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
Now so far went the ship of the merchants, that they came to the Land of
the Saracens, and took haven by Aumarie. Galleys of the Saracens came to
meet them, and they answered that they were merchants who led divers
merchandise by many lands; and that they had the safe-conduct of princes
and high barons, and that they might go into all lands surely, to seek
chaffer and lead their goods.
So they brought the Lady aland, and were with her. And one asked the
other what they should do with her; and one said that they should sell
her; and another said: “If I may be trowed, we shall give her as a gift
to the rich Soudan of Aumarie, and then will our matter be mightily
amended.”
Thereto they accorded all, and they took the Lady and brought her to the
Soudan, who was a young man: but first they did do attire and array the
Lady much richly, and so gave her to the Soudan, who received the Lady
much joyously and with much good-will, for right fair was she. The
Soudan asked of them what she was, and they said: “Sir, we wot not; but
by marvellous adventure did we find her.”
Much good-will had the Soudan to them of this gift, and much good he did
to them therefor. Much he loved the Lady withal, and he let serve her
honourably. Well was she heeded, and the colour came again unto her, and
she became marvellous fair.
The Soudan fell to coveting the Lady and to loving of her; and he let ask
her by Latiners of what folk she was, but no sooth thereof would she tell
him or let him know. Thereof was he heavy, whereas he saw of her that
she was a high woman, and of gentle lineage. He let ask of her if she
were Christian, and that if she would leave her law he would take her to
wife, for no wife had he as yet. She saw well that better it were to
come thereto by love than by force, so she answered that so would she do
of a good will; and when she had renied her, and had left her law, the
Soudan took her to wife according to the manner and wont of the Land of
the Saracens. He held her right dear, and honoured her much, and waxed
of great love towards her.
But a little while was she with the Soudan ere she was big of a son, and
lay in at her time; the Soudan was right glad, and made much great joy.
And the dame was ever of good fellowship with the folk, and much
courteous and of good will toward them, and learnt so much that she knew
the Saracen tongue.
But a little while wore in the years whereas she had the son, ere she
conceived and had a daughter, who anon became much fair and much wise,
and in all lordliness she let nourish her. Thus was the Lady abiding a
two years in much joy and mirth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account