 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. A Vein by Chrétienne de Troyes, translated by W. W. Comfort. Section 8 After the mass, my Lord of Ayes heard bad news when he thought the time had come for him to leave and that nothing would stand in his way, but it could not be in accordance with his wish. When he said, Sire, if it be your will and with your permission, I am going now. The master of the house replied, Friend, I will not grant your permission yet. There is a reason why I cannot do so, for there is established in this castle a very terrible practice which I am bound to observe. Sire, I shall now cause to approach two great, strong fellows of mine against whom, whether right or wrong, you must take arms. If you can defend yourself against them and conquer and slay them both, my daughter desires you as her Lord. And all the suzerainty of this town and all its dependencies await you. Sire, said he, for all this I have no desire. So may God never bestow your daughter upon me, but may she remain with you, for she is so fair and so elegant that the Emperor of Germany would be fortunate to win her as his wife. No more fair guest, the Lord replied. There is no need of mine listening to your refusal, for you cannot escape. He who can defeat the two who are about to attack you must by right receive my castle and all my land and my daughter as his wife. There is no way of avoiding or renouncing the battle, but I feel sure that your refusal of my daughter is due to cowardice, for you think that in this manner you can completely avoid the battle. Know, however, without fail, that you must surely fight. No knight who lodges here can possibly escape. This is a settled custom and statute which will endure yet for many a year, for my daughter will never be married until I see them dead or defeated. Then I must fight them in spite of myself, but I assure you that I should very gladly give it up. In spite of my reluctance, however, I shall accept the battle, since it is inevitable. Thereupon the two hideous black sons of the devil come in, both armed with a crooked club of the chameleon cherry-tree, which they had covered with copper and wound with brass. They were armed from the shoulders to the knees, but their head and face were bare, as well as their brawny legs. Thus armed they advanced, bearing in their hands round shields, stout and light for fighting. The lion begins to quiver as soon as he sees them, for he sees the arms they have and perceives that they come to fight his master. He is aroused and bristled up at once, and, trembling with rage and bold impulse, he thrashes the earth with his tail, desiring to rescue his master before they kill him. And when they see him they say, Vassal, remove the lion from here that he may not do us harm. Either surrender to us at once or else we injure you. That lion must be put, or he can take no part in aiding you or in harming us. You must come alone to enjoy our sport, for the lion would gladly help you if he could. My lord of vain then replies to them, take him away yourselves if you are afraid of him, for I shall be well pleased and satisfied if he can contrive to injure you, and I shall be grateful for his aid. The answer, upon my word, that will not do. You shall never receive any help from him. Do the best you can alone, without the help of anyone. You must fight single-handed against us too. If you were not alone, it would be two against two. So you must follow our orders and remove your lion from here at once. However much you may dislike to do so. Where do you wish him to be? he asks. Or where do you wish me to put him? Then they show him a small room and say, Shut him up in there. It shall be done since it is your will. Then he takes him and shuts him up. And now they bring him arms for his body, and lead out his horse, which they give to him, and he mounts. The two champions, being now assured about the lion, which is shut up in the room, come at him to injure him and do him harm. They give him such blows with the maces that his shield and helmet are of little use, for when they hit him on the helmet, they batter it in and break it, and the shield is broken and dissolved like ice, and they make such holes in it that one could thrust his fists through it. Their onslaught is truly terrible. And he, what does he do against these two devils? Urged on by shame and fear, he defends himself with all his strength. He strains every nerve and exerts himself to deal heavy and telling blows. They lost nothing by his gifts, for he returned their attention with double measure. In his room, the lion's heart is heavy and sad, for he remembers the kind deed done for him by this noble man, who now must stand in great need of his service and aid. If now he could escape from there, he would return him the kindness with full measure and full bushel, without any discount whatsoever. He looks about in all directions, but sees no way of escape. He hears the blows of the dangerous and desperate fight, and in his grief he rages in his beside himself. He investigates until he comes to the threshold, which was beginning to grow rotten, and he scratches at it until he can squeeze himself in as far as his haunches, when he sticks fast. Meanwhile, my lord of veins was hard-pressed and sweating freely, for he found that the two fellows were very strong, fierce and persistent. He had received many a blow and executed as best he could, but without doing them any harm, for they were well-skilled and fencing, and their shields were not of a kind to be hacked by any sword, however sharp and well-tempered it might be. So my lord of veins had good reason to fear his