Part II: Anglo-Norman Literary Period, part of the Middle Ages Literary Period
18
The Lay of Eliduc: His wife and his mistress
TIS of an ancient Breton lay,
As I once heard it on a day,
I’d tell you, on truth intent
In matter, and in argument.
In Britain lived a brave knight,
Courteous, skilful in a fight,
Eliduc the name told to me,
Without peer in his country.
He had a wife, noble and sage,
Well-born, of high parentage.
When a girl, she did him marry,
And they loved most faithfully;
But it so befell he went to war
To seek wealth on a foreign shore.
There he loved a girl he’d seen,
Daughter of the king and queen;
Guilliadun she was named,
For her beauty she was famed;
While Guildelüec was, you see,
His wife’s name in his country,
After the lay was made and sung
Guildelüec and Guilliadun
It was called, though Eliduc
Was the first name that it took;
Before it was then named anew,
As I have said, after these two.
The story, that formed the lay,
Truthfully, I shall now relay.
The Lay of Eliduc: He is denounced
NOW Eliduc had a lord had he,
Who was the King of Brittany,
Who loved and cherished him, for he
Had served this king most loyally.
When the king was on a journey,
Eliduc governed the land wisely.
For these skills he was retained,
But scant was the reward he gained.
He would often hunt the forest,
Ne’er a forester would contest
That he did hunt there as of right,
Or murmur against the knight,
Yet, because of his power, he
Oft in others stirred deep envy,
So was denounced to the king,
Who accused him of ill-doing,
And then did banish him from court,
Without a case being brought,
And nor did Eliduc know why.
He often begged the king to try
Him, and grant him his defence,
Give no credence to the offence,
And he’d serve him till he die,
And yet the king made no reply.
On failing thus to win a hearing
He was then intent on leaving;
To his own place he returned,
And then to his friends he turned,
Of the king his lord and master
He spoke, and of the king’s anger;
Yet he’d served with all his might,
To scorn him so was hardly right.
The common folk say, for their part,
As well go quarrel with your cart,
No prince’s love is guaranteed.
He’s wise and prudent indeed,
Who’s ever loyal to his master
And doth love his good neighbour.
The Lay of Eliduc: He sails to Logres
HE would not stay in that country
But he would journey o’er the sea,
To the realm of Logres he would go,
And, while he was absent, know
His wife would rule all his estate,
And he’d command his men to wait
On her, and guard her faithfully
As all his friends would, equally.
And this counsel he now shared,
And therefore was well-prepared.
His friends were grieved withal,
To see him parting from them all;
Ten knights went with him that day,
And his wife saw him on his way.
And his whole household did grieve
As they watched his company leave.
But he assured his wife that he
Would keep faith most loyally.
He parted from her, there and then,
And took to the road with his men,
Reached the sea, crossed the same,
And thence to Totnes they came.
Several kings ruled all that shore,
And among themselves waged war.
The Lay of Eliduc: He aids a king who rules near Exeter
NEAR Exeter in that country
Dwelt a powerful king and he
Was aged, without male heir,
And none would inherit there
But a marriageable daughter.
Because he would not wed her
To his peer, they were at war,
And his whole realm now insecure.
At first indeed he was besieged,
Nor was the castle soon relieved
For no man dared to venture out,
Lest some melee become a rout.
Now Eliduc heard of this war,
And so he halted near the shore,
Thinking indeed that he ought
To remain where princes fought.
He would aid with all his might
The king most threatened in the fight,
The one least sure of victory,
Who’d pay him as a mercenary.
He sent messages to the king
In those letters boldly stating
That he’d left his own country
And might aid him presently;
Thus he waited on his pleasure,
And, if he endorsed the measure,
Then he asked safe-conduct there,
And sought the means to prepare.
Now when the messages appeared
The king indeed was greatly cheered,
He called his constable to him
And swiftly he commanded him,
At once, safe-conduct to afford
To this most fine and worthy lord
And to make fair lodgings ready
And to produce, as necessary,
All the monies that he might need
And send them to him, with speed.
The safe-conduct he did prepare
And despatched to Eliduc there,
Who welcomed it, glad was he,
And to the king he came swiftly,
Who lodged them with a dignitary,
Wise and courteous, of that city,
And stayed in the best chamber
That his host could there deliver.
Eliduc lived most honourably,
Invited to dine a goodly many
Of all those knights in sad case,
Who were lodged in that place.
He impressed on all his company
That none should be so foolhardy
As to behave in predatory ways,
At least for the first forty days.
The Lay of Eliduc: The castle is attacked
NOW, on the third day he was there,
Cries and shouts made all aware
That the enemy had advanced
And about them were ensconced,
To besiege the citadel as before;
Beating at the gates once more.
