Now as she sat weeping beside the bed, a weasel issued out from under
the altar and ran thither, and in that it had passed over the body, the
varlet struck it with his staff and killed it. He cast it aside, but
before a man might run a league, its mate sped thither and saw the spot
where it lay. The small beast ran about the head of its fellow, and
stirred it gently with its foot, and when it failed to rouse that other,
it seemed to make great sorrow, and issued out of the chapel and sought
among the herbs of the wood. There it seized in its teeth a flower, all
bright red of colour, and sped quickly back, and placed the blossom in
the mouth of its dead mate, in such wise that, lo you, it forthwith came
to life. The lady saw this and cried to the boy: "Stop it, throw your
staff, good youth, let it not escape you." So the varlet threw and
struck it, that it let fall the blossom. The lady riseth and taketh it,
and speedily returneth again, and layeth the flower upon the lips of the
maid who was so fair. And when it had rested there a little space, she
breathed forth a sigh and revived, and thereafter opened her eyes and
spake: "God! how I have slept," saith she.
Now when the dame heard her speak, she gave thanks to God, and asked the
maid who she was; and she made answer: "Lady, I am of Logres, daughter
to a king of that land. Greatly I loved a man of arms, Eliduc, the good
knight. He carried me away with him, but he sinned in that he deceived
me, for that he is married to a wife, yet never told me, nor made any
sign thereof. When I heard speak of his wife I must needs swoon for the
sorrow that I had; and churlishly he hath left me all uncounselled in a
strange land; he hath betrayed me, yet wherefore I know not. Great is
her folly who setteth her trust in a man."
"Fair one," the dame answered her, "there is nought living in all the
world that can give him joy,--this I can tell you of a sooth. He thinketh
you to be dead, and he is so out of all comfort that it is marvel to
see. Each day he cometh to look on you, and deemeth you lifeless beyond
all doubt. I am his wife, and my heart is heavy for him; because of the
grief he showed I wished to know whither he went, and I followed after
him and found you; great joy have I that you are on live. I will take
you with me and give you back to your friend. For my part I will cry him
quit of all, and will take the veil." In this wise the dame comforted
her, and led her away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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