Sir Eglamour of Artois anon a fourteenth century Middle English verse romance Translated and retold in Modern English prose by Richard Scott-Robinson This tale has been translated and retold from: Harriet Hudson, 2006. Four Middle English Romances: Sir Isumbras, Octavian, Sir Eglam- our of Artois, Sir Tryamour. Second edition. Medieval Institute Pub- lications. TEAMS Middle English texts. Taken from British Library MS Cotton Caligula A.ii, dated to the early-fifteenth century. Copyright © Richard Scott-Robinson, 2001, 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this document may be repro- duced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy- ing, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author. The download of a single copy for personal use, or for teaching purposes, does not require permission. [email protected] Sir Eglamour of Artois anon fourteenth century hesu Crist, of heven Kyng · Graunt us all good endyng · And beld us in Hys bowre · And gef hem joye that Jlove to here · Of eldres that before us were · And lyved in grett antowre – Jesus Christ, heaven’s king, grant us all eternal bliss and give joy to those who love to hear of adventurous times long past. I will tell you of a knight who was both strong in battle and courageous; in fact, on any field of combat he was the very flower. Born in Artois of a well-established family, his name was Sir Eglamour and he served in the household of an earl. The story of Sir Eglamour of Artois was This earl had an only child, a daughter, who was his heir. composed sometime around 1350. Despite its setting (for at least part of the time) in Her name was Cristabel, and she was the most beautiful Artois, in northern France, it is an English maiden in all Christendom. Sir Eglamour had fallen in composition and not a translation of a love with her, and she was in love with him, which proved French romance. The tale has survived in a number of other manuscripts, including the to be her undoing! Listen! Sir Eglamour was bold and Thornton Manuscript in the library of Lin- strong, and challenged all who came to woo this damsel. coln Cathedral, where it is included along- side the tale of Sir Perceval of Galles, and in One day, Sir Eglamour said to his squire, as they rested Cotton Caligula A.ii in the British Library, in a chamber: ‘My friend, I shall tell you a secret if you where it sits alongside the story of Emaré. promise to keep it to yourself.’ The story of Sir Perceval of Galles includes a magic ring which confers upon its wearer ‘Sir,’ replied the squire, ‘whatever you divulge, it will be an invulnerability to death, and so does safe with me.’ this story. The story of Emaré involves a lady who is carried by a mysterious boat ‘Then I shall tell you. I am so in love with the earl’s daugh- into a foreign land where she assumes ter, God help me, that I shall not last for very much longer a new identity, and this is exactly what happens in this romance. Sir Eglamour’s unless I can have her.’ lady, Cristabel, the daughter of the Earl of ‘You’ve certainly let me into your private thoughts!’ ex- Artois, finds herself, like Emaré – and like Chaucer’s Constance and the lady in Marie claimed the squire. ‘But since you own very little land, de France’s Breton lai Guigemar – in a forgive me if I can advise you only that there is an old small boat without food or water drifting saying: that he who aims his axe at too high a branch helplessly on a journey into another life. In Cristabel’s case, she becomes the neice will only get his eyes full of wood chippings. Think how of the King of Egypt. Or his daughter.. many kings and dukes and earls have sought her love, and she has rejected them all. She would never take a simple knight to be her husband. And I swear by God, if her father found out, he’d kill you!’ ‘Squire,’ replied Sir Eglamour, ‘you have been with me since you were a boy. In all the battles we have fought together, and in all the wars, have you ever seen me dishonoured? Tell me.’ ‘Never, Sir. You are one of the finest knights in Christendom! You are worth five others in battle.’ ‘Thank you,’ replied Sir Eglamour; then he sighed, and retired to his bed. And putting his hands together, he offered this prayer: ‘Dear Lord,’ he implored, ‘I think constantly about the earl’s daughter. She will not leave my thoughts! Please may she become mine at last. Please may I marry her and spend the rest of my life with her. Then I would be a happy man indeed. he next morning, the earl’s daughter had breakfast with her father, in his hall. All Ther maidens were with her, and when she noticed that her knight was not there, she exclaimed: ‘For God’s pity! Where is Sir Eglamour?’ ‘He is unwell, near to death, and is asking for you,’ replied his squire. ‘Unless you go to him, he may not last until the evening.’ The earl spoke up: ‘Damsel,’ he said, ‘for God’s sake, go and see him straight after break- fast. He has served us all well, and is always willing to joust and fight in tournaments. No man is ever more likely to win the prize than he.’ Directly after the meal, the maiden took her leave and willingly did as her father had instructed. ‘How fares my knight?’ she asked when she arrived at his bedside. ‘Damsel, I have made myself ill thinking of you.’ ‘This news makes my heart throb wonder- fully,’ she confessed in surprise. ‘If I were to recover, I would marry you, if it was your desire,’ confided Sir Eglamour. Cristabel made her way to her father’s room in the depths of the castle, very happy with the way things were developing. ‘How is Sir Eglamour?’ her father asked, when she arrived. ‘He feels a lot better than he did and intends to go hawking tomorrow,’ she declared. ‘I shall accompany him,’ announced her father. he next day, the earl got himself ready and rode with Sir Eglamour. But tempers Tflared on the way home, if you will listen! As they rode back, Sir Eglamour said: ‘May I ask you something?’ ‘Speak on,’ said the earl. ‘Everything you say is of interest to me, since you are one of the best knights in the whole of Artois.’ ‘Does your daughter have any plans to marry yet?’ ‘I know of nobody at the moment. She is so beautiful that she has no need at all to rush into anything.’ ‘Sir, may I marry her?’ ‘You?’ replied the earl, incredulously. ‘Yes! – if you are able to fight three impossible battles; then you may win her, and all of Artois as well!’ ‘I would already be on my way if I knew where you wanted me to go!’ announced Sir Eglamour, curtly. ‘In a forest far to the west of here lives a giant,’ re- plied the earl, angrily. ‘He is the like of which you will never have seen before. Among the cypress trees of his woodland roam the most beautiful deer in ex- istence. Bring me back one of these animals to prove that you have been there.’ And he rode away. After dinner, Sir Eglamour spoke to Cristabel. ‘Damsel,’ he said, ‘I have agreed to un- dertake three trials of strength and courage for your sake.’ ‘Take good heart,’ replied Cristabel, ‘for you will never before have encountered such threats to your life as those you are about to face. You will be cursing me before you fin- ish! But accept this gift of two greyhounds. No creature exists which they will not soon be able to overtake, they are so swift. And also I give you this sword; it was pulled up from beneath the waters of the Aegean Sea by Saint Paul himself. Its edge is sharper than any, and there is no helmet that can resist a well-aimed blow from it.’ ‘Thank you,’ said Sir Eglamour, and he took his leave. Sir Eglamour rode resolutely until he came to a forest far to the west. It was surrounded by a stone wall emblazoned with carvings. He found an entrance and went in. Blowing his hunting horn, immediately deer leapt away on every side and Sir Eglamour unleashed his greyhounds after one of them. But almost at once, the dogs became distracted and started to howl and bark; for the giant had woken up. ‘I can hear hounds,’ the giant murmured to himself. ‘Some thief is trying to steal my deer!’ The giant made his way to the only exit through the wall and leaned his back against it. Meanwhile, Sir Eglamour had brought down a great stag and taken its head as a trophy. He blew the hunting call signifying a kill. Then, returning to the entrance, he said to the giant: ‘Good Sir, let me pass, if you please.’ ‘Thief!’ roared the giant and strode towards Sir Eglamour with an iron club in his hand. Taking a swing at him, he buried the thing two feet into the earth. ‘What are you doing stealing my deer?’ he shouted. ‘You have killed the chief stag of my herd!’ Sir Eglamour drew his sword and wounded the giant in the face.