Four Arthurian Romances
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,"