Gottfried Von Strassburg (Died about 1210)
Gottfried was one of the most famous of that group of Minnesingers which included Hartmann von Aue and Wolfram von Eschenbach. These were the most popular writers of the socalled romances of knighthood. Gottfried`s Tristan was a workingover of a French version of the tale (now existing only in fragmentary form) by Thomas the Trouvere. The German work is a manycoloured story of love and adventure, direct, simple, and devoid of the finer subtleties of psychology. The Coming of Gandin is one of the complete episodes which abound throughout the romance.
The present version, translated by Jessie L. Weston, is reprinted by her permission from Tristan and Iseult, published by David Nutt in 1899. There is no title in the original.
The Coming of Gandin
From Tristan and Iseult
For in these days a ship came to Mark`s haven in Cornwall, and there landed from it a knight, a noble baron of Ireland, named Gandin; he was rich, handsome, and courteous, so manly and strong of limb that all Ireland spake of his valor.
Fairly clad, without shield or spear, he came riding to the king`s court. On his back he bare a lute adorned with gold and precious stones, astrung as a lute should be.
He dismounted, entered the palace, and greeted Mark and Iseult in fitting wise. Many a time and in many ways had he served the queen in her own land, through his knighthood, and the great love he bare her, and for her sake had he journeyed hither from Ireland.
Then Iseult knew him, and greeted him courteously. “God save thee, Sir Gandin.”
“Gramercy, fair Iseult, fair and fairer than gold in the eyes of Gandin!”
Iseult spake softly to the king, saying who the knight was and whence he came; and Mark hearkened, wondering much why he bare a lute, and in sooth so did all the folk, for such was not the wont of wandering knights. Nevertheless would Mark do him all the honor he might, both for his own sake and for that of Iseult, since he was the queen`s countryman; so he bade the stranger sit beside him, and spake to him of his folk and land, and of knightly deeds.
When the feast was ready, and water was brought round to the guests to wash their hands, then did the courtiers pray the stranger to play the lute before them. The king and queen said nought, they would leave it to his own will; and when he took no heed of their prayers, the courtiers mocked him, calling him “The Knight of the Lute,” “The Prince with the Penance”; and Gandin said nought, but sat beside King Mark, and ate and drank, and heeded them not.
When the feast was over, and the tables borne away, then King Mark prayed him, and he could, to pleasure them awhile with his skill on the lute; but Gandin answered: “Sire, I may not, save that I know what my reward may be.”
“Sir Knight, what meanest thou? Dost thou desire aught of my possessions? If so, `tis granted; let us but hearken thy skill, and I will give thee whatever thou desirest.”
“So be it,” spake the knight of Ireland.
Then he sang a lay which pleased them all well, so that the king desired him to sing another. The traitor laughed in his heart. “Tell me,” he said, “what thou wilt, that I may play even as shall please thee.”
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