ad pity and pardoned even him.

But his goodness did but feed the ire of the barons, who swore this
oath: If the King kept Tristan in the land they would withdraw to
their strongholds as for war, and they called the King to parley.

"Lord," said they, "Drive you Tristan forth. He loves the Queen as all
who choose can see, but as for us we will bear it no longer."

And the King sighed, looking down in silence.

" King," they went on, "we will not bear it, for we know now that this
is known to you and that yet you will not move. Parley you, and take
counsel. As for us if you will not exile this man, your nephew, and
drive him forth out of your land forever, we will withdraw within our
Bailiwicks and take our neighbours also from your court: for we cannot
endure his presence longer in this place. Such is your balance:
choose."

"My lords," said he, "once I hearkened to the evil words you spoke of
Tristan, yet was I wrong in the end. But you are my lieges and I would
not lose the service of my men. Counsel me therefore, I charge you,
you that owe me counsel. You know me for a man neither proud nor
overstepping."

"Lord," said they, "call then Frocin hither. You mistrust him for that
orchard night. Still, was it not he that read in the stars of the
Queen's coming there and to the very pine-tree too? He is very wise,
take counsel of him."

And he came, did that hunchback of Hell: the felons greeted him and he
planned this evil.

"Sire," said he, "let your nephew ride hard to-morrow at dawn with a
brief drawn up on parchment and well sealed with a seal: bid him ride
to King Arthur at Carduel. Sire, he sleeps with the peers in your
chamber; go you out when the first sleep falls on men, and if he love
Iseult so madly, why, then I swear by God and by the laws of Rome, he
will try to speak with her before he rides. But if he do so unknown to
you or to me, then slay me. As for the trap, let me lay it, but do you
say nothing of his ride to him until the time for sleep."

And when King Mark had agreed, this dwarf did a vile thing. He bought
of a baker four farthings' worth of flour, and hid it in the turn of
his coat. That night, when the King had supped and the men-at-arms lay
down to sleep in hall, Tristan came to the King as custom was, and the
King said:

"Fair nephew, do my will: ride to-morrow night to King Arthur at
Carduel, and give him this brief, with my greeting, that he may open
it: and stay you with him but