death, yet he managed to hold his own until the lion extricated himself by continued scratching beneath the threshold. If the rascals are not killed now, surely they will never be, for so long as the lion knows them to be alive, they can never obtain truths or peace with him. He seizes one of them and pulls them down to earth like a tree trunk. The wretches are terrified, and there is not a man present who does not rejoice, for he whom the lion has dragged down will never be able to rise again unless the other suckers him. He runs up to bring him aid, and at the same time to protect himself, less the lion should attack him as soon as he had dispatched the one whom he had thrown down. He was more afraid of the lion than of his master. But my lord of veins will be foolish now if he allows him longer life. When he sees him turn his back and sees his neck bare and exposed, this chance turned out well for him. When the rascal exposed to him his bare head and neck, he dealt him such a blow that he smote his head from his shoulders so quietly that the fellow never knew a word about it. Then he dismounts, wishing to help and save the other one from the lion who holds him fast. But it is of no use for already he is in such straits that a physician can never arrive in time. For the lion, coming at him furiously, so wounded him at the first attack that he was in a dreadful state. Nevertheless, he drags the lion back and sees that he has torn his shoulder from its place. He is in no fear of the fellow now for his club has fallen from his hand and he lies like a dead man without action or movement. Still he has enough strength to speak and he said as clearly as he could, please take your lion away fair sire that he may not do me further harm. Henceforth you may do with me whatever may be your desire. Whatever begs and prays for mercy ought not to have his prayer refused unless he addresses a heartless man. I will no longer defend myself nor will I ever get up from here with my own strength so I put myself in your hands. Speak out then, he says, if thou dost admit that thou art conquered and defeated. Sire, he says, it is evident I am defeated in spite of myself and as a render I promise you the manly this have no further fear of me and my lion will leave thee alone. Then he is surrounded by all the crowd who arrive on the scene in haste and both the Lord and his lady rejoice over him and embrace him and speak to him of their daughter saying, now you will be the Lord and master of us all and our daughter will be your wife for we bestow her upon you as your spouse. In my part, he says, I restore her to you. Let him who has her keep her. I have no concern with her though I say it not in disparagement. Take it not amiss if I do not accept her for I cannot and must not do so. But deliver to me now, if you will, the wretched maidens in your possession. The agreement, as you well know, is that they shall all go free. What you say is true, he says and I resign and deliver them freely to you. There will be no dispute on that score but you will be wise to take my daughter with all my wealth for she is fair and charming and sensible. You will never find again such a rich marriage as this. Sire, he replies, you do not know of my engagements and my affairs and I do not dare to explain them to you but you may be sure when I refuse what would never be refused by anyone who is free to devote his heart and intentions to such a fair and charming girl that I too would willingly accept her hand if I could or if I were free to accept her or any other maid but I assure you that I cannot do it so let me depart in peace for the damsel who escorted me hither is awaiting me. She has kept me company and I would not willingly desert her whatever the future may have in store. You wish to go, fair Sire, but how? My gate will never be open for you unless my judgment bids me give the command. Rather shall you remain here as my prisoner. You are acting haughtily and making a mistake when you disdain to take my daughter at my request. Distain, my lord, upon my soul I do not disdain her. Whatever the penalty may be I cannot marry a wife or tarry here. I shall follow the damsel who is my guide for otherwise it cannot be. But with your consent I will pledge you my right hand and you may take my word that just as you see me now I will return if possible and then will accept your daughter's hand whenever it may seem good to you. Confound anyone, he says, who asks you for your word or promise or pledge. If my daughter pleases you you will return quickly enough. You will not return any sooner, I think, for having given your word or sworn a note. Be gone now. I release you from all oaths and promises. If you are detained by rain or wind or by nothing at all it is of no consequence to me. I do not hold my daughter so cheap as to bestow her upon you forcibly. Now go about your business for it is quite the same to me whether you go or whether you stay. Thereupon my Lord of Vain turns away and delays no longer in the castle. He escorted the poor and ill-clad wretches who were now released from captivity and whom the Lord committed to his care. These maidens feel that now they are rich as they file out in pairs before him from the castle. I do not believe that they would rejoice so much as they do now for he who created the whole world to descend to earth from heaven. Now all those people who had insulted him in every possible way come to beseech him for mercy and peace and escort him on his way. He replies that he knows nothing of what they mean. I do not understand what you mean, he says, but I have nothing against you. I do not remember that you ever