Four Arthurian Romances
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