3. Ll. 1455-1708, Ywain's Trespass and Madness
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Ywaine and Gawaine, ? First half of the 14th century, MS early 15th century based on Yvain, ou le chevalier au lion by Chrétien de Troyes, c. 1180 From Ywain’s marriage to his final reconciliation The gracious lady quickly commanded all her men to dress themselves in their best array to receive the king that day; she went outside the town with many barons clad in purple and ermine with belts of fine gold. Wearing rich clothing and riding noble steeds, they hailed the king and all his company with full courtesy. There was much joy, with cloths spread on the street, damsels dancing to trumpets and pipes, and song and minstrelsy ringing throughout the castle and city. The lady created much merriment and was prepared with valuable gifts, and she was surrounded by a large throng of people who cried, “Welcome King Arthure. In all this world you bear the flower, king of all kings. Blessed be he who brings you here.” The lady went to the king to hold his stirrup as he dismounted, but when he saw her, the two met with much mirth and she welcomed him a thousand times over, as well as Sir Gawain. The king admired her loveliness and embraced her in front of many, to their joy. There were so many maidens that each knight had a partner, and the lady went among them and arranged amusements. Thus the king and his knights dwelt in the castle for eight days and nights. Ywain entertained them with all kinds of games, and hunting in the many parks and woods in the fair country that he had gained with his wife. He also asked the king to thank the maiden who had helped him win his success. It came time for the king to go home, and all the while they had been there, Sir Gawain had tried to convince Sir Ywain to go with them: 3. ll. 1455-1708, Ywain’s trespass and madness 1455 He said, "Sir, if thou ly at hame, “Sir, if you lie at home, Wonderly men wil the blame. greatly you will earn great blame. That knight es no thing to set by The knight who abandons his chivalry That leves al his chevalry to stay in bed And ligges bekeand in his bed, lies warming himself with the lady he has wed 1460 When he haves a lady wed. loses respect. For when that he has grete endose, support When a knight is secure, Than war tyme to win his lose; renown that is the time to win praise. For when a knyght es chevalrouse, When a knight follows chivalric pursuits, His lady es the more jelows. his lady is the more jealous 1465 Also sho lufes him wele the bet. and loves him the better. Tharfore, sir, thou sal noght let delay Therefore you should not put off To haunt armes in ilk cuntré; follow; every practising arms in every country; Than wil men wele more prayse the. you will be praised the more. Thou hase inogh to thi despens; use You have enough to spend 1470 Now may thow wele hante turnamentes. frequent for to seek tournaments; Thou and I sal wende infere, travel together we can go together And I will be at thi banere. and I will be at your banner. I dar noght say, so God me glad, Though I must say If I so fayre a leman had, that if I had so fair a lover as yours, 1475 That I ne most leve al chevalry I might forego chivalry At hame ydel with hir to ly. and be idle with her at home; Bot yit a fole that litel kan, but a fool who knows little May wele cownsail another man." may well counsel another man.” So lang Sir Gawayn prayed so, Sir Gawain kept at him so long 1480 Syr Ywayne grantes him forto go that Sir Ywain agreed Unto the lady and tak his leve; to ask his lady for permission to go, Loth him was hir forto greve. though he was loathe to grieve her. Til hyr onane the way he nome, took He went to see her, Bot sho ne wist noght whi he come. but she didn’t know why he had come. 1485 In his arms he gan hir mete, embrace He took her in his arms And thus he said, "My leman swete, beloved and began his entreaty: “My sweet love, My life, my hele, and al my hert, my life, my heart, 1 My joy, my comforth, and my quert, health my joy and comfort, A thing prai I the unto I have a request 1490 For thine honore and myne also." that will do us both honor,” The lady said, "Sir, verrayment, truly and she agreed to fulfill I wil do al yowre cumandment." all his commandments. "Dame," he said, "I wil the pray, “Dame, I pray that I might That I might the king cumvay accompany accompany the king 1495 And also with my feres founde companions seek and my fellows Armes forto haunte a stownde. to follow arms for a while to attend deeds of arms for a while, For in bourding men wald me blame, (i.e., men would think me a joke) for men will joke about me If I sold now dwel at hame." if I stay at home.” The lady was loth him to greve. The lady did not want to upset him, 1500 "Sir," sho said, "I gif yow leve so she agreed: “Sir, I give you leave Until a terme that I sal sayn, for a term I shall set. Bot that ye cum than ogayn! only if if only you come again. Al this yere hale I yow grante entire I grant you a year Dedes of armes forto hante; follow to attend deeds of arms 1505 Bot, syr, als ye luf me dere, but, as you love me, On al wise that ye be here you must return on this day This day twelmoth how som it be, in a twelvemonth For the luf ye aw to me. owe no matter what. And if ye com noght by that day, If you don’t come by that day, 1510 My luf sal ye lose for ay. you will lose my love forever. Avise yow wele now or ye gone. before you leave Mark it well before you leave; This day es the evyn of Saint Jon; this is the eve of St John, That warn I yow now or ye wende, and I warn you before you leave Luke ye cum by the twelmoth ende." to return in twelve months.” 1515 "Dame," he sayd, "I sal noght let fail He said, “I shall not fail To hald the day that thou has set; to keep the day you have set, And if I might be at my wyll, and if I could, Ful oft are sold I cum the till. to I would visit you often. Bot, madame, this understandes: But pleae, keep in mind 1520 A man that passes divers landes, that a man who travels in diverse lands May sum tyme cum in grete destres, may sometimes have great distress, In preson or els in sekenes; through imprisonment or sickness. Tharfore I pray yow, or I ga, Therefore I ask That ye wil out-tak thir twa." exclude these two [possibilities] that you accept these two exceptions.” 1525 The lady sayd, "This grant I wele, The lady said, “I grant willingly Als ye ask, everilka dele; every bit all that you ask, And I sal lene to yow my ring, and I will lend you my ring That es to me a ful dere thing. precious which is dear to me. In nane anger sal ye be, trouble You will not be in danger 1530 Whils ye it have and thinkes on me. while you have it and think of me. I sal tel to yow onane I shall tell you presently The vertu that es in the stane: of the stone’s virtue: It es na preson thow sal halde, hold you will not be held in prison Al if yowre fase be manyfalde; foes; manifold even if you have many foes, 1535 With sekenes sal ye noght be tane, taken and sickness will not take you. Ne of yowre blode ye sal lese nane; Nor will you lose any blood In batel tane sal ye noght be, taken nor will be captured in battle Whils ye it have and thinkes on me; while you have the ring and think of me. And ay, whils ye er trew of love, While you are true in love, 1540 Over al sal ye be obove. you will always be victorious. 2 I wald never for nakyn wight any kind of circumstance I would never lend it Lene it are unto na knyght. give; ever to any knight before, For grete luf I it yow take; give it to you and give it to you now out of great love. Yemes it wele now for my sake." care for Care for it well, for my sake.” 1545 Sir Ywayne said, "Dame, gramercy!" Sir Ywain thanked her Than he gert ordain in hy made ready in haste and hurriedly prepared Armurs and al other gere, his armor and other gear, Stalworth stedes, both sheld and spere, stalwart steeds, shield and spear, And also squyere, knave, and swayne. and also a squire, knave and swain, 1550 Ful glad and blith was Sir Gawayne.