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diff --git a/old/831.txt b/old/831.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..71fc5e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/831.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15398 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Four Arthurian Romances, by Chretien DeTroyes + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Four Arthurian Romances + "Erec et Enide", "Cliges", "Yvain", and "Lancelot" + +Author: Chretien DeTroyes + +Posting Date: July 26, 2008 [EBook #831] +Release Date: February, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUR ARTHURIAN ROMANCES *** + + + + +Produced by Douglas B. Killings + + + + + +FOUR ARTHURIAN ROMANCES: + +"EREC ET ENIDE", "CLIGES", "YVAIN", AND "LANCELOT" + + +by Chretien DeTroyes + +Fl. 12th Century A.D. + +Originally written in Old French, sometime in the second half of the +12th Century A.D., by the court poet Chretien DeTroyes. + + + + +SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: + +ORIGINAL TEXT-- + +Carroll, Carleton W. (Ed.): "Chretien DeTroyes: Erec and Enide" (Garland +Library of Medieval Literature, New York & London, 1987). Edited with a +translation (see Penguin Classics edition below). + +Kibler, William W. (Ed.): "Chretien DeTroyes: The Knight with the Lion, +or Yvain (Garland Library of Medieval Literature 48A, New York & London, +1985). Original text with English translation (See Penguin Classics +edition below). + +Kibler, William W. (Ed.): "Chretien DeTroyes: Lancelot, or The Knight of +the Cart (Garland Library of Medieval Literature 1A, New York & London, +1981). Original text with English translation (See Penguin Classics +edition below). + +Micha, Alexandre (Ed.): "Les Romans de Chretien de Troyes, Vol. II: +Cliges" (Champion, Paris, 1957). + + +OTHER TRANSLATIONS-- + +Cline, Ruth Harwood (Trans.): "Chretien DeTroyes: Yvain, or the Knight +with the Lion" (University of Georgia Press, Athens GA, 1975). + +Kibler, William W. & Carleton W. Carroll (Trans.): "Chretien DeTroyes: +Arthurian Romances" (Penguin Classics, London, 1991). Contains +translations of "Erec et Enide" (by Carroll), "Cliges", "Yvain", +"Lancelot", and DeTroyes' incomplete "Perceval" (by Kibler). Highly +recommended. + +Owen, D.D.R (Trans.): "Chretien DeTroyes: Arthurian Romances" (Everyman +Library, London, 1987). Contains translations of "Erec et Enide", +"Cliges", "Yvain", "Lancelot", and DeTroyes' incomplete "Perceval". +NOTE: This edition replaced W.W. Comfort's in the Everyman Library +catalogue. Highly recommended. + + +RECOMMENDED READING-- + +Anonymous: "Lancelot of the Lake" (Trans: Corin Corely; Oxford +University Press, Oxford, 1989). English translation of one of the +earliest prose romances concerning Lancelot. + +Anonymous: "The Mabinogion" (Ed: Jeffrey Gantz; Penguin Classics, +London, 1976). Contains a translation of "Geraint and Enid", an earlier +Welsh version of "Erec et Enide". + +Anonymous: "Yvain and Gawain", "Sir Percyvell of Gales", and "The Anturs +of Arther" (Ed: Maldwyn Mills; Everyman, London, 1992). NOTE: Texts are +in Middle-English; "Yvain and Gawain" is a Middle-English work based +almost exclusively on Chretien DeTroyes' "Yvain". + +Malory, Sir Thomas: "Le Morte D'Arthur" (Ed: Janet Cowen; Penguin +Classics, London, 1969). + + +***** + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +Chretien De Troyes has had the peculiar fortune of becoming the best +known of the old French poets to students of mediaeval literature, and +of remaining practically unknown to any one else. The acquaintance of +students with the work of Chretien has been made possible in academic +circles by the admirable critical editions of his romances undertaken +and carried to completion during the past thirty years by Professor +Wendelin Foerster of Bonn. At the same time the want of public +familiarity with Chretien's work is due to the almost complete lack of +translations of his romances into the modern tongues. The man who, so +far as we know, first recounted the romantic adventures of Arthur's +knights, Gawain. Yvain, Erec, Lancelot, and Perceval, has been +forgotten; whereas posterity has been kinder to his debtors, Wolfram +yon Eschenbach, Malory, Lord Tennyson, and Richard Wagner. The present +volume has grown out of the desire to place these romances of adventure +before the reader of English in a prose version based directly upon the +oldest form in which they exist. + +Such extravagant claims for Chretien's art have been made in some +quarters that one feels disinclined to give them even an echo here. +The modem reader may form his own estimate of the poet's art, and that +estimate will probably not be high. Monotony, lack of proportion, +vain repetitions, insufficient motivation, wearisome subtleties, and +threatened, if not actual, indelicacy are among the most salient defects +which will arrest, and mayhap confound, the reader unfamiliar with +mediaeval literary craft. No greater service can be performed by an +editor in such a case than to prepare the reader to overlook these +common faults, and to set before him the literary significance of this +twelfth-century poet. + +Chretien de Troyes wrote in Champagne during the third quarter of the +twelfth century. Of his life we know neither the beginning nor the +end, but we know that between 1160 and 1172 he lived, perhaps as +herald-at-arms (according to Gaston Paris, based on "Lancelot" 5591-94) +at Troyes, where was the court of his patroness, the Countess Marie de +Champagne. She was the daughter of Louis VII, and of that famous Eleanor +of Aquitaine, as she is called in English histories, who, coming from +the South of France in 1137, first to Paris and later to England, may +have had some share in the introduction of those ideals of courtesy and +woman service which were soon to become the cult of European society. +The Countess Marie, possessing her royal mother's tastes and gifts, made +of her court a social experiment station, where these Provencal ideals +of a perfect society were planted afresh in congenial soil. It appears +from contemporary testimony that the authority of this celebrated feudal +dame was weighty, and widely felt. The old city of Troyes, where she +held her court, must be set down large in any map of literary history. +For it was there that Chretien was led to write four romances which +together form the most complete expression we possess from a single +author of the ideals of French chivalry. These romances, written in +eight-syllable rhyming couplets, treat respectively of Erec and Enide, +Cliges, Yvain, and Lancelot. Another poem, "Perceval le Gallois", was +composed about 1175 for Philip, Count of Flanders, to whom Chretien was +attached during his last years. This last poem is not included in +the present translation because of its extraordinary length of 32,000 +verses, because Chretien wrote only the first 9000 verses, and because +Miss Jessie L. Weston has given us an English version of Wolfram's +well-known "Parzival", which tells substantially the same story, though +in a different spirit. To have included this poem, of which he wrote +less than one-third, in the works of Chretien would have been unjust to +him. It is true the romance of "Lancelot" was not completed by Chretien, +we are told, but the poem is his in such large part that one would be +over-scrupulous not to call it his. The other three poems mentioned are +his entire. In addition, there are quite generally assigned to the poet +two insignificant lyrics, the pious romance of "Guillaume d'Angleterre", +and the elaboration of an episode from Ovid's "Metamorphoses" (vi., +426-674) called "Philomena" by its recent editor (C. de Boer, Paris, +1909). All these are extant and accessible. But since "Guillaume +d'Angleterre" and "Philomena" are not universally attributed to +Chretien, and since they have nothing to do with the Arthurian material, +it seems reasonable to limit the present enterprise to "Erec and Enide", +"Cliges", "Yvain", and "Lancelot". + +Professor Foerster, basing his remark upon the best knowledge we possess +of an obscure matter, has called "Erec and Enide" the oldest Arthurian +romance extant. It is not possible to dispute this significant claim, +but let us make it a little more intelligible. Scholarship has shown +that from the early Middle Ages popular tradition was rife in Britain +and Brittany. The existence of these traditions common to the Brythonic +peoples was called to the attention of the literary world by William of +Malmesbury ("Gesta regum Anglorum") and Geoffrey of Monmouth ("Historia +regum Britanniae") in their Latin histories about 1125 and 1137 +respectively, and by the Anglo-Norman poet Wace immediately afterward. +Scholars have waged war over the theories of transmission of the +so-called Arthurian material during the centuries which elapsed +between the time of the fabled chieftain's activity in 500 A.D. and +his appearance as a great literary personage in the twelfth century. +Documents are lacking for the dark ages of popular tradition before the +Norman Conquest, and the theorists may work their will. But Arthur and +his knights, as we see them in the earliest French romances, have little +in common with their Celtic prototypes, as we dimly catch sight of them +in Irish, Welsh, and Breton legend. Chretien belonged to a generation +of French poets who rook over a great mass of Celtic folk-lore they +imperfectly understood, and made of what, of course, it had never been +before: the vehicle to carry a rich freight of chivalric customs and +ideals. As an ideal of social conduct, the code of chivalry never +touched the middle and lower classes, but it was the religion of the +aristocracy and of the twelfth-century "honnete homme". Never was +literature in any age closer to the ideals of a social class. So true is +this that it is difficult to determine whether social practices +called forth the literature, or whether, as in the case of the +seventeenth-century pastoral romance in France, it is truer to say that +literature suggested to society its ideals. Be that as it may, it is +proper to observe that the French romances of adventure portray +late mediaeval aristocracy as it fain would be. For the glaring +inconsistencies between the reality and the ideal, one may turn to the +chronicles of the period. Yet, even history tells of many an ugly sin +rebuked and of many a gallant deed performed because of the courteous +ideals of chivalry. The debt of our own social code to this literature +of courtesy and frequent self-sacrifice is perfectly manifest. + +What Chretien's immediate and specific source was for his romances is of +deep interest to the student. Unfortunately, he has left us in doubt. He +speaks in the vaguest way of the materials he used. There is no evidence +that he had any Celtic written source. We are thus thrown back upon +Latin or French literary originals which are lost, or upon current +continental lore going back to a Celtic source. This very difficult +problem is as yet unsolved in the case of Chretien, as it is in the +case of the Anglo-Norman Beroul, who wrote of Tristan about 1150. The +material evidently was at hand and Chretien appropriated it, without +much understanding of its primitive spirit, but appreciating it as a +setting for the ideal society dreamed of but not realised in his own +day. Add to this literary perspicacity, a good foundation in classic +fable, a modicum of ecclesiastical doctrine, a remarkable facility in +phrase, figure, and rhyme and we have the foundations for Chretien's art +as we shall find it upon closer examination. + +A French narrative poet of the twelfth century had three categories of +subject-matter from which to choose: legends connected with the history +of France ("matiere de France"), legends connected with Arthur and +other Celtic heroes ("matiere de Bretagne"), and stories culled from +the history or mythology of Greece and Rome, current in Latin and French +translations ("matiere de Rome la grant"). Chretien tells us in "Cliges" +that his first essays as a poet were the translations into French of +certain parts of Ovid's most popular works: the "Metamorphoses", the +"Ars Amatoria", and perhaps the "Remedia Amoris". But he appears early +to have chosen as his special field the stories of Celtic origin dealing +with Arthur, the Round Table, and other features of Celtic folk-lore. +Not only was he alive to the literary interest of this material when +rationalised to suit the taste of French readers; his is further the +credit of having given to somewhat crude folk-lore that polish and +elegance which is peculiarly French, and which is inseparably associated +with the Arthurian legends in all modern literature. Though Beroul, and +perhaps other poets, had previously based romantic poems upon individual +Celtic heroes like Tristan, nevertheless to Chretien, so far as we can +see, is due the considerable honour of having constituted Arthur's court +as a literary centre and rallying-point for an innumerable company +of knights and ladies engaged in a never-ending series of amorous +adventures and dangerous quests. Rather than unqualifiedly attribute +to Chretien this important literary convention, one should bear in mind +that all his poems imply familiarity on the part of his readers with +the heroes of the court of which he speaks. One would suppose that other +stories, told before his versions, were current. Some critics would go +so far as to maintain that Chretien came toward the close, rather than +at the beginning, of a school of French writers of Arthurian romances. +But, if so, we do not possess these earlier versions, and for lack of +rivals Chretien may be hailed as an innovator in the current schools of +poetry. + +And now let us consider the faults which a modern reader will not be +slow to detect in Chretien's style. Most of his salient faults are +common to all mediaeval narrative literature. They may be ascribed to +the extraordinary leisure of the class for whom it was composed--a class +which was always ready to read an old story told again, and which would +tolerate any description, however detailed. The pastimes of this +class of readers were jousting, hunting, and making love. Hence the +preponderance of these matters in the literature of its leisure hours. +No detail of the joust or hunt was unfamiliar or unwelcome to these +readers; no subtle arguments concerning the art of love were too +abstruse to delight a generation steeped in amorous casuistry and +allegories. And if some scenes seem to us indelicate, yet after +comparison with other authors of his times, Chretien must be let off +with a light sentence. It is certain he intended to avoid what was +indecent, as did the writers of narrative poetry in general. To +appreciate fully the chaste treatment of Chretien one must know some +other forms of mediaeval literature, such as the fabliaux, farces, and +morality plays, in which courtesy imposed no restraint. For our poet's +lack of sense of proportion, and for his carelessness in the proper +motivation of many episodes, no apology can be made. He is not always +guilty; some episodes betoken poetic mastery. But a poet acquainted, as +he was, with some first-class Latin poetry, and who had made a business +of his art, ought to have handled his material more intelligently, +even in the twelfth century. The emphasis is not always laid with +discrimination, nor is his yarn always kept free of tangles in the +spinning. + +Reference has been made to Chretien's use of his sources. The tendency +of some critics has been to minimise the French poet's originality by +pointing out striking analogies in classic and Celtic fable. Attention +has been especially directed to the defence of the fountain and the +service of a fairy mistress in "Yvain", to the captivity of Arthur's +subjects in the kingdom of Gorre, as narrated in "Lancelot", reminding +one so insistently of the treatment of the kingdom of Death from which +some god or hero finally delivers those in durance, and to the reigned +death of Fenice in "Cliges", with its many variants. These episodes are +but examples of parallels which will occur to the observant reader. The +difficult point to determine, in speaking of conceptions so widespread +in classic and mediaeval literature, is the immediate source whence +these conceptions reached Chretien. The list of works of reference +appended to this volume will enable the student to go deeper into +this much debated question, and will permit us to dispense with an +examination of the arguments in this place. However, such convincing +parallels for many of Chretien's fairy and romantic episodes have been +adduced by students of Irish and Welsh legend that one cannot fail to +be impressed by the fact that Chretien was in touch, either by oral or +literary tradition, with the populations of Britain and of Brittany, and +that we have here his most immediate inspiration. Professor Foerster, +stoutly opposing the so-called Anglo-Norman theory which supposes the +existence of lost Anglo-Norman romances in French as the sources of +Chretien de Troyes, is, nevertheless, well within the truth when +he insists upon what is, so far as we are concerned, the essential +originality of the French poet. The general reader will to-day care as +little as did the reader of the twelfth century how the poet came upon +the motives and episodes of his stories, whether he borrowed them or +invented them himself. Any poet should be judged not as a "finder" +but as a "user" of the common stock of ideas. The study of sources of +mediaeval poetry, which is being so doggedly carried on by scholars, may +well throw light upon the main currents of literary tradition, but it +casts no reflection, favourable or otherwise, upon the personal art of +the poet in handling his stuff. On that count he may plead his own cause +before the jury. + +Chretien's originality, then, consists in his portrayal of the social +ideal of the French aristocracy in the twelfth century. So far as we +know he was the first to create in the vulgar tongues a vast court, +where men and women lived in conformity with the rules of courtesy, +where the truth was told, where generosity was open-handed, where the +weak and the innocent were protected by men who dedicated themselves to +the cult of honour and to the quest of a spotless reputation. Honour and +love combined to engage the attention of this society; these were +its religion in a far more real sense than was that of the Church. +Perfection was attainable under this code of ethics: Gawain, for +example, was a perfect knight. Though the ideals of this court and +those of Christianity are in accord at many points, vet courtly love and +Christian morality are irreconcilable. This Arthurian material, as used +by Chretien, is fundamentally immoral as judged by Christian standards. +Beyond question, the poets and the public alike knew this to be the +case, and therein lay its charm for a society in which the actual +relations or the sexes were rigidly prescribed by the Church and by +feudal practice, rather than by the sentiments of the individuals +concerned. The passionate love of Tristan for Iseut, of Lancelot for +Guinevere, of Cliges for Fenice, fascinate the conventional Christian +society of the twelfth century and of the twentieth century alike, +but there-is only one name among men for such relations as theirs, and +neither righteousness nor reason lie that way. Even Tennyson, in spite +of all he has done to spiritualise this material, was compelled to +portray the inevitable dissolution and ruin of Arthur's court. Chretien +well knew the difference between right and wrong, between reason and +passion, as the reader of "Cliges" may learn for himself. Fenice was not +Iseut, and she would not have her Cliges to be a Tristan. Infidelity, +if you will, but not "menage a trois". Both "Erec" and "Yvain" present +a conventional morality. But "Lancelot" is flagrantly immoral, and the +poet is careful to state that for this particular romance he is indebted +to his patroness Marie de Champagne. He says it was she who furnished +him with both the "matiere" and the "san", the material of the story and +its method of treatment. + +Scholars have sought to fix the chronology of the poet's works, and have +been tempted to speculate upon the evolution of his literary and moral +ideas. Professor Foerster's chronology is generally accepted, and there +is little likelihood of his being in error when he supposes Chretien's +work to have been done as follows: the lost "Tristan" (the existence of +which is denied by Gaston Paris in "Journal des Savants", 1902, pp. 297 +f.), "Erec and Enide", "Cliges", "Lancelot", "Yvain", "Perceval". The +arguments for this chronology, based upon external as well as internal +criticism, may be found in the Introductions to Professor Foerster's +recent editions. When we speculate upon the development of Chretien's +moral ideas we are not on such sure ground. As we have seen, his +standards vary widely in the different romances. How much of this +variation is due to chance circumstance imposed by the nature of +his subject or by the taste of his public, and how much to changing +conviction it is easy to see, when we consider some contemporary +novelist, how dangerous it is to judge of moral convictions as reflected +in literary work. "Lancelot" must be the keystone of any theory +constructed concerning the moral evolution of Chretien. The following +supposition is tenable, if the chronology of Foerster is correct. After +the works of his youth, consisting of lyric poems and translations +embodying the ideals of Ovid and of the school of contemporary +troubadour poets, Chretien took up the Arthurinn material and started +upon a new course. "Erec" is the oldest Arthurinn romance to have +survived in any language, but it is almost certainly not the first to +have been written. It is a perfectly clean story: of love, estrangement, +and reconciliation in the persons of Erec and his charming sweetheart +Enide. The psychological analysis of Erec's motives in the rude testing +of Enide is worthy of attention, and is more subtle than anything +previous in French literature with which we are acquainted. The poem is +an episodical romance in the biography of an Arthurinn hero, with the +usual amount of space given to his adventures. "Cliges" apparently +connects a Byzantine tale of doubtful origin in an arbitrary fashion +with the court of Arthur. It is thought that the story embodies the same +motive as the widespread tale of the deception practised upon Solomon by +his wife, and that Chretien's source, as he himself claims, was literary +(cf. Gaston Paris in "Journal des Savants", 1902, pp. 641-655). The +scene where Fenice feigns death in order to rejoin her lover is a +parallel of many others in literary history, and will, of course, +suggest the situation in Romeo and Juliet. This romance well illustrates +the drawing power of Arthur's court as a literary centre, and its use as +a rallying-point for courteous knights of whatever extraction. The poem +has been termed an "Anti-Tristan", because of its disparaging reference +to the love of Tristan and Iseut, which, it is generally supposed, +had been narrated by Chretien in his earlier years. Next may come +"Lancelot", with its significant dedication to the Countess of +Champagne. Of all the poet's work, this tale of the rescue of Guinevere +by her lover seems to express most closely the ideals of Marie's court +ideals in which devotion and courtesy but thinly disguise free love. +"Yvain" is a return to the poet's natural bent, in an episodical +romance, while "Perceval" crowns his production with its pure and +exalted note, though without a touch of that religious mysticism +which later marked Wolfram yon Eschenbach's "Parzival". "Guillaime +d'Angleterre" is a pseudo-historical romance of adventure in which the +worldly distresses and the final reward of piety are conventionally +exposed. It is uninspired, its place is difficult to determine, and +its authorship is questioned by some. It is aside from the Arthurian +material, and there is no clue to its place in the evolution of +Chretien's art, if indeed it be his work. + +A few words must be devoted to Chretien's place in the history of +mediaeval narrative poetry. The heroic epic songs of France, devoted +either to the conflict of Christendom under the leadership of France +against the Saracens, or else to the strife and rivalry of French +vassals among themselves, had been current for perhaps a century before +our poet began to write. These epic poems, of which some three score +have survived, portray a warlike, virile, unsentimental feudal society, +whose chief occupation was fighting, and whose dominant ideals were +faith in God, loyalty to feudal family ties, and bravery in battle. +Woman's place is comparatively obscure, and of love-making there is +little said. It is a poetry of vigorous manhood, of uncompromising +morality, and of hard knocks given and taken for God, for Christendom, +and the King of France. This poetry is written in ten- or twelve- +syllable verses grouped, at first in assonanced, later in rhymed, +"tirades" of unequal length. It was intended for a society which was +still homogeneous, and to it at the outset doubtless all classes of the +population listened with equal interest. As poetry it is monotonous, +without sense of proportion, padded to facilitate memorisation by +professional reciters, and unadorned by figure, fancy, or imagination. +Its pretention to historic accuracy begot prosaicness in its approach +to the style of the chronicles. But its inspiration was noble, its +conception of human duties was lofty. It gives a realistic portrayal of +the age which produced it, the age of the first crusades, and to this +day we would choose as our models of citizenship Roland and Oliver +rather than Tristan and Lancelot. The epic poems, dealing with the +pseudo-historical characters who had fought in civil and foreign wars +under Charlemagne, remained the favourite literary pabulum of the middle +classes until the close of the thirteenth century. Professor Bedier +is at present engaged in explaining the extraordinary hold which these +poems had upon the public, and in proving that they exercised a distinct +function when exploited by the Church throughout the period of +the crusades to celebrate local shrines and to promote muscular +Christianity. But the refinement which began to penetrate the ideals of +the French aristocracy about the middle of the twelfth century craved a +different expression in narrative literature. Greek and Roman mythology +and history were seized upon with some effect to satisfy the new demand. +The "Roman de Thebes", the "Roman d'Alexandre", the "Roman de +Troie", and its logical continuation, the "Roman d'Eneas", are all +twelfth-century attempts to clothe classic legend in the dress of +mediaeval chivalry. But better fitted to satisfy the new demand was the +discovery by the alert Anglo-Normans perhaps in Brittany, perhaps in the +South of England, of a vast body of legendary material which, so far as +we know, had never before this century received any elaborate literary +treatment. The existence of the literary demand and this discovery of +the material for its prompt satisfaction is one of the most remarkable +coincidences in literary history. It would seem that the pride of the +Celtic populations in a Celtic hero, aided and abetted by Geoffrey of +Monmouth, who first showed the romantic possibilities of the material, +made of the obscure British chieftain Arthur a world conqueror. Arthur +thus became already in Geoffrey's "Historia regum Britaniae" a conscious +protagonist of Charlemagne and his rival in popularity. This grandiose +conception of Arthur persisted in England, but this conception of the +British chieftain did not interest the French. For Chretien Arthur had +no political significance. He is simply the arbiter of his court in all +affairs of justice and courtesy. Charlemagne's very realistic entourage +of virile and busy barons is replaced by a court of elegant chevaliers +and unemployed ladies. Charlemagne's setting is historical and +geographical; Arthur's setting is ideal and in the air. In the oldest +epic poems we find only God-fearing men and a few self-effacing women; +in the Arthurian romances we meet gentlemen and ladies, more elegant and +seductive than any one in the epic poems, but less fortified by +faith and sense of duty against vice because breathing an enervating +atmosphere of leisure and decadent morally. Though the Church made the +attempt in "Parzival", it could never lay its hands so effectively upon +this Celtic material, because it contained too many elements which +were root and branch inconsistent with the essential teachings of +Christianity. A fleeting comparison of the noble end of Charlemagne's +Peers fighting for their God and their King at Ronceval with the futile +and dilettante careers of Arthur's knights in joust and hunt, will show +better than mere words where the difference lies. + +The student of the history of social and moral ideals will find much to +interest him in Chretien's romances. Mediaeval references show that he +was held by his immediate successors, as he is held to-day when fairly +viewed, to have been a master of the art of story-telling. More than any +other single narrative poet, he was taken as a model both in France and +abroad. Professor F. M. Warren has set forth in detail the finer points +in the art of poetry as practised by Chretien and his contemporary +craftsmen (see "Some Features of Style in Early French Narrative Poetry, +1150-1170 in "Modern Philology", iii., 179-209; iii., 513-539; iv., +655-675). Poets in his own land refer to him with reverence, and foreign +poets complimented him to a high degree by direct translation and by +embroidering upon the themes which he had made popular. The knights made +famous by Chretien soon crossed the frontiers and obtained rights of +citizenship in counties so diverse as Germany, England, Scandinavia, +Holland, Italy, and to a lesser extent in Spain and Portugal. The +inevitable tendency of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries to reduce +poetry to prose affected the Arthurian material; vast prose compilations +finally embodied in print the matter formerly expressed in verse, and it +was in this form that the stories were known to later generations until +revived interest in the Middle Ages brought to light the manuscripts in +verse. + +Aside from certain episodes of Chretien's romances, the student will be +most interested in the treatment of love as therein portrayed. On this +topic we may hear speaking the man of his time. "Cliges" contains the +body of Chretien's doctrine of love, while Lancelot is his most perfect +lover. His debt to Ovid has not yet been indicated with sufficient +preciseness. An elaborate code to govern sentiment and its expression +was independently developed by the troubadours of Provence in the early +twelfth century. These Provencal ideals of the courtly life were carried +into Northern France partly as the result of a royal marriage in 1137 +and of the crusade of 1147, and there by such poets as Chretien they +were gathered up and fused with the Ovidian doctrine into a highly +complicated but perfectly definite statement of the ideal relations of +the sexes. Nowhere in the vulgar tongues can a better statement of these +relations be found than in "Cliges." + +So we leave Chretien to speak across the ages for himself and his +generation. He is to be read as a story-teller rather than as a poet, +as a casuist rather than as a philosopher. But when all deductions are +made, his significance as a literary artist and as the founder of a +precious literary tradition distinguishes him from all other poets +of the Latin races between the close of the Empire and the arrival of +Dante. + +--W. W. COMFORT. + + + + + +EREC ET ENIDE [11] + +(Vv. 1-26.) The rustic's proverb says that many a thing is despised that +is worth much more than is supposed. Therefore he does well who makes +the most of whatever intelligence he may possess. For he who neglects +this concern may likely omit to say something which would subsequently +give great pleasure. So Chretien de Troyes maintains that one ought +always to study and strive to speak well and teach the right; and he +derives from a story of adventure a pleasing argument whereby it may be +proved and known that he is not wise who does not make liberal use of +his knowledge so long as God may give him grace. The story is about Erec +the son of Lac--a story which those who earn a living by telling stories +are accustomed to mutilate and spoil in the presence of kings and +counts. And now I shall begin the tale which will be remembered so long +as Christendom endures. This is Chretien's boast. + +(Vv. 27-66.) One Easter Day in the Springtime, King Arthur held court in +his town of Cardigan. Never was there seen so rich a court; for many +a good knight was there, hardy, bold, and brave, and rich ladies and +damsels, gentle and fair daughters of kings. But before the court was +disbanded, the King told his knights that he wished to hunt the White +Stag, [12] in order to observe worthily the ancient custom. When my lord +Gawain heard this, he was sore displeased, and said: "Sire, you will +derive neither thanks nor goodwill from this hunt. We all know long +since what this custom of the White Stag is: whoever can kill the White +Stag must forsooth kiss the fairest maiden of your court, come what may. +But of this there might come great ill, for there are here five hundred +damsels of high birth, gentle and prudent daughters of kings, and there +is none of them but has a bold and valiant knight for her lover who +would be ready to contend, whether fight or wrong, that she who is his +lady is the fairest and gentlest of them all." The King replies: "That +I know well; yet will I not desist on that account; for a king's word +ought never to be gainsaid. To-morrow morning we shall all gaily go to +hunt the White Stag in the forest of adventure. And very delightful this +hunt will be." + +(Vv. 67-114.) And so the affair is arranged for the next morning +at daybreak. The morrow, as soon as it is day, the King gets up and +dresses, and dons a short jacket for his forest ride. He commands the +knights to be aroused and the horses to be made ready. Already they +are ahorse, and off they go, with bows and arrows. After them the Queen +mounts her horse, taking a damsel with her. A maid she was, the daughter +of a king, and she rode a white palfrey. After them there swiftly +followed a knight, named Erec, who belonged to the Round Table, and had +great fame at the court. [13] Of all the knights that ever were there, +never one received such praise; and he was so fair that nowhere in the +world need one seek a fairer knight than he. He was very fair, brave, +and courteous, though not yet twenty-five years old. Never was there +a man of his age of greater knighthood. And what shall I say of his +virtues? Mounted on his horse, and clad in an ermine mantle, he came +galloping down the road, wearing a coat of splendid flowered silk which +was made at Constantinople. He had put on hose of brocade, well made and +cut, and when his golden spurs were well attached, he sat securely in +his stirrups. He carried no arm with him but his sword. As he galloped +along, at the corner of a street he came up with the Queen, and said: +"My lady, if it please you, I should gladly accompany you along this +road, having come for no other purpose than to bear you company." And +the Queen thanks him: "Fair friend, I like your company well, in truth; +for better I could not have." + +(Vv. 115-124.) Then they ride along at full speed until they come into +the forest, where the party who had gone before them had already started +the stag. Some wind the horns and others shout; the hounds plunge ahead +after the stag, running, attacking, and baying; the bowmen shoot amain. +And before them all rode the King on a Spanish hunter. + +(Vv. 125-154.) Queen Guinevere was in the wood listening for the dogs; +beside her were Erec and the damsel, who was very courteous and fair. +But those who had pursued the stag were so far from them that, however +intently they might listen to catch the sound of horn or baying of +hound, they no longer could hear either horse, huntsman, or hound. So +all three of them drew rein in a clearing beside the road. They had been +there but a short time when they saw an armed knight along on his steed, +with shield slung about his neck, and his lance in hand. The Queen +espied him from a distance By his right side rode a damsel of noble +bearing, and before them, on a hack, came a dwarf carrying in his hand +a knotted scourge. When Queen Guinevere saw the comely and graceful +knight, she desired to know who he and his damsel were. So she bid her +damsel go quickly and speak to him. + +(Vv. 155-274.) "Damsel," says the Queen, "go and bid yonder knight come +to me and bring his damsel with him." The maiden goes on amble straight +toward the knight. But the spiteful dwarf sallies forth to meet her with +his scourge in hand, crying: "Halt, maiden, what do you want here? You +shall advance no farther." "Dwarf," says she, "let me pass. I wish to +speak with yonder knight; for the Queen sends me hither." The dwarf, who +was rude and mean, took his stand in the middle of the road, and said: +"You have no business here. Go back. It is not meet that you should +speak to so excellent a knight." The damsel advanced and tried to pass +him by force, holding the dwarf in slight esteem when she saw that he +was so small. Then the dwarf raised his whip, when he saw her coming +toward him and tried to strike her in the face. She raised her arm +to protect herself, but he lifted his hand again and struck her all +unprotected on her bare hand: and so hard did he strike her on the back +of her hand that it turned all black and blue. When the maiden could do +nothing else, in spite of herself she must needs return. So weeping she +turned back. The tears came to her eyes and ran down her cheeks. When +the Queen sees her damsel wounded, she is sorely grieved and angered and +knows not what to do. "Ah, Erec, fair friend," she says, "I am in great +sorrow for my damsel whom that dwarf has wounded. The knight must be +discourteous indeed, to allow such a monster to strike so beautiful a +creature. Erec, fair friend, do you go to the knight and bid him come +to me without delay. I wish to know him and his lady." Erec starts +off thither, giving spurs to his steed, and rides straight toward +the knight. The ignoble dwarf sees him coming and goes to meet him. +"Vassal," says he, "stand back! For I know not what business you have +here. I advise you to withdraw." "Avaunt," says Erec, "provoking dwarf! +Thou art vile and troublesome. Let me pass." "You shall not." "That +will I." "You shall not." Erec thrusts the dwarf aside. The dwarf had no +equal for villainy: he gave him a great blow with his lash right on +the neck, so that Erec's neck and face are scarred with the blow of +the scourge; from top to bottom appear the lines which the thongs have +raised on him. He knew well that he could not have the satisfaction of +striking the dwarf; for he saw that the knight was armed, arrogant, and +of evil intent, and he was afraid that he would soon kill him, should he +strike the dwarf in his presence. Rashness is not bravery. So Erec acted +wisely in retreating without more ado. "My lady," he says, "now matters +stand worse; for the rascally dwarf has so wounded me that he has badly +cut my face. I did not dare to strike or touch him; but none ought +to reproach me, for I was completely unarmed. I mistrusted the armed +knight, who, being an ugly fellow and violent, would take it as no jest, +and would soon kill me in his pride. But this much I will promise you; +that if I can, I shall yet avenge my disgrace, or increase it. But my +arms are too far away to avail me in this time of need; for at Cardigan +did I leave them this morning when I came away. And if I should go to +fetch them there, peradventure I should never again find the knight who +is riding off apace. So I must follow him at once, far or near, until +I find some arms to hire or borrow. If I find some one who will lend me +arms, the knight will quickly find me ready for battle. And you may be +sure without fail that we two shall fight until he defeat me, or I him. +And if possible, I shall be back by the third day, when you will see me +home again either joyous or sad, I know not which. Lady, I cannot delay +longer, for I must follow after the knight. I go. To God I commend you." +And the Queen in like manner more than five hundred rimes commends him +to God, that he may defend him from harm. + +(Vv. 275-310.) Erec leaves the Queen and ceases not to pursue the +knight. The Queen remains in the wood, where now the King had come up +with the Stag. The King himself outstripped the others at the death. +Thus they killed and took the White Stag, and all returned, carrying the +Stag, till they came again to Cardigan. After supper, when the knights +were all in high spirits throughout the hall, the King, as the custom +was, because he had taken the Stag, said that he would bestow the kiss +and thus observe the custom of the Stag. Throughout the court a great +murmur is heard: each one vows and swears to his neighbour that it +shall not be done without the protest of sword or ashen lance. Each one +gallantly desires to contend that his lady is the fairest in the hall. +Their conversation bodes no good, and when my lord Gawain heard it, you +must know that it was not to his liking. Thus he addressed the King: +"Sire," he says, "your knights here are greatly aroused, and all their +talk is of this kiss. They say that it shall never be bestowed without +disturbance and a fight." And the King wisely replied to him: "Fair +nephew Gawain, give me counsel now, sparing my honour and my dignity, +for I have no mind for any disturbance." + +(Vv. 311-341.) To the council came a great part of the best knights of +the court. King Yder [14] arrived, who was the first to be summoned, and +after him King Cadoalant, who was very wise and bold. Kay and Girflet +came too, and King Amauguin was there, and a great number of other +knights were there with them. The discussion was in process when the +Queen arrived and told them of the adventure which she had met in the +forest, of the armed knight whom she saw, and of the malicious little +dwarf who had struck her damsel on the bare hand with his whip, and who +struck Erec, too, in the same way an ugly blow on the face; but that +Erec followed the knight to obtain vengeance, or increase his shame, and +how he said that if possible he would be back by the third day. "Sire," +says the Queen to the King, "listen to me a moment. If these knights +approve what I say, postpone this kiss until the third day, when Erec +will be back." There is none who does not agree with her, and the King +himself approves her words. + +(Vv. 342-392.) Erec steadily follows the knight who was armed and the +dwarf who had struck him until they come to a well placed town, strong +and fine [15]. They enter straight through the gate. Within the town +there was great joy of knights and ladies, of whom there were many and +fair. Some were feeding in the streets their sparrow-hawks and moulting +falcons; others were giving an airing to their tercels, [16] their mewed +birds, and young yellow hawks; others play at dice or other game of +chance, some at chess, and some at backgammon. The grooms in front of +the stables are rubbing down and currying the horses. The ladies are +bedecking themselves in their boudoirs. As soon as they see the knight +coming, whom they recognised with his dwarf and damsel, they go out +three by three to meet him. The knight they all greet and salute, but +they give no heed to Erec, for they did not know him. Erec follows close +upon the knight through the town, until he saw him lodged. Then, very +joyful, he passed on a little farther until he saw reclining upon some +steps a vavasor [17] well on in years. He was a comely man, with white +locks, debonair, pleasing, and frank. There he was seated all alone, +seeming to be engaged in thought. Erec took him for an honest man who +would at once give him lodging. When he turned through the gate into the +yard, the vavasor ran to meet him, and saluted him before Erec had said +a word. "Fair sir," says he, "be welcome. If you will deign to lodge +with me, here is my house all ready for you." Erec replies: "Thank you! +For no other purpose have I come; I need a lodging place this night." + +(Vv. 393-410.) Erec dismounts from his horse, which the host himself +leads away by the bridle, and does great honour to his guest. The +vavasor summons his wife and his beautiful daughter, who were busy in a +work-room--doing I know not what. The lady came out with her daughter, +who was dressed in a soft white under-robe with wide skirts hanging +loose in folds. Over it she wore a white linen garment, which completed +her attire. And this garment was so old that it was full of holes down +the sides. Poor, indeed, was her garb without, but within her body was +fair. + +(Vv. 411-458.) The maid was charming, in sooth, for Nature had used all +her skill in forming her. Nature herself had marvelled more than five +hundred times how upon this one occasion she had succeeded in creating +such a perfect thing. Never again could she so strive successfully to +reproduce her pattern. Nature bears witness concerning her that never +was so fair a creature seen in all the world. In truth I say that never +did Iseut the Fair have such radiant golden tresses that she could be +compared with this maiden. [18] The complexion of her forehead and face +was clearer and more delicate than the lily. But with wondrous art her +face with all its delicate pallor was suffused with a fresh crimson +which Nature had bestowed upon her. Her eyes were so bright that they +seemed like two stars. God never formed better nose, mouth, and eyes. +What shall I say of her beauty? In sooth, she was made to be looked at; +for in her one could have seen himself as in a mirror. So she came forth +from the work-room: and when she saw the knight whom she had never seen +before, she drew back a little, because she did not know him, and in her +modesty she blushed. Erec, for his part, was amazed when he beheld such +beauty in her, and the vavasor said to her: "Fair daughter dear, take +this horse and lead him to the stable along with my own horses. See that +he lack for nothing: take off his saddle and bridle, give him oats and +hay, look after him and curry him, that he may be in good condition." + +(Vv. 459-546) The maiden takes the horse, unlaces his breast-strap, and +takes off his bridle and saddle. Now the horse is in good hands, for she +takes excellent care of him. She throws a halter over his head, rubs him +down, curries him, and makes him comfortable. Then she ties him to the +manger and puts plenty of fresh sweet hay and oats before him. Then she +went back to her father, who said to her: "Fair daughter dear, take now +this gentleman by the hand and show him all honour. Take him by the hand +upstairs." The maiden did not delay (for in her there was no lack of +courtesy) and led him by the hand upstairs. The lady had gone before and +prepared the house. She had laid embroidered cushions and spreads upon +the couches, where they all three sat down Erec with his host beside +him, and the maiden opposite. Before them, the fire burns brightly. The +vavasor had only one man-servant, and no maid for chamber or kitchen +work. This one man was busy in the kitchen preparing meat and birds for +supper. A skilful cook was he, who knew how to prepare meal in boiling +water and birds on the spit. When he had the meal prepared in accordance +with the orders which had been given him, he brought them water for +washing in two basins. The table was soon set, cloths, bread, and wine +set out, and they sat down to supper. They had their fill of all they +needed. When they had finished and when the table was cleared, Erec thus +addressed his host, the master of the house: "Tell me, fair host." he +asked, "why your daughter, who is so passing fair and clever, is so +poorly and unsuitably attired." "Fair friend," the vavasor replies, +"many a man is harmed by poverty, and even so am I. I grieve to see +her so poorly clad, and yet I cannot help it, for I have been so long +involved in war that I have lost or mortgaged or sold all my land. [19] +And yet she would be well enough dressed if I allowed her to accept +everything that people wish to give her. The lord of this castle himself +would have dressed her in becoming fashion and would have done her every +manner of favour, for she is his niece and he is a count. And there is +no nobleman in this region, however rich and powerful, who would not +willingly have taken her to wife had I given my consent. But I am +waiting yet for some better occasion, when God shall bestow still +greater honour upon her, when fortune shall bring hither some king or +count who shall lead her away, for there is under Heaven no king or +count who would be ashamed of my daughter, who is so wondrous fair that +her match cannot be found. Fair, indeed, she is; but yet greater far +than her beauty, is her intelligence. God never created any one so +discreet and of such open heart. When I have my daughter beside me, I +don't care a marble about all the rest of the world. She is my delight +and my pastime, she is my joy and comfort, my wealth and my treasure, +and I love nothing so much as her own precious self." + +(Vv. 547-690.) When Erec had listened to all that his host told him, he +asked him to inform him whence came all the chivalry that was quartered +in the town. For there was no street or house so poor and small but it +was full of knights and ladies and squires. And the vavasor said to him: +"Fair friend, these are the nobles of the country round; all, both young +and old, have come to a fete which is to be held in this town tomorrow; +therefore the houses are so full. When they shall all have gathered, +there will be a great stir to-morrow; for in the presence of all the +people there will be set upon a silver perch a sparrow-hawk of five or +six moultings--the best you can imagine. Whoever wishes to gain the hawk +must have a mistress who is fair, prudent, and courteous. And if there +be a knight so bold as to wish to defend the worth and the name of the +fairest in his eyes, he will cause his mistress to step forward and +lift the hawk from the perch, if no one dares to interpose. This is the +custom they are observing, and for this each year they gather here." +Thereupon Erec speaks and asks him: "Fair host, may it not displease +you, but tell me, if you know, who is a certain knight bearing arms of +azure and gold, who passed by here not long ago, having close beside him +a courtly damsel, preceded by a hump-backed dwarf." To him the host then +made reply: "That is he who will win the hawk without any opposition +from the other knights. I don't believe that any one will offer +opposition; this time there will be no blows or wounds. For two years +already he has won it without being challenged; and if he wins it +again this year, he will have gained permanent possession of it. Every +succeeding year he may keep it without contest or challenge." Quickly +Erec makes reply: "I do not like that knight. Upon my word, had I some +arms I should challenge him for the hawk. Fair host, I beg you as a boon +to advise me how I may be equipped with arms whether old or new, poor or +rich, it matters not." And he replies to him generously: "It were a pity +for you to feel concern on that score! I have good fine arms which I +shall be glad to lend you. In the house I have a triple-woven hauberk, +[110] which was selected from among five hundred. And I have some fine +valuable greaves, polished, handsome, and light in weight. The helmet +is bright and handsome, and the shield fresh and new. Horse, sword, and +lance all I will lend you, of course; so let no more be said." "Thank +you kindly, fair gentle host! But I wish for no better sword that this +one which I have brought with me, nor for any other horse than my own, +for I can get along well enough with him. If you will lend me the rest, +I shall esteem it a great favour. But there is one more boon I wish to +ask of you, for which I shall make just return if God grant that I come +off from the battle with honour." And frankly he replies to him: "Ask +confidently for what you want, whatever it be, for nothing of mine shall +lack you." Then Erec said that he wished to defend the hawk on behalf +of his daughter; for surely there will be no damsel who is one hundredth +part as beautiful as she. And if he takes her with him, he will have +good and just reason to maintain and to prove that she is entitled to +carry away the hawk. Then he added: "Sire, you know not what guest you +have sheltered here, nor do you know my estate and kin. I am the son of +a rich and puissant king: my father's name is King Lac, and the Bretons +call me Erec. I belong to King Arthur's court, and have been with him +now three years. I know not if any report of my father or of me has ever +reached this land. But I promise you and vow that if you will fit me out +with arms, and will give me your daughter to-morrow when I strive for +the hawk, I will take her to my country, if God grant me the victory, +and I will give her a crown to wear, and she shall be queen of three +cities." "Ah, fair sir! Is it true that you are Erec, the son of Lac?" +"That is who I am, indeed" quoth he. Then the host was greatly delighted +and said: "We have indeed heard of you in this country. Now I think all +the more of you, for you are very valiant and brave. Nothing now shall +you be refused by me. At your request I give you my fair daughter." +Then taking her by the hand, he says: "Here, I give her to you." Erec +received her joyfully, and now has all he desired. Now they are all +happy there: the father is greatly delighted, and the mother weeps for +joy. The maiden sat quiet; but she was very happy and glad that she was +betrothed to him, because he was valiant and courteous: and she knew +that he would some day be king, and she should receive honour and be +crowned rich queen. + +(Vv. 691-746.) They had sat up very late that night. But now the +beds were prepared with white sheets and soft pillows, and when the +conversation flagged they all went to bed in happy frame. Erec slept +little that night, and the next morn, at crack of dawn, he and his host +rose early. They both go to pray at church, and hear a hermit chant the +Mass of the Holy Spirit, not forgetting to make an offering. When they +had heard Mass both kneel before the altar and then return to the house. +Erec was eager for the battle; so he asks for arms, and they are given +to him. The maiden herself puts on his arms (though she casts no spell +or charm), [111] laces on his iron greaves, and makes them fast with +thong of deer-hide. She puts on his hauberk with its strong meshes, and +laces on his ventail. The gleaming helmet she sets upon his head, and +thus arms him well from tip to toe. At his side she fastens his sword, +and then orders his horse to be brought, which is done. Up he jumped +clear of the ground. The damsel then brings the shield and the strong +lance: she hands him the shield, and he takes it and hangs it about his +neck by the strap. She places the lance in his hand, and when he had +grasped it by the butt-end, he thus addressed the gentle vavasor: "Fair +sire," quoth he, "if you please, make your daughter ready now; for +I wish to escort her to the sparrow-hawk in accordance with our +agreement." The vavasor then without delay had saddled a bay palfrey. +There can nothing be said of the harness because of the dire poverty +with which the vavasor was afflicted. Saddle and bridle were put on, and +up the maiden mounted all free and in light attire, without waiting +to be urged. Erec wished to delay no longer; so off he starts with the +host's daughter by his side, followed by the gentleman and his lady. + +(Vv. 747-862.) Erec rides with lance erect and with the comely damsel by +his side. All the people, great and small, gaze at them with wondering +eyes as they pass through the streets. And thus they question each +other: "Who is yonder knight? He must be doughty and brave, indeed, to +act as escort for this fair maid. His efforts will be well employed in +proving that this damsel is the fairest of them all." One man to another +says: "In very truth, she ought to have the sparrow-hawk." Some praised +the maid, while many said: "God! who can this knight be, with the fair +damsel by his side?" "I know not." "Nor I." Thus spake each one. "But +his gleaming helmet becomes him well, and the hauberk, and shield, and +his sharp steel sword. He sits well upon his steed and has the bearing +of a valiant vassal, well-shapen in arm, in limb and foot." While all +thus stand and gaze at them, they for their part made no delay to take +their stand by the sparrow-hawk, where to one side they awaited the +knight. And now behold! they see him come, attended by his dwarf and his +damsel. He had heard the report, that a knight had come who wished to +obtain the sparrow-hawk, but he did not believe there could be in the +world a knight so bold as to dare to fight with him. He would quickly +defeat him and lay him low. All the people knew him well, and all +welcome him and escort him in a noisy crowd: knights, squires, ladies, +and damsels make haste to run after him. Leading them all the knight +rides proudly on, with his damsel and his dwarf at his side, and he +makes his way quickly to the sparrow-hawk. But all about there was such +a press of the rough and vulgar crowd that it was impossible to touch +the hawk or to come near where it was. Then the Count arrived on the +scene, and threatened the populace with a switch which he held in his +hand. The crowd drew back, and the knight advanced and said quietly +to his lady: "My lady, this bird, which is so perfectly moulted and so +fair, should be yours as your just portion; for you are wondrous fair +and full of charm. Yours it shall surely be so long as I live. Step +forward, my dear, and lift the hawk from the perch." The damsel was on +the point of stretching forth her hand when Erec hastened to challenge +her, little heeding the other's arrogance. "Damsel," he cries, "stand +back! Go dally with some other bird, for to this one you have no right. +In spite of all, I say this hawk shall never be yours. For a better one +than you claims it--aye, much more fair and more courteous." The other +knight is very wroth; but Erec does not mind him, and bids his own +maiden step forward. "Fair one." he cries, "come forth. Lift the bird +from the perch, for it is right that you should have it. Damsel, come +forth! For I will make boast to defend it if any one is so bold as +to intervene. For no woman excels you in beauty or worth, in grace or +honour any more than the moon outshines the sun." The other could suffer +it no longer, when he hears him so manfully offer himself to do battle. +"Vassal," he cries, "who art thou who dost thus dispute with me the +hawk?" Erec boldly answers him: "A knight I am from another land. This +hawk I have come to obtain; for it is right, I say it in spite of all, +that this damsel of mine should have it." "Away!" cries the other, "it +shall never be. Madness has brought thee here. If thou dost wish to have +the hawk, thou shalt pay fight dearly for it." "Pay, vassal; and how?" +"Thou must fight with me, if thou dost not resign it to me." "You talk +madness," cries Erec; "for me these are idle threats; for little +enough do I fear you." "Then I defy thee here and now. The battle is +inevitable." Erec replies: "God help me now; for never did I wish for +aught so much." Now soon you will hear the noise of battle. + +(Vv. 863-1080.) The large place was cleared, with the people gathered +all around. They draw off from each other the space of an acre, then +drive their horses together; they reach for each other with the tips of +their lances, and strike each other so hard that the shields are pierced +and broken; the lances split and crack; the saddle-bows are knocked to +bits behind. They must needs lose their stirrups, so that they both fall +to the ground, and the horses run off across the field. Though smitten +with the lances, they are quickly on their feet again, and draw their +swords from the scabbards. With great fierceness they attack each other, +and exchange great sword blows, so that the helmets are crushed and made +to ring. Fierce is the clash of the swords, as they rain great blows +upon neck and shoulders. For this is no mere sport: they break whatever +they touch, cutting the shields and shattering the hauberks. The swords +are red with crimson blood. Long the battle lasts; but they fight so +lustily that they become weary and listless. Both the damsels are in +tears, and each knight sees his lady weep and raise her hands to God and +pray that He may give the honours of the battle to the one who strives +for her. "Ha! vassal," quoth the knight to Erec, "let us withdraw and +rest a little; for too weak are these blows we deal. We must deal better +blows than these; for now it draws near evening. It is shameful and +highly discreditable that this battle should last so long. See yonder +that gentle maid who weeps for thee and calls on God. Full sweetly she +prays for thee, as does also mine for me. Surely we should do our best +with our blades of steel for the sake of our lady-loves." Erec replies: +"You have spoken well." Then they take a little rest, Erec looking +toward his lady as she softly prays for him. While he sat and looked +on her, great strength was recruited within him. Her love and beauty +inspired him with great boldness. He remembered the Queen, to whom he +pledged his word that he would avenge the insult done him, or would make +it greater yet. "Ah! wretch," says he, "why do I wait? I have not yet +taken vengeance for the injury which this vassal permitted when his +dwarf struck me in the wood." His anger is revived within him as he +summons the knight: "Vassal," quoth he, "I call you to battle anew. Too +long we have rested; let us now renew our strife." And he replies: "That +is no hardship to me." Whereupon, they again fall upon each other. +They were both expert fencers. At his first lunge the knight would have +wounded Erec had he not skilfully parried. Even so, he smote him so +hard over the shield beside his temple that he struck a piece from his +helmet. Closely shaving his white coif, the sword descends, cleaving the +shield through to the buckle, and cutting more than a span from the side +of his hauberk. Then he must have been well stunned, as the cold steel +penetrated to the flesh on his thigh. May God protect him now! If the +blow had not glanced off, it would have cut right through his body. But +Erec is in no wise dismayed: he pays him back what is owing him, and. +attacking him boldly, smites him upon the shoulder so violently a blow +that the shield cannot withstand it, nor is the hauberk of any use to +prevent the sword from penetrating to the bone. He made the crimson +blood flow down to his waist-band. Both of the vassals are hard +fighters: they fight with honours even, for one cannot gain from the +other a single foot of ground. Their hauberks are so torn and their +shields so hacked, that there is actually not enough of them left to +serve as a protection. So they fight all exposed. Each one loses a deal +of blood, and both grow weak. He strikes Erec and Erec strikes him. Erec +deals him such a tremendous blow upon the helmet that he quite stuns +him. Then he lets him have it again and again, giving him three blows +in quick succession, which entirely split the helmet and cut the coif +beneath it. The sword even reaches the skull and cuts a bone of his +head, but without penetrating the brain. He stumbles and totters, and +while he staggers, Erec pushes him over, so that he falls upon his right +side. Erec grabs him by the helmet and forcibly drags it from his +head, and unlaces the ventail, so that his head and face are completely +exposed. When Erec thinks of the insult done him by the dwarf in the +wood, he would have cut off his head, had he not cried for mercy. "Ah! +vassal," says he, "thou hast defeated me. Mercy now, and do not kill me, +after having overcome me and taken me prisoner: that would never bring +thee praise or glory. If thou shouldst touch me more, thou wouldst do +great villainy. Take here my sword; I yield it thee." Erec, however, +does not take it, but says in reply: "I am within an ace of killing +thee." "Ah! gentle knight, mercy! For what crime, indeed, or for what +wrong shouldst thou hate me with mortal hatred? I never saw thee before +that I am aware, and never have I been engaged in doing thee any shame +or wrong." Erec replies: "Indeed you have." "Ah, sire, tell me when! For +I never saw you, that I can remember, and if I have done you any wrong, +I place myself at your mercy." Then Erec said: "Vassal, I am he who was +in the forest yesterday with Queen Guinevere, when thou didst allow thy +ill-bred dwarf to strike my lady's damsel. It is disgraceful to strike +a woman. And afterwards he struck me, taking me for some common fellow. +Thou wast guilty of too great insolence when thou sawest such an outrage +and didst complacently permit such a monster of a lout to strike the +damsel and myself. For such a crime I may well hate thee; for thou +hast committed a grave offence. Thou shalt now constitute thyself my +prisoner, and without delay go straight to my lady whom thou wilt surely +find at Cardigan, if thither thou takest thy way. Thou wilt reach there +this very night, for it is not seven leagues from here, I think. Thou +shalt hand over to her thyself, thy damsel, and thy dwarf, to do as she +may dictate; and tell her that I send her word that to-morrow I shall +come contented, bringing with me a damsel so fair and wise and fine +that in all the world she has not her match. So much thou mayst tell her +truthfully. And now I wish to know thy name." Then he must needs say in +spite of himself: "Sire, my name is Yder, son of Nut. This morning I had +not thought that any single man by force of arms could conquer me. Now +I have found by experience a man who is better than I. You are a very +valiant knight, and I pledge you my faith here and now that I will go +without delay and put myself in the Queen's hands. But tell me without +reserve what your name may be. Who shall I say it is that sends me? For +I am ready to start." And he replies: "My name I will tell thee without +disguise: it is Erec. Go, and tell her that it is I who have sent thee +to her." "Now I'll go, and I promise you that I will put my dwarf, my +damsel, and myself altogether at her disposal (you need have no fear), +and I will give her news of you and of your damsel." Then Erec received +his plighted word, and the Count and all the people round about the +ladies and the gentlemen were present at the agreement. Some were +joyous, and some downcast; some were sorry, and others glad. The most +rejoiced for the sake of the damsel with the white raiment, the daughter +of the poor vavasor she of the gentle and open heart; but his damsel and +those who were devoted to him were sorry for Yder. + +(Vv. 1081-1170.) Yder, compelled to execute his promise, did not wish +to tarry longer, but mounted his steed at once. But why should I make +a long story? Taking his dwarf and his damsel, they traversed the woods +and the plain, going on straight until they came to Cardigan. In the +bower [112] outside the great hall, Gawain and Kay the seneschal and a +great number of other lords were gathered. The seneschal was the first +to espy those approaching, and said to my lord Gawain: "Sire, my heart +divines that the vassal who yonder comes is he of whom the Queen spoke +as having yesterday done her such an insult. If I am not mistaken, there +are three in the party, for I see the dwarf and the damsel." "That is +so," says my lord Gawain; "it is surely a damsel and a dwarf who are +coming straight toward us with the knight. The knight himself is fully +armed, but his shield is not whole. If the Queen should see him, +she would know him. Hello, seneschal, go call her now!" So he went +straightway and found her in one of the apartments. "My lady," says he, +"do you remember the dwarf who yesterday angered you by wounding your +damsel?" "Yes, I remember him right well. Seneschal, have you any +news of him? Why have you mentioned him?" "Lady, because I have seen a +knight-errant armed coming upon a grey horse, and if my eyes have not +deceived me, I saw a damsel with him; and it seems to me that with him +comes the dwarf, who still holds the scourge from which Erec received +his lashing." Then the Queen rose quickly and said: "Let us go quickly, +seneschal, to see if it is the vassal. If it is he, you may be sure that +I shall tell you so, as soon as I see him." And Kay said: "I will show +him to you. Come up into the bower where your knights are assembled. It +was from there we saw him coming, and my lord Gawain himself awaits +you there. My lady, let us hasten thither, for here we have too long +delayed." Then the Queen bestirred herself, and coming to the windows +she took her stand by my lord Gawain, and straightway recognised the +knight. "Ha! my lords," she cries, "it is he. He has been through great +danger. He has been in a battle. I do not know whether Erec has avenged +his grief, or whether this knight has defeated Erec. But there is many a +dent upon his shield, and his hauberk is covered with blood, so that it +is rather red than white." "In sooth, my lady," quoth my lord Gawain, +"I am very sure that you are quite right. His hauberk is covered with +blood, and pounded and beaten, showing plainly that he has been in a +fight. We can easily see that the battle has been hot. Now we shall soon +hear from him news that will give us joy or gloom: whether Erec sends +him to you here as a prisoner at your discretion, or whether he comes +in pride of heart to boast before us arrogantly that he has defeated or +killed Erec. No other news can he bring, I think." The Queen says: "I am +of the same opinion." And all the others say: "It may well be so." + +(Vv. 1171-1243.) Meanwhile Yder enters the castle gate, bringing them +news. They all came down from the bower, and went to meet him. Yder came +up to the royal terrace and there dismounted from his horse. And Gawain +took the damsel and helped her down from her palfrey; the dwarf, for his +part, dismounted too. There were more than one hundred knights standing +there, and when the three newcomers had all dismounted they were led +into the King's presence. As soon as Yder saw the Queen, he bowed low +and first saluted her, then the King and his knights, and said: "Lady, +I am sent here as your prisoner by a gentleman, a valiant and noble +knight, whose face yesterday my dwarf made smart with his knotted +scourge. He has overcome me at arms and defeated me. Lady, the dwarf I +bring you here: he has come to surrender to you at discretion. I bring +you myself, my damsel, and my dwarf to do with us as you please." The +Queen keeps her peace no longer, but asks him for news of Erec: "Tell +me," she says, "if you please, do you know when Erec will arrive?" +"To-morrow, lady, and with him a damsel he will bring, the fairest of +all I ever knew." When he had delivered his message, the Queen, who was +kind and sensible, said to him courteously: "Friend, since thou hast +thrown thyself upon my mercy, thy confinement shall be less harsh; for I +have no desire to seek thy harm. But tell me now, so help thee God, what +is thy name?" And he replies: "Lady, my name is Yder, son of Nut." And +they knew that he told the truth. Then the Queen arose, and going before +the King, said: "Sire, did you hear? You have done well to wait for +Erec, the valiant knight. I gave you good advice yesterday, when I +counselled you to await his return. This proves that it is wise to take +advice." The King replies: "That is no lie; rather is it perfectly true +that he who takes advice is no fool. Happily we followed your advice +yesterday. But if you care anything for me, release this knight from his +durance, provided he consent to join henceforth my household and court; +and if he does not consent, let him suffer the consequence." When the +King had thus spoken, the Queen straightway released the knight; but it +was on this condition, that he should remain in the future at the court. +He did not have to be urged before he gave his consent to stay. Now he +was of the court and household to which he had not before belonged. Then +valets were at hand to run and relieve him of his arms. + +(Vv. 1244-1319.) Now we must revert to Erec, whom we left in the field +where the battle had taken place. Even Tristan, when he slew fierce +Morhot on Saint Samson's isle [113], awakened no such jubilee as they +celebrated here over Erec. Great and small, thin and stout--all make +much of him and praise his knighthood. There is not a knight but cries: +"Lord what a vassal! Under Heaven there is not his like!" They follow +him to his lodgings, praising him and talking much. Even the Count +himself embraces him, who above the rest was glad, and said: "Sire, if +you please, you ought by right to lodge in my house, since you are the +son of King Lac. If you would accept of my hospitality you would do me +a great honour, for I regard you as my liege. Fair sire, may it please +you, I beg you to lodge with me." Erec answers: "May it not displease +you, but I shall not desert my host to-night, who has done me much +honour in giving me his daughter. What say you, sir? Is it not a fair +and precious gift?" "Yes, sire," the Count replies; "the gift, in truth, +is fine and good. The maid herself is fair and clever, and besides is of +very noble birth. You must know that her mother is my sister. Surely, I +am glad at heart that you should deign to take my niece. Once more I beg +you to lodge with me this night." Erec replies: "Ask me no more. I will +not do it." Then the Count saw that further insistence was useless, and +said: "Sire, as it please you! We may as well say no more about it; but +I and my knights will all be with you to-night to cheer you and bear +you company." When Erec heard that, he thanked him, and returned to his +host's dwelling, with the Count attending him. Ladies and knights were +gathered there, and the vavasor was glad at heart. As soon as Erec +arrived, more than a score of squires ran quickly to remove his arms. +Any one who was present in that house could have witnessed a happy +scene. Erec went first and took his seat; then all the others in order +sit down upon the couches, the cushions, and benches. At Erec's side the +Count sat down, and the damsel with her radiant face, who was feeding +the much disputed hawk upon her wrist with a plover's wing. [114] Great +honour and joy and prestige had she gained that day, and she was very +glad at heart both for the bird and for her lord. She could not have +been happier, and showed it plainly, making no secret of her joy. All +could see how gay she was, and throughout the house there was great +rejoicing for the happiness of the maid they loved. + +(Vv. 1320-1352.) Erec thus addressed the vavasor: "Fair host, fair +friend, fair sire! You have done me great honour, and richly shall it +be repaid you. To-morrow I shall take away your daughter with me to the +King's court, where I wish to take her as my wife; and if you will +tarry here a little, I shall send betimes to fetch you. I shall have you +escorted into the country which is my father's now, but which later will +be mine. It is far from here--by no means near. There I shall give you +two towns, very splendid, rich, and fine. You shall be lord of Roadan, +which was built in the time of Adam, and of another town close by, which +is no less valuable. The people call it Montrevel, and my father owns no +better town. [115] And before the third day has passed, I shall send you +plenty of gold and silver, of dappled and grey furs, and precious silken +stuffs wherewith to adorn yourself and your wife my dear lady. To-morrow +at dawn I wish to take your daughter to court, dressed and arrayed as +she is at present. I wish my lady, the Queen, to dress her in her best +dress of satin and scarlet cloth." + +(Vv. 1353-1478.) There was a maiden near at hand, very honourable, +prudent, and virtuous. She was seated on a bench beside the maid with +the white shift, and was her own cousin the niece of my lord the Count. +When she heard how Erec intended to take her cousin in such very poor +array to the Queen's court, she spoke about it to the Count. "Sire," +she says, "it would be a shame to you more than to any one else if this +knight should take your niece away with him in such sad array." And +the Count made answer: "Gentle niece, do you give her the best of your +dresses." But Erec heard the conversation, and said: "By no means, my +lord. For be assured that nothing in the world would tempt me to let +her have another robe until the Queen shall herself bestow it upon her." +When the damsel heard this, she replied: "Alas! fair sire, since you +insist upon leading off my cousin thus dressed in a white shift and +chemise, and since you are determined that she shall have none of +my dresses, a different gift I wish to make her. I have three good +palfreys, as good as any of king or count, one sorrel, one dappled, and +the other black with white forefeet. Upon my word, if you had a hundred +to pick from, you would not find a better one than the dappled mount. +The birds in the air do not fly more swiftly than the palfrey; and he is +not too lively, but just suits a lady. A child can ride him, for he +is neither skittish nor balky, nor does he bite nor kick nor become +unmanageable. Any one who is looking for something better does not know +what he wants. And his pace is so easy and gentle that a body is more +comfortable and easy on his back than in a boat." Then said Erec: "My +dear, I have no objection to her accepting this gift; indeed, I am +pleased with the offer, and do not wish her to refuse it." Then the +damsel calls one of her trusty servants, and says to him: "Go, friend, +saddle my dappled palfrey, and lead him here at once." And he carries +out her command: he puts on saddle and bridle and strives to make him +appear well. Then he jumps on the maned palfrey, which is now ready for +inspection. When Erec saw the animal, he did not spare his praise, for +he could see that he was very fine and gentle. So he bade a servant lead +him back and hitch him in the stable beside his own horse. Then they all +separated, after an evening agreeably spent. The Count goes off to his +own dwelling, and leaves Erec with the vavasor, saying that he will bear +him company in the morning when he leaves. All that night they slept +well. In the morning, when the dawn was bright, Erec prepares to start, +commanding his horses to be saddled. His fair sweetheart, too, awakes, +dresses, and makes ready. The vavasor and his wife rise too, and every +knight and lady there prepares to escort the damsel and the knight. Now +they are all on horseback, and the Count as well. Erec rides beside the +Count, having beside him his sweetheart ever mindful of her hawk. Having +no other riches, she plays with her hawk. Very merry were they as they +rode along; but when the time came to part, the Count wished to send +along with Erec a party of his knights to do him honour by escorting +him. But he announced that none should bide with him, and that he wanted +no company but that of the damsel. Then, when they had accompanied them +some distance, he said: "In God's name, farewell!" Then the Count kisses +Erec and his niece, and commends them both to merciful God. Her father +and mother, too, kiss them again and again, and could not keep back +their tears: at parting, the mother weeps, the father and the daughter +too. For such is love and human nature, and such is affection between +parents and children. They wept from sorrow, tenderness, and love which +they had for their child; yet they knew full well that their daughter +was to fill a place from which great honour would accrue to them. They +shed tears of love and pity when they separated from their daughter, but +they had no other cause to weep. They knew well enough that eventually +they would receive great honour from her marriage. So at parting many +a tear was shed, as weeping they commend one another to God, and thus +separate without more delay. + +(Vv. 1479-1690.) Erec quit his host; for he was very anxious to reach +the royal court. In his adventure he took great satisfaction; for now he +had a lady passing fair, discreet, courteous, and debonair. He could not +look at her enough: for the more he looks at her, the more she pleases +him. He cannot help giving her a kiss. He is happy to ride by her side, +and it does him good to look at her. Long he gazes at her fair hair, her +laughing eyes, and her radiant forehead, her nose, her face, and mouth, +for all of which gladness fills his heart. He gazes upon her down to the +waist, at her chin and her snowy neck, her bosom and sides, her arms and +hands. But no less the damsel looks at the vassal with a clear eye and +loyal heart, as if they were in competition. They would not have ceased +to survey each other even for promise of a reward! A perfect match they +were in courtesy, beauty, and gentleness. And they were so alike in +quality, manner, and customs, that no one wishing to tell the truth +could choose the better of them, nor the fairer, nor the more discreet. +Their sentiments, too, were much alike; so that they were well suited +to each other. Thus each steals the other's heart away. Law or marriage +never brought together two such sweet creatures. And so they rode along +until just on the stroke of noon they approached the castle of Cardigan, +where they were both expected. Some of the first nobles of the court had +gone up to look from the upper windows and see if they could see them. +Queen Guinevere ran up, and even the King came with Kay and Perceval of +Wales, and with them my lord Gawain and Tor, the son of King Ares; Lucan +the cupbearer was there, too, and many another doughty knight. Finally, +they espied Erec coming along in company with his lady. They all knew +him well enough from as far as they could see him. The Queen is greatly +pleased, and indeed the whole court is glad of his coming, because they +all love him so. As soon as he was come before the entrance hall, the +King and Queen go down to meet him, all greeting him in God's name. They +welcome Erec and his maiden, commending and praising her great beauty. +And the King himself caught her and lifted her down from her palfrey. +The King was decked in fine array and was then in cheery mood. He did +signal honour to the damsel by taking her hand and leading her up into +the great stone hall. After them Erec and the Queen also went up hand +in hand, and he said to her: "I bring you, lady, my damsel and my +sweetheart dressed in poor garb. As she was given to me, so have I +brought her to you. She is the daughter of a poor vavasor. Through +poverty many an honourable man is brought low: her father, for instance, +is gentle and courteous, but he has little means. And her mother is a +very gentle lady, the sister of a rich Count. She has no lack of beauty +or of lineage, that I should not marry her. It is poverty that has +compelled her to wear this white linen garment until both sleeves are +torn at the side. And yet, had it been my desire, she might have had +dresses rich enough. For another damsel, a cousin of hers, wished to +give her a robe of ermine and of spotted or grey silk. But I would +not have her dressed in any other robe until you should have seen her. +Gentle lady, consider the matter now and see what need she has of a +fine becoming gown." And the Queen at once replies: "You have done quite +right; it is fitting that she should have one of my gowns, and I will +give her straightway a rich, fair gown, both fresh and new." The Queen +then hastily took her off to her own private room, and gave orders +to bring quickly the fresh tunic and the greenish-purple mantle, +embroidered with little crosses, which had been made for herself. The +one who went at her behest came bringing to her the mantle and the +tunic, which was lined with white ermine even to the sleeves. At the +wrists and on the neck-band there was in truth more than half a mark's +weight of beaten gold, and everywhere set in the gold there were +precious stones of divers colours, indigo and green, blue and dark +brown. This tunic was very rich, but not a writ less precious, I trow, +was the mantle. As yet, there were no ribbons on it; for the mantle like +the tunic was brand new. The mantle was very rich and fine: laid about +the neck were two sable skins, and in the tassels there was more than an +ounce of gold; on one a hyacinth, and on the other a ruby flashed more +bright than burning candle. The fur lining was of white ermine; never +was finer seen or found. The cloth was skilfully embroidered with little +crosses, all different, indigo, vermilion, dark blue, white, green, +blue, and yellow. The Queen called for some ribbons four ells long, made +of silken thread and gold. The ribbons are given to her, handsome and +well matched. Quickly she had them fastened to the mantle by some one +who knew how to do it, and who was master of the art. When the mantle +needed no more touches, the gay and gentle lady clasped the maid with +the white gown and said to her cheerily: "Mademoiselle, you must change +this frock for this tunic which is worth more than a hundred marks of +silver. So much I wish to bestow upon you. And put on this mantle, too. +Another time I will give you more." Not able to refuse the gift, she +takes the robe and thanks her for it. Then two maids took her aside into +a room, where she took off her frock as being of no further value; but +she asked and requested that it be given away (to some poor woman) for +the love of God. Then she dons the tunic, and girds herself, binding on +tightly a golden belt, and afterwards puts on the mantle. Now she looked +by no means ill; for the dress became her so well that it made her look +more beautiful than ever. The two maids wove a gold thread in amongst +her golden hair: but her tresses were more radiant than the thread of +gold, fine though it was. The maids, moreover, wove a fillet of flowers +of many various colours and placed it upon her head. They strove as best +they might to adorn her in such wise that no fault should be found with +her attire. Strung upon a ribbon around her neck, a damsel hung two +brooches of enamelled gold. Now she looked so charming and fair that I +do not believe that you could find her equal in any land, search as you +might, so skilfully had Nature wrought in her. Then she stepped out of +the dressing-room into the Queen's presence. The Queen made much of her, +because she liked her and was glad that she was beautiful and had such +gentle manners. They took each other by the hand and passed into the +King's presence. And when the King saw them, he got up to meet them. +When they came into the great hall, there were so many knights there who +rose before them that I cannot call by name the tenth part of them, or +the thirteenth, or the fifteenth. But I can tell you the names of some +of the best of the knights who belonged to the Round Table and who were +the best in the world. + +(Vv. 1691-1750.) Before all the excellent knights, Gawain ought to be +named the first, and second Erec the son of Lac, and third Lancelot of +the Lake. [116] Gornemant of Gohort was fourth, and the fifth was the +Handsome Coward. The sixth was the Ugly Brave, the seventh Meliant of +Liz, the eighth Mauduit the Wise, and the ninth Dodinel the Wild. Let +Gandelu be named the tenth, for he was a goodly man. The others I shall +mention without order, because the numbers bother me. Eslit was there +with Briien, and Yvain the son of Uriien. And Yvain of Loenel was there, +as well as Yvain the Adulterer. Beside Yvain of Cavaliot was Garravain +of Estrangot. After the Knight with the Horn was the Youth with the +Golden Ring. And Tristan who never laughed sat beside Bliobleheris, and +beside Brun of Piciez was his brother Gru the Sullen. The Armourer sat +next, who preferred war to peace. Next sat Karadues the Shortarmed, +a knight of good cheer; and Caveron of Robendic, and the son of King +Quenedic and the Youth of Quintareus and Yder of the Dolorous Mount. +Gaheriet and Kay of Estraus, Amauguin and Gales the Bald, Grain, +Gornevain, and Carabes, and Tor the son of King Aras, Girflet the son +of Do, and Taulas, who never wearied of arms: and a young man of great +merit, Loholt the son of King Arthur, [117] and Sagremor the Impetuous, +who should not be forgotten, nor Bedoiier the Master of the Horse, +who was skilled at chess and trictrac, nor Bravain, nor King Lot, nor +Galegantin of Wales, nor Gronosis, versed in evil, who was son of Kay +the Seneschal, nor Labigodes the Courteous, nor Count Cadorcaniois, nor +Letron of Prepelesant, whose manners were so excellent, nor Breon the +son of Canodan, nor the Count of Honolan who had such a head of fine +fair hair; he it was who received the King's horn in an evil day; [118] +he never had any care for truth. + +(Vv. 1751-1844.) When the stranger maiden saw all the knights arrayed +looking steadfastly at her, she bowed her head in embarrassment; nor was +it strange that her face blushed all crimson. But her confusion was so +becoming to her that she looked all the more lovely. When the King saw +that she was embarrassed, he did not wish to leave her side. Taking her +gently by the hand, he made her sit down on his right hand; and on his +left sat the Queen, speaking thus to the King the while. "Sire, in my +opinion he who can win such a fair lady by his arms in another land +ought by right to come to a royal court. It was well we waited for Erec; +for now you can bestow the kiss upon the fairest of the court. I should +think none would find fault with you! for none can say, unless he lie, +that this maiden is not the most charming of all the damsels here, or +indeed in all the world." The King makes answer: "That is no lie; and +upon her, if there is no remonstrance, I shall bestow the honour of the +White Stag." Then he added to the knights: "My lords, what say you? What +is your opinion? In body, in face, and in whatever a maid should have, +this one is the most charming and beautiful to be found, as I may say, +before you come to where Heaven and earth meet. I say it is meet that +she should receive the honour of the Stag. And you, my lords, what do +you think about it? Can you make any objection? If any one wishes to +protest, let him straightway speak his mind. I am King, and must keep +my word and must not permit any baseness, falsity, or arrogance. I must +maintain truth and righteousness. It is the business of a loyal king +to support the law, truth, faith, and justice. I would not in any wise +commit a disloyal deed or wrong to either weak or strong. It is not meet +that any one should complain of me; nor do I wish the custom and the +practice to lapse, which my family has been wont to foster. You, too, +would doubtless regret to see me strive to introduce other customs +and other laws than those my royal sire observed. Regardless of +consequences, I am bound to keep and maintain the institution of my +father Pendragon, who was a just king and emperor. Now tell me fully +what you think! Let none be slow to speak his mind, if this damsel is +not the fairest of my household and ought not by right to receive the +kiss of the White Stag: I wish to know what you truly think." Then they +all cry with one accord: "Sire, by the Lord and his Cross! you may well +kiss her with good reason, for she is the fairest one there is. In this +damsel there is more beauty than there is of radiance in the sun. You +may kiss her freely, for we all agree in sanctioning it." When the King +hears that this is well pleasing to them all, he will no longer delay in +bestowing the kiss, but turns toward her and embraces her. The maid was +sensible, and perfectly willing that the King should kiss her; she would +have been discourteous, indeed, to resent it. In courteous fashion and +in the presence of all his knights the King kissed her, and said: "My +dear. I give you my love in all honesty. I will love you with true +heart, without malice and without guile." By this adventure the King +carried out the practice and the usage to which the White Stag was +entitled at his court. + +Here ends the first part of my story. [119] + +(Vv. 1845-1914.) When the kiss of the Stag was taken according to the +custom of the country, Erec, like a polite and kind man, was solicitous +for his poor host. It was not his intention to fail to execute what he +had promised. Hear how he kept his covenant: for he sent him now five +sumpter mules, strong and sleek, loaded with dresses and clothes, +buckrams and scarlets, marks of gold and silver plate, furs both vair +and grey, skins of sable, purple stuffs, and silks. When the mules were +loaded with all that a gentleman can need, he sent with them an escort +of ten knights and sergeants chosen from his own men, and straightly +charged them to salute his host and show great honour both to him and to +his lady, as if it were to himself in person; and when they should have +presented to them the sumpters which they brought them, the gold, the +silver, and money, and all the other furnishings which were in the +boxes, they should escort the lady and the vavasor with great honour +into his kingdom of Farther Wales. [120] Two towns there he had promised +them, the most choice and the best situated that there were in all his +land, with nothing to fear from attack. Montrevel was the name of one, +and the other's name was Roadan. When they should arrive in his kingdom, +they should make over to them these two towns, together with their rents +and their jurisdiction, in accordance with what he had promised them. +All was carried out as Erec had ordered. The messengers made no delay, +and in good time they presented to his host the gold and the silver +and the sumpters and the robes and the money, of which there was great +plenty. They escorted them into Erec's kingdom, and strove to serve them +well. They came into the country on the third day, and transferred to +them the towers of the towns; for King Lac made no objection. He gave +them a warm welcome and showed them honour, loving them for the sake +of his son Erec. He made over to them the title to the towns, and +established their suzerainty by making knights and bourgeois swear that +they would reverence them as their true liege lords. When this was +done and accomplished, the messengers returned to their lord Erec, who +received them gladly. When he asked for news of the vavasor and his +lady, of his own father and of his kingdom, the report they gave him was +good and fair. + +(Vv. 1915-2024.) Not long after this, the time drew near when Erec was +to celebrate his marriage. The delay was irksome to him, and he resolved +no longer to suffer and wait. So he went and asked of the King that +it might please him to allow him to be married at the court. The King +vouchsafed him the boon, and sent through all his kingdom to search for +the kings and counts who were his liege-men, bidding them that none be +so bold as not to be present at Pentecost. None dares to hold back and +not go to court at the King's summons. Now I will tell you, and listen +well, who were these counts and kings. With a rich escort and one +hundred extra mounts Count Brandes of Gloucester came. After him came +Menagormon, who was Count of Clivelon. And he of the Haute Montagne came +with a very rich following. The Count of Treverain came, too, with a +hundred of his knights, and Count Godegrain with as many more. Along +with those whom I have just mentioned came Maheloas, a great baron, lord +of the Isle of Voirre. In this island no thunder is heard, no lightning +strikes, nor tempests rage, nor do toads or serpents exist there, nor is +it ever too hot or too cold. [121] Graislemier of Fine Posterne brought +twenty companions, and had with him his brother Guigomar, lord of the +Isle of Avalon. Of the latter we have heard it said that he was a friend +of Morgan the Fay, and such he was in very truth. Davit of Tintagel +came, who never suffered woe or grief. Guergesin, the Duke of Haut Bois, +came with a very rich equipment. There was no lack of counts and dukes, +but of kings there were still more. Garras of Cork, a doughty king, was +there with five hundred knights clad in mantles, hose, and tunics of +brocade and silk. Upon a Cappadocian steed came Aguisel, the Scottish +king, and brought with him his two sons, Cadret and Coi--two much +respected knights. Along with those whom I have named came King Ban of +Gomeret, and he had in his company only young men, beardless as yet on +chin and lip. A numerous and gay band he brought two hundred of them +in his suite; and there was none, whoever he be, but had a falcon or +tercel, a merlin or a sparrow-hawk, or some precious pigeon-hawk, golden +or mewed. Kerrin, the old King of Riel, brought no youth, but rather +three hundred companions of whom the youngest was seven score years old. +Because of their great age, their heads were all as white as snow, and +their beards reached down to their girdles. Arthur held them in great +respect. The lord of the dwarfs came next, Bilis, the king of Antipodes. +This king of whom I speak was a dwarf himself and own brother of Brien. +Bilis, on the one hand, was the smallest of all the dwarfs, while his +brother Brien was a half-foot or full palm taller than any other knight +in the kingdom. To display his wealth and power, Bilis brought with him +two kings who were also dwarfs and who were vassals of his, Grigoras and +Glecidalan. Every one looked at them as marvels. When they had arrived +at court, they were treated with great esteem. All three were honoured +and served at the court like kings, for they were very perfect +gentlemen. In brief, when King Arthur saw all his lords assembled, his +heart was glad. Then, to heighten the joy, he ordered a hundred squires +to be bathed whom he wished to dub knights. There was none of them +but had a parti-coloured robe of rich brocade of Alexandria, each one +choosing such as pleased his fancy. All had arms of a uniform pattern, +and horses swift and full of mettle, of which the worst was worth a +hundred livres. + +(Vv. 2025-2068.) When Erec received his wife, he must needs call her by +her right name. For a wife is not espoused unless she is called by her +proper name. As yet no one knew her name, but now for the first time it +was made known: Enide was her baptismal name. [122] The Archbishop of +Canterbury, who had come to the court, blessed them, as is his right. +When the court was all assembled, there was not a minstrel in the +countryside who possessed any pleasing accomplishment that did not come +to the court. In the great hall there was much merry-making, each one +contributing what he could to the entertainment: one jumps, another +tumbles, another does magic; there is story-telling, singing, whistling, +playing from notes; they play on the harp, the rote, the fiddle, the +violin, the flute, and pipe. The maidens sing and dance, and outdo each +other in the merry-making. At the wedding that day everything was +done which can give joy and incline man's heart to gladness. Drums are +beaten, large and small, and there is playing of pipes, fifes, horns, +trumpets, and bagpipes. What more shall I say? There was not a wicket or +a gate kept closed; but the exits and entrances all stood ajar, so that +no one, poor or rich, was turned away. King Arthur was not miserly, but +gave orders to the bakers, the cooks, and the butlers that they should +serve every one generously with bread, wine, and venison. No one asked +anything whatever to be passed to him without getting all he desired. + +(Vv. 2069-2134.) There was great merriment in the palace. But I will +pass over the rest, and you shall hear of the joy and pleasure in the +bridal chamber. Bishops and archbishops were there on the night when +the bride and groom retired. At this their first meeting, Iseut was not +filched away, nor was Brangien put in her place. [123] The Queen herself +took charge of their preparations for the night; for both of them were +dear to her. The hunted stag which pants for thirst does not so long for +the spring, nor does the hungry sparrow-hawk return so quickly when he +is called, as did these two come to hold each other in close embrace. +That night they had full compensation for their long delay. After the +chamber had been cleared, they allow each sense to be gratified: the +eyes, which are the entrance-way of love, and which carry messages to +the heart, take satisfaction in the glance, for they rejoice in all they +see; after the message of the eyes comes the far surpassing sweetness of +the kisses inviting love; both of them make trial of this sweetness, and +let their hearts quaff so freely that hardly can they leave off. Thus, +kissing was their first sport. And the love which is between them +emboldened the maid and left her quite without her fears; regardless of +pain, she suffered all. Before she rose, she no longer bore the name +of maid; in the morning she was a new-made dame. That day the minstrels +were in happy mood, for they were all well paid. They were fully +compensated for the entertainment they had given, and many a handsome +gift was bestowed upon them: robes of grey squirrel skin and ermine, of +rabbit skins and violet stuffs, scarlets and silken stuffs. Whether +it be a horse or money, each one got what he deserved according to his +skill. And thus the wedding festivities and the court lasted almost +a fortnight with great joy and magnificence. For his own glory and +satisfaction, as well as to honour Erec the more, King Arthur made all +the knights remain a full fortnight. When the third week began, all +together by common consent agreed to hold a tournament. On the one +side, my lord Gawain offered himself as surety that it would take place +between Evroic and Tenebroc: and Meliz and Meliadoc were guarantors on +the other side. Then the court separated. + +(Vv. 2135-2292.) A month after Pentecost the tournament assembled, and +the jousting began in the plain below Tenebroc. Many an ensign of red, +blue, and white, many a veil and many a sleeve were bestowed as tokens +of love. Many a lance was carried there, flying the colours argent and +green, or gold and azure blue. There were many, too, with different +devices, some with stripes and some with dots. That day one saw laced on +many a helmet of gold or steel, some green, some yellow, and others red, +all aglowing in the sun; so many scutcheons and white hauberks; so many +swords girt on the left side; so many good shields, fresh and new, some +resplendent in silver and green, others of azure with buckles of gold; +so many good steeds marked with white, or sorrel, tawny, white, black, +and bay: all gather hastily. And now the field is quite covered with +arms. On either side the ranks tremble, and a roar rises from the fight. +The shock of the lances is very great. Lances break and shields are +riddled, the hauberks receive bumps and are torn asunder, saddles go +empty and horsemen ramble, while the horses sweat and foam. Swords are +quickly drawn on those who tumble noisily, and some run to receive the +promise of a ransom, others to stave off this disgrace. Erec rode a +white horse, and came forth alone at the head of the line to joust, if +he may find an opponent. From the opposite side there rides out to meet +him Orguelleus de la Lande, mounted on an Irish steed which bears +him along with marvellous speed. On the shield before his breast Erec +strikes him with such force that he knocks him from his horse: he leaves +him prone and passes on. Then Raindurant opposed him, son of the old +dame of Tergalo, covered with blue cloth of silk; he was a knight of +great prowess. Against one another now they charge and deal fierce blows +on the shields about their neck. Erec from lance's length lays him over +on the hard ground. While riding back he met the King of the Red City, +who was very valiant and bold. They grasp their reins by the knots and +their shields by the inner straps. They both had fine arms, and strong +swift horses, and good shields, fresh and new. With such fury they +strike each other that both their lances fly in splinters. Never was +there seen such a blow. They rush together with shields, arms, and +horses. But neither girth nor rein nor breast-strap could prevent the +king from coming to earth. So he flew from his steed, carrying with him +saddle and stirrup, and even the reins of his bridle in his hand. All +those who witnessed the jousting were filled with amazement, and said it +cost him dear to joust with such a goodly knight. Erec did not wish +to stop to capture either horse or rider, but rather to joust and +distinguish himself in order that his prowess might appear. He thrills +the ranks in front of him. Gawain animates those who were on his side +by his prowess, and by winning horses and knights to the discomfiture +of his opponents. I speak of my lord Gawain, who did right well and +valiantly. In the fight he unhorsed Guincel, and took Gaudin of the +Mountain; he captured knights and horses alike: my lord Gawain did well. +Girtlet the son of Do, and Yvain, and Sagremor the Impetuous, so evilly +entreated their adversaries that they drove them back to the gates, +capturing and unhorsing many of them. In front of the gate of the town +the strife began again between those within and those without. There +Sagremor was thrown down, who was a very gallant knight. He was on the +point of being detained and captured, when Erec spurs to rescue him, +breaking his lance into splinters upon one of the opponents. So hard he +strikes him on the breast that he made him quit the saddle. Then he +made of his sword and advances upon them, crushing and splitting their +helmets. Some flee, and others make way before him, for even the boldest +fears him. Finally, he distributed so many blows and thrusts that he +rescued Sagremor from them, and drove them all in confusion into the +town. Meanwhile, the vesper hour drew to a close. Erec bore himself so +well that day that he was the best of the combatants. But on the morrow +he did much better yet: for he took so many knights and left so many +saddles empty that none could believe it except those who had seen it. +Every one on both sides said that with his lance and shield he had won +the honours of the tournament. Now was Erec's renown so high that no one +spoke save of him, nor was any one of such goodly favour. In countenance +he resembled Absalom, in language he seemed a Solomon, in boldness he +equalled Samson, [124] and in generous giving and spending he was the +equal of Alexander. On his return from the tourney Erec went to speak +with the King. He went to ask him for leave to go and visit his own +land; but first he thanked him like a frank, wise, and courteous man for +the honour which he had done him; for very deep was his gratitude. +Then he asked his permission to leave, for he wished to visit his own +country, and he wished to take his wife with him. This request the King +could not deny, and yet he would have had him stay. He gives him leave +and begs him to return as soon as possible: for in the whole court there +was no better or more gallant knight, save only his dear nephew Gawain; +[125] with him no one could be compared. But next after him, he prized +Erec most, and held him more dear than any other knight. + +(Vv. 2293-2764.) Erec wished to delay no longer. As soon as he had the +King's leave, he bid his wife make her preparations, and he retained as +his escort sixty knights of merit with horses and with dappled and grey +furs. As soon as he was ready for his journey, he tarried little further +at court, but took leave of the Queen and commended the knights to God. +The Queen grants him leave to depart. At the hour of prime he set out +from the royal palace. In the presence of them all he mounted his steed, +and his wife mounted the dappled horse which she had brought from her +own country; then all his escort mounted. Counting knights and squires, +there were full seven score in the train. After four long days' journey +over hills and slopes, through forests, plains, and streams, they +came on the fifth day to Camant, where King Lac was residing in a very +charming town. No one ever saw one better situated; for the town was +provided with forests and meadow-land, with vineyards and farms, with +streams and orchards, with ladies and knights, and fine, lively youths, +and polite, well-mannered clerks who spent their incomes freely, with +fair and charming maidens, and with prosperous burghers. Before Erec +reached the town, he sent two knights ahead to announce his arrival +to the King. When he heard the news, the King had clerks, knights, and +damsels quickly mount, and ordered the bells to be rung, and the streets +to be hung with tapestries and silken stuffs, that his son might be +received with joy; then he himself got on his horse. Of clerks there +were present fourscore, gentle and honourable men, clad in grey cloaks +bordered with sable. Of knights there were full five hundred, mounted +on bay, sorrel, or white-spotted steeds. There were so many burghers and +dames that no one could tell the number of them. The King and his son +galloped and rode on till they saw and recognised each other. They both +jump down from their horses and embrace and greet each other for a long +time, without stirring from the place where they first met. Each party +wished the other joy: the King makes much of Erec, but all at once +breaks off to turn to Enide. On all sides he is in clover: he embraces +and kisses them both, and knows not which of the two pleases him the +more. As they gaily enter the castle, the bells all ring their peals to +honour Erec's arrival. The streets are all strewn with reeds, mint, and +iris, and are hung overhead with curtains and tapestries of fancy silk +and satin stuffs. There was great rejoicing; for all the people came +together to see their new lord, and no one ever saw greater happiness +than was shown alike by young and old. First they came to the church, +where very devoutly they were received in a procession. Erec kneeled +before the altar of the Crucifix, and two knights led his wife to the +image of Our Lady. When she had finished her prayer, she stepped back +a little and crossed herself with her right hand, as a well-bred dame +should do. Then they came out from the church and entered the royal +palace, when the festivity began. That day Erec received many presents +from the knights and burghers: from one a palfrey of northern stock, and +from another a golden cup. One presents him with a golden pigeon-hawk, +another with a setter-dog, this one a greyhound, this other a +sparrowhawk, and another a swift Arab steed, this one a shield, this one +an ensign, this one a sword, and this a helmet. Never was a king more +gladly seen in his kingdom, nor received with greater joy, as all strove +to serve him well. Yet greater joy they made of Enide than of him, for +the great beauty which they saw in her, and still more for her open +charm. She was seated in a chamber upon a cushion of brocade which had +been brought from Thessaly. Round about her was many a fair lady; yet as +the lustrous gem outshines the brown flint, and as the rose excels the +poppy, so was Enide fairer than any other lady or damsel to be found in +the world, wherever one might search. She was so gentle and honourable, +of wise speech and affable, of pleasing character and kindly mien. No +one could ever be so watchful as to detect in her any folly, or sign of +evil or villainy. She had been so schooled in good manners that she had +learned all virtues which any lady can possess, as well as generosity +and knowledge. All loved her for her open heart, and whoever could do +her any service was glad and esteemed himself the more. No one spoke any +ill of her, for no one could do so. In the realm or empire there was no +lady of such good manners. But Erec loved her with such a tender love +that he cared no more for arms, nor did he go to tournaments, nor have +any desire to joust; but he spent his time in cherishing his wife. He +made of her his mistress and his sweetheart. He devoted all his heart +and mind to fondling and kissing her, and sought no delight in other +pastime. His friends grieved over this, and often regretted among +themselves that he was so deep in love. Often it was past noon before +he left her side; for there he was happy, say what they might. He rarely +left her society, and yet he was as open-handed as ever to his knights +with arms, dress, and money. There was not a tournament anywhere to +which he did not send them well apparelled and equipped. Whatever the +cost might be, he gave them fresh steeds for the tourney and joust. All +the knights said it was a great pity and misfortune that such a valiant +man as he was wont to be should no longer wish to bear arms. He was +blamed so much on all sides by the knights and squires that murmurs +reached Enide's ears how that her lord had turned craven about arms +and deeds of chivalry, and that his manner of life was greatly changed. +[126] She grieved sorely over this, but she did not dare to show her +grief; for her lord at once would take affront, if she should speak to +him. So the matter remained a secret, until one morning they lay in bed +where they had had sport together. There they lay in close embrace, like +the true lovers they were. He was asleep, but she was awake, thinking +of what many a man in the country was saying of her lord. And when she +began to think it all over, she could not keep back the tears. Such +was her grief and her chagrin that by mischance she let fall a word for +which she later felt remorse, though in her heart there was no guile. +She began to survey her lord from head to foot, his well-shaped body and +his clear countenance, until her tears fell fast upon the bosom of her +lord, and she said: "Alas, woe is me that I ever left my country! What +did I come here to seek? The earth ought by right to swallow me up when +the best knight, the most hardy, brave, fair, and courteous that ever +was a count or king, has completely abjured all his deeds of chivalry +because of me. And thus, in truth, it is I who have brought shame upon +his head, though I would fain not have done so at any price." Then she +said to him: "Unhappy thou!" And then kept silence and spoke no more. +Erec was not sound asleep and, though dozing, heard plainly what she +said. He aroused at her words, and much surprised to see her weeping, he +asked her: "Tell me, my precious beauty, why do you weep thus? What has +caused you woe or sorrow? Surely it is my wish to know. Tell me now, +my gentle sweetheart; and raise care to keep nothing back, why you said +that woe was me? For you said it of me and of no one else. I heard your +words plainly enough." Then was Enide in a great plight, afraid and +dismayed. "Sire," says she, "I know nothing of what you say." "Lady, why +do you conceal it? Concealment is of no avail. You hare been crying; I +can see that, and you do not cry for nothing. And in my sleep I heard +what you said." "Ah! fair sire, you never heard it, and I dare say it +was a dream." "Now you are coming to me with lies. I hear you calmly +lying to me. But if you do not tell me the truth now, you will come to +repent of it later." "Sire, since you torment me thus, I will tell you +the whole truth, and keep nothing back. But I am afraid that you will +not like it. In this land they all say--the dark, the fair, and the +ruddy--that it is a great pity that you should renounce your arms; your +reputation has suffered from it. Every one used to say not long ago that +in all the world there was known no better or more gallant knight. +Now they all go about making game of you--old and young, little and +great--calling you a recreant. Do you suppose it does not give me pain +to hear you thus spoken of with scorn? It grieves me when I hear it +said, and yet it grieves me more that they put the blame for it on me. +Yes, I am blamed for it, I regret to say, and they all assert it is +because I have so ensnared and caught you that you are losing all your +merit, and do not care for aught but me. You must choose another course, +so that you may silence this reproach and regain your former fame; for I +have heard too much of this reproach, and yet I did not dare to disclose +it to you. Many a time, when I think of it, I have to weep for very +grief. Such chagrin I felt just now that I could not keep myself from +saying that you were ill-starred." "Lady," said he, "you were in the +right, and those who blame me do so with reason. And now at once prepare +yourself to take the road. Rise up from here, and dress yourself in your +richest robe, and order your saddle to be put on your best palfrey." Now +Enide is in great distress: very sad and pensive, she gets up, blaming +and upbraiding herself for the foolish words she spoke: she had now +made her bed, and must lie in it. "Ah!" said she, "poor fool! I was too +happy, for there lacked me nothing. God! why was I so forward as to dare +to utter such folly? God! did not my lord love me to excess? In faith, +alas, he was too fond of me. And now I must go away into exile. But I +have yet a greater grief, that I shall no longer see my lord, who loved +me with such tenderness that there was nothing he held so dear. The best +man that was ever born had become so wrapped up in me that he cared for +nothing else. I lacked for nothing then. I was very happy. But pride +it is that stirred me up: because of my pride, I must suffer woe for +telling him such insulting words, and it is right that I should suffer +woe. One does not know what good fortune is until he has made trial of +evil." Thus the lady bemoaned her fate, while she dressed herself fitly +in her richest robe. Yet nothing gave her any pleasure, but rather cause +for deep chagrin. Then she had a maid call one of her squires, and bids +him saddle her precious palfrey of northern stock, than which no count +or king ever had a better. As soon as she had given him the command, the +fellow asked for no delay, but straightway went and saddled the dappled +palfrey. And Erec summoned another squire and bade him bring his arms to +arm his body withal. Then he went up into a bower, and had a Limoges rug +laid out before him on the floor. Meanwhile, the squire ran to fetch the +arms and came back and laid them on the rug. Erec took a seat opposite, +on the figure of a leopard which was portrayed on the rug. He prepares +and gets ready to put on his arms: first, he had laced on a pair of +greaves of polished steel; next, he dons a hauberk, which was so fine +that not a mesh could be cut away from it. This hauberk of his was rich, +indeed, for neither inside nor outside of it was there enough iron to +make a needle, nor could it gather any rust; for it was all made of +worked silver in tiny meshes triple-wove; and it was made with such +skill that I can assure you that no one who had put it on would have +been more uncomfortable or sore because of it, than if he had put on a +silk jacket over his undershirt. The knights and squires all began to +wonder why he was being armed; but no one dared to ask him why. When +they had put on his hauberk, a valet laces about his head a helmet +fluted with a band of gold, shining brighter than a mirror. Then he +takes the sword and girds it on, and orders them to bring him saddled +his bay steed of Gascony. Then he calls a valet to him, and says: +"Valet, go quickly, run to the chamber beside the tower where my wife +is, and tell her that she is keeping me waiting here too long. She has +spent too much time on her attire. Tell her to come and mount at once, +for I am awaiting her." And the fellow goes and finds her all ready, +weeping and making moan: and he straightway addressed her thus: "Lady, +why do you so delay? My lord is awaiting you outside yonder, already +fully armed. He would have mounted some time ago, had you been ready." +Enide wondered greatly what her lord's intention was; but she very +wisely showed herself with as cheerful a countenance as possible, when +she appeared before him. In the middle of the courtyard she found him, +and King Lac comes running out. Knights come running, too, striving with +each other to reach there first. There is neither young nor old but goes +to learn and ask if he will take any of them with him. So each offers +and presents himself. But he states definitely and affirms that he will +take no companion except his wife, asserting that he will go alone. +Then the King is in great distress. "Fair son," says he, "what dost thou +intend to do? Thou shouldst tell me thy business and keep nothing back. +Tell me whither thou will go; for thou art unwilling on any account +to be accompanied by an escort of squires or knights. If thou hast +undertaken to fight some knight in single combat, yet shouldst thou not +for that reason fail to take a part of thy knights with thee to betoken +thy wealth and lordship. A king's son ought not to fare alone. Fair son, +have thy sumpters loaded now, and take thirty or forty or more of thy +knights, and see that silver and gold is taken, and whatever a gentleman +needs." Finally Erec makes reply and tells him all in detail how he has +planned his journey. "Sire," says he, "it must be so. I shall take no +extra horse, nor have I any use for gold or silver, squire or sergeant; +nor do I ask for any company save that of my wife alone. But I pray you, +whatever may happen, should I die and she come back, to love her and +hold her dear for love of me and for my prayer, and give her so long as +she live, without contention or any strife, the half of your land to be +her own." Upon hearing his son's request, the King said: "Fair son, I +promise it. But I grieve much to see thee thus go off without escort, +and if I had my way, thou shouldst not thus depart." "Sire, it cannot +be otherwise. I go now, and to God commend you. But keep in mind my +companions, and give them horses and arms and all that knight may need." +The King cannot keep back the tears when he is parted from his son. The +people round about weep too; the ladies and knights shed tears and make +great moan for him. There is not one who does not mourn, and many a one +in the courtyard swoons. Weeping, they kiss and embrace him, and are +almost beside themselves with grief. I think they would not have been +more sad if they had seen him dead or wounded. Then Erec said to comfort +them: "My lords, why do you weep so sore? I am neither in prison nor +wounded. You gain nothing by this display of grief. If I go away, I +shall come again when it please God and when I can. To God I commend you +one and all; so now let me go; too long you keep me here. I am sorry and +grieved to see you weep." To God he commends them and they him. + +(Vv. 2765-2924.) So they departed, leaving sorrow behind them. Erec +starts, and leads his wife he knows not whither, as chance dictates. +"Ride fast," he says, "and take good care not to be so rash as to speak +to me of anything you may see. Take care never to speak to me, unless I +address you first. Ride on now fast and with confidence." "Sire," says +she, "it shall be done." She rode ahead and held her peace. Neither one +nor the other spoke a word. But Enide's heart is very sad, and within +herself she thus laments, soft and low that he may not hear: "Alas," she +says, "God had raised and exalted me to such great joy; but now He +has suddenly cast me down. Fortune who had beckoned me has quickly now +withdrawn her hand. I should not mind that so much, alas, if only I +dared to address my lord. But I am mortified and distressed because my +lord has turned against me, I see it clearly, since he will not speak +to me. And I am not so bold as to dare to look at him." While she thus +laments, a knight who lived by robbery issued forth from the woods. He +had two companions with him, and all three were armed. They covet the +palfrey which Enide rides. "My lords, do you know the news I bring?" +says he to his two companions. "If we do not now make a haul, we are +good-for-nothing cowards and are playing in bad luck. Here comes a lady +wondrous fair, whether married or not I do not know, but she is very +richly dressed. The palfrey and saddle, with the breast-strap and reins, +are worth a thousand livres of Chartres. I will take the palfrey for +mine, and the rest of the booty you may have. I don't want any more for +my share. The knight shall not lead away the lady, so help me God. For I +intend to give him such a thrust as he will dearly pay. I it was who saw +him first, and so it is my right to go the first and offer battle." +They give him leave and he rides off, crouching well beneath his shield, +while the other two remain aloof. In those days it was the custom and +practice that in an attack two knights should not join against one; +thus if they too had assailed him, it would seem that they had acted +treacherously. Enide saw the robbers, and was seized with great fear. +"God," says she, "what can I say? Now my lord will be either killed +or made a prisoner; for there are three of them and he is alone. The +contest is not fair between one knight and three. That fellow will +strike him now at a disadvantage; for my lord is off his guard. God, +shall I be then such a craven as not to dare to raise my voice? Such a +coward I will not be: I will not fail to speak to him." On the spot +she turns about and calls to him: "Fair sire, of what are you thinking? +There come riding after you three knights who press you hard. I greatly +fear they will do you harm." "What?" says Erec, "what's that you say? +You have surely been very bold to disdain my command and prohibition. +This time you shall be pardoned; but if it should happen another time, +you would not be forgiven." Then turning his shield and lance, he rushes +at the knight. The latter sees him coming and challenges him. When Erec +hears him, he defies him. Both give spur and clash together, holding +their lances at full extent. But he missed Erec, while Erec used him +hard; for he knew well the right attack. He strikes him on the shield +so fiercely that he cracks it from top to bottom. Nor is his hauberk any +protection: Erec pierces and crushes it in the middle of his breast, and +thrusts a foot and a half of his lance into his body. When he drew back, +he pulled out the shaft. And the other fell to earth. He must needs die, +for the blade had drunk of his life's blood. Then one of the other two +rushes forward, leaving his companion behind, and spurs toward Erec, +threatening him. Erec firmly grasps his shield, and attacks him with +a stout heart. The other holds his shield before his breast. Then they +strike upon the emblazoned shields. The knight's lance flies into two +bits, while Erec drives a quarter of lance's length through the other's +breast. He will give him no more trouble. Erec unhorses him and leaves +him in a faint, while he spurs at an angle toward the third robber. When +the latter saw him coming on he began to make his escape. He was afraid, +and did not dare to face him; so he hastened to take refuge in the +woods. But his flight is of small avail, for Erec follows him close +and cries aloud: "Vassal, vassal, turn about now, and prepare to defend +yourself, so that I may not slay you in act of flight. It is useless +to try to escape." But the fellow has no desire to turn about, and +continues to flee with might and main. Following and overtaking him, +Erec hits him squarely on his painted shield, and throws him over on the +other side. To these three robbers he gives no further heed: one he has +killed, another wounded, and of the third he got rid by throwing him +to earth from his steed. He took the horses of all three and tied them +together by the bridles. In colour they were not alike: the first was +white as milk, the second black and not at all bad looking, while the +third was dappled all over. He came back to the road where Enide was +awaiting him. He bade her lead and drive the three horses in front of +her, warning her harshly never again to be so bold as to speak a single +word unless he give her leave. She makes answer: "I will never do so, +fair sire, if it be your will." Then they ride on, and she holds her +peace. + +(Vv. 2925-3085.) They had not yet gone a league when before them in a +valley there came five other knights, with lances in rest, shields held +close in to the neck, and their shining helmets laced up tight; they, +too, were on plunder bent. All at once they saw the lady approach in +charge of the three horses, and Erec who followed after. As soon as they +saw them, they divided their equipment among themselves, just as if they +had already taken possession of it. Covetousness is a bad thing. But it +did not turn out as they expected; for vigorous defence was made. Much +that a fool plans is not executed, and many a man misses what he thinks +to obtain. So it befell them in this attack. One said that he would +take the maid or lose his life in the attempt; and another said that the +dappled steed shall be his, and that he will be satisfied with that. The +third said that he would take the black horse. "And the white one for +me," said the fourth. The fifth was not at all backward, and vowed that +he would have the horse and arms of the knight himself. He wished to win +them by himself, and would fain attack him first, if they would give him +leave: and they willingly gave consent. Then he leaves them and rides +ahead on a good and nimble steed. Erec saw him, but made pretence that +he did not yet notice him. When Enide saw them, her heart jumped with +fear and great dismay. "Alas!" said she, "I know not what to say or do; +for my lord severely threatens me, and says that he will punish me, if +I speak a word to him. But if my lord were dead now, there would be no +comfort for me. I should be killed and roughly treated. God! my lord +does not see them! Why, then, do I hesitate, crazed as I am? I am indeed +too chary of my words, when I have not already spoken to him. I know +well enough that those who are coming yonder are intent upon some wicked +deed. And God! how shall I speak to him? He will kill me. Well, let him +kill me! Yet I will not fail to speak to him." Then she softly calls +him: "Sire!" "What?" says he, "what do you want?" "Your pardon, sire. I +want to tell you that five knights have emerged from yonder thicket, of +whom I am in mortal fear. Having noticed them, I am of the opinion that +they intend to fight with you. Four of them have stayed behind, and the +other comes toward you as fast as his steed can carry him. I am afraid +every moment lest he will strike you. 