CHAPTER VIII. TAULAT DE RUGUMON.
Never {119}did help come more in time of need. Returned that very morn,Taulat had bound his prisoner to a stake; and four stout ploughmen, eacharmed with a strap, already raised their brawny arms to strike and opethe closed wounds. But as Jaufry came, they stayed their hand togaze awhile at him; nor less surprised than they, Taulat, who on thecastle-terrace stood, descended in hot haste and thus accosted Jaufry:"Sir knight, I fain would learn what madness or what pride hath thusconducted thee into my lands. Dismount and doff thine arms, for thou artprisoner henceforth for ay."
"My lord," the knight replied, "methinks you practise an unseemly haste.Give me, I beg, the time to {120}tell my errand. I come to speak infavour of the knight your knaves were going to strike; and I entreatyou, for the sake of me, to grant unto him grace."
"May Heaven help me!" Taulat answered him, "but sure thou artdistraught: such words deserve the rope,--a peasant's death."
"'Twould be a grievous wrong, my lord, the words being good and wise;again I do repeat them, praying grace for yonder knight, who seven longyears hath groaned."
"Go, churl; too long I've listed; go and disarm thyself, if thou wiltlive, and to my squires give up the girl with thee."
"If she's dishonoured and I put to shame, this arm, by Heaven, mustindeed be weak."
"What! wouldst thou fight with me?"
"E'en unto death, before I suffer shame."
"Vain fool, beware; when on my neck I've put my shield, thoult find butlittle grace."
"Mine ear," quoth Jaufry, "hath been oft assailed by higher threats thanthese. I do reply, that, by the faith of Him who built this world, youshall set free yon knight, and to the court of good King Arthur go, topay the felony you there have done; or you shall {121}fight with me,till you or I be vanquished and slain."
"Know'st thou then not, I've fought and conquered full five hundredknights, all better men than thou?"
"It may be so," quoth Jaufry; "now for proof: go get your arms, andGod's high will be done!"
"No other armour," proudly Taulat said, "do I require than my good lanceand shield: seven of thy strength might then come on, and I'd defy youall."
"'Tis madness," did Sir Jaufry make reply, "to enter fight unarmed. Butsince your pride doth blind your senses so, e'en have it as you will."
Furious at the words, Taulat addressed a squire: "Go to the castle,quickly as thou canst; bring me my lance and shield, and tell theknights I've conquered one by one to meet me here, that they may witnessa base peasant's death, as with a single blow I do intend, throughshield and hauberk, to find out his heart. And at the instant shouldthis not be done, may I lose arms and chivalry and lady's love!"
The squire ran quickly to the scattered camp, where lodged the captiveknights,--who all were grieving for the wounded man, bound to the stakeand waiting for the scourge,--to them he briefly said:
"Barons, {122}my lord attends you there beyond, that you may see himbattle with a fool, who comes to seek his death."
Mounting then speedily the castle-stair,--amid the tears and murmurs ofthe dames who ceaseless mourned,--he took him down the shield and lancesuspended to the rack, and bore them to his lord, who, vaulting on hishorse, nor stopping to don breastplate or aught else, cried in a haughtytone:
"Come to thy death, thou churl, whose sight offends me!"
Sir Jaufry, angered at the insult, then dashed at full speed upon thehaughty knight, who like a lion came: so fearful was the shock, nosaddle, girth, or art, availed Sir Jaufry. Down to the earth he rolledbeneath the stroke. But not alone; for Taulat on his side, by blow asvigorous and deftly put, at the same instant fell, his shield piercedthrough, and Jaufry's lance within his side.
A shout of joy upsprang from those good knights:
"Good Heaven, but this day thou chast'nest Taulat, and dost break thatpride which long hath vexed the land!"'
Jaufry meanwhile, his sword within his grasp, ran to {123}fierceRugimon, fast pinned to earth, as though some snake he were; but as hecame, Taulat in humble tone exclaimed:
"For God's love, knight, O do not end thy work; for 'tis my folly thathath brought my death."
