The Honeysuckle and the Hazel Tree: 5. Lanval

5. Lanval

Marie de France

	I have heard another lai
	Whose story I will tell the way
	The Bretons did, to preserve the fame
4	Of a knight. Lanval was his name.

	At that time the brave, courtly king
	Arthur was in Kardoel to bring
	Terror to his foes, the Scots
8	And Picts, who had been doing lots
	Of damage to the realm; they crossed
	Into England, and good land was lost.
	In summertime he came to reside
12	In Kardoel, at Whitsuntide.^[1]
	Arthur gave generous rewards
	To his courageous, noble lords-
	Only the world's best knights were able
16	To have a place at the Round Table.
	Wives and land the king supplied
	To everyone who was on his side,
	Except Lanval, and he had fought
20	Valiantly. Arthur gave no thought
	To him, nor did his knights support
	Lanval; the vassals of the court
	Envied the chevalier, for he
24	Was generous, brave, and fair to see.
	Some who showed him great affection
	Would not have had the least objection
	If anything occurred to bring
28	Him down. A very noble king
	Was Lanval's father, but his land
	Was far from where, at Arthur's command,
	The knight now served. Lanval had spent
32	Everything he had, and was sent
	Nothing from his lord. The knight
	Would ask for nothing. Sad was his plight.
	If Lanval's spirits were often low,
36	Don't be surprised, my lords; you know
	That a stranger far from home, with no
	Friends to help him, lives in sorrow.^[2]

	The knight I've been telling you about,
40	Who'd served King Arthur long without
	Failing him in any way,
	Took his war-horse out one day
	Just for the pleasure of a ride.
44	Soon he found himself outside
	The town. He dismounted near a brook
	In an empty meadow. His horse shook
	Strangely; Lanval undid the girth
48	And let him roll on the grass. No mirth
	Did the knight feel, only his trouble.
	He put his cloak, folded double,
	Under his head and lay down awhile.
52	Nothing he saw gave him cause to smile;
	He could only think of all he lacked.
	Then there was something to attract
	His attention: at the river's shore
56	Were two young women. Never before
	Had he seen such beauty! They were dressed
	In long tunics of the best
	Dark-dyed silk drawn tight with laces,
60	And they had very lovely faces.
	Two basins finely made of gold
	The elder carried-you'll be told
	The truth about this, I guarantee-^[3]
64	The other a towel. He could see
	How confidently they made their way
	Until they were close to where he lay.
	Knowing how to behave, the knight
68	Got up to meet them, to be polite.
	But their greeting to him came before
	He spoke, with the message that they bore:
	"Sir Lanval, a maiden without peer
72	For beauty and wisdom, sent us here
	To find you. This is her request:
	Come with us now to be her guest!
	We will guide you and take good care.
76	Look! Her pavilion's right over there!"
	The chevalier agreed to go.
	He'd leave his horse in the meadow
	Where grass would keep it well content.
80	They led Lanval to a wondrous tent.
	Never had there been one like this!
	Not even Queen Semiramis,
	When she was at the very height
84	Of her power, wisdom, wealth, and might,
	Or the emperor Octavian
	Could ever have afforded one
	Of its panels. How much money was spent^[4]
88	On the gold eagle above the tent
	I don't know, nor how much would have bought
	The stakes and cords that kept so taut
	Its walls. There is not a king on earth
92	With as much wealth as the tent was worth.
	Inside the tent a maiden lay.
	A rose, when on a summer day
	It first opens, or a lily,
96	Is not as beautiful as she.
	The very sheets of her bed cost more
	Than a great castle. The maiden wore
	Only a shift laced on the side,
100	Fashioned so as not to hide
	The fine, slender shape of her.
	Partly draped in an ermine fur
	Cloak, lined with a silk brocade
104	From Alexandria, she displayed
	Her bosom, face, and side; they were
	As white as is the hawthorn flower.

