And many shall think me a
fool that have less wit than I."
Just then a fisherman passed in a rough cloak and cape, and Tristan
seeing him, took him aside, and said:
"Friend, will you not change clothes?"
And as the fisherman found it a very good bargain, he said in answer:
"Yes, friend, gladly."
And he changed and ran off at once for fear of losing his gain. Then
Tristan shaved his wonderful hair; he shaved it close to his head and
left a cross all bald, and he rubbed his face with magic herbs
distilled in his own country, and it changed in colour and skin so
that none could know him, and he made him a club from a young tree
torn from a hedge-row and hung it to his neck, and went bare-foot
towards the castle.
The porter made sure that he had to do with a fool and said:
"Good morrow, fool, where have you been this long while?"
And he answered:
"At the Abbot of St. Michael's wedding, and he wed an abbess, large
and veiled. And from the Alps to Mount St. Michael how they came, the
priests and abbots, monks and regulars, all dancing on the green with
croziers and with staves under the high trees' shade. But I left them
all to come hither, for I serve at the King's board to-day."
Then the porter said:
"Come in, lord fool; the Hairy Urgan's son, I know, and like your
father.
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