HvFTr-1: The author, Heinrich von Vriberc, complains about the death of Gottfried of Strassburg whose story he will bring to an end for his patron Reinmunt of Liuchtenburg. Tristan is staying in Arundele, the land of duke Lovelin and his wife Kassie, who have a son, Kaedin, and a daughter, Isot Blanschemanis. Tristan overcomes the duke’s enemies. Tristan is in deep sorrow because of his love for the two Isots. Proverb: He who loves two persons, loves none. So he has to choose. The author wonders about the fact that Tristan and Isot (Isot-the-Fair) have separated despite the power of the love-philtre.

Motif References:

T 92 Rivals in love
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

HvFTr-225: Masters of astrology know about the stars and their influence: The author takes it for granted that Tristan’s and Isot’s love and the efficacy of the love-philtre depend on their specific personal stars. Tristan considering his adultery and faithlessness towards his uncle Marke gives up his love for Isot. The authors doubts if Isot’s star was extinguished too and the love-philtre has lost its efficacy so that she now only loves her husband. Tristan loves Isot with the white hands. Proverb: Distance separates lovers, closeness brings them together.

Motif References:

T 10 Falling in love
N 120 Determination of luck or fate

HvFTr-326: Tristan has a conversation with Kaedin and woos his sister Isot. Kaedin tells his parents about it and Kassie asks her daughter. Isot will be obedient to her parents and her brother. The duke will leave his country, people and possessions to his son-in-law. Tristan gives oath on a sacred relic to marry Isot.

Motif References:

T 50 Wooing
T 61.4 Betrothal ceremony
M 114 Oath taken on sacred object

HvFTr-509: Four weeks later at Pentecost a great and splendid wedding feast takes place. Many guests are invited and entertained regally. There is music and dancing. The bishop gives Tristan and Isot in marriage; they give the oath of fidelity and exchange rings. After Tristan has retired to the bridal chamber, the ladies accompany Isot to her husband and Kassie has Isot laid in Tristan’s arms. There are blessings for the couple, Kassie leaves and Tristan bars the door.

Motif References:

T 135 Wedding ceremony
T 136.1 Wedding feast
T 137.2 Bride and bridegroom conducted to bridal bed

HvFTr-764: Tristan looks at his ring he received from Isot as he left her in the orchard after Marke had detected their adultery. He once again is in love with the fair Isot and does not consummate the marriage. Isot wonders and thinks this might be some strange custom in Parmenie. In the morning they have a meal and attend church. The palace is festively decorated and the knights joust. Tristan and Isot are both distracted and do not eat much. The marriage is not consummated the second night either, Isot wonders about Tristan’s sighs about “Isot”. She knows nothing about her rival. The feast lasts for eight days.

Motif References:

H 82.3.1 (Bm) Ring as parting token
T 137 Customs following wedding
T 271 The neglected wife
T 286 Sight of mistress’s ring causes husband to withhold himself from his wife

HvFTr-992: Isot finally asks Tristan why he is angry at her. Tristan justifies his continence with a story: He once had to fight a fire-breathing dragon in Weisefort in Ireland and was nearly drowned as he wanted to refresh himself in a little pond. He vowed not to consummate his marriage for one year if he would be rescued. And then two remarkably beautiful women with white hands like angels saved him.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
B 11.2.11 Fire-breathing dragon
M 100 Vows and oaths
M 131 Vow of chastity [fidelity]
T 165.2 One year to elapse between ceremony and consummation of marriage

HvFTr-1136: One day as Tristan, Kaedin and Kurvenal return from hunting they meet a messenger who has been sent by King Arthur to invite as many kings and princes as he could manage within one year’s time. The messenger is well entertained at Karke.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger

HvFTr-1301: He tells them about King Arthur’s Round Table, where 500 valiant knights can be seated. The seats at the table are equal but they are reserved to excellent knights having proved their valiance through feats, their justice, faithfulness, munificence and courtesy. A coward and faithless person will be rejected, the first mouthful of the served meal will betray him. The members of the Round Table will be famous in all countries. The messenger proves his story by a letter as token. He is given reward. Tristan will undertake this adventure and leaves with a couple of knights and servants.