Eliduc, hearing the cry raised,
And of the foe’s attack appraised,
Armed himself, without delay.
He had in company that day
But fourteen mounted knights.
The rest were in various plights,
Either wounded, or a prisoner;
Eliduc armed some few, and after,
For he was not inclined to wait,
They issued forth from the gate.
‘Sire’, they cried, ‘we go with you,
And all that you do, we will do.’
‘My thanks then,’ was his reply,
‘Yet are there any here, say I,
Who know of some stratagem,
Whereby we might come at them?
If we await the enemy here
We may fight them, yet I fear
The honour it will bring is small,
Is better counsel here at all?’
‘Sire, i’faith,’ the men replied,
‘Not far along the near hillside,
Within the wood, in that ravine,
There is a narrow path, unseen,
Through which the enemy retreat,
And there they gather, in defeat
Or, having mounted an attack,
Tis there they quietly pull back.
On their palfreys, oft unarmed,
They can vanish free from harm;
If we were to adventure then,
We might slay a host of men.’
And thus his force might run amok,
Wounding, killing, wreaking havoc.
The Lay of Eliduc: The ambush
ELIDUC said: ‘Take care, my friends,
On thoroughness a plan depends;
Who often in such places fights,
Where he might lose his knights
He will scarcely win the game,
Nor will the greatest prize attain.
You who are now the king’s men,
Ought to serve him loyally; then
Come with me where I do go,
And what I do, there do also!
I assure you most faithfully
That you’ll incur no penalty,
For I will aid you in every way,
And if we cannot win the day
Then twill be granted us at least
That on our enemies we feast.’
They were near the trail indeed
That through the wood did lead,
To which the foe would repair,
And so did an ambush prepare.
Eliduc devised his plan, and then
Showed and instructed his men
The manner in which to attack,
Raise the cry, obstruct the track,
And called on all the company
Upon his summons to do as he.
They were to lay on furiously
And must not spare the enemy.
The foe were taken by surprise,
Routed ere they could realise,
And, their force much depleted,
In less than an hour were defeated.
Their constable was seized, on sight,
As was many another knight,
And given into their squires’ care;
Twenty-five captured thirty there.
Arms and armour thus they gained,
Wondrous spoils they obtained;
And back they rode, full of delight,
Having gained greatly by the fight.
The king gazed from a high tower,
All fearful for his men that hour,
Complaining there of Eliduc,
Who he credited, in his book,
With abandoning them, the knight
Turned traitor, once out of sight.
Yet there came this throng of men,
All weighed down, returned again.
And there were more coming back
Than issued forth to the attack.
Thus the king he knew them not,
And doubted then what was what.
He ordered the gates closed to all,
And had the soldiers man the wall,
To shoot upon them if required.
Yet not one bolt need be fired;
Eliduc had sent a squire ahead
To give the news in his stead.
He told now the whole adventure
And the result of all their labour,
How Eliduc had attacked the foe,
And had contrived their overthrow,
That never was there such a knight;
The constable taken in the fight,
And a further twenty-nine, he said,
Not counting the wounded and dead.
The Lay of Eliduc: The king promotes Eliduc
THE king, on hearing this did joy,
His pleasure was without alloy,
From the tower he did descend
So to welcome his new friend.
He thanked him for what he’d done,
Granting him each man’s ransom.
Eliduc shared what had been gained,
Three fine steeds alone retained
Which he’d heard praised mightily.
After sharing the spoils out, he
Distributed coins to the prisoners
In lordly fashion, and aided others.
After these deeds, I’m told, the king
Loved him much and cherished him.
He retained him for one whole year,
Along with all those who were near
To him, had them all swear loyalty,
And made him guardian of the country.
The Lay of Eliduc: The king’s daughter, Guilliadun
ELIDUC was sage and courteous,
Noble, handsome, and generous;
The king’s daughter heard his name,
And of the deeds that brought him fame.
Through her own private chamberlain
She requested that he would fain
Come visit her, so that she might
Become acquainted with the knight.
And expressed surprise, what’s more,
That he’d not visited her before.
Eliduc replied he’d like to know
Her far better, and would do so.
He mounted then on his charger,
And off he went to speak with her,
Accompanied there by her knight.
When of her chamber he had sight,
He sent this chamberlain ahead,
Who returned without delay and said
That he should follow him at once.
With fair and noble countenance,
Eliduc came before the lady,
And, speaking to her most politely,
For she was lovely, he thanked her,
Guilliadun, the king’s daughter,
In that she’d sent her man to seek
For him, that the two might speak.
She then took him by the hand,
And, begging him not to stand,
Set him to talking, by her side.
And, as they talked, him she eyed,
His face, his body, all was fair,
And seeing naught unseemly there,
His whole being seized her heart;
Amor, summoning her by his art,
Launched his sharp arrow, let it fly;
Love made her pale, and she did sigh.
