Old French Romances, Done into English — John Shaqi
Old French Romances, Done into EnglishMorris, William
General
Old French Romances, Done into English
Morris, William
French literature -- To 1500 -- Translations into English; Romances; Tales, Medieval
When night was, Sir Robin played with his wife, and found and saw on her
right thigh the black spot, and a pearlet hard by her fair jewel: and
when he knew it he was sore grieving. On the morrow he went to Sir
Raoul, and said before his lord that he had lost his wager. Heavy of
heart was he day long, and when it was night he went to the stable, and
set the saddle on his palfrey, and went forth from the house, bearing
with him what he might get him of silver. So came to Paris, and when he
was at Paris he abode there three days. But now leaveth the tale to tell
of him, and taketh up the word concerning his wife.
Here saith the tale that much sorrowful was the fair lady and heavy of
heart, when she called to mind how she had cast her lord out of his
house. Much she thought of the wherefore thereof and wept and made great
dole; till her father came to her, and said that he were fainer if she
were yet to wed, whereas she had done him shame and all them of his
lineage; and he told her how and wherefore. When she heard that, she was
sore grieved and denied the deed downright; but nought availed. For it
is well known that shame so sore is contrary to all women, that if a
woman were to burn all, she would not be trowed of such a misdoing, once
it were laid on her.
On the first hour of the night the lady arose, and took all pennies that
she had in her coffer, and took a nag and a harness thereto, and gat her
to the road; and she had let shear her fair tresses, and was otherwise
arrayed like to an esquire. So much she went by her journeys that she
came to Paris, and went after her lord; and she said and declared that
she would never make an end before she had found him. Thus she rode like
to a squire. And on a morning she went forth out of Paris, and wended
the way toward Orleans until she came to the Tomb Isory, and there she
fell in with her lord Sir Robin. Full fain she was when she saw him, and
she drew up to him and greeted him, and he gave her greeting back and
said: “Fair friend, God give thee joy!” “Sir,” said she, “whence art
thou?” “Forsooth, fair friend, I am of old Hainault.” “Sir, whither
wendeth thou?” “Forsooth, fair friend, I wot not right well whither I
go, nor where I shall dwell. Forsooth, needs must I where fortune shall
lead me; and she is contrary enough; for I have lost the thing in the
world that most I ever loved: and she also hath lost me. Withal I have
lost my land, which was great and fair enough. But what hast thou to
name, and whither doth God lead thee?” “Certes, sir,” said Jehane, “I am
minded for Marseilles on the sea, where is war as I hope. There would I
serve some valiant man, about whom I shall learn me arms if God will.
For I am so undone in mine own country that therein for a while of time I
may not have peace. But, sir, meseemeth that thou be a knight, and I
would serve thee with a right good will if it please thee. And of my
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