said anything that harmed me. They are very glad for what they hear and loudly praise his courtesy, and after escorting him along distance, they all commend him to God. Then the damsels, after asking his permission, separated from him. When they left him, they all bowed to him and prayed and expressed the wish that God might grant him joy and health and the accomplishment of his desire, wherever in the future he should go. Then he, who is anxious to be gone, says that he hopes God will save them all. Go, he says, and may God conduct you into your countries safe and happy. Then they continue their way joyfully, and my Lord of veins departs in the other direction. All the days of that week, he never ceases to hurry on under the escort of the maid, who is well acquainted with the road and with the retired place where she had left the unhappy and disconsolement damsel and deprived of her inheritance. But when she heard news of the arrival of the maiden and of the night with the lion, there never was such joy as she felt within her heart. For now she thinks that, if she insists, her sister will see her a part of her inheritance. The damsel has long lain sick and had just recovered from her malady. It had seriously affected her, as was apparent from her face. Straight away she went forth to meet them, greeting them, and honoring them in every way she could. There is no need to speak of the happiness that prevailed that night in the house. No mention will be made of it, for the story would be too long to tell. I pass over all that until they mounted next morning and went away. They rode until they saw the town where King Arthur had been staying for a fortnight or more, as the damsel who had deprived her sister of her heritage, for she had kept close to the court, waiting for the arrival of her sister, who now draws near. But she does not worry much, for she does not think that her sister can find any night that can withstand my Lord Buane's attack and only one day of the fortnight yet remains. If this single day had passed, she would have had the reasonable and legal right to claim the heritage of her sister herself alone, but more stands in the way than she thinks or believes. That night they spent outside the town in a small and humble house where, in accordance with their desire, they were not recognized. At the first sign of dawn the next morning, they necessarily issued forth within sconce themselves in hiding until broad daylight. I know not how many days had passed since my Lord Buane so completely disappeared that no one at court knew anything about him, except only the damsel in whose cause he was to fight. He had concealed himself three or four leads from the court, and when he returned he was so equipped that even those who knew him perfectly could not recognize him by the arms he bore. The damsel, whose injustice towards her sister was evident, presented him at court from the sight of all, for she intended with his help to triumph in the dispute where she had no rights. So she said to the king, my Lord, time passes. The noon hour will soon be gone and this is the last day. As you see, I am prepared to defend my claim. If my sister were going to return there would be nothing to do but await her arrival. But I may praise God that she is not coming back again. But she cannot better her affairs and that her trouble has been for naught. For my part I have been ready all the time up to this last day to prove my claim to what is mine. I have proved my coin entirely without a fight, and now I may rightfully go to accept my heritage in peace, for I shall render no accounting for it to my sister as long as I live, and she will lead a wretched and miserable existence. Then the king, who well knew that the damsel was disloyaly unjust towards her sister, said to her, my dear, upon my word in a royal court one must wait as long as the king's justice sits and deliberates upon the verdict. It is not yet time to pack up for it is my belief that your sister will yet arrive in time. Before the king had finished he saw the knight with a lion and the damsel with him. These two were advancing alone, having slipped away from the lion who had stayed where they spent the night. The king saw the damsel who he did not fail to recognize and he was greatly pleased and delighted to see her, for he was on her side of the quarrel because he had regard for what was right. Joyfully he cried out to her as soon as he could, come forward, fair one, may God save you. When the other sister hears these words trembling and sees her with the knight whom she had brought to defend in her claim then she turns blacker than the earth. The damsel, after being kindly welcomed by all, went to where the king was sitting. When she had come before him she spoke to him thus, God save the king and his household. If my rights in this dispute can be settled by a champion then it will be done by this knight who has followed me hither. This frank and courteous knight had many other things to do elsewhere, but he felt such pity for me that he cast aside all his other affairs for the sake of mine. Now, madam, my very dear sister whom I love as much as my own heart would do the right and courteous thing if she would let me have so much of what is mine by right that there might be peace between me and her, for I ask nothing that is hers. Nor do I ask for anything that is thine, the other replied, for thou hast nothing and nothing shalt thou have. Thou canst never talk so much as to gain anything by thy words. Thou mayest dry up with grief. Then the other, who was very polite and sensible and courteous, replied with the words, certainly I am sorry that