Ulrich von Türheim, Tristan (<1234)
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Matière de Bretagne
Ulrich von Türheim, Tristan (<1234)
Kerth, Th.(ed.): Ulrich von Türheim, Tristan. (=ATB 89) Tübingen 1979.
UvTTr-1:
In his prologue the author praises Master Gottfried (Gotfrit) and deplores his early death so that his book remained a torso. Konrad Schenk of Winterstetten (Kuonrat der schenke von Wintersteten) has asked him to finish it.
Motif References:
UvTTr-40:
Tristan decides to forget Marke’s wife Isot of Ireland (Ysot) whose love brought so much sorrow and dishonor upon him, and turn his love towards Isot of Karke (Ysot), with the White Hands (die wizgehanden). He tells his friend (Kaedin) that he would be glad to marry his sister and stay with them. He asks him to speak in his favor to his parents and to ask his sister as well. Kaedin informs his family that Tristan wants to marry Isot and that he will stay with them. The duchess is very happy about it for Tristan’s presence will force their enemy, count Riol, to keep peace. Kaedin brings the good news to Tristan and they go to meet Isot and her parents. The duchess makes Tristan promise to stay with them forever. Tristan and Isot give their oath of marriage onto sacred relics and the duchess makes them lie together and gives them her blessing.
Motif References:
T 50 Wooing
T 66 Help in wooing
T 100 Marriage
M 114.4 Swearing on sacred relics
M 150 Other vows and oaths
UvTTr-218:
When she has left Tristan does not consummate his marriage for he cannot forget the Fair Isot – which is due to the love-philtre. Love (Vrou Minne) torments Tristan with both Isots, proving thus her inconstancy. Isot wonders about her husband’s continence and thinks he might be over-considerate towards her. In the morning Isot takes the dress and chaplet of a married woman. Nobody knows that her husband left her a virgin. One night Isot questions her husband about his strange behavior and Tristan pretends to have vowed that if he would marry he would not consummate his marriage for one year. Isot however accuses him that his scorning is due to the Fair Isot which brings dishonor upon him. Yet she will be patient for one year and keep their secret well.
Motif References:
M 131 Vow of chastity [fidelity]
T 271 The neglected wife
T 315.2 The continent husband
UvTTr-374:
One day the duke and his wife go for a ride, as a pastime and to hunt, and they have their friends come with them. Isot lost in her thoughts rides alone and when she passes a little puddle the water splashes up under her dress. Isot says to herself that this water is more audacious than her husband who never touched her. Kaedin who has overheard her questions his sister and finally learns her secret. Kaedin thinks this is due to Tristan’s love for the Fair Isot and he asks his parents what he should do about this offense. They advise him to charge Tristan before friends, vassals and kinsmen, then call him to account in public and beg him to change his attitude towards his wife and if he would refuse he should it proclaim openly as an offense.
Motif References:
T 315.2.1 The audacious water and the continent husband
UvTTr-474:
Kaedin questions Tristan about the affair and threatens to kill him. Tristan says that he loves none but the Fair Isot for she is unsurpassed in beauty among all women and has more love for his dog than his wife has for him. Kaedin should kill him if he lied. Kaedin wants to see the Fair Isot to have it proved and they agree upon a six weeks limit. Meanwhile the ladies and the knights have pitched two tents on a beautiful meadow where they enjoy all sorts of courtly pastimes like stalking and hunting, throwing stones and spears, riding, flying falcons and playing games. There are many beautiful ladies.
Motif References:
T 92 Rivals in love
M 201 Making of bargains and promises
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
UvTTr-546:
Tristan and Kaedin ride out hunting and Tristan plays on a leaf to call game which he knows very well. When a black and white deer appears they both wonder at its strange color and spare it. The deer approaches and brings a letter and a golden ring to Tristan, who recognizes the token at once. Then the animal bows to him and leaves. In her letter Isot begs him to end her grief and to come to meet her without delay. She has raised the deer in the forest and when it was hunted it fled toward her into her tent and she rescued it. The deer stayed with her and one day when she wept out of grief it wept with her. In her dream Minne gave her this letter and made the deer her messenger. If Tristan would not come she would die.
Motif References:
T 41 Communication of lovers
H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
B 200 Animals with human traits
B 291.3 Wild beast as messenger.
B 731.7 Fancifully colored deer.
UvTTr-624:
Kaedin asks about the letter which he thinks to come from the Fair Isot. Tristan turns red and white, but he soon recovers from his grief. He admits that the message comes from the queen and has Kaedin read the letter. They agree to set out without delay after Kaedin has promised that his father would willingly equip them for their journey if they would give their oath to return soon. They go to see the duke.