"Thy folly, true, was great," Sir Jaufry said; "but ere we part, I counton curing thee. Too long this pride endured, it now must have an end.Thou deem'st this morn no knight was in the world who in address andstrength could vie with thee. Most brave no doubt thou wast; but thyconsuming and most wicked pride exceeded far thy valour, and 'tis avice God neither loves nor bears. Thou now canst learn that, but forHis resolve to chasten thee, this youthful arm,--certes less robust thanthine,--would ne'er have cast thee down. 'Tis but the punishment for thyfierce pride, the outrage thou to good King Arthur didst,--that flowerof chivalry, whose uprightness God loves. And thus it fares with thosewho seek his shame: sooner or later will the knights, who sit at hisRound Table famed, mete out their punishment, save 'neath the earth theyhide. What they can do in fight, thou mayst surmise by me, a novice,scarcely two months armed, and who have sought thee day and night untilthis {124}hour, when thou dost find the guerdon of thy deeds."
"All that thou sayst, sir knight, is but too true," Taulat replied inweak and failing voice; "but mercy grant me, as thy conquered foe, asdying man, and who doth yield to thee."
"The mercy that thou prayst for, thou shalt have," Sir Jaufry said; "butupon certain terms: first, thou shalt go to good King Arthur's court,there yield thyself a prisoner; he will take such vengeance on thee ashis honour claims."
"That will I do; but now, for Heaven's sake, permit the leech to bind meup this wound."
"No leech shall come, nor e'er shalt thou uprise, till, by St. Thomas,thou hast let go free the knight who's bound to yonder cruel stake, andall the captives thou hast ever made."
"Do as thou wilt, my lord, with them and me." Jaufry at once did sheathehis own good blade and take the sword of Taulat. Then he allowed thesquire to fetch the leech, who probed his master's hurt and washed thewound with water and white wine, when on a couch he had him gently laid,and borne within the gates.
Jaufry {125}meanwhile set free the wounded knight; and having extortedfrom the captive lords their promise that they'd hasten to Carlisle, andto King Arthur this affair relate, he was about to leave them toGod's care, when the wounded knight,--lord paramount of all thosegentlemen,--most humbly to him said:
"Good sir, to you I yield, and with my person offer men and lands. Mostnobly have you won all this and more, in freeing me from all the pangsI've borne for seven weary years. So great those pangs, so cruel was mylot, better for me had death relieved my woes. Taulat, without a causeof enmity, hath tortured me full long; but now, by God's grace, and, sirknight, by yours, at length his reign is o'er."
"Good lord," responded Jaufry, "pray retain your having; naught do Iwish for your deliverance, save that, with these brave knights, you doproceed to good King Arthur's throne, and there explain you owe yourliberty to Dovon's son."
The knight such promise gave; when Jaufry, calling for his horse, whichall prepared they brought, while Augier's daughter mounted by his side,he took of all farewell, and then set out for the fair damsel's home;{126}his thoughts, in sooth, turning to Brunissende, towards whom hefelt his heart most sweetly drawn.
When he had gone, Taulat returned the knights their steeds and arms,and, by the compact made, departed in their train for fair Carlisle.There they arrived upon the eleventh day. The worthy king gave audienceto a dame, who, bathed in tears, her castle was to lose within a week,if she no champion found to meet her foe. When he had listed to herdolorous words, the king aggrieved replied:
"Lady, were Gawain here, most willingly would he defend your cause; buthe is not: nor have I Dovon's son, nor Ivan bold, nor any of the bravesof my Round Table. If of the knights who here surround my throne,there's standing one who'll venture your defence, great is the honourthat shall be his meed."
But no one made reply. In vain the dame, turning to spurred heels, withwarmth exclaimed:
<
br /> "'Fore Heaven, brave knights, shall it be said a woman came to seek inthis high court for aid, yet found it not?"
Still no one made reply.