Motif References:

P 19.0.1 (Li) King Arthur as leader of outstanding chivalric society (Round Table)
Z 201.9.1 (Bm) Hero’s famous possessions - Arthur’s Round Table
H 1223 Quest to undertake feats of valor

HvFTr-1573: Tristan arrives in Britanje and sets out for Karidol. Karidol is surrounded by a forest for half a mile, site of many adventures of Arthur’s knights. Each knight meets another armed knight unknown to him will fight him in single combat. Kurvenal informs Tristan about this custom. Tristan is strengthened by his love for Isot and reassured by his excellent armor and weapons.

Motif References:

P 52.2 (Li) Knight in service of a lady
H 1223 Quest to undertake feats of valor

HvFTr-1641: Tristan leaves for adventure and meets a knight. Kurvenal and the companions of the adversary retire according to custom. They fight. Battle-cry of Tristan: Parmenie. The adversary gives security and identifies as Tristan’s friend and relative Gawan. They leave for Karidol.

Motif References:

H 30 Recognition through personal peculiarities
P 557.4 Customs concerning single combat
N 767.1 (Bm) Unwitting combat between friends. [Unwitting attack on friend]
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

HvFTr-1887: The author reminds of Tristan’s exploits: his revenge for his father upon king Morgan, the killing of Morold the Affrican, whom nobody dared to fight, the killing of the dragon at Weisefort, the exploit against the giant Urgan li vilis in Gales.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
Z 230 Extraordinary exploits of hero
P 233.6 Son avenges father
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 628 Strong man as mighty slayer
F 628.2.3 Strong man kills giant
F 639.4 Strong man overcomes giant

HvFTr-1912: Tristan, Gawan and Kurvenal come to Karidol. Tristan has a beautiful garment: he is wearing a hat, his mantle is embroidered with animals, as a coat of arms he displays a boar with golden teeth, symbol of his knighthood. King Arthur welcomes them and has them seated at the Round Table. Tristan surpasses all other knights in chivalrous virtues. Tristan overcomes even Dalkors, a member of the Round Table, then still undefeated and who considers a day without jousting a miserable: Tristan, Keie and Dalkors separately leave for adventure. Dalkors takes off his helmet crest as disguise, otherwise nobody would dare to fight him. Tristan overcomes Keie, whose horse returns to Karidol, then Tristan meets Dalkors. They do not recognize each other, because their shields are damaged and they have no helmet crest. Tristan overcomes Dalkors, whose horse returns to Karidol. Tristan finds his helmet crest, an arrow, which he had lost and rides back to Karidol.

Motif References:

Z 200 Heroes
H 1223 Quest to undertake feats of valor
K 1821 Disguise by changing bodily appearance

HvFTr-2143: Tristan pretends to have fought nobody - he does not want to boast. Keie arrives in a poor condition, is mocked at and says he must have fought some devil. Arthur asks about the combat and is told about some golden object on the adversary’s helmet. Arthur says this must have been Tristan, but Tristan denies. Dalkors tells the story of his defeat by a knight he cannot identify. Six weeks later Arthur asks Gawan to question Tristan about it. Gawan and Tristan have a conversation about their adventures and Gawan forces Tristan to tell the truth about Dalkors for the sake of his love for the queen of Ireland.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens

HvFTr-2333: Gawan will help Tristan to meet the queen. Arthur goes for a hunt in a forest near Marke’s lands. Gawan has a hunter drive a stag to Tintajol, so that they have to take a night’s lodging there. To avoid conflict because of Tristan who has been banished from Tintajol Gawan meets Marke and obtains a blind promise of peace for all of Arthur’s retinue. They are welcomed by Marke and Isot who have the hall festively decorated for their guests. Tristan and Isot greet each other secretly with their eyes and their hearts. The knights sleep in the hall, the royal couple has two separate chambers. Tristan’s nephew Tantrisel informs him that the queen will be alone.

