The Honeysuckle and the Hazel Tree: 6. Eliduc

6. Eliduc

Marie de France

	I'll tell you all there is to know
	About a story long ago
	Told in ancient Brittany,
4	As it is understood by me.

	Eliduc was a Breton knight,
	The foremost in the land, by right
	Of courage, courtesy, and valor.
8	He was also to be envied for
	Having made a happy marriage
	To a wife of distinguished parentage,
	Noble and wise. For years they were
12	Loving and faithful to each other.
	But circumstances led the knight
	Into a foreign land to fight,
	And that was how he came to care
16	For the daughter of the rulers there.^[1]
	The maiden was called Guilliadun;
	In all that kingdom there was none
	More lovely. His wife, who had to stay
20	At home, was GuildelÃ¼ec. The lai
	Now is called by everyone
	GuildelÃ¼ec and Guilliadun,
	Although the name it had before
24	Was Eliduc. The story is more
	About what happened to the ladies.
	You shall hear then, if you please,
	Everything that befell these three,
28	And why a lai records their story.

	Eliduc was loved and honored
	By the Breton king, his lord,
	To whom he had sworn fealty
32	And served with perfect loyalty.
	If the king had to leave his land,
	Eliduc was in command,
	Valiant enough to overwhelm
36	The enemies of his master's realm.
	By the king's favor he acquired
	Privilege; if he desired
	To hunt for game in any forest,
40	No one could grumble or protest.
	Often enough in such a case
	A worthy man comes to disgrace
	Because of envy. Whispered lies
44	Blackened him in his master's eyes,
	And Eliduc was even refused
	Knowledge of why he was accused.
	Just because of that false report,
48	He found himself banished from the court,
	And the chevalier could not persuade
	The king he was unjustly swayed
	By slander to forget the past
52	Of willing service. When at last
	Nothing could make the king believe
	His innocence, he had to leave.
	Once at home the chevalier
56	Had his friends come without delay.
	Then he told them how his lord
	Was so enraged that he ignored
	Eliduc's devoted service,
60	Surely worth much more than this!
	Every chastised plowman knows
	How the peasant saying goes:
	"A fool on his lord's love relies."
64	A man will be both clever and wise
	To give his master nothing above
	Loyalty, his good neighbors, love.
	Eliduc planned to leave the country,
68	Traveling across the sea
	To England, where he was sure to find
	A welcome. His wife would stay behind
	And wait for him in his own lands.
72	All his household he commands
	To serve her well, and he commends
	Her safety also to his friends.
	Once the decision had been made,
76	He would not change his mind, but stayed
	Just to select fine clothes and gear.
	Sad were his friends; they held him dear.
	Ten knights were to accompany
80	Eliduc upon this journey.
	When it was time for him to leave,
	He said, in an effort to relieve
	His wife's great sorrow, that wherever
84	He went he would be true to her.
	With that they had to separate.
	He took a road which led him straight
	To the coast, and found a ship bound for
88	Devon, on the English shore.

	In that region there were three or four
	Rulers, always making war,
	Among them a man of great power,
92	Who lived not far from Exeter.
	This lord had now grown very old,
	Without a son and heir to hold
	His property. He had a daughter,
96	And had refused to marry her
	To one of his peers, who then laid waste
	The countryside in war and chased
	The old man to a castle, where
100	He was at bay. No one would dare
	Leave the protecting walls and go
	To battle or joust with such a foe.
	Eliduc, when he heard this news,
104	Felt no desire to refuse
	The chance. They had come looking for
	An opportunity of war,
	And here was one so close at hand!
108	To the king in greater need he planned
	To volunteer what help he could.
	Afterward, when he'd made good
	His offer, he could surely stay
112	As a soldier in that country's pay.
	He sent a message to the king
	And explained that he had come to bring
	Help, if the king would have it so.
116	He'd left his country and wanted to know
	Whether there would be interest
	In his offer. If not, he'd request
	Safe-conduct, so that he could proceed
120	To find another lord in need
	Of his services. Greatly relieved
	Was the king; the messengers received
	A most cordial welcome. An escort
124	Was sent to bring Eliduc to court,
	And the constable was told to give^[2]
	The knight and his men a place to live
	Suitably. The king would send
128	As much money as they might spend
	In a month. The king's men prepare
	The escort, and soon the knight is there,
	In the king's presence. Eliduc had
132	Welcome enough to make him glad
	That he had chosen to come their way.
	They had arranged for him to stay
	At a house in town, where he had a most
136	Courteous and thoughtful host,
	Who gave him his own room, all lined
	With tapestries. Eliduc dined
	In excellent style and took good care
140	That the poor knights who were living there
	Should be his guests at dinner always.
	His own companions, for forty days,
	Had strict orders which would prevent
144	Their taking any kind of present.