'Twas at this moment Taulat's troop appeared; himself upon a gildedlitter laid, covered with sumptuous {127}cloth, and gently by two snowypalfries borne. Five hundred knights he had in fight overthrown, armed_cap-a-pie_, followed in his train, each mounted on a charger richlydecked. Their lord was at their head, who, as they reached the king,knelt humbly down before that monarch's throne, and thus addressed him:
"Sire, may He who for our weal came down on earth, which eke His bloodbedewed, now grant you joy, and double your renown!"
"And you, friend, may He save!" the king replied. "But what, I pray, arethese, who seem so stout and good? And what the wounded man that litterholds?"
"My lord, that man is Taulat."
"Taulat de Rugimon?"
"My lord, the same; Jaufry, the son of Dovon, bravely vanquished him,and hither sends him to the queen and you; so that you may, my lord,such vengeance take as in your wisdom you consider fit, for that sameoutrage, now two months agone, he did to you."
"Heaven and earth," King Arthur then exclaimed, "how well hath Jaufryserved me! Friend, tell me truth: when last you left him, was he safeand sound?"
"Great {128}lord, he was, as doth comport such honoured and braveknight, who hath nor grief nor fear. Naught else but good can harbourwith his name; and it were sweet to laud, if that his acts did notupraise him more than words can ever reach. When you shall know fromwhat most cruel fate his valour hath snatched _me_, you will indeed befull of wonderment. But this recital must before the queen and all herdames be made."
The king at once commanded unto Quex to go and seek the queen; theseneschal obeyed, when meeting her,--
"Lady," said he, "if it so meet your wish, the king, your lord and mine,bids you to come and list a message brought by valiant knight who headsa great escort."
The queen at once proceeded to the hall with all her dames and damsels;and when she placed herself beside her spouse, Melyan, the worthyknight, addressed them thus:
"Lady, from brave Sir Jaufry, Dovon's son, I bring high reparation toyourself and all your train. I bring you Taulat, hight of Rugimon,that you may vengeance take for the affront that he hath done to you,{129}and for the cruelty he's heaped on me. Learn, without motive he myfather slew, and me he wounded with such grievous hurt, that ne'er shallI be healed. I was his captive in his castle kept; and when my woundhad closed, he to a stake did have me bound, and scourged by cruel handsuntil the wound again was open laid. Each month did I this martyrdomendure; which caused such dire despair throughout my lands, that, thriceby day and thrice again by night, they gave aloose to tears and dolefulcries."
"By Heaven," exclaimed the worthy king at this, "what felon act!"
"By all the saints of heaven," said the queen, "this was the reign ofhaughty pride run wild!"
"Yea," from the litter did Taulat respond, "I had, good sooth, mostwicked, foolish pride; but I have lost it all. A leech appeared, who ina space most brief did work a cure. I sought in vain a knight who couldmake head against me, and I've found my match. Never did better jousterwield a lance: modest as brave, and generous as good, spite of myinsults,--which did merit death,--Sir Jaufry gave me grace, and grantedpardon. You, noble sire, who are the best of kings, deign but to imitatehis clemency, find {130}pardon give for that most foolish crime I heredid madly do."
The worthy king, alway to good inclined, his pardon freely grantedto the knight; nay more, he used such reasons with the queen, thatGuenever, as generous, noble dame, her pardon likewise gave. Melyanalone remained inflexible. Rejecting all entreaty, he resolved, as washis right, since his was _corporal shame_, that Taulat should be judgedby legal court.
At once they called a hundred legists in, who, when they'd heard thecause, the following sentence did at once proclaim:
"Taulat to Melyan shall be given up; who, month by month, shall bindhim to like stake, and by like hands on him inflict like punishment. Thecourt doth grant this power unto Melyan for seven years; with libertyalbeit in him to set his prisoner free whene'er he feel inclined togrant him grace."
