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+Project Gutenberg's etext, Cliges: A Romance by Chretien de Troyes
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+Cliges: A Romance
+
+by Chretien de Troyes
+
+
+November, 2000  [Etext #2414]
+
+
+Project Gutenberg Etext, Cliges: A Romance by Chretien de Troyes
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+
+
+Cliges: A Romance by Chretien de Troyes, trans. L. J.
+Gardiner.
+
+This translation was published with no copyright notice in 1966.
+"T. Camp" <campt
+miralink.com>
+
+CLIGES: A ROMANCE
+
+NOW TRANSLATED BY L. J. GARDINER, M.A.
+FROM THE OLD FRENCH OF CHRETIEN DE TROYES
+
+COOPER SQUARE PUBLISHERS, INC.
+NEW YORK 1966
+Published 1966 by Cooper Square Publishers, Inc.
+59 Fourth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10003
+Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 66-23315
+Printed in the United States of America
+By Noble Offset Printers, Inc., New York, N. Y. 10003
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+IT is six hundred and fifty years since Chretien de Troyes wrote
+his Cliges. And yet he is wonderfully near us, whereas he is
+separated by a great gulf from the rude trouveres of the Chansons
+de Gestes and from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which was still
+dragging out its weary length in his early days. Chretien is as
+refined, as civilised, as composite as we are ourselves; his
+ladies are as full of whims, impulses, sudden reserves,
+self-debate as M. Paul Bourget's heroines; while the problems of
+conscience and of emotion which confront them are as complex as
+those presented on the modern stage. Indeed, there is no break
+between the Breton romance and the psychological-analytical novel
+of our own day.
+
+Whence comes this amazing modernity and complexity? From many
+sources:--Provencal love-lore, Oriental subtlety, and Celtic
+mysticism--all blended by that marvellous dexterity, style,
+malice, and measure which are so utterly French that English has
+no adequate words for them. We said "Celtic mysticism," but there
+is something else about Chretien which is also Celtic, though
+very far from being "mystic". We talk a great deal nowadays about
+Celtic melancholy, Celtic dreaminess, Celtic "other-worldliness";
+and we forget the qualities that made Caesar's Gauls, St. Paul's
+Galatians, so different from the grave and steadfast Romans--that
+loud Gaulois that has made the Parisian the typical Frenchman. A
+different being, this modern Athenian, from the mystic Irish
+peasant we see in the poetic modern Irish drama!--and yet both
+are Celts.
+
+Not much "other-worldliness" about Chretien. He is as positive as
+any man can be. His is not of the world of Saint Louis, of the
+Crusaders, of the Cathedral-builders. In Cliges there is no
+religious atmosphere at all. We hear scarcely anything of Mass,
+of bishops, of convents. When he mentions Tierce or Prime, it is
+merely to tell us the hour at which something happened--and this
+something is never a religious service. There is nothing behind
+the glamour of arms and love, except for the cas de conscience
+presented by the lovers. Nothing but names and framework are
+Celtic; the spirit, with its refinements and its hair-splitting,
+is Provencal. But what a brilliant whole! what art! what measure!
+Our thoughts turn to the gifted women of the age--as subtle, as
+interesting, and as unscrupulous as the women of the
+Renaissance--to Eleanor of Aquitaine, a reigning princess, a
+troubadour, a Crusader, the wife of two kings, the mother of two
+kings, to the last, intriguing and pulling the strings of
+political power--"An Ate, stirring him [King John] to blood and
+strife."
+
+The twelfth century was an age in which women had full scope--in
+which the Empress Maud herself took the field against her foe, in
+which Stephen's queen seized a fortress, in which a wife could
+move her husband to war or to peace, in which a Marie of
+Champagne (Eleanor's daughter) could set the tone of great poets
+and choose their subjects.
+
+If, then, this woman-worship, this complexity of love, this
+self-debating, first comes into literature with Chretien de
+Troyes, and is still with us, no more interesting work exists
+than his earliest masterpiece, Cliges. The delicate and reticent
+Soredamors; the courteous and lovable, Guinevere; the proud and
+passionate Fenice, who will not sacrifice her fair fame and
+chastity; the sorceress Thessala, ancestress of Juliet's
+nurse--these form a gallery of portraits unprecedented in
+literature.
+
+The translator takes this opportunity of thanking Mr. B. J.
+Hayes, M.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge, for occasional
+help, and also for kindly reading the proofs.
+
+CLIGES
+
+THE clerk who wrote the tale of Erec and Enid, and translated the
+Commandments of Ovid and the Art of Love, and composed the Bite
+of the Shoulder, and sang of King Mark and of the blonde Iseult,
+and of the metamorphosis of the Hoopoe and of the Swallow and of
+the Nightingale, is now beginning a new tale of a youth who was
+in Greece of the lineage of King Arthur. But before I tell you
+anything of him, you shall hear his father's life--whence he was
+and of what lineage. So valiant was he and of such proud spirit,
+that to win worth and praise he went from Greece to England,
+which was then called Britain. We find this story that I desire
+to tell and to relate to you, recorded in one of the books of the
+library of my lord Saint Peter at Beauvais. Thence was taken the
+tale from which Chretien framed this romance. The book, which
+truthfully bears witness to the story, is very ancient; for this
+reason it is all the more to be believed. From the books which we
+possess, we know the deeds of the ancients and of the world which
+aforetime was. This our books have taught us: that Greece had the
+first renown in chivalry and in learning. Then came chivalry to
+Rome, and the heyday of learning, which now is come into France.
+God grant that she be maintained there; and that her home there
+please her so much that never may depart from France the honour
+which has there taken up its abode. God had lent that glory to
+others; but no man talks any longer either more or less about
+Greeks and Romans; talk of them has ceased, and the bright glow
+is extinct.
+
+Chretien begins his tale--as the story relates to us--which tells
+of an emperor mighty in wealth and honour, who ruled Greece and
+Constantinople. There was a very noble empress by whom the
+emperor had two children. But the first was of such an age before
+the other was born, that if he had willed he might have become a
+knight and held all the empire. The first was named Alexander;
+the younger was called Alis. The father too had for name
+Alexander; and the mother had for name Tantalis. I will
+straight-away leave speaking of the empress Tantalis, of the
+emperor, and of Alis. I will speak to you of Alexander, who was
+so great-hearted and proud that he did not stoop to become a
+knight in his own realm. He had heard mention made of King
+Arthur, who was reigning at that time; and of the barons which he
+ever maintained in his retinue wherefore his Court was feared and
+famed throughout the world. Howe'er the end may fall out for him
+, and whate'er may come of it for the lad, there is nought that
+will hold him from his yearning to go to Britain; but it is meet
+that he take leave of his father before he goes to Britain or to
+Cornwall. Alexander the fair, the valiant, goes to speak to the
+emperor in order to ask permission and to take his leave. Now
+will he tell him what is his vow, and what he would fain do and
+take in hand. "Fair sire, that I may be schooled in honour and
+win worth and renown, a boon," quoth he, "I venture to crave of
+you--a boon that I would have you give me; never defer it now for
+me if you are destined to grant it." The emperor had no thought
+of being vexed for that, either much or little; he is bound to
+desire and to covet honour for his son above aught else. He would
+deem himself to be acting well--would deem? ay, and he would be
+so acting--if he increased his son's honour. "Fair son," quoth
+he, "I grant you your good pleasure, and tell me what you would
+have me give you." Now the lad has done his work well; and right
+glad was he of it when is granted him the boon that he so longed
+to have. "Sire," quoth he, "would you know what you have promised
+me? I wish to have in great store of your gold and of your silver
+and comrades from your retinue such as I shall will to choose;
+for I wish to go forth from your empire, and I shall go to offer
+my service to the king who reigns over Britain, that he may dub
+me knight. Never, indeed, on any day as long as I live shall I
+wear visor on my face or helm on my head, I warrant you, till
+King Arthur gird on my sword if he deign to do it; for I will
+receive arms of no other." The emperor without more ado replies:
+"Fair son, in God's name, say not so. This land and mighty are
+diverse and contrary. And that man is a slave. Constantinople is
+wholly yours. You must not hold me a niggard when I would fain
+give you so fair a boon. Soon will I have you crowned; and a
+knight shall you be to-morrow. All Greece shall be in your hand;
+and you shall receive from your barons--as indeed you ought to
+receive--their oaths and homage. He who refuses this is no wise
+man."
+
+The lad hears the promise--namely, that his father will dub him
+knight on the morrow after Mass--but says that he will prove
+himself coward or hero in another land than his own. "If you will
+grant my boon in that matter in which I have asked you; then give
+me fur both grey and of divers colour and good steeds and silken
+attire; for before I am knight I will fain serve King Arthur. Not
+yet have I so great valour that I can bear arms. None by entreaty
+or by fair words could persuade me not to go into the foreign
+land to see the king and his barons, whose renown for courtesy
+and for prowess is so great. Many high men through their idleness
+lose great praise that they might have if they wandered o'er the
+world. Repose and praise agree all together, as it seems to me;
+for a man of might who is ever resting in no wise becomes famous.
+Prowess is a burden to a cowardly man; and cowardice is a burden
+to the brave; thus the twain to his possessions who is ever
+heaping them up and increasing them. Fair sire, as long as I am
+allowed to win renown, if I can avail so much, I will give my
+pains and diligence to it."
+
+At this, without doubt, the emperor feels joy and anxiety--joy
+has he; for that he perceives that his son aims at valiant deeds;
+and anxiety on the other hand, for that he is leaving him. But
+because of the promise that he has made him it behoves him to
+grant his boon whatever anxiety he feel about it; for an emperor
+must not lie. "Fair son," quoth he, "I ought not to fail to do
+your pleasure, since I see that you aspire to honour. You may
+take from my treasury two barques full of gold and silver; but
+take care that you be very generous and courteous and well-bred."
+Now is the youth right glad; for his father promises him so much
+that he puts his treasure at his free disposal and exhorts and
+commands him to give and to spend liberally; and also he tells
+him the reason wherefore: "Fair son," quoth he, "believe me in
+this; that open-handedness is the lady and queen who illumines
+all virtues; and it is not a whit difficult to prove this. In
+what place could one find a man, however mighty and magnificent
+he be, that is not blamed if he be a niggard; or any man, however
+ill-reputed he be, whom liberality does not render praised?
+Liberality of itself makes a man of honour--which neither high
+Rank, nor courtesy, nor knowledge, nor noble birth, nor wealth ,
+nor strength, nor chivalry, nor courage, nor lordship, nor
+beauty, nor any other thing, can do. But just as the rose is
+fairer than any other flower when she buddeth fresh and new; so
+where liberality comes she holds herself above all virtues, and
+she multiplies five hundredfold the virtues that she finds in an
+honourable man who proves his worth. There is so much to say
+about liberality that I could not tell the half of it." Well has
+the lad succeeded in whatsoever he has requested and asked; for
+his father has found for him all that his desire conceived.
+Exceeding sorrowful was the empress when she heard of the road
+which her son must needs follow; but whoever has grief and
+anxiety thereof, or whoever deems his conduct but folly, or
+blames and dissuades him, the youth as quickly as he could bade
+his ships be got ready; for he had no wish to stay longer in his
+own country. The ships were loaded that night by his command with
+wine with meat and with biscuits.
+
+The ships are loaded in the harbour and on the morrow with great
+joyance came Alexander to the sandy shore; and with him his
+comrades who were fain of the journey. The emperor convoys him
+and the empress who was sad at heart. In the harbour they find
+the mariners in the ships beside the cliff. The sea was peaceful
+and smooth the wind gentle and the air serene. Alexander first of
+all, when he had parted from his father and on taking leave of
+the empress whose heart was sad within her, enters from the boat
+into the ship and his comrades with him. Four, three, and two ,
+they simultaneously strive to enter without delay. Full soon was
+the sail spread and the anchor of the barque weighed. Those on
+land, who were sore at heart for the lads whom they see
+departing, follow them with their eyes' ken as far as they can;
+and so that they may watch them the better and the further, they
+go off and climb together a high peak by the shore. Thence they
+watch their sorrow as far as they can see them. They gaze at
+their own sorrow in sooth; for great is their sorrow for the
+lads: may God lead them to port without disaster and without
+peril!
+
+They were at sea all April and part of May. Without great peril
+and without alarm they made land above Southampton. One day
+'twixt Nones and Vespers they cast anchor and have made the port.
+The youths, who had never previously learned to suffer discomfort
+or pain, had stayed on the sea which was not wholesome for them
+so long that all are pale and all the strongest and most healthy
+are weakened and nerveless. And, nevertheless, they show great
+joy; for that they have escaped from the sea and come hither
+where they would be. And because they were suffering greatly,
+they lie that night above Southampton and show great joy and let
+ask and inquire whether the king is in England. They are told
+that he is at Winchester; and that they can be there full soon if
+they will depart with morning provided that they keep to the
+right way. This news pleases them well; and on the morrow, when
+the day is born, the lads wake up with morning and equip and
+prepare themselves. And when they were equipped they have turned
+from above Southampton and have kept to the right way till they
+have reached Winchester where the king was tarrying. Before Prime
+the Greeks had come to Court. They dismount at the foot of the
+steps, the squires and the horses stayed in the court below; and
+the youths ascend to the presence of the best king that ever was
+or ever may be in the world. And when the king sees them come,
+they please and delight him much; but ere they had come before
+him, they throw off the cloaks from their necks that they might
+not be taken for clowns. Thus all having thrown off their cloaks
+have come before the king. And the barons one and all keep
+silence; for the youths please them mightily for that they see
+them fair and comely. Never do they dream that they are all sons
+of counts or of a king; yet truly so they were, and they were in
+the flower of their youth, comely and well set up in body; and
+the robes that they wore were of one cloth and one cut, of one
+appearance and one colour. Twelve were they without their lord of
+whom I will tell you this much without more ado; that none was
+better than he; but without arrogance and yet unabashed he stood
+with his mantle off before the king, and was very fair and well
+shaped. He has kneeled down before him, and all the others from
+courtesy, kneel beside their lord.
+
+Alexander, whose tongue was sharpened to speak well and wisely,
+greets the king. "King," quoth he, "if renown lie not concerning
+you since God made the first man, no king with faith in God was
+born so powerful as you. King, the report that is in men's mouths
+has brought me to your Court to serve and honour you, and if my
+service is pleasing I will stay till I be a new-made knight at
+your hand, not at that of another. For never shall I be dubbed
+knight if I be not so by you. If my service so please you that
+you will to make me a knight, keep me, gracious king, and my
+comrades who are here." Straightway the king replies: "Friend,"
+quoth he, "I reject not a whit either you or your company; but ye
+are all right welcome; for ye have the air, I well think it, of
+being sons of men of high rank. Whence are ye?" "We are from
+Greece." "From Greece?" "Truly are we." "Who is thy father?"
+"Faith, sire, the emperor." "And what is thy name, fair friend?"
+"Alexander was the name given me when I received salt and chrism
+and Christianity and baptism." "Alexander, fair dear friend, I
+keep you right willingly; and much does it please and joy me, for
+you have done me exceeding great honour in that you are come to
+my Court. It is my good pleasure that you be honoured here as a
+noble warrior, wise and gentle. Too long have you been on your
+knees: rise, I bid you, and henceforth be free of my Court and of
+me; for you have arrived at  a good haven."
+
+Forthwith the Greeks rise. Blithe are they for that the king has
+thus courteously kept them. Alexander is welcome; for there is no
+lack of aught that he wishes nor is there any baron in the Court
+so high that he does not speak him fair and welcome him. For he
+is not foolish nor boastful nor doth he vaunt his noble birth. He
+makes himself known to Sir Gawain and to the others one by one.
+He makes himself much loved by each; even Sir Gawain loves him so
+much that he hails him as friend and comrade. The Greeks had
+taken in the town at the house of a citizen the best lodging that
+they could find. Alexander had brought great possessions from
+Constantinople: he will desire above aught else to follow
+diligently the emperor's advice and counsel--namely, that he
+should have his heart wide-awake to give and to spend liberally.
+He gives great diligence and pains thereto. He lives well at his
+lodging and gives and spends liberally as it beseems his wealth,
+and as his heart counsels him. The whole Court marvels whence his
+store is taken; for he gives to all horses of great price which
+he had brought from his land. So much trouble has Alexander given
+himself, and so much has he prevailed by his fair service, that
+the king loves and esteems him dearly as well the barons and the
+queen.
+
+At that point of time King Arthur desired to pass over into
+Brittany. He bids all his barons assemble in order to seek
+Counsel, and ask them to whom till he return he can entrust
+England, who may keep and maintain it in peace. By the Council it
+was with one consent entrusted, as I think, to Count Engres of
+Windsor; for till then they deemed no baron more loyal in all the
+king's land. When this man had the land in his power, King Arthur
+and the queen and her ladies set out on the morrow. In Brittany
+folk hear tell that the king and his barons are coming: the
+Bretons rejoice greatly thereat.
+
+Into the ship in which the king crossed entered neither youth nor
+maiden save Alexander alone; and the queen of a truth brought
+thither Soredamors, a lady who scorned Love. Never had she heard
+tell of a man whom she could deign to love however much beauty
+prowess dominion or high rank he had. And yet the damsel was so
+winsome and fair that she might well have known Love if it had
+pleased her to turn her mind to it; but never had she willed to
+bend her mind thereto. Now will Love make her sorrowful; and Love
+thinks to avenge himself right well for the great pride and
+resistance which she has always shown to him. Right well has Love
+aimed; for he has stricken her in the heart with his arrow. Oft
+she grows pale; oft the beads of sweat break out, and in spite of
+herself she must love. Scarce can she refrain from looking
+towards Alexander; but she must needs guard herself against my
+Lord Gawain her brother. Dearly does she buy and pay for her
+great pride and her disdain. Love has heated for her a bath which
+mightily inflames and enkindles her. Now is he kind to her, now
+cruel; now she wants him, and now she rejects him. She accuses
+her eyes of treachery and says: "Eyes, you have betrayed me.
+Through you has my heart which was wont to be faithful conceived
+hatred for me. Now does what I see bring grief. Grief? Nay, in
+truth, but rather pleasure. And if I see aught that grieves me,
+still have I not my eyes under my own sway? My strength must
+indeed have failed me; and I must esteem myself but lightly if I
+cannot control my eyes and make them look elsewhere. By so doing
+I shall be able to guard myself right well from Love, who wishes
+to be my master. What the eye sees not the heart does not lament.
+If I do not see him there will be no pain. He does not entreat or
+seek me: if he had loved me he would have sought me. And since he
+neither loves nor esteems me, shall I love him if he loves me
+not? If his beauty draws my eyes, and my eyes obey the spell,
+shall I for that say I love him? Nay, for that would be a lie. By
+drawing my eyes he has done me no wrong of which I can complain;
+and I can bring no charge at all against him. One cannot love
+with the eyes. And what wrong, then, have my eyes done to me if
+they gaze on what I will to look at? What fault and wrong do they
+commit? Ought I to blame them? Nay. Whom, then? Myself, who have
+them in my keeping? My eye looks on nought unless it pleases and
+delights my heart. My heart could not wish for aught that would
+make me sorrowful. It is my heart's will that makes me sorrow.
+Sorrow? Faith, then, am I mad? since through my heart I desire
+that which makes me mad. I ought , indeed, if I can to rid myself
+of a will whence grief may come to me. If I can? Fool, what have
+I said? Then were I weak indeed if I had no power over myself.
+Does Love think to put me in the way which is wont to mislead
+other folk? Thus may he lead others; but I am not his at all.
+Never shall I be so; never was I so; never shall I desire his
+further acquaintance." Thus she disputes with herself, one hour
+loves and another hates. She is in such doubt that she does not
+know which side to take. She thinks she is defending herself
+against Love; but she is in no need of defence. God! Why does she
+not know that the thoughts of Alexander, on his side, are
+directed towards her? Love deals out to them impartially such a
+portion as is meet for each. He gives to them many a reason and
+ground that the one should love and desire the other. This love
+would have been loyal and right if the one had known what was the
+will of the other; but he does not know what she desires, nor
+she, for what he is lamenting. The queen watches them and sees
+the one and the other often lose colour and grow pale and sigh
+and shudder; but she knows not why they do it unless it be on
+account of the sea on which they are sailing. Perhaps, indeed,
+she would have perceived it if the sea had not misled her; but it
+is the sea which baffles and deceives her so that amid the
+sea-sickness she sees not the heart-sickness. For they are at
+sea, and heart-sickness is the cause of their plight, and
+heart-bitterness is the cause of the malady that grips them; but
+of these three the queen can only blame the sea; for
+heart-sickness and heart-bitterness lay the blame on the
+sea-sickness; and because of the third the two who are guilty get
+off scot-free. He who is guiltless of fault or wrong often pays
+dear for the sin of another. Thus the queen violently accuses the
+sea and blames it; but wrongly is the blame laid on the sea, for
+the sea has done therein no wrong. Much sorrow has Soredamors
+borne ere the ship has come to port. The king's coming is noised
+abroad; for the Bretons had great joy thereof and served him
+right willingly as their lawful lord. I seek not to speak more at
+length of King Arthur at this time: rather shall ye hear me tell
+how Love torments the two lovers against whom he has taken the
+field.