two such gentlemen as these should fight on our behalf in all a disagreement, but I cannot disregard my claim for I am in too great need of it. So I should be much obliged to you if you would give me what is rightly mine. Surely, the other said, anyone would be a fool to consider thy demands. May I burn in evil fire and flame but give thee anything to use thy life. The banks of the sand will meet and the hour of prime will be called noon to carry out the fight. May God in the right which I have in this cause and in which I trust and have trusted till the present time aid him who in charity and courtesy has offered himself in my service, though he knows not who I am and though we are ignorant of each other's identity. So they talked until their conversation ceased and then produced the knights in the middle of the court. They were proud about as people are want to do when they wish to witness blows in battle or in joust. But those who were about to fight did not recognize each other though their relations were want to be very affectionate. Then do they not love each other now? I would answer you both yes and no and I shall prove that each answer is correct. In truth, my Lord Gawain loves a vain and regards him and so does a vain regard him wherever he may be. Even here if he knew who he was he would make much of him and either one of them would lay down his head for the other before he would allow any harm to come to him. Is not that a perfect and lofty love? Yes, surely. But on the other hand is not their hate equally manifest? Yes, for it is a certain thing that doubtless each would be glad to have broken the other's head and so do have injured him as to cause him humiliation. Upon my word it is a wondrous thing that love and mortal hate should dwell together. God, how can two things so oppose by lodging in the same dwelling place? It seems to me they cannot live together for one could not dwell with the other without giving rise to noise and attention as soon as each new of the other's presence. But upon the ground floor there may be several apartments for there are halls and sleeping rooms. It may be the same in this case. I think love has enscoffed himself in some hidden room while hate has butaken herself to the balconies looking on the high road because she wishes to be seen. Just now hate is in the saddle and spurs and pricks forward as she can to get ahead of love who is indisposed to move. Ah, love, what has become of thee come out now and thou shalt see what a host has been brought up and opposed to thee by the enemies of thy friends. The enemies are these very men who love each other with such a holy love. For love which is neither false nor fain is a precious and a holy thing. In this case love is completely blind and hate too is deprived of sight. For if love had recognized these two men he must have forbidden each to attack the other or to do anything to cause him harm. In this respect then love is blind and discomforted and beguiled for though he sees them he fails to recognize those who rightly belong to him and though hate is unable to tell and hate the other yet she tries to engage them wrongfully so that each hates the other mortally. You know of course that he could not be said to love a man who would wish to harm him and see him dead. How then does Avain wish to kill his friend my lord Gawain? Yes, and the desire is mutual. Would then my lord Gawain desire to kill Avain when I have said nay not really, I swear in protest one would not wish to injure or harm the other in return for all that God has done for the man or for all the empire of Rome but this in turn is a lie of mine for it is plainly to be seen that with lamps raised high and rest each is ready to attack the other and there will be no restraint of the desire of each to wound the other with intent to injure him and work him well. Now tell me when one will have defeated the other of whom can he complain who has the worst of it for if they go so far as to come to blows I am very much afraid that they will continue the battle and the strike until victory be definitely decided. If he is defeated will Avain be justified in saying that he has been harmed and wronged and who counts him among his friends and who has never mentioned him but by the name of friend or companion or if it comes about perchance that Avain should hurt him in turn or defeat him in any way will Gawain have the right to complain? Nay for he will not know who's fault it is in ignorance of each other's identity they both drew off and took their distance at this first shock their lances break though they were stout and made of ash not a word to they exchange for if they had stopped to converse their meeting would have been different in that case no blow would have been dealt with lance or sword they would have kissed and embraced each other rather than sought each other's harm for now they attack each other with injurious intent the condition of the swords is not improved there are elements and shields which are dented and split and the edges of the swords are nicked and dull for they strike each other violently not with the flat of the swords but with the edge and they deal such blows with the pommels upon the nose guards and upon the neck forehead and cheeks that they are all marked black and blue where the blood collects beneath the skin and their halberts are so torn and their shields so broken in pieces that neither one escaped without wounds their breath is almost exhausted with the labor of the strike they hammer away at each other so lustily that every highest synth and emerald set in their helmets is crushed and smashed for they give each