And he wishes to do it, I’ll marry him,
I promise you, I'll make him lord 1805
Of my lands and of me. But he'll have
To manage it all so there'll be
No gossip, so no one will say,
‘Ah, that’s the one, the woman
Who married her husband’s murderer'.” 1810
“In the name of God, my lady,
So let it be. Your lord
Will be the noblest, most honorable,
The handsomest of Abel’s lineage.”
“And his name?” “My lord Yvain.” 1815
“Indeed! Not badly born
At all, but of great good birth,
I know—the son of King Urien.”
“Exactly, my lady! You're right.”
“And when are we to see him?” 1820
“In five days' time.” “Too long.
I wish he were already here.
Let him come tonight, or at least
Tomorrow.” “My lady! No one
Could come so far in one day. 1825
But I'll send one of my servant
Boys, who can run very fast,
And I think he can get to King Arthur’s
Court by tomorrow night,
At least. And Arthur’s court 1830
Is where we must seek him.” “That’s more
Than long enough. Those
Will be long, long days. But tell him
He must be back tomorrow
Night, and be faster than usual. 1835
Tell him, if he does his best,
He can turn two days into one.
And tonight there'll be a moon,
So he can turn the night into day.
And tell him once he comes back 1840
I'll give him whatever he wants.”
“Let all these problems be mine:
I'll have him here in your hands
In three days at the latest.
And meanwhile send for your soldiers, 1845
To ask their advice about
The king, who’s surely coming.
To keep up the custom of defending
Your spring, you need to consult
With them, to seek their counsel. 1850
But none of them are likely
To boast about coming. Or come.
And then you'll be able to say
With justice that you had to marry.
A famous knight begs 1855
For your hand, but you dare not accept him
If a single objection is heard.
And I'll tell you exactly their answer:
I know they're all so worthless
That to get the burden on someone 1860
Else’s back, not theirs,
They'll all be falling at your feet
And thanking you over and over
For getting them out of their trouble.
Whoever’s afraid of his shadow 1865
Will gladly avoid, if he can,
Any meeting with a spear or a javelin.
Cowards don't like those games.”
And the lady answered: “By God,
I'll do it, I give you my word! 1870
And besides, I'd already thought
Of exactly the plan you describe,
And that’s exactly what we'll do.
But why are you waiting here?
Go! Don't waste a minute, 1875
Arrange what you have to arrange.
And I shall stay with my people.”
And so they ended their talk.
And the girl pretended to hunt
For my lord Yvain in his own 1880
Country, while every day
She saw to his bath and his grooming.
And more: she had him dressed
In fine red wool, lined
With gleaming new fur. She leaves out 1885
Nothing he needs to properly
Adorn himself, she lends him
Everything: a golden necklace,
Set with precious stones,
The sort that make men graceful, 1890
And a belt, and a purse to hang from it,
Woven of gold brocade.
And so she dressed him perfectly,
And assured her mistress that the servants
She'd sent had all returned, 1895
And all had served them well.
“What?” she demanded. “Is he here,
My lord Yvain?” “He is.”
“He’s here? Then let him come to me,
In secret and without any noise, 1900
While no one is here in my room.
Be sure that no one else
Gets in, for I'd hate to have
A fourth.” So the girl left her,
And went where her guest was waiting, 1905
Never showing in her face
The happiness she felt in her heart.
And she told him the lady knew everything,
And how she had hidden him away,
And she said: “My lord Yvain! 1910
By God, there’s nothing left
To hide. It’s all come out,
My lady knows it all,
Who’s furious with me, and hates me,
And can't stop her scolding and reproaching. 1915
But this much assurance she’s given me:
I can bring you to her and no one
Will stop us, and no one will harm you.
This shouldn't displease you, I think,
Except—and I'll tell you no lies, 1920
For that would be disloyal—
She wants you to be her prisoner,
She wishes to have your body
For herself, not even your heart
To be free.” “Surely,” he answered, 1925
“I agree, I've no objections.
I want to be her prisoner.”
“And so you'll be, by this hand
I lay on your shoulder! Now come
And do as I say, behave 1930
So humbly when you're in her presence
That your jailing won't be too bad.
And don't be too concerned!
I suspect your confinement won't be
A burden, or bother you much.” 1935
And so she led him off,
Worrying him a bit, then making him
Calmer, and giving him hints
Of the prison he was going into.