Motif References:
T 24.5 Boy [girl] turns red and white from love
UvTTr-676:
The duke is not pleased to see Tristan. Tristan asks him for a leave to visit his lands. The duke presumes he wants to escape after having offended their daughter. Kurvenal defends his lord against the duke’s accusations: Tristan did not wrong his wife, whom he treated respectfully never beating nor striking her. The duke therefore should give his consent to Tristan’s journey. Kaedin announces that he will accompany his friend and if he cannot prove that the queen Isot is more beautiful than his sister he will kill him. Tristan has told him that she keeps her dog better than his sister keeps her husband. Yet the duke insists on his refusal and threatens to kill Tristan. He only gives in when Isot begs for her husband and declares that a foreigner like him must not be harmed.
Motif References:
M 201 Making of bargains and promises
UvTTr-752:
The duke has them swear to return as soon as possible and Tristan sets a time limit of twelve weeks. Then the duke gives the company rich outfit for their journey. Tristan, Kaedin and in their company Kurvenal and Paligan and a retinue of twenty knights receive rich garments and fine horses. When they take leave many ladies are in grief for them. Isot complains that Tristan leaves for the sake of another woman. Tristan begs her to forgive him his offense. Then he sets out to Tintagel (Tyntaione) to meet the queen Isot.
Motif References:
M 150 Other vows and oaths
UvTTr-848:
Tristan sends Kurvenal to prepare their journey across the sea. On the shore he meets a ship-owner just arrived from Tintagel with some merchants who is now waiting for another passage. Kurvenal promises him rich reward if he returns with him to Tintagel. Yet he does not say if he has got companions to go with him. The ship-owner asks him to name the fare. Meanwhile Tristan arrives and offers 1000 marks silver as fare. Then he says they are bound to Litan, which the ship-owner knows quite well. There lives the virtuous and valiant lord Tinas (Thynas), who is the king’s steward. Soon they arrive at Litan where Tinas watches from his lookout. The ship-owner whom he questions knows nothing about his passenger, but Tinas recognizes Tristan at once and welcomes him.
Motif References:
P 413 Ferryman [fisherman]
UvTTr-963:
Tristan asks Tinas about the queen whom he often met with Tinas’s help. He tells him about his oath that there is a lady who cares more for her dog than his wife (whom he still left a virgin) cares for him and that he has put his life in pledge for it. His companion has come with him as a witness for the queen’s love for the dog. He asks Tinas to help him to meet the queen the next morning when he will hide in the bushes beneath her path. He sends Tinas to her with a ring as token. Tinas rides to Tintagel where he finds the king and the queen game-playing. Tinas is allowed to play with them. He carries the ring on his finger and Isot notices the token and stops playing. Then she retires to her quarters and sends for Tinas to question him. Tinas tells her of Tristan’s trouble and that he is in Litan. She should come to the thorn bush next morning. A man has come with him to whom he has put his life in pledge. He has to prove that Isot cares more for the dog than Tristan’s wife cares for him. She should don splendid garments. Isot promises to help Tristan. She will dress beautifully and bring Petitcreu with her.
Motif References:
T 41 Communication of lovers
H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
M 201 Making of bargains and promises
UvTTr-1080:
Isot asks the king to proclaim a hunt toward the White Lands. He sends for his hunters and has them prepare the Red Land well. Before she leaves Isot takes a bath to become even more beautiful. In the morning they leave. Meanwhile Tristan and Kaedin hide in the thorn bush. When the royal servants and retinue approach Tristan explains to Kaedin who and what they are. At first Kaedin is very afraid they might be detected but soon he is reassured. When Brangaene and Kamele pass by the bush, they consider how Isot and Tristan could meet without being disturbed. Kaedin is very impressed by Isot’s beauty, which he considers to be the second sun, and he must admit that Isot is the most beautiful woman.
Motif References:
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
UvTTr-1220:
Isot takes a rest before Tristan’s hiding place with only the maidens and Antret who is her relative. She sends him back for some box she left behind and begs him to tell the king that she is waiting for him. Isot caresses the dog Petitcreu in her lap. He has a little golden house. She caresses and kisses him and says she would wish to kiss his master. Tristan shows himself and they kiss. Then she tells him to meet her at a place he knows well. Her tent will be apart from the others, on the bank of a river. She will pretend illness to be left alone and in peace. When Brangaene sees the faithless Antret approaching she warns her lady. They take leave and Tristan hides again. Antret brings the news that the king has changed his mind and takes another road. She should not wait for him. They will camp on a beautiful meadow. The queen pretends to be angry about the king’s change of mind and says she is ill. Meanwhile they have reached the camp. The queen lies in her tent lost in thoughts about love and its joys and sorrow.