'Tis true, the four have stayed +behind; but still they are not far away, and will quickly aid him, +if need arise." Erec replies: "You had an evil thought, when you +transgressed my command--a thing which I had forbidden you. And yet I +knew all the time that you did not hold me in esteem. Your service has +been ill employed; for it has not awakened my gratitude, but rather +kindled the more my ire. I have told you that once, and I say it again. +This once again I will pardon you; but another time restrain yourself, +and do not again turn around to watch me: for in doing so you would +be very foolish. I do not relish your words." Then he spurs across the +field toward his adversary, and they come together. Each seeks out and +assails the other. Erec strikes him with such force that his shield +flies from his neck, and thus he breaks his collar-bone. His stirrups +break, and he falls without the strength to rise again, for he was badly +bruised and wounded. One of the others then appeared, and they attack +each other fiercely. Without difficulty Erec thrusts the sharp and well +forged steel into his neck beneath the chin, severing thus the bones +and nerves. At the back of his neck the blade protrudes, and the hot red +blood flows down on both sides from the wound. He yields his spirit, and +his heart is still. The third sallies forth from his hiding-place on +the other side of a ford. Straight through the water, on he comes. Erec +spurs forward and meets him before he came out of the water, striking +him so hard that he beats down flat both rider and horse. The steed lay +upon the body long enough to drown him in the stream, and then struggled +until with difficulty he got upon his feet. Thus he conquered three of +them, when the other two thought it wise to quit the conflict and not to +strive with him. In flight they follow the stream, and Erec after them +in hot pursuit, until he strikes one upon the spine so hard that he +throws him forward upon the saddle-bow. He put all his strength into the +blow, and breaks his lance upon his body, so that the fellow fell head +foremost. Erec makes him pay dearly for the lance which he has broken +on him, and drew his sword from the scabbard. The fellow unwisely +straightened up; for Erec gave him three such strokes that he slaked his +sword's thirst in his blood. He severs the shoulder from his body, so +that it fell down on the ground. Then, with sword drawn, he attacked the +other, as he sought to escape without company or escort. When he sees +Erec pursuing him, he is so afraid that he knows not what to do: he does +not dare to face him, and cannot turn aside; he has to leave his horse, +for he has no more trust in him. He throws away his shield and lance, +and slips from his horse to earth. When he saw him on his feet, Erec +no longer cared to pursue him, but he stooped over for the lance, not +wishing to leave that, because of his own which had been broken. He +carries off his lance and goes away, not leaving the horses behind: he +catches all five of them and leads them off. Enide had hard work to +lead them all; for he hands over all five of them to her with the other +three, and commands her to go along smartly, and to keep from addressing +him in order that no evil or harm may come to her. So not a word does +she reply, but rather keeps silence; and thus they go, leading with them +all the eight horses. + +(Vv. 3086-3208.) They rode till nightfall without coming to any town or +shelter. When night came on, they took refuge beneath a tree in an open +field. Erec bids his lady sleep, and he will watch. She replies that she +will not, for it is not right, and she does not wish to do so. It is +for him to sleep who is more weary. Well pleased at this, Erec accedes. +Beneath his head he placed his shield, and the lady took her cloak, and +stretched it over him from head to foot. Thus, he slept and she kept +watch, never dozing the whole night, but holding tight in her hand by +the bridle the horses until the morning broke; and much she blamed and +reproached herself for the words which she had uttered, and said that +she acted badly, and was not half so ill-treated as she deserved to be. +"Alas," said she, "in what an evil hour have I witnessed my pride and +presumption! I might have known without doubt that there was no knight +better than, or so good as, my lord. I knew it well enough before, but +now I know it better. For I have seen with my own eyes how he has not +quailed before three or even five armed men. A plague for ever upon +my tongue for having uttered such pride and insult as now compel me +to suffer shame!" All night long she thus lamented until the morning +dawned. Erec rises early, and again they take the road, she in front and +he behind. At noon a squire met them in a little valley, accompanied +by two fellows who were carrying cakes and wine and some rich autumn +cheeses to those who were mowing the hay in the meadows belonging to +Count Galoain. The squire was a clever fellow, and when he saw Erec and +Enide, who were coming from the direction of the woods, he perceived +that they must have spent the night in the forest and had had nothing to +eat or drink; for within a radius of a day's journey there was no town, +city or tower, no strong place or abbey, hospice or place of refuge. So +he formed an honest purpose and turned his steps toward them, saluting +them politely and saving: "Sire, I presume that you have had a hard +experience last night. I am sure you have had no sleep and have spent +the night in these woods. I offer you some of this white cake, if it +please you to partake of it. I say it not in hope of reward: for I ask +and demand nothing of you. The cakes are made of good wheat; I have good +wine and rich cheeses, too, a white cloth and fine jugs. If you feel +like taking lunch, you need not seek any farther. Beneath these white +beeches, here on the greensward, you might lay off your arms and rest +yourself a while. My advice is that you dismount." Erec got down from +his horse and said: "Fair gentle friend, I thank you kindly: I will eat +something, without going farther." The young man knew well what to do: +he helped the lady from her horse, and the boys who had come with the +squire held the steeds. Then they go and sit down in the shade. The +squire relieves Erec of his helmet, unlaces the mouth-piece from before +his face; then he spreads out the cloth before them on the thick tuff. +He passes them the cake and wine, and prepares and cuts a cheese. Hungry +as they were, they helped themselves, and gladly drank of the wine. The +squire serves them and omits no attention. When they had eaten and drunk +their fill, Erec was courteous and generous. "Friend," says he, "as a +reward, I wish to present you with one of my horses. Take the one you +like the best. And I pray it may be no hardship for you to return to the +town and make ready there a goodly lodging." And he replies that he +will gladly do whatever is his will. Then he goes up to the horses and, +untying them, chooses the dapple, and speaks his thanks; for this one +seems to be the best. Up he springs by the left stirrup, and leaving +them both there, he rode off to the town at top speed, where he engaged +suitable quarters. Now behold! he is back again: "Now mount, sire, +quickly," says he, "for you have a good fine lodging ready." Erec +mounted, and then his lady, and, as the town was hard by, they soon had +reached their lodging-place. There they were received with joy. The host +with kindness welcomed them, and with joy and gladness made generous +provision for their needs. + +(Vv. 3209-3458.) When the squire had done for them all the honour that +he could do, he came and mounted his horse again, leading it off in +front of the Count's bower to the stable. The Count and three of his +vassals were leaning out of the bower, when the Count, seeing his squire +mounted on the dappled steed, asked him whose it was. And he replied +that it was his. The Count, greatly astonished, says: "How is that? +Where didst thou get him?" "A knight whom I esteem highly gave him to +me, sire," says he. "I have conducted him within this town, and he +is lodged at a burgher's house. He is a very courteous knight and the +handsomest man I ever saw. Even if I had given you my word and oath, +I could not half tell you how handsome he is." The Count replies: "I +suppose and presume that he is not more handsome than I am." "Upon my +word, sire," the sergeant says, "you are very handsome and a gentleman. +There is not a knight in this country, a native of this land, whom you +do not excel in favour. But I dare maintain concerning this one that +he is fairer than you, if he were not beaten black and blue beneath his +hauberk, and bruised. In the forest he has been fighting single-handed +with eight knights, and leads away their eight horses. And there comes +with him a lady so fair that never lady was half so fair as she." [128] +When the Count hears this news, the desire takes him to go and see if +this is true or false. "I never heard such a thing," says he; "take me +now to his lodging-place, for certainly I wish to know if thou dost lie +or speak the truth." He replies: "Right gladly, sire. This is the way +and the path to follow, for it is not far from here." "I am anxious to +see them," says the Count. Then he comes down, and the squire gets off +his horse, and makes the Count mount in his place. Then he ran ahead +to tell Erec that the Count was coming to visit him. Erec's lodging was +rich indeed--the kind to which he was accustomed. There were many tapers +and candles lighted all about. The Count came attended by only three +companions. Erec, who was of gracious manners, rose to meet him, and +exclaimed: "Welcome, sire!" And the Count returned his salutation. They +both sat down side by side upon a soft white couch, where they chat with +each other. The Count makes him an offer and urges him to consent to +accept from him a guarantee for the payment of his expenses in the +town. But Erec does not deign to accept, saying he is well supplied with +money, and has no need to accept aught from him. They speak long of many +things, but the Count constantly glances about in the other direction, +where he caught sight of the lady. Because of her manifest beauty, he +fixed all his thought on her. He looked at her as much as he could; +he coveted her, and she pleased him so that her beauty filled him with +love. Very craftily he asked Erec for permission to speak with her. +"Sire," he says "I ask a favour of you, and may it not displease you. As +an act of courtesy and as a pleasure, I would fain sit by yonder lady's +side. With good intent I came to see you both, and you should see no +harm in that. I wish to present to the lady my service in all respects. +Know well that for love of you I would do whatever may please her." Erec +was not in the least jealous and suspected no evil or treachery. "Sire," +says he, "I have no objection. You may sit down and talk with her. Don't +think that I have any objection. I give you permission willingly." The +lady was seated about two spear-lengths away from him. And the Count +took his seat close beside her on a low stool. Prudent and courteous, +the lady turned toward him. "Alas," quoth he, "how grieved I am to see +you in such humble state! I am sorry and feel great distress. But if you +would believe my word, you could have honour and great advantage, and +much wealth would accrue to you. Such beauty as yours is entitled to +great honour and distinction. I would make you my mistress, if it should +please you and be your will; you would be my mistress dear and lady over +all my land. When I deign to woo you thus, you ought not to disdain my +suit. I know and perceive that your lord does not love and esteem you. +If you will remain with me, you would be mated with a worthy lord." +"Sire," says Enide, "your proposal is vain. It cannot be. Ah! better +that I were yet unborn, or burnt upon a fire of thorns and my ashes +scattered abroad than that I should ever in any wise be false to my +lord, or conceive any felony or treachery toward him. You have made a +great mistake in making such a proposal to me. I shall not agree to it +in any wise." The Count's ire began to rise. "You disdain to love me, +lady?" says he; "upon my word, you are too proud. Neither for flattery +nor for prayer you will do my will? It is surely true that a woman's +pride mounts the more one prays and flatters her; but whoever insults +and dishonours her will often find her more tractable. I give you my +word that if you do not do my will there soon will be some sword-play +here. Rightly or wrongly, I will have your lord slain right here before +your eyes." "Ah, sire," says Enide, "there is a better way than that you +say. You would commit a wicked and treacherous deed if you killed him +thus. Calm yourself again, I pray; for I will do your pleasure. You +may regard me as all your own, for I am yours and wish to be. I did not +speak as I did from pride, but to learn and prove if I could find in you +the true love of a sincere heart. But I would not at any price have you +commit an act of treason. My lord is not on his guard; and if you should +kill him thus, you would do a very ugly deed, and I should have the +blame for it. Every one in the land would say that it had been done with +my consent. Go and rest until the morrow, when my lord shall be about +to rise. Then you can better do him harm without blame and without +reproach." With her heart's thoughts her words do not agree. "Sire," +says she, "believe me now! Have no anxiety; but send here to-morrow your +knights and squires and have me carried away by force. My lord will rush +to my defence, for he is proud and bold enough. Either in earnest or in +jest, have him seized and treated ill, or strike his head off, if you +will. I have led this life now long enough; to tell the truth. I like +not the company of this my lord. Rather would I feel your body lying +beside me in a bed. And since we have reached this point, of my love you +may rest assured." The Count replies: "It is well, my lady! God bless +the hour that you were born; in great estate you shall be held." "Sire," +says she, "indeed, I believe it. And yet I would fain have your word +that you will always hold me dear; I could not believe you otherwise." +Glad and merry, the Count replies: "See here, my faith I will pledge to +you loyally as a Count, Madame, that I shall do all your behests. Have +no further fear of that. All you want you shall always have." Then she +took his plighted word; but little she valued or cared for it, except +therewith to save her lord. Well she knows how to deceive a fool, when +she puts her mind upon it. Better it were to lie to him than that her +lord should be cut off. The Count now rose from her side, and commends +her to God a hundred times. But of little use to him will be the faith +which she has pledged to him. Erec knew nothing at all of this that they +were plotting to work his death; but God will be able to lend him aid, +and I think He will do so. Now Erec is in great peril, and does not know +that he must be on his guard. The Count's intentions are very base in +planning to steal away his wife and kill him when he is without defence. +In treacherous guise he takes his leave: "To God I commend you," says +he, and Erec replies: "And so do I you, sire." Thus they separated. +Already a good part of the night was passed. Out of the way, in one of +the rooms, two beds were made upon the floor. In one of them Erec lays +him down, in the other Enide went to rest. Full of grief and anxiety, +she never closed her eyes that night, but remained on watch for her +lord's sake; for from what she had seen of the Count, she knew him to be +full of wickedness. She knows full well that if he once gets possession +of her lord, he will not fail to do him harm. He may be sure of being +killed: so for his sake she is in distress. All night she must needs +keep her vigil; but before the dawn, if she can bring it about, and if +her lord will take her word, they will be ready to depart. + +(Vv. 3459-3662.) Erec slept all night long securely until daylight. Then +Enide realised and suspected that she might hesitate too long. Her heart +was tender toward her lord, like a good and loyal lady. Her heart was +neither deceitful nor false. So she rises and makes ready, and drew near +to her lord to wake him up. "Ah, sire," says she, "I crave your +pardon. Rise quickly now, for you are betrayed beyond all doubt, though +guiltless and free from any crime. The Count is a proven traitor, and +if he can but catch you here, you will never get away without his having +cut you in pieces. He hates you because he desires me. But if it please +God, who knows all things, you shall be neither slain nor caught. Last +evening he would have killed you had I not assured him that I would be +his mistress and his wife. You will see him return here soon: he wants +to seize me and keep me here and kill you if he can find you." Now Erec +learns how loyal his wife is to him. "Lady," says he, "have our horses +quickly saddled; then run and call our host, and tell him quickly to +come here. Treason has been long abroad." Now the horses are saddled, +and the lady summoned the host. Erec has armed and dressed himself, and +into his presence came the host. "Sire," said he, "what haste is this, +that you are risen at such an hour, before the day and the sun appear?" +Erec replies that he has a long road and a full day before him, and +therefore he has made ready to set out, having it much upon his mind; +and he added: "Sire, you have nor yet handed me any statement of my +expenses. You have received me with honour and kindness, and therein +great merit redounds to you. Cancel my indebtedness with these seven +horses that I brought here with me. Do not disdain them, but keep them +for your own. I cannot increase my gift to you by so much as the value +of a halter." The burgher was delighted with this gift and bowed low, +expressing his thanks and gratitude. Then Erec mounts and takes his +leave, and they set out upon their way. As they ride, he frequently +warns Enide that if she sees anything she should not be so bold as to +speak to him about it. Meanwhile, there entered the house a hundred +knights well armed, and very much dismayed they were to find Erec no +longer there. Then the Count learned that the lady had deceived him. He +discovered the footsteps of the horses, and they all followed the trail, +the Count threatening Erec and vowing that, if he can come up with him, +nothing can keep him from having his head on the spot. "A curse on +him who now hangs back, and does not spur on fast!" quoth he; "he who +presents me with the head of the knight whom I hate so bitterly, will +have served me to my taste." Then they plunge on at topmost speed, +filled with hostility toward him who had never laid eyes on them and had +never harmed them by deed or word. They ride ahead until they made him +out; at the edge of a forest they catch sight of him before he was hid +by the forest trees. Not one of them halted then, but all rushed on in +rivalry. Enide hears the clang and noise of their arms and horses, and +sees that the valley is full of them. As soon as she saw them, she could +not restrain her tongue. "Ah, sire," she cries, "alas, how this Count +has attacked you, when he leads against you such a host! Sire, ride +faster now, until we be within this wood. I think we can easily distance +them, for they are still a long way behind. If you go on at this pace, +you can never escape from death, for you are no match for them." Erec +replies: "Little esteem you have for me, and lightly you hold my words. +It seems I cannot correct you by fair request. But as the Lord have +mercy upon me until I escape from here, I swear that you shall pay +dearly for this speech of yours; that is, unless my mind should change." +Then he straightway turns about, and sees the seneschal drawing near +upon a horse both strong and fleet. Before them all he takes his stand +at the distance of four cross-bow shots. He had not disposed of his +arms, but was thoroughly well equipped. Erec reckons up his opponents' +strength, and sees there are fully a hundred of them. Then he who thus +is pressing him thinks he had better call a hair. Then they ride to meet +each other, and strike upon each other's shield great blows with their +sharp and trenchant swords. Erec caused his stout steel sword to pierce +his body through and through, so that his shield and hauberk protected +him no more than a shred of dark-blue silk. And next the Count comes +spurring on, who, as the story tells, was a strong and doughty knight. +But the Count in this was ill advised when he came with only shield and +lance. He placed such trust in his own prowess that he thought that he +needed no other arms. He showed his exceeding boldness by rushing on +ahead of all his men more than the space of nine acres. When Erec saw +him stand alone, he turned toward him; the Count is not afraid of him, +and they come together with clash of arms. First the Count strikes him +with such violence upon the breast that he would have lost his stirrups +if he had not been well set. He makes the wood of his shield to split +so that the iron of his lance protrudes on the other side. But Erec's +hauberk was very solid and protected him from death without the tear +of a single mesh. The Count was strong and breaks his lance; then Erec +strikes him with such force on his yellow painted shield that he +ran more than a yard of his lance through his abdomen, knocking him +senseless from his steed. Then he turned and rode away without further +tarrying on the spot. Straight into the forest he spurs at full speed. +Now Erec is in the woods, and the others paused a while over those who +lay in the middle of the field. Loudly they swear and vow that they will +rather follow after him for two or three days than fail to capture and +slaughter him. The Count, though grievously wounded in the abdomen, +hears what they say. He draws himself up a little and opens his eyes a +tiny bit. Now he realises what an evil deed he had begun to execute. He +makes the knights step back, and says: "My lords, I bid you all, both +strong and weak, high and low, that none of you be so bold as to dare +to advance a single step. All of you return now quickly! I have done +a villainous deed, and I repent me of my foul design. The lady who +outwitted me is very honourable, prudent, and courteous. Her beauty +fired me with love for her; because I desired her, I wished to kill her +lord and keep her back with me by force. I well deserved this woe, and +now it has come upon me. How abominably disloyal and treacherous I was +in my madness! Never was there a better knight born of mother than he. +Never shall he receive harm through me if I can in any way prevent it. +I command you all to retrace your steps." Back they go disconsolate, +carrying the lifeless seneschal on the shield reversed. The Count, +whose wound was not mortal, lived on for some time after. Thus was Erec +delivered. + +(Vv. 3663-3930.) Erec goes off at full speed down a road between two +hedgerows--he and his wife with him. Both putting spurs to their +horses, they rode until they came to a meadow which had been mown. After +emerging from the hedged enclosure they came upon a drawbridge before a +high tower, which was all closed about with a wall and a broad and deep +moat. They quickly pass over the bridge, but had not gone far before the +lord of the place espied them from up in his tower. About this man I +can tell you the truth: that he was very small of stature, but very +courageous of heart. When he sees Erec cross the bridge, he comes down +quickly from his tower, and on a great sorrel steed of his he causes +a saddle to be placed, which showed portrayed a golden lion. Then he +orders to be brought his shield, his stiff, straight lance, a sharp +polished sword, his bright shining helmet, his gleaming hauberk, and +triple-woven greaves; for he has seen an armed knight pass before his +list against whom he wishes to strive in arms, or else this stranger +will strive against him until he shall confess defeat. His command +was quickly done: behold the horse now led forth; a squire brought him +around already bridled and with saddle on. Another fellow brings the +arms. The knight passed out through the gate, as quickly as possible, +all alone, without companion. Erec is riding along a hill-side, when +behold the knight comes tearing down over the top of the hill, mounted +upon a powerful steed which tore along at such a pace that he crushed +the stones beneath his hoofs finer than a millstone grinds the corn; and +bright gleaming sparks flew off in all directions, so that it seemed as +if his four feet were all ablaze with fire. Enide heard the noise and +commotion, and almost fell from her palfrey, helpless and in a faint. +There was no vein in her body in which the blood did not turn, and her +face became all pale and white as if she were a corpse. Great is her +despair and dismay, for she does not dare to address her lord, who often +threatens and chides at her and charges her to hold her peace. She is +distracted between two courses to pursue, whether to speak or to hold +her peace. She takes counsel with herself, and often she prepares to +speak, so that her tongue already moves, but the voice cannot issue +forth; for her teeth are clenched with fear, and thus shut up her speech +within. Thus she admonishes and reproaches herself, but she closes her +mouth and grits her teeth so that her speech cannot issue forth. At +strife with herself, she said: "I am sure and certain that I shall incur +a grievous loss, if here I lose my lord. Shall I tell him all, then, +openly? Not I. Why not? I would not dare, for thus I should enrage my +lord. And if my lord's ire is once aroused, he will leave me in this +wild place alone, wretched and forlorn. Then I shall be worse off than +now. Worse off? What care I? May grief and sorrow always be mine as long +as I live, if my lord does not promptly escape from here without being +delivered to a violent death. But if I do not quickly inform him, this +knight who is spurring hither will have killed him before he is aware; +for he seems of very evil intent. I think I have waited too long from +fear of his vigorous prohibition. But I will no longer hesitate because +of his restraint. I see plainly that my lord is so deep in thought that +he forgets himself; so it is fight that I should address him." She +spoke to him. He threatens her, but has no desire to do her harm, for he +realises and knows full well that she loves him above all else, and +he loves her, too, to the utmost. He rides toward the knight, who +challenges him to battle, and they meet at the foot of the hill, where +they attack and defy each other. Both smite each other with their +iron-tipped lances with all their strength. The shields that hang about +their necks are not worth two coats of bark: the leather tears, and they +split the wood, and they shatter the meshes of the hauberks. Both are +pierced to the vitals by the lances, and the horses fall to earth. Now, +both the warriors were doughty. Grievously, but not mortally, wounded, +they quickly got upon their feet and grasped afresh their lances, which +were not broken nor the worse for wear. But they cast them away on the +ground, and drawing their swords from the scabbard, they attack each +other with great fury. Each wounds and injures the other, for there +is no mercy on either side. They deal such blows upon the helmets +that gleaming sparks fly out when their swords recoil. They split and +splinter the shields; they batter and crush the hauberks. In four places +the swords are brought down to the bare flesh, so that they are greatly +weakened and exhausted. And if both their swords had lasted long without +breaking, they would never have retreated, nor would the battle have +come to an end before one of them perforce had died. Enide, who was +watching them, was almost beside herself with grief. Whoever could +have seen her then, as she showed her great woe by wringing her hands, +tearing her hair and shedding tears, could have seen a loyal lady. And +any man would have been a vulgar wretch who saw and did not pity her. +And the knights still fight, knocking the jewels from the helmets and +dealing at each other fearful blows. From the third to the ninth hour +the battle continued so fierce that no one could in any wise make out +which was to have the better of it. Erec exerts himself and strives; he +brought his sword down upon his enemy's helmet, cleaving it to the inner +lining of mail and making him stagger; but he stood firmly and did not +fall. Then he attacked Erec in turn, and dealt him such a blow upon the +covering of his shield that his strong and precious sword broke when he +tried to pull it out. When he saw that his sword was broken, in a spite +he threw as far away as he could the part that remained in his hand. Now +he was afraid and must needs draw back; for any knight that lacks his +sword cannot do much execution in battle or assault. Erec pursues +him until he begs him, for God's sake, not to kill him. "Mercy, noble +knight," he cries, "be not so cruel and harsh toward me. Now that I am +left without my sword, you have the strength and the power to take my +life or make me your prisoner, for I have no means of defence." Erec +replies: "When thou thus dost petition me I fain would hear thee admit +outright whether thou art defeated and overcome. Thou shalt not again be +touched by me if thou dost surrender at my discretion." The knight was +slow to make reply. So, when Erec saw him hesitate, in order to further +dismay him, he again attacked him, rushing at him with drawn sword; +whereupon, thoroughly terrified, he cried: "Mercy, sire! Regard me as +your captive, since it cannot be otherwise." Erec answers: "More than +that is necessary. You shall not get off so easily as that. Tell me your +station and your name, and I in turn will tell you mine." "Sire," says +he, "you are right. I am king of this country. My liegemen are Irishmen, +and there is none who does not have to pay me rent. [129] My name +is Guivret the Little. I am very rich and powerful; for there is no +landholder whose lands touch mine in any direction who ever transgresses +my command and who does not do my pleasure. I have no neighbour who does +not fear me, however proud and bold he may be. But I greatly desire to +be your confidant and friend from this time on." Erec replies: "I, too, +can boast that I am a noble man. My name is Erec, son of King Lac. My +father is king of Farther Wales, and has many a rich city, fine hall, +and strong town; no king or emperor has more than he, save only King +Arthur. Him, of course, I except; for with him none can compare." +Guivret is greatly astonished at this, and says: "Sire, a great marvel +is this I hear. I was never so glad of anything as of your acquaintance. +You may put full trust in me! And should it please you to abide in my +country within my estates, I shall have you treated with great honour. +So long as you care to remain here, you shall be recognised as my lord. +We both have need of a physician, and I have a castle of mine near here, +not eight leagues away, nor even seven. I wish to take you thither with +me, and there we shall have our wounds tended." Erec replies: "I thank +you for what I have heard you say. However, I will not go, thank you. +But only so much I request of you, that if I should be in need, and +you should hear that I had need of aid, you would not then forget me." +"Sire" says he, "I promise you that never, so long as I am alive, shall +you have need of my help but that I shall go at once to aid you with all +the assistance I can command." "I have nothing more to ask of you," says +Erec; "you have promised me much. You are now my lord and friend, if +your deed is as good as your word." Then each kisses and embraces the +other. Never was there such an affectionate parting after such a fierce +battle; for from very affection and generosity each one cut off long, +wide strips from the bottom of his shirt and bound up the other's +wounds. When they had thus bandaged each other, they commended each +other to God. + +(Vv. 3931-4280.) So thus they parted. Guivret takes his way back alone, +while Erec resumed his road, in dire need of plaster wherewith to heal +his wounds. He did not cease to travel until he came to a plain beside a +lofty forest all full of stags, hinds, deer, does, and other beasts, +and all sorts of game. Now King Arthur and the Queen and the best of his +barons had come there that very day. The King wished to spend three or +four days in the forest for pleasure and sport, and had commanded tents, +pavilions, and canopies to be brought. My lord Gawain had stepped into +the King's tent, all tired out by a long ride. In front of the tent a +white beech stood, and there he had left a shield of his, together with +his ashen lance. He left his steed, all saddled and bridled, fastened to +a branch by the rein. There the horse stood until Kay the seneschal came +by. [130] He came up quickly and, as if to beguile the time, took the +steed and mounted, without the interference of any one. He took the +lance and the shield, too, which were close by under the tree. Galloping +along on the steed, Kay rode along a valley until it came about by +chance that Erec met him. Now Erec recognised the seneschal, and he knew +the arms and the horse, but Kay did not recognise him, for he could not +be distinguished by his arms. So many blows of sword and lance had he +received upon his shield that all the painted design had disappeared +from it. And the lady, who did not wish to be seen or recognised by him, +shrewdly held her veil before her face, as if she were doing it because +of the sun's glare and the dust. Kay approached rapidly and straightway +seized Erec's rein, without so much as saluting him. Before he let him +move, he presumptuously asked him: "Knight," says he, "I wish to know +who you are and whence you come." "You must be mad to stop me thus," +says Erec; "you shall not know that just now." And the other replies: +"Be not angry; I only ask it for your good. I can see and make out +clearly that you are wounded and hurt. If you will come along with me +you shall have a good lodging this night; I shall see that you are well +cared for, honoured and made comfortable: for you are in need of +rest. King Arthur and the Queen are close by here in a wood, lodged in +pavilions and tents. In all good faith, I advise you to come with me to +see the Queen and King, who will take much pleasure in you and will +show you great honour." Erec replies: "You say well; yet will I not +go thither for anything. You know not what my business is: I must yet +farther pursue my way. Now let me go; too long I stay. There is still +some daylight left." Kay makes answer: "You speak madness when you +decline to come. I trow you will repent of it. And however much it +may be against your will, you shall both go, as the priest goes to the +council, willy-nilly. To-night you will be badly served, if, unmindful +of my advice, you go there as strangers. Come now quickly, for I will +take you." At this word Erec's ire was roused. "Vassal," says he, "you +are mad to drag me thus after you by force. You have taken me quite off +my guard. I tell you you have committed an offence. For I thought to be +quite safe, and was not on my guard against you." Then he lays his hand +upon his sword and cries: "Hands off my bridle, vassal! Step aside. I +consider you proud and impudent. I shall strike you, be sure of that, if +you drag me longer after you. Leave me alone now." Then he lets him go, +and draws off across the field more than an acre's width; then turns +about and, as a man with evil intent, issues his challenge. Each +rushed at the other. But, because Kay was without armour, Erec acted +courteously and turned the point of his lance about and presented the +butt-end instead. Even so, he gave him such a blow high up on the broad +expanse of his shield that he caused it to wound him on the temple, +pinning his arm to his breast: all prone he throws him to the earth. +Then he went to catch the horse and hands him over by the bridle to +Enide. He was about to lead it away, when the wounded man with his +wonted flattery begs him to restore it courteously to him. With fair +words he flatters and wheedles him. "Vassal," says he, "so help me God, +that horse is not mine. Rather does it belong to that knight in whom +dwells the greatest prowess in the world, my lord Gawain the Bold. I +tell you so much on his behalf, in order that you may send it back to +him and thus win honour. So shall you be courteous and wise, and I shall +be your messenger." Erec makes answer: "Take the horse, vassal, and lead +it away. Since it belongs to my lord Gawain it is not meet that I should +appropriate it." Kay takes the horse, remounts, and coming to the royal +tent, tells the King the whole truth, keeping nothing back. And the King +summoned Gawain, saying: "Fair nephew Gawain, if ever you were true and +courteous, go quickly after him and ask him in winsome wise who he is +and what his business. And if you can influence him and bring him along +with you to us, take care not to fail to do so." Then Gawain mounts his +steed, two squires following after him. They soon made Erec out, but did +not recognise him. Gawain salutes him, and he Gawain: their greetings +were mutual. Then said my lord Gawain with his wonted openness: "Sire," +says he, "King Arthur sends me along this way to encounter you. The +Queen and King send you their greeting, and beg you urgently to come and +spend some time with them (it may benefit you and cannot harm), as they +are close by." Erec replies: "I am greatly obliged to the King and Queen +and to you who are, it seems, both kind of heart and of gentle mien. I +am not in a vigorous state; rather do I bear wounds within my body: yet +will I not turn aside from my way to seek a lodging-place. So you need +not longer wait: I thank you, but you may be gone." Now Gawain was a man +of sense. He draws back and whispers in the ear of one of the squires, +bidding him go quickly and tell the King to take measures at once to +take down and lower his tents and come and set them up in the middle of +the road three or four leagues in advance of where they now are. +There the King must lodge to-night, if he wishes to meet and extend +hospitality to the best knight in truth whom he can ever hope to see; +but who will not go out of his way for a lodging at the bidding of any +one. The fellow went and gave his message. The King without delay causes +his tents to be taken down. Now they are lowered, the sumpters loaded, +and off they set. The King mounted Aubagu, and the Queen afterwards +mounted a white Norse palfrey. All this while, my lord Gawain did not +cease to detain Erec, until the latter said to him: "Yesterday I covered +more ground than I shall do to-day. Sire, you annoy me; let me go. +You have already disturbed a good part of my day." And my lord Gawain +answers him: "I should like to accompany you a little way, if you do not +object; for it is yet a long while until night. They spent so much time +in talking that all the tents were set up before them, and Erec sees +them, and perceives that his lodging is arranged for him. "Ah! Gawain," +he says, "your shrewdness has outwitted me. By your great cunning you +have kept me here. Since it has turned out thus, I shall tell you my +name at once. Further concealment would be useless. I am Erec, who was +formerly your companion and friend." Gawain hears him and straightway +embraces him. He raised up his helmet and unlaced his mouthpiece. +Joyfully he clasps him in his embrace, while Erec embraces him in +turn. Then Gawain leaves him, saying, "Sire, this news will give great +pleasure to my lord; he and my lady will both be glad, and I must go +before to tell them of it. But first I must embrace and welcome and +speak comfortably to my lady Enide, your wife. My lady the Queen has a +great desire to see her. I heard her speak of her only yesterday." Then +he steps up to Enide and asks her how she is, if she is well and in good +case. She makes answer courteously: "Sire, I should have no cause for +grief, were I not in great distress for my lord; but as it is, I am in +dismay, for he has hardly a limb without a wound." Gawain replies: "This +grieves me much. It is perfectly evident from his face, which is all +pale and colourless. I could have wept myself when I saw him so pale +and wan, but my joy effaced my grief, for at sight of him I felt so glad +that I forgot all other pain. Now start and ride along slowly. I shall +ride ahead at top-speed to tell the Queen and the King that you are +following after me. I am sure that they will both be delighted when they +hear it." Then he goes, and comes to the King's tent. "Sire," he cries, +"now you and my lady must be glad, for here come Erec and his wife." The +King leaps to his feet with joy. "Upon my word!" he says, "right glad +I am. I could hear no news which could give me so much happiness." The +Queen and all the rest rejoice, and come out from the tents as fast as +they may. Even the King comes forth from his pavilion, and they met Erec +near at band. When Erec sees the King coming, he quickly dismounts, +and Enide too. The King embraces and meets them, and the Queen likewise +tenderly kisses and embraces them: there is no one that does not show +his joy. Right there, upon the spot, they took off Erec's armour; and +when they saw his wounds, their joy turned to sadness. The King draws a +deep sigh at the sight of them, and has a plaster brought which Morgan, +his sister, had made. This piaster, which Morgan had given to Arthur, +was of such sovereign virtue that no wound, whether on nerve or joint, +provided it were treated with the piaster once a day, could fail to be +completely cured and healed within a week. They brought to the King the +piaster which gave Erec great relief. When they had bathed, dried, and +bound up his wounds, the King leads him and Enide into his own royal +tent, saying that he intends, out of love for Erec, to tarry in the +forest a full fortnight, until he be completely restored to health. +For this Erec thanks the King, saying: "Fair sire, my wounds are not so +painful that I should desire to abandon my journey. No one could detain +me; to-morrow, without delay, I shall wish to get off in the morning, as +soon as I see the dawn." At this the King shook his head and said: "This +is a great mistake for you not to remain with us. I know that you are +far from well. Stay here, and you will do the right thing. It will be +a great pity and cause for grief if you die in this forest. Fair gentle +friend, stay here now until you are quite yourself again." Erec replies: +"Enough of this. I have undertaken this journey, and shall not tarry in +any wise." The King hears that he would by no means stay for prayer of +his; so he says no more about it, and commands the supper to be prepared +at once and the tables to be spread. The servants go to make their +preparations. It was a Saturday night; so they ate fish and fruit, pike +and perch, salmon and trout, and then pears both raw and cooked. [131] +Soon after supper they ordered the beds to be made ready. The King, who +held Erec dear, had him laid in a bed alone; for he did not wish that +any one should lie with him who might touch his wounds. That night he +was well lodged. In another bed close by lay Enide with the Queen under +a cover of ermine, and they all slept in great repose until the day +broke next morning. + +(Vv. 4281-4307.) Next day, as soon as it is dawn. Erec arises, dresses, +commands his horses to be saddled, and orders his arms to be brought to +him. The valets run and bring them to him. Again the King and all the +knights urge him to remain; but entreaty is of no avail, for he will not +stay for anything. Then you might have seen them all weep and show such +grief as if they already saw him dead. He puts on his arms, and Enide +arises. All the knights are sore distressed, for they think they will +never see them more. They follow them out from the tents, and send for +their own horses, that they may escort and accompany them. Erec said to +them: "Be not angry! but you shall not accompany me a single step. I'll +thank you if you'll stay behind!" His horse was brought to him, and he +mounts without delay. Taking his shield and lance, he commends them all +to God, and they in turn wish Erec well. Then Enide mounts, and they +ride away. + +(Vv. 4308-4380.) Entering a forest, they rode on without halting till +hour of prime. While they thus traversed the wood, they heard in the +distance the cry of a damsel in great distress. When Erec heard the cry, +he felt sure from the sound that it was the voice of one in trouble and +in need of help. Straightway calling Enide, he says: "Lady, there is +some maiden who goes through the wood calling aloud. I take it that she +is in need of aid and succour. I am going to hasten in that direction +and see what her trouble is. Do you dismount and await me here, while +I go yonder." "Gladly, sire," she says. Leaving her alone, he makes his +way until he found the damsel, who was going through the wood, lamenting +her lover whom two giants had taken and were leading away with very +cruel treatment. The maiden was rending her garments, and tearing her +hair and her tender crimson face. Erec sees her and, wondering greatly, +begs her to tell him why she cries and weeps so sore. The maiden cries +and sighs again, then sobbing, says: "Fair sire, it is no wonder if I +grieve, for I wish I were dead. I neither love nor prize my life, for my +lover has been led away prisoner by two wicked and cruel giants who are +his mortal enemies. God! what shall I do? Woe is me! deprived of the +best knight alive, the most noble and the most courteous. And now he +is in great peril of death. This very day, and without cause, they will +bring him to some vile death. Noble knight, for God's sake, I beg you to +succour my lover, if now you can lend him any aid. You will not have to +run far, for they must still be close by." "Damsel," says Erec, "I will +follow them, since you request it, and rest assured that I shall do all +within my power: either I shall be taken prisoner along with him, or +I shall restore him to you safe and sound. If the giants let him live +until I can find him, I intend to measure my strength with theirs." +"Noble knight," the maiden said, "I shall always be your servant if you +restore to me my lover. Now go in God's name, and make haste, I beseech +you." "Which way lies their path?" "This way, my lord. Here is the path +with the footprints." Then Erec started at a gallop, and told her to +await him there. The maid commends him to the Lord, and prays God very +fervently that He should give him force by His command to discomfit +those who intend evil toward her lover. + +(Vv. 4381-4579.) Erec went off along the trail, spurring his horse in +pursuit of the giants. He followed in pursuit of them until he caught +sight of them before they emerged from the wood; he saw the knight with +bare limbs mounted naked on a nag, his hands and feet bound as if he +were arrested for highway robbery. The giants had no lances, shields or +whetted swords; but they both had clubs and scourges, with which they +were beating him so cruelly that already they had cut the skin on his +back to the bone. Down his sides and flanks the blood ran, so that the +nag was all covered with blood down to the belly. [132] Erec came along +alone after them. He was very sad and distressed about the knight whom +he saw them treat so spitefully. Between two woods in an open field he +came up with them, and asks: "My lords," says he, "for what crime do you +treat this man so ill and lead him along like a common thief? You are +treating him too cruelly. You are driving him just as if he had been +caught stealing. It is a monstrous insult to strip a knight naked, and +then bind him and beat him so shamefully. Hand him over to me, I beg of +you with all good-will and courtesy. I have no wish to demand him of you +forcibly." "Vassal," they say, "what business is this of yours? You must +be mad to make any demand of us. If you do not like it, try and improve +matters." Erec replies: "Indeed, I like it not, and you shall not lead +him away so easily. Since you have left the matter in my hands, I say +whoever can get possession of him let him keep him. Take your positions. +I challenge you. You shall not take him any farther before some blows +have been dealt." "Vassal," they reply, "you are mad, indeed, to wish +to measure your strength with us. If you were four instead of one, +you would have no more strength against us than one lamb against two +wolves." "I do not know how it will turn out," Erec replies; "if the sky +fails and the earth melts, then many a lark will be caught. Many a man +boasts loudly who is of little worth. On guard now, for I am going +to attack you." The giants were strong and fierce, and held in their +clenched hands their big clubs tipped with iron. Erec went at them lance +in rest. He fears neither of them, in spite of their menace and their +pride, and strikes the foremost of them through the eye so deep into the +brain that the blood and brains spurt out at the back of his neck; that +one lies dead and his heart stops beating. When the other saw him dead, +he had reason to be sorely grieved. Furious, he went to avenge him: with +both hands he raised his club on high and thought to strike him squarely +upon his unprotected head: but Erec watched the blow, and received it on +his shield. Even so, the giant landed such a blow that it quite stunned +him, and almost made him fall to earth from his steed. Erec covers +himself with his shield and the giant, recovering himself, thinks to +strike again quickly upon his head. But Erec had drawn his sword, and +attacked him with such fierceness that the giant was severely handled: +he strikes him so hard upon the neck that he splits him down to the +saddle-bow. He scatters his bowels upon the earth, and the body falls +full length, split in two halves. The knight weeps with joy and, +worshipping, praises God who has sent him this aid. Then Erec unbound +him, made him dress and arm himself, and mount one of the horses; the +other he made him lead with his right hand, and asks him who he is. And +he replied: "Noble knight, thou art my liege lord. I wish to regard +thee as my lord, as by right I ought to do, for thou hast saved my life, +which but now would have been cut off from my body with great torment +and cruelty. What chance, fair gentle sire, in God's name, guided thee +hither to me, to free me by thy courage from the hands of my enemies? +Sire, I wish to do thee homage. Henceforth, I shall always accompany +thee and serve thee as my lord." Erec sees that he is disposed to serve +him gladly, if he may, and says: "Friend, for your service I have no +desire; but you must know that I came hither to succour you at the +instance of your lady, whom I found sorrowing in this wood. Because of +you, she grieves and moans; for full of sorrow is her heart. I wish to +present you to her now. As soon as I have reunited you with her, I shall +continue my way alone; for you have no call to go with me. I have no +need cf your company; but I fain would know your name." "Sire," says he, +"as you wish. Since you desire to know my name, it must not be kept from +you. My name is Cadoc of Tabriol: know that thus I am called. But since +I must part from you. I should like to know, if it may be, who you are +and of what land, where I may sometime find and search for you, when +I shall go a way from here." Erec replies: "Friend, that I will never +confide to you. Never speak of it again; but if you wish to find it out +and do me honour in any wise go quickly now without delay to my lord, +King Arthur, who with might and main is hunting the stag in yonder wood, +as I take it, not five short leagues from here. Go thither quickly and +take him word that you are sent to him as a gift by him whom yesterday +within his tent he joyfully received and lodged. And be careful not to +conceal from him from what peril I set free both your life and body. I +am dearly cherished at the court, and if you present yourself in my name +you will do me a service and honour. There you shall ask who I am; but +you cannot know it otherwise." "Sire," says Cadoc, "I will follow your +bidding in all respects. You need never have any fear that I do not go +with a glad heart. I shall tell the King the full truth regarding +the battle which you have fought on my behalf." Thus speaking, they +continued their way until they came to the maiden where Erec had left +her. The damsel's joy knew no bounds when she saw coming her lover whom +she never thought to see again. Taking him by the hand, Erec presents +him to her with the words: "Grieve no longer, demoiselle! Behold your +lover glad and joyous." And she with prudence makes reply: "Sire, by +right you have won us both. Yours we should be, to serve and honour. But +who could ever repay half the debt we owe you?" Erec makes answer: "My +gentle lady, no recompense do I ask of you. To God I now commend you +both, for too long, methinks, I have tarried here." Then he turns his +horse about, and rides away as fast as he can. Cadoc of Tabriol with his +damsel rides off in another direction; and soon he told the news to King +Arthur and the Queen. + +(Vv. 4580-4778.) Erec continues to ride at great speed to the place +where Enide was awaiting him in great concern, thinking that surely he +had completely deserted her. And he, too, was in great fear lest some +one, finding her alone, might have carried her off. So he made all haste +to return. But the heat of the day was such, and his arms caused him +such distress, that his wounds broke open and burst the bandages. His +wounds never stopped bleeding before he came directly to the spot where +Enide was waiting for him. She espied him and rejoiced: but she did not +realise or know the pain from which he was suffering; for all his body +was bathed in blood, and his heart hardly had strength to beat. As he +was descending a hill he fell suddenly over upon his horse's neck. As he +tried to straighten up, he lost his saddle and stirrups, falling, as if +lifeless, in a faint. Then began such heavy grief, when Enide saw him +fall to earth. Full of fear at the sight of him, she runs toward him +like one who makes no concealment of her grief. Aloud she cries, and +wrings her hands: not a shred of her robe remains untorn across her +breast. She begins to tear her hair and lacerate her tender face. [133] +"Ah God!" she cries, "fair gentle Lord, why dost Thou let me thus live +on? Come Death, and kill me hastily!" With these words she faints upon +his body. When she recovered, she said to herself reproachfully: "Woe is +me, wretched Enide; I am the murderer of my lord, in having killed +him by my speech. My lord would still be now alive, if I in my mad +presumption had not spoken the word which engaged him in this adventure. +Silence never harmed any one, but speech often worketh woe. The truth of +this I have tried and proved in more ways than one." Beside her lord she +took her seat, holding his head upon her lap. Then she begins her dole +anew. "Alas," she says, "my lord, unhappy thou, thou who never hadst a +peer; for in thee was beauty seen and prowess was made manifest; wisdom +had given thee its heart, and largess set a crown upon thee, without +which no one is esteemed. But what did I say? A grievous mistake I made +in uttering the word which has killed my lord--that fatal poisoned word +for which I must justly be reproached; and I recognise and admit that +no one is guilty but myself; I alone must be blamed for this." Then +fainting she falls upon the ground, and when she later sat up again, she +only moans again the more: "God, what shall I do, and why live on? Why +does Death delay and hesitate to come and seize me without respite? +Truly, Death holds me in great contempt! Since Death does not deign to +take my life, I must myself perforce achieve the vengeance for my sinful +deed. Thus shall I die in spite of Death, who will not heed my call for +aid. Yet, I cannot die through mere desire, nor would complaining avail +me aught. The sword, which my lord had gilded on, ought by right to +avenge his death. I will not longer consume myself in distress, in +prayer, and vain desire." She draws the sword forth from its sheath and +begins to consider it. God, who is full of mercy, caused her to delay +a little; and while she passes in review her sorrow and her misfortune, +behold there comes riding apace a Count with numerous suite, who from +afar had heard the lady's loud outcry. God did not wish to desert her; +for now she would have killed herself, had she not been surprised by +those who took away from her the sword and thrust it back into its +sheath. The Count then dismounted from his horse and began to inquire +of her concerning the knight, and whether she was his wife or his +lady-love. "Both one and the other, sire," she says, "my sorrow is such +as I cannot tell. Woe is me that I am not dead." And the Count begins +to comfort her: "Lady," he says, "by the Lord, I pray you, to take some +pity on yourself! It is meet that you should mourn, but it is no use to +be disconsolate; for you may yet rise to high estate. Do not sink into +apathy, but comfort yourself; that will be wise, and God will give you +joy again. Your wondrous beauty holds good fortune in store for you; for +I will take you as my wife, and make you a countess and dame of rank: +this ought to bring you much consolation. And I shall have the body +removed and laid away with great honour. Leave off now this grief of +yours which in your frenzy you display." And she replies: "Sire, begone! +For God's sake, let me be! You can accomplish nothing here. Nothing that +one could say or do could ever make me glad again." At this the Count +drew back and said: "Let us make a bier, whereon to carry away this body +with the lady to the town of Limors. There the body shall be interred. +Then will I espouse the lady, whether or not she give consent: for never +did I see any one so fair, nor desire any as I do her. Happy I am to +have met with her. Now make quickly and without delay a proper bier for +this dead knight. Halt not for the trouble, nor from sloth." Then some +of his men draw out their swords and soon cut two saplings, upon which +they laid branches cross-wise. Upon this litter they laid Erec down; +then hitched two horses to it. Enide rides alongside, not ceasing to +make lament, and often fainting and falling back; but the horsemen hold +her tight, and try to support her with their arms, and raise her up and +comfort her. All the way to Limors they escort the body, until they come +to the palace of the Count. All the people follow up after them--ladies, +knights, and townspeople. In the middle off the hall upon a dais they +stretched the body out full length, with his lance and shield alongside. +The hall is full, the crowd is dense. Each one is anxious to inquire +what is this trouble, what marvel here. Meanwhile the Count takes +counsel with his barons privily. "My lords," he says, "upon the spot I +wish to espouse this lady here. We can plainly judge by her beauty +and prudent mien that she is of very gentle rank. Her beauty and noble +bearing show that the honour of a kingdom or empire might well be +bestowed upon her. I shall never suffer disgrace through her; rather I +think to win more honour. Have my chaplain summoned now, and do you go +and fetch the lady. The half of all my land I will give her as her dower +if she will comply with my desire." Then they bade the chaplain come, +in accordance with the Count's command, and the dame they brought there, +too, and made her marry him perforce; for she flatly refused to give +consent. But in spite of all, the Count married her in accordance with +his wish. And when he had married her, the constable at once had the +tables set in the palace, and had the food prepared; for already it was +time for the evening meal. + +(Vv. 4779-4852.) After vespers, that day in May, Enide was in sore +distress, nor did her grief cease to trouble her. And the Count urged +her mildly by prayer and threat to make her peace and be consoled, and +he made her sit down upon a chair, though it was against her will. In +spite of her, they made her take a seat and placed the table in front of +her. The Count takes his place on the other side, almost beside himself +with rage to find that he cannot comfort her. "Lady," he says, "you must +now leave off this grief and banish it. You can have full trust in +me, that honour and riches will be yours. You must surely realise that +mourning will not revive the dead; for no one ever saw such a thing come +about. Remember now, though poor you were, that great riches are within +your reach. Once you were poor; rich now you will be. Fortune has +not been stingy toward you, in bestowing upon you the honour of being +henceforth hailed as Countess. It is true that your lord is dead. If +you grieve and lament because of this, do you think that I am surprised? +Nay. But I am giving you the best advice I know how to give. In that I +have married you, you ought to be content. Take care you do not anger +me! Eat now, as I bid you do." And she replies: "Not I, my lord. In +faith, as long as I live I will neither eat nor drink unless I first +see my lord eat who is lying on yonder dais" "Lady, that can never be. +People will think that you are mad when you talk such great nonsense. +You will receive a poor reward if you give occasion to-day for further +reproof." To this she vouchsafed no reply, holding his threats in slight +esteem, and the Count strikes her upon the face. At this she shrieks, +and the barons present blame the Count. "Hold, sire!" they cry to the +Count; "you ought to be ashamed of having struck this lady because she +will not eat. You have done a very ugly deed. If this lady is distressed +because of her lord whom she now sees dead, no one should say that she +is wrong." "Keep silence, all." the Count replies; "the dame is mine and +I am hers, and I will do with her as I please." At this she could not +hold her peace, but swears she will never be his. And the Count springs +up and strikes her again, and she cries out aloud. "Ha! wretch," she +says, "I care not what thou say to me, or what thou do! I fear not thy +blows, nor yet thy threats. Beat me and strike me, as thou wilt. I shall +never heed thy power so much as to do thy bidding more or less, even +were thou with thy hands fight now to snatch out my eyes or flay me +alive." + +(Vv. 4853-4938.) In the midst of these words and disputes Erec recovered +from his swoon, like a man who awakes from sleep. No wonder that he was +amazed at the crowd of people he saw around. But great was his grief +and great his woe when he heard the voice of his wife. He stepped to the +floor from off the dais and quickly drew his sword. Wrath and the love +he bore his wife gave him courage. He runs thither where he sees her, +and strikes the Count squarely upon the head, so that he beats out +his brains and, knocking in his forehead, leaves him senseless and +speechless; his blood and brains flow out. The knights spring from the +tables, persuaded that it is the devil who had made his way among them +there. Of young or old there none remains, for all were thrown in great +dismay. Each one tries to outrun the other in beating a hasty retreat. +Soon they were all clear of the palace, and cry aloud, both weak and +strong: "Flee, flee, here comes the corpse!" At the door the press is +great: each one strives to make his escape, and pushes and shoves as +best he may. He who is last in the surging throng would fain get into +the foremost line. Thus they make good their escape in flight, for one +dares not stand upon another's going. Erec ran to seize his shield, +hanging it about his neck by the strap, while Enide lays hands upon the +lance. Then they step out into the courtyard. There is no one so bold as +to offer resistance; for they did not believe it could be a man who had +thus expelled them, but a devil or some enemy who had entered the +dead body. Erec pursues them as they flee, and finds outside in +the castle-yard a stable-boy in the act of leading his steed to the +watering-place, all equipped with bridle and saddle. This chance +encounter pleased Erec well: as he steps up quickly to the horse, the +boy in fear straightway yields him up. Erec takes his seat between the +saddle-bows, while Enide, seizing the stirrup, springs up on to the +horse's neck, as Erec, who bade her mount, commanded and instructed her +to do. The horse bears them both away; and finding open the town gate, +they make their escape without detention. In the town there was great +anxiety about the Count who had been killed; but there is no one, +however brave, who follows Erec to take revenge. At his table the Count +was slain; while Erec, who bears his wife away, embraces and kisses and +gives her cheer. In his arms he clasps her against his heart, and +says: "Sweet sister mine, my proof of you has been complete! Be no more +concerned in any wise, for I love you now more than ever I did before; +and I am certain and rest assured that you love me with a perfect love. +From this time on for evermore, I offer myself to do your will just as +I used to do before. And if you have spoken ill of me, I pardon you +and call you quit of both the offence and the word you spoke." Then he +kisses her again and clasps her tight. Now Enide is not ill at ease when +her lord clasps and kisses her and tells her again that he loves her +still. Rapidly through the night they ride, and they are very glad that +the moon shines bright. + +(Vv. 4939-5058.) Meanwhile, the news has travelled fast, and there is +nothing else so quick. The news had reached Guivret the Little that a +knight wounded with arms had been found dead in the forest, and that +with him was a lady making moan, and so wondrous fair that Iseut would +have seemed her waiting-maid. Count Oringle of Limors had found them +both, and had caused the corpse to be borne away, and wished himself to +espouse the lady; but she refused him. When Guivret heard this news, +he was by no means pleased; for at once the thought of Erec occurred to +him. It came into his heart and mind to go and seek out the lady, and +to have the body honourably interred, if it should turn out to be he. +He assembled a thousand men-at-arms and knights to take the town. If the +Count would not surrender of his own accord the body and the lady, he +would put all to fire and flame. In the moonlight shining clear he led +his men on toward Limors, with helmets laced, in hauberks clad, and from +their necks the shields were hung. Thus, under arms, they all advanced +until nearly midnight, when Erec espied them. Now he expects to be +ensnared or killed or captured inevitably. He makes Enide dismount +beside a thicket-hedge. No wonder if he is dismayed. "Lady, do you stay +here," he says, "beside this thicket-hedge a while, until these people +shall have passed. I do not wish them to catch sight of you, for I do +not know what manner of people they are, nor of what they go in search. +I trust we may not attract their attention. But I see nowhere any place +where we could take refuge, should they wish to injure us. I know not +if any harm may come to me, but not from fear shall I fail to sally out +against them. And if any one assails me, I shall not fail to joust with +him. Yet, I am so sore and weary that it is no wonder if I grieve. Now +to meet them I must go, and do you stay quiet here. Take care that no +one see you, until they shall have left you far behind." Behold now +Guivret, with lance outstretched, who espied him from afar. They did not +recognise each other, for the moon had gone behind the shadow of a +dark cloud. Erec was weak and exhausted, and his antagonist was quite +recovered from his wounds and blows. Now Erec will be far from wise if +he does not promptly make himself known. He steps out from the hedge. +And Guivret spurs toward him without speaking to him at all, nor does +Erec utter a word to him: he thought he could do more than he could. +Whoever tries to run farther than he is able must perforce give up or +take a rest. They clash against each other; but the fight was unequal, +for one was weak and the other strong. Guivret strikes him with such +force that he carries him down to earth from his horse's back. Enide, +who was in hiding, when she sees her lord on the ground, expects to be +killed and badly used. Springing forth from the hedge, she runs to help +her lord. If she grieved before, now her anguish is greater. Coming up +to Guivret, she seized his horse's rein, and then said: "Cursed be thou, +knight! For thou hast attacked a weak and exhausted man, who is in +pain and mortally wounded, with such injustice that thou canst not find +reason for thy deed. If thou hadst been alone and helpless, thou wouldst +have rued this attack, provided my lord had been in health. Now be +generous and courteous, and kindly let cease this battle which thou +hast begun. For thy reputation would be no better for having killed or +captured a knight who has not the strength to rise, as thou canst see. +For he has suffered so many blows of arms that he is all covered with +wounds" And he replies: "Fear not, lady! I see that loyally you love +your lord, and I commend you for it. Have no fear whatsoever of me or of +my company. But tell me now without concealment what is the name of your +lord; for only advantage will you get from telling me. Whoever he be, +tell me his name; then he shall go safe and unmolested. Neither he nor +you have aught to fear, for you are both in safe hands." + +(Vv. 5059-5172.) Then Enide learns that she is safe, she answers him +briefly in a word: "His name is Erec; I ought not to lie, for I see you +are honest and of good intent." Guivret, in his delight, dismounts +and goes to fall at Erec's feet, where he was lying on the ground. +"My lord," he says, "I was going to seek for you, and was on my way to +Limors, where I expected to find you dead. It was told and recounted to +me as true that Count Oringle had carried off to Limors a knight who was +mortally wounded, and that he wickedly intended to marry a lady whom +he had found in his company; but that she would have nothing to do with +him. And I was coming urgently to aid and deliver her. If he refused +to hand over to me both the lady and you without resistance, I should +esteem myself of little worth if I left him a foot of earth to stand +upon. Be sure that had I not loved you dearly I should never have taken +this upon myself. I am Guivret, your friend; but if I have done you any +hurt through my failure to recognise you, you surely ought to pardon +me." At this Erec sat up, for he could do no more, and said: "Rise up, +my friend. Be absolved of the harm you have done me, since you did not +recognise me." Guivret gets up, and Erec tells him how he has killed the +Count while he sat at meat, and how he had gained possession again of +his steed in front of the stable, and how the sergeants and the squires +had fled across the yard, crying: "Flee, flee, the corpse is chasing +us;" then, how he came near being caught, and how he escaped through the +town and down the hill, carrying his wife on his horse's neck: all this +adventure of his he told him. Then Guivret said, "Sire, I have a castle +here close by, which is well placed in a healthful site. For your +comfort and benefit I wish to take you there to-morrow and have your +wounds cared for. I have two charming and sprightly sisters who are +skilful in the care of wounds: they will soon completely cure you. +[134] To-night we shall let our company lodge here in the fields until +morning; for I think a little rest to-night will do you much good. My +advice is that we spend the night here." Erec replies: "I am in favour +of doing so." So there they stayed and spent the night. They were not +reluctant to prepare a lodging-place, but they found few accommodations, +for the company was quite numerous. They lodge as best they may among +the bushes: Guivret had his tent set up, and ordered tinder to be +kindled, that they might have light and cheer. He has tapers taken out +from the boxes, and they light them within the tent. Now Enide no longer +grieves, for all has turned out well. She strips her lord of his arms +and clothes, and having washed his wounds, she dried them and bound them +up again; for she would let no one else touch him. Now Erec knows no +further reason to reproach her, for he has tried her well and found that +she bears great love to him. And Guivret, who treats them kindly, had +a high, long bed constructed of quilted coverlids, laid upon grass and +reed, which they found in abundance. There they laid Erec and covered +him up. Then Guivret opened a box and took out two patties. "Friend," +says he, "now try a little of these cold patties, and drink some wine +mixed with water. I have as much as six barrels of it, but undiluted it +is not good for you; for you are injured and covered with wounds. Fair +sweet friend, now try to eat; for it will do you good. And my lady will +eat some too--your wife who has been to-day in sore distress on your +account. But you have received full satisfaction for all that, and have +escaped. So eat now, and I will eat too, fair friend." Then Guivret sat +down by Erec's side, and so did Enide who was much pleased by all that +Guivret did. Both of them urge him to eat, giving him wine mixed with +water'; for unmixed it is too strong and heating. Erec ate as a sick man +eats, and drank a little--all he dared. But he rested comfortably and +slept all night; for on his account no noise or disturbance was made. + +(Vv. 5173-5366.) In the early morning they awoke, and prepared again to +mount and ride. Erec was so devoted to his own horse that he would ride +no other. They gave to Enide a mule, for she had lost her palfrey. But +she was not concerned; to judge by her looks, she gave the matter +no thought. She had a good mule with an easy gait that bore her very +comfortably. And it gave her great satisfaction that Erec was not cast +down, but rather assured them that he would recover completely. +Before the third hour they reached Penevric, a strong castle, well and +handsomely situated. There dwelt the two sisters of Guivret; for the +place was agreeable enough. Guivret escorted Erec to a delightful, +airy room in a remote part of the castle. His sisters, at his request, +exerted themselves to cure Erec; and Erec placed himself in their hands, +for they inspired him with perfect confidence. First, they removed the +dead flesh, then applied plaster and lint, devoting to his care all +their skill, like women who knew their business well. Again and again +they washed his wounds and applied the plaster. Four times or more each +day they made him eat and drink, allowing him, however, no garlic or +pepper. But whoever might go in or out Enide was always with him, being +more than any one else concerned. Guivret often came in to ask and +inquire if he wanted anything. He was well kept and well served, and +everything that he wished was willingly done. But the damsels cheerfully +and gladly showed such devotion in caring for him that by the end of a +fortnight he felt no hurt or pain. Then, to bring his colour back, they +began to give him baths. There was no need to instruct the damsels, +for they understood the treatment well. When he was able to walk about. +Guivret had two loose gowns made of two different kinds of silk, one +trimmed with ermine, the other with vair. One was of a dark purple +colour, and the other striped, sent to him as a present by a cousin of +his from Scotland. Enide had the purple gown trimmed with ermine, which +was very precious, while Erec had the striped stuff with the fur, which +was no less valuable. Now Erec was strong and well, cured and recovered. +Now that Enide was very happy and had everything she desired, her great +beauty returned to her; for her great distress had affected her so much +that she was very pale and wan. Now she was embraced and kissed, now she +was blessed with all good things, now she had her joy and pleasures; for +unadorned they lie in bed and each enfolds and kisses the other; nothing +gives them so much joy. They have had so much pain and sorrow, he for +her, and she for him, that now they have their satisfaction. Each vies +in seeking to please the other. Of their further sport I must not speak. +Now they have so welded their love and forgotten their grief that they +scarcely remember it any more. But now they must go on their way; so +they asked his leave to depart from Guivret, in whom they had found a +friend indeed; for he had honoured and served them in every way. When he +came to take leave, Erec said: "Sire, I do not wish to delay longer +my departure for my own land. Order everything to be prepared and +collected, in order that I may have all I need. I shall wish to start +to-morrow morning, as soon as it is day. I have stayed so long with you +that I feel strong and vigorous. God grant, if it please Him, that I may +live to meet you again somewhere, when I may be able in my turn to serve +and honour you. Unless I am captured or detained, I do not expect to +tarry anywhere until I reach the court of King Arthur, whom I hope to +find either at Robais or Carduel." To which Guivret makes prompt reply, +"Sire, you shall not go off alone! For I myself shall go with you and +shall take companions with us, if it be your pleasure." Erec accedes to +this advice, and says that, in accordance with his plans, he wishes +the journey to be begun. That night they make preparations for their +journey, not wishing to delay there longer. They all make ready and +prepare. In the early morning, when they awake, the saddles are placed +upon the steeds. Before he leaves, Erec goes to bid farewell to the +damsels in their rooms; and Enide (who was glad and full of joy) thither +follows him. When their preparations for departure were made, they took +their leave of the damsels. Erec, who was very courteous, in taking +leave of them, thanks them for his health and life, and pledges to them +his service. Then he took one of them by the hand she who was the nearer +to him and Enide took the other's hand: hand in hand they came up from +the bedroom into the castle hall. Guivret urges them to mount at once +without delay. Enide thinks the time will never come for them to mount. +They bring around to the block for her a good-tempered palfrey, a soft +stepper, handsome and well shaped. The palfrey was of fine appearance +and a good mount: it was no less valuable than her own which had stayed +behind at Limors. That other one was dappled, this one was sorrel; but +the head was of another colour: it was marked in such a way that one +cheek was all white, while the other was raven black. Between the +two colours there was a line, greener than a grape-vine leaf, which +separated the white from the black. Of the bridle, breast-strap, and +saddle I can surely say that the workmanship was rich and handsome. All +the breast-strap and bridle was of gold set with emeralds. The saddle +was decorated in another style, covered with a precious purple cloth. +The saddle-bows were of ivory, on which was carved the story of how +Aeneas came from Troy, how at Carthage with great joy Dido received him +to her bed, how Aeneas deceived her, and how for him she killed herself, +how Aeneas conquered Laurentum and all Lombardy, of which he was king +all his life. [135] Cunning was the workmanship and well carved, all +decorated with fine gold. A skilful craftsman, who made it spent more +than seven years in carving it, without touching any other piece of +work. I do not know whether he sold it; but he ought to have obtained a +good price for it. Now that Enide was presented with this palfrey, she +was well compensated for the loss of her own. The palfrey, thus richly +apparelled, was given to her and she mounted it gladly; then the +gentlemen and squires quickly mounted too. For their pleasure and +sport Guivret caused to be taken with them rich falcons, both young +and moulted, many a tercel and sparrow-hawk, and many a setter and +greyhound. + +(Vv. 5367-5446.) [136] They rode straight on from morn till eve more +than thirty Welsh leagues, and then came to the towers of a stronghold, +rich and fair, girt all about with a new wall. And all around, beneath +this wall, ran a very deep stream, roaring rushing like a storm. Erec +stops to look at it, and ask and find out if any one could truly +tell him who was the lord of this town. "Friend," said he to his kind +companion, "could you tell me the name of this town, and whose it is? +Tell me if it belongs to a count or a king. Since you have brought me +here, tell me, if you know." "Sire," he says, "I know very well, and +will tell you the truth about it. The name of the town is Brandigant, +and it is so strong and fine that it fears neither king nor emperor. +If France, and all of England, and all who live from here to Liege were +ranged about to lay a siege, they would never take it in their lives; +for the isle on which the town stands stretches away four leagues or +more, and within the enclosure grows all that a rich town needs: fruit +and wheat and wine are found; and of wood and water there is no lack. +It fears no assault on any side, nor could anything reduce it to +starvation. King Evrain had it fortified, and he has possessed it all +his days unmolested, and will possess it all his life. But not because +he feared any one did he thus fortify it; but the town is more pleasing +so. For if it had no wall or tower, but only the stream that encircles +it, it would still be so secure and strong that it would have no fear +of the whole world." "God!" said Erec, "what great wealth! Let us go and +see the fortress, and we shall take lodging in the town, for I wish to +stop here." "Sire," said the other in great distress, "were it not +to disappoint you, we should not stop here. In the town there is a +dangerous passage." "Dangerous?" says Erec; "do you know about it? +Whatever it be, tell us about it; for very gladly would I know." "Sire," +says he, "I should fear that you might suffer some harm there. I know +there is so much boldness and excellence in your heart that, were I to +tell you what I know of the perilous and hard adventure, you would wish +to enter in. I have often heard the story, and more than seven years +have passed since any one that went in quest of the adventure has come +back from the town; yet, proud, bold knights have come hither from many +a land. Sire, do not treat this as a jest: for you will never learn the +secret from me until you shall have promised me, by the love you have +sworn to me, that never by you will be undertaken this adventure, from +which no one escapes without receiving shame or death." + +(Vv. 5447-5492.) Now Erec hears what pleases him, and begs Guivret not +to be grieved, saying: "Ah, fair sweet friend, permit that our lodging +be made in the town, and do not be disturbed. It is time to halt for the +night, and so I trust that it will not displease you; for if any honour +comes to us here you ought to be very glad. I appeal to you conceding +the adventure that you tell me just the name of it, and I'll not insist +upon the rest." "Sire." he says, "I cannot be silent and refuse the +information you desire. The name is very fair to say, but the execution +is very hard: for no one can come from it alive. The adventure, upon my +word, is called 'the Joy of the Court.'" "God! there can be nothing but +good in joy," says Erec; "I go to seek it. Don't go now and discourage +me about this or anything else, fair gentle friend; but let us have our +lodgings taken, for great good may come to us of this. Nothing could +restrain me from going to seek the Joy." "Sire," says he, "God grant +your prayer, that you may find joy and return without mishap. I clearly +see that we must go in. Since otherwise it may not be, let us go in. +Our lodging is secured; for no knight of high degree, as I have heard it +said and told, can enter this castle with intent to lodge here but that +King Evrain offers to shelter him. So gentle and courteous is the King +that he has given notice to all his townsmen, appealing to their love +for him, that any gentleman from afar should not find lodging in their +houses, so that he himself may do honour to all gentlemen who may wish +to tarry here." + +(Vv. 5493-5668.) [137] Thus they proceed toward the castle, passing the +list and the drawbridge; and when they passed the listing-place, the +people who were gathered in the streets in crowds see Erec in all his +beauty, and apparently they think and believe that all the others are +in his train. Marvelling much, they stare at him; the whole town was +stirred and moved, as they take counsel and discuss about him. Even +the maidens at their song leave off their singing and desist, as all +together they look at him; and because of his great beauty they cross +themselves, and marvellously they pity him. One to another whispers low: +"Alas! This knight, who is passing, is on his way to the 'Joy of the +Court.' He will be sorry before he returns; no one ever came from +another land to claim the 'Joy of the Court' who did not receive shame +and harm, and leave his head there as a forfeit." Then, that he may hear +their words, they cry-aloud: "God defend thee, knight, from harm; for +thou art wondrously handsome, and thy beauty is greatly to be pitied, +for to-morrow we shall see it quenched. Tomorrow thy death is come; +to-morrow thou shalt surely die if God does not guard and defend thee." +Erec hears and understands that they are speaking of him through the +lower town: more than two thousand pitied him; but nothing causes him +dismay. He passes on without delay, bowing gaily to men and women +alike. And they all salute him too; and most of them swear with anxiety, +fearing more than he does himself, for his shame and for his hurt. The +mere sight of his countenance, his great beauty and his bearing, has so +won to him the hearts of all, that knights, ladies, and maids alike fear +his harm. King Evrain hears the news that men were arriving at his court +who brought with them a numerous train, and by his harness it appeared +that their leader was a count or king. King Evrain comes down the street +to meet them, and saluting them he cries: "Welcome to this company, both +to the master and all his suite. Welcome, gentlemen! Dismount." They +dismounted, and there were plenty to receive and take their horses. Nor +was King Evrain backward when he saw Enide coming; but he straightway +saluted her and ran to help her to dismount. Taking her white and tender +hand, he led her up into the palace, as was required by courtesy, and +honoured her in every way he could, for he knew right well what he ought +to do, without nonsense and without malice. He ordered a chamber to +be scented with incense, myrrh, and aloes. When they entered, they all +complimented King Evrain on its fine appearance. Hand in hand they enter +the room, the King escorting them and taking great pleasure in them. But +why should I describe to you the paintings and the silken draperies with +which the room was decorated? I should only waste time in folly, and I +do not wish to waste it, but rather to hasten on a little; for he who +travels the straight road passes him who turns aside; therefore I do not +wish to tarry. When the time and hour arrived, the King orders supper to +be prepared; but I do not wish to stop over that if I can find some more +direct way. That night they had in abundance all that heart desires and +craves: birds, venison, and fruit, and wines of different sorts. But +better than all is a happy cheer! For of all dishes the sweetest is a +joyful countenance and a happy face. They were very richly served until +Erec suddenly left off eating and drinking, and began speaking of +what rested most upon his heart: he remembered 'the Joy', and began a +conversation about it in which King Evrain joined. "Sire" says he, "it +is time now to tell you what I intend, and why I have come here. Too +long I have refrained from speech, and now can no longer conceal my +object. I ask you for 'the Joy' of the Court, for I covet nothing else +so much. Grant it to me, whatever it be, if you are in control of it." +"In truth, fair friend." the King replies, "I hear you speak great +nonsense. This is a very parlous thing, which has caused sorrow to many +a worthy man; you yourself will eventually be killed and undone if you +will not heed my counsel. But if you were willing to take my word, I +should advise you to desist from soliciting so grievous a thing in which +you would never succeed. Speak of it no more! Hold your peace! It would +be imprudent on your part not to follow my advice. I am not at all +surprised that you desire honour and fame; but if I should see you +harmed or injured in your body I should be distressed at heart. And know +well that I have seen many a man ruined who solicited this joy. They +were never any the better for it, but rather did they all die and +perish. Before to-morrow's evening come you may expect a like reward. +If you wish to strive for the Joy, you shall do so, though it grieve me +sore. It is something from which you are free to retreat and draw back +if you wish to work your welfare. Therefore I tell you, for I should +commit treachery and do you wrong were I not to tell you all the truth." +Erec hears him and admits that the King with reason counsels him. But +the greater the wonder and the more perilous the adventure, the more he +covets it and yearns for it, saying: "Sire, I can tell you that I find +you a worthy and a loyal man, and I can put no blame on you. I wish to +undertake this boon, however it may fall out with me. The die is cast, +for I shall never draw back from anything I have undertaken without +exerting all my strength before I quit the field." "I know that well," +the King replied; "you are acting against my will. You shall have the +Joy which you desire. But I am in great despair; for I greatly fear you +will be undone. But now be assured that you shall have what you desire. +If you come out of it happily, you will have won such great honour that +never did man win greater; and may God, as I desire, grant you a joyous +deliverance." + +(Vv. 5669-5738.) All that night they talked of it, until the beds were +prepared and they went to rest. In the morning, when it was daylight, +Erec, who was on the watch, saw the clear dawn and the sun, and quickly +rising, clothed himself. Enide again is in distress, very sad and ill at +ease; all night she is greatly disquieted with the solicitude and fear +which she felt for her lord, who is about to expose himself to great +peril. But nevertheless he equips himself, for no one can make him +change his mind. For his equipment the King sent him, when he arose, +arms which he put to good use. Erec did not refuse them, for his own +were worn and impaired and in bad state. He gladly accepted the arms +and had himself equipped with them in the hall. When he was armed, he +descends the steps and finds his horse saddled and the King who had +mounted. Every one in the castle and in the houses of the town hastened +to mount. In all the town there remained neither man nor woman, erect or +deformed, great or small, weak or strong, who is able to go and does not +do so. When they start, there is a great noise and clamour in all the +streets; for those of high and low degree alike cry out: "Alas, alas! +oh knight, the Joy that thou wishest to win has betrayed thee, and thou +goest to win but grief and death." And there is not one but says: "God +curse this joy! which has been the death of so many gentlemen. To-day it +will wreak the worst woe that it has ever yet wrought." Erec hears well +and notes that up and down they said of him: "Alas, alas, ill-starred +wert thou, fair, gentle, skilful knight! Surely it would not be just +that thy life should end so soon, or that harm should come to wound +and injure thee." He hears clearly the words and what they said; but +notwithstanding, he passes on without lowering his head, and without +the bearing of a craven. Whoever may speak, he longs to see and know and +understand why they are all in such distress, anxiety, and woe. The King +leads him without the town into a garden that stood near by; and all the +people follow after, praying that from this trial God may grant him a +happy issue. But it is not meet that I should pass on, from weariness +and exhaustion of tongue, without telling you the whole truth about the +garden, according as the story runs. + +(Vv. 5739-5826.) [138] The garden had around it no wall or fence except +of air: yet, by a spell, the garden was on all sides so shut in by the +air that nothing could enter there any more than if the garden were +enclosed in iron, unless it flew in over the top. And all through the +summer and the winter, too, there were flowers and ripe fruits there; +and the fruit was of such a nature that it could be eaten inside; the +danger consisted in carrying it out; for whoever should wish to carry +out a little would never be able to find the gate, and never could issue +from the garden until he had restored the fruit to its place. And there +is no flying bird under heaven, pleasing to man, but it sings there to +delight and to gladden him, and can be heard there in numbers of every +kind. And the earth, however far it stretch, bears no spice or root of +use in making medicine, but it had been planted there, and was to be +found in abundance. Through a narrow entrance the people entered--King +Evrain and all the rest. Erec went riding, lance in rest, into the +middle of the garden, greatly delighting in the song of the birds which +were singing there; they put him in mind of his Joy the thing he most +was longing for. But he saw a wondrous thing, which might arouse fear +in the bravest warrior of all whom we know, be it Thiebaut the Esclavon, +[139] or Ospinel, or Fernagu. For before them, on sharpened stakes, +there stood bright and shining helmets, and each one had beneath the rim +a man's head. But at the end there stood a stake where as yet there was +nothing but a horn. [140] He knows not what this signifies, yet draws +not back a step for that; rather does he ask the King, who was beside +him at the right, what this can be. The King speaks and explains to him: +"Friend," he says, "do you know the meaning of this thing that you see +here? You must be in great terror of it, if you care at all for your own +body; for this single stake which stands apart, where you see this horn +hung up, has been waiting a very long time, but we know not for whom, +whether for you or someone else. Take care lest thy head be set up +there; for such is the purpose of the stake. I had warned you well of +that before you came here. I do not expect that you will escape hence, +but that you will be killed and rent apart. For this much we know, that +the stake awaits your head. And if it turns out that it be placed +there, as the matter stands agreed, as soon as thy head is fixed upon it +another stake will be set up beside it which will await the arrival of +some one else--I know not when or whom. I will tell you nothing of the +horn; but never has any one been able to blow it. [141] However, he +who shall succeed in blowing it his fame and honour will grow until it +distance all those of his country, and he shall find such renown that +all will come to do him honour, and will hold him to be the best of them +all. Now there is no more of this matter. Have your men withdraw; for +'the Joy' will soon arrive, and will make you sorry, I suspect." + +(Vv. 5827-6410.) Meanwhile King Evrain leaves his side, and Erec stoops +over before Enide, whose heart was in great distress, although she held +her peace; for grief on lips is of no account unless it also touch the +heart. And he who well knew her heart, said to her: "Fair sister dear, +gentle, loyal, and prudent lady, I am acquainted with your thoughts. +You are in fear, I see that well, and yet you do not know for what; but +there is no reason for your dismay until you shall see that my shield is +shattered and that my body is wounded, and until you see the meshes of +my bright hauberk covered with blood, and my helmet broken and smashed, +and me defeated and weary, so that I can no longer defend myself, but +must beg and sue for mercy against my will; then you may lament, but now +you have begun too soon. Gentle lady, as yet you know not what this +is to be; no more do I. You are troubled without cause. But know this +truly: if there were in me only so much courage as your love inspires, +truly I should not fear to face any man alive. But I am foolish to vaunt +myself; yet I say it not from any pride, but because I wish to comfort +you. So comfort yourself, and let it be! I cannot longer tarry here, nor +can you go along with me; for, as the King has ordered, I must not take +you beyond this point." Then he kisses her and commends her to God, and +she him. But she is much chagrined that she cannot follow and escort +him, until she may learn and see what this adventure is to be, and +how he will conduct himself. But since she must stay behind and cannot +follow him, she remains sorrowful and grieving. And he went off alone +down a path, without companion of any sort, until he came to a silver +couch with a cover of gold-embroidered cloth, beneath the shade of +a sycamore; and on the bed a maiden of comely body and lovely face, +completely endowed with all beauty, was seated all alone. I intended to +say no more of her; but whoever could consider well all her attire and +her beauty might well say that never did Lavinia of Laurentum, who was +so fair and comely, possess the quarter of her beauty. Erec draws near +to her, wishing to see her more closely, and the onlookers go and sit +down under the trees in the orchard. Then behold, there comes a knight +armed with vermilion arms, and he was wondrous tall; and if he were not +so immeasurably tall, under the heavens there would be none fairer than +he; but, as every one averred, he was a foot taller than any knight he +knew. Before Erec caught sight of him, he cried out: "Vassal, vassal! +You are mad, upon my life, thus to approach my damsel. I should say +you are not worthy to draw near her. You will pay dearly for your +presumption, by my head! Stand back!" And Erec stops and looks at him, +and the other, too, stood still. Neither made advance until Erec had +replied all that he wished to say to him. "Friend," he says, "one can +speak folly as well as good sense. Threaten as much as you please, and +I will keep silence; for in threatening there is no sense. Do you know +why? A man sometimes thinks he has won the game who afterward loses it. +So he is manifestly a fool who is too presumptuous and who threatens too +much. If there are some who flee there are plenty who chase, but I do +not fear you so much that I am going to run away yet. I am ready to make +such defence, if there is any who wishes to offer me battle, that he +will have to do his uttermost, or otherwise he cannot escape." "Nay," +quoth he, "so help me God! know that you shall have the battle, for I +defy and challenge you." And you may know, upon my word, that then the +reins were not held in. The lances they had were not light, but were big +and square; nor were they planed smooth, but were rough and strong. Upon +the shields with mighty strength they smote each other with their sharp +weapons, so that a fathom of each lance passes through the gleaming +shields. But neither touches the other's flesh, nor was either lance +cracked; each one, as quickly as he could, draws back his lance, and +both rushing together, return to the fray. One against the other rides, +and so fiercely they smite each other that both lances break and the +horses fall beneath them. But they, being seated on their steeds, +sustain no harm; so they quickly rise, for they were strong and lithe. +They stand on foot in the middle of the garden, and straightway attack +each other with their green swords of German steel, and deal great +wicked blows upon their bright and gleaming helmets, so that they hew +them into bits, and their eyes shoot out flame. No greater efforts can +be made than those they make in striving and toiling to injure and wound +each other. Both fiercely smite with the gilded pommel and the cutting +edge. Such havoc did they inflict upon each other's teeth, cheeks, nose, +hands, arms, and the rest, upon temples, neck, and throat that their +bones all ache. They are very sore and very tired; yet they do not +desist, but rather only strive the more. Sweat, and the blood which +flows down with it, dim their eyes, so that they can hardly see a thing; +and very often they missed their blows, like men who did not see to +wield their swords upon each other. They can scarcely harm each other +now; yet, they do not desist at all from exercising all their strength. +Because their eyes are so blinded that they completely lose their sight, +they let their shields fall to the ground, and seize each other angrily. +Each pulls and drags the other, so that they fall upon their knees. +Thus, long they fight until the hour of noon is past, and the big knight +is so exhausted that his breath quite fails him. Erec has him at his +mercy, and pulls and drags so that he breaks all the lacing of his +helmet, and forces him over at his feet. He falls over upon his face +against Erec's breast, and has not strength to rise again. Though it +distresses him, he has to say and own: "I cannot deny it, you have +beaten me; but much it goes against my will. And yet you may be of such +degree and fame that only credit will redound to me; and insistently I +would request, if it may be in any way, that I might know your name, and +he thereby somewhat comforted. If a better man has defeated me, I shall +be glad, I promise you; but if it has so fallen out that a baser man +than I has worsted me, then I must feel great grief indeed." "Friend, +dost thou wish to know my name?" says Erec; "Well, I shall tell thee ere +I leave here; but it will be upon condition that thou tell me now why +thou art in this garden. Concerning that I will know all what is thy +name and what the Joy; for I am very anxious to hear the truth from +beginning to end of it." "Sire," says he, "fearlessly I will tell you +all you wish to know." Erec no more withholds his name, but says: "Didst +thou ever hear of King Lac and of his son Erec?" "Yea, sire, I knew +him well; for I was at his father's court for many a day before I was +knighted, and, if he had had his will, I should never have left him for +anything." "Then thou oughtest to know me well, if thou weft ever with +me at the court of my father, the King." "Then, upon my faith, it has +turned out well. Now hear who has detained me so long in this garden. I +will tell the truth in accordance with your injunction, whatever it +may cost me. That damsel who yonder sits, loved me from childhood and +I loved her. It pleased us both, and our love grew and increased, until +she asked a boon of me, but did not tell me what it was. Who would +deny his mistress aught? There is no lover but would surely do all his +sweet-heart's pleasure without default or guile, whenever he can in any +way. I agreed to her desire; but when I had agreed, she would have it, +too, that I should swear. I would have done more than that for her, but +she took me at my word. I made her a promise, without knowing what. Time +passed until I was made a knight. King Evrain, whose nephew I am, dubbed +me a knight in the presence of many honourable men in this very garden +where we are. My lady, who is sitting there, at once recalled to me my +word, and said that I had promised her that I would never go forth from +here until there should come some knight who should conquer me by trial +of arms. It was right that I should remain, for rather than break my +word, I should never have pledged it. Since I knew the good there was in +her, I could nor reveal or show to the one whom I hold most dear that +in all this I was displeased; for if she had noticed it, she would have +withdrawn her heart, and I would not have had it so for anything that +might happen. Thus my lady thought to detain me here for a long stay; +she did not think that there would ever enter this garden any vassal who +could conquer me. In this way she intended to keep me absolutely shut up +with her all the days of my life. And I should have committed an offence +if I had had resort to guile and not defeated all those against whom I +could prevail; such escape would have been a shame. And I dare to assure +you that I have no friend so dear that I would have feigned at all in +fighting with him. Never did I weary of arms, nor did I ever refuse to +fight. You have surely seen the helmets of those whom I have defeated +and put to death; but the guilt of it is not mine, when one considers it +aright. I could not help myself, unless I were willing to be false and +recreant and disloyal. Now I have told you the truth, and be assured +that it is no small honour which you have gained. You have given great +joy to the court of my uncle and my friends; for now I shall be released +from here; and because all those who are at the court will have joy of +it, therefore those who awaited the joy called it 'Joy of the Court'. +They have awaited it so long that now it will be granted them by you who +have won it by your fight. You have defeated and bewitched my prowess +and my chivalry. Now it is right that I tell you my name, if you would +know it. I am called Mabonagrain; but I am not remembered by that name +in any land where I have been, save only in this region; for never, when +I was a squire, did I tell or make known my name. Sire, you knew the +truth concerning all that you asked me. But I must still tell you that +there is in this garden a horn which I doubt not you have seen. I cannot +issue forth from here until you have blown the horn; but then you will +have released me, and then the Joy will begin. Whoever shall hear and +give it heed no hindrance will detain him, when he shall hear the sound +of the horn, from coming straight-way to the court. Rise up, sire! Go +quickly now! Go take the horn right joyfully; for you have no further +cause to wait; so do that which you must do." Now Erec rose, and the +other rises with him, and both approach the horn. Erec takes it and +blows it, putting into it all his strength, so that the sound of it +reaches far. Greatly did Enide rejoice when she heard the note, and +Guivret was greatly delighted too. The King is glad, and so are his +people; there is not one who is not well suited and pleased at this. +No one ceases or leaves off from making merry and from song. Erec could +boast that day, for never was such rejoicing made; it could not be +described or related by mouth of man, but I will tell you the sum of it +briefly and with few words. The news spreads through the country that +thus the affair has turned out. Then there was no holding back from +coming to the court. All the people hasten thither in confusion, some +on foot and some on horse, without waiting for each other. And those who +were in the garden hastened to remove Erec's arms, and in emulation they +all sang a song about the Joy; and the ladies made up a lay which they +called 'the Lay of Joy', [142] but the lay is not well known. Erec was +well sated with joy and well served to his heart's desire; but she who +sat on the silver couch was not a bit pleased. The joy which she saw was +not at all to her taste. But many people have to keep still and look +on at what gives them pain. Enide acted graciously; because she saw her +sitting pensive, alone on the couch, she felt moved to go and speak with +her and tell her about her affairs and about herself, and to strive, if +possible, to make her tell in return about herself, if it did not cause +her too great distress. Enide thought to go alone, wishing to take no +one with her, but some of the most noble and fairest dames and damsels +followed her out of affection to bear her company, and also to comfort +her to whom the joy brings great chagrin; for she assumed that now her +lover would be no longer with her so much as he had been, inasmuch as he +desired to leave the garden. However disappointing it may be, no one can +prevent his going away, for the hour and the time have come. Therefore +the tears ran down her face from her eyes. Much more than I can say was +she grieving and distressed; nevertheless she sat up straight. But she +does not care so much for any of those who try to comfort her that she +ceases her moan. Enide salutes her kindly; but for a while the other +could not reply a word, being prevented by the sighs and sobs which +torment and distress her. Some time it was before the damsel returned +her salutation, and when she had looked at her and examined her for a +while, it seemed that she had seen and known her before. But not being +very certain of it, she was not slow to inquire from whence she was, of +what country, and where her lord was born; she inquires who they both +are. Enide replies briefly and tells her the truth, saying: "I am the +niece of the Count who holds sway over Lalut, the daughter of his own +sister; at Lalut I was born and brought up." The other cannot help +smiling, without hearing more, for she is so delighted that she forgets +her sorrow. Her heart leaps with joy which she cannot conceal. She runs +and embraces Enide, saying: "I am your cousin! This is the very truth, +and you are my father's niece; for he and your father are brothers. But +I suspect that you do not know and have never heard how I came into this +country. The Count, your uncle, was at war, and to him there came to +fight for pay knights of many lands. Thus, fair cousin, it came about, +that with these hireling knights there came one who was the nephew of +the king of Brandigan. He was with my father almost a year. That was, I +think, twelve years ago, and I was still but a little child. He was very +handsome and attractive. There we had an understanding between us that +pleased us both. I never had any wish but his, until at last he began to +love me and promised and swore to me that he would always be my lover, +and that he would bring me here; that pleased us both alike. He could +not wait, and I was longing to come hither with him; so we both came +away, and no one knew of it but ourselves. In those days you and I were +both young and little girls. I have told you the truth; so now tell me +in turn, as I have told you, all about your lover, and by what adventure +he won you." "Fair cousin, he married me in such a way that my father +knew all about it, and my mother was greatly pleased. All our relatives +knew it and rejoiced over it, as they should do. Even the Count was +glad. For he is so good a knight that better cannot be found, and he +does not need to prove his honour and knighthood, and he is of very +gentle birth: I do not think that any can be his equal. He loves me +much, and I love him more, and our love cannot be greater. Never yet +could I withhold my love from him, nor should I do so. For is not my +lord the son of a king? For did he not take me when I was poor and +naked? Through him has such honour come to me that never was any such +vouchsafed to a poor helpless girl. And if it please you, I will tell +you without lying how I came to be thus raised up; for never will I be +slow to tell the story." Then she told and related to her how Erec +came to Lalut; for she had no desire to conceal it. She told her the +adventure word for word, without omission. But I pass over it now, +because he who tells a story twice makes his tale now tiresome. While +they were thus conversing, one lady slipped away alone, who sent and +told it all to the gentlemen, in order to increase and heighten their +pleasure too. All those who heard it rejoiced at this news. And when +Mabonagrain knew it he was delighted for his sweetheart because now +she was comforted. And she who bore them quickly the news made them all +happy in a short space. Even the King was glad for it; although he was +very happy before, yet now he is still happier, and shows Erec great +honour. Enide leads away her fair cousin, fairer than Helen, more +graceful and charming. Now Erec and Mabonagrain, Guivret and King +Evrain, and all the others run to meet them and salute them and do them +honour, for no one is grudging or holds back. Mabonagrain makes much of +Enide, and she of him. Erec and Guivret, for their part, rejoice over +the damsel as they all kiss and embrace each other. They propose to +return to the castle, for they have stayed too long in the garden. They +are all prepared to go out; so they sally forth joyfully, kissing each +other on the way. All go out after the King, but before they reached the +castle, the nobles were assembled from all the country around, and all +those who knew of the Joy, and who could do so, came hither. Great was +the gathering and the press. Every one, high and low, rich and poor, +strives to see Erec. Each thrusts himself before the other, and they +all salute him and bow before him, saying constantly: "May God save +him through whom joy and gladness come to our court! God save the most +blessed man whom God has ever brought into being!" Thus they bring him +to the court, and strive to show their glee as their hearts dictate. +Breton zithers, harps, and viols sound, fiddles, psalteries, and other +stringed instruments, and all kinds of music that one could name or +mention. But I wish to conclude the matter briefly without too long +delay. The King honours him to the extent of his power, as do all the +others ungrudgingly. There is no one who does not gladly offer to do his +service. Three whole days the Joy lasted, before Erec could get away. +On the fourth he would no longer tarry for any reason they could urge. +There was a great crowd to accompany him and a very great press when it +came to taking leave. If he had wished to reply to each one, he would +not have been able in half a day to return the salutations individually. +The nobles he salutes and embraces; the others he commends to God in +a word, and salutes them. Enide, for her part, is not silent when she +takes leave of the nobles. She salutes them all by name, and they in +turn do the like. Before she goes, she kisses her cousin very tenderly +and embraces her. Then they go and the Joy is over. + +(Vv. 6411-6509.) They go off and the others return. Erec and Guivret do +not tarry, but keep joyfully on their way, until they came in nine days +to Robais, where they were told the King was. The day before he had +been bled privately in his apartments; with him he had only five hundred +nobles of his household. Never before at any time was the King found so +alone, and he was much distressed that he had no more numerous suite at +his court. At that time a messenger comes running, whom they had sent +ahead to apprise the King of their approach. This man came in before the +assembly, found the King and all his people, and saluting him correctly, +said: "I am a messenger of Erec and of Guivret the Little." Then he told +him how they were coming to see him at his court. The King replies: "Let +them be welcome, as valiant and gallant gentlemen! Nowhere do I know +of any better than they two. By their presence my court will be much +enhanced." Then he sent for the Queen and told her the news. The others +have their horses saddled to go and meet the gentlemen. In such haste +are they to mount that they did not put on their spurs. I ought to state +briefly that the crowd of common people, including squires, cooks, and +butlers, had already entered the town to prepare for the lodgings. +The main party came after, and had already drawn so near that they had +entered the town. Now the two parties have met each other, and salute +and kiss each other. They come to the lodgings and make themselves +comfortable, removing their hose and making their toilet by donning +their rich robes. When they were completely decked out, they took their +way to the court. They come to court, where the King sees them, and the +Queen, who is beside herself with impatience to see Erec and Enide. The +King makes them take seats beside him, kisses Erec and Guivret; about +Enide's neck he throws his arms and kisses her repeatedly, in his great +joy. Nor is the Queen slow in embracing Erec and Enide. One might well +rejoice to see her now so full of joy. Every one enters with spirit into +the merry-making. Then the King causes silence to be made, and appeals +to Erec and asks news of his adventures. When the noise had ceased, Erec +began his story, telling him of his adventures, without forgetting any +detail. Do you think now that I shall tell you what motive he had had in +starting out? Nay, for you know the whole truth about this and the rest, +as I have revealed it to you. To tell the story again would burden me; +for the tale is not short, that any one should wish to begin it afresh +and re-embelish it, as he told and related it: of the three knights whom +he defeated, and then of the five, and then of the Count who strove to +do him harm, and then of the two giants--all in order, one after the +other, he told him of his adventures up to the point where he met Count +Oringle of Limors. "Many a danger have you gone through, fair gentle +friend," said the King to him; "now tarry in this country at my court, +as you are wont to do." "Sire, since you wish it, I shall remain very +gladly three or four years entire. But ask Guivret to remain here too a +request in which I would fain join." The King prays him to remain, and +he consents to stay. So they both stay: the King kept them with him, and +held them dear and honoured them. + +(Vv. 6510-6712.) Erec stayed at court, together with Guivret and Enide, +until the death of his father, the king, who was an old man and full of +years. The messengers then started out: the nobles who went to seek him, +and who were the greatest men of the land, sought and searched for him +until they found him at Tintagel three weeks before Christmas; they told +him the truth what had happened to his old, white-haired father, and +how he now was dead and gone. This grieved Erec much more than he showed +before the people. But sorrow is not seemly in a king, nor does it +become a king to mourn. There at Tintagel where he was, he caused vigils +for the dead and Masses to be sung; he promised and kept his promises, +as he had vowed to the religious houses and churches; he did well all +that he ought to do: he chose out more than one hundred and sixty-nine +of the wretched poor, and clothed them all in new garments. To the poor +clerks and priors he gave, as was right, black copes and warm linings to +wear beneath. For God's sake he did great good to all: to those who were +in need he distributed more than a barrel of small coins. When he had +shared his wealth, he then did a very wise thing in receiving his land +from the King's hand; and then he begged the King to crown him at his +court. The King bade him quickly be prepared; for they shall both be +crowned, he together with his wife, at the approaching Christmastide; +and he added: "You must go hence to Nantes in Brittany; there you shall +carry a royal ensign with crown on head and sceptre in hand; this gift +and privilege I bestow upon you." Erec thanked the King, and said that +that was a noble gift. At Christmas the King assembles all his nobles, +summoning them individually and commanding them to come to Nantes. He +summoned them all, and none stayed behind. Erec, too, sent word to many +of his followers, and summoned them to come thither; but more came than +he had bidden, to serve him and do him honour. I cannot tell you or +relate who each one was, and what his name; but whoever came or did not +come, the father and mother of my lady Enide were not forgotten. Her +father was sent for first of all, and he came to court in handsome +style, like a great lord and a chatelain. There was no great crowd of +chaplains or of silly, gaping yokels, but of excellent knights and of +people well equipped. Each day they made a long day's journey, and rode +on each day with great joy and great display, until on Christmas eve +they came to the city of Nantes. They made no halt until they entered +the great hall where the King and his courtiers were. Erec and Enide +see them, and you may know how glad they were. To meet them they quickly +make their way, and salute and embrace them, speaking to them tenderly +and showing their delight as they should. When they had rejoiced +together, taking each other by the hand, they all four came before the +King, saluting him and likewise the Queen, who was sitting by his side. +Taking his host by the hand, Erec said: "Sire, behold my good host, my +kind friend, who did me such honour that he made me master in his +own house. Before he knew anything about me, he lodged me well and +handsomely. All that he had he made over to