said, he departed, and sent his daughter to the knight; but no
sooner did Tristram behold her than he received a deeper wound from love
than he had yet had from sword or spear. For La Belle Isolde was the
most beautiful lady in the world, a maiden of such wondrous charm and
grace that no land held her equal.

When she examined the young knight's wound she quickly saw that he was
suffering from poison, but it was a venom with which she knew well how
to deal, and she was not long in healing his deep hurt. In return for
this great service, he taught her the art of harping, while the love he
felt for her soon left some reflection of its warm presence in her soul.

But she already had a lover in the court, a worthy and valiant Saracen
knight named Palamides, who sought her day after day, and made her many
gifts, for his love for her was deep. He was well esteemed by the king
and queen, and had declared his willingness to be made a Christian for
the sake of La Belle Isolde. In consequence there soon arose hot blood
between Tristram and Palamides, for each feared that the other was a
favored rival.

And now it happened that King Anguish announced a tournament to be held
in honor of a cousin of his called the Lady of the Lawns, it being
declared that the grand prize of the tournament should be the hand of
the lady and the lordship of her lands. The report of this tournament
spread through England, Wales, and Scotland, reaching even to Brittany,
and France, and many knights came to try their fortune in the lists.

[Illustration: SIR TRISTRAM HARPING TO ISOLDE.]

When the day drew near the fair Isolde told Tristram of the tournament,
and expressed a warm desire that he would take part in it.

"Fair lady," he answered, "I am as yet but feeble, and only for your
generous care might be dead. I should be glad to obey any wish of yours,
but you know that I am not in condition for the lists."

"Ah, Tramtrist," she replied, "I trust that you may be able to take part
in this friendly joust. Palamides will be there, and I hoped that you
would meet him, for I fear that otherwise he will not find his equal."

"You do me great honor," he replied. "You forget that I am but a young
knight, and that in the only battle I have fought I was wounded nearly
unto death. But for the love I have for you I shall attend the
tournament, and jeopard my poor person for your sake, if you will only
keep my counsel and let no person know that I have ent