Then Sir Tristram said:  “Lord, I thank you for your great kindness unto me, and I know not how I shall repay the great goodness that my Lady Belle Isoult hath showed to me.  For I swear to you upon the pommel of my sword which I now hold up before me that I would lay down my life for her sake.  Yea, and my honor too! for she hath the entire love of my heart, so that I would willingly die for her, or give up for her all that I have in the world.  Now as for my knighthood, I do believe that I shall in time become a knight of no small worship, for I feel within my heart that this shall be so.  So if my life be spared, it may be that you will gain more having me for your friend and your true servant than you will by taking my life in this outland place.  For whithersoever I go I give you my knightly word that I shall be your daughter’s servant, and that I shall ever be her true knight in right or in wrong, and that I shall never fail her if I shall be called upon to do her service.”

Then King Angus meditated upon this for a while, and he said:  “Tristram, what thou sayest is very well said, but how shall I get you away from this place in safety?”

Sir Tristram said:  “Lord, there is but one way to get me away with credit unto yourself.  Now I beseech you of your grace that I may take leave of my lady your daughter, and that I may then take leave of all your knights and kinsmen as a right knight should.  And if there be any among them who chooses to stop me or to challenge my going, then I must face that one at my peril, however great it may be.”

“Well,” said King Angus, “that is a very knightly way to behave, and so it shall be as you will have it.”

So Sir Tristram went down stairs to a certain chamber where Belle Isoult was.  And he went straight to her and took her by the hand; and he said:  “Lady, I am to go away from this place, if I may do so with credit to my honor; but before I go I must tell you that I shall ever be your own true knight in all ways that a knight may serve a lady.  For no other lady shall have my heart but you, so I shall ever be your true knight.  Even though I shall haply never see your face again, yet I shall ever carry your face with me in my heart, and the thought of you shall always abide with me withersoever I go.”

At this the Lady Belle Isoult fell to weeping in great measure, and thereat the countenance of Sir Tristram also was all writhed with passion, and he said, “Lady, do not weep so!” She said, “Alas I cannot help it!” Then he said:  “Lady, you gave me my life when I thought I was to lose it, and you brought me back from pain unto ease, and from sorrow unto joy.  Would God I were suffering all those pangs as aforetime, so that there might be no more tears upon your face.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram parts from Belle Isoult] Then, King Angus being by, he took her face into his hands and kissed her upon the forehead, and the eyes, and the lips.  Therewith he turned and went away, all bedazed with his sorrow, and feeling for the latch of the door ere he was able to find it and go out from that place.