me, and even his daughter he +bestowed upon me, without the advice or counsel of any one." "And this +lady with him," the King inquires, "who is she?" Erec does not conceal +the truth: "Sire," says he, "of this lady I may say that she is the +mother of my wife." "Is she her mother?" "Yes, truly, sire." "Certainly, +I may then well say that fair and comely should be the flower born of so +fair a stem, and better the fruit one picks; for sweet is the smell +of what springs from good. Fair is Enide and fair she should be in all +reason and by right; for her mother is a very handsome lady, and her +father is a goodly knight. Nor does she in aught belie them; for she +descends and inherits directly from them both in many respects." Then +the King ceases and sits down, bidding them be seated too. They do not +disobey his command, but straightway take seats. Now is Enide filled +with joy when she sees her father and mother, for a very long time had +passed since she had seen them. Her happiness now is greatly increased, +for she was delighted and happy, and she showed it all she could, but +she could not make such demonstration but that her joy was yet greater. +But I wish to say no more of that, for my heart draws me toward the +court which was now assembled in force. From many a different country +there were counts and dukes and kings, Normans, Bretons. Scotch, and +Irish: from England and Cornwall there was a very rich gathering of +nobles; for from Wales to Anjou, in Maine and in Poitou, there was no +knight of importance, nor lady of quality, but the best and the most +elegant were at the court at Nantes, as the King had bidden them. Now +hear, if you will, the great joy and grandeur, the display and the +wealth, that was exhibited at the court. Before the hour of nones had +sounded, King Arthur dubbed four hundred knights or more all sons of +counts and of kings. To each one he gave three horses and two pairs of +suits, in order that his court may make a better showing. Puissant and +lavish was the King; for the mantles he bestowed were not of serge, nor +of rabbit-skins, nor of cheap brown fur, but of heavy silk and ermine, +of spotted fur and flowered silks, bordered with heavy and stiff gold +braid. Alexander, who conquered so much that he subdued the whole world, +and who was so lavish and rich, compared with him was poor and mean. +Caesar, the Emperor of Rome, and all the kings whose names you hear in +stories and in epic songs, did not distribute at any feast so much +as Arthur gave on the day that he crowned Erec; nor would Caesar and +Alexander dare to spend so much as he spent at the court. The raiment +was taken from the chests and spread about freely through the halls; one +could take what he would, without restraint. In the midst of the court, +upon a rug, stood thirty bushels of bright sterlings; [143] for since +the time of Merlin until that day sterlings had currency throughout +Britain. There all helped themselves, each one carrying away that night +all that he wanted to his lodging-place. At nine o'clock on Christmas +day, all came together again at court. The great joy that is drawing +near for him had completely filched Erec's heart away. The tongue and +the mouth of no man, however skilful, could describe the third, or the +fourth, or the fifth part of the display which marked his coronation. So +it is a mad enterprise I undertake in wishing to attempt to describe +it. But since I must make the effort, come what may, I shall not fail to +relate a part of it, as best I may. + +(Vv. 6713-6809.) The King had two thrones of white ivory, well +constructed and new, of one pattern and style. He who made them beyond a +doubt was a very skilled and cunning craftsman. For so precisely did he +make the two alike in height, in breadth, and in ornamentation, that you +could nor look at them from every side to distinguish one from the other +and find in one aught that was not in the other. There was no part of +wood, but all of gold and fine ivory. Well were they carved with great +skill, for the two corresponding sides of each bore the representation +of a leopard, and the other two a dragon's shape. A knight named Bruiant +of the Isles had made a gift and present of them to King Arthur and the +Queen. King Arthur sat upon the one, and upon the other he made Erec +sit, who was robed in watered silk. As we read in the story, we find the +description of the robe, and in order that no one may say that I lie, +I quote as my authority Macrobius, [144] who devoted himself to the +description of it. Macrobius instructs me how to describe, according +as I have found it in the book, the workmanship and the figures of the +cloth. Four fairies had made it with great skill and mastery. [145] One +represented there geometry, how it estimates and measures the extent of +the heavens and the earth, so that nothing is lacking there; and +then the depth and the height, and the width, and the length; then it +estimates, besides, how broad and deep the sea is, and thus measures +the whole world. Such was the work of the first fairy. And the second +devoted her effort to the portrayal of arithmetic, and she strove hard +to represent clearly how it wisely enumerates the days and the hours of +time, and the water of the sea drop by drop, and then all the sand, and +the stars one by one, knowing well how to tell the truth, and how many +leaves there are in the woods: such is the skill of arithmetic that +numbers have never deceived her, nor will she ever be in error when she +wishes to apply her sense to them. The third design was that of music, +with which all merriment finds itself in accord, songs and harmonies, +and sounds of string: of harp, of Breton violin, and of viol. This +piece of work was good and fine; for upon it were portrayed all the +instruments and all the pastimes. The fourth, who next performed her +task, executed a most excellent work; for the best of the arts she there +portrayed. She undertook astronomy, which accomplishes so many marvels +and draws inspiration from the stars, the moon, and the sun. Nowhere +else does it seek counsel concerning aught which it has to do. They give +it good and sure advice. Concerning whatever inquiry it make of them, +whether in the past or in the future, they give it information without +falsehood and without deception. This work was portrayed on the stuff +of which Erec's robe was made, all worked and woven with thread of gold. +The fur lining that was sewed within, belonged to some strange beasts +whose heads are all white, and whose necks are as black as mulberries, +and which have red backs and green bellies, and dark blue tail. These +beasts live in India and they are called "barbiolets". They eat nothing +but spices, cinnamon, and fresh cloves. What shall I tell you of the +mantle? It was very rich and fine and handsome; it had four stones +in the tassels--two chrysolites on one side, and two amethysts on the +other, which were mounted in gold. + +(Vv. 6810-6946.) As yet Enide had not come to the palace. When the King +sees that she delays, he bids Gawain go quickly to bring her and the +Queen. Gawain hastens and was not slow, and with him King Cadoalant +and the generous King of Galloway. Guivret the Little accompanies them, +followed by Yder the son of Nut. So many of the other nobles ran thither +to escort the two ladies that they would have sufficed to overcome a +host; for there were more than a thousand of them. The Queen had made +her best effort to adorn Enide. Into the palace they brought her +the courteous Gawain escorting her on one side, and on the other the +generous King of Galloway, who loved her dearly on account of Erec who +was his nephew. When they came to the palace, King Arthur came quickly +toward them, and courteously seated Enide beside Erec; for he wished to +do her great honour. Now he orders to be brought forth from his treasure +two massive crowns of fine gold. As soon as he had spoken and given the +command, without delay the crowns were brought before him, all sparkling +with carbuncles, of which there were four in each. The light of the moon +is nothing compared with the light which the least of the carbuncles +could shed. Because of the radiance which they shed, all those who were +in the palace were so dazzled that for a moment they could see nothing; +and even the King was amazed, and yet filled with satisfaction, when +he saw them to be so clear and bright. He had one of them held by two +damsels, and the other by two gentlemen. Then he bade the bishops and +priors and the abbots of the Church step forward and anoint the new +King, as the Christian practice is. Now all the prelates, young and old, +came forward; for at the court there were a great number of bishops and +abbots. The Bishop of Nantes himself, who was a very worthy and saintly +man, anointed the new King in a very holy and becoming manner, and +placed the crown upon his head. King Arthur had a sceptre brought which +was very fine. Listen to the description of the sceptre, which was +clearer than a pane of glass, all of one solid emerald, fully as large +as your fist. I dare to tell you in very truth that in all the world +there is no manner of fish, or of wild behest, or of man, or of flying +bird that was not worked and chiselled upon it with its proper figure. +The sceptre was handed to the King, who looked at it with amazement; +then he put it without delay into King Erec's right hand; and now he +was King as he ought to be. Then he crowned Enide in turn. Now the +bells ring for Mass, and they go to the main church to hear the Mass and +service; they go to pray at the cathedral. You would have seen weeping +with joy the father of Queen Enide and her mother, Carsenefide. In truth +this was her mother's name, and her father's name was Liconal. Very +happy were they both. When they came to the cathedral, the procession +came out from the church with relics and treasures to meet them. Crosses +and prayerbooks and censers and reliquaries, with all the holy relics, +of which there were many in the church, were all brought out to meet +them; nor was there any lack of chants made. Never were seen so many +kings, counts, dukes, and nobles together at a Mass, and the press was +so great and thick that the church was completely filled. No low-born +man could enter there, but only ladies and knights. Outside the door +of the church a great number still remained, so many were there come +together who could not get inside the church. When they had heard all +the Mass they returned to the palace. It was all prepared and decorated: +tables set and cloths spread five hundred tables and more were there; +but I do not wish to make you believe a thing which does not seem true. +It would seem too great a lie were I to say that five hundred tables +were set in rows in one palace, so I will not say it; rather were there +five hails so filled with them that with great difficulty could one make +his way among the tables. At each table there was in truth a king or a +duke or a count; and full a hundred knights were seated at each table. A +thousand knights served the bread, and a thousand served the wine, and a +thousand the meat--all of them dressed in fresh fur robes of ermine. All +are served with divers dishes. Even if I did not see them, I might still +be able to tell you about them; but I must attend to something else than +to tell you what they had to eat. They had enough, without wanting more; +joyfully and liberally they were served to their heart's desire. + +(Vv. 6947-6958.) When this celebration was concluded, the King dismissed +the assemblage of kings, dukes, and counts, of which the number was +immense, and of the other humble folk who had come to the festival. +He rewarded them liberally with horses, arms and silver, cloths and +brocades of many kinds, because of his generosity, and because of Erec +whom he loved so much. Here the story ends at last. + + + +----Endnotes: Erec Et Enide + +NOTE: Endnotes supplied by Prof. Foerster are indicated by "(F.)"; all +other endnotes are supplied by W.W. Comfort. + + +[Footnote 11: A Welsh version, "Geraint the Son of Erbin", included in +Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of "The Mabinogion" (London, 1838-49; +a modern edition will be found in Everyman Library, London, 1906), +tells the same story as "Erec et Enide" with some variations. This Welsh +version has also been translated into modern French by J. Loth ("Les +Mabinogion", Paris, 1889), where it may be consulted with the greatest +confidence. The relation of the Welsh prose to the French poem is a +moot point. Cf. E. Philipot in "Romania", XXV. 258-294, and earlier, +K. Othmer, "Ueber das Verhaltnis Chrestiens Erec und Enide zu dem +Mabinogion des rothen Buch von Hergest" (Koln, 1889); G. Paris in +"Romania", XIX. 157, and id. XX. 148-166.] + +[Footnote 12: We frequently read in the romances of a hunt at Easter +(F.). As here, so in "Fergus" (ed. Martin, Halle, 1872), p. 2 f., the +knights hunt a white stag, which Perceval finally slays, but there is no +mention of the ceremony of the bestowal of a kiss.] + +[Footnote 13: Chretien nowhere gives any description of the nature of +the Round Table. With him, it is an institution. Layamon in "Brut" and +Wace in "Le Roman de Brut" are more specific in their accounts of this +remarkable piece of furniture. From their descriptions, and from other +sources in Welsh and Irish literature, it is reasonable to suppose that +the Round Table had a place in primitive Celtic folk-lore. Cf. L.F. +Mott, "The Round Table" in "Pub. of the Modern Language Association of +America", XX. 231-264; A.C.L. Brown, "The Round Table before Wace" in +"Harvard Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature", vii. 183-205 +(Boston, 1900); Miss J.L Weston, "A Hitherto Unconsidered Aspect of the +Round Table" in "Melanges de philologie romane offerts a M. Wilmotte", +ii. 883-894, 2 vols. (Paris, 1910).] + +[Footnote 14: There exists a romance devoted to Yder, of which G. Paris +printed a resume in "Hist. Litt. de la France", XXX., and which has +been recently edited by Heinrich Gelzer: "Der altfranzosische Yderroman" +(Dresden, 1913). There are apparently three different knight of this +name in the old French romances (F.).] + +[Footnote 15: The word "chastel" (from "castellum") is usually to be +translated as "town" or strong place within fortifications. Only where +it plainly refers to a detached building will the word "castle" be +used.] + +[Footnote 16: A "tercel" is a species of falcon, of which the male bird +is one-third smaller than the female.] + +[Footnote 17: A "vavasor" (from "vassus vassallorum") was a low order +of vassal, but a freeman. The vavasors are spoken of with respect in +the old French romances, as being of honourable character, though not of +high birth.] + +[Footnote 18: The numerous references to the story of King Mark, +Tristan, and Iseut in the extant poems of Chretien support his own +statement, made at the outset of "Cliges", that he himself composed a +poem on the nephew and wife of the King of Cornwall. We have fragments +of poems on Tristan by the Anglo-Norman poets Beroul and Thomas, who +were contemporaries of Chretien. Foerster's hypothesis that the lost +"Tristan" of Chretien antedated "Erec" is doubtless correct. That +the poet later treated of the love of Cliges and Fenice as a sort of +literary atonement for the inevitable moral laxity of Tristan and Iseut +has been held by some, and the theory is acceptable in view of the +references to be met later in "Cliges". For the contrary opinion of +Gaston Paris see "Journal des Savants" (1902), p. 297 f.] + +[Footnote 19: In the Mabinogi "Geraint the Son of Erbin", the host +explains that he had wrongfully deprived his nephew of his possessions, +and that in revenge the nephew had later taken all his uncle's property, +including an earldom and this town. See Guest, "The Mabinogion".] + +[Footnote 110: The hauberk was a long shirt of mail reaching to the +knees, worn by knights in combat. The helmet, and the "coiffe" beneath +it, protected the head; the "ventail" of linked meshes was worn across +the lower part of the face, and was attached on each side of the neck to +the "coiffe", so that it protected the throat; the greaves covered the +legs. The body of the knight was thus well protected against blow of +sword or lance. Cf. Vv.711 f.] + +[Footnote 111: This passage seems to imply that charms and enchantments +were sometimes used when a knight was armed (F.).] + +[Footnote 112: The "loges", so often mentioned in old French romances, +were either window-balconies or architectural points of vantage +commanding some pleasing prospect. The conventional translation in the +old English romances is "bower".] + +[Footnote 113: Tristan killed Morholt, the uncle of Iseut, when he came +to claim tribute form King Mark (cf. Bedier, "Le Roman de Tristan", +etc., i. 85 f., 2 vols., Paris, 1902). The combat took place on an +island, unnamed in the original text (id. i. 84), but later identified +with St. Samson's Isle, one of the Scilly Isles.] + +[Footnote 114: The same act of feeding a hunting-bird with a plover's +wing is mentioned in "Le Roman de Thebes", 3857-58 (ed. "Anciens +Textes").] + +[Footnote 115: For such figurative expressions used to complement the +negative, cf. Gustav Dreyling, "Die Ausdruckweise der ubertriebenen +Verkleinerung im altfranzosischen Karlsepos", in Stengel's "Ausgaben und +Abhandlungen", No. 82 (Marsburg, 1888); W.W. Comfort in "Modern Language +Notes" (Baltimore, February 1908).] + +[Footnote 116: Chretien in his later romances will avoid compiling such +a prosaic blue-book as is found in this passage, though similar lists of +knights occur in the old English romances as late as Malory, though of +some of them but little is known. Unfortunately, we have for the old +French romances no such complete work as that furnished for the epic +poems by E. Langois, "Table des noms propres de toute nature compris +dans les chansons de geste" (Paris, 1904).] + +[Footnote 117: The only mention by Chretien of this son of Arthur, whose +role is absolutely insignificant in the Arthurian romances.] + +[Footnote 118: What was this drinking-cup, and who sent it to Arthur? We +have "Le Lai du cor" (ed. Wulff, Lund, 1888), which tells how a certain +King Mangount of Moraine sent a magic drinking-cup to Arthur. No one +could drink of this cup without spilling the contents if he were a +cuckold. Drinking from this cup was, then, one of the many current tests +of chastity. Further light may be thrown on the passage in our text by +the English poem "The Cokwold's Daunce" (in C.H. Hartshorne's "Ancient +Metrical Ballads", London, 1829), where Arthur is described as a cuckold +himself and as having always by him a horn (cup) which he delights +in trying on his knights as a test of their ladies' chastity. For +bibliography see T.P. Cross, "Notes on the Chastity-Testing Horns and +Mantle" in "Modern Philology", x. 289-299.] + +[Footnote 119: A unique instance of such a division of the material in +Chretien's poems (F.).] + +[Footnote 120: Outre-Gales=Estre-Gales (v.3883)=Extra-Galliam.] + +[Footnote 121: Such fanciful descriptions of men and lands are common +in the French epic poems, where they are usually applied to the Saracens +(F.). Cf. W.w. Comfort, "The Saracens in Christian Poetry" in "The +Dublin Review", July 1911; J. Malsch, "Die Charakteristik der Volker im +altfranzosischen nationalen Epos" (Heidelberg, 1912).] + +[Footnote 122: With what seems to us mistaken taste, Chretien frequently +thus delays mentioning the name of his leading charecters. The father +and mother of Enide remain anonymous until the end of this poem. The +reader will remark other instances of this peculiarity in "Yvain" and +"Lancelot".] + +[Footnote 123: The maid Brangien was substituted for Iseut, the bride, +upon the first night after her marriage with Mark. Similar traditions +are associated with the marriage of Arthur and Guinevere, and of Pepin +and Berte aus grans pies, the parents of Charlemagne. Adenet le Roi +toward the end of the 13th century is the author of the most artistic +treatments of Berte's history (ed. A. Scheler, Bruxelles, 1874). +Cf. W.W. Comfort, "Adenet le Roi: The End of a Literary Era" in "The +Quarterly Review", April 1913.] + +[Footnote 124: The reading "Sanson" (=Samson) is Foerster's most recent +(1904) suggestion to replace the word "lion" which stands in all +the MSS. Solomon's name has always been synonymous with wisdom, and +Alexander's generosity was proverbial in the Middle Ages. For Alexander, +cf. Paul Meyer, "Alexandre le Grand dans la litterature francaise du +moyen age", 2 vols. (Paris, 1886), vol ii., pp. 372-376, and Paget +Toynbee, "Dante Studies and Researches" (London, 1902), p. 144.] + +[Footnote 125: Of Arthur's several nephews, Gawain is represented by +Chretien as peerless in respect of courage and courtesy. In the English +romances his character steadily deteriorates.] + +[Footnote 126: This sentence contains the motive for all the action +in the sequel. The same situation is threatened in "Yvain", but there +Gawain rescues the hero from the lethargy, ignoble in the eyes of a +feudal audience, into which he was falling. Cf. also "Marques de Rome" +("Lit. Verein in Stuttgart", Tubingen, 1889), p. 36, where the Empress +of Rome thus incites her husband to the chase: "Toz jors cropez vos a +Postel; vos n'estes point chevalereus, si come vos deussiez estre, si +juenes hom come vos estes"; also J. Gower, "Le Mirour de l'omme, 22, 813 +ff.: + +"Rois est des femmes trop decu, Qant plus les ayme que son dieu, Dont +laist honour pour foldelit: Cil Rois ne serra pas cremu, Q'ensi voet +laisser sou escu Et querre le bataille ou lit."] + +[Footnote 127: This brusque command, implying so sudden a change in +Erec's attitude toward his wife, initiates a long series of tests of +Enide's devotion, which fill the rest of the romance. Why did Erec treat +his wife with such severity? In the Mabinogi of "Geraint the Son of +Erbin", it is plain that jealousy was the hero's motive. The reader of +"Erec" may judge whether, as we believe, the hero's sudden resolve is +not rather that of a man piqued at being justly reproved by his wife +for a delinquency he had not himself remarked; irate at his wife's +imputation, and fearful of having forfeited her respect, he starts +out to redeem his reputation in her eyes, and to maker her retract any +insinuation she had made. Erec is simply angry with himself, but he +expends his wrath upon his defenceless wife until he is reassured of her +love and respect for him.] + +[Footnote 128: The situation here is a common one. Parallels will be +found in the "Voyage de Charlemagne", in the first tale of the "Arabian +Nights", in the poem "Biterolf and Dietlieb", and in the English ballad +of "King Arthur and King Cornwall". Professor Child, in his "English and +Scotch Ballads", indexes the ballads in his collection, which present +this motive, under the following caption: "King who regards himself as +the richest, most magnificent, etc., in the world, is told that there is +one who outstrips him, and undertakes to see for himself whether this is +so, threatening death to the person who has affirmed his inferiority in +case this is disproved."] + +[Footnote 129: The presence of the Irish in this connection is explained +by G. Paris in "Romania", xx. 149.] + +[Footnote 130: Kay the Seneschal appears here for the first time in +Chretien's poems with the character which he regularly ascribes to him. +Readers of Arthurian romance are all familiar with Sir Kay; they will +find that in Chretien, the seneschal, in addition to his undeniable +qualities of bravery and frankness, has less pleasing traits; he is +foolhardy, tactless, mean, and a disparager of others' merit. He figures +prominently in "Yvain" and "Lancelot". His poetic history has not yet +been written. His role in the German romances has been touched upon by +Dr. Friedrich Sachse, "Ueber den Ritter Kei" (Berlin, 1860).] + +[Footnote 131: No meat was eaten because it was the eve of Sunday.] + +[Footnote 132: In the French epic poems and romances of adventure alike +it is customary for giants and all manner of rustic boors to carry +clubs, the arms of knighthood being appropriate for such ignoble +creatures. Other instances of this convention will be remarked in the +text.] + +[Footnote 133: There follows and excellent example of an old French +lament for the dead. Such a wail was known in old French as a "regret", +a word which has lost its specific meaning in English.] + +[Footnote 134: Many examples will be met of women skilled in the +practice of medicine and surgery. On the subject, cf. A. Hertel, +"Versauberte Oertlichkeiten und Gegenstande in der altfranzosschen +Dichtung" (Hanover, 1908); Georg Manheimer, "Etwas liber die Aerzte im +alten Frankreich" in "Romanische Forschungen", vi. 581-614.] + +[Footnote 135: The reference here and in v.5891 is probably suggested by +the "Roman d'Eneas", which tells the same story as Virgil's "Aeneid", +in old French eight-syllable rhymed couplets, and which is dated by +the most recent scholarship 1160 circ. Cf. F.M. Warren in "Modern +Philology", iii. 179-209; iii. 513-539; iv. 655-675. Also M. Wilmotte, +"L'Evolution du roman francais aux environs de 1150" (Paris, 1903). +Scenes from classical and medieval romance were for a long time +favourite subject of portrayal upon cloths and tapestries, as well as of +illuminations for manuscripts.] + +[Footnote 136: Various conjectures have been advanced concerning the +significance of this strange adventure and its mysterious name "La +Joie de la cour". It is a quite extraneous episode, and Tennyson in his +artistic use of our hero and heroine in the Idyl of "Geraint and Enid" +did well to omit it. Chretien's explanation, a little farther on, of "La +Joie de la cour" is lame and unsatisfactory, as if he himself did not +understand the significance of the matter upon which he was working. Cf. +E. Philipot in "Romania", xxv. 258-294; K. Othmer, "Ueber das Verhaltnis +Chrestiens Erec und Enide zu dem Mabinogion des rothen Buch von Hergest" +(Bonn, 1889); G. Paris in "Romania", xx. 152 f.] + +[Footnote 137: The following description of Erec's reception is repeated +with variations at the time of Yvain's entrance in the "Chastel de Pesme +Avanture" ("Yvain", 5107 f.) (F.).] + +[Footnote 138: For such conventional mediaeval descriptions of +other-world castles, palaces, and landscapes, cf. O.M. Johnston in +"Ztsch fur romanische Philologie", xxxii. 705-710.] + +[Footnote 139: Tiebaut li Esclavon, frequently mentioned in the epic +poems, was a Saracen king, the first husband of Guibourne, who later +married the Christian hero Guillaume d'Orange. Opinel was also a +Saracen, mentioned in "Gaufrey", p. 132, and the hero of a lost epic +poem (see G. Paris, "Historie poetique de Charlemagne", p. 127). Fernagu +was another Saracen king, killed in a famous encounter by Roland, +"Otinel", p. 9 (F.). For further references to these characters, see +E. Langlois, "Table des noms propres de toute nature compris dans les +chansons de geste" (Paris, 1904).] + +[Footnote 140: There is a similar picket fence topped with helmets in +the "Las de la Mule sanz frain", v. 433 (ed. By R.T. Hill, Baltimore, +1911).] + +[Footnote 141: For such magic horns, cf. A. Hertel, "Verzauberte +Oertlichkeiten", etc. (Hanover, 1908).] + +[Footnote 142: In fact, nothing is known of this "lai", if, indeed, it +ever existed. For a recent definition of "lai", se L. Foulet in "Ztsch. +fur romanische Philologie", xxxii. 161 f.] + +[Footnote 143: The sterling was the English silver penny, 240 of which +equalled 1 Pound Sterling of silver of 5760 grains 925 fine. It is early +described as "denarius Angliae qui vocatur sterlingus" ("Ency. Brit").] + +[Footnote 144: Macrobius was a Neoplatonic philosopher and Latin +grammarian of the early part of the 5th century A.D. He is best known +as the author of the "Saturnalia" and of a commentary upon Cicero's +"Somnium Scipionis" in that author's "De republica". It is this latter +work that is probably in the mind of Chretien, as well as of Gower, who +refers to him in his "Mirour l'omme", and of Jean de Meun, the author of +the second part of the "Roman de la Rose".] + +[Footnote 145: For fairies and their handiwork in the Middle Ages, cf. +L.F.A. Maury, "Les Fees du moyen age" (Paris, 1843); Keightley, +"Fairy Mythology" (London, 1860); Lucy A. Paton, "Studies in the Fairy +Mythology of Arthurian Romance", Radcliffe Monograph (Boston, 1903); +D.B. Easter, "The Magic Elements in the romans d'aventure and the romans +bretons" (Baltimore, 1906).] + + + + + + +CLIGES [21] + +(Vv. 1-44.) He who wrote of Erec and Enide, and translated into French +the commands of Ovid and the Art of Love, and wrote the Shoulder +Bite, [22] and about King Mark and the fair Iseut, [23] and about the +metamorphosis of the Lapwing, [24] the Swallow, and the Nightingale, +will tell another story now about a youth who lived in Greece and was +a member of King Arthur's line. But before I tell you aught of him, you +shall hear of his father's life, whence he came and of what family. He +was so bold and so ambitious that he left Greece and went to England, +which was called Britain in those days, in order to win fame and renown. +This story, which I intend to relate to you, we find written in one of +the books of the library of my lord Saint Peter at Beauvais. [25] From +there the material was drawn of which Chretien has made this romance. +The book is very old in which the story is told, and this adds to its +authority. [26] From such books which have been preserved we learn the +deeds of men of old and of the times long since gone by. Our books have +informed us that the pre-eminence in chivalry and learning once belonged +to Greece. Then chivalry passed to Rome, together with that highest +learning which now has come to France. God grant that it may be +cherished here, and that it may be made so welcome here that the honour +which has taken refuge with us may never depart from France: God had +awarded it as another's share, but of Greeks and Romans no more is +heard, their fame is passed, and their glowing ash is dead. + +(Vv. 45-134.) Chretien begins his story as we find it in the history, +which tells of an emperor powerful in wealth and honour who ruled over +Greece and Constantinople. A very noble empress, too, there was, by +whom the emperor had two children. But the elder son was already so +far advanced before the younger one was born that, if he had wished, he +might have become a knight and held all the empire beneath his sway. +The name of the elder was Alexander, and the other's name was Alis. +Alexander, too, was the father's name, and the mother's name was +Tantalis. I shall now say nothing more of the emperor and of Alis; but +I shall speak of Alexander, who was so bold and proud that he scorned +to become a knight in his own country. He had heard of King Arthur, who +reigned in those days, and of the knights whom he always kept about +him, thus causing his court to be feared and famed throughout the world. +However, the affair may result and whatever fortune may await him, +nothing can restrain Alexander from his desire to go into Britain, but +he must obtain his father's consent before proceeding to Britain and +Cornwall. So Alexander, fair and brave, goes to speak with the emperor +in order to ask and obtain his leave. Now he will tell him of his desire +and what he wishes to do and undertake. "Fair sire," he says, "in quest +of honour and fame and praise I dare to ask you a boon, which I desire +you to give me now without delay, if you are willing to grant it to me." +The emperor thinks no harm will come from this request: he ought rather +to desire and long for his son's honour. "Fair son," he says, "I grant +you your desire; so tell me now what you wish me to give you." Now the +youth has accomplished his purpose, and is greatly pleased when the boon +is granted him which he so greatly desired. "Sire," says he, "do you +wish to know what it is that you have promised me? I wish to have a +great plenty of gold and silver, and such companions from among your +men as I will select; for I wish to go forth from your empire, and to +present my service to the king who rules over Britain, in order that he +may make me a knight. I promise you never in my life to wear armour on +my face or helmet upon my head until King Arthur shall gird on my sword, +if he will graciously do so. For from no other than from him will I +accept my arms." Without hesitation the emperor replies: "Fair son, for +God's sake, speak not so! This country all belongs to you, as well as +rich Constantinople. You ought not to think me mean, when I am ready +to make you such a gift. I shall be ready soon to have you crowned, and +to-morrow you shall be a knight. All Greece will be in your hands, and +you shall receive from your nobles, as is right, their homage and oaths +of allegiance. Whoever refuses such an offer is not wise." + +(Vv. 135-168.) The youth hears the promise how the next morning after +Mass his father is ready to dub him knight; but he says he will seek his +fortune for better or worse in another land. "If you are willing in this +matter to grant the boon I have asked of you, then give me mottled and +grey furs, some good horses and silken stuffs: for before I become +a knight I wish to enrol in King Arthur's service. Nor have I yet +sufficient strength to bear arms. No one could induce me by prayer or +flattery not to go to the foreign land to see his nobles and that king +whose fame is so great for courtesy and prowess. Many men of high degree +lose through sloth the great renown which they might win, were they to +wander about the world. [27] Repose and glory ill agree, as it seems to +me; for a man of wealth adds nothing to his reputation if he spends all +his days at ease. Prowess is irksome to the ignoble man, and cowardice +is a burden to the man of spirit; thus the two are contrary and +opposite. He is the slave of his wealth who spends his days in storing +and increasing it. Fair father, so long as I have the chance, and so +long as my rigour lasts, I wish to devote my effort and energy to the +pursuit of fame." + +(Vv. 169-234.) Upon hearing this; the emperor doubtless feels both joy +and grief: he is glad that his son's intention is fixed upon honour, +and on the other hand he is sorrowful because his son is about to be +separated from him. Yet, because of the promise which he made, despite +the grief he feels, he must grant his request; for an emperor must keep +his word. "Fair son," he says, "I must not fail to do your pleasure, +when I see you thus striving for honour. From my treasure you may have +two barges full of gold and silver; but take care to be generous and +courteous and well-behaved." Now the youth is very happy when his father +promises him so much, and places his treasure at his disposal, and bids +him urgently to give and spend generously. And his father explains his +reason for this: "Fair son," he says, "believe me, that generosity is +the dame and queen which sheds glory upon all the other virtues. And the +proof of this is not far to seek. For where could you find a man, be he +never so rich and powerful, who is not blamed if he is mean? Nor could +you find one, however ungracious he may be, whom generosity will not +bring into fair repute? Thus largess makes the gentleman, which +result can be accomplished neither by high birth, courtesy, knowledge, +gentility, money, strength, chivalry, boldness, dominion, beauty, or +anything else. [28] But just as the rose is fairer than any other flower +when it is fresh and newly blown, so there, where largess dwells, it +takes its place above all other virtues, and increases five hundred fold +the value of other good traits which it finds in the man who acquits +himself well. So great is the merit of generosity that I could not tell +you the half of it." The young man has now successfully concluded the +negotiations for what he wished; for his father has acceded to all +his desires. But the empress was sorely grieved when she heard of the +journey which her son was about to take. Yet, whoever may grieve or +sorrow, and whoever may attribute his intention to youthful folly, and +ever may blame and seek to dissuade him, the youth ordered his ships to +be made ready as soon as possible, desiring to tarry no longer in his +native land. At his command the ships were freighted that very night +with wine, meat, and biscuit. + +(Vv. 235-338.) The ships were loaded in the port, and the next morning +Alexander came to the strand in high spirits, accompanied by his +companions, who were happy over the prospective voyage. They were +escorted by the emperor and the empress in her grief. At the port they +find the sailors in the ships drawn up beside the cliff. The sea was +calm and smooth, the wind was light, and the weather clear. When he had +taken leave of his father, and bidden farewell to the empress, whose +heart was heavy in her bosom, Alexander first stepped from the small +boat into the skip; then all his companions hastened by fours, threes, +and twos to embark without delay. Soon the sail was spread and the +anchor raised. Those on shore whose heart is heavy because of the men +whom they watch depart, follow them with their gaze as long as they can: +and in order to watch them longer, they all climb a high hill behind +the beach. From there they sadly gaze, as long as their eyes can follow +them. With sorrow, indeed, they watch them go, being solicitous for +the youths, that God may bring them to their haven without accident and +without peril. All of April and part of May they spent at sea. Without +any great danger or mishap they came to port at Southampton. [29] +One day, between three o'clock and vespers, they cast anchor and +went ashore. The young men, who had never been accustomed to endure +discomfort or pain, had suffered so long from their life at sea that +they had all lost their colour, and even the strongest and most vigorous +were weak and faint. In spite of that, they rejoice to have escaped from +the sea and to have arrived where they wished to be. Because of their +depleted state, they spend the night at Southampton in happy frame, and +make inquiries whether the King is in England. They are told that he +is at Winchester, and that they can reach there in a very short time if +they will start early in the morning and keep to the straight road. At +this news they are greatly pleased, and the next morning at daybreak the +youths wake early, and prepare and equip themselves. And when they were +ready, they left Southampton, and kept to the direct road until they +reached Winchester, where the King was. Before six o'clock in the +morning the Greeks had arrived at the court. The squires with the horses +remain below in the yard, while the youths go up into the presence of +the King, who was the best that ever was or ever will be in the world. +And when the King sees them coming, they please him greatly, and meet +with his favour. But before approaching the King's presence, they +remove the cloaks from about their necks, lest they should be considered +ill-bred. Thus, all unmantled, they came before the King, while all the +nobles present held their peace, greatly pleased at the sight of these +handsome and well-behaved young men. They suppose that of course they +are all sons of counts or kings; and, to be sure, so they were, and of a +very charming age, with graceful and shapely forms. And the clothes +they wore were all of the same stuff and cut of the same appearance and +colour. There were twelve of them beside their lord, of whom I need tell +you no more than that there was none better than he. With modesty and +orderly mien, he was handsome and shapely as he stood uncovered before +the King. Then he kneeled before him, and all the others, for honour's +sake, did the same beside their lord. + +(Vv. 339-384.) Alexander, with his tongue well skilled in speaking fair +and wisely, salutes the King. "King," he says, "unless the report is +false that spreads abroad your fame, since God created the first man +there was never born a God-fearing man of such puissance as yours. King, +your widespread renown has drawn me to serve and honour you in your +court, and if you will accept my service, I would fain remain here +until I be dubbed a knight by your hand and by no one else. For unless +I receive this honour from your hand, I shall renounce all intention of +being knighted. If you will accept my service until you are willing +to dub me a knight, retain me now, oh gentle King, and my companions +gathered here." To which at once the King replies: "Friend, I refuse +neither you nor your companions. Be welcome all. For surely you seem, +and I doubt it not, to be sons of high-born men. Whence do you come?" +"From Greece." "From Greece?" "Yes." "Who is thy father?" "Upon my word, +sire, the emperor." "And what is thy name, fair friend?" "Alexander is +the name that was given me when I received the salt and holy oil, and +Christianity and baptism." "Alexander, my dear, fair friend. I will keep +you with me very gladly, with great pleasure and delight. For you have +done me signal honour in thus coming to my court. I wish you to be +honoured here, as free vassals who are wise and gentle. You have been +too long upon your knees; now, at my command, and henceforth make your +home with man and in my court; it is well that you have come to us." + +(Vv. 385-440.) Then the Greeks rise up, joyful that the King has so +kindly invited them to stay. Alexander did well to come; for he lacks +nothing that he desires, and there is no noble at the court who does not +address him kindly and welcome him. He is not so foolish as to be puffed +up, nor does he vaunt himself nor boast. He makes acquaintance with my +lord Gawain and with the others, one by one. He gains the good graces of +them all, but my lord Gawain grows so fond of him that he chooses him as +his friend and companion. [210] The Greeks took the best lodgings to be +had, with a citizen of the town. Alexander had brought great possessions +with him from Constantinople, intending to give heed above all to the +advice and counsel of the Emperor, that his heart should be ever +ready to give and dispense his riches well. To this end he devotes his +efforts, living well in his lodgings, and giving and spending liberally, +as is fitting in one so rich, and as his heart dictates. The entire +court wonders where he got all the wealth that he bestows; for on all +sides he presents the valuable horses which he had brought from his own +land. So much did Alexander do, in the performance of his service, +that the King, the Queen, and the nobles bear him great affection. +King Arthur about this time desired to cross over into Brittany. So he +summons all his barons together to take counsel and inquire to whom he +may entrust England to be kept in peace and safety until his return. +By common consent, it seems, the trust was assigned to Count Angres of +Windsor, for it was their judgement that there was no more trustworthy +lord in all the King's realm. When this man had received the land, King +Arthur set out the next day accompanied by the Queen and her damsels. +The Bretons make great rejoicing upon hearing the news in Brittany that +the King and his barons are on the way. + +(Vv. 441-540.) Into the ship in which the King sailed there entered +no youth or maiden save only Alexander and Soredamors, whom the Queen +brought with her. This maiden was scornful of love, for she had never +heard of any man whom she would deign to love, whatever might be his +beauty, prowess, lordship, or birth. And yet the damsel was so charming +and fair that she might fitly have learned of love, if it had pleased +her to lend a willing ear; but she would never give a thought to love. +Now Love will make her grieve, and will avenge himself for all the pride +and scorn with which she has always treated him. Carefully Love has +aimed his dart with which he pierced her to the heart. Now she grows +pale and trembles, and in spite of herself must succumb to Love. Only +with great difficulty can she restrain herself from casting a glance +toward Alexander; but she must be on her guard against her brother, my +lord Gawain. Dearly she pays and atones for her great pride and disdain. +Love has heated for her a bath which heats and burns her painfully. At +first it is grateful to her, and then it hurts; one moment she likes it, +and the next she will have none of it. She accuses her eyes of treason, +and says: [211] "My eyes, you have betrayed me now! My heart, usually +so faithful, now bears me ill-will because of you. Now what I see +distresses me. Distresses? Nay, verily, rather do I like it well. And if +I actually see something that distresses me, can I not control my eyes? +My strength must indeed have failed, and little should I esteem myself, +if I cannot control my eyes and make them turn their glance elsewhere. +Thus, I shall be able to baffle Love in his efforts to get control of +me. The heart feels no pain when the eye does not see; so, if I do not +look at him, no harm will come to me. He addresses me no request or +prayer, as he would do were he in love with me. And since he neither +loves nor esteems me, shall I love him without return? If his beauty +allures my eyes, and my eyes listen to the call, shall I say that I love +him just for that? Nay, for that would be a lie. Therefore, he has no +ground for complaint, nor can I make any claim against him. One cannot +love with the eyes alone. What crime, then, have my eyes committed, if +their glance but follows my desire? What is their fault and what their +sin? Ought I to blame them, then? Nay, verily. Who, then, should be +blamed? Surely myself, who have them in control. My eye glances at +nothing unless it gives my heart delight. My heart ought not to have any +desire which would give me pain. Yet its desire causes me pain. Pain? +Upon my faith, I must be mad, if to please my heart I wish for something +which troubles me. If I can, I ought to banish any wish that distresses +me. If I can? Mad one, what have I said? I must, indeed, have little +power if I have no control over myself. Does Love think to set me in +the same path which is wont to lead others astray? Others he may lead +astray, but not me who care not for him. Never shall I be his, nor +ever was, and I shall never seek his friendship." Thus she argues with +herself, one moment loving, and hating the next. She is in such doubt +that she does not know which course she had better adopt. She thinks to +be on the defence against Love, but defence is not what she wants. God! +She does not know that Alexander is thinking of her too! Love bestows +upon them equally such a share as is their due. He treats them very +fairly and justly, for each one loves and desires the other. And this +love would be true and right if only each one knew what was the other's +wish. But he does not know what her desire is, and she knows not the +cause of his distress. + +(Vv. 541-574.) The Queen takes note of them and sees them often blanch +and pale and heave deep sighs and tremble. But she knows no reason why +they should do so, unless it be because of the sea where they are. I +think she would have divined the cause had the sea not thrown her off +her guard, but the sea deceives and tricks her, so that she does not +discover love because of the sea; and it is from love that comes the +bitter pain that distresses them. [212] But of the three concerned, +the Queen puts all the blame upon the sea; for the other two accuse the +third to her, and hold it alone responsible for their guilt. Some one +who is not at fault is often blamed for another's wrong. Thus, the Queen +lays all the blame and guilt upon the sea, but it is unfair to put the +blame upon the sea, for it is guilty of no misdeed. Soredamors' deep +distress continued until the vessel came to port. As for the King, it is +well known that the Bretons were greatly pleased, and served him gladly +as their liege lord. But of King Arthur I will not longer speak in +this place; rather shall you hear me tell how Love distresses these two +lovers whom he has attacked. + +(Vv. 575-872.) Alexander loves and desires her; and she, too, pines for +the love of him, but he knows it not, nor will he know it until he +has suffered many a pain and many a grief. It is for her sake that he +renders to the Queen loving service, as well as to her maids-in-waiting; +but to her on whom his thoughts are fixed, he dares not speak or address +a word. If she but dared to assert to him the right which she thinks she +has, she would gladly inform him of the truth; but she does not dare, +and cannot do it. They dare neither speak nor act in accordance with +what each sees in the other--which works a great hardship to them both, +and their love but grows and flames the more. However, it is the custom +of all lovers to feast their eyes gladly with gazing, if they can do +no more; and they assume that, because they find pleasure in that which +causes their love to be born and grow, therefore it must be to their +advantage; whereas it only harms them more, just as he who approaches +and draws close beside the fire burns himself more than he who holds +aloof. Their love waxes and grows anon; but each is abashed before the +other, and so much is hidden and concealed that no flame or smoke arises +from the coals beneath the ashes. The heat is no less on this account, +but rather is better sustained beneath the ashes than above. Both of +them are in great torment; for, in order that none may perceive their +trouble, they are forced to deceive people by a feigned bearing; but at +night comes the bitter moan, which each one makes within his breast. Of +Alexander I will tell you first how he complains and vents his grief. +Love presents before his mind her for whom he is in such distress; it is +she who has filched his heart away, and grants him no rest upon his bed, +because, forsooth, he delights to recall the beauty and the grace of her +who, he has no hope, will ever bring him any joy. "I may as well hold +myself a madman." he exclaims. "A madman? Truly, I am beside myself, +when I dare not speak what I have in mind; for it would speedily fare +worse with me (if I held my peace). I have engaged my thoughts in a mad +emprise. But is it not better to keep my thoughts to myself than to be +called a fool? My wish will never then be known. Shall I then conceal +the cause of my distress, and not dare to seek aid and healing for my +wound? He is mad who feels himself afflicted, and seeks not what will +bring him health, if perchance he may find it anywhere; but many a one +seeks his welfare by striving for his heart's desire, who pursues only +that which brings him woe instead. And why should one ask for advice, +who does not expect to gain his health? He would only exert himself +in vain. I feel my own illness to be so grievous that I shall never be +healed by any medicine or draught, by any herb or root. For some ills +there is no remedy, and mine lies so deep within that it is beyond the +reach of medicine. Is there no help, then? Methinks I have lied. When +first I felt this malady, if I had dared to make mention of it. I might +have spoken with a physician who could have completely cured me. But I +like not to discuss such matters; I think he would pay me no heed and +would not consent to accept a fee. No wonder, then, if I am terrified; +for I am very ill, yet I do not know what disease this is which has me +in its grip, and I know not whence this pain has come. I do not know? I +know full well that it is Love who does me this injury. How is that? Can +Love do harm? Is he not gentle and well-bred? I used to think that there +was naught but good in Love; but I have found him full of enmity. He who +has not had experience of him does not know what tricks Love plays. +He is a fool who joins his ranks; for he always seeks to harm his +followers. Upon my faith, his tricks are bad. It is poor sport to play +with him, for his game will only do me harm. What shall I do, then? +Shall I retreat? I think it would be wise to do so, but I know not +how to do it. If Love chastens and threatens me in order to teach and +instruct me, ought I to disdain my teacher? He is a fool who scorns his +master. I ought to keep and cherish the lesson which Love teaches me, +for great good may soon come of it. But I am frightened because he beats +me so. And dost thou complain, when no sign of blow or wound appears? +Art thou not mistaken? Nay, for he has wounded me so deep that he has +shot his dart to my very heart, and has not yet drawn it out again. +[213] How has he pierced thy body with it, when no wound appears +without? Tell me that, for I wish to know. How did he make it enter in? +Through the eye. Through the eye? But he has not put it out? He did not +harm the eye at all, but all the pain is in the heart. Then tell me, if +the dart passed through the eye, how is it that the eye itself is not +injured or put out. If the dart entered through the eye, why does the +heart in the breast complain, when the eye, which received the first +effect, makes no complaint of it at all? I can readily account for that: +the eye is not concerned with the understanding, nor has it any part in +it; but it is the mirror of the heart, and through this mirror passes, +without doing harm or injury, the flame which sets the heart on fire. +For is not the heart placed in the breast just like a lighted candle +which is set in a lantern? If you take the candle away no light will +shine from the lantern; but so long as the candle lasts the lantern is +not dark at all, and the flame which shines within does it no harm or +injury. Likewise with a pane of glass, which might be very strong and +solid, and yet a ray of the sun could pass through it without cracking +it at all; yet a piece of glass will never be so bright as to enable one +to see, unless a stronger light strikes its surface. Know that the same +thing is true of the eyes as of the glass and the lantern; for the +light strikes the eyes in which the heart is accustomed to see itself +reflected, and lo! it sees some light outside, and many other things, +some green, some purple, others red or blue; and some it dislikes, and +some it likes, scorning some and prizing others. But many an object +seems fair to it when it looks at it in the glass, which will deceive it +if it is not on its guard. My mirror has greatly deceived me; for in +it my heart saw a ray of light with which I am afflicted, and which has +penetrated deep within me, causing me to lose my wits. I am ill-treated +by my friend, who deserts me for my enemy. I may well accuse him of +felony for the wrong he has done to me. I thought I had three friends, +my heart and my two eyes together; but it seems that they hate me. Where +shall I ever find a friend, when these three are my enemies, belonging +to me, yet putting me to death? My servants mock at my authority, in +doing what they please without consulting my desire. After my experience +with these who have done me wrong, I know full well that a good man's +love may be befouled by wicked servants in his employ. He who is +attended by a wicked servant will surely have cause to rue it, sooner or +later. Now I will tell you how the arrow, which has come into my keeping +and possession, is made and fashioned; but I fear greatly that I shall +fail in the attempt; for the fashion of it is so fine that it will be no +wonder if I fail. Yet I shall devote all my effort to telling you how +it seems to me. The notch and the feathers are so close together, when +carefully examined, that the line of separation is as fine as a hair's +breadth; but the notch is so smooth and straight that in it surely no +improvement could be made. The feathers are coloured as if they were +of gold or gilt; but gilt is here beside the mark, for I know these +feathers were more brilliant than any gilt. This dart is barbed with the +golden tresses that I saw the other day at sea. That is the dart which +awakes my love. God! What a treasure to possess! Would he who could gain +such a prize crave other riches his whole life long? For my part I could +swear that I should desire nothing else; I would not give up even the +barb and the notch for all the gold of Antioch. And if I prize so highly +these two things, who could estimate the value of what remains? That is +so fair and full of charm, so dear and precious, that I yearn and long +to gaze again upon her brow, which God's hand has made so clear that it +were vain to compare with it any mirror, emerald, or topaz. But all this +is of little worth to him who sees her flashing eyes; to all who gaze on +them they seem like twin candles burning. And whose tongue is so expert +as to describe the fashion of her well-shaped nose and radiant face, in +which the rose suffuses the lily so as to efface it somewhat, and thus +enhance the glory of her visage? And who shall speak of her laughing +mouth, which God shaped with such great skill that none might see it and +not suppose that she was laughing? And what about her teeth? They are so +close to one another that it seems they are all of one solid piece, +and in order that the effect might still be enhanced Nature added her +handiwork; for any one, to see her part her lips, would suppose that the +teeth were of ivory or of silver. There is so much to be said were I +to portray each detailed charm of chin and ears, that it would not be +strange were I to pass over some little thing. Of her throat I shall +only say that crystal beside it looks opaque. And her neck beneath her +hair is four times as white as ivory. Between the border of her gown and +the buckle at the parted throat, I saw her bosom left exposed and whiter +than new-fallen snow. My pain would be indeed assuaged, if I had seen +the dart entire. Gladly would I tell, if I but knew, what was the nature +of the shaft. But I did nor see it, and it is not my fault if I do +not attempt to describe something I have never seen. At that time Love +showed me only the notch and the barb; for the shaft was hidden in the +quiver, to wit, in the robe and shift in which the damsel was arrayed. +Upon my faith, malady which tortures me is the arrow--it is the dart at +which I am a wretch to be enraged. I am ungrateful to be incensed. Never +shall a straw be broken because of any distrust or quarrel that may +arise between Love and me. Now let Love do what he will with me as with +one who belongs to him; for I wish it, and so it pleases me. I hope that +this malady may never leave me, but that it may thus always maintain its +hold, and that health may never come to me except from the source of my +illness." + +(Vv. 873-1046.) Alexander's complaint is long enough; but that of the +maiden is nothing less. All night she lies in such distress that +she cannot sleep or get repose. Love has confined within her heart a +struggle and conflict which disturbs her breast, and which causes her +such pain and anguish that she weeps and moans all night, and tosses +about with sudden starts, so that she is almost beside herself. And when +she has tossed and sobbed and groaned and started up and sighed again +then she looked within her heart to see who and what manner of man it +was for whom Love was tormenting her. And when she has refreshed herself +somewhat with thinking to her heart's content, she stretches and tosses +about again, and ridicules all the thoughts she has had. Then she takes +another course, and says: "Silly one, what matters it to me if this +youth is of good birth and wise and courteous and valorous? All this is +simply to his honour and credit. And as for his beauty, what care I? Let +his beauty be gone with him! But if so, it will be against my will, for +it is not my wish to deprive him of anything. Deprive? No, indeed! That +I surely will not do. If he had the wisdom of Solomon, and if Nature had +bestowed on him all the beauty she can place in human form, and if God +had put in my power to undo it all, yet would I not injure him; but I +would gladly, if I could, make him still more wise and fair. In faith, +then, I do not hate him! And am I for that reason his friend? Nay, I am +not his any more than any other man's. Then what do I think of him so +much, if he pleases me no more than other men? I do not know; I am all +confused; for I never thought so much about any man in the world, and +if I had my will, I should see him all the time, and never take my eyes +from him. I feel such joy at the sight of him! Is this love? Yes, I +believe it is. I should not appeal to him so often, if I did not love +him above all others. So I love him, then, let it be agreed. Then shall +I not do what I please? Yes, provided he does not refuse. This intention +of mine is wrong; but Love has so filled my heart that I am mad and +beside myself, nor will any defence avail me now, if I must endure the +assault of Love. I have demeaned myself prudently toward Love so long, +and would never accede to his will; but now I am more than kindly +disposed toward him. And what thanks will he owe to me, if he cannot +have my loving service and good-will? By force he has humbled my pride, +and now I must follow his pleasure. Now I am ready to love, and I have +a master, and Love will teach me--but what? How I am to serve his will. +But of that I am very well informed, and am so expert in serving him +that no one could find fault with me. I need learn no more of that. Love +would have it, and so would I, that I should be sensible and modest and +kind and approachable to all for the sake of one I love. Shall I love +all men, then, for the sake of one? I should be pleasant to every one, +but Love does not bid me be the true friend of every one. Love's lessons +are only good. It is not without significance that I am called by the +name of Soredamors. [214] I am destined to love and be loved in turn, +and I intend to prove it by my name, if I can find the explanation +there. There is some significance in the fact that the first part of +my name is of golden colour; for what is golden is the best. For this +reason I highly esteem my name, because it begins with that colour with +which the purest gold harmonises. And the end of the name calls Love to +my mind; for whoever calls me by my right name always refreshes me with +love. And one half gilds the other with a bright coat of yellow gold; +for Soredamors has the meaning of 'one gilded over with Love.' Love has +highly honoured me in gilding me over with himself. A gilding of +real gold is not so fine as that which makes me radiant. And I shall +henceforth do my best to be his gilding, and shall never again complain +of it. Now I love and ever more shall love. Whom? Truly, that is a fine +question! Him whom Love bids me love, for no other shall ever have +my love. What will he care in his ignorance, unless I tell him of it +myself? What shall I do, if I do not make to him my prayer? Whoever +desires anything ought to ask for it and make request. What? Shall I +beseech him, then? Nay. Why? Did ever such a thing come about that a +woman should be so forward as to make love to any man; unless she were +clean beside herself. I should be mad beyond question if I uttered +anything for which I might be reproached. If he should know the truth +through word of mine I think he would hold me in slight esteem, and +would often reproach me with having solicited his love. May love never +be so base that I should be the first to prefer a request which would +lower me in his eyes! Alas, God! How will he ever know the truth, since +I shall not tell him of it? As yet I have very little cause to complain. +I will wait until his attention is aroused, if ever it is to be aroused. +He will surely guess the truth, I think, if ever he has had commerce +with Love, or has heard of it by word of mouth. Heard of it? That is a +foolish thing to say. Love is not of such easy access that any one may +claim acquaintance by hear-say only and without personal experience. +I have come to know that well enough myself; for I could never learn +anything of love through flattery and wooing words, though I have often +been in the school of experience, and have been flattered many a time. +But I have always stood aloof, and now he makes me pay a heavy penalty: +now I know more about it than does the ox of ploughing. But one thing +causes me despair: I fear he has never been in love. And if he is not in +love, and never has been so, then I have sowed in the sea where no seed +can take root. So there is nothing to do but wait and suffer, until +I see whether I can lead him on by hints and covered words. I shall +continue this until he is sure of my love and dares to ask me for it. So +there is nothing more about the matter, but that I love him and am his. +If he loves me not, yet will I love him." + +(Vv. 1047-1066.) Thus he and she utter their complaint, unhappy at night +and worse by day, each hiding the truth from the other's eyes. In such +distress they remained a long time in Brittany, I believe, until the end +of the summer came. At the beginning of October there came messengers +by Dover from London and Canterbury, bearing to the King news which +troubled him. The messengers told him that he might be tarrying too long +in Brittany; for, he to whom he had entrusted the kingdom was intending +to withstand him, and had already summoned a great army of his vassals +and friends, and had established himself in London for the purpose of +defending the city against Arthur when he should return. + +(Vv. 1067-1092.) When the King heard this news, angry and sore +displeased he summons all his knights. In order the better to spur them +on to punish the traitor, he tells them that they are entirely to blame +for his trouble and strife; for on their advice he entrusted his land to +the hands of the traitor, who is worse than Ganelon. [215] There is not +a single one who does not agree that the King is right, for he had only +followed their advice; but now this man is to be outlawed, and you may +be sure that no town or city will avail to save his body from being +dragged out by force. Thus they all assure the King, giving him their +word upon oath, that they will deliver the traitor to him, or never +again claim their fiefs. And the King proclaims throughout Brittany that +no one who can bear arms shall refuse to follow him at once. + +(Vv. 1093-1146.) All Brittany is now astir. Never was such an army seen +as King Arthur brought together. When the ships came to set sail, it +seemed that the whole world was putting out to sea; for even the water +was hid from view, being covered with the multitude of ships. It is +certainly true that, to judge by the commotion, all Brittany is under +way. Now the ships have crossed the Channel, and the assembled host is +quartered on the shore. Alexander bethought himself to go and pray the +King to make him a knight, for if ever he should win renown it will be +in this war. Prompted by his desire, he takes his companions with him +to accomplish what he has in mind. On reaching the King's quarters, they +found him seated before his tent. When he saw the Greeks approaching, he +summoned them to him, saying: "Gentlemen, do not conceal what business +has brought you here." Alexander replied on behalf of all, and told him +his desire: "I have come," he says, "to request of you, as I ought to do +of my liege lord, on behalf of my companions and myself, that you should +make us knights." The King replies: "Very gladly; nor shall there be any +delay about it, since you have preferred your request." Then the +King commands that equipment shall be furnished for twelve knights. +Straightway the King's command is done. As each one asks for his +equipment, it is handed to him--rich arms and a good horse: thus each +one received his outfit. The arms and robes and horse were of equal +value for each of the twelve; but the harness for Alexander s body, if +it should be valued or sold, was alone worth as much as that of all the +other twelve. At the water's edge they stripped, and then washed and +bathed themselves. Not wishing that any other bath should be heated for +them, they washed in the sea and used it as their tub. [216] + +(Vv. 1147-1196.) All this is known to the Queen, who bears Alexander no +ill will, but rather loves, esteems, and values him. She wishes to make +Alexander a gift, but it is far more precious than she thinks. She seeks +and delves in all her boxes until she finds a white silk shirt, well +made of delicate texture, and very soft. Every thread in the stitching +of it was of gold, or of silver at least. Soredamors had taken a hand in +the stitching of it here and there, and at intervals, in the sleeves and +neck, she had inserted beside the gold a strand of her own hair, to see +if any man could be found who, by close examination, could detect the +difference. For the hair was quite as bright and golden as the thread of +gold itself. The Queen takes the shirt and presents it to Alexander. Ah, +God! What joy would Alexander have felt had he known what the Queen was +giving him! And how glad would she, too, have been, who had inserted her +own hair, if she had known that her lover was to own and wear it! She +could then have taken great comfort; for she would not have cared +so much for all the hair she still possessed as for the little that +Alexander had. But, more is the pity, neither of them knew the truth. +The Queen's messenger finds the youths on the shore where they are +bathing, and gives the shirt to Alexander. He is greatly pleased with +it, esteeming the present all the more because it was given him by the +Queen. But if he had known the rest, he would have valued it still more; +in exchange for it he would not have taken the whole world, but rather +would have made a shrine of it and worshipped it, doubtless, day and +night. + +(Vv. 1197-1260.) Alexander delays no longer, but dresses himself at +once. When he was dressed and ready, he returned to the King's tent with +all his companions. The Queen, it seems, had come there, too, wishing +to see the new knights present themselves. They might all be called +handsome, but Alexander with his shapely body was the fairest of them +all. Well, now that they are knights I will say no more of them for the +present, but will tell of the King and of his host which came to +London. Most of the people remained faithful to him, though many allied +themselves with the opposition. Count Angres assembled his forces, +consisting of all those whose influence could be gained by promises or +gifts. When he had gathered all his strength, he slipped away quietly at +night, fearing to be betrayed by the many who hated him. But before he +made off, he sacked London as completely as possible of provisions, gold +and silver, which he divided among his followers. This news was told to +the King, how the traitor had escaped with all his forces, and that +he had carried off from the city so many supplies that the distressed +citizens were impoverished and destitute. Then the King replied that +he would not take a ransom for the traitor, but rather hang him, if he +could catch him or lay hands on him. Thereupon, all the army proceeded +to Windsor. However it may be now, in those days the castle was not easy +to take when any one chose to defend it. The traitor made it secure, as +soon as he planned his treacherous deed, with a triple line of walls +and moats, and had so braced the walls inside with sharpened stakes that +catapults could not throw them down. They had taken great pains with the +fortifications, spending all of June, July, and August in building walls +and barricades, making moats and drawbridges, ditches, obstructions, and +barriers, and iron portcullises and a great square tower of stone. The +gate was never closed from fear or against assault. The castle stood +upon a high hill, and around beneath it flows the Thames. The host +encamped on the river bank, and that day they have time only to pitch +camp and set up the tents. + +(Vv. 1261-1348.) The army is in camp beside the Thames, and all the +meadow is filled with green and red tents. The sun, striking on the +colours, causes the river to flash for more than a league around. Those +in the town had come down to disport themselves upon the river bank with +only their lances in their hands and their shields grasped before their +breasts, and carrying no other arms at all. In coming thus, they showed +those without the walls that they stood in no fear of them. Alexander +stood aloof and watched the knights disporting themselves at feats of +arms. He yearns to attack them, and summons his companions one by one +by name. First Cornix, whom he dearly loved, then the doughty Licorides, +then Nabunal of Mvcene, and Acorionde of Athens, and Ferolin of +Salonica, and Calcedor from Africa, Parmenides and Francagel, mighty +Torin and Pinabel, Nerius and Neriolis. "My lords," he says, "I feel the +call to go with shield and lance to make the acquaintance of those who +disport themselves yonder before our eyes. I see they scorn us and hold +us in slight esteem, when they come thus without their arms to exercise +before our very eyes. We have just been knighted, and have not yet given +an account of ourselves against any knight or manikin. [217] We have +kept our first lances too long intact. And for what were our shields +intended? As yet, they have not a hole or crack to show. There is no use +in having them except in a combat or a fight. Let's cross the ford and +rush at them!" "We shall not fail you," all reply; and each one adds: +"So help me God, who fails you now is no friend of yours." Then they +fasten on their swords, tighten their saddles and girths, and mount +their steeds with shields in hand. When they had hung the shields about +their necks, and taken their lances with the gaily coloured ensigns, +they all proceed to the ford at once. Those on the farther side lower +their lances, and quickly ride to strike at them. But they (on the +hither bank) knew how to pay them back, not sparing nor avoiding them, +nor yielding to them a foot of ground. Rather, each man struck his +opponent so fiercely that there is no knight so brave but is compelled +to leave the saddle. They did not underestimate the experience, skill, +and bravery of their antagonists, but made their first blows count, and +unhorsed thirteen of them. The report spread to the camp of the fight +and of the blows that were being struck. There would soon have been a +merry strife if the others had dared to stand their ground. All through +the camp they run to arms, and raising a shout they cross the ford. And +those on the farther bank take to flight, seeing no advantage in staying +where they are. And the Greeks pursue them with blows of lance and +sword. Though they struck off many a head they themselves did not +receive a wound, and gave a good account of themselves that day. But +Alexander distinguished himself, who by his own efforts led off four +captive knights in bonds. The sands are strewn with headless dead, while +many others lie wounded and injured. + +(Vv. 1349-1418.) Alexander courteously presents the victims of his first +conquest to the Queen, not wishing them to fall into the hands of the +King, who would have had them all hanged. The Queen, however, had them +seized and safely kept under guard, as being charged with treason. +Throughout the camp they talk of the Greeks, and all maintain that +Alexander acted very courteously and wisely in not surrendering the +knights whom he had captured to the King, who would surely have had them +burned or hanged. But the King is not so well satisfied, and sending +promptly to the Queen he bids her come into his presence and not detain +those who have proved treacherous towards him, for either she must give +them up or offend him by keeping them. While the Queen was in conference +with the King, as was necessary, about the traitors, the Greeks +remained in the Queen's tent with her maids-in-waiting. While his twelve +companions conversed with them, Alexander uttered not a word. Soredamors +took note of this, seated as she was close by his side. Her head resting +upon her hand, it was plain that she was lost in thought. [218] Thus +they sat a long time, until Soredamors saw on his sleeve and about his +neck the hair which she had stitched into the shirt. Then she drew a +little closer thinking now to find an excuse for speaking a word to him. +She considers how she can address him first, and what the first word is +to be--whether she should address him by his name; and thus she takes +counsel with herself: "What shall I say first?" she says; "shall I +address him by his name, or shall I call him 'friend'? Friend? Not I. +How then? Shall I call him by his name? God! The name of 'friend' is +fair and sweet to take upon the lips. If I should dare to call him +'friend'! Should I dare? What forbids me to do so? The fact that that +implies a lie. A lie? I know not what the result will be, but I shall be +sorry if I do not speak the truth. Therefore, it is best to admit that +I should not like to speak a lie. God! yet he would not speak a lie were +he to call me his sweet friend! And should I lie in thus addressing him? +We ought both to tell the truth. But if I lie the fault is his. But why +does his name seem so hard to me that I should wish to replace it by a +surname? I think it is because it is so long that I should stop in the +middle. But if I simply called him 'friend', I could soon utter so short +a name. Fearing lest I should break down in uttering his proper name, I +would fain shed my blood if his name were simply 'my sweet friend.'" + +(Vv. 1419-1448.) She turns this thought over in her mind until the Queen +returns from the King who had summoned her. Alexander, seeing her come, +goes to meet her, and inquires what is the King's command concerning +the prisoners, and what is to be their fate. "Friend," says she, "he +requires of me to surrender them at his discretion, and to let his +justice be carried out. Indeed, he is much incensed that I have not +already handed them over. So I must needs send them to him, since I see +no help for it." Thus they passed that day; and the next day there was +a great assembly of all the good and loyal knights before the royal tent +to sit in judgment and decide by what punishment and torture the four +traitors should die. Some hold that they should be flayed alive, and +others that they should be hanged or burned. And the King, for his part, +maintains that traitors ought to be torn asunder. Then he commands them +to be brought in. When they are brought, he orders them to be bound, and +says that they shall not be torn asunder until they are taken beneath +the town, so that those within may see the sight. [219] + +(Vv. 1449-1472.) When this sentence was pronounced, the King addresses +Alexander, calling him his dear friend. "My friend," he says, "yesterday +I saw you attack and defend yourself with great bravery. I wish now +to reward your action! I will add to your company five hundred Welsh +knights and one thousand troopers from that land. In addition to what I +have given you, when the war is over I will crown you king of the best +kingdom in Wales. Towns and castles, cities and halls will I give you +until the time you receive the land which your father holds, and +of which you are to be emperor." Alexander's companions join him in +thanking the King kindly for this boon, and all the nobles of the court +say that the honour which the King has bestowed upon Alexander is well +deserved. + +(Vv. 1473-1490.) As soon as Alexander sees his force, consisting of the +companions and the men-at-arms whom it had pleased the King to give him, +straightway they begin to sound the horns and trumpets throughout the +camp. Men of Wales and Britain, of Scotland and Cornwall, both good and +bad without exception--all take arms, for the forces of the host were +recruited from all quarters. The Thames was low because of the drought +resulting from a summer without rain, so that all the fish were dead, +and the ships were stranded upon the shore, and it was possible to ford +the stream even in the widest part. + +(Vv. 1491-1514.) After fording the Thames, the army divided, some taking +possession of the valley, and others occupying the high ground. Those +in the town take notice of them, and when they see approaching the +wonderful array, bent upon reducing and taking the town, they prepare +on their side to defend it. But before any assault is made, the King has +the traitors drawn by four horses through the valleys and over the hills +and unploughed fields. At this Count Angres is much distressed, when he +sees those whom he held dear dragged around outside the town. And his +people, too, are much dismayed, but in spite of the anxiety which they +feel, they have no mind to yield the place. They must needs defend +themselves, for the King makes it plain to all that he is angry, and +ill-disposed, and they see that if he should lay hands upon them he +would make them die a shameful death. + +(Vv.1515-1552.) When the four had been torn asunder and their limbs lay +strewn upon the field, then the assault begins. But all their labour is +in vain, for no matter how much they cast and shoot, their efforts are +of no effect. Yet they strive to do their utmost, hurling their javelins +amain, and shooting darts and bolts. On all sides is heard the din of +cross-bows and slings as the arrows and the round stones fly thick, +like rain mixed with hail. Thus all day long the struggle of attack and +defence continues, until the night separates them. And the King causes +to be proclaimed what gift he will bestow upon him who shall effect the +surrender of the town: a cup of great price weighing fifteen marks of +gold, the richest in his treasure, shall be his reward. The cup will be +very fine and rich, and, to tell the truth, the cup is to be esteemed +for the workmanship rather than for the material of which it is made. +But good as the workmanship may be, and fine though the gold, if the +truth be told, the precious stones set in the outside of the cup were of +most value. He through whose efforts the town shall be taken is to have +the cup, if he be only a foot soldier; and if the town is taken by a +knight, with the cup in his possession he shall never seek his fortune +in vain, if there is any to be found in the world. + +(Vv. 1553-1712.) When this news was announced, Alexander had not +forgotten his custom of going to see the Queen each evening. That night, +too, he had gone thither and was seated beside the Queen. Soredamors was +sitting alone close by them, looking at him with such satisfaction +that she would not have exchanged her lot for Paradise. The Queen took +Alexander by the hand, and examined the golden thread which was showing +the effects of wear; but the strand of hair was becoming more lustrous, +while the golden thread was tarnishing. And she laughed as she happened +to recall that the embroidery was the work of Soredamors. Alexander +noticed this, and begged her to tell him, if suitable, why she laughed. +The Queen was slow to make reply, and looking toward Soredamors, bade +her come to her. Gladly she went and knelt before her. Alexander was +overjoyed when he saw her draw so near that he could have touched her. +But he is not so bold as even to look at her; but rather does he so lose +his senses that he is well-nigh speechless. And she, for her part, is so +overcome that she has not the use of her eyes; but she casts her glance +upon the ground without fastening it upon anything. The Queen marvels +greatly at seeing her now pale, now crimson, and she notes well in her +heart the bearing and expression of each of them. She notices and thinks +she sees that these changes of colour are the fruit of love. But not +wishing to embarrass them, she pretends to understand nothing of what +she sees. In this she did well, for she gave no evidence of what was in +her mind beyond saying: "Look here, damsel, and tell us truly where the +shirt was sewed that this knight has on, and if you had any hand in +it or worked anything of yours into it." Though the maiden feels some +shame, yet she tells the story gladly; for she wishes the truth to be +known by him, who, when he hears her tell of how the shirt was made, can +hardly restrain himself for joy from worshipping and adoring the golden +hair. His companions and the Queen, who were with him, annoy him and +embarrass him; for their presence prevents him from raising the hair to +his eyes and mouth, as he would fain have done, had he not thought that +it would be remarked. He is glad to have so much of his lady, but he +does not hope or expect ever to receive more from her: his very desire +makes him dubious. Yet, when he has left the Queen and is by himself, he +kisses it more than a hundred thousand times, feeling how fortunate he +is. All night long he makes much of it, but is careful that no one shall +see him. As he lies upon his bed, he finds a vain delight and solace in +what can give him no satisfaction. All night he presses the shirt in his +arms, and when he looks at the golden hair, he feels like the lord of +the whole wide world. Thus Love makes a fool of this sensible man, +who finds his delight in a single hair and is in ecstasy over its +possession. But this charm will come to an end for him before the sun's +bright dawn. For the traitors are met in council to discuss what they +can do; and what their prospects are. To be sure they will be able to +make a long defence of the town if they determine so to do; but they +know the King's purpose to be so firm that he will not give up his +efforts to take the town so long as he lives, and when that time comes +they needs must die. And if they should surrender the town, they need +expect no mercy for doing so. Thus either outcome looks dark indeed, for +they see no help, but only death in either case. But this decision at +last is reached, that the next morning, before dawn appears, they shall +issue secretly from the town and find the camp disarmed, and the knights +still sleeping in their beds. Before they wake and get their armour +on there will have been such slaughter done that posterity will always +speak of the battle of that night. Having no further confidence in life, +the traitors as a last resort all subscribe to this design. Despair +emboldened them to fight, whatever the result might be; for they see +nothing sure in store for them save death or imprisonment. Such an +outcome is not attractive; nor do they see any use in flight, for they +see no place where they could find refuge should they betake themselves +to flight, being completely surrounded by the water and their enemies. +So they spend no more time in talk, but arm and equip themselves and +make a sally by an old postern gate [220] toward the north-west, that +being the side where they thought the camp would least expect attack. +In serried ranks they sallied forth, and divided their force into five +companies, each consisting of two thousand well armed foot, in addition +to a thousand knights. That night neither star nor moon had shed a ray +across the sky. But before they reached the tents, the moon began to +show itself, and I think it was to work them woe that it rose sooner +than was its wont. Thus God, who opposed their enterprise, illumined +the darkness of the night, having no love for these evil men, but rather +hating them for their sin. For God hates traitors and treachery more +than any other sin. So the moon began to shine in order to hamper their +enterprise. + +(Vv. 1713-1858.) They are much hampered by the moon, as it shines upon +their shields, and they are handicapped by their helmets, too, as they +glitter in the moonlight. They are detected by the pickets keeping watch +over the host, who now shout throughout the camp: "Up, knights, up! Rise +quickly, take your arms and arm yourselves! The traitors are upon us." +Through all the camp they run to arms, and hastily strive to equip +themselves in the urgent need; but not a single one of them left his +place until they were all comfortably armed and mounted upon their +steeds. While they are arming themselves, the attacking forces are eager +for battle and press forward, hoping to catch them off their guard and +find them disarmed. They bring up from different directions the five +companies into which they had divided their troops: some hug the woods, +others follow the river, the third company deploys upon the plain, while +the fourth enters a valley, and the fifth proceeds beside a rocky cliff. +For they planned to fall upon the tents suddenly with great fury. +But they did not find the path clear. For the King's men resist them, +defying them courageously and reproaching them for their treason. Their +iron lance-tips are splintered and shattered as they meet; they come +together with swords drawn, striking each other and casting each other +down upon the face. They rush upon each other with the fury of lions, +which devour whatever they capture. In this first rush there was heavy +slaughter on both sides. When they can no longer maintain themselves, +help comes to the traitors, who are defending themselves bravely and +selling their lives dearly. They see their troops from four sides arrive +to succour them. And the King's men ride hard with spur to attack them. +They deal such blows upon their shields that, beside the wounded, they +unhorse more than five hundred of them. Alexander, with his Greeks, +has no thought of sparing them, making every effort to prevail into the +thickest of the fight he goes to strike a knave whose shield and hauberk +are of no avail to keep him from falling to the earth. When he has +finished with him, he offers his service to another freely and without +stint, and serves him, too, so savagely that he drives the soul from his +body quite, and leaves the apartment without a tenant. After these two, +he addresses himself to another, piercing a noble and courteous knight +clean through and through, so that the blood spurts out on the other +side, and his expiring soul takes leave of the body. Many he killed and +many stunned, for like a flying thunderbolt he blasts all those whom +he seeks out. Neither coat of mail nor shield can protect him whom he +strikes with lance or sword. His companions, too, are generous in the +spilling of blood and brains, for they, too, know well how to deal their +blows. And the royal troops butcher so many of them that they break them +up and scatter them like low-born folk who have lost their heads. So +many dead lay about the fields, and so long did the battle rage, that +long before the day dawned the ranks were so cut in pieces that the rows +of dead stretched for five leagues along the stream. Count Angres leaves +his banner on the field and steals away, accompanied by only seven of +his men. Towards his town he made his way by a secret path, thinking +that no one could see him. But Alexander notices this, and sees them +escaping from the troops, and he thinks that if he can slip away without +the knowledge of any one, he will go to catch up with them. But before +he got down into the valley, he saw thirty knights following him down +the path, of whom six were Greeks, and twenty-four were men of Wales. +These intended to follow him at a distance until he should stand in need +of them. When Alexander saw them coming, he stopped to wait for them, +without failing to observe what course was taken by those who were +making their way back to the town. Finally, he saw them enter it. Then +he began to plan a very daring deed and a very marvellous design. And +when he had made up his mind, he turned toward his companions and thus +addressed them: "My lords," says he, "whether it be folly or wisdom, +frankly grant me my desire if you care for my good-will." And they +promised him never to oppose his will in aught. Then he says: "Let +us change our outer gear, by taking the shields and lances from the +traitors whom we have killed. Thus, when we approach the town, the +traitors within will suppose that we are of their party, and regardless +of the fate in store for them, they will throw open the gates for us. +And do you know what reward we shall offer them? If God so will we shall +take them all dead or alive. Now, if any of you repents of his promise, +be sure that, so long as I live, I shall never hold him dear." + +(Vv. 1859-1954.) All the others grant his boon, and, despoiling the +corpses of their shields, they arm themselves with them instead. The +men within the town had mounted to the battlements, and, recognising the +shields, suppose that they belong to their party, never dreaming of the +ruse hidden beneath the shields. The gatekeeper opens the gate for +them and admits them to the town. He is beguiled and deceived in not +addressing them a word; for no one of them speaks to him, but silently +and mute they pass, making such a show of grief that they trail their +lances after them and support themselves upon their shields. Thus it +seems that they are in great distress, as they pass on at their own +sweet will until they are within the triple walls. Inside they find a +number of men-at-arms and knights with the Count. I cannot tell you +just how many; but they were unarmed, except eight of them who had just +returned from the fight, and even they were preparing to remove their +arms. But their haste was ill considered; for now the other party make +no further pretence, but without any challenge by way of warning, they +brace themselves in the stirrups, and let their horses charge straight +at them, attacking them with such rigour that they lay low more than +thirty-one of them. The traitors in great dismay shout out: "We are +betrayed, betrayed!" But the assailants take no heed of this, and let +those whom they find unarmed feel the temper of their swords. Indeed, +three of those whom they found still armed were so roughly handled that +but five remained alive. Count Angres rushed at Calcedor, and in the +sight of all struck him upon his golden shield with such violence that +he stretched him dead upon the ground. Alexander is greatly troubled, +and is almost beside himself with rage when he sees his companion dead; +his blood boils with anger, but his strength and courage are doubled +as he strikes the Count with such fury that he breaks his lance. If +possible, he would avenge his friend. But the Count was a powerful man +and a good and hardy knight, whose match it would have been hard to +find, had he not been a base traitor. He now returns the blow, making +his lance double up so that it splits and breaks; but the other's shield +holds firm, and neither gives way before the other any more than a rock +would do, for both men were passing strong. But the fact that the Count +was in the wrong disturbs him greatly and troubles him. [221] The anger +of each rises higher as they both draw their swords after their lances +had been broken. No escape would have been possible if these two +swordsmen had persisted in continuing the fight. But at last one or the +other must die. The Count dares not longer hold his ground, when he sees +lying dead about him his men who had been caught unarmed. Meanwhile the +others press them hard, cutting, slashing, and carving them, spilling +their brains, and reproaching the Count for his treachery. When he hears +himself accused of treason, he flees for safety to his tower, followed +by his men. And their enemies follow after them, fiercely charging them +from the rear, and not letting a single one escape of all upon whom they +lay their hands. They kill and slay so many of them that I guess not +more than seven made good their escape. + +(Vv. 1955-2056.) When they had got inside the tower, they made a stand +at the gate; for those who were coming close behind had followed so +closely after them that they too would have pressed in had the gateway +been left exposed. The traitors make a brave defence, waiting for +succour from their friends, who were arming themselves down in the town. +But upon the advice of Nabunal, who was a Greek of great wisdom, the +approach was blocked so that relief could not arrive in time; for those +below had tarried too long, either from cowardice or sloth. Now there +was only one entrance to the stronghold; so that, if they stop that +entrance-way, they need have no fear that any force shall approach to do +them harm. Nabunal bids and exhorts twenty of them to hold the gate; +for soon such a company might arrive with force as would do them harm +by their assault and attack. While these twenty hold the gate, the +remaining ten should attack the tower and prevent the Count from +barricading himself inside. Nabunal's advice is taken: ten remain to +continue the assault at the entrance of the tower, while twenty go to +defend the gate. In doing so, they delay almost too long; for they see +approaching, furious and keen for the fight, a company containing many +cross-bow men and foot soldiers of different grades who carried arms +of divers sorts. Some carried light missiles, and others Danish axes, +lances and Turkish swords, bolts for cross-bows, arrows and javelins. +The Greeks would have had to pay a heavy score, if this crowd had +actually fallen upon them; but they did not reach the place in time. +Nabunal by his foresight and counsel had blocked their plans, and they +were forced to remain outside. When they see that they are shut out, +they pause in their advance, as it is evident they can gain nothing by +making an assault. Then there begins such weeping and wailing of women +and young children, of old men and youths, that those in the town +could not have heard a thunder-clap from heaven. At this the Greeks are +overjoyed; for now they know of a certainty that the Count by no good +luck can escape capture. Four of them mount the walls to keep watch lest +those outside by any means or ruse should enter the stronghold and +fall upon them. The remaining sixteen returned to where the ten were +fighting. The day was already breaking, and the ten had fought so well +that they had forced their way within the tower. The Count took his +stand against a post, and, armed with a battleaxe, defended himself with +great bravery. Those whom he reaches, he splits in half. And his men +line up about him, and are not slow to avenge themselves in this last +stand of the day, Alexander's men have reason to complain, for of the +original sixteen there remain now but thirteen. Alexander is almost +beside himself when he sees the havoc wrought among his dead or +exhausted followers. Yet his thoughts are fixed on vengeance: finding at +hand a long heavy club, he struck one of the rascals with it so fiercely +that neither shield nor hauberk was worth a button in preventing him +from failing to the ground. After finishing with him, he pursues the +Count, and raising his club to strike him he deals him such a blow with +his square club that the axe falls from his hands; and he was so stunned +and bewildered that he could not have stood up unless he had leaned +against the wall. + +(Vv. 2057-2146.) After this blow the battle ceases. Alexander leaps at +the Count and holds him so that he cannot move. Of the others nothing +need be said, for they were easily mastered when they saw the capture +of their lord. All are made prisoners with the Count and led away in +disgrace, in accordance with their deserts. Of all this the men outside +knew nothing. But when morning came they found their companions shields +lying among the slain when the battle was over. Then the Greeks, misled, +made a great lament for their lord. Recognising his shield, all are in +an agony of grief, swooning at sight of his shield and saying that +now they have lived too long. Cornix and Nerius first swoon, then, +recovering their senses, wish they were dead. So do Torin and Acorionde. +The tears run down in floods from their eyes upon their breasts. Life +and joy seem hateful now. And Parmenides more than the rest tore his +hair in dire distress. No greater grief could be shown than that of +these five for their lord. Yet, their dismay is groundless, for it is +another's body which they bear away when they think to have their lord. +Their distress is further increased by the sight of the other shields, +which cause them to mistake these corpses for their companions. So over +them they lament and swoon. But they are deceived by all these shields, +for of their men only one was killed, whose name was Neriolis. Him, +indeed, they would have borne away had they known the truth. But they +are in as great anxiety for the others as for him; so they bore them +all away. In every case but one they were misled. But like the man who +dreams and takes a fiction for the truth, so the shields cause them to +suppose this illusion to be a reality. It is the shields, then, that +cause this mistake. [222] Carrying the corpses, they move away and come +to their tents, where there was a sorrowing troop. Upon hearing the +lament raised by the Greeks, soon all the others gathered, until there +was but one great outcry. Now Saredamors thinks of her wretched estate +when she hears the cry and lament over her lover. Their anguish and +distress cause her to lose her senses and her colour, and her grief and +sorrow are increased because she dares not openly show a trace of her +distress. She shut up her grief within her heart. Had any one looked at +her, he could have seen by the expression of her face what agony she was +in; but every one was so engrossed with his own sorrow that he had no +care for another's grief. Each one lamented his own loss. For they find +the river bank covered with their relatives and friends, who had been +wounded or roughly treated. Each one wept for his own heavy and bitter +loss: here is a son weeping for a father, there a father for a son; +one swoons at the sight of his cousin, another over his nephew. Thus +fathers, brothers, and relatives bemoan their loss on every side. But +above all is noticeable the sorrow of the Greeks; and yet they might +have anticipated great joy, for the deepest grief of all the camp will +soon be changed into rejoicing. + +(Vv. 2147-2200.) The Greeks outside continue their lament, while +those inside strive to let them know the news which will cause them to +rejoice. They disarm and bind their prisoners, who pray and beg of them +to strike off their heads straightway. But the Greeks are unwilling, and +disdain their entreaties, saying that them will keep then under guard +and hand them over to the King, who will grant them such recompense as +shall require their services. When they had disarmed them all they made +them go up on the wall that they might be seen by the troops below. This +privilege is not to their liking, and when they saw their lord bound as +a prisoner, they were unhappy men. Alexander upon the walls swears to +God and all the saints that he will not let one of them live, but will +kill them all speedily, unless they will go to surrender to the King +before he can seize them. "Go," says he, "confidently to the King at +my command, and cast yourselves upon his mercy. None of you, except the +Count, has deserved to die. You shall not lose either life or limb if +you surrender to the King. If you do not deliver yourselves from death +by crying for mercy, you need have little hope of saving your lives or +bodies. Go forth disarmed to meet the King, and tell him from me that +Alexander sends you to him. Your action will not be in vain; for my lord +the King is so gentle and courteous that he will lay aside his wrath and +anger. But if you wish to act otherwise, you must expect to die, for his +heart will be closed to pity." All agree in accepting this advice, and +do not hesitate until they come to the King's tent, where they all fall +at his feet. The story they told was soon known throughout the camp. +The King and all his men mounted and spurred their horses to the town +without delay. + +(Vv. 2201-2248.) Alexander goes out from the town to meet the King, who +was greatly pleased, and to surrender to him the Count. The King did not +delay in fitly punishing him. But Alexander is congratulated and praised +by the King and all the others who esteem him highly. Their joy drives +away the grief which they had felt not long before. But no joy of the +others can compare with the exultation of the Greeks. The King presents +him with the precious cup, weighing fifteen marks, and tells him +confidently that there is nothing in his possession so valuable that he +would not place it in his hands upon request--save only the crown and +the Queen. Alexander dares not mention his heart's desire, though he +knows well that he would not be refused in asking for his sweetheart's +hand. But he fears so much lest he might displease her, whose heart +would have been made glad, that he prefers to suffer without her rather +than to win her against her will. Therefore, he asks for a little time, +not wishing to prefer his request until he is sure of her pleasure. But +he asked for no respite or delay in accepting the cup of gold. He takes +the cup, and courteously begs my lord Gawain to accept this cup as +a gift from him, which Gawain did most reluctantly. When Soredamors +learned the truth about Alexander she was greatly pleased and delighted. +When she heard that he was alive, she was so happy that it seemed to +her as though she could never be sad again. But she reflects that he is +slower in coming than is his wont. Yet in good time she will have her +wish, for both of them in rivalry are occupied with one common thought. + +(Vv. 2249-2278.) It seemed to Alexander an age before he could feast +his eyes with even one soft glance from her. Long ago he would fain have +gone to the Queen's tent, if he had not been detained elsewhere. He was +much put out by this delay, and as soon as he could, he betook himself +to the Queen in her tent. The Queen went to greet him, and, without his +having confided in her, she had already read his thoughts, and knew what +was passing in his mind. She greets him at the entrance of the tent, and +strives to make him welcome, well knowing for what purpose he has come. +Desirous of according him a favour, she beckons Soredamors to join them, +and they three engage in conversation at some distance from the rest. +The Queen first speaks, in whose mind there was no doubt that this +couple were in love. Of this fact she is quite sure, and is persuaded +moreover that Soredamors could not have a better lover. She took her +place between the two and began to say what was appropriate. + +(Vv. 2279-2310.) "Alexander," says the Queen, "any love is worse than +hate, when it torments and distresses its devotee. Lovers know not what +they do when they conceal their passion from one another. Love is a +serious business, and whoever does not boldly lay its foundation firm +can hardly succeed in completing the edifice. They say there is nothing +so hard to cross as the threshold. Now I wish to instruct you in the +lore of love; for I know well that Love is tormenting you. Therefore, I +have undertaken to instruct you; and do you take good care not to keep +anything back from me, for I have plainly seen in the faces of you both +that of two hearts you have made but one. So beware, and conceal nothing +from me! You are acting very foolishly in not speaking out your mind; +for concealment will be the death of you; thus you will be the murderers +of Love. Now I counsel you to exercise no tyranny, and to seek no +passing gratification in your love; but to be honourably joined together +in marriage. So, I believe, your love shall long endure. I can assure +you that, if you agree to this, I will arrange the marriage." + +(Vv. 2311-2360.) When the Queen had spoken her mind, Alexander thus made +reply: "Lady," he says, "I enter no defence against the charge you make, +but rather admit the truth of all you say. I wish never to be deserted +by love, but always to fix my thoughts on it. I am pleased and delighted +by what you have so kindly said. Since you know what my wishes are, I +see no reason why I should conceal them from you. Long ago, if I had +dared I would have confessed them openly; for the silence has been hard. +But it may well be that for some reason this maiden may not wish that I +be hers and she mine. But even if she grant me no rights over her, yet +will I place myself in her hands." At these words she trembled, having +no desire to refuse the gift. Her heart's desire betrays itself in her +words and her countenance. Falteringly she gives herself to him, and +says that without exception her will, her heart, and her body all is at +the disposal of the Queen, to do with her as she may please. The Queen +clasps them both in her arms, and presents one to the other. Then +laughingly she adds: "I give over to thee, Alexander, thy sweetheart's +body, and I know that thy heart does not draw back. Whoever may like it +or like it not, I give each of you to the other. Do thou, Soredamors, +take what is thine, and thou, Alexander, take what is thine!" Now she +has her own entire, and he has his without lack. At Windsor that day, +with the approval and permission of my lord Gawain and the King, the +marriage was celebrated. No one could tell, I am sure, so much of the +magnificence and the food, of the pleasure and entertainment, at this +wedding without falling short of the truth. Inasmuch as it would be +distasteful to some, I do not care to waste further words upon the +matter, but am anxious to turn to another subject. + +(Vv. 2361-2382.) That day at Windsor Alexander had all the honour and +happiness that he could desire. Three different joys and honours were +his: one was the town which he captured; another was the present of the +best kingdom in Wales, which King Arthur had promised to give him when +the war was over; that very day he made him king in his hall. But the +greatest joy of all was the third--that his sweetheart was queen of the +chess-board where he was king. Before five months had passed, Soredamors +found herself with child, and carried it until the time was fulfilled. +The seed remained in germ until the fruit was fully matured. No more +beautiful child was ever born before or since than he whom they now +called Cliges. + +(Vv. 2383-2456.) So Cliges was born, in whose honour this story has +been put in the Romance tongue. You shall hear me tell of him and of his +valorous deeds, when he shall have grown to manhood and obtained a good +report. But meanwhile in Greece it came about that he who ruled over +Constantinople drew near his end. He died, as indeed he must, not being +able to outlive his time. But before he died he assembled all the nobles +of his land to send and seek for his son Alexander, who was happily +detained in Britain. The messengers start out from Greece, and begin +their voyage over the seas; but a tempest catches them in its grasp, and +damages their ship and company. They were all drowned at sea, except one +unfaithful wretch, who was more devoted to Alis the younger son than to +Alexander the eider. When he escaped from the sea, he returned to +Greece with the story that they had all been lost at sea as they were +conducting their lord back from Britain, and that he was the only +survivor of the tragedy. They believed this lie of his, and, taking Alis +without objection or dissent, they crowned him emperor of Greece. But +it was not long before Alexander learned that Alis was emperor. Then he +took leave of King Arthur, unwilling to let his brother usurp his land +without protest. The King makes no opposition to his plan, but bids him +take with him so great a company of Welshmen, Scots, and Cornishmen that +his brother will not dare to withstand him when he sees him come with +such a host. Alexander, had he pleased, might have led a mighty force; +but he has no desire to harm his own people, if his brother will consent +to do his will. He took with him forty knights besides Soredamors and +his son; these two persons, who were so dear to him, he did not wish +to leave behind. Escorted as far as Shoreham by the entire court, they +there embarked, and with fair winds their ship made way more quickly +than a fleeing stag. Within a month, I think, they arrived in port +before Athens, a rich and powerful city. Indeed, the emperor was +residing there, and had convoked, a great assembly of his noblemen. As +soon as they arrived Alexander sent a privy messenger into the city to +learn whether they would receive him, or whether they would resist his +claim to be their only lawful lord. + +(Vv. 2457-2494.) He who was chosen for this mission was a courteous +knight with good judgment, named Acorionde, a rich man and eloquent; +he was a native of the country, too, having been born in Athens. His +ancestors for generations had always exercised lordship in the city. +When he had learned that the emperor was in the city he went and +challenged the crown on behalf of his brother Alexander, accusing him +openly of having usurped it unlawfully. Arriving at the palace, he finds +plenty of people who welcome him; but he says nothing to any of those +who greet him until he learns what is their attitude and disposition +toward their lawful lord. Coming into the presence of the emperor he +neither greets him nor bows before him nor calls him emperor. "Alis," +he says, "I bring thee tidings of Alexander, who is out yonder in the +harbour. Listen to thy brother's message: he asks thee for what belongs +to him, nor does he demand what is unjust. Constantinople, which thou +dost hold, should be his and shall be his. It would be neither just nor +right that discord should arise between you two. So give him the crown +without contest, for it is right that thou shouldst surrender it." + +(Vv. 2495-2524.) Alis replies: "Fair gentle friend, thou hast undertaken +a mad enterprise in bearing this message. There is little comfort in +thy speech, for well I know that my brother is dead. I should rejoice, +indeed, to learn that he was still alive. But I shall not believe the +news until I have seen him with my eyes. He died some time ago, alas! +What thou sayest is not credible. And if he lives, why does he not come? +He need never fear that I will not bestow on him some lands. He is a +fool to hold aloof from me, for in serving me he will find profit. But +no one shall possess the crown and empire beside me." He liked not the +speech of the emperor, and did not fail to speak his mind in the reply +he made. "Alis," he says, "may God confound me if the matter is thus +allowed to stand. I defy thee in thy brother's name, and dutifully +speaking in his name, I summon all those whom I see here to renounce +thee and to join his cause. It is right that they should side with him +and recognise him as their lord. Let him who is loyal now stand forth." + +(Vv. 2525-2554.) Upon saying this he leaves the court, and the emperor +summons those in whom he has most confidence. He requests their advice +concerning this defiance upon his brother's part, and wishes to learn +if he can trust them to lend no support or help to his brother's claim. +Thus he tries to test the loyalty of each; but he finds not one who +sides with him in the dispute, rather do they all bid him remember the +war which Eteocles undertook against his own brother Polynices, and how +each one died by the other's hand. [223] "So, too, it may happen to you, +if you undertake a war, and all the land will be distressed." Therefore, +they advise that such a peace be sought as shall be both reasonable and +just, and that neither one make excessive demands. Thus Alis understands +that if he does not make an equitable agreement with his brother all his +vassals will desert him; so he says that he will respect their wishes in +making any suitable contract, provided that however the affair may rum +out the crown shall remain in his possession. + +(Vv. 2555-2618.) In order to secure a firm and stable peace Alis sends +one of his officers to Alexander, bidding him come to him in person and +receive the government of the land, but stipulating that he should leave +to him the honour of emperor in name and of wearing the crown: thus, if +Alexander is willing, peace may be established between them. When this +news was brought to Alexander his men made ready with him and came to +Athens, where they were received with joy. But Alexander is not willing +that his brother should have the sovereignty of the empire and of the +crown unless he will pledge his word never to take a wife, and that +after him Cliges shall be emperor of Constantinople. Upon this the +brothers both agreed. Alexander dictated the terms of the oath, and his +brother agreed and gave his word that he would never in his life take a +wife in marriage. So peace is made, and they are friends again, to the +great satisfaction of the lords. They hold Alis as their emperor, but +all business is referred to Alexander. What he commands is done, and +little is done except through him. Alis has nothing but the name of +emperor; but Alexander is served and loved; and he who does not serve +him for love must needs do so from fear. Through the effect of one or +the other of these two motives he has all the land within his power. But +he whom they call Death spares neither the strong man nor the weak, but +kills and slays them all. So Alexander had to die; for a disease caught +him in its grip from which he could obtain no relief. But before he +was surprised by death he summoned his son and said to him: "Fair son +Cliges, thou canst never know that prowess and valour are thine unless +thou go first to make test of them with the Bretons and French at King +Arthur's court. If adventure takes thee thither, so conduct and demean +thyself that thy identity be not known until thou hast tried thy +strength with the most excellent knights of that court. I beg thee to +heed my counsel in this matter, and if the occasion arises have no fear +to measure thy skill with thy uncle, my lord Gawain. Do not forget this +advice, I pray." + +(Vv. 2619-2665.) After he had thus exhorted him, he did not live long. +Soredamors' grief was such that she could not survive him, but +died after him of a broken heart. Alis and Cliges both mourned him +becomingly, but finally they ceased their grief, for sorrow, like +everything else, must be outlived. To continue in sorrow is wrong, for +no good can come from it. So the mourning was ended, and the emperor +refrained for a long time from taking a wife, being careful of his word. +But there is no court in all the world which is free from evil counsel. +Great men often go astray, and do not observe loyalty because of the bad +advice they take. Thus, the emperor hears his men giving him advice and +counselling him to take a wife; and daily they so exhort and urge him +that by their very insistence they persuade him to break his oath, and +to accede to their desire. But he insists that she who is to be mistress +of Constantinople must be gentle, fair, wise, rich, and noble. Then his +counsellors say that they wish to prepare to go away to the German land, +and seek the daughter of the emperor. She is the choice they propose +to him; for the emperor of Germany is very rich and powerful, and his +daughter is so charming that never was there a maid of her beauty in +Christendom. The emperor grants them full authority, and they set out +upon the journey well provided with all they need. They proceeded on +their way until they found the emperor at Regensburg, when they asked +him to give them his oldest daughter at the instance of their lord. + +(Vv. 2669-2680.) The emperor was pleased with this request, and gladly +gave them his daughter; for in doing so, he does not debase himself, nor +diminish his honour in any way. But he says that he had promised her +to the Duke of Saxony, and that they would not be able to lead her away +unless the emperor should come with a great army, so that the duke would +be unable to do him any harm or injury while homeward bound. + +(Vv. 2681-2706.) When the messengers heard the emperor's reply, they +took leave and departed. They returned to their lord, and bore him +the answer. And the emperor selected a chosen company of the most +experienced knights whom he could find, and took with him his nephew, +in whose interests he had vowed never to marry a wife, but he will not +respect this vow if he can once reach Cologne. [224] Upon a certain day +he leaves Greece and draws near to Germany, intending to take a wife +despite all blame and reproach; but his honour will be smirched. Upon +reaching Cologne, he found that the emperor had assembled all his court +for a festival. When the company of the Greeks reached Cologne, there +was such a great number of Greeks and Germans that it was necessary to +lodge more than sixty thousand of them outside the city. + +(Vv.2707-2724.) Great was the crowd of people, and great the joy of the +two emperors when they met. When the barons had gathered in the vast +palace, the emperor summoned his charming daughter. The maiden made no +delay in coming straightway into the palace. She had been made very fair +and shapely by the Creator, whose pleasure it had been to arouse the +people's admiration. God, who had fashioned her, never gave man a word +which could adequately express such beauty as she possessed. + +(Vv. 2725-2760.) Fenice was the maiden's name, and for this there +was good reason: [225] for if the Phoenix bird is unique as the most +beautiful of all the birds, so Fenice, it seems to me, had no equal in +beauty. She was such a miracle and marvel that Nature was never able to +make her like again. In order to be more brief, I will not describe in +words her arms, her body, her head and hands; for if I should live a +thousand years, and if my skill were to double every day, yet should +I waste all my time in trying to tell the truth about her. I know very +well, if I should undertake it, that I would exhaust my brain and waste +my pains: it would be but misspent energy. [226] The damsel hastened +until she came into the palace, with head uncovered and face unveiled; +and the radiance of her beauty lighted the palace more brightly than +four carbuncles would have done. Cliges stood, his over-cloak removed, +in his uncle's presence. The day outside was somewhat dark, but he and +the maiden were both so fair that a ray shone forth from their beauty +which illumined the palace, just as the morning sun shines clear and +red. + +(Vv. 2761-2792.) I wish to attempt in a very few words to describe the +beauty of Cliges. He was in his flower, being now almost fifteen years +of age. He was more comely and charming than Narcissus who saw his +reflection in the spring beneath the elm-tree, and, when he saw it, +he loved it so that he died, they say, because he could not get it. +Narcissus was fair, but had little sense; [227] but as fine gold +surpasses copper, so was Cliges better endowed with wisdom, and even +then I have not said all. His locks seemed made of fine gold, and his +face was of a fresh rosy colour. He had a well-formed nose and shapely +mouth, and in stature he was built upon Nature's best pattern; for in +him she had united gifts which she is wont to scatter wide. Nature was +so lavish with him that she gave him all she could, and placed all in +one receptacle. Such was Cliges, who combined good sense and beauty, +generosity and strength. He possessed the wood as well as the bark; +he knew more of fencing and of the bow than did Tristan, King Mark's +nephew, and more about birds and hounds than he. [228] In Cliges there +lacked no good thing. + +(Vv. 2793-2870.) Cliges stood in all his beauty before his uncle, and +those who did not know who he was looked at him with eager curiosity. +And on the other hand, the interest was aroused of those who did not +know the maiden: wonderingly they gaze upon her. But Cliges, under the +sway of love, let his eyes rest on her covertly, and withdrew them again +so discreetly that in their passage to and fro no one could blame his +lack of skill. Blithely he looks upon the maid, but does not note that +she repays him in kind. Not flattering him, but in sincere love, she +gives him her eyes, and takes back his. This exchange seems good to her, +and would have seemed to her better still had she known something of who +he was. But she knows nothing except that he is fair, and that, if she +is ever to love any one for beauty's sake, she need not seek elsewhere +to bestow her heart. She handed over to him the possession of her eyes +and heart, and he pledged his in turn to her. Pledged? Rather gave +outright. Gave? Nay, upon my faith, I lie; for no one can give away his +heart. I must express it some other way. I will not say it, as some have +done who make two hearts dwell in one body, for it bears not even the +semblance of truth that there should be in one body two hearts; and even +if they could be so united, it would never seem true. But if it please +you to heed my words, I shall be able explain how two hearts form but +one without coming to be identified. Only so far are they merged in one +as the desire of each passes from one to the other, thus joining in one +common desire; and because of this harmony of desire, there are some who +are wont to say that each one has both hearts; but one heart cannot be +in two places. Each one always keeps his own heart, though the desire +be shared by both, just as many different men may sing a song or tune +in unison. By this comparison I prove that for one body to contain two +hearts it is not enough to know each other's wish, nor yet for one to +know what the other loves and what he hates; just as voices which are +heard together seem to be merged in one, and yet do not all come from +one mouth, so it is with a body which can contain but one heart. But +there is no need of further argument, for other matters press upon me. +I must speak now of the damsel and of Cliges, and you shall hear of +the Duke of Saxony, who has sent to Cologne a young nephew of his. This +youth informs the emperor that his uncle, the duke, sends word that +he need expect no peace or trace with him, unless he sends to him his +daughter, and that the one who is intending to carry her away with him +had better not start home, for he will find the road occupied and well +defended unless the maiden be surrendered. + +(Vv. 2871-3010.) The youth spoke his message well, without pride and +without insult. But he found neither