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THE LAY OF THE HONEYSUCKLE
With a glad heart and right good mind will I tell the Lay that mencall Honeysuckle; and that the truth may be known of all it shall betold as many a minstrel has sung it to my ear, and as the scribe hathwritten it for our delight. It is of Tristan and Isoude, the Queen.It is of a love which passed all other love, of love from whence camewondrous sorrow, and whereof they died together in the self-same day.
King Mark was sorely wrath with Tristan, his sister's son, and badehim avoid his realm, by reason of the love he bore the Queen. SoTristan repaired to his own land, and dwelt for a full year in SouthWales, where he was born. Then since he might not come where he wouldbe, Tristan took no heed to his ways, but let his life run waste toDeath. Marvel not overmuch thereat, for he who loves beyond measuremust ever be sick in heart and hope, when he may not win accordingto his wish. So sick in heart and mind was Tristan that he left hiskingdom, and returned straight to the realm of his banishment, becausethat in Cornwall dwelt the Queen. There he hid privily in the deepforest, withdrawn from the eyes of men; only when the evening wascome, and all things sought their rest, he prayed the peasant andother mean folk of that country, of their charity to grant him shelterfor the night. From the serf he gathered tidings of the King. Thesegave again to him what they, in turn, had taken from some outlawedknight. Thus Tristan learned that when Pentecost was come King Markpurposed to hold high Court at Tintagel, and keep the feast with pompand revelry; moreover that thither would ride Isoude, the Queen.
When Tristan heard this thing he rejoiced greatly, since the Queenmight not adventure through the forest, except he saw her with hiseyes. After the King had gone his way, Tristan entered within thewood, and sought the path by which the Queen must come. There he cut awand from out a certain hazel-tree, and having trimmed and peeled itof its bark, with his dagger he carved his name upon the wood. This heplaced upon her road, for well he knew that should the Queen but markhis name she would bethink her of her friend. Thus had it chancedbefore. For this was the sum of the writing set upon the wand, forQueen Isoude's heart alone: how that in this wild place Tristan hadlurked and waited long, so that he might look upon her face, sincewithout her he was already dead. Was it not with them as with theHoneysuckle and the Hazel tree she was passing by! So sweetly lacedand taken were they in one close embrace, that thus they might remainwhilst life endured. But should rough hands part so fond a clasping,the hazel would wither at the root, and the honeysuckle must fail.Fair friend, thus is the case with us, nor you without me, nor Iwithout you.
Now the Queen fared at adventure down the forest path. She spied thehazel wand set upon her road, and well she remembered the lettersand the name. She bade the knights of her company to draw rein, anddismount from their palfreys, so that they might refresh themselves alittle. When her commandment was done she withdrew from them a space,and called to her Brangwaine, her maiden, and own familiar friend.Then she hastened within the wood, to come on him whom more she lovedthan any living soul. How great the joy between these twain, that oncemore they might speak together softly, face to face. Isoude showed himher delight. She showed in what fashion she strove to bring peaceand concord betwixt Tristan and the King, and how grievously hisbanishment had weighed upon her heart. Thus sped the hour, till itwas time for them to part; but when these lovers freed them fromthe other's arms, the tears were wet upon their cheeks. So Tristanreturned to Wales, his own realm, even as his uncle bade. But for thejoy that he had had of her, his friend, for her sweet face, and forthe tender words that she had spoken, yea, and for that writing uponthe wand, to remember all these things, Tristan, that cunning harper,wrought a new Lay, as shortly I have told you. Goatleaf, men call thissong in English. Chèvrefeuille it is named in French; but Goatleafor Honeysuckle, here you have the very truth in the Lay that I havespoken.
