The Romance of Tristan & Iseult retold by Joseph Bédier

The Romance of Tristan & Iseult 

Retold by Joseph Bédier  

Published 1994 (first published 1170)

Chivalric/Celtic Romance 

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Supposedly, this is the love story that started the Westernized version of "star-crossed lovers," and later influenced stories of Lancelot & Guinevere and Romeo & Juliet. It it believed to have been written in the 12th century. 

Such stories begin this way: a courageous knight (in this case, Tristan) conquered foes and dragons, saved whole kingdoms, and hoped to win the princess. Except, in this story, princess Iseult was elusive because first Tristan killed one of her evil relatives and then because she had already been promised to King Mark, Tristan's uncle. What luck!

On her voyage to meet her soon-to-be husband, King Mark, and to make things easier, the princess had a special magical potion to drink on her wedding night to aid her love toward her new husband; however, she and Tristan mistakenly drank it while they were together, before they reached land, and so sealed their fate. Nonetheless, the marriage ceremony took place, and Iseult played the switch-a-roo trick with her servant on her wedding night so she could be with Tristan. 

But they escaped and lived a wild life hidden in the forest until several things happened: they met a hermit who tried unsuccessfully to convince them to give up their adultery, and second, King Mark found them asleep together and, yet, left them in peace. They then considered making things right, repenting of their sin, returning Isuelt to her legal husband, and Tristan leaving the country for good. They even invoked King Arthur for his protection, which he obliged. 

The magical potion supposedly lost its power after this time, as Tristin took up existence in another country and joylessly married another. Even still, he concocted a foolhardy plan to see Isuelt once more by disguising himself, just to see if she still loved him. (I think she did.)

Back to his new life in another country, he was injured in a fight. He knew Isuelt was the only one to heal him and sent a messenger to Isuelt who agreed to return to him. But in jealousy, Tristan's wife lied to him about Isuelt, causing him to give up his life. Isuelt was too late. And neither could she live without him. 

King Mark had his nephew Tristan and his wife Isuelt buried in separate coffins some space apart from the other, and yet a tree grew up from Tristan's grave and took root in Isuelt's. Neither could anyone ever cut it down. 

For men see this and that outward thing, but God alone the heart, and in the heart alone is Crime and the sole final judge is God. Therefore did He lay down he law that a man accused might uphold his cause by battle, and God himself fights for the innocent in such a combat.

I had no idea what to expect of this story, since I did not know the plot; it was all a surprise to me. I found it thoroughly entertaining and enchanting, adventurous - never a dull moment - and tragically memorable. While adultery was a heavy topic, Bédier wrote tastefully where intimacy was often implied; either that, or it went completely over my head - that's how subtle it was. 

The Romance of Tristan and Iseult leaves readers with many questions: Was it truly love if Tristan and Isuelt needed a magical potion? Is love an emotion that causes people to lose their sense of right and wrong? Does love cause people to give up everything good and noble in their lives for that forbidden relationship? Is it worth it? When the potion wore off, was their love true, the same, different? Was the tree that grew at their grave the final answer that their love was true? Everyone may answer differently.

The good singers of old time...told this tale for lovers and none other, and by my pen, they beg you for your prayers. They greet those who are cast down and those in heart, those troubled and those filled with desire, those who are overjoyed and those disconsolate, all lovers. May all herein find strength against inconstancy, against unfairness and despite and loss and pain and all the bitterness of loving.