+
+Alexander loves and desires her who is sighing for his love; but
+he knows not, and will not know aught of this until he shall have
+suffered many an ill and many a grief. For love of her he serves
+the queen and the ladies of her chamber; but he does not dare to
+speak to or address her who is most in his mind. If she had dared
+to maintain against him the right which she thinks is hers in the
+matter, willingly would he have told him of it; but she neither
+dares nor ought to do so. And the fact that the one sees the
+other, and that they dare not speak or act, turns to great
+adversity for them; and love grows thereby and burns. But it is
+the custom of all lovers that they willingly feed their eyes on
+looks if they can do no better, and think that because the source
+whence their love buds and grows delights them therefore it must
+help their case, whereas it injures them: just as the man who
+approaches and comes close to the fire burns himself more than
+the man who draws back from it. Their love grows and increases
+continually; but the one feels shame before the other; and each
+conceals and hides this love so that neither flame nor smoke is
+seen from the gleed beneath the ashes. But the heat is none the
+less for that; rather the heat lasts longer below the gleed than
+above it. Both the lovers are in very great anguish; for in order
+that their complaint may not be known or perceived, each must
+deceive all men by false pretence; but in the night great is the
+plaint which each makes in solitude.
+
+First will I tell you of Alexander: how he complains and laments.
+Love brings before his mind the lady for whose sake he feels such
+Sorrow; for she has robbed him of his heart, and will not let him
+rest in his bed; so much it delights him to recall the beauty and
+the mien of her as to whom he dare not hope that ever joy of her
+may fall to his lot. "I may hold myself a fool," quoth he. "A
+fool? Truly am I a fool, since I do not dare to say what I think;
+for quickly would it turn to my bane. I have set my thought on
+folly. Then is it not better for me to meditate in silence than
+to get myself dubbed a fool? Never shall my desire be known. And
+shall I hide the cause of my grief, and not dare to seek help or
+succour for my sorrows? He who is conscious of weakness is a fool
+if he does not seek that by which he may have health if he can
+find it anywhere; but many a one thinks to gain his own advantage
+and to win what he desires, who pursues that whereof he sorrows
+later. And why should he go to seek advice when he does not
+expect to find health? That were a vain toil! I feel my own ill
+so heavy a burden that never shall I find healing for it by
+medicine or by potion or by herb or by root. There is not a
+remedy for every ill: mine is so rooted that it cannot be cured.
+Cannot? Methinks I have lied. As soon as I first felt this evil,
+if I had dared to reveal and to tell it, I could have spoken to a
+leech, who could have helped me in the whole matter; but it is
+very grievous for me to speak out. Perhaps they would not deign
+to listen and would refuse to accept a fee. No wonder is it then
+if I am dismayed, for I have a great ill; and yet I do not know
+what ill it is which sways me nor do I know whence comes this
+pain. I do not know? Yes, indeed, I think I know; Love makes me
+feel this evil. How? Does Love, then, know how to do evil? Is he
+not kind and debonair? I thought that there would have been
+nought in Love which was not good; but I have found him very
+malicious. He who has not put him to the test knows not with what
+games Love meddles. He is a fool who goes to meet him; for always
+he wishes to burden his subjects. Faith! his game is not at all a
+good one. It is ill playing with him; for his sport will cause me
+sorrow. What shall I do, then? Shall I draw back I think that
+this would be the act of a wise man; but I cannot tell how to set
+about it. If Love chastises and threatens in order to teach me
+his lesson, ought I to disdain my master? He who despises his
+master is a fool. Needs must I store up in my mind Love's lesson
+for soon can great good come of it. But he buffets me greatly:
+that sets me in alarm! True, neither blow nor wound is visible
+and yet dost thou complain? Then art thou not wrong? Nay, indeed,
+for he has wounded me so sore that he has winged his arrow even
+to my heart; and not yet has he drawn it out again. How then has
+he struck his dart into thy body when no wound appears without?
+This shalt thou tell me; I would fain know it. In what member has
+he struck thee? Through the eye. Through the eye? And yet he has
+not put out thine eye? He has done me no hurt in the eye; but he
+wounds me sorely at the heart. Now speak reason to me: how has
+the dart passed through thine eye in such wise that the eye is
+not wounded or bruised by it? If the dart enter through the midst
+of the eye, why does my heart suffer pain in my body? Why does
+not my eye also feel the pain, since it receives the first blow?
+That can I well explain. The eye has no care to understand aught
+nor can it do anything in the matter in any way; but the eye is
+the mirror to the heart, and through this mirror passes the fire
+by which the heart is kindled; yet so that it neither wounds nor
+braises it. Then is not the heart placed in the body like the
+lighted candle which is put inside the lantern? If you take the
+candle out, never will any light issue thence; but as long as the
+candle lasts the lantern is not dark; and the flame which shines
+through neither harms nor injures it. Likewise is it with regard
+to a window: never will it be so strong and so whole but that the
+ray of the sun may pass through it without hurting it in any way;
+and the glass will never be so clear that one will see any better
+for its brightness if another brightness does not strike upon it.
+Know that it is the same with the eyes as with the glass and the
+lantern; for the light penetrates into the eyes, the heart's
+mirror; and the heart sees the object outside whatever it be, and
+sees many various objects, some green, others dark of hue, one
+crimson, the other blue; and it blames the one and praises the
+other, holds the one cheap and the other precious; but many an
+object shows him a fair face in the mirror when he looks at it,
+which will betray him if he be not on his guard. My mirror has
+much deceived me; for in it MY heart has seen a ray by which I am
+struck, which has taken shelter in me; and because of this my
+heart has failed me. I am ill-treated by my friend who deserts me
+for my enemy. Well can I accuse my mirror of treachery; for it
+has sinned exceedingly against me. I thought I  had three
+friends: my heart and my two eyes together; but methinks they
+hate me. Where shall I find any more a friend , since these three
+are enemies who belong to me yet kill me? My servants presume
+overmuch who do all their own will and have no care of mine. Now,
+know I well of a truth from the action of those who have injured
+me: that a good master's love decays through keeping bad
+servants. He who associates with a bad servant cannot fail to
+lament it sooner or later, whatever come of it.
+
+"Now will I speak to you again of the arrow which is given in
+trust to me and tell you how it is made and cut; but I fear much
+that I may fail in the matter; for the carved work of it is so
+magnificent that twill be no marvel if I fail. And yet I will
+apply all my diligence to say what I think of it. The notch and
+the feathers together are so close that if a man looks well at
+them there is but one dividing line like a narrow parting in the
+hair; but this line is so polished and straight, that without
+question there is nought in the notch which can be improved. The
+feathers are of such a hue as if they were gold or gilded; but
+gilding can add nothing; for the feathers, this know I well, were
+brighter still than gold. The feathers are the blonde tresses
+that I saw the other day at sea. This is the arrow that makes me
+love. God! What a priceless boon! If a man could have such a
+treasure, why should he desire any other wealth all his life? For
+my part, I could swear that I should desire nothing more; for
+merely the feathers and the notch would I not give away in
+exchange for Antioch. And since I prize these two things so much,
+who could duly appraise the value of the rest which is so fair
+and lovable, and so dear and so precious, that I am desirous and
+eager to behold myself mirrored again in the brow that God has
+made so bright that nor mirror nor emerald nor topaz would make
+any show beside it. But of all this, he who gazes at the
+brightness of the eyes has not a word to say; for to all those
+who behold them they seem two glowing candles. And who has so
+glib a tongue that he could describe the fashion of the
+well-shaped nose, and of the bright countenance where the rose
+overlays the lily so that it eclipses something of the lily in
+order the better to illuminate the face, and of the smiling
+little mouth which God made such on purpose that no one should
+see it and not think that it is laughing? And what of the teeth
+in her mouth? One is so close to the other that it seems that
+they all touch, and so that they might the better achieve this,
+Nature bestowed special pains, so that whoever should see them
+when the mouth opens would never dream that they were not of
+ivory or silver. So much there is to say and to recount in the
+describing of each thing--both of the chin and of the ears--that
+it would be no great marvel if I were to leave out something. Of
+the throat, I tell you, that in comparison with it, crystal is
+but dim. And the neck beneath her tresses is four times whiter
+than ivory. As much as is disclosed from the hem of the vest
+behind, to the clasp of the opening in front, saw I of the bare
+bosom uncovered, whiter, than is the new-fallen snow. My pain
+would indeed have been alleviated if I could have seen the whole
+of the arrow. Right willingly if I had known would I have said
+what the tip  of the arrow is like: I did not see it; and it is
+not my own fault if I cannot tell the fashion of a thing that I
+have not seen. Love showed me then nought of it except the notch
+and the feathers; for the arrow was put in the quiver; the quiver
+is the tunic and the vest wherewith the maid was clad. Faith!
+This is the wound that kills me; this is the dart; this is the
+ray with which I am so cruelly inflamed. It is ignoble of me to
+be angry. Never for provocation or for war shall any pledge that
+I must seek of love be broken. Now let Love dispose of me as he
+ought to do with what is his; for I wish it, and this is my
+pleasure. Never do I seek that this malady should leave me;
+rather do I wish it to hold me thus for ever; and that from none
+may health come to me if health come not from that source whence
+the disease has come."
+
+Great is the plaint of Alexander; but that which the damsel
+utters is not a whit less. All night she is in so great pain that
+she neither sleeps nor rests. Love has set in array within her a
+battle that rages and mightily agitates her heart; and which
+causes such anguish and torture that she weeps all night and
+complains and tosses and starts up, so that her heart all but
+stops beating. And when she has so grieved and sobbed and moaned
+and started and sighed, then she has looked in her heart to see
+who and of what worth was he for whose sake Love was torturing
+her. And when she has recalled each wandering thought, then she
+stretches herself and turns over; and turning, she turns to folly
+all the thinking she has done. Then she starts on another
+argument and says: "Fool! What does it matter to me if this youth
+is debonair and wise and courteous and valiant! All this is
+honour and advantage to him. And what care I for his beauty? Let
+his beauty depart with him--and so it will, for all I can do;
+never would I wish to take away aught of it. Take away? Nay,
+truly, that do I not assuredly. If he had the wisdom of Solomon,
+and if Nature had put so much beauty in him that she could not
+have put more in a human body, and if God had put in my hand the
+power to destroy all, I would not seek to anger him; but
+willingly if I could would I make him more wise and more
+beautiful. Faith! then, I do not hate him at all. And am I then
+on that account his lady? No, indeed, no more than I am
+another's. And wherefore do I think more of him if he does not
+please me more than another? I know not: I am all bewildered, for
+never did I think so much about any man living in the world. And
+if I had my wish I should see him always; never would I seek to
+take my eyes off him so much the sight of him delights me. Is
+this love? Methinks it is. Never should I have called on him so
+often if I had not loved him more than another. Yes, I love him:
+let that be granted. And shall I not have my desire? Yes,
+provided that I find favour in his eyes. This desire is wrong;
+but Love has taken such hold of me that I am foolish and dazed
+and to defend myself avails me nought herein; thus I must suffer
+Love's attack. I have indeed guarded myself thus wisely and for
+long against Love; never once before did I wish to do aught for
+him, but now I am too gracious to him. And what thanks does he
+owe me, since he cannot have service or kindness of me by fair
+means? It is by force that Love has tamed my pride; and I must
+needs be subject to his will. Now I wish to love; now I am under
+his tuition; now will Love teach me. And what? How I ought to
+serve him. Of that am I right well apprised. I am full wise in
+his service, for no one could find fault with me in this matter.
+No need is there henceforth for me to learn more. Love would have
+me, and I would fain be wise without pride, gracious and
+courteous towards all, but the true love of one only. Shall I
+love them all for the sake of one? A fair mien should I show to
+each; but Love does not bid me to be a true love to every man.
+Love teaches nought but good. It is not for nothing that I have
+this name, and that I am called Soredamors. I ought to love, and
+I ought to be loved, and I wish to prove it by my name, if I can
+find fitting arguments. It is not without meaning that the first
+part of my name is the colour of gold; for the most beautiful are
+the blondest. Therefore I hold my name the fairer because it
+begins with the colour with which accords the finest gold. And
+the end recalls Love; for he who calls me by my right name ever
+calls Love to my mind. And the one half gilds the other with
+bright and yellow gilding; for Soredamors means the same thing as
+'gilded with love'. Much, then, has Love honoured me, since he
+has gilded me with himself. Gilding of gold is not so fine as
+that which illumines me. And I shall set my care on this, that I
+may be of his gilding; nevermore will I complain of him. Now I
+love and shall always love. Whom? Truly, a fine question! Him
+whom Love bids me love; for no other shall ever have my love.
+What does it matter as he will never know it unless I tell him
+myself? What shall I do if I do not pray him for his love? For he
+who desires a thing ought indeed to request and pray for it. How?
+Shall I then pray him? Nay, indeed. Why not? It never happened
+that a woman did aught so witless as to beg a man for love unless
+she were more than common mad. I should be convicted of folly if
+I said with my mouth aught that might turn to my reproach. If he
+should know it from my mouth, I deem that he would hold me the
+cheaper for it, and would often reproach me with having been the
+first to pray for love. Never be Love so abased that I should go
+and entreat this man, since he would be bound to hold me the
+cheaper for it. Ah God! how will he ever know it, since I shall
+not tell him? As yet I have scarce suffered aught for which I
+need so distress myself. I shall wait till he perceives it, if he
+is ever destined to perceive it. He will know it well of a truth,
+I think, if ever he had aught to do with Love or heard tell of it
+by word of mouth. Heard tell! Now have I said foolish words.
+Love's lore is not so easy that a man becomes wise by speaking of
+it unless good experience be there too. Of myself I know this
+well; for never could I learn aught of it by fair speaking or by
+word of mouth; and yet I have been much at Love's school, and
+have often been flattered; but always have I kept aloof from him,
+and now he makes me pay dear for it; for now I know more of it
+than an ox does of ploughing. But of this I despair--that he
+never loved , perhaps, and if he does not love, and has not
+loved; then have I been sowing in the sea where no seed can take
+root; and there is nothing for it but to wait for him and to
+suffer till I see whether I can bring him into the right way by
+hints and covert words. I will so act that he will be certain of
+having my love if he dares to seek it. Thus the end of the whole
+matter is that I love him and am his. If he does not love me, I
+shall love him all the same."
+
+Thus both he and she complain, and the one hides the case from
+the other; they have sorrow in the night and worse by day. In
+such pain they have, it seems to me, been a long while in
+Brittany until it came to the end of summer. Right at the
+beginning of October came messengers from the parts about Dover
+from London and from Canterbury to bring the king tidings that
+have troubled his heart. The messengers have told him this--that
+he may well tarry too long in Brittany; for he to whom he had
+entrusted his land, and had consigned so great a host of his
+subjects and of his friends, will now set himself in battle array
+against the king; and he has marched into London in order to hold
+the city against the hour that Arthur should have returned.
+
+When the king heard the news he calls all his barons; for he was
+indignant and full of displeasure. That he may the better stir
+them up to confound the traitor, he says that all the blame for
+his toil and for his war is theirs; for through their persuasion
+he gave his land and put it into the hand of the traitor who is
+worse than Ganelon. There is not one who does not quite allow
+that the king has right and reason; for they all counselled him
+to do so; but the traitor will be ruined for it. And let him know
+well of a truth that in no castle or city will he be able so to
+protect his body that they do not drag him out of it by force.
+Thus they all assure the king and solemnly affirm and swear that
+they will give up the traitor or no longer hold their lands. And
+the king has it proclaimed through all Brittany that none who can
+bear arms in the host remain in the country without coming after
+him quickly.
+
+All Brittany is moved: never was such a host seen as King Arthur
+assembled. When the ships moved out it seemed that everybody in
+the world was on the sea; for not even the waves were seen, so
+covered were they with ships. This fact is certain, that it seems
+from the stir that all Brittany is taking ship. Now have the
+ships made the passage; and the folk who have thronged together
+go into quarters along the shore. It came into Alexander's heart
+to go and beg the king to make him a knight; for if ever he is to
+win renown he will win it in this war. He takes his comrades with
+him, as his will urges him on to do what he has purposed. They
+have gone to the king's tent: the king was sitting before his
+tent. When he sees the Greeks coming he has called them before
+him. "Sirs," quoth he, "hide not from me what need brought you
+here." Alexander spoke for all and has told him his desire: "I am
+come," quoth he, "to pray you as I am bound to pray, my lord, for
+my companions and for myself, that you make us knights." The king
+replies: "Right gladly; and not a moment's delay shall there be,
+since you have made me this request." Then the king bids there be
+borne harness for twelve knights: done is what the king commands.
+Each asks for his own harness; and each has his own in his
+possession, fair arms and a good steed: each one has taken his
+harness. All the twelve were of like value, arms and apparel and
+horse; but the harness for Alexander's body was worth as much--if
+any one had cared to value or to sell it--as the arms of all the
+other twelve together. Straightway by the sea they disrobed and
+washed and bathed; for they neither wished nor deigned that any
+other bath should be heated for them. They made the sea their
+bath and tub.
+
+The queen, who does not hate Alexander--rather does she love and
+praise and prize him much--hears of the matter. She wills to do
+him a great service; it is far greater than she thinks. She
+searches and empties all her chests till she has drawn forth a
+shirt of white silk very well wrought very delicate and very
+fine. There was no thread in the seams that was not of gold, or
+at the least of silver. Soredamors from time to time had set her
+hands to the sewing, and had in places sewn in beside the gold a
+hair from her head, both on the two sleeves and on the collar to
+see and to put to the test whether she could ever find a man who
+could distinguish the one from the other, however carefully he
+looked at it; for the hair was as shining and as golden as the
+gold or even more so. The queen takes the shirt and has given it
+to Alexander. Ah God! how great joy would Alexander have had if
+he had known what the queen is sending him. Very great joy would
+she too have had, who had sewn her hair there if she had known
+that her love was to have and wear it. Much comfort would she
+have had thereof; for she would not have loved all the rest of
+her hair so much as that which Alexander had. But neither he nor
+she knew it: great pity is it that they do not know. To the
+harbour where the youths are washing came the messenger of the
+queen; he finds the youths on the beach and has given the shirt
+to him, who is much delighted with it and who held it all the
+dearer for that it came from the queen. But if he had known the
+whole case he would have loved it still more; for he would not
+have taken all the world in exchange, but rather he would have
+treated it as a relic, I think, and would have worshipped it day
+and night.
+
+Alexander delays no longer to apparel himself straightway. When
+he was clad and equipped he has returned to the tent of the king;
+and all his comrades together with him. The queen, as I think,
+had come to sit in the tent because she wished to see the new
+knights arrive. Well might one esteem them fair; but fairest of
+all was Alexander with the agile body. They are now knights; for
+the present I say no more about them. Henceforth shall I speak of
+the king and of the host which came to London. The greater part
+of the folk held to his side; but there is a great multitude of
+them against him. Count Engres musters his troops, all that he
+can win over to him by promise or by gift. When he had got his
+men together he has secretly fled by night; for he was hated by
+several and feared to be betrayed; but before he fled he took
+from London as much as he could of victuals of gold and of
+silver, and distributed it all to his folk. The tidings is told
+to the king--that the traitor is fled, and all his  army with
+him, and that he had taken so much of victuals and goods from the
+city that the burgesses are impoverished and destitute and at a
+loss. And the king has replied just this: that never will he take
+ransom of the traitor, but will hang him if he can find or take
+him. Now all the host bestirs itself so much that they reached
+Windsor. At that day, however it be now, if any one wished to
+defend the castle, it would not have been easy to take; for the
+traitor enclosed it as soon as he planned the treason with treble
+walls and moats, and had strengthened the walls behind with
+sharpened stakes, so that they should not be thrown down by any
+siege-engine. He had spent great sums in strengthening it all
+June and July and August, in making walls, and bastions, and
+moats, and drawbridges, trenches, and
+
+breast-works, and barriers, and many a portcullis of iron, and a
+great tower of stones, hewn foursquare. Never had he shut the
+gate there for fear of attack. The castle stands on a high hill
+and below it runs Thames. The host is encamped on the river bank;
+on  that day they had time for nought save encamping and pitching
+their tents.