Motif References:

M 223 Blind promise (rash boon)
M 246 Covenant of friendship
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper

HvFTr-2698: Suspicious Marke puts a block with twelve sharp knives before the queen’s chamber. Tristan and Isot suffer from love. Tristan goes to meet Isot in her chamber and is wounded by the knives. She binds his wound but her bed is stained with blood. At his return Tristan tells Gawan about the mischief and Arthur and the knights overhear his story. Keie’s advice to rescue Tristan: all of them should cut themselves by the knives in a tumult. Gawan pushes Keie into the knives so that he receives the largest wound. Arthur cannot stop them. In the morning each of them is wounded. Marke begs Arthur to forgive him and he will, if he is granted a rash boon: Marke has to forgive Tristan and Isot once and forever. So Tristan stays with Marke.

Motif References:

M 223 Blind promise (rash boon)
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper
K 1565 Blades (broken glass) to wound and detect wife’s lover
K 2150 Innocent made to appear guilty

HvFTr-3005: Due to the love-philtre Tristan and Isot suffer from love. Tantrisel is Isot’s messenger. Rumors arouse Marke’s suspicion anew. So he pretends to leave for Arthur’s court but hides in the forest nearby. Tristan should take care of the castle in the meantime. Jealous courtiers open the gates for the king at night and the adultery is detected. Tristan and Isot are bound and imprisoned.

Motif References:

T 230 Faithlessness in marriage [love]
T 481 Adultery
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre
K 1551 Husband returns home secretly and spies on adulteress and paramour
K 2247 Treacherous lord [vassal]

HvFTr-3102: The steward Tinas of Litan attends the law-court and asks that the captives’ bonds are loosened. Tristan and Isot are sentenced to death: Isot will be burnt on the stake, Tristan broken on the wheel. Tristan is led to the place of the execution. Due to Tinas’s pleading he is allowed to do his prayer in a chapel and escapes by jumping through the window into the sea. Tantrisel and Kurvenal wait for him before the town. Tristan hides beside the road. Tristan rescues Isot and they flee into the forest. They cannot find the cave of lovers and so they build a hut from reed, leaves and bark.

Motif References:

R 117 Rescue from being burned
R 161.4 Lover rescues his lady from the gallows [stake]
R 219.5 (Bm) Escape by jumping out window
R 225 Elopement
Q 241 Adultery punished
R 312.1 Forest as refuge for eloping lovers
Q 414.0.2 Burning as punishment for adultery
Q 423 Punishment: breaking upon a wheel
P 510 Law courts
K 551.1 Respite from death granted until prayer is finished
F 757 Extraordinary cave
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper

HvFTr-3334: As the king learns about Isot’s escape he takes it for God’s will. The refugees feed on game and water from a well. Tristan and Isot live on love and are content with what they get. Six months later Marke secretly observes Isot when she and Tantrisel collect flowers and herbs. Isot perceives Marke and deceives him once again by a ruseful conversation with Tantrisel: she pretends that Tristan has left her immediately after their escape and that she still loves the king. She cries and wrings her hands in grief. Marke begs her for forgiveness and they return to Tintajol. Tantrisel informs Tristan.

