Meriadok advises the King to proclaim a great hunting-match, and, instead of going to the forest, to conceal himself in the dwarf's lurking-place. 88. 89. 90.-The dwarf is sent to Tristrem with a pretended message from Ysonde, appointing a rendezvous. Tristrem, suspecting the deceit, returns a cold answer. The dwarf tells Mark that Tristrem puts no confidence in bis message, but that he is nevertheless certain he will visit Ysonde that night. Stanzas 91, 92.93.-Mark, having taken his station in the tree, the two lovers meet beneath it; but, being aware of the King's presence, by his shadow, they assume the tone of quarrel and recrimination. Tristrem charges Ysonde with baving alienated from him the affections of his uncle, so that he was nearly compelled to fly into Wales. Ysonde avows her hatred to Tristrem, alleging as the cause, her husband's unjust suspicions of their criminal intercourse. 94. 95. 96.-The dialogue is continued in the same strain; Tristrem beseeching Ysonde to procure him a dismissal from the court, and she engaging on condition of his departure, to supplicate Mark to endow him with suitable means of support. The good-natured monarch is overwhelmed with joy and tenderuess at this supposed discovery of the innocence of his wife and nephew. Far from assenting to Tristrem's departure, he creates him his high constable; and the grateful knight carries on his intrigue with Ysonde, without farther suspicion, for the space of three years. Stanzas 97. 98. 99.-Meriadok again excites the jealousy of King Mark, and persuades him to order the Queen and Tristrem to be let blood the same day: Meriadok also strews the floor of the King's chamber with flour, in order to detect the traces of footsteps upon it. 100. 401.-Tristrem evades this last device, by springing a distance of thirty feet, over the part of the chamber which was covered with the flour, but the wound of his vein opening with the exertion, his stolen visit is betrayed to the King by the traces of his blood. Tristrem flies from Cornwall. 102. 403.-Ysonde undertakes to prove her innocence, by undergoing the fiery ordeal. A court is appointed to be held at Westminster, where the Queen is to bear red-hot iron in her hand, according to the ancient law of ordeal. Tristrem joins the retinue, disguised as a peasant, in the most abject state of poverty. 101-When they are about to cross the Thames, the Queen pitches upon her disguised lover to bear her from the shore to the ship. Tristrem designedly lets his fair burden fall upon the beach, in such a manner as to expose some part of her person. 105.-The attendants, scandalized at this indecent accident, caused by the awkwardness of the stranger, are about to drown him in the river; but are prevented by Ysonde, who imputes bis fall to feebleness, through want of nourishment, and orders him a reward. 106. 107, 108.-When the Queen is brought to her oath, she swears, that she is a "guiltless woman," and that no one had ever familiarity with her person, excepting the king, and the peasant who bore ber to the vessel, whose indelicate awkwardness had been witnessed by the whole of her retinue. The hot iron is then presented to Ysonde: but the uxorious King of Cornwall, resting perfectly satisfied with the equivocal oath of his consort, refuses to permit her to hazard this dangerous confirmation of her faith. Ysonde is proclaimed innocent, in spite of the accusations of Meriadok, and is completely reconciled to her husband. Tristrem, meanwhile, remains in Wales, occupying in military achievements the term of his separation from Ysonde. Ysonde of heighe priis, The maiden bright of hewe, And scarlet that was newe, Hom longeth Tramtris the trewe, For heled was his wounde. XV. Sir Tramtris in Irelond Duelled al a yere; That hole he was and fere; The Quen to fot and hand, He serued dern and dere; Ysonde he dede vnderstand What alle playes were In lay; His leue he asked at here, In schip so founde oway. XVI. The Quen, that michel can, |