneval he wants to see the queen once again. He sets out secretly with only Kurneval. They disguise as errant squires, wearing short red mantles doubled with fine yellow cloth, and arrive at Litan where they find Tinas.

Motif References:

P 17.0.2 Son succeeds father as king
P 361 Faithful servant [vassal]
K 1815 Humble disguise

EvOTr-8241: Tristrant sends Tinas to his lady with word that he has come, would like to see her and that they should meet in the orchard at the lime tree. The queen secretly comes to Tristrant and remains with him until morning. Then Tristrant leaves and hurries with Kurneval back toward the ships. Unfortunately his nephew Antret catches sight of them and begins to chase them. Being unarmed they have to flee for Antret pursues them with spear and shield. Tristrant springs into a boat he finds at the banks of a stream and they get away. Antret throws his spear after them but only strikes the boat. While Antret searches for a place to cross the two companions use the spear fragment to get to the bank for they have got no oar. Antret sends word to the king that Tristrant has met the queen and that he would have killed him if he had not fled and escaped. The king sets out at once with his men and has all roads guarded. They search for three days. Tinas has to care for the watch near his castle and soon comes upon Tristran. He brings him to his wife and orders her to hide him well. Tristrant certainly would have been killed if Tinas would not have captured him.

Motif References:

T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous
T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
R 53 Captivity as refuge for the captive
R 219 Escapes - miscellaneous
R 260 Pursuits

EvOTr-8368: Two errant squires, named Houpt and Plot come to the queen’s quarters. They have gambled away their outfits. Isalde sees that they are in need and promises them rich reward if they would do her a favor. She tells them about Tristrant’s troubles and asks them to let themselves capture in order to save her lover’s life and her own honor. They should put on two mantles she will give to them and flee as if they wanted to get out of the country quickly and let themselves be caught. When they have been captured they should maintain that Tristrant is their lord and has sent them to this country, that he has remained at Karahes but will soon follow them with his warriors to succeed his father as king. They should further say that they were pursued by warriors and were lucky to escape by a boat they found at a river. A knight threw a spear which missed them but they rowed down the river with a piece of the shaft. Ever since they were going about in the country. They should stick to this story if they would be questioned separately about these things.

Motif References:

K 1810.1 Disguise by putting on clothes (carrying accoutrements) of certain person
K 1840 Deception by substitution

EvOTr-8472: Isalde gives them two mantles like Tristrant’s and the squires leave at once. They are captured soon afterwards and brought to court. The evil Duke Antret questions them and they repeat what the queen has told them to say. Antret does not believe them and questions them separately, but each of them sticks to the story. So Antret tells the king that they are not lying and that he chased them for he thought one of them must be Tristrant. The king puts an end to the watch and lets the two squires go. As soon as the guards are gone Tinas helps Tristrant return home.

Motif References:

K 1810.1 Disguise by putting on clothes (carrying accoutrements) of certain person
K 1840 Deception by substitution

EvOTr-8553: Tristrant takes with him 300 knights and travels to his own country. The princes receive is fiefs from him and all that happened before is well settled. Tristrant remains in his own land for just two years. Then he turns over to Kurneval a great deal of his property, bids him take care of his realm and asks his vassals to serve and be subject to him. Tristrant returns to Karahes. In the meantime his father-in-law and his mother-in-law have died. Kehenis has been engaged in a long war for Count Riole has attacked him and caused great damage. All are very happy about Tristrant’s return. He sends messengers to the nobles of the land to summon an army against Riole. The count is defeated and punished for his misdeeds. Then Tristrant takes the city from which Riole started his campaign and sets fire to it. After the army enters the city they find in it a tower the defenders of which would not surrender. Tristrant attacks them in a rage and having his helmet off he is badly wounded by a heavy stone. He is carried away for dead. Kehenis conquers the tower after a hard fight and all its defenders are hanged.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
P 110.0.1 (Bm) Faithful steward [knight] as regent
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 552.6 (Tu) Conscription of troops: summoning allies as preparation for war

