"My lady!" said Brangien, "soothe you. You curse over much these days. May be he comes from Tristan?"
"I cannot tell. I know him not. But go find him, friend, and see if you know him."
So Brangien went to the hall where the fool still sat alone. Tristan knew her and let fall his club and said: "Brangien, dear Brangien, before God! have pity on me!"
"Foul fool," she answered, "what devil taught you my name?"
"Lady," he said, "I have known it long. By my head, that once was fair, if I am mad the blame is yours, for it was yours to watch over the wine we drank on the high seas. The cup was of silver and I held it to Iseult and she drank. Do you remember, lady?"
"No," she said, and as she trembled and left he called out: "Pity me!"
He followed and saw Iseult. He stretched out his arms, but in her shame, sweating agony she drew back, and Tristan angered and said: "I have lived too long, for I have seen the day that Iseult will nothing of me. Iseult, how hard love dies! Iseult, a welling water that floods and runs large is a mighty thing; on the day that it fails it is nothing; so love that turns."
But she said "Brother, I look at you and doubt and tremble, and I know you not for Tristan."
"Queen Iseult, I am Tristan indeed that do love you; mind you for the last time of the dwarf, and of the flower, and of the blood I shed in my leap. Oh! and of that ring I took in kisses and in tears on the day we parted. I have kept that jasper ring and asked it counsel."
Then Iseult knew Tristan for what he was, and she said: "Heart, you should have broken of sorrow not to have known the man who has suffered so much for you. Pardon, my master and my friend."
And her eyes darkened and she fell; but when the light returned she was held by him who kissed her eyes and her face.
So passed they three full days. But, on the third, two maids that watched them told the traitor Andret, and he put spies well-armed before the women's rooms. And when Tristan would enter they cried: "Back, fool!"
But he brandished his club laughing, and said: "What! May I not kiss the Queen who loves me and awaits me now?"