knight nor emperor who would answer +him. When he saw that they all held their peace and treated him with +scorn, he left the court in defiant mood. But youth and thirst for +daring deeds made Cliges defy him in combat as he left. For the contest +they mount their steeds, three hundred of them on either side, exactly +equal thus in strength. All the palace is quite emptied of knights and +ladies, who mount to the balconies, battlements, and windows to see and +watch those who were about to fight. Even the maiden, whose will Love +had subdued beneath his sway, sought for a point from which to see. She +took her place at a window, where she sat with great delight, because +from there she could get a view of him whom she holds secretly in her +heart with no desire to remove him thence; for she will never love any +other man. But she does not know his name, nor who he is, nor of what +race; for it is not proper to ask questions; but she yearns to hear +tidings which will bring joy to her heart. She looks out of the window +at the shields with their gleaming gold, and she gazes at those who wear +the shields about their necks, as they prepare for the trial at arms. +But all her thoughts and glances soon rest upon one object, and to all +others she is indifferent. Whereever Cliges goes, she seeks to follow +him with her eyes. And he in turn does his best for her, and battles +openly, in order that she at least may hear it said that he is bold and +very skilled: thus she will be compelled to prize him for his prowess. +He attacks the duke's nephew, who was breaking many a lance and sorely +discomfiting the Greeks. But Cliges, who is displeased at this, braces +himself firmly in his stirrups, and goes to strike him so speedily that +in spite of himself he had to vacate the saddle-bows. When he got up, +the uproar was great; for the youth arose and mounted, thinking to +avenge his shame. But many a man only falls into deeper disgrace who +thinks to avenge his shame when he has the chance. The young man rushes +at Cliges, who lowers his lance to meet him, and thrusts at him with +such force that he carries him to earth again. Now his shame is doubled, +and all his followers are in dismay, seeing that they can never leave +the field with honour; for not one of them is so valiant that he can +keep his seat in the saddle when Cliges thrust reaches him. But those of +Germany and the Greeks are overjoyed when they see their party drive off +the Saxons, who retreat discomfited. With mockery they pursue them until +they come up with them at a stream, into which they drive them for +a plunge. In the deepest part of the ford Cliges unhorsed the duke's +nephew and so many of his men that they escaped grieving and sad in +their shame and confusion. But Cliges, twice victor, returned in glee, +and entered a gate which was near the apartment where the maiden was; +and as he passed through the gate she exacted as toll a tender glance, +which he paid her as their eyes met. Thus was the maiden subdued by the +man. But there is not a German of the lowland or highland, possessing +the power of speech who does not cry: "God! who is this in whom such +beauty is radiant? God! how has it happened that so suddenly he has +attained such great success?" Thus one man and another asks: "Who is +this youth, who is he, I say?" Thus, soon throughout the city it is +known what his name is, and who is his father, and what pledge that was +which had been made to him by the emperor. So much was said and noised +about that the news reached the ears of her who in her heart rejoiced +because she could no more say that Love had made sport of her, nor had +she any ground for complaint. For Love has made her give her heart to +the fairest, most courteous, and valiant man that could anywhere be +found. But some force must be employed, if she would gain possession of +him who is not free do her will. This makes her anxious and distraught. +For she has no one with whom to take counsel concerning him for whom +she pines, but must waste herself in thought and vigils. She becomes so +affected by these cares that she loses her colour and grows wan, and +it becomes plain to all that her loss of colour betokens an unfulfilled +desire. She plays less now than she used to do, and laughs less and +loses her gaiety. But she conceals her trouble and passes it off, if any +one asks what her ailment is. Her old nurse's name was Thessala, [229] +who was skilled in necromancy, having been born in Thessaly, where +devilish charms are taught and wrought; for the women of that country +perform many a charm and mystic rite. + +(Vv. 3011-3062.) Thessala saw pale and wan her whom Love holds in his +bonds, and thus she addressed her with advice: "God!" she said, "are you +bewitched, my lady dear, that your face should be so pale? I wonder what +your trouble is. Tell me, if you can, where this pain attacks you most, +for if any one can cure you, you may safely trust me to give you back +your health again. I can cure the dropsy, gout, quinsy, and asthma; I am +so expert in examining the urine and the pulse that you need consult no +other physician. And I dare say that I know more than ever Medea [230] +knew of enchantments and of charms which tests have proven to be true. +I have never spoken to you of this, though I have cared for you all your +life; and now I should not mention it did I not plainly see that you are +so afflicted as to need my ministrations. My lady, you will do well to +tell me what your sickness is before its hold becomes more severe. The +emperor has committed you to me in order that I may care for you, and my +devotion has been such that I have kept you safe and sound. Now all my +pains will come to naught if I do not relieve this malady. Take care +not to conceal from me whether this is sickness or something else." The +damsel dares not openly expose her desire in all its fullness for she +is in fear lest she be disapproved and blamed. And when she hears and +understands how Thessala boasts and highly rates herself as being expert +in enchantments, charms, and potions, she decides to tell her what +is the cause of her pale and colourless face; but first she makes her +promise to keep her secret and never to oppose her will. + +(Vv. 3063-3216.) "Nurse," she said, "I truly thought I felt no pain, but +I shall soon feel differently. For as soon as I begin to think about it, +I feel great pain, and am dismayed. But when one has no experience, +how can one tell what is sickness and what is health? My illness is +different from all others; for when I wish to speak of it, it causes me +both joy and pain, so happy I am in my distress. And if it can be that +sickness brings delight, then my trouble and joy are one, and in my +illness consists my health. So I do not know why I complain, for I know +not whence my trouble comes, unless it is caused by my desire. Perchance +my desire is my disease, but I find so much joy in it that the suffering +it causes me is grateful, and there is so much contentment in my pain +that it is sweet to suffer so. Nurse Thessala, now tell me true, is not +this a deceitful ill, to charm and torment me both at once? I do not see +how I can tell whether this is a disease or not. Nurse, tell me now its +name, nature, and character. But understand well that I have no desire +to be cured of it, for my distress is very dear to me." Thessala, who +was very wise about love and its symptoms knows full well from what she +hears that it is love which is tormenting her; the tender, endearing +terms she uses are certain proof that she is in love, for all other +woes are hard to bear, except that alone which comes from love; but love +transforms its bitterness into sweetness and joy, then often transforms +them back again. The nurse, who was expert in this matter, thus replies +to her: "Have no fear, for I will tell you at once the name of your +malady. You told me, I believe, that the pain which you feel seems +rather to be joy and health: now of such a nature is love-sickness, +for in it, too, there is joy and bliss. You are in love, then, as I can +prove to you, for I find no pleasure in any malady save only in love. +All other sickness is always bad and horrible, but love is sweet and +peaceable. You are in love; of that I am sure, nor do I see any wrong in +that. But I shall consider it very wrong, if through some childish +folly you conceal from me your heart." "Nurse, there is no need of +your speaking so. But first I must be sure and certain that under no +circumstances will you speak of it to any living soul." "My lady, surely +the winds will speak of it before I do without your leave, and I will +give you my word so to favour your desires that you may safely trust in +having your joy fulfilled through my services." "In that case, Nurse, +I shall be cured. But the emperor is giving me in marriage, wherefore +I grieve and am sorrowful; for he who has won my heart is the nephew of +him whom I must take. And though he may find joy in me, yet is my joy +forever lost, and no respite is possible. I would rather be torn limb +from limb than that men should speak of us as they speak of the loves of +Iseut and Tristan, of so many unseemly stories are told that I should +be ashamed to mention them. I could never bring myself to lead the +life that Iseut led. Such love as hers was far too base; for her body +belonged to two, whereas her heart was possessed by one. Thus all her +life was spent, refusing her favours to neither one. But mine is fixed +on one object, and under no circumstances will there be any sharing +of my body and heart. Never will my body be portioned out between two +shareholders. Who has the heart has the body, too, and may bid all +others stand aside. But I cannot clearly see how he whom I love can have +my body when my father gives me to another, and his will I do not dare +resist. And when this other is lord of my body, and does something which +displeases me, it is not right for me to summon another to my aid. +Nor can this man marry a wife without breaking his plighted word; for, +unless injustice be done, Cliges is to have the empire after his uncle's +death. But I should be well served by you, if you were so skilful as +to present him, to whom I am pledged and engaged, from having any claim +upon me. O Nurse, exert yourself to the end that he may not break the +pledge which he gave to the father of Cliges, when he promised him +solemnly never to take a wife in marriage. For now, if he should marry +me his promise would be broken. But Cliges is so dear to me that I would +rather be under ground than that he should ever lose through me a penny +of the fortune which should be his. May never a child be born to me to +cause his disinheritance! Nurse, now do your best, and I will always be +your slave." Then the nurse tells her and assures her that she will cast +so many charms, and prepare so many potions and enchantments that she +need never have any worry or fear concerning the emperor after he shall +have drunk of the potion which she will give him; even when they shall +lie together and she be at his side, she may be as secure as if there +were a wall between them. "But do not be alarmed, if, in his sleep, he +sports with you, for when he is plunged in sleep he will have his sport +with you, and he will be convinced that he has had you when wide awake, +nor will he think it is all a dream, a fiction, and illusion. Thus he +will have his sport with you when asleep, he will think he is awake." + +(Vv. 3217-3250.) The maiden is highly pleased and delighted by the +nurse's kindness and offer of help. Her nurse inspires good hope in her +by the promise which she makes, and which she binds herself to keep; +with this hope she expects to obtain her desire, in spite of wearisome +delay, for if Cliges' nature is as noble as she takes it to be he cannot +fail to take pity upon her when he learns that she loves him, and +that she has imposed virginity upon herself in order to insure his +inheritance. So the maiden believes her nurse, and puts full confidence +in her. One promises to the other, and gives her word, that this plot +shall be kept so secret as never to be revealed. At this point their +conversation ceases, and the next morning the emperor summons his +daughter. At his command she goes to him. But why should I weary you +with details? The two emperors have so settled the matter that the +marriage is solemnised, and joy reigns in the palace. But I do not wish +to stop to describe all this in detail. Rather will I address myself to +Thessala, as she diligently prepares and tempers her potions. + +(Vv. 3251-3328.) Thessala steeps her drink, putting in spices in +abundance to sweeten and temper it. After having well beaten and mixed +it, she strains it clear, with no sharp or bitter taste, for the spices +she puts in give it a sweet and pleasant fragrance. When the potion was +prepared, the day had drawn to a close, the tables were set for supper, +and the cloths were spread. But Thessala delays the supper, because +she must discover by what device and what agent she can have the potion +served. At supper, finally, all were seated, and more than six dishes +had been passed, and Cliges served behind his uncle's place. Thessala, +as she watches him, thinks how ill he serves his own interests, and how +he is assisting in his own disinheritance, and the thought torments and +worries her. Then in her kindness she conceives the plan of having +the potion served by him to whom it will bring both joy and honour. So +Thessala summoned Cliges; and when he had come to her, he asked her why +she had sent for him. "Friend," said she, "I wish to present the emperor +at this meal with a beverage which he will esteem highly, and I want him +to taste no other to-night, either at supper or when he goes to bed. +I think he cannot fail to relish it, for he never has tasted a better +drink or one that has cost so much. And I warn you, take good care to +let no one else drink of it, for there is but a little of it. And this, +too, I beg of you, not to let him know whence it came; but tell him it +came about by chance that you found it among the presents, and tasted it +yourself, and detected the aroma of the sweet spices in the air; then, +seeing the wine to be all clear you poured it into his cup. If by chance +he should inquire, you can satisfy him with this reply. But have no +suspicion yourself, after what I have said, for the drink is pure and +healthful, full excellent spices, and I think it may some day bring you +joy." When he heard that advantage would come to him, he took the potion +and went away, for he did not know there was any harm in it. He set +it in a crystal cup before the emperor, who took it without question, +trusting in his nephew. After taking a long draught of the beverage, he +straightway feels its strength, as it descends from head to heart, and +rises again from heart to head, and penetrates every part of him without +doing the slightest harm. And by the time they left the tables, the +emperor had drunk so much of the pleasing drink that he can never escape +it influence. Every night he will sleep under its influence, and its +effects will be such that he will think he is awake when sound asleep. + +(Vv. 3329-3394.) Now the emperor has been deceived. Many bishops and +abbots were present to bless and hallow the marriage-bed. When the time +came to retire, the emperor, as was his right, lay beside his wife that +night. "As was his right;" but the statement is inexact, for he neither +kissed nor fondled her, yet they lay together in one bed. At first the +maiden trembled with fear and anxiety lest the potion should not act. +But it has so mastered him that he will never desire her or any other +woman except in his sleep. But when asleep he will have such sport with +her as one may have in dreams, and he will think the dream is true. +Nevertheless, she is on her guard, and at first, holds aloof from him, +so that he cannot approach her. But now he must needs fall asleep; +then he sleeps and dreams, though, the senses are awake, and he exerts +himself to win the favours of the maid, while she, realising the danger, +defends her virginity. He woos her and calls her gently his sweetheart, +and thinks he possesses her, but in vain. But he is gratified by this +vain semblance, embracing, kissing, and fondling an empty thing, seeing +and speaking to no purpose, struggling and striving without effect. +Surely the potion was effective in thus possessing and mastering him. +All his pains are of no avail, as he thinks and is persuaded that the +fortress is won. Thus he thinks and is convinced, when he desists after +his vain efforts. But now I may say once for all that his satisfaction +was never more than this. To such relations with her he will for ever be +condemned if indeed he can lead her to his own land; but before he can +get her to safety, I judge that there is trouble in store for him. For +while he is on his journey home, the duke, to whom his bride had been +betrothed, will appear upon the scene. The duke gathered a numerous +force, and garrisoned the frontiers, while at court he had his spies to +inform him each day of the emperor's doings and preparations, and how +long they are going to stay, and by what route they intend to return. +The emperor did not tarry long after the marriage, but left Cologne in +high spirits. The German emperor escorted him with a numerous company, +fearing and dreading the force of the Duke of Saxony. + +(Vv. 3395-3424.) The two emperors pursued their journey until they were +beyond Regensburg, where one evening they were encamped in a meadow by +the Danube. The Greeks were in their tents in the fields bordering upon +the Black Forest. Opposite to them the Saxons were lodged, spying +upon them. The duke's nephew stood alone upon a hill, whence he could +reconnoitre for a chance to inflict some loss or harm on the enemy. +From that point of vantage he espied Cliges with three of his young men +disporting themselves with lances and shields, eager for a conflict and +shock of arms. If he could get the chance the duke's nephew would gladly +attack them and do them harm. Starting out with five companions he +concealed them in a valley close by a wood, so that the Greeks never saw +them until they emerged from the valley; then the duke's nephew made an +attack, and striking Cliges, wounded him slightly in the back. Cliges, +bending over, avoids the lance which passed him, inflicting only a +slight hurt. + +(Vv. 3425-3570.) When Cliges felt himself wounded, he charged the youth, +and struck him with such force that he drove his lance quite through his +heart, and stretched him dead. Then all the Saxons in fear of him betook +themselves to flight through the woods. And Cliges, ignorant of the +ambuscade, courageously but imprudently leaving his companions behind, +pursues them to the place where the duke's troops were in force +preparing to attack the Greeks. Alone he goes in hot pursuit after the +youths, who, in despair over their lord whom they had lost, come running +to the duke and tell him weeping of his nephew's death. The duke saw +no joke in this affair; and, swearing by God and all His saints that he +will take no joy or pride in life so long as the slayer of his nephew +remains alive, he adds that whoever will bring him his head will be his +friend and will serve him well. Then a knight made boast that if he +can find the guilty man, he will present him with Cliges' head. Cliges +follows the young men until he falls among the Saxons, when he is seen +by him who had undertaken to carry off his head, and who starts after +him without delay. But Cliges haste had turned back to escape from his +enemies and came in to where he had left his companions; he found none +there, for they had returned to camp to relate their adventure. And the +emperor ordered to horse the Greeks and Germans in one band. Soon all +through the camp the knights are arming and mounting. Meanwhile Cliges +is hotly pursued by his enemy, all armed and with helmet closed. Cliges, +who never wished to be numbered among the coward and craven-hearted, +notices that he comes alone. First, the knight challenged him, calling +him "fellow," unable to conceal his rage: "Young fellow," he cried, +"thou shalt leave me here a pledge for my lord whom thou hast killed. +If I do not carry away thy head with me, I am not worth a counterfeit +besant. I must make of it a present to the duke, and will accept no +other forfeit. In return for his nephew, I shall make such restitution +that he will profit by the exchange." Cliges hears him reproaching him +thus boldly and with impudence. "Vassal," he says, "be on your guard! +For I will defend my head, and you shall not get it without my leave." +Then the attack begins. The other missed his blow, while Cliges struck +him with such force that horse and rider went down together in one heap. +The horse fell upon him so heavily that he shattered completely one of +his legs. Cliges dismounted on the greensward and disarmed him. When he +had disarmed him, he appropriated his weapons, and cut off his enemy's +head with the sword which had just now been his. After severing his head +he fixed it firmly on the point of his lance, thinking to offer it to +the duke, to whom his nephew had promised to present his own if he +could meet him in the strife. Cliges had no sooner put on the dead man's +helmet and taken his shield and mounted his steed, letting his own stray +at large to terrify the Greeks, than he saw advancing with more than a +hundred banners flying several full squadrons of Greeks and Germans. Now +the fierce and cruel struggles will soon begin between the Saxons and +the Greeks. As soon as Cliges sees his men advancing, he betakes himself +toward the Saxons, his own men hotly pursuing him, and not knowing him +in his disguise. It is no wonder that his uncle is in despair and fear, +when he sees the head he is carrying off. So all the host pursue him +fast, while Cliges leads them on to provoke a fight, until the Saxons +see him drawing near. But they, too, are quite misled by the arms with +which he has armed and equipped himself. He succeeds in deceiving +and mocking them; for the duke and all the rest, when they saw him +approaching lance in rest, cried out: "Here comes our knight! On the +point of his lance he carries Cliges' head, and the Greeks are hotly +pursuing him!" Then, as they give their horses rein, Cliges spurs +to meet the Saxons, crouching low beneath his shield, the lance out +straight with the head affixed. Now, though he was braver than a lion, +he was no stronger than any other man. Both parties think that he is +dead, and while the Saxons rejoice, the Greeks and Germans grieve. But +before long the truth will out. For Cliges no longer held his peace: +but, rushing fiercely at a Saxon, he struck him with his ashen lance +upon the head and in the breast, so that he made him lose his stirrups, +and at the same time he cried aloud: "Strike gentlemen, for I am Cliges +whom you seek. Come on, my bold and hardy knights! Let none hold back, +for the first joust is already won! He is a coward who does not relish +such a dish." + +(Vv. 3571-3620.) The emperor's joy was great when he heard the voice of +his nephew Cliges summoning and exhorting them; he was greatly pleased +and comforted. But the duke is greatly chagrined now when he sees he +is betrayed, unless his force should prove the stronger. While he +draws together his troops in serried lines, the Greeks do the same, and +pressing them close, attack and rush upon them. On both sides lances are +lowered as they meet for the proper reception of a hostile host. At the +first shock shields are pierced and lances shattered, girths are cut and +stirrups broken, while the horses of those who fall to earth are left +without a rider. But regardless of what any other does, Cliges and the +duke meet in the fray; holding their lances low, they strike one another +upon the shield with such violence that the strong and well-made lances +fly into splinters. Cliges was skilful on horseback, and sits straight +in his saddle without shaking or losing his balance. But the duke has +lost his seat, and in spite of himself quits the saddle-bows. Cliges +struggled and strove to capture him and carry him away, but his strength +did not suffice, for the Saxons were around about fighting to rescue +him. Nevertheless, Cliges escapes from the conflict without receiving +harm and with a precious prize; for he makes off with the duke's steed, +which was whiter than wool, and was worth more to a gentleman than the +fortune of Octavian [231] at Rome. The steed was an Arabian. The Greeks +and Germans are overjoyed to see Cliges on such a mount, for they had +already remarked the excellence and beauty of the Arab steed. But they +were not on their guard against an ambuscade; and before they are aware +of it great damage will be done. + +(Vv. 3621-3748.) A spy came to the duke, bringing him welcome news. +"Duke," says the spy, "not a man remains in all the encampment of the +Greeks who is able to defend himself. If thou wilt take my word for it, +now is the time to have the emperor's daughter seized, while the Greeks +are seen intent upon the battle and the strife. Lend me a hundred of thy +knights, and I will put the lady in their hands. By an old and secluded +path I will lead them so carefully that they will not be seen or met +by any man of Germany, until they can seize the damsel in her tent and +carry her off so handily that no resistance will be made." At this the +duke is highly pleased. He sent a hundred and more tried knights with +the spy, who so successfully conducted them that they carried the maiden +away captive without exerting any force; for they could abduct her +easily. After carrying her some distance from the tents, they send her +on under escort of twelve of their number whom they accompany but a +short distance. While the twelve led the damsel on, the others went to +tell the duke how successful they had been. The duke's desire being now +satisfied, he at once makes a truce with the Greeks until next day. The +truce was sworn by both parties. The duke's men then turned back, while +the Greeks without delay repaired each man to his own tent. But Cliges +stays behind alone, stationed upon a little hill where no one caught +sight of him, until he saw the twelve pass by with her whom they were +carrying off at topmost speed. Cliges, in his thirst for glory, rides +at them without delay; for he thinks within himself, and his heart tells +him, that it is not for nothing that they flee. So, as soon as he espied +them, he spurred after them; and when they saw him coming on, a foolish +thought occurred to them: "It is the duke," they said, "who comes. Let +us rein in a little; for he has left the troops and is riding hard after +us alone." Every man thinks that so it is. They all want to turn back to +meet him, but each one wishes to go alone. Meanwhile, Cliges must +needs descend a deep valley between two mountains. He would never have +recognised their blazons, if they had not come to meet him, or if they +had not awaited him. Six of the twelve come to meet him in an encounter +they will soon regret. The other six stay with the damsel, leading her +gently at a walk and easy jog. And the six ride quickly on, spurring up +the valley, until he who had the swiftest horse reached him first +and cried aloud: "Hail, Duke of Saxony! God bless thee! Duke, we have +recovered thy lady. The Greeks shall not get her now, for she shall be +placed in thy hands." When Cliges heard the words this fellow shouts, +his heart is not gay; rather is it strange that he does not lose his +wits. Never was any wild beast--leopard, tiger, or lion--upon seeing its +young captured, so fierce and furious as Cliges, who sets no value upon +his life if he deserts his sweetheart now. He would rather die than not +win her back. In his trouble he feels great wrath, which gives him the +courage he requires. He urges and spurs the Arab steed, and rushes +to give the Saxon such a blow upon his painted shield that without +exaggeration, he makes his heart feel the lance. This gives Cliges +confidence. He drove and spurred the Arab charger on for more than the +space of an acre before he came upon the next Saxon, for they came up +singly, each fearless of his predecessor's fare, for Cliges fights +them one by one. As he takes them thus individually, no one receives +another's aid. He makes a rush at the second one, who, like the first, +thought to give him joy by telling him of his own evil fate. But Cliges +has no concern to heed his talk and idle charter. Thrusting his lance +into his body so that the blood spurts out when it is withdrawn, he +deprives him of life and the gift of speech. After these two he meets +the third, who expects to find him in good humour and to make him +rejoice over his own mischance. Spurring eagerly he came up to him; +but before he has time to say a word, Cliges ran a fathom of his lance +through the middle of his body, leaving him senseless on the ground. +To the fourth he gives such a blow that he leaves him fainting on the +field. After the fourth he goes at the fifth, and after him he attacks +the sixth. None of them could defend himself, but each was left silent +and mute. He stood in less fear of the others now, and more hardily +pressed after them, taking no further thought of the six dead men. + +(Vv. 3749-3816.) Feeling no further care for them, he starts to present +a debt of shame and woe to the others who are leading the maid away. He +caught up with them, and made such an onslaught upon them as a hungry +and ravenous wolf makes when leaping upon its prey. Now he feels his +luck has come, when he can display his chivalry and bravery openly +before her who is his very life. Now may he die, if he does not rescue +her! And she, too, is at death's door from anxiety for his sake, though +she does not know that he is no near. Lance in rest, Cliges made an +attack which pleased him well; for he struck first one Saxon and then +another, so that with a single rush he carried them both to earth, +though it cost him his ashen lance. And they both fall in such distress, +being wounded in the body, that they have no power to rise again and +do him any harm or ill. The other four in bitter rage join in an attack +upon Cliges; but he neither quails nor trembles, and they are unable +to dislodge him from his seat. Quickly drawing his keen sword from its +sheath, in order to please her who awaits his love, he rode hard at a +Saxon and, striking him with his whetted blade, he severed his head and +half his neck from the body: such was the limit of his pity. Fenice, who +witnesses what transpires, does not know yet that this is Cliges. She +wishes that it were he, indeed, but because of the present danger she +says to herself that she would not have him there. Thus, doubly she +shows the devotion of a sweetheart, fearing at once his death, and +desiring that honour may be his. And Cliges sword in hand attacks the +other three, who face him bravely and puncture and split his shield. But +they are unable to lay hands upon him, or to pierce the meshes of his +hauberk. And whatever Cliges reaches cannot stand against his blow, +but must needs be split and torn apart; for he turns faster than a +top driven and lashed by the whip. Boldness and love, which holds him +enthralled, make him eager for the fray. He pressed the Saxons so hard +that he left them all dead and defeated, some only wounded, and others +dead--except one whom he let escape, disdaining to kill him when left +alone at his mercy; besides, he wished him to tell the duke of the loss +and injury he had sustained. But before this fellow left Cliges, he +begged him to tell him his name, which later he repeated to the duke, +thus rousing his bitter ire. + +(Vv. 3817-3864.) Now bad luck had fallen to the duke, who was in great +distress and grief. And Cliges takes back Fenice, whose love torments +and troubles him. If he does not confess to her now, love will long be +his enemy, and hers too, if she holds her peace and speaks not the word +which will bring him joy; for now each can tell the other privily the +thoughts that lie within the heart. But they so fear to be refused that +they dare not reveal their hearts. For his part, he fears lest she will +not accept his love, whereas she, too, would have spoken out had she +not feared to be rejected. In spite of this, the eyes of each reveal the +hidden thought, if only they had heeded this evidence. They converse +by glance of eye, but their tongues are so cowardly that they dare not +speak in any wise of the love which possesses them. No wonder if she +hesitates to begin, for a maid must be a simple and shrinking thing; but +he--why does he wait and hold back who was so bold for her just now, but +now in her presence is cowardly? God! whence comes this fear, that he +should shrink from a lonely girl, feeble and timid, simple and mild? It +is as if I should see the dog flee before the hare, and the fish chase +the beaver, the lamb the wolf, and the dove the eagle. In the same +fashion the labourer would forsake his pick with which he strives to +earn a livelihood, and the falcon would flee from the duck, and the +gerfalcon from the heron, and the pike from the minnow, and the stag +would chase the lion, and everything would be reversed. Now I feel +within me the desire to give some reason why it should happen to true +lovers that they lose their sense and boldness to say what they have in +mind when they have leisure and place and time. + +(Vv. 3865-3914.) Ye who are interested in the art of Love, who do +faithfully maintain the customs and usage of his court, who never failed +to obey his law, whatever the result might be, tell me if there is +anything that pleases because of love without causing us to tremble +and grow pale. If any one oppose me in this, I can at once refute his +argument; for whoever does not grow pale and tremble, whoever does not +lose his senses and memory, is trying to filch and get by stealth what +does not by right belong to him. The servant who does not fear his +master ought not to remain in his employ nor do his service. He who does +not esteem his lord does not fear him, and whoever does not esteem him +does not hold him dear, but rather tries to deceive him and to steal +from him what is his. The servant ought to tremble with fear when his +master calls or summons him. And whoever commits himself to Love owns +him as his lord and master, and is bound to do him reverence and fear +him much and honour him, if he wishes to be numbered in his court. Love +without alarm or fear is like a fire without flame or heat, day without +sun, comb without honey, summer without flowers, winter without frost, +sky without moon, and a book without letters. Such is my argument +in refutation, for where fear is absent love is not to be mentioned. +Whoever would love must needs feel fear, for otherwise he cannot be in +love. But let him fear only her whom he loves, and for her sake be brave +against all others. Then if he stands in awe of his lady-love Cliges +is guilty of nothing wrong. Even so, he would not have failed to speak +straightway with her of love, whatever the outcome might have been, had +it not been that she was his uncle's wife. This causes the festering of +his wound, and it torments and pains him the more because he dares not +utter what he fain would say. + +(Vv. 3915-3962.) Thus they make their way back to their own people, and +if they speak of anything it is nothing of much concern. Each seated on +a white horse, they rode rapidly toward the camp, which was plunged in +great sorrow. The whole army is beside itself with grief, but they are +altogether wrong in supposing Cliges to be dead: hence their bitter and +poignant grief. And for Fenice, too, they are in dismay, thinking never +to win her back again. Thus, for her and him the whole army is in great +distress. But soon upon their return the whole affair will change its +aspect; for now they have reached the camp again, and have quickly +changed the grief to joy. Joy returns and sorrow flees. All the troops +come together and sally forth to welcome them. The two emperors, upon +hearing the report about Cliges and the damsel, go to meet them with +joyful hearts, and each can hardly wait to hear how Cliges found and +recovered the empress. Cliges tells them, and, as they listen, they are +amazed and are loud in their praises of his courage and devotion. +But, for his part, the duke is furious, swearing and proclaiming his +determination to fight Cliges, if he dares, in single combat; and it +shall be agreed that if Cliges wins the battle the emperor shall proceed +unchallenged, and freely take the maiden with him, and if he should kill +or defeat Cliges, who had done him such injury, then let there be no +truce or stay to prevent each party from doing its best. This is what +the duke desires, and by an interpreter of his, who knew both the Greek +and the German tongues, he announces to the two emperors his desire thus +to arrange the battle. + +(Vv. 3963-4010.) The messenger delivered his message so well in both +languages that all could understand it. The entire army was in an +uproar, saying that may God forbid that Cliges ever engage in the +battle. Both emperors are in a fright, but Cliges throws himself at +their feet and begs them not to grieve, but if ever he did them any +favour, he prays them to grant him this battle as a guerdon and reward. +And if the right to fight should be denied him, then he will never again +serve for a single day his uncle's cause and honour. The emperor, who +loved his nephew as he should, raised him by the hand and said: "Fair +nephew, I am deeply grieved to know you are so keen to fight; for after +joy, sorrow is to be expected. [232] You have made me glad, I cannot +deny it; but it is hard for me to yield the point and send you forth to +this battle, when I see you still so young. And yet I know you to be +so confident of yourself that I dare not ever refuse anything that you +choose to ask of me. Be assured that, merely to gratify you, it should +be done; but if my request has any power, you would never assume this +task." "My lord, there is no need of further speech," said Cliges; "may +God damn me, if I would take the whole world, and miss this battle! I do +not know why I should seek from you any postponement or long delay." +The emperor weeps with pity, while Cliges sheds tears of joy when the +permission to fight is granted him. Many a tear was shed that day, and +no respite or delay was asked. Before the hour of prime, by the duke's +own messenger the challenge to battle was sent back to him accepted as +he had proposed. + +(Vv. 4011-4036.) The duke, who thinks and confidently trusts that Cliges +will be unable to stave off death and defeat at his hands, has himself +quickly armed. Cliges, who is anxious for the fight, feels no concern +as to how he shall defend himself. He asks the emperor for his arms, and +desires him to dub him a knight. So the emperor generously gives him his +arms, and he takes them, his heart being keen for the battle which he +anticipates with joy and eagerness. No time is lost in arming him. And +when he was armed from head to foot, the emperor, all sorrowing, girds +the sword upon his side. Thus Cliges completely armed mounts his white +Arab steed; from his neck he hangs by the straps an ivory shield, such +as will never break or split; and upon it there was neither colour nor +design. All his armour was white, and the steed, and the harness, too, +was all whiter than any snow. + +(Vv. 4037-4094.) Cliges and the duke, now being armed, summon each other +to meet half way, and they stipulate that their men shall take their +stand on either side, but without their swords and lances, under oath +and pledge that not a man will be so rash, so long as the battle lasts, +as to dare to move for any reason, any more than he would dare to pluck +out his own eye. When this had been agreed upon, they came together, +each yearning ardently for the glory he hopes to win and for the joy +of victory. But before a single blow was dealt, the empress has herself +borne thither, solicitous for Cliges' fate. It seems to her that if he +dies, she, too, must needs do so. No comfort can avail to keep her from +joining him in death, for, without him, life has no joys for her. When +all were gathered on the field--high and low, young and old--and the +guards had taken their place, then both seized their lances and rushed +together so savagely that they both broke their lances and fell to +the ground, unable to keep their saddles. But not being wounded, they +quickly get upon their feet and attack each other without delay. Upon +their resonant helmets they play such a tune with swords that it seems +to those who are looking on that the helmets are on fire and send forth +sparks. And when the swords rebound in air, gleaming sparks fly off +from them as from a smoking piece of iron which the smith beats upon his +anvil after, drawing it from the forge. Both of the vassals are generous +in dealing blows in great plenty, and each has the best of intentions +to repay quickly what he borrows; neither one holds back from repaying +promptly capital and interest, without accounting and without measure. +But the duke is much chagrined with anger and discomfiture when he fails +to defeat and slay Cliges in the first assault. Such a marvellously +great and mighty blow he deals him that he falls at his feet upon his +knee. + +(Vv. 4095-4138.) When this blow brought Cliges down, the emperor was +struck with fear, and would have been no more dismayed had he himself +been beneath the shield. Nor could Fenice in her fear longer contain +herself, whatever the effect might be, from crying: "God help him!" +as loud as she could. But that was the only word she uttered, for +straightway her voice failed her, and she fell forward upon her face, +which was somewhat wounded by the fall. Two high nobles raised her up +and supported her upon her feet until she returned to consciousness. +But in spite of her countenance, none who saw her guessed why she had +swooned. Not a man there blamed her, but rather praised her for her act, +for each one supposes that she would have done the same thing for him, +if he had been in Cliges' place, but in all this they are quite astray. +Cliges heard, and well understood, the sound of Fenice's cry. Her voice +restored his strength and courage, as he leaped up quickly, and came +with fury, toward the duke, so charging and attacking him that the duke +in turn was now dismayed. For now he found him more fierce for the +fray, stronger and more agile and energetic than when at first they came +together. And because he feared his onslaught, he cried: "Young man, so +help me God, I see thou art brave and very bold. If it were not for my +nephew now, whom I shall never more forget, I would gladly make peace +with thee, and leave thy quarrel without interfering in it more." + +(Vv. 4139-4236.) "Duke," says Cliges, "what is your pleasure now? Must +one not surrender his right when he is unable to recover it? When one of +two evils must be faced, one should choose the lesser one. Your nephew +was not wise to become angrily embroiled with me. You may be sure that +I shall treat you in like fashion, if I get the chance, unless you agree +to my terms of peace." The duke, to whom it seems that Cliges' vigour is +steadily growing, thinks that he had better desist in mid-career before +he is utterly undone. Nevertheless, he does not openly give in, but +says: "Young man, I see thou art skilful and alert and not lacking in +courage. But thou art yet too young; therefore I feel assured that if I +defeat and kill thee I shall gain no praise or fame, and I should never +like to confess in the hearing of a man of honour that I had fought with +thee, for I should but do thee honour, and myself win shame. But if thou +art aware of honour's worth, it will always be a glorious thing for thee +to have withstood me for two rounds at arms. So now my heart and feeling +bid me let thee have thy way, and no longer fight with thee." [233] +"Duke," says Cliges, "that will not do. In the hearing of all you must +repeat those words, for it shall never be said and noised abroad that +you let me off and had mercy on me. In the hearing of all those who are +gathered here, you must repeat your words, if you wish to be reconciled +with me." So the duke repeats his words in the hearing of all. Then they +make peace and are reconciled. But however the matter be regarded Cliges +had all the honour and glory of it, and the Greeks were greatly pleased. +For their part, the Saxons could not laugh, all of them having plainly +seen that their lord was worn out and exhausted just now; but there is +no doubt at all that, if he could have helped himself, this peace would +never have been made, and that Cliges' soul would have been drawn from +his body had it proven possible. The duke goes back to Saxony sorrowing, +downcast, and filled with shame; for of his men there are not even two +who do not regard him as worsted, defeated, and disgraced. The Saxons +with all their shame have now returned to Saxony, while the +Greeks without delay make their way with joy and gladness toward +Constantinople, for Cliges by his prowess has opened the way for them. +The emperor of Germany no longer follows and convoys them. Taking leave +of the Greek troops and of his daughter and Cliges, and finally of the +emperor, he stayed behind in Germany. And the emperor of the Greeks goes +off happily and in joyous mood. Cliges, brave and courteous, calls to +mind his sire's command. If his uncle, the emperor, will give him his +permission, he will go and ask him for leave to return to Britain and +there converse with his great-uncle, the King; for he is desirous of +seeing and knowing him. So he presents himself before the emperor, and +requests that he consent to let him go to Britain to see his uncle and +his friends. Gently he proffered his request. But his uncle refused, +when he had listened to the request he made. "Fair nephew," he said, "it +is not my will that you should wish to leave me. I shall never give you +without regret this permission to go away. For it is my pleasure and +desire that you should be my companion and lord, with me, of all my +empire." + +(Vv. 4237-4282.) Now Cliges hears something that does not suit him when +his uncle refuses the prayer and request he made. "Fair sire," said he, +"I am not brave and wise enough, nor would it be seemly for me to join +myself with you or any one else in the duty of governing this empire; I +am too young and inexperienced. They put gold to the test when they wish +to learn if it is fine. And so it is my wish, in brief, to try to prove +myself, wherever I can find the test. In Britain, if I am brave, I can +apply myself to the whetstone and to the real true test, whereby my +prowess shall be proved. In Britain are the gentlemen whom honour and +prowess distinguish. And he who wishes to win honour should associate +himself with them, for honour is won and gained by him who associates +with gentlemen. And so I ask you for leave to go, and you may be very +sure that if you do not grant me the boon and send me thither I shall go +without your leave." "Fair nephew, I will give you leave, seeing you +are so disposed that I cannot keep you back either by force or prayer +of mine. Now since prayer, prohibition, and force do not avail, may God +give you the desire and inclination promptly to return. I wish you to +take with you more than a bushel of gold and silver, and I will give for +your pleasure such horses as you may choose." He had no sooner spoken +than Cliges bowed before him. All that the emperor, mentioned and +promised him was straightway brought thither. + +(Vv. 4283-4574.) Cliges took all the money and companions that he +wished and needed. For his personal use he took four horses of different +colours: one white, one sorrel, one fallow red, and one black. But I +must have passed over something which it is not proper to omit. Cliges +goes to ask and obtain leave to depart from his sweetheart Fenice; for +he wishes to commend her to God's safe keeping. Coming before her, +he throws himself upon his knees, weeping so bitterly that the tears +moisten his tunic and ermine, the while keeping his eyes upon the +ground; for he dares not raise his eyes to her, as if he were guilty +of some crime and misdeed toward her, for which he seems overcome with +shame. And Fenice, who timidly and fearfully looks at him, does not know +the occasion of his coming, and speaks to him with difficulty. "Rise, +friend and fair sir! Sit here beside me, and weep no more, and tell me +what your pleasure is." "Lady, what shall I say, and what leave unsaid? +I come to ask your leave." "Leave? To do what?" "Lady, I must go off to +Britain." "Then tell me what your business is, before I give you leave +to go." "Lady, my father, before he departed this life and died, begged +me not to fail to go to Britain as soon as I should be made a knight. +I should not wish for any reason to disregard his command. I must not +falter until I have accomplished the journey. It is a long road from +here to Greece, and if I should go thither, the journey would be too +long from Constantinople to Britain. But it is right that I should ask +leave from you to whom I altogether belong." Many a covert sigh and sob +marked the separation. But the eyes of none were keen enough, nor the +ears of any sharp enough, to learn from what he saw and heard that there +was any love between these two. Cliges, in spite of the grief he felt, +took his leave at the first opportunity. He is full of thought as he +goes away, and so are the emperor and many others who stay behind. But +more than all the others, Fenice is pensive: she finds no bottom or +bound to the reflections which occupy her, so abundantly are her cares +multiplied. She was still oppressed with thought when she arrived in +Greece. There she was held in great honour as mistress and empress; but +her heart and mind belong to Cliges, wherever he goes, and she wishes +her heart never to return to her, unless it is brought back to her by +him who is perishing of the same disease with which he has smitten her. +If he should get well, she would recover too, but he will never be its +victim without her being so as well. Her trouble appears in her pale and +changed colour; for the fresh, clear, and radiant colour which Nature +had given her is now a stranger to her face. She often weeps and often +sighs. Little she cares for her empire and for the riches that are hers. +She always cherishes in her remembrance the hour when Cliges went away, +and the leave he took of her, how he changed colour and grew pale, and +how tearful his expression was, for he came to weep in her presence +humbly and simply upon his knees, as if constrained to worship her. +All this is sweet and pleasant for her to remember and think about. And +afterward, as a little treat, she takes on her tongue instead of spice +a sweet word which for all Greece she would not wish him to have used +contrary to the sense she had understood when he first had uttered +it; for she lives upon no other dainty, and there is nothing else that +pleases her. This word alone sustains and nourishes her, and assuages +all her pain. She cares to eat and drink of no other dish or beverage, +for when the two lovers came to part, Cliges had said he was "altogether +hers." This word is so sweet and tastes so good that from the tongue it +stirs her heart, and she takes it into her mouth and heart to be all the +more sure of it. Under any other lock she would not dare to store this +treasure. Nowhere could it be lodged so well as in her own bosom. She +will never leave it exposed at any price, being in such fear of robbers +and thieves. But there is no ground for her anxiety, and she need have +no fear of the birds of prey, for her treasure is not movable, but is +rather like a house which cannot be destroyed by fire or flood, but will +always stay fixed in a single place. But she feels no confidence in the +matter, so she worries and strives to find and hold some ground on which +to stand, interpreting the situation in divers ways. She both opposes +and defends her position, and engages in the following argument: "With +what intention should Cliges say 'I am altogether yours' unless it was +love that prompted him? What power can I have over him that he should +esteem me so highly as to make me the mistress of his heart? Is he not +more fair than I, and of higher rank than I? I see in it naught but +love, which could vouchsafe me such a boon. I, who cannot escape its +power, will prove by my own case that unless he loved me he would never +say that he was mine; unless love holds him in its toils, Cliges +could never say that he was mine any more than I could say that I was +altogether his unless love had put me in his hands. For if he loves me +not, at least he does not fear me. I hope that love which gives me to +him will in return give him to me. But now I am sore dismayed because it +is so trite a word, and I may simply be deceived, for many there be who +in flattering terms will say even to a total stranger, 'I and all that +I have are yours,' and they are more idle chatterers than the jays. So +I do not know what to think, for it might well turn out that he said it +just to flatter me. Yet I saw his colour change, and I saw him weeping +piteously. In my judgment, the tears and his face confused and pale were +not produced by treachery, nor were they the fruits of trickery. Those +eyes from which I saw tears roll down were not guilty of falsehood. +Signs enough of love I saw, if I know anything about it. Yes, in an +evil hour I thought of love; woe is me that I ever learned it, for the +experience has been bitter. Has it indeed? Yes, verily. I am dead when +I cannot see him who has stolen my heart away by his cajoling flattery, +because of which my heart leaves its dwelling, and will not abide with +me, hating my home and establishment. In truth I have been ill treated +by him who has my heart in his keeping. He who robs me and takes what is +mine cannot love me, of that I am sure. But am I sure? Why then did he +weep? Why? It was not in vain, for there was cause enough. I must not +assume that I was the cause of it, for one is always loath to leave +people whom one loves and knows. So it is not strange if he was sorry +and grieved and if he wept when he left some one whom he knew. But +he who gave him this advice to go and dwell in Britain could not have +smitten me more effectively. He is cut to the quick who loses his heart. +He who deserves it, should be treated ill; but I have never deserved +such treatment. Alas, unhappy one, why has Cliges killed me when I +am innocent? But I am unjust to accuse him thus without cause. Surely +Cliges would never have deserted me if his heart were like mine. I am +sure his heart is not like mine. And if my heart is lodged in his it +will never draw away, and his will never part from mine, for my heart +follows him secretly: they have formed such a goodly company. But, after +all, to tell the truth, they are very different and contrary. How are +they different and contrary? Why, his is the master and mine the slave; +and the slave can have no will of his own, but only do his master's will +and forsake all other affairs. But what reference has that to me? My +heart and service are no concern to him. This arrangement distresses +me, that one is master of us both. Why is not my heart as independent +as his? Then their power would be equalised. My heart is now a prisoner, +unable to move itself unless his moves as well. And whether his heart +wanders or stays still, mine must needs prepare to follow him in his +train. God! why are our bodies not so near one another that I could +in some way bring back my heart! Bring back? Foolish one, if I should +remove it from its joy I should be the death of it. Let it stay there! +I have no desire to dislodge it, but rather wish that it tarry with its +lord until he feel some pity for it. For rather over there than here +ought he to have mercy on his servant, because they are both in a +foreign land. If my heart knows well the language of flattery, as is +necessary for the courtier, it will be rich ere it comes back. Whoever +wishes to stand in the good graces of his lord and sit beside him on his +right, to be in the fashion now-a-days, must remove the feather from +his head, even when there is none there. But there is one bad feature of +this practice: while he is smoothing down his master, who is filled +with evil and villainy, he will never be so courteous as to tell him the +truth; rather he makes him think and believe that no one could compare +with him in prowess and in knowledge, and the master thinks that he is +speaking the truth. That man does not know himself who takes another's +word about qualities which he does not possess. For even if he is a +wicked and insolent wretch, and as cowardly as a hare, mean, crazy, and +misshapen, and a villain both in word and deed--yet some man will praise +him to his face who behind his back will mock at him. But when in his +hearing he speaks of him to some other, he praises him, while his lord +pretends not to hear what they say between themselves; if, however, he +thought that he would not be heard, he would say something his master +would not like. And if his master is pleased to lie, the servant is all +ready with his consent, and will never be backward in averring that all +his master says is true. He who frequents courts and lords must ever be +ready with a lie. So, too, must my heart do if it would find favour with +its lord. Let it flatter and be obsequious. But Cliges is such a knight, +so fair, so open, and so loyal, that my heart, in praising him, +need never be false or perfidious, for in him there is nothing to be +improved. Therefore I wish my heart to serve him, for, as the people's +proverb runs, 'He who serves a noble man is bad indeed if he does not +improve in his company.'" + +(Vv. 4575-4628.) Thus love harrows Fenice. But this torment is her +delight, of which she can never grow weary. And Cliges now has crossed +the sea and come to Wallingford. There he took expensive quarters in +great state. But his thoughts are always of Fenice, not forgetting her +for a single hour. While he delays and tarries there, his men, acting +under his instructions, made diligent inquiries. They were informed that +King Arthur's barons and the King in person had appointed a tourney to +be held in the plain before Oxford, which lies close to Wallingford. +[234] There the struggle was arranged, and it was to last four days. But +Cliges will have abundant time to prepare himself if in the meantime +he needs anything, for more than a fortnight must elapse before the +tournament begins. He orders three of his squires to go quickly to +London and there buy three different sets of arms, one black, another +red, the third green, and that on the way back each shall be kept +covered with new cloth, so that if any one should meet them on the road +he may not know the colour of the arms they carry. The squires start at +once and come to London, where they find available everything they need. +Having finished this errand, they return at once without losing any +time. When the arms they had brought were shown to Cliges he was +well pleased with them. He ordered them to be set away and concealed, +together with those which the emperor had given him by the Danube, when +he knighted him. I do not choose to tell you now why he had them stored +away; but it will be explained to you when all the high barons of the +land are mounted on their steeds and assemble in search of fame. + +(Vv. 4629-4726.) On the day which had been agreed upon, the nobles of +renown came together. King Arthur, with all his men whom he had selected +from among the best, took up his position at Oxford, while most of the +knights ranged themselves near Wallingford. Do not expect me to delay +the story and tell you that such and such kings and counts were there, +and that this, that, and the other were of the number. [235] When the +time came for the knights to gather, in accordance with the custom +of those days, there came forth alone between two lines one of King +Arthur's most valiant knights to announce that the tourney should begin. +But in this case no one dares to advance and confront him for the joust. +There is none who does not hold back. And there are some who ask: "Why +do these knights of ours delay, without stepping forward from the ranks? +Some one will surely soon begin." And the others make reply: "Don't you +see, then, what an adversary yonder party has sent against us? Any one +who does not know should learn that he is a pillar, [236] able to stand +beside the best three in the world." "Who is he, then?" "Why, don't +you see? It is Sagremor the Wild." "Is it he?" "It surely is." Cliges +listens and hears what they say, as he sits on his horse Morel, clad +in armour blacker than a mulberry: for all his armour was black. As he +emerges from the ranks and spurs Morel free of the crowd, there is not +one, upon seeing him, but exclaims to his neighbour: "That fellow rides +well lance in rest; he is a very, skilful knight and carries his arms +right handily; his shield fits well about his neck. But he must be a +fool to undertake of his own free will to joust with one of the most +valiant knights to be found in all the land. Who can he be? Where was +he born? Who knows him here?" "Not I." "Nor I." "There is not a flake +of snow on him; but all his armour is blacker far than the cloak of any +monk or prior." While thus they talk, the two contestants give their +horses rein without delay, for they are very eager and keen to come +together in the fight. Cliges strikes him so that he crushes the shield +against his arm, and the arm against his body, whereupon Sagremor falls +full length. Cliges goes unerringly and bids him declare himself his +prisoner, which Sagremor does at once. Now the tourney is fairly begun, +and adversaries meet in rivalry. Cliges rushes about the field, seeking +adversaries with whom to joust, but not a knight presents himself whom +he does not cast down or take prisoner. He excels in glory, all the +knights on either side, for wherever he goes to battle, there the fight +is quickly ended. That man may be considered brave who holds his ground +to joust with him, for it is more credit to dare face him than it is to +defeat another knight. And if Cliges leads him away prisoner, for this +at least he gains renown that he dared to wait and fight with him. +Cliges wins the fame and glory of all the tournament. When evening came, +he secretly repaired to his lodging-place in order that none might have +any words with him. And lest any one should seek the house where the +black arms are displayed, he puts them away in a room in order that no +one may find them or see them, and he hangs up his green arms at the +street-door, where they will be in evidence, and where passers-by will +see them. And if any one asks and inquires where his lodging is, he +cannot learn when he sees no sign of the black shield for which he +seeks. + +(Vv. 4727-4758.) By this ruse Cliges remains hidden in the town. And +those who were his prisoners went from one end of the town to the other +asking for the black knight, but none could give them any information. +Even King Arthur himself has search made up and down for him; but there +is only one answer: "We have not seen him since we left the lists, and +do not know what became of him." More than twenty young men seek him, +whom the King sent out; but Cliges so successfully concealed himself +that they cannot find a trace of him. King Arthur is filled with +astonishment when he is informed that no one of high or low degree +can point out his lodging-place, any more than if he were in Caesarea, +Toledo, or Crete. "Upon my word," he says, "I know not what they may +say, but to me this seems a marvellous thing. Perchance it was a phantom +that appeared in our midst. Many a knight has been unhorsed, and noble +men have pledged faith to one whose house they cannot find, or even his +country or locality; each of these men perforce must fail to keep his +pledge." Thus the King spoke his mind, but he might as well have held +his peace. + +(Vv. 4759-4950.) That evening among all the barons there was much talk +of the black knight, for indeed they spoke of nothing else. The next +day they armed themselves again without summons and without request. +Lancelot of the Lake, in whom there is no lack of courage, rides forth +with lance upright to await a contestant in the first joust. Here comes +Cliges tiding fast, greener than the grass of the field, and mounted on +a fallow red steed, carrying its mane on the right-hand side. Wherever +Cliges spurs the horse, there is no one, either with hair or without, +who does not look at him amazed and exclaim to his neighbour on either +side: "This knight is in all respects more graceful and skilful than the +one who yesterday wore the black arms, just as a pine is more beautiful +than a white beech, and the laurel than the elder-bush. As yet we know +not who yesterday's victor was; but we shall know to-night who this man +is." Each one makes reply: "I don't know him, nor did I ever see him, +that I am aware. But he is fairer than he who fought yesterday, and +fairer than Lancelot of the Lake. If this man rode armed in a bag and +Lancelot in silver and gold, this man would still be fairer than he." +Thus they all take Cliges' part. And the two champions drive their +steeds together with all the force of spur. Cliges gives him such a blow +upon the golden shield with the lion portrayed thereon that he knocks +him down from his saddle and stands over him to receive his surrender. +For Lancelot there was no help; so he admitted himself his prisoner. +Then the noise began afresh with the shock of breaking lances. Those who +are on Cliges' side place all their confidence in him. For of those whom +he challenges and strikes, there is none so strong but must fall from +his horse to earth. That day Cliges did so well, and unhorsed and took +captive so many knights, that he gave double the satisfaction to his +side, and won for himself twice the glory that he had gained on the +preceding day. When evening came, he betook himself as fast as he could +to his lodging-place, and quickly ordered out the vermilion shield and +his other arms, while he ordered the arms which he had worn that day to +be laid away: the host carefully put them aside. Again that evening the +knights whom he had captured sought for him, but without hearing any +news of him. In their lodging-places, most of those who speak of him do +so with praise and admiration. The next day the gay and doughty knights +return to the contest. From the Oxford side comes forth a vassal of +great renown--his name was Perceval of Wales. As soon as Cliges saw him +start, and learned certainly who it was, when he had heard the name of +Perceval he was very anxious to contest with him. He issued straightway +from the ranks upon a Spanish sorrel steed, and completely clad in +vermilion armour. Then all gaze at him, wondering more than ever +before, and saying that they had never seen so perfect a knight. And +the contestants without delay spur forward until their mighty blows land +upon their shields. The lances, though they were short and stout, bend +until they look like hoops. In the sight of all who were looking on, +Cliges struck Perceval so hard that he knocked him from his horse and +made him surrender without a long struggle or much ado. When Perceval +had pledged his word then the joust began again, and the engagement +became general. Every knight whom Cliges meets he forces to earth. He +did not quit the lists that day even for a single hour, while all the +others struck at him as at a tower--individually, of course, and not +in groups of two or three, for such was not the custom then. Upon his +shield, as upon an anvil, the others strike and pound, splitting and +hewing it to bits. But every one who strikes him there, he pays back by +casting him from his stirrups and saddle; and no one, unless he wished +to lie, could fail to say when the jousting ceased that the knight with +the red shield had won all the glory on that day. And all the best and +most courtly knights would fain have made his acquaintance. But their +desire was not felt before he had departed secretly, seeing the sun +already set; and he had his vermilion shield and all his other harness +removed, and ordered his white arms to be brought out, in which he had +first been dubbed a knight, while the other arms and the steeds were +fastened outside by the door. Those who notice this realise and exclaim +that they have all been defeated and undone by one single man; for each +day he has disguised himself with a different horse and set of armour, +thus seeming to change his identity; for the first time now they noticed +this. And my lord Gawain proclaimed that he never saw such a champion, +and therefore he wished to make his acquaintance and learn his name, +announcing that on the morrow he himself will be the first at the rally +of the knights. Yet, withal, he makes no boast; on the other hand, +he says that he fully expects the stranger knight will have all the +advantage with the lance; but it may be that with the sword he will not +be his superior (for with the sword Gawain had no master). Now it is +Gawain's desire to measure his strength on the morrow with this strange +knight who changes every day his arms, as well as his horse and harness. +His moultings will soon be numerous if he continues thus each day, as +is his custom, to discard his old and assume new plumage. Thus, when he +thought of the sword and the lance respectively. Gawain disparaged and +esteemed highly the prowess of his foe. The next day he sees Cliges come +back whiter than the fleur-delis, his shield grasped tight by the inside +straps and seated on his white Arab steed, as he had planned the +night before. Gawain, brave and illustrious, seeks no repose on the +battleground, but spurs and rides forward, endeavouring as best he may +to win honour in the fray, if he can find an opponent. In a moment they +will both be on the field. For Cliges had no desire to hold back when he +overheard the words of the men who said: "There goes Gawain, who is no +weakling either on foot or ahorse. He is a man whom no one will attack." +When Cliges hears these words, he rushes toward him in mid-field; they +both advance and come together with a swifter leap than that of the +stag who hears the sound of the dogs as they come baying after him. The +lances are thrust at the shields, and the blows produce such havoc that +the lances split, crack and break clear down to the butt-end, and the +saddle-bows behind give away, and the girths and breast-straps snap. +Both come to earth at once and draw their naked swords, while the others +gather round to watch the battle. Then King Arthur stepped forward to +separate them and establish peace. But before the truce was sworn, the +white hauberks were badly torn and rent apart, the shields were cracked +and hewed to bits, and the helmets crushed. + +(Vv. 4951-5040.) The King viewed them with pleasure for a while, as did +many others who said that they esteemed the white knight's deeds of arms +no less than those of my lord Gawain, and they were not ready yet to say +which was the better and which the worse, nor which was likely to win, +if they had been allowed to fight to a finish; but it did not please the +King to let them do more than they had done. So he stepped forward to +separate them, saying: "Stop now! Woe if another blow be struck! Make +peace now, and be good friends. Fair nephew Gawain, I make this request +of you; for without resentment and hate it is not becoming for a +gentleman to continue to fight and defy his foe. But if this knight +would consent to come to my court and join our sport it would not be +to his sorrow or hurt. Nephew, make this request of him." "Gladly, my +lord." Cliges has no desire to refuse, and gladly consents to go when +the tourney is concluded. For now he has more than sufficiently carried +out the injunction of his father. And the King says he has no desire +that the tournament shall last too long, and that they can afford to +stop at once. So the knights drew off, according to the wish and order +of the King. Now that he is to follow in the royal suite, Cliges sends +for all his armour. As soon as he can, he comes to court; but first, +he completely changed his gear, and came dressed in the style of the +French. As soon as he arrived at court, all ran to meet him without +delay, making such joy and festival that never was there greater seen, +and all those call him lord whom he had captured in the joust; but he +would hear none of this, and said they might all go free, if they were +quite sure and satisfied that it was he who had captured them. And there +was not one who did not cry: "You were the man; we are sure of that! We +value highly your acquaintance, and we ought to love and esteem you +and call you our lord, for none of us can equal you. Just as the sun +outshines the little stars, so that their light cannot be seen in the +sky when the sun's rays appear, so is our prowess extinguished and +abased in the presence of yours, though ours too was once famous in +the world." Cliges knows not what to reply, for in his opinion they all +praise him more than he deserves; it pleases him, but he feels ashamed, +and the blood rises in his face, revealing to all his modesty. Escorting +him into the middle of the hall, they led him to the King, where all +ceased their words of compliment and praise. The time for the meal had +come, and those whose duty it was hastened to set the tables. The tables +in the hall were quickly spread, then while some took the towels, and +others held the basins, they offered water to all who came. When all had +washed, they took their seats. And the King, taking Cliges by the hand, +made him sit down in front of him, for he wished to learn this very day, +if possible, who he was. Of the meal I need not further speak, for the +courses were as well supplied as if beef were selling at a penny. + +(Vv. 5041-5114.) When all the courses had been served, the King no +longer held his peace. "My friend," he says, "I wish to learn if it +was from pride that you did not deign to come to court as soon as you +arrived in this country, and why you kept aloof from people, and why +you changed your arms; and tell me what your name is, too, and from what +race you spring." Cliges replies: "It shall not be hid." He told and +related to the King everything he wished to know. And when the King had +heard it all, he embraced him, and made much of him, while all joined in +greeting him. And when my lord Gawain learned the truth, he, more than +the others, cordially welcomed him. Thus, all unite in saluting him, +saying that he is very fair and brave. The King loves and honours him +above all his nephews. Cliges tarries with the King until the summer +comes around, in the meantime visiting all Brittany, France, and +Normandy, where he did so many knightly deeds that he thoroughly proved +his worth. But the love whose wound he bears gives him no peace or +relief. The inclination of his heart keeps him fixed upon a single +thought. To Fenice his thought harks back, who from afar afflicts his +heart. The desire takes him to go back; for he has been deprived too +long of the sight of the most desired lady who was ever desired by +any one. He will not prolong this privation, but prepares to return to +Greece, and sets out, after taking leave. The King and my lord Gawain +were grieved, I can well believe, when they could no longer detain him. +But he is anxious to return to her whom he loves and so covets that the +way seems long to him as he passes over land and sea: so ardently he +longs for the sight of her who has stolen and filched Iris heart away. +But she makes him recompense in full; for she pays him, as it were rent, +the coin of her own heart, which is no less dear to her. But he is by no +means sure of that, having no contract or agreement to show; wherefore +his anxiety is great. And she is in just as great distress, harried +and tormented by love, taking no pleasure in aught she sees since that +moment when she saw him last. The fact that she does not even know +whether he be alive or not fills her heart with anguish. But Cliges +draws nearer day by day, being fortunate in having favourable winds, +until he joyfully comes to port before Constantinople. When the news +reached the city, none need ask if the emperor was glad; but a hundred +times greater was the empress's joy. + +(Vv. 5115-5156.) Cliges, with his company, having landed at +Constantinople, has now returned to Greece. The richest and most noble +men all come to meet him at the port. And when the emperor encounters +him, who before all others had gone to meet him with the empress by his +side, he runs to embrace and greet him in the presence of them all. And +when Fenice welcomes him, each changes colour in the other's presence, +and it is indeed a marvel, when they are so close together, how they +keep from embracing each other and bestowing such kisses as love would +have; but that would have been folly and madness. The people come +together from all sides with the desire to see him, and conduct him +through the city, some on foot and some on horseback, until they bring +him to the imperial palace. No words can ever tell the joy and honour +and courteous service that were there displayed. But each one strove as +best he might to do everything which he thought would please and gratify +Cliges. And his uncle hands over to him all his possessions, except the +crown: he wishes him to gratify his pleasure fully, and to take all he +desires of his wealth, either in the form of land or treasure. But +he has no care for silver or gold, so long as he dares not reveal his +thoughts to her because of whom he can find no repose; and yet he has +plenty of time and opportunity to speak, if he were not afraid of +being repelled; for now he can see her every day, and sit beside her +"tete-a-tete" without opposition or hindrance, for no one sees any harm +in that. + +(Vv. 5157-5280.) Some time after his return, he came alone one day to +the room of her who was not his enemy, and you may be sure that the door +was not barred at his approach. By her side he took his seat, while the +others moved away, so that no one might be seated near them and hear +their words. First, Fenice spoke of Britain, and asked him about the +character and appearance of my lord Gawain, until her words finally hit +upon the subject which filled her with dread. She asked him if he +had given his love to any dame or damsel in that land. Cliges was not +obstinate or slow to respond to this demand, but he knew at once what +reply to make as soon as she had put the question. "Lady," he says, "I +was in love while there, but not with any one of that land. In Britain +my body was without my heart, as a piece of bark without the wood. Since +leaving Germany I have not known what became of my heart, except that it +came here after you. My heart was here, and my body was there. I was not +really away from Greece; for hither my heart had come, for which I now +have come back again; yet, it does not return to its lodging-place, +nor can I draw it back to me, nor do I wish to do so, if I could. And +you--how has it fared with you, since you came to this country? What joy +have you had here? Do you like the people, do you like the land? I ought +not to ask you any other question than whether the country pleases you." +"It has not pleased me until now; but at present I feel a certain joy +and satisfaction, which, you may be sure, I would not lose for Pavia or +Piacenza. From this joy I cannot wrest my heart, nor shall I ever use +force in the attempt. Nothing but the bark is left in me, for I live and +exist without a heart. I have never been in Britain, and yet without +me my heart has been engaged in business there I know not what." "Lady, +when was it that your heart was there? Tell me when it went thither--the +time and season--if it be a thing that you can fairly tell me or any one +else. Was it there while I was there?" "Yes, but you were not aware of +it. It was there as long as you were, and came away again with you." +"God! I never saw it, nor knew it was there. God! why did I not know it? +If I had been informed of this, surely, my lady, I would have borne it +pleasant company." "You would have repaid me with the consolation which +you really owed to me, for I should have been very gracious to your +heart if it had been pleased to come where it might have known I was." +"Lady, surely it came to you." "To me? Then it came to no strange place, +for mine also went to you." "Then, lady, according to what you say, our +hearts are here with us now, for my heart is altogether in your hands." +"You in turn have mine, my friend; so we are in perfect accord. And you +may be sure, so help me God, that your uncle has never shared in me, for +it was not my pleasure, and he could not. Never has he yet known me +as Adam knew his wife. In error I am called a wife; but I am sure that +whoever calls me wife does not know that I am still a maid. Even your +uncle is not aware of it, for, having drunk of the sleeping potion, he +thinks he is awake when he is asleep, and he fancies he has his sport +with me while I lie in his embrace. But his exclusion has been complete. +My heart is yours, and my body too, and from me no one shall ever +learn how to practise villainy. For when my heart went over to you it +presented you with the body too, and it made a pledge that none other +should ever share in it. Love for you has wounded me so deep that I +should never recover from it, any more than the sea can dry up. If I +love you, and you love me, you shall never be called Tristan, nor I +Iseut; [237] for then our love would not be honourable. But I make you +this promise, that you shall never have other joy of me than that you +now have, unless you can devise some means whereby I can be removed from +your uncle and his society without his finding me again, or being able +to blame either you or me, or having any ground for accusation. And +to-morrow you shall tell me of the best plan you have devised, and I, +too, will think of it. To-morrow, as soon as I arise, come and speak +with me; then each of us will speak his mind, and we shall proceed to +execute whatever seems best." + +(Vv. 5281-5400.) As soon as Cliges heard her will be fully agreed with +her, and said that would be the best thing to do. He leaves her happy, +and goes off with a light heart himself. That night each one lies awake +thinking over, with great delight, what the best plan will be. The next +morning, as soon as they had arisen, they meet again to take counsel +privately, as indeed they must. Cliges speaks first and says what he +had thought of in the night: "My lady," says he, "I think, and am of +the opinion, that we could not do better than go to Britain; I thought I +might take you there; now do not refuse, for never was Helen so joyfully +received at Troy when Paris took her thither but that still greater joy +would be felt over you and me in the land of the King, my uncle. And if +this plan does not meet with your favour, tell me what you think, for +I am ready, whatever may happen, to abide by your decision." And she +replies: "This is my answer: I will never go off with you thus; for +after we had gone away, every one would speak of us as they do of Iseut +the Blond and of Tristan. And everywhere all men and women would speak +evil of our love. No one would believe, nor is it natural that they +should do so, the truth of the matter. Who would believe that I have +thus, all to no purpose, evaded and escaped from your uncle still a +maid? I should be regarded simply as wanton and dissolute, and you would +be thought mad. It is well to remember and observe the injunction of St. +Paul: if any one is unwilling to live chaste, St. Paul counsels him to +act so that he shall receive no criticism, or blame, or reproach. [238] +It is well to stop evil mouths, and therefore, if you agree, I have +a proposal to make: it seems best to me to consent to feign that I am +dead. I shall fall sick in a little while. And you in the meantime may +plan some preparations for a place of burial. Put all your wits to work +to the end that a sepulchre and bier be so constructed that I shall not +die in it, or be stifled, and that no one shall mount guard over it at +night when you come to take me out. So now seek such a retreat for me, +where no one may see me excepting you; and let no one provide for any +need of mine except you, to whom I surrender and give myself. Never, my +whole life long, do I wish to be served by other man than you. My lord +and my servant you shall be; whatever you do shall seem good to me; and +never shall I be mistress of any empire unless you are its master. Any +wretched place, however dark and foul, will seem brighter to me than +all these halls if you are with me. If I have you where I can see you, +I shall be mistress of boundless treasure, and the world will belong to +me. And if the business is carefully managed, no harm will come of it, +and no one will ever be able to speak ill of it, for it will be believed +throughout the empire that I am mouldering in the ground. My maid, +Thessala, who has been my nurse, and in whom I have great confidence, +will give me faithful aid, for she is very clever, and I trust her +fully." And Cliges, when he heard his sweetheart, replies: "My lady, if +this is feasible, and if you think your nurse's advice reliable, we have +nothing to do but make our preparations without delay; but if we commit +any imprudence, we are lost without escape. In this city there is an +artisan who cuts and carves wonderful images: there is no land where he +is not known for the figures which he has shapen and carved and made. +John is his name, and he is a serf of mine. No one could cope with +John's best efforts in any art, however varied it might be. For, +compared with him, they are all novices, and like a child with nurse. +By imitating his handiwork the artisans of Antioch and Rome have learned +all they know how to do--and besides there is no more loyal man. Now I +want to make a test, and if I can put trust in him I will set him and +all his descendants free; and I shall not fail to tell him of all +our plan if he will swear and give his word to me that he will aid me +loyally, and will never divulge my secret." + +(Vv. 5401-5466.) And she replies: "So let it be." With her permission +Cliges left the room and went away. And she sends for Thessala, her +maid, whom she brought with her from her native land. Thessala came at +once without delay, yet not knowing why she was summoned. When she asked +Fenice privately what was her desire and pleasure, she concealed none +of her intentions from her. "Nurse," she said, "I know full well that +anything I tell you will go no further, for I have tried you thoroughly +and have found you very prudent. I love you for all you have done +for me. In all my troubles I appeal to you without seeking counsel +elsewhere. You know why I lie awake, and what my thoughts and wishes +are. My eyes behold only one object which pleases me, but I can have no +pleasure or joy in it if I do not first buy it with a heavy price. For I +have now found my peer; and if I love him he loves me in return, and if +I grieve he grieves too for my pain and sorrow. Now I must acquaint you +with a plan and project upon which we two have privately agreed." Then +she told and explained to her how she was willing to feign illness, and +would complain so bitterly that at last she would pretend to be dead, +and how Cliges would steal her away at night, and then they would be +together all their days. She thinks that in no other way she could +longer bear to live. But if she was sure that she would consent to lend +her aid, the matter would be arranged in accordance with their wishes. +"But I am tired of waiting for my joy and luck." Then her nurse assured +her that she would help her in every way, telling her to have no further +fear. She said that as soon as she set to work she would bring it about +that there would be no man, upon seeing her, who would not certainly +believe that the soul had left the body after she had drunk of a potion +which would leave her cold, colourless, pale, and stiff, without power +of speech and deprived of health; yet she would be alive and well, and +would have no sensations of any kind, and would be none the worse for a +day and a night entire spent in the sepulchre and bier. [239] + +(Vv. 5467-5554.) When Fenice heard these words, she thus spoke in reply: +"Nurse, I commit myself to you, and, with full confidence in you, will +take no steps in my own behalf. I am in your hands; so think of my +interests, and tell all the people who are here to betake themselves +away, for I am ill, and they bother me." So, like a prudent woman, she +said to them: "My lords, my lady is not well, and desires you all to +go away. You are talking loud and making a noise, and the noise is +disagreeable to her. She can get no rest or repose so long as you are in +the room. I never remember her to have complained of such a sickness +as this so violent and serious does it seem. So go away, and don't feel +hurt." As soon as she had issued this command, they all quickly go away. +And Cliges sent for John to come quickly, and thus in private spoke to +him: "John, dost thou know what I am about to say? Thou art my slave and +I thy master, and I can give away or sell thy body like a thing which is +my own. But if I could trust thee in an affair I meditate, thou wouldst +go for ever free, as well as the heirs which may be born of thee." John, +in his desire for freedom, replies at once: "My lord, there is nothing +I would not gladly do to see myself, my wife, and children free. Tell me +what your orders are, for nothing can be so hard as to cause me any +work or pain or be hard for me to execute. For that matter, even were +it against my will, I must needs obey your commands and give up my own +affairs." "True, John; but this is a matter of which I hardly dare to +speak, unless thou wilt assure me upon thy oath thou wilt faithfully +give me aid and never betray me." "Willingly, sire," John makes reply: +"have never a fear on that account! For I will swear and pledge my word +that, so long as I live, I will never say a word which I think will +grieve you or cause you harm." "Ah John, even were I to die for it, +there is no man to whom I would dare mention the matter in which I +desire thy counsel; I would rather have my eye plucked out; I would +rather be put to death by thee than that thou shouldst speak of it to +another man. But I hold thee to be so loyal and prudent that I will +reveal to thee all my thought. I am sure thou wilt observe my wishes, +both by aiding me and holding thy peace." "Truly, sire so, help me God!" +Then Cliges speaks and explains to him openly the adventurous plan. +And when he had revealed the project--as you have heard me set it +forth--then John said that he would promise to construct the sepulchre +in accordance with his best skill, and said that he would take him to +see a certain house of his which no one yet had ever seen--not even his +wife or any child of his. This house, which he had built, he would show +him, if he cared to go with him to the place where in absolute privacy +he works and paints and carves. He would show him the finest and +prettiest place that he had ever seen. Cliges replies: "Let us go +thither then." + +(Vv. 5555-5662.) Below the city, in a remote spot, John had expended +much labour in the construction of a tower. Thither he conducted Cliges, +leading him through the different storeys, which were decorated with +fine painted pictures. He shows him the rooms and the fire-places, +taking him everywhere up and down. Cliges examines this lonely house +where no one lives or has access. He passes from one room to another, +until he thinks he has seen it all, and he is much pleased with the +tower and says he thinks it is very fine. The lady will be comfortable +there as long as she lives, for no one will know of her dwelling place. +"No sire, you are right; she will never be discovered here. But do you +think you have seen all of my tower and fair retreat? There still remain +rooms so concealed that no man could ever find them out. And if you +choose to test the truth of this by investigating as thoroughly as you +can, you can never be so shrewd and clever in your search as to find +another story here, unless I show you and point it out. You must know +that baths are not lacking here, nor anything else which a lady needs, +and which I can think of or recall. The lady will be here at her ease. +Below the level of the ground the tower widens out, as you will see, +and you cannot anywhere find any entrance-door. The door is made of hard +stone with such skill and art that you cannot find the crack." Cliges +says: "These are wonderful things I hear. Lead on and I will follow you, +for I am anxious to see all this." Then John started on, taking Cliges +by the hand, until he came to a smooth and polished door, all coloured +and painted over. When John came to the wall, he stopped, holding Cliges +by the right hand. "Sire," he says, "there is no one who could see a +window or a door in this wall; and do you think that any one could pass +through it without using violence and breaking it down?" And Cliges +replies that he does not think so, and that he will never think so, +unless he sees it first. Then John says that he shall see it at once, +and that he will open a door in the wall for him. John, who constructed +this piece of work, unfastens the door in the wall and opens it for him, +so that he has to use no strength or violence to force it; then, one +stepping before the other, they descend by a winding-stair to a vaulted +apartment where John used to do his work, when it pleased him to labour +at anything. "Sire," he says, "of all the men God ever made, no one but +us two has ever been where we are now. And you shall see presently +how convenient the place is. My advice is that you choose this as your +retreat, and that your sweetheart be lodged here. These quarters are +good enough for such a guest; for there are bedrooms, and bathrooms +with hot water in the tubs, which comes through pipes under the ground. +Whoever is looking for a comfortable place in which to establish and +conceal his lady, would have to go a long way before he would find +anything so charming. When you shall have explored it thoroughly you +will find this place very suitable." Then John showed him everything, +fine chambers and painted vaults, pointing out many examples of his +work which pleased Cliges much. When they had examined the whole tower, +Cliges said: "John, my friend, I set you free and all your descendants, +and my life is absolutely in your hands. I desire that my sweetheart be +here all alone, and that no one shall know of it excepting me and you +and her." John makes answer: "I thank you, sire. Now we have been here +long enough, and as we have nothing more to do, let us return." "That is +right," says Cliges, "let us be gone." Then they go away, and leave the +tower. Upon their return they hear every one in the city saying to +his neighbour: "Don't you know the marvellous news about my lady, the +empress? May the Holy Spirit give her health--the gentle and prudent +lady; for she lies sick of a grievous malady." + +(Vv. 5663-5698.) When Cliges heard this talk he went in haste to the +court. But there was no joy or gladness there: for all the people were +sad and prostrated because of the empress, who is only feigning to be +ill; for the illness of which she complains causes her no grief or pain. +But she has told them all that she wishes no one to enter her room so +long as her sickness maintains its grip with its accompanying pains in +her heart and head. She makes an exception, however, in favour of the +emperor and his nephew, not wishing to place a ban upon them; but she +will not care if the emperor, her lord, does not come. For Cliges' sake +she is compelled to pass through great pain and peril. It distresses +her that he does not come, for she has no desire to see any one but him. +Cliges, however, will soon be there, to tell her of what he has seen and +found. He came into the room and spoke to her, but stayed only a moment, +for Fenice, in order that they might think she was annoyed by what +pleased her so, cried out aloud: "Be gone, be gone! You disturb and +bother me too much, for I am so seriously ill that I shall never rise up +again." Cliges, though pleased with this, goes away with a sad face: you +would never see so woeful a countenance. To judge from his appearance he +is very sad; but within his heart is gay in anticipation of its joy. + +(Vv. 5699-5718.) The empress, without being really ill, complains and +pretends that she is sick. And the emperor, who has faith in her, ceases +not to grieve, and summons a physician. But she will not allow any one +to see her or touch her. The emperor may well feel chagrined when she +says that she will never have but one doctor, who can easily restore her +to health whenever it pleases him to do so. He can cause her to die or +to live, and to him she trusts her health and life. They think that she +refers to God; but her meaning is very different, for she is thinking +of no one but Cliges. He is her god who can bring her health, or who can +cause her death. + +(Vv. 5719-5814.) Thus the empress takes care that no physician shall +examine her; and more completely to deceive the emperor she refuses to +eat or drink, until she grows all pale and blue. Meanwhile her nurse +keeps busy about her, and with great shrewdness sought privily all +through the city, without the knowledge of any one, until she found a +woman who was hopelessly ill with a mortal disease. In order to perfect +her ruse she used to go to see her often and promised to cure her of her +illness; so each day she used to take a urinal in which to examine the +urine, until she saw one day that no medicine could ever be of any help, +and that she would die that very day. This urine Thessala carried off +and kept until the emperor arose, when she went to him and said: "If now +it be your will, my lord, send for all your physicians; for my mistress +has passed some water; she is very ill with this disease, and she +desires the doctors to see it, but she does not wish them to come where +she is." The doctors came into the hall and found upon examination that +the urine was very bad and colourless, and each one said what he thought +about it. Finally, they all agreed that she would never recover, and +that she would scarcely live till three o'clock, when, at the latest, +God would take her soul to Himself. This conclusion they reached +privately, when the emperor asked and conjured them to tell him the +truth. They reply that they have no confidence in her recovery, and that +she cannot live past three o'clock but will yield up her soul before +that time. When the emperor heard this, he almost fell unconscious to +the floor, as well as many others who heard the news. Never did any +people make such moan as there was then throughout the palace. However, +I will speak no further of their grief; but you shall hear of Thessala's +activities--how she mixes and brews the potion. She mixed and stirred it +up, for she had provided herself a long time in advance with everything +which she would need for the potion. A little before three o'clock she +gives her the potion to drink. At once her sight became dimmed, her face +grew as pale and white as if she had lost her blood: she could not have +moved a foot or hand, if they had flayed her alive, and she does not +stir or say a word, although she perceives and hears the emperor's grief +and the cries which fill the hall. The weeping crowds lament through all +the city, saying: "God! what woe and misfortune has been brought upon us +by wicked death! O covetous and voracious death! Death is worse than a +she-wolf which always remains insatiable. Such a cruel bite thou hast +never inflicted upon the world! Death, what hast thou done? May God +confound thee for having put out the light of perfect beauty! Thou hast +done to death the fairest and most lovely creature, had she but lived, +whom God has ever sought to form. God's patience surely is too great +when He suffers thee to have the power to break in pieces what belongs +to Him. Now God ought to be wroth with thee, and cast thee out of thy +bailiwick; for thy impudence has been too great, as well as thy pride +and disrespect." Thus the people storm about and wring their arms and +beat their hands; while the priests read their psalms, making prayers +for the good lady, that God may have mercy on her soul. + +(Vv. 5815-5904.) [240] In the midst of the tears and cries, as the story +runs, there arrived aged physicians from Salerno, where they had long +sojourned. At the sight of the great mourning they stopped to ask and +inquire the cause of the cries and tears--why all the people are in +such sorrow and distress. And this is the answer they receive: "God! +gentlemen, don't you know? The whole world would be beside itself as we +are, if it but knew of the great sorrow and grief and woe and loss which +has come to us this day. God! where have you come from, then, that you +do not know what has happened just now in this city? We will tell you +the truth, for we wish you to join with us in the grief we feel. Do +you not know about grim Death, who desires and covets all things, and +everywhere lies in wait for what is best, do you not know what mad act +she has committed to-day, as it is her wont to do? God has illuminated +the world with one great radiance, with one bright light. But Death +cannot restrain herself from acting as her custom is. Every day, to the +extent of her power, she blots out the best creature she can find. So +she wishes to try her power, and in one body she has carried off more +excellence than she has left behind. She would have done better to take +the whole world, and leave alive and sound this prey which now she has +carried off. Beauty, courtesy, and knowledge, and all that a lady can +possess of goodness has been taken and filched from us by Death, who +has destroyed all goodness in the person of our lady, the empress. Thus +Death has deprived us all of life." "Ah, God!" the doctors say, "we know +that Thou art wroth with this city because we did not reach here sooner. +If we had arrived here yesterday, Death might have boasted of her +strength if she could wrest her prey from us." "Gentlemen, madame would +not have allowed you at any price to see her or to exercise your skill. +Of good physicians there was no lack, but madame would not permit any +one of them to see her or to investigate her malady." "No?" "Truly, +sirs, that she would not." Then they recalled the case of Solomon, who +was so hated by his wife that she deceived him by feigning death. [241] +They think this woman has done the same. But if they could in any way +bring about her cure, no one could make them lie or keep them from +exposing the truth, if they discovered any trickery. So to the court +they take their way, where there was such a noise and cry that you could +not have heard God's thunder crash. The chief of these three doctors, +who knew the most, drew near the bier. No one says to him "Keep hands +off," and no one tries to hold him back. He places his hand on her +breast and side, and surely feels that life is still in the body: he +perceives and knows that well enough. He sees the emperor standing by, +mad and tormented by his grief. Seeing him, he calls aloud: "Emperor, +console thyself! I am sure and plainly see that this lady is not dead. +Leave off thy grief, and be comforted! If I do not restore her alive to +thee, thou mayst kill me or string me up." + +(Vv. 5995-5988.) At once throughout the palace the noise is quieted and +hushed. And the emperor bade the doctor tell him fully his orders and +wishes, whatever they might be. If he can restore life in the empress +he will be sire and lord over the emperor himself; but if he has in +any respect lied to him he will be hanged like a common thief. And the +doctor said: "I consent to that, and may you never have mercy upon me +if I do not cause her to speak to you here! Without tarrying and without +delay have the palace cleared at once, and let not a single soul remain. +I must examine in private the illness which afflicts the lady. These two +doctors, who are my friends, will remain with me alone in the room, +and let every one else go out." This order would have been opposed by +Cliges, John, and Thessala; but all the others who were there might have +turned against them if they had tried to oppose his order. So they hold +their peace and approve what they hear approved by the others, and leave +the palace. After the three doctors had forcibly tipped apart the lady's +winding-sheer, without using any knife or scissors, they said to +her: "Lady, don't be frightened, have no fear, but speak to us with +confidence! We know well enough that you are perfectly sound and in good +state. Be sensible and obliging now, and do not despair of anything, +for if you have any need of us we will all three assure you of our aid, +whether for good or ill. We shall be very loyal to you, both in keeping +our counsel and in helping you. Do not keep us talking here! Since +we put at your disposal our skill and service, you should surely not +refuse." Thus they think to hoodwink and deceive her, but they have no +success; for she has no need or care for the service which they promise +her; so they are wasting their time in a vain effort. When the three +physicians see that they will make nothing out of her either by prayer +or flattery, then they take her from her bier, and begin to beat and +belabour her. But their efforts are foolish, for not a word can they +extract from her. Then they threaten and try to terrify her by saying +that if she does not speak she will soon have reason to repent of her +folly, for they are going to do such a wonderful thing to her that such +a thing was never done to the body of any wretched woman. "We know that +you are alive, and will not deign to speak to us. We know that you are +feigning death, and would thus deceive the emperor. Have no fear of us! +If any of us has angered you, before we do you further harm, cease your +mad behaviour now, for you are acting wickedly; and we will lend you +our aid in any enterprise--wise or mad." But it cannot be; they have no +success. Then they renew their attack, striking her with thongs upon the +back, so that the welts are plainly seen, and they combine to tear her +tender flesh until they cause the blood to flow. + +(Vv. 5989-6050.) When they had beaten her with the thongs until they had +slashed her flesh, and when the blood is dropping down, as it trickles +from among the wounds, even then their efforts are of no avail to +extract from her a sigh or word, nor to make her stir or move. Then they +say that they must procure fire and lead, which they will melt and lay +upon her hands, rather than fail in their efforts to make her speak. +After securing a light and some lead they kindle a fire and melt the +lead. Thus the miserable villains torment and afflict the lady, by +taking the lead all boiling hot from the fire and pouring it into the +palms of her hands. Not satisfied with pouring the lead clean through +her palms, the cowardly rascals say that, if she does not speak at once +they will straightway stretch her on the grate until she is completely +grilled. Yet, she holds her peace, and does not refuse to have her body +beaten and maltreated by them. Now they were on the point of placing +her upon the fire to be roasted and grilled when more than a thousand +ladies, who were stationed before the palace, come to the door and +through a little crack catch sight of the torture and anguish which they +were inflicting upon the lady, as with coal and flame they accomplished +her martyrdom. They bring clubs and hammers to smash and break down the +door. Great was the noise and uproar as they battered and broke in the +door. If now they can lay hands on the doctors, the latter will not have +long to wait before they receive their full deserts. With a single rush +the ladies enter the palace, and in the press is Thessala, who has no +other aim than to reach her mistress. Beside the fire she finds her +stripped, severely wounded and injured. She puts her back in the bier +again, and over her she spreads a cloth, while the ladies go to give +their reward to the three doctors, without wishing to wait for the +emperor or his seneschal. Out of the windows they threw them down into +the court-yard, breaking the necks, ribs, arms, and legs of all: no +better piece of work was ever done by any ladies. + +(Vv. 6051-6162.) Now the three doctors have received their gruesome +reward at the hands of the ladies. But Cliges is terror-stricken and +filled with grief upon hearing of the pain and martyrdom which his +sweetheart has endured for him. He is almost beside himself, fearing +greatly, and with good reason, that she may be dead or badly injured by +the torture inflicted upon her by the three physicians who now are dead. +So he is in despair and despondency when Thessala comes, bringing with +her a very precious ointment with which she has already gently rubbed +the body and wounds of her mistress. When they laid her back in her bier +the ladies wrapped her again in a cloth of Syrian stuff, leaving her +face uncovered. All that night there is no abatement of the cries they +raise unceasingly. Throughout the city, high and low, poor and rich, are +beside themselves with grief, and it seems as if each one boasts that he +will outdo all others in his woe, and would fain never be comforted. All +that night the grief continues. The next morning John came to the court; +and the emperor sends for him and issues to him this command: "John, if +ever thou wroughtest a fine piece of work, now put forth and show all +thy skill in constructing such a sepulchre as for beauty and workmanship +shall have no match." And John, who had already performed the task, +says that he has already completed one which is very fine and cleverly +wrought; but when he began the work he had no thought that other than a +holy body should be laid in it. "Now let the empress be laid in it and +buried in some sacred place, for she, I think, is sanctified." "You have +spoken well," says the emperor; "she shall be buried yonder in my lord +Saint Peter's Church, where bodies are wont to be interred. For before +her death she made this request of me, that I should have her buried +there. Now go about your task, and place your sepulchre in the best +position in the cemetery, where it ought rightfully to be." John +replies: "Very well, my lord." John at once takes his leave, and +prepares the sepulchre with great skill; a feather-bed he placed inside, +because the stone was hard and cold; and in order that the odour may +be sweet, he spreads flowers and leaves about. Another reason for doing +this was that no one might perceive the mattress he had laid within +the grave. Already Mass had been said for the dead in the churches and +parishes, and the bells were tolling continuously as is proper for the +dead. Orders are given to bring the body to be laid in the sepulchre, +which John with all his skill has constructed so richly and handsomely. +In all Constantinople none remains, whether small or great, who does +not follow the body in tears, cursing and reproaching Death. Knights and +youths alike grow faint, while the ladies and damsels beat their breasts +as they thus find fault with Death: "O Death," cries each, "why didst +thou not take ransom for my lady? Surely, thy gain was slight enough, +whereas the loss to us is great." And in this grief Cliges surely bears +his part, as he suffers and laments more than all the others do, and it +is strange he does not kill himself. But still he decides to put this +off until the hour and the time shall come for him to disinter her and +get possession of her and see whether she be alive or not. Over the +gave stand the men who let down the body into its place; but, with John +there, they do not meddle with the adjustment of the sarcophagus, and +since they were so prostrated that they could not see, John had plenty +of time to perform his special task. When the coffin was in its place, +and nothing else was in the grave, he sealed up tightly all the joints. +When this was done, any one would have been skilful who, except by +force or violence, could take away or loosen anything which John had put +inside. + +(Vv. 6163-6316.) Fenice lies in the sepulchre until the darkness of +night came on. But thirty knights mount guard over her, and there +are ten tapers burning there, which light up the place all about. The +knights were weary and exhausted by the strain they had undergone; so +they ate and drank that night until they all fell sound asleep. When +night came on, Cliges steals away from the court and from all his +followers, so that there was not a single knight or servant who knew +what had become of him. He did not stop until he found John, who advises +him as best he can. He furnishes him with arms, but he will never +have any need of them. Once armed, they both spur to the cemetery. The +cemetery was enclosed all about with a high wall, so that the knights, +who had gone asleep after making the gate fast within, could rest +assured that no one would enter there. Cliges does not see how he can +get in, for there is no passing through the gate. And yet, somehow he +must pass through, for love bids him and drives him on. He tries the +wall and climbs up, being strong and agile. Inside was a garden planted +with trees, one of which stood so near the wall that it touched it. Now +Cliges had what he needed, and after letting himself down by the tree, +the first thing he did was to go to open the gate for John. Seeing the +knights asleep, they extinguished all the lights, so that the place +remained in darkness. And John now uncovers the grave and opens the +coffin, taking care to do it no harm. Cliges steps into the grave and +lifts out his Sweetheart, all weak and prostrate, whom he fondles, +kisses, and embraces. He does not know whether to rejoice or regret that +she does not stir or move. And John, as quickly as he could, closed +up the sepulchre again, so that it was not apparent that any one had +tampered with it. Then they betook themselves as fast as they could to +the tower. When they had set her in the tower, in the rooms which were +beneath the level of the ground, they took off her grave clothes; and +Cliges, who knew nothing of the potion which she had taken, which made +her dumb and kept her motionless, thinks that she is dead, and is in +despair with anxiety as he heavily sighs and weeps. But soon the time +will come for the potion to lose its force. And Fenice, who hears his +grief, struggles and strives for strength to comfort him by word or +glance. Her heart almost bursts because of the sorrow which he shows. +"Ah Death!" he says, "how mean thou art, to spare and reprieve all +things despicable and vile--to let them live on and endure. Death! art +thou beside thyself or drunk, who hast killed my lady without me? This +is a marvellous thing I see: my lady is dead, and I still live on! Ah, +precious one, why does your lover live to see you dead? One now could +rightly say that you have died in my service, and that it is I who +have killed and murdered you. Sweetheart, then I am the death that has +smitten you. Is not that wrong? For it is my own life I have lost in +you, and have preserved your life in me. For did not your health and +life belong to me, sweet one? And did not mine belong to you? For I +loved nothing excepting you, and our double existence was as one. So now +I have done what was right in keeping your soul in my body while mine +has escaped from your body, and one ought to go to seek the company of +the other, wherever it may be, and nothing ought to separate them." At +this she heaves a gentle sigh and whispers faintly: "Lover mine, I am +not altogether dead, but very near it. I value my life but little now. I +thought it a jest and a mere pretence; but now I am indeed to be pitied, +for death has not treated this as a jest. It will be a marvel if I +escape alive. For the doctors have seriously wounded me, and broken my +flesh and disfigured me. And yet, if it was possible for my nurse to +come here, and if efforts were of any avail, she would restore me to +health again." "Do not worry, dear, about that," says Cliges, "for this +very night I will bring her here." "Dear, let John go for her now." So +John departed and looked for her until he found her, and told her how +he wished her to come along and to let no other cause detain her; for +Fenice and Cliges have sent for her to come to a tower where they are +awaiting her; and that Fenice is in a grievous state, so that she must +come provided with ointments and remedies, and to bear in mind that +she will not live long, if she does not quickly come to bear her aid. +Thessala runs at once and, taking ointments, plaster, and remedies which +she has prepared, she meets John again. Secretly they go out from the +city, until they come straight to the tower. When Fenice sees her nurse, +she feels already cured, because of the loving faith and trust she +places in her. And Cliges greets her affectionately, and says: "Welcome, +nurse, whom I love and prize. Nurse, for God's sake, what do you think +of this young lady's malady? What is your opinion? Will she recover?" +"Yes, my lord, have no fear but that I shall restore her completely. +A fortnight will not pass before I make her so well that she was never +before so lively and strong." + +(Vv. 6317-6346.) While Thessala is busy with her remedies, John goes to +provide the tower with everything that is necessary. Cliges goes to the +tower and comes away bravely and openly, for he has lodged a moulting +falcon there, and he says that he goes to visit it; thus no one can +guess that he goes there for any other reason than for the falcon. He +makes long stays there night and day. He orders John to guard the tower, +so that no one shall enter against his will. Fenice now has no further +cause to complain, for Thessala has completely cured her. If Cliges were +Duke of Almeria, Morocco, or Tudela, he would not consider it all worth +a holly-berry compared with the joy which he now feels. Certainly Love +did not debase itself when it joined these two, for it seems to them, +when they embrace and kiss each other, that all the world must be better +for their joy and happiness. Now ask me no more of this, for one can +have no wish in which the other does not acquiesce. Thus they have but +one desire, as if they two themselves were one. + +(Vv. 6347-6392.) Fenice was in the tower, I believe, all that year and +full two months of the next, until summer came again. When the trees +bring forth their flowers and leaves, and the little birds rejoice, +singing gaily their litanies, it came about that Fenice one morning +heard the song of the nightingale. Cliges was holding her tightly +clasped with his arms about her waist and neck, and she held him in a +like embrace, as she said: "Dear fair lover mine. A garden would do me +good, in which I could disport myself. For more than fifteen months I +have not seen the light of moon or sun. If possible, I would fain go out +yonder into the daylight, for here in this tower I am confined. If there +was a garden near, where I could go and amuse myself, it would often do +me good." Then Cliges promises her to consult with John about it as soon +as he can see him. At that very moment John came in, as he was often +wont to do, and Cliges spoke to him of what Fenice desired. John +replies: "All that she asks for is already provided and supplied. This +tower is well equipped with what she wishes and requires." Then Fenice +was very glad, and asked John to take her there, which he said he +would very gladly do. Then John goes and opens a door, constructed in +a fashion which I cannot properly describe. No one but John could have +made it, and no one could have asserted that there was any door or +window there--so perfectly was it concealed. + +(Vv. 6393-6424.) When Fenice saw the door open, and the sun come +streaming in, as she had not seen it for many a day, her heart beat high +with joy; she said that now there was nothing lacking, since she could +leave her dungeon-tower, and that she wished for no other lodging-place. +She passed out through the door into the garden, with its pleasures and +delights. In the middle of the garden stood a grafted tree loaded with +blooming flowers and leaves, and with a wide-spreading top. The branches +of it were so trained that they all hung downwards until they almost +touched the ground; the main trunk, however, from which they sprang, +rose straight into the air. Fenice desires no other place. Beneath the +tree the turf is very pleasant and fine, and at noon, when it is hot, +the sun will never be high enough for its rays to penetrate there. John +had shown his skill in arranging and training the branches thus. There +Fenice goes to enjoy herself, where they set up a bed for her by day. +There they taste of joy and delight. And the garden is enclosed about +with a high wall connected with the tower, so that nothing can enter +there without first passing through the tower. + +(Vv. 6425-6586.) Fenice now is very happy: there is nothing to cause her +displeasure, and nothing is lacking which she desires, when her lover is +at liberty to embrace her beneath the blossoms and the leaves. [242] +At the season when people take the sparrow-hawk and setter and hunt the +lark and brown-thrush or stalk the quail and partridge, it chanced that +a knight of Thrace, who was young and alert and inclined to knightly +sport, came one day close by the tower in his search for game. The hawk +of Bertrand (for such was his name) having missed a lark, had flown +away, and Bertrand thought how great his loss would be if he should lose +his hunting-bird. When he saw it come down and light in a garden beneath +the tower he was glad, for he thought he could not lose it now. At once +he goes and clambers up the wall until he succeeds in getting over it, +when beneath the tree he sees Fenice and Cliges lying asleep and naked +in close embrace. "God!" said he, "what has happened to me now? What +marvel is this I see? Is that not Cliges? It surely is. Is not that the +empress with him there? Nay, but it looks like her. Never did one thing +so resemble another. Her nose, her mouth, and brow are like those of +my lady the empress. Never did Nature make two creatures of such +similitude. There is no feature in this woman here which I have not seen +in my lady. If she were alive, I should say that it was certainly she +herself." Just then a pear falls down and strikes close by Fenice's ear. +She jumps and awakes and, seeing Bertrand, cries out aloud: "My dear, my +dear, we are lost. Yonder is Bertrand. If he escapes you, we are caught +in a bad trap, for he will tell that he has seen us." Then Bertrand +realised that it was the empress beyond any doubt. He sees the necessity +of leaving at once, for Cliges had brought with him his sword into +the garden, and had laid it down beside the bed. He jumped up now and +grasped his sword, while Bertrand hastily took his leave. As fast as he +could he scaled the wall, and was almost safely over when Cliges coming +after him raised his sword and struck him with such violence that he +severed his leg below the knee, as if it had been a fennel stalk. In +spite of this, Bertrand got away, though badly wounded and maimed. +Beside themselves with grief and wrath at the sight of his sorry state, +his men on the other side picked him up, and insistently inquired who it +was who had used him thus. "Don't speak to me now," he says, "but help +me to mount my horse. No mention shall be made of this excepting to the +emperor. He who thus has treated me must be, and doubtless is, in great +terror; for he is in great danger of his life." Then they set him upon +his palfrey and lead him through the city, sorely grieved in their +fright the while. After them more than twenty thousand others come, +following them to the court. And all the people run together, each +striving to be there first. Bertrand made his complaint aloud, in the +hearing of all, to the emperor: but they took him for an idle chatterer +when he said that he had seen the empress all exposed. The city is in +a ferment of excitement: some regard the news they hear as simple +nonsense, others advise and urge the emperor to visit the tower himself. +Great is the noise and confusion of the people who prepare to accompany +him. But they find nothing in the tower, for Fenice and Cliges make +their escape, taking with them Thessala, who comforts them and declares +to them that, if perchance they see people coming after them to arrest +them, they need have no fear; that they would never approach to do them +harm within the range of a strong cross-bow. And the emperor within the +tower has John sought for and brought. He orders him to be bound and +tied saying that he will have him hanged or burnt, and will have his +ashes scattered wide. He shall receive his due reward for the shame he +has caused the emperor; but this reward will not be agreeable, because +John has hidden in the tower his nephew with his wife. "Upon my word, +you tell the truth," says John; "I will not lie, but will go still +further and declare the truth, and if I have done any wrong it is right +that I should be seized. But I offer this as my excuse: that a servant +ought to refuse nothing when his lawful lord commands. Now, every one +knows forsooth that I am his, and this tower is too." "It is not, John. +Rather is it thine." "Mine, sire? Yes, after him: but neither do I +belong to myself, nor have I anything which is mine, except what he +pleased to bestow on me. And if you should think to say that my lord +is guilty of having done you wrong, I am ready to take up his defence +without any command from him. But I feel emboldened to proclaim openly +what is on my mind, just as I have thought it out, for I know full well +that I must die. So I will speak regardless of results. For if I die +for my lord's sake, I shall not die an ignoble death, for the facts +are generally known about that oath and pledge which you gave to your +brother, that after you Cliges should be emperor, who now is banished as +a wanderer. But if God will, he shall yet be emperor! Hence you are open +to reproach, for you ought not to have taken a wife; yet you married her +and did Cliges a wrong, and he has done you no wrong at all. And if I am +punished with death by you, and if I die wrongfully for his sake, and +if he is still alive, he will avenge my death on you. Now go and do the +best you can, for if I die you shall also die." + +(Vv. 6587-6630.) The emperor trembles with wrath upon hearing the +mocking words addressed to him by John. "John," he says, "thou shalt +have so much respite, until we find thy lord, who has done such wrong +to me, though I loved him dearly and had no thought of defrauding him. +Meanwhile, thou shalt stay in prison. If thou knowest what has become of +him, tell me at once, I order thee." "I tell you? How can I commit such +treachery? Were the life to be drawn from my body I would not reveal my +lord to you, even if I knew his whereabouts. As a matter of fact, I do +not know any more than you where they have gone, so help me God! But +there is no need for your jealousy. I do not so much fear your wrath +that I should not say, so that all can hear, how you have been deceived, +even my words are not believed. You were deceived and tricked by potion +you drank on your wedding night. Unless it happened in dream, when you +were asleep, you have never had your pleasure with her; but the night +made you dream, and the dream gave you as much satisfaction as if it had +happened in your waking hours that she had held you in her arms: that +was the sum of your satisfaction. Her heart was so devoted to Cliges +that she feigned death for his sake; and he had such confidence in me +that he explained it all to me and established her in my house, which +rightfully belongs to him. You ought not to find fault with me. I ought, +indeed, to be burnt or hanged, were I to betray my lord or refuse to do +his will." + +(Vv. 6631-6784.) When the emperor's attention is recalled to the potion +which he had been pleased to drink, and with which Thessala had deceived +him, then he realised for the first time that he had never had pleasure +with his wife, unless it had happened in a dream: thus it was but an +illusory joy. And he says that if he does not take vengeance for the +shame and disgrace inflicted upon him by the traitor who has seduced +his wife, he will never again be happy. "Now quick!" he says, "as far as +Pavia, and from here to Germany, let no castle, town, or city remain in +which search is not made. I will hold that man above all others dear who +will bring to me captive the two of them. Now up and down, near and far, +go diligently and search!" Then they started out with zeal and spent all +that day in the search. But in the number Cliges had some friends, who, +if they found them, would have led them to some hiding-place rather than +hale them back again. All that fortnight they exhausted themselves in a +fruitless search. For Thessala, who is acting as their guide, conducts +them by her arts and charms in such security that they feel no dread or +fear of all the strength of the emperor. They seek repose in no town +or city; yet they have all they wish or desire, even more so than is +usually the case. For all they need is procured for them by Thessala, +who searches and scours and purveys for them. Nor is there any who hunts +them now, for all have returned to their homes again. Meanwhile Cliges +is not idle, but starts to find his uncle, King Arthur. He continued +his search until he found him, and to him he made his claim and protest +about his uncle, the emperor, who, in order to disinherit him, had +disloyally taken a wife, which it was not right for him to do; for he +had sworn to his father that he would never marry in his life. And the +King says that with a fleet he will proceed to Constantinople, and that +he will fill a thousand ships with knights, and three thousand more with +men-at-arms, until no city or burg, town or castle, however strong or +however high, will be able to withstand their assault. Then Cliges did +not forget to thank the King for the aid he offered him. The King sends +out to seek and summon all the high barons of the land, and causes to be +requisitioned and equipped ships, war vessels, boats, and barks. He has +a hundred ships loaded and filled with shields, lances, bucklers, and +armour fit for knights. The King makes such great preparations for +the war that never did Caesar or Alexander make the like. He orders to +assemble at his summons all England, and all Flanders, Normandy, France, +and Brittany, and all the men as far as the Pyrenees. [243] Already they +were about to set sail, when messengers arrived from Greece who delayed +the embarkation and kept the King and his people back. Among the +messengers who came was John, that trusty man, for he would never be a +witness or messenger of any news which was not true, and which he did +not know for a certainty. The messengers were high born men of Greece, +who came in search for Cliges. They made inquiry and asked for him, +until they found him at the King's court, when they said to him: "God +save you, sire! Greece is made over to you, and Constantinople is given +to you by all those of your empire, because of the right you have to +them. Your uncle (but you know it not) is dead of the grief he felt +because he could not discover you. His grief was such that he lost +his mind; he would neither drink nor eat, but died like a man beside +himself. Fair sire, now come back again! For all your lords have sent +for you. Greatly they desire and long for you, wishing to make you their +emperor." Some there were that rejoiced at this; and others there were +who would have gladly seen their guests elsewhere, and the fleet make +sail for Greece. But the expedition is given up, and the King dismisses +his men, and the hosts depart to their homes again. And Cliges hurriedly +makes haste in his desire to return to Greece. He has no wish to tarry. +His preparations made, he took his leave of the King, and then of all +his friends, and taking Fenice with him, he goes away. They travel until +they arrive in Greece, where they receive him with the jubilation +which they ought to show to their rightful lord, and they give him +his sweetheart to be his wife. Both of them are crowned at once. His +mistress he has made his wife, but he still calls her his mistress and +sweetheart, and she can complain of no loss of affection, for he loves +her still as his mistress, and she loves him, too, as a lady ought to +love her lover. And each day saw their love grow stronger: he never +doubted her, nor did she blame him for anything. She was never kept +confined, as so many women have been who have lived since her time. For +never since has there been an emperor who did not stand in fear of his +wife, lest he should be deceived by her, upon his hearing the story of +how Fenice deceived Alis, first with the potion which he drank, and then +later by that other ruse. Therefore, every empress, however rich and +noble she may be, is guarded in Constantinople as in a prison, for the +emperor has no confidence in her when he remembers the story of Fenice. +He keeps her constantly guarded in her room, nor is there ever allowed +any man in her presence, unless he be a eunuch from his youth; in the +case of such there is no fear or doubt that Love will ensnare them in +his bonds. Here ends the work of Chretien. [244] + + + +----Endnotes: Cliges + +Endnotes supplied by Prof. Foerster are indicated by "(F.)"; all other +endnotes are supplied by W.W. Comfort. + + +[Footnote 21: There is no English version corresponding to the old +French "Cliges". The English metrical romance "Sir Cleges" has nothing +to do with the French romance.] + +[Footnote 22: Ovid in "Metamorphosis", vi. 404, relates how Tantalus at +a feast to the gods offered them the shoulder of his own son. It is not +certain, however, that Chretien is referring here to this slight episode +of the "Metamorphosis".] + +[Footnote 23: This allusion is generally taken as evidence that the poet +had written previously of the love of Tristan and Iseut. Gaston Paris, +however, in one of his last utterances ("Journal des Savants", 1902, +p. 297), says: "Je n'hesite pas a dire que l'existence d'un poeme sur +Tristan par Chretien de Troies, a laquelle j'ai cru comme presque tout +le monde, me parait aujourd'hui fort peu probable; j'en vais donner les +raisons."] + +[Footnote 24: The story of Philomela or Philomena, familiar in Chaucer's +"Legende of Good Women", is told by Ovid in "Metamorphosis", vi. +426-674. Cretiens li Gois is cited by the author of the "Ovide moralise" +as the author of the episode of Philomena incorporated in his long +didactic poem. This episode has been ascribed to Chretien de Troyes by +many recent critics, and has been separately edited by C. de Boer, who +offers in his Introduction a lengthy discussion of its authorship. See +C. de Boer, "Philomena, conte raconte d'apres Ovide par Chretien de +Troyes" (Paris, 1909).] + +[Footnote 25: The present cathedral of Beauvais is dedicated to St. +Peter, and its construction was begun in 1227. The earlier structure +here referred to, destroyed in 1118, probably was also dedicated to the +same saint. (F.)] + +[Footnote 26: The real kernal of the Cliges story, stripped of its +lengthy introduction concerning Alexandre and Soredamors, is told in a +few lines in "Marques de Rome", p. 135 (ed. J. Alton in "Lit. Verein in +Stuttgart", No. 187, Tubingen, 1889), as one of the tales or "exempla" +recounted by the Empress of Rome to the Emperor and the Seven Sages. No +names are given except that of Cliges himself; the version owes nothing +to Chretien's poem, and seems to rest upon a story which the author may +have heard orally. See Foerster's "Einleitung to Cliges" (1910), p. 32 +f.] + +[Footnote 27: This criticism of ignoble leisure on the part of a warrior +is found also in "Erec et Enide" and "Yvain".] + +[Footnote 28: This allegorical tribute to "largesse" is quite in the +spirit of the age. When professional poets lived upon the bounty of +their patrons, it is not strange that their poetry should dwell upon the +importance of generosity in their heroes. For an exhaustive collection +of "chastisements" or "enseignements", such as that here given to +Alexandre by his father, see Eugen Altner, "Ueber die chastiements in +den altfranzosischen chansons de geste" (Leipzig, 1885).] + +[Footnote 29: As Miss Weston has remarked ("The Three Days' Tournament", +p. 45), the peculiar georgraphy of this poem "is distinctly Anglo-Norman +rather than Arthurian".] + +[Footnote 210: For this intimate relation between heroes, so common +in the old French heroic and romantic poems, see Jacques Flach, "Le +compagnonnage dans les chansons de geste" in "Etudes romances dediees a +Gaston Paris" (Paris, 1891). Reviewed in "Romania", xxii. 145.] + +[Footnote 211: Here begins one of those long dialogues, where one person +is represented as taking both sides of an argument. This rhetorical +device, so wearisome to modern readers, is used by Chretien preferably +when some sentiment or deep emotion is to be portrayed. Ovid may well +have suggested the device, but Ovid never abuses it as does the more +prolix mediaeval poet. For the part playing by the eyes in mediaeval +love sophistry, see J.F. Hanford, "The Debate of Heart and Eye" in +"Modern Language Notes", xxvi. 161-165; and H.R. Lang, "The Eyes as +Generators of Love." id. xxiii. 