+
+The host has encamped on Thames: all the meadow is covered with
+tents, green and vermilion. The sun strikes on the colours and
+the river reflects their sheen for more than a full league. The
+defenders of the castle had come to take their pleasure along the
+strand with their lances only in their hands, their shields
+locked close in front of them, for they bore no arms but these.
+To their foes without they made it appear that they feared them
+not at all inasmuch as they had come unarmed. Alexander, on the
+other side, perceived the knights who go before them, playing a
+knightly game on horseback. Hot is his desire to meet with them;
+and he calls his comrades one after the other by their names:
+first Cornix, whom he greatly loved, then the stout Licorides,
+then Nabunal of Mycenae, and Acoriondes of Athens, and Ferolin of
+Salonica, and Calcedor from towards Africa, Parmenides and
+Francagel, Torin the Strong, and Pinabel, Nerius, and Neriolis.
+"Lords," quoth he, "a longing has seized me to go and make with
+lance and with shield acquaintance with those who come to tourney
+before us. I see full well that they take us for laggards and
+esteem us lightly--so it seems to me--since they have come here
+all unarmed to tourney before our faces. We have been newly
+dubbed knights; we have not yet shown our mettle to knights or at
+quintain. Too long have we kept our new lances virgin. Why were
+our shields made? Not yet have they been pierced or broken. Such
+a gift avails us nought save for tour or for assault. Let us pass
+the ford, and let us attack them." All say: "We will not fail
+you." Each one says: "So may God save me, as I am not the man to
+fail you here." Now they gird on their swords, saddle and girth
+their steeds, mount and take their shields. When they had hung
+the shields from their necks, and taken the lances blazoned in
+quarterings; they all at once rush on to the ford; and the enemy
+lower their lances and ride quickly to strike them. But Alexander
+and his comrades knew well how to pay them back; and they neither
+spare them nor shirk nor yield a foot before them; rather each
+strikes his own foe so doughtily that there is no knight so good
+but he must void his saddle-bow. The Greeks did not take them for
+boys for cowards or for men bewildered. They have not wasted
+their first blows; for they have unhorsed thirteen. The noise of
+their blows and strokes has reached as far as to the army. In a
+short time the melee would have been desperate, if the enemy had
+dared to stand before them. The king's men run through the host
+to take their weapons, and dash into the water noisily, and the
+enemy turn to flight; for they see that it is not good to stay
+there. And the Greeks follow them, striking with lances and
+swords. Many heads there were cut open; but of the Greeks there
+was not a single one wounded. They have proved themselves well
+that day. But Alexander won the greatest distinction; for he
+leads away four knights bound to his person and taken prisoners.
+And the dead lie on the strand; for many there lay headless, and
+many wounded and maimed.
+
+Alexander from courtesy gives and presents the first fruits of
+his  knighthood to the queen. He does not wish that the king
+should have possession of the captives; for he would have had
+them all hanged. The queen has had them taken and has had them
+guarded in prison as accused of treason. Men speak of the Greeks
+throughout the army; all say that Alexander is right courteous
+and debonair as regards the knights whom he had taken inasmuch as
+he had not given them up to the king, who would have had them
+burned or hanged. But the king is in earnest in the matter.
+Forthwith he bids the queen that she come and speak to him and
+keep not her traitors; for it will behove her to give them up or
+he will take them against her will. Then the queen has come to
+the king; they have had converse together about the traitors as
+it behoved them; and all the Greeks had been left in the queen's
+tent with the ladies. Much do the twelve say to them, but
+Alexander does not say a word. Soredamors observed it; she had
+sat down near him. He has rested his cheek on his hand, and it
+seems that he is deep in thought. Thus have they sat full long
+till Soredamors saw on his arm and at his neck the hair with
+which she had made the seam. She has drawn a little nearer him,
+for now she has opportunity of speaking with him; but she
+considers beforehand how she can be the one to speak, and what
+the first word shall be; whether she will call him by his name;
+and she takes counsel of it with herself. "What shall I say
+first?" thinks she. Shall I address him by his name, or as
+'friend'. Friend? Not I. How then? Call him by his name? God! The
+word friend is so fair and so sweet to say. What if I dared to
+call him friend? Dared? What forbids it me? The fact that I think
+I should be telling a lie. A lie? I know not what it will be; but
+if I lie it will be a weight on my mind. For that reason it must
+be allowed that I should not desire to lie in the matter. God! He
+would not lie now a whit if he called me his sweet friend. And
+should I lie in so calling him? Both of us ought indeed to speak
+truth; but if I lie the wrong will be his. And why is his name so
+hard to me that I wish to add a name of courtesy? It seems to me
+there are too many letters in it, and I should become tongue-tied
+in the middle. But if I called him friend, I should very quickly
+say this name. But just because I fear to stumble in the other
+name, I would have given of my heart's-blood if only his name
+might have been 'my sweet friend'."
+
+She delays so long in thus thinking that the queen returns from
+the king, who had sent for her. Alexander sees her coming, and
+goes to meet her, and asks her what the king commands to be done
+with his prisoners, and what will be their fate. "Friend," says
+she, "he requires me to yield them up to his discretion and to
+let him do his justice on them. He is very wroth that I have not
+yet given them up to him and I must send them; for I see no other
+way out." Thus they have passed this day; and on the morrow the
+good and loyal knights have assembled together before the royal
+tent to pronounce justice and judgment as to with what penalty
+and with what torture the four traitors should die. Some doom
+that they be flayed, others that they be hanged or burnt, and the
+king himself deems that traitors should be drawn. Then he bids
+them be brought: they are brought; he has them bound, and tells
+them that they shall not be quartered till they are in view of
+the castle, so that those within shall see them. When the parley
+is done, the king addresses Alexander and calls him his dear
+friend. "Friend," quoth he, "I saw you yesterday make a fair
+attack and a fair defence. I will give you the due guerdon: I
+increase your following by 500 Welsh knights and by 1000 footmen
+of this land. When I shall have finished my war, in addition to
+what I have given you, I will have you crowned king of the best
+realm in Wales. Market-towns and strong castles, cities and
+halls, will I give you, meanwhile, till the land shall be given
+to you which your father holds and of which you must become
+emperor." Alexander heartily thanks the king for this grant; and
+his comrades thank him likewise. All the barons of the Court say
+that the honour which the king designs for him is well vested in
+Alexander.
+
+When Alexander sees his men his comrades and his footmen, such as
+the king willed to give him, then they begin to sound horns and
+trumpets throughout the host. Good and bad all, I would have you
+know, without exception take their arms, those of Wales and of
+Brittany of Scotland and of Cornwall; for from all sides without
+fail strong reinforcements had come in for the host. Thames had
+shrunk; for there had been no rain all the summer; rather there
+had been such a drought that the fish in it were dead and the
+ships leaky in the harbour; and one could pass by the ford there
+where the water was widest of a hair and has delight and joyaunce
+thereof; but the host has crossed Thames; some beset the valley
+and others mount the height. The defenders of the castle perceive
+it, and see coming the wondrous host which is preparing outside
+to overthrow and take the castle; and they prepare to defend it.
+But before any attack is made the king has the traitors dragged
+by four horses round the castle, through the valleys, and over
+mounds and hillocks. Count Engres is sore grieved when he sees
+those whom he held dear dragged round his castle; and the others
+were much dismayed; but for all the dismay that they feel thereat
+they have no desire to surrender. Needs must they defend
+themselves; for the king displays openly to all his displeasure
+and his wrath; and full well they see that if he held them he
+would make them die shamefully.
+
+When the four had been drawn and their limbs lay o'er the field,
+then the attack begins; but all their toil is vain; for howsoever
+they may hurl and throw their missiles, they can avail nought.
+And yet they try hard; they throw and hurl a thick cloud of bolts
+and javelins and darts. The catapults and slings make a great din
+on all sides; arrows and round stone fly likewise in confusion as
+thick as rain mingled with hail. Thus they toil all day: these
+defend, and those attack until night separates them, one from the
+other, nor need they trouble to flee, nor do they see. And the
+king on his part has it cried through the host and made known
+what gift that man will have of him by whom the castle shall have
+been taken: a goblet of very great price, worth fifteen golden
+marks, the richest in his treasure, will he give him. The goblet
+will be very fair and rich; and he whose judgement goes not
+astray ought to hold it dearer for the workmanship than for the
+material. The goblet is very precious in workmanship, and if I
+were to disclose the whole truth, the jewels on the outside were
+worth more than the workmanship or the gold. If he by whom the
+castle will be taken is but a foot soldier, he shall have the
+cup. And if it is taken by a knight, never shall he seek any
+reward besides the cup; but he will have it if it can be found in
+the world. When this matter was proclaimed Alexander, who went
+each evening to see the queen, had not forgotten his custom. On
+this evening he had again gone thither; they were seated side by
+side, both Alexander and the queen. Before them Soredamors was
+sitting alone nearest to them; and she looked at him as gladly as
+though she would not have preferred to be in Paradise. The queen
+held Alexander by his right hand, and looked at the golden thread
+which had become greatly tarnished; and the hair was becoming yet
+fairer whereas the gold thread was growing pale; and she
+remembered by chance that Soredamors had done the stitching and
+she laughed thereat. Alexander observed it and asks her, if it
+may be told, to tell him what makes her laugh. The queen delays
+to tell him, and looks towards Soredamors, and has called her
+before her. She has come very gladly and kneels before her.
+Alexander was much joyed when he saw her approach so near that he
+could have touched her; but he has not so much courage as to dare
+even to look at her; but all his senses have so left him that he
+has almost become dumb. And she, on the other hand, is so
+bewildered that she has no use of her eyes, but fixes her gaze on
+the ground, and dares not direct it elsewhere. The queen greatly
+marvels; she sees her now pale, now flushed, and notes well in
+her heart the bearing and appearance of each and of the two
+together. She sees clearly and truly, it seems to her, judging by
+the changes of colour, that these are signs of love; but she does
+not wish to cause them anguish: she feigns to know nothing of
+what she sees. She did just what it behoved her to do; for she
+gave no look or hint save that she said to the maiden: "Damsel,
+look yonder and tell--hide it not from us--where the shirt that
+this knight has donned was sewn, and whether you had a hand in
+it, and put in it somewhat of yours?" The maiden is ashamed to
+say it; nevertheless, she tells it to him gladly; for she wishes
+that he should hear the truth; and he has such joy of hearing it
+when she tells and describes to him the making of the shirt, that
+with great difficulty he restrains himself when he sees the hair
+from worshipping and doing reverence to it. His comrades and the
+queen, who were there with him, cause him great distress and
+annoyance; for on account of them he refrains from raising it to
+his eyes and to his lips where he would fain have pressed it if
+he had not thought that they would see him. He is blithe that he
+has so much of his lady-love; but he does not think or expect to
+have ever any other boon of her. His desire makes him fear;
+nevertheless, when he is alone he kisses it more than a hundred
+thousand times when he has left the queen. Now it seems to him
+that he was born in a lucky hour. Very great joy does he have of
+it all night, but he takes good care that no one sees him. When
+he has lain down in his bed, he delights and consoles him self
+fruitlessly with that in which there is no delight; all night he
+embraces the shirt, and when he beholds the hair he thinks he is
+lord of all the world. Truly Love makes a wise man a fool: since
+he has joy, he will change his pastime before the bright dawn and
+the sunlight. The traitors are holding counsel as to what they
+will be able to do and what will become of them. Long time they
+will be able to defend the castle; that is a certainty if they
+apply themselves to the defence; but they know that the king is
+of so fierce a courage that in all his life he will never turn
+away until he has taken it; then they must needs die. And if they
+surrender the castle they expect no grace for that. Thus the one
+lot or the other; it has fallen out ill for them; for they have
+no reinforcement, and they see death on all sides. But the end of
+their deliberation is that to-morrow, before day appears, they
+resolve to issue forth secretly from the castle, and to fall on
+the host unarmed, and the knights asleep, since they will still
+be lying in their beds. Before these have awakened, apparelled
+and equipped, themselves, they will have made such slaughter that
+ever hereafter shall be related the battle of that night. To this
+plan all the traitors cling from desperation, for they have no
+confidence as to their lives. Lack of hope as to the outcome
+emboldens them to the battle, for they see no issue for
+themselves except through death or prison. Such an issue is no
+wholesome one, nor need they trouble to flee, nor do they see
+where they could find refuge if they should have fled; for the
+sea and their enemies are around them, and they in the midst. No
+longer do they tarry at their council: now they apparel and arm
+themselves, and issue forth towards the north-west by an ancient
+postern towards that side whence they thought that those of the
+host would least expect to see them come. In serried ranks they
+sallied forth: of their men they made five battalions; and there
+were no less than two thousand foot-soldiers well equipped for
+battle and a thousand knights in each. This night neither star
+nor moon had shown its rays in the sky; but before they had
+reached the tents the moon began to rise, and, I believe that
+just to vex them, it rose earlier than it was wont; and God who
+wished to injure them lit up the dark night, for He had no care
+of their army; rather He hated them for their sin with which they
+were tainted for traitors and treason which God hates more than
+any other crime; so the moon began to shine because it was doomed
+to injure them.
+
+The moon was veritably hostile to them; for it shone on their
+glittering shields; and the helmets likewise greatly embarrass
+them, for they reflect the light of the moon for the sentries who
+were set to guard the host see them; and they cry throughout all
+the host: "Up, knights! Up, rise quickly! Take your arms, arm
+yourselves! Behold the traitors upon us!" Through all the host
+they spring to arms; they rouse themselves and don with haste
+their harness, as men must do in case of stress. Never did a
+single one of them stir forth till they were fully equipped; and
+all mounted on their steeds. While they are arming, the enemy, on
+the other hand, who greatly desire the battle, are bestirring
+themselves, so that they may take them unawares and likewise find
+them unarmed; and they send forth their men whom they had divided
+into five bands. Some kept beside the wood; others came along the
+river; the third placed themselves in the plain; and the fourth
+were in a valley; and the fifth battalion spurs along the moat
+that surrounded a rock, for they thought to swoop down
+impetuously among the tents. But they have not found a road that
+they could follow, or a way that was not barred; for the king's
+men block their way as they very proudly defy them and reproach
+them with treason. They engage with the iron heads of their
+lances, so that they splinter and break them; they come to close
+quarters with swords; and champion strikes champion to the ground
+and makes him bite the dust; each side strikes down its foes, and
+as fiercely as lions devouring whatsoever they can seize rush on
+their prey; so fiercely do they rush on their foe--aye, and more
+fiercely. On both sides, of a truth, there was very great loss of
+life at that first attack; but reinforcements come for the
+traitors, who defend themselves very fiercely, and sell their
+lives dear when they can keep them no longer. On four sides they
+see their battalions coming to succour them; and the king's men
+gallop upon them as fast as they can spur. They rush to deal them
+such blows on the shields, that together with the wounded they
+have overthrown more than five hundred of them. The Greeks spare
+them not at all. Alexander is not idle, for he exerts himself to
+act bravely. In the thickest of the fray he rushes so impetuously
+to smite a traitor, that neither shield nor hauberk availed one
+whit to save that traitor from being thrown to the ground. When
+Alexander has made a truce with him forsooth, he pays his
+attentions to another--attentions in which he does not waste or
+lose his pains. He serves him in such valiant sort that he rends
+his soul from his body; and the house remains without a tenant.
+After these two Alexander picks a quarrel with a third: he
+strikes a right noble court knight through both flanks in such
+wise that the blood gushes out of the wound on the opposite side;
+and the soul takes leave of the body, for the foe man has
+breathed it forth. Many a one he kills; many a one he maims; for
+like the forked lightning he attacks all those that he seeks out.
+Him whom he strikes with lance or sword, neither corselet nor
+shield protects. His comrades also are very lavish in spilling
+blood and brains; well do they know how to deal their blows. And
+the king's men cut down so many that they break and scatter them
+like common folk distraught. So many dead lie o'er the fields and
+so long has the scour lasted, that the battle-array was broken up
+a long while before it was day; and the line of dead down along
+the river extended five leagues. Count Engres leaves his standard
+in the battle and steals away; and he has taken seven of his
+companions together with him. He has returned towards his castle
+by so hidden a way that he thinks that no one sees; but Alexander
+marks him; for he sees them flee from the host, and thinks to
+steal away and meet them, so that no one will know where he has
+gone. But before he was in the valley he saw as many as thirty
+knights coming after him along a path, six of whom were Greeks,
+and the other four-and-twenty Welsh; for they thought that they
+would follow him at a distance until it should come to the pinch.
+When Alexander perceived them he stopped to wait, and marks which
+way those who are returning to the castle take until he sees them
+enter. Then he begins to meditate on a very hazardous venture and
+on a very wondrous stratagem. And when he had finished all his
+thinking, he turns towards his comrades, and thus has related and
+said to them: "Lords," quoth he, "without gainsaying me, if ye
+wish to have my love, whether it be prompted by folly or wisdom,
+grant me my wish." And they have granted it; for never will they
+refuse him anything that he may choose to do. "Let us change our
+insignia," quoth he; "let us take shields and lances from the
+traitors that we have slain. Thus we shall go towards the castle,
+and the traitors within will think that we are of their party,
+and whatever the requital may be the doors will be opened to us.
+Know ye in what wise we shall requite them? We shall take them
+all or dead or living if God grant it us; and  if any of you
+repent you know that as long as I live, I shall never love him
+with a good heart."
+
+All grant him his will: they go and seize the shields from the
+Dead; and they arrive with this equipment. And the folk of the
+castle had mounted to the battlements of the tower, for they
+recognised the shields full well and think that they belong to
+their own men; for they were unsuspicious of the ambush which
+lurks beneath the shields. The porter opens the door to them and
+has received them within. He is so beguiled and deceived that he
+does not address them at all; and not one of them breathes a
+word, but they pass on mute and silent, feigning such grief that
+they drag their lances behind them and bend beneath their
+shields, so that it seems that they are sorrowing greatly; and
+they go in whatever direction they wish until they have passed
+the three walls. Up yonder they find so many foot-soldiers and
+knights with the count, I cannot tell you the number of them; but
+they were all unarmed except the eight alone, who had returned
+from the army; and these even were preparing to take off their
+armour. But they might well prove over-hasty; for those who have
+come upon them up yonder no longer hid themselves, but put their
+steeds to the gallop. All press on their stirrups and fall upon
+them and attack them, so that they strike dead thirty-and-one
+before they have given the challenge. The traitors are much
+dismayed thereat and cry, "Betrayed! Betrayed!" But Alexander and
+his friends are not confused; for as soon as they find them all
+unarmed they test their swords well there. Even three of those
+whom they found armed have they so served that they have only
+left five. Count Engres has rushed forward, and before the eyes
+of all goes to strike Calcedor on his golden shield, so that he
+throws him to the ground dead. Alexander is much grieved when he
+sees his comrade slain; he well-nigh goes mad with the fury that
+comes upon him. His reason is dimmed with anger, but his strength
+and courage are doubled, and he goes to strike the count with
+such a mighty force that his lance breaks; for willingly, if he
+could, would he avenge the death of his friend. But the count was
+of great strength, a good and bold knight to boot, such that
+there would not have been a better in the world if he had not
+been disloyal and a traitor. The count, on his side, prepares to
+give him such a blow that he bends his lance, so that it
+altogether splinters and breaks; but the shield does not break
+and the one knight does not shake the other from his seat any
+more than he would have shaken a rock, for both were very strong.
+But the fact that the count was in the wrong mightily vexes and
+weakens him. The one grows furious against the other, and both
+have drawn their swords, since they had broken their lances. And
+there would have been no escape if these two champions had wished
+further to prolong the fight; one or the other would have had to
+die forthwith at the end. But the count does not dare to stand
+his ground, for he sees his men slain around him, who, being
+unarmed, were taken unawares. And the king's men pursue them
+fiercely, and hack and hew, and cleave, and brain them, and call
+the count a traitor. When he hears himself accused of treason, he
+flees for refuge towards his keep; and his men flee with him. And
+their enemies who fiercely rush after take them captive; they let
+not a single one escape of all those that they catch. They kill
+and slay so many that I do not think that more than seven reached
+a place of safety. When the traitors entered the keep, they are
+stayed at the entrance; for their pursuers had followed them so
+close that their men would have got in if the entrance had been
+open. The traitors defend themselves well; for they expect
+succour from them who were arming in the town below. But by the
+advice of Nabunal, a Greek who was very wise, the way was held
+against the reinforcements, so that they could not come in time,
+for they had tarried over-long from lukewarmness and indolence.