Motif References:

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

HvFTr-3676: Tristan returns to Arundele. He still does not consummate his marriage. The duke and the duchess, Isot, Tristan and Kaedin go on a hunt. Kaedin overhears Isot’s strange words: water from a puddle is more audacious than her husband. He questions Tristan. Tristan gives his reasons: once he has won a beautiful lady named Isot who gave him a ring as token. He promised not to consummate his marriage without telling her of his marriage. The fair Isot’s love was the greatest love ever. Tristan once killed the giant Urgan and received a little dog as reward from Gilan. Tristan sent the dog that had been raised by a woman in Avelun to Isot who cares more for Tristan’s dog than Isot with the white hands cares for Tristan. Tristan will stand with his life for this.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
H 82.3.1 (Bm) Ring as parting token
T 92 Rivals in love
M 100 Vows and oaths
Z 201.3 (Bm) Hero’s famous dog- Tristan‘s Peticrome
F 241.6 Fairy dogs
T 315.2 The continent husband
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man

HvFTr-3982: Kaedin and Tristan pretending a quest for adventure leave to test the love of Isot. Tinas is sent as messenger to Isot with a ring as identifying token. Marke and Isot are playing chess, and as soon as Isot identifies the ring she turns up the game board. Marke leaves. Tinas tells her to come with Marke to a certain place which will be marked by a twig. She should wear her best clothes.

Motif References:

H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested

HvFTr-4379: In the morning Tristan marks the meeting place with a twig. Tristan and Kaedin watch the queen’s retinue. Her attendants are so beautiful that Kaedin takes each of them for the queen. Finally he thinks the maidservant Kameline must be the queen. The dog has a golden hut which is carried by two horses in a sedan chair: Petitcriu had been sent to Gilan from the land of the fairy of Avelun. Tristan obtained it by combat and offered it as a gift to Isot. Isot surpasses all women in beauty and she is resplendent like a second sun: She is wearing a precious mantle with gold and jewels, her garment has been made in Avelun by the fairy. She has a head-dress with jewels, and a golden crown more precious than those of Alexander, Arthur and Saladin. Tantrisel takes the twig; the queen dismounts and caresses the dog. Kaedin says Tristan has told the truth, Isot is the most beautiful of women and she loves Tristan’s dog more than Tristan’s wife loves her husband.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
T 92 Rivals in love
Z 201.3 (Bm) Hero’s famous dog- Tristan ‘s Peticrome
F 241.6 Fairy dogs
F 271.8 Fees [fairies] engage in needlework
F 574.1 Resplendent beauty
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
F 821 Extraordinary dress (clothes, robe, etc.)
F 828 Extraordinary crown
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested
H 1596 Beauty contest

HvFTr-4602: Isot sick from love asks for some water. Antret is sent to the king to tell that Isot has fallen ill and will not join him. Tristan who is hiding in the bushes nearby learns where to meet her.

Motif References:

T 24.1 Love-sickness
T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous

HvFTr-4706: Tantrisel tells Tristan that all are asleep. Isot caresses Petitcriu. She offers Brangene or Kameline to Kaedin as bed partner. Isot gives Kameline a magic pillow and Kameline accepts Kaedin’s courtship. Kaedin falls asleep because of the magic pillow and in the morning she mocks at her would-be lover. In the morning they part.

Motif References:

T 75 Man scorned by his beloved
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

HvFTr-5025: Tristan falls sick in Litan. The queen sends him a remedy with Paranis and Tantrisel. Tristan is cured and cuts his hair. Tantrisel advises Tristan how he could meet Isot: illness having left him pale, thin, and with wrinkles, he easily could disguise as a fool. Tristan dresses as a fool: He has a grey hooded mantle with images of fools on it, a big club and a cheese in his hood. In Tintajol he asks the queen for her love, eats some cheese and gives a part to the queen, he pursues the courtiers with his club but does not hurt anybody except Antret whom he hits so hard that he becomes deaf. Isot is told by Tantrisel that the fool is Tristan. At the meal he sits beside her and she cuts his bread and gives him tidbits. Tristan wants to have his revenge upon Melot of Aquitan, a vicious dwarf, and blinds him by spilling a hot pepper soup over him. Marke forgives the fool everything because of his foolishness.