	Three days had not gone by before
	They heard people crying out: once more
	Their enemies were coming back
148	From all directions to attack!
	There wouldn't be very long to wait!
	They were almost at the city's gate.
	As soon as Eliduc could hear
152	The sound of the people in their fear,
	He and his companions armed in haste-
	Not one moment did they waste!
	Not counting Eliduc's own men,
156	Just fourteen mounted knights were then
	Staying in the city; not a few
	Were wounded, and there were captives too.
	As soon as this small remaining force
160	Saw Eliduc armed and on his horse,
	They were not inclined to hesitate
	But armed and met him at the gate,
	Saying, "My lord, we'll follow you
164	Wherever you go, whatever you do!"
	"Thank you!" he answered. "Do you know
	Of any road they'll use that's narrow?
	We'll make an ambush. That would be best,
168	If there's a place you can suggest;
	By waiting here we may begin
	A battle we're not likely to win!
	In any case, if we can choose
172	A better way, we've nothing to lose."
	The king's men reply, "My lord, we could
	Try the thicket near this wood.
	There's a narrow cart road that they're bound
176	To take, once they have turned around
	With booty to carry home again.
	They'll pass close to the thicket then,
	Disarmed and riding their palfreys
180	As they always do. Our enemies
	Will thus be open to attack
	At a moment when they can't strike back.
	All we will have to do is wait
184	Until they come to meet their fate."
	Eliduc said to them, "My friends,
	Remember, if anyone intends
	To win a battle or a war,
188	Or, for himself, great fame and honor,
	He'll realize he can't refuse
	To fight, even where he thinks he'll lose.
	Each one of you has taken a vow
192	To serve the king, who needs you now.
	Follow me, if you are true,
	Wherever I go, whatever I do!
	You can believe me when I say
196	No obstacle will block your way,
	If I have to give my life to win!
	If we can be successful in
	Taking a portion of their prize,
200	It will bring us glory in men's eyes."
	Convinced that Eliduc's plan was good,
	They led the way into the wood
	And prepared an ambush to attack
204	Their enemies when they came back.
	The men in Eliduc's command
	Were told exactly how he planned
	To charge right before their foes went by,
208	And what would be their battle cry.
	And soon the enemies were in sight!
	Eliduc challenged them to fight
	And called his companions to begin
212	The battle as if they meant to win!
	Then they struck with power and speed,
	Feeling, in their rage, no need
	To be merciful. Their foes held out
216	Just briefly; they were put to rout,
	Astonished at their own sad plight.
	Despite their numbers, many a knight-
	Their own constable included-
220	Was captured. They had not eluded
	Eliduc's men, and yet these were
	Only twenty-five in number.
	With thirty of the enemy
224	Left to the squires, they were free
	To take all the booty they desired,
	And all the armor. They retired
	Joyfully to the town. The king
228	Was up in a tower, worrying.
	Now he was very much afraid
	That all his knights had been betrayed
	By Eliduc. He complained aloud
232	And, as he spoke, observed the crowd
	Of knights approaching, every one
	Weighed down by the prizes he had won.
	Those who returned were many more
236	Than those who had gone to fight before,
	So that the king could not decide
	Who they were, and his doubts multiplied.
	Therefore the gates by his command
240	Were closed, and men were told to stand
	On the walls, prepared to meet their foes
	With catapulted stones and arrows.
	But there was no need of this. A squire
244	Rode up in haste and told the entire
	Story-the role Eliduc played,
	And the great valor he displayed-
	Never had there been such a knight!
248	His men had taken in the fight
	Twenty-nine captives and one more-
	A constable-thirty was the score!
	And there were also many wounded
252	Among their foes, and many dead.
	The king heard everything about
	Eliduc's triumph. All his doubt
	Was turned to joy. He didn't stay,
256	But went to meet the chevalier
	And thanked him for all that he had done.
	Eliduc divided what they won,
	Giving the captives to the king,
260	To his men the armor and everything
	Except three horses that he chose
	For himself, apportioning to those
	On both sides who were in the fight
264	The booty that was his by right.

	The deeds that I have told you of
	Won Eliduc the king's great love,
	And having agreed they all would stay
268	For a year, he promised to obey
	In fealty the king's commands
	And was made warden of his lands.