Yet she would not enamoured seem,
Lest she was lowered in his esteem.
For a long while he chose to stay,
Then took his leave, and went his way.
There was much in her to desire,
Yet nonetheless he did retire,
And so to his lodgings went he
As yet still musing thoughtfully,
Afraid of her beauty, shy of her,
Since she was the king’s daughter;
Yet at the sweetness of her voice,
And that she’d sighed, he rejoiced.
He’d been so frequently in action;
He might have seen her more often,
While he had been in that country;
Yet repented of the thought, for he
His wife did only now remember,
And then of how he’d assured her
That he’d e’er act with loyalty,
And comport himself decently.
But this girl, this fair daughter,
Now desired him as her lover.
None had she so prized, she knew;
And if she could, she’d hold him too.
The Lay of Eliduc: She sends Eliduc gifts
All that night she lay awake,
Not a moment’s rest did take,
On the morrow when it was day
To a window she made her way
Called then, to her chamberlain,
And to him she made all plain.
‘I’faith,’ she cried, ‘ill went the night!
For I am now in grievous plight,
I love that soldier, newly here,
Eliduc, the ‘bon chevalier’.
All last night I could not keep
My bed, nor close my eyes in sleep.
If for love he wished to have me,
And of his heart could assure me,
I would do then all his pleasure;
Good twould bring him in full measure,
For he’d become king over us;
He is so wise and courteous,
If out of love he’ll not have me,
Then I shall die of misery.’
When she’d told her longing all,
The chamberlain she had called
Gave her counsel good and true:
‘Let no man bring ill on you!
Lady, if you love him,’ said he,
‘Then go send to him, presently,
A belt, a ribbon, or a ring;
If he should receive the thing
Full gladly, and doth it approve,
Then you’ll be certain of his love;
And handsome let him be, say I,
For no emperor neath the sky
Could but be filled with delight
If you chose him as your knight.’
When he’d uttered these words,
She replied to what she’d heard,
‘Yet, how can I know from this
That he doth my love truly wish?
No knight have I seen, I believe,
Who such an approach did receive
Whether he loved, or he did hate,
Would not accept, sooner or late,
Any fair thing that he might gain.
And I fear to be met with disdain.
For how may we through the outer
Know of any man the inner?
Prepare all that you need, then go.’
‘Madame,’ he said, ‘I shall do so.’
‘Bear this gold ring to him gladly,
Give him my belt that here you see,
Greet him a thousand times from me.’
So the Chamberlain turned swiftly,
Leaving her there in such a bind
She’d readily have changed her mind.
Nevertheless she let him depart,
And then to lament she did start:
The Lay of Eliduc: Her chamberlain returns
‘ALAS, my heart is stolen from me,
Lost to a man from a far country!
I know not if he be a nobleman,
Or whether he’ll soon leave this land;
For then I’d be left in misery;
I’ve set my heart on him foolishly.
I spoke to him but this very day,
Yet already for his love I pray.
He may scorn me for doing so,
If he is kind he will not, though,
For I in this have ventured all,
And if he loves me not at all
Then sorrow shall be my employ,
Ne’er in my life shall I know joy.’
While she thus lamented there
The chamberlain did onward fare.
To Eliduc at last he came,
Greeted him, in his lady’s name,
And forth the gifts he did bring,
Gave Eliduc the fine gold ring
Gave him her belt, soft and light,
And was thanked by the knight,
Who placed the ring on his finger,
And round his waist the cincture.
Now, Eliduc said nothing more,
Except for offering some reward,
But naught he said had he earned,
And to his lady he thus returned.
Finding her within her chamber,
In Eliduc’s name he did greet her,
And gave her thanks graciously.
‘Well,’ she cried, ‘hide naught from me!
Will he have me, think you, for love?’
He said: ‘I think so, by all above;
He is serious, I’d say, this knight,
Courteous, prudent, able quite
To show restraint, and on his part,
He doth know how to hide his heart.
On your behalf I gave him greeting,
And offered him your belt and ring.
Round his waist he tied the cincture,
And set the ring upon his finger.
Yet he said no further word to me.’
‘Did he receive them for love of me?
For if he did not, then it may be
I am betrayed, and woe is me.’
‘In truth, I know not,’ he replied,
‘Know only what I have surmised:
If he did not affect your cause,
He’d have accepted naught of yours.’
‘You speak lightly of it,’ said she,
‘But I believe he’ll not have me.
Nonetheless I wish him no ill,
And, I say, I will love him still.
And if he bears hatred for me,
Then I’ll die the more worthily.
Never through you or any other
Would I ere seek to discover
Aught from him, of all I say.
Myself I’d show him, from this day,
How this love of mine torments me,
If he but remained in this country.’
