Four Arthurian Romances
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