	Eliduc was a handsome knight,
272	Valiant, generous, and polite.
	The king's daughter heard his name
	And all the reasons for his fame,
	Which inspired in her such interest
276	She sent her chamberlain to request
	The chevalier to visit her,
	So they might come to know each other.
	She found it hard to understand
280	That he had been living in the land
	So long and yet had never tried
	To meet her. Eliduc replied
	That he would be happy to obey
284	Her invitation right away.
	He chose a companion for the ride
	And went to see the princess. Outside
	Her room he sent the chamberlain
288	To tell her that he'd come, and then
	He talked with the maiden face-to-face,
	Most courteously and with a grace
	That was proof of his nobility.
292	He thanked her for having wished to be
	Acquainted with him, and even more
	For sending the chamberlain who bore
	The message that had brought him there.
296	Guilliadun, who was so fair,
	Had taken him by the hand. They sat
	On a comfortable bed to chat.
	Carefully she looks, and cannot find
300	In her companion any kind
	Of defect; his looks and manners seem
	Worthy of the great esteem
	She feels for him already in
304	Her heart where love's commands begin
	To be emphatic and prevail.
	Guilliadun sighed and she grew pale,
	But not a single word betrayed
308	Her feelings; she was too much afraid
	That Eliduc would think it wrong.
	His visit with her was very long,
	But then he took leave and went away.
312	She would much rather have had him stay.
	Eliduc went back to his room,
	Feeling, instead of pleasure, gloom
	And anxious fear, remembering
316	The lovely daughter of the king
	And how she'd looked at him and sighed.
	Why had he been so long denied
	Her company, so close at hand
320	Ever since fate brought him to that land?
	Now she had summoned him at last!
	At the same time he recalled the past:
	How he had promised always to be
324	Faithful to his wife when she,
	Knowing that he must leave her, grieved-
	A promise they had both believed.

	The maiden was thinking only of
328	How Eliduc must be her love.
	Never had any man she knew
	Pleased her so much-and she would do
	Anything to have him stay.
332	Wide awake in bed she lay
	All night, and did not sleep or close
	Her eyes. In the morning she arose
	And went to a window; she would call
336	Her chamberlain. She told him all
	The secrets of her heart: "Alas!
	By misfortune it has come to pass
	That I love the chevalier whose name
340	Is Eliduc-the one who came
	Not very long ago to fight.
	I didn't sleep a wink last night,
	But thought of him all the time. If he
344	Would only pledge himself to me
	For love, with all my heart I swear
	That I would have no other care
	Than to do his will in everything,
348	And one day he would be the king
	Of all this land. He is so wise
	And courteous, if he replies
	Coldly to my love, I know
352	That I will surely die of sorrow."
	When the chamberlain had heard
	What was troubling her, he offered
	Loyal and very good advice.
356	"Lady," he said, "by this device
	You'll know his mind: have someone bring
	A ribbon of yours, or a belt or ring,
	Perhaps, as a present to this knight.
360	If he receives it with delight,
	He surely loves you. If you were
	To love the greatest emperor
	In the world, he would, I'm sure, rejoice
364	To learn that he was your heart's choice!"
	But the maiden, after she had heard
	The chamberlain's proposal, answered:
	"I don't believe I could discover
368	Whether he wants to be my lover
	Just by sending him a present!
	What chevalier would not consent
	To keep a gift, and readily,
372	No matter what love or hatred he
	Felt for the donor? I'm afraid
	That if I do this I'll be made
	To look a fool. On the other hand,
376	From his manner we may understand
	Something of his mind and heart-
	How soon can you be ready to start?"
	"Right now," he said. "Then you may bring
380	The knight my belt and this gold ring.
	And greet him a thousand times for me!"
	The chamberlain turned away, and she
	Began at once to hesitate,
384	Thinking that she had better wait,
	Then changed her mind; and so he went
	Leaving the maiden to lament:
	"Alas! My heart cannot withstand
388	This stranger from a distant land.
	I don't know who his people are.
	He could, at any time, be far
	From here while I remain behind
392	To grieve. How could I make up my mind
	So soon, in such a foolish way?
	I met him only yesterday,
	And now he'll receive my love with scorn.
396	And yet, if he is gently born,
	Surely he will be glad to take
	My present. There's so much at stake
	For me in this, I know I'll lose
400	All joy in life, should he refuse."

