ven me, and the goodness my lady, your daughter, has
shown me. It may happen that you will win more by my life than by my
death, for in England I may yet do you some knightly service. This I
promise you, as I am a true knight, that in all places I shall hold
myself the servant and knight of my lady, your daughter, and shall never
fail to do in her honor and service all that a knight may. Also I
beseech you that I may take leave of your barons and knights, and pray
you to grant me leave to bid adieu to your daughter."

"I cannot well refuse you this," said the king.

With this permission, Tristram sought La Belle Isolde, and sadly bade
her farewell, telling her who he was, why he had changed his name, and
for what purpose he had come to Ireland.

"Had it not been for your care and skill I should now have been dead,"
he said.

"Gentle sir," she sadly replied, "I am woeful indeed that you should go,
for I never saw man to whom I felt such good-will as to you."

And she wept bitterly as she held out her hand in adieu. But Tristram
took her in his arms and kissed away her tears.

"I love you, Isolde, as my soul," he said. "If this despite of fate
shall stand between you and me, this I promise, to be your knight while
life is left to me."

"And this I promise," answered Isolde, "that if I am married within
these seven years it shall only be by your assent! If they stand between
me and my love, at least they shall not force me to wed against your
will."

Then she gave Tristram a ring and received one from him in return, and
he departed from her with a pain as if the parting wrenched their hearts
asunder, while she beheld him go with such tears and lamentation that it
seemed as if her faithful heart would break.

Tristram next sought the great hall of the court, where were assembled
the barons of King Anguish, and took his leave of them all, saying,--

"Fair lords, fortune wills that I must leave you. If there be any man
here whom I have offended or aggrieved let him make complaint now, and I
shall amend the wrong so far as it is in my power. If there be any who
may incline to say a wrongful thing of me behind my back, let him speak
now, and I will make it good with him, body against body."

But no man spoke in reply. There were knights there of the blood of Sir
Marhaus and the queen, but none that cared to have to do in the field
against Sir Tristram.

So bidding them all adieu, he departed, and took ship for Tin