other such a battering with their pommels upon the helmets that they are quite stunned as they almost beat out each other's brains the eyes in their heads gleam like sparks as they try to square fists and strong nerves and hard bones they strike each other upon the mouth as long as they can grip their swords which are of great service to them in dealing their heavy blows when they had for a long time strain themselves until the helmets were crushed and the halberts meshes were torn apart with the hammering of the swords and the shields were split and cracked they drew apart a little to give their pulse a rest and to catch their breath again however they do not long delay but run at each other again more fiercely than before and all declare that they never saw two more courageous knights this fight between them is no jest but they are in grim earnest they will never be repaid for their merits and desserts the two friends in their bitter struggle heard these words and heard how the people were talking and siling the two sisters but they had no success in placating the elder one and the younger one said she would leave it to the king and would not gainsay him in anything but the elder one was so obstinate that even the queen Guinevere and the knights and the king and the ladies and the townspeople sighed with the younger sister and all joined in beseeching the king to give her a third or fourth part of the land in spite of the elder sister and to separate the two knights who had displayed such bravery for it would be too bad if one should injure the other or deprive him of any honor and the king replied that he would take no hand in making peace for the elder sister is so cruel that she has no desire for it all these words were heard by the two who were attacking each other so bitterly that all were astonished there at for the battle is waged so evenly that it is impossible to judge which has the better and which the worse even the two men themselves who fight and who are purchasing honor with agony are filled with amazement and stand aghast for they are so well matched in their attack that each wonders who it can be that withstands him such bravery they fight so long that the day draws on tonight while their arms grow weary and their bodies soar the hot boiling blood flows from many a spot and trickles down beneath their halberds they are in such distress that it is no wonder they wish to rest they both withdraw to rest themselves each thinking within himself that however long he has had to wait he now at last has met his match for sometime they thus seek repose without daring to resume the fight they feel no further desire to fight because of the night which is growing dark and because of the respect they feel for each other's might these two considerations keep them apart and urge them to keep the peace but before they leave the field they will discover each other's identity and joy and mercy will be established between them End of section 8 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org A Vain by Chrétienne de Troyes Translated by W.W. Comfort Section 9 My brave and courteous Lord of Vain was the first to speak but his good friend was unable to recognize him by his utterance for he was prevented by his low tone and by his voice which was hoarse, weak and broken for his blood was all stirred up by the blows he had received My Lord, he says the night comes on I think no blame or reproach will attach to us if the night comes between us but I am willing to admit for my own part that I feel great respect and admiration for you and never in my life have I engaged in a battle which has made me smart so much nor did I ever expect to see a knight whose acquaintance I should so yearn to make You know well how to land your blows and how to make good use of them I have never known a knight who was so skilled in dealing blows who was against my will that I have received all the blows you have bestowed upon me today I am stunned by the blows you have struck upon my head Upon my word my Lord Gawain replies you are not so stunned and faint that I am as much so or more and if I should tell you the simple truth I think you would not be loath to hear it for if I have lent you anything of mine you have fully paid me back principle and interest for you are more ready to pay back than I was to accept the payments but however that may be since you wish me to inform you of my name it shall not be kept from you my name is Gawain the son of King Lot as soon as my Lord Gawain heard that he was amazed and sorely troubled angry and grief-stricken he cast upon the ground his bloody sword and broken shield then dismounted from his horse and cried alas what mischance is this through what unhappy ignorance in not recognizing each other have we waged this battle for if I had known who you were I should never have fought with you but upon my word I should have surrendered without a blow how is that my Lord Gawain inquires who are you then I am a vain who love you more than any man in the whole wide world for you have always been fond of me and shown me honor in every court but I wish to make you such amends and do you such honor in this affair that I will confess myself to have been defeated will you do so much for my sake my gentle Lord Gawain asks him surely I should be presumptuous to accept any such amends from you this honor shall never be claimed as mine but it shall be yours to whom I resign it ah fair Sire do not speak so for that could never be I am so wounded and exhausted that I cannot endure more surely you have no cause to be concerned his friendly companion replies but for my part I am defeated and