But when, after
forty days, Iseult of the Golden Hair had all but healed him, when
already his limbs had recovered and the grace of youth returned, he
knew that he must escape, and he fled and after many dangers he came
again before Mark the King.

THE QUEST OF THE LADY WITH THE HAIR OF GOLD

My lords, there were in the court of King Mark four barons the basest
of men, who hated Tristan with a hard hate, for his greatness and for
the tender love the King bore him. And well I know their names:
Andret, Guenelon, Gondoine and Denoalen. They knew that the King had
intent to grow old childless and to leave his land to Tristan; and
their envy swelled and by lies they angered the chief men of Cornwall
against Tristan. They said:

"There have been too many marvels in this man's life. It was marvel
enough that he beat the Morholt, but by what sorcery did he try the
sea alone at the point of death, or which of us, my lords, could
voyage without mast or sail? They say that warlocks can. It was sure a
warlock feat, and that is a warlock harp of his pours poison daily
into the King's heart. See how he has bent that heart by power and
chain of sorcery! He will be king yet, my lords, and you will hold
your lands of a wizard."

They brought over the greater part of the barons and these pressed
King Mark to take to wife some king's daughter who should give him an
heir, or else they threatened to return each man into his keep and
wage him war. But the King turned against them and swore in his heart
that so long as his dear nephew lived no king's daughter should come
to his bed. Then in his turn did Tristan (in his shame to be thought
to serve for hire) threaten that if the King did not yield to his
barons, he would himself go over sea serve some great king. At this,
King Mark made a term with his barons and gave them forty days to hear
his decision.

On the appointed day he waited alone in his chamber and sadly mused:
"Where shall I find a king's daughter so fair and yet so distant that
I may feign to wish her my wife?"

Just then by his window that looked upon the sea two building swallows
came in quarrelling together. Then, startled, they flew out, but had
let fall from their beaks a woman's hair, long and fine, and shining
like a beam of light.

King Mark took it, and called his barons and Tristan and said:

"To please you, lords, I will take a wife; but you must seek her whom
I have chosen."

"Fair lord, we wish it all,