What lover escapes his prison? 1940
She was right, calling it a prison:
Whoever’s in love is in jail.
And so she led my lord
Yvain by the hand, and took him
There where he'd be dearly cherished, 1945
But believing he'd never be welcomed.
No wonder he believed every word.
And they found the lady seated
On a soft red cushion. And I promise
You this: my lord Yvain 1950
Was mightily afraid, entering
That room, and finding the lady,
Who spoke not a single word.
And that made him more afraid,
Half overcome with fear 1955
And believing himself betrayed.
And he stood there so long, motionless,
That finally the girl spoke up,
Saying: “A thousand curses
On her head, who brings a knight 1960
To a beautiful lady’s room,
And he won't go near her, or speak,
Too stupid to tell her his name.”
And then she took him by the arm
And told him: “Come here, knight! 1965
And don't be afraid of my lady,
She’s not about to kill you.
Try to appease her, make peace.
I'll join you. Pray for her pardon
For killing Esclados the Red, 1970
The knight who was her husband.”
And lord Yvain clasped
His hands, and fell to his k
nees,
And spoke like a true lover:
“Lady! Rather than beg 1975
For your mercy I'll thank you for anything
You wish to do with me.
Nothing you do could displease me.”
“Really? And what if I kill you?”
“Lady! Your will be done. 1980
You'll never hear me complain.”
“I've never heard such a thing,”
She said, “that you put yourself
Completely in my power, and no one
Compels you.” “Lady! Truly, 1985
No power on earth could be
As strong as this which orders
Me to consent to your will,
Completely and in every regard.
Nothing could make me hesitate 1990
To do whatever you wish.
And if I could atone
For that death, in which I did nothing
Wrong, I'd do it at once.”
“What?” she said, “Now tell me 1995
If you ought to be forgiven,
If you truly did no wrong
When you killed my own true lord?”
“Lady!” he answered, “pardon me,
When your lord attacked me, and he did, 2000
Why was I wrong to defend
Myself? When you kill a man
And defend yourself against death,
Tell me what harm has been done?”
“None, if you look at it right. 2005
And it seems to me that nothing
Would be gained by having you killed.
But tell me, I'd like to know,
From where you gather this strength
That orders you to consent, 2010
Without contradiction, to whatever
I wish. I grant you your pardon.
Come, be seated, and tell me
How you come to be vanquished.”
“Lady! That power comes 2015
From my heart, which bends toward you.
My desire comes from my heart.”
“Sweet friend, what drove your heart?”
“Oh lady, my eyes!” “And your eyes?”
“The beauty I see in you.” 2020
“But what has beauty done wrong?”
“Lady! It has made me love.”
“Love? And whom?” “You,
Dear lady.” “Me?” “Indeed.”
“Really? And how?” “So nothing 2025
Could be greater, so my heart wishes
To be near you and can only be found
With you, so I think of nothing
Else, so I surrender completely
To you, so I love you more 2030
Than myself, so I'm ready to live
Or die, exactly as you choose.”
“And would you dare to defend
My spring, defend it for me?”
“Oh lady, against the world!” 2035
“Then know: we have come together.”
They'd agreed, and it didn't take long!
And the lady, who had already spoken
To her barons and all her men,
Said: “From here we shall go 2040
To the hall where my soldiers are gathered,
Who all have advised and counselled
That because of the need we all see
I ought to marry again.
And because of that need I will. 2045
I give myself to you.
I cannot refuse so good
A knight, the son of a king.”
And so the girl has done
Everything she wanted to do. 2050
And lord Yvain was more
The master than words could describe.
And then the lady led him
To that hall, full of her knights
And all her men at arms. 2055
And my lord Yvain was so handsome
That they stared at him in wonder,
And rose to their feet as one,
And greeted him, and bowed
To their lord Yvain, and thought: 2060
“This is the man she'll take.
May anyone who stands in his way
Be cursed! He seems a marvellous
Brave knight. The empress of Rome
Would be happy, married to him. 2065
How good it would be if they were promised,
Pledged by their own hands
To be married today or tomorrow!”
And all of them thought the same.
At the head of that hall was a bench 2070
And the lady seated herself there,
Where everyone would be able to see her.
