Tales from the Old French   By: Various

Tales from the Old French

Translated by Isabel Butler

London Constable & Co. Ltd. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston and New York Mdccccx

COPYRIGHT 1910 BY ISABEL BUTLER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Contents

¶ Lais

THE LAY OF THE BIRD 3 THE WOFUL KNIGHT Marie de France 17 THE TWO LOVERS Marie de France 26 ELIDUC Marie de France 35 MELION 73 THE LAY OF THE HORN Robert Biquet 93

¶ Fabliaux

THE DIVIDED BLANKET Bernier 111 OF THE CHURL WHO WON PARADISE 125 THE GRAY PALFREY Huon Leroi 131

¶ Contes dévots et didactiques

THE KNIGHT OF THE LITTLE CASK 173 THE ANGEL AND THE HERMIT 207 THE JOUSTING OF OUR LADY 228 THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY 232

¶ Epilogue 249

¶ Bibliography 263

¶ Translator's Note 264

Lais

The Lay of the Bird

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Once upon a time, a hundred years and more agone, there lived a rich villein; his name I know not for certain, but he was rich as beseemeth a great lord in woodland, stream and meadow, and in whatsoever else longeth to a puissant man. And to tell you the sum thereof, his manor was so goodly no town, or burg, or castle hath its like, for to tell you true, in all the world is none other so fair and delectable; and if any were to show you its form and fashion, the tale would seem to you but fable, for none, methinketh, could ever make such a keep, or so mighty a tower. Round about it ran a river, encircling all the close, that the orchard, which was of great price, was all walled in by wood and water. Wise was the gentle knight who contrived it, but from him it went to his son, who sold it to this villein; so passed it from hand to hand: and wit ye well, an ill heir ofttimes bringeth thorpe and manor into dishonour.

Fair as man can desire was that orchard, and therein grew many an herb whose name I know not; yet may I tell you of a truth there were roses and flowers that gave forth a strong and pleasant fragrance; and such manner of spices grew there that if any creature, suffering from sickness and infirmity, were brought thither in a litter, and lay in that orchard but for the space of a single night, he would go forth healed and strong; so rich it was in goodly herbs. And the meadow was so level even that in it was neither hill nor hollow, and all the tree tops were of one height; no other orchard close so fair was there in all the world. Ask ye not of its fruit, for none such shall ye find; but in the garden they ripened in every season. Wise was he who contrived it, and by enchantment he wrought it, whereof within was many a proof.

Full great was the orchard and wide, like a round ring in its form; and in its midst was a fountain whose waters were clear and fresh, and ran so swiftly they seemed to boil in fury, yet was it colder than marble. A goodly tree gave shade there, wide reaching were the branches and cunningly trained; good store of leaves there were, for in the longest day of summer, when came the month of May, ye could not see a ray of the sun, so leafy was it. Full dear should that tree be held, for its kind was such that it kept its leaves in all seasons, and neither wind nor storm had might to strip its bark or its branches.