+Up there into that fortress there was only one single entry; if
+the Greeks stop up that entrance, they will have no need to fear
+the coming of any force from which ill may befall them. Nabunal
+bids and exhorts that twenty of them go to defend the outer
+gateway; for easily there might they press in that way to attack
+and overwhelm them--foemen who would do them harm if they had
+strength and power to do so. "Let a score of men go to defend the
+gateway, and let the other ten assail the keep from without, so
+that the count may not shut himself up inside." This is what
+Nabunal advises: the ten remain in the melee before the entrance
+of the keep; the score go to the gate. They have delayed almost
+too long; for they see coming a company, flushed and heated with
+desire of fighting, in which there were many crossbow-men and
+foot-soldiers of divers equipment, bearing diverse arms. Some
+carried light missiles, and others, Danish axes, Turkish lances
+and swords, arrows and darts and javelins. Very heavy would have
+been the reckoning that the Greeks would have had to pay,
+peradventure, if this company had come upon them, but they did
+not come in time. By the wisdom and by the prudence of Nabunal,
+they forestalled them and kept them without. When the
+reinforcements see that they are shut out, then they remain idle,
+for they see well that by attacking they will be able to
+accomplish nought in the matter. Then there rises a mourning and
+a cry of women and of little children, of old men and of youths,
+so great that if it had thundered from the sky those within the
+castle would not have heard aught of it. The Greeks greatly
+rejoice thereat; for now they all know of a surety that never by
+any chance will the count escape being taken. They bid four of
+them mount in haste to the battlements of the wall to see that
+those without do not from any quarter, by any stratagem or trick,
+press into the castle to attack them. The sixteen have returned
+to the ten who are fighting. Now was it bright daylight, and now
+the ten had forced their way into the keep, and the count, armed
+with an axe, had taken his stand beside a pillar where he defends
+himself right fiercely. He cleaves asunder all who come within
+his reach. And his followers range themselves near him; in their
+last day's work they take such good vengeance that they spare not
+their strength at all. Alexander's knights lament that there were
+no more than thirteen of them left though even now there were
+twenty-and-six. Alexander well-neigh raves with fury when he sees
+such havoc among his men who are thus killed and wounded, but he
+is not slow to revenge. He has found at hand, by his side, a long
+and heavy beam, and goes to strike therewith a traitor; and
+neither the foeman's shield nor hauberk availed him a whit
+against being borne to the ground. After him , he attacks the
+count; in order to strike well he raises the beam ; and he deals
+him such a blow with his square-hewn beam that the axe falls from
+his hands; and he was so stunned and so weak, that if he had not
+leaned against the wall his feet would not have supported him.
+
+With this blow the battle ceases. Alexander leaps towards the
+count and seizes him in such wise that he cannot move. No need is
+there to tell more of the others, for easily were they vanquished
+when they saw their lord taken. They capture them all with the
+count and lead them away in dire shame even as they had deserved.
+Of all this, King Arthur's host who were without, knew not a
+word; but in the morning when the battle was ended they had found
+their shields among the bodies; and the Greeks were raising a
+very loud lamentation for their lord but wrongly. On account of
+his shield which they recognise they one and all make great
+mourning, and swoon over his shield, and say that they have lived
+too long. Cornix and Nerius swoon; and when they come to
+themselves they blame their lives for being yet whole in them.
+And so do Torins and Acoriondes; the tears ran in streams from
+their eyes right on to their breasts. Life and joy are but
+vexation to them. And above all Parmenides has dishevelled and
+torn his hair. These five make so great a mourning for their lord
+that greater there cannot be. But they disquiet themselves in
+vain; instead of him, they are bearing away another; and yet they
+think that they are bearing away their lord. The other shields
+too cause them much sorrow by reason whereof they think that the
+bodies are those of their comrades; and they swoon and lament
+over them. But the shields lie one and all; for of their men
+there was but one slain who was named, Neriolis. Him truly would
+they have borne away had they known the truth. But they are in as
+great distress about the others as about him; and they have borne
+and taken them all. About all but one they are mistaken; but even
+like a man who dreams, who believes a lie instead of truth, the
+shields made them believe that this lie was true. They are
+deceived by the shields. They have set out with the bodies of the
+slain, and have come to their tents where there were many folk
+lamenting; but one and all of the others joined in the lament the
+Greeks were making. There was a great rally to their mourning.
+Now Soredamors, who hears the wailing and the lament for her
+friend, thinks and believes that she was born in an evil hour.
+For anguish and grief she loses memory and colour; and this it is
+that grieves and wounds her much, but she dare not openly show
+her grief; she has hidden her mourning in her heart. And yet, if
+any one had marked it, he would have seen by her countenance and
+by her outer semblance, that she suffered great pain and sorrow
+of body; but each one had enough to do to utter his own grief and
+recked nought of another's. Each was lamenting his own sorrow;
+for they find their kinsmen and their friends in evil case; for
+the river-bank was covered with them. Each lamented his own loss
+which is heavy and bitter. There the son weeps for the father,
+and here the father for the son; this man is swooning over his
+cousin, and this other, over his nephew; thus in each place they
+lament, fathers and brothers and kinsmen. But conspicuous above
+all is the lament that the Greeks were making although they
+might, with justice, expect great joy; for the greatest mourning
+of all the host will soon turn to joy.
+
+The Greeks are raising great lamentation without; and those who
+are within are at great pains how to let them hear that whereof
+they will have much joy. They disarm and bind their prisoners who
+beg and pray them to take now their heads; but the king's men do
+not will or deign to do this. Rather, they say that they will
+keep them until they deliver them to the king, who then will give
+them their due, so that their merits will be requited. When they
+had disarmed them all they have made them mount the battlements
+in order to show them to their folk below. Much does this
+kindness displease them; since they saw their lord taken and
+bound they were not a whit glad. Alexander, from the wall above,
+swears by God and the saints of the world that never will he let
+a single one of them live, but will kill them all; and none shall
+stay his hand if they do not all go to yield themselves up to the
+king before he can take them. "Go," quoth he, "I bid you to my
+lord without fail, and place yourselves at his mercy. None of you
+save the count here has deserved death. Never shall ye lose limb
+or life if ye place yourselves at his mercy. If ye do not redeem
+yourselves from death merely by crying 'Mercy', very little
+confidence can ye have in your lives or in your bodies. Issue
+forth, all disarmed, to meet my lord, the king, and tell him from
+me, that Alexander sends you. Ye will not lose your pains; for
+the king, my lord, will remit for you all his wrath and
+indignation, so gentle and debonair is he. And if ye will do
+otherwise, ye will have to die; for never will pity for you seize
+him." All of them together believe this counsel; they do not stop
+till they reach the king's tent; and they have all fallen at his
+feet. Now is it known throughout the host what they have told and
+related. The king mounts, and all have mounted with him; and they
+come spurring to the castle, for no longer do they delay.
+
+Alexander issues forth from the castle towards the king to whom
+his sight was well pleasing; and he has yielded up to him the
+count. And the king has no longer delayed to do justice on him
+immediately; but he greatly praises and extols Alexander; and all
+the rest greet him with ceremony and praise and extol him loudly.
+There is none who does not manifest joy. The mourning that they
+were formerly making yields to joy; but no joy can be compared
+with that of the Greeks. The king bids them give him the cup
+which was very magnificent and worth fifteen marks; and he tells
+and assures him that there is nought however dear, save the crown
+and the queen, that he will not yield to him if he will to ask
+it. Alexander dares not utter his desire in this matter, yet
+knows well that the king would not disappoint him if he asked for
+his lady-love; but he greatly fears that he might displease her,
+who would have had great joy thereat; for rather does he wish
+grief for himself without her than to have her without her will.
+Therefore he begs and requests a respite; for he does not wish to
+make his request till he know her pleasure in the matter; but he
+has sought neither respite nor delay in possessing himself of the
+golden cup. He takes the cup and generously entreats my Lord
+Gawain until he accepts this cup from him; but with exceeding
+great reluctance has that knight accepted it. When Soredamors has
+heard the true news about Alexander much did it please and
+delight her. When she knew that he is alive she has such joy
+thereof, that it seems to her never can she have  grief for an
+hour; but too long it seems to her does he tarry to come as he is
+wont. Soon she will have what she desires;  for the two vie with
+each other in their yearning for the same thing.
+
+Alexander greatly longed to be able to feast his eyes on her if
+only with one sweet look. Already for a long time would he fain
+have come to the queen's tent if he had not been kept elsewhere.
+Delay displeased him much, so soon as ever he could he came to
+the queen in her tent. The queen has met him; for she knew much
+of his thought without his ever having spoken; but well had she
+perceived it. As he enters the tent she salutes him and takes
+pains to greet him with due ceremony; well she knows what
+occasion brings him. Because she wishes to serve him to his
+liking she puts Soredamors by his side; and they three were alone
+conversing far from the others. The queen is the first to begin;
+for she had no doubt at all that they loved each other, he her,
+and she him. Well she thinks to know it for a certainty and is
+convinced that Soredamors could not have a better lover. She was
+seated between them and begins a discourse which came aptly and
+in season.
+
+"Alexander," quoth the queen, "Love is worse than hatred, for it
+grieves and bewilders its devotee. Lovers know not what they do
+when the one hides his feelings from the other. In Love there is
+much grievous toil: he who does not make a bold beginning in the
+laying of the foundation can scarce put on the coping-stone. The
+saying goes that there is nothing so difficult to cross as the
+threshold. I wish to instruct you about Love; for well I know
+that Love is using you badly. For this reason have I taken you to
+task; and take care that you conceal nought of it from me, for
+clearly have I seen from the countenances of each, that of two
+hearts you have made one. Never seek to hide it from me. You act
+very foolishly in that the twain of you tell not your thoughts;
+for you are killing each other by this concealment; you will be
+Love's murderers. Now, I counsel you that you seek not to satisfy
+your love by rape or by lust. Unite yourselves in honourable
+marriage. Thus as it seems to me your love will last long. I
+venture to assure you of this, that if you have a mind for it I
+will bring about the marriage."
+
+When the queen had disburdened her heart Alexander on his side
+disclosed his. "Lady," quoth he, "I deny nought whereof you
+charge me; rather do I quite admit all that you say. Never do I
+seek to be free from Love, so as not always to devote myself to
+it. This that you of your pity have told me greatly pleases and
+delights me. Since you know my will, I know not why I should any
+longer conceal it from you. Very long ago if I had dared I would
+have confessed it; for the concealment has pained me much. But
+perhaps this maiden would in no wise will that I should be hers,
+and she mine. If she grants me nought of herself, yet still I
+give myself to her." At these words she trembled; and she does
+not refuse this gift. She betrays the wish of her heart both in
+words and looks; for trembling she gives herself to him, and says
+that never will she make any reservation of will or heart or
+person; but will be wholly at the queen's command and will do all
+her pleasure. The queen embraces them both and gives the one to
+the other. Laughing, she says: "I yield to thee, Alexander, the
+body of thy love. Well I know that thou art not alarmed thereat.
+Let who will look askance thereat; I give you the one to the 
+other. Hold, thou, what is thine, and thou, Alexander, what is 
+thine." She has what is hers, and he, what is his; he, all of
+her,  and she, all of him. The betrothal took place that very day
+at Windsor, without a doubt with the consent and permission of my 
+Lord Gawain and the king. None could tell, I ween, of the 
+magnificence and feasting, of the joy and pleasure so great that
+at the wedding there would not have been more. But inasmuch  as
+it would displease most people, I will not waste or spend one 
+word thereon, for I wish to apply myself to the telling of 
+something better.
+
+On one day at Windsor had Alexander so much honour and joy as
+pleased him. Three joys and three honours he had: One was for the
+castle that he took; the second, for that which King Arthur
+promised that he would give him when the war was ended--the best
+realm in Wales--that day Arthur made him king in his halls. The
+greatest joy was the third because his lady-love was queen of the
+chessboard whereof he was king. Before five months were passed
+Soredamors was great with human seed and grain; and she bore it
+till her time. Such was the seed in its germ that the fruit came
+according to its kind. A fairer child there could not be, before
+or after. They called the child Cliges.
+
+Born was Cliges, in memory of whom this story was put into
+French. Ye shall hear me tell fully and relate of him and of his
+knightly service, when he shall have come to such an age, that he
+will be destined to grow in fame. But meanwhile it happened in
+Greece that the emperor who ruled Constantinople came to his end.
+He was dead; he needs must die, for he could not pass the term
+appointed. But before his death he assembled all the high barons
+of his land in order to send and fetch Alexander, his son, who
+was in Britain where right willingly he tarried. The messengers
+depart from Greece; o'er the sea they take their voyage; and
+there a tempest overtakes them which sorely distresses their ship
+and their folk. They were all drowned in the sea save one
+treacherous fellow, a renegade, who loved Alis, the younger son,
+more than Alexander, the elder. When he had escaped from the sea
+he has returned to Greece; and related that they had all been
+drowned in a storm on the sea when they were returning from
+Britain; and were bringing away their lord; not one of them had
+escaped save he, only, from the storm and the peril. His lying
+tale was believed. Unopposed and unchallenged they take Alis and
+crown him: they give to him the empire of Greece. But it was not
+long ere Alexander knew for a certainty that Alis was emperor.
+Forthwith he has taken leave of King Arthur; for by no means will
+he resign his land to his brother without a fight. The king in no
+wise deters him from the plan; rather he bids him lead away with
+him so great a multitude of Welsh Scots and Cornishmen, that his
+brother will not dare to stand his ground when he shall see the
+host assembled. Alexander might have led away a great force had
+he willed. But he has no care to destroy his people if his
+brother will answer him in such wise as to perform his promise.
+He led away forty knights and Soredamors and his son. These two
+would he not leave behind; for they were meet to be greatly
+loved. They sailed from Shoreham where they took leave of the
+whole court; they had fair winds; the ship ran much more swiftly
+than a fleeing stag. Before the month had passed, I ween, they
+came to anchor before Athens, a city very magnificent and strong.
+The emperor, in sooth, was staying in the city; and there was a
+great gathering there of the high barons of the land. As soon as
+they were arrived Alexander sends a trusted servant into the city
+to know if he could have a fitting welcome there or if they will
+deny that he is their rightful lord.
+
+The bearer of this message was a courteous and prudent knight
+whom men called Acorionde, a man of wealth and eloquence; and he
+was much esteemed in the land, for he was a native of Athens.
+>From of old his forbears had always had very high lordship in
+the city. When he had heard told that the emperor was in the city
+he goes to contend with him for the crown on behalf of Alexander,
+his brother; and he cannot pardon him for that he has kept it 
+unjustly. Straight into the palace has he come; and finds many a
+one who greets him fair; but he gives no answer nor does he say a
+word to any man who greets him; rather he waits until he may hear
+what will and what mind they have toward their true lord. He does
+not stop till he reaches the emperor; he greets him not, nor bows
+to him, nor calls him emperor. "Alis," quoth he, "I bear thee a
+message from Alexander who is out yonder in this harbour. Hear
+what word thy brother sends to thee: He asks of thee what is his
+and seeks nought that is contrary to justice. Constantinople
+which thou holdest ought to be his; and will be his. Neither
+reasonable nor right would it be that there should be discord
+'twixt you twain. Take my counsel, and come to terms with him,
+and give him the Crown in peace; for it is right meet that thou
+yield it to him."
+
+Alis replies: "Fair sweet friend, thou hast taken on thyself a
+foolish errand in that thou hast brought this message. No comfort
+hast thou brought to me, for I know well that my brother is dead.
+It would be a great consolation to me if he were alive and I knew
+it. Never will I believe it till I see him. He is dead a while
+ago; and that is a grief to me. Not a word that thou sayest do I
+believe. And if he is alive wherefore comes he not? Never need he
+fear that I will not give him land in plenty. He is mad if he
+keeps aloof from me; and if he serve me he will never be the
+worse for it. Never will there be any man that will hold the
+crown and the empire against me." Acorionde hears that the
+emperor's reply is not favourable; but by no fear is he withheld
+from speaking his mind. "Alis," quoth he, "may God confound me if
+the matter is left thus. On thy brother's behalf I defy thee, and
+on his behalf, as is meet, I exhort all those that I see here to
+leave thee and come over to his side. It is meet that they cleave
+to him; him ought they to make their lord. He who is loyal, let
+now his loyalty appear."
+
+With this word he leaves the court; and the emperor, on his side
+, summons those in whom he most trusts. From them he seeks
+counsel as to his brother who thus challenges him, and seeks to
+know if he can fully trust them not to give support or aid to him
+in this attack. Thus he hopes to prove each one; but he finds not
+even one to cleave to him with regard to the war; rather do they
+bid him remember the war that Eteocles waged against Polynices,
+who was his own brother, in which the one killed the other with
+his own hands. "A like thing may chance with regard to you if you
+are bent on pursuing war; and the land will be ruined by reason
+thereof." Therefore they counsel him to seek such a peace as may
+be reasonable and honourable; and that the one make no
+unreasonable demands on the other. Now Alis hears that if he does
+not make a fair covenant with his brother, all the barons will
+desert him; and he said they will never desire an arrangement
+which he cannot equitably make; but he establishes in the
+covenant that whate'er the outcome of the matter the crown remain
+to him.
+
+In order to make firm and lasting peace Alis sends one of his
+masters-at-arms and bids Alexander come to him and rule all the
+land; but that he do Alis so much honour as to allow him to keep
+the name of emperor and let him have the crown; thus, if he will,
+can this covenant be made 'twixt the twain of them. When this
+thing was related and told to Alexander, his folk have mounted
+with him and have come to Athens. With joy were they received;
+but it does not please Alexander that his brother should have the
+lordship of the empire and of the crown if he give him not his
+promise that never will he wed woman; but that after him, Cliges
+shall be emperor of Constantinople. Thus are the brothers
+reconciled. Alexander makes him swear; and Alis grants and
+warrants him that never as long as he shall live will he take
+wife. They are reconciled and remain friends. The barons manifest
+great joy; they take Alis for emperor; but before Alexander come
+affairs great and small. Whatever he commands and says is done;
+and little is done except through him. Alis has no longer
+anything but the name--for he is called emperor--but Alexander is
+served and loved; and he who does not serve him through love,
+must needs do so through fear. By means of love and fear he rules
+all the land according to his will. But he whose name is Death
+spares no man, weak or strong, but slays and kills them all.
+Alexander was destined to die; for a sickness for which there was
+no remedy took him in its grip; but before death came upon him he
+sent for his son and said: "Fair son, Cliges, never canst thou
+know how much prowess and valour thou shalt have if thou go not
+first to prove thyself at King Arthur's court on both the Britons
+and the French. If fate lead thee thither, so bear and demean
+thyself that thou remain unknown till thou hast proved thyself on
+the flower of the knighthood at the court. I counsel thee that
+thou believe me in this matter; and that if opportunity comes
+thou fear not to put thy fortune to the test with thy uncle, my
+Lord Gawain. Prithee forget not this."
+
+After this exhortation he lived not long. Soredamors had such
+grief thereat that she could not live after him. For sheer grief
+she died when he died. Alis and Cliges both mourned for them as
+they were bound; but in time they ceased to mourn. For all
+mourning must come to an end; all things needs must cease. Ill is
+it to prolong mourning, for no good can come of it. The mourning
+has ceased; and for a long time after the emperor has refrained
+from taking wife, for he would fain strive after loyalty. But
+there is no court in all the world that is pure from evil
+counsel. Nobles often leave the right way through the evil
+counsels to which they give credence, so that they do not keep
+loyalty. Often do his men come to the emperor, and they give him
+counsel, and exhort him to take a wife. So much do they exhort
+and urge him, and each day do they so much beset him, that
+through their great importunity, they have turned him from his
+loyalty, and he promises to do their will. But he says that she
+who is to be lady of Constantinople must needs be very graceful
+and fair and wise, rich and of high degree. Then his counsellors
+say to him that they will make ready and will hie them into the
+German land to sue for the daughter of the emperor. They counsel
+him to take her; for the emperor of Germany is very mighty and
+very powerful and his daughter is so fair that never in
+Christendom was there a damsel of such beauty. The emperor grants
+them all their suit; and they set out on the way like folk well
+equipped. They have ridden in their days' journeys until they
+found the emperor at Ratisbon, and asked him to give his elder
+daughter for their lord's behalf.
+
+The emperor was full blithe at this embassy and gladly has he
+promised them his daughter; for he in no wise abases himself by
+so doing and abates not one jot of his dignity. But he says that
+he had promised to give her to the Duke of Saxony; and that the
+Greeks could not take her away unless the emperor came and
+brought a mighty force, so that the duke could not do him hurt or
+injury on the way back to Greece.