126-127.] + +[Footnote 212: For play upon words and for fanciful derivation of proper +names in mediaeval romance literature, see the interesting article +of Adolf Tobler in "Vermischte Beitrage", ii. 211-266. Gaston Paris +("Journal des Savants", 1902, p. 354) points out that Thomas used the +same scene and the play upon the same words "mer", "amer", and "amers" +in his "Tristan" and was later imitated by Gottfried von Strassburg.] + +[Footnote 213: According to the 12th century troubadours, the shafts of +Love entered the victim's body through the eyes, and thence pierced the +heart.] + +[Footnote 214: For fanciful derivation of proper names, cf. A. Tobler, +"Vermischte Beitrage", ii. 211-266.] + +[Footnote 215: Ganelon, the traitor in the "Chanson de Roland", to +whose charge is laid the defeat of Charlemagne's rear-guard at Ronceval, +became the arch-traitor of mediaeval literature. It will be recalled +that Dante places him in the lowest pit of Hell ("Inferno", xxxii. 122). +(NOTE: There is a slight time discrepance here. Roland, Ganelon, and the +Battle of Ronceval were said to have happened in 8th Century A.D., fully +300 years after Arthur and the Round Table.--DBK).] + +[Footnote 216: For the ceremonies attendant upon the conferring of +knighthood, see Karl Treis, "Die Formalitaten des Ritterschlags in der +altfranzosischen Epik" (Berlin, 1887).] + +[Footnote 217: The "quintainne" was "a manikin mounted on a pivot and +armed with a club in such a way that, when a man struck it unskilfully +with his lance, it turned and landed a blow upon his back" (Larousse).] + +[Footnote 218: This conventional attitude of one engaged in thought or +a prey to sadness has been referred to by G.L. Hamilton in "Ztsch fur +romanische Philologie", xxxiv. 571-572.] + +[Footnote 219: Many traitors in old French literature suffered the same +punishments as Ganelon, and were drawn asunder by horses ("Roland", +3960-74).] + +[Footnote 220: The same rare words "galerne" and "posterne" occur in +rhyme in the "Roman de Thebes", 1471-72.] + +[Footnote 221: This qualified praise is often used in speaking of +traitors and of Saracens.] + +[Footnote 222: The failure to identify the warriors is due to the fact +that the knights are totally encased in armour.] + +[Footnote 223: A reference to the "Roman de Thebes", 1160 circ.] + +[Footnote 224: The disregard of Alis for his nephew Cliges is similar to +that of King Mark for Tristan in another legend. In the latter, however, +Tristan joins with the other courtiers in advising his uncle to marry, +though he himself had been chosen heir to the throne by Mark. cf. J. +Bedier, "Le Roman de Tristan", 2 vols. (Paris, 1902), i. 63 f.] + +[Footnote 225: See Endnote #14 above.] + +[Footnote 226: Cf. Shakespeare, "Othello", ii. I, where Cassio, speaking +of Othello's marriage with Desdemona, says: "he hath achieved a maid +That paragons description and wild fame; One that excels the quirks of +blazoning pens, And in the essential vesture of creation Does tire the +enginer."] + +[Footnote 227: Ovid ("Metamorphosis", iii. 339-510) is Chretien's +authority.] + +[Footnote 228: Cf. L. Sudre, "Les allusions a la legende de Tristan dans +la litterature du moyen age", "Romania", xv. 435 f. Tristan was famed as +a hunter, fencer, wrestler, and harpist.] + +[Footnote 229: "The word 'Thessala' was a common one in Latin, as +meaning 'enchantress', 'sorceress', 'witch', as Pliny himself tells +us, adding that the art of enchantment was not, however, indigenous to +Thessaly, but came originally from Persia." ("Natural History", xxx. +2).--D.B. Easter, "Magic Elements in the romans d'aventure and the +romans bretons, p. 7. (Baltimore, 1906). A Jeanroy in "Romania", xxxiii. +420 note, says: "Quant au nom de Thessala, il doit venir de Lucain, tres +lu dans les ecoles au XIIe siecle." See also G. Paris in "Journal des +Savants", 1902, p. 441 note. Thessala is mentioned in the "Roman de la +Violetta", v. 514, in company with Brangien of the Tristan legend.] + +[Footnote 230: Medea, the wife of Jason, is the great sorceress of +classic legend.] + +[Footnote 231: This personage was regarded in the Middle Ages as an +Emperor of Rome. In the 13th-century poem of "Octavian" (ed. Vollmuller, +Heilbronn, 1883) he is represented as a contemporary of King Dagobert!] + +[Footnote 232: This commonplace remark is quoted as a proverb of the +rustic in "Ipomedon", 1671-72; id., 10, 348-51; "Roman de Mahomet", +1587-88; "Roman de Renart", vi. 85-86; Gower's "Mirour de l'omme", 28, +599, etc.] + +[Footnote 233: It is curious to note that Corneille puts almost +identical words in the mouth of Don Gomes as he addresses the Cid ("Le +Cid", ii. 2).] + +[Footnote 234: For this tournament and its parallels in folk-lore, +see Miss J.L. Weston, "The Three Days' Tournament" (London, 1902). She +argues (p. 14 f. and p. 43 f.) against Foerster's unqualified opinion of +the originality of Chretien in his use of this current description of +a tournament, an opinion set forth in his "Einleitung to Lancelot", pp. +43, 126, 128, 138.] + +[Footnote 235: Note that Chretien here deliberately avoids such a list +of knights as he introduces in "Erec". (F.)] + +[Footnote 236: It must be admitted that the text, which is offered +by all but one MS., is here unintelligible. The reference, if any be +intended, is not clear. (F.)] + +[Footnote 237: Much has been made of this expression as intimating that +Chretien wrote "Cliges" as a sort of disavowal of the immorality of +his lost "Tristan". Cf. Foerster, "Cliges" (Ed. 1910), p. xxxix f., and +Myrrha Borodine, "La femme et l'amour au XXIe Seicle d'apres les poemes +de Chretien de Troyes" (Paris, 1909). G. Paris has ably defended another +interpretation of the references in "Cliges" to the Tristan legend in +"Journal des Savants", 1902, p. 442 f.] + +[Footnote 238: This curious moral teaching appears to be a perversion +of three passages form St. Paul's Epistles: I Cor. vii. 9, I Cor. x. 32, +Eph. v. 15. Cf. H. Emecke, "Chretien von Troyes als Personlichkeit und +als Dichter" (Wurzburg, 1892).] + +[Footnote 239: "This feature of a woman who, thanks to some charm, +preserves her virginity with a husband whom she does not love, is found +not only in widespread stories, but in several French epic poems. In +only one, "Les Enfances Guillaume", does the husband, like Alis, remain +ignorant of the fraud of which he is the victim, and think that he +really possesses the woman.... If Chretien alone gave to the charm +of the form of a potion, it is in imitation of the love potion in +"Tristan". (G. Paris in "Journal des Savants", 1902, p. 446). For +many other references to the effect of herb potions, cf. A. Hertel, +"Verzauberte Oerlichkeiten und Gegenstande in der altfranzosische +erzahlende Dichtung", p. 41 ff. (Hanover, 1908).] + +[Footnote 240: I have pointed out the curious parallel between the +following passage and Dante's "Vita Nova", 41 ("Romantic Review", ii. +2). There is no certain evidence that Dante knew Chretien's work (cf. A. +Farinelli, "Dante e la Francia", vol. i., p. 16 note), but it would be +strange if he did not know such a distinguished predecessor.] + +[Footnote 241: For the legend of Solomon deceived by his wife, see +Foerster "Cliges" (ed. 1910), p. xxxii. f., and G. Paris in "Romania", +ix. 436-443, and in "Journal des Savants", 1902, p. 645 f. For an +additional reference, add "Ipomedon", 9103.] + +[Footnote 242: For an imitation of the following scene, see Hans Herzog +in "Germania", xxxi. 325.] + +[Footnote 243: "Porz d'Espaingne" refers to the passes in the Pyrenees +which formed the entrance-ways to Spain. Cf. The "Cilician Gates" in +Xenophon's "Anabasis".] + +[Footnote 244: Chretien here insists upon his divergence from the +famous dictum attributed to the Countess Marie de Champagne by Andre le +Chapelain: "Praeceptum tradit amoris, quod nulla etiam coniugata regis +poterit amoris praemio coronari, nisi extra coniugii foedera ipsius +amoris militae cernatur adiuneta". (Andreae Capellini, "De Amore", p. +154; Ed. Trojel, Havniae, 1892). + + + + + +YVAIN + +or, The Knight with the Lion + +(Vv. 1-174.) Arthur, the good King of Britain, whose prowess teaches us +that we, too, should be brave and courteous, held a rich and royal +court upon that precious feast-day which is always known by the name +of Pentecost. [31] The court was at Carduel in Wales. When the meal was +finished, the knights betook themselves whither they were summoned by +the ladies, damsels, and maidens. Some told stories; others spoke of +love, of the trials and sorrows, as well as of the great blessings, +which often fall to the members of its order, which was rich and +flourishing in those days of old. But now its followers are few, having +deserted it almost to a man, so that love is much abased. For lovers +used to deserve to be considered courteous, brave, generous, and +honourable. But now love is a laughing-stock, for those who have no +intelligence of it assert that they love, and in that they lie. Thus +they utter a mockery and lie by boasting where they have no right. [32] +But let us leave those who are still alive, to speak of those of former +time. For, I take it, a courteous man, though dead, is worth more than +a living knave. So it is my pleasure to relate a matter quite worthy of +heed concerning the King whose fame was such that men still speak of him +far and near; and I agree with the opinion of the Bretons that his name +will live on for evermore. And in connection with him we call to mind +those goodly chosen knights who spent themselves for honour's sake. But +upon this day of which I speak, great was their astonishment at seeing +the King quit their presence; and there were some who felt chagrined, +and who did not mince their words, never before having seen the King, on +the occasion of such a feast, enter his own chamber either to sleep or +to seek repose. But this day it came about that the Queen detained him, +and he remained so long at her side that he forgot himself and fell +asleep. Outside the chamber door were Dodinel, Sagremor, and Kay, my +lord Gawain, my lord Yvain, and with them Calogrenant, a very comely +knight, who had begun to tell them a tale, though it was not to his +credit, but rather to his shame. The Queen could hear him as he told his +tale, and rising from beside the King, she came upon them so stealthily +that before any caught sight of her, she had fallen, as it were, right +in their midst. Calogrenant alone jumped up quickly when he saw her +come. Then Kay, who was very quarrelsome, mean, sarcastic, and abusive, +said to him: "By the Lord, Calogrenant, I see you are very bold and +forward now, and certainly it pleases me to see you the most courteous +of us all. And I know that you are quite persuaded of your own +excellence, for that is in keeping with your little sense. And of course +it is natural that my lady should suppose that you surpass us all in +courtesy and bravery. We failed to rise through sloth, forsooth, or +because we did not care! Upon my word, it is not so, my lord; but we +did not see my lady until you had risen first." "Really, Kay," the Queen +then says, "I think you would burst if you could not pour out the poison +of which you are so full. You are troublesome and mean thus to annoy +your companions." "Lady," says Kay, "if we are not better for your +company, at least let us not lose by it. I am not aware that I said +anything for which I ought to be accused, and so I pray you say no more. +It is impolite and foolish to keep up a vain dispute. This argument +should go no further, nor should any one try to make more of it. But +since there must be no more high words, command him to continue the tale +he had begun." Thereupon Calogrenant prepares to reply in this fashion: +"My lord, little do I care about the quarrel, which matters little and +affects me not. If you have vented your scorn on me, I shall never be +harmed by it. You have often spoken insultingly, my lord Kay, to braver +and better men than I, for you are given to this kind of thing. The +manure-pile will always stink, [33] and gadflies sting, and bees will +hum, and so a bore will torment and make a nuisance of himself. However, +with my lady's leave, I'll not continue my tale to-day, and I beg her +to say no more about it, and kindly not give me any unwelcome command." +"Lady," says Kay, "all those who are here will be in your debt, for they +are desirous to hear it out. Don't do it as a favour to me! But by the +faith you owe the King, your lord and mine, command him to continue, and +you will do well." "Calogrenant," the Queen then says, "do not mind the +attack of my lord Kay the seneschal. He is so accustomed to evil speech +that one cannot punish him for it. I command and request you not to +be angered because of him, nor should you fail on his account to say +something which it will please us all to hear; if you wish to preserve +my good-will, pray begin the tale anew." "Surely, lady, it is a very +unwelcome command you lay upon me. Rather than tell any more of my +tale to-day, I would have one eye plucked out, if I did not fear your +displeasure. Yet will I perform your behest, however distasteful it may +be. Then since you will have it so, give heed. Let your heart and ears +be mine. For words, though heard, are lost unless understood within the +heart. Some men there are who give consent to what they hear but do not +understand: these men have the hearing alone. For the moment the heart +fails to understand, the word falls upon the ears simply as the wind +that blows, without stopping to tarry there; rather it quickly passes on +if the heart is not so awake as to be ready to receive it. For the heart +alone can receive it when it comes along, and shut it up within. The +ears are the path and channel by which the voice can reach the heart, +while the heart receives within the bosom the voice which enters through +the ear. Now, whoever will heed my words, must surrender to me his heart +and ears, for I am not going to speak of a dream, an idle tale, or lie, +with which many another has regaled you, but rather shall I speak of +what I saw." + +(Vv. 175-268.) "It happened seven years ago that, lonely as a +countryman, I was making my way in search of adventures, fully armed +as a knight should be, when I came upon a road leading off to the right +into a thick forest. The road there was very bad, full of briars and +thorns. In spite of the trouble and inconvenience, I followed the road +and path. Almost the entire day I went thus riding until I emerged from +the forest of Broceliande. [34] Out from the forest I passed into the +open country where I saw a wooden tower at the distance of half a Welsh +league: it may have been so far, but it was not anymore. Proceeding +faster than a walk, I drew near and saw the palisade and moat all round +it, deep and wide, and standing upon the bridge, with a moulted falcon +upon his wrist, I saw the master of the castle. I had no sooner saluted +him than he came forward to hold my stirrup and invited me to +dismount. I did so, for it was useless to deny that I was in need of a +lodging-place. Then he told me more than a hundred times at once that +blessed was the road by which I had come thither. Meanwhile, we crossed +the bridge, and passing through the gate, found ourselves in the +courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard of this vavasor, to whom may +God repay such joy and honour as he bestowed upon me that night, there +hung a gong not of iron or wood, I trow, but all of copper. Upon this +gong the vavasor struck three times with a hammer which hung on a post +close by. Those who were upstairs in the house, upon hearing his voice +and the sound, came out into the yard below. Some took my horse which +the good vavasor was holding; and I saw coming toward me a very fair and +gentle maid. On looking at her narrowly I saw she was tall and slim and +straight. Skilful she was in disarming me, which she did gently and with +address; then, when she had robed me in a short mantle of scarlet stuff +spotted with a peacock's plumes, all the others left us there, so that +she and I remained alone. This pleased me well, for I needed naught +else to look upon. Then she took me to sit down in the prettiest little +field, shut in by a wall all round about. There I found her so elegant, +so fair of speech and so well informed, of such pleasing manners and +character, that it was a delight to be there, and I could have wished +never to be compelled to move. But as ill luck would have it, when night +came on, and the time for supper had arrived. The vavasor came to look +for me. No more delay was possible, so I complied with his request. Of +the supper I will only say that it was all after my heart, seeing that +the damsel took her seat at the table just in front of me. After the +supper the vavasor admitted to me that, though he had lodged many an +errant knight, he knew not how long it had been since he had welcomed +one in search of adventure. Then, as a favour, he begged of me to return +by way of his residence, if I could make it possible. So I said to him: +'Right gladly, sire!' for a refusal would have been impolite, and that +was the least I could do for such a host." + +(Vv. 269-580.) "That night, indeed, I was well lodged, and as soon as +the morning light appeared, I found my steed ready saddled, as I had +requested the night before; thus my request was carried out. My kind +host and his dear daughter I commended to the Holy Spirit, and, after +taking leave of all, I got away as soon as possible. I had not proceeded +far from my stopping-place when I came to a clearing, where there were +some wild bulls at large; they were fighting among themselves and making +such a dreadful and horrible noise that if the truth be known, I drew +back in fear, for there is no beast so fierce and dangerous as a bull. I +saw sitting upon a stump, with a great club in his hand, a rustic +lout, as black as a mulberry, indescribably big and hideous; indeed, +so passing ugly was the creature that no word of mouth could do him +justice. On drawing near to this fellow, I saw that his head was bigger +than that of a horse or of any other beast; that his hair was in tufts, +leaving his forehead bare for a width of more than two spans; that his +ears were big and mossy, just like those of an elephant; his eyebrows +were heavy and his face was flat; his eyes were those of an owl, and his +nose was like a cat's; his jowls were split like a wolf, and his teeth +were sharp and yellow like a wild boar's; his beard was black and his +whiskers twisted; his chin merged into his chest and his backbone was +long, but twisted and hunched. [35] There he stood, leaning upon his +club and accoutred in a strange garb, consisting not of cotton or wool, +but rather of the hides recently flayed from two bulls or two beeves: +these he wore hanging from his neck. The fellow leaped up straightway +when he saw me drawing near. I do not know whether he was going to +strike me or what he intended to do, but I was prepared to stand him +off, until I saw him stop and stand stock-still upon a tree trunk, where +he stood full seventeen feet in height. Then he gazed at me but spoke +not a word, any more than a beast would have done. And I supposed that +he had not his senses or was drunk. However, I made bold to say to him: +'Come, let me know whether thou art a creature of good or not.' And +he replied: 'I am a man.' 'What kind of a man art thou?' 'Such as thou +seest me to be: I am by no means otherwise.' 'What dost thou here?' 'I +was here, tending these cattle in this wood.' 'Wert thou really tending +them? By Saint Peter of Rome! They know not the command of any man. +I guess one cannot possibly guard wild beasts in a plain or wood or +anywhere else unless they are tied or confined inside.' 'Well, I tend +and have control of these beasts so that they will never leave this +neighbourhood.' 'How dost thou do that? Come, tell me now!' 'There is +not one of them that dares to move when they see me coming. For when +I can get hold of one I give its two horns such a wrench with my hard, +strong hands that the others tremble with fear, and gather at once round +about me as if to ask for mercy. No one could venture here but me, for +if he should go among them he would be straightway done to death. In +this way I am master of my beasts. And now thou must tell me in turn +what kind of a man thou art, and what thou seekest here.' 'I am, as +thou seest, a knight seeking for what I cannot find; long have I sought +without success.' 'And what is this thou fain wouldst find?' 'Some +adventure whereby to test my prowess and my bravery. Now I beg and +urgently request thee to give me some counsel, if possible, concerning +some adventure or marvellous thing.' Says he: 'Thou wilt have to do +without, for I know nothing of adventure, nor did I ever hear tell +of such. But if thou wouldst go to a certain spring here hard by and +shouldst comply with the practice there, thou wouldst not easily come +back again. Close by here thou canst easily find a path which will +lead thee thither. If thou wouldst go aright, follow the straight path, +otherwise thou mayst easily go astray among the many other paths. +Thou shalt see the spring which boils, though the water is colder than +marble. It is shadowed by the fairest tree that ever Nature formed, for +its foliage is evergreen, regardless of the winter's cold, and an iron +basin is hanging there by a chain long enough to reach the spring. And +beside the spring thou shalt find a massive stone, as thou shalt see, +but whose nature I cannot explain, never having seen its like. On the +other side a chapel stands, small, but very beautiful. If thou wilt take +of the water in the basin and spill it upon the stone, thou shalt see +such a storm come up that not a beast will remain within this wood; +every doe, star, deer, boar, and bird will issue forth. For thou shalt +see such lightning-bolts descend, such blowing of gales and crashing +of trees, such torrents fail, such thunder and lightning, that, if thou +canst escape from them without trouble and mischance, thou wilt be more +fortunate than ever any knight was yet.' I left the fellow then, after +he had pointed our the way. It must have been after nine o'clock and +might have been drawing on toward noon, when I espied the tree and the +chapel. I can truly say that this tree was the finest pine that ever +grew on earth. I do not believe that it ever rained so hard that a +drop of water could penetrate it, but would rather drip from the outer +branches. From the tree I saw the basin hanging, [36] of the finest gold +that was ever for sale in any fair. As for the spring, you may take my +word that it was boiling like hot water. The stone was of emerald, with +holes in it like a cask, and there were four rubies underneath, more +radiant and red than is the morning sun when it rises in the east. +Now not one word will I say which is not true. I wished to see the +marvellous appearing of the tempest and the storm; but therein I was not +wise, for I would gladly have repented, if I could, when I had sprinkled +the perforated stone with the water from the basin. But I fear I poured +too much, for straightway I saw the heavens so break loose that from +more than fourteen directions the lightning blinded my eyes, and all at +once the clouds let fall snow and rain and hail. The storm was so fierce +and terrible that a hundred times I thought I should be killed by the +bolts which fell about me and by the trees which were rent apart. Know +that I was in great distress until the uproar was appeased. But God gave +me such comfort that the storm did not continue long, and all the winds +died down again. The winds dared not blow against God's will. And when +I saw the air clear and serene I was filled with joy again. For I have +observed that joy quickly causes trouble to be forgot. As soon as the +storm was completely past, I saw so many birds gathered in the pine tree +(if any one will believe my words) that not a branch or twig was to be +seen which was not entirely covered with birds. [37] The tree was all +the more lovely then, for all the birds sang in harmony, yet the note of +each was different, so that I never heard one singing another's note. I, +too, rejoiced in their joyousness, and listened to them until they had +sung their service through, for I have never heard such happy song, nor +do I think any one else will hear it, unless he goes to listen to what +filled me with such joy and bliss that I was lost in rapture. I stayed +there until I heard some knights coming, as I thought it seemed that +there must be ten of them. But all the noise and commotion was made +by the approach of a single knight. When I saw him coming on alone +I quickly caught my steed and made no delay in mounting him. And the +knight, as if with evil intent, came on swifter than an eagle, looking +as fierce as a lion. From as far as his voice could reach he began to +challenge me, and said: 'Vassal, without provocation you have caused +me shame and harm. If there was any quarrel between us you should first +have challenged me, or at least sought justice before attacking me. But, +sir vassal, if it be within my power, upon you shall fall the punishment +for the damage which is evident. About me here lies the evidence of my +woods destroyed. He who has suffered has the right to complain. And I +have good reason to complain that you have driven me from my house with +lightning-bolt and rain. You have made trouble for me, and cursed be he +who thinks it fair. For within my own woods and town you have made such +an attack upon me that resources of men of arms and of fortifications +would have been of no avail to me; no man could have been secure, even +if he had been in a fortress of solid stone and wood. But be assured +that from this moment there shall be neither truce nor peace between +us.' At these words we rushed together, each one holding his shield well +gripped and covering himself with it. The knight had a good horse and a +stout lance, and was doubtless a whole head taller than I. Thus, I was +altogether at a disadvantage, being shorter than he, while his horse was +stronger than mine. You may be sure that I will tell the facts, in order +to cover up my shame. With intent to do my best, I dealt him as hard a +blow as I could give, striking the top of his shield, and I put all my +strength into it with such effect that my lance flew all to splinters. +His lance remained entire, being very heavy and bigger than any knight's +lance I ever saw. And the knight struck me with it so heavily that he +knocked me over my horse's crupper and laid me flat upon the ground, +where he left me ashamed and exhausted, without bestowing another glance +upon me. He took my horse, but me he left, and started back by the way +he came. And I, who knew not what to do, remained there in pain and +with troubled thoughts. Seating myself beside the spring I rested there +awhile, not daring to follow after the knight for fear of committing +some rash act of madness. And, indeed, had I had the courage, I knew not +what had become of him. Finally, it occurred to me that I would keep my +promise to my host and would return by way of his dwelling. This idea +pleased me, and so I did. I laid off all my arms in order to proceed +more easily, and thus with shame I retraced my steps. When I reached +his home that night, I found my host to be the same good-natured and +courteous man as I had before discovered him to be. I could not observe +that either his daughter or he himself welcomed me any less gladly, +or did me any less honour than they had done the night before. I am +indebted to them for the great honour they all did me in that house; and +they even said that, so far as they knew or had heard tell, no one had +ever escaped, without being killed or kept a prisoner, from the place +whence I returned. Thus I went and thus I returned, feeling, as I did +so, deeply ashamed. So I have foolishly told you the story which I never +wished to tell again." + +(Vv. 581-648.) "By my head," cries my lord Yvain, "you are my own +cousin-german, and we ought to love each other well. But I must consider +you as mad to have concealed this from me so long. If I call you mad, I +beg you not to be incensed. For if I can, and if I obtain the leave, I +shall go to avenge your shame." "It is evident that we have dined," says +Kay, with his ever-ready speech; "there are more words in a pot full of +wine than in a whole barrel of beer. [38] They say that a cat is merry +when full. After dinner no one stirs, but each one is ready to +slay Noradin, [39] and you will take vengeance on Forre! Are your +saddle-cloths ready stuffed, and your iron greaves polished, and your +banners unfurled? Come now, in God's name, my lord Yvain, is it to-night +or to-morrow that you start? Tell us, fair sire, when you will start for +this rude test, for we would fain convoy you thither. There will be no +provost or constable who will not gladly escort you. And however it may +be, I beg that you will not go without taking leave of us; and if you +have a bad dream to-night, by all means stay at home!" "The devil, +Sir Kay," the Queen replies, "are you beside yourself that your tongue +always runs on so? Cursed be your tongue which is so full of bitterness! +Surely your tongue must hate you, for it says the worst it knows to +every man. Damned be any tongue that never ceases to speak ill! As for +your tongue, it babbles so that it makes you hated everywhere. It cannot +do you greater treachery. See here: if it were mine, I would accuse it +of treason. Any man that cannot be cured by punishment ought to be tied +like a madman in front of the chancel in the church." "Really, madame," +says my lord Yvain, "his impudence matters not to me. In every court my +lord Kay has so much ability, knowledge, and worth that he will never be +deaf or dumb. He has the wit to reply wisely and courteously to all that +is mean, and this he has always done. You well know if I lie in saying +so. But I have no desire to dispute or to begin our foolishness again. +For he who deals the first blow does not always win the fight, but +rather he who gains revenge. He who fights with his companion had better +fight against some stranger. I do not wish to be like the hound that +stiffens up and growls when another dog yaps at him." + +(Vv. 649-722.) While they were talking thus, the King came out of his +room where he had been all this time asleep. And when the knights saw +him they all sprang to their feet before him, but he made them at once +sit down again. He took his place beside the Queen, who repeated to him +word for word, with her customary skill, the story of Calogrenant. The +King listened eagerly to it, and then he swore three mighty oaths by the +soul of his father Utherpendragon, and by the soul of his son, and of +his mother too, that he would go to see that spring before a fortnight +should have passed; and he would see the storm and the marvels there by +reaching it on the eve of my lord Saint John the Baptist's feast; there +he would spend the night, and all who wished might accompany him. All +the court thought well of this, for the knights and the young bachelors +were very eager to make the expedition. But despite the general joy and +satisfaction my lord Yvain was much chagrined, for he intended to go +there all alone; so he was grieved and much put out because of the King +who planned to go. The chief cause of his displeasure was that he knew +that my lord Kay, to whom the favour would not be refused if he should +solicit it, would secure the battle rather than he himself, or else +perchance my lord Gawain would first ask for it. If either one of these +two should make request, the favour would never be refused him. But, +having no desire for their company, he resolves not to wait for them, +but to go off alone, if possible, whether it be to his gain or hurt. And +whoever may stay behind, he intends to be on the third day in the forest +of Broceliande, and there to seek if possibly he may find the narrow +wooded path for which he yearns eagerly, and the plain with the strong +castle, and the pleasure and delight of the courteous damsel, who is +so charming and fair, and with the damsel her worthy sire, who is so +honourable and nobly born that he strives to dispense honour. Then he +will see the bulls in the clearing, with the giant boor who watches +them. Great is his desire to see this fellow, who is so stout and big +and ugly and deformed, and as black as a smith. Then, too, he will see, +if possible, the stone and the spring itself, and the basin and the +birds in the pine-tree, and he will make it rain and blow. But of all +this he will not boast, nor, if he can help it, shall any one know +of his purpose until he shall have received from it either great +humiliation or great renown: then let the facts be known. + +(Vv. 723-746.) My lord Yvain gets away from the court without any one +meeting him, and proceeds alone to his lodging place. There he found all +his household, and gave orders to have his horse saddled; then, calling +one of his squires who was privy to his every thought, he says: "Come +now, follow me outside yonder, and bring me my arms. I shall go out at +once through yonder gate upon my palfrey. For thy part, do not delay, +for I have a long road to travel. Have my steed well shod, and bring him +quickly where I am; then shalt thou lead back my palfrey. But take good +care, I adjure thee, if any one questions thee about me, to give him no +satisfaction. Otherwise, whatever thy confidence in me, thou need never +again count on my goodwill." "Sire," he says, "all will be well, for no +one shall learn anything from me. Proceed, and I shall follow you." + +(Vv. 747-906.) My lord Yvain mounts at once, intending to avenge, if +possible, his cousin's disgrace before he returns. The squire ran for +the arms and steed; he mounted at once without delay, since he was +already equipped with shoes and nails. Then he followed his master's +track until he saw him standing mounted, waiting to one side of the road +in a place apart. He brought him his harness and equipment, and then +accoutred him. My lord Yvain made no delay after putting on his arms, +but hastily made his way each day over the mountains and through the +valleys, through the forests long and wide, through strange and wild +country, passing through many gruesome spots, many a danger and many a +strait, until he came directly to the path, which was full of brambles +and dark enough; then he felt he was safe at last, and could not now +lose his way. Whoever may have to pay the cost, he will not stop until +he sees the pine which shades the spring and stone, and the tempest of +hail and rain and thunder and wind. That night, you may be sure, he had +such lodging as he desired, for he found the vavasor to be even more +polite and courteous than he had been told, and in the damsel he +perceived a hundred times more sense and beauty than Calogrenant had +spoken of, for one cannot rehearse the sum of a lady's or a good man's +qualities. The moment such a man devotes himself to virtue, his story +cannot be summed up or told, for no tongue could estimate the honourable +deeds of such a gentleman. My lord Yvain was well content with the +excellent lodging he had that night, and when he entered the clearing +the next day, he met the bulls and the rustic boor who showed him the +way to take. But more than a hundred times he crossed himself at sight +of the monster before him--how Nature had ever been able to form such +a hideous, ugly creature. Then to the spring he made his way, and found +there all that he wished to see. Without hesitation and without sitting +down he poured the basin full of water upon the stone, when straightway +it began to blow and rain, and such a storm was caused as had been +foretold. And when God had appeased the storm, the birds came to perch +upon the pine, and sang their joyous songs up above the perilous spring. +But before their jubilee had ceased there came the knight, more blazing +with wrath than a burning log, and making as much noise as if he were +chasing a lusty stag. As soon as they espied each other they rushed +together and displayed the mortal hate they bore. Each one carried a +stiff, stout lance, with which they dealt such mighty blows that they +pierced the shields about their necks, and cut the meshes of their +hauberks; their lances are splintered and sprung, while the fragments +are cast high in air. Then each attacks the other with his sword, and in +the strife they cut the straps of the shields away, and cut the shields +all to bits from end to end, so that the shreds hang down, no longer +serving as covering or defence; for they have so split them up that they +bring down the gleaming blades upon their sides, their arms, and hips. +Fierce, indeed, is their assault; yet they do not budge from their +standing-place any more than would two blocks of stone. Never were there +two knights so intent upon each other's death. They are careful not to +waste their blows, but lay them on as best they may; they strike and +bend their helmets, and they send the meshes of their hauberks flying +so, that they draw not a little blood, for the hauberks are so hot with +their body's heat that they hardly serve as more protection than a coat. +As they drive the sword-point at the face, it is marvellous that so +fierce and bitter a strife should last so long. But both are possessed +of such courage that one would not for aught retreat a foot before his +adversary until he had wounded him to death. Yet, in this respect they +were very honourable in not trying or deigning to strike or harm their +steeds in any way; but they sat astride their steeds without putting +foot to earth, which made the fight more elegant. At last my lord Yvain +crushed the helmet of the knight, whom the blow stunned and made so +faint that he swooned away, never having received such a cruel blow +before. Beneath his kerchief his head was split to the very brains, so +that the meshes of his bright hauberk were stained with the brains and +blood, all of which caused him such intense pain that his heart almost +ceased to beat. He had good reason then to flee, for he felt that he had +a mortal wound, and that further resistance would not avail. With this +thought in mind he quickly made his escape toward his town, where the +bridge was lowered and the gate quickly opened for him; meanwhile my +lord Yvain at once spurs after him at topmost speed. As a gerfalcon +swoops upon a crane when he sees him rising from afar, and then draws so +near to him that he is about to seize him, yet misses him, so flees the +knight, with Yvain pressing him so close that he can almost throw his +arm about him, and yet cannot quite come up with him, though he is so +close that he can hear him groan for the pain he feels. While the one +exerts himself in flight the other strives in pursuit of him, fearing to +have wasted his effort unless he takes him alive or dead; for he still +recalls the mocking words which my lord Kay had addressed to him. He +had not yet carried out the pledge which he had given to his cousin; +nor will they believe his word unless he returns with the evidence. The +knight led him a rapid chase to the gate of his town, where they entered +in; but finding no man or woman in the streets through which they +passed, they both rode swiftly on till they came to the palace-gate. + +(Vv. 907-1054.) The gate was very high and wide, yet it had such a +narrow entrance-way that two men or two horses could scarcely enter +abreast or pass without interference or great difficulty; for it was +constructed just like a trap which is set for the rat on mischief bent, +and which has a blade above ready to fall and strike and catch, and +which is suddenly released whenever anything, however gently, comes in +contact with the spring. In like fashion, beneath the gate there were +two springs connected with a portcullis up above, edged with iron and +very sharp. If anything stepped upon this contrivance the gate descended +from above, and whoever below was struck by the gate was caught and +mangled. Precisely in the middle the passage lay as narrow as if it were +a beaten track. Straight through it exactly the knight rushed on, with +my lord Yvain madly following him apace, and so close to him that he +held him by the saddle-bow behind. It was well for him that he was +stretched forward, for had it not been for this piece of luck he would +have been cut quite through; for his horse stepped upon the wooden +spring which kept the portcullis in place. Like a hellish devil the gate +dropped down, catching the saddle and the horse's haunches, which it cut +off clean. But, thank God, my lord Yvain was only slightly touched when +it grazed his back so closely that it cut both his spurs off even with +his heels. And while he thus fell in dismay, the other with his mortal +wound escaped him, as you now shall see. Farther on there was another +gate just like the one they had just passed; through this the knight +made his escape, and the gate descended behind him. Thus my lord Yvain +was caught, very much concerned and discomfited as he finds himself +shut in this hallway, which was all studded with gilded nails, and whose +walls were cunningly decorated with precious paints. [310] But about +nothing was he so worried as not to know what had become of the knight. +While he was in this narrow place, he heard open the door of a little +adjoining room, and there came forth alone a fair and charming maiden +who closed the door again after her. When she found my lord Yvain, at +first she was sore dismayed. [311] "Surely, sir knight," she says, "I +fear you have come in an evil hour. If you are seen here, you will be +all cut to pieces. For my lord is mortally wounded, and I know it is you +who have been the death of him. My lady is in such a state of grief, and +her people about her are crying so that they are ready to die with rage; +and, moreover, they know you to be inside. But as yet their grief is +such that they are unable to attend to you. The moment they come +to attack you, they cannot fail to kill or capture you, as they may +choose." And my lord Yvain replies to her: "If God will they shall never +kill me, nor shall I fall into their hands." "No," she says, "for I +shall do my utmost to assist you. It is not manly to cherish fear. So +I hold you to be a man of courage, when you are not dismayed. And rest +assured that if I could I would help you and treat you honourably, as +you in turn would do for me. Once my lady sent me on an errand to the +King's court, and I suppose I was not so experienced or courteous or +so well behaved as a maiden ought to be; at any rate, there was not a +knight there who deigned to say a word to me except you alone who stand +here now; but you, in your kindness, honoured and aided me. For the +honour you did me then I shall now reward you. I know full well what +your name is, and I recognised you at once: your name is my lord Yvain. +You may be sure and certain that if you take my advice you will never be +caught or treated ill. Please take this little ring of mine, which you +will return when I shall have delivered you." [312] Then she handed him +the little ring and told him that its effect was like that of the bark +which covers the wood so that it cannot be seen; but it must be worn so +that the stone is within the palm; then he who wears the ring upon his +finger need have no concern for anything; for no one, however sharp his +eyes may be, will be able to see him any more than the wood which is +covered by the outside bark. All this is pleasing to my lord Yvain. And +when she had told him this, she led him to a seat upon a couch covered +with a quilt so rich that the Duke of Austria had none such, and she +told him that if he cared for something to eat she would fetch it for +him; and he replied that he would gladly do so. Running quickly into the +chamber, she presently returned, bringing a roasted fowl and a cake, a +cloth, a full pot of good grape-wine covered with a white drinking-cup; +all this she offered to him to eat. And he, who stood in need of food, +very gladly ate and drank. + +(Vv. 1055-1172.) By the time he had finished his meal the knights were +astir inside looking for him and eager to avenge their lord, who was +already stretched upon his bier. Then the damsel said to Yvain: "Friend, +do you hear them all seeking you? There is a great noise and uproar +brewing. But whoever may come or go, do not stir for any noise of +theirs, for they can never discover you if you do not move from this +couch. Presently you will see this room all full of ill-disposed and +hostile people, who will think to find you here; and I make no doubt +that they will bring the body here before interment, and they will begin +to search for you under the seats and the beds. It will be amusing for a +man who is not afraid when he sees people searching so fruitlessly, for +they will all be so blind, so undone, and so misguided that they will be +beside themselves with rage. I cannot tell you more just now, for I dare +no longer tarry here. But I may thank God for giving me the chance and +the opportunity to do some service to please you, as I yearned to do." +Then she turned away, and when she was gone all the crowd with one +accord had come from both sides to the gates, armed with clubs and +swords. There was a mighty crowd and press of hostile people surging +about, when they espied in front of the gate the half of the horse which +had been cut down. Then they felt very sure that when the gates were +opened they would find inside him whose life they wished to take. Then +they caused to be drawn up those gates which had been the death of many +men. But since no spring or trap was laid for their passage they all +came through abreast. Then they found at the threshold the other half of +the horse that had been killed; but none of them had sharp enough eyes +to see my lord Yvain, whom they would gladly have killed; and he saw +them beside themselves with rage and fury, as they said: "How can this +be? For there is no door or window here through which anything could +escape, unless it be a bird, a squirrel, or marmot, or some other even +smaller animal; for the windows are barred, and the gates were closed +as soon as my lord passed through. The body is in here, dead or alive, +since there is no sign of it outside there; we can see more than half +of the saddle in here, but of him we see nothing, except the spurs which +fell down severed from his feet. Now let us cease this idle talk, and +search in all these comers, for he is surely in here still, or else we +are all enchanted, or the evil spirits have filched him away from us." +Thus they all, aflame with rage, sought him about the room, beating +upon the walls, and beds, and seats. But the couch upon which he lay was +spared and missed the blows, so that he was not struck or touched. But +all about they thrashed enough, and raised an uproar in the room with +their clubs, like a blind man who pounds as he goes about his search. +While they were poking about under the beds and the stools, there +entered one of the most beautiful ladies that any earthly creature ever +saw. Word or mention was never made of such a fair Christian dame, and +yet she was so crazed with grief that she was on the point of taking her +life. All at once she cried out at the top of her voice, and then fell +prostrate in a swoon. And when she had been picked up she began to claw +herself and tear her hair, like a woman who had lost her mind. She tears +her hair and rips her dress, and faints at every step she takes; nor can +anything comfort her when she sees her husband borne along lifeless +in the bier; for her happiness is at an end, and so she made her loud +lament. The holy water and the cross and the tapers were borne in +advance by the nuns from a convent; then came missals and censers +and the priests, who pronounce the final absolution required for the +wretched soul. + +(Vv. 1173-1242.) My lord Yvain heard the cries and the grief that can +never be described, for no one could describe it, nor was such ever set +down in a book. The procession passed, but in the middle of the room a +great crowd gathered about the bier, for the fresh warm blood trickled +out again from the dead man's wound, and this betokened certainly that +the man was still surely present who had fought the battle and had +killed and defeated him. Then they sought and searched everywhere, and +turned and stirred up everything, until they were all in a sweat with +the trouble and the press which had been caused by the sight of the +trickling crimson blood. Then my lord Yvain was well struck and beaten +where he lay, but not for that did he stir at all. And the people became +more and more distraught because of the wounds which burst open, and +they marvelled why they bled, without knowing whose fault it was. [313] +And each one to his neighbour said: "The murderer is among us here, and +yet we do not see him, which is passing strange and mysterious." At this +the lady showed such grief that she made an attempt upon her life, and +cried as if beside herself: "All God, then will the murderer not be +found, the traitor who took my good lord's life? Good? Aye, the best of +the good, indeed! True God, Thine will be the fault if Thou dost let him +thus escape. No other man than Thou should I blame for it who dost hide +him from my sight. Such a wonder was never seen, nor such injustice, as +Thou dost to me in not allowing me even to see the man who must be so +close to me. When I cannot see him, I may well say that some demon or +spirit has interposed himself between us, so that I am under a spell. Or +else he is a coward and is afraid of me: he must be a craven to stand in +awe of me, and it is an act of cowardice not to show himself before +me. Ah, thou spirit, craven thing! Why art thou so in fear of me, when +before my lord thou weft so brave? O empty and elusive thing, why cannot +I have thee in my power? Why cannot I lay hands upon thee now? But how +could it ever come about that thou didst kill my lord, unless it was +done by treachery? Surely my lord would never have met defeat at thy +hands had he seen thee face to face. For neither God nor man ever knew +of his like, nor is there any like him now. Surely, hadst thou been a +mortal man, thou wouldst never have dared to withstand my lord, for no +one could compare with him." Thus the lady struggles with herself, and +thus she contends and exhausts herself. And her people with her, for +their part, show the greatest possible grief as they carry off the +body to burial. After their long efforts and search they are completely +exhausted by the quest, and give it up from weariness, inasmuch as they +can find no one who is in any way guilty. The nuns and priests, having +already finished the service, had returned from the church and were gone +to the burial. But to all this the damsel in her chamber paid no heed. +Her thoughts are with my lord Yvain, and, coming quickly, she said to +him: "Fair sir, these people have been seeking you in force. They have +raised a great tumult here, and have poked about in all the corners more +diligently than a hunting-dog goes ferreting a partridge or a quail. +Doubtless you have been afraid." "Upon my word, you are right," says he: +"I never thought to be so afraid. And yet, if it were possible I should +gladly look out through some window or aperture at the procession +and the corpse." Yet he had no interest in either the corpse or the +procession, for he would gladly have seen them all burned, even had it +cost him a thousand marks. A thousand marks? Three thousand, verily, +upon my word. But he said it because of the lady of the town, of whom he +wished to catch a glimpse. So the damsel placed him at a little window, +and repaid him as well as she could for the honour which he had done +her. From this window my lord Yvain espies the fair lady, as she says: +"Sire, may God have mercy upon your soul! For never, I verily believe, +did any knight ever sit in saddle who was your equal in any respect. +No other knight, my fair sweet lord, ever possessed your honour or +courtesy. Generosity was your friend and boldness your companion. May +your soul rest among the saints, my fair dear lord." Then she strikes +and tears whatever she can lay her hands upon. Whatever the outcome +may be, it is hard for my lord Yvain to restrain himself from running +forward to seize her hands. But the damsel begs and advises him, and +even urgently commands him, though with courtesy and graciousness, not +to commit any rash deed, saying: "You are well off here. Do not stir +for any cause until this grief shall be assuaged; let these people all +depart, as they will do presently. If you act as I advise, in accordance +with my views, great advantage may come to you. It will be best for you +to remain seated here, and watch the people inside and out as they +pass along the way without their seeing you. But take care not to speak +violently, for I hold that man to be rather imprudent than brave who +goes too far and loses his self-restraint and commits some deed of +violence the moment he has the time and chance. So if you cherish some +rash thought be careful not to utter it. The wise man conceals his +imprudent thought and works out righteousness if he can. So wisely take +good care not to risk your head, for which they would accept no ransom. +Be considerate of yourself and remember my advice. Rest assured until +I return, for I dare not stay longer now. I might stay so long, I fear, +that they would suspect me when they did not see me in the crowd, and +then I should suffer for it." + +(Vv. 1339-1506.) Then she goes off, and he remains, not knowing how to +comport himself. He is loath to see them bury the corpse without his +securing anything to take back as evidence that he has defeated and +killed him. If he has no proof or evidence he will be held in contempt, +for Kay is so mean and obstinate, so given to mockery, and so annoying, +that he could never succeed in convincing him. He would go about for +ever insulting him, flinging his mockery and taunts as he did the other +day. These taunts are still fresh and rankling in his heart. But with +her sugar and honey a new Love now softened him; he had been to hunt +upon his lands and had gathered in his prey. His enemy carries off +his heart, and he loves the creature who hates him most. The lady, all +unaware, has well avenged her lord's death. She has secured greater +revenge than she could ever have done unless she had been aided by Love, +who attacks him so gently that he wounds his heart through his eyes. +And this wound is more enduring than any inflicted by lance or sword. +A sword-blow is cured and healed at once as soon as a doctor attends to +it, but the wound of love is worst when it is nearest to its physician. +This is the wound of my lord Yvain, from which he will never more +recover, for Love has installed himself with him. He deserts and goes +away from the places he was wont to frequent. He cares for no lodging +or landlord save this one, and he is very wise in leaving a poor +lodging-place in order to betake himself to him. In order to devote +himself completely to him, he will have no other lodging-place, though +often he is wont to seek out lowly hostelries. It is a shame that +Love should ever so basely conduct himself as to select the meanest +lodging-place quite as readily as the best. But now he has come where he +is welcome, and where he will be treated honourably, and where he will +do well to stay. This is the way Love ought to act, being such a noble +creature that it is marvellous how he dares shamefully to descend to +such low estate. He is like him who spreads his balm upon the ashes and +dust, who mingles sugar with gall, and suet with honey. However, he did +not act so this time, but rather lodged in a noble place, for which no +one can reproach him. When the dead man had been buried, all the people +dispersed, leaving no clerks or knights or ladies, excepting only +her who makes no secret of her grief. She alone remains behind, often +clutching at her throat, wringing her hands, and beating her palms, as +she reads her psalms in her gilt lettered psalter. All this while my +lord Yvain is at the window gazing at her, and the more he looks at her +the more he loves her and is enthralled by her. He would have wished +that she should cease her weeping and reading, and that she should +feel inclined to converse with him. Love, who caught him at the window, +filled him with this desire. But he despairs of realising his wish, for +he cannot imagine or believe that his desire can be gratified. So he +says: "I may consider myself a fool to wish for what I cannot have. +Her lord it was whom I wounded mortally, and yet do I think I can be +reconciled with her? Upon my word, such thoughts are folly, for at +present she has good reason to hate me more bitterly than anything. I am +right in saying 'at present', for a woman has more than one mind. That +mind in which she is just now I trust she will soon change; indeed, she +will change it certainly, and I am mad thus to despair. God grant that +she change it soon! For I am doomed to be her slave, since such is the +will of Love. Whoever does not welcome Love gladly, when he comes to +him, commits treason and a felony. I admit (and let whosoever will, +heed what I say) that such an one deserves no happiness or joy. But if I +lose, it will not be for such a reason; rather will I love my enemy. +For I ought not to feel any hate for her unless I wish to betray Love. +I must love in accordance with Love's desire. And ought she to regard me +as a friend? Yes, surely, since it is she whom I love. And I call her +my enemy, for she hates me, though with good reason, for I killed the +object of her love. So, then, am I her enemy? Surely no, but her true +friend, for I never so loved any one before. I grieve for her fair +tresses, surpassing gold in their radiance; I feel the pangs of anguish +and torment when I see her tear and cut them, nor can her tears e'er +be dried which I see falling from her eyes; by all these things I am +distressed. Although they are full of ceaseless, ever-flowing tears, yet +never were there such lovely eves. The sight of her weeping causes me +agony, but nothing pains me so much as the sight of her face, which she +lacerates without its having merited such treatment. I never saw such a +face so perfectly formed, nor so fresh and delicately coloured. And then +it has pierced my heart to see her clutch her throat. Surely, it is all +too true that she is doing the worst she can. And yet no crystal nor any +mirror is so bright and smooth. God! why is she thus possessed, and why +does she not spare herself? Why does she wring her lovely hands and beat +and tear her breast? Would she not be marvellously fair to look upon +when in happy mood, seeing that she is so fair in her displeasure? +Surely yes, I can take my oath on that. Never before in a work of beauty +was Nature thus able to outdo herself, for I am sure she has gone beyond +the limits of any previous attempt. How could it ever have happened +then? Whence came beauty so marvellous? God must have made her with His +naked hand that Nature might rest from further toil. If she should try +to make a replica, she might spend her time in vain without succeeding +in her task. Even God Himself, were He to try, could not succeed, I +guess, in ever making such another, whatever effort He might put forth." + +(Vv. 1507-1588.) Thus my lord Yvain considers her who is broken with her +grief, and I suppose it would never happen again that any man in prison, +like my lord Yvain in fear for his life, would ever be so madly in love +as to make no request on his own behalf, when perhaps no one else will +speak for him. He stayed at the window until he saw the lady go away, +and both the portcullises were lowered again. Another might have grieved +at this, who would prefer a free escape to tarrying longer where he was. +But to him it is quite indifferent whether they be shut or opened. If +they were open he surely would not go away, no, even were the lady to +give him leave and pardon him freely for the death of her lord. For he +is detained by Love and Shame which rise up before him on either hand: +he is ashamed to go away, for no one would believe in the success of his +exploit; on the other hand, he has such a strong desire to see the lady +at least, if he cannot obtain any other favour, that he feels little +concern about his imprisonment. He would rather die than go away. And +now the damsel returns, wishing to bear him company with her solace +and gaiety, and to go and fetch for him whatever he may desire. But she +found him pensive and quite worn out with the love which had laid hold +of him; whereupon she addressed him thus: "My lord Yvain, what sort of +a time have you had to-day?" "I have been pleasantly occupied," was his +reply. "Pleasantly? In God's name, is that the truth? What? How can one +enjoy himself seeing that he is hunted to death, unless he courts and +wishes it?" "Of a truth," he says, "my gentle friend, I should by no +means wish to die; and yet, as God beholds me, I was pleased, am pleased +now, and always shall be pleased by what I saw." "Well, let us say no +more of that," she makes reply, "for I can understand well enough what +is the meaning of such words. I am not so foolish or inexperienced that +I cannot understand such words as those; but come now after me, for I +shall find some speedy means to release you from your confinement. I +shall surely set you free to-night or to-morrow, if you please. Come +now, I will lead you away." And he thus makes reply: "You may be sure +that I will never escape secretly and like a thief. When the people are +all gathered out there in the streets, I can go forth more honourably +than if I did so surreptitiously." Then he followed her into the little +room. The damsel, who was kind, secured and bestowed upon him all that +he desired. And when the opportunity arose, she remembered what he +had said to her how he had been pleased by what he saw when they were +seeking him in the room with intent to kill him. + +(Vv. 1589-1652.) The damsel stood in such favour with her lady that she +had no fear of telling her anything, regardless of the consequences, for +she was her confidante and companion. Then, why should she be backward +in comforting her lady and in giving her advice which should redound to +her honour? The first time she said to her privily: "My lady, I greatly +marvel to see you act so extravagantly. Do you think you can recover +your lord by giving away thus to your grief?" "Nay, rather, if I had my +wish," says she, "I would now be dead of grief." "And why?" "In order to +follow after him." "After him? God forbid, and give you again as good a +lord, as is consistent with His might." "Thou didst never speak such a +lie as that, for He could never give me so good a lord again." "He will +give you a better one, if you will accept him, and I can prove it." +"Begone! Peace! I shall never find such a one." "Indeed you shall, my +lady, if you will consent. Just tell me, if you will, who is going to +defend your land when King Arthur comes next week to the margin of the +spring? You have already been apprised of this by letters sent you by +the Dameisele Sauvage. Alas, what a kind service she did for you! you +ought to be considering how you will defend your spring, and yet you +cease not to weep! If it please you, my dear lady, you ought not to +delay. For surely, all the knights you have are not worth, as you well +know, so much as a single chamber-maid. Neither shield nor lance will +ever be taken in hand by the best of them. You have plenty of craven +servants, but there is not one of them brave enough to dare to mount a +steed. And the King is coming with such a host that his victory will +be inevitable." The lady, upon reflection, knows very well that she is +giving her sincere advice, but she is unreasonable in one respect, as +also are other women who are, almost without exception, guilty of their +own folly, and refuse to accept what they really wish. "Begone," she +says; "leave me alone. If I ever hear thee speak of this again it will +go hard with thee, unless thou flee. Thou weariest me with thy idle +words." "Very well, my lady," she says; "that you are a woman is +evident, for woman will grow irate when she hears any one give her good +advice." + +(Vv. 1653-1726.) Then she went away and left her alone. And the lady +reflected that she had been in the wrong. She would have been very glad +to know how the damsel could ever prove that it would be possible to +find a better knight than her lord had ever been. She would be very glad +to hear her speak, but now she has forbidden her. With this desire in +mind, she waited until she returned. But the warning was of no avail, +for she began to say to her at once: "My lady, is it seemly that you +should thus torment yourself with grief? For God's sake now control +yourself, and for shame, at least, cease your lament. It is not fitting +that so great a lady should keep up her grief so long. Remember your +honourable estate and your very gentle birth! Think you that all virtue +ceased with the death of your lord? There are in the world a hundred as +good or better men." "May God confound me, if thou dost not lie! Just +name to me a single one who is reputed to be so excellent as my lord was +all his life." "If I did so you would be angry with me, and would fly +into a passion and you would esteem me less." "No, I will not, I assure +thee." "Then may it all be for your future welfare if you would but +consent, and may God so incline your will! I see no reason for holding +my peace, for no one hears or heeds what we say. Doubtless you will +think I am impudent, but I shall freely speak my mind. When two knights +have met in an affray of arms and when one has beaten the other, which +of the two do you think is the better? For my part I award the prize +to the victor. Now what do you think?" "It seems to me you are laying a +trap for me and intend to catch me in my words." "Upon my faith, you may +rest assured that I am in the right, and I can irrefutably prove to you +that he who defeated your lord is better than he was himself. He beat +him and pursued him valiantly until he imprisoned him in his house." +"Now," she replies, "I hear the greatest nonsense that was ever uttered. +Begone, thou spirit charged with evil! Begone, thou foolish and tiresome +girl! Never again utter such idle words, and never come again into my +presence to speak a word on his behalf!" "Indeed, my lady, I knew full +well that I should receive no thanks from you, and I said so before I +spoke. But you promised me you would not be displeased, and that you +would not be angry with me for it. But you have failed to keep your +promise, and now, as it has turned out, you have discharged your wrath +on me, and I have lost by not holding my peace." + +(Vv. 1727-1942.) Thereupon she goes back to the room where my lord Yvain +is waiting, comfortably guarded by her vigilance. But he is ill at ease +when he cannot see the lady, and he pays no attention, and hears no word +of the report which the damsel brings to him. The lady, too, is in great +perplexity all night, being worried about how she should defend the +spring; and she begins to repent of her action to the damsel, whom she +had blamed and insulted and treated with contempt. She feels very sure +and certain that not for any reward or bribe, nor for any affection +which she may bear him, would the maiden ever have mentioned him; and +that she must love her more than him, and that she would never give her +advice which would bring her shame or embarrassment: the maid is too +loyal a friend for that. Thus, lo! the lady is completely changed: she +fears now that she to whom she had spoken harshly will never love her +again devotedly; and him whom she had repulsed, she now loyally and with +good reason pardons, seeing that he had done her no wrong. So she argues +as if he were in her presence there, and thus she begins her argument: +"Come," she says, "canst thou deny that my lord was killed by thee?" +"That," says he, "I cannot deny. Indeed, I fully admit it." "Tell me, +then, the reason of thy deed. Didst thou do it to injure me, prompted by +hatred or by spite?" "May death not spare me now, if I did it to injure +you." "In that case, thou hast done me no wrong, nor art thou guilty +of aught toward him. For he would have killed thee, if he could. So it +seems to me that I have decided well and righteously." Thus, by her own +arguments she succeeds in discovering justice, reason, and common sense, +how that there is no cause for hating him; thus she frames the matter to +conform with her desire, and by her own efforts she kindles her love, as +a bush which only smokes with the flame beneath, until some one blows +it or stirs it up. If the damsel should come in now, she would win the +quarrel for which she had been so reproached, and by which she had +been so hurt. And next morning, in fact, she appeared again, taking +the subject up where she had let it drop. Meanwhile, the lady bowed +her head, knowing she had done wrong in attacking her. But now she is +anxious to make amends, and to inquire concerning the name, character, +and lineage of the knight: so she wisely humbles herself, and says: "I +wish to beg your pardon for the insulting words of pride which in my +rage I spoke to you: I will follow your advice. So tell me now, if +possible, about the knight of whom you have spoken so much to me: what +sort of a man is he, and of what parentage? If he is suited to become +my mate, and provided he be so disposed, I promise you to make him my +husband and lord of my domain. But he will have to act in such a way +that no one can reproach me by saying: 'This is she who took him who +killed her lord.'" "In God's name, lady, so shall it be. You will have +the gentlest, noblest, and fairest lord who ever belonged to Abel's +line." "What is his name?" "My lord Yvain." "Upon my word, if he is King +Urien's son he is of no mean birth, but very noble, as I well know." +"Indeed, my lady, you say the truth." "And when shall we be able to see +him?" "In five days' time." "That would be too long; for I wish he were +already come. Let him come to-night, or to-morrow, at the latest." "My +lady, I think no one could fly so far in one day. But I shall send one +of my squires who can run fast, and who will reach King Arthur's court +at least by to-morrow night, I think; that is the place we must seek for +him." "That is a very long time. The days are long. But tell him that +to-morrow night he must be back here, and that he must make greater +haste than usual. If he will only do his best, he can do two days' +journey in one. Moreover, to-night the moon will shine; so let him turn +night into day. And when he returns I will give him whatever he wishes +me to give." "Leave all care of that to me; for you shall have him in +your hands the day after to-morrow at the very latest. Meanwhile you +shall summon your men and confer with them about the approaching visit +of the King. In order to make the customary defence of your spring it +behoves you to consult with them. None of them will be so hardy as to +dare to boast that he will present himself. In that case you will have +a good excuse for saving that it behoves you to marry again. A certain +knight, highly qualified, seeks your hand; but you do not presume to +accept him without their unanimous consent. And I warrant what the +outcome will be: I know them all to be such cowards that in order to put +on some one else the burden which would be too heavy for them, they +will fall at your feet and speak their gratitude; for thus their +responsibility will be at an end. For, whoever is afraid of his own +shadow willingly avoids, if possible, any meeting with lance or spear; +for such games a coward has no use." "Upon my word," the lady replies, +"so I would have it, and so I consent, having already conceived the plan +which you have expressed; so that is what we shall do. But why do you +tarry here? Go, without delay, and take measures to bring him here, +while I shall summon my liege-men." Thus concluded their conference. And +the damsel pretends to send to search for my lord Yvain in his country; +while every day she has him bathed, and washed, and groomed. And besides +this she prepares for him a robe of red scarlet stuff, brand new and +lined with spotted fur. There is nothing necessary for his equipment +which she does not lend to him: a golden buckle for his neck, ornamented +with precious stones which make people look well, a girdle, and a wallet +made of rich gold brocade. She fitted him out perfectly, then informed +her lady that the messenger had returned, having done his errand +well. "How is that?" she says, "is he here? Then let him come at once, +secretly and privily, while no one is here with me. See to it that no +one else come in, for I should hate to see a fourth person here." At +this the damsel went away, and returned to her guest again. However, her +face did not reveal the joy that was in her heart; indeed, she said +that her lady knew that she had been sheltering him, and was very much +incensed at her. "Further concealment is useless now. The news about +you has been so divulged that my lady knows the whole story and is very +angry with me, heaping me with blame and reproaches. But she has given +me her word that I may take you into her presence without any harm or +danger. I take it that you will have no objection to this, except for +one condition (for I must not disguise the truth, or I should be unjust +to you): she wishes to have you in her control, and she desires such +complete possession of your body that even your heart shall not be at +large." "Certainly," he said, "I readily consent to what will be no +hardship to me. I am willing to be her prisoner." "So shall you be: +I swear it by this right hand laid upon you!. Now come and, upon my +advice, demean yourself so humbly in her presence that your imprisonment +may not be grievous. Otherwise feel no concern. I do not think that your +restraint will be irksome." Then the damsel leads him off, now +alarming, now reassuring him, and speaking to him mysteriously about +the confinement in which he is to find himself; for every lover is a +prisoner. She is right in calling him a prisoner; for surely any one who +loves is no longer free. + +(Vv. 1943-2036.) Taking my lord Yvain by the hand, the damsel leads him +where he will be dearly loved; but expecting to be ill received, it +is not strange if he is afraid. They found the lady seated upon a red +cushion. I assure you my lord Yvain was terrified upon entering the +room, where he found the lady who spoke not a word to him. At this he +was still more afraid, being overcome with fear at the thought that he +had been betrayed. He stood there to one side so long that the damsel +at last spoke up and said: "Five hundred curses upon the head of him who +takes into a fair lady's chamber a knight who will not draw near, +and who has neither tongue nor mouth nor sense to introduce himself." +Thereupon, taking him by the arm, she thrust him forward with the words: +"Come, step forward, knight, and have no fear that my lady is going to +snap at you; but seek her good-will and give her yours. I will join you +in your prayer that she pardon you for the death of her lord, Esclados +the Red." Then my lord Yvain clasped his hands, and failing upon his +knees, spoke like a lover with these words: "I will not crave your +pardon, lady, but rather thank you for any treatment you may inflict on +me, knowing that no act of yours could ever be distasteful to me." "Is +that so, sir? And what if I think to kill you now?" "My lady, if it +please you, you will never hear me speak otherwise." "I never heard of +such a thing as this: that you put yourself voluntarily and absolutely +within my power, without the coercion of any one." "My lady, there is +no force so strong, in truth, as that which commands me to conform +absolutely to your desire. I do not fear to carry out any order you +may be pleased to give. And if I could atone for the death, which came +through no fault of mine, I would do so cheerfully." "What?" says she, +"come tell me now and be forgiven, if you did no wrong in killing my +lord?" "Lady," he says, "if I may say it, when your lord attacked me, +why was I wrong to defend myself? When a man in self-defence kills +another who is trying to kill or capture him, tell me if in any way he +is to blame." "No, if one looks at it aright. And I suppose it would +have been no use, if I had had you put to death. But I should be glad +to learn whence you derive the force that bids you to consent +unquestioningly to whatever my will may dictate. I pardon you all your +misdeeds and crimes. But be seated, and tell us now what is the cause of +your docility?" "My lady," he says, "the impelling force comes from +my heart, which is inclined toward you. My heart has fixed me in this +desire." "And what prompted your heart, my fair sweet friend?" "Lady, my +eyes." "And what the eyes?" "The great beauty that I see in you." "And +where is beauty's fault in that?" "Lady, in this: that it makes me +love." "Love? And whom?" "You, my lady dear." "I?" "Yes, truly." +"Really? And how is that?" "To such an extent that my heart will not +stir from you, nor is it elsewhere to be found; to such an extent that I +cannot think of anything else, and I surrender myself altogether to you, +whom I love more than I love myself, and for whom, if you will, I am +equally ready to die or live." "And would you dare to undertake the +defence of my spring for love of me?" "Yes, my lady, against the world." +"Then you may know that our peace is made." + +(Vv. 2037-2048.) Thus they are quickly reconciled. And the lady, having +previously consulted her lords, says: "We shall proceed from here to the +hall where my men are assembled, who, in view of the evident need, have +advised and counselled me to take a husband at their request. And I +shall do so, in view of the urgent need: here and now I give myself to +you; for I should not refuse to accept as lord, such a good knight and a +king's son." + +(Vv. 2049-2328.) Now the damsel has brought about exactly what she had +desired. And my lord Yvain's mastery is more complete than could be told +or described; for the lady leads him away to the hall, which was full of +her knights and men-at-arms. And my lord Yvain was so handsome that they +all marvelled to look at him, and all, rising to their feet, salute and +bow to my lord Yvain, guessing well as they did so: "This is he whom +my lady will select. Cursed be he who opposes him! For he seems a +wonderfully fine man. Surely, the empress of Rome would be well married +with such a man. Would now that he had given his word to her, and she to +him, with clasped hand, and that the wedding might take place to-day +or tomorrow." Thus they spoke among themselves. At the end of the hall +there was a seat, and there in the sight of all the lady took her place. +And my lord Yvain made as if he intended to seat himself at her feet; +but she raised him up, and ordered the seneschal to speak aloud, so +that his speech might be heard by all. Then the seneschal began, being +neither stubborn nor slow of speech: "My lords," he said, "we are +confronted by war. Every day the King is preparing with all the haste he +can command to come to ravage our lands. Before a fortnight shall have +passed, all will have been laid waste, unless some valiant defender +shall appear. When my lady married first, not quite seven years ago, she +did it on your advice. Now her husband is dead, and she is grieved. Six +feet of earth is all he has, who formerly owned all this land, and who +was indeed its ornament. [314] It is a pity he lived so short a while. +A woman cannot bear a shield, nor does she know how to fight with lance. +It would exalt and dignify her again if she should marry some worthy +lord. Never was there greater need than now; do all of you recommend +that she take a spouse, before the custom shall lapse which has been +observed in this town for more than the past sixty years." At this, all +at once proclaim that it seems to them the right thing to do, and they +all throw themselves at her feet. They strengthen her desire by their +consent; yet she hesitates to assert her wishes until, as if against +her will, she finally speaks to the same intent as she would have done, +indeed, if every one had opposed her wish: "My lords, since it is your +wish, this knight who is seated beside me has wooed me and ardently +sought my hand. He wishes to engage himself in the defence of my rights +and in my service, for which I thank him heartily, as you do also. It is +true I have never known him in person, but I have often heard his name. +Know that he is no less a man than the son of King Urien. Beside his +illustrious lineage, he is so brave, courteous, and wise that no one +has cause to disparage him. You have all already heard, I suppose, of +my lord Yvain, and it is he who seeks my hand. When the marriage is +consummated, I shall have a more noble lord than I deserve." They all +say: "If you are prudent, this very day shall not go by without the +marriage being solemnised. For it is folly to postpone for a single hour +an advantageous act." They beseech her so insistently that she consents +to what she would have done in any case. For Love bids her do that for +which she asks counsel and advice; but there is more honour for him in +being accepted with the approval of her men. To her their prayers are +not unwelcome; rather do they stir and incite her heart to have its way. +The horse, already under speed, goes faster yet when it is spurred. In +the presence of all her lords, the lady gives herself to my lord Yvain. +From the hand of her chaplain he received the lady, Laudine de Landuc, +daughter of Duke Laudunet, of whom they sing a lay. That very day +without delay he married her, and the wedding was celebrated. There +were plenty of mitres and croziers there, for the lady had summoned her +bishops and abbots. Great was the joy and rejoicing, there were many +people, and much wealth was displayed--more than I could tell you of, +were I to devote much thought to it. It is better to keep silent than to +be inadequate. So my lord Yvain is master now, and the dead man is quite +forgot. He who killed him is now married to his wife, and they enjoy the +marriage rights. The people love and esteem their living lord more than +they ever did the dead. They served him well at his marriage-feast, +until the eve before the day when the King came to visit the marvellous +spring and its stone, bringing with him upon this expedition his +companions and all those of his household; not one was left behind. And +my lord Kay remarked: "Ah, what now has become of Yvain, who after his +dinner made the boast that he would avenge his cousin's shame? Evidently +he spoke in his cups. I believe that he has run away. He would not +dare to come back for anything. He was very presumptuous to make such a +boast. He is a bold man who dares to boast of what no one would praise +him for, and who has no proof of his great feats except the words of +some false flatterer. There is a great difference between a coward and a +hero; for the coward seated beside the fire talks loudly about himself, +holding all the rest as fools, and thinking that no one knows his real +character. A hero would be distressed at hearing his prowess related by +some one else. And yet I maintain that the coward is not wrong to praise +and vaunt himself, for he will find no one else to lie for him. If he +does not boast of his deeds, who will? All pass over him in silence, +even the heralds, who proclaim the brave, but discard the cowards." When +my lord Kay had spoken thus, my lord Gawain made this reply: "My lord +Kay, have some mercy now! Since my lord Yvain is not here, you do not +know what business occupies him. Indeed, he never so debased himself as +to speak any ill of you compared with the gracious things he has said." +"Sire," says Kay, "I'll hold my peace. I'll not say another word to-day, +since I see you are offended by my speech." Then the King, in order to +see the rain, poured a whole basin full of water upon the stone beneath +the pine, and at once the rain began to pour. It was not long before my +lord Yvain without delay entered the forest fully armed, tiding faster +than a gallop on a large, sleek steed, strong, intrepid, and fleet of +foot. And it was my lord Kay's desire to request the first encounter. +For, whatever the outcome might be, he always wished to begin the fight +and joust the first, or else he would be much incensed. Before all the +rest, he requested the King to allow him to do battle first. The King +says: "Kay, since it is your wish, and since you are the first to make +the request, the favour ought not to be denied." Kay thanks him first, +then mounts his steed. If now my lord Yvain can inflict a mild disgrace +upon him, he will be very glad to do so; for he recognises him by his +arms. [315] Each grasping his shield by the straps, they rush together. +Spurring their steeds, they lower the lances, which they hold tightly +gripped. Then they thrust them forward a little, so that they grasped +them by the leather-wrapped handles, and so that when they came together +they were able to deal such cruel blows that both lances broke in +splinters clear to the handle of the shaft. My lord Yvain gave him such +a mighty blow that Kay took a summersault from out of his saddle and +struck with his helmet on the ground. My lord Yvain has no desire to +inflict upon him further harm, but simply dismounts and takes his horse. +This pleased them all, and many said: "Ah, ah, see how you prostrate +lie, who but now held others up to scorn! And yet it is only right to +pardon you this time; for it never happened to you before." Thereupon +my lord Yvain approached the King, leading the horse in his hand by the +bridle, and wishing to make it over to him. "Sire," says he, "now take +this steed, for I should do wrong to keep back anything of yours." "And +who are you?" the King replies; "I should never know you, unless I heard +your name, or saw you without your arms." Then my lord told him who +he was, and Kay was overcome with shame, mortified, humbled, and +discomfited, for having said that he had run away. But the others were +greatly pleased, and made much of the honour he had won. Even the King +was greatly gratified, and my lord Gawain a hundred times more than any +one else. For he loved his company more than that of any other knight +he knew. And the King requested him urgently to tell him, if it be his +will, how he had fared; for he was very curious to learn all about his +adventure; so the King begs him to tell the truth. And he soon told him +all about the service and kindness of the damsel, not passing over +a single word, not forgetting to mention anything. And after this he +invited the King and all his knights to come to lodge with him, saying +they would be doing him great honour in accepting his hospitality. And +the King said that for an entire week he would gladly do him the honour +and pleasure, and would bear him company. And when my lord Yvain had +thanked him, they tarry no longer there, but mount and take the most +direct road to the town. My lord Yvain sends in advance of the company +a squire beating a crane-falcon, in order that they might not take the +lady by surprise, and that her people might decorate the streets against +the arrival of the King. When the lady heard the news of the King's +visit she was greatly pleased; nor was there any one who, upon hearing +the news, was not happy and elated. And the lady summons them all and +requests them to go to meet him, to which they make no objection or +remonstrance, all being anxious to do her will. + +(Vv. 2329-2414.) [316] Mounted on great Spanish steeds, they all go to +meet the King of Britain, saluting King Arthur first with great courtesy +and then all his company. "Welcome," they say, "to this company, so full +of honourable men! Blessed be he who brings them hither and presents us +with such fair guests!" At the King's arrival the town resounds with +the joyous welcome which they give. Silken stuffs are taken out and hung +aloft as decorations, and they spread tapestries to walk upon and drape +the streets with them, while they wait for the King's approach. And they +make still another preparation, in covering the streets with awnings +against the hot rays of the sun. Bells, horns, and trumpets cause +the town to ring so that God's thunder could not have been heard. The +maidens dance before him, flutes and pipes are played, kettle-drums, +drums, and cymbals are beaten. On their part the nimble youths leap, and +all strive to show their delight. With such evidence of their joy, they +welcome the King fittingly. And the Lady came forth, dressed in imperial +garb a robe of fresh ermine--and upon her head she wore a diadem all +ornamented with rubies. No cloud was there upon her face, but it was +so gay and full of joy that she was more beautiful, I think, than any +goddess. Around her the crowd pressed close, as they cried with one +accord: "Welcome to the King of kings and lord of lords!" The King could +not reply to all before he saw the lady coming toward him to hold his +stirrup. However, he would not wait for this, but hastened to dismount +himself as soon as he caught sight of her. Then she salutes him with +these words: "Welcome a hundred thousand times to the King, my lord, and +blessed be his nephew, my lord Gawain!" The King replies: "I wish +all happiness and good luck to your fair body and your face, lovely +creature!" Then clasping her around the waist, the King embraced her +gaily and heartily as she did him, throwing her arms about him. I will +say no more of how gladly she welcomed them, but no one ever heard of +any people who were so honourably received and served. I might tell you +much of the joy should I not be wasting words, but I wish to make brief +mention of an acquaintance which was made in private between the moon +and the sun. Do you know of whom I mean to speak? He who was lord of the +knights, and who was renowned above them all, ought surely to be called +the sun. I refer, of course, to my lord Gawain, for chivalry is enhanced +by him just as when the morning sun sheds its rays abroad and lights all +places where it shines. And I call her the moon, who cannot be otherwise +because of her sense and courtesy. However, I call her so not only +because of her good repute, but because her name is, in fact, Lunete. + +(Vv. 2415-2538.) The damsel's name was Lunete, and she was a charming +brunette, prudent, clever, and polite. As her acquaintance grows with +my lord Gawain, he values her highly and gives her his love as to his +sweetheart, because she had saved from death his companion and friend; +he places himself freely at her service. On her part she describes and +relates to him with what difficulty she persuaded her mistress to take +my lord Yvain as her husband, and how she protected him from the hands +of those who were seeking him; how he was in their midst but they did +not see him. My lord Gawain laughed aloud at this story of hers, and +then he said: "Mademoiselle, when you need me and when you don't, such +as I am, I place myself at your disposal. Never throw me off for some +one else when you think you can improve your lot. I am yours, and do +you be from now on my demoiselle!" "I thank you kindly, sire," she said. +While the acquaintance of these two was ripening thus, the others, too, +were engaged in flirting. For there were perhaps ninety ladies there, +each of whom was fair and charming, noble and polite, virtuous and +prudent, and a lady of exalted birth, so the men could agreeably employ +themselves in caressing and kissing them, and in talking to them and +in gazing at them while they were seated by their side; that much +satisfaction they had at least. My lord Yvain is in high feather because +the King is lodged with him. And the lady bestows such attention upon +them all, as individuals and collectively, that some foolish person +might suppose that the charming attentions which she showed them were +dictated by love. But such persons may properly be rated as fools for +thinking that a lady is in love with them just because she is courteous +and speaks to some unfortunate fellow, and makes him happy and caresses +him. A fool is made happy by fair words, and is very easily taken in. +That entire week they spent in gaiety; forest and stream offered plenty +of sport for any one who desired it. And whoever wished to see the land +which had come into the hands of my lord Yvain with the lady whom he +had married, could go to enjoy himself at one of the castles which stood +within a radius of two, three, or four leagues. When the King had stayed +as long as he chose, he made ready to depart. But during the week they +had all begged urgently, and with all the insistence at their command, +that they might take away my lord Yvain with them. "What? Will you +be one of those." said my lord Gawain to him, "who degenerate after +marriage? [317] Cursed be he by Saint Mary who marries and then +degenerates! Whoever has a fair lady as his mistress or his wife should +be the better for it, and it is not right that her affection should be +bestowed on him after his worth and reputation are gone. Surely you, +too, would have cause to regret her love if you grew soft, for a +woman quickly withdraws her love, and rightly so, and despises him who +degenerates in any way when he has become lord of the realm. Now ought +your fame to be increased! Slip off the bridle and halter and come to +the tournament with me, that no one may say that you are jealous. Now +you must no longer hesitate to frequent the lists, to share in the +onslaught, and to contend with force, whatever effort it may cost! +Inaction produces indifference. But, really, you must come, for I shall +be in your company. Have a care that our comradeship shall not fail +through any fault of yours, fair companion; for my part, you may count +on me. It is strange how a man sets store by the life of ease which +has no end. Pleasures grow sweeter through postponement; and a little +pleasure, when delayed, is much sweeter to the taste than great pleasure +enjoyed at once. The sweets of a love which develops late are like +a fire in a green bush; for the longer one delays in lighting it the +greater will be the heat it yields, and the longer will its force +endure. One may easily fall into habits which it is very difficult +to shake off, for when one desires to do so, he finds he has lost the +power. Don't misunderstand my words, my friend: if I had such a fair +mistress as you have, I call God and His saints to witness, I should +leave her most reluctantly; indeed, I should doubtless be infatuated. +But a man may give another counsel, which he would not take himself, +just as the preachers, who are deceitful rascals, and preach and +proclaim the right but who do not follow it themselves." + +(Vv. 2539-2578.) My lord Gawain spoke at such length and so urgently +that he promised him that he would go; but he said that he must consult +his lady and ask for her consent. Whether it be a foolish or a prudent +thing to do, he will not fail to ask her leave to return to Britain. +Then he took counsel with his wife, who had no inkling of the permission +he desired, as he addressed her with these words: "My beloved lady, my +heart and soul, my treasure, joy, and happiness, grant me now a favour +which will redound to your honour and to mine." The lady at once gives +her consent, not knowing what his desire is, and says: "Fair lord, you +may command me your pleasure, whatever it be." Then my lord Yvain +at once asks her for permission to escort the King and to attend at +tournaments, that no one may reproach his indolence. And she replies: +"I grant you leave until a certain date; but be sure that my love will +change to hate if you stay beyond the term that I shall fix. Remember +that I shall keep my word; if you break your word I will keep mine. If +you wish to possess my love, and if you have any regard for me, remember +to come back again at the latest a year from the present date a week +after St. John's day; for to-day is the eighth day since that feast. +You will be checkmated of my love if you are not restored to me on that +day." + +(Vv. 2579-2635.) My lord Yvain weeps and sighs so bitterly that he can +hardly find words to say: "My lady, this date is indeed a long way off. +If I could be a dove, whenever the fancy came to me, I should often +rejoin you here. And I pray God that in His pleasure He may not detain +me so long away. But sometimes a man intends speedily to return who +knows not what the future has in store for him. And I know not what will +be my fate--perhaps some urgency of sickness or imprisonment may keep +me back: you are unjust in not making an exception at least of actual +hindrance." "My lord," says she, "I will make that exception. And yet +I dare to promise you that, if God deliver you from death, no hindrance +will stand in your way so long as you remember me. So put on your finger +now this ring of mine, which I lend to you. And I will tell you all +about the stone: no true and loyal lover can be imprisoned or lose any +blood, nor can any harm befall him, provided he carry it and hold it +dear, and keep his sweetheart in mind. You will become as hard as iron, +and it will serve you as shield and hauberk. I have never before been +willing to lend or entrust it to any knight, but to you I give it +because of my affection for you." Now my lord Yvain is free to go, but +he weeps bitterly on taking leave. The King, however, would not tarry +longer for anything that might be said: rather was he anxious to have +the palfreys brought all equipped and bridled. They acceded at once to +his desire, bringing the palfreys forth, so that it remained only to +mount. I do not know whether I ought to tell you how my lord Yvain took +his leave, and of the kisses bestowed on him, mingled with tears and +steeped in sweetness. And what shall I tell you about the King how the +lady escorts him, accompanied by her damsels and seneschal? All this +would require too much time. When he sees the lady's tears, the King +implores her to come no farther, but to return to her abode. He begged +her with such urgency that, heavy at heart, she turned about followed by +her company. + +(Vv. 2639-2773.) My lord Yvain is so distressed to leave his lady that +his heart remains behind. The King may take his body off, but he cannot +lead his heart away. She who stays behind clings so tightly to his heart +that the King has not the power to take it away with him. When the body +is left without the heart it cannot possibly live on. For such a marvel +was never seen as the body alive without the heart. Yet this marvel now +came about: for he kept his body without the heart, which was wont to be +enclosed in it, but which would not follow the body now. The heart has +a good abiding-place, while the body, hoping for a safe return to its +heart, in strange fashion takes a new heart of hope, which is so often +deceitful and treacherous. He will never know in advance, I think, the +hour when this hope will play him false, for if he overstays by single +day the term which he has agreed upon, it will be hard for him to gain +again his lady's pardon and goodwill. Yet I think he will overstay +the term, for my lord Gawain will not allow him to part from him, as +together they go to joust wherever tournaments are held. And as the year +passes by my lord Yvain had such success that my lord Gawain strove +to honour him, and caused him to delay so long that all the first year +slipped by, and it came to the middle of August of the ensuing year, +when the King held court at Chester, whither they had returned the day +before from a tournament where my lord Yvain had been and where he had +won the glory and the story tells how the two companions were unwilling +to lodge in the town, but had their tents set up outside the city, and +held court there. For they never went to the royal court, but the King +came rather to join in theirs, for they had the best knights, and the +greatest number, in their company. Now King Arthur was seated in their +midst, when Yvain suddenly had a thought which surprised him more than +any that had occurred to him since he had taken leave of his lady, for +he realised that he had broken his word, and that the limit of his +leave was already exceeded. He could hardly keep back his tears, but he +succeeded in doing so from shame. He was still deep in thought when +he saw a damsel approaching rapidly upon a black palfrey with white +forefeet. As she got down before the tent no one helped her to dismount, +and no one went to take her horse. As soon as she made out the King, she +let her mantle fall, and thus displayed she entered the tent and came +before the King, announcing that her mistress sent greetings to the +King, and to my lord Gawain and all the other knights, except +Yvain, that disloyal traitor, liar, hypocrite, who had deserted her +deceitfully. "She has seen clearly the treachery of him who pretended +he was a faithful lover while he was a false and treacherous thief. This +thief has traduced my lady, who was all unprepared for any evil, and +to whom it never occurred that he would steal her heart away. Those who +love truly do not steal hearts away; there are, however, some men, +by whom these former are called thieves, who themselves go about +deceitfully making love, but in whom there is no real knowledge of the +matter. The lover takes his lady's heart, of course, but he does not run +away with it; rather does he treasure it against those thieves who, +in the guise of honourable men, would steal it from him. But those are +deceitful and treacherous thieves who vie with one another in stealing +hearts for which they care nothing. The true lover, wherever he may go, +holds the heart dear and brings it back again. But Yvain has caused my +lady's death, for she supposed that he would guard her heart for her, +and would bring it back again before the year elapsed. Yvain, thou wast +of short memory when thou couldst not remember to return to thy mistress +within a year. She gave thee thy liberty until St. John's day, and thou +settest so little store by her that never since has a thought of her +crossed thy mind. My lady had marked every day in her chamber, as the +seasons passed: for when one is in love, one is ill at ease and cannot +get any restful sleep, but all night long must needs count and reckon +up the days as they come and go. Dost thou know how lovers spend their +time? They keep count of the time and the season. Her complaint is not +presented prematurely or without cause, and I am not accusing him in any +way, but I simply say that we have been betrayed by him who married +my lady. Yvain, my mistress has no further care for thee, but sends thee +word by me never to come back to her, and no longer to keep her ring. +She bids thee send it back to her by me, whom thou seest present here. +Surrender it now, as thou art bound to do." + +(Vv. 2774-3230.) Senseless and deprived of speech, Yvain is unable to +reply. And the damsel steps forth and takes the ring from his finger, +commending to God the King and all the others except him, whom she +leaves in deep distress. And his sorrow grows on him: he feels oppressed +by what he hears, and is tormented by what he sees. He would rather be +banished alone in some wild land, where no one would know where to seek +for him, and where no man or woman would know of his whereabouts any +more than if he were in some deep abyss. He hates nothing so much as he +hates himself, nor does he know to whom to go for comfort in the death +he has brought upon himself. But he would rather go insane than not +take vengeance upon himself, deprived, as he is, of joy through his own +fault. He rises from his place among the knights, fearing he will lose +his mind if he stays longer in their midst. On their part, they pay no +heed to him, but let him take his departure alone. They know well enough +that he cares nothing for their talk or their society. And he goes away +until he is far from the tents and pavilions. Then such a storm broke +loose in his brain that he loses his senses; he tears his flesh and, +stripping off his clothes, he flees across the meadows and fields, +leaving his men quite at a loss, and wondering what has become of him. +[318] They go in search of him through all the country around--in the +lodgings of the knights, by the hedgerows, and in the gardens--but they +seek him where he is not to be found. Still fleeing, he rapidly pursued +his way until he met close by a park a lad who had in his hand a bow and +five barbed arrows, which were very sharp and broad. He had sense enough +to go and take the bow and arrows which he held. However, he had no +recollection of anything that he had done. He lies in wait for the +beasts in the woods, killing them, and then eating the venison raw. Thus +he dwelt in the forest like a madman or a savage, until he came upon a +little, low-lying house belonging to a hermit, who was at work clearing +his ground. When he saw him coming with nothing on, he could easily +perceive that he was not in his right mind; and such was the case, as +the hermit very well knew. So, in fear, he shut himself up in his little +house, and taking some bread and fresh water, he charitably set it +outside the house on a narrow window-ledge. And thither the other comes, +hungry for the bread which he takes and eats. I do not believe that he +ever before had tasted such hard and bitter bread. The measure of barley +kneaded with the straw, of which the bread, sourer than yeast, was made, +had not cost more than five sous; and the bread was musty and as dry +as bark. But hunger torments and whets his appetite, so that the +bread tasted to him like sauce. For hunger is itself a well mixed and +concocted sauce for any food. My lord Yvain soon ate the hermit's bread, +which tasted good to him, and drank the cool water from the jar. When he +had eaten, he betook himself again to the woods in search of stags and +does. And when he sees him going away, the good man beneath his roof +prays God to defend him and guard him lest he ever pass that way again. +But there is no creature, with howsoever little sense, that will not +gladly return to a place where he is kindly treated. So, not a day +passed while he was in this mad fit that he did not bring to his door +some wild game. Such was the life he led; and the good man took it upon +himself to remove the skin and set a good quantity of the venison to +cook; and the bread and the water in the jug was always standing on the +window-ledge for the madman to make a meal. Thus he had something to eat +and drink: venison without salt or pepper, and good cool water from the +spring. And the good man exerted himself to sell the hide and buy bread +made of barley, or oats, or of some other grain; so, after that, Yvain +had a plentiful supply of bread and venison, which sufficed him for +a long time, until one day he was found asleep in the forest by two +damsels and their mistress, in whose service they were. When they saw +the naked man, one of the three ran and dismounted and examined him +closely, before she saw anything about him which would serve to identify +him. If he had only been richly attired, as he had been many a time, and +if she could have seen him then she would have known him quickly enough. +But she was slow to recognise him, and continued to look at him until +at last she noticed a scar which he had on his face, and she recollected +that my lord Yvain's face was scarred in this same way; she was sure of +it, for she had often seen it. Because of the scar she saw that it was +he beyond any doubt; but she marvelled greatly how it came about that +she found him thus poor and stripped. Often she crosses herself in +amazement, but she does not touch him or wake him up; rather does +she mount her horse again, and going back to the others, tells them +tearfully of her adventure. I do not know if I ought to delay to tell +you of the grief she showed; but thus she spoke weeping to her mistress: +"My lady, I have found Yvain, who has proved himself to be the best +knight in the world, and the most virtuous. I cannot imagine what sin +has reduced the gentleman to such a plight. I think he must have had +some misfortune, which causes him thus to demean himself, for one may +lose his wits through grief. And any one can see that he is not in his +right mind, for it would surely never be like him to conduct himself +thus indecently unless he had lost his mind. Would that God had restored +to him the best sense he ever had, and would that he might then consent +to render assistance to your cause! For Count Alier, who is at war with +you, has made upon you a fierce attack. I should see the strife between +you two quickly settled in your favour if God favoured your fortunes +so that he should return to his senses and undertake to aid you in this +stress." To this the lady made reply: "Take care now! For surely, if he +does not escape, with God's help I think we can clear his head of all +the madness and insanity. But we must be on our way at once! For I +recall a certain ointment with which Morgan the Wise presented me, +saying there was no delirium of the head which it would not cure." +Thereupon, they go off at once toward the town, which was hard by, for +it was not any more than half a league of the kind they have in that +country; and, as compared with ours, two of their leagues make one and +four make two. And he remains sleeping all alone, while the lady goes +to fetch the ointment. The lady opens a case of hers, and, taking out a +box, gives it to the damsel, and charges her not to be too prodigal in +its use: she should rub only his temples with it, for there is no use of +applying it elsewhere; she should anoint only his temples with it, and +the remainder she should carefully keep, for there is nothing the matter +with him except in his brain. She sends him also a robe of spotted fur, +a coat, and a mantle of scarlet silk. The damsel takes them, and leads +in her right hand an excellent palfrey. And she added to these, of her +own store, a shirt, some soft hose, and some new drawers of proper cut. +With all these things she quickly set out, and found him still asleep +where she had left him. After putting her horse in an enclosure where +she tied him fast, she came with the clothes and the ointment to the +place where he was asleep. Then she made so bold as to approach the +madman, so that she could touch and handle him: then taking the +ointment she rubbed him with it until none remained in the box, being +so solicitous for his recovery that she proceeded to anoint him all over +with it; and she used it so freely that she heeded not the warning of +her mistress, nor indeed did she remember it. She put more on than was +needed, but in her opinion it was well employed. She rubbed his temples +and forehead, and his whole body down to the ankles. She rubbed his +temples and his whole body so much there in the hot sunshine that the +madness and the depressing gloom passed completely out of his brain. But +she was foolish to anoint his body, for of that there was no need. If +she had had five measures of it she would doubtless have done the same +thing. She carries off the box, and takes hidden refuge by her horse. +But she leaves the robe behind, wishing that, if God calls him back to +life, he may see it all laid out, and may take it and put it on. She +posts herself behind an oak tree until he had slept enough, and was +cured and quite restored, having regained his wits and memory. Then he +sees that he is as naked as ivory, and feels much ashamed; but he would +have been yet more ashamed had he known what had happened. As it is, he +knows nothing but that he is naked. He sees the new robe lying before +him, and marvels greatly how and by what adventure it had come there. +But he is ashamed and concerned, because of his nakedness, and says that +he is dead and utterly undone if any one has come upon him there and +recognised him. Meanwhile, he clothes himself and looks out into the +forest to see if any one was approaching. He tries to stand up and +support himself, but cannot summon the strength to walk away, for his +sickness has so affected him that he can scarcely stand upon his feet. +Thereupon, the damsel resolves to wait no longer, but, mounting, she +passed close by him, as if unaware of his presence. Quite indifferent as +to whence might come the help, which he needed so much to lead him away +to some lodging-place, where he might recruit his strength, he calls out +to her with all his might. And the damsel, for her part, looks about +her as if not knowing what the trouble is. Confused, she goes hither and +thither, not wishing to go straight up to him. Then he begins to call +again: "Damsel, come this way, here!" And the damsel guided toward him +her soft-stepping palfrey. By this ruse she made him think that she knew +nothing of him and had never seen him before; in so doing she was wise +and courteous. When she had come before him, she said: "Sir knight, what +do you desire that you call me so insistently?" "Ah," said he, "prudent +damsel, I have found myself in this wood by some mishap--I know not +what. For God's sake and your belief in Him, I pray you to lend me, +taking my word as pledge, or else to give me outright, that palfrey +you are leading in your hand." "Gladly, sire: but you must accompany me +whither I am going." "Which way?" says he. "To a town that stands near +by, beyond the forest." "Tell me, damsel, if you stand in need of me." +"Yes," she says, "I do; but I think you are not very well. For the next +two weeks at least you ought to rest. Take this horse, which I hold in +my right hand, and we shall go to our lodging-place." And he, who had no +other desire, takes it and mounts, and they proceed