EvOTr-8629: Tristrant is brought home with great lamenting and Kehenis and all his men weep bitterly. Doctors are sent for and they bind and heal his wounds. Tristrant recovers only after more than a year. He has lost his beauty and no one would recognize him. One day he rides out to hunt with a boy, his sister’s son, and when they come riding to the sea Tristrant wonders in a low voice if he will ever see his love again. The boy asks about it and Tristrant tells him that he was discovered when he last saw her. They were disguised as squires and barely escaped. Before that he went there as a pilgrim and was almost caught. Only Kurneval could advise him how he could see the queen again. The boy says this would be easy now, for his appearance has changed and nobody would be able to recognize him. He should dress as a fool, wearing a hooded coat and acting silly. Tristrant is grateful for his nephew’s council and gets the coat and a large club. He sets out alone and finds a merchant who takes him over to Cornwall to the queen and the king. Tristrant keeps everyone laughing in the ship and they admit that there is no better fool anywhere. He is given some cheese to eat and he secretly puts it in his hood to bring it to his lady.

Motif References:

T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
P 192 Madmen (fools, professional fools)
K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool

EvOTr-8758: They come to Tintanjol and bring the fool to the king whom they find riding on the shore. Tristrant acts so like a jester that the courtiers are sure he is one. They pull him about by the ears and play with him. When Antret also wants to jest with him Tristrant chases him and would have killed him. Antret barely escapes. When they come to the castle the fool goes before the queen and asks for her kiss. As she refuses to kiss him he begins to stare fondly at her. The king asks him about his strange behavior and the fool replies that the queen likes him and that he soon will make love to her. He says he is a noble knight who has endured many hardships because of her. Still the king and all the rest think him a fool, however a few people think that he does not talk foolishly. Tristrant then reaches for the cheese in his hood and offers it as a present to the queen.

EvOTr-8887: When the king leaves the fool asks the queen to eat the cheese with him. He places a little of it against her lips and she slaps him lightly. He says that for the sake of Tristrant she should not hit him. The queen asks him about Tristrant and the fool secretly tells her many things that had happened while they were together and he shows her a ring she had given him. Then he identifies as Tristrant. Isalde recognizes him and is very happy. She has taken good care of the fool and a fine bed prepared for him in her quarters. Tristrant is a jester by day, and by night he is with his lady. After three weeks two chamberlains find out that the fool is making love to the queen and want to slay or capture him. The king is not at home.

Motif References:

H 19 Recognition through common knowledge - miscellaneous
T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
H 94 Identification by ring
P 192 Madmen (fools, professional fools)
K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool

EvOTr-8956: The clever Tristrant notices the watchmen in the queen’s quarters but his love makes him go to meet her. He has his club in his hand and the watchers dare not attack him. Tristrant sadly takes leave from Isalde promising her to be forever loyal and asking her to be faithful to him. When a messenger would bring her his ring she should do whatever asked for. Tristrant departs, holding his club high so that the watchers dare not confront him. After the fool has left the watchmen start to quarrel each of them trying to put the blame for the fool’s escape on the other. They follow him but let him get away unharmed for he seems too fierce to them. They do not dare tell anybody about it.

Motif References:

T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
H 94 Identification by ring
R 210 Escapes
K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool

EvOTr-9033: Meanwhile Kehenis has got the keys to the castle of his beloved and one day when Nampetenis goes out to hunt he and Tristrant ride secretly to Gariole. Kehenis unlocks the three gates and they ride into the castle. Kehenis is wearing a hat made of flowers, which is blown by the wind into the moat. Tristrant remains with the ladies while Gariole and Kehenis are together. Tristrant entertains the ladies by throwing a twig into the wall and thereupon another into the first and so on. He covers the wall with twigs. Then Tristrant and his friend leave the castle. On their way back home they start chasing a deer and wear their horses in the hunt. Meanwhile Nampetenis comes home and sees Kehenis’s hat lying in the moat. When he enters the ladies’ quarters he finds the twigs sticking in the wall. He thinks this must have been done by Tristrant for no one can throw that way. It occurs to him that Kehenis has been with his wife.

