Then King Mark lifted the glaive on high and he struck; and Sir Tristram sank without a sound.

Yea, I believe that that good knight knew naught of what had happened until he awoke in Paradise to find himself in that realm of happiness and peace.

[Sidenote:  Of the passing of Tristram and Isoult] Then Belle Isoult arose, overturning the table of chessmen as she did so, but she made no outcry nor sound of any sort.  But she stood looking down at Sir Tristram for a little space, and then she kneeled down beside his body and touched the face thereof as though to make sure that it was dead.  Therewith, as though being assured, she fell down with her body upon his; and King Mark stood there looking down upon them.

All this had passed so quickly that Dame Bragwaine hardly knew what had befallen; but now, upon an instant, she suddenly fell to shrieking so piercingly that the whole castle rang with the sound thereof.

Now there were in the outer room several of the knights of the court of Sir Tristram who had come thither with him as witnesses that he performed no treason to the King.  These, when Dame Bragwaine shrieked in that wise, came running into the room and therewith beheld what had happened.  Then all they stood aghast at that sight.

[Sidenote:  Sir Alexander slays King Mark] But there was in the court of Sir Tristram a very young, gallant knight hight Sir Alexander.  This knight came to where King Mark stood looking down upon his handiwork as though entranced with what he had done.  Then Sir Alexander said to King Mark, “Is this thy work?” And King Mark raised his eyes very heavily and looked at Sir Alexander and he answered, “Ay!” Then Sir Alexander cried out, “Thou hast lived too long!” And therewith drawing his misericordia, he catched King Mark by the left wrist and lifted his arm.  And Sir Alexander drave the dagger into the side of King Mark, and King Mark groaned and sank down upon the ground, and in a little while died where he lay.

Then those knights went to where the Lady Belle Isoult lay and lifted her up; but, lo! the soul had left her, and she was dead.  For I believe that it was not possible for one of those loving souls to leave its body with out the other quitting its body also, so that they might meet together in Paradise.  For there never were two souls in all the history of chivalry that clave to one another so tenderly as did the souls of Tristram and Isoult.

So endeth this story of Sir Tristram, with only this to say, that they two were buried with the graves close together, and that it is said by many who have written of them that there grew a rose-tree up from Sir Tristram’s grave, and down upon the grave of Belle Isoult; and it is said that this rose-tree was a miracle, for that upon his grave there grew red roses, and upon her grave there grew pure white roses.  For her soul was white like to thrice-carded wool, and so his soul was red with all that was of courage or knightly pride.