New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-13
TRISTAN AND ISOLDE"
Testimony to the Truth of the
Story.

W. a. Henderson, in Notes and Queries.
l cannot vouch for the veracty of the story
as told by Sir Thomas Mallory. but doubtless
there is a substratum of truth, and some scin-
Una of evidence in favor of such is. think.
10 be found in some place-names of early Dublin
Phoenix Park and Chapelizod Isolde was an
Irish princess. and certainly gave her name to
the last named place.
MY first contention is that the story either
originally emanated from Dublin was pub
licly accepted by it's inhabitants well
thentlcated fact. The following is from the
Libre Albus,' the White Book OF the City Of
Dublin:
The Mayor and commonaIty OF the city of
Dublin grant to their beloved and faithful clerk
William Picot, for his praiseworthy services. the
tower which is called Butavant, situated upon
the bank near Isolda's Gate together with aIl
the land adjacent between the street, through
which the passage is from the aforesaid IsOlda's
Tower toward the Church Of ST. Olave's and
extending from the street far the new
wall toward the water of Auenlyf Liney."
Now. the inference which draws from this
extract is that. though Butavant older
tower. Isolda's better known as we'll de-
fined and popular landmark These river tow
ers, which formed part OF the city walls must
have been one or two centuries old when this
was written O26D. and they certainly carried
their original names. Now. not only have We
an Isoldas Tower and Gate but there also
lsouds Lane Further, Hsorde and Ysolt We're
used as female Christian names In early Dublin.
These names would suggest that no story had
such passionate interest Tor the citizens OF Dub
lin In the eleventh and twelfth centuries as tho
great love romance OF Isolde. That this hot In
terest is solely due to close local association IS
definitely proved by tho fact that Tristan. who
plays the major part ia all the literature on the
subject, is never once mentioned. Local tradl-
tons possibly historic facts. are perpetuated In
these place names. Passing westward TO what
is now the Phoenix Park we find In The
Record OF the Riding OF the Franchises in Dub
lin." in 1903
They past over the water Of the C9mmoeke. and
Leis OF Kilmainham ana the 1neddowe under that.
and soc directly Westward 10 that partc OF the
The h called la "Ga nnd noHe the
hin Of Isolds font, which IS bowshot OF the west
meddoWe over which font is great hathorn tree
over and BY north Isolds font and to the font
itselfe.
Notice must be taken of the important fact
that both Hill and font were viewed as dis
tlnctive landmarks and recognized as such by
the city fathers, for they were used To mark
the boundary Of their civic jurisdiction This
in itself goes to show that these notable
places OF resort. and the rlII or font or well
was certainly regarded as the trysting-place OF
Isolde and Tristan.
From the descriptions rather infinitely de-
tailed. the hill can be none other than what to-
day is known as the Magazine Hill in the
Phoenix Park, and the little ril at its base
which. alas! dribbles through thick mud ana
rotten vegetation-had some connection with
the historic font. Traces OF a good-slZed pool
are stu to be noted, and the age-blaCkened
trunk Of an ancient hawthorn still stands at its
head. sWarburton speaks in his history Of Dub
lin OF lsolde's fort In the park" Some small
familiar name fingered on, even into the seven
teenth and eighteenth centuries
Let us continue to proceed westward, to the
place where stiH her name alone perpetuates
her ancient renOwn. Tradition states that the
little chapel that gave the district It's name was
reared and endowed by IsOud In the year 0lO
This is. of course beyond verihCation, but the
remains OF an antc-N Norman chapel not far away
lend some color at least TO the antiquity of
the district inhabited area. Isoud's chapel
has entirely disappeared. For long it stood in
a ruined condition. and some OF the older in
habitants have vague recollections OF 1t as
place OF worship, and remember that large
section of the congregation were forced. through
lack OF room. to kneel outside. II stood little
distant from the present Protestant church.
The name Chapelzod be traced back in
state documents to the eleventh and twelfth
centuries. Stanihurst, in 1917, states. There
is "a village hard by Dublin. called of the
said Ia Beale, Chapel Isoud." OF late years
the old square tower attached TO the Protes-
tant Church has become sort of rally
ing point for the growing cult OF Isolde. 1t is
said 70 have been erected in the sixteenth CEN
fury; probably the material taken from an
older building. and in this way the chain OF
association preserved. At least ii must have
stood for centuries in the vicinity Of the little
historical chapel. It has no rival in the village
as an object Of antiquarian interest. and should
serve as permanent memorial to the beautt-
full Gaelic princess, whose love and piety stood
sponsors for the nomenclature Of the district.
The question suggests Itself, When did Isolde
build this little chapel? Certainly not before
she left Ireland with Tristan for Cornwall. l
have had to resort 20 pure conjecture for sat
isfying solution. Mallory tells that King
mark tracked Tristan to the castle or Joyous
Gard (Which has been identified with Bamburgh
Castle sixteen miles southeast of Berwick).
where he treacherously slew him. and further.
we are told that La Beale IsOud died swooning
upon the cross Of Sir Trstram whereof
great pity" The chronicle does not convey that
her death Immediately followed that Of her
lover; ono may conjecture that she returned
home to Ireland, and, following the example Of
Guenever, entered a religious house. This
would be the time she reared and endowed the
chapel which has perpetuated her name In her
native land Dante. when visiting the lovers
quarters In hell, recognized many unhappy
pair who earth loved mot wisely, but too
well" He noticed Tristan there but makes no
mention Of Isolde. Dante possibly was aware
that she had expiated her sins by a life OF
we're penance and holy deeds. and that from the
swOon OF death. her eyes fixed on the symbol
of divine love which belonged TO her beloved
Tristan she finally passed to the Paradise of the
Blessed
Perhaps in a subsequent paper may be al
lowed to tell something OF the history and de-
structon of the interesting Isolde Tower that
for centuries part Of the ancient walls OF
! Dublin.