until they come to a +bridge over a swift and turbulent stream. And the damsel throws into the +water the empty box she is carrying, thinking to excuse herself to her +mistress for her ointment by saying that she was so unlucky as to let +the box fall into the water for, when her palfrey stumbled under her, +the box slipped from her gasp, and she came near falling in too, which +would have been still worse luck. It is her intention to invent this +story when she comes into her mistress' presence. Together they held +their way until they came to the town, where the lady detained my lord +Yvain and asked her damsel in private for her box and ointment: and the +damsel repeated to her the lie as she had invented it, not daring to +tell her the truth. Then the lady was greatly enraged, and said: "This +is certainly a very serious loss, and I am sure and certain that the +box will never be found again. But since it has happened so, there is +nothing more to be done about it. One often desires a blessing which +turns out to be a curse; thus I, who looked for a blessing and joy from +this knight, have lost the dearest and most precious of my possessions. +However, I beg you to serve him in all respects." "Ah, lady, how wisely +now you speak! For it would be too bad to convert one misfortune into +two." + +(Vv. 3131-3254.) Then they say no more about the box, but minister in +every way they can to the comfort of my lord Yvain, bathing him and +washing his hair, having him shaved and clipped, for one could have +taken up a fist full of hair upon his face. His every want is satisfied: +if he asks for arms, they are furnished him: if he wants a horse, they +provide him with one that is large and handsome, strong and spirited. +He stayed there until, upon a Tuesday, Count Alier came to the town with +his men and knights, who started fires and took plunder. Those in the +town at once rose up and equipped themselves with arms. Some armed and +some unarmed, they issued forth to meet the plunderers, who did not +deign to retreat before them, but awaited them in a narrow pass. My lord +Yvain struck at the crowd; he had had so long a rest that his strength +was quite restored, and he struck a knight upon his shield with such +force that he sent down in a heap, I think, the knight together with his +horse. The knight never rose again, for his backbone was broken and +his heart burst within his breast. My lord Yvain drew back a little to +recover. Then protecting himself completely with his shield, he spurred +forward to clear the pass. One could not have counted up to four before +one would have seen him cast down speedily four knights. Whereupon, +those who were with him waxed more brave, for many a man of poor and +timid heart, at the sight of some brave man who attacks a dangerous task +before his eyes, will be overwhelmed by confusion and shame, which will +drive out the poor heart in his body and give him another like to a +hero's for courage. So these men grew brave and each stood his ground in +the fight and attack. And the lady was up in the tower, whence she saw +the fighting and the rush to win and gain possession of the pass, and +she saw lying upon the ground many who were wounded and many killed, +both of her own party and of the enemy, but more of the enemy than of +her own. For my courteous, bold, and excellent lord Yvain made them +yield just as a falcon does the teal. And the men and women who had +remained within the town declared as they watched the strife: "Ah, what +a valiant knight! How he makes his enemies yield, and how fierce is his +attack! He was about him as a lion among the fallow deer, when he is +impelled by need and hunger. Then, too, all our other knights are more +brave and daring because of him, for, were it not for him alone, not a +lance would have been splintered nor a sword drawn to strike. When such +an excellent man is found he ought to be loved and dearly prized. See +now how he proves himself, see how he maintains his place, see how he +stains with blood his lance and bare sword, see how he presses the enemy +and follows them up, how he comes boldly to attack them, then gives +away and turns about; but he spends little time in giving away, and soon +returns to the attack. See him in the fray again, how lightly he esteems +his shield, which he allows to be cut in pieces mercilessly. Just see +how keen he is to avenge the blows which are dealt at him. For, if some +one should use all the forest of Argone [319] to make lances for him, +I guess he would have none left by night. For he breaks all the lances +that they place in his socket, and calls for more. And see how he +wields the sword when he draws it! Roland never wrought such havoc with +Durendal against the Turks at Ronceval or in Spain! [320] If he had in +his company some good companions like himself, the traitor, whose attack +we are suffering, would retreat today discomfited, or would stand his +ground only to find defeat." Then they say that the woman would be +blessed who should be loved by one who is so powerful in arms, and who +above all others may be recognised as a taper among candles, as a moon +among the stars, and as the sun above the moon. He so won the hearts of +all that the prowess which they see in him made them wish that he had +taken their lady to wife, and that he were master of the land. + +(Vv. 3255-3340.) Thus men and women alike praised him, and in doing so +they but told the truth. For his attack on his adversaries was such +that they vie with one another in flight. But he presses hard upon their +heels, and all his companions follow him, for by his side they feel +as safe as if they were enclosed in a high and thick stone wall. +The pursuit continues until those who flee become exhausted, and the +pursuers slash at them and disembowel their steeds. The living roll +over upon the dead as they wound and kill each other. They work dreadful +destruction upon each other; and meanwhile the Count flees with my +lord Yvain after him, until he comes up with him at the foot of a steep +ascent, near the entrance of a strong place which belonged to the Count. +There the Count was stopped, with no one near to lend him aid; and +without any excessive parley my lord Yvain received his surrender. For +as soon as he held him in his hands, and they were left just man to +man, there was no further possibility of escape, or of yielding, or of +self-defence; so the Count pledged his word to go to surrender to the +lady of Noroison as her prisoner, and to make such peace as she might +dictate. And when he had accepted his word he made him disarm his head +and remove the shield from about his neck, and the Count surrendered to +him his sword. Thus he won the honour of leading off the Count as his +prisoner, and of giving him over to his enemies, who make no secret of +their joy. But the news was carried to the town before they themselves +arrived. While all come forth to meet them, the lady herself leads the +way. My lord Yvain holds his prisoner by the hand, and presents him to +her. The Count gladly acceded to her wishes and demands, and secured +her by his word, oath, and pledges. Giving her pledges, he swears to her +that he will always live on peaceful terms with her, and will make good +to her all the loss which she can prove, and will build up again the +houses which he had destroyed. When these things were agreed upon in +accordance with the lady's wish, my lord Yvain asked leave to depart. +But she would not have granted him this permission had he been willing +to take her as his mistress, or to marry her. But he would not allow +himself to be followed or escorted a single step, but rather departed +hastily: in this case entreaty was of no avail. So he started out to +retrace his path, leaving the lady much chagrined, whose joy he had +caused a while before. When he will not tarry longer she is the more +distressed and ill at ease in proportion to the happiness he had brought +to her, for she would have wished to honour him, and would have made +him, with his consent, lord of all her possessions, or else she would +have paid him for his services whatever sum he might have named. But he +would not heed any word of man or woman. Despite their grief he left the +knights and the lady who vainly tried to detain him longer. + +(Vv. 3341-3484.) Pensively my lord Yvain proceeded through a deep wood, +until he heard among the trees a very loud and dismal cry, and he turned +in the direction whence it seemed to come. And when he had arrived upon +the spot he saw in a cleared space a lion, and a serpent which held +him by the tail, burning his hind-quarters with flames of fire. My lord +Yvain did not gape at this strange spectacle, but took counsel with +himself as to which of the two he should aid. Then he says that he will +succour the lion, for a treacherous and venomous creature deserves to +be harmed. Now the serpent is poisonous, and fire bursts forth from its +mouth--so full of wickedness is the creature. So my lord Yvain decides +that he will kill the serpent first. Drawing his sword he steps forward, +holding the shield before his face in order not to be harmed by the +flame emerging from the creature's throat, which was larger than a pot. +If the lion attacks him next, he too shall have all the fight he wishes; +but whatever may happen afterwards he makes up his mind to help him now. +For pity urges him and makes request that he should bear succour and aid +to the gentle and noble beast. With his sword, which cuts so clean, he +attacks the wicked serpent, first cleaving him through to the earth and +cutting him in two, then continuing his blows until he reduces him to +tiny bits. But he had to cut off a piece of the lion's tail to get at +the serpent's head, which held the lion by the tail. He cut off only so +much as was necessary and unavoidable. When he had set the lion free, he +supposed that he would have to fight with him, and that the lion would +come at him; but the lion was not minded so. Just hear now what the +lion did! He acted nobly and as one well-bred; for he began to make +it evident that he yielded himself to him, by standing upon his two +hind-feet and bowing his face to the earth, with his fore-feet joined +and stretched out toward him. Then he fell on his knees again, and all +his face was wet with the tears of humility. My lord Yvain knows for a +truth that the lion is thanking him and doing him homage because of the +serpent which he had killed, thereby delivering him from death. He was +greatly pleased by this episode. He cleaned his sword of the serpent's +poison and filth; then he replaced it in its scabbard, and resumed his +way. And the lion walks close by his side, unwilling henceforth to part +from him: he will always in future accompany him, eager to serve and +protect him. [321] He goes ahead until he scents in the wind upon his +way some wild beasts feeding; then hunger and his nature prompt him to +seek his prey and to secure his sustenance. It is his nature so to do. +He started ahead a little on the trail, thus showing his master that he +had come upon and detected the odour and scent of some wild game. +Then he looks at him and halts, wishing to serve his every wish, and +unwilling to proceed against his will. Yvain understands by his attitude +that he is showing that he awaits his pleasure. He perceives this and +understands that if he holds back he will hold back too, and that if he +follows him he will seize the game which he has scented. Then he incites +and cries to him, as he would do to hunting-dogs. At once the lion +directed his nose to the scent which he had detected, and by which he +was not deceived, for he had not gone a bow-shot when he saw in a valley +a deer grazing all alone. This deer he will seize, if he has his way. +And so he did, at the first spring, and then drank its blood still warm. +When he had killed it he laid it upon his back and carried it back to +his master, who thereupon conceived a greater affection for him, and +chose him as a companion for all his life, because of the great devotion +he found in him. It was near nightfall now, and it seemed good to him +to spend the night there, and strip from the deer as much as he cared to +eat. Beginning to carve it he splits the skin along the rib, and taking +a steak from the loin he strikes from a flint a spark, which he catches +in some dry brush-wood; then he quickly puts his steak upon a roasting +spit to cook before the fire, and roasts it until it is quite cooked +through. But there was no pleasure in the meal, for there was no bread, +or wine, or salt, or cloth, or knife, or anything else. While he was +eating, the lion lay at his feet; nor a movement did he make, but +watched him steadily until he had eaten all that he could eat of the +steak. What remained of the deer the lion devoured, even to the bones. +And while all night his master laid his head upon his shield to gain +such rest as that afforded, the lion showed such intelligence that he +kept awake, and was careful to guard the horse as it fed upon the grass, +which yielded some slight nourishment. + +(Vv. 3485-3562.) In the morning they go off together, and the same sort +of existence, it seems, as they had led that night, they two continued +to lead all the ensuing week, until chance brought them to the spring +beneath the pine-tree. There my lord Yvain almost lost his wits a second +time, as he approached the spring, with its stone and the chapel that +stood close by. So great was his distress that a thousand times he +sighed "alas!" and grieving fell in a swoon; and the point of his sharp +sword, falling from its scabbard, pierced the meshes of his hauberk +right in the neck beside the cheek. There is not a mesh that does not +spread, and the sword cuts the flesh of his neck beneath the shining +mail, so that it causes the blood to start. Then the lion thinks that +he sees his master and companion dead. You never heard greater grief +narrated or told about anything than he now began to show. He casts +himself about, and scratches and cries, and has the wish to kill himself +with the sword with which he thinks his master has killed himself. +Taking the sword from him with his teeth he lays it on a fallen tree, +and steadies it on a trunk behind, so that it will not slip or give +way, when he hurls his breast against it, His intention was nearly +accomplished when his master recovered from his swoon, and the lion +restrained himself as he was blindly rushing upon death, like a wild +boar heedless of where he wounds himself. Thus my lord Yvain lies in +a swoon beside the stone, but, on recovering, he violently reproached +himself for the year during which he had overstayed his leave, and +for which he had incurred his lady's hate, and he said: "Why does this +wretch not kill himself who has thus deprived himself of joy? Alas! why +do I not take my life? How can I stay here and look upon what belongs +to my lady? Why does the soul still tarry in my body? What is the soul +doing in so miserable a frame? If it had already escaped away it would +not be in such torment. It is fitting to hate and blame and despise +myself, even as in fact I do. Whoever loses his bliss and contentment +through fault or error of his own ought to hate himself mortally. He +ought to hate and kill himself. And now, when no one is looking on, why +do I thus spare myself? Why do I not take my life? Have I not seen this +lion a prey to such grief on my behalf that he was on the point just now +of thrusting my sword through his breast? And ought I to fear death who +have changed happiness into grief? Joy is now a stranger to me. Joy? +What joy is that? I shall say no more of that, for no one could speak of +such a thing; and I have asked a foolish question. That was the greatest +joy of all which was assured as my possession, but it endured for but +a little while. Whoever loses such joy through his own misdeed is +undeserving of happiness." + +(Vv. 3563-3898.) While he thus bemoaned his fate, a lorn damsel in sorry +plight, who was in the chapel, saw him and heard his words through +a crack in the wall. As soon as he was recovered from his swoon, she +called to him: "God," said she, "who is that I hear? Who is it that thus +complains?" And he replied: "And who are you?" "I am a wretched one," +she said, "the most miserable thing alive." And he replied: "Be silent, +foolish one! Thy grief is joy and thy sorrow is bliss compared with that +in which I am cast down. In proportion as a man becomes more accustomed +to happiness and joy, so is he more distracted and stunned than any +other man by sorrow when it comes. A man of little strength can carry, +through custom and habit, a weight which another man of greater strength +could not carry for anything." "Upon my word," she said, "I know +the truth of that remark; but that is no reason to believe that your +misfortune is worse than mine. Indeed, I do not believe it at all, for +it seems to me that you can go anywhere you choose to go, whereas I am +imprisoned here, and such a fate is my portion that to-morrow I shall be +seized and delivered to mortal judgment." "Ah, God!" said he, "and for +what crime?" "Sir knight, may God never have mercy upon my soul, if I +have merited such a fate! Nevertheless, I shall tell you truly, without +deception, why I am here in prison: I am charged with treason, and I +cannot find any one to defend me from being burned or hanged to-morrow." +"In the first place," he replied, "I may say that my grief and woe are +greater than yours, for you may yet be delivered by some one from the +peril in which you are. Is that not true:" "Yes, but I know not yet by +whom. There are only two men in the world who would dare on my behalf +to face three men in battle." "What? In God's name, are there three +of them?" "Yes, sire, upon my word. There are three who accuse me of +treachery." "And who are they who are so devoted to you that either one +of them would be bold enough to fight against three in your defence?" "I +will answer your question truthfully: one of them is my lord Gawain, and +the other is my lord Yvain, because of whom I shall to-morrow be handed +over unjustly to the martyrdom of death." "Because of whom?" he asked, +"what did you say?" "Sire, so help me God, because of the son of King +Urien." "Now I understand your words, but you shall not die, without +he dies too. I myself am that Yvain, because of whom you are in such +distress. And you, I take it, are she who once guarded me safely in the +hall, and saved my life and my body between the two portcullises, when I +was troubled and distressed, and alarmed at being trapped. I should have +been killed or seized, had it not been for your kind aid. Now tell me, +my gentle friend, who are those who now accuse you of treachery, and +have confined you in this lonely place?" "Sire, I shall not conceal it +from you, since you desire me to tell you all. It is a fact that I was +not slow in honestly aiding you. Upon my advice my lady received you, +after heeding my opinion and my counsel. And by the Holy Paternoster, +more for her welfare than for your own I thought I was doing it, and I +think so still. So much now I confess to you: it was her honour and +your desire that I sought to serve, so help me God! But when it became +evident that you had overstayed the year when you should return to my +mistress, then she became enraged at me, and thought that she had been +deceived by putting trust in my advice. And when this was discovered by +the seneschal--a rascally, underhanded, disloyal wretch, who was jealous +of me because in many matters my lady trusted me more than she trusted +him, he saw that he could now stir up great enmity between me and +her. In full court and in the presence of all he accused me of having +betrayed her in your favour. And I had no counsel or aid except my own; +but I knew that I had never done or conceived any treacherous act toward +my lady, so I cried out, as one beside herself, and without the advice +of any one, that I would present in my own defence one knight who should +fight against three. The fellow was not courteous enough to scorn +to accept such odds, nor was I at liberty to retreat or withdraw +for anything that might happen. So he took me at my word, and I was +compelled to furnish bail that I would present within forty days a +knight to do battle against three knights. Since then I have visited +many courts; I was at King Arthur's court, but found no help from any +there, nor did I find any one who could tell me any good news of you, +for they knew nothing of your affairs." "Pray tell me. Where then was my +good and gentle lord Gawain? No damsel in distress ever needed his aid +without its being extended to her." "If I had found him at court, I +could not have asked him for anything which would have been refused me; +but a certain knight has carried off the Queen, so they told me; surely +the King was mad to send her off in his company. [322] I believe it was +Kay who escorted her to meet the knight who has taken her away; and my +lord Gawain in great distress has gone in search for her. He will never +have any rest until he finds her. Now I have told you the whole truth of +my adventure. To-morrow I shall be put to a shameful death, and shall +be burnt inevitably, a victim of your criminal neglect." And he replies: +"May God forbid that you should be harmed because of me! So long as +I live you shall not die! You may expect me tomorrow, prepared to the +extent of my power to present my body in your cause, as it is proper +that I should do. But have no concern to tell the people who I am! +However the battle may turn out, take care that I be not recognised!" +"Surely, sire, no pressure could make me reveal your name. I would +sooner suffer death, since you will have it so. Yet, after all, I beg +you not to return for my sake. I would not have you undertake a battle +which will be so desperate. I thank you for your promised word that you +would gladly undertake it, but consider yourself now released, for it is +better that I should die alone than that I should see them rejoice over +your death as well as mine; they would not spare my life after they had +put you to death. So it is better for you to remain alive than that we +both should meet death." "That is very ungrateful remark, my dear," says +my lord Yvain; "I suppose that either you do not wish to be delivered +from death, or else that you scorn the comfort I bring you with my aid. +I will not discuss the matter more, for you have surely done so much +for me that I cannot fail you in any need. I know that you are in great +distress; but, if it be God's will, in whom I trust, they shall all +three be discomfited. So no more upon that score: I am going off now to +find some shelter in this wood, for there is no dwelling near at hand." +"Sire," she says, "may God give you both good shelter and good night, +and protect you as I desire from everything that might do you harm!" +Then my lord Yvain departs, and the lion as usual after him. They +journeyed until they came to a baron's fortified place, which was +completely surrounded by a massive, strong, and high wall. The castle, +being extraordinarily well protected, feared no assault of catapult or +storming-machine; but outside the walls the ground was so completely +cleared that not a single hut or dwelling remained standing. You will +learn the cause of this a little later, when the time comes. My lord +Yvain made his way directly toward the fortified place, and seven +varlets came out who lowered the bridge and advanced to meet him. But +they were terrified at sight of the lion, which they saw with him, and +asked him kindly to leave the lion at the gate lest he should wound or +kill them. And he replies: "Say no more of that! For I shall not enter +without him. Either we shall both find shelter here or else I shall stay +outside; he is as dear to me as I am myself. Yet you need have no fear +of him! For I shall keep him so well in hand that you may be quite +confident." They made answer: "Very well!" Then they entered the town, +and passed on until they met knights and ladies and charming damsels +coming down the street, who salute him and wait to remove his armour as +they say: "Welcome to our midst, fair sire! And may God grant that you +tarry here until you may leave with great honour and satisfaction!" High +and low alike extend to him a glad welcome, and do all they can for him, +as they joyfully escort him into the town. But after they had expressed +their gladness they are overwhelmed by grief, which makes them quickly +forget their joy, as they begin to lament and weep and beat themselves. +Thus, for a long space of time, they cease not to rejoice or make +lament: it is to honour their guest that they rejoice, but their heart +is not in what they do, for they are greatly worried over an event which +they expect to take place on the following day, and they feel very sure +and certain that it will come to pass before midday. My lord Yvain was +so surprised that they so often changed their mood, and mingled grief +with their happiness, that he addressed the lord of the place on the +subject. "For God's sake," he said, "fair gentle sir, will you kindly +inform me why you have thus honoured me, and shown at once such joy and +such heaviness?" "Yes, if you desire to know, but it would be better +for you to desire ignorance and silence. I will never tell you willingly +anything to cause you grief. Allow us to continue to lament, and do you +pay no attention to what we do!" "It would be quite impossible for me +to see you sad and nor take it upon my heart, so I desire to know the +truth, whatever chagrin may result to me." "Well, then," he said, "I +will tell you all. I have suffered much from a giant, who has insisted +that I should give him my daughter, who surpasses in beauty all the +maidens in the world. This evil giant, whom may God confound, is named +Harpin of the Mountain. Not a day passes without his taking all of my +possessions upon which he can lay his hands. No one has a better right +than I to complain, and to be sorrowful, and to make lament. I might +well lose my senses from very grief, for I had six sons who were +knights, fairer than any I knew in the world, and the giant has taken +all six of them. Before my eyes he killed two of them, and to-morrow he +will kill the other four, unless I find some one who will dare to fight +him for the deliverance of my sons, or unless I consent to surrender my +daughter to him; and he says that when he has her in his possession he +will give her over to be the sport of the vilest and lewdest fellows in +his house, for he would scorn to take her now for himself. That is the +disaster which awaits me to-morrow, unless the Lord God grant me His +aid. So it is no wonder, fair sir, if we are all in tears. But for your +sake we strive for the moment to assume as cheerful a countenance as we +can. For he is a fool who attracts a gentleman to his presence and then +does not honour him; and you seem to be a very perfect gentleman. Now +I have told you the entire story of our great distress. Neither in town +nor in fortress has the giant left us anything, except what we have +here. If you had noticed, you must have seen this evening that he has +not left us so much as an egg, except these walls which are new; for he +has razed the entire town. When he had plundered all he wished, he set +fire to what remained. In this way he has done me many an evil turn." + +(Vv. 3899-3956.) My lord Yvain listened to all that his host told him, +and when he had heard it all he was pleased to answer him: "Sire, I am +sorry and distressed about this trouble of yours; but I marvel greatly +that you have not asked assistance at good King Arthur's court. There is +no man so mighty that he could not find at his court some who would be +glad to try their strength with his." Then the wealthy man reveals and +explains to him that he would have had efficient help if he had known +where to find my lord Gawain. "He would not have failed me upon this +occasion, for my wife is his own sister; but a knight from a strange +land, who went to court to seek the King's wife, has led her away. +However, he could not have gotten possession of her by any means of his +own invention, had it not been for Kay, who so befooled the King that he +gave the Queen into his charge and placed her under his protection. He +was a fool, and she imprudent to entrust herself to his escort. And I +am the one who suffers and loses in all this; for it is certain that my +excellent lord Gawain would have made haste to come here, had he known +the facts, for the sake of his nephews and his niece. But he knows +nothing of it, wherefore I am so distressed that my heart is almost +breaking, for he is gone in pursuit of him, to whom may God bring shame +and woe for having led the Queen away." While listening to this recital +my lord Yvain does not cease to sigh. Inspired by the pity which he +feels, he makes this reply: "Fair gentle sire, I would gladly undertake +this perilous adventure, if the giant and your sons should arrive +to-morrow in time to cause me no delay, for tomorrow at noon I shall +be somewhere else, in accordance with a promise I have made." "Once +for all, fair sire," the good man said, "I thank you a hundred thousand +times for your willingness." And all the people of the house likewise +expressed their gratitude. + +(Vv. 3957-4384.) Just then the damsel came out of a room, with her +graceful body and her face so fair and pleasing to look upon. She was +very simple and sad and quiet as she came, for there was no end to the +grief she felt: she walked with her head bowed to the ground. And her +mother, too, came in from an adjoining room, for the gentleman had sent +for them to meet his guest. They entered with their mantles wrapped +about them to conceal their tears; and he bid them throw back their +mantles, and hold up their heads, saying: "You ought not to hesitate +to obey my behests, for God and good fortune have given us here a very +well-born gentleman who assures me that he will fight against the giant. +Delay no longer now to throw yourselves at his feet!" "May God never let +me see that!" my lord Yvain hastens to exclaim; "surely it would not be +proper under any circumstances for the sister and the niece of my lord +Gawain to prostrate themselves at my feet. May God defend me from ever +giving place to such pride as to let them fall at my feet! Indeed, I +should never forget the shame which I should feel; but I should be +very glad if they would take comfort until to-morrow, when they may see +whether God will consent to aid them. I have no other request to make, +except that the giant may come in such good time that I be not compelled +to break my engagement elsewhere; for I would not fail for anything +to be present to-morrow noon at the greatest business I could ever +undertake." Thus he is unwilling to reassure them completely, for he +fears that the giant may not come early enough to allow him to reach +in time the damsel who is imprisoned in the chapel. Nevertheless, he +promises them enough to arouse good hope in them. They all alike join in +thanking him, for they place great confidence in his prowess, and they +think he must be a very good man, when they see the lion by his side as +confident as a lamb would be. They take comfort and rejoice because of +the hope they stake on him, and they indulge their grief no more. When +the time came they led him off to bed in a brightly lighted room; both +the damsel and her mother escorted him, for they prized him dearly, and +would have done so a hundred thousand times more had they been informed +of his prowess and courtesy. He and the lion together lay down there and +took their rest. The others dared not sleep in the room; but they closed +the door so tight that they could not come out until the next day at +dawn. When the room was thrown open he got up and heard Mass, and then, +because of the promise he had made, he waited until the hour of prime. +Then in the hearing of all he summoned the lord of the town and said: +"My lord, I have no more time to wait, but must ask your permission +to leave at once; I cannot tarry longer here. But believe truly that +I would gladly and willingly stay here yet awhile for the sake of the +nephews and the niece of my beloved lord Gawain, if I did not have a +great business on hand, and if it were not so far away." At this the +damsel's blood quivered and boiled with fear, as well as the lady's and +the lord's. They were so afraid he would go away that they were on the +point of humbling themselves and casting themselves at his feet, when +they recalled that he would not approve or permit their action. Then the +lord makes him an offer of all he will take of his lands or wealth, if +only he will wait a little longer. And he replied: "God forbid that ever +I should take anything of yours!" Then the damsel, who is in dismay, +begins to weep aloud, and beseeches him to stay. Like one distracted and +prey to dread, she begs him by the glorious queen of heaven and of the +angels, and by the Lord, not to go but to wait a little while; and +then, too, for her uncle's sake, whom he says he knows, and loves, and +esteems. Then his heart is touched with deep pity when he hears her +adjuring him in the name of him whom he loves the most, and by the +mistress of heaven, and by the Lord, who is the very honey and sweet +savour of pity. Filled with anguish he heaved a sigh, for were the +kingdom of Tarsus at stake he would not see her burned to whom he had +pledged his aid. If he could not reach her in time, he would be unable +to endure his life, or would live on without his wits on the other hand, +the kindness of his friend, my lord Gawain, only increased his distress; +his heart almost bursts in half at the thought that he cannot delay. +Nevertheless, he does not stir, but delays and waits so long that the +giant came suddenly, bringing with him the knights: and hanging from his +neck he carried a big square stake with a pointed end, and with this he +frequently spurred them on. For their part they had no clothing on that +was worth a straw, except some soiled and filthy shirts: and their feet +and hands were bound with cords, as they came riding upon four limping +jades, which were weak, and thin, and miserable. As they came riding +along beside a wood, a dwarf, who was puffed up like a toad, had +tied the horses' tails together, and walked beside them, beating them +remorselessly with a four-knotted scourge until they bled, thinking +thereby to be doing something wonderful. Thus they were brought along in +shame by the giant and the dwarf. Stopping in the plain in front of the +city gate, the giant shouts out to the noble lord that he will kill his +sons unless he delivers to him his daughter, whom he will surrender to +his vile fellows to become their sport. For he no longer loves her nor +esteems her, that he should deign to abase himself to her. She shall be +constantly beset by a thousand lousy and ragged knaves, vacant wretches, +and scullery boys, who all shall lay hands on her. The worthy man is +well-nigh beside himself when he hears how his daughter will be made +a bawd, or else, before his very eyes, his four sons will be put to a +speedy death. His agony is like that of one who would rather be dead +than alive. Again and again he bemoans his fate, and weeps aloud and +sighs. Then my frank and gentle lord Yvain thus began to speak to him: +"Sire, very vile and impudent is that giant who vaunts himself out +there. But may God never grant that he should have your daughter in his +power! He despises her and insults her openly. It would be too great a +calamity if so lovely a creature of such high birth were handed over +to become the sport of boys. Give me now my arms and horse! Have the +drawbridge lowered, and let me pass. One or the other must be cast down, +either I or he, I know not which. If I could only humiliate the cruel +wretch who is thus oppressing you, so that he would release your sons +and should come and make amends for the insulting words he has spoken +to you, then I would commend you to God and go about my business." Then +they go to get his horse, and hand over to him his arms, striving so +expeditiously that they soon have him quite equipped. They delayed as +little as they could in arming him. When his equipment was complete, +there remained nothing but to lower the bridge and let him go. They +lowered it for him, and he went out. But the lion would by no means +stay behind. All those who were left behind commended the knight to +the Saviour, for they fear exceedingly lest their devilish enemy, who +already had slain so many good men on the same field before their eyes, +would do the same with him. So they pray God to defend him from death, +and return him to them safe and sound, and that He may give him strength +to slay the giant. Each one softly prays to God in accordance with his +wish. And the giant fiercely came at him, and with threatening words +thus spake to him: "By my eyes, the man who sent thee here surely had +no love for thee! No better way could he have taken to avenge himself on +thee. He has chosen well his vengeance for whatever wrong thou hast done +to him." But the other, fearing naught, replies: "Thou treatest of what +matters not. Now do thy best, and I'll do mine. Idle parley wearies me." +Thereupon my lord Yvain, who was anxious to depart, rides at him. He +goes to strike him on the breast, which was protected by a bear's skin, +and the giant runs at him with his stake raised in air. My lord Yvain +deals him such a blow upon the chest that he thrusts through the skin +and wets the tip of his lance in his body's blood by way of sauce. And +the giant belabours him with the stake, and makes him bend beneath the +blows. My lord Yvain then draws the sword with which he knew how to +deal fierce blows. He found the giant unprotected, for he trusted in his +strength so much that he disdained to arm himself. And he who had drawn +his blade gave him such a slash with the cutting edge, and not with the +flat side, that he cut from his cheek a slice fit to roast. Then the +other in turn gave him such a blow with the stake that it made him sing +in a heap upon his horse's neck. Thereupon the lion bristles up, ready +to lend his master aid, and leaps up in his anger and strength, and +strikes and tears like so much bark the heavy bearskin the giant wore, +and he tore away beneath the skin a large piece of his thigh, together +with the nerves and flesh. The giant escaped his clutches, roaring and +bellowing like a bull, for the lion had badly wounded him. Then raising +his stake in both hands, he thought to strike him, but missed his aim, +when the lion leaded backward so he missed his blow, and fell exhausted +beside my lord Yvain, but without either of them touching the other. +Then my lord Yvain took aim and landed two blows on him. Before he could +recover himself he had severed with the edge of his sword the giant's +shoulder from his body. With the next blow he ran the whole blade of his +sword through his liver beneath his chest; the giant falls in death's +embrace. And if a great oak tree should fall, I think it would make no +greater noise than the giant made when he tumbled down. All those who +were on the wall would fain have witnessed such a blow. Then it became +evident who was the most fleet of foot, for all ran to see the game, +just like hounds which have followed the beast until they finally come +up with him. So men and women in rivalry ran forward without delay to +where the giant lay face downward. The daughter comes running, and +her mother too. And the four brothers rejoice after the woes they have +endured. As for my lord Yvain they are very sure that they could not +detain him for any reason they might allege, but they beseech him to +return and stay to enjoy himself as soon as he shall have completed the +business which calls him away. And he replies that he cannot promise +them anything, for as yet he cannot guess whether it will fare well or +ill with him. But thus much did he say to his host: that he wished that +his four sons and his daughter should take the dwarf and go to my lord +Gawain when they hear of his return, and should tell and relate to him +how he has conducted himself. For kind actions are of no use if you are +not willing that they be known. And they reply: "It is not right that +such kindness as this should be kept hid: we shall do whatever you +desire. But tell us what we can say when we come before him. Whose +praises can we speak, when we know not what your name may be?" And he +answers them: "When you come before him, you may say thus much: that I +told you 'The Knight with the Lion' was my name. And at the same time +I must beg you to tell him from me that, if he does not recognise who I +am, yet he knows me well and I know him. Now I must be gone from here, +and the thing which most alarms me is that I may too long have tarried +here, for before the hour of noon be passed I shall have plenty to do +elsewhere, if indeed I can arrive there in time." Then, without further +delay, he starts. But first his host begged him insistently that he +would take with him his four sons: for there was none of them who would +not strive to serve him, if he would allow it. But it did not please +or suit him that any one should accompany him; so he left the place to +them, and went away alone. And as soon as he starts, riding as fast as +his steed can carry him, he heads toward the chapel. The path was good +and straight, and he knew well how to keep the road. But before he could +reach the chapel, the damsel had been dragged out and the pyre prepared +upon which she was to be placed. Clad only in a shift, she was held +bound before the fire by those who wrongly attributed to her an +intention she had never had. My lord Yvain arrived, and, seeing her +beside the fire into which she was about to be cast, he was naturally +incensed. He would be neither courteous nor sensible who had any +doubt about that fact. So it is true that he was much incensed; but he +cherishes within himself the hope that God and the Right will be on his +side. In such helpers he confides; nor does he scorn his lion's aid. +Rushing quickly toward the crowd, he shouts: "Let the damsel be, you +wicked folk! Having committed no crime, it is not right that she should +be cast upon a pyre or into a furnace." And they draw off on either +side, leaving a passage-way for him. But he yearns to see with his own +eyes her whom his heart beholds in whatever place she may be. His eyes +seek her until he finds her, while he subdues and holds in check his +heart, just as one holds in check with a strong curb a horse that pulls. +Nevertheless, he gladly gazes at her, and sighs the while; but he does +not sigh so openly that his action is detected; rather does he stifle +his sighs, though with difficulty. And he is seized with pity at +hearing, seeing, and perceiving the grief of the poor ladies, who cried: +"Ah, God, how hast Thou forgotten us! How desolate we shall now remain +when we lose so kind a friend, who gave us such counsel and such aid, +and interceded for us at court! It was she who prompted madame to clothe +us with her clothes of vair. Henceforth the situation will change, for +there will be no one to speak for us! Cursed be he who is the cause of +our loss! For we shall fare badly in all this. There will be no one to +utter such advice as this: 'My lady, give this vair mantle, this cloak, +and this garment to such and such an honest dame! Truly, such charity +will be well employed, for she is in very dire need of them.' No such +words as these shall be uttered henceforth, for there is no one else who +is frank and courteous; but every one solicits for himself rather than +for some one else, even though he have no need." + +(Vv. 4385-4474.) Thus they were bemoaning their fate; and my lord Yvain +who was in their midst, heard their complaints, which were neither +groundless nor assumed. He saw Lunete on her knees and stripped to her +shift, having already made confession, and besought God's mercy for her +sins. Then he who had loved her deeply once came to her and raised her +up, saying: "My damsel, where are those who blame and accuse you? Upon +the spot, unless they refuse, battle will be offered them." And she, who +had neither seen nor looked at him before, said: "Sire, you come from +God in this time of my great need! The men who falsely accuse me are all +ready before me here; if you had been a little later I should soon have +been reduced to fuel and ashes. You have come here in my defence, +and may God give you the power to accomplish it in proportion as I am +guiltless of the accusation which is made against me!" The seneschal and +his two brothers heard these words. "Ah!" they exclaim, "woman, chary +of uttering truth but generous with lies! He indeed is mad who for thy +words assumes so great a task. The knight must be simple-minded who has +come here to die for thee, for he is alone and there are three of us. My +advice to him is that he turn back before any harm shall come to him." +Then he replies, as one impatient to begin: "Whoever is afraid, let him +run away! I am not so afraid of your three shields that I should go off +defeated without a blow. I should be indeed discourteous, if, while yet +unscathed and in perfect case, I should leave the place and field to +you. Never, so long as I am alive and sound, will I run away before +such threats. But I advise thee to set free the damsel whom thou hast +unjustly accused; for she tells me, and I believe her word, and she has +assured me upon the salvation of her soul, that she never committed, +or spoke, or conceived any treason against her mistress. I believe +implicitly what she has told me, and will defend her as best I can, for +I consider the righteousness of her cause to be in my favour. For, if +the truth be known, God always sides with the righteous cause, for God +and the Right are one; and if they are both upon my side, then I have +better company and better aid than thou." [323] Then the other responds +imprudently that he may make every effort that pleases him and is +convenient to do him injury, provided that his lion shall not do him +harm. And he replies that he never brought the lion to champion his +cause, nor does he wish any but himself to take a hand: but if the lion +attacks him, let him defend himself against him as best he can, for +concerning him he will give no guarantee. Then the other answers: +"Whatever thou mayst say; unless thou now warn thy lion, and make him +stand quietly to one side, there is no use of thy longer staying here, +but begone at once, and so shalt thou be wise; for throughout this +country every one is aware how this girl betrayed her lady, and it is +right that she receive her due reward in fire and flame." "May the Holy +Spirit forbid!" says he who knows the truth; "may God not let me +stir from here until I have delivered her!" Then he tells the lion to +withdraw and to lie down quietly, and he does so obediently. + +(Vv. 4475-4532.) The lion now withdrew, and the parley and quarrel being +ended between them two, they all took their distance for the charge. The +three together spurred toward him, and he went to meet them at a walk. +He did not wish to be overturned or hurt at this first encounter. So he +let them split their lances, while keeping his entire, making for them a +target of his shield, whereon each one broke his lance. Then he galloped +off until he was separated from them by the space of an acre; but he +soon returned to the business in hand, having no desire to delay. On +his coming up the second time, he reached the seneschal before his two +brothers, and breaking his lance upon his body, he carried him to earth +in spite of himself, and he gave him such a powerful blow that for a +long while he lay stunned, incapable of doing him any harm. And then the +other two came at him with their swords bared, and both deal him great +blows, but they receive still heavier blows from him. For a single one +of the blows he deals is more than a match for two of theirs; thus he +defends himself so well that they have no advantage over him, until the +seneschal gets up and does his best to injure him, in which attempt the +others join, until they begin to press him and get the upper hand. Then +the lion, who is looking on, delays no longer to lend him aid; for it +seems to him that he needs it now. And all the ladies, who are devoted +to the damsel, beseech God repeatedly and pray to Him earnestly not to +allow the death or the defeat of him who has entered the fray on her +account. The ladies, having no other weapons, thus assist him with their +prayers. And the lion brings him such effective aid, that at his first +attack, he strikes so fiercely the seneschal, who was now on his feet, +that he makes the meshes fly from the hauberk like straw, and he drags +him down with such violence that he tears the soft flesh from his +shoulder and all down his side. He strips whatever he touches, so that +the entrails lie exposed. The other two avenge this blow. + +(Vv. 4533-4634.) Now they are all even on the field. The seneschal is +marked for death, as he turns and welters in the red stream of warm +blood pouring from his body. The lion attacks the others; for my +lord Yvain is quite unable, though he did his best by beating or +by threatening him, to drive him back; but the lion doubtless feels +confident that his master does not dislike his aid, but rather loves him +the more for it: so he fiercely attacks them, until they have reason +to complain of his blows, and they wound him in turn and use him badly. +When my lord Yvain sees his lion wounded, his heart is wroth within his +breast, and rightly so; but he makes such efforts to avenge him, and +presses them so hard, that he completely reduces them; they no longer +resist him, but surrender to him at discretion, because of the lion's +help, who is now in great distress; for he was wounded everywhere, and +had good cause to be in pain. For his part, my lord Yvain was by no +means in a healthy state, for his body bore many a wound. But he is not +so anxious about himself as about his lion, which is in distress. Now +he has delivered the damsel exactly in accordance with his wish, and +the lady has very willingly dismissed the grudge that she bore her. +And those men were burned upon the pyre which had been kindled for +the damsel's death; for it is right and just that he who has misjudged +another, should suffer the same manner of death as that to which he had +condemned the other. Now Lunete is joyous and glad at being reconciled +with her mistress, and together they were more happy than any one ever +was before. Without recognising him, all present offered to him, who was +their lord, their service so long as life should last; even the lady, +who possessed unknowingly his heart, begged him insistently to tarry +there until his lion and he had quite recovered. And he replied: "Lady, +I shall not now tarry here until my lady removes from me her displeasure +and anger: then the end of all my labours will come." "Indeed," she +said, "that grieves me. I think the lady cannot be very courteous who +cherishes ill-will against you. She ought not to close her door against +so valorous a knight as you, unless he had done her some great wrong." +"Lady," he replies, "however great the hardship be, I am pleased by what +ever may be her will. But speak to me no more of that; for I shall say +nothing of the cause or crime, except to those who are informed of it." +"Does any one know it, then, beside you two?" "Yes, truly, lady." "Well, +tell us at least your name, fair sir; then you will be free to go." +"Quite free, my lady? No, I shall not be free. I owe more than I can +pay. Yet, I ought not to conceal from you my name. You will never hear +of 'The Knight with the Lion' without hearing of me; for I wish to be +known by that name." "For God's sake, sir, what does that name mean? For +we never saw you before, nor have we ever heard mentioned this name +of yours." "My lady, you may from that infer that my fame is not +widespread." Then the lady says: "Once more, if it did not oppose your +will, I would pray you to tarry here." "Really, my lady, I should not +dare, until I knew certainly that I had regained my lady's good-will." +"Well, then, go in God's name, fair sir; and, if it be His will, may He +convert your grief and sorrow into joy." "Lady," says he, "may God hear +your prayer." Then he added softly under his breath: "Lady, it is you +who hold the key, and, though you know it not, you hold the casket in +which my happiness is kept under lock." + +(Vv. 4635-4674.) Then he goes away in great distress, and there is no +one who recognises him save Lunete, who accompanied him a long distance. +Lunete alone keeps him company, and he begs her insistently never to +reveal the name of her champion. "Sire," says she, "I will never do so." +Then he further requested her that she should not forget him, and that +she should keep a place for him in his mistress' heart, whenever the +chance arose. She tells him to be at ease on that score; for she will +never be forgetful, nor unfaithful, nor idle. Then he thanks her a +thousand times, and he departs pensive and oppressed, because of his +lion that he must needs carry, being unable to follow him on foot. He +makes for him a litter of moss and ferns in his shield. When he has made +a bed for him there, he lays him in it as gently as he can, and carries +him thus stretched out full length on the inner side of his shield. +Thus, in his shield he bears him off, until he arrives before the gate +of a mansion, strong and fair. Finding it closed, he called, and the +porter opened it so promptly that he had no need to call but once. He +reaches out to take his rein, and greets him thus: "Come in, fair sire. +I offer you the dwelling of my lord, if it please you to dismount." "I +accept the offer gladly," he replies, "for I stand in great need of it, +and it is time to find a lodging." + +(Vv. 4675-4702.) Thereupon, he passed through the gate, and saw the +retainers in a mass coming to meet him. They greeted him and helped him +from his horse, and laid down upon the pavement his shield with the lion +on it. And some, taking his horse, put it in a stable: while others very +properly relieved him of his arms and took them. Then the lord of the +castle heard the news, and at once came down into the courtyard, +and greeted him. And his lady came down, too, with all her sons and +daughters and a great crowd of other people, who all rejoiced to offer +him a lodging. They gave him a quiet room, because they deemed that he +was sick; but their good nature was put to a test when they allowed the +lion to go with him. His cure was undertaken by two maidens skilled in +surgery, who were daughters of the lord. I do not know how many days +he stayed there, until he and his lion, being cured, were compelled to +proceed upon their way. + +(Vv. 4703-4736.) But within this time it came about that my lord of +Noire Espine had a struggle with Death, and so fierce was Death's attack +that he was forced to die. After his death it happened that the elder of +two daughters whom he had, announced that she would possess uncontested +all the estates for herself during her entire lifetime, and that she +would give no share to her sister. And the other one said that she would +go to King Arthur's court to seek help for the defence of her claim to +the land. When the former saw that her sister would by no means concede +all the estates to her without contest, she was greatly concerned, and +thought that, if possible, she would get to court before her. At once +she prepared and equipped herself, and without any tarrying or delay, +she proceeded to the court. The other followed her, and made all the +haste she could; but her journey was all in vain, for her eider sister +had already presented her case to my lord Gawain, and he had promised +to execute her will. But there was an agreement between them that if any +one should learn of the facts from her, he would never again take arms +for her, and to this arrangement she gave consent. + +(Vv. 4737-4758.) Just then the other sister arrived at court, clad in +a short mantle of scarlet cloth and fresh ermine. It happened to be +the third day after the Queen had returned from the captivity in which +Maleagant had detained her with all the other prisoners; but Lancelot +had remained behind, treacherously confined within a tower. And on that +very day, when the damsel came to court, news was received of the cruel +and wicked giant whom the knight with the lion had killed in battle. In +his name, my lord Gawain was greeted by his nephews and niece, who told +him in detail of all the great service and great deeds of prowess he +had done for them for his sake, and how that he was well acquainted with +him, though not aware of his identity. + +(Vv. 4759-4820.) All this was heard by her, who was plunged thereby +into great despair and sorrow and dejection; for, since the best of the +knights was absent, she thought she would find no aid or counsel at the +court. She had already made several loving and insistent appeals to my +lord Gawain; but he had said to her: "My dear, it is useless to appeal +to me; I cannot do it; I have another affair on hand, which I shall +in no wise give up." Then the damsel at once left him, and presented +herself before the King. "O King," said she, "I have come to thee and to +thy court for aid. But I find none, and I am very much mazed that I can +get no counsel here. Yet it would not be right for me to go away without +taking leave. My sister may know, however, that she might obtain by +kindness whatever she desired of my property; but I will never surrender +my heritage to her by force, if I can help it, and if I can find any +aid or counsel." "You have spoken wisely," said the King; "since she is +present here, I advise, recommend, and urge her to surrender to you what +is your right." Then the other, who was confident of the best knight in +the world, replied: "Sire, may God confound me, if ever I bestow on her +from my estates any castle, town, clearing, forest, land, or anything +else. But if any knight dares to take arms on her behalf and desires to +defend her cause, let him step forth at once." "Your offer to her is not +fair; she needs more time," the King replied; "if she desires, she may +have forty days to secure a champion, according to the practice of all +courts." To which the elder sister replied: "Fair King, my lord, you may +establish your laws as it pleases you, and as seems good, nor is it +my place to gainsay you, so I must consent to the postponement, if she +desires it." Whereupon, the other says that she does desire it, and she +makes formal request for it. Then she commended the King to God, and +left the court resolving to devote her life to the search through all +the land for the Knight with the Lion, who devotes himself to succouring +women in need of aid. + +(Vv. 4821-4928.) Thus she entered upon her quest, and traversed many +a country without hearing any news of him, which caused her such grief +that she fell sick. But it was well for her that it happened so; for she +came to the dwelling of a friend of hers, by whom she was dearly loved. +By this time her face showed clearly that she was not in good health. +They insisted upon detaining her until she told them of her plight; +whereupon, another damsel took up the quest wherein she had been +engaged, and continued the search on her behalf. So while the one +remained in this retreat, the other rode rapidly all day long, until the +darkness of night came on, and caused her great anxiety. [324] And her +trouble was doubled when the rain came on with terrible violence, as +if God Himself were doing His worst, while she was in the depths of the +forest. The night and the woods cause her great distress, but she is +more tormented by the rain than by either the woods or the night. And +the road was so bad that her horse was often up to the girth in mud; any +damsel might well be terrified to be in the woods, without escort, in +such bad weather and in such darkness that she could not see the horse +she was riding. So she called on God first, and His mother next, and +then on all the saints in turn, and offered up many a prayer that +God would lead her out from this forest and conduct her to some +lodging-place. She continued in prayer until she heard a horn, at which +she greatly rejoiced; for she thought now she would find shelter, if she +could only reach the place. So she turned in the direction of the sound, +and came upon a paved road which led straight toward the horn whose +sound she heard; for the horn had given three long, loud blasts. And she +made her way straight toward the sound, until she came to a cross which +stood on the right side of the road, and there she thought that she +might find the horn and the person who had sounded it. So she spurred +her horse in that direction, until she drew near a bridge, and descried +the white walls and the barbican of a circular castle. Thus, by chance +she came upon the castle, setting her course by the sound which had led +her thither. She had been attracted by the sound of the horn blown by a +watchman upon the walls. As soon as the watchman caught sight of her, he +called to her, then came down, and taking the key of the gate, opened +it for her and said: "Welcome, damsel, whoe'er you be. You shall be +well lodged this night." "I have no other desire than that," the damsel +replied, as he let her in. After the toil and anxiety she had endured +that day, she was fortunate to find such a lodging-place; for she was +very comfortable there. After the meal the host addressed her, and +inquired where she was going and what was her quest. Whereupon, she thus +replied: "I am seeking one whom I never saw, so far as I am aware, and +never knew; but he has a lion with him, and I am told that, if I find +him, I can place great confidence in him." "I can testify to that," the +other said: "for the day before yesterday God sent him here to me in +my dire need. Blessed be the paths which led him to my dwelling. For he +made me glad by avenging me of a mortal enemy and killing him before +my eyes. Outside yonder gate you may see to-morrow the body of a mighty +giant, whom he slew with such ease that he hardly had to sweat." "For +God's sake, sire," the damsel said, "tell me now the truth, if you know +whither he went, and where he is." "I don't know," he said, "as God sees +me here; but to-morrow I will start you on the road by which he went +away from here." "And may God," said she, "lead me where I may hear true +news of him. For if I find him, I shall be very glad." + +(Vv. 4929-4964.) Thus they continued in long converse until at last they +went to bed. When the day dawned, the maid arose, being in great concern +to find the object of her quest. And the master of the house arose with +all his companions, and set her upon the road which led straight to the +spring beneath the pine. And she, hastening on her way toward the town, +came and asked the first men whom she met, if they could tell her where +she would find the lion and the knight who travelled in company. And +they told her that they had seen him defeat three knights in that very +place. Whereupon, she said at once: "For God's sake, since you have said +so much, do not keep back from me anything that you can add." "No," they +replied; "we know nothing more than we have said, nor do we know what +became of him. If she for whose sake he came here, cannot give you +further news, there will be no one here to enlighten you. You will not +have far to go, if you wish to speak with her; for she has gone to make +prayer to God and to hear Mass in yonder church, and judging by the time +she has been inside, her orisons have been prolonged." + +(Vv. 4965-5106.) While they were talking thus, Lunete came out from the +church, and they said: "There she is." Then she went to meet her, and +they greeted each other. She asked Lunete at once for the information +she desired; and Lunete said that she would have a palfrey saddled; for +she wished to accompany her, and would take her to an enclosure where +she had left him. The other maiden thanked her heartily. Lunete mounts +the palfrey which is brought without delay, and, as they ride, she tells +her how she had been accused and charged with treason, and how the pyre +was already kindled upon which she was to be laid, and how he had come +to help her in just the moment of her need. While speaking thus, she +escorted her to the road which led directly to the spot where my lord +Yvain had parted from her. When she had accompanied her thus far, she +said: "Follow this road until you come to a place where, if it please +God and the Holy Spirit, you will hear more reliable news of him than +I can tell. I very well remember that I left him either near here, or +exactly here, where we are now; we have not seen each other since then, +and I do not know what he has done. When he left me, he was in sore need +of a plaster for his wounds. So I will send you along after him, and if +it be God's will, may He grant that you find him to-night or to-morrow +in good health. Now go: I commend you to God. I must not follow you any +farther, lest my mistress be displeased with me." Then Lunete leaves her +and turns back; while the other pushed on until she found a house, +where my lord Yvain had tarried until he was restored to health. She saw +people gathered before the gate, knights, ladies and men-at-arms, and +the master of the house; she saluted them, and asked them to tell her, +if possible, news of a knight for whom she sought. "Who is he?" they +ask. "I have heard it said that he is never without a lion." "Upon my +word, damsel," the master says, "he has just now left us. You can come +up with him to-night, if you are able to keep his tracks in sight, and +are careful not to lose any time." "Sire," she answers, "God forbid. +But tell me now in what direction I must follow him." And they tell +her: "This way, straight ahead," and they beg her to greet him on their +behalf. But their courtesy was not of much avail; for, without giving +any heed, she galloped off at once. The pace seemed much too slow to +her, though her palfrey made good time. So she galloped through the mud +just the same as where the road was good and smooth, until she caught +sight of him with the lion as his companion. Then in her gladness she +exclaims: "God, help me now. At last I see him whom I have so long +pursued, and whose trace I have long followed. But if I pursue and +nothing gain, what will it profit me to come up with him? Little or +nothing, upon my word. If he does not join in my enterprise, I have +wasted all my pains." Thus saying, she pressed on so fast that her +palfrey was all in a sweat; but she caught up with him and saluted him. +He thus at once replied to her: "God save you, fair one, and deliver you +from grief and woe." "The same to you, sire, who, I hope, will soon be +able to deliver me." Then she draws nearer to him, and says: "Sire, I +have long searched for you. The great fame of your merit has made me +traverse many a county in my weary search for you. But I continued my +quest so long, thank God, that at last I have found you here. And if I +brought any anxiety with me, I am no longer concerned about it, nor do I +complain or remember it now. I am entirely relieved; my worry has taken +flight the moment I met with you. Moreover, the affair is none of mine: +I come to you from one that is better than I, a woman who is more noble +and excellent. But if she be disappointed in her hopes of you, then she +has been betrayed by your fair renown, for she has no expectation of +other aid. My damsel, who is deprived of her inheritance by a sister, +expects with your help to win her suit; she will have none but you +defend her cause. No one can make her believe that any one else could +bear her aid. By securing her share of the heritage, you will have won +and acquired the love of her who is now disinherited, and you will also +increase your own renown. She herself was going in search for you to +secure the boon for which she hoped; no one else would have taken her +place, had she not been detained by an illness which compels her to keep +her bed. Now tell me, please, whether you will dare to come, or whether +you will decline." "No," he says; "no man can win praise in a life of +ease; and I will not hold back, but will follow you gladly, my sweet +friend, whithersoever it may please you. And if she for whose sake you +have sought me out stands in some great need of me, have no fear that I +shall not do all I can for her. Now may God grant me the happiness and +grace to settle in her favour her rightful claim." + +(Vv. 5107-5184.) [325] Thus conversing, they two rode away until they +approached the town of Pesme Avanture. They had no desire to pass it +by, for the day was already drawing to a close. They came riding to the +castle, when all the people, seeing them approach, called out to the +knight: "Ill come, sire, ill come. This lodging-place was pointed out to +you in order that you might suffer harm and shame. An abbot might take +his oath to that." "Ah," he replied, "foolish and vulgar folk, full +of all mischief, and devoid of honour, why have you thus assailed me?" +"Why? you will find out soon enough, if you will go a little farther. +But you shall learn nothing more until you have ascended to the +fortress." At once my lord Yvain turns toward the tower, and the crowd +cries out, all shouting aloud at him: "Eh, eh, wretch, whither goest +thou? If ever in thy life thou hast encountered one who worked thee +shame and woe, such will be done thee there, whither thou art going, +as will never be told again by thee." My lord Yvain, who is listening, +says: "Base and pitiless people, miserable and impudent, why do you +assail me thus, why do you attack me so? What do you wish of me, what +do you want, that you growl this way after me?" A lady, who was somewhat +advanced in years, who was courteous and sensible, said: "Thou hast no +cause to be enraged: they mean no harm in what they say; but, if thou +understoodest them aright, they are warning thee not to spend the night +up there; they dare not tell thee the reason for this, but they are +warning and blaming thee because they wish to arouse thy fears. This +they are accustomed to do in the case of all who come, so that they may +not go inside. And the custom is such that we dare not receive in our +own houses, for any reason whatsoever, any gentleman who comes here from +a distance. The responsibility now is thine alone; no one will stand in +thy way. If thou wishest, thou mayst go up now; but my advice is to turn +back again." "Lady," he says, "doubtless it would be to my honour and +advantage to follow your advice; but I do not know where I should find +a lodging-place to-night." "Upon my word," says she, "I'll say no more, +for the concern is none of mine. Go wherever you please. Nevertheless, +I should be very glad to see you return from inside without too great +shame; but that could hardly be." "Lady," he says, "may God reward you +for the wish. However, my wayward heart leads me on inside, and I +shall do what my heart desires." Thereupon, he approaches the gate, +accompanied by his lion and his damsel. Then the porter calls to him, +and says: "Come quickly, come. You are on your way to a place where you +will be securely detained, and may your visit be accursed." + +(Vv. 5185-5346.) The porter, after addressing him with this very +ungracious welcome, hurried upstairs. But my lord Yvain, without making +reply, passed straight on, and found a new and lofty hall; in front +of it there was a yard enclosed with large, round, pointed stakes, +and seated inside the stakes he saw as many as three hundred maidens, +working at different kinds of embroidery. Each one was sewing with +golden thread and silk, as best she could. But such was their poverty, +that many of them wore no girdle, and looked slovenly, because so poor; +and their garments were torn about their breasts and at the elbows, and +their shifts were soiled about their necks. Their necks were thin, and +their faces pale with hunger and privation. They see him, as he looks at +them, and they weep, and are unable for some time to do anything or to +raise their eyes from the ground, so bowed down they are with woe. When +he had contemplated them for a while, my lord Yvain turned about and +moved toward the door; but the porter barred the way, and cried: "It +is no use, fair master; you shall not get out now. You would like to be +outside: but, by my head, it is of no use. Before you escape you will +have suffered such great shame that you could not easily suffer more; +so you were not wise to enter here, for there is no question of escaping +now." "Nor do I wish to do so, fair brother," said he; "but tell me, +by thy father's soul, whence came the damsels whom I saw in the yard, +weaving cloths of silk and gold. I enjoy seeing the work they do, but I +am much distressed to see their bodies so thin, and their faces so pale +and sad. I imagine they would be fair and charming, if they had what +they desire." "I will tell you nothing," was the reply; "seek some one +else to tell you." "That will I do, since there is no better way." Then +he searches until he finds the entrance of the yard where the damsels +were at work: and coming before them, he greets them all, and sees tears +flowing from their eyes, as they weep. Then he says to them: "May it +please God to remove from your hearts, and turn to joy, this grief, the +cause of which I do not know." One of them answers: "May you be heard by +God, to whom you have addressed your prayer. It shall not be concealed +from you who we are, and from what land: I suppose that is what you wish +to know." "For no other purpose came I here," says he. [326] "Sire, +it happened a long while ago that the king of the Isle of Damsels went +seeking news through divers courts and countries, and he kept on his +travels like a dunce until he encountered this perilous place. It was an +unlucky hour when he first came here, for we wretched captives who are +here receive all the shame and misery which we have in no wise deserved. +And rest assured that you yourself may expect great shame, unless a +ransom for you be accepted. But, at any rate, so it came about that my +lord came to this town, where there are two sons of the devil (do not +take it as a jest) who were born of a woman and an imp. These two were +about to fight with the king, whose terror was great, for he was not yet +eighteen years old, and they would have been able to cleave him through +like a tender lamb. So the king, in his terror, escaped his fate as best +he could, by swearing that he would send hither each year, as required, +thirty of his damsels, and with this rent he freed himself. And when +he swore, it was agreed that this arrangement should remain in force +as long as the two devils lived. But upon the day when they should +be conquered and defeated in battle, he would be relieved from this +tribute, and we should be delivered who are now shamefully given over to +distress and misery. Never again shall we know what pleasure is. But I +spoke folly just now in referring to our deliverance, for we shall never +more leave this place. We shall spend our days weaving cloths of silk, +without ever being better clad. We shall always be poor and naked, and +shall always suffer from hunger and thirst, for we shall never be able +to earn enough to procure for ourselves any better food. Our bread +supply is very scarce--a little in the morning and less at night, for +none of us can gain by her handiwork more than fourpence a day for her +daily bread. And with this we cannot provide ourselves with sufficient +food and clothes. For though there is not one of us who does not earn as +much as twenty sous [327] a week, yet we cannot live without hardship. +Now you must know that there is not a single one of us who does not do +twenty sous worth of work or more, and with such a sum even a duke would +be considered rich. So while we are reduced to such poverty, he, for +whom we work, is rich with the product of our toil. We sit up many +nights, as well as every day, to earn the more, for they threaten to do +us injury, when we seek some rest, so we do not dare to rest ourselves. +But why should I tell you more? We are so shamefully treated and +insulted that I cannot tell you the fifth part of it all. But what makes +us almost wild with rage is that we very often see rich and excellent +knights, who fight with the two devils, lose their lives on our account. +They pay dearly for the lodging they receive, as you will do to-morrow. +For, whether you wish to do so or not, you will have to fight +singlehanded and lose your fair renown with these two devils." "May God, +the true and spiritual, protect me," said my lord Yvain, "and give you +back your honour and happiness, if it be His will. I must go now and see +the people inside there, and find out what sort of entertainment they +will offer me." "Go now, sire, and may He protect you who gives and +distributes all good things." + +(Vv. 5347-5456.) Then he went until he came to the hall where he found +no one, good or bad, to address him. Then he and his companion passed +through the house until they came to a garden. They never spoke of, or +mentioned, stabling their horses. But what matters it? For those who +considered them already as their own had stabled them carefully. I do +not know whether their expectation was wise, for the horses' owners are +still perfectly hale. The horses, however, have oats and hay, and stand +in litter up to their belly. My lord Yvain and his company enter the +garden. There he sees, reclining upon his elbow upon a silken rug, a +gentleman, to whom a maiden was reading from a romance about I know +not whom. There had come to recline there with them and listen to the +romance a lady, who was the mother of the damsel, as the gentleman was +her father; they had good reason to enjoy seeing and hearing her, for +they had no other children. She was not yet sixteen years old, and +was so fair and full of grace that the god of Love would have devoted +himself entirely to her service, if he had seen her, and would never +have made her fall in love with anybody except himself. For her sake he +would have become a man, and would lay aside his deity, and would smite +his own body with that dart whose wound never heals unless some base +physician attends to it. It is not fitting that any one should recover +until he meets with faithlessness. Any one who is cured by other means +is not honestly in love. I could tell you so much about this wound, if +you were pleased to listen to it, that I would not get through my tale +to-day. But there would be some one who would promptly say that I was +telling you but an idle tale; for people don't fall in love nowadays, +nor do they love as they used to do, so they do not care to hear of it. +[328] But hear now in what fashion and with what manner of hospitality +my lord Yvain was received. All those who were in the garden leaped to +their feet when they saw him come, and cried out: "This way, fair sire. +May you and all you love be blessed with all that God can do or say." I +know not if they were deceiving him, but they receive him joyfully and +act as if they are pleased that he should be comfortably lodged. Even +the lord's daughter serves him very honourably, as one should treat a +worthy guest. She relieves him of all his arms, nor was it the least +attention she bestowed on him when she herself washed his neck and face. +The lord wishes that all honour should be shown him, as indeed they do. +She gets out from her wardrobe a folded shirt, white drawers, needle and +thread for his sleeves, which she sews on, thus clothing him. [329] May +God want now that this attention and service may not prove too costly to +him! She gave him a handsome jacket to put on over his shirt, and about +his neck she placed a brand new spotted mantle of scarlet stuff. +She takes such pains to serve him well that he feels ashamed and +embarrassed. But the damsel is so courteous and open-hearted and polite +that she feels she is doing very little. And she knows well that it is +her mother's will that she shall leave nothing undone for him which she +thinks may win his gratitude. That night at table he was so well served +with so many dishes that there were too many. The servants who brought +in the dishes might well have been wearied by serving them. That night +they did him all manner of honour, putting him comfortably to bed, and +not once going near him again after he had retired. His lion lay at +his feet, as his custom was. In the morning, when God lighted His great +light for the world, as early as was consistent in one who was always +considerate, my lord Yvain quickly arose, as did his damsel too. They +heard Mass in a chapel, where it was promptly said for them in honour of +the Holy Spirit. + +(Vv. 5457-5770.) After the Mass my lord Yvain heard bad news, when he +thought the time had come for him to leave and that nothing would stand +in his way; but it could not be in accordance with his wish. When he +said: "Sire, if it be your will, and with your permission, I am going +now," the master of the house replied: "Friend, I will not grant you +permission yet. There is a reason why I cannot do so, for there is +established in this castle a very terrible practice which I am bound +to observe. I shall now cause to approach two great, strong fellows of +mine, against whom, whether right or wrong, you must take arms. If you +can defend yourself against them, and conquer and slay them both, my +daughter desires you as her lord, and the suzerainty of this town and +all its dependencies awaits you." "Sire," said he, "for all this I have +no desire. So may God never bestow your daughter upon me, but may she +remain with you; for she is so fair and so elegant that the Emperor +of Germany would be fortunate to win her as his wife." "No more, fair +guest," the lord replied: "there is no need of my listening to your +refusal, for you cannot escape. He who can defeat the two, who are about +to attack you, must by right receive my castle, and all my land, and +my daughter as his wife. There is no way of avoiding or renouncing +the battle. But I feel sure that your refusal of my daughter is due to +cowardice, for you think that in this manner you can completely avoid +the battle. Know, however, without fail that you must surely fight. No +knight who lodges here can possibly escape. This is a settled custom +and statute, which will endure yet for many a year, for my daughter will +never be married until I see them dead or defeated." "Then I must fight +them in spite of myself. But I assure you that I should very gladly give +it up. In spite of my reluctance, however, I shall accept the battle, +since it is inevitable." Thereupon, the two hideous, black sons of +the devil come in, both armed with a crooked club of a cornelian +cherry-tree, which they had covered with copper and wound with brass. +They were armed from the shoulders to the knees, but their head and +face were bare, as well as their brawny legs. Thus armed, they advanced, +bearing in their hands round shields, stout and light for fighting. The +lion begins to quiver as soon as he sees them, for he sees the arms they +have, and perceives that they come to fight his master. He is aroused, +and bristles up at once, and, trembling with rage and bold impulse, he +thrashes the earth with his tail, desiring to rescue his master before +they kill him. And when they see him they say: "Vassal, remove the lion +from here that he may not do us harm. Either surrender to us at once, or +else, we adjure you, that lion must be put where he can take no part in +aiding you or in harming us. You must come alone to enjoy our sport, for +the lion would gladly help you, if he could." My lord Yvain then replies +to them: "Take him away yourselves if you are afraid of him. For I shall +be well pleased and satisfied if he can contrive to injure you, and I +shall be grateful for his aid." They answer: "Upon my word that will +not do; you shall never receive any help from him. Do the best you can +alone, without the help of any one. You must fight single-handed against +us two. If you were not alone, it would be two against two; so you must +follow our orders, and remove your lion from here at once, however much +you may dislike to do so." "Where do you wish him to be?" he asks, "or +where do you wish me to put him?" Then they show him a small room, and +say: "Shut him up in there." "It shall be done, since it is your will." +Then he takes him and shuts him up. And now they bring him arms for his +body, and lead out his horse, which they give to him, and he mounts. The +two champions, being now assured about the lion, which is shut up in +the room, come at him to injure him and do him harm. They give him such +blows with the maces that his shield and helmet are of little use, for +when they hit him on the helmet they batter it in and break it; and the +shield is broken and dissolved like ice, for they make such holes in +it that one could thrust his fists through it: their onslaught is truly +terrible. And he--what does he do against these two devils? Urged on +by shame and fear, he defends himself with all his strength. He strains +every nerve, and exerts himself to deal heavy, and telling blows; they +lost nothing by his gifts, for he returned their attentions with +double measure. In his room, the lion's heart is heavy and sad, for he +remembers the kind deed done for him by this noble man, who now must +stand in great need of his service and aid. If now he could escape +from there, he would return him the kindness with full measure and +full bushel, without any discount whatsoever. He looks about in all +directions, but sees no way of escape. He hears the blows of the +dangerous and desperate fight, and in his grief he rages and is beside +himself. He investigates, until he comes to the threshold, which was +beginning to grow rotten; and he scratches at it until he can squeeze +himself in as far as his haunches, when he sticks fast. Meanwhile, my +lord Yvain was hard pressed and sweating freely, for he found that the +two fellows were very strong, fierce, and persistent. He had received +many a blow, and repaid it as best he could, but without doing them any +harm, for they were well skilled in fencing, and their shields were not +of a kind to be hacked by any sword, however sharp and well tempered +it might be. So my lord Yvain had good reason to fear his death, yet he +managed to hold his own until the lion extricated himself by continued +scratching beneath the threshold. If the rascals are not killed now, +surely they will never be. For so long as the lion knows them to be +alive, they can never obtain truce or peace with him. He seizes one of +them, and pulls him down to earth like a tree-trunk. The wretches are +terrified, and there is not a man present who does not rejoice. For he +whom the lion has dragged down will never be able to rise again, unless +the other succours him. He runs up to bring him aid, and at the same +time to protect himself, lest the lion should attack him as soon as he +had despatched the one whom he had thrown down; he was more afraid of +the lion than of his master. But my lord Yvain will be foolish now if +he allows him longer life, when he sees him turn his back, and sees his +neck bare and exposed; this chance turned out well for him. When the +rascal exposed to him his bare head and neck, he dealt him such a blow +that he smote his head from his shoulders so quietly that the fellow +never knew a word about it. Then he dismounts, wishing to help and save +the other one from the lion, who holds him fast. But it is of no use, +for already he is in such straits that a physician can never arrive in +time; for the lion, coming at him furiously, so wounded him at the first +attack, that he was in a dreadful state. Nevertheless, he drags the lion +back, and sees that he had torn his shoulder from its place. He is in +no fear of the fellow now, for his club has fallen from his hand, and +he lies like a dead man without action or movement; still he has enough +strength to speak, and he said as clearly as he could: "Please take your +lion away, fair sire, that he may not do me further harm. Henceforth you +may do with me whatever may be your desire. Whoever begs and prays +for mercy, ought not to have his prayer refused, unless he addresses a +heartless man. I will no longer defend myself, nor will I ever get up +from here with my own strength; so I put myself in your hands." "Speak +out then," he says, "if thou dost admit that thou art conquered and +defeated." "Sire," he says, "it is evident. I am defeated in spite of +myself, and I surrender, I promise you." "Then thou needest have no +further fear of me, and my lion will leave thee alone." Then he is +surrounded by all the crowd, who arrive on the scene in haste. And both +the lord and his lady rejoice over him, and embrace him, and speak to +him of their daughter, saying: "Now you will be the lord and master of +us all, and our daughter will be your wife, for we bestow her upon you +as your spouse." "And for my part," he says. "I restore her to you. Let +him who has her keep her. I have no concern with her, though I say it +not in disparagement. Take it not amiss if I do not accept her, for +I cannot and must not do so. But deliver to me now, if you will, the +wretched maidens in your possession. The agreement, as you well know, +is that they shall all go free." "What you say is true," he says: "and I +resign and deliver them freely to you: there will be no dispute on that +score. But you will be wise to take my daughter with all my wealth, for +she is fair, and charming, and sensible. You will never find again such +a rich marriage as this." "Sire," he replies, "you do not know of my +engagements and my affairs, and I do not dare to explain them to you. +But, you may be sure, when I refuse what would never be refused by any +one who was free to devote his heart and intentions to such a fair and +charming girl, that I too would willingly accept her hand if I could, or +if I were free to accept her or any other maid. But I assure you that I +cannot do it: so let me depart in peace. For the damsel, who escorted +me hither, is awaiting me. She has kept me company, and I would not +willingly desert her whatever the future may have in store." "You wish +to go, fair sire? But how? My gate will never be opened for you unless +my judgment bids me give the command; rather shall you remain here as my +prisoner. You are acting haughtily and making a mistake when you disdain +to take my daughter at my request." "Disdain, my lord? Upon my soul, I +do not disdain her. Whatever the penalty may be, I cannot marry a wife +or tarry here. I shall follow the damsel who is my guide: for otherwise +it cannot be. But, with your consent, I will pledge you my right hand, +and you may take my word, that, just as you see me now, I will return +if possible, and then will accept your daughter's hand, whenever it may +seem good ro you." "Confound any one," he says, "who asks you for your +word or promise or pledge. If my daughter pleases you, you will return +quickly enough. You will not return any sooner. I think, for having +given your word or sworn an oath. Begone now. I release you from all +oaths and promises. If you are detained by rain or wind, or by nothing +at all, it is of no consequence to me. I do not hold my daughter so +cheap as to bestow her upon you forcibly. Now go about your business. +For it is quite the same to me whether you go or whether you stay." + +(Vv. 5771-5871.) Thereupon my lord Yvain turns away and delays no longer +in the castle. He escorted the poor and ill-clad wretches, who were now +released from captivity, and whom the lord committed to his care. These +maidens feel that now they are rich, as they file out in pairs before +him from the castle. I do not believe that they would rejoice so much as +they do now were He who created the whole world to descend to earth from +Heaven. Now all those people who had insulted him in every possible way +come to beseech him for mercy and peace, and escort him on his way. He +replies that he knows nothing of what they mean. "I do not understand +what you mean," he says; "but I have nothing against you. I do not +remember that you ever said anything that harmed me." They are very glad +for what they hear, and loudly praise his courtesy, and after escorting +him a long distance, they all commend him to God. Then the damsels, +after asking his permission, separated from him. When they left him, +they all bowed to him, and prayed and expressed the wish that God might +grant him joy and health, and the accomplishment of his desire, wherever +in the future he should go. Then he, who is anxious to be gone, says +that he hopes God will save them all. "Go," he says, "and may God +conduct you into your countries safe and happy." Then they continue +their way joyfully; and my lord Yvain departs in the other direction. +All the days of that week he never ceases to hurry on under the escort +of the maid, who was well acquainted with the road, and with the retired +place where she had left the unhappy and disconsolate damsel who had +been deprived of her inheritance. But when she heard news of the arrival +of the maiden and of the Knight with the Lion. There never was such joy +as she felt within her heart. For now she thinks that, if she insists, +her sister will cede her a part of her inheritance. The damsel had long +lain sick, and had just recovered from her malady. It had seriously +affected her, as was apparent from her face. Straightway she went forth +to meet them, greeting them and honouring them in every way she could. +There is no need to speak of the happiness that prevailed that night +in the house. No mention will be made of it, for the story would be too +long to tell. I pass over all that, until they mounted next morning and +went away. They rode until they saw the town where King Arthur had been +staying for a fortnight or more. And there, too, was the damsel who +had deprived her sister of her heritage, for she had kept close to the +court, waiting for the arrival of her sister, who now draws near. But +she does not worry much, for she does not think that her sister can find +any knight who can withstand my lord Gawain's attack, and only one day +of the forty yet remains. If this single day had passed, she would have +had the reasonable and legal right to claim the heritage for herself +alone. But more stands in the way than she thinks or believes. That +night they spent outside the town in a small and humble house, where, +in accordance with their desire, they were not recognised. At the first +sign of dawn the next morning they necessarily issue forth, but ensconce +themselves in hiding until broad daylight. + +(Vv. 5872-5924.) I know not how many days had passed since my lord +Gawain had so completely disappeared that no one at court knew anything +about him, except only the damsel in whose cause he was to fight. He +had concealed himself three or four leagues from the court, and when he +returned he was so equipped that even those who knew him perfectly +could not recognise him by the arms he bore. The damsel, whose injustice +toward her sister was evident, presented him at court in the sight of +all, for she intended with his help to triumph in the dispute where she +had no rights. So she said to the King: "My lord, time passes. The +noon hour will soon be gone, and this is the last day. As you see, I am +prepared to defend my claim. If my sister were going to return, there +would be nothing to do but await her arrival. But I may praise God that +she is not coming back again. It is evident that she cannot better her +affairs, and that her trouble has been for naught. For my part, I have +been ready all the time up to this last day, to prove my claim to what +is mine. I have proved my point entirely without a fight, and now I +may rightfully go to accept my heritage in peace; for I shall render no +accounting for it to my sister as long as I live, and she will lead a +wretched and miserable existence." Then the King, who well knew that the +damsel was disloyally unjust toward her sister, said to her: "My dear, +upon my word, in a royal court one must wait as long as the king's +justice sits and deliberates upon the verdict. It is not yet time to +pack up, for it is my belief that your sister will yet arrive in time." +Before the King had finished, he saw the Knight with the Lion and the +damsel with him. They two were advancing alone, having slipped away from +the lion, who had stayed where they spent the night. + +(Vv. 5925-5990.) The King saw the damsel whom he did not fail to +recognise, and he was greatly pleased and delighted to see her, for +he was on her side of the quarrel, because he had regard for what was +right. Joyfully he cried out to her as soon as he could: "Come forward, +fair one: may God save you!" When the other sister hears these words, +she turns trembling, and sees her with the knight whom she had brought +to defend in her claim: then she turned blacker than the earth. The +damsel, after being kindly welcomed by all, went to where the King was +sitting. When she had come before him, she spoke to him thus: "God save +the King and his household. If my rights in this dispute can be settled +by a champion, then it will be done by this knight who has followed +me hither. This frank and courteous knight had many other things to do +elsewhere; but he felt such pity for me that he cast aside all his other +affairs for the sake of mine. Now, madame, my very dear sister, whom I +love as much as my own heart, would do the right and courteous thing if +she would let me have so much of what is mine by right that there might +be peace between me and her; for I ask for nothing that is hers." "Nor +do I ask for anything that is thine," the other replied; "for thou hast +nothing, and nothing shalt thou have. Thou canst never talk so much as +to gain anything by thy words. Thou mayest dry up with grief." Then the +other, who was very polite and sensible and courteous, replied with the +words: "Certainly I am sorry that two such gentlemen as these should +fight on our behalf over so small a disagreement. But I cannot disregard +my claim, for I am in too great need of it. So I should be much obliged +to you if you would give me what is rightly mine." "Surely," the other +said, "any one would be a fool to consider thy demands. May I burn in +evil fire and flame if I give thee anything to ease thy life! The banks +of the Seine will meet, and the hour of prime will be called noon, +before I refuse to carry out the fight." "May God and the right, which +I have in this cause, and in which I trust and have trusted till the +present time, aid him, who in charity and courtesy has offered himself +in my service, though he knows not who I am, and though we are ignorant +of each other's identity." + +(Vv. 5991-6148.) So they talked until their conversation ceased, and +then produced the knights in the middle of the court. Then all the +people crowd about, as people are wont to do when they wish to witness +blows in battle or in joust. But those who were about to fight did +not recognise each other, though their relations were wont to be very +affectionate. Then do they not love each other now? I would answer you +both "yes" and "no." And I shall prove that each answer is correct. In +truth, my lord Gawain loves Yvain and regards him as his companion, and +so does Yvain regard him, wherever he may be. Even here, if he knew who +he was, he would make much of him, and either one of them would lay down +his head for the other before he would allow any harm to come to him. Is +not that a perfect and lofty love? Yes, surely. But, on the other hand, +is not their hate equally manifest? Yes; for it is a certain thing that +doubtless each would be glad to have broken the other's head, and so +to have injured him as to cause his humiliation. Upon my word, it is a +wondrous thing, that Love and mortal Hate should dwell together. God! +How can two things so opposed find lodging in the same dwelling-place? +It seems to me they cannot live together; for one could not dwell with +the other, without giving rise to noise and contention, as soon as each +knew of the other's presence. But upon the ground-floor there may be +several apartments: for there are halls and sleeping-rooms. It may be +the same in this case: I think Love had ensconced himself in some hidden +room, while Hate had betaken herself to the balconies looking on the +high-road, because she wishes to be seen. Just now Hate is in the +saddle, and spurs and pricks forward as she can, to get ahead of Love +who is indisposed to move. Ah! Love, what has become of thee? Come out +now, and thou shalt see what a host has been brought up and opposed to +thee by the enemies of thy friends. The enemies are these very men who +love each other with such a holy love for love, which is neither false +nor feigned, is a precious and a holy thing. In this case Love is +completely blind, and Hate, too, is deprived of sight. For if Love had +recognised these two men, he must have forbidden each to attack the +other, or to do any thing to cause him harm. In this respect, then, +Love is blind and discomfited and beguiled; for, though he sees them, he +fails to recognise those who rightly belong to him. And though Hate is +unable to tell why one of them should hate the other, yet she tries to +engage them wrongfully, so that each hates the other mortally. You know, +of course, that he cannot be said to love a man who would wish to harm +him and see him dead. How then? Does Yvain wish to kill his friend, my +lord Gawain? Yes, and the desire is mutual. Would, then, my lord Gawain +desire to kill Yvain with his own hands, or do even worse than I have +said? Nay, not really, I swear and protest. One would not wish to injure +or harm the other, in return for all that God has done for man, or for +all the empire of Rome. But this, in turn, is a lie of mine, for it is +plainly to be seen that, with lance raised high in rest, each is ready +to attack the other, and there will be no restraint of the desire of +each to wound the other with intent to injure him and work him woe. Now +tell me! When one will have defeated the other, of whom can he complain +who has the worst of it? For if they go so far as to come to blows, I am +very much afraid that they will continue the battle and the strife +until victory be definitely decided. If he is defeated, will Yvain be +justified in saying that he has been harmed and wronged by a man who +counts him among his friends, and who has never mentioned him but by the +name of friend or companion? Or, if it comes about perchance that Yvain +should hurt him in turn, or defeat him in any way, will Gawain have +the right to complain? Nay, for he will not know whose fault it is. In +ignorance of each other's identity, they both drew off and took their +distance. At this first shock, their lances break, though they were +stout, and made of ash. Not a word do they exchange, for if they had +stopped to converse their meeting would have been different. In that +case, no blow would have been dealt with lance or sword; they would have +kissed and embraced each other rather than sought each other's harm. For +now they attack each other with injurious intent. The condition of the +swords is not improved, nor that of the helmets and shields, which are +dented and split; and the edges of the swords are nicked and dulled. For +they strike each other violently, not with the fiat of the swords, +but with the edge, and they deal such blows with the pommels upon the +nose-guards and upon the neck, forehead and cheeks, that they are all +marked black and blue where the blood collects beneath the skin. And +their hauberks are so torn, and their shields so broken in pieces, that +neither one escaped without wounds. Their breath is almost exhausted +with the labour of the strife; they hammer away at each other so lustily +that every hyacinth and emerald set in their helmets is crushed and +smashed. For they give each other such a battering with their pommels +upon the helmets that they are quite stunned, as they almost beat out +each other's brains. The eyes in their heads gleam like sparks, as, with +stout square fists, and strong nerves, and hard bones, they strike each +other upon the mouth as long as they can grip their swords, which are of +great service to them in dealing their heavy blows. + +(Vv. 6149-6228.) When they had for a long time strained themselves, +until the helmets were crushed, and the hauberks' meshes were torn +apart with the hammering of the swords, and the shields were split and +cracked, they drew apart a little to give their pulse a rest and to +catch their breath again. However, they do not long delay, but run at +each other again more fiercely than before. And all declare that they +never saw two more courageous knights. "This fight between them is no +jest, but they are in grim earnest. They will never be repaid for their +merits and deserts." The two friends, in their bitter struggle, heard +these words, and heard how the people were talking of reconciling the +two sisters; but they had no success in placating the elder one. And the +younger one said she would leave it to the King, and would not gainsay +him in anything. But the elder one was so obstinate that even the +Queen Guinevere and the knights and the King and the ladies and the +townspeople side with the younger sister, and all join in beseeching the +King to give her a third or a fourth part of the land in spite of the +elder sister, and to separate the two knights who had displayed such +bravery, for it would be too bad if one should injure the other or +deprive him of any honour. And the King replied that he would take no +hand in making peace, for the elder sister is so cruel that she has no +desire for it. All these words were heard by the two, who were attacking +each other so bitterly that all were astonished thereat; for the battle +is waged so evenly that it is impossible to judge which has the better +and which the worse. Even the two men themselves, who fight, and who +are purchasing honour with agony, are filled with amazement and stand +aghast, for they are so well matched in their attack, that each wonders +who it can be that withstands him with such bravery. They fight so long +that the day draws on to night, while their arms grow weary and their +bodies sore, and the hot, boiling blood flows from many a spot and +trickles down beneath their hauberks: they are in such distress that +it is no wonder if they wish to rest. Then both withdraw to rest +themselves, each thinking within himself that, however long he has had +to wait, he now at last has met his match. For some time they thus seek +repose, without daring to resume the fight. They feel no further desire +to fight, because of the night which is growing dark, and because of the +respect they feel for each other's might. These two considerations keep +them apart, and urge them to keep the peace. But before they leave the +field they will discover each other's identity, and joy and mercy will +be established between them. + +(Vv. 6229-6526.) My brave and courteous lord Yvain was the first to +speak. But his good friend was unable to recognise him by his utterance; +for he was prevented by his low tone and by his voice which was hoarse, +weak, and broken; for his blood was all stirred up by the blows he had +received. "My lord," he says, "the night comes on! I think no blame +or reproach will attach to us if the night comes between us. But I +am willing to admit, for my own part, that I feel great respect and +admiration for you, and never in my life have I engaged in a battle +which has made me smart so much, nor did I ever expect to see a knight +whose acquaintance I should so yearn to make. You know well how to land +your blows and how to make good use of them: I have never known a knight +who was so skilled in dealing blows. It was against my will that I +received all the blows you have bestowed on me to-day; I am stunned +by the blows you have I struck upon my head." "Upon my word," my lord +Gawain replies, "you are not so stunned and faint but that I am as much +so, or more. And if I should tell you the simple truth, I think you +would not be loath to hear it, for if I have lent you anything of mine, +you have fully paid me back, principal and interest; for you were more +ready to pay back than I was to accept the payment. But however that +may be, since you wish me to inform you of my name, it shall not be kept +from you: my name is Gawain the son of King Lot." As soon as my +lord Yvain heard that, he was amazed and sorely troubled; angry and +grief-stricken, he cast upon the ground his bloody sword and broken +shield, then dismounted from his horse, and cried: "Alas, what mischance +is this! Through what unhappy ignorance in not recognising each other +have we waged this battle! For if I had known who you were, I should +never have fought with you; but, upon my word, I should have surrendered +without a blow." "How is that?" my lord Gawain inquires, "who are you, +then?" "I am Yvain, who love you more than any man in the whole wide +world, for you have always been fond of me and shown me honour in every +court. But I wish to make you such amends and do you such honour in this +affair that I will confess myself to have been defeated." "Will you do +so much for my sake?" my gentle lord Gawain asks him; "surely I should +be presumptuous to accept any such amends from you. This honour shall +never be claimed as mine, but it shall be yours, to whom I resign +it." "Ah, fair sire, do not speak so. For that could never be. I am so +wounded and exhausted that I cannot endure more." "Surely, you have no +cause to be concerned." his friend and companion replies; "but for my +part, I am defeated and overcome; I say it not as a compliment; for +there is no stranger in the world, to whom I would not say as much, +rather than receive any more blows." Thus saying, he got down from his +horse, and they threw their arms about each other's neck, kissing each +other, and each continuing to assert that it is he who has met defeat. +The argument is still in progress when the King and the knights come +running up from every side, at the sight of their reconciliation; and +great is their desire to hear how this can be, and who these men are who +manifest such happiness. The King says: "Gentlemen, tell us now who +it is that has so suddenly brought about this friendship and harmony +between you two, after the hatred and strife there has been this day?" +Then his nephew, my lord Gawain, thus answers him: "My lord, you shall +be informed of the misfortune and mischance which have been the cause of +our strife. Since you have tarried in order to hear and learn the cause +of it, it is right to let you know the truth. I, Gawain, who am your +nephew, did not recognise this companion of mine, my lord Yvain, until +he fortunately, by the will of God, asked me my name. After each had +informed the other of his name, we recognised each other, but not until +we had fought it out. Our struggle already has been long; and if we had +fought yet a little longer, it would have fared ill with me, for, by my +head, he would have killed me, what with his prowess and the evil cause +of her who chose me as her champion. But I would rather be defeated than +killed by a friend in battle." Then my lord Yvain's blood was stirred, +as he said to him in reply: "Fair dear sire, so help me God, you have no +right to say so much. Let my lord, The King, well know in this battle +I am surely the one who has been defeated and overcome!" "I am the one" +"No, I am." Thus each cries out, and both are so honest and courteous +that each allows the victory and crown to be the other's prize, while +neither one of them will accept it. Thus each strives to convince the +King and all the people that he has been defeated and overthrown. +But when he had listened to them for a while, the King terminated the +dispute. He was well pleased with what he heard and with the sight of +them in each other's arms, though they had wounded and injured each +other in several places. "My lords," he says, "there is deep affection +between you two. You give clear evidence of that, when each insists that +it is he who has been defeated. Now leave it all to me! For I think I +can arrange it in such a way that it will redound to your honour, and +every one will give consent." Then they both promised him that they +would do his will in every particular. And the King says that he will +decide the quarrel fairly and faithfully. "Where is the damsel," he +inquires, "who has ejected her sister from her land, and has forcibly +and cruelly disinherited her?" "My lord," she answers, "here I am." "Are +you there? Then draw near to me! I saw plainly some time ago that you +were disinheriting her. But her right shall no longer be denied; for you +yourself have avowed the truth to me. You must now resign her share to +her." "Sire," she says, "if I uttered a foolish and thoughtless word, +you ought not to take me up in it. For God's sake, sire, do not be hard +on me! You are a king, and you ought to guard against wrong and error." +The King replies: "That is precisely why I wish to give your sister her +rights; for I have never defended what is wrong. And you have surely +heard how your knight and hers have left the matter in my hands. I shall +not say what is altogether pleasing to you; for your injustice is well +known. In his desire to honour the other, each one says that he has been +defeated. But there is no need to delay further: since the matter has +been left to me, either you will do in all respects what I say, without +resistance, or I shall announce that my nephew has been defeated in the +fight. That would be the worst thing that could happen to your cause, +and I shall be sorry to make such a declaration." In reality, he would +not have said it for anything; but he spoke thus in order to see if he +could frighten her into restoring the heritage to her sister; for he +clearly saw that she never would surrender anything to her for any +words of his unless she was influenced by force or fear. In fear and +apprehension, she replied to him: "Fair lord, I must now respect your +desire, though my heart is very loath to yield. Yet, however hard it may +go with me, I shall do it, and my sister shall have what belongs to her. +I give her your own person as a pledge of her share in my inheritance, +in order that she may be more assured of it." "Endow her with it, then, +at once," the King replies; "let her receive it from your hands, and +let her vow fidelity to you! Do you love her as your vassal, and let +her love you as her sovereign lady and as her sister." Thus the King +conducts the affair until the damsel takes possession of her land, and +offers her thanks to him for it. Then the King asked the valiant and +brave knight who was his nephew to allow himself to be disarmed; and +he requested my lord Yvain to lay aside his arms also; for now they may +well dispense with them. Then the two vassals lay aside their arms and +separate on equal terms. And while they are taking off their armour, +they see the lion running up in search of his master. As soon as he +catches sight of him, he begins to show his joy. Then you would have +seen people draw aside, and the boldest among them takes to flight. +My lord Yvain cries out: "Stand still, all! Why do you flee? No one is +chasing you. Have no fear that yonder lion will do you harm. Believe +me, please, when I say that he is mine, and I am his, and we are both +companions." Then it was known of a truth by all those who had heard +tell of the adventures of the lion and of his companion that this must +be the very man who had killed the wicked giant. And my lord Gawain said +to him: "Sir companion, so help me God, you have overwhelmed me with +shame this day. I did not deserve the service that you did me in killing +the giant to save my nephews and my niece. I have been thinking about +you for some time, and I was troubled because it was said that we +were acquainted as loving friends. I have surely thought much upon the +subject: but I could not hit upon the truth, and had never heard of any +knight that I had known in any land where I had been, who was called +'The Knight with the Lion.'" While they chatted thus they took their +armour off, and the lion came with no slow step to the place where his +master sat, and showed such joy as a dumb beast could. Then the two +knights had to be removed to a sick-room and infirmary, for they needed +a doctor and piaster to cure their wounds. King Arthur, who loved them +well, had them both brought before him, and summoned a surgeon whose +knowledge of surgery was supreme. He exercised his art in curing them, +until he had healed their wounds as well and as quickly as possible. +When he had cured them both, my lord Yvain, who had his heart set fast +on love, saw clearly that he could not live, but that he finally would +die unless his lady took pity upon him; for he was dying for love of +her; so he thought he would go away from the court alone, and would go +to fight at the spring that belonged to her, where he would cause such +a storm of wind and rain that she would be compelled perforce to make +peace with him; otherwise, there would be no end to the disturbance of +the spring, and to the rain and wind. + +(Vv. 6527-6658.) As soon as my lord Yvain felt that he was cured and +sound again, he departed without the knowledge of any one. But he had +with him his lion, who never in his life wished to desert him. They +travelled until they saw the spring and made the rain descend. Think not +that this is a lie of mine, when I tell you that the disturbance was so +violent that no one could tell the tenth part of it: for it seemed as if +the whole forest must surely be engulfed. The lady fears for her town, +lest it, too, will crumble away; the walls totter, and the tower rocks +so that it is on the verge of falling down. The bravest Turk would +rather be a captive in Persia than be shut up within those walls. The +people are so stricken with terror that they curse all their ancestors, +saying: "Confounded be the man who first constructed a house in this +neighbourhood, and all those who built this town! For in the wide world +they could not have found so detestable a spot, for a single man is able +here to invade and worry and harry us." "You must take counsel in this +matter, my lady," says Lunete; "you will find no one who will undertake +to aid you in this time of need unless you seek for him afar. In the +future we shall never be secure in this town, nor dare to pass beyond +the walls and gate. You know full well that, were some one to summon +together all your knights for this cause, the best of them would not +dare to step forward. If it is true that you have no one to defend +your spring, you will appear ridiculous and humiliated. It will redound +greatly to your honour, forsooth, if he who has attacked you shall +retire without a fight! Surely you are in a bad predicament if you do +not devise some other plan to benefit yourself." The lady replies: "Do +thou, who art so wise, tell me what plan I can devise, and I will follow +thy advice." "Indeed, lady, if I had any plan, I should gladly propose +it to you. But you have great need of a wiser counsellor. So I shall +certainly not dare to intrude, and in common with the others I shall +endure the rain and wind until, if it please God, I shall see some +worthy man appear here in your court who will assume the responsibility +and burden of the battle; but I do not believe that that will happen +to-day, and we have not yet seen the worst of your urgent need." Then +the lady replies at once: "Damsel, speak now of something else! Say no +more of the people of my household; for I cherish no further expectation +that the spring and its marble brim will ever be defended by any of +them. But, if it please God, let us hear now what is your opinion +and plan; for people always say that in time of need one can test his +friend." [330] "My lady, if there is any one who thinks he could find +him who slew the giant and defeated the three knights, he would do +well to go to search for him. But so long as he shall incur the enmity, +wrath, and displeasure of his lady, I fancy there is not under heaven +any man or woman whom he would follow, until he had been assured upon +oath that everything possible would be done to appease the hostility +which his lady feels for him, and which is so bitter that he is dying +of the grief and anxiety it causes him." And the lady said: "Before you +enter upon the quest, I am prepared to promise you upon my word and to +swear that, if he will return to me, I will openly and frankly do all +I can to bring about his peace of mind." Then Lunete replies to her: +"Lady, have no fear that you cannot easily effect his reconciliation, +when once it is your desire to do so; but, if you do not object, I will +take your oath before I start." "I have no objection," the lady says. +With delicate courtesy, Lunete procured at once for her a very precious +relic, and the lady fell upon her knees. Thus Lunete very courteously +accepted her upon her oath. In administering the oath, she forgot +nothing which it might be an advantage to insert. "Lady," she says, "now +raise your hand! I do not wish that the day after to-morrow you should +lay any charge upon me; for you are not doing anything for me, but you +are acting for your own good. If you please now, you shall swear that +you will exert yourself in the interests of the Knight with the Lion +until he recover his lady's love as completely as he ever possessed it." +The lady then raised her right hand and said: "I swear to all that thou +hast said, so help me God and His holy saint, that my heart may never +fail to do all within my power. If I have the strength and ability, +I will restore to him the love and favour which with his lady he once +enjoyed." + +(Vv. 6659-6716.) Lunete has now done well her work; there was nothing +which she had desired so much as the object which she had now attained. +They had already got out for her a palfrey with an easy pace. Gladly and +in a happy frame of mind Lunete mounts and rides away, until she finds +beneath the pine-tree him whom she did not expect to find so near at +hand. Indeed, she had thought that she would have to seek afar before +discovering him. As soon as she saw him, she recognised him by the lion, +and coming toward him rapidly, she dismounted upon the solid earth. And +my lord Yvain recognised her as soon as he saw her, and greeted her, as +she saluted him with the words: "Sire, I am very happy to have found you +so near at hand." And my lord Yvain said in reply: "How is that? Were +you looking for me, then?" "Yes, sire, and in all my life I have never +felt so glad, for I have made my mistress promise, if she does not go +back upon her word, that she will be again your lady as was once the +case, and that you shall be her lord; this truth I make bold to tell." +My lord Yvain was greatly elated at the news he hears, and which he +had never expected to hear again. He could not sufficiently show his +gratitude to her who had accomplished this for him. He kisses her eyes, +and then her face, saying: "Surely, my sweet friend, I can never repay +you for this service. I fear that ability and time will fail me to do +you the honour and service which is your due." "Sire," she replies, "have +no concern, and let not that thought worry you! For you will have an +abundance of strength and time to show me and others your good will. If +I have paid this debt I owed, I am entitled to only so much gratitude as +the man who borrows another's goods and then discharges the obligation. +Even now I do not consider that I have paid you the debt I owed." +"Indeed you have, as God sees me, more than five hundred thousand times. +Now, when you are ready, let us go. But have you told her who I am?" +"No, I have not, upon my word. She knows you only by the name of 'The +Knight with the Lion.'" + +(Vv. 6717-6758.) Thus conversing they went along, with the lion +following after them, until they all three came to the town. They said +not a word to any man or woman there, until they arrived where the lady +was. And the lady was greatly pleased as soon as she heard that the +damsel was approaching, and that she was bringing with her the lion and +the knight, whom she was very anxious to meet and know and see. All +clad in his arms, my lord Yvain fell at her feet upon his knees, while +Lunete, who was standing by, said to her: "Raise him up, lady, and apply +all your efforts and strength and skill in procuring that peace and +pardon which no one in the world, except you, can secure for him." Then +the lady bade him rise, and said: "He may dispose of all my power! +I shall be very happy, if possible, to accomplish his wish and his +desire." "Surely, my lady," Lunete replied, "I would not say it if it +were not true. But all this is even more possible for you than I have +said: but now I will tell you the whole truth, and you shall see: you +never had and you never will have such a good friend as this gentleman. +God, whose will it is that there should be unending peace and love +between you and him, has caused me to find him this day so near at hand. +In order to test the truth of this, I have only one thing to say: lady, +dismiss the grudge you bear him! For he has no other mistress than you. +This is your husband, my lord Yvain." + +(Vv. 6759-6776.) The lady, trembling at these words, replied: "God save +me! You have caught me neatly in a trap! You will make me love, in spite +of myself, a man who neither loves nor esteems me. This is a fine piece +of work, and a charming way of serving me! I would rather endure the +winds and the tempests all my life: And if it were not a mean and +ugly thing to break one's word, he would never make his peace or be +reconciled with me. This purpose would have always lurked within me, as +a fire smoulders in the ashes; but I do not wish to renew it now, nor do +I care to refer to it, since I must be reconciled with him." + +(Vv. 6777-6798.) My lord Yvain hears and understands that his cause is +going well, and that he will be peacefully reconciled with her. So he +says: "Lady, one ought to have mercy on a sinner. I have had to pay, and +dearly to pay, for my mad act. It was madness that made me stay away, +and I now admit my guilt and sin. I have been bold, indeed, in daring +to present myself to you; but if you will deign to keep me now, I never +again shall do you any wrong." She replied: "I will surely consent to +that; for if I did not do all I could to establish peace between you +and me, I should be guilty of perjury. So, if you please, I grant your +request." "Lady," says he, "so truly as God in this mortal life could +not otherwise restore me to happiness, so may the Holy Spirit bless me +five hundred times!" + +(Vv. 6799-6813.) Now my lord Yvain is reconciled, and you may believe +that, in spite of the trouble he has endured, he was never so happy +for anything. All has turned out well at last; for he is beloved and +treasured by his lady, and she by him. His troubles no longer are in +his mind; for he forgets them all in the joy he feels with his precious +wife. And Lunete, for her part, is happy too: all her desires are +satisfied when once she had made an enduring peace between my polite +lord Yvain and his sweetheart so dear and so elegant. + +(Vv. 6814-6818.) Thus Chretien concludes his romance of the Knight with +the Lion; for I never heard any more told of it, nor will you ever hear +any further particulars, unless some one wishes to add some lies. + + + +----Endnotes: Yvain + +Endnotes supplied by Prof. Foerster are indicated by "(F.)"; all other +endnotes are supplied by W.W. Comfort. + + +[Footnote 31: + + "cele feste, qui tant coste, + Qu'an doit clamer la pantecoste." + + This rhyme is frequently met in mediaeval narrative poems. + (F.)]] + +[Footnote 32: The contemporary degeneracy of lovers and of the art of +love is a favourite theme of mediaeval poets.] + +[Footnote 33: Cf. "Roman de la Rose", 9661, for the stinking manure pit. +(F.)] + +[Footnote 34: The forest of Broceliande is in Brittany, and in it +Chretien places the marvellous spring of Barenton, of which we read +in the sequel. In his version the poet forgets that the sea separates +the court at Carduel from the forest of Broceliande. His readers, +however, probably passed over this "lapsus". The most famous passage +relating to this forest and its spring is found in Wace, "Le Roman de +Rou et des dues de Normandie", vv. 6395-6420, 2 vols. (Heilbronn, +1877-79). Cf. further the informing note by W.L. Holland, "Chretien von +Troies", p. 152 f. (Tubingen, 1854).] + +[Footnote 35: This grotesque portrait of the "vilain" is perfectly +conventional in aristocratic poetry, and is also applied to some +Saracens in the epic poems. Cf. W.W. Comfort in "Pub. of the Modern +Language Association of America", xxi. 494 f., and in "The Dublin +Review", July 1911.] + +[Footnote 36: For the description of the magic fountain, cf. W.A. Nitze, +"The Fountain Defended" in "Modern Philology", vii. 145-164; G.L. +Hamilton, "Storm-making Springs", etc., in "Romantic Review", ii. +355-375; A.F. Grimme in "Germania", xxxiii. 