Arthurian Romances (41 page)

‘Stop!' he said to her. ‘You've gone astray; come back here! I don't think anyone ever found the right way by leaving this road.'

‘Sir,' the girl said, ‘I'm certain we'll do better to go this way.'

But he replied: ‘I don't know what you're thinking, young lady, but you can plainly see that this is the right and beaten path. Since I have started along this road, I'll take no other. So if it pleases you, come with me, for I plan to continue along this way.'

They rode on together until they neared the stone and saw the comb. ‘Never in all my life,' said the knight, ‘have I seen a finer comb than this!'

‘Give it to me,' said the girl.

‘Gladly, my lady,' he answered. Then he bent down and picked it up. As he held it, he gazed steadfastly at the hair until the girl began to laugh.

When he noticed her laughing, he asked her to tell him why; and she replied: ‘Don't be so curious; I'll tell you nothing for the moment.'

‘Why?' he asked.

‘Because I don't want to.'

On hearing this reply, he begged her as one who feels that lovers should never betray one another in any way: ‘If you love anyone in your heart, my lady, in his name I beg and urge you not to hide your thoughts from me.'

‘Your appeal is too powerful,' she said. ‘I'll tell you and hide nothing from you: I'm as sure as I have ever been that this comb belonged to the queen – I know it. Believe me when I assure you that the bright, beautiful, shining strands of hair you see entangled in its teeth have come from the queen's own head. They never grew in any other meadow.'

‘Truly,' the knight replied, ‘there are many kings and queens; which one do you mean?'

‘Upon my word, sir, the wife of King Arthur.'

On hearing this, the knight did not have strength enough to keep from falling forward and was obliged to catch himself upon the saddle-bow. When the girl saw this, she was amazed and terrified, fearful he might fall. Do not reproach her for this fear, because she thought he had fainted. Indeed he had come quite near fainting, for the pain he felt in his heart had driven away his speech and the colour from his face. The girl dismounted and ran as quickly as she could to aid and support him, because she would not have him fall for anything. When he saw her, he was ashamed and said to her: ‘Why have you come here before me?'

Do not suppose that the girl would reveal the true reason. He would be ashamed and troubled, and it would cause him pain and anguish were she to reveal the truth. Therefore she hid the truth and said with utmost tact: ‘Sir, I came to get this comb. That's why I dismounted. I wanted it so much I couldn't wait any longer.'

He was willing for her to have the comb, but first he removed the hair, being careful not to break a single strand. Never will the eye of man see anything receive such reverence, for he began to adore the hair, touching it a hundred thousand times to his eye, his mouth, his forehead and his cheeks. He expressed his joy in every way imaginable and felt himself most happy and rewarded. He placed the hair on his breast near his heart, between his shirt and his skin. He would not have traded it for a cart loaded with emeralds or carbuncles; nor did he fear that ulcers or any other disease could afflict him; he had no use for magic potions mixed with pearls, nor for drugs against pleurisy, nor for theriaca,
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nor even for prayers to Saint Martin and Saint James. He placed so much faith in these strands of hair that he felt no need for any other aid.

But what were these strands like? I'd be taken for a fool and liar were I to describe them faithfully: when the Lendi Fair
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is at its height and all the finest goods are gathered there, this knight would not accept them all – it's the absolute truth – should it prevent his finding this hair. And if you still demand the truth, I'd say that if you took gold that had been refined a hundred thousand times and melted down as many, and if you put it beside these strands of hair, the gold would appear, to one who saw them together, as dull as the darkest night compared to the brightest summer day of all this year. But why should I lengthen my story?

The girl remounted at once, still holding the comb, and the knight rejoiced and delighted in the hair that he pressed to his breast. Beyond the plain they entered a forest and took a sidetrack that eventually narrowed to where they were obliged to continue in single file, since it was impossible to ride two horses abreast. The girl preceded her escort along the path. At the very narrowest place on the trail they saw a knight coming towards them.