Motif References:

H 35 Recognition by unique manner of performing an act
H 81.3 Clandestine visit of lover to queen betrayed by token
T 481 Adultery

EvOTr-9161: Nampetenis draws his sword and questions Gariole swearing to kill her if she did not tell the truth. The frightened lady admits that Kehenis has been there and pretends to have been raped. The knight followed by eight armed men hurries after his enemies who cannot flee because their horses are tired. They fight fiercely and Nampetenis kills Kehenis who first slays three of his warriors. Tristrant kills four enemies and wounds another but he himself is badly wounded. Nampetenis strikes him with a poisoned lance and leaves him for dead. Nampetenis laments their death for he fears their friends’ revenge. When the news come to Karahes Tristrant’s wife is overcome with grief. She brings her husband home, has Kehenis buried with great mourning and doctors brought for Tristrant. But his wounds cannot be healed by anyone except queen Isalde. Tristrant sends a merchant from the city to Tintanjol to tell her to come quickly. He should return with a white sail if the queen comes with him and with a black one if she will not come. He gives him his ring as a token. The man’s daughter should watch out for his ship every day on the shore and let no one else know about it.

Motif References:

H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
Z 140.1 Color of flag (sails) on ship as message of good or bad news
Z 142 Symbolic color: white
Z 143 Symbolic color: black
P 424.5 Female physician [healer]
F 833.6 Sword with poisoned edge.

EvOTr-9309: The merchant does everything his lord wishes. He tells his daughter what Tristrant has asked and what she is supposed to do giving her strict orders to keep it secret. Then he secretly journeys to the queen and delivers his message. When Isalde sees the ring she leaves at once and sails off with the messenger taking with her only the things she needs for her healing art. For Tristrant’s sake she leaves husband and land, wardrobe and treasure and renounces the honor of royalty. When the girl begins to expect her father’s return she watches for him every day. Tristrant’s wife however who somehow has got to know about the secret orders her on pain of death to let her know the color of the sail first. She pretends that Tristrant could easily be harmed by knowing. When the girl sees a white sail approaching she tells the lady of it. The wife brings the news of his merchant’s return to her husband but when he asks her about the sail’s color she tells him that it is not white. Tristrant dies.

Motif References:

T 257 Jealous husband or wife.
F 1041.1.1 Death from broken heart
K 1087.1 Message falsified [brings] (to bring) about death of lovers

EvOTr-9391: Tristrant’s death almost kills his wife and she starts screaming. People in the city weep and mourn for their lord. When the queen sails to the shore and hears the wailing she is alarmed. She does not turn pale or red, nor does she weep, but her heart is filled with grief. She goes silently to her lover’s bier and tells his wife who stands there and weeps to move back for she has more cause to mourn him because she loved him more. Then she uncovers the bier and lies down beside the knight and dies. Seeing the queen dead all begin to wail loudly.

Motif References:

T 81.3 Girl [wife] falls dead on lover’s [husband’s] body
T 211.9.1 Wife dies of grief for death of husband
T 211.9 Excessive grief at husband’s or wife’s death
P 681 Mourning customs
F 1041.1.2.1 Lover dies beside dying [dead] sweetheart
K 1087.1 Message falsified [brings] (to bring) about death of lovers

EvOTr-9446: Eilhart of Oberge (H: Segehart von Baubenberg, D: her Eylhart von Hobergin, B: Enthartte von Oberengen) composed this poem and he has told this story in the right way. Tristrant’s wife orders the bodies be placed in splendid coffins. In a short time the news come to King Marke that his nephew and his wife have died because of their love for each other. He is told that a potion has caused them to fall in love against their will. The king is deeply grieved that he has not known it in time: He would have treated them kindly so that Tristrant would have stayed with him. If this could bring them back to life he would give his kingdom, people and land forever to their own. He sails across the sea for the bodies and brings them back. They are buried amid great mourning with splendor and in one grave. The king has a rosebush planted over the woman and a grape vine over the man and the two grow tightly together, which is due to the power of the potion (H / D: 9524). The king has made an epitaph telling that Tristrant and Isalde are buried in this grave as Love taught them (B: 9532).

Motif References:

T 21 Mutual love through accidental drinking of love philtre
V 69 Funeral rites - miscellaneous
T 86 Lovers buried in same grave [coffin]
E 631.0.1 Twining branches grow from graves of lovers
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

Matière de Bretagne

Eilhart von Oberg, Tristrant (1175/80) Buschinger, Danielle (ed.): Eilhart von Oberge, Tristrant. (=GAG 202) Göppingen 1976.

Eilhart von Oberg, Tristrant (1175/80)
Buschinger, Danielle (ed.): Eilhart von Oberge, Tristrant. (=GAG 202) Göppingen 1976.