Whoever Trystan drew blood on,
That man surely fell.
Whoever drew blood on Trystan,
That man also fell.
King March sent to King Arthur
How to loose that spell.

Trystan took Queen Essylt
To Celyddon's green wood.
Trystan took Queen Essylt
In Celyddon's green wood.
King March rode to King Arthur,
Burning as he rode.

King Arthur gave him counsel:
"The only thing to do,
The only thing for you
Is send him many harpers
To play him from afar,
And poets to praise him near."

King March sent poets and harpers
Who did as they were told,
And Trystan gave them silver,
And Trystan gave them gold.
Then they brought Gwalchmai to him
In a corselet all of gold,

Gwalchmai, son of Gwyar,
Chief peacemaker of them all.
Gwalchmai, son of Gwyar,
Took Trystan to Arthur's hall.
Arthur made peace between them,
Trystan and King March.

He spoke with both together,
He spoke with each apart.
Trystan said he wanted
Queen Essylt with all his heart.
King March said he wanted
Queen Essylt with all his heart.

King Arthur said one should have her
While the leaves were on the trees,
And the other one should have her
While the leaves were off the trees.
He gave King March the choosing,
Since he her husband was.

King March said he would have her
When the leaves were off the trees.
He said the nights were longer
When the leaves were off the trees.
King March bethought him clever
Leaving summer to her lover.

When Arthur told Queen Essylt,
She said, "O blessèd be
The judgment and its giver!"
She made her courtesy
And rose up from her knee,
And danced and sang to the measure:

"There are three trees that are good,
Holly, yew, and ivy-wood.
There are three trees that keep
Their leaves forever and always,
And always and forever
With Trystan I will sleep."