	The moment Lanval came in sight,
108	The maiden called out to greet the knight,
	And as he sat beside her bed,
	"Lanval, my dearest love," she said,
	"From my own land, which is very far,
112	I've come to find you. If you are
	Honorable and strong in valor,
	No count or king, no emperor
	Has the good fortune, the joy I bring,
116	For I love you more than anything."
	He saw how fair she was. Love's dart
	Struck him, lit a spark in his heart,
	Which was instantly alight. Then he
120	Answered her most courteously:
	"Beautiful one, if it is true
	That I am to have such joy of you,
	If to grant me love is your desire,
124	I swear that whatever you require
	I'll gladly do, if only it lies
	In my power, be it folly or wise.
	All your commands will I obey.
128	From everyone else I'll turn away.
	There's just one desire in my heart:
	That the two of us may never part."
	When the maiden heard Lanval speak,
132	And knew that the one she came to seek
	Returned her love, she gave him free
	Possession of her, heart and body.
	Now Lanval is on the right road!
136	In yet another way she showed
	How much she loved him, for she willed
	That his every wish should be fulfilled.
	His poverty was at an end;
140	He could have all that he could spend.
	Now Lanval's lodging suits him indeed!
	All the wealth he could ever need
	Would be his, and more. But in addition,
144	Lanval received her admonition:
	"Dearest, be sure no one discovers-
	I charge you this!-that we are lovers.
	Should that happen, this is the cost:
148	Our joy will be forever lost.
	You'll see me no more, will never hold
	Your arms around me, if this is told."
	Lanval said he would not be swayed
152	From keeping his word. She'd be obeyed.
	On the bed beside her, the knight lay.
	Now Lanval is lodged in a better way!
	He was with her all the afternoon,
156	Until it would be evening soon,
	But the knight felt very much inclined
	To linger, if she wouldn't mind.
	But alas, "My dearest love!" she said,
160	"It's time for you to get out of bed.
	I will stay here, and you must go,
	But there's something I would have you know:
	Whenever you'd like to talk with me,
164	Just think of a place where it would be
	Appropriate, not indiscreet,
	For a knight and one he loves to meet.
	I'll be with you as you request
168	And do whatever would please you best.
	To no eyes but yours will I appear,
	The words I say no one else will hear."
	Happy because she told him this,
172	He rose to go, giving her a kiss.
	The maidens who had brought him there
	Had prepared fine clothes for him to wear,
	And when he was newly clad, the youth,
176	Who was neither foolish nor uncouth,
	Was so fair you could search many lands
	And not find his peer. He washed his hands
	With water they brought, nor did he lack
180	A towel. After that they came back,
	Bringing food so he could share a meal
	With his love. Lanval did not feel
	The least desire to decline;
184	Everything was done with fine
	Courtesy, all was to his taste,
	And between courses, he was embraced
	And given many kisses so sweet
188	They pleased him more than something to eat.

	When they finished the last course,
	They brought Lanval his well-groomed horse,
	Saddled in a way that showed good care
192	Had been taken of it while he was there.
	Lanval mounted, took his leave, set out
	Toward the city again, but not without
	Often looking back the way he'd come.
196	But soon the knight was overcome
	With great fear; as he rode along
	Thinking, his doubts were very strong,
	And then Lanval began to feel
200	What had happened to him was not real.
	When he came back to where he stayed,
	He found his servants well arrayed.
	That night good cheer was at his table;
204	No one knew how Lanval was able
	To show such generosity.
	Every knight in the whole city
	Who needed lodging Lanval took care
208	To invite, and all were served good fare.
	Splendid are the gifts that Lanval gives,
	Lanval pays the ransom of captives,
	Lanval offers minstrels fine clothing,
212	Bestows honors worthy of a king;
	To every stranger and every friend
	His noble kindness has no end.
	And Lanval lives in joy and delight,
216	For in the daytime and at night
	He can see his love whenever he wills,
	And all his desires she fulfills.

	Thus did Lanval's life go on,
220	Until, after the Feast of Saint John
	That same year, as I understand,
	Some thirty knights in a merry band
	Were all out in an orchard, playing
224	Beneath the tower where the queen was staying.
	Gawain was there to enjoy the fun,
	And his cousin Yvain, second to none
	In looks. Gawain, that noble man
228	Whom they all truly loved, began
	To speak his mind: "My lords, we've wronged
	Our friend Lanval-surely he belonged
	With us today! Let's go invite
232	That courtly and most generous knight,
	Whose father is a wealthy king."
	They went to where Lanval was lodging
	Straight away, and asked him please
236	To come and join their revelries.

