[Sidenote:  They depart for Joyous Gard] Now that saying of Sir Launcelot’s seemed good to Sir Tristram and to Belle Isoult; wherefore in three days all they and their court made ready to depart.  And they did depart from that castle in the forest unto Joyous Gard, where they were received with great honor and rejoicing.

So the Lady Belle Isoult abided for three years at Joyous Gard, dwelling there as queen paramount in all truth and innocence of life; and Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram were her champions and all their courts were her servants.  And during those three years there were many famous joustings held at Joyous Gard, and several bel-adventures were performed both by Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram in her honor.

And indeed I believe that this was the happiest time of all the Lady Belle Isoult’s life, for she lived there in peace and love and tranquillity and she suffered neither grief nor misfortune in all that time.

[Sidenote:  King Arthur comes to Joyous Gard] Then one day there came King Arthur to Joyous Gard, and he was received with such joy and celebration as that place had never before beheld.  A great feast was set in his honor, and after the feast King Arthur and Sir Tristram and Belle Isoult withdrew to one side and sat together in converse.

Then after a while King Arthur said, “Lady, may I ask you a question?” And at that Lady Belle Isoult lifted up her eyes and looked very strangely upon the King, and after a while she said, “Ask thy question, Lord King, and I will answer it if I can.”  “Lady,” said King Arthur, “answer me this question:  is it better to dwell in honor with sadness or in dishonor with joy?”

Then Belle Isoult began to pant with great agitation, and by and by she said, “Lord, why ask you me that?” King Arthur said:  “Because, lady, I think your heart hath sometimes asked you the selfsame question.”  Then the Lady Belle Isoult clasped her hands together and cried out:  “Yea, yea, my heart hath often asked me that question, but I would not answer it.”  King Arthur said:  “Neither shalt thou answer me, for I am but a weak and erring man as thou art a woman.  But answer thou that question to God, dear lady, and then thou shalt answer it in truth.”

Therewith King Arthur fell to talking of other things with Sir Tristram, but the lady could not join them in talk, but sat thenceforth in silence, finding it hard to breathe because of the oppression of tears that lay upon her bosom.

And Belle Isoult said no more concerning that question that King Arthur had asked.  But three days after that time she came to Sir Tristram and said:  “Dear lord, I have bethought me much of what King Arthur said, and this hath come of it, that I must return again unto Cornwall.”

Then Sir Tristram turned away his face so that she might not see it, and he said, “Methought it would come to that.”  And then in a little he went away from that place, leaving her standing there.