How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #10
'This very day I am going to ask you as a recompense to help me in getting the queen to give me a fair reward for only a quarter of my service to her, or for a half of my suffering […] They say, "Whoever serves love will one day be rewarded for everything." From what I have seen here, that is not true in my case.' (18.157, 161)
When Tristan visits Yseut disguised as a fool, he plays the role of a scorned vassal who has been denied a reward for his "service," in this case, his love for his "lord," who is either Yseut, or love. The figure of love as a feudal lord with lover-vassals at her service was a common one in the poetry of this time period. It emphasizes love's power over the lover, and its ability to both reward and punish him, depending on the circumstances. Here, Tristan implicitly accuses love of betraying her vassal by failing to reward him for his loyal service.