Four Arthurian Romances
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