Motif References:

S 165 Mutilation: putting out eyes [blinding]
P 192 Madmen (fools, professional fools)
H 194 (Bm) Recognition only through direct revelation of identity
F 451.8.2 Proper names for dwarfs
F 451.5.2 Malevolent dwarf
K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool

HvFTr-5307: Marke leaves for a four days’ hunt. At the ladies’ question Tristan says his name is Peilnetosi, which means Isotenliep in reversed letters. Isot gets the meaning. He sings like a fool. Tristan has his bed before Isot’s chamber. When he addresses her as “Tosi”, she allows him entrance. Antret and Melot, rendered deaf and blind cannot interfere. Tristan follows Isot wherever she goes.

Motif References:

K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool
K 1831.0.1 Disguise by changing name

HvFTr-5496: The knight Pfelerin brings the news of the king’s arrival, Tristan has to leave. Isot will not see Tristan to her death. Tristan leaves in a fool’s outfit. For the sake of Isot he makes an extraordinary jump and Pfelerin wonders about the fool’s identity. He asks a boy for the fool’s name and being a learned knight he soon gets the meaning.. He sets out in pursuit of Tristan.

Motif References:

H 151.6.2 Recognition because of imperfection of disguise
F 1071 Prodigious jump

HvFTr-5553: Pfelerin pursues Tristan and forces him to stop for the sake of all ladies and the queen. Tristan kills Pfelerin. Marke pursues the slayer of Pfelerin, none of his court discloses the fool’s identity out of fidelity to Isot. Eventually Marke gets the meaning of Tristan’s false name. Tristan however escapes by ship and in the company of Kaedin and Kurvenal returns to Arundele.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
R 210 Escapes

HvFTr-5725: Kaedin asks Tristan for advice: He tells him the story of his childhood love for Kassie who is now the wife of Nampotenis of Gamaroch. She is extraordinarily beautiful and he wants to meet her again. But the castle Gamarke is very strong and moreover the keys of the only gate are kept by Nampotenis. Tristan and Kaedin go to see Nampotenis who trusts them.

Motif References:

T 23 (Bm) Childhood sweethearts
W 181 Jealousy
T 257.12 (Bm) Jealous husband confines wife to tower
T 381.0.2 Wife imprisoned in tower (house) to preserve chastity
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper

HvFTr-5834: Tristan writes a letter to Kassie in the name of Kaedin which Kaedin leaves with her as they leave. Kassie should make a wax model of the key and hide it. Before Tristan and Kaedin leave for Karke Kaedin takes the model with him.

Motif References:

K 1349.5 Access for seduction gained by removing locks
K 1500 Deceptions connected with adultery

HvFTr-5964: Tristan consummates his marriage. A skillful smith makes a second key within two weeks. Tristan and Kaedin hide in a forest near Gamarke and as soon as Nampotenis leaves for hunting Kaedin joins Kassie while Tristan entertains the ladies. He enjoys his love as Tristan in Isot’s tent as Kamele tricked Kaedin by her magic pillow. As he leaves Kaedin loses his garland of flowers which falls into the moat where Nampotenis finds it. He forces his wife to tell the truth. He pursues Tristan and Kaedin who have no weapons but their swords.

Motif References:

T 75 Man scorned by his beloved
H 81.3 Clandestine visit of lover to queen betrayed by token
T 230 Faithlessness in marriage [love]
T 481 Adultery
D 1154.5 Magic pillow

HvFTr-6180: Nampotenis forces Tristan to stop for the sake of Isot and Kaedin for Kassie. Their battle cries are Parmenie, Gamarke, Arundel, Karke. Nampotenis kills Kaedin, Tristan kills Nampotenis and his knights, but is wounded with a poisoned spear. Only one knight escapes. Tristan takes Kaedin’s body back to Karke and there is great grief.

