Tristan and Isolde a Legendary Love Story

Edward Blair Leighton

Isolde, daughter of a King of Ireland, is betrothed to King Mark of Cornwall. She is depressed about her coming nuptial expectations with the elderly Mark, but Isolde's mother has the solution. She gives a bottle of love potion to the girl's serving woman, Brangraine, with strict instructions to keep it safe until they reached Cornwall. It is then to be given to Isolde on her wedding night.

Meanwhile, a young man is arriving in Ireland. He is Tristan, nephew of Mark, sent to escort Isolde back to Cornwall.

So Isolde and her escort sail away from Ireland on an overcast sultry day. The passengers are uncomfortable, complaining of heat and sweating, so Isolde dispatches a servant below for drinks.

But the first bottle he puts his hand upon, as fate would have it, is the flask of love potion!

Heedless of the contents, Isolde politely offers some to her escort, and as she and Tristan each take a sip, they fall at once and forever in love.

The power of passion is sometimes insurmountable, and, as any good storyteller knows, illicit passion is most powerful of all. The two lovers spent the remainder of the brief journey in each other's arms, limbs entwined, swearing eternal love.

All too soon they arrive in Cornwall and King Mark is instantly in love with the beautiful Isolde.

When the marriage ceremony has taken place they retire to the bedchamber where a deception in the dark keeps secret the loss of the bride's promised virginity. Brangraine and Isolde switched places in the bridal bed.

Once again, Isolde spends the night in her lover's arms, secretly returning to her husband's bed at daylight. And that was how Isolde of Ireland did marry Mark of Cornwall.

When Mark finally learns of the affair, he forgives Isolde, but exiles his nephew.

Tristan flees to the court of Arthur where he engages in various battles and knightly adventures, making a name for himself at the court in Camelot.

Later, on a quest, he journeys through Brittany where he meets Iseult of Brittany (also known as Iseult of White Hands). He is attracted to her because of the similarity of her name to his true love.

He marries her in name only, on command of his King, but does not consummate the marriage.

In curious circumstances Tristan becomes ill, and sends for Isolde in hopes that she will be able to cure him. If she agrees to come, the returning ship's sails would be white, but if she refuses to come, the sails would be black. He suffers in his bedchamber, hovering on the brink of life and death, praying that he can look once more into the eyes of his true love.

Iseult keeps watch at the window overlooking the harbour, her heart, no doubt, broken and crushed by the indifference her young husband has shown her. Even here, on his death bed, he does not turn to her but calls for another woman.

A ship appears on the horizon, a fine fat ship, her white sails full of welcome wind, carrying Isolde, the Queen of Cornwall. At the tall window, Iseult of the White Hands turns to the pallid Tristan.

"The sails are black, dear husband." she says, in a sudden torrent of jealousy and resentment. (Can you blame her?)

Tristan turns his head to the wall and dies.

Isolde, reaching him too late, collapses, broken-hearted, and dies soon after.

The two are buried side by side where from Tristan's grave grows a vine, and from Isolde's a rose.

As a symbol of their eternal love, the two plants intertwine, reaching upwards together into the sunlight.

All Info About Arthur is a collection of lenses on the legend of Arthur and the Matter of Britain.