The chamberlain at once replied:
‘The king will keep him at his side,
Lady, a year, most certainly,
That he may serve him loyally.
And thus you will be at leisure
To show him all your pleasure.’
Knowing Eliduc would remain,
She felt a lessening of her pain,
She was delighted with his stay.
The Lay of Eliduc: An honest conversation
YET she knew naught of his dismay,
Since he’d seen her; all his fretting;
No joy, no pleasure could life bring,
Except, it seems, his thoughts of her.
Much grief they brought him rather,
For he had promised his wife, to be
Loyal, when far from their country,
That, but for her, he would love none.
Yet now his heart was held in prison.
Now he’d preserve his loyalty,
Yet could not deny indeed that he
Loved and longed for this lady,
Guilliadun, who was so lovely;
To see her, and to speak with her,
To embrace her, and to kiss her,
But so to love her that never
Would it bring on her dishonour;
As much to keep faith with his wife,
As the king he served with his life.
Eliduc was in much distress,
So he mounted and, weapon-less,
Called his companions to him;
He’d go to the castle, see the king.
And the lady, if there he might;
Such he longed for did the knight.
The king had risen from his dinner,
His daughter’s room he did enter,
In a game of chess he did engage
With a knight fresh from voyage.
By the board his daughter came
To sit, so she might learn the game.
Eliduc entering at that moment,
The king appeared most content,
And had the knight sit by his side.
Then to his fair daughter, he cried:
‘See here, you should become better
Acquainted with this knight, daughter;
Great honour you may show him then,
The bravest among five hundred men.’
Now, his daughter upon hearing
This instruction from the king,
Was much pleased, and with delight
She rose, and summoned the knight,
Seating herself far from the rest.
Both by love were now oppressed;
She dared not conversation seek,
While he doubted if he should speak,
Until, at last, he thanked her for
Both her presents he now bore;
He held no other gifts so dear.
She replied to the chevalier
That indeed his thanks were pleasing,
For in that hope she’d sent the ring,
And with the cincture did she part,
Hoping it too might win his heart;
A knight she loved, she so adored,
She would have him for her lord.
And if she could not, then she knew
That this one thing indeed was true
That she would have no living man.
Then he spoke his mind, thus began:
‘Lady, great thanks I render you
For your love; I have joy in you.
Since you so love this poor knight,
He cannot but be filled with delight;
But if you think to possess me so,
Then I must be truly bound, I know.
Yet I may not stay for anything;
One year only I serve the king,
For I swore an oath to him that I
Would not depart from his side,
Till the war was over, then anon
To my own country must be gone.
An I would not wish to linger so,
If you but give me leave to go.’
Then the princess, to all she heard,
Said: ‘Friend, I thank you for this word,
You prove both wise and courteous,
In taking thought, for both of us,
Of how you should behave to me.
Yet, above all things, I’ll love thee.’
Thus they each other did reassure,
And at that time they spoke no more.
To his lodgings Eliduc went,
Filled with joy at her consent,
For he could speak with her often;
And great was the love between them.
The Lay of Eliduc: He is summoned home
NOW, such were the fortunes of war,
That the king, who had before
Begun the conflict, he overcame,
And Eliduc thus ended the same.
He was much prized for his prowess,
His judgement too, and his largesse,
Much good indeed had come to him.
During this time his own lord sent
For him, and three messengers went
To seek for him beyond the sea,
For greatly endangered was he,
That lord, all his strongholds lost,
His lands wasted, and dire the cost.
And he, his lord, now repented sore
Of how he’d parted from him before;
For evil counsel had he received,
And evilly had he been deceived.
The traitors who’d accused him he
Had banished now from his country,
For their meddling, for their vile
Deed, had sent them into exile.
In his great need, he commanded
Summoned, conjured and demanded,
By the allegiance owed since he’d
Paid homage, that he, of loyalty,
Come now to bring his master aid;
The need was great he portrayed.
When Eliduc heard the news, he
Was much grieved for the lady;
He loved her deeply, as before,
And she could not have loved him more.
But they’d not entered into folly,
Or villainy, or falsity;
Exchanging gifts and speech,
And making vows each to each,
That was all they did, you see,
When in each other’s company.
That was his hope and his intent,
And to all this she did consent,
Hoping to win him, if she might;
But knew not he was wed, her knight.
‘Alas!’ said he, ‘I work ill, I fear!
Too long have I been lodging here!
And ill goes all in this country!
Now this lady is in love with me,
Guilliadun, the king’s daughter,
And loves me deeply, as I do her.
When she must part from me, say I,
One of the two of us must die,
Or both, if that should come to be,
Yet nonetheless I must go,’ said he,
‘My lord has so commanded me,
And by my oath has conjured me,
As does my wife for her own part.
Now indeed I should guard my heart!