overcome may it not as a compliment for there is no stranger in the world whom I would not say as much rather than receive any more blows thus saying he got down from his horse and they threw their arms about each other's neck kissing each other and each continuing to assert that it is he who is meant to defeat the argument is still in progress when the king and the knights come running up from every side at the sight of their reconciliation they desire to hear how this can be and who these men are who manifest such happiness the king says gentlemen tell us now who it is that is so suddenly brought about this friendship and harmony between you two after the hatred and strife there has been this day then his nephew my lord Gawain thus answers him my lord you shall be informed of the misfortune and mischance which have been the cause of our strife since you have tarried and ordered hear and learn the cause of it it is right to let you know the truth I Gawain who am your nephew did not recognize this companion of mine my lord of Aime until he fortunately by the will of God asked me my name after each had informed the other of his name we recognized each other but not until we had fought it out our struggle already has been long and if we fought yet a little longer it would have fared ill with me for by my head he would have killed me what with his prowess and the evil cause of her who chose me as her champion but I would rather be defeated than killed by a friend in battle then my lord of Aime's blood was stirred as he said to him in reply fair dear Sire so help me God you have no right to say so much but when my lord the king well know in this battle I am surely the one who has been defeated and overcome I am the one no I am thus each cries out and both are so honest and courteous that each allows the victory in the crown to be the other's prize while neither one of them will accept it thus each strives to convince the king and all the people that he has been defeated but when he had listened to them for a while the king terminated the dispute he was well pleased with what he heard and with the sight of them in each other's arms though they had wounded and injured each other in several places my lords he says there is deep affection between you two you give clear evidence of that when each insists there is he who has been defeated now leave it all to me for I think I can arrange it in such a way that it will redound to your honor and everyone will give consent then they both promised him that they would do his will in every particular and the king says that he will decide the quarrel fairly and faithfully where is the damsel he inquires who has ejected her sister from her land and has forcibly and cruelly disinherited her my lord she answers here I am are you there you are on the air to me I saw plainly some time ago that you were disinheriting her but her right shall no longer be denied for you yourself have avowed the truth to me you must now resign her share to her sire she says if I uttered a foolish and thoughtless word you ought not to take me up in it for God's sake sire do not be hard on me you are a king and you ought to guard against wrong and error the king replies that is precisely why I wish to give your sister her rights for I have never defended what is wrong and you have surely heard how your knights and hers have left the matter in my hands I shall not say what is altogether pleasing to you for your injustice is well known in his desire to honor the other each one says that he has been defeated but there is no need to delay further since the matter has been left to me either you will do in all respects what I say without resistance for I shall announce that my nephew has been defeated in the fight that would be the worst thing that could happen to your cause and I shall be sorry to make such a declaration in reality he would not have said it for anything but he spoke thus in order to see if he could frighten her into restoring the heritage to her sister he clearly saw that she never would surrender anything to her for any words of his unless she was influenced by force or fear in fear and apprehension she replied to him fair lord I must now respect your desire though my heart is very loath to yield yet however hard it may go with me I shall do it and my sister shall have what belongs to her I give her your own person as a pledge of her share in my inheritance in order that she may be more assured of it endow her with it then at once the king replies let her receive it from your hands and let her vow fidelity to you do you love her as your vassal and let her love you as her sovereign lady and as her sister thus the king conducts the affair until the damsel takes possession of her land and offers her thanks to him for it then the king asks the valiant and brave knight who was his nephew to allow himself to be disarmed and he requested my lord of aim to lay aside his arms also for now they may well dispense with them then the two vassals lay aside their arms and separate unequal terms and while they are taking off their armor they see the lion running up in search of his master as soon as he catches sight of him he begins to show his joy then you would have seen people draw aside and the boldest among them takes to flight my lord of aim cries out stand still all why do you flee no one is chasing you have no fear that younger lion will do you harm believe me please when I say that he is mine and I am his and we are both companions then it was known of a truth who had heard tell of the adventures of the lion and of his companion that this must be the very man who had killed the wicked