	While she lamented so and worried,
	The chamberlain went with all speed
	To Eliduc, and waiting only
404	Until they could speak privately,
	Offered him the maiden's greeting
	And her gifts, the belt and the ring.
	Eliduc thanked the messenger.
408	He put the gold ring on his finger
	And fastened the belt. But not a word
	Was said. Eliduc offered
	A return gift to the chamberlain,
412	But he did not accept it, and when
	It seemed the knight would not request
	Any answers of him, thought it best
	To go back and see the princess, whom
416	He found still waiting in her room.
	He told her the chevalier had sent
	Greetings and thanked her for the present.
	"Go on!" she said. "Tell me, did he show
420	That he would love me? I must know!"
	"I'll tell you everything I can,"
	The chamberlain replied. "This man
	Is certainly not frivolous,
424	But prudent, very courteous,
	And will not easily betray
	His feelings. When the chevalier
	Received the gifts from you, he placed
428	The ring on his finger; at his waist
	He fastened the belt, and with some care,
	But said nothing to me. I didn't dare
	Question him, since he had not spoken."
432	"He didn't take it as a token
	Of love at all! If that is so,
	I'm lost!" "My lady, I don't know,"
	The chamberlain said. "But I could tell
436	That at least the knight must wish you well;
	He didn't accept your gift by force!"
	"You take me for a fool! Of course
	I know he doesn't hate me-and why
440	Should he? The only wrong that I
	Have ever done to him was just
	To love him. And if for that he must
	Hate me, he deserves to die!
444	Now there is nothing more that I
	Would have you ask of him. What I'll do
	Is speak to him myself-if he knew
	How love torments me night and dayÃ¢Â¦-
448	But perhaps he's soon to go away."
	The chamberlain replied to this:
	"The knight has made a solemn promise
	And sworn that for a year at least
452	He would not ask to be released
	From loyal service to the king.
	There will be time for everything
	To be said and done as you desire."
456	When she knew her father would require
	The chevalier to serve him still,
	Joy and hope began to fill
	Her heart once more. She did not know
460	That Eliduc had lived in sorrow
	Ever since he left her sight.
	Nothing at all gave him delight
	Except to think about the princess,
464	Though he remembered with distress
	How he had promised his wife never
	To love anyone except for her.
	Eliduc's heart was racked with pain,
468	Because he wanted to remain
	Loyal to his wife, and yet
	For nothing on earth could he forget
	Guilliadun. He could not doubt
472	He loved her, when he thought about
	How beautiful she was, the joy
	Of talking to her, nor destroy
	His longing to hold her in his arms.
476	But if he didn't resist her charms,
	He would be doubly in disgrace:
	First, because nothing could erase
	His duty to his wife; and he
480	Had promised the king his fealty.
	So Eliduc remained in torment.
	At last he called his men and went
	To the castle for a talk, he said,
484	With the king. He really hoped instead
	He might, by this means, see the princess.
	The king was having a game of chess
	After dinner, in her apartment.
488	He played with a foreign knight and meant
	To have him teach his daughter the game.
	He greeted Eliduc when he came,
	Very well pleased to have his visit,
492	And asked the chevalier to sit
	Beside him. He said to Guilliadun:
	"You should get to know this knight! Not one
	Among five hundred would be his peer.
496	I hope you will make him welcome here
	And do him honor." The girl, delighted
	To do her father's will, invited
	Eliduc to come and talk with her,
500	Far from where the others were.
	They were in love. But she didn't dare
	Speak about it then and there,
	While for his part the chevalier
504	Couldn't find anything to say
	Except to thank her for the present-
	No other gift had ever meant
	So much to him. And then the princess,
508	Happy to hear the knight express
	The fact that he had found it pleasing,
	Said she had sent the belt and ring
	Because of what she now confessed:
512	Eliduc already possessed
	Her love and held her totally.
	Even if he refused to be
	Her lord, she said, she'd never allow
516	Anyone else to have her now.
	So let him say what he would do!
	"Lady, great joy is mine if you
	Love me," he said; "to realize
520	I've found such favor in your eyes
	Fills me with grateful pride. I'll always
	Try to be worthy of your praise
	And thank you for it. I'll be here
524	In the king's service for a year;
	To him, in fealty, I swore
	Not to leave until the war
	Had ended. At that time I'd be free
528	To go home again across the sea,
	As I would like to do; and so
	I'll ask you then for leave to go."
	"I give you thanks," the maiden replied,
532	"With all my heart. I'm satisfied
	To wait, for surely you will say,
	Before you have to go away,
	What you intend to do with me.
536	Knowing your wisdom, your courtesy,
	I love and honor you before
	All else on earth." They said no more
	That day, but both were well content.
540	The knight was joyful when he went,
	Since he could come back to visit her.
	Greatly did they love each other.
	The war continued. Eliduc fought
544	With so much valor that he caught
	The leader of the enemy,
	And thus the king's whole land was free.
	Eliduc's courage, his gracious ways,
548	And his good sense received much praise;
	He was given, too, a just reward.

	Three messengers came from his lord
	Before the year was out. They told
552	The knight their master could not hold
	The land except at dreadful cost-
	His castles would very soon be lost
	And all of Brittany laid waste,
556	If he could not get help in haste.
	He had good reason to regret
	Having, by evil counsel, let
	Eliduc go away; he knew
560	That what he heard had not been true.
	All the men who had betrayed
	And slandered Eliduc had paid
	Fully for their crime-they were
564	Exiled from the land forever.
	Now the lord, in his great need,
	Summoned the knight who had agreed,
	When he paid homage for his land,
568	To bring what power he could command
	To his lord's assistance in a war.
	And never was such help needed more!