Motif References:
T 35 Lovers’ rendezvous
T 59 (Bm) Love tokens
H 1556.4 Fidelity in love tested
UvTTr-1360:
Meanwhile Kurvenal has brought provisions to his lord. Kaedin is not pleased for he fears detection. Tristan reminds him that a valiant man should not be frightened so easily. In the meantime Kurvenal has richly rewarded the ship-owner who will be at Tristan’s disposal in case of need. Tristan promises to reward him. Then Tristan orders Kurvenal to go back secretly and to meet them next morning at the lookout they know both, the game-preserve on the other side of the river. Kurvenal returns to Litan without anybody noticing his ways.
Motif References:
UvTTr-1418:
When King Marke arrives that evening the court enjoys courtly pastimes. He asks Antret about the queen’s tent and gets the news of her illness because the king did not come to meet her at the thorn bush. At Marke’s question who could cure her Antret replies that he whose love wounded her could easily cure her. His words arouse Marke’s suspicion and he wants to see his wife. When Brangaene arrives and informs the king that Isot is sick Antret declares that she soon would be cured, if only the right cure were at hand. Brangaene reprimands him as a cynic and the king rebukes Antret’s malevolence. When Melot replies that the queen always used to treat the king very badly Marke hits him. Paranis comes and the king asks him about the queen and he says she is suffering pains. The king wants to see her but Brangaene keeps him from it promising to give him news next morning. Then she returns to Isot.
Motif References:
K 1514 Adulteress gets rid of husband while she entertains lover
UvTTr-1540:
When Tristan and Kaedin come, Paranis sees them in the shade of a tree and Tristan whistles to alarm him. Paranis informs Isot and begs her to be very careful. Isot goes to meet Tristan under the tree and they kiss. Tristan makes her greet Kaedin and then they return to the tent. Isot sends Kaedin to her maidens, saying she would not object if he courted one of them. He looks at the maidens and chooses Kamele, whom he asks to be his bed partner this night. Kamele however refuses for she wants to preserve her virginity. Isot reminds him that he should have asked her first so that she could have ordered the one he wished for to be his bed partner. Kaedin says he wants to have Kamele and Isot orders her to obey. Kamele fears for her honor but the queen insists.
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
UvTTr-1668:
Isot advises Kamele how to keep her virginity: She should take a pillow out of a box, which Isot uses to put under her head when she is grieving for Tristan. This pillow chases all sorrow and makes one sleep well as long as one lies on it. Kamele should put it under Kaedin’s head. Kamele follows the queen’s advice and Kaedin sleeps all night. Kamele is relieved and amused by the fact that Kaedin is lying beside a virgin and yet does not touch her. Tristan and Isot pass the night together. In the morning Kamele removes the pillow from under Kaedin’s head and the knight is ashamed of his cowardice. Kamele mocks at him.
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
UvTTr-1833:
When Tristan and Isot have to part, Tristan asks her to send her squire Peliot as messenger if there would be an occasion to meet. Kaedin holds Isot responsible for his bad night but Isot insists that Kaemele was obedient and did lie beside him. Kaedin leaves angrily with Tristan, who is angry at him because he spoke harsh words to his love. He will never join him on a journey again. Tristan and Kaedin go to the place where they are to meet Kurvenal with the horses. Nobody is there. Soon Kurvenal comes on foot and tells them that he has left the horses at Litan. On his way back the day before they came upon Pleherin, who took him for Tristan and summoned them by his lady’s honor, the queen Isot. Yet they did not stop. Kurvenal then returned to Litan but he lost one of the horses.
