that you had brought back the maiden who was nearest to him, to
Cornwall, a slave.”

“King’s daughter,” said Tristan, “No. … One day two swallows flew, and
flew to Tintagel and bore one hair out of all your hairs of gold, and
I thought they brought me good will and peace, so I came to find you
over-seas. See here, amid the threads of gold upon my coat your hair
is sown: the threads are tarnished, but your bright hair still
shines.”

Iseult put down the sword and taking up the Coat of Arms she saw upon
it the Hair of Gold and was silent a long space, till she kissed him
on the lips to prove peace, and she put rich garments over him.

On the day of the barons’ assembly, Tristan sent Perinis privily to
his ship to summon his companions that they should come to court
adorned as befitted the envoys of a great king.

One by one the hundred knights passed into the hall where all the
barons of Ireland stood, they entered in silence and sat all in rank
together: on their scarlet and purple the gems gleamed.

When the King had taken his throne, the seneschal arose to prove by
witness and by arms that he had slain the dragon and that so Iseult
was won. Then Iseult bowed to her father and said:

“King, I have here a man who challenges your seneschal for lies and
felony. Promise that you will pardon this man all his past deeds, who
stands to prove that he and none other slew the dragon, and grant him
forgiveness and your peace.”