+
+When the messengers had heard the emperor's reply they take their
+leave and set out once more for home. They have returned to their
+lord and have told him the reply. And the emperor has taken
+chosen men, knights proven in arms, the best that he has found,
+and he takes with him his nephew, for whose sake he had vowed
+that he would never take wife as long as he lived. But in no wise
+will he keep this vow if he can win to reach Cologne. On a day
+appointed he departs from Greece and shapes his course towards
+Germany; for he will not fail for blame nor for reproach to take
+a wife. But his honour will wane thereby. He does not stop till
+he reaches Cologne where the emperor had established his court
+for a festival held for all Germany. When the company of the
+Greeks had come to Cologne there were so many Greeks and so many
+Germans from the north, that more than sixty thousand had to find
+quarters outside the town.
+
+Great was the gathering of folk, and very great was the joy that
+the two emperors showed, for they were right glad to meet face to
+face. In the palace which was very long was the assembly of the
+barons; and now the emperor sent for his beautiful daughter. The
+maiden did not tarry. Straightway she came into the palace; and
+she was fair, and so well shaped, just as God Himself had made
+her; for it pleased Him greatly to show such workmanship as to
+make people marvel. Never did God who fashioned her give to man a
+word that could express so much beauty, that there was not in her
+still more beauty.
+
+Fenice was the maiden named, and not without reason; for just as
+the bird Phoenix is fairest above all others and there cannot be
+more than one phoenix at a time, so Fenice, I deem, had no peer
+for beauty. It was a wonder and a marvel, for never again could
+Nature attain to framing her like. Inasmuch as I should say less
+than the truth, I will not in words describe arms nor body nor
+head nor hands; for if I had a thousand years to live and each
+day had doubled my wisdom I should still waste all my time, and
+yet never express the truth of it. I know well that if I meddled
+with it I should exhaust all my wisdom upon it and should
+squander all my pains; for it would be wasted pains. The maiden
+has hastened and has come into the palace with head uncovered and
+face bare; and the sheen of her beauty sheds greater light in the
+palace than four carbuncles would have done. Now Cliges had
+doffed his cloak in presence of his uncle, the emperor. The day
+was somewhat cloudy but so beauteous were the twain, both the
+maid and he, that there shot forth from their beauty a ray with
+which the palace glowed again, just as the sun shines bright and
+ruddy in the morning.
+
+To describe the beauty of Cliges I will limn you a portrait, the
+traits of which shall be very briefly told. He was in the flower
+of his youth, for he was about fifteen years old. He was fairer
+and more comely than Narcissus' who saw his own reflection in the
+fountain beneath the elm, and loved it so much when he saw it
+that he died--so folk say--because he could not have it. Much
+beauty had he, and little wit, but Cliges had greater store of
+both, just as fine gold surpasses copper, and yet more than I can
+say. His hair seemed like fine gold and his face a fresh-blown
+rose. His nose was well shaped, and his mouth beautiful, and he
+was of great stature as Nature best knew how to frame him; for in
+him alone she put all at once what she is wont to dole out to
+each in portions. In framing him Nature was so lavish that she
+put everything into him all at once and gave him whatsoever she
+could. Such was Cliges who had in him wisdom and beauty,
+generosity and strength. He had the timber together with the
+bark, and knew more of fencing and of archery, of birds and of
+hounds, than Tristram, King Mark's nephew; not one grace was
+lacking to Cliges.
+
+Cliges in all his beauty was standing before his uncle; and those
+who did not know him were in a fever to see him; and also those
+who do not know the maiden are eagerly straining to see her; all
+look at her with wonder; but Cliges, in love, directs his eyes to
+her secretly, and withdraws them so prudently that neither in the
+going or the coming of the gaze can one consider him a fool for
+his action. Right lovingly he regards her; but he does not pay
+heed to the fact that the maiden pays him back in kind. In true
+love not in flattery he gives his eyes into her keeping, and
+receives hers. Right good seems this exchange to her; and it
+would have seemed to her far better if she had known somewhat of
+his worth. But she knows no more than that she sees him fair; and
+if she were ever destined to love aught because of the beauty
+that she might see in it, it is not meet that she should set her
+heart elsewhere. She has set her eyes and her heart there; and he
+in his turn has promised her his. Promised? Nay, but given for
+good and all. Given? Nay, in faith, I lie; he has not, for no 
+one can give his heart. Needs must I say it in a different
+fashion. I will not speak as they speak who join two hearts in
+one body; for it is not true, and has not even the semblance of
+truth to say that one body can have two hearts at once. And even
+if they could come together such a thing could not be believed.
+But, and it please you to hearken to me, I shall be able well to
+render you the reason why two hearts blend in one without coming
+together. In so far as only they blend in one, the will of each
+passes from one to the other, and the twain have the same desire,
+and because they have the same desire, there are folk who are
+wont to say that each of them possesses both the hearts. But one
+heart is not in two places. Well may their desire be the same,
+and yet each, always, his own heart, just as many different men
+can sing in harmony one song or verse; and I prove to you by this
+parable that one body cannot have two hearts because one knows
+the other's will, or because the second knows what the first
+loves and what he hates. A body cannot have more than one heart
+any more than the voices which sing in harmony, so that they seem
+to be but a single voice, can be the voice of one person alone.
+But it profits me not to dwell on this; for another task demands
+my care. Henceforth I must speak of the maiden and of Cliges; and
+ye shall hear of the Duke of Saxony who has sent to Cologne a
+nephew of his, a mere stripling, who discloses to the emperor
+what his uncle, the duke, bids him deliver--that the emperor
+expect not from him truce or peace if he send not to him his
+daughter; and let not that man feel confident on the way who
+thinks to take her thence with him; for he will not find the way
+void of foes; rather will it be right well defended against him
+if she is not given up to the duke.
+
+Well did the stripling deliver his message, all without pride and
+without presumption; but he finds none, nor knight nor emperor,
+to reply to him. When he saw that they were all silent and that
+they did it from contempt, he is for quitting the court
+defiantly. But youth and audacity made him challenge Cliges to
+joust against him ere he departed. They mount to horse in order
+to tilt; on both sides they count three hundred so were equal in
+number. The whole palace is empty and deserted; for there remains
+there neither man nor woman, nor knight nor damsel, who does not
+go and mount on the palace roof, on to the battlements, and to
+the windows, to see and behold those who were to tilt. Even the
+princess has mounted thither, she whom Love had conquered and won
+to his will. She is seated at a window where she greatly delights
+to sit because from thence she can see him whom she has hidden in
+her heart, nor hath she desire to take him away from that
+hiding-place; for never will she love any save him. But she knows
+not what is his name nor who he is or of what race nor does it
+become her to ask; and yet she longs to hear aught whereat her
+heart may rejoice. Through the window she looks out on the
+shields where the gold shines, and on those who carry them slung
+round their necks, and who take delight in the jousting; but her
+thought and her glance she has wholly set in one direction, for
+she gives no thought to aught else. She is eager to gaze on
+Cliges and follows him with her eyes wherever he goes. And he, on
+his part, tilts strenuously for her before the eyes of all, only
+that she may hear that he is valiant and very skilful; for in any
+case it would be meet that she should esteem him for his prowess.
+He turns himself toward the nephew of the duke who rode apace,
+breaking many lances and discomfiting the Greeks; but Cliges, who
+is mightily vexed thereat, presses with all his weight on his
+stirrups, and rides to strike him so rapidly that the Saxon, in
+spite of himself, has voided his saddle-bows. There was a great
+stir as he rose again. The stripling rises and mounts, and thinks
+to avenge thoroughly his shame; but many a man thinks to avenge
+his shame if he is permitted, who increases it. The youth rushes
+towards Cliges; and Cliges lowers his lance to meet him; and
+attacks him with such violence that he bears him once more to the
+ground. Now has the youth redoubled his shame, and all his folk
+are dismayed thereat; for well they see that never will they
+leave the fray with honour; for none of them is there so valiant,
+that if Cliges comes attacking him he can remain in his
+saddle-bow to meet him. Right glad thereof are they of Germany
+and they of Greece when they see that their side are sending the
+Saxons about their business; for the Saxons depart as though
+discomfited, while the others pursue them with contumely until
+they catch them up at a stream. Many of the foe do they plunge
+and immerse therein. Cliges, in the deepest part of the ford, has
+thrown the duke's nephew, and so many others with him , that to
+their shame and their vexation, they flee, mournful and sad. But
+Cliges returns with joy, bearing off the prize for valour on both
+sides; and he came straight to a door which was close to the
+place where Fenice was standing who exacts the toll of a sweet
+look as he enters the door, a toll which he pays her, for their
+eyes have met. Thus has one conquered the other.
+
+But there is no German whether of the north or of the south so
+much as able to speak who does not say: "God! who is this in whom
+so great beauty blooms? God! whence has the power come to him so
+early that he has won so great distinction?" Thus asks this man
+and that, "Who is this youth, who is he?" till throughout the
+city they soon know the truth of it, both his name and his
+father's, and the promise which the emperor had made and granted
+to him. It is already so much told and noised abroad that even
+the maiden hears tell of it, who had great joy in her heart
+thereat because now she can never say that Love has scorned her,
+nor can she complain of aught; for he makes her love the fairest,
+the most courteous, and the most valiant man that one could ever
+find anywhere; but she must needs have as her husband one who
+cannot please her; and she is full of anguish and distress
+thereat; for she does not know with whom to take counsel
+concerning him whom she desires save only with her own thoughts
+as she lies awake. And thought and wakefulness so deal with her
+that they blanch her and altogether change her complexion, so
+that one can see quite clearly by her loss of colour that she has
+not what she desires; for she plays less than her wont, and
+laughs less, and disports herself less; but she hides it well and
+denies it stoutly if any ask what ails her. Her nurse, who had
+brought her up from infancy, was named Thessala, and was versed
+in the black art. She was called Thessala because she was born in
+Thessaly where sorceries are made, taught, and practised; for the
+women who are of that country make charms and enchantments.
+
+Thessala sees that she whom Love has in his power is wan and
+pale, and she has addressed her secretly. "God!" quoth she, "are
+you enchanted, my sweet lady dear, that you have so wan a
+countenance? Much do I wonder what ails you. Tell me, if you
+know, in what part this sickness possesses you most; for if any
+one can cure you of it you can rely on me, for well can I give
+you back your health. Well know I how to cure a man of dropsy,
+and I know how to cure of gout, of quinsy, and of asthma; I know
+so much about the water and so much about the pulse that evil
+would be the hour in which you would take another leech. And I
+know, if I dared say it, of enchantments and of charms, well
+proven and true, more than ever Medea knew. Never spake I a word
+of it to you; and yet I have brought you up till now; but never
+reproach yourself at all for it;, for never would I have said
+aught to you if I had not seen for a surety that such a malady
+has attacked you, that you have need of my aid. Lady, tell me
+your malady, and you will act wisely in doing so before it gets
+further hold of you. The emperor has set me in charge of you that
+I may take care of you; and I have given such diligence that I
+have kept you in sound health. Now shall I have lost my pains if
+I heal you not of this ill. Beware that you hide it not from me,
+be it illness or aught else." The maiden dares not openly
+disclose her whole desire because she is greatly afeard that
+Thessala may blame and dissuade her. And yet because she hears
+her greatly vaunt and extol herself, and say that she is learned
+in enchantment, in charms and potions, she will tell her what is
+her case, why her face is pale and wan; but beforehand she will
+make her promise that she will hide it for ever and will never
+dissuade her.
+
+"Nurse," quoth she, "of a truth I thought that I felt no ill; but
+I shall speedily think that I am sick. The mere fact of my
+thinking of it causes me much ill and eke alarms me. But how does
+one know unless he put it to the test what may be good and what
+ill? My ill differs from all other ills; for--and I be willing to
+tell you the truth of it--much it joys me, and much it grieves
+me, and I delight in my discomfort; and if there can be a disease
+which gives pleasure, my sorrow is my desire, and my grief is my
+health. I know not then whereof I should complain; for I know
+nought whence evil may come to me if it come not from my desire.
+Possibly my desire is a malady; but I take so much pleasure in
+that desire that it causes me a pleasant grief; and I have so
+much joy in my sorrow that my malady is a pleasant one. Thessala,
+nurse! tell me now, is not this sorrow which seems sweet to me ,
+and yet which tortures me, a deceitful one? I know not how I may
+recognise whether it be an infirmity or no. Nurse! tell me now
+the name, and the manner, and the nature, of it. But be well
+assured that I have no care to recover in any wise, for I cherish
+the anguish of it exceedingly." Thessala, who was right wise as
+regards Love and all his ways, knows and understands by her
+speech that that which distracts her proceeds from Love--because
+she calls and names it sweet--it is certain that she loves; for
+all other ills are bitter save that alone which comes from
+loving; but Love transmutes its own bitterness into pleasure, and
+sweetness often turns to its opposite. But Thessala, who well
+knew the matter, replies to her: "Fear nought, I will tell you
+well both the nature and the name of your disease. You have told
+me, methinks, that the pain which you feel seems to you to be joy
+and health: of such a nature is love-sickness; for there is in it
+joy and sweetness. Therefore I prove to you that you love; for I
+find pleasure in no sickness save only in love-sickness. All
+other ills as a rule are always grievous and horrible; but Love
+is pleasant and tranquil. You love; I am fully certain of it. I
+regard it not as base in you; but I will hold it baseness if
+through childishness or folly you conceal your heart from me."
+"Nurse, truly you are talking to no purpose; for first I mean to
+be certain and sure that never by any chance will you speak
+thereof to any living creature." "Lady, certainly the winds will
+speak of it sooner than I unless you give me permission; and of
+this I will make you sure--that I will help you with regard to
+this matter, so that you may know of a surety , that by me you
+will have your joy." "Nurse, in that case you would have cured
+me; but the emperor is giving me in marriage whereat I am
+grievously afflicted and sad because he who pleases me is nephew
+of him whom I am to wed. And if this man have his joy of me, then
+have I lost mine; and there is no more joy to be looked for.
+Rather would I be torn limb from limb than that the love of
+Iseult and of Tristram should be renewed in the case of us twain;
+for of them are such mad actions told that I am ashamed to
+recount them. I could not reconcile myself to the life that
+Iseult led. Love in her became exceeding base; for her body
+belonged to two masters and her heart entirely to one. Thus she
+spent her whole life; for she never refused the two. Reason was
+there none in this love; but mine is ever constant; and at no
+cost will a partition ever be made of my body or of my heart.
+Never of a truth shall my body be debased; never shall there be
+two partners of it. Let him who owns the heart have the body
+also; he excludes all others from it. But this I cannot know--how
+he to whom my heart yields itself can have my body since my
+father is giving me to another; and I dare not gainsay him. And
+when he shall be lord of my body if he do aught with it that I do
+not wish, it is not meet that it welcome another. Moreover, this
+man cannot wed wife without breaking faith; but if he wrong not
+his nephew, Cliges will have the empire after his death. But if
+you can contrive by your arts, that this man to whom I am given
+and pledged might never have part or lot in me, you would have
+done me good service according to my will. Nurse, prithee strive
+that this man break not his faith; for he gave his pledge to the
+father of Cliges, promising just as Alexander had made him swear,
+that never would he take wedded wife. His pledge is about to be
+broken, for straightway he intends to wed me. But I cherish
+Cliges so dearly that I would rather be buried than that he
+should lose through me a farthing of the inheritance which ought
+to be his. May never child be born of me by whom he may be
+disinherited! Nurse, now bestir yourself in the matter that I may
+be yours for ever." Then her nurse tells her and assures her that
+she will weave such spells and potions and enchantments that she
+would be ill-advised to have concern or fear for this emperor; so
+soon as he shall have drunk of the potion that she will give him
+to drink, and they will both lie together; but however close she
+will be to him, she can be as secure as if there were a wall
+between the two of them. "But let not this and this only vex you
+if he has his pleasure of you in dreams; for, when he shall be
+sound asleep, he will have joy of you in dreaming; and will quite
+surely think that he has his joy of you waking, nor will he
+imagine that it is a dream, or vision, or falsehood. He will
+delight in you so that he will think he is awake while he is
+sleeping."
+
+The maiden loves and approves and esteems this boon and this
+service. Her nurse, who promises her this, and vows to keep faith
+with her, puts her in good hope; for by this means she will think
+to come to her joy however long she have to wait. For never will
+Cliges be so ill-disposed to her--if he knows that she loves him;
+and for his sake lives so as to guard her maidenhead in order to
+shield for him his inheritance--as not to have some pity on her
+if he prove himself of a noble stock, and if he is such as he
+ought to be. The maiden believes her nurse, and trusts and
+confides in her greatly. The one vows and swears to the other
+that this plan will be kept so secret that never will it be known
+in the future. Thus the parley is ended; and when it came to the
+morning the emperor of Germany sends for his daughter. She comes
+at his command--but why should I spin out my story? The two
+emperors together have so arranged matters that the marriage
+takes place and joy begins in the palace. But I will not delay to
+speak of each thing severally. I will turn my tale of Thessala,
+who does not cease to make and mix potions.
+
+Thessala crushes her potion; she puts therein spices in plenty
+for sweetening and blending. Well does she pound and mix it, and
+strains it till the whole is clear, and there is nought acid nor
+bitter there; for the spices which are in it make it sweet and of
+pleasant odour. When the potion was prepared, then had the day
+run its course, and the tables were placed for supper, and the
+tablecloths laid; but she delays the supper. It is Thessala's
+task to spy out by what device, by what messenger, she will send
+her potion. They were all seated at the banquet; they had had
+more than six courses and Cliges was serving his uncle. Thessala,
+who sees him serve, reflects that he is wasting his Service; for
+he is serving to his own disinheritance, and this is a great
+sorrow and anxiety to her. Then like the courteous dame that she
+is, she bethinks herself that she will make him to whom it will
+be joy and profit serve the potion. Thessala sends for Cliges,
+and he went straightway to her, and has inquired, and asked of
+her why she had sent for him. "Friend," quoth she, "at this
+banquet I wish to pay the emperor the flattering meed of a potion
+that he will greatly esteem. I will not that he drink to-night,
+either at supper or at bedtime, of any other drink. I think that
+it will give him much pleasure; for never did he taste of aught
+so good nor did any beverage ever cost so much; and take good
+care--I warn you of this--that no other drink of it because there
+is too little of it for that. And, moreover, I give you this
+advice, that he never know whence it came; but let him think it
+came by accident, that you found it among the presents, and that
+because you tested it, and perceived by the scent of its bouquet
+the fragrance of good spices, and because you saw that it
+sparkled, you poured the wine into his cup. If by chance he
+inquire of it, that will doubtless be the end of the matter. But
+have no evil suspicion anent aught that I have said; for the
+beverage is pure and wholesome, and full of good spices, and it
+may be, as I think, that at some future time it will make you
+blithe." When he hears that good will come of it he takes the
+potion and goes away; for he knows not that there is aught wrong.
+In a cup of crystal he has set it before the emperor. The emperor
+has taken the cup, for he has great trust in his nephew. He
+drinks a mighty draught of the potion; and now he feels the
+virtue of it; for it penetrates from the head to the heart, and
+from the heart it returns to his head, and it permeates him again
+and again. It saturates his whole body without hurting him. And
+by the time the tables were removed, the emperor had drunk so
+much of the beverage which had pleased him, that never will he
+get free of it. Each night while asleep he will be intoxicated;
+and yet it will excite him so much that though asleep, he will
+dream that he is awake.
+
+Now is the emperor mocked. Many bishops and abbots there were at
+the benediction and consecration of the bed. When it was bedtime
+the emperor, as it behoved him, lay with his wife that night. "As
+it behoved him"--therein have I lied, for he never embraced or
+touched her though they lay together in one bed. At first the
+maiden trembles; for greatly does she fear and feel alarm lest
+the potion take no effect. But it has so bewitched him that never
+will he have his will of her or of another save when asleep. But
+then he will have such ecstasy as one can have in dreaming; and
+yet he will hold the dream for true. In one word I have told you
+all: never had he other delight of her than in dreams. Thus must
+he needs fare evermore if he can lead his bride away; but before
+he can hold her in safety a great disaster, I ween, may befall
+him. For when he will return home, the duke, to whom she was
+first given, will be no laggard. The duke has gathered a great
+force, and has occupied all the marches, and his spies are at the
+court, and inform him each day of all he wants to know, and tell
+him all the measures he must take, and how long they will tarry,
+and when they will return, through what places, and by what
+passes. The emperor did not long tarry after the wedding.
+Blithely he departs from Cologne; and the emperor of Germany
+escorts him with a very great company because he greatly fears
+and dreads the might of the Duke of Saxony.
+
+The two emperors proceed and stop not till they reach Ratisbon;
+and on one evening they were lodged by the Danube in the meadow.
+The Greeks were in their tents in the meadows beside the Black
+Forest. The Saxons who were observing them were encamped opposite
+them. The duke's nephew was left all alone on a hill to keep a
+look-out, and see whether, peradventure, he might gain any
+advantage over those yonder or wreak any mischief upon them.