Motif References:
P 52.2 (Li) Knight in service of a lady
UvTTr-1937:
Pleherin hurried back to Tintagel with the fugitives’ horse and told the queen that Tristan refused to stop for her sake. Isot pretends not to care whatsoever for Tristan and besides it could not have been Tristan for he would not be frightened and Pleherin would never dare to challenge him. The queen now is in sorrow for the sake of her honor and his life. She sends Paranis to the place at the former game-preserve to accuse her lover of cowardice. The message makes Tristan angry. Never would he have refused combat for the sake of Isot and he promises revenge on Pleherin. Paranis returns to the queen, saying Pleherin lied to her and only came upon Tristan’s servant. Isot accuses him of being bribed by Tristan to make up this story. She promises to hate Tristan for this affair, he has forfeited her affection. Paranis brings this news to Tristan who asks him to come with him to Litan to further his affair with Isot but he refuses for fear of his life. When he has left Tristan goes to Litan on foot. Tristan laments to Tinas of his sorrow and Tinas promises to intervene in his favor. Tristan then sends Kaedin and his men home while he and Kurvenal will stay till he once again has met his mistress. Kurvenal advises that they should keep the ship at their disposal for they are surrounded by enemies.
Motif References:
P 52.2 (Li) Knight in service of a lady
UvTTr-2158:
The following morning Tristan will disguise as sick man unless Kurvenal would disagree. Kurvenal advises they should find another anchorage for the night somewhere nearby. Tristan takes leave from Tinas, his only friend in this land, and then has the ship-owner find a secret anchorage to hide for some days. Tristan disguises as sick man in ragged clothes, changes his skin by means of a salve so that he looks like a leper, takes a clapper and goes to Tintagel. The queen recognizes him at once by his ring. He laments like a sick man and Isot tells Paranis to hit him and three squires drive him away with blows. Tristan is very sad that this amuses the queen. He returns to the ship. Kurvenal advises him to return to Arundel to his wife. Tristan however refuses: Before leaving he will take his revenge on his mistress and besides he could not possibly be separated from her not for the sake of any woman. He therefore will meet Isot the next day.
Motif References:
T 75 Man scorned by his beloved
K 1818.1 Disguise as leper
UvTTr-2285:
Tristan will disguise as a squire and has made garments (two red coats and hoods) ready for it. Kurvenal fears recognition, but Tristan has made up his mind. There is only one death to die and he will die for his love. Besides Tristan will make both of them unrecognizable. By a salve he manages to change their face and hair so that they are unrecognizable even to their comrades who came with them. Then they ride to Tintagel where the queen is sitting under a lime tree and watching courtly pastimes of the knights and squires. The “squires” greet the queen and when she asks them about their identical outfit Tristan says that they both come from Arundel. She asks him if he knows (her namesake) Isot and Tristan becomes pale and red so that she recognizes him. When she asks his name he says he is called Plot which she does not believe. He will not tell about his errand. She says that he is Tristan and wonders how he could disguise in such a way. Then Isot forgives him for she was erred by Pleherin. Tristan should leave her and wait for her messenger Peliot. Tristan informs her to send Peliot to the harbor of Tribalese. Tristan leaves after Isot has told him to disguise as a fool and thus to take revenge on Pleherin.
Motif References:
T 35.5 Lover goes to see his beloved in her husband’s (or her father’s) house, defiant of the danger
Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool
K 1821 Disguise by changing bodily appearance
K 1831.0.1 Disguise by changing name
UvTTr-2421:
When Tristan leaves he jumps for joy – he jumps better than anybody else. Returned to his hiding place he changes his appearance as before. At the court all wonder how a weak squire could do such a marvelous jump. Marke is told this news and at once he has suspicion as to the identity of the two squires. Antret and Melot tell him the strangers talked to the queen. They think them to be Tristan’s messengers and their master should be searched for. Marke reprimands them for it, if Tristan were found he would let him go as his sister’s son. He will be angry with anyone slandering him. They should tell no more lies about Tristan and Isot which they did before thus betraying him.
Motif References:
F 684 Marvelous jumper
UvTTr-2471:
Isot sends Peliot to Tristan with the message that he should remain hidden for two weeks. Then he should come to meet her disguised as a fool with a club, a hooded coat, his hair cut above the ears, a dirty face and a wide mouth. Moreover he should be rude, take blows and strikes and carry a cheese in his hood. Peliot informs Tristan who is very pleased about the news and does as he is told: He makes a grey coat ready, with little bells on it, two old pieces of cheese in the hood, and a club. Thus disguised he comes to court, addresses the queen and throws a bite of cheese to her.
