Aissi co’l sers que cant a fait lonc cors

Torna murir als crit del chassadors,

Aissi torn eu, dompna, en vostra mersé.

A longer “song” is given in some of the readings. [↑]

[[Contents]]

LXV

Here it is told of Queen Iseult and Messer Tristan of Lyonesse

Messer Tristan of Cornwall loved Iseult the fair[1], who was King Mark’s wife, and between them they fashioned a love signal in this wise: that when Messer Tristan wished to speak to her, [[155]]he went to a garden of the king where there stood a fountain, and he muddied the water of the rivulet made by the fountain: which rivulet passed by the palace where the lady Iseult lived.

So when she saw the water disturbed, she knew that Messer Tristan was at the fountain.

Now it happened that an inquisitive gardener[2] perceived the plan in such a manner that the two lovers could in no way be aware of his knowledge.