Torch Magazine • Fall 2016 Stolen Away by Fairies By Dorothy Trench Bonett

About eight hundred years ago, a and scholastic philosophy flourished. woman named Marie began writing a This was the atmosphere in which the series of short, narrative poems called first pioneers started writing books on lais. It was unusual that Marie could secular subjects, often in the vernaculars write—but not because she was female. that people spoke, rather than in Latin. Europe in the twelfth century was They tended to stay with “safe” subject undergoing some important social matter, though, and to stress not transformations, and one of these was innovation, but tradition. It was safest a spike in the number of literate people. to write on subject matter taken from But still, only a few had reading skills, the classical authors who had survived, and fewer still could write. Those in the “authorities” that medieval people, Dorothy Trench Bonett this elite minority were likely to be still very much in the shadow of Rome, connected in some way with the church trusted. History and classical legends Dorothy Trench Bonett is a graduate of (since the church was the reason that were what they liked most. Local Yale University, where she received both any literacy and any books at all had legends sometimes crept in under the her B.A. (1979) and her M.A. (1980). She attended l’Université de Paris VII (Denis been preserved from the wreck of the guise of “history,” but for someone to Diderot) during a junior year abroad. She Roman Empire), and if they were not deliberately use local folklore and also studied at the Taipei Language monks or nuns, readers and writers traditions in a written work was not Institute (1981). were always from the upper class. But common. She served on the Yale Alumni Board of definitely not always male. Book- Governors from 2010-2013 and was on learning not being a skill considered Marie, however, dared to do this. the Board of the Yale-China Association from 1987-1993. She has taught at necessary for a knight, the lady was the The themes and settings of her lais Mount Saint Mary’s University in person in the castle who was more were Celtic, and she used Celtic folklore Emmitsburg and at Hood College. likely to take an interest in books, in them—the kind of legends that the Dorothy’s translation of Alexandre whether devotional or what we would jongleur sang accompanied by his harp Dumas pere’s Charles VII at the Homes of now call “literature” (Pernoud 79). and his “rote” (a stringed instrument His Great Vassals was published in 1991 with a soundboard). The innovative by the Noble Press. The New England Poetry Club awarded her an Honorable nature of the lais can be seen in her Mention for the Der Hovanessian Trans- feeling compelled to justify at length in lation Award in 2006, and she has won Around the her prologue not her standing as a prizes for her original poems. woman writer, but her choice of subject She has been a member of the Torch year 1100, matter. Club of Frederick, Maryland since 2008 and has presented three papers there. Her European paper on Xu Zhimo, “China’s First Great How did Marie come to tell Celtic Modern Poet,” was published in the Winter civilization was stories? How did she even know them? 2016 Torch. She has been married to expanding and We cannot be certain; it cannot be too Michael Bonett, also a member of the strongly stressed that we know nothing Torch Club, since 1983, and they have flourishing. for certain about Marie, except that she three grown sons. included her name in the three texts Her paper was presented at the Frederick Torch Club on October 1, 2010. commonly attributed to her, the Lais, the Fables and l’Espurgatoire Seint And an interest in “literature” was Patriz. The name that she called herself developing at this time. Around the is simply ‘Marie’. We add ‘de France’ year 1100, European civilization was because she wrote, in some famous expanding and flourishing. The glor- lines at the end of the Fables: ious Gothic cathedrals began to be built; the first universities came into Me numerai pur remembrance, being; Henry II codified English law; Ai num Marie, si suis de France.