Motif References:

T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
F 831.3.1 (Bm) Poisoned dart
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

HvFTr-6326: Kurvenal is sent as messenger to Isot who is the only person to heal him. They agree upon a white or black sail as a token. Isot leaves with Kurvenal aboard the ship with a white sail but Tristan’s wife Isot pretends that the sail is black and Tristan dies. She then changes her mind and tells the truth, but it is too late. Tristan’s death causes great grief: Tristan who now has died from love was the son of Blanschefluor. Rual was his foster-father and set out on a quest for him. He finally met him at Marke’s court. Tristan was knighted by Marke, returned to Parmenie to avenge his father on Morgan. He killed Morold and thus relieved Marke’s country from tribute. He killed the dragon in Weisefort. Tristan and Isot fell in love due to a love-philtre and Tristan achieved many feats in her love-service: In Gales he killed the giant Urgan for Gilan and thus received Petitcriu. In Karke Tristan helped Lovelin against his enemies and won the second Isot.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
Z 140.1 Color of flag (sails) on ship as message of good or bad news
Z 142 Symbolic color: white
Z 143.1 Black as symbol of grief
H 218 Trial by combat
Z 230 Extraordinary exploits of hero
P 233 Father and son
P 271 Foster father
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 668.0.1 Skillful physician
N 839 (Bm) Noble [vassal, knight] as helper
K 1087.1 Message falsified [brings] (to bring) about death of lovers
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

HvFTr-6481: Tristan’s body is embalmed and laid out in the church. His death greatly grieves the second Isot. At her arrival the Fair Isot learns of Tristan’s death, she loses color and swoons, she has no tears and is unable to speak. She kisses the body and dies from broken heart. Isot is embalmed and laid out in a coffin. Kurvenal beats his breast and tears his hair from grief, he kisses the corpses. The sweetness of world is bitter, which already was illustrated by story of Rivalin.

Motif References:

V 60 Funeral rites
T 81.3 Girl [wife] falls dead on lover’s [husband’s] body
Z 292.1 (Bm) Hero’s corpse embalmed
F 1041.1.2.1 Lover dies beside dying [dead] sweetheart
F 1041.1.1.3 Heart breaks from sorrow
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief
F 1041.21.6 Tearing hair and clothes from excessive grief

HvFTr-6658: Marke follows Isot to Karke in order to punish the lovers. As he disembarks on the shore he learns of their death. Kurvenal tells him the story of the love-philtre and its magic, and Tristan’s death because of a poisoned spear in Gamaroch.

Motif References:

T 21 Mutual love through accidental drinking of love philtre
F 831.3.1 (Bm) Poisoned dart
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

HvFTr-6753: A mass is sung for the dead. Marke takes them to Tintajol, where their death causes great grief. Marke has made two marble coffins, the queen is buried with the crowns of Kurnevale and England. Marke then founds a monastery “A l’estelle sente Maria”, where he retires from the world after having made Kurvenal his successor. A rose bush and a vine branch grow from the hearts of Tristan and Isot and entwine: This is due the love-philtre working even beyond death.

Motif References:

P 16.1 King (prince) retires from world (becomes hermit [monk, pilgrim], swineherd [beggar])
P 17 Succession to the throne
V 40 Mass
V 65 Commemoration of death
V 67.1 Ornaments (arms, chariots) buried with hero
V 118 Monasteries [cloisters, abbeys, nunneries]
E 631.0.1 Twining branches grow from graves of lovers
D 1355.2 Magic love-philtre

HvFTr-6842: The author has translated this story of Thomas of Britanje which shows the vanity of all worldly love to which Christian love should be preferred. Like the wine and the rose-bush on the lovers’ graves the Christians should entwine with Christ: He is the blooming rose bush because he was born from a virgin and died for the sake of mankind on the cross.

Motif References:

Z 150 Other symbols

Matière de Bretagne

Heinrich von Freiberg, Tristan (>1280) Buschinger, D. (ed.): Heinrich von Freiberg, Tristan. (=GAG 270) Göppingen 1982.

Heinrich von Freiberg, Tristan (>1280)
Buschinger, D. (ed.): Heinrich von Freiberg, Tristan. (=GAG 270) Göppingen 1982.