Legends -- Pyrenees; Pyrenees -- Description and travel; Pyrenees -- History
“The lords of these two castles were enemies, and constantly
disputed with one another the possession of the valley that
lay between their castles; but along with the enmity each
was enamoured of the wife of the other, though the ladies
themselves loved their own lords, and gave no encouragement to
the enemies of their husbands. At this time the Crusades were
published, and both of the nobles resolved to forget private
animosities for a time, and join the standard of the cross. It
so happened, however, that after travelling during several days
the devil entered into their hearts, and they both reasoned
after this manner: ‘My enemy has gone to the Holy Wars, and
has left both his lands and his wife. What hinders me from
returning and making the most of his absence?’ And so both the
Lord of Espêche and the Lord of Lomné returned and took the
road not to their own castle, but to the castles of each other.
“But it so happened that on the very night upon which these
nobles left their own castles their ladies had a vision. Each
was warned in a dream of the intention of her husband to return
and go to the castle of his enemy. Accordingly the ladies left
their own castles to cross the valley, and met each other by
the way; and having communicated the mutual vision, resolved
upon a method of avoiding the danger. They determined to change
castles, and that very day they put their resolution into
effect.
“Meanwhile their lords arrived under cover of the night, each
at the castle of his enemy, and were greatly surprised to find
that no wonder was expressed at their return, for the ladies
had forewarned their household of what was to be expected; but
still greater was their surprise when, upon being ushered into
the castle hall, each beheld his own spouse. The explanation
that followed wrought a miraculous change. Touched with the
affection of their wives, they abjured their mutual enmity,
swore unutterable fidelity to their own wives, and set out in
company together for the Holy Land.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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