For here I should no more remain;
But rather leave at once, tis plain.
I cannot wed my lover, I vow,
For that the Church doth not allow.
On every side I do meet with ill,
Yet, Lord, how hard the parting still!
But whoever holds her to blame,
I shall hold her free of the same;
All that she wishes I shall do,
Be guided by her counsel too.
The king, her father, rules in peace,
All attacks upon him do cease.
Due to the needs of my own lord,
I will seek leave, and well before
The term of my employment ends,
To go, for I my way must wend.
To the lady I shall go and, there,
Reveal to her all of this affair,
And what she wishes she will say,
And for her I’ll do all I may.’
The Lay of Eliduc: He takes his leave
THE knight, right soon you may believe,
Went to the king, and sought his leave.
The matter on hand he made plain,
Showed his orders, and did explain,
That his lord who’d asked him to go,
Was in such need he must do so.
The king read that lord’s command,
That he must go, he did understand;
Thoughtful he was and sorrowing.
He made him an offer did the king,
One third of his whole inheritance,
And treasure too he would advance,
If he would depart from him never;
And he would have his favour ever.
‘I’faith, at this time, I do confess,
That since my lord is in distress,’
Said Eliduc, ‘and asks aid indeed
Of me afar, I must serve his need;
There is no way that I may remain,
Yet if you have need of me again,
I’ll return to you, most willingly,
And bring a host of knights with me.’
The king’s thanks he did receive,
Who generously gave him leave,
And offered him his choice of all
The rich possessions at his call,
Dogs and horses, gold and silver,
Silk fabrics and many another
Thing of which he took good measure;
Eliduc said if twas his pleasure
He’d go speak to the king’s daughter,
And pay his respects thus to her.
The king replied: Tis well with me,’
And he sent a maid to go swiftly
And ope the door of the chamber.
Eliduc followed to speak with her,
His love, who, upon seeing him,
Called to him, and welcomed him.
He sought her counsel ere he went,
And briefly he spoke of his intent,
But ere he had revealed all to her,
Or had sought his leave from her,
She was overcome with dolour.
And her face lost all its colour.
Eliduc, seeing her in this state,
Commenced to lament their fate,
Kissed her mouth, now and then,
And then wept tenderly again.
In his embrace he held her tight,
Till her faint was over quite.
‘I’faith,’ cried he, ‘my sweet friend,
Hark to me, and let me defend
Myself, you are my life and death,
And all my comfort, in a breath!
That is why I take counsel of you,
So all betwixt us is good and true.
I must needs visit my country;
And your father grants leave to me;
But I would yet serve your wish,
Whate’er else may come from this.’
‘Then take me with you,’ she cried,
‘Now you’d leave my father’s side;
If you will not, then I shall die,
Since if you go, no joy have I.’
Eliduc answered, most tenderly,
That he loved her, and did so truly:
‘Fair lady, I am under oath
To your father; if we were both
To go, if I took you away,
I’d be foresworn, and I may
Not break my oath or the term set.
But I may swear, and loyally yet,
That if you let me have my way,
And set a term, and name a day,
And would have me here again,
Naught on earth shall me detain,
As long as I live, you understand;
My fate is wholly in your hands.’
Her love was such, without delay
She set a term, and named a day
For him to come and be with her.
Pain, at parting from each other,
Felt they, gold rings exchanging,
Sweetly kissing, and embracing.
Soon at the shore arrived was he,
And, with a fair wind, crossed the sea,
The Lay of Eliduc: He ends the war in his own country
WHEN he returned to his country
His lord rejoiced most fulsomely,
His kith and kin and his friends,
And all who on him did depend,
And his wife, indeed, above all,
Both fair and wise, as you’ll recall.
But he was pensive all day long,
For the love in him was strong,
And naught that he now saw there
Seemed pleasant to him or fair.
No joy would he have, twas plain,
Till he could see his love again.
Much was concealed secretly,
While his wife grieved inwardly,
Not knowing what all this meant,
But sighing, where’er she went.
Often she begged of him to say
If any accused her, in any way,
Of doing aught that proved ill,
While he was yet absent still;
Willingly, she would make redress,
Yet there was naught to confess.
‘Lady,’ said he, ‘none doth accuse
You of aught, nor brought ill news.
But in the country where I was
I swore to the king that, as he was
In great need, I would soon return,
And serve him there again in turn.
Once my lord wins peace with honour,
I’ll not remain a week longer;
And great worry, must I suffer,
Before I may return, moreover.
And until I may return,’ said he,
‘No joy do I have in aught I see.
For I would serve both loyally.’
Henceforth his wife she let him be.
Eliduc went now to serve his lord,
His best counsel did him afford,
Aided him greatly in command,
Bravely defended all the land;
And when the time appointed came
The day that the lady had named,
He ensured that there was peace,
And war with his foes had ceased;
Thus was ready to sheathe his sword,
And lead his company abroad.