The girl recognized him the moment she saw him and said to her escort: ‘Sir knight, do you see that man coming towards us fully armed and ready for battle? He believes beyond a doubt that he can carry me off with him without meeting any resistance. I know he is intending to do this, because he loves me, though in vain, and has implored me for a long while both in person and by messenger. But my love is not for him; there is no way I could love him. God help me, I'd rather die than ever love him at all! I know he's as happy at this moment as if he'd already won me. But now I'll see what you can do: I'll see if you are bold and if your escort can bring me safely through. If you can protect me, then I shall be able to say without lying that you are a bold and worthy knight.'

He answered only, ‘Go on, go on,' which was as much as to say, ‘I'm not worried by anything you've told me. You've no cause to be afraid.'

As they went along conversing thus, the single knight was rapidly approaching them at full gallop. He hastened so because he was confident of success and considered himself quite fortunate to see the one he most loved. As soon as he drew near her, he greeted her verbally with words that came from his heart, saying: ‘May the girl whom I most desire, who gives me the least joy and the greatest pain, be welcome from wherever she has come.'

It was not proper that she should be so stingy with her words as to refuse to return his greeting – from her mouth, if not from her heart. The knight was elated to hear the girl respond, though it cost her little effort and was not allowed to stain her lips. And had he fought brilliantly that moment at a tournament he would not have been this pleased with himself or felt that he
had won as much honour or renown. Out of pride and vanity he reached for her bridle rein.

‘Now I shall lead you away with me!' he said. ‘Today's fine sailing has brought my ship to sure harbour. Now my troubles are ended: after shipwreck I've reached port; after great trial, true happiness; after great pain, true health. At this moment all my wishes are fulfilled, since I've found you under escort and will be able to take you away with me now without incurring dishonour.'

‘Don't be too confident,' she said, ‘for I'm being escorted by this knight.'

‘Then you have poor protection indeed!' said he. ‘I intend to take you at once. This knight would sooner eat a hogshead of salt, I believe, than dare to wrest you from me. I don't think I've ever met a man I couldn't defeat in order to possess you. Since I now have you here so opportunely, I intend to lead you away before his very eyes, in spite of anything he may do to try to stop me.'

Our knight did not become angered by all the arrogant words he had heard but, without boasting or mockery, began to challenge him, saying: ‘Sir, don't be too hasty and waste your words, but speak more reasonably. Your rights will not be denied you once you win them. But just remember that this girl has come here under my safekeeping. Now let her be; you've detained her far too long and, besides, she has no reason to be afraid of you.'

The other declared that he would rather be burned alive than fail to carry her off in spite of her knight.

‘It would not be good were I to allow you to take her from me,' he said. ‘Consider it settled: I must fight. But if we wish to do combat properly, we cannot by any means do it here on this path. Let's go instead to a main road, or to a meadow or clearing.'

The other replied that this suited him perfectly: ‘Indeed I grant your request, for you are quite right that this path is too narrow: my horse would be so hampered here that I'm afraid he'd break his leg before I could turn him about.'

Then with very great effort, paying attention not to injure his steed, he managed to wheel about.

‘I'm very angered indeed that we've not met in an open place where other men could witness which of us fights better. But come along, let's go and look; we'll find a wide clearing nearby.'

They rode until they reached a meadow in which there were knights, ladies, and ladies-in-waiting playing at many games, for the place was delightfully pleasant. Not all of them were occupied in idle sport; some
were playing backgammon and chess, while others were occupied in various games of dice. Most were engaged in these diversions, though some others were playing at childhood games – rounds, dances and reels, singing, tumbling, and leaping. A few were testing their might in wrestling matches.

Across the meadow from the others was an elderly knight mounted on a Spanish sorrel. His saddle and bridle were of gold, and his armour was of grey mesh. One hand was placed smartly on one of his hips as he watched the games and dances. Because of the warm weather, he was clad in his shirt, with a scarlet mantle trimmed with vair thrown over his shoulders. Opposite him, beside a path, were as many as twenty-three armed knights seated on good Irish steeds.

