Note 52 — Tristan

Compare Immermann, “Tristan und Isolde, Ein Gedicht in Romanzen,” Düsseldorf, 1841. Like the epic of Gottfried of Strassburg, his poem begins with the preliminary history of the loves of Tristan’s parents, King Riwalin Kannlengres of Parmenia and Marke’s beautiful sister Blancheflur. The maiden never reveals her love, which is not sanctioned by her brother, but she visits the king, who is wounded unto death, in his chamber, and dying he procreates Tristan, “the son of the most daring and doleful love.” Grown up as a foundling in the care of Rual and his wife, Florete, the winsome youth Tristan introduces himself to Marke in a stag hunt, as an expert huntsman, is recognized as his nephew by a ring, the king’s gift to his beloved sister, and becomes his favorite.