	Eliduc received this news
572	As a heavy burden. He would lose
	The maiden he loved so desperately,
	As she loved him-they couldn't be
	Dearer to each other than they were.
576	Yet nothing in the least improper
	Had happened between them. Never wild
	Or frivolous, they kept to mild
	Pleasures of courtship, talked and sent
580	Gifts to each other, well content
	To be together when they could.
	But she believed and hoped he would
	Be truly hers, for all her life,
584	Not knowing that he had a wife.
	"Alas!" he lamented, "I was wrong
	To come here. I have stayed too long!
	If only I had never been
588	Near this country, or loved the maiden
	Guilliadun, who gave me her heart!
	Now, if we really have to part,
	I'm sure that either she or I,
592	Or both of us, perhaps, will die.
	And yet there's not the slightest doubt
	That I must go, or live without
	All honor, since the message came
596	From my lord who has the right to claim
	My fealty. To disobey
	His summons is also to betray
	My wife. Now I must take good care
600	What I do! I might as well prepare
	To go, since that's how it will end.
	If I should marry my sweet friend,
	I would offend all Christendom.
604	Whatever I do, no good will come.
	God! It's so hard to go away!
	No matter what anyone may say,
	I'll never fail her. By her will
608	I'll go, or else remain here still.
	The king, her father, can be sure
	That the peace will hold his lands secure;
	I'll tell him that my lord has need
612	Of help before the date we agreed
	Would end my service in this land,
	And ask him to yield to that demand.
	After I've spoken to the king,
616	I'll tell his daughter everything
	And try to do what she commands,
	Leaving my future in her hands."
	Having made up his mind, he pressed
620	The king to favor his request.
	He asked for leave to go, and read
	The letter in which his lord had said
	That all his lands were under attack,
624	And summoned Eliduc to come back.
	At this the king began to believe
	That Eliduc really planned to leave.
	He offered, in his great dismay,
628	A third of his lands, if he would stay,
	And all his treasure. The king swore
	To give all this and even more;
	The knight would have good cause to praise
632	His bounty for the rest of his days.
	"For now," said Eliduc, "I'll heed
	My lord's command and serve his need.
	He's called me from so far away,
636	I won't remain here to betray
	His trust-I'll do as he desires.
	If any trouble here requires
	My services, I'll come again,
640	As soon as you ask, with all my men."
	The king, most grateful to receive
	That promise, said Eliduc might leave
	And offered from his own household
644	Dogs and horses, silver and gold,
	Fine silk clothes for the knight; and he
	Chose among them moderately.
	Eliduc, in a courteous way,
648	Said he would like to go and say
	Goodbye to the princess, if he had
	The king's permission. "I would be glad!"
	He replied. A squire was sent before
652	The chevalier to open the door.
	As soon as he came in, the princess
	Greeted Eliduc no less
	Than six thousand times in her delight,
656	And only then allowed the knight
	To tell her what his visit meant.
	He explained that his own lord had sent
	A message requesting him to come-
660	Only thus could they save the kingdom.
	Before he reached the end of the tale,
	The maiden had turned deathly pale
	And fainted. Eliduc, heartbroken,
664	Kissed her lips again and again,
	Wildly lamenting in despair,
	And wept to see her lying there.
	He held her an endless time before
668	She could return to life once more.
	"My dearest love," he said, "I pray
	You'll listen to what I have to say.
	You are both life and death to me-
672	All joy is in your company!
	That is the reason only you
	Can tell me what I ought to do.
	Even though your father agreed
676	To let me serve my lord in his need,
	Whatever comes of it, I'll abide
	By anything that you decide."
	"Then take me with you when you leave!
680	If I stay here alone to grieve,
	There will be nothing in this land
	I care about, and my own hand
	Shall take my life!" With tenderness
684	In his voice, the knight tried to express
	The love for her that filled his heart.
	"I would be playing a traitor's part
	If I should take you with me now.
688	In all good faith I made a vow
	To give your father loyal service.
	But when the year has passed, I promise,
	If now you'll let me go away,
692	You yourself shall name the day
	Of my return. If I'm alive,
	Nothing shall stop me; I'll arrive
	To carry out all of your commands.
696	My life is entirely in your hands."
	Her love for him was very great.
	She gave him leave and named a date
	When he was to come back for her.
700	Tenderly then they kissed each other,
	And exchanged their golden rings. Tears fell
	As, mournfully, they said farewell.

	Eliduc went across the sea,
704	With good winds favoring his journey.
	His lord was overcome with delight
	When once again he saw the knight,
	And so were his friends and family
708	And everyone else, especially
	His wife, who was so fair and wise.
	But soon she began to realize
	That something had happened, from the way
712	Her husband seemed never to be gay,
	Never to welcome anything.
	The chevalier was always thinking
	Of the one to whom his heart was bound.
716	Never until the day he found
	His love would he know joy in life.
	He kept to himself and grieved his wife,
	Who could only wonder and lament,
720	Not understanding what it meant.
	Often she would ask him whether
	Someone had spoken ill of her,
	If he thought she had done something wrong
724	While he was away from home so long.
	She was most willing to be tried
	In public, if he'd be satisfied.
	"Lady," he said, "I haven't heard
728	Anyone say a single word
	Against you. But I must tell you this:
	The king would let me leave his service
	To come here only if I swore
732	I would return. And if the war
	Had ended here, I wouldn't wait
	A week, his need of me is so great.
	There is hard work ahead for me
736	Before we've won and I am free
	To go to him. Until that day
	Nothing will take my cares away.
	Never yet have I betrayed
740	Any promise that I made."
	With that she had to be content.
	Eliduc left his wife and went
	To fight courageously beside
744	His lord, who by his counsel tried
	Strategies which soon regained
	The kingdom. When little time remained
	Before the date the maiden had set,
748	Their enemies agreed to let
	The knight make peace as he desired.
	Then he prepared what he required
	For travel. He would only choose
752	Three companions: two of them nephews
	Dear to him, and the chamberlain
	Who knew their secret, having been
	Their messenger. That would do,
756	Apart from squires, for his retinue.
	Each of them was obliged to swear
	He'd hide all knowledge of this affair.