Two nephews he greatly loved,
And his chamberlain would remove
With him – he’d given him counsel
And been his messenger as well –
But none else, only his squires.
This number met all his desires.
And he made them swear to hide
All his affairs from those outside.
The Lay of Eliduc: He returns to the lady
HE now took ship, without delay,
And over the sea it made its way.
Soon he’d arrived in that country
Where he had most longed to be.
Eliduc was most circumspect,
Far from the port he did elect
To lodge, so he would not be seen,
And so be recognised, I mean.
He summoned his chamberlain,
And sent him to his love again,
To say that he was there, and tell
Her that he’d kept faith as well.
That night, when all were asleep,
She must secretly leave the keep;
His chamberlain would go to her
And bring her to meet him there.
The chamberlain changed his dress,
On foot he hastened, to address
His mission, heading to the keep
Where the king and all did sleep.
He found her chamber readily,
And within he sought the lady.
He gave her greetings and then
Said her love had returned again.
When she had heard his news
She was happy, and confused,
Most tenderly she shed a tear
Of joy, and kissed the messenger.
He told her the whole scheme as well,
How she must leave when evening fell;
Then he stayed with her all that day,
Planning how they might slip away;
And that night, when all were asleep,
He and the lady fled the keep,
They kept together, went silently,
And all they did, did cautiously,
For they feared lest any man see.
Under a short mantle, she
Wore a silk dress, so I am told,
Lightly embroidered in gold,
Far from the gate, all in the dark,
They reached a wood, near the park
Below the palace, where her lover
Waited for her, on his charger.
The Lay of Eliduc: The lovers sail for his country; the truth is exposed
TO him the chamberlain now led her,
Eliduc dismounted, and kissed her.
Great joy was there at this meeting.
Then they mounted and took wing;
Thus, grasping tightly to the reins,
They spurred on o’er hill and plain,
Came to the harbour at Totness,
And so embarked, without distress.
There sailed in that vessel none
But himself, his men, and Guilliadun.
Theirs was a good wind and tide,
And all was clear weather beside,
But when they were nigh his country,
A gale blew up from out the sea,
And in the wind they did labour,
As it drove them far from harbour;
The spars were shattered and fell,
Their sails it ripped apart as well.
They called on God most fervently,
And to the Virgin, to Our Lady,
From whose Son they sought aid,
And to Saint Nicholas they prayed,
And Saint Clement, that he favour
The ship, and bring it safe to harbour;
But the vessel, now far from cover
Was driven thus hither and thither.
Much pressed were they by the gale.
One of the squires now gave a hail,
To the bridge, crying: ‘What use?
Sire, this gale you have let loose,
It is through you that we must die,
And never come to shore, say I!
You, my lord, have a loyal wife
Yet love this other, upon my life,
Against God, and against the law,
Against right and faith, and more.
Then let us drown her in the sea,
That we might reach our own country!’
Eliduc heard what he did cry,
And was much angered thereby.
‘Foul traitor, mad son of a whore,
Wretched fool, not one word more!
If I could leave my love,’ he hissed,
‘I’d make you pay dearly for this.’
But he held her tight in his arms,
And sought to keep her from harm,
From the storm that wildly stirred,
And the words that she had heard,
That a wife her lover possessed
In that land, as his man confessed.
She fainted there in his embrace,
Full pale, the colour fled her face.
In her faint she sighed not a breath,
But only lay there as if in death.
They helped to lay her down so,
To seek if she were dead or no.
Eliduc, torn by grief, arose
Ran to the squire, with him did close,
Then seized an oar and with a blow
Struck the man and laid him low.
Then taking by the feet the knave
Slung his corpse into the wave.
After throwing him into the sea,
He took to the rudder, hurriedly,
And so governed the ship that he,
Brought them all to port in safety,
And once he was truly at anchor
Lowered a gangway to the shore.
Yet his love as one dead still lay,
And all her state did him dismay.
Eliduc was now filled with grief;
He’d caused her death, twas his belief.
Of his companions he demanded
To know where, as they’d landed,
They advised she should be borne;
For from her side he’d not be torn.
Hereabouts, she must be interred,
With much honour, and holy word,
In a cemetery, declared the knight;
As a king’s daughter, twas her right.
The Lay of Eliduc: Guilliadun appears dead
HIS friends were as yet dismayed,
Not one suggestion had they made;
So Eliduc set himself to consider
To what place they should bear her.
His stronghold was near to the sea,
Thus they might reach it easily;
There was a forest round the keep
That was a good twenty leagues deep,
And a saintly hermit lived there,
With a small chapel in his care.
He’d lived there forty years or more,
Eliduc had talked with him before.