38; O.M. Johnston in +"Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association", +xxxiii., p. lxxxiii. f.] + +[Footnote 37: Eugen Kolbing, "Christian von Troyes Yvain und die +Brandanuslegende" in "Ztsch. fur vergleichende Literaturgeschichte" +(Neue Folge, xi. Brand, 1897), pp. 442-448, has pointed out other +striking allusions in the Latin "Navigatio S. Brandans" (ed. Wahlund, +Upsala, 1900) and elsewhere in Celtic legend to trees teeming with +singing birds, in which the souls of the blessed are incorporated. A +more general reference to trees, animated by the souls of the dead, is +found in J.G. Frazer, "The Golden Bough" (2nd ed. 1900), vol. I., p. 178 +f.] + +[Footnote 38: Cf. A. Tobler in "Ztsch. fur romanische Philologie", iv. +80-85, who gives many other instances of boasting after meals. See +next note.] + +[Footnote 39: Noradin is the Sultan Nureddin Mahmud (reigned 1146-1173), +a contemporary of the poet; Forre is a legendary Saracen king of +Naples, mentioned in the epic poems (cf. E. Langlois, "Table des noms +propres de toute nature compris dans les chansons de geste", Paris, +1904; Albert Counson, "Noms epiques entres dans le vocabulaire commun" +in "Romanische Forschungen", xxiii. 401-413). These names are mentioned +here in connection with the brave exploits which Christian knights, +while in their cups, may boast that they will accomplish (F.). This +practice of boasting was called indulging in "gabs" (=Eng. "gab"), a +good instance of which will be found in "Le Voyage de Charlemagne a +Jeruslaem" (ed. Koschwitz), v. 447 ff.] + +[Footnote 310: It is evident in this passage that Chretien's version is +not clear; the reader cannot be sure in what sort of an apartment +Yvain is secreted. The passage is perfectly clear, however, in the +Welsh "Owein", as shown by A.C.L. Brown in "Romanic Review", iii. +143-172, "On the Independent Character of the Welsh 'Owain'", where he +argues convincingly for an original older than either the extant French +of Welsh versions.] + +[Footnote 311: The damsel's surprise and fright at the sight of Yvain, +which puzzled Professor Foerster, is satisfactorily explained by J. +Acher in "Ztsch. fur franzosische Sprache und Literatur", xxxv. 150.] + +[Footnote 312: For magic rings, cf. A. Hertel, "Verzauberte +Oertlichkeiten", etc. (Hanover, 1908); D.B. Easter, "The Magic Elements +in the romans d'aventure and the romans bretons" (Baltimore, 1906).] + +[Footnote 313: Much has been written on the widespread belief that a +dead person's wounds would bleed afresh in the presence of his +murderer. The passage in our text is interesting as being the earliest +literary reference to the belief. Other instances will be found in +Shakespear ("King Richard III., Act. I., Sc. 2), Cervantes ("Don +Quixote"), Scott ("Ballads"), and Schiller ("Braut von Messina"). In +the 15th and 16th centuries especially, the bleeding of the dead became +in Italy, Germany, France, and Spain an absolute or contributory proof +of guilt in the eyes of the law. The suspected culprit might be +subjected to this ordeal as part of the inquisitional method to +determine guilt. For theories of the origin of this belief and of its +use in legal trials, as well as for more extended bibliography, cf. Karl +Lehmann in "Germanistische Abhandlungen fur Konrad von Maurer" +(Gottingen, 1893), pp. 21-45; C.V. Christensen, "Baareproven" +(Copenhagen, 1900).] + +[Footnote 314: W.L. Holland in his note for this passage recalls +Schiller's "Jungfrau von Orleans", Act III. Sc. 7, and Shakespeare, +first part of "King Henry IV.", Act V. Sc. 4: + + "When that this body did contain a spirit, + A kingdom for it was too small a bound; + But now two paces of the vilest earth + Is room enough."] + +[Footnote 315: Foerster regards this excuse for Kay's defeat as +ironical.] + +[Footnote 316: It is hoped that the following passage may have retained +in the translation some of the gay animation which clothes this +description of a royal entry into a mediaeval town.] + +[Footnote 317: This idea forms the dominating motive, it will be +recalled, in "Erec et Enide" (cf. note to "Erec", v. 2576).] + +[Footnote 318: The parallel between Yvain's and Roland's madness will +occur to readers of Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso", though in the +former case Yvain's madness seems to be rather a retribution for his +failure to keep his promise, while Roland's madness arises from excess +of love.] + +[Footnote 319: Argonne is the name of a hilly and well-wooded district +in the north-east of France, lying between the Meuse and the Aisne.] + +[Footnote 320: An allusion to the well-known epic tradition embodied in +the "Chanson de Roland". It was common for mediaeval poets to give +names to both the horses and the swords of their heroes.] + +[Footnote 321: For the faithful lion in the Latin bestiaries and +mediaeval romances, see the long note of W.L. Holland, "Chretien von +Troies" (Tubingen, 1854), p. 161 f., and G. Baist in Zeitschrift fur +romanische Philologie, xxi. 402-405. To the examples there cited may be +added the episodes in "Octavian" (15th century), published in the +"Romanische Bibliothek" (Heilbronn, 1883).] + +[Footnote 322: This is the first of three references in this poem to the +abduction of Guinevere as fully narrated in the poem of "Lancelot". The +other references are in v. 3918 and v.4740 f.] + +[Footnote 323: Yvain here states the theory of the judicial trial by +combat. For another instance see "Lancelot", v. 4963 f. Cf. M. Pfeffer +in "Ztsch. fur romanische Philogie", ix. 1-74, and L. Jordan, id. Xxix. +385-401.] + +[Footnote 324: A similar description of a distressed damsel wandering at +night in a forest is found in "Berte aus grans pies", by Adenet le Roi +(13th century).] + +[Footnote 325: The lion is forgotten for the moment, but will appear +again v. 5446. (F.)] + +[Footnote 326: This entire passage belongs in the catagory of widespread +myths which tell of a tribute of youths or maidens paid to some cruel +monster, from which some hero finally obtains deliverance. Instances +are presented in the adventures of Theseus and Tristan.] + +[Footnote 327: The old French monetary table was as follows: + +10 as = 1 denier; 12 deniers = 1 sol; 20 sous = 1 livre] + +[Footnote 328: It appears to be the poet's prerogative in all epochs of +social history to bemoan the degeneracy of true love in his own +generation.] + +[Footnote 329: The sleeves of shirts were detachable, and were sewed on +afresh when a clean garment was put on. (F.)] + +[Footnote 330: This was an axiom of feudal society, and occurs more +frequently in feudal literature than any other statement of mediaeval +social relations.] + + + + + +LANCELOT + +or, The Knight of the Cart + +(Vv. 1-30.) Since my lady of Champagne wishes me to undertake to write a +romance, [41] I shall very gladly do so, being so devoted to her +service as to do anything in the world for her, without any intention +of flattery. But if one were to introduce any flattery upon such an +occasion, he might say, and I would subscribe to it, that this lady +surpasses all others who are alive, just as the south wind which blows +in May or April is more lovely than any other wind. But upon my word, I +am not one to wish to flatter my lady. I will simply say: "The Countess +is worth as many queens as a gem is worth of pearls and sards." Nay I +shall make no comparison, and yet it is true in spite of me; I will say, +however, that her command has more to do with this work than any thought +or pains that I may expend upon it. Here Chretien begins his book about +the Knight of the Cart. The material and the treatment of it are given +and furnished to him by the Countess, and he is simply trying to carry +out her concern and intention. Here he begins the story. + +(Vv. 31-172.) Upon a certain Ascension Day King Arthur had come from +Caerleon, and had held a very magnificent court at Camelot as was +fitting on such a day. [42] After the feast the King did not quit his +noble companions, of whom there were many in the hall. The Queen was +present, too, and with her many a courteous lady able to converse in +French. And Kay, who had furnished the meal, was eating with the others +who had served the food. While Kay was sitting there at meat, behold +there came to court a knight, well equipped and fully armed, and thus +the knight appeared before the King as he sat among his lords. He gave +him no greeting, but spoke out thus: "King Arthur, I hold in captivity +knights, ladies, and damsels who belong to thy dominion and household; +but it is not because of any intention to restore them to thee that I +make reference to them here; rather do I wish to proclaim and serve thee +notice that thou hast not the strength or the resources to enable thee +to secure them again. And be assured that thou shalt die before thou +canst ever succour them." The King replies that he must needs endure +what he has not the power to change; nevertheless, he is filled with +grief. Then the knight makes as if to go away, and turns about, without +tarrying longer before the King; but after reaching the door of the +hall, he does not go down the stairs, but stops and speaks from there +these words: "King, if in thy court there is a single knight in whom +thou hast such confidence that thou wouldst dare to entrust to him the +Queen that he might escort her after me out into the woods whither I am +going, I will promise to await him there, and will surrender to thee all +the prisoners whom I hold in exile in my country if he is able to defend +the Queen and if he succeeds in bringing her back again." Many who +were in the palace heard this challenge, and the whole court was in +an uproar. Kay, too, heard the news as he sat at meat with those who +served. Leaving the table, he came straight to the King, and as if +greatly enraged, he began to say: "O King, I have served thee long, +faithfully, and loyally; now I take my leave, and shall go away, having +no desire to serve thee more." The King was grieved at what he heard, +and as soon as he could, he thus replied to him: "Is this serious, or +a joke?" And Kay replied: "O King, fair sire, I have no desire to jest, +and I take my leave quite seriously. No other reward or wages do I wish +in return for the service I have given you. My mind is quite made up to +go away immediately." "Is it in anger or in spite that you wish to +go?" the King inquired; "seneschal, remain at court, as you have done +hitherto, and be assured that I have nothing in the world which I would +not give you at once in return for your consent to stay." "Sire," says +Kay, "no need of that. I would not accept for each day's pay a measure +of fine pure gold." Thereupon, the King in great dismay went off to +seek the Queen. "My lady," he says, "you do not know the demand that the +seneschal makes of me. He asks me for leave to go away, and says he will +no longer stay at court; the reason of this I do not know. But he will +do at your request what he will not do for me. Go to him now, my lady +dear. Since he will not consent to stay for my sake, pray him to remain +on your account, and if need be, fall at his feet, for I should never +again be happy if I should lose his company." [43] The King sends the +Queen to the seneschal, and she goes to him. Finding him with the rest, +she went up to him, and said: "Kay, you may be very sure that I am +greatly troubled by the news I have heard of you. I am grieved to say +that I have been told it is your intention to leave the King. How does +this come about? What motive have you in your mind? I cannot think that +you are so sensible or courteous as usual. I want to ask you to remain: +stay with us here, and grant my prayer." "Lady," he says, "I give you +thanks; nevertheless, I shall not remain." The Queen again makes her +request, and is joined by all the other knights. And Kay informs her +that he is growing tired of a service which is unprofitable. Then the +Queen prostrates herself at full length before his feet. Kay beseeches +her to rise, but she says that she will never do so until he grants her +request. Then Kay promises her to remain, provided the King and she will +grant in advance a favour he is about to ask. "Kay," she says, "he will +grant it, whatever it may be. Come now, and we shall tell him that upon +this condition you will remain." So Kay goes away with the Queen to the +King's presence. The Queen says: "I have had hard work to detain Kay; +but I have brought him here to you with the understanding that you will +do what he is going to ask." The King sighed with satisfaction, and said +that he would perform whatever request he might make. + +(Vv. 173-246.) "Sire," says Kay, "hear now what I desire, and what is +the gift you have promised me. I esteem myself very fortunate to gain +such a boon with your consent. Sire, you have pledged your word that you +would entrust to me my lady here, and that we should go after the knight +who awaits us in the forest." Though the King is grieved, he trusts him +with the charge, for he never went back upon his word. But it made +him so ill-humoured and displeased that it plainly showed in his +countenance. The Queen, for her part, was sorry too, and all those +of the household say that Kay had made a proud, outrageous, and mad +request. Then the King took the Queen by the hand, and said: "My lady, +you must accompany Kay without making objection." And Kay said: "Hand +her over to me now, and have no fear, for I shall bring her back +perfectly happy and safe." The King gives her into his charge, and he +takes her off. After them all the rest go out, and there is not one who +is not sad. You must know that the seneschal was fully armed, and his +horse was led into the middle of the courtyard, together with a palfrey, +as is fitting, for the Queen. The Queen walked up to the palfrey, which +was neither restive nor hard-mouthed. Grieving and sad, with a sigh the +Queen mounts, saying to herself in a low voice, so that no one could +hear: "Alas, alas, if you only knew it, I am sure you would never allow +me without interference to be led away a step." [44] She thought she +had spoken in a very low tone; but Count Guinable heard her, who was +standing by when she mounted. When they started away, as great a lament +was made by all the men and women present as if she already lay dead +upon a bier. They do not believe that she will ever in her life come +back. The seneschal in his impudence takes her where that other knight +is awaiting her. But no one was so much concerned as to undertake to +follow him; until at last my lord Gawain thus addressed the King his +uncle: "Sire," he says, "you have done a very foolish thing, which +causes me great surprise; but if you will take my advice, while they are +still near by, I and you will ride after them, and all those who wish +to accompany us. For my part, I cannot restrain myself from going in +pursuit of them at once. It would not be proper for us not to go after +them, at least far enough to learn what is to become of the Queen, +and how Kay is going to comport himself." "Ah, fair nephew," the King +replied, "you have spoken courteously. And since you have undertaken the +affair, order our horses to be led out bridled and saddled that there +may be no delay in setting out." + +(Vv. 247-398.) The horses are at once brought out, all ready and with +the saddles on. First the King mounts, then my lord Gawain, and all the +others rapidly. Each one, wishing to be of the party, follows his own +will and starts away. Some were armed, but there were not a few without +their arms. My lord Gawain was armed, and he bade two squires lead by +the bridle two extra steeds. And as they thus approached the forest, +they saw Kay's horse running out; and they recognised him, and saw that +both reins of the bridle were broken. The horse was running wild, the +stirrup-straps all stained with blood, and the saddle-bow was broken and +damaged. Every one was chagrined at this, and they nudged each other and +shook their heads. My lord Gawain was riding far in advance of the rest +of the party, and it was not long before he saw coming slowly a knight +on a horse that was sore, painfully tired, and covered with sweat. The +knight first saluted my lord Gawain, and his greeting my lord Gawain +returned. Then the knight, recognising my lord Gawain, stopped and thus +spoke to him: "You see, sir, my horse is in a sweat and in such case as +to be no longer serviceable. I suppose that those two horses belong to +you now, with the understanding that I shall return the service and the +favour, I beg you to let me have one or the other of them, either as a +loan or outright as a gift." And he answers him: "Choose whichever you +prefer." Then he who was in dire distress did not try to select the +better or the fairer or the larger of the horses, but leaped quickly +upon the one which was nearer to him, and rode him off. Then the one he +had just left fell dead, for he had ridden him hard that day, so that +he was used up and overworked. The knight without delay goes pricking +through the forest, and my lord Gawain follows in pursuit of him with +all speed, until he reaches the bottom of a hill. And when he had gone +some distance, he found the horse dead which he had given to the knight, +and noticed that the ground had been trampled by horses, and that broken +shields and lances lay strewn about, so that it seemed that there had +been a great combat between several knights, and he was very sorry and +grieved not to have been there. However, he did not stay there long, but +rapidly passed on until he saw again by chance the knight all alone on +foot, completely armed, with helmet laced, shield hanging from his neck, +and with his sword girt on. He had overtaken a cart. In those days such +a cart served the same purpose as does a pillory now; and in each good +town where there are more than three thousand such carts nowadays, in +those times there was only one, and this, like our pillories, had to do +service for all those who commit murder or treason, and those who are +guilty of any delinquency, and for thieves who have stolen others' +property or have forcibly seized it on the roads. Whoever was convicted +of any crime was placed upon a cart and dragged through all the streets, +and he lost henceforth all his legal rights, and was never afterward +heard, honoured, or welcomed in any court. The carts were so dreadful in +those days that the saying was then first used: "When thou dost see and +meet a cart, cross thyself and call upon God, that no evil may befall +thee." The knight on foot, and without a lance, walked behind the cart, +and saw a dwarf sitting on the shafts, who held, as a driver does, a +long goad in his hand. Then he cries out: "Dwarf, for God's sake, +tell me now if thou hast seen my lady, the Queen, pass by here." The +miserable, low-born dwarf would not give him any news of her, but +replied: "If thou wilt get up into the cart I am driving thou shalt +hear to-morrow what has happened to the Queen." Then he kept on his way +without giving further heed. The knight hesitated only for a couple of +steps before getting in. Yet, it was unlucky for him that he shrank from +the disgrace, and did not jump in at once; for he will later rue his +delay. But common sense, which is inconsistent with love's dictates, +bids him refrain from getting in, warning him and counselling him to do +and undertake nothing for which he may reap shame and disgrace. Reason, +which dares thus speak to him, reaches only his lips, but not his heart; +but love is enclosed within his heart, bidding him and urging him to +mount at once upon the cart. So he jumps in, since love will have it +so, feeling no concern about the shame, since he is prompted by love's +commands. And my lord Gawain presses on in haste after the cart, and +when he finds the knight sitting in it, his surprise is great. "Tell +me," he shouted to the dwarf, "if thou knowest anything of the Queen." +And he replied: "If thou art so much thy own enemy as is this knight +who is sitting here, get in with him, if it be thy pleasure, and I +will drive thee along with him." When my lord Gawain heard that, he +considered it great foolishness, and said that he would not get in, for +it would be dishonourable to exchange a horse for a cart: "Go on, and +wherever thy journey lies, I will follow after thee." + +(Vv. 399-462.) Thereupon they start ahead, one mounted on his horse, the +other two riding in the cart, and thus they proceed in company. Late in +the afternoon they arrive at a town, which, you must know, was very +rich and beautiful. All three entered through the gate; the people are +greatly amazed to see the knight borne upon the cart, and they take no +pains to conceal their feelings, but small and great and old and young +shout taunts at him in the streets, so that the knight hears many vile +and scornful words at his expense. [45] They all inquire: "To what +punishment is this knight to be consigned? Is he to be rayed, or hanged, +or drowned, or burned upon a fire of thorns? Tell us, thou dwarf, +who art driving him, in what crime was he caught? Is he convicted of +robbery? Is he a murderer, or a criminal?" And to all this the dwarf +made no response, vouchsafing to them no reply. He conducts the knight +to a lodging-place; and Gawain follows the dwarf closely to a tower, +which stood on the same level over against the town. Beyond there +stretched a meadow, and the tower was built close by, up on a lofty +eminence of rock, whose face formed a sharp precipice. Following the +horse and cart, Gawain entered the tower. In the hall they met a damsel +elegantly attired, than whom there was none fairer in the land, and with +her they saw coming two fair and charming maidens. As soon as they saw +my lord Gawain, they received him joyously and saluted him, and then +asked news about the other knight: "Dwarf, of what crime is this knight +guilty, whom thou dost drive like a lame man?" He would not answer +her question, but he made the knight get out of the cart, and then he +withdrew, without their knowing whither he went. Then my lord Gawain +dismounts, and valets come forward to relieve the two knights of their +armour. The damsel ordered two green mantles to be brought, which they +put on. When the hour for supper came, a sumptuous repast was set. The +damsel sat at table beside my lord Gawain. They would not have changed +their lodging-place to seek any other, for all that evening the damsel +showed them gear honour, and provided them with fair and pleasant +company. + +(Vv. 463-538.) When they had sat up long enough, two long, high beds +were prepared in the middle of the hall; and there was another bed +alongside, fairer and more splendid than the rest; for, as the story +testifies, it possessed all the excellence that one could think of in +a bed. When the time came to retire, the damsel took both the guests to +whom she had offered her hospitality; she shows them the two fine, +long, wide beds, and says: "These two beds are set up here for the +accommodation of your bodies; but in that one yonder no one ever lay who +did not merit it: it was not set up to be used by you." The knight who +came riding on the cart replies at once: "Tell me," he says, "for what +cause this bed is inaccessible." Being thoroughly informed of this, she +answers unhesitatingly: "It is not your place to ask or make such an +inquiry. Any knight is disgraced in the land after being in a cart, and +it is not fitting that he should concern himself with the matter upon +which you have questioned me; and most of all it is not right that he +should lie upon the bed, for he would soon pay dearly for his act. So +rich a couch has not been prepared for you, and you would pay dearly for +ever harbouring such a thought." He replies: "You will see about +that presently.".... "Am I to see it?".... "Yes.".... "It will soon +appear.".... "By my head," the knight replies, "I know not who is to pay +the penalty. But whoever may object or disapprove, I intend to lie upon +this bed and repose there at my ease." Then he at once disrobed in the +bed, which was long and raised half an ell above the other two, and was +covered with a yellow cloth of silk and a coverlet with gilded stars. +The furs were not of skinned vair but of sable; the covering he had on +him would have been fitting for a king. The mattress was not made of +straw or rushes or of old mats. At midnight there descended from the +rafters suddenly a lance, as with the intention of pinning the knight +through the flanks to the coverlet and the white sheets where he lay. +[46] To the lance there was attached a pennon all ablaze. The coverlet, +the bedclothes, and the bed itself all caught fire at once. And the tip +of the lance passed so close to the knight's side that it cut the skin a +little, without seriously wounding him. Then the knight got up, put out +the fire and, taking the lance, swung it in the middle of the hall, all +this without leaving his bed; rather did he lie down again and slept as +securely as at first. + +(Vv. 539-982.) In the morning, at daybreak, the damsel of the tower had +Mass celebrated on their account, and had them rise and dress. When Mass +had been celebrated for them, the knight who had ridden in the cart sat +down pensively at a window, which looked out upon the meadow, and he +gazed upon the fields below. The damsel came to another window close by, +and there my lord Gawain conversed with her privately for a while about +something, I know not what. I do not know what words were uttered, but +while they were leaning on the window-sill they saw carried along the +river through the fields a bier, upon which there lay a knight, [47] and +alongside three damsels walked, mourning bitterly. Behind the bier they +saw a crowd approaching, with a tall knight in front, leading a fair +lady by the horse's rein. The knight at the window knew that it was the +Queen. He continued to gaze at her attentively and with delight as long +as she was visible. And when he could no longer see her, he was minded +to throw himself out and break his body down below. And he would have +let himself fall out had not my lord Gawain seen him, and drawn him +back, saying: "I beg you, sire, be quiet now. For God's sake, never +think again of committing such a mad deed. It is wrong for you to +despise your life." "He is perfectly right," the damsel says; "for will +not the news of his disgrace be known everywhere? Since he has been upon +the cart, he has good reason to wish to die, for he would be better dead +than alive. His life henceforth is sure to be one of shame, vexation, +and unhappiness." Then the knights asked for their armour, and armed +themselves, the damsel treating them courteously, with distinction and +generosity; for when she had joked with the knight and ridiculed him +enough, she presented him with a horse and lance as a token of her +goodwill. The knights then courteously and politely took leave of the +damsel, first saluting her, and then going off in the direction taken +by the crowd they had seen. Thus they rode out from the town without +addressing them. They proceeded quickly in the direction they had seen +taken by the Queen, but they did not overtake the procession, which +had advanced rapidly. After leaving the fields, the knights enter an +enclosed place, and find a beaten road. They advanced through the woods +until it might be six o'clock, [48] and then at a crossroads they met a +damsel, whom they both saluted, each asking and requesting her to +tell them, if she knows, whither the Queen has been taken. Replying +intelligently, she said to them: "If you would pledge me your word, I +could set you on the right road and path, and I would tell you the name +of the country and of the knight who is conducting her; but whoever +would essay to enter that country must endure sore trials, for before +he could reach there he must suffer much." Then my lord Gawain replies: +"Damsel, so help me God, I promise to place all my strength at your +disposal and service, whenever you please, if you will tell me now the +truth." And he who had been on the cart did not say that he would pledge +her all his strength; but he proclaims, like one whom love makes +rich, powerful and bold for any enterprise, that at once and without +hesitation he will promise her anything she desires, and he puts himself +altogether at her disposal. "Then I will tell you the truth," says +she. Then the damsel relates to them the following story: "In truth, my +lords, Meleagant, a tall and powerful knight, son of the King of Gorre, +has taken her off into the kingdom whence no foreigner returns, but +where he must perforce remain in servitude and banishment." Then they +ask her: "Damsel, where is this country? Where can we find the way +thither?" She replies: "That you shall quickly learn; but you may be +sure that you will meet with many obstacles and difficult passages, for +it is not easy to enter there except with the permission of the king, +whose name is Bademagu; however, it is possible to enter by two very +perilous paths and by two very difficult passage-ways. One is called the +water-bridge, because the bridge is under water, and there is the same +amount of water beneath it as above it, so that the bridge is exactly in +the middle; and it is only a foot and a half in width and in thickness. +This choice is certainly to be avoided, and yet it is the less dangerous +of the two. In addition there are a number of other obstacles of which I +will say nothing. The other bridge is still more impracticable and much +more perilous, never having been crossed by man. It is just like a sharp +sword, and therefore all the people call it 'the sword-bridge'. Now I +have told you all the truth I know." But they ask of her once again: +"Damsel, deign to show us these two passages." To which the damsel makes +reply: "This road here is the most direct to the water-bridge, and that +one yonder leads straight to the sword-bridge." Then the knight, who +had been on the cart, says: "Sire, I am ready to share with you without +prejudice: take one of these two routes, and leave the other one to me; +take whichever you prefer." "In truth," my lord Gawain replies, "both of +them are hard and dangerous: I am not skilled in making such a choice, +and hardly know which of them to take; but it is not right for me +to hesitate when you have left the choice to me: I will choose the +water-bridge." The other answers: "Then I must go uncomplainingly to the +sword-bridge, which I agree to do." Thereupon, they all three part, each +one commending the others very courteously to God. And when she sees +them departing, she says: "Each one of you owes me a favour of my +choosing, whenever I may choose to ask it. Take care not to forget +that." "We shall surely not forget it, sweet friend," both the knights +call out. Then each one goes his own way, and he of the cart is occupied +with deep reflections, like one who has no strength or defence against +love which holds him in its sway. His thoughts are such that he +totally forgets himself, and he knows not whether he is alive or dead, +forgetting even his own name, not knowing whether he is armed or not, or +whither he is going or whence he came. Only one creature he has in mind, +and for her his thought is so occupied that he neither sees nor hears +aught else. [49] And his horse bears him along rapidly, following no +crooked road, but the best and the most direct; and thus proceeding +unguided, he brings him into an open plain. In this plain there was a +ford, on the other side of which a knight stood armed, who guarded it, +and in his company there was a damsel who had come on a palfrey. By this +time the afternoon was well advanced, and yet the knight, unchanged and +unwearied, pursued his thoughts. The horse, being very thirsty, sees +clearly the ford, and as soon as he sees it, hastens toward it. Then he +on the other side cries out: "Knight, I am guarding the ford, and forbid +you to cross." He neither gives him heed, nor hears his words, being +still deep in thought. In the meantime, his horse advanced rapidly +toward the water. The knight calls out to him that he will do wisely to +keep at a distance from the ford, for there is no passage that way; and +he swears by the heart within his breast that he will smite him if he +enters the water. But his threats are not heard, and he calls out to +him a third time: "Knight, do not enter the ford against my will and +prohibition; for, by my head, I shall strike you as soon as I see you in +the ford." But he is so deep in thought that he does not hear him. And +the horse, quickly leaving the bank, leaps into the ford and greedily +begins to drink. And the knight says he shall pay for this, that his +shield and the hauberk he wears upon his back shall afford him no +protection. First, he puts his horse at a gallop, and from a gallop he +urges him to a run, and he strikes the knight so hard that he knocks +him down flat in the ford which he had forbidden him to cross. His +lance flew from his hand and the shield from his neck. When he feels the +water, he shivers, and though stunned, he jumps to his feet, like one +aroused from sleep, listening and looking about him with astonishment, +to see who it can be who has struck him. Then face to face with the +other knight, he said: "Vassal, tell me why you have struck me, when I +was not aware of your presence, and when I had done you no harm." "Upon +my word, you had wronged me," the other says: "did you not treat me +disdainfully when I forbade you three times to cross the ford, shouting +at you as loudly as I could? You surely heard me challenge you at least +two or three times, and you entered in spite of me, though I told you +I should strike you as soon as I saw you in the ford." Then the knight +replies to him: "Whoever heard you or saw you, let him be damned, so far +as I am concerned. I was probably deep in thought when you forbade me +to cross the ford. But be assured that I would make you reset it, if I +could just lay one of my hands on your bridle." And the other replies: +"Why, what of that? If you dare, you may seize my bridle here and now. I +do not esteem your proud threats so much as a handful of ashes." And he +replies: "That suits me perfectly. However the affair may turn out, I +should like to lay my hands on you." Then the other knight advances +to the middle of the ford, where the other lays his left hand upon his +bridle, and his right hand upon his leg, pulling, dragging, and pressing +him so roughly that he remonstrates, thinking that he would pull his +leg out of his body. Then he begs him to let go, saying: "Knight, if +it please thee to fight me on even terms, take thy shield and horse +and lance, and joust with me." He answers: "That will I not do, upon my +word; for I suppose thou wouldst run away as soon as thou hadst escaped +my grip." Hearing this, he was much ashamed, and said: "Knight, mount +thy horse, in confidence for I will pledge thee loyally my word that I +shall not flinch or run away." Then once again he answers him: "First, +thou wilt have to swear to that, and I insist upon receiving thy oath +that thou wilt neither run away nor flinch, nor touch me, nor come near +me until thou shalt see me on my horse; I shall be treating thee very +generously, if, when thou art in my hands, I let thee go." He can +do nothing but give his oath; and when the other hears him swear, he +gathers up his shield and lance which were floating in the ford and by +this time had drifted well down-stream; then he returns and takes his +horse. After catching and mounting him, he seizes the shield by the +shoulder-straps and lays his lance in rest. Then each spurs toward the +other as fast as their horses can carry them. And he who had to defend +the ford first attacks the other, striking him so hard that his lance is +completely splintered. The other strikes him in return so that he throws +him prostrate into the ford, and the water closes over him. Having +accomplished that, he draws back and dismounts, thinking he could drive +and chase away a hundred such. While he draws from the scabbard his +sword of steel, the other jumps up and draws his excellent flashing +blade. Then they clash again, advancing and covering themselves with the +shields which gleam with gold. Ceaselessly and without repose they +wield their swords; they have the courage to deal so many blows that the +battle finally is so protracted that the Knight of the Cart is greatly +ashamed in his heart, thinking that he is making a sorry start in the +way he has undertaken, when he has spent so much time in defeating a +single knight. If he had met yesterday a hundred such, he does not think +or believe that they could have withstood him; so now he is much grieved +and wroth to be in such an exhausted state that he is missing his +strokes and losing time. Then he runs at him and presses him so hard +that the other knight gives way and flees. However reluctant he may +be, he leaves the ford and crossing free. But the other follows him in +pursuit until he falls forward upon his hands; then he of the cart runs +up to him, swearing by all he sees that he shall rue the day when he +upset him in the ford and disturbed his revery. The damsel, whom the +knight had with him, upon hearing the threats, is in great fear, and +begs him for her sake to forbear from killing him; but he tells her that +he must do so, and can show him no mercy for her sake, in view of +the shameful wrong that he has done him. Then, with sword drawn, he +approaches the knight who cries in sore dismay: "For God's sake and for +my own, show me the mercy I ask of you." And he replies: "As God may +save me, no one ever sinned so against me that I would not show him +mercy once, for God's sake as is right, if he asked it of me in God's +name. And so on thee I will have mercy; for I ought not to refuse thee +when thou hast besought me. But first, thou shalt give me thy word to +constitute thyself my prisoner whenever I may wish to summon thee." +Though it was hard to do so, he promised him. At once the damsel said: +"O knight, since thou hast granted the mercy he asked of thee, if ever +thou hast broken any bonds, for my sake now be merciful and release this +prisoner from his parole. Set him free at my request, upon condition +that when the time comes, I shall do my utmost to repay thee in any way +that thou shalt choose." Then he declares himself satisfied with the +promise she has made, and sets the knight at liberty. Then she is +ashamed and anxious, thinking that he will recognise her, which she did +not wish. But he goes away at once, the knight and the damsel commending +him to God, and taking leave of him. He grants them leave to go, while +he himself pursues his way, until late in the afternoon he met a damsel +coming, who was very fair and charming, well attired and richly dressed. +The damsel greets him prudently and courteously, and he replies: +"Damsel, God grant you health and happiness." Then the damsel said +to him: "Sire, my house is prepared for you, if you will accept my +hospitality, but you shall find shelter there only on condition that you +will lie with me; upon these terms I propose and make the offer." Not a +few there are who would have thanked her five hundred times for such +a gift; but he is much displeased, and made a very different answer: +"Damsel, I thank you for the offer of your house, and esteem it highly, +but, if you please, I should be very sorry to lie with you." "By my +eyes," the damsel says, "then I retract my offer." And he, since it is +unavoidable, lets her have her way, though his heart grieves to give +consent. He feels only reluctance now; but greater distress will be his +when it is time to go to bed. The damsel, too, who leads him away, will +pass through sorrow and heaviness. For it is possible that she will +love him so that she will not wish to part with him. As soon as he had +granted her wish and desire, she escorts him to a fortified place, than +which there was none fairer in Thessaly; for it was entirely enclosed by +a high wall and a deep moat, and there was no man within except him whom +she brought with her. + +(Vv. 983-1042.) Here she had constructed for her residence a quantity of +handsome rooms, and a large and roomy hall. Riding along a river bank, +they approached their lodging-place, and a drawbridge was lowered to +allow them to pass. Crossing the bridge, they entered in, and found the +hall open with its roof of tiles. Through the open door they pass, and +see a table laid with a broad white cloth, upon which the dishes were +set, and the candles burning in their stands, and the gilded silver +drinking-cups, and two pots of wine, one red and one white. Standing +beside the table, at the end of a bench, they found two basins of warm +water in which to wash their hands, with a richly embroidered towel, all +white and clean, with which to dry their hands. No valets, servants, or +squires were to be found or seen. The knight, removing his shield from +about his neck, hangs it upon a hook, and, taking his lance, lays it +above upon a rack. Then he dismounts from his horse, as does the damsel +from hers. The knight, for his part, was pleased that she did not care +to wait for him to help her to dismount. Having dismounted, she runs +directly to a room and brings him a short mantle of scarlet cloth which +she puts on him. The hall was by no means dark; for beside the light +from the stars, there were many large twisted candles lighted there, so +that the illumination was very bright. When she had thrown the mantle +about his shoulders, she said to him: "Friend, here is the water and the +towel; there is no one to present or offer it to you except me whom you +see. Wash your hands, and then sit down, when you feel like doing so. +The hour and the meal, as you can see, demand that you should do so." +He washes, and then gladly and readily takes his seat, and she sits down +beside him, and they eat and drink together, until the time comes to +leave the table. + +(Vv. 1043-1206.) When they had risen from the table, the damsel said to +the knight: "Sire, if you do not object, go outside and amuse yourself; +but, if you please, do not stay after you think I must be in bed. Feel +no concern or embarrassment; for then you may come to me at once, if you +will keep the promise you have made." And he replies: "I will keep my +word, and will return when I think the time has come." Then he went out, +and stayed in the courtyard until he thought it was time to return and +keep the promise he had made. Going back into the hall, he sees nothing +of her who would be his mistress; for she was not there. Not finding or +seeing her, he said: "Wherever she may be, I shall look for her until I +find her." He makes no delay in his search, being bound by the promise +he had made her. Entering one of the rooms, he hears a damsel cry aloud, +and it was the very one with whom he was about to lie. At the same time, +he sees the door of another room standing open, and stepping toward it, +he sees right before his eyes a knight who had thrown her down, and was +holding her naked and prostrate upon the bed. She, thinking that he had +come of course to help her, cried aloud: "Help, help, thou knight, who +art my guest. If thou dost not take this man away from me, I shall find +no one to do so; if thou dost not succour me speedily, he will wrong me +before thy eyes. Thou art the one to lie with me, in accordance with +thy promise; and shall this man by force accomplish his wish before thy +eyes? Gentle knight, exert thyself, and make haste to bear me aid." He +sees that the other man held the damsel brutally uncovered to the waist, +and he is ashamed and angered to see him assault her so; yet it is not +jealousy he feels, nor will he be made a cuckold by him. At the door +there stood as guards two knights completely armed and with swords +drawn. Behind them there stood four men-at-arms, each armed with an axe +the sort with which you could split a cow down the back as easily as a +root of juniper or broom. The knight hesitated at the door, and thought: +"God, what can I do? I am engaged in no less an affair than the quest of +Queen Guinevere. I ought not to have the heart of a hare, when for her +sake I have engaged in such a quest. If cowardice puts its heart in me, +and if I follow its dictates, I shall never attain what I seek. I am +disgraced, if I stand here; indeed, I am ashamed even to have thought +of holding back. My heart is very sad and oppressed: now I am so ashamed +and distressed that I would gladly die for having hesitated here so +long. I say it not in pride: but may God have mercy on me if I do not +prefer to die honourably rather than live a life of shame! If my path +were unobstructed, and if these men gave me leave to pass through +without restraint, what honour would I gain? Truly, in that case the +greatest coward alive would pass through; and all the while I hear +this poor creature calling for help constantly, and reminding me of my +promise, and reproaching me with bitter taunts." Then he steps to the +door, thrusting in his head and shoulders; glancing up, he sees two +swords descending. He draws back, and the knights could not check their +strokes: they had wielded them with such force that the swords struck +the floor, and both were broken in pieces. When he sees that the swords +are broken, he pays less attention to the axes, fearing and dreading +them much less. Rushing in among them, he strikes first one guard in +the side and then another. The two who are nearest him he jostles and +thrusts aside, throwing them both down flat; the third missed his stroke +at him, but the fourth, who attacked him, strikes him so that he cuts +his mantle and shirt, and slices the white flesh on his shoulder so +that the blood trickles down from the wound. But he, without delay, +and without complaining of his wound, presses on more rapidly, until he +strikes between the temples him who was assaulting his hostess. Before +he departs, he will try to keep his pledge to her. He makes him stand up +reluctantly. Meanwhile, he who had missed striking him comes at him as +fast as he can and, raising his arm again, expects to split his head to +the teeth with the axe. But the other, alert to defend himself, thrusts +the knight toward him in such a way that he receives the axe just where +the shoulder joins the neck, so that they are cleaved apart. Then the +knight seizes the axe, wresting it quickly from him who holds it; then +he lets go the knight whom he still held, and looks to his own defence; +for the knights from the door, and the three men with axes are all +attacking him fiercely. So he leaped quickly between the bed and the +wall, and called to them: "Come on now, all of you. If there were +thirty-seven of you, you would have all the fight you wish, with me so +favourably placed; I shall never be overcome by you." And the damsel +watching him, exclaimed: "By my eyes, you need have no thought of that +henceforth where I am." Then at once she dismisses the knights and the +men-at-arms, who retire from there at once, without delay or objection. +And the damsel continues: "Sire you have well defended me against the +men of my household. Come now, and I'll lead you on." Hand in hand they +enter the hall, but he was not at all pleased, and would have willingly +dispensed with her. + +(Vv. 1207-1292.) In the midst of the hall a bed had been set up, the +sheets of which were by no means soiled, but were white and wide and +well spread out. The bed was not of shredded straw or of coarse spreads. +But a covering of two silk cloths had been laid upon the couch. The +damsel lay down first, but without removing her chemise. He had great +trouble in removing his hose and in untying the knots. He sweated with +the trouble of it all; yet, in the midst of all the trouble, his promise +impels and drives him on. Is this then an actual force? Yes, virtually +so; for he feels that he is in duty bound to take his place by the +damsel's side. It is his promise that urges him and dictates his act. +So he lies down at once, but like her, he does not remove his shirt. He +takes good care not to touch her; and when he is in bed, he turns away +from her as far as possible, and speaks not a word to her, like a monk +to whom speech is forbidden. Not once does he look at her, nor show her +any courtesy. Why not? Because his heart does not go out to her. She +was certainly very fair and winsome, but not every one is pleased and +touched by what is fair and winsome. The knight has only one heart, and +this one is really no longer his, but has been entrusted to some one +else, so that he cannot bestow it elsewhere. Love, which holds all +hearts beneath its sway, requires it to be lodged in a single place. +All hearts? No, only those which it esteems. And he whom love deigns to +control ought to prize himself the more. Love prized his heart so highly +that it constrained it in a special manner, and made him so proud of +this distinction that I am not inclined to find fault with him, if he +lets alone what love forbids, and remains fixed where it desires. The +maiden clearly sees and knows that he dislikes her company and would +gladly dispense with it, and that, having no desire to win her love, +he would not attempt to woo her. So she said: "My lord, if you will not +feel hurt, I will leave and return to bed in my own room, and you will +be more comfortable. I do not believe that you are pleased with my +company and society. Do not esteem me less if I tell you what I think. +Now take your rest all night, for you have so well kept your promise +that I have no right to make further request of you. So I commend you +to God; and shall go away." Thereupon she arises: the knight does not +object, but rather gladly lets her go, like one who is the devoted lover +of some one else; the damsel clearly perceived this, and went to her +room, where she undressed completely and retired, saying to herself: "Of +all the knights I have ever known, I never knew a single knight whom I +would value the third part of an angevin in comparison with this one. As +I understand the case, he has on hand a more perilous and grave affair +than any ever undertaken by a knight; and may God grant that he succeed +in it." Then she fell asleep, and remained in bed until the next day's +dawn appeared. + +(Vv. 1293-1368.) At daybreak she awakes and gets up. The knight awakes +too, dressing, and putting on his arms, without waiting for any help. +Then the damsel comes and sees that he is already dressed. Upon seeing +him, she says: "May this day be a happy one for you." "And may it be +the same to you, damsel," the knight replies, adding that he is waiting +anxiously for some one to bring out his horse. The maiden has some one +fetch the horse, and says: "Sire, I should like to accompany you for +some distance along the road, if you would agree to escort and conduct +me according to the customs and practices which were observed before we +were made captive in the kingdom of Logres." In those days the customs +and privileges were such that, if a knight found a damsel or lorn maid +alone, and if he cared for his fair name, he would no more treat her +with dishonour than he would cut his own throat. And if he assaulted +her, he would be disgraced for ever in every court. But if, while she +was under his escort, she should be won at arms by another who engaged +him in battle, then this other knight might do with her what he pleased +without receiving shame or blame. This is why the damsel said she would +go with him, if he had the courage and willingness to safe guard her in +his company, so that no one should do her any harm. And he says to her: +"No one shall harm you, I promise you, unless he harm me first." "Then," +she says, "I will go with you." She orders her palfrey to be saddled, +and her command is obeyed at once. Her palfrey was brought together with +the knight's horse. Without the aid of any squire, they both mount, and +rapidly ride away. She talks to him, but not caring for her words, he +pays no attention to what she says. He likes to think, but dislikes to +talk. Love very often inflicts afresh the wound it has given him. Yet, +he applied no poultice to the wound to cure it and make it comfortable, +having no intention or desire to secure a poultice or to seek a +physician, unless the wound becomes more painful. Yet, there is one +whose remedy he would gladly seek .... [410] They follow the roads and +paths in the right direction until they come to a spring, situated +in the middle of a field, and bordered by a stone basin. Some one had +forgotten upon the stone a comb of gilded ivory. Never since ancient +times has wise man or fool seen such a comb. In its teeth there was +almost a handful of hair belonging to her who had used the comb. + +(Vv. 1369-1552.) When the damsel notices the spring, and sees the stone, +she does not wish her companion to see it; so she turns off in another +direction. And he, agreeably occupied with his own thoughts, does not at +once remark that she is leading him aside; but when at last he notices +it, he is afraid of being beguiled, thinking that she is yielding and is +going out of the way in order to avoid some danger. "See here, damsel," +he cries, "you are not going right; come this way! No one, I think, ever +went straight who left this road." "Sire, this is a better way for us," +the damsel says, "I am sure of it." Then he replies to her: "I don't +know, damsel, what you think; but you can plainly see that the beaten +path lies this way; and since I have started to follow it, I shall not +turn aside. So come now, if you will, for I shall continue along this +way." Then they go forward until they come near the stone basin and +see the comb. The knight says: "I surely never remember to have seen +so beautiful a comb as this." "Let me have it," the damsel says. +"Willingly, damsel," he replies. Then he stoops over and picks it up. +While holding it, he looks at it steadfastly, gazing at the hair until +the damsel begins to laugh. When he sees her doing so, he begs her to +tell him why she laughs. And she says: "Never mind, for I will never +tell you." "Why not?" he asks. "Because I don't wish to do so." And when +he hears that, he implores her like one who holds that lovers ought to +keep faith mutually: "Damsel, if you love anything passionately, by that +I implore and conjure and beg you not to conceal from me the reason why +you laugh." "Your appeal is so strong," she says, "that I will tell you +and keep nothing back. I am sure, as I am of anything, that this comb +belonged to the Queen. And you may take my word that those are strands +of the Queen's hair which you see to be so fair and light and radiant, +and which are clinging in the teeth of the comb; they surely never grew +anywhere else." Then the knight replied: "Upon my word, there are plenty +of queens and kings; what queen do you mean?" And she answered: "In +truth, fair sire, it is of King Arthur's wife I speak." When he +hears that, he has not strength to keep from bowing his head over +his saddle-bow. And when the damsel sees him thus, she is amazed and +terrified, thinking he is about to fall. Do not blame her for her fear, +for she thought him in a faint. He might as well have swooned, so near +was he to doing so; for in his heart he felt such grief that for a long +time he lost his colour and power of speech. And the damsel dismounts, +and runs as quickly as possible to support and succour him; for she +would not have wished for anything to see him fall. When he saw her, he +felt ashamed, and said: "Why do you need to bear me aid?" You must not +suppose that the damsel told him why; for he would have been ashamed +and distressed, and it would have annoyed and troubled him, if she had +confessed to him the truth. So she took good care not to tell the truth, +but tactfully answered him: "Sire, I dismounted to get the comb; for +I was so anxious to hold it in my hand that I could not longer wait." +Willing that she should have the comb, he gives it to her, first pulling +out the hair so carefully that he tears none of it. Never will the eye +of man see anything receive such honour as when he begins to adore these +tresses. A hundred thousand times he raises them to his eyes and mouth, +to his forehead and face: he manifests his joy in every way, considering +himself rich and happy now. He lays them in his bosom near his heart, +between the shirt and the flesh. He would not exchange them for a +cartload of emeralds and carbuncles, nor does he think that any sore +or illness can afflict him now; he holds in contempt essence of pearl, +treacle, and the cure for pleurisy; [411] even for St. Martin and St. +James he has no need; for he has such confidence in this hair that he +requires no other aid. But what was this hair like? If I tell the truth +about it, you will think I am a mad teller of lies. When the mart is +full at the yearly fair of St. Denis, [412] and when the goods are +most abundantly displayed, even then the knight would not take all this +wealth, unless he had found these tresses too. And if you wish to know +the truth, gold a hundred thousand times refined, and melted down as +many times, would be darker than is night compared with the brightest +summer day we have had this year, if one were to see the gold and set it +beside this hair. But why should I make a long story of it? The damsel +mounts again with the comb in her possession; while he revels and +delights in the tresses in his bosom. Leaving the plain, they come to +a forest and take a short cut through it until they come to a narrow +place, where they have to go in single file; for it would have been +impossible to ride two horses abreast. Just where the way was narrowest, +they see a knight approach. As soon as she saw him, the damsel +recognised him, and said: "Sir knight, do you see him who yonder comes +against us all armed and ready for a battle? I know what his intention +is: he thinks now that he cannot fail to take me off defenceless with +him. He loves me, but he is very foolish to do so. In person, and by +messenger, he has been long wooing me. But my love is not within his +reach, for I would not love him under any consideration, so help me God! +I would kill myself rather than bestow my love on him. I do not doubt +that he is delighted now, and is as satisfied as if he had me already +in his power. But now I shall see what you can do, and I shall see +how brave you are, and it will become apparent whether your escort can +protect me. If you can protect me now, I shall not fail to proclaim that +you are brave and very worthy." And he answered her: "Go on, go on!" +which was as much as to say: "I am not concerned; there is no need of +your being worried about what you have said." + +(Vv. 1553-1660.) While they were proceeding, talking thus, the knight, +who was alone, rode rapidly toward them on the run. He was the more +eager to make haste, because he felt more sure of success; he felt that +he was lucky now to see her whom he most dearly loves. As soon as he +approaches her, he greets her with words that come from his heart: +"Welcome to her, whence-soever she comes, whom I most desire, but who +has hitherto caused me least joy and most distress!" It is not fitting +that she should be so stingy of her speech as not to return his +greeting, at least by word of mouth. The knight is greatly elated when +the damsel greets him; though she does not take the words seriously, and +the effort costs her nothing. Yet, if he had at this moment been victor +in a tournament, he would not have so highly esteemed himself, nor +thought he had won such honour and renown. Being now more confident of +his worth, he grasped the bridle rein, and said: "Now I shall lead you +away: I have to-day sailed well on my course to have arrived at last +at so good a port. Now my troubles are at an end: after dangers, I have +reached a haven; after sorrow, I have attained happiness; after pain, I +have perfect health; now I have accomplished my desire, when I find +you in such case that I can without resistance lead you away with me +at once." Then she says: "You have no advantage; for I am under this +knight's escort." "Surely, the escort is not worth much," he says, "and +I am going to lead you off at once. This knight would have time to eat a +bushel of salt before he could defend you from me; I think I could never +meet a knight from whom I should not win you. And since I find you here +so opportunely, though he too may do his best to prevent it, yet I will +take you before his very eyes, however disgruntled he may be." The other +is not angered by all the pride he hears expressed, but without any +impudence or boasting, he begins thus to challenge him for her: "Sire, +don't be in a hurry, and don't waste your words, but speak a little +reasonably. You shall not be deprived of as much of her as rightly +belongs to you. You must know, however, that the damsel has come hither +under my protection. Let her alone now, for you have detained her long +enough!" The other gives them leave to burn him, if he does not take her +away in spite of him. Then the other says: "It would not be right for +me to let you take her away; I would sooner fight with you. But if we +should wish to fight, we could not possibly do it in this narrow road. +Let us go to some level place--a meadow or an open field." And he +replies that that will suit him perfectly: "Certainly, I agree to +that: you are quite right, this road is too narrow. My horse is so much +hampered here that I am afraid he will crush his flank before I can turn +him around." Then with great difficulty he turns, and his horse +escapes without any wound or harm. Then he says: "To be sure, I am much +chagrined that we have not met in a favourable spot and in the presence +of other men, for I should have been glad to have them see which is the +better of us two. Come on now, let us begin our search: we shall find in +the vicinity some large, broad, and open space." Then they proceed to a +meadow, where there were maids, knights, and damsels playing at divers +games in this pleasant place. They were not all engaged in idle sport, +but were playing backgammon and chess or dice, and were evidently +agreeably employed. Most were engaged in such games as these; but +the others there were engaged in sports, dancing, singing, tumbling, +leaping, and wrestling with each other. + +(Vv. 1661-1840.) A knight somewhat advanced in years was on the other +side of the meadow, seared upon a sorrel Spanish steed. His bridle and +saddle were of gold, and his hair was turning grey. One hand hung at +his side with easy grace. The weather being fine, he was in his shirt +sleeves, with a short mantle of scarlet cloth and fur slung over his +shoulders, and thus he watched the games and dances. On the other side +of the field, close by a path, there were twenty-three knights mounted +on good Irish steeds. As soon as the three new arrivals come into view, +they all cease their play and shout across the fields: "See, yonder +comes the knight who was driven in the cart! Let no one continue his +sport while he is in our midst. A curse upon him who cares or deigns +to play so long as he is here!" Meanwhile he who loved the damsel and +claimed her as his own, approached the old knight, and said: "Sire, I +have attained great happiness; let all who will now hear me say that God +has granted me the thing that I have always most desired; His gift would +not have been so great had He crowned me as king, nor would I have been +so indebted to Him, nor would I have so profited; for what I have gained +is fair and good." "I know not yet if it be thine," the knight replies +to his son. But the latter answers him: "Don't you know? Can't you see +it, then? For God's sake, sire, have no further doubt, when you see that +I have her in my possession. In this forest, whence I come, I met her as +she was on her way. I think God had fetched her there for me, and I have +taken her for my own." "I do not know whether this will be allowed by +him whom I see coming after thee; he looks as if he is coming to demand +her of thee." During this conversation the dancing had ceased because of +the knight whom they saw, nor were they gaily playing any more because +of the disgust and scorn they felt for him. But the knight without +delay came up quickly after the damsel, and said: "Let the damsel alone, +knight, for you have no right to her! If you dare, I am willing at once +to fight with you in her defence." Then the old knight remarked: "Did I +not know it? Fair son, detain the damsel no longer, but let her go." He +does not relish this advice, and swears that he will not give her up: +"May God never grant me joy if I give her up to him! I have her, and I +shall hold on to her as something that is mine own. The shoulder-strap +and all the armlets of my shield shall first be broken, and I shall have +lost all confidence in my strength and arms, my sword and lance, before +I will surrender my mistress to him." And his father says: "I shall not +let thee fight for any reason thou mayest urge. Thou art too confident +of thy bravery. So obey my command." But he in his pride replies: "What? +Am I a child to be terrified? Rather will I make my boast that there is +not within the sea-girt land any knight, wheresoever he may dwell, so +excellent that I would let him have her, and whom I should not expect +speedily to defeat." The father answers: "Fair son, I do not doubt that +thou dost really think so, for thou art so confident of thy strength. +But I do not wish to see thee enter a contest with this knight." Then +he replies: "I shall be disgraced if I follow your advice. Curse me if +I heed your counsel and turn recreant because of you, and do not do +my utmost in the fight. It is true that a man fares ill among his +relatives: I could drive a better bargain somewhere else, for you are +trying to take me in. I am sure that where I am not known, I could act +with better grace. No one, who did not know me, would try to thwart my +will; whereas you are annoying and tormenting me. I am vexed by your +finding fault with me. You know well enough that when any one is blamed, +he breaks out still more passionately. But may God never give me joy if +I renounce my purpose because of you; rather will I fight in spite of +you!" "By the faith I bear the Apostle St. Peter," his father says, "now +I see that my request is of no avail. I waste my time in rebuking thee; +but I shall soon devise such means as shall compel thee against thy will +to obey my commands and submit to them." Straightway summoning all the +knights to approach, he bids them lay hands upon his son whom he cannot +correct, saying: "I will have him bound rather than let him fight. You +here are all my men, and you owe me your devotion and service: by all +the fiefs you hold from me, I hold you responsible, and I add my prayer. +It seems to me that he must be mad, and that he shows excessive pride, +when he refuses to respect my will." Then they promise to take care of +him, and say that never, while he is in their charge, shall he wish to +fight, but that he must renounce the damsel in spite of himself. Then +they all join and seize him by the arms and neck. "Dost thou not think +thyself foolish now?" his father asks; "confess the truth: thou hast not +the strength or power to fight or joust, however distasteful and hard it +may be for thee to admit it. Thou wilt be wise to consent to my will +and pleasure. Dost thou know what my intention is? In order somewhat to +mitigate thy disappointment, I am willing to join thee, if thou wilt, in +following the knight to-day and to-morrow, through wood and plain, each +one mounted on his horse. Perhaps we shall soon find him to be of such a +character and bearing that I might let thee have thy way and fight with +him." To this proposal the other must perforce consent. Like the man +who has no alternative, he says that he will give in, provided they +both shall follow him. And when the people in the field see how this +adventure has turned out, they all exclaim: "Did you see? He who was +mounted on the cart has gained such honour here that he is leading away +the mistress of the son of my lord, and he himself is allowing it. We +may well suppose that he finds in him some merit, when he lets him take +her off. Now cursed a hundred times be he who ceases longer his sport on +his account! Come, let us go back to our games again." Then they resume +their games and dances. + +(Vv. 1841-1966.) Thereupon the knight turns away, without longer +remaining in the field, and the damsel accompanies him. They leave in +haste, while the father and his son ride after them through the mown +fields until toward three o'clock, when in a very pleasant spot they +come upon a church; beside the chancel there was a cemetery enclosed by +a wall. The knight was both courteous and wise to enter the church on +foot and make his prayer to God, while the damsel held his horse for him +until he returned. When he had made his prayer, and while he was coming +back, a very old monk suddenly presented himself; whereupon the knight +politely requests him to tell him what this place is; for he does not +know. And he tells him it is a cemetery. And the other says: "Take me +in, so help you God!" "Gladly, sire," and he takes him in. Following the +monk's lead, the knight beholds the most beautiful tombs that one could +find as far as Dombes [413] or Pampelune; and on each tomb there were +letters cut, telling the names of those who were destined to be buried +there. And he began in order to read the names, and came upon some which +said: "Here Gawain is to lie, here Louis, and here Yvain." After +these three, he read the names of many others among the most famed and +cherished knights of this or any other land. Among the others, he finds +one of marble, which appears to be new, and is more rich and handsome +than all the rest. Calling the monk, the knight inquired: "Of what use +are these tombs here?" And the monk replied: "You have already read the +inscriptions; if you have understood, you must know what they say, and +what is the meaning of the tombs." "Now tell me, what is this large one +for?" And the hermit answered: "I will tell you. That is a very large +sarcophagus, larger than any that ever was made; one so rich and +well-carved was never seen. It is magnificent without, and still more so +within. But you need not be concerned with that, for it can never do you +any good; you will never see inside of it; for it would require seven +strong men to raise the lid of stone, if any one wished to open it. And +you may be sure that to raise it would require seven men stronger than +you and I. There is an inscription on it which says that any one who can +lift this stone of his own unaided strength will set free all the men +and women who are captives in the land, whence no slave or noble can +issue forth, unless he is a native of that land. No one has ever come +back from there, but they are detained in foreign prisons; whereas +they of the country go and come in and out as they please." At once +the knight goes to grasp the stone, and raises it without the slightest +trouble, more easily than ten men would do who exerted all their +strength. And the monk was amazed, and nearly fell down at the sight of +this marvellous thing; for he thought he would never see the like again, +and said: "Sire, I am very anxious to know your name. Will you tell me +what it is?" "Not I," says the knight, "upon my word." "I am certainly +sorry, for that," he says; "but if you would tell me, you would do me a +great favour, and might benefit yourself. Who are you, and where do +you come from?" "I am a knight, as you may see, and I was born in the +kingdom of Logre. After so much information, I should prefer to be +excused. Now please tell me, for your part, who is to lie within this +tomb." "Sire, he who shall deliver all those who are held captive in +the kingdom whence none escapes." And when he had told him all this, the +knight commended him to God and all His saints. And then, for the first +time, he felt free to return to the damsel. The old white-haired monk +escorts him out of the church, and they resume their way. While the +damsel is mounting, however, the hermit relates to her all that the +knight had done inside, and then he begged her to tell him, if she knew, +what his name was; but she assured him that she did not know, but that +there was one sure thing she could say, namely, that there was not such +a knight alive where the four winds of heaven blow. + +(Vv. 1967-2022.) Then the damsel takes leave of him, and rides swiftly +after the knight. Then those who were following them come up and see +the hermit standing alone before the church. The old knight in his shirt +sleeves said: "Sire, tell us, have you seen a knight with a damsel in +his company?" And he replies: "I shall not be loath to tell you all +I know, for they have just passed on from here. The knight was inside +yonder, and did a very marvellous thing in raising the stone from the +huge marble tomb, quite unaided and without the least effort. He is bent +upon the rescue of the Queen, and doubtless he will rescue her, as well +as all the other people. You know well that this must be so, for you +have often read the inscription upon the stone. No knight was ever born +of man and woman, and no knight ever sat in a saddle, who was the equal +of this man." Then the father turns to his son, and says: "Son, what +dost thou think about him now? Is he not a man to be respected who has +performed such a feat? Now thou knowest who was wrong, and whether it +was thou or I. I would not have thee fight with him for all the town of +Amiens; and yet thou didst struggle hard, before any one could dissuade +thee from thy purpose. Now we may as well go back, for we should be very +foolish to follow him any farther." And he replies: "I agree to that. +It would be useless to follow him. Since it is your pleasure, let us +return." They were very wise to retrace their steps. And all the time +the damsel rides close beside the knight, wishing to compel him to +give heed to her. She is anxious to learn his name, and she begs and +beseeches him again and again to tell her, until in his annoyance he +answers her: "Have I not already told you that I belong in King Arthur's +realm? I swear by God and His goodness that you shall not learn my +name." Then she bids him give her leave to go, and she will turn back, +which request he gladly grants. + +(Vv. 2023-2198.) Thereupon the damsel departs, and he rides on alone +until it grew very late. After vespers, about compline, as he pursued +his way, he saw a knight returning from the wood where he had been +hunting. With helmet unlaced, he rode along upon his big grey hunter, +to which he had tied the game which God had permitted him to take. This +gentleman came quickly to meet the knight, offering him hospitality. +"Sire," he says, "night will soon be here. It is time for you to be +reasonable and seek a place to spend the night. I have a house of mine +near at hand, whither I shall take you. No one ever lodged you better +than I shall do, to the extent of my resources: I shall be very glad, if +you consent." "For my part, I gladly accept," he says. The gentleman +at once sends his son ahead, to prepare the house and start the +preparations for supper. The lad willingly executes his command +forthwith, and goes off at a rapid pace, while the others, who are in +no haste, follow the road leisurely until they arrive at the house. The +gentleman's wife was a very accomplished lady; and he had five sons, +whom he dearly loved, three of them mere lads, and two already knights; +and he had two fair and charming daughters, who were still unmarried. +They were not natives of the land, but were there in durance, having +been long kept there as prisoners away from their native land of Logres. +When the gentleman led the knight into his yard, the lady with her sons +and daughters jumped up and ran to meet them, vying in their efforts to +do him honour, as they greeted him and helped him to dismount. Neither +the sisters nor the five brothers paid much attention to their father, +for they knew well enough that he would have it so. They honoured the +knight and welcomed him; and when they had relieved him of his armour, +one of his host's two daughters threw her own mantle about him, taking +it from her own shoulders and throwing it about his neck. I do not +need to tell how well he was served at supper; but when the meal +was finished, they felt no further hesitation in speaking of various +matters. First, the host began to ask him who he was, and from what +land, but he did not inquire about his name. The knight promptly +answered him: "I am from the kingdom of Logres, and have never been in +this land before." And when the gentleman heard that, he was greatly +amazed, as were his wife and children too, and each one of them was sore +distressed. Then they began to say to him: "Woe that you have come here, +fair sire, for only trouble will come of it! For, like us, you will +be reduced to servitude and exile." "Where do you come from, then?" he +asked. "Sire, we belong in your country. Many men from your country +are held in servitude in this land. Cursed be the custom, together with +those who keep it up! No stranger comes here who is not compelled to +stay here in the land where he is detained. For whoever wishes may come +in, but once in, he has to stay. About your own fate, you may be at +rest, you will doubtless never escape from here." He replies: "Indeed, +I shall do so, if possible." To this the gentleman replies: "How? Do you +think you can escape?" "Yes, indeed, if it be God's will; and I shall do +all within my power." "In that case, doubtless all the rest would be set +free; for, as soon as one succeeds in fairly escaping from this durance, +then all the rest may go forth unchallenged." Then the gentleman +recalled that he had been told and informed that a knight of great +excellence was making his way into the country to seek for the Queen, +who was held by the king's son, Meleagant; and he said to himself: "Upon +my word, I believe it is he, and I'll tell him so." So he said to him: +"Sire, do not conceal from me your business, if I promise to give +you the best advice I know. I too shall profit by any success you may +attain. Reveal to me the truth about your errand, that it may be to your +advantage as well as mine. I am persuaded that you have come in search +of the Queen into this land and among these heathen people, who are +worse than the Saracens." And the knight replies: "For no other purpose +have I come. I know not where my lady is confined, but I am striving +hard to rescue her, and am in dire need of advice. Give me any counsel +you can." And he says: "Sire, you have undertaken a very grievous task. +The road you are travelling will lead you straight to the sword-bridge. +[414] You surely need advice. If you would heed my counsel, you would +proceed to the sword-bridge by a surer way, and I would have you +escorted thither." Then he, whose mind is fixed upon the most direct +way, asks him: "Is the road of which you speak as direct as the other +way?" "No, it is not," he says; "it is longer, but more sure." Then he +says: "I have no use for it; tell me about this road I am following!" "I +am ready to do so," he replies; "but I am sure you will not fare well if +you take any other than the road I recommend. To-morrow you will reach +a place where you will have trouble: it is called 'the stony passage'. +Shall I tell you how bad a place it is to pass? Only one horse can go +through at a time; even two men could not pass abreast, and the passage +is well guarded and defended. You will meet with resistance as soon as +you arrive. You will sustain many a blow of sword and lance, and will +have to return full measure before you succeed in passing through." And +when he had completed the account, one of the gentleman's sons, who was +a knight, stepped forward, saying: "Sire, if you do not object, I will +go with this gentleman." Then one of the lads jumps up, and says: "I too +will go." And the father gladly gives them both consent. Now the knight +will not have to go alone, and he expresses his gratitude, being much +pleased with the company. + +(Vv. 2199-2266.) Then the conversation ceases, and they take the knight +to bed, where he was glad to fall asleep. As soon as daylight was +visible he got up, and those who were to accompany him got up too. The +two knights donned their armour and took their leave, while the young +fellow started on ahead. Together they pursued their way until they came +at the hour of prime to "the stony passage." In the middle of it they +found a wooden tower, where there was always a man on guard. Before they +drew near, he who was on the tower saw them and cried twice aloud: "Woe +to this man who comes!" And then behold! A knight issued from the tower, +mounted and armed with fresh armour, and escorted on either side by +servants carrying sharp axes. Then, when the other draws near the +passage, he who defends it begins to heap him with abuse about the cart, +saying: "Vassal, thou art bold and foolish, indeed, to have entered this +country. No man ought ever to come here who had ridden upon a cart, +and may God withhold from him His blessing!" Then they spur toward each +other at the top of their horses' speed. And he who was to guard the +passage-way at once breaks his lance and lets the two pieces fall; the +other strikes him in the neck, reaching him beneath the shield, and +throws him over prostrate upon the stones. Then the servants come +forward with the axes, but they intentionally fail to strike him, having +no desire to harm or damage him; so he does not deign to draw his sword, +and quickly passes on with his companions. One of them remarks to the +other: "No one has ever seen so good a knight, nor has he any equal. Is +not this a marvellous thing, that he has forced a passage here?" And the +knight says to his brother: "Fair brother, for God's sake, make haste +to go and tell our father of this adventure." But the lad asserts and +swears that he will not go with the message, and will never leave the +knight until he has dubbed and knighted him; let his brother go with the +message, if he is so much concerned. + +(Vv. 2267-2450.) Then they go on together until about three o'clock, +when they come upon a man, who asks them who they are. And they answer: +"We are knights, busy about our own affairs." Then the man says to the +knight: "Sire, I should be glad to offer hospitality to you and your +companions here." This invitation he delivers to him whom he takes to be +the lord and master of the others. And this one replies to him: "I could +not seek shelter for the night at such an hour as this; for it is not +well to tarry and seek one's ease when one has undertaken some great +task. And I have such business on hand that I shall not stop for the +night for some time yet." Then the man continues: "My house is not near +here, but is some distance ahead. It will be late when you reach there, +so you may proceed, assured that you will find a place to lodge just +when it suits you." "In that case," he says, "I will go thither." +Thereupon the man starts ahead as guide, and the knight follows along +the path. And when they had proceeded some distance, they met a squire +who was coming along at a gallop, mounted upon a nag that was as fat +and round as an apple. And the squire calls our to the man: "Sire, +sire, make haste! For the people of Logres have attacked in force the +inhabitants of this land, and war and strife have already broken out; +and they say that this country has been invaded by a knight who has +been in many battles, and that wherever he wishes to go, no one, however +reluctantly, is able to deny him passage. And they further say that he +will deliver those who are in this country, and will subdue our people. +Now take my advice and make haste!" Then the man starts at a gallop, and +the others are greatly delighted at the words they have heard, for they +are eager to help their side. And the vavasor's son says: "Hear what +this squire says! Come and let us aid our people who are fighting their +enemies!" Meanwhile the man rides off, without waiting for them, and +makes his way rapidly toward a fortress which stood upon a fortified +hill; thither he hastens, till he comes to the gate, while the others +spur after him. The castle was surrounded by a high wall and moat. As +soon as they had got inside, a gate was lowered upon their heels, so +that they could not get out again. Then they say: "Come on, come on! +Let us not stop here!" and they rapidly pursue the man until they reach +another gate which was not closed against them. But as soon as the man +had passed through, a portcullis dropped behind him. Then the others +were much dismayed to see themselves shut in, and they think they must +be bewitched. But he, of whom I have more to tell, wore upon his finger +a ring, whose stone was of such virtue that any one who gazed at it was +freed from the power of enchantment. [415] Holding the ring before his +eyes, he gazed at it, and said: "Lady, lady, so help me God, now I have +great need of your succour!" [416] This lady was a fairy, who had given +it to him, and who had cared for him in his infancy. And he had great +confidence that, wherever he might be, she would aid and succour him. +But after appealing to her and gazing upon the ring, he realises that +there is no enchantment here, but that they are actually shut in and +confined. Then they come to the barred door of a low and narrow postern +gate. Drawing their swords, they all strike it with such violence that +they cut the bar. As soon as they were outside the tower, they see that +a fierce strife was already begun down in the meadows, and that there +are at least a thousand knights engaged, beside the low-bred infantry. +While they were descending to the plain, the wise and moderate son of +the vavasor remarked: "Sire, before we arrive upon the field, it would +be wise for us, it seems to me, to find out and learn on which side our +people are. I do not know where they are placed, but I will go and +find out, if you wish it so." "I wish you would do so," he replies, +"go quickly, and do not fail to come back again at once." He goes and +returns at once, saying: "It has turned out well for us, for I have +plainly seen that these are our troops on this side of the field." Then +the knight at once rode into the fight and jousted with a knight who +was approaching him, striking him in the eye with such violence that he +knocked him lifeless to the ground. Then the lad dismounts, and taking +the dead knight's horse and arms, he arms himself with skill and +cleverness. When he was armed, he straightway mounts, taking the shield +and the lance, which was heavy, stiff, and decorated, and about his +waist he girt a sharp, bright, and flashing sword. Then he followed his +brother and lord into the fight. The latter demeaned himself bravely +in the melee for some time, breaking, splitting, and crushing shields, +helmets and hauberks. No wood or steel protected the man whom he +struck; he either wounded him or knocked him lifeless from the horse. +Unassisted, he did so well that he discomfited all whom he met, while +his companions did their part as well. The people of Logres, not knowing +him, are amazed at what they see, and ask the vavasor's sons about the +stranger knight. This reply is made to them: "Gentlemen, this is he who +is to deliver us all from durance and misery, in which we have so long +been confined, and we ought to do him great honour when, to set us free, +he has passed through so many perils and is ready to face many more. He +has done much, and will do yet more." Every one is overjoyed at hearing +this welcome news. The news travelled fast, and was noised about, until +it was known by all. Their strength and courage rise, so that they slay +many of those still alive, and apparently because of the example of +a single knight they work greater havoc than because of all the rest +combined. And if it had not been so near evening, all would have gone +away defeated; but night came on so dark that they had to separate. + +(Vv. 2451-2614.) When the battle was over, all the captives pressed +about the knight, grasping his rein on either side, and thus addressing +him: "Welcome, fair sire," and each one adds: "Sire, for the name of +God, do not fail to lodge with me!" What one says they all repeat, for +young and old alike insist that he must lodge with them, saying: "You +will be more comfortably lodged with me than with any one else." Thus +each one addresses him to his face, and in the desire to capture him, +each one drags him from the rest, until they almost come to blows. +Then he tells them that they are very foolish and silly to struggle so. +"Cease this wrangling among yourselves, for it does no good to me or +you. Instead of quarrelling among ourselves, we ought rather to lend one +another aid. You must not dispute about the privilege of lodging me, but +rather consider how to lodge me in such a place that it may be to your +general advantage, and that I may be advanced upon my way." Then each +one exclaims at once: "That is my house, or, No, it is mine," until the +knight replies: "Follow my advice and say nothing more; the wisest of +you is foolish to contend this way. You ought to be concerned to further +my affairs, and instead you are seeking to turn me aside. If you had +each individually done me all the honour and service it is possible to +do, and I had accepted your kindness, by all the saints of Rome I +swear that I could not be more obliged to you than I am now for your +good-will. So may God give me joy and health, your good intentions +please me as much as if each one of you had already shown me great +honour and kindness: so let the will stand for the deed!" Thus he +persuades and appeases them all. Then they take him quickly along the +road to a knight's residence, where they seek to serve him: all rejoice +to honour and serve him throughout the evening until bedtime, for they +hold him very dear. Next morning, when the time came to separate, each +one offers and presents himself, with the desire to accompany him; but +it is not his will or pleasure that any one shall go with him except the +two whom he had brought with him. Accompanied by them alone, he +resumed his journey. That day they rode from morn till evening without +encountering any adventure. When it was now very late, and while they +were riding rapidly out of a forest, they saw a house belonging to a +knight, and seated at the door they saw his wife, who had the bearing of +a gentle lady. As soon as she espied them coming, she rose to her feet +to meet them, and greeted them joyfully with a smile: "Welcome! I wish +you to accept my house; this is your lodging; pray dismount" "Lady, +since it is your will, we thank you, and will dismount; we accept your +hospitality for the night." When they had dismounted, the lady had the +horses taken by members of her well-ordered household. She calls +her sons and daughters who come at once: the youths were courteous, +handsome, and well-behaved, and the daughters were fair. She bids the +lads remove the saddles and curry the horses well; no one refused to do +this, but each carried out her instructions willingly. When she ordered +the knights to be disarmed, her daughters step forward to perform this +service. They remove their armour, and hand them three short mantles +to put on. Then at once they take them into the house which was very +handsome. The master was not at home, being out in the woods with two +of his sons. But he presently returned, and his household, which was +well-ordered, ran to meet him outside the door. Quickly they untie and +unpack the game he brings, and tell him the news: "Sire, sire, you do +not know that you have three knights for guests." "God be praised for +that," he says. Then the knight and his two sons extend a glad welcome +to their guests. The rest of the household were not backward, for even +the least among them prepared to perform his special task. While some +run to prepare the meal, others light the candles in profusion; still +others get a towel and basins, and offer water for the hands: they are +not niggardly in all this. When all had washed, they take their seats. +Nothing that was done there seemed to be any trouble or burdensome. +But at the first course there came a surprise in the form of a knight +outside the door. As he sat on his charger, all armed from head to feet, +he looked prouder than a bull, and a bull is a yew proud beast. One leg +was fixed in the stirrup, but the other he had thrown over the mane of +his horse's neck, to give himself a careless and jaunty air. Behold him +advancing thus, though no one noticed him until he came forward with the +words: "I wish to know which is the man who is so foolish and proud +a numskull that he has come to this country and intends to cross the +sword-bridge. All his pains will come to naught, and his expedition +is in vain." Then he, who felt no fear at all, thus replies with +confidence: "I am he who intends to cross the bridge." "Thou? Thou? +How didst thou dare to think of such a thing? Before undertaking such +a course, thou oughtest to have thought of the end that is in store for +thee, and thou oughtest to have in mind the memory of the cart on which +thou didst ride. I know not whether thou feelest shame for the ride +thou hadst on it, but no sensible man would have embarked on such an +enterprise as this if he had felt the reproach of his action." + +(Vv. 2615-2690.) Not a word does he deign to reply to what he hears the +other say; but the master of the house and all the others express their +surprise openly: "Ah, God, what a misfortune this is," each one of them +says to himself; "cursed be the hour when first a cart was conceived or +made! For it is a very vile and hateful thing. Ah, God, of what was he +accused? Why was he carried in a cart? For what sin, or for what crime? +He will always suffer the reproach. If he were only clear of this +disgrace, no knight could be found in all the world, however his valour +might be proved, who would equal the merit of this knight. If all good +knights could be compared, and if the truth were to be known, you +could find none so handsome or so expert." Thus they expressed their +sentiments. Then he began his speech of impudence: "Listen, thou knight, +who art bound for the sword-bridge! If thou wishest, thou shalt cross +the water very easily and comfortably. I will quickly have thee ferried +over in a skiff. But once on the other side, I will make thee pay me +toll, and I will take thy head, if I please to do so, or if not, thou +shalt be held at my discretion." And he replies that he is not seeking +trouble, and that he will never risk his head in such an adventure for +any consideration. To which the other answers at once: "Since thou +wilt not do this, whosesoever the shame and loss may be, thou must come +outside with me and there engage me hand to hand." Then, to beguile him. +the other says: "If I could refuse, I would very gladly excuse myself; +but in truth I would rather fight than be compelled to do what is +wrong." Before he arose from the table where they were sitting, he told +the youths who were serving him, to saddle his horse at once, and fetch +his arms and give them to him. This order they promptly execute: some +devote themselves to arming him, while others go to fetch his horse. As +he slowly rode along completely armed, holding his shield tight by the +straps, you must know that he was evidently to be included in the list +of the brave and fair. His horse became him so well that it is evident +he must be his own, and as for the shield he held by the straps and the +helmet laced upon his head, which fitted him so well, you would never +for a moment have thought that he had borrowed it or received it as a +loan; rather, you would be so pleased with him that you would maintain +that he had been thus born and raised: for all this I should like you to +take my word. + +(Vv. 2691-2792.) Outside the gate, where the battle was to be fought, +there was a stretch of level ground well adapted for the encounter. When +they catch sight of each other, they spur hotly to the attack and come +together with such a shock, dealing such blows with their lances, that +they first bend, then buckle up, and finally fly into splinters. With +their swords they then hew away at their shields, helmets, and hauberks. +The wood is cut and the steel gives way, so that they wound each other +in several places. They pay each other such angry blows that it seems +as if they had made a bargain. The swords often descend upon the horses' +croups, where they drink and feast upon their blood; their riders strike +them upon the flanks until at last they kill them both. And when both +have fallen to earth, they attack each other afoot; and if they had +cherished a mortal hatred, they could not have assailed each other more +fiercely with their swords. They deal their blows with greater frequency +than the man who stakes his money at dice and never fails to double the +stakes every time he loses; yet, this game of theirs was very different; +for there were no losses here, but only fierce blows and cruel strife. +All the people came out from the house: the master, his lady, his sons +and daughters; no man or woman, friend or stranger, stayed behind, +but all stood in line to see the fight in progress in the broad, +level field. The Knight of the Cart blames and reproaches himself for +faintheartedness when he sees his host watching him and notices all the +others looking on. His heart is stirred with anger, for it seems to him +that he ought long since to have beaten his adversary. Then he strikes +him, rushing in like a storm and bringing his sword down close by his +head; he pushes and presses him so hard that he drives him from his +ground and reduces him to such a state of exhaustion that he has little +strength to defend himself. Then the knight recalls how the other had +basely reproached him about the cart; so he assails him and drubs him so +soundly that not a string or strap remains unbroken about the neck-band +of his hauberk, and he knocks the helmet and ventail from his head. His +wounds and distress are so great that he has to cry for mercy. Just +as the lark cannot withstand or protect itself against the hawk which +outflies it and attacks it from above, so he in his helplessness and +shame, must invoke him and sue for mercy. And when he hears him beg for +mercy, he ceases his attack and says: "Dost thou wish for mercy?" He +replies: "You have asked a very clever question; any fool could ask +that. I never wished for anything so much as I now wish for mercy." +Then he says to him: "Thou must mount, then, upon a cart. Nothing thou +couldst say would have any influence with me, unless thou mountest the +cart, to atone for the vile reproaches thou didst address to me with thy +silly mouth." And the knight thus answers him: "May it never please God +that I mount a cart!" "No?" he asks; "then you shall die." "Sire, you +can easily put me to death; but I beg and beseech you for God's sake +to show me mercy and not compel me to mount a cart. I will agree to +anything, however grievous, excepting that. I would rather die a hundred +times than undergo such a disgrace. In your goodness and mercy you can +tell me nothing so distasteful that I will not do it." + +(Vv. 2793-2978.) While he is thus beseeching him, behold across the +field a maiden riding on a tawny mule, her head uncovered and her dress +disarranged. In her hand she held a whip with which she belaboured the +mule; and in truth no horse could have galloped so fast as was the pace +of the mule. The damsel called out to the Knight of the Cart: "May God +bless thy heart, Sir Knight, with whatever delights thee most!" And he, +who heard her gladly, says: "May God bless you, damsel, and give you joy +and health!" Then she tells him of her desire. "Knight," she says, "in +urgent need I have come from afar to thee to ask a favour, for which +thou wilt deserve the best guerdon I can make to thee; and I believe +that thou wilt yet have need of my assistance." And he replies: "Tell +me what it is you wish; and if I have it, you shall have it at once, +provided it be not something extravagant." Then she says: "It is the +head of the knight whom thou hast just defeated; in truth, thou +hast never dealt with such a wicked and faithless man. Thou wilt be +committing no sin or wrong, but rather doing a deed of charity, for he +is the basest creature that ever was or ever shall be." And when he who +had been vanquished hears that she wishes him to be killed, he says to +him: "Don't believe her, for she hates me; but by that God who was +at once Father and Son, and who chose for His mother her who was His +daughter and handmaiden, I beg you to have mercy upon me!" "Ah, knight!" +the maid exclaims, "pay no attention to what this traitor says! May God +give thee all the joy and honour to which thou dost aspire, and may +He give thee good success in thy undertaking." Then the knight is in +a predicament, as he thinks and ponders over the question: whether to +present to her the head she asks him to cut off, or whether he shall +allow himself to be touched by pity for him. [417] He wishes to respect +the wishes of both her and him. Generosity and pity each command him to +do their will; for he was both generous and tender-hearted. But if +she carries off the head, then will pity be defeated and put to +death; whereas, if she does not carry off the head, generosity will +be discomfited. Thus, pity and generosity hold him so confined and so +distressed that he is tormented and spurred on by each of them in turn. +The damsel asks him to give her the head, and on the other hand the +knight makes his request, appealing to his pity and kindness. And, +since he has implored him, shall he not receive mercy? Yes, for it never +happened that, when he had put down an enemy and compelled him to sue +for mercy, he would refuse such an one his mercy or longer bear him any +grudge. Since this is his custom, he will not refuse his mercy to him +who now begs and sues for it. And shall she have the head she covets? +Yes, if it be possible. "Knight," he says, "it is necessary for thee to +fight me again, and if thou dost care to defend thy head again, I will +show thee such mercy as to allow thee to resume the helmet; and I will +give thee time to arm thy body and thy head as well as possible. But, if +I conquer thee again, know that thou shalt surely die." And he replies: +"I desire nothing better than that, and ask for no further favour." +"And I will give thee this advantage," he adds: "I will fight thee as +I stand, without changing my present position." Then the other knight +makes ready, and they begin the fight again eagerly. But this time the +knight triumphed more quickly than he had done at first. And the damsel +at once cries out: "Do not spare him, knight, for anything he may say to +thee. Surely he would not have spared thee, had he once defeated thee. +If thou heedest what he says, be sure that he will again beguile thee. +Fair knight, cut off the head of the most faithless man in the empire +and kingdom, and give it to me! Thou shouldst present it to me, in view +of the guerdon I intend for thee. For another day may well come when, if +he can, he will beguile thee again with his words." He, thinking his end +is near, cries aloud to him for mercy; but his cry is of no avail, nor +anything that he can say. The other drags him by the helmet, tearing all +the fastening, and he strikes from his head the ventail and the gleaming +coif. Then he cries out more loudly still: "Mercy, for God's sake! +Mercy, sir!" But the other answers: "So help me, I shall never again +show thee pity, after having once let thee off." "Ah," he says, "thou +wouldst do wrong to heed my enemy and kill me thus." While she, intent +upon his death, admonishes him to cut off his head, and not to believe +a word he says. He strikes: the head flies across the sward and the body +fails. Then the damsel is pleased and satisfied. Grasping the head by +the hair, the knight presents it to the damsel, who takes it joyfully +with the words: "May thy heart receive such delight from whatever it +most desires as my heart now receives from what I most coveted. I had +only one grief in life, and that was that this man was still alive. I +have a reward laid up for thee which thou shalt receive at the proper +time. I promise thee that thou shalt have a worthy reward for the +service thou hast rendered me. Now I will go away, with the prayer +that God may guard thee from harm." Then the damsel leaves him, as each +commends the other to God. But all those who had seen the battle in the +plain are overjoyed, and in their joy they at once relieve the knight of +his armour, and honour him in every way they can. Then they wash their +hands again and take their places at the meal, which they eat with +better cheer than is their wont. When they had been eating for some +time, the gentleman turned to his guest at his side, and said: "Sire, a +long while ago we came hither from the kingdom of Logres. We were born +your countrymen, and we should like to see you win honour and fortune +and joy in this country; for we should profit by it as well as you, and +it would be to the advantage of many others, if you should gain honour +and fortune in the enterprise you have undertaken in this land." And he +makes answer: "May God hear your desire." + +(Vv. 2979-3020.) When the host had dropped his voice and ceased +speaking, one of his sons followed him and said: "Sire, we ought to +place all our resources at your service, and give them outright rather +than promise them; if you have any need of our assistance, we ought not +to wait until you ask for it. Sire, be not concerned over your horse +which is dead. We have good strong horses here. I want you to take +anything of ours which you need, and you shall choose the best of +our horses in place of yours." And he replies: "I willingly accept." +Thereupon, they have the beds prepared and retire for the night. The +next morning they rise early, and dress, after which they prepare to +start. Upon leaving, they fail in no act of courtesy, but take leave of +the lady, her lord, and all the rest. But in order to omit nothing, I +must remark that the knight was unwilling to mount the borrowed steed +which was standing ready at the door; rather, he caused him to be ridden +by one of the two knights who had come with him, while he took the +latter's horse instead, for thus it pleased him best to do. When each +was seated on his horse, they all asked for leave to depart from their +host who had served them so honourably. Then they ride along the road +until the day draws to a close, and late in the afternoon they reach the +sword-bridge. + +(Vv. 3021-3194.) At the end of this very difficult bridge they dismount +from their steeds and gaze at the wicked-looking stream, which is as +swift and raging, as black and turgid, as fierce and terrible as if +it were the devil's stream; and it is so dangerous and bottomless that +anything failing into it would be as completely lost as if it fell into +the salt sea. And the bridge, which spans it, is different from any +other bridge; for there never was such a one as this. If any one asks of +me the truth, there never was such a bad bridge, nor one whose flooring +was so bad. The bridge across the cold stream consisted of a polished, +gleaming sword; but the sword was stout and stiff, and was as long as +two lances. At each end there was a tree-trunk in which the sword +was firmly fixed. No one need fear to fall because of its breaking +or bending, for its excellence was such that it could support a +great weight. But the two knights who were with the third were much +discouraged; for they surmised that two lions or two leopards would be +found tied to a great rock at the other end of the bridge. The water +and the bridge and the lions combine so to terrify them that they both +tremble with fear, and say: "Fair sire, consider well what confronts +you; for it is necessary and needful to do so. This bridge is badly made +and built, and the construction of it is bad. If you do not change your +mind in time, it will be too late to repent. You must consider which of +several alternatives you will choose. Suppose that you once get across +(but that cannot possibly come to pass, any more than one could hold in +the winds and forbid them to blow, or keep the birds from singing, +or re-enter one's mother's womb and be born again--all of which is as +impossible as to empty the sea of its water); but even supposing that +you got across, can you think and suppose that those two fierce lions +that are chained on the other side will not kill you, and suck the blood +from your veins, and eat your flesh and then gnaw your bones? For my +part, I am bold enough, when I even dare to look and gaze at them. If +you do not take care, they will certainly devour you. Your body will +soon be torn and rent apart, for they will show you no mercy. So take +pity on us now, and stay here in our company! It would be wrong for +you to expose yourself intentionally to such mortal peril." And he, +laughing, replies to them: "Gentlemen, receive my thanks and gratitude +for the concern you feel for me: it comes from your love and kind +hearts. I know full well that you would not like to see any mishap come +to me; but I have faith and confidence in God, that He will protect me +to the end. I fear the bridge and stream no more than I fear this dry +land; so I intend to prepare and make the dangerous attempt to cross. +I would rather die than turn back now." The others have nothing more to +say; but each weeps with pity and heaves a sigh. Meanwhile he prepares, +as best he may, to cross the stream, and he does a very marvellous thing +in removing the armour from his feet and hands. He will be in a sorry +state when he reaches the other side. He is going to support himself +with his bare hands and feet upon the sword, which was sharper than a +scythe, for he had not kept on his feet either sole or upper or hose. +But he felt no fear of wounds upon his hands or feet; he preferred to +maim himself rather than to fall from the bridge and be plunged in +the water from which he could never escape. In accordance with this +determination, he passes over with great pain and agony, being wounded +in the hands, knees, and feet. But even this suffering is sweet to him: +for Love, who conducts and leads him on, assuages and relieves the pain. +Creeping on his hands, feet, and knees, he proceeds until he reaches +the other side. Then he recalls and recollects the two lions which he +thought he had seen from the other side; but, on looking about, he does +not see so much as a lizard or anything else to do him harm. He raises +his hand before his face and looks at his ring, and by this test he +proves that neither of the lions is there which he thought he had seen, +and that he had been enchanted and deceived; for there was not a living +creature there. When those who had remained behind upon the bank saw +that he had safely crossed, their joy was natural; but they do not know +of his injuries. He, however, considers himself fortunate not to have +suffered anything worse. The blood from his wounds drips on his shirt +on all sides. Then he sees before him a tower, which was so strong that +never had he seen such a strong one before: indeed, it could not have +been a better tower. At the window there sat King Bademagu, who was very +scrupulous and precise about matters of honour and what was right, and +who was careful to observe and practise loyalty above all else; and +beside him stood his son, who always did precisely the opposite so far +as possible, for he found his pleasure in disloyalty, and never wearied +of villainy, treason, and felony. From their point of vantage they had +seen the knight cross the bridge with trouble and pain. Meleagant's +colour changed with the rage and displeasure he felt; for he knows now +that he will be challenged for the Queen; but his character was such +that he feared no man, however strong or formidable. If he were not base +and disloyal, there could no better knight be found; but he had a heart +of wood, without gentleness and pity. What enraged his son and roused +his ire, made the king happy and glad. The king knew of a truth that he +who had crossed the bridge was much better than any one else. For no one +would dare to pass over it in whom there dwelt any of that evil nature +which brings more shame upon those who possess it than prowess brings +of honour to the virtuous. For prowess cannot accomplish so much as +wickedness and sloth can do: it is true beyond a doubt that it is +possible to do more evil than good. + +(Vv. 3195-3318.) I could say more on these two heads, if it did not +cause me to delay. But I must turn to something else and resume my +subject, and you shall hear how the king speaks profitably to his son: +"Son," he says, "it was fortunate that thou and I came to look out +this window; our reward has been to witness the boldest deed that ever +entered the mind of man. Tell me now if thou art not well disposed +toward him who has performed such a marvellous feat. Make peace and be +reconciled with him, and deliver the Queen into his hands. Thou shalt +gain no glory in battle with him, but rather mayst thou incur great +loss. Show thyself to be courteous and sensible, and send the Queen to +meet him before he sees thee. Show him honour in this land of thine, and +before he asks it, present to him what he has come to seek. Thou knowest +well enough that he has come for the Queen Guinevere. Do not act so that +people will take thee to be obstinate, foolish, or proud. If this man +has entered thy land alone, thou shouldst bear him company, for one +gentleman ought not to avoid another, but rather attract him and honour +him with courtesy. One receives honour by himself showing it; be sure +that the honour will be thine, if thou doest honour and service to him +who is plainly the best knight in the world." And he replies: "May God +confound me, if there is not as good a knight, or even a better one +than he!" It was too bad that he did not mention himself, of whom he +entertains no mean opinion. And he adds: "I suppose you wish me to clasp +my hands and kneel before him as his liegeman, and to hold my lands from +him? So help me God, I would rather become his man than surrender to +him the Queen! God forbid that in such a fashion I should deliver her +to him! She shall never be given up by me, but rather contested and +defended against all who are so foolish as to dare to come in quest +of her." Then again the king says to him: "Son, thou wouldst act very +courteously to renounce this pretension. I advise thee and beg thee to +keep the peace. Thou knowest well that the honour will belong to the +knight, if he wins the Queen from thee in battle. He would doubtless +rather win her in battle than as a gift, for it will thus enhance +his fame. It is my opinion that he is seeking her, not to receive her +peaceably, but because he wishes to win her by force of arms. So it +would be wise on thy part to deprive him of the satisfaction of fighting +thee. I am sorry to see thee so foolish; but if thou dost not heed my +advice, evil will come of it, and the ensuing misfortune will be worse +for thee. For the knight need fear no hostility from any one here save +thee. On behalf of myself and all my men, I will grant him a truce and +security. I have never yet done a disloyal deed or practised treason and +felony, and I shall not begin to do so now on thy account any more than +I would for any stranger. I do not wish to flatter thee, for I promise +that the knight shall not lack any arms, or horse or anything else he +needs, in view of the boldness he has displayed in coming thus far. +He shall be securely guarded and well defended against all men here +excepting thee. I wish him clearly to understand that, if he can +maintain himself against thee, he need have no fear of any one else." "I +have listened to you in silence long enough," says Meleagant, "and you +may say what you please. But little do I care for all you say. I am not +a hermit, nor so compassionate and charitable, and I have no desire to +be so honourable as to give him what I most love. His task will not be +performed so quickly or so lightly; rather will it turn out otherwise +than as you and he expect. You and I need not quarrel because you aid +him against me. Even if he enjoys peace and a truce with you and all +your men, what matters that to me? My heart does not quail on that +account; rather, so help me God, I am glad that he need not feel concern +for any one here but me; I do not wish you to do on my account anything +which might be construed as disloyalty or treachery. Be as compassionate +as you please, but let me be cruel." "What? Wilt thou not change thy +mind?" "No," he says. "Then I will say nothing more. I will leave thee +alone to do thy best and will go now to speak with the knight. I wish +to offer and present to him my aid and counsel in all respects; for I am +altogether on his side." + +(Vv. 3319-3490.) Then the king goes down and orders them to bring his +horse. A large steed is brought to him, upon which he springs by the +stirrup, and he rides off with some of his men: three knights and two +squires he bade to go with him. They did not stop their ride downhill +until they came to the bridge, where they see him stanching his wounds +and wiping the blood from them. The king expects to keep him as his +guest for a long time while his wounds are healing; but he might as well +expect to drain the sea. The king hastens to dismount, and he who was +grievously wounded, stood up at once to meet him, though he did not know +him, and he gave no more evidence of the pain he felt in his feet and +hands than if he had been actually sound. The king sees that he is +exerting himself, and quickly runs to greet him with the words: "Sire, +I am greatly amazed that you have fallen upon us in this land. But be +welcome, for no one will ever repeat the attempt: it never happened in +the past, and it will never happen in the future that any one should +perform such a hardy feat or expose himself to such peril. And know that +I admire you greatly for having executed what no one before ever dared +to conceive. You will find me very kindly disposed, and loyal and +courteous toward you. I am the king of this land, and offer you freely +all my counsel and service; and I think I know pretty well what you have +come here to seek. You come, I am sure, to seek the Queen." "Sire," +he replies, "your surmise is correct; no other cause brings me here." +"Friend, you must suffer hardship to obtain her," he replies; "and you +are sorely wounded, as I see by the wounds and the flowing blood. You +will not find him who brought her hither so generous as to give her up +without a struggle; but you must tarry, and have your wounds cared for +until they are completely healed. I will give you some of 'the three +Marys' ointment, [418] and something still better, if it can be found, +for I am very solicitous about your comfort and your recovery. And the +Queen is so confined that no mortal man has access to her--not even my +son, who brought her here with him and who resents such treatment, for +never was a man so beside himself and so desperate as he. But I am well +disposed toward you, and will gladly give you, so help me God, all of +which you stand in need. My son himself will not have such good arms but +that I will give you some that are just as good, and a horse, too, +such as you will need, though my son will be angry with me. Despite the +feelings of any one, I will protect you against all men. You will have +no cause to fear any one excepting him who brought the Queen here. No +man ever menaced another as I have menaced him, and I came near driving +him from my land, in my displeasure because he will not surrender her +to you. To be sure, he is my son; but feel no concern, for unless he +defeats you in battle, he can never do you the slightest harm against my +will." "Sire," he says, "I thank you. But I am losing time here which +I do not wish to waste. I have no cause to complain, and have no wound +which is paining me. Take me where I can find him; for with such arms +as I have, I am ready to divert myself by giving and receiving blows." +"Friend, you had better wait two or three weeks until your wounds are +healed, for it would be well for you to tarry here at least two weeks, +and not on any account could I allow it, or look on, while you fought +in my presence with such arms and with such an outfit." And he replies: +"With your permission, no other arms would be used than these, for I +should prefer to fight with them, and I should not ask for the slightest +postponement, adjournment or delay. However, in deference to you, I +will consent to wait until to-morrow; but despite what any one may say, +longer I will not wait." Then the king assured him that all would +be done as he wished; then he has the lodging-place prepared, and +insistently requests his men, who are in the company, to serve him, +which they do devotedly. And the king, who would gladly have made peace, +had it been possible, went at once to his son and spoke to him like one +who desires peace and harmony, saying: "Fair son, be reconciled now with +this knight without a fight! He has not come here to disport himself or +to hunt or chase, but he comes in search of honour and to increase his +fame and renown, and I have seen that he stands in great need of rest. +If he had taken my advice, he would not have rashly undertaken, either +this month or the next, the battle which he so greatly desires. If thou +makest over the Queen to him, dost thou fear any dishonour in the deed? +Have no fear of that, for no blame can attach to thee; rather is it +wrong to keep that to which one has no rightful claim. He would gladly +have entered the battle at once, though his hands and feet are not +sound, but cut and wounded." Meleagant answers his father thus: "You are +foolish to be concerned. By the faith I owe St. Peter, I will not take +your advice in this matter. I should deserve to be drawn apart with +horses, if I heeded your advice. If he is seeking his honour, so do I +seek mine; if he is in search of glory, so am I; if he is anxious for +the battle, so am I a hundred times more so than he." "I see plainly," +says the king, "that thou art intent upon thy mad enterprise, and thou +shalt have thy fill of it. Since such is thy pleasure, to-morrow thou +shalt try thy strength with the knight." "May no greater hardship ever +visit me than that!" Meleagant replies; "I would much rather it were +to-day than to-morrow. Just see