giant and my lord Gawain said to him sir companion so help me god you have overwhelmed me with shame this day I did not deserve the service that you did me in killing the giant to save my nephews and my niece I have been thinking about you for some time and I was troubled because it was said that we were acquainted as loving friends I have surely thought much upon the subject but I could not hit upon the truth and had never heard of any night that I had known in any land where I had been who was called the night with the lion while they chatted thus they took their armor off and the lion came with no slow step to the place where his master sat and showed such joy as a dumb beast could then the two knights had to be removed to a sick room in infirmary for they needed a doctor and plaster to cure their wounds King Arthur who loved them well had them both brought before him and summoned the surgeon whose knowledge of surgery was supreme he exercised his art in curing them until he had healed their wounds as well and as quickly as possible when he had cured them both King Arthur who had his heart set fast on love saw clearly that he could not live but that he finally would die unless his lady took pity on him for he was dying for love of her so he thought he would go away from the court alone and would go to fight at the spring that belonged to her where he would cause such a storm of wind and rain that she would be compelled for force to make peace with him otherwise there would be no end and to the rain and wind as soon as my lord of vain felt that he was cured and sound again he departed without the knowledge of anyone but he had with him his lion who never in his life wished to desert him they traveled until they saw the spring and made the rain descend think not that this is a lie of mine when I tell you that the disturbance was so violent that no one could tell the tenth part of it for it seemed as if the whole forest must surely be engulfed the lady fears for her town lest it too will crumble away the walls totter and the tower rocks so that it is on the verge of falling down the bravest church would rather be a captive in Persia than be shut up within those walls the people are so stricken with terror that they curse all their ancestors saying confounded be the man who first constructed a house in this neighborhood that he could not live and first constructed a house in this neighborhood and all those who built this town for in the wide world they could not have found so detestable a spot for a single man is able here to invade and worry and harry us you must take counsel on this matter my lady says lunette you will find no one who will undertake to age you in this time of need unless you seek for him afar in the future we shall never be secure in this town nor dare to pass beyond the walls and gate you know full well that we're summoned to summon together all your knights for this cause the best of them will not dare to step forward if it is true that you have no one to defend your spring you will appear ridiculous and humiliated that we'll redown greatly to your honor if he who has attacked you shall retire without a fight surely you're in a bad predicament and may not devise some other plan to benefit yourself the lady replies do thou who art so wise tell me what plan I can devise and I will follow thy advice indeed lady if I had any plan I should gladly propose it to you for you have great need of a wiser counselor so I shall certainly not dare to intrude and in common with the others I shall endure the rain and wind until the please god I shall see some worthy man appear here in your court will assume the responsibility and burden of the battle but I do not believe that that will happen today and we have not yet seen the worst of your urgent need then the lady replies at once damn so speak now of something else say no more of the people of my household for I cherish no further expectation that the spring and its marvel brim will ever be defended by any of them but if it please god let us hear now what is your opinion and plan for people always say that in time of need one can test his friend my lady if there is anyone who thinks he could find him who slew the giant and defeated the three knights he would do well to go to search for him but so long as he shall incur the enmity, wrath his pleasure of his lady I fancy there is not under heaven any man or woman whom he would follow until he had been assured upon oath that everything possible would be done to appease the hostility which his lady feels for him and which is so bitter that he is dying of the grief and anxiety it causes him and the lady said before you enter upon the quest I am prepared to promise you upon my word and to swear that if you will return to me I will openly and frankly do all I can to bring about his peace of mind then lunette replies to her lady have no fear that you cannot easily affect his reconciliation when once it is your desire to do so but if you do not object I will take your oath before I start I have no objection the lady says like it courtesy lunette procured it once for her a very precious relic and the lady fell upon her knees thus lunette very courteously accepted her upon her oath in administering the oath she forgot nothing which it might be an advantage to insert lady she says now raise your hands I do not wish that the day after tomorrow you should lay any charge upon me for you are not doing anything for me you are acting for your own good if you please now you shall swear that you will exert yourself in the interests of the night with the lion until he recovers his lady's love as completely as