	He didn't wait but started out,
760	Crossed the sea quickly and set about
	Getting a message to the city
	Where Guilliadun waited anxiously.
	Eliduc knew it would be wise
764	Not to let anyone realize
	He was there. He didn't show his face
	But found a lodging in a place
	Far from the port. Meanwhile he sent
768	The chamberlain ahead to present
	His greetings to the maiden, and say
	That he'd been faithful to the day.
	That night after the sun went down,
772	Guilliadun was to leave the town
	With the chamberlain who'd be her guide;
	Eliduc would meet them both outside.
	No one was apt to recognize
776	The chamberlain in his disguise.
	He went on foot straight to the city,
	Where the princess would surely be,
	And inquired until he could assume
780	He would find the maiden in her room.
	He greeted her and did not lose
	A moment before he told the news.
	As for the princess, when she learned
784	That Eliduc had at last returned,
	Sorrow and gloom were cast aside.
	Now it was for joy that she cried,
	And many times kissed the messenger.
788	He said that he would leave with her
	That very evening, and he stayed
	All day until their plans were made.
	They left the city when it had grown
792	Dark enough; the girl alone
	And the young man; no one else was there,
	And even though they took great care,
	Still they might be seen, she thought.
796	Her dress was silk with finely wrought
	Embroidery in threads of gold.
	She wore a short cloak against the cold.

	Shot from the city gates, the flight
800	Of an arrow would have found the knight
	Where he was waiting, at the edge
	Of a park protected by a hedge.
	The chamberlain brought her to that place,
804	And to the chevalier's embrace.
	Great was their joy at meeting again!
	He put her on a horse and then
	Mounted himself, and took her rein.
808	It wasn't safe for them to remain.
	They left in haste, riding toward
	Devon, where they went aboard
	The waiting ship which carried no one
812	But Eliduc's men and Guilliadun.
	Thanks to good winds and tranquil seas,
	They made the entire crossing with ease.
	But a storm arising just before
816	They were about to reach the shore
	Drove them, by the terrible force
	Of wind and waves, far off their course,
	Their sails in shreds, until the mast
820	Bent and broke. They knew at last
	That only heaven's grace could prevent
	Swift ruin. They implored Saint Clement
	And Saint Nicholas to see their need,
824	And Blessed Mary to intercede
	With her Son, that He stretch forth His hand
	And bring them safely back to land.
	Yet they were driven by the will
828	Of the storm, back and forth, in peril,
	Taking every moment for
	The last. Then they heard a sailor
	Shout above the storm, "My lord!
832	Because of the woman here on board,
	Each one of us will lose his life!
	You already have a lawful wife-
	And this one too! You think you can
836	Break the command of God and man!
	Yours is the sin, and we must pay.
	I tell you, there is just one way
	To save us all: the woman must be
840	Taken and thrown into the sea!"
	Eliduc heard what he said;
	Rage drove him nearly out of his head!
	He shouted at him, "Son of a whore,
844	Filthy traitor, say no more!
	Before you could take her, never fear,
	I would have sold her very dear!"
	The knight was trying as best he could
848	To do the seasick girl some good
	By holding her close in his embrace,
	But he was powerless to erase
	The sailor's warning from her mind-
852	She would go home with him to find
	A wife already in her place!
	All trace of color left her face;
	She fell unconscious to the ground
856	And did not stir. When Eliduc found
	That nothing would bring her back again,
	He thought that she was dead. And then,
	Wild with grief, he was not slow
860	To seek revenge. He struck a blow
	Strong enough to overwhelm
	The sailor, who was at the helm,
	And grabbed him by the feet to throw
864	His body to the waves below.
	Then taking the tiller in his hand,
	He held the ship to his command
	And brought it safely to the harbor.
868	Even when they'd dropped the anchor
	And lowered the gangway to the shore,
	The maiden was lying as before.
	To see her, anyone would have said
872	That she, beyond all doubt, was dead.
	Eliduc, left to mourn and suffer,
	Wished that he could have died with her.
	He asked his companions to suggest
876	A place where she might be laid to rest.
	He would not let the maiden go
	Until he could have a priest bestow
	Blessings on her, and see that they gave
880	Every honor to the grave
	Where the daughter of a king would lie.
	The men were unable to reply.
	Seeing by their dismay that no one
884	Could help him decide what should be done,
	He thought for a while, and said he knew
	A place that possibly would do.
	By dinnertime they could easily
888	Reach his dwelling, close to the sea.
	Thirty leagues of woodlands hide
	The place from view on every side.
	The forest had a chapel in it,
892	Built by a very pious hermit
	Who had come there forty years ago.
	Eliduc often used to go
	And talk with him. Now, if he buried
896	Guilliadun there, the knight would cede
	A portion of the neighboring land,
	On which a monastery would stand
	Or else a convent. Every day
900	Those who lived in it would pray
	That God be merciful and save
	The maiden lying in that grave.
	Eliduc sent for his horse, and when
904	They all were mounted, had the men
	Swear on their honor not to reveal
	The secret the chapel would conceal.
	As they rode onward Guilliadun lay
908	In front of the grieving chevalier.

