ornwall,--not for myself,
but to wed the king, my uncle Mark; for full well he knows how she
surpasseth all in beauty, and wisdom, and charm, for I myself have told
him of her, until he desireth her greatly for his queen and lady."

"Ah me!" cried King Anguish in amazement, and, "Ah me!" he sighed,
"I would you had asked her for yourself, Sir Tristram. Right glad would I
have been to have called you 'son!'"

"That can never be now," said Sir Tristram gently; "I should be false to
my trust, and for ever shamed. My uncle commanded me to come, and I have
promised."

So a great feasting and merry-making began, and all things were made
ready for La Belle Iseult to sail to another land to be made a queen.
Now whether the queen, Iseult's mother, saw that Sir Tristram and her
daughter loved each other, or whether she feared that her daughter might
not love King Mark, no one will ever know, but she set to work to concoct
a love-drink, brewing it from delicate herbs and simples, which when ready
she enclosed in a golden flask. This she handed to Dame Bragwaine,
La Belle Iseult's waiting-woman, bidding her guard it with all care,
and not let it out of her sight until La Belle Iseult and King Mark were
wedded, when she was to give it to them that they might each drink of it,
so that a great and holy love should rise and grow between them, never to
die until their lives ended.

So, on a certain day a dainty vessel, all painted white and silver, and
furnished with the utmost richness and beauty, set sail from Ireland.
At the prow glittered a golden swallow, all set with gems, and on board
were Tristram and Iseult.

Silently, swiftly they glided through the waters, the sun shone softly,
the breeze lightly caressed the dainty, bird-like vessel and the white
fluttering canvas, as though afraid to breathe on anything so lovely as
the lady lying amidst her silken cushions and cloth of gold. Then it
stole modestly away, only to return again, full fain to touch her golden
hair, or her delicate cheek. The scent of the land-flowers filled the
air, for the vessel was gaily bedecked with all the fairest and most
delicate.

In this little nest of luxury sat Tristram and Iseult, he so stalwart,
noble, bronzed, she so surpassingly beautiful, gentle and lovable.
All through the long, warm days they sat listening each to the other's
talk, and when the sun went down and left them to the fair white light of
the moon, they still sat and tal