“Fair King, your heart will be troubled and we four also mourn; yet are we bound to tell you what we know.  You have placed your trust in Tristan and Tristan would shame you.  In vain we warned you.  For the love of one man you have mocked ties of blood and all your Barony.  Learn then that Tristan loves the Queen; it is truth proved and many a word is passing on it now.”

The royal King shrank and answered: 

“Coward!  What thought was that?  Indeed I have placed my trust in Tristan.  And rightly, for on the day when the Morholt offered combat to you all, you hung your heads and were dumb, and you trembled before him; but Tristan dared him for the honour of this land, and took mortal wounds.  Therefore do you hate him, and therefore do I cherish him beyond thee, Andret, and beyond any other; but what then have you seen or heard or known?”

“Naught, lord, save what your eyes could see or your ears hear.  Look you and listen, Sire, if there is yet time.”

And they left him to taste the poison.

Then King Mark watched the Queen and Tristan; but Brangien noting it warned them both and the King watched in vain, so that, soon wearying of an ignoble task, but knowing (alas!) that he could not kill his uneasy thought, he sent for Tristan and said: 

“Tristan, leave this castle; and having left it, remain apart and do not think to return to it, and do not repass its moat or boundaries.  Felons have charged you with an awful treason, but ask me nothing; I could not speak their words without shame to us both, and for your part seek you no word to appease.  I have not believed them ... had I done so ...  But their evil words have troubled all my soul and only by your absence can my disquiet be soothed.  Go, doubtless I will soon recall you.  Go, my son, you are still dear to me.

When the felons heard the news they said among themselves, “He is gone, the wizard; he is driven out.  Surely he will cross the sea on far adventures to carry his traitor service to some distant King.”

But Tristan had not strength to depart altogether; and when he had crossed the moats and boundaries of the Castle he knew he could go no further.  He stayed in Tintagel town and lodged with Gorvenal in a burgess’ house, and languished oh! more wounded than when in that past day the shaft of the Morholt had tainted his body.

In the close towers Iseult the Fair drooped also, but more wretched still.  For it was hers all day long to feign laughter and all night long to conquer fever and despair.  And all night as she lay by King Mark’s side, fever still kept her waking, and she stared at darkness.  She longed to fly to Tristan and she dreamt dreams of running to the gates and of finding there sharp scythes, traps of the felons, that cut her tender knees; and she dreamt of weakness and falling, and that her wounds had left her blood upon the ground.  Now these lovers would have died, but Brangien succoured them.  At peril of her life she found the house where Tristan lay.  There Gorvenal opened to her very gladly, knowing what salvation she could bring.