“I know not whence I came, nor how I came hither, nor who I am, nor what it is that ails me, for I cannot hold my mind with enough steadiness to remember those things.”  Then the lady sighed for sorrow of Sir Tristram, and she said:  “Alas, Sir Tristram, that I should find you thus!  Now I pray you, lord, for to come with me to my castle which is hard by.  There we may care for you and may perhaps bring you back to health again.”

To this Sir Tristram said:  “Lady, I may not go with you.  For though I cannot remember whence I came, nor who I am, this much I know—­I know that I am mad, and that the forest is the only fit place for such as I am come to be.”

The lady said:  “Alas, Sir Tristram, thou wilt die if thou art left alone here in the forest.”  And Sir Tristram said:  “Lady, I know not what you mean when you say I am to die.  What is it to die?” So at these words the Lady Loise saw how it was with Sir Tristram; that his brains were altogether turned; and she wist that some sore trouble must have befallen to bring him to such a pass.  Then she bethought her of how dearly he loved the music of the harp, and she said to herself:  “Mayhap by means of music I may bring him back into his senses again.”  So she said to that damsel who had brought her thither:  “Go thou and bring hither my little harp of gold, and let us see if music may charm him to remembrance.”

So the damsel ran to the castle and brought the harp thence, and the Lady Loise took the harp and tuned it and struck it and played upon it.  And the lady sang very sweetly a ballad that she knew Sir Tristram loved.

[Sidenote:  The Lady Loise harps to Sir Tristram] Then when Sir Tristram heard the sound of the music and singing he aroused himself.  For first he listened with great pleasure, and then he said, “Give it to me!  Give it to me!” and he reached out his hands and would have taken the harp from the lady.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram comes to the Lady’s castle] But the Lady Loise laughed and shook her head, and she walked away from Sir Tristram and toward the castle, still playing upon the little harp and singing; and Sir Tristram followed close after, saying ever, “Give it to me!  Give it to me!” and reaching out his hands for the harp.  So the Lady Loise led him away from that place across the meadows; and she led him to the castle and into the castle; and ever Sir Tristram followed after her, beseeching her for to give the harp unto him.  And the lady led Sir Tristram that way until she had brought him to a fair room, and there she gave him the harp, and Sir Tristram took it very eagerly into his hands and struck upon it and played and sang most sweetly and with great joy and pleasure.

Afterward, being so much comforted, he ate and drank with appetite, and then fell into a fair sound sleep.

Yet, though he so slept, still Sir Tristram’s wits in no wise recovered themselves; for when he awoke from that slumber he still could not remember who he was or whence he came, neither could he remember the faces of any of those who were around about him.  But, though he was thus mad, he was still gentle and kind in his madness and courteous and civil to all those who came nigh him.