	Leaning against a deep-carved window,
	The queen could see the orchard below.
	By three ladies she was served
240	That day. Soon the queen observed,
	Among the royal retinue,
	A handsome knight, one whom she knew:
	Lanval. She sent a lady-in-waiting
244	On an errand, telling her to bring
	The loveliest maidens of the court,
	And with the queen they'd join the sport.
	Some thirty of them assembled there,
248	And they started down the tower's stair.
	As soon as the ladies were in view,
	The knights quickly came forth to do
	Them honor, being very polite,
252	Welcomed them all with great delight.
	And then the knights and ladies talked,
	Joining their fingers as they walked.^[5]
	Lanval moves far away from the rest.
256	It has been too long since he caressed
	His loved one, and he greatly misses
	The touch of her and her sweet kisses.
	For others' pleasures he does not care,
260	Wanting his own. The queen, aware
	That Lanval is by himself, comes straight
	To join him, and does not hesitate,
	Sitting beside him, to make known
264	Her feelings: "Lanval, I have shown
	That I honor you and hold you dear,
	You have my affection; I am here
	To grant you my love. All I seek
268	Is to know this makes you happy. Speak!
	And my heart and I will be your own."
	"Lady," the knight said, "leave me alone!
	I don't intend to break my vow
272	To the king I've served a long time now
	In good faith. I will not be untrue-
	Not for your love and not for you!"
	In response to that the angry queen
276	Gave an answer slanderous and mean:
	"I see, Lanval, they must be right
	Who claim that you take no delight
	In women; I have heard it said
280	They please you not at all. Instead,
	You have many a charming boy
	To offer you what you enjoy.
	My lord the king does wrong to trust
284	A coward whose unlawful lust
	Discredits him; it's a great mistake.
	His very soul may be at stake!"

	When Lanval heard this, he was caught
288	Unawares, and spoke before he thought.
	Bitterly he repented later
	That in grief and rage he said to her:
	"The ways that you refer to, lady,
292	Have nothing at all to do with me!
	But it is true that I love someone
	Who returns my love, and there is none
	I've ever seen who could be her peer.
296	I want to make one thing very clear,
	So that you'll really understand this:
	Everyone who is in her service,
	Down to the humblest maid, by far
300	Surpasses you, great queen that you are,
	In beauty of body and of face,
	In kindness, courtliness, and grace."
	Furious at what she had heard,
304	The queen, without another word,
	Back to her own room retreated,
	Weeping. To have been so treated
	Enraged and grieved her. She fell ill
308	And said she'd not leave her bed until
	The king's justice had been obtained
	Against the knight of whom she complained.

	The king had been hunting in the wood;
312	He'd had a fine day, his mood was good,
	But when he came inside the door
	Of his wife's rooms, she fell on the floor
	At his feet and vehemently cried
316	For justice. She claimed Lanval had tried
	To win her to his heart's desire,
	And being rejected, in his ire
	Insulted her, boasted he had won
320	The love of such a peerless one,
	So fine and proud that he'd consider
	The least of the women serving her
	To surpass the queen in quality.
324	The king was so enraged that he
	On his most solemn oath then swore
	That Lanval would appear before
	The court, and if he couldn't deny
328	The accusation, he would die
	Hanged or at the stake. The king
	Rushed from the room, and summoning
	Three of his barons, sent them for
332	Lanval, who had no need of more
	Misfortune, as he mourned the cost
	Of his betrayal: he had lost
	The happiness that he had known.
336	He stayed in a room, all alone,
	Calling and calling to his dear
	Love, but she did not appear,
	No matter how many times he tried;
340	It's a wonder he did not decide
	To kill himself. She was pitiless.
	Sometimes he lost all consciousness
	But came sighing back to life again,
344	Weeping bitterly, and then
	He would plead for mercy, cry aloud
	In anguish, begging to be allowed
	To hear her speak. When nothing reversed
348	His harsh punishment, Lanval cursed
	Himself, cursed his mouth, which had spoken
	Thoughtlessly; the promise broken
	By no means would she forgive,
352	And then, alas, how could he live?

	The barons whom the king had sent
	Told Lanval what their presence meant:
	The king commanded that he report
356	Without delay, to respond in court
	To the queen's formal accusation.
	The knight, in his desperation,
	Reluctantly heeded what they said,
360	But wished that they would kill him instead.
	When he appeared before the king
	It was clear that he was suffering;
	He did not speak. In a nasty tone
364	The king said, "Vassal, you have shown
	Your treasonous disloyalty.
	You attempted to dishonor me,
	And you vilely put the queen to shame,
368	Slandering her with your boastful claim
	That she has not the beauty of
	Even the maid who serves your love."

