Four Arthurian Romances
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,