Tristan and Iseult – the story in brief:

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Full translations are available free on the internet.

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Tristan's father Rivalen was a lord of Brittany, who, as a young man travelled to Cornwall joining King Mark's court near Fowey.  Rivalen fell in love with Mark's beautiful sister Blanchfleur, and unknown to Mark they became lovers. Rivalen was forced to return to Brittany to defend his lands against the neighbouring Lord Morgan and Blanchfleur, who was by now carrying his child, joined him.

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Tragically, Rivalen was soon killed in battle by Lord Morgan, leaving Blanchfleur alone. Desperate at the death of her lover and having endured a difficult three day labour she named the baby Tristan, meaning 'sorrow', in keeping with the circumstances of his birth. Blanchfleur herself died shortly afterwards leaving Tristan as ward of the king's marshal Roald de Foytenant who brought him up as his own. Tristan was a lively lad and excelled in his studies of languages, art and music under the loyal tutor Governal who also instructed him in arms and courtly skills.

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One day when Tristan was fourteen he was at the port with Governal when some departing Norwegian merchants saw a chance and kidnapped him, thinking to sell him as a slave in Ireland. [An echo of the fate which befell St Patrick patron Saint of Ireland] When in the channel a violent storm overtook the ship, the captain, taking it as an omen, ordered Tristan to be put ashore at the first opportunity, which was the coast of Cornwall. Tristan found his way to King Mark's court with his identity hidden, however his winning personality and courtly skills soon made him a favourite of the king.

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Roald had meantime been searching for his ward and eventually reports led him to Cornwall, reunion with Tristan, and revelation of the truth. Tristan was given his rank at court and also provided both with knights and funds to attempt regain his full title in Brittany. He engaged in campaign and was victorious, himself killing Morgan in battle, however Tristan did not stay in Brittany but rather left his lands and title to Roald, preferring to return to the King's court in Cornwall.

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Tristan rose to become Cornwall's champion and was soon busy in defence of its honour, no more so than in its dealings with Ireland which continued to harry the north coasts. He determined to challenge the powerful knight Morholt, brother to the Irish king, in single combat. They met on the  island of St Samson and after a hard fought contest Morholt lay dying from a mortal wound.

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Although Tristan's wounds were slight, Morholt told him that he also would die because the spear that pierced him had been dipped in poison. Only Morholt's sister Queen Isolde of Ireland could cure the resulting wound. Sure enough Tristan's wounds began to suppurate and give off a smell that even his friends could not abide. No doctor could assist him. Tristan decided to travel to Ireland and somehow find a way to to have Isolde save him.

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He disguised himself as a travelling harpist and played so sweetly at the Irish court that the queen, not knowing who he was, was moved to cure him. During his convalescence Tristan spent much of his time with Isolde's beautiful daughter Iseult teaching her to play the harp. When fully recovered he returned to Cornwall, but in the meantime a faction  had developed within Mark's court who were envious of Tristan's success. They were keen to counter his influence with the king or even do away with him completely. When Tristan described the beauty and virtue of the princess in Ireland they hatched a plan which might do either. They suggested that the king should make alliance with Ireland by asking for the princess's hand in marriage, moreover they proposed that Tristan should be tasked with winning this prize for his uncle, believing that he would either fail or be revealed in the attempt and killed.

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Tristan returned to Ireland and his quest to win Iseult's hand for Mark indeed brought him close to death on a number of occasions. At the time the Irish countryside was being terrorised by a powerful dragon and the king had promised the hand of his princess to anyone who could kill it. Tristan achieved the task taking the beast's tongue as proof of success, however the tongue proved to be poisonous and its power overwhelmed Tristan on the return journey. It happened that the steward to the Irish court came upon the dead dragon and, thinking his luck was in, cut off it's head and took it back to court in order to show that he had killed the beast and claim the prize for himself.

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The queen and princess had no liking for the steward and did not believe his story. They did not wish him either husband or son in law, so they went out together to find the truth. They found the unconscious Tristan together with sufficient evidence to allow them to gather the true facts. They brought him back and tended his recovery and after hearing his story determined to support his claim. This would be determined in trial by single combat. The night before the trial Iseult discovered Tristan's true identity and, understanding that he had been the instrument of her Uncle's death, was determined to kill him herself.

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Whilst being held at a disadvantage, Tristan was nevertheless able to persuade Iseult that if he were to die not only would she be left with the steward but her own mother's life would be forfeit as she had sponsored Tristan's claim. Tristan was revealed to the Queen and he explained his suit on behalf of King Mark. The offer of a union between Cornwall and Ireland, which the marriage presented, won over the Queen and Princess and they agreed to put this to the King. All worked out well and the match was agreed.

Isolde could see that her daughter's marriage to an older man might not be easy on her, so she prepared a love potion in the form of wine, which she gave to Brangwain, Iseult's maidservant and companion. Brangwain was to see that Iseult and Mark drank the wine on her wedding night. On the sea voyage to Cornwall however the tragically inevitable happened, Tristan and Iseult came across the wine and sharing it, immediately falling in love together. Although Brangwain told them what had happened and the reason for their new feelings they could not resist the potions power.

​The story unfolds with tangled intrigue and the continued deception of King Mark. The potion is a clever device allowing the exploration of the darker sides of Tristan and Iseult's thoughts and actions whilst retaining a degree of sympathy and regard for each of them.

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Following the marriage of Mark to Iseult many at court were alive to the ongoing deceptions. Tristan and Iseult survived many trials, supported both by luck and guile and also with the assistance of an ever loyal Brangwain.

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One critical trial is set firmly on the Fal and starts with the Bishop of Cornwall becoming suspicious. The matter was to be tested by ordeal by fire in which Iseult would be required to state her innocence whilst holding a hot iron. If her statement was true she would not be harmed, if false the iron would burn. Iseult was summoned to court in Blanchland by way of the Forest of Moresk, crossing the river at the Malpas ferry point. Iseult knew that she would have to swear her truth and also knew that the trial would reveal falsehood, so she devised an oath which would demonstrate her loyalty without being untrue. She had Tristan disguise himself as a peasant and wait by the ferry point. As she came ashore the tide was out and the waters edge was muddy. She picked out Tristan to help her ashore carrying her by piggy back. When tested later, she swore that none had been between her legs other than King Mark and the peasant who had carried her ashore earlier that day. Whilst her oath was a deception, her words were the truth and this protected her.

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There were many further episodes, the lovers were banished to the forest of Morrois, surviving due to Iseult's quick wit and Tristan's heroic exploits, bound by each other's love and constancy. King Mark's character is ambiguous, at times he is depicted the fool but overall is portrayed with sympathy as one who wishes to see the best in his young friends, however the noose of fate slowly tightens around the lovers and finally Tristan is banished from Cornwall for good.

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Again he returns to Brittany where he yet again becomes embroiled in conflict and fighting. After some while he marries but cannot be happy because he still loves Iseult in Cornwall. Eventually Tristan is again mortally wounded in battle with a weapon which once again has been poisoned, he knows that Iseult is the only one who can save him and sends a friend Kaherdin to ask for her help. He arranged that if the returning ship carried white sails then Iseult would be aboard but if they were black she would not.

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In Cornwall, on receiving the news of Tristan's impending death Iseult immediately agreed to sail back with Kaherdin. When the ship was in sight of Brittany Tristan's new wife is consumed with bitterness in the knowledge that her love for Tristan was not shared and so she tells him the sails were black.

Tristan thinking his true love had forsaken him declined and gave up his will to live. When Iseult finally arrived she found people already in mourning around Tristan's body and so she lay beside him with her lips to his and died herself, clasping his body in her arms.