	Lanval protests his innocence:
372	He has committed no offense
	Against the king. The knight affirms
	That never, using the king's own terms,
	Did he wrongfully approach the queen.
376	This, however, does not mean
	He denies what he had boasted of,
	But now, alas, he has lost his love.
	So great is his sorrow, he desires
380	Only to do what the court requires.
	The king was furious. He sent
	For the other lords to give judgment,
	When they'd considered this affair,
384	So none could say he had been unfair.
	Among the barons, some were glad
	To obey the king, and some were sad,
	But their opinion was undivided;
388	They met, and all as one decided
	There would have to be a formal trial.
	But pledges would be needed while
	Lanval awaited the chosen day;
392	They wanted to be sure he'd stay.
	The barons felt it was wrong to hold
	The trial with only the king's household
	To judge the case. The king agreed
396	To convoke his vassals. He would need
	Pledges, as he informed the knight.
	Lanval could not provide them. His plight
	Was desperate: he lacked support,
400	With no relatives or friends at court.
	Gawain came forth and said he'd stand
	In pledge to Lanval; his whole band
	Of companions said they'd do the same.
404	The king told them, "I will claim
	All of the land you hold from me,
	Each one of you, as security."
	They solemnly swore to have it so,
408	And after that they were free to go.
	Those knights, who then accompanied
	Lanval, thought it was sad indeed
	To see him overcome by grief.
412	They reproached him harshly. Their belief
	Was that love had led him far astray,
	And they cursed it. They went every day
	To see him: he might not be inclined
416	To eat or drink, could lose his mind.

	When the court was ready to convene
	In the presence of the king and queen
	And all the vassals, those who'd stood
420	Security for Lanval made good
	Their pledges. Many grieved for the knight;
	A hundred would have thought it right
	To free him: his case should not be tried.
424	But the king insisted they decide
	If Lanval was guilty as accused,
	Or were the arguments he used
	In his defense ones they would allow.
428	It's all up to the barons now.
	They go thoughtfully to deliberate,
	Aware of Lanval's forlorn state,
	Having come from a foreign land to fare
432	So badly, living among them there.
	A number of lords approved of all
	The king's complaints. The count of Cornwall
	Said, "We agree about one thing:
436	It will make some weep and others sing,
	But we are here to see justice done.
	The king has accused a knight, the one
	You call Lanval, of an offense,
440	And the knight protests his innocence.
	When he boasted of his love, the queen
	Took the knight's words of praise to mean
	An insult to herself. Having brought
444	These charges, the king alone has sought
	Our judgment. I will give you my
	Opinion: we have no case to try
	Legally, except for the fact
448	That Lanval may indeed have lacked
	Respect for the honor that he owes
	His lord. If by an oath he shows
	His good faith, we won't be needed here.
452	The knight can have his love appear,
	And then there won't be the slightest doubt
	As to whether what he boasted about
	Was really intended to demean
456	And insult the honor of the queen.^[6]
	If his words were true, the charge is denied.
	But if Lanval cannot provide
	His witness, I would have him told
460	He cannot serve in the king's household."
	The judges then sent messengers, who
	Explained to Lanval what he must do:
	When his love appeared in court they'd know
464	If what he said of her was so.
	The knight replied that could not be done;
	Of help from her he expected none.
	The messengers went back to report
468	That no witness would appear in court.
	The judges had been told by the king
	That they shouldn't keep the queen waiting.

	When they were ready to decide
472	The verdict, they saw two maidens ride
	Toward them, on horses trained to go
	At an amble, smooth and very slow.
	The maidens were comely, dressed in
476	Crimson silk over their bare skin.
	The barons were not discontent
	To watch. Gawain and three others went
	To find Lanval; Gawain related
480	What had occurred, and much elated,
	Escorted him to where he could see
	The maidens-one of them must be
	His love. But Lanval denied knowing
484	Who they were or where they were going.
	The maidens continued on their way;
	Without any hesitation they
	Rode on, dismounting only at
488	The dais where King Arthur sat.
	Their speech was courtly, and they were fair.
	They said, "King, have your servants prepare
	Suitable rooms, and you will need
492	To have their walls well tapestried.
	My lady intends to be your guest
	And must have a place where she can rest."
	King Arthur willingly agreed
496	And called two knights, who accompanied
	The maidens to an upper floor
	To see the rooms. They asked nothing more.

	Now the assembled judges face
500	The king's displeasure if the case
	Is not concluded right away.
	He says there's been too much delay,
	And he's angry. But they answer, "Sire,
504	We'll soon have done all you require.
	We had reached a verdict at last,
	But the final judgment was not passed
	Because of the ladies." Their debate^[7]
508	When they reconvene is loud, irate;
	They are worried, and quite afraid.