he ever possessed it the lady then raised her right hand and said I swear to all that thou has said so help me God and his holy saint that my heart may never fail to do all within my power if I have the strength and ability I will restore to him the love and favor which with his lady he once enjoyed lunette has now done well her work there was nothing which she had desired so much as the object which she has now attained they had already got out for her palfry with an easy pace gladly and in a happy frame of mind lunette mounts and rides away until she finds beneath the pine tree him who she did not expect to find some near at hand indeed she had thought that she would have to seek afar before discovering him as soon as she saw him she recognized him by the lion and coming towards him rapidly she dismounted upon the solid earth and my lord of vain recognized her as soon as he saw her and greeted her as she saluted him with the words sire I am very happy to have found you so near at hand my lord of vain said in reply how is that were you looking for me then yes sire and in all my life I have never felt so glad for I have made my mistress promise if she does not go back upon her word that she will be again your lady as was once the case and that you shall be her lord this truth I make bold to tell my lord of vain was greatly elated at the news he hears and which he had never expected to hear again he could not sufficiently show his gratitude to her who had accomplished this for him he kisses her eyes and then her face saying surely my sweet friend I can never repay you for this service I fear that ability and time will fail me to do you the honor and service which is your doom sire she replies have no concern and let not that thought worry you for you will have an abundance of strength and time to show me and others your good will if I have paid this debt I owed I am entitled to only so much gratitude as the man who borrows another's goods and then discharges the obligation even now I do not consider that I have paid you the debt I owed indeed you have as God sees me more than 500,000 times now when you are ready let us go but have you told her who I am no I have not upon my word she knows you only by the name of the night with the lion thus conversing they went along with the lion following after them until they all three came to the town they said not a word to any man or woman there until they arrived where the lady was and the lady was greatly pleased as soon as she heard that the damsel was ready and that she was bringing with her the lion and the night whom she was very anxious to meet and know and see all clad in his arms my lord of aim fell at her feet upon his knees while lunette who was standing by said to her raise him up lady and apply all your efforts and strength and skill in procuring that peace and pardon which no one in the world except you can secure for him then the lady made him rise and said he may dispose of all my power I shall be very happy if possible to accomplish his wish and his desire surely my lady lunette replied I would not say it if it were not true but all this is even more possible for you than I have said but now I will tell you the whole truth and you shall see you never had and you never will have such a good friend as this gentleman God whose will it is that there should be unending peace and love between you and him has caused me to find him this day so near at hand in order to test the truth of this I have only one thing to say lady dismiss the grudge you bear him for he has no other mistress than you this is your husband my lord of aim the lady trembling at these words replied God save me you have caught me neatly in the trap you will make me love in spite of myself a man who neither loves nor esteems me this is a fine piece of work and a charming way of serving me I would rather endure the winds and the tempests all my life and if it were not a mean and ugly thing to break one's word he would never make his peace reconciled with me this purpose would have always lurked within me as a fire smolders in the ashes but I do not wish to renew it now nor do I care to refer to it since I must be reconciled with him my lord of aim hears and understands that his cause is going well and that he will be peacefully reconciled with her so he says lady one ought to have mercy on the sinner I have had to pay and dearly to pay for my mad act it was madness that made me stay away and I now admit my guilt and sin I have been bold indeed and daring to present myself to you but if you will deign to keep me now I never again shall do you any wrong she replied I will surely consent to that for if I did not do all I could to establish peace between you and me I should be guilty of perjury so if you please I grant your request lady says he so truly as god in this mortal life could not otherwise restore me to happiness so may the holy spirit bless me five hundred times now my lord of aim is reconciled and you may believe that in spite of the trouble he has endured he was never so happy for anything all has turned out well at last for he is beloved and treasured by his lady and she by him his troubles no longer in his mind for he forgets them all and the joy he feels with his precious wife and lunette for her part is happy too all her desires are satisfied when once she had made an enduring peace between my life lord of aim and his sweetheart so dear and elegant thus Kretien concludes his romance of the night with the lion for I never heard any more told of it nor will you ever hear any further particulars unless someone wishes to add some lies end of the vain by Kretien Detroit