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Because of this statement, in 1561, have Breton names, the place descrip- people from the nineteenth and Claude Fauchet, in one of the first tions are accurate, and at least one of twentieth centuries who believed histories of French literature, gave her the legends that she claimed to have abduction by fairies to be was a real the surname by which she is still heard there (Deuz Amanz) was still possibility) that we can compare with known. being told by the local populace in Marie’s writings. Such a comparison Brittany in 1900. can tell us much not only about what When someone in Marie’s time has been called “the fairy-faith,” but wrote that they were from “France,” So the facts we can be (mostly) also about Marie and her authorial they meant the area that later became certain of are these. Marie, an educated intentions. known as the province of Ile-de-France. woman, wrote between c. 1160 and c. Marie must have been born there. She 1190. She was probably born in Ile-de- Lanval is a knight of the Round did not write in the francien dialect of France but travelled extensively in both Table, kind and brave and generous, that area, though (which would later England and Brittany. And she uses handsome and full of prowess. He is develop into standard modern French), settings that took a lot from Celtic a foreigner at Arthur’s court, and but in Norman, spoken only in the culture and folklore for her Lais, which although he fights valiantly with the duchy of Normandy and in England. are innovative works. king in the wars against the Scots and Since Marie used Anglo-Norman and Picts, when the King returns to even included, in some of her lais, a Caerleon and shares out the spoils, he word or two of English, we can assume forgets Lanval. The young knight has that she spent time in England. Lanval is no other means of sustenance than the a knight of the King’s largesse, so this places him in a She may have been part of the bad position. Also, the other knights Angevin court; she dedicated the Lais Round Table, ignore him. to a king who was probably Henry II Plantagenet. She may have been one of kind and So Lanval rides out of the city one the aristocrats who then traveled back brave and day and comes to a meadow. Cities in and forth between England and the his time are the safe places—when you parts of the Angevin empire in France. generous, leave their walls, and go out into the Certainly she always takes an aristocratic handsome untamed wild, anything might happen. point of view in her work—but she And of course, it does. The knight’s may have done so to appeal to her and full of horse refuses to enter the meadow, but audience. She was definitely educated. Lanval leaves the animal outside and She knew the standard Latin classics prowess. goes in alone. As he lies beside a river, and evidently read Latin because both two beautiful women come to him. the Fables and l’Espurgatoire are They lead him to a splendid pavilion, translations from that language. Some Marie wrote twelve lais, which where Lanval is greeted by a lady who have assumed because of this that she survive in five manuscripts. All have is even more beautiful than her was a nun, which is certainly possible Celtic settings, and four deal with the attendants. She comes from “a far (and would not preclude an aristocratic supernatural. In Bisclavret, the hero is off country” she says, but has been background), but with no concrete a werewolf. In Yonec, a lover can turn watching him. She offers him her love, evidence, it remains speculation. into a bird and fly to his mistress. The and they become lovers, Lanval hero of Guigemar hunts a white doe swearing eternal fidelity. Afterwards, Marie may have acquired some of that speaks to him, and sails in a boat he eats a meal with her. She dresses her knowledge about Celtic folklore which has no crew, yet pilots itself. him in magnificent clothes, tells him while in England. England borders Lanval deals with fairy abduction— that she has the power to grant his Wales and is separated only by a narrow and that brings us to the rich tradition wishes, and that she will always come channel from Ireland. Henry II that is the focus of this paper. to him when he summons her—on the conquered Ireland in 1171, and condition that he never tell anyone else l’Espurgatoire, written after this The theme of “going away with the about her. Lanval swears that he will conquest, is set at Lough Derg in fairies” or being “stolen away by fairies” not. He then returns to the town. Once County Kerry. However, no special is a long-lasting one in the folklore and there, he is able to show knightly knowledge of Ireland is displayed in the beliefs of the Celts, persisting even into generosity and to lavishly entertain. He Lais, and the background of this work modern times. Thus we have written becomes popular now with the other seems Breton. Many of the characters records (including interviews with knights.