	Two maidens, splendidly arrayed,
	Their silk clothing freshly dyed,
512	Are coming down the street. They ride
	Spanish mules. Then full of glee
	Are the noble lords, who all agree
	That this would be enough to save
516	Lanval, who's so worthy and so brave.
	Yvain and his companions go
	Immediately to let him know.
	Once there, Yvain gives a happy shout:
520	"Good news for you, my friend! Come out!
	Two maidens are arriving here,
	And they're so beautiful, it's clear
	Your beloved must be one of these!"
524	When Lanval sees them, he disagrees;
	Neither one can he recognize.
	He has not loved them; in his eyes
	Their presence does not seem to count.
528	The maidens ride on, they don't dismount
	Until they are in front of the king.
	Their bodies, faces, and coloring
	Are much praised; never was the queen
532	A match for the loveliness now seen.
	Elegant, choosing her words with care,
	The elder explains why they are there,
	By saying, "King, we will require
536	Rooms where our lady can retire
	When she comes to have a talk with you."
	The king commands they be taken to
	The maidens who were already there.
540	Of course their mules would receive good care.
	The king took his leave and once again
	Sent a message to his noblemen:
	He must have their judgment. It was wrong
544	To let the trial go on so long.
	Why weren't they able to decide?
	The queen was most dissatisfied.

	The moment of the verdict neared,
548	But in the city now appeared
	A maiden such that never before
	Had anyone on earth been more
	Beautiful. A pure white steed
552	Carried her, and all agreed
	That its elegance of neck and head
	Showed that no horse was better bred.
	It moved with a soft and supple stride,
556	And its fittings would have satisfied
	The most difficult taste. A great lord,
	Even a king could not afford
	To buy the like, unless he sold
560	Or mortgaged the land that he controlled.
	The lady wore a tunic over
	A fine white shift. These fitted her^[8]
	So that the lacings on each side,
564	Carefully made to coincide,
	Revealed her skin. Her hips were set low.
	On a winter tree you see the snow
	White as her neck and face; her eyes
568	Sparkled. Perfect in shape and size
	Her nose and forehead, dark brows; her hair
	Was curly and it was fair-so fair
	That gold threads would not shine as bright
572	As it glistened, there in the sunlight.
	Her cloak, wrapped around so she could ride,
	Was made of dark silk, richly dyed.
	On her fist a sparrowhawk; a slender
576	Greyhound followed close behind her.
	Everyone in the city then,
	From the children to the oldest men,
	Came out to watch her passing by;
580	Having seen her beauty none would try
	To joke about it in idle talk.
	At a pace slower than a walk
	She went her way. The judges saw,
584	With feelings of wonder and of awe,
	How fair she was, their hearts alight
	With joy. When she was out of sight,
	Those who were Lanval's friends went straight
588	To find him, eager to relate
	The marvel that they all had seen,
	Whose coming, they were sure, would mean,
	With God's help, he would win his case.
592	"She's not dark, with a swarthy face!
	Of the women in the world, there's none
	To equal the beauty of this one."
	Lanval heard them; he raised his head,
596	Recognized the truth of what they said.
	The blood rose into his face; he sighed.
	His words came fast as he replied:
	"That is the one I love. Now I
600	Don't care whether I live or die,
	If she will no longer hold me dear,
	For I am saved, when I see her here."^[9]
	And now the lady has gone inside^[10]
604	The palace, continuing to ride
	Until, as everyone watched, she stopped
	Close to the king, dismounted, and dropped
	Her cloak so they would see still better.
608	Courteously he rose to greet her;
	His vassals did her honor too,
	Coming to ask what they could do
	To serve her. When they all had gazed
612	Enough and very highly praised
	Her beauty, she spoke in such a way
	They knew she had no desire to stay:
	"A vassal of yours, King, I've held dear-
616	Lanval, the knight you see right here!
	I don't want him to be denied
	A rightful judgment. He's been tried
	In your court for certain things he said.
620	The accused should be the queen instead;
	I tell you, he never sought her love.
	And as for what he was boasting of,
	If they are convinced by what they see,
624	I trust your barons will set him free!"
	The king replied that without fail
	The judges' decision would prevail.
	Every one of those lords admitted
628	That Lanval had to be acquitted,
	Cleared of all charges, they report.
	The maiden turned to leave the court.
	People to serve her did not lack;
632	The king had no way to hold her back.
	Outside the hall there was a place
	With a marble mounting block in case
	Of guests departing who might weigh
636	Too much to mount another way.
	Lanval was standing there on top.
	The maiden rode out and did not stop,
	But Lanval, just as if he could fly,
640	Sprang up behind her as she went by.
	And she, the Bretons say, rode on,
	Taking the knight to Avalon,
	That beautiful island. There with her,
644	Lanval, they tell us, stayed forever.
	Since nothing more was ever heard
	About him, this is my final word.