how much more downcast I am than is +usual! My eyes are wild, and my face is pale! I shall have no joy or +satisfaction or any cause for happiness until I am actually engaged with +him." + +(Vv. 3491-3684.) The king understands that further advice and prayers +are of no avail, so reluctantly he leaves his son and, taking a good, +strong horse and handsome arms, he sends them to him who well deserves +them, together with a surgeon who was a loyal and Christian man. There +was in the world no more trusty man, and he was more skilled in the +cure of wounds than all the doctors of Montpeilier. [419] That night +he treated the knight as best he could, in accordance with the king's +command. Already the news was known by the knights and damsels, the +ladies and barons of all the country-side, and all through the night +until daybreak strangers and friends were making long journeys from all +the country round. When morning came, there was such a press before the +castle that there was not room to move one's foot. And the king, rising +early in his distress about the battle, goes directly to his son, who +had already laced upon his head the helmet which was of Poitiers make. +No delay or peace is possible, for though the king did his best, his +efforts are of no effect. In the middle of the castle-square, where all +the people are assembled, the battle will be fought in compliance with +the king's wish and command. The king sends at once for the stranger +knight, and he is conducted to the grounds which were filled with people +from the kingdom of Logres. For just as people are accustomed to go +to church to hear the organ on the annual feast-days of Pentecost or +Christmas, so they had all assembled now. All the foreign maidens from +King Arthur's realm had fasted three days and gone barefoot in their +shifts, in order that God might endow with strength and courage the +knight who was to fight his adversary on behalf of the captives. Very +early, before prime had yet been sounded, both of the knights fully +armed were led to the place, mounted upon two horses equally protected. +Meleagant was very graceful, alert, and shapely; the hauberk with its +fine meshes, the helmet, and the shield hanging from his neck--all these +became him well. All the spectators, however, favoured the other knight, +even those who wished him ill, and they say that Meleagant is worth +nothing compared with him. As soon as they were both on the ground, the +king comes and detains them as long as possible in an effort to make +peace between them, but he is unable to persuade his son. Then he says +to them: "Hold in your horses until I reach the top of the tower. It +will be only a slight favour, if you will wait so long for me." Then in +sorrowful mood he leaves them and goes directly to the place where he +knew he would find the Queen. She had begged him the evening before to +place her where she might have an unobstructed view of the battle; he +had granted her the boon, and went now to seek and fetch her, for he +was very anxious to show her honour and courtesy. He placed her at one +window, and took his place at another window on her right. Beside them, +there were gathered there many knights and prudent dames and damsels, +who were natives of that land; and there were many others, who were +captives, and who were intent upon their orisons and prayers. Those who +were prisoners were praying for their lord, for to God and to him they +entrusted their succour and deliverance. Then the combatants without +delay make all the people stand aside; then they clash the shields with +their elbows, and thrust their arms into the straps, and spur at each +other so violently that each sends his lance two arms' length through +his opponent's shield, causing the lance to split and splinter like a +flying spark. And the horses meet head on, clashing breast to breast, +and the shields and helmets crash with such a noise that it seems like +a mighty thunder-clap; not a breast-strap, girth, rein or surcingle +remains unbroken, and the saddle-bows, though strong, are broken to +pieces. The combatants felt no shame in falling to earth, in view of +their mishaps, but they quickly spring to their feet, and without waste +of threatening words rush at each other more fiercely than two wild +boars, and deal great blows with their swords of steel like men whose +hate is violent. Repeatedly they trim the helmets and shining hauberks +so fiercely that after the sword the blood spurts out. They furnished +an excellent battle, indeed, as they stunned and wounded each other with +their heavy, wicked blows. Many fierce, hard, long bouts they sustained +with equal honour, so that the onlookers could discern no advantage on +either side. But it was inevitable that he who had crossed the bridge +should be much weakened by his wounded hands. The people who sided with +him were much dismayed, for they notice that his strokes are growing +weaker, and they fear he will get the worst of it; it seemed to them +that he was weakening, while Meleagant was triumphing, and they began +to murmur all around. But up at the window of the tower there was a wise +maiden who thought within herself that the knight had not undertaken the +battle either on her account or for the sake of the common herd who had +gathered about the list, but that his only incentive had been the Queen; +and she thought that, if he knew that she was at the window seeing and +watching him, his strength and courage would increase. And if she had +known his name, she would gladly have called to him to look about him. +Then she came to the Queen and said: "Lady, for God's sake and your +own as well as ours, I beseech you to tell me, if you know, the name of +yonder knight, to the end that it may be of some help to him." "Damsel," +the Queen replies, "you have asked me a question in which I see no hate +or evil, but rather good intent; the name of the knight, I know, is +Lancelot of the Lake." [420] "God, how happy and glad at heart I am!" +the damsel says. Then she leans forward and calls to him by name so +loudly that all the people hear: "Lancelot, turn about and see who is +here taking note of thee!" + +(Vv. 3685-3954.) When Lancelot heard his name, he was not slow to turn +around: he turns and sees seated up there at the window of the tower +her whom he desired most in the world to see. From the moment he caught +sight of her, he did not turn or take his eyes and face from her, +defending himself with backhand blows. And Meleagant meanwhile attacked +him as fiercely as he could, delighted to think that the other cannot +withstand him now; and they of the country are well pleased too, +while the foreigners are so distressed that they can no longer support +themselves, and many of them fall to earth either upon their knees or +stretched out prone; thus some are glad, and some distressed. Then the +damsel cried again from the window: "Ah, Lancelot, how is it that thou +dost now conduct thyself so foolishly? Once thou wert the embodiment +of prowess and of all that is good, and I do not think God ever made a +knight who could equal thee in valour and in worth. But now we see +thee so distressed that thou dealest back-hand blows and fightest thy +adversary, behind thy back. Turn, so as to be on the other side, and so +that thou canst face toward this tower, for it will help thee to keep +it in view." Then Lancelot is so ashamed and mortified that he hates +himself, for he knows full well that all have seen how, for some time +past, he has had the worst of the fight. Thereupon he leaps backward and +so manoeuvres as to force Meleagant into a position between him and the +tower. Meleagant makes every effort to regain his former position. But +Lancelot rushes upon him, and strikes him so violently upon his body and +shield whenever he tries to get around him, that he compels him to whirl +about two or three times in spite of himself. Lancelot's strength and +courage grow, partly because he has love's aid, and partly because he +never hated any one so much as him with whom he is engaged. Love and +mortal hate, so fierce that never before was such hate seen, make him so +fiery and bold that Meleagant ceases to treat it as a jest and begins to +stand in awe of him, for he had never met or known so doughty a knight, +nor had any knight ever wounded or injured him as this one does. He +is glad to get away from him, and he winces and sidesteps, fearing his +blows and avoiding them. And Lancelot does not idly threaten him, but +drives him rapidly toward the tower where the Queen was stationed on the +watch. There upon the tower he did her the homage of his blows until he +came so close that, if he advanced another step, he would lose sight +of her. Thus Lancelot drove him back and forth repeatedly in whatever +direction he pleased, always stopping before the Queen, his lady, who +had kindled the flame which compels him to fix his gaze upon her. And +this same flame so stirred him against Meleagant that he was enabled to +lead and drive him wherever he pleased. In spite of himself he drives +him on like a blind man or a man with a wooden leg. The king sees his +son so hard pressed that he is sorry for him and he pities him, and he +will not deny him aid and assistance if possible; but if he wishes to +proceed courteously, he must first beg the Queen's permission. So he +began to say to her: "Lady, since I have had you in my power, I have +loved you and faithfully served and honoured you. I never consciously +left anything undone in which I saw your honour involved; now repay +me for what I have done. For I am about to ask you a favour which you +should not grant unless you do so willingly. I plainly see that my son +is getting the worst of this battle; I do not speak so because of the +chagrin I feel, but in order that Lancelot, who has him in his power, +may not kill him. Nor ought you to wish to see him killed; not because +he has not wronged both you and him, but because I make the request of +you: so tell him, please, to stop beating him. If you will, you can thus +repay me for what I have done for you." "Fair sire, I am willing to do +so at your request," the Queen replies; "had I mortal hatred for your +son, whom it is true I do not love, yet you have served me so well that, +to please you, I am quite willing that he should desist." These words +were not spoken privately, but Lancelot and Meleagrant heard what was +said. The man who is a perfect lover is always obedient and quickly and +gladly does his mistress' pleasure. So Lancelot was constrained to do +his Lady's will, for he loved more than Pyramus, [421] if that were +possible for any man to do. Lancelot heard what was said, and as soon as +the last word had issued from her mouth, "since you wish him to desist, +I am willing that he should do so," Lancelot would not have touched him +or made a movement for anything, even if the other had killed him. He +does not touch him or raise his hand. But Meleagant, beside himself with +rage and shame when he hears that it has been necessary to intercede +in his behalf, strikes him with all the strength he can muster. And the +king went down from the tower to upbraid his son, and entering the list +he addressed him thus: "How now? Is this becoming, to strike him when he +is not touching thee? Thou art too cruel and savage, and thy prowess +is now out of place! For we all know beyond a doubt that he is thy +superior." Then Meleagant, choking with shame, says to the king: "I +think you must be blind! I do not believe you see a thing. Any one must +indeed be blind to think I am not better than he." "Seek some one to +believe thy words!" the king replies, "for all the people know whether +thou speakest the truth or a lie. All of us know full well the truth." +Then the king bids his barons lead his son away, which they do at once +in execution of his command: they led away Meleagant. But it was not +necessary to use force to induce Lancelot to withdraw, for Meleagant +might have harmed him grievously, before he would have sought to defend +himself. Then the king says to his son: "So help me God, now thou must +make peace and surrender the Queen. Thou must cease this quarrel once +for all and withdraw thy claim." "That is great nonsense you have +uttered! I hear you speak foolishly. Stand aside! Let us fight, and do +not mix in our affairs!" But the king says he will take a hand, for he +knows well that, were the fight to continue, Lancelot would kill his +son. "He kill me! Rather would I soon defeat and kill him, if you would +leave us alone and let us fight." Then the king says: "So help me God, +all that thou sayest is of no avail." "Why is that?" he asks. "Because I +will not consent. I will not so trust in thy folly and pride as to allow +thee to be killed. A man is a fool to court death, as thou dost in thy +ignorance. I know well that thou hatest me because I wish to save thy +life. God will not let me see and witness thy death, if I can help it, +for it would cause me too much grief." He talks to him and reproves him +until finally peace and good-will are restored. The terms of the peace +are these: he will surrender the Queen to Lancelot, provided that the +latter without reluctance will fight them again within a year of such +time as he shall choose to summon him: this is no trial to Lancelot. +When peace is made, all the people press about, and it is decided +that the battle shall be fought at the court of King Arthur, who holds +Britain and Cornwall in his sway: there they decide that it shall be. +And the Queen has to consent, and Lancelot has to promise, that if +Meleagant can prove him recreant, she shall come back with him again +without the interference of any one. When the Queen and Lancelot had +both agreed to this, the arrangement was concluded, and they both +retired and removed their arms. Now the custom in the country was that +when one issued forth, all the others might do so too. All called down +blessings upon Lancelot: and you may know that he must have felt great +joy, as in truth he did. All the strangers assemble and rejoice over +Lancelot, speaking so as to be heard by him: "Sire, in truth we were +joyful as soon as we heard your name, for we felt sure at once that we +should all be set free." There was a great crowd present at this glad +scene, as each one strives and presses forward to touch him if possible. +Any one who succeeded in touching him was more delighted than he could +tell. There was plenty of joy, and of sorrow too; those who were now set +free rejoiced unrestrainedly; but Meleagant and his followers have not +anything they want, but are pensive, gloomy, and downcast. The king +turns away from the list, taking with him Lancelot, who begs him to take +him to the Queen. "I shall not fail to do so," the king replies; "for it +seems to me the proper thing to do. And if you like, I will show you Kay +the seneschal." At this Lancelot is so glad that he almost falls at his +feet. Then the king took him at once into the hall, where the Queen had +come to wait for him. + +(Vv. 3955-4030.) When the Queen saw the king holding Lancelot by the +hand, she rose before the king, but she looked displeased with clouded +brow, and she spoke not a word. "Lady, here is Lancelot come to see +you," says the king; "you ought to be pleased and satisfied." "I, sire? +He cannot please me. I care nothing about seeing him." "Come now, lady," +says the king who was very frank and courteous, "what induces you to +act like this? You are too scornful toward a man who has served you so +faithfully that he has repeatedly exposed his life to mortal danger on +this journey for your sake, and who has defended and rescued you from my +son Meleagant who had deeply wronged you." "Sire, truly he has made +poor use of his time. I shall never deny that I feel no gratitude toward +him." Now Lancelot is dumbfounded; but he replies very humbly like a +polished lover: "Lady, certainly I am grieved at this, but I dare +not ask your reason." The Queen listened as Lancelot voiced his +disappointment, but in order to grieve and confound him, she would not +answer a single word, but returned to her room. And Lancelot followed +her with his eyes and heart until she reached the door; but she was not +long in sight, for the room was close by. His eyes would gladly have +followed her, had that been possible; but the heart, which is more +lordly and masterful in its strength, went through the door after her, +while the eyes remained behind weeping with the body. And the king said +privily to him: "Lancelot, I am amazed at what this means: and how it +comes about that the Queen cannot endure the sight of you, and that she +is so unwilling to speak with you. If she is ever accustomed to speak +with you, she ought not to be niggardly now or avoid conversation with +you, after what you have done for her. Now tell me, if you know, why and +for what misdeed she has shown you such a countenance." "Sire, I did not +notice that just now; but she will not look at me or hear my words, and +that distresses and grieves me much." "Surely," says the king, "she is +in the wrong, for you have risked your life for her. Come away now, fair +sweet friend, and we shall go to speak with the seneschal." "I shall be +glad to do so," he replies. Then they both go to the seneschal. As soon +as Lancelot came where he was, the seneschal's first exclamation was: +"How thou hast shamed me!" "I? How so?" Lancelot inquires; "tell me what +disgrace have I brought upon you?" "A very great disgrace, for thou hast +carried out what I could not accomplish, and thou hast done what I could +not do." + +(Vv. 4031-4124.) Then the king left them together in the room, and went +out alone. And Lancelot inquires of the seneschal if he has been badly +off. "Yes," he answers, "and I still am so. I was never more wretched +than I am now. And I should have died a long time ago, had it not been +for the king, who in his compassion has shown me so much gentleness and +kindness that he willingly let me lack nothing of which I stood in need; +but I was furnished at once with everything that I desired. But opposed +to the kindness which he showed me, was Meleagant his son, who is full +of wickedness, and who summoned the physicians to him and bade them +apply such ointments as would kill me. Such a father and stepfather have +I had! For when the king had a good plaster applied to my wounds in his +desire that I should soon be cured, his treacherous son, wishing to put +me to death, had it promptly taken off and some harmful salve applied. +But I am very sure that the king was ignorant of this; he would not +tolerate such base and murderous tricks. But you do not know how +courteous he has been to my lady: no frontier tower since the time that +Noah built the ark was ever so carefully guarded, for he has guarded her +so vigilantly that, though his son chafed under the restraint, he would +nor let him see her except in the presence of the king himself. Up to +the present time the king in his mercy has shown her all the marks of +consideration which she herself proposed. She alone had the disposition +of her affairs. And the king esteemed her all the more for the loyalty +she showed. But is it true, as I am told, that she is so angry with you +that she has publicly refused to speak with you?" "You have been told +the exact truth," Lancelot replies, "but for God's sake, can you tell me +why she is so displeased with me?" He replies that he does not know, and +that he is greatly surprised at it. "Well, let it be as she pleases," +says Lancelot, feeling his helplessness; "I must now take my leave, and +I shall go to seek my lord Gawain who has entered this land, and who +arranged with me that he would proceed directly to the waterbridge." +Then, leaving the room, he appeared before the king and asked for leave +to proceed in that direction. And the king willingly grants him leave to +go. Then those whom Lancelot had set free and delivered from prison ask +him what they are to do. And he replies: "All those who desire may come +with me, and those who wish to stay with the Queen may do so: there is +no reason why they should accompany me." Then all those, who so desire, +accompany him, more glad and joyous than is their wont. With the Queen +remain her damsels who are light of heart, and many knights and ladies +too. But there is not one of those who stay behind, who would not have +preferred to return to his own country to staying there. But on my +lord Gawain's account, whose arrival is expected, the Queen keeps them, +saying that she will never stir until she has news of him. + +(Vv. 4125-4262.) The news spreads everywhere that the Queen is free to +go, and that all the other prisoners have been set at liberty and are +free to go whenever it suits and pleases them. Wherever the people of +the land gather together, they ask each other about the truth of this +report, and never talk of anything else. They are very much enraged that +all the dangerous passes have been overcome, and that any one may come +and go as he pleases. But when the natives of the country, who had not +been present at the battle, learned how Lancelot had been the victor, +they all betook themselves to the place where they knew he must pass +by, thinking that the king would be well pleased if they should seize +Lancelot and hale him back to him. All of his own men were without +their arms, and therefore they were at a disadvantage when they saw the +natives of the country coming under arms. It was not strange that they +seized Lancelot, who was without his arms. They lead him back prisoner, +his feet lashed together beneath his horse. Then his own men say: +"Gentlemen, this is an evil deed; for the king has given us his +safe-conduct, and we are under his protection." But the others reply: +"We do not know how that may be; but as we have taken you, you must +return with us to court." The rumour, which swiftly flies and runs, +reaches the king, that his men have seized Lancelot and put him to +death. When the king hears it, he is sorely grieved and swears angrily +by his head that they who have killed him shall surely die for the deed; +and that, if he can seize or catch them, it shall be their fate to be +hanged, burned, or drowned. And if they attempt to deny their deed, he +will not believe what they say, for they have brought him such grief and +shame that he would be disgraced were vengeance not to be exacted from +them; but he will be avenged without a doubt. The news of this spread +until it reached the Queen, who was sitting at meat. She almost killed +herself on hearing the false report about Lancelot, but she supposes it +to be true, and therefore she is in such dismay that she almost loses +the power to speak; but, because of those present, she forces herself +to say: "In truth, I am sorry for his death, and it is no wonder that +I grieve, for he came into this country for my sake, and therefore I +should mourn for him." Then she says to herself, so that the others +should not hear, that no one need ask her to drink or eat, if it is +true that he is dead, in whose life she found her own. Then grieving she +rises from the table, and makes her lament, but so that no one hears +or notices her. She is so beside herself that she repeatedly grasps +her throat with the desire to kill herself; but first she confesses to +herself, and repents with self-reproach, blaming and censuring herself +for the wrong she had done him, who, as she knew, had always been hers, +and would still be hers, if he were alive. She is so distressed at +the thought of her cruelty, that her beauty is seriously impaired. Her +cruelty and meanness affected her and marred her beauty more than all +the vigils and fastings with which she afflicted herself. When all her +sins rise up before her, she gathers them together, and as she reviews +them, she repeatedly exclaims: "Alas! of what was I thinking when my +lover stood before me and I should have welcomed him, that I would not +listen to his words? Was I not a fool, when I refused to look at or +speak to him? Foolish indeed? Rather was I base and cruel, so help me +God. I intended it as a jest, but he did not take it so, and has not +pardoned me. I am sure it was no one but me who gave him his death-blow. +When he came before me smiling and expecting that I would be glad to +see him and would welcome him, and when I would not look at him, was not +that a mortal blow? When I refused to speak with him, then doubtless at +one blow I deprived him of his heart and life. These two strokes have +killed him, I am sure; no other bandits have caused his death. God! can +I ever make amends for this murder and this crime? No, indeed; sooner +will the rivers and the sea dry up. Alas! how much better I should feel, +and how much comfort I should take, if only once before he died I had +held him in my arms! What? Yes, certainly, quite unclad, in order the +better to enjoy him. If he is dead, I am very wicked not to destroy +myself. Why? Can it harm my lover for me to live on after he is dead, if +I take no pleasure in anything but in the woe I bear for him? In giving +myself up to grief after his death, the very woes I court would be sweet +to me, if he were only still alive. It is wrong for a woman to wish to +die rather than to suffer for her lover's sake. It is certainly sweet +for me to mourn him long. I would rather be beaten alive than die and be +at rest." + +(Vv. 4263-4414.) For two days the Queen thus mourned for him without +eating or drinking, until they thought she too would die. There are +plenty of people ready to carry bad news rather than good. The news +reaches Lancelot that his lady and sweetheart is dead. You need have +no doubt of the grief he felt; every one may feel sure that he was +afflicted and overcome with grief. Indeed, if you would know the truth, +he was so downcast that he held his life in slight esteem. He wished to +kill himself at once, but first he uttered a brief lament. He makes +a running noose at one end of the belt he wore, and then tearfully +communes thus with himself: "Ah, death, how hast thou spied me out and +undone me, when in the bloom of health! I am undone, and yet I feel no +pain except the grief within my heart. This is a terrible mortal grief. +I am willing that it should be so, and if God will, I shall die of it. +Then can I not die some other way, without God's consent? Yes, if he +will let me tie this noose around my neck. I think I can compel death, +even against her will, to take my life. Death, who covets only those +who fear her, will not come to me; but my belt will bring her within my +power, and as soon as she is mine, she will execute my desire. But, in +truth, she will come too tardily for me, for I yearn to have her now!" +Then he delays and hesitates no longer, but adjusts his head within the +noose until it rests about his neck; and in order that he may not +fail to harm himself, he fastens the end of the belt tightly about the +saddle-bow, without attracting the attention of any one. Then he let +himself slide to earth, intending his horse to drag him until he was +lifeless, for he disdains to live another hour. When those who ride with +him see him fallen to earth, they suppose him to be in a faint, for no +one sees the noose which he had attached about his neck. At once they +caught him in their arms and, on raising him, they found the noose which +he had put around his neck and with which he sought to kill himself. +They quickly cut the noose; but the noose had so hurt his throat that +for some time he could not speak; the veins of his neck and throat are +almost broken. Now he could not harm himself, even had he wished to +do so; however, he is grieved that they have laid hands on him, and he +almost burns up with rage, for willingly would he have killed himself +had no one chanced to notice him. And now when he cannot harm himself, +he cries: "Ah, vile and shameless death! For God's sake, why hadst thou +not the power and might to kill me before my lady died? I suppose it +was because thou wouldst not deign to do what might be a kindly deed. If +thou didst spare me, it must be attributed to thy wickedness. Ah, what +kind of service and kindness is that! How well hast thou employed them +here! A curse upon him who thanks thee or feels gratitude for such a +service! I know not which is more my enemy: life, which detains me, or +death, which will not slay me. Each one torments me mortally; and it +serves me right, so help me God, that in spite of myself I should still +live on. For I ought to have killed myself as soon as my lady the Queen +showed her hate for me; she did not do it without cause, but she had +some good reason, though I know not what it is. And if I had known what +it was before her soul went to God, I should have made her such rich +amends as would have pleased her and gained her mercy. God! what could +my crime have been? I think she must have known that I mounted upon the +cart. I do not know what other cause she can have to blame me. This has +been my undoing. If this is the reason of her hate, God! what harm could +this crime do? Any one who would reproach me for such an act never knew +what love is, for no one could mention anything which, if prompted by +love, ought to be turned into a reproach. Rather, everything that one +can do for his lady-love is to be regarded as a token of his love and +courtesy. Yet, I did not do it for my 'lady-love'. I know not by what +name to call her, whether 'lady-love', or not. I do not dare to call her +by this name. But I think I know this much of love: that if she loved +me, she ought not to esteem me less for this crime, but rather call me +her true lover, inasmuch as I regarded it as an honour to do all love +bade me do, even to mount upon a cart. She ought to ascribe this to +love; and this is a certain proof that love thus tries his devotees and +thus learns who is really his. But this service did not please my lady, +as I discovered by her countenance. And yet her lover did for her that +for which many have shamefully reproached and blamed him, though she was +the cause of it; and many blame me for the part I have played, and have +turned my sweetness into bitterness. In truth, such is the custom of +those who know so little of love, that even honour they wash in shame. +But whoever dips honour into shame, does not wash it, but rather sullies +it. But they, who maltreat him so, are quite ignorant of love; and he, +who fears not his commands, boasts himself very superior to him. +For unquestionably he fares well who obeys the commands of love, and +whatever he does is pardonable, but he is the coward who does not dare." + +(Vv. 4415-4440.) Thus Lancelot makes his lament, and his men stand +grieving by his side, keeping hold of him and guarding him. Then the +news comes that the Queen is not dead. Thereupon Lancelot at once takes +comfort, and if his grief for her death had before been intense and +deep, now his joy for her life was a hundred thousand times as great. +And when they arrived within six or seven leagues of the castle where +King Bademagu was, grateful news of Lancelot was told him, how he was +alive and was coming hale and hearty, and this news the king was glad +to hear. He did a very courteous thing in going at once to appraise the +Queen. And she replies: "Fair sire, since you say so, I believe it is +true, but I assure you that, if he were dead, I should never be happy +again. All my joy would be cut off, if a knight had been killed in my +service." + +(Vv. 4441-4530.) Then the king leaves her, and the Queen yearns ardently +for the arrival of her lover and her joy. She has no desire this time +to bear him any grudge. But rumour, which never rests but runs always +unceasingly, again reaches the Queen to the effect that Lancelot would +have killed himself for her sake, if he had had the chance. She is happy +at the thought that this is true, but she would not have had it happen +so for anything, for her sorrow would have been too great. Thereupon +Lancelot arrived in haste. [422] As soon as the king sees him, he runs +to kiss and embrace him. He feels as if he ought to fly, borne along by +the buoyancy of his joy. But his satisfaction is cut short by those who +had taken and bound his guest, and the king tells them they have come +in an evil hour, for they shall all be killed and confounded. Then they +made answer that they thought he would have it so. "It is I whom you +have insulted in doing your pleasure. He has no reason to complain," +the king replies; "you have not shamed him at all, but only me who was +protecting him. However you look at it, the shame is mine. But if you +escape me now, you will see no joke in this." When Lancelot hears his +wrath, he puts forth every effort to make peace and adjust matters; when +his efforts have met with success, the king takes him away to see the +Queen. This time the Queen did not lower her eyes to the ground, but she +went to meet him cheerfully, honouring him all she could, and making him +sit down by her side. Then they talked together at length of all that +was upon their hearts, and love furnished them with so much to say that +topics did not lack. And when Lancelot sees how well he stands, and that +all he says finds favour with the Queen, he says to her in confidence: +"Lady, I marvel greatly why you received me with such a countenance when +you saw me the day before yesterday, and why you would not speak a word +to me: I almost died of the blow you gave me, and I had not the courage +to dare to question you about it, as I now venture to do. I am ready +now, lady, to make amends, when you have told me what has been the crime +which has caused me such distress." Then the Queen replies: "What? Did +you not hesitate for shame to mount the cart? You showed you were loath +to get in, when you hesitated for two whole steps. That is the reason +why I would neither address nor look at you." "May God save me from such +a crime again," Lancelot replies, "and may God show me no mercy, if you +were not quite right! For God's sake, lady, receive my amends at once, +and tell me, for God's sake, if you can ever pardon me." "Friend, you +are quite forgiven," the Queen replies; "I pardon you willingly." "Thank +you for that, lady," he then says; "but I cannot tell you here all that +I should like to say; I should like to talk with you more at leisure, if +possible." Then the Queen indicates a window by her glance rather than +with her finger, and says: "Come through the garden to-night and speak +with me at yonder window, when every one inside has gone to sleep. You +will not be able to get in: I shall be inside and you outside: to gain +entrance will be impossible. I shall be able to touch you only with my +lips or hand, but, if you please, I will stay there until morning for +love of you. Our bodies cannot be joined, for close beside me in my room +lies Kay the seneschal, who is still suffering from his wounds. And the +door is not open, but is tightly closed and guarded well. When you come, +take care to let no spy catch sight of you." "Lady," says he, "if I can +help it, no spy shall see me who might think or speak evil of us." Then, +having agreed upon this plan, they separate very joyfully. + +(Vv. 4551-4650.) Lancelot leaves the room in such a happy frame that all +his past troubles are forgotten. But he was so impatient for the night +to come that his restlessness made the day seem longer than a hundred +ordinary days or than an entire year. If night had only come, he would +gladly have gone to the trysting place. Dark and sombre night at last +won its struggle with the day, and wrapped it up in its covering, and +laid it away beneath its cloak. When he saw the light of day obscured, +he pretended to be tired and worn, and said that, in view of his +protracted vigils, he needed rest. You, who have ever done the same, may +well understand and guess that he pretends to be tired and goes to bed +in order to deceive the people of the house; but he cared nothing about +his bed, nor would he have sought rest there for anything, for he could +not have done so and would not have dared, and furthermore he would not +have cared to possess the courage or the power to do so. Soon he softly +rose, and was pleased to find that no moon or star was shining, and that +in the house there was no candle, lamp, or lantern burning. Thus he went +out and looked about, but there was no one on the watch for him, for +all thought that he would sleep in his bed all night. Without escort or +company he quickly went out into the garden, meeting no one on the way, +and he was so fortunate as to find that a part of the garden-wall had +recently fallen down. Through this break he passes quickly and proceeds +to the window, where he stands, taking good care not to cough or sneeze, +until the Queen arrives clad in a very white chemise. She wore no cloak +or coat, but had thrown over her a short cape of scarlet cloth and +shrew-mouse fur. As soon as Lancelot saw the Queen leaning on the +window-sill behind the great iron bars, he honoured her with a gentle +salute. She promptly returned his greeting, for he was desirous of her, +and she of him. Their talk and conversation are not of vulgar, tiresome +affairs. They draw close to one another, until each holds the other's +hand. But they are so distressed at not being able to come together more +completely, that they curse the iron bars. Then Lancelot asserts that, +with the Queen's consent, he will come inside to be with her, and that +the bars cannot keep him out. And the Queen replies: "Do you not see how +the bars are stiff to bend and hard to break? You could never so twist, +pull or drag at them as to dislodge one of them." "Lady," says he, "have +no fear of that. It would take more than these bars to keep me out. +Nothing but your command could thwart my power to come to you. If you +will but grant me your permission, the way will open before me. But if +it is not your pleasure, then the way is so obstructed that I could not +possibly pass through." "Certainly," she says, "I consent. My will need +not stand in your way; but you must wait until I retire to my bed again, +so that no harm may come to you, for it would be no joke or jest if the +seneschal, who is sleeping here, should wake up on hearing you. So it is +best for me to withdraw, for no good could come of it, if he should see +me standing here." "Go then, lady," he replies; "but have no fear that I +shall make any noise. I think I can draw out the bars so softly and with +so little effort that no one shall be aroused." + +(Vv. 4651-4754.) Then the Queen retires, and he prepares to loosen the +window. Seizing the bars, he pulls and wrenches them until he makes them +bend and drags them from their places. But the iron was so sharp that +the end of his little finger was cut to the nerve, and the first joint +of the next finger was torn; but he who is intent upon something else +paid no heed to any of his wounds or to the blood which trickled down. +Though the window is not low, Lancelot gets through it quickly and +easily. First he finds Kay asleep in his bed, then he comes to the bed +of the Queen, whom he adores and before whom he kneels, holding her more +dear than the relic of any saint. And the Queen extends her arms to him +and, embracing him, presses him tightly against her bosom, drawing him +into the bed beside her and showing him every possible satisfaction; her +love and her heart go out to him. It is love that prompts her to treat +him so; and if she feels great love for him, he feels a hundred thousand +times as much for her. For there is no love at all in other hearts +compared with what there is in his; in his heart love was so completely +embodied that it was niggardly toward all other hearts. Now Lancelot +possesses all he wants, when the Queen voluntarily seeks his company +and love, and when he holds her in his arms, and she holds him in hers. +Their sport is so agreeable and sweet, as they kiss and fondle each +other, that in truth such a marvellous joy comes over them as was never +heard or known. But their joy will not be revealed by me, for in a +story, it has no place. Yet, the most choice and delightful satisfaction +was precisely that of which our story must not speak. That night +Lancelot's joy and pleasure were very great. But, to his sorrow, day +comes when he must leave his mistress' side. It cost him such pain to +leave her that he suffered a real martyr's agony. His heart now stays +where the Queen remains; he has not the power to lead it away, for it +finds such pleasure in the Queen that it has no desire to leave her: +so his body goes, and his heart remains. But enough of his body stays +behind to spot and stain the sheets with the blood which has fallen from +his fingers. Full of sighs and tears, Lancelot leaves in great distress. +He grieves that no time is fixed for another meeting, but it cannot +be. Regretfully he leaves by the window through which he had entered so +happily. He was so badly wounded in the fingers that they were in sorry, +state; yet he straightened the bars and set them in their place again, +so that from neither side, either before or behind, was it evident that +any one had drawn out or bent any of the bars. When he leaves the room, +he bows and acts precisely as if he were before a shrine; then he goes +with a heavy heart, and reaches his lodgings without being recognised by +any one. He throws himself naked upon his bed without awaking any one, +and then for the first time he is surprised to notice the cuts in his +fingers; but he is not at all concerned, for he is very sure that the +wound was caused by dragging the window bars from the wall. Therefore he +was not at all worried, for he would rather have had both arms dragged +from his body than not enter through the window. But he would have been +very angry and distressed, if he had thus injured and wounded himself +under any other circumstances. + +(Vv. 4755-5006.) In the morning, within her curtained room, the Queen +had fallen into a gentle sleep; she had not noticed that her sheets +were spotted with blood, but she supposed them to be perfectly white +and clean and presentable. Now Meleagant, as soon as he was dressed and +ready, went to the room where the Queen lay. He finds her awake, and he +sees the sheets spotted with fresh drops of blood, whereupon he nudges +his companions and, suspicious of some mischief, looks at the bed of Kay +the seneschal, and sees that his sheets are blood-stained too, for you +must know that in the night his wounds had begun to bleed afresh. Then +he said: "Lady, now I have found the evidence that I desired. It is very +true that any man is a fool to try to confine a woman: he wastes his +efforts and his pains. He who tries to keep her under guard loses her +sooner than the man who takes no thought of her. A fine watch, indeed, +has been kept by my father, who is guarding you on my behalf! He +has succeeded in keeping you from me, but, in spite of him, Kay the +seneschal has looked upon you last night, and has done what he pleased +with you, as can readily be proved." "What is that?" she asks. "Since I +must speak, I find blood on your sheets, which proves the fact. I know +it and can prove it, because I find on both your sheets and his the +blood which issued from his wounds: the evidence is very strong." +Then the Queen saw on both beds the bloody sheets, and marvelling, she +blushed with shame and said: "So help me God, this blood which I see +upon my sheets was never brought here by Kay, but my nose bled during +the night, and I suppose it must be from my nose." In saying so, she +thinks she tells the truth. "By my head," says Meleagant, "there is +nothing in what you say. Swearing is of no avail, for you are taken +in your guilt, and the truth will soon be proved." Then he said to the +guards who were present: "Gentlemen, do not move, and see to it that the +sheets are not taken from the bed until I return. I wish the king to do +me justice, as soon as he has seen the truth." Then he searched until he +found him, and failing at his feet, he said: "Sire, come to see what +you have failed to guard. Come to see the Queen, and you shall see the +certain marvels which I have already seen and tested. But, before you +go, I beg you not to fail to be just and upright toward me. You know +well to what danger I have exposed myself for the Queen; yet, you are no +friend of mine and keep her from me under guard. This morning I went to +see her in her bed, and I remarked that Kay lies with her every night. +Sire, for God's sake, be not angry, if I am disgruntled and if I +complain. For it is very humiliating for me to be hated and despised by +one with whom Kay is allowed to lie." "Silence!" says the king; "I don't +believe it." "Then come, my lord, and see the sheets and the state in +which Kay has left them. Since you will not believe my words, and since +you think I am lying, I will show you the sheets and the quilt covered +with blood from Kay's wounds." "Come now," says the king, "I wish to +see for myself, and my eyes will judge of the truth." Then the king goes +directly to the room, where the Queen got up at his approach. He sees +that the sheets are blood-stained on her bed and on Kay's alike and he +says: "Lady, it is going badly now, if what my son has said is true." +Then she replies: "So help me God, never even in a dream was uttered +such a monstrous lie. I think Kay the seneschal is courteous and loyal +enough not to commit such a deed, and besides, I do not expose my body +in the market-place, nor offer it of my own free will. Surely, Kay +is not the man to make an insulting proposal to me, and I have never +desired and shall never desire to do such a thing myself." "Sire, I +shall be much obliged to you," says Meleagant to his father, "if Kay +shall be made to atone for this outrage, and the Queen's shame thus +be exposed. It devolves upon you to see that justice is done, and this +justice I now request and claim. Kay has betrayed King Arthur, his lord, +who had such confidence in him that he entrusted to him what he loved +most in the world." "Let me answer, sire," says Kay, "and I shall +exonerate myself. May God have no mercy upon my soul when I leave this +world, if I ever lay with my lady! Indeed, I should rather be dead than +ever do my lord such an ugly wrong, and may God never grant me better +health than I have now but rather kill me on the spot, if such a thought +ever entered my mind! But I know that my wounds bled profusely last +night, and that is the reason why my sheets are stained with blood. That +is why your son suspects me, but surely he has no right to do so." +And Meleagant answers him: "So help me God, the devils and demons have +betrayed you. You grew too heated last night and, as a result of your +exertions, your wounds have doubtless bled afresh. There is no use in +your denying it; we can see it, and it is perfectly evident. It is +right that he should atone for his crime, who is so plainly taken in his +guilt. Never did a knight with so fair a name commit such iniquities +as this, and yours is the shame for it." "Sire, sire," says Kay to the +king, "I will defend the Queen and myself against the accusation of your +son. He harasses and distresses me, though he has no ground to treat me +so." "You cannot fight," the king replies, "you are too ill." "Sire, if +you will allow it, I will fight with him, ill as I am, and will show +him that I am not guilty of the crime which he imputes to me." But the +Queen, having secretly sent word to Lancelot, tells the king that she +will present a knight who will defend the seneschal, if Meleagant dares +to urge this charge. Then Meleagant said at once: "There is no knight +without exception, even were he a giant, whom I will not fight until one +of us is defeated." Then Lancelot came in, and with him such a rout +of knights that the whole hall was filled with them. As soon as he had +entered, in the hearing of all, both young and old, the Queen told +what had happened, and said: "Lancelot, this insult has been done me +by Meleagant. In the presence of all who hear his words he says I have +lied, if you do not make him take it back. Last night, he asserted, +Kay lay with me, because he found my sheets, like his, all stained with +blood; and he says that he stands convicted, unless he will undertake +his own defence, or unless some one else will fight the battle on his +behalf." Lancelot says: "You need never use arguments with me. May it +not please God that either you or he should be thus discredited! I am +ready to fight and to prove to the extent of my power that he never +was guilty of such a thought. I am ready to employ my strength in his +behalf, and to defend him against this charge." Then Meleagant jumped up +and said: "So help me God, I am pleased and well satisfied with that: +no one need think that I object." And Lancelot said: "My lord king, I +am well acquainted with suits and laws, with trials and verdicts: in +a question of veracity an oath should be taken before the fight." +Meleagant at once replies: "I agree to take an oath; so let the relics +be brought at once, for I know well that I am right." And Lancelot +answers him: "So help me God, no one who ever knew Kay the seneschal +would doubt his word on such a point." Then they call for their horses, +and ask that their arms be brought. This is promptly done, and when +the valets had armed them, they were ready for the fight. Then the holy +relics are brought forth: Meleagant steps forward, with Lancelot by his +side, and both fall on their knees. Then Meleagant, laying his hands +upon the relics, swears unreservedly: "So help me God and this holy +relic, Kay the seneschal lay with the Queen in her bed last night +and, had his pleasure with her." "And I swear that thou liest," says +Lancelot, "and furthermore I swear that he neither lay with her nor +touched her. And may it please God to take vengeance upon him who has +lied, and may He bring the truth to light! Moreover, I will take another +oath and swear, whoever may dislike it or be displeased, that if I am +permitted to vanquish Meleagant to-day, I will show him no mercy, so +help me God and these relics here!" The king felt no joy when he heard +this oath. + +(Vv. 5007-5198.) When the oaths had been taken, their horses were +brought forward, which were fair and good in every way. Each man mounts +his own home, and they ride at once at each other as fast as the steeds +can carry them; and when the horses are in mid-career, the knights +strike each other so fiercely that there is nothing left of the lances +in their hands. Each brings the other to earth; however, they are not +dismayed, but they rise at once and attack each other with their sharp +drawn swords. The burning sparks fly in the air from their helmets. They +assail each other so bitterly with the drawn swords in their hands that, +as they thrust and draw, they encounter each other with their blows and +will not pause even to catch their breath. The king in his grief and +anxiety called the Queen, who had gone up in the tower to look out from +the balcony: he begged her for God's sake, the Creator, to let them be +separated. "Whatever is your pleasure is agreeable to me," the Queen +says honestly: "I shall not object to anything you do." Lancelot plainly +heard what reply the Queen made to the king's request, and from +that time he ceased to fight and renounced the struggle at once. But +Meleagant does not wish to stop, and continues to strike and hew at him. +But the king rushes between them and stops his son, who declares with an +oath that he has no desire for peace. He wants to fight, and cares not +for peace. Then the king says to him: "Be quiet, and take my advice, and +be sensible. No shame or harm shall come to thee, if thou wilt do what +is right and heed my words. Dost thou not remember that thou hast agreed +to fight him at King Arthur's court? And dost thou not suppose that +it would be a much greater honour for thee to defeat him there than +anywhere else?" The king says this to see if he can so influence him as +to appease him and separate them. And Lancelot, who was impatient to +go in search of my lord Gawain, requests leave of the king and Queen to +depart. With their permission he goes away toward the water-bridge, and +after him there followed a great company of knights. But it would have +suited him very well, if many of those who went had stayed behind. They +make long days' journeys until they approach the water-bridge, but are +still about a league from it. Before they came in sight of the bridge, a +dwarf came to meet them on a mighty hunter, holding a scourge with which +to urge on and incite his steed. In accordance with his instructions, he +at once inquired: "Which of you is Lancelot? Don't conceal him from me; +I am of your party; tell me confidently, for I ask the question for your +good." Lancelot replies in his own behalf, and says: "I am he whom thou +seekest and askest for." "Ah," says the dwarf, "frank knight, leave +these people, and trust in me. Come along with me alone, for I will take +thee to a goodly place. Let no one follow thee for anything, but let +them wait here; for we shall return presently." He, suspecting no harm +in this, bids all his men stay there, and follows the dwarf who has +betrayed him. Meanwhile his men who wait for him may continue to expect +him long in vain, for they, who have taken and seized him, have no +desire to give him up. And his men are in such a state of grief at his +failure to return that they do not know what steps to take. They all +say sorrowfully that the dwarf has betrayed them. It would be useless to +inquire for him: with heavy hearts they begin to search, but they know +not where to look for him with any hope of finding him. So they all take +counsel, and the most reasonable and sensible agree on this, it seems: +to go to the passage of the water-bridge, which is close by, to see if +they can find my lord Gawain in wood or plain, and then with his advice +search for Lancelot. Upon this plan they all agree without dissension. +Toward the water-bridge they go, and as soon as they reach the bridge, +they see my lord Gawain overturned and fallen from the bridge into the +stream which is very deep. One moment he rises, and the next he sinks; +one moment they see him, and the next they lose him from sight. They +make such efforts that they succeed in raising him with branches, poles +and hooks. He had nothing but his hauberk on his back, and on his head +was fixed his helmet, which was worth ten of the common sort, and he +wore his iron greaves, which were all rusty with his sweat, for he had +endured great trials, and had passed victoriously through many perils +and assaults. His lance, his shield, and horse were all behind on the +other bank. Those who have rescued him do not believe he is alive. For +his body was full of water, and until he got rid of it, they did not +hear him speak a word. But when his speech and voice and the passageway +to his heart are free, and as soon, as what he said could be heard and +understood, he tried to speak he inquired at once for the Queen, whether +those present had any news of her. And they replied that she is still +with King Bademagu, who serves her well and honourably. "Has no one come +to seek her in this land?" my lord Gawain then inquires of them. And +they answer him: "Yes, indeed." "Who?" "Lancelot of the Lake," they say, +"who crossed the sword-bridge, and rescued and delivered her as well +as all the rest of us. But we have been betrayed by a pot-bellied, +humpbacked, and crabbed dwarf. He has deceived us shamefully in seducing +Lancelot from us, and we do not know what he has done with him." "When +was that?" my lord Gawain inquires. "Sire, near here this very day this +trick was played on us, while he was coming with us to meet you." "And +how has Lancelot been occupied since he entered this land?" Then they +begin to tell him all about him in detail, and then they tell him about +the Queen, how she is waiting for him and asserting that nothing could +induce her to leave the country, until she sees him or hears some +credible news of him. To them my lord Gawain replies: "When we leave +this bridge, we shall go to search for Lancelot." There is not one who +does not advise rather that they go to the Queen at once, and have the +king seek Lancelot, for it is their opinion that his son Meleagant has +shown his enmity by having him cast into prison. But if the king can +learn where he is, he will certainly make him surrender him: they can +rely upon this with confidence. + +(Vv. 5199-5256.) They all agreed upon this plan, and started at once +upon their way until they drew near the court where the Queen and king +were. There, too, was Kay the seneschal, and that disloyal man, full +to overflowing of treachery, who has aroused the greatest anxiety for +Lancelot on the part of the party which now arrives. They feel they +have been discomfited and betrayed, and they make great lament in their +misery. It is not a gracious message which reports this mourning to +the Queen. Nevertheless, she deports herself with as good a grace as +possible. She resolves to endure it, as she must, for the sake of my +lord Gawain. However, she does not so conceal her grief that it does not +somewhat appear. She has to show both joy and grief at once: her heart +is empty for Lancelot, and to my lord Gawain she shows excessive joy. +Every one who hears of the loss of Lancelot is grief-stricken and +distracted. The king would have rejoiced at the coming of my lord +Gawain and would have been delighted with his acquaintance; but he is +so sorrowful and distressed over the betrayal of Lancelot that he is +prostrated and full of grief. And the Queen beseeches him insistently +to have him searched for, up and down throughout the land, without +postponement or delay. My lord Gawain and Kay and all the others join +in this prayer and request. "Leave this care to me, and speak no more +of it," the king replies, "for I have been ready to do so for some +time. Without need of request or prayer this search shall be made with +thoroughness." Everyone bows in sign of gratitude, and the king at once +sends messengers through his realm, sagacious and prudent men-at-arms, +who inquired for him throughout the land. They made inquiry for him +everywhere, but gained no certain news of him. Not finding any, they +come back to the place where the knights remain; then Gawain and Kay and +all the others say that they will go in search of him, fully armed and +lance in rest; they will not trust to sending some one else. + +(Vv. 5257-5378.) One day after dinner they were all in the hall putting +on their arms, and the point had been reached where there was nothing to +do but start, when a valet entered and passed by them all until he came +before the Queen, whose cheeks were by no means rosy! For she was in +such mourning for Lancelot, of whom she had no news, that she had lost +all her colour. The valet greeted her as well as the king, who was by +her side, and then all the others and Kay and my lord Gawain. He held a +letter in his hand which he gave to the king, who took it. The king had +it read in the hearing of all by one who made no mistake in reading it. +The reader knew full well how to communicate to them what was written in +the parchment: he says that Lancelot sends greetings to the king as his +kind lord, and thanks him for the honour and kindness he has shown him, +and that he now places himself at the king's orders. And know that he +is now hale and hearty at King Arthur's court, and he bids him tell +the Queen to come thither, if she will consent, in company with my lord +Gawain and Kay. In proof of which, he affixed his signature which they +should recognise, as indeed they did. At this they were very happy and +glad; the whole court resounds with their jubilation, and they say they +will start next day as soon as it is light. So, when the day broke, they +make ready and prepare: they rise and mount and start. With great joy +and jubilee the king escorts them for a long distance on their way. When +he has conducted them to the frontier and has seen them safely across +the border, he takes leave of the Queen, and likewise of all the rest. +And when he comes to take his leave, the Queen is careful to express +her gratitude for all the kindness he has shown to her, and throwing +her arms about his neck, she offers and promises him her own service and +that of her lord: no greater promise can she make. And my lord Gawain +promises his service to him, as to his lord and friend, and then Kay +does likewise, and all the rest. Then the king commends them to God as +they start upon their way. After these three, he bids the rest farewell, +and then turns his face toward home. The Queen and her company do not +tarry a single day until news of them reaches the court. King Arthur +was delighted at the news of the Queen's approach, and he is happy and +pleased at the thought that his nephew had brought about the Queen's +return, as well as that of Kay and of the lesser folk. But the truth is +quite different from what he thinks. All the town is cleared as they go +to meet them, and knights and vassals join in shouting as they approach: +"Welcome to my lord Gawain, who has brought back the Queen and many +another captive lady, and has freed for us many prisoners!" Then Gawain +answered them: "Gentlemen, I do not deserve your praise. Do not trouble +ever to say this again, for the compliment does not apply to me. This +honour causes me only shame, for I did not reach the Queen in time; my +detention made me late. But Lancelot reached there in time, and won such +honour as was never won by any other knight." "Where is he, then, fair +dear sire, for we do not see him here?" "Where?" echoes my lord Gawain; +"at the court of my lord the King, to be sure. Is he not?" "No, he is +not here, or anywhere else in this country. Since my lady was taken +away, we have had no news of him." Then for the first time my lord +Gawain realised that the letter had been forged, and that they had been +betrayed and deceived: by the letter they had been misled. Then they all +begin to lament, and they come thus weeping to the court, where the King +at once asks for information about the affair. There were plenty who +could tell him how much Lancelot had done, how the Queen and all the +captives were delivered from durance by him, and by what treachery the +dwarf had stolen him and drawn him away from them. This news is not +pleasing to the King, and he is very sorry and full of grief; but his +heart is so lightened by the pleasure he takes in the Queen's return, +that his grief concludes in joy. When he has what he most desires, he +cares little for the rest. + +(Vv. 5379-5514.) While the Queen was out of the country, I believe, the +ladies and the damsels who were disconsolate, decided among themselves +that they would marry, soon, and they organised a contest and a +tournament. The lady of Noauz was patroness of it, with the lady of +Pomelegloi. They will have nothing to do with those who fare ill, but +they assert that they will accept those who comport themselves well in +the tournament. And they had the date of the contest proclaimed s long +while in advance in all the countries near and far, in order that there +might be more participants. Now the Queen arrived before the date they +had set, and as soon as the ladies heard of the Queen's return, most of +them came at once to the King and besought him to grant them a favour +and boon, which he did. He promised to do whatever they wished, before +he knew what their desire might be. Then they told him that they wished +him to let the Queen come to be present at their contest. And he who was +not accustomed to forbid, said he was willing, if she wished ir so. In +happy mood they go to the Queen and say to her: "Lady, do not deprive us +of the boon which the King has granted us." Then she asks them: "What +is that? Don't fail to tell!" Then they say to her: "If you will come to +our tournament, he will not gainsay you nor stand in the way." Then she +said that she would come, since he was willing that she should. Promptly +the dames send word throughout the realm that they are going to bring +the Queen on the day set for the tournament. The news spread far and +near, here and there, until it reached the kingdom whence no one used +to return--but now whoever wished might enter or pass out unopposed. +The news travelled in this kingdom until it came to a seneschal of +the faithless Meleagant may an evil fire burn him! This seneschal had +Lancelot in his keeping, for to him he had been entrusted by his enemy +Meleagant, who hated him with deadly hate. Lancelot learned the hour and +date of the tournament, and as soon as he heard of it, his eyes were not +tearless nor was his heart glad. The lady of the house, seeing Lancelot +sad and pensive, thus spoke to him: "Sire, for God's sake and for your +own soul's good, tell me truly," the lady said, "why you are so changed. +You won't eat or drink anything, and I see that you do not make merry or +laugh. You can tell me with confidence why you are so sad and troubled." +"Ah, lady, for God's sake, do not be surprised that I am sad! Truly, I +am very much downcast, since I cannot be present where all that is good +in the world will be assembled: that is, at the tournament where +there will be a gathering of the people who make the earth tremble. +Nevertheless, if it pleased you, and if God should incline your heart +to let me go thither, you might rest assured that I should be careful to +return to my captivity here." "I would gladly do it," she replied, "if I +did not see that my death and destruction would result. But I am in such +terror of my lord, the despicable Meleagant, that I would not dare to +do it, for he would kill my husband at once. It is not strange that I +am afraid of him, for, as you know, he is very bad." "Lady, if you are +afraid that I may not return to you at once after the tournament, I will +take an oath which I will never break, that nothing will detain me from +returning at once to my prison here immediately after the tournament." +"Upon my word," said she, "I will allow it upon one condition." "Lady, +what condition is that?" Then she replies: "Sire, upon condition that +you wilt swear to return to me, and promise that I shall have your +love." "Lady, I give you all the love I have, and swear to come back." +Then the lady laughs and says: "I have no cause to boast of such a gift, +for I know you have bestowed upon some one else the love for which I +have just made request. However, I do not disdain to take so much of it +as I can get. I shall be satisfied with what I can have, and will accept +your oath that you will be so considerate of me as to return hither a +prisoner." + +(Vv. 5515-5594.) In accordance with her wish, Lancelot swears by Holy +Church that he will return without fail. And the lady at once gives him +the vermilion arms of her lord, and his horse which was marvellously +good and strong and brave. He mounts and leaves, armed with handsome, +new arms, and proceeds until he comes to Noauz. He espoused this side in +the tournament, and took his lodging outside the town. Never did such +a noble man choose such a small and lowly lodging-place; but he did not +wish to lodge where he might be recognised. There were many good and +excellent knights gathered within the town. But there were many more +outside, for so many had come on account of the presence of the Queen +that the fifth part could not be accommodated inside. For every one who +would have been there under ordinary circumstances, there were seven who +would not have come excepting on the Queen's account. The barons were +quartered in tents, lodges, and pavilions for five leagues around. +Moreover, it was wonderful how many gentle ladies and damsels were +there. Lancelot placed his shield outside the door of his lodging-place, +and then, to make himself more comfortable, he took off his arms and lay +down upon a bed which he held in slight esteem; for it was narrow +and had a thin mattress, and was covered with a coarse hempen cloth. +Lancelot had thrown himself upon the bed all disarmed, and as he +lay there in such poor estate, behold! a fellow came in in his +shirt-sleeves; he was a herald-at-arms, and had left his coat and shoes +in the tavern as a pledge; so he came running barefoot and exposed to +the wind. He saw the shield hanging outside the door, and looked at it: +but naturally he did not recognise it or know to whom it belonged, or +who was the bearer of it. He sees the door of the house standing open, +and upon entering, he sees Lancelot upon the bed, and as soon as he saw +him, he recognised him and crossed himself. And Lancelot made a sign to +him, and ordered him not to speak of him wherever he might go, for if +he should tell that he knew him, it would be better for him to have his +eyes put out or his neck broken. "Sire," the herald says, "I have +always held you in high esteem, and so long as I live, I shall never +do anything to cause you displeasure." Then he runs from the house and +cries aloud: "Now there has come one who will take the measure! [423] +Now there has come one who will take the measure!" The fellow shouts +this everywhere, and the people come from every side and ask him what is +the meaning of his cry. He is not so rash as to answer them, but goes +on shouting the same words: "Now there has come one who will take the +measure!" This herald was the master of us all, when he taught us to use +the phrase, for he was the first to make use of it. + +(Vv. 5595-5640.) Now the crowd was assembled, including the Queen and +all the ladies, the knights and the other people, and there were many +men-at-arms everywhere, to the right and left. At the place where the +tournament was to be, there were some large wooden stands for the use of +the Queen with her ladies and damsels. Such fine stands were never seen +before they were so long and well constructed. Thither the ladies betook +themselves with the Queen, wishing to see who would fare better or worse +in the combat. Knights arrive by tens, twenties, and thirties, here +eighty and there ninety, here a hundred, there still more, and yonder +twice as many yet; so that the press is so great in front of the stands +and all around that they decide to begin the joust. As they assemble, +armed and unarmed, their lances suggest the appearance of a wood, for +those who have come to the sport brought so many lances that there is +nothing in sight but lances, banners, and standards. Those who are going +to take part begin to joust, and they find plenty of their companions +who had come with similar intent. Still others prepare to perform other +feats of chivalry. The fields, meadows, and fallow lands are so full of +knights that it is impossible to estimate how many of them are there. +But there was no sign of Lancelot at this first gathering of the +knights; but later, when he entered the middle of the field, the herald +saw him and could not refrain from crying out: "Behold him who will take +the measure! Behold him who will take the measure!" And the people ask +him who he is, but he will not tell them anything. + +(Vv. 5641-6104.) When Lancelot entered the tournament, he was as good as +twenty of the best, and he began to fight so doughtily that no one could +take his eyes from him, wherever he was. On the Pomelegloi side there +was a brave and valorous knight, and his horse was spirited and swifter +than a wild stag. He was the son of the Irish king, and fought well +and handsomely. But the unknown knight pleased them all more a hundred +times. In wonder they all make haste to ask: "Who is this knight who +fights so well?" And the Queen privily called a clever and wise damsel +to her and said: "Damsel, you must carry a message, and do it quickly +and with few words. Go down from the stand, and approach yonder knight +with the vermilion shield, and tell him privately that I bid him do his +'worst'." She goes quickly, and with intelligence executes the Queen's +command. She sought the knight until she came up close to him; then +she said to him prudently and in a voice so low that no one standing by +might hear: "Sire, my lady the Queen sends you word by me that you shall +do your 'worst'." When he heard this, he replied: "Very willingly," like +one who is altogether hers. Then he rides at another knight as hard as +his horse can carry him, and misses his thrust which should have struck +him. From that time till evening fell he continued to do as badly as +possible in accordance with the Queen's desire. But the other, who +fought with him, did not miss his thrust, but struck him with such +violence that he was roughly handled. Thereupon he took to flight, and +after that he never turned his horse's head toward any knight, and were +he to die for it, he would never do anything unless he saw in it his +shame, disgrace, and dishonour; he even pretends to be afraid of all the +knights who pass to and fro. And the very knights who formerly esteemed +him now hurled jests and jibes at him. And the herald who had been +saying: "He will beat them all in turn!" is greatly dejected and +discomfited when he hears the scornful jokes of those who shout: +"Friend, say no more! This fellow will not take any one's measure again. +He has measured so much that his yardstick is broken, of which thou hast +boasted to us so much." Many say: "What is he going to do? He was so +brave just now; but now he is so cowardly that there is not a knight +whom he dares to face. The cause of his first success must have been +that he never engaged at arms before, and he was so brave at his first +attack that the most skilled knight dared not withstand him, for he +fought like a wild man. But now he has learned so much of arms that he +will never wish to bear them again his whole life long. His heart cannot +longer endure the thought, for there is nothing more cowardly than his +heart." And the Queen, as she watches him, is happy and well-pleased, +for she knows full well, though she does not say it, that this is surely +Lancelot. Thus all day long till evening he played his coward's part, +and late in the afternoon they separated. At parting there was a great +discussion as to who had done the best. The son of the Irish king thinks +that without doubt or contradiction he has all the glory and renown. But +he is grievously mistaken, for there were plenty of others as good as +he. Even the vermilion knight so pleased the fairest and gentlest of +the ladies and damsels that they had gazed at him more than at any +other knight, for they had remarked how well he fought at first, and how +excellent and brave he was; then he had become so cowardly that he dared +not face a single knight, and even the worst of them could defeat and +capture him at will. But knights and ladies all agreed that on the +morrow they should return to the list, and the damsels should choose +as their lords those who should win honour in that day's fight: on this +arrangement they all agree. Then they turn toward their lodgings, and +when they had returned, here and there men began to say: "What has +become of the worst, the most craven and despised of knights? Whither +did he go? Where is he concealed? Where is he to be found? Where shall +we search for him? We shall probably never see him again. For he has +been driven off by cowardice, with which he is so filled that there +is no greater craven in the world than he. And he is not wrong, for a +coward is a hundred times more at ease than a valorous fighting man. +Cowardice is easy of entreaty, and that is the reason he has given her +the kiss of peace and has taken from her all she has to give. Courage +never so debased herself as to lodge in his breast or take quarters near +him. But cowardice is altogether lodged with him, and she has found a +host who will honour her and serve her so faithfully that he is willing +to resign his own fair name for hers." Thus they wrangle all night, +vying with each other in slander. But often one man maligns another, and +yet is much worse himself than the object of his blame and scorn. Thus, +every one said what he pleased about him. And when the next day dawned, +all the people prepared and came again to the jousting place. The Queen +was in the stand again, accompanied by her ladies and damsels and many +knights without their arms, who had been captured or defeated, and these +explained to them the armorial bearings of the knights whom they most +esteem. Thus they talk among themselves: [424] "Do you see that knight +yonder with a golden band across the middle of his red shield? That is +Governauz of Roberdic. And do you see that other one, who has an eagle +and a dragon painted side by side upon his shield? That is the son of +the King of Aragon, who has come to this land in search of glory and +renown. And do you see that one beside him, who thrusts and jousts so +well, bearing a shield with a leopard painted on a green ground on +one part, and the other half is azure blue? That is Ignaures the +well-beloved, a lover himself and jovial. And he who bears the shield +with the pheasants portrayed beak to beak is Coguillanz of Mautirec. Do +you see those two side by side, with their dappled steeds, and golden +shields showing black lions? One is named Semiramis, and the other is +his companion; their shields are painted alike. And do you see the one +who has a shield with a gate painted on it, through which a stag appears +to be passing out? That is King Ider, in truth." Thus they talk up in +the stand. "That shield was made at Limoges, whence it was brought by +Pilades, who is very ardent and keen to be always in the fight. That +shield, bridle, and breast-strap were made at Toulouse, and were brought +here by Kay of Estraus. The other came from Lyons on the Rhone, and +there is no better under heaven; for his great merit it was presented +to Taulas of the Desert, who bears it well and protects himself with +it skilfully. Yonder shield is of English workmanship and was made at +London; you see on it two swallows which appear as if about to fly; yet +they do not move, but receive many blows from the Poitevin lances of +steel; he who has it is poor Thoas." Thus they point out and describe +the arms of those they know; but they see nothing of him whom they had +held in such contempt, and, not remarking him in the fray, they suppose +that he has slipped away. When the Queen sees that he is not there, she +feels inclined to send some one to search for him in the crowd until he +be found. She knows of no one better to send in search of him than she +who yesterday performed her errand. So, straightway calling her, she +said to her: "Damsel, go and mount your palfrey! I send you to the same +knight as I sent you yesterday, and do you seek him until you find him. +Do not delay for any cause, and tell him again to do his 'worst'. And +when you have given him this message, mark well what reply he makes." +The damsel makes no delay, for she had carefully noticed the direction +he took the night before, knowing well that she would be sent to him +again. She made her way through the ranks until she saw the knight, whom +she instructs at once to do his "worst" again, if he desires the love +and favour of the Queen which she sends him. And he makes answer: "My +thanks to her, since such is her will." Then the damsel went away, and +the valets, sergeants, and squires begin to shout: "See this marvellous +thing! He of yesterday with the vermilion arms is back again. What +can he want? Never in the world was there such a vile, despicable, and +craven wretch! He is so in the power of cowardice that resistance is +useless on his part." And the damsel returns to the Queen, who detained +her and would not let her go until she heard what his response had been; +then she heartily rejoiced, feeling no longer any doubt that this is he +to whom she altogether belongs, and he is hers in like manner. Then she +bids the damsel quickly return and tell him that it is her command and +prayer that he shall do his "best "; and she says she will go at once +without delay. She came down from the stand to where her valet with +the palfrey was awaiting her. She mounted and rode until she found the +knight, to whom she said at once: "Sire, my lady now sends word that you +shall do the 'best' you can!" And he replies: "Tell her now that it +is never a hardship to do her will, for whatever pleases her is my +delight." The maiden was not slow in bearing back this message, for she +thinks it will greatly please and delight the Queen. She made her way as +directly as possible to the stand, where the Queen rose and started to +meet her, however, she did not go down, but waited for her at the top +of the steps. And the damsel came happy in the message she had to bear. +When she had climbed the steps and reached her side, she said: "Lady, I +never saw so courteous g knight, for he is more than ready to obey every +command you send to him, for, if the truth be known, he accepts good and +evil with the same countenance." "Indeed," says the Queen, "that may +well be so." Then she returns to the balcony to watch the knights. And +Lancelot without delay seizes his shield by the leather straps, for he +is kindled and consumed by the desire to show his prowess. Guiding his +horse's head, he lets him run between two lines. All those mistaken and +deluded men, who have spent a large part of the day and night in heaping +him with ridicule, will soon be disconcerted. For a long time they have +had their sport and joke and fun. The son of the King of Ireland held +his shield closely gripped by the leather straps, as he spurs fiercely +to meet him from the opposite direction. They come together with such +violence that the son of the Irish king having broken and splintered his +lance, wishes no more of the tournament; for it was not moss he struck, +but hard, dry boards. In this encounter Lancelot taught him one of his +thrusts, when he pinned his shield to his arm, and his arm to his side, +and brought him down from his horse to earth. Like arrows the knights +at once fly out, spurring and pricking from either side, some to relieve +this knight, others to add to his distress. While some thus try to aid +their lords, many a saddle is left empty in the strife and fray. But +all that day Gawain took no hand at arms, though he was with the others +there, for he took such pleasure in watching the deeds of him with +the red painted arms that what the others did seemed to him pale in +comparison. And the herald cheered up again, as he shouted aloud so +that all could hear: "Here there has one come who will take the measure! +To-day you shall see what he can do. To-day his prowess shall appear." +Then the knight directs his steed and makes a very skilful thrust +against a certain knight, whom he strikes so hard that he carries him a +hundred feet or more from his horse. His feats with sword and lance are +so well performed that there is none of the onlookers who does not find +pleasure in watching him. Many even of those who bear arms find pleasure +and satisfaction in what he does, for it is great sport to see how he +makes horses and knights tumble and fall. He encounters hardly a single +knight who is able to keep his seat, and he gives the horses he wins to +those who want them. Then those who had been making game of him said: +"Now we are disgraced and mortified. It was a great mistake for us to +deride and vilify this man, for he is surely worth a thousand such as +we are on this field; for he has defeated and outdone all the knights +in the world, so that there is no one now that opposes him." And the +damsels, who amazed were watching him, all said that he might take them +to wife; but they did not dare to trust in their beauty or wealth, or +power or highness, for not for her beauty or wealth would this peerless +knight deign to choose any one of them. Yet, most of them are so +enamoured of him that they say that, unless they marry him, they will +not be bestowed upon any man this year. And the Queen, who hears them +boast, laughs to herself and enjoy the fun, for well she knows that if +all the gold of Arabia should be set before him, yet he who is beloved +by them all would not select the best, the fairest, or the most charming +of the group. One wish is common to them all--each wishes to have him as +her spouse. One is jealous of another, as if she were already his wife; +and all this is because they see him so adroit that in their opinion no +mortal man could perform such deeds as he had done. He did so well that +when the time came to leave the list, they admitted freely on both sides +that no one had equalled the knight with the vermilion shield. All said +this, and it was true. But when he left, he allowed his shield and lance +and trappings to fall where he saw the thickest press, then he rode off +hastily with such secrecy that no one of all the host noticed that he +had disappeared. But he went straight back to the place whence he had +come, to keep his oath. When the tournament broke up, they all searched +and asked for him, but without success, for he fled away, having no +desire to be recognised. The knights are disappointed and distressed, +for they would have rejoiced to have him there. But if the knights were +grieved to have been deserted thus, still greater was the damsels' grief +when they learned the truth, and they asserted by St. John that they +would not marry at all that year. If they can't have him whom they +truly love, then all the others may be dismissed. Thus the tourney was +adjourned without any of them choosing a husband. Meanwhile Lancelot +without delay repairs to his prison. But the seneschal arrived two or +three days before Lancelot, and inquired where he was. And his wife, who +had given to Lancelot his fair and well-equipped vermilion arms, as well +as his harness and his horse, told the truth to the seneschal--how she +had sent him where there had been jousting at the tourney of Noauz. +"Lady," the seneschal replies, "you could truly have done nothing worse +than that. Doubtless, I shall smart for this, for my lord Meleagant +will treat me worse than the beach-combers' law would treat me were I a +mariner in distress. I shall be killed or banished the moment he hears +the news, and he will have no pity for me." "Fair sire, be not now +dismayed," the lady said; "there is no occasion for the fear you feel. +There is no possibility of his detention, for he swore to me by the +saints that he would return as soon as possible." + +(Vv. 6105-6166.) [425] Then the seneschal mounts, and coming to his +lord, tells him the whole story of the episode; but at the same time, he +emphatically reassures him, telling how his wife had received his oath +that he would return to his prison. "He will not break his word, I +know," says Meleagant: "and yet I am very much displeased at what your +wife has done. Not for any consideration would I have had him present at +that tournament. But return now, and see to it that, when he comes back, +he be so strictly guarded that he shall not escape from his prison or +have any freedom of body: and send me word at once." "Your orders shall +be obeyed," says the seneschal. Then he goes away and finds Lancelot +returned as prisoner in his yard. A messenger, sent by the seneschal, +runs back at once to Meleagant, appraising him of Lancelot's return. +When he heard this news, he took masons and carpenters who unwillingly +or of their own free-will executed his commands. He summoned the best +artisans in the land, and commanded them to build a tower, and exert +themselves to build it well. The stone was quarried by the seaside; for +near Gorre on this side there runs a big broad arm of the sea, in the +midst of which an island stood, as Meleagant well knew. He ordered the +stone to be carried thither and the material for the construction of +the tower. In less than fifty-seven days the tower was completely built, +high and thick and well-founded. When it was completed, he had Lancelot +brought thither by night, and after putting him in the tower, he ordered +the doors to be walled up, and made all the masons swear that they would +never utter a word about this tower. It was his will that it should be +thus sealed up, and that no door or opening should remain, except one +small window. Here Lancelot was compelled to stay, and they gave him +poor and meagre fare through this little window at certain hours, as the +disloyal wretch had ordered and commanded them. + +(Vv. 6167-6220.) Now Meleagant has carried out all his purpose, and he +betakes himself to King Arthur's court: behold him now arrived! And when +he was before the King, he thus spoke with pride and arrogance: "King, I +have scheduled a battle to take place in thy presence and in thy +court. But I see nothing of Lancelot who agreed to be my antagonist. +Nevertheless, as my duty is, in the hearing of all who are present here, +I offer myself to fight this battle. And if he is here, let him now step +forth and agree to meet me in your court a year from now. I know not if +any one has told you how this battle was agreed upon. But I see knights +here who were present at our conference, and who, if they would, could +tell you the truth. If he should try to deny the truth, I should employ +no hireling to take my place, but would prove it to him hand to hand." +The Queen, who was seated beside the King, draws him to her as she says: +"Sire, do you know who that knight is? It is Meleagant who carried me +away while escorted by Kay the seneschal; he caused him plenty of shame +and mischief too." And the King answered her: "Lady, I understand; I +know full well that it is he who held my people in distress." The Queen +says no more, but the King addresses Meleagant: "Friend," he says, "so +help me God, we are very sad because we know nothing of Lancelot." "My +lord King," says Meleagant, "Lancelot told me that I should surely +find him here. Nowhere but in your court must I issue the call to this +battle, and I desire all your knights here to bear me witness that I +summon him to fight a year from to-day, as stipulated when we agreed to +fight." + +(Vv. 6221-6458.) At this my lord Gawain gets up, much distressed at what +he hears: "Sire, there is nothing known of Lancelot in all this land," +he says; "but we shall send in search of him and, if God will, we shall +find him yet, before the end of the year is reached, unless he be dead +or in prison. And if he does not appear, then grant me the battle, and +I will fight for him: I will arm myself in place of Lancelot, if he does +not return before that day." "Ah," says Meleagant, "for God's sake, my +fair lord King, grant him the boon. I join my request to his desire, for +I know no knight in all the world with whom I would more gladly try my +strength, excepting only Lancelot. But bear in mind that, if I do not +fight with one of them, I will accept no exchange or substitution for +either one." And the King says that this is understood, if Lancelot +does not return within the time. Then Meleagant left the royal court and +journeyed until he found his father, King Bademagu. In order to appear +brave and of consideration in his presence, he began by making a great +pretence and by assuming an expression of marvellous cheer. That day the +king was holding a joyous court at his city of Bade; [426] it was his +birthday, which he celebrated with splendour and generosity, and there +were many people of divers sorts gathered with him. All the palace +was filled with knights and damsels, and among them was the sister of +Meleagant, of whom I shall tell you, farther on, what is my thought +and reason for mentioning her here. But it is not fitting that I should +explain it here, for I do not wish to confuse or entangle my material, +but rather to treat it straight forwardly. Now I must tell you that +Meleagant in the hearing of all, both great and small, spoke thus to his +father boastingly: "Father," he says, "so help me God, please tell me +truly now whether he ought not to be well-content, and whether he is +not truly brave, who can cause his arms to be feared at King Arthur's +court?" To this question his father replies at once: "Son," he says, +"all good men ought to honour and serve and seek the company of one +whose deserts are such." Then he flattered him with the request that +he should not conceal why he has alluded to this, what he wishes, and +whence he comes. "Sire, I know not whether you remember," Meleagant +begins, "the agreements and stipulations which were recorded when +Lancelot and I made peace. It was then agreed, I believe, and in the +presence of many we were told, that we should present ourselves at the +end of a year at Arthur's court. I went thither at the appointed time, +ready equipped for my business there. I did everything that had been +prescribed: I called and searched for Lancelot, with whom I was to +fight, but I could not gain a sight of him: he had fled and run away. +When I came away, Gawain pledged his word that, if Lancelot is not alive +and does not return within the time agreed upon, no further postponement +will be asked, but that he himself will fight the battle against me in +place of Lancelot. Arthur has no knight, as is well known, whose fame +equals his, but before the flowers bloom again, I shall see, when we +come to blows, whether his fame and his deeds are in accord: I only +wish it could be settled now!" "Son," says his father, "thou art acting +exactly like a fool. Any one, who knew it not before, may learn of thy +madness from thy own lips. A good heart truly humbles itself, but the +fool and the boastful never lose their folly. Son, to thee I direct my +words, for the traits of thy character are so hard and dry, that +there is no place for sweetness or friendship. Thy heart is altogether +pitiless: thou art altogether in folly's grasp. This accounts for my +slight respect for thee, and this is what will cast thee down. If thou +art brave, there will be plenty of men to say so in time of need. A +virtuous man need not praise his heart in order to enhance his deed; the +deed itself will speak in its own praise. Thy self-praise does not aid +thee a whit to increase in any one's esteem; indeed, I hold thee in less +esteem. Son, I chasten thee; but to what end? It is of little use to +advise a fool. He only wastes his strength in vain who tries to cure +the madness of a fool, and the wisdom that one teaches and expounds is +worthless, wasted and unemployed, unless it is expressed in works." Then +Meleagant was sorely enraged and furious. I may truly say that never +could you see a mortal man so full of anger as he was; the last bond +between them was broken then, as he spoke to his father these ungracious +words: "Are you in a dream or trance, when you say that I am mad to tell +you how my matters stand? I thought I had come to you as to my lord and +my father; but that does not seem to be the case, for you insult me more +outrageously than I think you have any right to do; moreover, you can +give no reason for having addressed me thus." "Indeed, I can." "What is +it, then?" "Because I see nothing in thee but folly and wrath. I know +very well what thy courage is like, and that it will cause thee great +trouble yet. A curse upon him who supposes that the elegant Lancelot, +who is esteemed by all but thee, has ever fled from thee through fear. +I am sure that he is buried or confined in some prison whose door is +barred so tight that he cannot escape without leave. I should surely be +sorely grieved if he were dead or in distress. It would surely be too +bad, were a creature so splendidly equipped, so fair, so bold, yet so +serene, to perish thus before his time. But, may it please God, this +is not true." Then Bademagu said no more; but a daughter of his had +listened attentively to all his words, and you must know that it was she +whom I mentioned earlier in my tale, and who is not happy now to hear +such news of Lancelot. It is quite clear to her that he is shut up, +since no one knows any news of him or his wanderings. "May God never +look upon me, if I rest until I have some sure and certain news of +him!" Straightway, without making any noise or disturbance, she runs +and mounts a fair and easy-stepping mule. But I must say that when she +leaves the court, she knows not which way to turn. However, she asks no +advice in her predicament, but takes the first road she finds, and +rides along at random rapidly, unaccompanied by knight or squire. In her +eagerness she makes haste to attain the object of her search. Keenly she +presses forward in her quest, but it will not soon terminate. She may +not rest or delay long in any single place, if she wishes to carry out +her plan, to release Lancelot from his prison, if she can find him and +if it is possible. But in my opinion, before she finds him she will have +searched in many a land, after many a journey and many a quest, before +she has any news of him. But what would be the use of my telling you of +her lodgings and her journeyings? Finally, she travelled so far through +hill and dale, up and down, that more than a month had passed, and as +yet she had learned only so much as she knew before--that is, absolutely +nothing. One day she was crossing a field in a sad and pensive mood, +when she saw a tower in the distance standing by the shore of an arm of +the sea. Not within a league around about was there any house, cottage, +or dwelling-place. Meleagant had had it built, and had confined Lancelot +within. But of all this she still was unaware. As soon as she espied the +tower, she fixed her attention upon it to the exclusion of all else. And +her heart gives her assurance that here is the object of her quest; now +at last she has reached her goal, to which Fortune through many trials +has at last directed her. + +(Vv. 6459-6656.) The damsel draws so near to the tower that she can +touch it with her hands. She walks about, listening attentively, I +suppose, if perchance she may hear some welcome sound. She looks down +and she gazes up, and she sees that the tower is strong and high and +thick. She is amazed to see no door or window, except one little narrow +opening. Moreover, there was no ladder or steps about this high, sheer +tower. For this reason she surmises that it was made so intentionally, +and that Lancelot is confined inside. But she resolves that before she +tastes of food, she will learn whether this is so or not. She thinks she +will call Lancelot by name, and is about to do so when she is deterred +by hearing from the tower a voice which was making a marvellously sad +moan as it called on death. It implores death to come, and complains of +misery unbearable. In contempt of the body and life, it weakly piped in +a low, hoarse tone: "Ah, fortune, how disastrously thy wheel has turned +for me! Thou hast mocked me shamefully: a while ago I was up, but now I +am down; I was well off of late, but now I am in a sorry state; not long +since thou didst smile on me, but now thy eyes are filled with tears. +Alas, poor wretch, why didst thou trust in her, when so soon she has +deserted thee! Behold, in a very little while she has cast thee down +from thy high estate! Fortune, it was wrong of thee to mock me thus; but +what carest thou! Thou carest not how it may turn out. Ah, sacred Cross! +All, Holy Ghost! How am I wretched and undone! How completely has my +career been closed! Ah, Gawain, you who possess such worth, and whose +goodness is unparalleled, surely I may well be amazed that you do +not come to succour me. Surely you delay too long and are not showing +courtesy. He ought indeed to receive your aid whom you used to love so +devotedly! For my part I may truly say that there is no lodging place or +retreat on either side of the sea, where I would not have searched for +you at least seven or ten years before finding you, if I knew you to be +in prison. But why do I thus torment myself? You do not care for me even +enough to take this trouble. The rustic is right when he says that it +is hard nowadays to find a friend! It is easy to rest the true friend +in time of need. Alas! more than a year has passed since first I was put +inside this tower. I feel hurt, Gawain, that you have so long deserted +me! But doubtless you know nothing of all this, and I have no ground for +blaming you. Yes, when I think of it, this must be the case, and I was +very wrong to imagine such a thing; for I am confident that not for all +the world contains would you and your men have failed to come to release +me from this trouble and distress, if you were aware of it. If for no +other reason, you would be bound to do this out of love for me, your +companion. But it is idle to talk about it--it cannot be. Ah, may the +curse and the damnation of God and St. Sylvester rest upon him who +has shut me up so shamefully! He is the vilest man alive, this envious +Meleagant, to treat me as evilly as possible!" Then he, who is wearing +out his life in grief, ceases speaking and holds his peace. But when +she, who was lingering at the base of the tower, heard what he said, +she did not delay, but acted wisely and called him thus: "Lancelot," +as loudly as she could; "friend, up there, speak to one who is your +friend!" But inside he did not hear her words. Then she called out +louder yet, until he in his weakness faintly heard her, and wondered +who could be calling him. [427] He heard the voice and heard his name +pronounced, but he did not know who was calling him: he thinks it must +be a spirit. He looks all about him to see, I suppose, if he could espy +any one; but there is nothing to be seen but the tower and himself. +"God," says he, "what is that I heard? I heard some one speak, but see +nothing! Indeed, this is passing marvellous, for I am not asleep, but +wide awake. Of course, if this happened in a dream, I should consider it +an illusion; but I am awake, and therefore I am distressed." Then with +some trouble he gets up, and with slow and feeble steps he moves toward +the little opening. Once there, he peers through it, up and down and to +either side. When he had looked out as best he might, he caught sight of +her who had hailed him. He did not recognise her by sight. But she knew +him at once and said: "Lancelot, I have come from afar in search of you. +Now, thank God, at last I have found you. I am she who asked of you a +boon as you were on your way to the sword-bridge, and you very gladly +granted it at my request; it was the head I bade you cut from the +conquered knight whom I hated so. Because of this boon and this service +you did me, I have gone to this trouble. As a guerdon I shall deliver +you from here." "Damsel, many thanks to you," the prisoner then replied; +"the service I did you will be well repaid if I am set at liberty. If +you can get me out of here, I promise and engage to be henceforth always +yours, so help me the holy Apostle Paul! And as I may see God face to +face, I shall never fail to obey your commands in accordance with your +will. You may ask for anything I have, and receive it without delay." +"Friend, have no fear that you will not be released from here. You shall +be loosed and set free this very day. Not for a thousand pounds would I +renounce the expectation of seeing you free before the datum of another +day. Then I shall take you to a pleasant place, where you may rest and +take your ease. There you shall have everything you desire, whatever +it be. So have no fear. But first I must see if I can find some tool +anywhere hereabouts with which you might enlarge this hole, at least +enough to let you pass." "God grant that you find something," he said, +agreeing to this plan; "I have plenty of rope in here, which the rascals +gave me to pull up my food--hard barley bread and dirty water, which +sicken my stomach and heart." Then the daughter of Bademagu sought and +found a strong, stout, sharp pick, which she handed to him. He pounded, +and hammered and struck and dug, notwithstanding the pain it caused him, +until he could get out comfortably. Now he is greatly relieved and glad, +you may be sure, to be out Of prison and to get away from the place +where he has been so long confined. Now he is at large in the open air. +You may be sure that he would not go back again, were some one to gather +in a pile and give to him all the gold there is scattered in the world. + +(Vv. 6657-6728.) Behold Lancelot now released, but so feeble that he +staggered from his weakness and disability. Gently, without hurting him, +she sets him before her on her mule, and then they ride off rapidly. But +the damsel purposely avoids the beaten track, that they may not be +seen, and proceeds by a hidden path; for if she had travelled openly, +doubtless some one would have recognised them and done them harm, and +she would not have wished that to happen. So she avoided the dangerous +places and came to a mansion where she often makes her sojourn because +of its beauty and charm. The entire estate and the people on it belonged +to her, and the place was well furnished, safe, and private. There +Lancelot arrived. And as soon as he had come, and had laid aside his +clothes, the damsel gently laid him on a lofty, handsome couch, then +bathed and rubbed him so carefully that I could not describe half the +care she took. She handled and treated him as gently as if he had been +her father. Her treatment makes a new man of him, as she revives him +with her cares. Now he is no less fair than an angel and is more nimble +and more spry than anything you ever saw. When he arose, he was no +longer mangy and haggard, but strong and handsome. And the damsel sought +out for him the finest robe she could find, with which she clothed him +when he arose. And he was glad to put it on, quicker than a bird +in flight. He kissed and embraced the maid, and then said to her +graciously: "My dear, I have only God and you to thank for being +restored to health again. Since I owe my liberty to you, you may take +and command at will my heart and body, my service and estate. I belong +to you in return for what you have done for me; but it is long since I +have been at the court of my lord Arthur, who has shown me great honour; +and there is plenty there for me to do. Now, my sweet gentle friend, +I beg you affectionately for leave to go; then, with your consent, I +should feel free to go." "Lancelot, fair, sweet dear friend, I am quite +willing," the damsel says; "I desire your honour and welfare above +everything everywhere." Then she gives him a wonderful horse she has, +the best horse that ever was seen, and he leaps up without so much as +saying to the stirrups "by your leave": he was up without considering +them. Then to God, who never lies, they commend each other with good +intent. + +(Vv. 6729-7004.) Lancelot was so glad to be on the road that, if I +should take an oath, I could not possibly describe the joy he felt at +having escaped from his trap. But he said to himself repeatedly that woe +was the traitor, the reprobate, whom now he has tricked and ridiculed, +"for in spite of him I have escaped." Then he swears by the heart and +body of Him who made the world that not for all the riches and wealth +from Babylon to Ghent would he let Meleagant escape, if he once got him +in his power: for he has him to thank for too much harm and shame! But +events will soon turn out so as to make this possible; for this very +Meleagant, whom he threatens and presses hard, had already come to court +that day without being summoned by any one; and the first thing he did +was to search until he found my lord Gawain. Then the rascally proven +traitor asks him about Lancelot, whether he had been seen or found, as +if he himself did not know the truth. As a matter of fact, he did not +know the truth, although he thought he knew it well enough. And Gawain +told him, as was true, that he had not been seen, and that he had not +come. "Well, since I don't find him," says Meleagant, "do you come and +keep the promise you made me: I shall not longer wait for you." Then +Gawain makes answer: "I will keep presently my word with you, if it +please God in whom I place my trust. I expect to discharge my debt to +you. But if it comes to throwing dice for points, and I should throw +a higher number than you, so help me God and the holy faith, I'll not +withdraw, but will keep on until I pocket all the stakes." [428] Then +without delay Gawain orders a rug to be thrown down and spread before +him. There was no snivelling or attempt to run away when the squires +heard this command, but without grumbling or complaint they execute +what he commands. They bring the rug and spread it out in the place +indicated; then he who had sent for it takes his seat upon it and gives +orders to be armed by the young men who were standing unarmed before +him. There were two of them, his cousins or nephews, I know not +which, but they were accomplished and knew what to do. They arm him so +skilfully and well that no one could find any fault in the world with +them for any mistake in what they did. When they finished arming him, +one of them went to fetch a Spanish steed able to cross the fields, +woods, hills, and valleys more swiftly than the good Bucephalus. [429] +Upon a horse such as you have heard Gawain took his seat--the admired +and most accomplished knight upon whom the sign of the Cross was ever +made. Already he was about to seize his shield, when he saw Lancelot +dismount before him, whom he was not expecting to see. He looked at +him in amazement, because he had come so unexpectedly; and, if I am not +wrong, he was as much surprised as if he had fallen from the clouds. +However, no business of his own can detain him, as soon as he sees +Lancelot, from dismounting and extending his arms to him, as he +embraces, salutes and kisses him. Now he is happy and at ease, when he +has found his companion. Now I will tell you the truth, and you must not +think I lie, that Gawain would not wish to be chosen king, unless he had +Lancelot with him. The King and all the rest now learn that, in spite of +all, Lancelot, for whom they so long have watched, has come back quite +safe and sound. Therefore they all rejoice, and the court, which so +long has looked for him, comes together to honour him. Their happiness +dispels and drives away the sorrow which formerly was theirs. Grief +takes flight and is replaced by an awakening joy. And how about the +Queen? Does she not share in the general jubilee? Yes, verily, she +first of all. How so? For God's sake, where, then, could she be keeping +herself? She was never so glad in her life as she was for his return. +And did she not even go to him? Certainly she did; she is so close to +him that her body came near following her heart. Where is her heart, +then? It was kissing and welcoming Lancelot. And why did the body +conceal itself? Why is not her joy complete? Is it mingled with anger or +hate? No, certainly, not at all; but it may be that the King or some of +the others who are there, and who are watching what takes place, would +have taken the whole situation in, if, while all were looking on, she +had followed the dictates of her heart. If common-sense had not banished +this mad impulse and rash desire, her heart would have been revealed and +her folly would have been complete. Therefore reason closes up and +binds her fond heart and her rash intent, and made it more reasonable, +postponing the greeting until it shall see and espy a suitable and more +private place where they would fare better than here and now. The King +highly honoured Lancelot, and after welcoming him, thus spoke: "I have +not heard for a long time news of any man which were so welcome as news +of you; yet I am much concerned to learn in what region and in what land +you have tarried so long a time. I have had search made for you up and +down, all the winter and summer through, but no one could find a trace +of you." "Indeed, fair sire," says Lancelot, "I can inform you in a few +words exactly how it has fared with me. The miserable traitor Meleagant +has kept me in prison ever since the hour of the deliverance of the +prisoners in his land, and has condemned me to a life of shame in a +tower of his beside the sea. There he put me and shut me in, and there I +should still be dragging out my weary life, if it were not for a friend +of mine, a damsel for whom I once performed a slight service. In return +for the little favour I did her, she has repaid me liberally: she has +bestowed upon me great honour and blessing. But I wish to repay without +delay him for whom I have no love, who has sought out and devised for +me this shame and injury. He need not wait, for the sum is all ready, +principal and interest; but God forbid that he find in it cause to +rejoice!" Then Gawain said to Lancelot: "Friend, it will be only a +slight favour for me, who am in your debt, to make this payment for you. +Moreover, I am all ready and mounted, as you see. Fair, sweet friend, do +not deny me the boon I desire and request." But Lancelot replies that +he would rather have his eye plucked out, or even both of them, than be +persuaded to do this: he swears it shall never be so. He owes the debt +and he will pay it himself: for with his own hand he promised it. Gawain +plainly sees that nothing he can say is of any avail, so he loosens and +takes off his hauberk from his back, and completely disarms himself. +Lancelot at once arms himself without delay; for he is impatient to +settle and discharge his debt. Meleagant, who is amazed beyond measure +at what he sees, has reached the end of his good fortunes, and is about +to receive what is owing him. He is almost beside himself and comes +near fainting. "Surely I was a fool," he says, "not to go, before coming +here, to see if I still held imprisoned in my tower him who now has +played this trick on me. But, God, why should I have gone? What cause +had I to think that he could possibly escape? Is not the wall built +strong enough, and is not the tower sufficiently strong and high? There +was no hole or crevice in it, through which he could pass, unless he was +aided from outside. I am sure his hiding-place was revealed. If the wall +were worn away and had fallen into decay, would he not have been caught +and injured or killed at the same time? Yes, so help me God, if it had +fallen down, he would certainly have been killed. But I guess, before +that wall gives away without being torn down, that all the water in the +sea will dry up without leaving a drop and the world will come to an +end. No, that is not it: it happened otherwise: he was helped to escape, +and could not have got out otherwise: I have been outwitted through some +trickery. At any rate, he has escaped; but if I had been on my guard, +all this would never have happened, and he would never have come to +court. But it's too late now to repent. The rustic, who seldom errs, +pertinently remarks that it is too late to close the stable when +the horse is out. I know I shall now be exposed to great shame and +humiliation, if indeed I do not suffer and endure something worse. What +shall I suffer and endure? Rather, so long as I live, I will give him +full measure, if it please God, in whom I trust." Thus he consoles +himself, and has no other desire than to meet his antagonist on the +field. And he will not have long to wait, I think, for Lancelot goes +in search of him, expecting soon to conquer him. But before the assault +begins, the King bids them go down into the plain where the tower +stands, the prettiest place this side of Ireland for a fight. So they +did, and soon found themselves on the plain below. The King goes down +too, and all the rest, men and women in crowds. No one stays behind; but +many go up to the windows of the tower, among them the Queen, her ladies +and damsels, of whom she had many with her who were fair. + +(Vv. 7005-7119.) In the field there stood a sycamore as fair as any tree +could be; it was wide-spread and covered a large area, and around it +grew a fine border of thick fresh grass which was green at all seasons +of the year. Under this fair and stately sycamore, which was planted +back in Abel's time, there rises a clear spring of water which flows +away hurriedly. The bed of the spring is beautiful and as bright as +silver, and the channel through which the water flows is formed, I +think, of refined and tested gold, and it stretches away across the +field down into a valley between the woods. There it pleases the King to +take his seat where nothing unpleasant is in sight. After the crowd has +drawn back at the King's command, Lancelot rushes furiously at Meleagant +as at one whom he hates cordially, but before striking him, he shouted +with a loud and commanding voice: "Take your stand, I defy you! And take +my word, this time you shall not be spared." Then he spurs his steed +and draws back the distance of a bow-shot. Then they drive their horses +toward each other at top speed, and strike each other so fiercely +upon their resisting shields that they pierced and punctured them. But +neither one is wounded, nor is the flesh touched in this first assault. +They pass each other without delay, and come back at the top of their +horses: speed to renew their blows on the strong, stout shields. Both of +the knights are strong and brave, and both of the horses are stout and +fast. So mighty are the blows they deal on the shields about their necks +that the lances passed clean through, without breaking or splintering, +until the cold steel reached their flesh. Each strikes the other with +such force that both are borne to earth, and no breast-strap, girth, +or stirrup could save them from falling backward over their saddle-bow, +leaving the saddle without an occupant. The horses run riderless over +hill and dale, but they kick and bite each other, thus showing their +mortal hatred. As for the knights who fell to earth, they leaped up +as quickly as possible and drew their swords, which were engraved with +chiselled lettering. Holding their shields before the face, they strive +to wound each other with their swords of steel. Lancelot stands in no +fear of him, for he knew half as much again about fencing as did his +antagonist, having learned it in his youth. Both dealt such blows on the +shield slung from their necks, and upon their helmets barred with gold, +that they crushed and damaged them. But Lancelot presses him hard and +gives him a mighty blow upon his right arm which, though encased in +mail, was unprotected by the shield, severing it with one clean stroke. +And when he felt the loss of his right arm, he said that it should be +dearly sold. If it is at all possible, he will not fail to exact the +price; he is in such pain and wrath and rage that he is well-nigh beside +himself, and he has a poor opinion of himself, if he cannot score on his +rival now. He rushes at him with the intent to seize him, but Lancelot +forestalls his plan, for with his trenchant sword he deals his body +such a cut as he will not recover from until April and May be passed. He +smashes his nose-guard against his teeth, breaking three of them in his +mouth. And Meleagant's rage is such that he cannot speak or say a word; +nor does he deign to cry for mercy, for his foolish heart holds tight in +such constraint that even now it deludes him still. Lancelot approaches +and, unlacing his helmet, cuts off his head. Never more will this man +trouble him; it is all over with him as he falls dead. Not a soul who +was present there felt any pity at the sight. The King and all the +others there are jubilant and express their joy. Happier than they +ever were before, they relieve Lancelot of his arms, and lead him away +exultingly. + +(Vv. 7120-7134.) My lords, if I should prolong my tale, it would be +beside the purpose, and so I will conclude. Godefroi de Leigni, the +clerk, has written the conclusion of "the Cart"; but let no one find +fault with him for having embroidered on Chretien's theme, for it was +done with the consent of Chretien who started it. Godefroi has finished +it from the point where Lancelot was imprisoned in the tower. So much he +wrote; but he would fain add nothing more, for fear of disfiguring the +tale. + + + +----Endnotes: Lancelot + +Endnotes supplied by Prof. Foerster are indicated by "(F.)"; all other +endnotes are supplied by W.W. Comfort. + + +[Footnote 41: Marie, daughter of Louis VII. of France and Eleanor of +Aquitaine, married in 1164, Henri I., Count of Champagne. On the +poet's own statement below, she furnished him with the subject matter +("maitere") and the manner of treatment ("san") of this romance. (F.)] + +[Footnote 42: The situation of Camelot has not been certainly +determined. Foerster places it in Somersetshire, while F. Paris +identified it with Colchester in Essex. (F.)] + +[Footnote 43: The high value here set upon Kay by king Arthur is worth +noting in view of the unfavourable light in which Chretien usually +portrays him.] + +[Footnote 44: This enigmatic exclamation is addressed to the absent +Lancelot, who is the secret lover of Guinevere, and who, though he long +remains anonymous as "the Knight of the Cart", is really the hero of the +poem.] + +[Footnote 45: It was not uncommon in old French romances and epic poems +for knights to be subjected to the mockery and raillery of the vulgar +townspeople (cf. "Aiol", 911-923; id. 2579-2733; and even Moliere in +"Monsieur de Pourceaugnac", f. 3).] + +[Footnote 46: For magic beds with descending swords, see A. Hertel, +"Versauberte Oertlichkeiten", etc., p. 69 f. (Hanover, 1908).] + +[Footnote 47: The wounded knight is the defeated seneschal.] + +[Footnote 48: Mediaeval knights were such early risers as to cause us +astonishment!] + +[Footnote 49: Lancelot has constantly in mind the Queen, for whose sake +he is enduring all this pain and shame.] + +[Footnote 410: i.e., the Queen.] + +[Footnote 411: Nothing can here be added to the tentative conjectures of +Foerster regarding the nature of these unknown remedies.] + +[Footnote 412: A great annual fair at Paris marked the festival, on June +11, of St. Denis, the patron saint of the city. (F.)] + +[Footnote 413: "Donbes" (=Dombes) is the reading chosen by Foerster from +a number of variants. None of these variants has any significance, but +a place-name rhyming with "tonbes" in the preceding verse is required. +Modern Dombes is the name of a former principality in Burgundy, between +the Rhone and the Saone, while Pampelune is, of course, a Spanish city +near the French frontier. (F.)] + +[Footnote 414: The topography of the kingdom of Gorre, the land where +dwell the captives held by King Bademagu, is much confused. One would +suppose at first that the stream traversed by the two perilous bridges +formed the frontier of the kingdom. But here (v.2102), before reaching +such a frontier, the captives are already met. Foerster suggests that we +may be here at a sort of foreground or borderland which is defended by +the knight at the ford (v. 735 f.), and which, though not within the +limits of the kingdom, is nevertheless beneath the sway of Bademagu. In +the sequel the stream with the perilous bridges is placed immediately +before the King's palace (cf. Foerster's note and G. Paris in "Romania", +xxi. 471 note).] + +[Footnote 415: For magic rings, see A. Hertel, op. cit., p. 62 f.] + +[Footnote 416: This "dame" was the fairy Vivian, "the lady of the lake". +(F.)] + +[Footnote 417: A good example of the moral dilemmas in which Chretien +delights to place his characters. Under the displeasing shell of +allegory and mediaeval casuistry we have here the germ of psychological +analysis of motive.] + +[Footnote 418: The legendary origin of this ointment, named after Mary +Magdelene, Mary the mother of James, and Mary Salome, is mentioned in +the epic poem "Mort Aimeri de Narbonne" (ed. "Anciens Textes", p. 86). +(F.)] + +[Footnote 419: The universities of Montpellier and of Salerno were the +chief centres of medical study in the Middle Ages. Salerno is referred +to in "Cliges", v. 5818.] + +[Footnote 420: The hero of the poem is here first mentioned by name.] + +[Footnote 421: The classic love-story of Pyramus and Thisbe, told by +Ovid et al., was a favourite in the Middle Ages.] + +[Footnote 422: Here he have the explanation of Guinevere's cold +reception of Lancelot; he had been faithless to the rigid code of +courtesy when he had hesitated for even a moment to cover himself with +shame for her sake.] + +[Footnote 423: The expression "or est venuz qui aunera", less literally +means "who will defeat the entire field". Though Chretien refers to the +expression as a current proverb, only two other examples of its use +have been found. (Cf. "Romania", xvi. 101, and "Ztsch. fur romanische +Philologie", xi. 430.) From this passage G. Paris surmised that Chretien +himself was a herald-at-arms ("Journal des Savants", 1902, p. 296), but +as Foerster says, the text hardly warrants the supposition.] + +[Footnote 424: The evident satisfaction with which Chretien describes in +detail the bearings of the knights in the following passage lends colour +to Gaston Paris' conjecture that he was a herald as well as a poet.] + +[Footnote 425: According to the statement made at the end of the poem +by the continuator of Chretien, Godefroi de Leigni, it must have been at +about this point that the continuator took up the thread of the story. +It is not known why Chretien dropped the poem where he did.] + +[Footnote 426: Bade = Bath. (F.)] + +[Footnote 427: The situation recalls that in "Aucassin et Nicolette", +where Aucassin confined in the tower hears his sweetheart calling to him +from outside.] + +[Footnote 428: The figure is, of course, taken from the game of throwing +dice for high points. For an exhaustive account of dice-playing derived +from old French texts, cf. Franz Semrau, "Wurfel und Wurfelspiel in +alten Frankreich", "Beiheft" 23 of "Ztsch. fur romanische Philologie +(Halle," 1910).] + +[Footnote 429: Alexander's horse.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Four Arthurian Romances, by Chretien DeTroyes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUR ARTHURIAN ROMANCES *** + +***** This file should be named 831.txt or 831.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/3/831/ + +Produced by Douglas B. Killings + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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