How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #1
As [Tristan] lay there, the Irish king's seneschal passed by and saw only the dead dragon. He hastily cut off its head and bore it triumphantly back to the palace, where he announced that he had slain the dragon. He thought that the dragon's real slayer must have been killed, and he claimed Yseut as his prize. (1.43)
The whole point of the Irish king's stipulation that the man who kills the dragon gets Yseut is to ensure that she ends up with a knight strong enough to protect her. The seneschal's deceit undermines all that. This episode introduces the idea of Yseut being given to the wrong man, something that will later haunt her relationship with both Mark and Tristan.
Quote #2
When it was time for Mark and Yseut to retire Tristan conducted them to their chamber and extinguished all the lights, explaining that this was an Irish custom. Brangain took Yseut's place in bed without Mark noticing the substitution; when the king was asleep Yseut replaced Brangain and the deception was successfully accomplished. (1.45)
Brangain has to take Yseut's place in the marriage bed because Yseut has already lost her virginity to Tristan and is afraid Mark will notice. Now there's a plan. Some people think Mark's inability to recognize the switch is evidence of his stupidity or that he does not really "deserve" Yseut. Of course, he has just met her, after all. Plus, it's dark. It's also a pretty common thing to happen in medieval literature, and even Shakespeare uses it in some of his plots. So make of it what you will.
Quote #3
'Tristan, for God's sake, it is very wrong of you to send for me at such a time!' Then she pretended to weep. For the sake of the Lord who created all things, never send for me again. I am sorry to say this, Tristan, but I am sure I should not dare to come. The king thinks that I have been wicked enough to love you. But before God I swear I have been loyal: may He scourge me if anyone has ever had my love except the man who had me as a maiden.' (2.48)
A common medieval anti-woman proverb said that "deceit, weeping, and spinning" were God's gifts to women. Well, it's 2 for 3 as far as Yseut is concerned. Here Yseut foreshadows the oath she will take in Part 15 when she swears before God that only Mark and the leper who carried her across the ford have been between her thighs. It's technically true that the only man Yseut has loved is the one who had her as a maiden. But that's not Mark; it's Tristan. The oath Yseut swears here is called an "equivocal oath." It's an oath that is true to the letter, but not the spirit, of the law. It plays on Mark's misconception about the identity of the man who took Yseut's virginity, relying upon deception for its effectiveness and validity.