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 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool
UvTTr-2534:
Marke comes, tears the fool’s ears and tells them to hit him. Tristan sits beside the queen who wants Marke to chase him away but no one dares to touch him. When Antret tries to tear him from his seat Tristan strikes him so that he lies unconscious. The king and the others flee. The fool remains at the table and eats. The wounded Antret is carried away. When Melot approaches, Tristan grabs him by one leg and carries him round. The king wants to have Melot released and asks the queen to intervene. Tristan fights with stones and strikes many of them only the queen makes him release Melot. When the table is set the fool hurries there and takes everything he desires. At nightfall he lies before Isot’s chamber and feigns sleeping. They cannot wake him. Tristan identifies when Brangaene comes and starts singing like a fool at the queen’s approach. Isot orders Brangaene to have Paranis reward the fool. When Marke comes he sings again foolishly. Then he rises all of a sudden and all flee. Marke closes his door. Tristan then fights Melot and takes one of his eyes which pleases the queen and displeases the king. Next morning the king goes hunting for two weeks and the lovers meet.
Motif References:
P 192.1 Professional fool
K 1818.3.2 Lover approaches mistress disguised as fool
UvTTr-2689:
The fool goes to town and behaves like a fool all day taking stones back to the queen whose lover he is at night. One morning however they are detected by Antret who recognizes the man in Isot’s bed. He alarms the court demanding they should be burnt on the stake. Tristan and Isot part and making his way through the throng with his club Tristan escapes to a forest nearby pursued by the courtiers. Tristan comes to Marke’s camp who wonders about the fool’s coming. He has no idea what happened. Tristan chases the king with his club and escapes to the banks of a river without a bridge.
Motif References:
K 1271 Amorous intrigue observed and exposed
UvTTr-2760:
Pleherin is ahead of the other pursuers but Tristan finds a boat, takes his club as a rudder and escapes. When he reaches the other bank Pleherin makes him turn for the sake of Isot. Tristan kills Pleherin with his club. When Marke comes Tristan escapes by boat and flees. Marke orders that Tristan and Isot are to be burnt at the stake. Meanwhile Tristan has reached his ship and leaves. While pursuing Tristan Marke falls into the river and swims across it but he cannot catch Tristan. All return to court. The king wants to have Pleherin buried with the queen whom he wants to kill. Yet all his advisors tell him to show mercy for the queen, for a king should not have killed his wife. He should inquire about the affair and consider well that there is Antret as the only witness and he cannot be trusted. One cannot think of Tristan as a fool. The king is appeased and once again will be angry at anyone slandering his wife.
Motif References:
P 10 Kings [King’s famous court]
J 2301 Gullible husbands
UvTTr-2843:
In the meantime Tristan is at sea without knowing anything about Isot’s fate. He is however quite sure she will not be killed for he escaped. Then he announces to Kaedin that he now will leave his grief. If one has had happiness from a woman one should think of it and be faithful. Kaedin then tells his friend of his love for a woman since they were children. But she was married to another man, Nampotanis of Gamaroch, a land neighboring Arundel. This lady is called Kassie and she is very beautiful. Her husband has enclosed her thoroughly by three high walls, to which only he has the keys. Kaedin is quite sure that if she could Kassie would give her love to Kaedin. He asks Tristan for advice. When Tristan gets to know that the husband will be out all day hunting he advises him to instruct Kassie to make a wax impression of the keys and to give it to him. Kaedin is sure Kassie will do it for she loves him and he was ever in her service.
Motif References:
T 23 (Bm) Childhood sweethearts
W 181 Jealousy
T 257 Jealous husband or wife.
K 1349.5 Access for seduction gained by removing locks
K 1500 Deceptions connected with adultery
UvTTr-2920:
Tristan then tells the ship-owner to hurry and promises rich reward. When they land he gives him twenty mark of gold. Without delay Tristan and Kaedin go to Nampotanis’s castle. Tristan has Kaedin send a messenger to know if he could possibly talk to the lady while her husband is out. She agrees and Kaedin goes to meet her. He declares his love to her and she agrees to a rendezvous in the castle. According to Tristan’s advice she steals her husband’s keys and makes wax models, which she will leave for him in the castle moat. Tristan has a skillful smith make the keys ready within two days.
Motif References:
K 1349.5 Access for seduction gained by removing locks
K 1500 Deceptions connected with adultery
UvTTr-3084:
Tristan and Kaedin return to Karke by surprise and are welcomed. Tristan and Isot consummate their marriage. When the smith has brought the keys Kaedin and Tristan go to meet Kassie while her husband is out. They only take one servant to care for the horses. When they come to Scharize they leave their horses behind. Kaedin has a chaplet (wreath) which the wind takes down into the moat, a mischief that will cause great trouble. They enter the castle and Kassie welcomes them. When her husband is out no man is allowed in the castle, they all have to leave with him. While Kassie and Kaedin are staying together, Tristan waits for him with the ladies. Then the lovers part and Tristan and Kaedin leave. They halt at a beautiful fountain, where Tristan sleeps in the grass.