And my lord Yvain began
To seat himself at her feet,
But the lady raised him up 2075
And ordered her steward to speak,
And lift his voice so everyone
There might hear him. And the steward
Began to speak, an obedient
Man with a swift clear tongue: 2080
“My lords!” he said. “We've a war
To face. Each day the king
Is preparing, as fast as he can,
To come and lay waste our lands.
Before another two weeks 2085
It will all have been done, we'll be ruined,
If we haven't some brave defender.
When my lady was married, almost
Seven full years ago,
She did it by your advice. 2090
Now her lord is dead, which hurts her.
All he has is six feet
Of earth, who owned this whole land
And graced it exceedingly well.
What a shame he was here so short 2095
A time. But a woman can't carry
A shield, she can't use a spear.
Better for her, much better,
To marry some worthy knight.
And the need was never greater! 2100
Advise her, all of you, to take
A husband, so the customs of this castle
And this town, in force for more
Than sixty years, can go on.”
As these words were spoken they all 2105
Declared it was just what they wanted,
And they threw themselves at her feet.
Her own desire was strengthened,
But she let them beg her to do
As she wished, speaking as if 2110
Against her will, but saying
What she'd say if they'd all opposed her.
So she said: “My lords! Since you wish it,
This knight, who sits beside me,
Has begged me to have him. He wants me. 2115
And he wishes to place himself
At my service, to protect my honor,
And I thank him, as you do also.
To be sure, I've not met him before,
But I've heard him spoken of, and often, 2120
For he’s as noble a man as you'll find,
Believe me, and King Urien’s son.
And more: his birth is noble,
But he’s just as brave as well born,
And blessed with such sense and such chivalry 2125
That no one should block this marriage.
All of you, I think, have heard
Of my lord Yvain, and this
Is he who wishes my hand.
I don't deserve so noble 2130
A husband, but I'll have him, and soon.”
And all of them said: “Be wise,
Don't let another day pass
Without making this marriage. How foolish
To let a single hour 2135
Go by without doing anything
So worthy.” And they begged her to do
Exactly what she wanted to do,
For Love urged her on,
Though she asked their counsel and advice; 2140
But there’s greater honor in taking him
When all of her people advise it.
But stirs her up and impels her
To let her heart have its way. 2145
A horse half in a gallop
Goes faster, when it feels the spurs.
And with all her barons watching
She gave herself to Yvain.
And he took Laudine de Landuc, 2150
Daughter of Duke Laudunet,
A lord of whom songs are sung,
From the hand of her household priest.
That very same day he married her,
Not waiting a moment to celebrate. 2155
There were plenty of mitres and crosses,
For the lady had summoned all
Her bishops and her abbots. And everyone
There was happy, and many
Were there, and wealth was everywhere, 2160
More than I know how to tell you,
Though I thought on it long and hard.
Better to be silent than speak badly.
And now my lord Yvain
Was master, and the dead man forgotten, 2165
And the man who killed him married
To his wife, and sharing her bed,
And his people happier with their living
Lord than they were with the dead one.
They served him well at his wedding, 2170
Which lasted till the evening before
King Arthur came to see
The wonders of the spring and the stone,
And all his companions with him,
And everyone of all his household, 2175
All gone on this expedition,
No one left behind.
And then my lord Kay spoke up:
“Oh ho! Now what’s become
Of Yvain, why isn't he here, 2180
Who boasted—after his dinner—
That he meant to avenge his cousin?
Oh well, he spoke after wine.
I suppose he’s run away.
He'll never come back and face us. 2185
That’s what comes of such pride.
You have to be brave, daring
To boast of something no one
Would praise, and no one can vouch for,
Except some fawning liar. 2190
Cowards and brave men are different:
A coward sitting near a fire
Puffs out some pretty grand words,
He says the rest of us are fools,
And he thinks that no one knows better. 2195
But a hero would squirm in agony
If someone told stories of the things
He'd done, though he'd really done them.
But how could the coward really
Be wrong to praise himself, 2200
And boast of his strength and his courage?
For who would do it for him?
If he doesn't boast his boasts,
Who would? Even the heralds
Ignore him, proclaiming true heroes 2205
And brushing cowards aside.”
And after Sir Kay had spoken,
My lord Gawain answered him:
“Mercy, lord Kay, mercy!
Yvain may not be here, 2210
Yvain Page 6
