Chapter Ysolde to Ywaine and Gawin of Y by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Ysolde to Ywaine and Gawin

Ysolde or Ysonde , surnamed “The Fair,” daughter of the king of Ireland. When sir Tristram was wounded in fighting for his uncle Mark, he went to Ireland, and was cured by the Fair Ysolde. On his return to Cornwall, he gave his uncle such a glowing account of the young princess that he was sent to propose offers of marriage, and to conduct the lady to Cornwall. The brave young knight and the fair damsel fell in love with each other on their voyage, and, although Ysolde married king Mark, she retained to the end her love for sir Tristram. King Mark, jealous of his nephew, banished him from Cornwall, and he went to Wales, where he performed prodigies of valour. In time his uncle invited him back to Cornwall, but, the guilty intercourse being renewed, he was banished a second time. Sir Tristram now wandered over Spain, Ermonie, and Brittany, winning golden opinions by his exploits. In Brittany he married the king’s daughter, Ysolde or Ysonde of the White Hand, but neither loved her nor lived with her. The rest of the tale is differently told by different authors. Some say he returned to Cornwall, renewed his love with Ysolde the Fair, and was treacherously stabbed by his uncle Mark. Others say he was severely wounded in Brittany, and sent for his aunt, but died before her arrival. When Ysolde the Fair heard of his death, she died of a broken heart; and king Mark buried them both in one grave, over which he planted a rose bush and a vine.

Ysolde or Ysonde or Yseult of the White Hand, daughter of the king of Brittany. Sir Tristram married her for her name’s sake, but never loved her nor lived with her, because he loved his aunt Ysolde the Fair (the young wife of king Mark), and it was a point of chivalry for a knight to love only one woman, whether widow, wife, or maid.

Yzolt or Isold. The French form is Yseulte or Ysonde; and the Italian form is Isolte. Tennyson spells the word Isolt in The Last Tournament.

Ytene [E-tee-ne], New Forest, in Hampshire.

So when two boars in wild Ytenê bred,
Or on Westphalia’s fattening chestnuts fed,
Gnash their sharp tusks, and roused with equal fire,
Dispute the reign of some luxurious mire,
In the black flood they wallow o’er and o er,
Till their armed jaws distill with foam and gore.
   —Gay: Trivia, iii. 45 (1712).

Yuhidthiton, chief of the Aztecas, the mightiest in battle and wisest in council. He succeeded Coanocotzin as king of the tribe, and led the people from the south of the Missouri to Mexico.—Southey: Madoc (1805).

Yves (St.), of whom it was written—

Sanctus Ivo erat Brito,
Advocatus, et non latro,
Res miranda populo.
St. Yveswas of the land of Bief,
An advocate, yet not a thief,
A stretch on popular belief.
   —E. C. B.

Yvetot [Eve-toe], a town in Normandy; the lord of the town was called le roi d’ Yuetot. The tale is that Clotaire son of Clovis, having slain the lord of Yvetot before the high altar of Soissons, made atonement to the heirs by conferring on them the title of king. Béranger says this potentate is little known in history, but his character and habits were not peculiar. “He rose late, went to bed early, slept without caring for glory, made four meals a day, lived in a thatched house, wore a cotton night-cap instead of a crown, rode on an ass, and his only law was ‘charity begins at home.”’

Il était un roi d’Yvetot
Peu connu dans l’histoire;
Se levant tard, se couchant tôt,
Dormant fort bien sans gloire,
Et couronné par Jeanneton
D’un simple bonnet de coton.
   Dit on:
Oh! oh! oh! oh! Ah! ah! ah! ah!
Quel bon petit roi c’était; là! là! là!
   —Béranger.
A king there was, “roi d’Yvetot” clept,
But little known in story,
Went soon to bed, till daylight slept,
And soundly without glory.
His royal brow in cotton cap
Would Jannet, when he took his nap,
   Enwrap.
Oh! oh! oh! oh! Ah! ah! ah! ah!
What king more famous? La! la! la!
   —E. C. B.

Ywaine and Gawin, the English version of “Owain and the Lady of the Fountain.” The English version was taken from the French of Chrestien de Troyes, and was published by Ritson (twelfth century). The Welsh tale isi n the Mabinogion. There is also a German version by Hartmann von der Aue, a minnesinger (beginning of thirteenth century). There are also Bavarian and Danish versions.