To him, he said, they’d carry her,
And in that chapel would her inter.
And he would donate much land,
On which an abbey there should stand,
With it a convent for the nuns,
A monastery, a group of canons,
Who for her soul would pray daily,
That God might show her mercy!
He had the horses brought, and he
Mounted then with his company,
But an oath he made them swear,
That they would hide this affair.
Before him there on his palfrey
He bore his love, most tenderly;
And thus, taking the direct road,
They soon reached the forest abode.
Before the chapel thus they came,
And he called out the hermit’s name.
But there was neither answer nor
Did any come to unlock the door.
One of his men climbed the wall,
And opened the door for them all.
Eight days before, the holy man
Had died, and Eliduc now found
A new built-tomb on that ground.
His friends sought to dig a grave
For his love, but he first did crave
To know if such a place was right.
‘Not yet, my friends,’ said the knight,
‘Not before I have counsel to hand,
And that of the wisest in this land,
To know if here the grave should be,
Or in some church, or some abbey.
We’ll lay her down before the altar,
And so to God we’ll commend her.’
To him he had his cloak brought,
With it a bier for her he wrought,
He laid her down upon this bed,
And left her there, as if for dead.
The Lay of Eliduc: He frequents the chapel where her body lies
YET, on preparing to depart,
The grief did almost stop his heart.
His gaze fell, his head did bow,
‘Fair one,’ said he, ‘to God I vow
That I shall not bear arms again,
Nor in such life as mine remain!
Fair friend, ill your first sight of me;
And to ill, love, you’ve followed me!
You may not now be queen, tis true,
Nor I show that faithful love to you,
With which you loved so loyally.
My heart sorrows for you greatly.
When I have interred you, I say,
I’ll become a monk, and so do pray.
And every day by your sepulchre,
I will refresh my grief, in prayer.’
Thus he parted from his amour,
And shut again the chapel door.
From his lodgings now he sent
A message that his way he bent
Towards his wife soon, though he
Was tired and weary from the sea.
When she heard, she was joyful,
And she prepared for his arrival;
A fair welcome she would give.
But little pleasure she did receive,
For he showed her no fair seeming,
Nor did he speak her fair greeting.
She dared not ask him the reason;
Two days he was there and gone;
He’d hear mass each day at morn
And then to the road he was sworn;
To the forest chapel took his way,
Where the body of his lover lay.
In seeming death still she did lie,
Without a waking breath or sigh.
And yet it seemed to him a wonder
White and red was yet her colour;
Through them a faint pallor ranged,
Else her complexion was unchanged.
He wept with anguish so to see her,
While for her soul he said a prayer;
And when all his prayers were done,
He returned thence to his mansion.
The Lay of Eliduc: His secret is discovered
ONE day his wife sent forth a squire,
To whom she told all her desire,
That he must watch as Eliduc
Left home, and see which way he took;
She promised the squire a reward;
Far he must go, and watch his lord,
And tell her where twas he went;
Horse and arms to him did present.
He then her orders did follow,
To the wood after his lord did go,
Who indeed perceived him not.
To the chapel now they had got,
Which he saw his master enter,
And heard the grief he did suffer.
As soon as Eliduc was through,
The squire sped to his lady too,
And told her all that he had heard,
The noise, the grief, every word
That arose from the hermitage.
Curiosity through her did rage.
The lady said: ‘Soon we shall go
And search the hermitage; know
That my lord must be on his way
To speak with the king this day.
The hermit has died, such is true,
And my husband loved him too,
But he would ne’er show such grief
For him alone, tis my belief.’
Awhile, she let the squire go.
That day, after noontide, though,
Eliduc went to see the king,
And so, with the squire leading,
To the chapel she made her way,
And, before the altar, there lay
The bier and the lady, in repose,
As lovely as a fresh-blown rose;
Uncovering the drape about her,
Finding she was long and slender,
Slim the arms, white the hands,
And the fingers thin and elegant,
Here then lay the truth; in brief,
Here was the object of his grief.
The Lay of Eliduc: Guilliadun is revived
SHE called the squire to her side,
‘See you now this lady,’ she cried,
Showing him the wondrous sight,
‘Her beauty as a gemstone bright?
She must be some friend of my lord,
She for whom such tears are poured.
I’faith I cannot wonder at all his
Grief, when one so fair has perished.
I love so, and regret, this treasure,
Nevermore shall I seek pleasure.’
And her eyes shed tears of pity
As she began to mourn the lady.
As she sat weeping by the bier,
A little weasel did appear,
From behind the altar it ran;
At which the squire, stick in hand,
As it passed by the lady’s head,
Dealt a blow, and left it for dead.
Into a corner the weasel he cast.
