Here is the translation of the Roman de Tristan et Iseult of 1900 by Joseph Bedier. Here is the eleventh part: The Adventurous Ford.
The Adventurous Ford
Marc awakened his chaplain and handed him the letter. The clerk broke the wax and first saluted the king in the name of Tristan; then, having skilfully deciphered the written words, he reported to her what Tristan had told him. Marc listened to her without saying a word and rejoiced in his heart, for he still loved the queen.
He summoned by name the most valued of his barons, and when they were all assembled, they were silent and the king spoke:
“Lords, I have received this brief. I am king over you and you are my rascals. Listen to the things that are told to me; then, advise me, I ask you, since you owe me the advice. "
The chaplain rose, untied the writ with both hands, and, standing before the king:
« Seigneurs, dit-il, Tristan mande d’abord salut et amour au roi et à toute sa baronnie. « Roi, ajoute-t-il, quand j’ai eu tué le dragon et que j’eus conquis la fille du roi d’Irlande, c’est à moi qu’elle fut donnée ; j’étais maître de la garder, mais je ne l’ai point voulu : je l’ai amenée en votre contrée et vous l’ai livrée. Pourtant, à peine l’aviez-vous prise pour femme, des félons vous firent accroire leurs mensonges. En votre colère, bel oncle, mon seigneur, vous avez voulu nous faire brûler sans jugement. Mais Dieu a été pris de compassion : nous l’avons supplié, il a sauvé la reine, et ce fut justice ; moi aussi, en me précipitant d’un rocher élevé, j’échappai, par la puissance de Dieu. Qu’ai-je fait depuis, que l’on puisse blâmer ? La reine était livrée aux malades, je suis venu à sa rescousse, je l’ai emportée : pouvais-je donc manquer en ce besoin à celle qui avait failli mourir, innocente, à cause de moi ? J’ai fui avec elle par les bois : pouvais-je donc, pour vous la rendre, sortir de la forêt et descendre dans la plaine ? n’aviez-vous pas commandé qu’on nous prît morts ou vifs ? Mais, aujourd’hui comme alors, je suis prêt, beau sire, à donner mon gage et à soutenir contre tout venant par bataille que jamais la reine n’eut pour moi, ni moi pour la reine, d’amour qui vous fût une offense. Ordonnez le combat : je ne récuse nul adversaire, et, si je ne puis prouver mon droit, faites-moi brûler devant vos hommes. Mais si je triomphe et qu’il vous plaise de reprendre Iseut au clair visage, nul de vos barons ne vous servira mieux que moi ; si au contraire vous n’avez cure de mon service, je passerai la mer, j’irai m’offrir au roi de Gavoie ou au roi de Frise, et vous n’entendrez plus jamais parler de moi. Sire, prenez conseil, et, si vous ne consentez à nul accord, je ramènerai Iseut en Ireland, where I took it; she will be queen in her country. »
When the Cornish barons heard that Tristan was offering them battle, they all said to the king:
"Sire, continue the queen: it is fools who slandered her to you." As for Tristan, let him go, as he offers, to fight in Gavoie or near the King of Friesland. Ask him to bring Iseut to you, on such and such a day and soon. "
The king asked three times:
Doesn't anyone stand up to accuse Tristan? "
All were silent. So he said to the chaplain:
So keep it short as soon as possible; you have heard what to put there; Hurry to write it: Iseut suffered too much in his younger years! And let the charter hang from the Red Cross branch before tonight; be quick ! "
He added :
You will also say that I send them both greetings and love. "
Towards midnight, Tristan crossed the Blanche-Moor, found the brief, and brought it sealed to the hermit Ogrin. The hermit read him the letters: Mark consented, on the advice of all his barons, to retake Iseut, but not to keep Tristan as a bribe; for Tristan, he would have to cross the sea, when, three days later, at the Adventurous Ford, he would have handed the queen over to Marc.
" God ! said Tristan, what mourning to lose you, friend! It is necessary, however, since the suffering which you endure because of me, I can now spare you it. When the moment comes to separate us, I will give you a present, token of my love. From the unknown country where I am going, I will send you a messenger; he will tell me your desire again, friend, and, at the first call, from distant lands, I will run. "
Iseut sighed and said:
"Tristan, let me have Husdent, your dog." No price sleuth has ever been held in greater pride. When I see it, I will remember you and be less sad. Friend, I have a ring of green jasper, take it for the love of me, wear it on your finger: if ever a messenger claims to come from you, I will not believe it, no matter what he does or let him say, until he shows me that ring. But, as soon as I see it, no power, no royal defense, will prevent me from doing what you have told me to do, whether it be wisdom or folly.
- Friend, I give you Husdent.
- Friend, take this ring as a reward. "
And both kissed each other on the lips.
