may not say but ye did as a knight should;
howbeit I may not maintain you in this country with my honour."

"Sir," said Tristram, "I thank you for your good lordship that I have
had with you here, and the great goodness my lady your daughter hath
shown me. It may so happen that ye shall win more by my life than by
my death, for in the parts of England it may be I may do you service at
some season so that ye shall be glad that ever ye showed me your good
lordship. I beseech your good grace that I may take my leave of your
daughter and of all the barons and knights."

This request the king granted, and Sir Tristram went unto the Fair
Isoud and took leave of her. And he told her all,--what he was, how he
had changed his name because he would not be known, and how a lady told
him that he should never be whole till he came into this country where
the poison was made. She was full woe of his departing, and wept
heartily.

"Madam," said Tristram, "I promise you faithfully that I shall be all
the days of my life your knight."

"Grammercy," said the Fair Isoud, "and I promise you against that I
shall not be married this seven years but by your assent."

Then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another, and
therewith he departed from her, leaving her making great dole and
lamentation. And he straight went unto the court among all the barons,
and there he took his leave of most and least, and so departed and took
the sea, and with good wind he arrived up at Tintagil in Cornwall.

CHAPTER XX

HOW SIR TRISTRAM DEMANDED THE FAIR ISOUD
FOR KING MARK, AND HOW SIR TRISTRAM
AND ISOUD DRANK THE LOVE POTION

When there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived and whole of his
wounds, King Mark was passing glad, and so were all the barons. And
Sir Tristram lived at the court of King Mark in great joy long time,
until at the last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness between
them. Then King Mark cast always in his heart how he might destroy Sir
Tristram.

The beauty and goodness of the Fair Isoud were so praised by Sir
Tristram that King Mark said he would wed her, and prayed Sir Tristram
to take his way into Ireland for him, as his messenger, to bring her to
Cornwall. All this was done to the intent to slay Sir Tristram.
Notwithstanding, Sir Tristram would not refuse the message for any
danger or peril, and made ready to go in the goodliest wise that might
be devised. He took with him the goo