	They did not stop at all, but rode
	Straight along the forest road
	And found what they were looking for.
912	They called, and knocked on the chapel door,
	But there was no answer from inside,
	However many times they tried.
	Eliduc ordered one of his men
916	To make his way inside, and then
	They knew why no one had replied.
	The wise and holy man had died
	A week before they came. It gave
920	The knight much grief to see his grave.
	The others wanted to prepare
	To bury the maiden then and there,
	But this the knight would not permit,
924	Because, he said, "The saintly hermit
	Is dead, and I will have to seek
	The wise men of the land and speak
	Of the abbey that shall glorify
928	This place. We'll let the maiden lie
	Close to the altar, and commend
	To God the soul of my sweet friend."
	Hearing his words, the men obeyed.
932	Soon fine sheets were brought and laid
	Carefully on the maiden's bed,
	And then they left her there for dead.
	Eliduc, when it was time to go,
936	Thought that he would die of sorrow.
	Gently he kissed her eyes and face,
	Saying, "My fair one, by God's grace
	I shall lay down my sword and find
940	A way to leave this world behind.
	A curse upon your life was I!
	Beloved, you followed me to die!
	My beautiful, you would have been queen,
944	Had you not taken love to mean
	Total and perfect loyalty.
	Now grief is all life holds for me.
	I'll never leave you, my sweet friend!
948	I'll bury you as I intend,
	And then, as a monk, return to pray
	And weep beside your tomb each day."
	So he promised her before
952	He left her, closing the chapel door.

	Eliduc sent a messenger
	To find his wife and say to her
	That he was returning, but would be
956	Extremely tired from his journey.
	The lady was overjoyed; she dressed
	So that she would look her best
	To welcome her lord when he arrived.
960	But from his greeting she derived
	No happiness at all; he had
	Little to say, and looked so sad.
	She didn't dare to ask him why;
964	And so the first two days went by.
	Each morning after mass was said,
	Eliduc took the road that led
	To the little chapel in the wood
968	Where the maiden lay as if she could
	Just have fainted, yet had not stirred
	In all that time or said a word.
	It seemed miraculous to the knight
972	That her face remained so pink and white;
	She was only a little more
	Pale than she had been before.
	But Eliduc could not control
976	His anguish. He would pray for her soul,
	Weeping bitterly, and when
	He finished his prayer, go home again.

	The chevalier was unaware
980	That he had been discovered there
	By someone whom his wife had sent
	To find out where it was he went.
	A squire had been promised, in return
984	For anything that he might learn,
	Horses and arms as a reward.
	So, after following his lord
	Through the woods, he stood and waited near
988	The chapel, close enough to hear
	Sounds of mourning from inside.
	He didn't know why Eliduc cried.
	Before his master had come out,
992	The squire went home to tell about
	All he had learned: how Eliduc went
	Into the chapel to lament,
	And described the sounds of grief he heard.
996	Eliduc's wife was deeply stirred.
	"We'll go to the hermitage today,"
	She said. "My lord will be away;
	I know that he intends to visit
1000	The king at court. The saintly hermit
	Died not very long ago,
	But surely my lord would not grieve so,
	Although he loved him well, or make
1004	Such lamentations for his sake."