As soon as the three riders neared them, they abandoned their merry-making, and their shouts could be heard through the meadows: ‘Look at that knight, just look! It's the one who was driven in the cart. Let no one continue his play while he's among us. Damned be anyone who seeks to amuse himself or dares to play as long as he is here!'

While they were speaking in this manner, the old knight's son (the one who loved the girl and already considered her his) approached his father and said: ‘Sir, I'm bursting with joy! Let anyone who wishes to hear this harken to it: God has granted me the one thing I have always most desired. He could not have rewarded me more if He had made me a crowned king, nor would I have been as grateful, nor would I have gained as much, for what I have been granted is fair and good.'

‘I'm not sure it's been granted you yet,' said the old knight to his son.

‘You're not sure!' snapped his son. ‘Can't you see, then? By God, sir, how can you have any doubts when you see that I have her in my grasp? I met her just now as she was riding along in this forest from which I've just come. I believe God was bringing her to me, so I took her as my own.'

‘I'm not yet sure that that knight I see following you will agree to this. I think he's coming to challenge you for her.'

While these words were being exchanged, the others abandoned their dancing; they stopped their games and sport out of spite and hatred for the knight they saw approaching. And this knight unhesitatingly followed swiftly on the heels of the girl.

‘Knight,' he said, ‘give up this girl, for you've no right to her. If you dare fight me, I'll defend her against you here and now.'

Then the old knight said: ‘Was I not right? My son, don't keep the girl any longer; let her go.'

The son was not at all pleased and swore that he would never give her up: ‘May God never again grant me joy if I give her up to him. I have her and intend to keep her as my own. Before I abandon her to him I'll break my shield-strap and all its armlets; I'll have abandoned all faith in my strength and weapons, in my sword and lance!'

‘I'll not let you fight,' retorted his father, ‘no matter what you say. You place too much faith in your own prowess. Now do as I order.'

The son answered proudly: ‘Am I a child to be cowed? This is my boast: though there are many knights in this wide world there's no one for as far as the sea stretches who is so mighty that I'd abandon her to him without a fight. I'm sure I can bring any knight to quick submission.'

‘I have no doubt, dear son,' said his father, ‘that you believe this, so greatly do you trust in your own strength. But I do not consent and will not consent this day to have you test yourself against this knight.'

‘Were I to do as you say, I would be shamed,' said the son. ‘May anyone who'd take your advice and abandon the field without a brave fight be damned! It is true when they said it's bad business to deal with friends: it is better to trade elsewhere since you intend to cheat me. I can see that I could better test my courage in some far-off place, where no one would know me and attempt to dissuade me from my intention, as you do in seeking to bring me low. I am all the more fiercely determined because you have found fault with me; for as you well know, when anyone reproaches a person's intent, this sparks and inflames him all the more. May God never again grant me joy if I should hesitate because of you. No, in spite of your wishes, I intend to fight!'

‘By the faith I owe the holy apostle Peter,' said his father, ‘I can clearly see that pleading is to no avail. I'm wasting my time chastising you. But before long I'll come up with a way to force you to do my will, whether you want to or not, for I'll get the better of you.'

At that he called all his knights. When they came to him, he ordered them to seize his son, who would pay no attention to him: ‘I'll have him bound before I'll let him fight. You are all my liegemen and owe me esteem and loyalty. By whatever you hold from me, respect my order and my wish. My son has acted rashly, it seems to me, and with unbridled pride in opposing my desires.'

They answered that they would seize him and that he would never want to fight as long as they held him; and they said they would force him to release the girl in spite of his wishes. Then they all seized him by the arms and around the neck.

‘Now don't you feel like a fool?' asked his father. ‘Admit the truth: you no longer have the power to fight or joust and, no matter how much you might be upset, your feelings will do you no good now. Give in to what I want; you'll do well to follow my advice. And do you know what I'm thinking? In order to lessen your disappointment, you and I, if you want, will follow this knight today and tomorrow, through the forest and across the plain, each of us on ambling steed. We might soon find him to be of the sort of character and bearing that I would permit you to fight him as you desire.'