But that same night, as Tristan’s valets undressed him, it happened that in drawing his arm from the sleeve they drew off and let fall from his finger the ring of green jasper, the ring of Iseult the Fair.  It sounded on the stones, and Tristan looked and saw it.  Then his heart awoke and he knew that he had done wrong.  For he remembered the day when Iseult the Fair had given him the ring.  It was in that forest where, for his sake, she had led the hard life with him, and that night he saw again the hut in the wood of Morois, and he was bitter with himself that ever he had accused her of treason; for now it was he that had betrayed, and he was bitter with himself also in pity for this new wife and her simplicity and beauty.  See how these two Iseults had met him in an evil hour, and to both had he broken faith!

Now Iseult of the White Hands said to him, hearing him sigh: 

“Dear lord, have I hurt you in anything?  Will you not speak me a single word?”

But Tristan answered:  “Friend, do not be angry with me; for once in another land I fought a foul dragon and was near to death, and I thought of the Mother of God, and I made a vow to Her that, should I ever wed, I would spend the first holy nights of my wedding in prayer and in silence.”

“Why,” said Iseult, “that was a good vow.”

And Tristan watched through the night.

THE MADNESS OF TRISTAN

Within her room at Tintagel, Iseult the Fair sighed for the sake of Tristan, and named him, her desire, of whom for two years she had had no word, whether he lived or no.

Within her room at Tintagel Iseult the Fair sat singing a song she had made.  She sang of Guron taken and killed for his love, and how by guile the Count gave Guron’s heart to her to eat, and of her woe.  The Queen sang softly, catching the harp’s tone; her hands were cunning and her song good; she sang low down and softly.

Then came in Kariado, a rich count from a far-off island, that had fared to Tintagel to offer the Queen his service, and had spoken of love to her, though she disdained his folly.  He found Iseult as she sang, and laughed to her: 

“Lady, how sad a song! as sad as the Osprey’s; do they not say he sings for death? and your song means that to me; I die for you.”

And Iseult said:  “So let it be and may it mean so; for never come you here but to stir in me anger or mourning.  Ever were you the screech owl or the Osprey that boded ill when you spoke of Tristan; what news bear you now?”

And Kariado answered: 

“You are angered, I know not why, but who heeds your words?  Let the Osprey bode me death; here is the evil news the screech owl brings.  Lady Iseult, Tristan, your friend is lost to you.  He has wed in a far land.  So seek you other where, for he mocks your love.  He has wed in great pomp Iseult of the White Hands, the King of Brittany’s daughter.’’