+>From his post of vantage he saw Cliges riding with three other
+striplings who were taking their pleasure, carrying lances and
+shields in order to tilt and to disport themselves. Now is the
+duke's nephew bent on attacking and injuring them if ever he can.
+With five comrades he sets out; and the six have posted
+themselves secretly beside the wood in a valley, so that the
+Greeks never saw them till they issued from the valley, and till
+the duke's nephew rushes upon Cliges and strikes him, so that he
+wounds him a little in the region of the spine. Cliges stoops and
+bows his head, so that the lance glances off him; nevertheless,
+it wounds him a little.
+
+When Cliges perceives that he is wounded he has rushed upon the
+stripling, and strikes him straightway with such violence that he
+thrusts his lance right through his heart and fells him dead.
+Then the Saxons, who fear him mightily, all take to flight and
+scatter through the heart of the forest while Cliges, who knows
+not of the ambush, commits a reckless and foolish act; for he
+separates himself from his comrades, and pursues in that
+direction in which the duke's force was. And now all the host
+were preparing to make an attack on the Greeks. Cliges, all
+alone, without aid, pursues them; and the youths all dismayed
+because of their lord whom they have lost, come running into the
+duke's presence; and, weeping, recount to him the evil hap of his
+nephew. The duke thinks it no light matter; by God and all his
+saints, he swears that never in all his life will he have joy or
+good luck as long as he shall know that the slayer of his nephew
+is alive. He says that he who will bring him Cliges' head shall
+verily be deemed his friend, and will give him great comfort.
+Then a knight has boasted that the head of Cliges will be offered
+to the duke by him; let the duke but rely on him.
+
+Cliges pursues the youths till he swooped down on the Saxons, and
+is seen by the knight who has engaged to carry off his head.
+Straightway, that knight departs and stays no longer. But Cliges
+has retreated in order to elude his enemies; and he returned at
+full gallop thither where he had left his comrades. But he has
+found none of them there; for they had returned to the tents to
+relate their adventure. And the emperor summoned Greeks and
+Germans alike to horse. Through all the host the barons speedily
+arm themselves and mount. But the Saxon knight, all armed, his
+visor laced, has continued to pursue Cliges at a gallop. Cliges,
+who never wished to have aught in common with a recreant or
+coward, sees him come alone. First of all the knight has assailed
+him with words: he stoutly calls him baseborn fellow, for he
+could not conceal the mind he had of him. "Fellow," quoth he,
+"here wilt thou leave the forfeit for my lord, whom thou hast
+slain. If I bear not off thy head with me, then esteem me not
+worth a bad Byzantine coin. I will to make the duke a present of
+it, for I will not accept any other forfeit in its stead. So much
+will I render to him for his nephew; and he will have had a good
+exchange for him." Cliges hears that the Saxon is abusing him as
+a madman and low-bred fellow. "Man," quoth he, "now defend
+yourself; for I defy you to take my head, and you shall not have
+it without my leave." Forthwith the one seeks the other. The
+Saxon has missed his stroke; and Cliges thrusts so hard that he
+made man and steed fall all in a heap. The steed falls backwards
+on his rider with such violence that it completely breaks one of
+his legs. Cliges dismounts on the green grass and disarms him.
+When he had disarmed him, then he dons the arms himself, and has
+cut off his head with the victim's own sword. When he had cut off
+his head, he has fixed it on to the point of his lance; and says
+that he will present it to the duke to whom his enemy had vowed
+to present Cliges' own head if he could meet him in the fight. No
+sooner had Cliges placed the helmet on his head, taken the shield
+, (not his own, but the shield of him who had fought with him),
+and no sooner had he mounted on the foeman's horse, leaving his
+own rider-less in order to dismay the Greeks, than he saw more
+than a hundred banners and battalions, great and fully equipped,
+of Greeks and Germans mingled. Now will begin a very fierce and
+cruel melee between the Saxons and the Greeks. As soon as Cliges
+sees them come, he goes straight towards the Saxons; and the
+Greeks exert themselves to pursue him; for on account of his arms
+they do not know him; and his uncle, who sees the head that he is
+bringing, is marvellously discomforted thereat. No wonder is it
+if he fears for his nephew. The whole host musters in his wake;
+and Cliges lets them pursue him in order to begin the melee till
+the Saxons perceive him coming; but the arms with which he is
+clad and furnished mislead them all. He has mocked at them and
+scorned them; for the duke and all the others as he advanced with
+hoisted lance, say: "Our knight is coming! On the point of the
+lance that he holds he is bringing the head of Cliges; and the
+Greeks follow after him. Now to horse to succour him!" Then they
+all give the rein to their horses; and Cliges spurs towards the
+Saxons, covering himself behind his shield and doubling himself
+up, his lance upright, the head on its point. Not one whit less
+courage than a lion had he, though he was no stronger than
+another. On both sides they believe that he is dead--Saxons, and
+Greeks and Germans--and the one side are blithe thereat; and the
+other side, grieved; but soon will the truth be known. For now
+has Cliges no longer held his peace: shouting, he gallops towards
+a Saxon, and strikes him with his ashen lance with the head on
+it, full in the breast, so that he has lost his stirrups; and he
+calls out, "Barons, strike! I am Cliges whom you seek. On now,
+bold freeborn knights! Let there be no coward, for ours is the
+first shock. Let no craven taste of such a dainty dish."
+
+The emperor greatly rejoiced when he heard his nephew, Cliges,
+who thus addresses and exhorts them; right glad and comforted is
+he thereof. And the duke is utterly dumfounded;, for now he knows
+well that he is betrayed unless his force is the greater; he bids
+his men close their ranks and keep together. And the Greeks, in
+close array, have not gone far from them, for now they are
+spurring and pricking. On both sides they couch their lances and
+meet and receive each other as it behoved them to do in such a
+fight. At the first encounter, they pierce shields and shatter
+lances, cut girths, break stirrups; the steeds stand bereft of
+those who fall upon the field. But no matter what the others do,
+Cliges and the duke meet; they hold their lances couched; and
+each strikes the other on his shield with so great valour that
+the lances, which were strong and well wrought, break into
+splinters. Cliges was a skilful horseman: he remained upright in
+his saddle, never stumbling nor wavering. The duke has lost his
+saddle, and in spite of himself has voided the saddle-bows.
+Cliges thinks to take him and lead him away captive, and mightily
+toils and strains; but the strength he needed was not his. For
+the Saxons were all around, and they rescue their duke by force.
+Nevertheless, Cliges leaves the field without injury; with a
+prize; for he leads away the duke's steed which was whiter than
+wool and which, for the use of a man of valour, was worth all the
+possessions of Octavian of Rome: the steed was an Arab one. Great
+joy manifest Greeks and Germans when they see Cliges mounted on
+it; for they had seen the worth and the perfection of the Arab;
+but they did not suspect an ambush nor will they ever perceive it
+till they receive great loss therefrom.
+
+A spy has come to the duke with news at which he has waxed full
+joyous. "Duke," quoth the spy, "no man has been left in all the
+tents of the Greeks who can defend himself. Now can thy men take
+the daughter of the emperor, if thou wilt trust my words, while
+thou seest the Greeks desperately bent on the fight and on the
+battle. Give me a hundred of thy knights and I will give them thy
+lady-love. By an old and lonely path, I will lead them so
+prudently that they shall not be seen or met by Saxon or German
+till they will be able to take the maiden in her tent, and lead
+her away so unhindered that never will she be denied them." The
+duke is blithe at this thing. He has sent a hundred and more wise
+knights with the spy; and the spy has led them in such wise that
+they take the maiden as a prize, nor have they spent great force
+thereon, for easily were they able to lead her away. When they
+had taken her some distance from the tents, they sent her away
+attended by twelve of them, nor did the rest accompany the twelve
+far. Twelve of them lead away the maiden; the others have told
+the duke the news of their success. Nought else was there that
+the duke had desired, and straightway he makes a truce with the
+Greeks till the morrow. They have given and accepted a truce. The
+duke's men have returned; and the Greeks without any delay return
+, each one to his tent. But Cliges remained alone on a hill so
+that no one noticed him till he saw the twelve coming, and the
+damsel whom they were taking away at full speed and at a gallop.
+Cliges, who longs to gain renown, forthwith dashes in their
+direction, for he thinks to himself, and his heart tells him that
+it is not for nothing they are fleeing. The very moment that he
+saw them, he dashes after them; and they see him; but they think
+and believe a foolish thing. "The duke is following us," each one
+says, "let us wait for him a little; for he has left the host
+unattended and is coming after us very swiftly." There is not a
+single one who does not believe this. They all desire to go to
+meet him; but each desires to go alone. Cliges must needs descend
+into a great valley between two mountains. Never would he have
+recognised their insignia if they had not come to meet him, or if
+they had not awaited him. Six of them advanced to meet him; but
+soon will they have had an ill meeting with him. The others stay
+with the maiden and lead her on, gently, at a walking pace. And
+the six go at full speed, spurring incessantly through the
+valley. He who had the swiftest horse outstripped all the rest,
+crying aloud: "Duke of Saxony! God preserve thee! Duke! We have
+regained thy lady. Now shall the Greeks never carry her off; for
+she will now be given and handed over to thee." When Cliges has
+heard these words that the other cries out, no smile had he in
+his heart; rather is it a marvel that frenzy does not seize him.
+Never was any wild beast: leopardess, or tigress, or lioness, who
+sees her young taken, so embittered, and furious, and lusting,
+for the fight as was Cliges who cares not to live if he fail his
+lady. Rather would he die than not have her. Very great wrath has
+he for this calamity and exceeding great courage does it give
+him. He spurs and pricks the Arab; and goes to deal the blazoned
+shield of the Saxon such a blow that--I lie not--he made him feel
+the lance at his heart. This has given Cliges confidence. More
+than a full acre's measure has he spurred and pricked the Arab
+before the second has drawn near, for they came, one by one. The
+one has no fear for the other; for he fights with each singly and
+meets them one by one, nor has the one aid of the other. He makes
+an attack on the second, who thought to tell the supposed duke
+news of Cliges' discomfiture, and to rejoice thereat as the first
+had done. But Cliges recks little of words or of listening to his
+discourse. He proceeds to thrust his lance in his body so that
+when he draws it out again the blood gushes out; and he bereaves
+his foe of life and speech. After the two, he joins issue with a
+third who thinks to find him overjoyed and to gladden him with
+news of his own discomfiture. He came spurring against him; but
+before he has the chance to say a word, Cliges has thrust his
+lance a fathom deep into his body. To the fourth he gives such a 
+blow on the neck, that he leaves him in a swoon on the field.
+After the fourth, he gallops against the fifth, and then after
+the fifth, against the sixth. Of these, none stood his ground
+against him; rather does Cliges leave them all silent and dumb.
+Still less has he feared and more boldly sought the rest of them.
+After this has he no concern about these six.
+
+When he was free from care as regards these, he goes to make a
+present of shame and of misfortune to the rest who are escorting
+the maiden. He has overtaken them, and attacks them like a wolf ,
+who famished and fasting rushes on his prey. Now seems it to him
+that he was born in a good hour, since he can display his
+chivalry and courage before her who is all his life. Now is he
+dead if he free her not; and she, on the other hand, is likewise
+dead; for she is greatly discomforted for him, but does not know
+that he is so near her. Cliges, with feutred lance, has made a
+charge which pleased her; and he strikes one Saxon and then
+another so that with one single charge he has made them both bite
+the dust, and splinters his ashen lance. The foemen fall in such
+anguish that they have no power to rise again to hurt or molest
+him, for they were sore wounded in their bodies. The other four,
+in great wrath, go all together to strike Cliges; but he neither
+stumbles nor trembles nor have they unhorsed him. Swiftly he
+snatches from the scabbard his sword of sharpened Steel; and that
+she who awaits his love may be right grateful to him, he
+encounters with lightning swiftness a Saxon, and strikes him with
+his sharp sword, so that he has severed from his trunk, his head
+and half his neck: no tenderer pity had he for him. Fenice, who
+watches and beholds, knows not that it is Cliges. Fain would she
+that it were he; but because there is danger she says to herself
+that she would not wish it. For two reasons is she his good
+friend; for she fears his death and desires his honour. And
+Cliges receives at the sword's point the three who offer him
+fierce combat; they pierce and cleave his shield, but they cannot
+get him into their power or cleave the links of his shirt of
+mail. And nought that Cliges can reach stands firm before his
+blow; for he cleaves and breaks asunder all; he wheels round more
+quickly than the top which is urged on and driven by the whip.
+Prowess and love entwine him and make him bold and keen in fight.
+He has dealt so grievously with the Saxons that he has killed or
+conquered them all, wounded some, and killed others; but he let
+one of them escape because they were a match, one for the other,
+and so that, by him, the duke might know his loss and mourn. But
+before this man left him, he prevailed upon Cliges to tell him
+his name; and went for his part to tell it to the duke, who had
+great wrath thereat. Now the duke hears of his misfortune, and
+had great grief and great care thereat. And Cliges leads away
+Fenice, who thrills and tortures him with the pangs of love; but
+if now he does not hear her confession, long time will love be
+adverse to him; and also to her if she, on her side, is silent
+and say not her will; for now in the hearing, one of the other,
+can they reveal their inmost hearts. But so much do they fear
+refusal that they dare not betray their hearts. He fears that she
+might reject him; she, on her part, would have betrayed herself
+if she had not feared rejection. And, nevertheless, the one
+betrays his thoughts to the other with the eyes if they could
+only have known it. They speak by glances with their eyes; but
+they are so craven with their tongues that in no wise dare they
+speak of the love which masters them. If she dare not begin it,
+it is no marvel; for a maiden ought to be a simple and shy
+creature. But why does he wait; and why does he delay, who is
+thoroughly bold in her behalf, and has shown dread of none but
+her? God! Whence comes this fear to him that he fears a single
+maiden, weak and timid, simple and shy? At this, methinks, I see
+dogs fleeing before the hare, and the fish hunting the beaver,
+the lamb the wolf, the dove the eagle. So would it be if the
+villein were to flee before his hoe by which he gains his
+livelihood, and with which he toils. So would it be if the falcon
+were to flee from the duck, and the gerfalcon from the heron, and
+the great pike from the minnow, and if the stag were to chase the
+lion; so do things go topsy-turvy. But a desire comes upon me to
+give some reason why it happens to true lovers, that wit and
+courage fail them to express what they have in their thoughts
+when they have leisure and opportunity and time.
+
+You who are being instructed in Love, who faithfully uphold the
+customs and rites of his court, and who never broke his law
+whatever might have befallen you for your obedience, tell me if
+one can see anything which affords Love's delight but that lovers
+shiver and grow pale thereat. Never shall there be a man opposed
+to me that I do not convince of this; for he who does not grow
+pale and shiver thereat, who does not lose wit and memory like a
+thief, pursues and seeks that which is not fittingly his. A
+servant who does not fear his lord, ought not to stay in his
+retinue or serve him. He who does not esteem his lord, does not
+fear him; and he who does not esteem him, does not hold him dear;
+but rather seeks to cheat him and to pilfer somewhat of his
+property. For fear ought a servant to tremble when his lord calls
+him or sends for him. And he who commends himself to Love makes
+Love his master and his lord; and it is meet that he have him in
+Reverence; and greatly fear and honour him if he wishes to stand
+well with his court. Love without fear and without dread is fire
+without flame and without heat; daylight without sun; honeycomb
+without honey; summer without flowers; winter without frost; sky
+without moon; a book without letters. Thus do I wish to refute
+such an opponent; for where fear is lacking there is no love
+worth mentioning. It behoves him who wishes to love to fear also;
+for if he does not he cannot love; but let him fear her only whom
+he loves; and in her behoof let him be thoroughly bold.
+Therefore, Cliges commits no fault or wrong if he fears his
+lady-love. But for this fear he would not have failed forthwith
+to have spoken to her of love and sought her love, however the
+matter had happed if she had not been his uncle's wife. For this
+cause his wound rankles in him; and it pains and grieves him the
+more because he dare not say what he yearns to say.
+
+Thus they return towards their company; and if they talk of
+anything, there was in their talk nothing about which they cared.
+Each sat on a white horse; and they rode quickly towards the army
+where there was great lamentation. Throughout the host they are
+beside themselves with grief; but they hit upon an untrue saying
+when they say that Cliges is dead--thereat is the mourning very
+great and loud. And they fear for Fenice; they deem not that they
+will ever have her again; and both for her and for him the whole
+host is in very great sorrow. But these two will not delay much
+longer; and the whole state of matters will take a different
+appearance; for already they have returned to the host and have
+turned the sorrow into joy. Joy returns and sorrow flies. They
+all come to meet them so that the whole host assembles. The two
+emperors together, when they heard the news about Cliges and
+about the maiden, go to meet them with very great joy; but each
+one longs to hear how Cliges had found and rescued the lady.
+Cliges tells them the tale; and those who hear it marvel greatly
+Thereat; and much do they praise his prowess and valour. But on
+the other side the duke, who swears and protests, is furious; and
+declares that if Cliges dares there shall be a single combat
+between the two of them; and that he will order matters in such
+wise, that if Cliges wins the combat, the emperor shall go away
+in safety, and take the maiden unhindered; but that if he kills
+or conquers Cliges, who has done him many an injury, let there
+for this be neither truce nor peace till after each has done his
+utmost. This the duke essays; and through an interpreter of his,
+who knew Greek and German, gives the two emperors to know that
+thus he wishes to have the battle.
+
+
+The messenger delivers his message in one and the other language
+so well that all understood. The whole host resounds and is in an 
+uproar about it; and men say, that never may it please God, that
+Cliges fight the battle; and both the emperors are in a very
+great alarm thereat; but Cliges falls at their feet and prays
+them let it not grieve them; but that, if ever he has done aught
+that has pleased them, he may have this battle as a guerdon and
+as a reward. And if it is denied him never will he for a single
+day be a blessing and an honour to his uncle. The emperor, who
+held his nephew as dear as duty bade him, with his hand raises
+him up from his knees and says: "Fair nephew, greatly does it
+grieve me that I know you to be so wedded to fighting; for after
+joy I expect sorrow therefrom. You have made me glad; I cannot
+deny it; but much it grieves me to grant this boon and send you
+to the battle; for that I see you yet too young. And I know you
+to be of such proud courage that in no wise dare I deny anything
+that it please you to ask; for know well that it would be done
+but to please you; but if my prayer availed aught, never would
+you take on you this burden." "Sire, you are pleading in vain,"
+quoth Cliges, "for may God confound me if I would accept the
+whole world on condition that I did not fight this battle. I know
+not why I should seek from you a long respite or a long delay."
+The emperor weeps with pity, and Cliges, on his side, weeps with
+joy when he grants him the battle. There had he wept many a
+joyful tear, nor had he secured delay, nor limit of time, before
+it was the hour of Prime; by his own messenger was the battle
+announced to the duke, just as he had demanded it.
+
+The duke, who thinks and believes and imagines that Cliges will
+not be able to defend himself against him, but that he will soon
+have slain or conquered him, quickly has himself armed. Cliges,
+who is longing for the battle, thinks that he need have no care
+as to how to defend himself against the duke. He asks the emperor
+for arms, and prays him to dub him knight; and, of his grace, the
+emperor gives him arms and Cliges takes them; for his heart is
+enamoured of the battle and much does he desire and long for it.
+He hastens full swiftly to arm himself; when he was armed from
+head to foot, the emperor, who was full of anxiety, goes to gird
+the sword on his side. Cliges mounts on the white Arab, fully
+armed; from his neck he hangs by the straps a shield made of
+elephant's bone, such that it will neither break nor split nor
+had it blazon or device; the armour was all white, and the steed
+and the harness were all whiter than any snow.
+
+Cliges and the duke are armed, and the one has announced to the
+other that they will meet half-way, and that, on both sides,
+their men shall all be without swords and without lances, bound
+by oaths and their word of honour that never, as long as the
+combat shall last, will there be any so bold as to dare to move
+for any reason, any more than he would dare to pluck out his own
+eye. Bound by this covenant they have met, and the delay has
+seemed very long to each champion; for each thinks to have the
+glory and the joy of victory. But before there was a blow struck,
+the maiden, who is much concerned for Cliges, has herself
+escorted thither; but on this is she quite resolved: that if he
+dies, she will die. Never will any hope of consolation avail to
+deter her from dying with him; for without him life has no charm
+for her.
