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The king and queen and all the court marvelled who should be the stranger knight, and why he had departed, and some suspected Sir Tristram, but none knew of this except La Belle Isoude and Governale his squire, and none dared charge him therewith. La Belle Isoude kept her counsel, and strove to seem lighthearted.
Bragwine the maid, seeing the pensive looks of her mistress, and knowing the wretchedness of her heart, determined to give her mistress what she most desired. By the aid of Governale, the squire of Sir Tristram, they poured the philtre into the wine of Isoude and Sir Tristram as they were about to sit at dinner.
'Sure this is the best wine that ever I drank, said he, and smiled at her. 'It is truly a most sweet and noble drink, said Isoude, and her heart was glad to see him smile, who hitherto had kept his face so stern. Sir Tristram called his squire. 'Governale, said he, 'what wine is this thou hast given us this day? Let us have another flask of the same.
In their places, King Kador of Cornwall and King Uriens of Reged were judges at the trial. Ere noon was marked by the gnomon of the dial set up before the judges, Sir Tristram and his squire Governale rode up the lists, and were met by King Anguish and his knights.
And so it chanced that one day sitting in their cabin they were athirst, and saw a little flask of gold which seemed to hold good wine. So Sir Tristram took it up, and said, "Fair lady, this looketh to be the best of wines, and your maid, Dame Bragwaine, and my servant, Governale, have kept it for themselves."
Tristram wondered why her fair hand was so cold. 'Good-bye and God be with ye always, La Belle Isoude replied in a faint voice, and then turned and went from him. Tristram thought she was angered with him for the slaying of her uncle. So in a little while he rode forth with Governale down to the seashore and looked back not once.
Then, leaping down the rocks where none could follow, he escaped them. But one shot after him and wounded him full sorely with a poisoned arrow in the arm. Anon, his servant Governale, with Sir Lambegus sought him and found him safe among the rocks, and told him that King Mark had banished him and all his followers to avenge Sir Andret's death. So they took ship and came to Brittany.
When Sir Tristram heard that, he was soon armed and on his horse, and Governale, his servant, followed him with shield and spear. And as he rode, he met his cousin Sir Andret, who had been commanded by King Mark to bring home to him two knights of King Arthur's court who roamed the country thereabouts seeking adventures. "What tidings?" said Sir Tristram.
Men noticed how pale and stern the young knight seemed, and that he said few words. In a little while, after the wedding of his uncle to La Belle Isoude, Sir Tristram said farewell to all the court, 'for, said he, 'he would go fight the pagans who were ravening in the north, and so departed, with Governale his squire.
Forthwith King Mark let a fair ship be purveyed and well stored with necessary victuals, and Sir Tristram was carried thereto and laid on his couch on the deck, and Governale, his faithful squire, went with him. In the sunshine and the brisk wind Sir Tristram felt joyful, and the merry waves slapped the sides of the ship full prettily as it cleaved through the blue seas towards the west.
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