MARK TELLED his chaplain to wake up and handed him the letter.

Chaplain
broke the seal and first saluted the king in Tristan's name, then,
skillfully parsing the written words, he told him that Tristan had written to him.
Mark
listened without saying a word and rejoicing in his heart, for he still loved
queen. He deliberately summoned his most distinguished barons, and when all
gathered and fell silent, the king said:
- I received this message, sirs. I am your king, you are my slaves.
Listen to what they write to me, then advise me - I demand this from you,
for you owe me advice.
The chaplain stood up, untied the message with both hands, and standing before
the king,
spoke:
- Seniors! Tristan first sends greetings and love to the king and all his
barons. "King," he adds, "when I killed the dragon and got my daughter
Irish king, she was given to me; it was in my power to leave her for
myself, but I did not want it, but brought it to your country and gave it to you.
But
as soon as you took her as your wife, the slanderers forced you to believe them
slander. In your anger, you wanted, glorious uncle and sovereign, to burn us
without
judgment, but the Lord had pity on us: we implored Him. He saved the queen and that
it was righteous; I also saved myself with the help of the almighty God, throwing
myself from a high
rocks. What have I done since then, for which I could be reproached?
The queen was given to the sick; I came to recapture her, and took her away: could
I
not to help in such need the one who, being innocent, almost perished because of
me? I ran with her into the woods. Did I have the opportunity to come out of the
forest and go down
into the plain to give you the queen? Were you not ordered to take us
alive or dead? But now, as before, I am ready to challenge
any fighter to prove that neither the queen to me nor I to the queen
cherished a love that would be an insult to you. Schedule a duel: I don't
I refuse any opponent. And if I can't prove that I'm right
burn me in front of your subjects. If I win and you want
take bright-faced Iseult again, none of your barons will serve
you are better than me. If, on the contrary, my service is not to your liking, I
will leave for
sea and offer my services to the king of Gavua or the king of the Frisians, and you
will never
hear no more from me. Think it over, my lord. And if you don't come either
under what agreement, I will take Isolde to Ireland, from where I got her: she will
reign in your own country.
All the barons of Cornwall, hearing that Tristan offered them a duel,
told the king:
- Accept the queen, sovereign! Crazy are those who slandered her before
you. As for Tristan, let him go, as he proposes, to fight in Gavoa
or to the king of the Frisians. Order them to bring Isolde on the appointed day,
and as soon as possible.
The king asked three times:
- Will anyone stand up to blame Tristan? Everyone was silent. Then he
said to the chaplain:
- Write a letter as soon as possible, you heard what it needs
talk. Hurry up and write it: Isolde has suffered too much in her young
years! And let the charter be attached to the crossbar of the Red Cross before
evening.
Quicker!
And he added:
 - Add that I send them both greetings and love.
Around midnight, Tristan passed through Belaya Polyana, found a letter and
brought
him, sealed, to the hermit Ogryn. The hermit read the message to him. Mark
agreed, on the advice of his barons, to accept Isolde, but did not want to leave
Tristana in his service: he will have to leave for the sea three days after
after he handed over the queen to Mark at the Dangerous Ford.
- God! Tristan said. - What a grief to lose you, dear! But this
necessary, for now I can spare you the pain you endured
because of me. When the time of parting comes, I will give you a gift - a pledge of
my
love; from the unknown country where I am going, I will send you a messenger. He me
will convey your desire, dear, and at the first call I will rush from afar.
Isolde sighed and said:
- Leave me Husden, your dog, Tristan. Never the most
dear bloodhound will not be more honorably groomed. Looking at her I will
to remember you and it will ease my sadness. I have a green ring
jasper - take it out of love for me, wear it on your finger. And if ever
the messenger will claim that he came on your behalf, I will not believe him,
whatever he does or says until he shows me this ring; but only
as soon as I see him, no power, no royal ban will interfere
me to do what you ask me to do, whether it be wise or foolish.
- I give you Husden, dear.
- Honey, take this ring in exchange. And both kissed each other in
mouth.

Leaving the lovers in the hut, Ogryn went, leaning on a crutch, to Mon.
He bought there ermine and other furs, silk fabrics, purple, brocade,
shirt whiter than a lily, in addition to that pacer in a golden harness who walked
smooth step. People laughed at Ogrin, seeing how he spends money,
accumulated over the years, for such strange and expensive purchases. But the old
man
loaded rich fabrics on the horse and returned to Isolde.
- Your dress, queen, turned into tatters. Accept these gifts
to be more beautiful on the day when you go to the Dangerous Ford.
I'm only afraid that you won't like them: I'm inexperienced in choosing women's
outfits.