At {131}the same hour the legists sentence passed, Sir Jaufry, ridingquickly with the maid, before the towers of Augier arrived. Warned ofhis coming by the vassals' cries, who gave him joyful welcome and warmthanks for having set their lord and suzerain free, Augier mountedquickly on his horse, and with his sons came out to meet the knight.Beside Sir Jaufry he perceived the maid, guiding with sweeter grace thanI can tell her gentle palfrey; but he knew her not, for she was veiled.Descending from his horse as he approached the knight, who eke alightedas he saw him come, he seized his hand, and with a trembling voice,--"Mylord," he said, "within my castle come, as you did promise me. We willmost gladly there a welcome give, albeit my heart is melting with itswoe. Since {132}last we two did meet, a monster hath my daughter carriedoff, and with her all my joys."
"You did not guard her with sufficient care," Sir Jaufry mildly said,"since she is gone. What now remains to do? It was to be. None can averthis fate; so be consoled, and dry at once your tears. Some days agoneI won a maid in fight, gentle and lovely as a maid can be; and if youwill, to you I'll give her up, that she may take the place of her that'slost."
"Alas, my lord," good Augier replied, "where is the damsel or the damethat can compete with her in grace, in gentle manners, gaiety, and love?Her like is still unborn; and for my rest of days this world to me cannaught, alas, afford of happiness or ease."
"And I do still the contrary affirm; and more than that, declare thatyou this damsel shall her equal find in beauty and in love."
In speaking thus Sir Jaufry raised her veil; and Augier looking, hissweet daughter knew. When he had pressed her often in his arms, athousand grateful thanks bestowed on Jaufry, and listed to the tale ofhis exploits with Taulat and the giant, he to the castle led the way,the serfs and vassals following in troops.
Great {133}was the honour they there showed the knight: the brotherspoured the water for his use, the damsel served him with her own fairhands a roasted peacock nobly bedecked, and Augier fain had kept himthere a month; but Jaufry, frankly owning that his heart allured him toMontbrun, set out the morrow mom. Escorted by his host and his two sonshe took his way, musing on Brunissende; when, at the hour of noon, hemet her seneschal, just then returned from fair Carlisle, where he hadTaulat seen and Melyan and the five hundred knights from bondage freed.
He still was seeking by his dame's command brave Dovon's son; buthalf-despaired success. Scarcely, however, did he learn the truth, thatMelyan's saviour and the weary knight who in the orchard slumbered werethe same, when, urging his horse, ne'er did he stop until Montbrun wasreached, where travel-soiled he came to Brunissende.
"Where is the knight?" asked she before the man could e'en unclose hislips. "Cometh he on? shall I soon see him here?"
"He follows me, fair lady," he replied; "but such his deeds, whereofthe saving of our lord from pain and torment is but one, that I do think'twere well you met {134}the knight, and with a hundred damsels formedescort."
The thought pleased Brunissende. She orders gave to deck the roads withgreen, to hang rich stuffs and silk, damask and doth-of-gold, upon thecastle-walls; while she herself, mounting her palfrey white, with allher court and knights and damsels fair, went out to meet Sir Jaufry.Arrayed most richly in a silken robe with trimmings of pure gold, shehad upon her blondin tresses placed a gorgeous wreath, where peacock'sfeathers shone; while in her hand she bore the choicest flowers from hergarden culled. No wonder, then, if Jaufry were surprised to see her comethus lovely, full of grace, and smiling as the queen of the sweet south.With courteous words they met, and side by side to Montbrun's lordlyhalls together they returned.
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I leave you to surmise the games and joy which at the castle on that daywere seen.
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Jaufry and Brunissende the fair
alone nor ate nor oped their lips. Thelady glanced at Jaufry with a sigh, and each sweet glance shot throughhis softened eyes and fell into his heart; while Jaufry, on his side, atevery moment blushed, and through the very marrow of his bones bydart {135}invisible did feel that he was pierced. Musing of love, thelive-long night they watched till rosy morning came. In her chamber thefair lady, and Jaufry on his gorgeous couch, thought but of the gentlespeeches they would make the morrow mom; and, when once the sun hadrisen, they were up and quickly clad; and when mass at length was over,side by side they sat them down in the great hall of the castle, wherethey oped their swelling hearts.
