How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #1
Yseut decided to have Brangain killed by two of her servants. One day they accompanied Brangain into the forest and suddenly drew their swords and seized her. Before killing her, they asked what wrong she had done to Yseut. She answered that her only misdeed was to lend to Yseut a clean white tunic when Yseut's was soiled. The two men felt pity for her and, instead of killing her, bound her to a tree. They returned to Yseut and related what Brangain had told them. Yseut was deeply touched by Brangain's loyalty and at once ordered the men to bring her back.
(1.45-46)
Even though Yseut betrays Brangain by trying to have her killed, Brangain remains loyal. At this point, she's got nothing to lose by revealing Yseut's adultery, but she chooses to make up a story about a "clean white tunic." The white tunic as a substitute for a soiled one might symbolize Brangain's substitution of her virginal body for Yseut's "soiled" one in Mark's bed on Yseut's wedding night. This could be Brangain's way of reminding Yseut of what she did for her, in code.
Quote #2
'I know the king hates me. All my weapons are pledged to him: let him give them back to me and I will take my leave, for I dare not stay. I know I am brave enough [for my service to be welcome] in any land I go to. I know there is no court in the world whose lord would not have me if I went there. I have been glad to serve the king, Yseut, and by my own head I tell you that before a year has passed he will wish for all the gold in the world that he had not thought of banishing me.' (2.51)
Tristan's description of his weapons as "pledged" may be both literal and figurative. Since Mark has grown suspicious of his relationship with Tristan, he may have actually required Tristan to hand over his weapons. At the same time, a knight's pledge of his weapons to a lord is a way of talking about his loyalty to that lord, of the fact that he belongs to him as his vassal. Tristan says he has been "glad" to serve the king, emphasizing his past loyalty to Mark. As Mark's vassal, Tristan is not free to go where he wishes: Mark must release him from his service—give Tristan's weapons back—before Tristan is free to seek another lord.
Quote #3
'My lords, you are loyal to me. As God is my help, I marvel that my nephew should have sought my shame; but he has served me in a strange way. Give me your advice, I beg you. You must advise me well, for I do not want to lose your service.' (3.61)
At this point, Mark views his barons' decision to refuse to accept Tristan and Yseut's continued affair as a sign of their loyalty. Accordingly, he demands what any good lord expects of a loyal vassal: advice. His willingness to listen to and accept that advice is how he demonstrates that he is also loyal to his vassals.
Quote #4
'And if it was Mark's wish, when you made this defence, to allow me to remain in his household, I should serve him with honour as my uncle and my lord. No warrior in his land would give him better support in war.' (11.97-98)
Tristan owes Mark two forms of loyalty; one as a family member, the other as a vassal. The "support in war" Tristan offers as part of his loyal service has been his trump card throughout the story. He often reminds Mark and other characters of the time he was the only one willing to serve as Cornwall's champion against Morholt of Ireland. He seems to believe that the reciprocal loyalty Mark owes him is to believe his word over that of his barons, who shirked their duty at that time.
Quote #5
'Dinas, listen to me for a moment: I am departing from here, and you know very well why. If I send Governal to you for anything I need urgently, give it to him, for you owe this to me.' (13.113)
Tristan tells his friend Dinas that he has to give in to any request that Tristan makes, that Dinas "owes" this to Tristan. In the medieval romance, ideal friendship between two knights does indeed require this level of loyalty. A true friend must be willing to sacrifice even his life for his fellow knight.
Quote #6
'You are angry and resentful because we have spoken to you about your honour. It is right that a man should advise his lord, yet we have gained your ill will. Cursed be the man who hates you, however strong a knight he is. He would certainly be harshly treated by you and he would go away. But we are faithful to you and we give you loyal advice.' (14.117)
Mark's barons' argument when he objects to their continued doubts about his wife's faithfulness is that they only demonstrate their loyalty by giving him good advice. While it's technically true that a vassal can demonstrate his loyalty with good advice, Mark's barons act out of hatred for Tristan rather than true loyalty to Mark. If this feeling were not the source of their concerns, they would be well within their rights to demand that Yseut prove her innocence. A vassal's loyalty to his lord extends not only to him, but to his bloodline. If the lord's wife has been unfaithful, she jeopardizes the legitimacy of that bloodline.
Quote #7
'Fair Yseut told him that she would justify herself only in your presence. She begs and beseeches you, as your dear friend, to be at Gué Aventurous at the appointed time, and to have a hundred friends with you; may your court be loyal then and your household sincere.' (14.124)
Yseut asks Arthur to fulfill the obligations of friendship by serving as her surety when she takes an oath. In other words, Arthur must witness the oath and be willing to testify to its truth with his sword, if necessary. Yseut is wise to call upon a friend who has lots of other "friends" with swords for this purpose. Enlisting Arthur and his knights as her surety guarantees that no one will question her oath, since they will make enemies of the Round Table if they do. Yseut's use of Arthur's household as her surety demonstrates the way in which medieval justice depends upon a network of loyalties for it to work.