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Marie tells us that the lady is a “fairy.” these places on the great holy days of them, not realizing that it was not the What does this mean? The people who the pre-Christian Celts, when the fairies same person in spite of the changes in believed in these beings (referring to were supposed to have the most power: character. (Changelings were sickly and them only in oblique terms like “the Samhain (Halloween), which began lethargic, or perhaps violent; worst of folk” or “the people”) were uncertain of their year; Imbolc (Groundhog Day); all, they had tremendous appetites, their nature and origin. They look Beltain (May Day); and Lughnasadh eating to the point that the rest of the human, but are not; they may be fallen on August 1st. family could starve.) angels, or they may be the dead. Sometimes they are described as being The person who had been stolen small (though never as small as might be able to effect their own rescue Shakespeare’s Queen Mab), and some- Fairies could even if the family failed, but if he or she times they are our size, or taller. ate fairy food, even a bite, a return They can be grotesque, or more than use their gifts became impossible. This is why Lanval’s humanly beautiful. Some can see them of illusion to meal with the fairy is significant. It (with what is called “the second sight”), shows his willingness, right after their but most cannot unless the fairies enchant an meeting, to leave this world for Faerie. wish it. Animals can always sense their object, like a This brings up an interesting point. Are presence, though—like Lanval’s horse. the victims of fairy abductions always piece of wood, unwilling? Do not some of them wish Fairies have powers that humans do to resemble the to stay in Faerie? Believers seemed to not. Like Lanval’s fairy, they can do have feared this possibility. magic and grant wishes, but they are person they had masters of illusion, so what they grant In the Bridget Cleary case in County is often not what it seems. They live stolen, or they Tipperary, 1898, a woman was killed longer—centuries longer—but they might switch a because her husband, father, and other envy us our immortal souls. They have relatives believed that she had been knowledge that humans can profit fairy for the switched for a changeling (Hoff and from—some who have “been with the person. Yeates, chapters 4-6). While trying to fairies” have there learned healing or get the “real Bridget” back, they burned other useful arts. On the other hand, her to death, because fire exorcised humans can have abilities that fairies fairies. Something that came up need, which is why fairies sometimes The idea of being abducted by the repeatedly in the interviews afterwards steal them. But they also kidnap for fairies was particularly frightening was that they thought that “their other reasons: beautiful people are because it could happen without Bridgie” might not wish to return from always in danger; babies; nursing anyone else realizing. Fairies could use Fairyland. Bridget had had the habit of mothers; and anyone who stumbles their gifts of illusion to enchant an walking alone in a “fairy fort” and had upon a fairy ritual. object, like a piece of wood, to resemble done other things that put one at risk the person they had stolen, or they of being abducted. She was bright People who lived in areas where the might switch a fairy for the person. and attractive, and both she and her fairy belief persisted lived in dread of That would be a “changeling,” which husband (who set her alight) had some these abductions. They went to great we think of as a switched infant, but English education, but it was clear that lengths to preserve vulnerable indivi- adults also were in danger. Fairies she was dissatisfied with life as an Irish duals from this fate, making sure that resorted to this trick because those country woman. Might she not have infants were christened quickly or abducted by fairies could be rescued wished for the splendours of Faerie, in protected by objects of iron (fairies within a certain window of time, if the the way that she had wished for (and hate iron—and also hate Christianity). family or loved ones knew. Nine days, managed to obtain) a sewing machine, Pregnant women and nursing mothers some sources say, and others say after a gold earrings, and stylish modern hats, were guarded. All knew never to call year and a day, and yet others say seven much as Lanval had wished for means the fairies by name (doing so gives years. The fairies did not want the to uphold his position as a knight? them power over a person) and to family to make rescue attempts, but to avoid places fairies were known believe that the kidnapped person had Lanval is happier in Caerleon, of to frequent—meadows where they fallen ill and died (and then to bury course, with the fairy’s gifts. This happy danced and their burghs, or forts. It the enchanted piece of wood in their state does not last. He attracts the was particularly important to avoid place), or keep the changeling with attention of Queen Guinevere. (The Continued on page 33 28 Torch Magazine • Fall 2016