Only a few moments had passed,
When its companion came that way,
And, seeing where the creature lay,
Round head and feet it then began
To glide, and so in circles ran
Until on finding it did not rise,
Driven by sorrow, away did hie;
Out of the chapel, it was gone,
By the wood, the herbs among,
And seized a flower in its teeth,
Scarlet coloured, from the heath.
Swiftly returning, now the creature
Set the flower in such a manner
In the mouth of its companion,
Which the squire had but stunned,
That soon its mate revived again.
The lady saw; to her squire cried:
‘Seize the flower!’ His stick he plied,
Threw it so that the creatures fled,
Leaving the flower of brightest red.
She carried the flower to the bier,
And swiftly then, bending near,
Set it between the lady’s teeth;
That fairest flower of the heath.
She waited then and, by and by,
The lady, reviving, gave a sigh,
Her eyes opened then she spoke:
‘Lord, she said, when she awoke,
‘How I have slept!’ Then the wife
Gave thanks for her return to life.
On asking the lady for her name,
This then was the reply that came:
‘Lady, Logres my birth did see,
A king’s daughter, of that country,
Am I, and there I loved a knight,
Eliduc, a man of great might;
Together with him, I came here.
He sinned, deceiving me, I fear,
For he has a wife, and did never,
Tell me of her, or reveal it ever.
When of his wife I heard tell,
Into a deathly faint I fell;
And he hath left me villainously
All alone in a strange country.
He betrayed me, you understand,
A fool, she who believes a man!’
‘Lady,’ was Guildelüec’s retort,
‘In all this world there is naught
That now grants him the least joy,
Go and ask any in his employ.
He thinks indeed you are as dead,
And wondrously is discomforted.
Every day he views you though,
Yet thinks each day to find it so.
I am his wife, betrayed tis true,
But my heart doth pity him too.
Because of the grief he did show,
I wished to see where he did go,
I followed him, yet you I find;
You live, and joy fills my mind.
Together with me shall you go,
And find again your dear love, so.
Upon him I would make no claim,
But take the veil, in God’s name.’
The Lay of Eliduc: He returns to find her alive
THUS was the lady comforted,
And to the castle she was led.
The squire now was sent abroad,
And commanded to seek his lord,
He rode swiftly till he was found;
And once before him did sound
The news, telling Eliduc all.
For his horse did Eliduc call;
Waiting for none other beside,
That night to his keep he did ride.
When he found his love in life,
Tenderly he thanked his wife.
He felt pleasure without alloy
Never had he known such joy.
Full often did he kiss the lady,
And she too kissed him sweetly;
They felt great joy in one another.
When she saw them both together,
Guildelüec addressed her husband,
And his leave did now demand,
That she might go, from him part,
So to serve God, with all her heart.
Land he should grant her where she
Might in his realm found an abbey.
And he could then marry his love,
For the Church did no way approve
That he should maintain two wives,
Nor was the law there so devised.
Eliduc agreed to her intent,
And willingly gave his consent.
He would do all that she required,
And grant the land that she desired.
In the woodland near the castle,
By the hermitage and the chapel,
There he built her a nunnery,
And he edified it, variously,
Endowing it with lands galore,
All that was needed and more.
When all was done without fail,
Guildelüec then took the veil.
And established her new order,
With thirty nuns there beside her.
The Lay of Eliduc: He weds his love; later they enter the religious life
ELIDUC now wed his lover,
With much grace and honour,
And fine was the feast, I say,
When he married her on a day.
They lived in peace, many a year,
In perfect love, she his most dear.
Alms and grants did they afford,
Wealth consecrated to the Lord.
Near the castle on the other side,
On taking counsel did he decide
There to build a monastery.
All the rest of his land gave he,
All his gold, and all his silver,
And there he set, to be together,
A group of men of true religion,
To found an order, as was done.
When all was ready, then the two,
Once there was naught left to do,
Fulfilled, jointly, their intent,
To serve the Lord Omnipotent.
Beside his first wife he now set
The wife he loved dearly as yet,
And she received her as a sister
And held her in deepest honour;
To serve God she implored her,
Teaching the rule of her order.
They prayed to God, to defend
And grant mercy to their friend.
And he prayed for them in turn.
They sent fair messages, to learn
How things went in either place,
And to their hearts to bring solace.
And all strove as best they might
To love God, both day and night;
So made an end there, passing fine,
Thanks be to God; the Truth Divine.
Of the adventure of these three,
The Bretons, of their courtesy,
In remembrance, wrought a lay;
That none forget, to our own day.
Note: It may be that the reviving flower intended here was that of the Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis Arvensis), a cure-all in herbal lore, of which the old rhyme says: ‘No heart can think, nor tongue can tell, the virtues of the pimpernel.’ A plant of cleared land, it also grows on wastes, on sandy heaths, and in lightly cultivated areas.
The End of the Lais