	She said no more than that, and soon
	Had learned the truth. That afternoon
	Eliduc went to see the king,
1008	And she set out at once, taking
	The squire along to be her guide.
	Once at the chapel, she went inside
	Alone; and there the maiden lay
1012	Like a young rose. She drew away
	The covering and looked at her.
	Graceful her body was, and slender,
	Her arms and hands were smooth and white,
1016	Her fingers delicate. At the sight,
	The lady couldn't fail to know
	The reason for her husband's sorrow.
	Calling the squire, she revealed
1020	The wonder that had been concealed.
	"Do you see this woman's beauty,
	So like a precious gem? It must be,
	Surely, my husband's love for her
1024	That gives him such good cause to suffer.
	Seeing such beauty lying there,
	I'm not surprised at his despair;
	My love and pity at the sight
1028	Will take from my own life all delight
	Forever." Beside the maiden's bed,
	The lady sat weeping for the dead.
	She mourned, heartbroken at the loss
1032	Of such loveliness. And then, across
	The body, a weasel ran from below
	The altar. An angry squire's blow
	Stopped it instantly; he felled
1036	The creature with a stick he held,
	Casting its body to the ground.
	Another weasel came and found
	His dead companion lying there
1040	And seemed to examine her with care,
	Prodding with his feet and circling
	Close to her head. At last, when nothing
	Was any use, he seemed to lament
1044	Piteously, and then he went
	Out through the chapel door and raced
	Into the forest. Soon he retraced
	His steps to find his friend once more,
1048	And now, between his teeth, he bore
	A bright red flower he placed inside
	The mouth of the weasel who had died.^[3]
	This remedy in an instant broke
1052	The hold of death. The weasel awoke.
	The lady had seen it all, and cried,
	Before the animals could hide,
	"Throw something! Don't let her get away!"
1056	The squire was quick enough to obey,
	And with a blow, contrived to stop
	The weasel; she let the flower drop.
	The lady rose at once to take
1060	The flower for the maiden's sake,
	And imitating what she had seen
	The weasel do, she placed it between
	The dead girl's lips, then stood aside
1064	And waited. Soon the maiden sighed
	And opened her eyes. Her voice was strong
	When she said, "I've been asleep so long!"
	At that, rejoicing, Eliduc's wife
1068	Thanked God for saving the maiden's life.
	Then she asked Guilliadun her name
	And that of the land from which she came.
	"I am from England," was her reply;
1072	"My father is a king. But I
	Fell in love with a foreign knight
	Named Eliduc, who was there to fight,
	And when he left my father's service,
1076	He took me with him-knowing that this
	Was a sin-and never told me about
	His marriage. And when I found out
	The truth, that he had a wife already,
1080	It was such a terrible shock to me
	That I fainted. I still don't understand
	Why he had me come to this strange land
	To be abandoned and betrayed,
1084	But a fool is easy to persuade."
	Gently the lady said, "My dear,
	Nothing in all the world can cheer
	The chevalier who grieves for you.
1088	Believe me, what I say is true.
	He thinks that you are dead; his sorrow
	Is greater than anyone can know.
	I'm sure that all the time you lay
1092	Unconscious, he was here each day.
	I am his wife, and his despair
	Was mine before I came to share
	The reason for it. My concern
1096	Drove me finally to learn
	What it was all about. Since I've
	Found that you are still alive,
	Joy has brought my grief to an end.
1100	Come with me now; I intend
	To give you back to your love once more,
	And see him free and happy before
	I take the veil. And so she led
1104	The maiden home, much comforted.

	The lady told her squire to make
	What speed he could to overtake
	The knight, who'd gone to see the king.
1108	Soon, after courteously greeting
	His lord, he told him all the news.
	Eliduc mounted; he didn't lose
	A moment to wait for company,
1112	And was home that night. When he could see
	That Guilliadun had come back to life,
	He gave most heartfelt thanks to his wife.
	In all his life he had not known
1116	Such joy as on that day alone.
	He and the maiden had good cause
	For the happiness that made them pause
	So often to exchange a kiss.
1120	Eliduc's wife, seeing all this,
	Said that if the knight would give
	Permission, she would retire to live
	In holy service as a nun.
1124	Eliduc could marry the one
	He loved so much. Her own desire
	Was to have the land it would require
	To build a convent. They all knew,
1128	She said, that it really wouldn't do
	To have two wives-a married state
	The law should never tolerate.
	Eliduc granted her request;
1132	He would do whatever she thought best.
	Most willingly he gave the land
	To build the convent as she planned.
	Not far from the castle, in the wood
1136	Where the saintly hermit's chapel stood,
	Was the location that they chose;
	There the church and other buildings rose.
	The knight donated in full measure
1140	Land and a large amount of treasure.
	As soon as everything had been done,
	Eliduc's wife became a nun,
	Establishing a holy order,
1144	With thirty nuns who followed her.

	So Eliduc could marry the one
	He loved, his beautiful Guilliadun.
	After their wedding, consecrated
1148	Fittingly and celebrated
	With a feast, they lived for many days
	In perfect love. The two were always
	Giving alms, doing good deeds until
1152	All they cared for was to do God's will.
	He built a church on the other side
	Of the castle, giving, to provide
	Everything this would require,
1156	Most of his land with his entire
	Treasury of silver and gold.
	There the knight established a household
	Of monks and serving laity
1160	Distinguished for their piety.
	When all arrangements had been made,
	Eliduc no longer delayed.
	He joined the order there, intent
1164	On serving God omnipotent.
	He placed his beloved Guilliadun
	In his first wife's care, to be a nun,
	And she was welcomed as a sister
1168	By GuildelÃ¼ec, who honored her
	And explained the Rule she must obey,
	Telling her to serve God and pray.
	Together they would always commend
1172	To God's great mercy their dear friend.
	The knight prayed for them in return,
	And often sent messengers to learn
	How things were going on their side
1176	And if everyone was satisfied.
	They tried in every way they could
	To worship God as Christians should.
	So living, they were not denied
1180	God's grace and blessing when they died.

	From all that happened to these three,
	The poets of ancient Brittany
	Composed a lai to be told and heard,
1184	So that its truth would be remembered.