In “Chevrefoil,” Iseult is a queen, married to King Mark of Cornwall but in love with Tristram. On her way to a festival, she sees Tristram’s honeysuckle symbol on a hazel branch and finds him in the nearby woods. After a happy reunion, Iseult also counsels Tristram on how to reconcile with her husband King Mark, who’d banished Tristram due to his love for Iseult.
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Iseult Character Timeline in The Lais of Marie de France
The timeline below shows where the character Iseult appears in The Lais of Marie de France. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
XI. Chevrefoil
Marie has often heard recited the lay called “Chevrefoil,” which concerns Tristram and Queen Iseult and their pure love, which caused them distress and eventually brought about their deaths. King...
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Finally, Tristram leaves Wales for Cornwall, where Iseult lives. He travels secretly through the forest, only emerging at night to lodge with peasants...
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As Iseult rides along, she spots the hazel branch and commands her retinue to stop. She ventures...
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