"Alas!" she cried, "one of them I love, and the other loves me. It would be a great pity to see Sir Palamides slain, much as he has troubled me, and slain he will be if this fight goes on."
Then, moved by her tender heart, she went down and besought Tristram to fight no more.
"What mean you?" he asked. "Would you have me shamed?"
"I desire not your dishonor; but for my sake I would have you spare this unhappy knight, whose love for me has made him mad."
"As you wish," he replied. "The fight shall end, since you desire it."
"As for you, Sir Palamides," she said, "I command that you shall go out of this country while I am in it."
"If it must be, it must," he answered, in bitter anguish; "but it is sorely against my will, for not to see you is not to live."
"Take your way to the court of King Arthur," she said, "and there recommend me to Queen Guenever. Tell her that Isolde says that in all the land there are but four lovers, and that these are Lancelot du Lake and Queen Guenever, and Tristram de Lyonesse and Queen Isolde."
This message filled Palamides with the greatest heaviness of heart, and mounting his steed he rode away moaning bitterly. But Isolde was full of gladness in being well rid of her troublesome lover, and Tristram in having rescued her from his rival. So he brought her back to King Mark, and there was great joy over her home-coming, while the king and all the court showered honors on the successful champion. Sir Lambegus was brought back to the court and put under the care of skilful leeches, and for a long time joy and good-will reigned.
But Tristram had in King Mark's court a bitter foe, who sought to work him injury, though he was his near cousin. This traitor, Sir Andred by name, knew well of the love between Tristram and Isolde, and that they had secret meetings and tender conversations, so he lay in wait to spy upon them and slander them before the court.