+
+When all had come into the field, high and low, young and hoary,
+and the guards bad been set there, then have both champions taken
+their lances; and they meet in no half-hearted way, so that each
+breaks his lance, and both are unhorsed and fail to keep their
+saddles. But quickly have they risen to their feet, for they were
+not at all wounded, and again they encounter without delay. They
+play a merry tune with their swords on the resounding helms, so
+that their retinue are amazed; and it seems to those who watch
+them that the helmets are on fire and ablaze. And when the swords
+rebound, glowing sparks jet forth as from red-hot iron which the
+smith hammers on the anvil when he draws it from the furnace.
+Very lavish are both the warriors in dealing blows in great
+Store; and each has a good will to pay back quickly what he
+borrows; neither the one nor the other ceases from paying back
+capital and interest immediately, all without count and without
+stint. But the duke comes on in great anger, and right wroth and
+furious is he because he has not quelled and slain Cliges at the
+first encounter. He deals him a great blow, marvellous and
+strong, such that at his feet Cliges has fallen on one knee.
+
+At the blow whereby Cliges fell was the emperor much amazed; he
+was no whit less bewildered than if he had been behind the shield
+himself. Then Fenice, so much was she amazed, can no longer
+restrain herself, whatever might come of it, from crying: "God!
+Aid!" as loud as ever she could. But she had called out but one
+word when, forthwith, her voice failed, and she fell swooning,
+and with arms outstretched so that her face was a little wounded.
+Two noble barons raised her, and have held her on her feet till
+she has returned to her senses. But never did any who saw her,
+whatever appearance she presented, know why she swooned. Never
+did any man blame her for it; rather they have all praised her;
+for there is not a single one who does not believe that she would
+have done the same for his sake if he had been in Cliges' place;
+but in all this there is no truth. Cliges, when Fenice cried,
+heard and marked her right well. The sound restored to him
+strength and courage, and be springs swiftly to his feet, and
+advanced furiously to meet the duke, and thrusts at him, and
+presses him so that the duke was amazed thereat; for he finds him
+more greedy for combat, more strong and agile than he had found
+him before, it seems to him, when they first encountered. And
+because he fears his onset he says to him: "Knight, so may God
+save me, I see thee right courageous and valiant. But if it had
+not been for my nephew, whom I shall never forget, willingly
+would I have made peace with thee, and would have released thee
+from the quarrel; for never would I have meddled any more in the
+matter." "Duke," says Cliges, "what may be your pleasure? Is it
+not meet that he who cannot make good his claim yield it, one of
+two evils; when one has to choose, one ought to choose the
+lesser. When your nephew picked a quarrel with me, he acted
+unwisely. I will serve you in the same way--be assured of it--if
+I ever can, if I do not receive submission from you." The duke,
+to whom it seems that Cliges was growing in strength every
+moment, thinks that it is much better for him to stop short
+half-way before he is altogether wearied out. Nevertheless, he
+does not confess to him the truth quite openly, but he says:
+"Knight, I see thee debonair and agile and of great courage. But
+exceeding young art thou: for this reason I reflect, and I know
+of a surety, that if I conquer and kill thee, never should I win
+praise or esteem thereby, nor should I ever see any man of valour
+in whose hearing I should dare to confess that I had fought with
+thee, for I should do honour to thee and shame to myself. But if
+those knowst what honour means, a great honour will it be to thee
+for ever that thou hast stood thy ground against me, even for two
+encounters only. Now a wish and desire has come to me, to release
+thee from the quarrel and not to fight with thee any longer."
+"Duke," quoth Cliges, "you talk idly. You shall say it aloud in
+the hearing of all, and never shall it be told or related that
+you have done me a kindness, or that you have had mercy on me. In
+the hearing of one and all of these who are here, you will have
+to declare it if you wish to make peace with me." The duke
+declares it in the hearing of all. Thus have they made peace and 
+agreement; but whatever the issue of the matter, Cliges had the
+honour and the renown of it; and the Greeks had very great joy
+thereof. But the Saxons could not make light of the matter; for
+well had they all seen their lord exhausted and worsted; nor is
+there any question but that, if he had been able to do better for
+himself, this peace would never have been made; rather would he
+have rent the soul out of Cliges' body if he had been able to do
+it.
+
+The duke returns to Saxony, grieved and downcast and Ashamed; for
+of his men--there are not two who do not hold him a conquered
+man, a craven, and a coward. The Saxons, with all their shame,
+have returned to Saxony. And the Greeks delay no longer; they
+return towards Constantinople with great joy and with great
+gladness; for well by his prowess has Cliges assured to them the
+way. Now the emperor of Germany no further follows or attends
+them. After taking leave of the Greek folk and of his daughter
+and of Cliges and of the emperor, he has remained in Germany; and
+the emperor of the Greeks goes away right glad and right joyful.
+Cliges, the valiant, the well-bred, thinks of his father's
+command. If his uncle the emperor will grant him leave, he will
+go to request and pray him to let him go to Britain to speak to
+his uncle the king; for he craves to know and see him. He sets
+out for the presence of the emperor, and begs him if it please
+him to let him go to Britain to see his uncle and his friends.
+Very gently has he made this request; but his uncle refuses it to
+him when he has heard and listened to the whole of his request
+and his story. "Fair nephew," quoth he, "it pleases me not that
+you should wish to leave me. Never will I give you this leave or
+this permission without great grief; for right pleasant and
+convenient is it that you should be my partner and co-ruler with
+me of all my empire."
+
+Now there is nothing which pleases Cliges, since his uncle denies
+him what he asks and requests; and he says: "Fair Sire, it
+becomes me not, nor am I brave or wise enough to be given this
+partnership with you or with another so as to rule an empire;
+very young am I and know but little. For this reason is gold
+applied to the touchstone because one wishes to know if it is
+real gold. So wish I--that is the end and sum of it--to assay and
+prove myself where I think to find the touchstone. In Britain if
+I am valiant I shall be able to put myself to the touch with the
+Whetstone; and with the true and genuine assay by which I shall
+test my prowess. In Britain are those valiant men of whom honour
+and prowess boast. And he who wishes to gain honour, ought to
+join himself to their company; for there the honour resides and
+is won which appertains to the man of valour. Therefore, I ask
+you this leave; and know of a surety that if you do not send me
+thither and do not grant me the boon, then I shall go without
+your leave." "Fair nephew, rather do I give it you freely when I
+see you thus minded; for I would not have the heart to detain you
+by force or by prayer. Now may God give you heart and will to
+return soon since neither prayer nor prohibition nor force could
+prevail in the matter. I would have you take with you a talent of
+gold and of silver, and horses to delight you will I give you,
+all at your choice." No sooner had he said his word than Cliges
+has bowed to him. All whatsoever the emperor has devised and
+promised was at once set before him. Cliges took as much wealth
+and as many comrades as pleased and behoved him; but for his own
+private use he takes away four different steeds: one white, one
+sorrel, one dun, one black. But I was about to pass over one
+thing that must not be omitted. Cliges goes to take leave of
+Fenice, his lady-love, and to ask her leave to depart; for he
+would fain commend her to God. He comes before her and kneels
+down, weeping, so that he moistens with his tears all his tunic
+and his ermine, and he bends his eyes to the ground; for he dares
+not look straight in front of him, just as if he has committed
+some wrong and crime towards her, and now shows by his mien that
+he has shame for it. And Fenice, who beholds him timidly and
+shyly, knows not what matter brings him; and she has said to him
+in some distress: "Friend, fair sir, rise; sit by my side; weep
+no more and tell me your pleasure." "Lady! What shall I say? What
+conceal? I seek your permission to depart." "Depart? Why?"
+
+"Lady! I must go away to Britain." "Tell me, then, on what quest,
+before I give you permission." "Lady, my father, when he died and
+departed this life, prayed me on no account to fail to go to
+Britain as soon as I should be a knight. For nothing in the world
+would I neglect his command. It will behove me not to play the
+laggard as I go thither. It is a very long journey from here to
+Greece; and if I were to go thither the journey from
+Constantinople to Britain would be very long for me. But it is
+meet that I take leave of you as being the lady whose I am
+wholly." Many hidden and secret sighs and sobs had he made on
+setting out; but no one had eyes so wide open or such good
+hearing as to be able to perceive for a certainty from hearing or
+sight, that there was love between the twain. Cliges, grievous
+though it be to him, departs as soon as it is allowed him. He
+goes away lost in thought; lost in thought remains the emperor
+and many another; but Fenice is the most pensive of all: she
+discovers neither bottom nor bound to the thought with which she
+is filled, so greatly does it overflow and multiply in her. Full
+of thought she has come to Greece: there was she held in great
+honour as lady and empress; but her heart and spirit are with
+Cliges wherever he turns, nor ever seeks she that her heart may
+return to her unless he bring it back to her, he who is dying of
+the malady with which he has slain her. And if he recovers, she
+will recover; never will he pay dear for it unless she too pay
+dear. Her malady appears in her complexion; for much has she
+changed and pale has she grown. The fresh, clear, pure hue that
+Nature had bestowed has wholly deserted her face. Often she
+weeps, often sighs: little recks she of her empire and of the
+wealth she has. She has always in her memory the hour that Cliges
+departed, the farewell that he took of her, how he changed
+countenance, how he blanched, his tears and his mien, for he came
+to weep before her, humble, lowly, and on his knees, as if he
+must needs worship her. All this is pleasant and sweet for her to
+recall and to retrace. Then to provide herself with a luscious
+morsel, she takes on her tongue in lieu of spice a sweet word;
+and for all Greece she would not wish that he who said that word
+should, in the sense in which she took it, have intended deceit;
+for she lives on no other dainty nor does aught else please her.
+This word alone sustains and feeds her and soothes for her all
+her suffering. She seeks not to feed herself or quench her thirst
+with any other meat or drink; for when it came to the parting,
+Cliges said that he was "wholly hers". This word is so sweet and
+good to her, that from the tongue it goes to her heart; and she
+stores it in her heart as well as in her mouth, that she may be
+the surer of it. She dares not hide this treasure behind any
+other lock; and she would never be able to store it elsewhere so
+well as in her heart. In no wise will she ever take it thence so
+much she fears thieves and robbers; but it is without reason that
+this fear comes to her; and without reason that she fears birds
+of prey, for this possession is immovable; rather is it like a
+building which cannot be destroyed by flood or by fire, and which
+will never move from its place. But this she knows not, and hence
+she gives herself agony and pain to seek out and learn something
+on which she can lay hold; for in divers fashions does she
+explain it. She holds debate within herself; and makes such
+replies as these: "With what intention did Cliges say to me 'I am 
+wholly yours' if love did not cause him to say it? With what
+power of mine can I sway him, that he should esteem me so highly
+as to make me his lady? Is he not fairer than I, of much nobler
+birth than I? I see nought but his love that can bestow on me
+this gift. From my own case, for I cannot evade the scrutiny, I
+will prove, that if he had not loved me he would never have
+called himself wholly mine; for just as I could not be wholly
+his, nor could in honour say so if love had not drawn me to him,
+so Cliges, on his side, could not in any wise have said that he
+was wholly mine if love has him not in his bonds. For if he loves
+me not, he fears me not. Love, which gives me wholly to him,
+perhaps , gives him wholly to me; but this thought quite dismays
+me, that the phrase is one in common use and I may easily be
+deceived; for many a man there is who in flattery says, even to
+strangers: 'I am quite at your service, I, and whatsoever I
+have.' And such men are more mocking than jays. So I know not
+what to think; for it might well be that thus he spake to flatter
+me. But I saw him change colour and weep right piteously. To my
+mind his tears, his shamefaced and cast-down countenance, did not
+come from deceit; no deceit or trickery was there. The eyes from
+which I saw the tears fall did not lie to me. Signs enow could I
+see there of love if I know aught of the matter. Yea! I grant
+that evil was the hour in which I thought it. Evil was the hour
+that I learnt it, and stored it in my heart; for a very great
+misfortune has happed to me from it. A misfortune? Truly, by my
+faith! I am dead, since I see not him who has flattered and
+cajoled me so much that he has robbed me of my heart. Through his
+deceit and smooth words, my heart is quitting its lodging and
+will not stay with me, so much it hates my dwelling and my manor.
+Faith! then, he who has my heart in his keeping has dealt ill
+with me. He who robs me and takes away what is mine, loves me
+not; I know it well. I know it? Why then did he weep? Why? It was
+not for nothing, for he had reason enow. I ought to apply nought
+of it to myself because a man's sorrow is very great at parting
+from those whom he loves and knows. I marvel not that he had
+grief and sorrow, and that he wept when he left his
+acquaintances. But he who gave him this counsel to go and stay in
+Britain could have found no better means of wounding me to the
+heart. One who loses his heart is wounded to the heart. He who
+deserves sorrow ought to have it; but I never deserved it. Alas!
+Unhappy that I am! Why, then, has Cliges slain me without any
+fault of mine? But in vain do I reproach him; for I have no
+grounds for this reproach. Cliges would never, never, have
+forsaken me--I know this well--if his heart had been in like case
+with mine. In like case I think it is not. And if my heart has
+joined itself to his heart, never will it leave it, never will
+his go whither without mine; for mine follows him in secret so
+close is the comradeship that they have formed. But to tell the
+truth the two hearts are very different and contrary. How are
+they different and contrary? His is lord, and mine is slave; and
+the slave, even against his own will, must do what is for his
+lord's good and leave out of sight all else. But what matters it
+to me? He cares nought for my heart or for my service. This
+division grieves me much; for thus the one heart is lord of the
+two. Why cannot mine, all alone, avail as much as his with him?
+Thus the two would have been of equal strength. My heart is a
+prisoner; for it cannot move unless his moves. And if his wanders
+or tarries, mine ever prepares to follow and go after him. God!
+Why are not our bodies so near that I could in some way have
+fetched my heart back? Have fetched it back? Poor fool! If I were
+to take it from where it is lodged so comfortably, I might kill
+it by so doing. Let it stay there. Never do I seek to remove it;
+rather do I will that it stay with its lord until pity for it
+come to him; for rather there than here will he be bound to have
+mercy on his servant because the two hearts are in a strange
+land. If my heart knows how to serve up flattery as one is bound
+to serve it up at court, it will be rich before it returns. He
+who wishes to be on good terms with his lord and to sit beside
+him on his right, as is now the use and custom, must feign to
+pluck the feather from his lord's head, even when there is no
+feather there. But here we see an evil trait: when he flatters
+him to his face, and yet his lord has in his heart either
+baseness or villainy, never will he be so courteous as to tell
+him the truth; rather he makes him think and believe that no one
+could be a match for him in prowess or in knowledge; and the lord
+thinks that the courtier is telling the truth. He who believes
+another anent some quality which he does not possess knows
+himself ill; for even if he is faithless and stubborn, base and
+as cowardly as a hare, niggardly and foolish and malformed,
+worthless in deeds and in words, yet many a man who mocks at him
+behind his back, extols and praises him to his face; thus then
+the courtier praises him in his hearing when he speaks of him to
+another; and yet he pretends that the lord does not hear what
+they are speaking about together, whereas if he really thought
+that the lord did not hear, he would never say aught whereat his
+master would rejoice. And if his lord wishes to lie, he is quite
+ready with his assent; and whatever his lord says, he asserts to
+be true; never will he who associates with courts and lords be
+tongue-tied; his tongue must serve them with falsehood. My heart
+must needs do likewise if it wishes to have grace of its lord;
+let it be a flatterer and cajoler. But Cliges is such a brave
+knight, so handsome, so noble, and so loyal, that never will my
+heart be lying or false, however much it may praise him; for in
+him is nothing that can be mended. Therefore, I will that my
+heart serve him; for the peasant says in his proverb: 'He who
+commends himself to a good man is base if he does not become
+better in his service'." Thus Love works on Fenice. But this
+torment is delight to her, for she cannot be wearied by it.
+
+And Cliges has crossed the sea and has come to Wallingford. There
+he has demeaned himself in lordly fashion in a fine lodging at a
+great cost, but he thinks ever of Fenice; never does he forget
+her for an hour. In the place where he sojourns and tarries, his
+retinue, as he had commanded, have inquired and questioned
+persistently till they heard told and related that the barons of
+King Arthur and the king, himself, in person, had set on foot a
+tournament in the plains before Oxford which is near Wallingford.
+In such wise was the joust arranged that it was to last four
+days. But Cliges will be able to take time to arm his body if he
+lacks anything meanwhile; for there were more than fifteen whole
+days to the tournament. He speedily sends three of his squires to
+London, and bids them buy three different sets of armour: one
+black, another red, the third green; and as they return he bids
+that each set of arms be covered with new canvas, so that if
+anyone meets them on the way he may not know what will be the hue
+of the arms which they will bring. The squires now set out, 90 to
+London, and find ready all such equipment as they seek. Soon had
+they finished, soon did they return; they have come back as soon
+as they could. They show to Cliges the arms that they had
+brought; and he praises them much. With these that the emperor
+gave him on the Danube when he dubbed him knight, he has them
+stored away and hidden. If anyone now were to ask me why he had
+them stored away, I would not answer him; for in due time it will
+be told and related to you, when all the high barons of the land
+who will come there to gain fame will be mounted on their steeds.
+On the day that was devised and appointed, the barons of renown
+assemble. King Arthur, together with the lords whom he had chosen
+from out the good knights, lay before Oxford. Towards Wallingford
+went the greater part of his chivalry. Think not that I tell you
+in order to spin out my tale: such and such kings were there,
+such and such counts, and such and such others. When the barons
+were to meet, a knight of great prowess of King Arthur's peers
+rode out all alone between the two ranks to begin the tourney, as
+was the custom at that time. But none dares ride forward to come
+and joust against him. There is none who does not stay where he
+is; and yet there are some who ask: "Why do these knights wait?
+Why does none ride forth from the ranks? Surely someone will
+straightway begin." And on the other side they say: "See ye not
+what a champion our adversaries have sent us from their side? Let
+him who has not yet known it know that, of the four bravest
+known, this is a pillar equal to the rest." "Who is he, then?"
+"See ye him not? It is Sagremors the Lawless." "Is it he?"
+"Truly, without doubt." Cliges, who hears and hearkens to this,
+sat on Morel, and had armour blacker than a ripe mulberry: his
+whole armour was black. He separates himself from the others in
+the rank and spurs Morel who comes out of the row; not one is
+there who sees him but says to his neighbour: "This man rides
+well with feutred lance; here have we a very skilful knight; he
+bears his arms in the right fashion; well does the shield at his
+neck become him. But one cannot but hold him mad as regards the
+joust he has undertaken of his own accord against one of the
+bravest known in all this land. But who is he? Of what land is he
+a native? Who knows him?" "Not I!" "Nor I!" "But no snow has
+fallen on him! Rather is his armour blacker than monk's or
+priest's cape." Thus they engage in gossip; and the two champions
+let their horses go; for no longer do they delay because right
+eager and aflame are they for the encounter and the shock. Cliges
+strikes so that he presses Sagremors' shield to his arm, and his
+arm to his body. Sagremors falls at full length; Cliges acts
+irreproachably, and makes him declare himself prisoner: Sagremors
+gives his parole. Now the fight begins, and they charge in
+rivalry. Cliges has rushed to the combat, and goes seeking joust
+and encounter. He encounters no knight whom he does not take or
+lay low. On both sides he wins the highest distinction; for where
+he rides to joust, he brings the whole tourney to a standstill.
+Yet he who gallops up to joust with him is not without great
+prowess; but he wins more renown for standing his ground against
+Cliges than for taking prisoner another knight; and if Cliges
+leads him away captive, yet he enjoys great distinction for
+merely daring to withstand him in the joust. Cliges has the
+praise and distinction of the whole tournament. And even secretly
+he has returned to his lodging so that none of them might accost
+him about one thing or another. And in case any one should have
+search made for the lodging marked by the black arms, he locks
+them up in a room so that they may neither be found nor seen; and
+he has the green arms openly displayed at the door, fronting the
+road so that the passers by shall see them. And if any asks for
+him and seeks him, he will not know where his lodging will be,
+since he will see no sign of the black shield that he seeks. Thus
+Cliges is in the town and hides himself by such a device. And
+those who were his prisoners went from end to end of the town
+asking for the black knight; but none could tell them where he
+was. And even King Arthur sends up and down to seek him; but all
+say: "We did not see him after we left the tourney and know not
+what became of him." More than twenty youths whom the king has
+sent seek him; but Cliges has so utterly blotted out his tracks
+that they find no sign of him. King Arthur crosses himself when
+it was recounted and told him, that neither great nor small is
+found who can point out his dwelling any more than if he were at
+Qesarea, or at Toledo, or in Candia. "Faith!" quoth he, "I know
+not what to say in the matter, but I marvel greatly thereat. It
+was perhaps a ghost that has moved among us. Many a knight has he
+overthrown today; and he bears away the parole of the noblest men
+who will not this year see home or land or country; and each of
+whom will have broken his oath." Thus the king spake his pleasure
+though he might very well have kept silence in the matter.
