Frocin the Dwarf
Also known as: Frocin / the Dwarf / the little wizard · Family: Cornwall · Role: wizard · First appears: Chapter 5 · Part 2
In Chapter 5, Andret called for Frocin’s counsel, saying, “My lords, let us take counsel of Frocin the Dwarf; for he knows the seven arts, and magic and every kind of charm.” Frocin was asked to discover Iseult’s secret dealings and predicted that Tristan and Iseult would be seized that night. He then told King Mark to proclaim a seven-day hunt and secretly watch Tristan, leading him to the pine tree in the orchard. After reading in the stars that King Mark intended his death, Frocin fled to Wales.
In Chapter 6, Dinas of Lidan found Frocin wandering in a forest and brought him home, after which King Mark pardoned him. King Mark later accepted Frocin’s plan to test Tristan’s loyalty and entrap him: Frocin scattered flour between Tristan and Iseult, and when Tristan crossed toward her at midnight, his bleeding wound revealed the passage. Others urged King Mark to call Frocin again, remembering that he had read in the stars of Iseult’s coming to the orchard and to the pine tree.
Relationship record
Life events
- Duke Andret asks Frocin to discover Iseult’s secret dealings.(Chapter 5 · Part 2)
- With: Andret
- “Till at last Duke Andret (whom God shame) said to his peers: ‘My lords, let us take counsel of Frocin the Dwarf; for he knows the seven arts, and magic and every kind of charm. He will teach us if he will the wiles of Iseult the Fair.’”
- Frocin predicts that Tristan and Iseult will be seized.(Chapter 5 · Part 2)
- “Sirs, high good lords, this night shall you seize them both.”
- King Mark follows Frocin’s plan and hides in the orchard to spy on Tristan.(Chapter 5 · Part 2 · 📍 Tintagel)
- With: King Mark
- “So did the King unwillingly; and at fall of night he left the hunt taking the dwarf in pillion, and entered the orchard, and the dwarf took him to the tall pine-tree, saying: ‘Fair King, climb into these branches and take with you your arrows and your bow, for you may need them; and bide you still.’”
- Frocin reads that King Mark intends his death and flees to Wales.(Chapter 5 · Part 2 · 📍 Wales)
- “But in an open glade apart, Frocin, the Dwarf, read in the clear stars that the King now meant his death; he blackened with shame and fear and fled into Wales.”
- Dinas of Lidan brought Frocin home, and King Mark pardoned him.(Chapter 6 · Part 1)
- With: King Mark Dinas of Lidan
- “Mark had pardoned the felons, and as the seneschal, Dinas of Lidan, found the dwarf wandering in a forest abandoned, he brought him home, and the King had pity and pardoned even him.”
- King Mark accepted Frocin’s plan to test Tristan’s loyalty and entrap him.(Chapter 6 · Part 1)
- With: King Mark
- “And when King Mark had agreed, this dwarf did a vile thing.”
- Frocin scattered flour between Tristan and the Queen to mark Tristan’s forbidden passage.(Chapter 6 · Part 1)
- “That night, when the King had supped and the men-at-arms lay down to sleep in hall, Tristan came to the King as custom was”
- Tristan crossed secretly toward Iseult, but his bleeding wound exposed the passage.(Chapter 6 · Part 1)
Chapter 5 · Part 2
- with Andret (Duke Andret sought Frocin’s counsel.) “My lords, let us take counsel of Frocin the Dwarf; for he knows the seven arts, and magic and every kind of charm.”
- with King Mark (Frocin advised King Mark on how to discover Tristan’s actions.) “Sire, bid your huntsmen leash the hounds and saddle the horses, proclaim a seven days’ hunt in the forest and seven nights abroad therein, and hang me high if you do not hear this night what converse Tristan holds.”
Chapter 6 · Part 1
- with King Mark (Frocin advises King Mark and devises a test for Tristan.) “Sire,” said he, “let your nephew ride hard to-morrow at dawn with a brief drawn up on parchment and well sealed with a seal: bid him ride to King Arthur at Carduel.”
- with King Mark (Frocin is summoned as a counselor.) “Lord,” said they, “call then Frocin hither. You mistrust him for that orchard night. Still, was it not he that read in the stars of the Queen’s coming there and to the very pine-tree too? He is very wise, take counsel of him.”
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Extracted from the original text of The Romance of Tristan and Iseult. Made with Rho MD.