Motif References:
W 181 Jealousy
T 257 Jealous husband or wife.
T 481 Adultery
UvTTr-3182:
When Nampotanis returns he finds the castle locked but perceiving the chaplet in the moat he asks his wife who visited her. He accuses her of adultery and threatening her with his sword makes her give her lover’s name. Nampotenis at once sets out after Kaedin and is set on their trail by a barking dog. When Tristan sees eight men coming they mount quickly. Nampotanis asks who brought dishonor upon him and rebukes this offense. Then Nampotenis kills Kaedin before Tristan kills him. Tristan then has to fight seven men, he kills three of them and wounds four severely. Yet a knight with a poisoned spear wounds Tristan, who removes the spear knowing well that he is doomed. With the remains of the spear he kills his adversary.
Motif References:
H 81.3 Clandestine visit of lover to queen betrayed by token
T 257 Jealous husband or wife.
F 831.3.1 (Bm) Poisoned dart
UvTTr-3273:
Then Tristan carries his dead friend back to Karke, where his death causes great grief. Isot seeing her husband mortally wounded swoons from grief. Kaedin is buried under great lament. Tristan sends the merchant Gaviol to bring the news of his deadly wound to Isot at Tintagel and to ask her to hurry to heal him. If Isot comes with Gaviol his ship should have white sails, if not black ones. The merchant sails to Tintagel and urges Isot to come on the spot and take her salve with her. Brangaene should accompany her. In the meantime Brangaene however has died from grief about her queen’s sorrow.
Motif References:
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief
F 1041.1.3 Death from sorrow or chagrin
H 1381.8 (Bm) Quest for champion [helper]
UvTTr-3367:
Meanwhile Isot of Karke has urged the merchant’s wife to inform her first of her husband’s arrival so that when she lands Isot will be the first to tell her husband. When Tristan asks Isot about the ship’s sails Isot pretends that they are black although it has white ones. Tristan dies at this news. When the queen Isot hears of his death she thinks she will die as well. Tristan is laid out on a bier in the church. His wife watches at his bier. When the queen enters weeping she asks the wife why she is sitting there for it was she who killed him. She tells her to leave. Isot of Karke refuses. The Queen Isot lies beside Tristan on the bier and dies.
Motif References:
T 81.3 Girl [wife] falls dead on lover’s [husband’s] body
T 92 Rivals in love
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
F 1041.1.2 Death from grief for death of lover or relative
K 1087.1 Message falsified [brings] (to bring) about death of lovers
UvTTr-3437:
Meanwhile Marke has arrived and the death of his wife almost costs him his life. He has got the news of his wife’s and his nephew’s death out at sea and when he asks the newsbringer how they died he gets to know all about the love potion which bound the lovers to one another forever. Marke laments that he had no idea of this fatal incident and if he found them still alive he would give them anything desired. Marke beats himself from grief, he wrings his hands and weeps. All of his retinue lament with him.
Motif References:
T 211.9 Excessive grief at husband’s or wife’s death
F 1041.21 Reactions to excessive grief
UvTTr-3478:
Marke finds the lovers on the bier in the church. He has two coffins made and takes them back with him to Cornwall. Kurvenal already has been given land and people by Tristan before he died, and Tristan has made his marshal’s children give the oath of allegiance to him. Arrived at Cornwall Marke has the dead taken to the monastery, where his father is buried. Marke laments loudly when they are buried. Tristan and Isot are laid into two marble coffins and buried in separate graves. Then the king has planted a rose bush on Tristan’s grave and a vine on Isot’s. The author then praises the hero and laments his death. He would have been perfect would he not have drunk the love potion which brought death to both of the lovers. It is a pity that the good die and the evil live. He, Ulrich of Türheim (von Türeheim Uolrich) would prefer the death of a thousand bad men to the death of one good man. The love of Tristan and Isot lives on after their death: The rose and the vine on their graves entwine. Marke swears to leave chivalry and to obtain God’s mercy has a monastery built for the sake of Tristan and Isot. Their grave is in the church and the king gives riches to the cloister. Marke is fasting and praying a lot. With a prayer for God’s mercy the author ends his poem.
Motif References:
P 16.1 King (prince) retires from world (becomes hermit [monk, pilgrim], swineherd [beggar])
V 118 Monasteries [cloisters, abbeys, nunneries]
Q 520 Penances
E 631.0.1 Twining branches grow from graves of lovers
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