Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
XV: The Round Table explained
Merlin fabricates the Round Table with thirteen seats, twelve for knights and one perilous seat for the traitor Judas.
What happens
Merlin fabricates the Round Table with thirteen seats, twelve for knights and one perilous seat for the traitor Judas. Tristram is honored by Arthur and takes the seat of Moraunt of Ireland. King Mark, consumed by jealousy, plots to kill Tristram but fails and is accused. Isoude is kidnapped by Breuse the Pitiless but rescued by Tristram. They journey to Camelot, where Isoude is welcomed by Arthur and Guenever. Mark is reconciled with Tristram under Arthur's judgment.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional peak of Tristram’s brief reunion with…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Jealousy and Revenge
King Mark's jealousy of Tristram drives him to plot murder and seek vengeance.
- Love and Transformation
Tristram and Isoude's love is celebrated through song and their joyful journey together.
- Heroism and the Quest
Tristram proves his valor by taking the perilous seat and rescuing Isoude.
Characters to notice
- Merlin
Fabricated the Round Table with thirteen seats.
- Tristram
Takes the seat of Moraunt of Ireland, rescues Isoude, and is honored at Camelot.
- King Arthur
Leads Tristram to the perilous seat and reconciles Mark and Tristram.
- Sir Launcelot
Welcomes Tristram and Isoude, offers his castle La Joyeuse Garde.
- Queen Guenever
Welcomes Isoude as a sister.
- Isoude
Kidnapped by Breuse, rescued by Tristram, and welcomed at Camelot.
- King Mark
Plots to kill Tristram, is accused, and reconciled under Arthur's judgment.
Key passages
“In our great hall there stood a vacant chair, Fashion’d by Merlin ere he past away, And carven with strange figures; and in and out The figures, like a serpent, ran a scroll Of letters in a tongue no man could read. And Merlin call’d it ‘The Siege perilous,’ Perilous for good and ill; ‘for there,’ he said, ‘No man could sit but he should lose himself.’”
In the hall there was an empty chair made by Merlin, decorated with mysterious carvings and a scroll in an unknown language. Merlin named it the Siege Perilous, warning that anyone who sat there would be lost.
Describes the origin and danger of the Siege Perilous.
“With fair Isoude, and with love, Ah! how sweet the life I lead! How blest forever thus to rove, With fair Isoude, and with love!”
Life is sweet and blessed when I wander with fair Isoude and love.
Tristram's joyful lay celebrating his journey with Isoude.