Or, laissant les amants à l’ermitage, Ogrin avait cheminé sur sa béquille jusqu’au Mont ; il y acheta du vair, du gris, de l’hermine, des draps de soie, de pourpre et d’écarlate, et un chainse plus blanc que fleur de lis, et encore un palefroi harnaché d’or, qui allait l’amble doucement. Les gens riaient à le voir dispenser, pour ces achats étranges et magnifiques, ses deniers dès longtemps amassés ; mais le vieil homme chargea sur le palefroi les riches étoffes et revint auprès d’Iseut :
“Queen, your clothes are falling apart; accept these presents, so that you will be more beautiful the day you go to the Adventurous Ford; I fear they will displease you: I am no expert at choosing such attire. "
However, the king made shouts through the Cornwall the news that three days later, at the Ford Aventureux, he would make an agreement with the queen. Ladies and knights came in crowds to this assembly; everyone wanted to see Queen Isolde again, everyone loved her, except the three felons who still survived.
Mais de ces trois, l’un mourra par l’épée, l’autre périra transpercé par une flèche, l’autre noyé ; et, quant au forestier, Perinis le Franc, le Blond, l’assommera à coups de sonbâton, dans le bois. Ainsi Dieu, qui hait toute démesure, vengera les amants de leurs ennemis !
On the day designated for the assembly, at the Adventurous Ford, the meadow shone in the distance, all tended and adorned with the rich tents of the barons. In the forest, Tristan rode with Iseut, and, for fear of a snare, he had put on his hauberk under his rags. Suddenly, both appeared at the threshold of the forest and saw in the distance, among the barons, King Mark.
“Friend,” said Tristan, “here is the king your lord, his knights and his bribes; they come to us; in a moment we won't be able to talk to each other. By the mighty and glorious God, I beseech you: if I ever send you a message, do as I tell you!
- Friend Tristan, as soon as I see the green jasper ring again, neither tower, nor wall, nor strong castle will prevent me from doing my friend's will.
- Iseut, may God be grateful to you! "
Their two horses were walking side by side: he drew her towards him and hugged her in his arms.
“Friend,” said Iseut, “hear my last prayer: you are going to leave this country; at least wait a few days; hide yourself, as long as you know how the king treats me, in his anger or his kindness!… I am alone: who will defend me from the felons? I am scared ! Forester Orri will give you a secret shelter; slip into the ruined cellar at night: I'll send Perinis there to tell you if no one is mistreating me.
- Friend, no one will dare. I will remain hidden with Orri: whoever insults you, let him beware of me as of the Enemy! "
The two troops had come close enough to exchange their salutes. Within an arc's reach in front of his family, the king rode boldly; with him, Dinas de Lidan.
When the barons had joined him, Tristan, holding the palfrey of Iseut by the reins, greeted the king and said:
"King, I return Iseut the Blonde to you. Before the men of your land, I ask you to admit me to defend myself in your court. I have never been judged. Make me justify myself by battle: vanquished, burn me in sulfur; conqueror, keep me close to you; or, if you don't want to hold me back, I'll go to a distant land. "
No one accepted Tristan's challenge. Then, Mark, in his turn, took Iseut's palfrey by the reins, and, entrusting her to Dinas, stepped aside to take advice.
Merry, Dinas did the queen many honor and many courtesy. He took off her lavish scarlet cap, and her body appeared graceful under the fine tunic and large silk bliaut. And the queen smiled at the memory of the old hermit, who had not spared his money. Her dress is rich, her limbs delicate, her eyes wide, her hair as light as rays of the sun.
Quand les félons la virent belle et honorée comme jadis, irrités, ils chevauchèrent vers le roi. À ce moment, un baron, André de Nicole, s’efforçait de le persuader :
“Sire,” he said, “keep Tristan close to you; you will be, thanks to him, a more feared king. "
And, little by little, he softened Marc's heart. But the felons came against and said:
“King, listen to the advice we give you in loyalty. They have spoken ill of the queen; wrongly, we grant it to you; but if she and Tristan return to your court together, we'll talk about it again. Instead, let Tristan go away for a while; one day, no doubt, you will call him back. "
Marc did so: he ordered his barons to leave Tristan without delay. So, Tristan came to the queen and said goodbye to her. They looked at each other. The queen was ashamed of the assembly and blushed.
But the king was moved with pity, and, speaking to his nephew for the first time:
"Where will you go, under these rags?" Take what you want from my treasure, gold, silver, vair and gray.
'King,' said Tristan, 'I will take neither a denarius nor a mesh. As best I can, I will go and serve the rich King of Friesland to great joy. "
He turned around and went down towards the sea. Iseut followed him with his gaze, and, so long as she could see him in the distance, did not turn away.
At the news of the agreement, young and old, men, women and children flocked out of the city to meet Iseut; and, in deep mourning for Tristan's exile, they were celebrating their rediscovered queen. At the sound of the bells, through the well-strewn streets, embellished with silk, the king, the counts and the princes made him procession; the doors of the palace were opened to all comers; rich and poor alike were able to sit down and eat, and, to celebrate this day, Mark, having freed a hundred of his serfs, gave the sword and the hauberk to twenty bachelors whom he armed with his hand.
Cependant, la nuit venue, Tristan, comme il l’avait promis à la reine, se glissa chez le forestier Orri, qui l’hébergea secrètement dans le cellier ruiné. Que les félons se gardent !
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