'Twas Brunissende who first the silence broke; for, dazzled by herbeauty, Jaufry lost in gazing on her face the pretty speeches he hadframed o'ernight.
"My lord," she said, in voice of sweetest tone, "your coming bringsus joy and happiness; no service could be higher than the one you'verendered us; and bless we good King Arthur in his knight, bless we theland which claims so brave a man, and--bless we too the lady for whosesake such noble acts are done."
"Alas," sighed Jaufry, at this latter phrase, "no lady cares for me."
"You speak in jest," said then fair Brunissende; "your sense and valourraise you up too high for noble lady not to care for you."
"_I_ care perhaps for _her_; not she for me."
"Knows {136}she at least of this your love for her?"
"I cannot say, fair lady, if she guess; but I ne'er told my love."
"No blame can then at least alight on her: if you ne'er seek where liesthe remedy of that same evil whereof you complain, who is in the wrong?"
"'Tis I, sweet lady, I. Her greatness curbs me, fills me with strangefears; I cannot ask her love, for ne'er an emperor who trod this earthbut by that love were honoured;--such is the height, above all otherdames, to which she's raised by sovereign grace and wealth."
"What you now say is folly, gallant knight; emperors and kings ne'er wonin true love's lists a greater prize than brave and courteous man: suchlove holds not to riches; noble heart and gentle grace have in his courtmore power than lands and titles. How many, folks there are of highdescent whose worth is valued highly at a groat! How many others rollingin bright gold whose value would not buy a coat of mail! Hide, then,no longer in your single heart the thought with which it's filled; yourvalour and your deeds give you a claim to match upon this earth with themost fair, most high."
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Sir {137}Jaufry heaved a sigh, and thus, much moved, replied:
"Lady, forgive, I pray you, the avowal which you, forsooth, are destinednow to hear,--avowal that no torture e'er had drawn, but which is dueto those sweet words of yours. You, then, are she for whom my heart dothmelt; she whom I love and fear and I implore; she who doth hold thekeys of all my joys, my pains, and who can make of me, even at her will,foolish or wise, a coward or a brave."
At length had Brunissende the fair attained the sum of her desire; yetshe her joy concealed, and in a tone of playfulness exclaimed:
"Sir Jaufry, you are pleased to banter me; ne'er can I think I have thepower you say."
"A thousand times more power, you may believe, than I can ever tell."
"That we shall prove right soon," she made reply. "The age is spoiledby wicked usages: true courtesy is lost, and he who warmly vows that hedoth love too oft but utters lies. If you full truly wish to have _my_love, I must be wed as well as wooed, my lord."
Sir Jaufry cared not, you may well believe, such offer to refuse. He hadjust vowed by Peter and St.
Paul {138}naught upon earth such joy could give to him, when a knightentered, heating on his shield, to announce the coming of the Lord ofBrunissende.
"To horse, good knights, to horse!" the lady cried; when lords anddamsels, mounting in hot haste, went out to meet their suzerain.
As thus the cavalcade rode gaily off, headed by Jaufry and fairBrunissende, they saw approach two ladies dressed in black, with eyesall red and swimming with fresh tears. Jaufry saluted them, and theninquired for tidings of Lord Melyan; but one of them in under-tonereplied, and with a sigh, that of Lord Melyan nothing did she know; shethought but of her woes. *
* This is the original of Cervantes' Princess Micomicona:
"Es matar a un gigantazo que lo pide es la alta princesa Micomicona, reyna del gran reyno Micomicon" (D. Quijote, parte i. lib. iv. cap. xxix.).
"Tell us," said Jaufry, "why you shed these tears."
"Since you do wish to know, my lord, I'll speak the truth. A knight,misshapen, and ill-bred to boot, wishes to force on me his odious love;and I in grief have left King Arthur's court, where I have neither foundadvice nor aid."
"You {139}do astonish me," Sir Jaufry cried; "where was Sir Gawain then?Ivan the courteous, Coedis that brave knight, Tristrem and Calogrant,Lancelot du Lac, Eric and Caravis, and bitter Quex,--pray, where werethey?"
