upon the relics of the holy saints, that King Mark sends you by their
embassy offer of peace and of brotherhood and goodwill; and that he
would by your courtesy hold Iseult as his honoured wife, and that he
would have all the men of Cornwall serve her as their Queen.”

When the lords of Ireland heard this they acclaimed it, and the King
also was content.

Then, since that treaty and alliance was to be made, the King her
father took Iseult by the hand and asked of Tristan that he should
take an oath; to wit that he would lead her loyally to his lord, and
Tristan took that oath and swore it before the knights and the Barony
of Ireland assembled. Then the King put Iseult’s right hand into
Tristan’s right hand, and Tristan held it for a space in token of
seizin for the King of Cornwall.

So, for the love of King Mark, did Tristan conquer the Queen of the
Hair of Gold.

THE PHILTRE

When the day of Iseult’s livery to the Lords of Cornwall drew near,
her mother gathered herbs and flowers and roots and steeped them in
wine, and brewed a potion of might, and having done so, said apart to
Brangien:

“Child, it is yours to go with Iseult to King Mark’s country, for you
love her with a faithful love. Take then this pitcher and remember
well my words. Hide it so that no eye shall see nor no lip go near it:
but when the wedding night has come and that moment in which the