Everybody knows of the arrival of the funeral barge at court, of the reading of the letter in Elaine's dead hand, and of Launcelot's sorrow over the suffering he had unwittingly caused.
Launcelot and Guinevere are not the only examples in the Arthurian Cycle of the love of a queen for her husband's friend, and of his overwhelming passion for the wife of his master.

Another famous couple, Tristram and Iseult, [23] also claims our attention.
The legend of Tristram was already known in the sixth century, and from that time until now has been periodically rewritten and embellished.

Like most mediaeval legends, it begins with the hero's birth, gives in detail the whole story of his life, and ends only when he is safely dead and buried! The bare outline of the main events in Tristram's very adventurous career are the elopement of his mother, a sister of King Mark of Cornwall.

Then, while mourning for her beloved, this lady dies in giving birth to her son, whom she names Tristram, or the sad one.
Brought up by a faithful servant,--Gouvernail or Kurvenal,--Tristram learns to become a peerless hunter and musician.

After describing sundry childish and youthful adventures in different lands, the various legends agree in bringing him to his uncle's court, just as a giant champion arrives from Ireland, claiming tribute in money and men unless some one can defeat him in battle.