"I know it not, by Heaven, good my lord; nor have I any trust but in SirJaufry, that most famous knight, whom now I seek, that he may turn myfate, and my good right maintain."
"I will maintain it, certes," then Jaufry said; "for I am he, the Jaufrywhom you seek; but I must first conclude a matter here which before allthings claims my every thought."
The mourning lady wept and urged her suit, spite of the angry looks ofBrunissende. Sir Jaufry would not yield, but to Montbrun with Melyanstraight returned. The lady there, giving all cause to think that to hersuzerain she bowed her will, was for long time entreated she her handshould give to Dovon's son; then they set out for Carlisle's gallantcourt, and in their train were twice twelve hundred maids, and fullthree thousand knights in brilliant arms.
The three first days of travel naught occurred; but on the fourth,having pitched their tents in a green {140}mead, balmy with flowers, andshut in with trees, Jaufry and Melyan suddenly did hear a voice whichhelp implored in piercing tone. The son of Dovon called for horse andarms, and would alone go seek this cause of wail. He thus arrived uponthe borders of a pond of some extent and limpid water, where a damselstood tearing her hair and robe, and, in her grief, her face.
"My lord," she cried, as Jaufry hastened up, "have pity, for St. Mary'ssake, upon a dame who in this pond is drowning; she was the best, thewisest of her sex."
Jaufry advanced; and there, in truth, he saw, within the waters battlingwith death, a dame, who now appeared, now slid beneath the wave. Hesoon alighted, and his efforts used to save her with the butt-end ofhis lance; but whilst his arm was thus outstretched, and he stood by thebrink, the damsel pushed him with such hearty will, at once he toppledin, which she perceiving, leapt in after him.
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Drawn downward by the great weight of his arms, Sir Jaufry disappearedwith those two dames. The neighing and the rage of his good horse, whichpawed the ground and madly bit the earth about the {141}pond, announcedthis dire mischance to Melyan. He hastened there; and finding Jaufrydrowned, he swooned away. 'Twas then the rest, 'mong whom the news hadflown, galloped frill speed towards that fatal pond. Force was requiredto drag Lord Melyan off; for, when restored, he tried to drown himself;and, for fair Brunissende, she by her seneschal was barely saved, since,Jaufry lost, she would not him survive.
Joining her cries to dames' and damsels' moans and to the lamentationsof her lords,--
"O Jaufry, Jaufry!" sobbed she wildly out, "frank, generous knight,all-powerful at arms, who then hath ta'en thy life? Some traitor-blowhath struck thee by surprise; for living man could ne'er have fairlywon. O Jaufry! lone on earth, what good am I? Worthless is life, whichkeeps me far from thee. I pray for death, which comes not at my call.Where shall I seek this truant senseless death, which will not reuniteme to my love? There 'neath yon water doth his body lie, which calls me,waits in vain."
Then suddenly upspringing, lost, and mad with grief, she to thetreach'rous water wildly flew; and 'twas by dint of strength theydragg'd her back. Then she {142}her tresses tore, her lovely face, tillin a swoon her woe and sense were numbed.
Good Au
gier had her carried to her tent, where on her couch the damselslaid her down; then he returned, and with the other knights around thefatal wave did weep and groan. Such were their tears, their mourning,and their cries, that the archbishop learnt the fatal news, and toconsole that doleful train proceeded to the mead.
With wisdom there he preached, and in his sermon said:
"My friends, the Scripture teacheth us that God is master of all things,and when He pleaseth can again resume those gifts He hath bestowed. If,then, Sir Jaufry hath been ta'en by Him, He, as His work, might freelycall him back; and it were sin to find such judgment ill, and felonytowards our Sovereign Lord. They among you who held this brave knightdear, should now to heaven pray he may be saved; and should at once giveo'er these cries of woe, as vain rebuke towards your Heavenly King."
Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende: A Tale of the Times of King Arthur Page 11