In the meantime, the king caused it to be proclaimed in Cornwall that in three
days
Dangerous Ford, he will reconcile with the queen. Ladies and knights crowded into
this meeting: everyone wanted to see Queen Iseult again. Everyone loved her
except for the three traitors who were still alive. But one of them will die
from the sword, another will be pierced by an arrow, the third drowned, and as for
the forester, then
he will be killed in the forest with blows of a stick by the honest Perinis the
Fair-haired. So Lord
who hates all frenzy will avenge those who love them on their enemies.
On the appointed day for the meeting at the Dangerous Ford, the whole meadow
shone,
adorned and adorned with the rich tents of the barons. Tristan rode with
Isolde through the forest. Fearing an ambush, he put on his shell under the
tatters.
Suddenly both appeared at the edge of the forest and saw in the distance among the
barons the king
Brand.
- Honey, - said Tristan, - here is the king, your ruler, his knights and
servants; they're coming towards us, in a moment we won't be able to speak
together. I conjure the great and almighty God, fulfill what I am talking about you
I ask if someday I send a messenger to you.
 - Dear Tristan, as soon as I see a green jasper ring,
Towers, walls, and strong castles will not prevent me from doing my will.
friend.
- May the Lord reward you, Isolde!
Their horses walked side by side; he drew her to him and held her in his arms.
- My dear, - said Iseult, - listen to my last request.
Soon you will leave this country. Wait a few days, hide and not
leave before you know how the king will treat me, angrily or kindly. I
one: who will protect me from traitors? I'm afraid. Forester Orry you secretly
shelter. Sneak at night to the ruined basement; I will send Perinis there
tell you if they treat me badly.
“No one dares to do that, dear. I'll hide at Orry's. If someone is you
insult me, let him be afraid of me, as the most unclean.
Both sides got close enough to each other to exchange
hello. At a distance of a shot from a bow in front of his people, he rode briskly
king, with him Dinas of Lidan.
When the barons approached Tristan, he, holding Isolde's horse by the bridle,
greeted the king and said:
- Sovereign, I return you the blond Isolde. Before the people of your land
I ask you to allow me to defend myself in the sight of your court. I don't
was still on trial. Let me justify myself by a duel: if I am defeated -
burn me in sulfur, if I win, leave me with you, if you don't want to
I will go to distant lands.
Nobody accepted Tristan's challenge. Then Mark, in turn, took under
the bridle of the pacer Isolde and, handing it over to Dinas, stepped aside to
keep advice.
Delighted, Dinas gave the queen every respect and attention. He took off
from her luxurious robe of scarlet brocade, and her tender body appeared in a thin
tunic and long silk blio. The queen smiled, remembering the old
a hermit who did not spare his money for her. She was rich
dress, her figure was graceful, her eyes shone, her hair was light, like
Sun rays. When the traitors saw her, beautiful, revered, as of old,
- irritated, they drove up to the king. 6 this time one of the barons, André
de Nicole, tried to convince him:
- Sovereign, - he said, - leave Tristan with you, because of him you
will be more afraid.
Little by little, he softened the heart of the king, but the traitors, driving
up, said:
“Listen, my lord, to the advice that we give you in honor. Queen
was slandered in vain, we admit it. But if Tristan and her
they will return together to your court, they will again begin to talk about it.
Let
better Tristan retire for a while; someday you will no doubt
call him again.
Mark did just that: he ordered to convey to Tristan through his barons,
to leave immediately.
Then Tristan went up to the queen and began to say goodbye to her. They took a
look
at each other, and the queen, ashamed in public, blushed.
And the king took pity, and for the first time he turned to his nephew:
- Where are you going in such rags? Take in my treasury what you want
anything: gold, silver, various furs.
- Sovereign, - answered Tristan, - I will not take a penny, not a penny.
I will go and serve with great joy the glorious king of the Frisians, as best I
can.
He turned his horse and headed towards the sea. Isolde followed him with her
eyes.
and did not turn away as long as she could see him from a distance.
 At the news of reconciliation old and young, men, women and children,
they ran out of the city in a crowd to meet Isolde; greatly lamenting the exile
Tristana, they joyfully greeted the queen who had returned to them.
As the bells ring through the streets strewn with reeds and adorned
silk fabrics, the king, earls and princes accompanied her. palace gate
were open to everyone who came: rich and poor could sit down and
feast; and to celebrate this day well, King Mark let go
freed one hundred slaves and knighted twenty equables, handing them
own sword and armor.
Meanwhile, at nightfall, Tristan, in accordance with the promise made to him
queen, crept to the forester Orry, who secretly sheltered him in a ruined
basement.