Continued from page 28 return from Fairyland (or even from eloquence, or song, or the “second character of Sir Lancelot had not been just dancing for moments with fairies sight,” which might stay with the invented and would not be invented in a fairy ring) and find that it is person forever after (as they did in the until ten years after Marie wrote this centuries later. The unfortunate mortal case of Thomas the Rhymer). Fairy lai—by Chretien de Troyes—but Marie then crumbles into dust. Often, gold, however, was famously unreliable; knew the tradition that Arthur’s wife however, those who go away with in the light of day, fairy gold is revealed was unfaithful.) Lanval rejects the fairies find that Faerie is not what they as trash. And, when one deals with Queen’s advances, and during the hoped. They may find that they are fairies, there is always the question of following argument makes the mistake wanted as slaves there, doomed to one’s soul. of telling Guinevere that he has a repeat some repetitive and unpleasant mistress whose servants are more task for eternity. Tam Lin, who went Marie de France’s Celtic-influenced beautiful than she. Guinevere reports away to be the Queen of Elfhame’s story of Lanval, then, is less dark than this insult to Arthur, and Lanval is put lover, learned after seven years of good are authentic beliefs about fairy on trial. He can be saved only if the treatment, that he was designated as abductions. However, her details are fairy appears and proves that what he their human victim to be sacrificed, accurate. And, of course, her purpose said is true about her beauty is true. presumably at one of the great feasts in writing this lai was not to give her However, she won’t come now since he previously mentioned. He is saved by a readers an anthropological account. has broken the geasa, or taboo, that she brave human girl. She used interestingly exotic folk beliefs put him under when he promised as a backdrop to stories whose main never to speak of her. interest was in the realistic portrayal of how people interact with one another. If this lai were an authentic Celtic Lanval rejects Her characters are delicately but legend, instead of a literary adaptation the Queen’s convincingly drawn, her dialogue by Marie, chances are good that Lanval’s sharp and forceful, her descriptions lady would leave him to suffer the advances, and accurate, and her poetry lovely. And doom that he has brought down upon during the following her works were successful and popular himself. In these tales, a geasa that both during her time and afterwards. seems simple to keep is often laid on argument makes Two centuries after she died, Chaucer various characters, and yet they break it still wrote “Breton lais’.” His Franklin’s and must take the consequences, the mistake of Tale is in that genre. Marie’s experiment whether or not they are at fault. Fairies telling Guinevere paid off, and she had an influence on are not merciful, and the Celtic view of literature. We are lucky that she wrote the world is harsh. But although Marie’s that he has a and that her works remain for us to lais sometimes end in tragedy, this one mistress whose enjoy today. does not. Lanval’s fairy appears at court, and he is vindicated. And then, servants are when the fairy is riding away, out of more beautiful this mortal world, he makes the Works Cited and Consulted decision to go with her and leaps onto than she. Burgess, Glyn S. and Keith Busby. The Lais of the back of her horse. “No man,” Marie Marie de France. London and NY: Penguin, says, “ever saw him more.” He had 1986, 1999 “gone away with the fairies,” Marie tells But humans wanting to save others Evan-Wentz, W. Y. The Fairy-Faith in Celtic us, to “Avalun.” from fairies might not only find that Countries. London: Oxford UP, 1911. they were reluctant to come with them; Hoff, Jean and Yeates, Marion. The Cooper’s We can hope that in Lanval’s case, they might also find that the abducted Wife is Missing. NY: Basic Books, 2000 Avalon (or Fairyland, or Faerie or person had had what was called Les Lais de Marie de France. Ed. Jean Rychner. Elfland or Elfhame) turned out to be as “glamour” cast over them, causing Paris : Libraire Honore Champion, 1973 he hoped. In some tales, mortals stolen them to see Faerie as splendid and by fairies find that they are in a kind of beautiful when they were actually living Pernoud, Regine. La Femme Au Temps de Celtic heaven, with every reason to stay in squalor. If they could be made to Cathedral. Paris: Editions Stock, 1980 there, rather than to try to return to understand that they were deceived, Earth. There are plenty of tales (the one and if they were lucky or clever enough about Cuchulain’s son Oisin is the to get away, they might return to The publication of this article is funded by most famous) about mortals who the human world with fairy gifts: The Torch Foundation

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