+
+Much have all the barons spoken that night of the black knight,
+for they spoke of nought else. On the morrow they returned to
+arms, all without summons and without entreaty. Lancelot of the
+Lake has dashed forth to make the first joust; for no coward is
+he; with upright lance he awaits the joust. Lo! Cliges, greener
+than meadow grass, galloping on a dun, long-maned steed. Where
+Cliges pricks on the tawny steed, there is none, whether decked
+with youth's luxuriant locks or bald, who does not behold him
+with wonder; and they say on both sides: "This man is in all
+respects much nobler and more skilful than he of yesterday with
+the black arms, just as the pine is fairer than the beech, and
+the laurel than the elder. But not yet have we learned who he of
+yesterday was; but we will learn this very day who this one is.
+If anyone know it, let him tell us." Each said: "I know him not,
+never did I see him before to my thinking. But he is fairer than
+the knight of yesterday and fairer than Lancelot of the Lake. If
+he were arrayed in a sack and Lancelot in silver and gold, yet
+this man would still be fairer." Thus all side with Cliges; and
+the two prick their steeds as fast as they can spur and encounter
+one another. Cliges proceeds to deal such a blow on the golden
+shield with the painted lion, that he hurls its bearer from the
+saddle and fell on him in order to receive his submission.
+Lancelot could not defend himself and has given his parole. Then
+the noise and the din and the crash of lances has begun. Those
+who were on Cliges' side have all their trust in him; for he whom
+he strikes after due challenge given will never be so strong but
+that he must needs fall from his horse to the ground. Cliges,
+this day, wrought so bravely, and threw down and captured so
+many, that he has pleased those on his side twice as much, and
+has had twice as much praise from them as he had the day before.
+When evening has come he has repaired to his lodging as quickly
+as he could; and speedily bids the red shield and the other
+armour be brought forth. He orders that the arms which he bore
+that day be stowed away; the landlord has carefully done it. Long
+have the knights whom he had captured sought him that night
+Again; but no news do they hear of him. The greater part of those
+who speak of him at the inns laud and praise him.
+
+Next day the knights return to arms, alert and strong. From the
+array before Oxford rides out a knight of great renown; Percival
+the Welshman, was he called. As soon as Cliges saw him ride forth
+and heard the truth as to his name--for he heard him called
+Percival--he greatly longs to encounter him. Forthwith has he
+ridden forth from the rank on a sorrel, Spanish steed; and his
+armour was red. Then they, one and all, regard him with great
+wonder, more than they ever did before and say that never before
+did they see so comely a knight. And the two prick forward at
+once; for there was no delay. And the one and the other spurs on
+so that they give and take mighty blows on their shields. The
+lances, which were short and thick, bend and curve. In the sight
+of all who were looking on, Cliges has struck Percival, so that
+he smites him down from his horse, and makes him give parole
+without much fighting, and without great ado. When Percival had
+submitted, then they have begun the tourney; and they all
+encounter together. Cliges encounters no knight but he fells him
+to the ground. On this day one could not see him a single hour
+absent from the fight. Each for himself strikes a blow at Cliges
+as though at a tower: not merely two or three strike, for then
+that was not the use or custom. Cliges has made an anvil of his
+shield; for all play the smith and hammer upon it and cleave and
+quarter it; but none strikes upon it but Cliges pays him back,
+and throws him from his stirrups and saddle; and no one, except a
+man who wished to lie, could have said on his departure that the
+knight with the red shield had not won that whole day. And the
+best and most courteous would fain have his acquaintances, but
+that cannot be so soon; for he has gone away, secretly, when he
+saw that the sun had set; and he has had his red shield and all
+his other armour taken away; and he has the white arms brought in
+which he had been newly knighted; and the arms and the steed were
+placed in front of the door. But now they begin to perceive (for
+the greater part who speak of it say so, and perceive it to be
+so), that they have all been discomfited, and put to flight by a
+single man, who each day changes his outward show, both horse and
+armour, and seems another than himself; they have now for the
+first time perceived it. And my lord Gawain has said that never
+before did he see such a jouster; and because he would fain have
+his acquaintance and know his name, he says that he will be first
+tomorrow at the encounter of the knights. But he makes no boast;
+rather he says that he thinks and believes that Cliges will have
+the best of it and will win the renown when they strike with
+lances; but with the sword, perhaps, Cliges will not be his
+master; for never could Gawain find his master. Now will he prove
+himself tomorrow on the strange knight, who every day dons
+different armour and changes horse and harness. Soon he will be a
+bird of many moltings if thus daily he makes a practice of taking
+off his old feathers and putting on new ones. And thus Gawain too
+doffed his armour, and put on other, and the morrow he sees
+Cliges return, whiter than lily-flower, his shield held by the
+straps behind it, on his trusty, white, Arab steed, as he had
+devised the night before. Gawain, the valiant, the renowned, has
+not gone to sleep on the field; but pricks, and spurs, and
+advances, and puts forth all his utmost efforts to joust well if
+he finds any with whom to joust. Soon both will be on the field
+for Cliges had no wish to delay; for he had heard the murmur of
+those who say: "It is Gawain who is no weakling, afoot or on
+horseback. It is he with whom none dares to measure himself."
+Cliges, who hears the words, charges into the middle of the field
+towards him; both advance and encounter with a spring more swift
+than that of a stag who hears the baying of dogs barking after
+him. The  lances strike on the shields; and so mighty is the
+crash of the blows, that to their very ends they shatter into
+splinters, and split, and go to pieces; and the saddle-bows
+behind, break; moreover, the saddle-girth and breast harness
+burst. They both alike fall to the ground and have drawn their
+naked swords. The folk have pressed round to behold the battle.
+King Arthur came in front of all to separate and reconcile them;
+but they had broken and hewn in pieces the white hauberks, and
+had cleft through and cut up the shields, and had fractured the
+helmets before there was any talk of peace.
+
+
+The king had gazed at them as long a time as it pleased him; and
+so did many of the others who said that they esteemed the white
+knight no whit less in arms than my lord Gawain; and up till now
+they could not say which was the better, which the worse, nor
+which would overcome the other if they were allowed to fight till
+the battle was fought out. But it does not please or suit the
+king that they do more than they have done. He advances to part
+them and says to them: "Withdraw! If another blow be struck, it
+will be to your harm. But make peace. Be friends. Fair nephew
+Gawain, I entreat you; for it does not become a valiant man to
+continue a battle or fight where he has no quarrel or hatred. But
+if this knight would come to my court to pass his time with us,
+it would be no grievance or hurt to him. Pray him to do so,
+nephew." "Willingly, Sire." Cliges seeks not to excuse himself
+from this; willingly he consents to go thither when the tourney
+shall end; for now he has carried out to the uttermost his
+father's command. And the king says that he cares not for a
+tournament which lasts long; well may they straightway leave it.
+The knights have dispersed, for the king wishes and commands it.
+Cliges sends for all his armour, for it behoves him to follow the
+king. With all speed he may have, he comes to the court; but he
+was attired well beforehand and garbed after the French fashion.
+
+As soon as he came to court each hastens to meet him, for neither
+one nor the other remains behind; rather they manifest the
+greatest possible joy and festivity. And all those whom he had
+taken in the jousting acclaim him lord; but it is his wish to
+disclaim it to all of them; and he says, that if they think and
+believe that it was he who took them, they are all absolved of
+their pledge. There is not a single one who did not say: "It was
+you, well we know it. We prize highly your acquaintance, and much
+ought we to love you, and esteem you, and acclaim you, lord, for
+none of us is a match for you. Just as the sun puts out the
+little stars, so that their light is not visible in the clouds
+where the rays of the sun shine forth, so our deeds pale and wane
+before yours; and yet our deeds were wont to be greatly renowned
+throughout the world." Cliges knows not what reply to make to
+them; for it seems to him that one and all of them praise him
+more than they ought. Though it is very pleasant to him yet he is
+ashamed of it. The blood rises into his face, so that they see
+him all ashamed. They escort him through the hall, and have led
+him before the king; but they all cease to address to him the
+language of praise and flattery. Now was it the set hour for
+eating, and those whose business it was, hastened to set the
+tables. They have set the tables in the palace: some have taken
+napkins, and others hold basins and give water to those who come.
+All have washed; all are seated. The king has taken Cliges by the
+hand and set him before him; for fain will he know this very day
+who he is, if at all he may. No need is there to speak of the
+food, for the dishes were as plentiful as though one could have
+purchased an ox for a farthing.
+
+When all had had their meat and drink, then has the king no
+longer kept silence. "Friend," quoth he, "I would know if it is
+from pride that you forbore and disdained to come to my court as
+soon as you entered this land, and why you thus withdraw yourself
+from folk and change your arms. Now impart to me your name, and
+say of what race you are born." Cliges replies: "Never shall it
+be concealed." He has told and related to the king whatsoever he
+demands from him; and when the king has learned his name then he
+embraces him; then he rejoices over him; there is none who does
+not greet him in clue form. And my Lord Gawain knew him, who,
+above all, embraces and greets him. All greet him and fall on his
+neck; and all those who speak of him say that he is right fair
+and valiant. The king loves him and honours him more than any of
+all his nephews.
+
+Cliges stays with the king until the beginning of summer; by that
+time he has been over all Britain and over France and over
+Normandy, and has wrought many a knightly deed, so that he has
+well proved himself. But the love with which he is wounded grows
+neither lighter nor easier. The wish of his heart keeps him ever
+constant to one thought: he remembers Fenice who far from him is
+torturing her heart. A longing seizes him to return home; for too
+long has he abstained from seeing the lady more yearned for than
+any lady, that ever heard of man has yearned for. And he will not
+abstain longer from her. He prepares for the journey to Greece;
+he has taken leave and returns. Much, I ween, did it grieve my
+lord Gawain and the king when they can no longer keep him. But he
+longs to reach her whom he loves and desires; and he hastens o'er
+sea and land; and the way seems very long to him, so eagerly does
+he yearn to see her who takes away and purloins his heart from
+him. But she yields him a fair return; and well does she pay and
+compensate him for the toll she has extorted from him; for she in
+her turn gives her own heart in payment to him, whom she loves no
+less. But he is not a whit certain about it; never had he pledge
+or promise in the matter; and he grieves cruelly. And she also
+laments; for her love of him is tormenting and killing her; and
+nothing can give pleasure or joy in her eyes since that hour when
+she ceased to see him. She does not even know if he is alive,
+whereof great sorrow strikes her to the heart. But Cliges gets
+nearer each day, and in his journey he has had good luck; for he
+has had a fair wind and calm weather, and has anchored with joy
+and delight before Constantinople. The news reached the city; it
+was welcome to the emperor and a hundred times more welcome to
+the empress. If anyone doubt this it will be to his own sorrow.
+Cliges and his company have repaired to Greece, straight to the
+port of Constantinople. All the most powerful and noble come to
+the port to meet him. And when the emperor who had advanced in
+front of all meets him, and the empress who walks by his side,
+the emperor, before all, runs to fall on his neck and to greet
+him. And when Fenice greets him, the one changes colour because
+of the other; and the marvel is how when they come close to each
+other they keep from embracing and kissing each other with such
+kisses as please Love. But folly would it have been and madness.
+The folk run up in all directions and delight to see him. They
+all lead him through the midst of the town, some on foot and some
+on horseback, as far as the imperial palace. Of the joy that
+there was made will never word here be told, nor of the honour,
+nor of the homage; but each has striven to do whatever he thinks
+and believes will please Cliges and be welcome to him. And his
+uncle yields to him all that he has save the crown. He is right
+willing that Cliges take at his pleasure whatsoever he shall wish
+to obtain from him, be it land or treasure; but Cliges makes no
+account of silver or of gold, since he dare not disclose his
+thought to her for whom he loses his rest; and yet he has leisure
+and opportunity for telling her if only he were not afraid of
+being refused; for every day he can see her and sit alone by her
+side without anyone gainsaying or forbidding; for nobody imagines
+or thinks evil of it.
+
+A space of time after he had returned, one day he came unattended
+into the room of her who was not forsooth his enemy, and be well
+assured that the door was not shut against the meeting. He was
+close by her side and all the rest had gone away, so that no one
+was sitting near them who could hear their words. Fenice first of
+all questioned him about Britain. She asks him concerning the
+disposition and courtesy of my lord Gawain, and at last she
+ventures to speak of what she dreaded. She asked him if he loved
+dame or maiden in that land. To this Cliges was not unwilling or
+slow to reply. Quickly was he able to explain all to her, as soon
+as she challenged him on the point. "Lady," quoth he, "I was in
+love while yonder; but I loved none who was of yonder land. In
+Britain my body was without a heart like bark without timber.
+When I left Germany, I knew not what became of my heart, save
+that it went away hither after you. Here was my heart and there
+my body. I was not absent from Greece, for my heart had gone
+thither, and to reclaim it have I come back here; but it neither
+comes nor returns to me, and I cannot bring it back to me, and
+yet I seek it not and cannot do so. And how have you fared since
+you have come into this land? What joy have you had here? Do the
+people, does the land please you? I ought to ask you nothing
+further save this--whether the land please you." "Formerly it
+pleased me not; but now there dawns for me a joy and a pleasure
+that I would not lose, be assured, for Pavia or for Placentia;
+for I cannot dissever my heart from it, nor shall I ever use
+force to do so. In me is there nought save the bark, for without
+my heart I live and have my being. Never was I in Britain, and
+yet my heart has made I know not what contract in Britain without
+me." "Lady, when was your heart there? Tell me when it went, at
+what time and at what season, if it is a matter that you can
+reasonably tell me or another. Was it there when I was there?"
+"Yes, but you knew it not. It was there as long as you were there
+and departed with you." "God! and I neither knew nor saw it
+there. God! why did I know it not? If I had known it, certainly,
+lady, I would have borne it good company." "Much would you have
+comforted me and well would it have become you to do so, for I
+would have been very gracious to your heart, if it had pleased it
+to come there where it might have known me to be." "Of a surety,
+lady, it came to you." "To me? Then it came not into exile, for
+mine also went to you." "Lady, then are both our hearts here with
+us as you say; for mine is wholly yours." "Friend, and you on
+your side have mine, and so we are well matched. And know well
+that, so may God guard me, never had your uncle share in me, for
+neither did it please me nor was it permitted to him. Never yet
+did he know me as Adam knew his wife. Wrongly am I called dame;
+but I know well that he who calls me dame knows not that I am a
+maid. Even your uncle knows it not, for he has drunk of the
+sleeping draught and thinks he is awake when he sleeps, and he
+deems that he has his joy of me, just as he fain would have it,
+and just as though I were lying between his arms; but well have I
+shut him out. Yours is my heart, yours is my body, nor indeed
+will any one by my example learn to act vilely; for when my heart
+set itself on you, it gave and promised you my body, so that
+nobody else shall have a share in it. Love for you so wounded me
+that never did I think to recover any more than the sea can dry
+up. If I love you and you love me, never shall you be called
+Tristram, and never shall I be Iseult, for then the love would
+not be honourable. But I make you a vow that never shall you have
+other solace of me than you now have, if you cannot bethink
+yourself how I may be stolen from your uncle and from his bed, so
+that he may never find me again, or be able to blame either you
+or me or have anything he may lay hold of herein. To-night must
+you bend your attention to the matter and to-morrow you will be
+able to tell me the best device that you will have thought of,
+and I also will ponder on the matter. To-morrow, when I shall
+have risen, come early to speak to me, and each will say his
+thought, and we will carry out that which we shall consider
+best."
+
+When Cliges heard her wish, he has granted her all, and says that
+it shall be right well done. He leaves her blithe, and blithe he
+goes away, and each lies awake in bed all night and they think
+with great delight over what seems best to them. The morrow they
+come again together, as soon as they were risen, and they took
+counsel in private, as there was need for them to do. First
+Cliges says and recounts what he had thought of in the night.
+"Lady," quoth he, "I think and believe that we could not do
+better than go away to Britain: thither have I devised to take
+you away. Now take heed that the matter fall not through on your
+side. For never was Helen received at Troy with such great joy,
+when Paris had brought her thither, that there will not be yet
+greater joy felt throughout the whole land of the king, my uncle,
+anent you and me. And if this please you not well, tell me your
+thought; for I am ready, whatever come of it, to cleave to your
+thought." She replies: "And I shall speak it. Never will I go
+with you thus, for then, when we had gone away, we should be
+spoken of throughout the world as the blonde Iseult and Tristram
+are spoken of; but here and there all women and men would blame
+our happiness. No one would believe or could be expected to
+believe the actual truth of the matter. Who would believe then as
+regards your uncle that I have gone off and escaped from him
+still a maid, but a maid to no purpose? Folk would hold me a
+light-of-love and a wanton, and you a madman. But it is meet to
+keep and observe the command of St. Paul, for St. Paul teaches
+him who does not wish to remain continent to act so wisely that
+he may never incur outcry nor blame nor reproach. It is well to
+stop an evil mouth, and this I think I can fully accomplish, if
+it be not too grievous for you; for if I act as my thought
+suggests to me, I will pretend to be dead. I will shortly feign
+sickness, and do you on your side lavish your pains to provide
+for my tomb. Set your attention and care on this, that both tomb
+and bier be made in such fashion that I die not there nor
+suffocate, and let no one perceive you that night when you will
+be ready to take me away. And you will find me a refuge, such
+that never any save you may see me; and let no one provide me
+with anything of which I have need or requirement, save you to
+whom I grant and give myself. Never in all my life do I seek to
+be served by any other man. You will be my lord and my servant,
+good will be to me whatsoever you will do to me, nor shall I ever
+be lady of the empire, if you be not lord of it. A poor, dark,
+and sordid place will be to me more splendid than all these
+halls, when you shall be together with me. If I have you and see
+you, I shall be lady of all the wealth in the world, and the
+whole world will be mine. And if the thing is done wisely, never
+will it be interpreted ill, and none will ever be able to point
+the finger of scorn at me, for through the whole empire folk will
+believe that I have rotted in the grave. And Thessala, my nurse,
+who has brought me up and in whom I have great trust, will aid me
+in good faith, for she is very wise and I have great confidence
+in her." And Cliges, when he heard his love, replies: "Lady, if
+so it can be, and if you think that your nurse is likely to
+counsel you rightly in the matter, all you have to do is to make
+preparations and to carry them out speedily; but if we act not
+wisely, we are lost beyond recovery. In this town there is a
+craftsman who carves and works in wood wondrous well; there is no
+land where he is not famed for the works of art that he has made
+and carved and shaped. John is his name, and he is my serf. No
+handicraft is there, however peculiar it be, in which anyone
+could rival him, if John set his mind to it with a will. For
+compared with him they are all novices like a child at nurse. It
+is by imitating his works that the inhabitants of Antioch and of
+Rome have learned to do whatever they can accomplish, and no more
+loyal man is known. But now will I put him to the test, and if I
+can find loyalty in him, I will free him and all his heirs, and I
+will not fail to tell him our plan, if he swears and vows to me
+that he will aid me loyally therein and will never betray me in
+this matter." She replies: "Now be it so."
+
+By her leave Cliges came forth from the chamber and departed. And
+she sends for Thessala, her nurse, whom she had brought from the
+land where she was born. And Thessila came forthwith, for she
+neither lingers nor delays: but she knows not why her mistress
+sends for her. Fenice asks her in private conference what she
+counsels and what seems good to her. She neither hides nor
+conceals from Thessala even the smallest part of her thought.
+"Nurse," says she, "I know well that never a thing that I tell
+you will afterwards become known through you, for I have proved
+you right well and have found you very wise. You have done so
+much for me that I love you. Of all my evils I complain to you,
+nor do I take counsel elsewhere. You know well why I lie awake
+and what I think and what I wish. My eyes can see nothing to
+please me, save one thing, but I shall have from it neither
+enjoyment nor comfort, if I do not pay very dearly for it
+beforehand. And yet I have found my mate; for if I desire him,
+he, on his side, desires me too; if I grieve, he, on his side,
+grieves with my sorrow and my anguish. Now I must confess to you
+a thought and a parley, in which we two in solitude have resolved
+and agreed." Then she has told and related to her that she
+intends to feign herself ill, and says that she will complain so
+much that finally she will appear dead, and Cliges will steal her
+away in the night, and they will be always henceforth together.
+In no other way, it seems to her, could she continue firm in her
+resolve. But if she were assured that Thessala would help her in
+it, the thing could be done according to her wish; "But too long
+do joy and good fortune for me delay and tarry." Forthwith her
+nurse assures her that she will lend all her aid to the
+enterprise, let her now have neither fear nor dread in regard to
+aught; and she says she will take so much pains about the matter,
+as soon as she shall undertake it, that never will there be any
+man who sees her who will not believe quite surely that her soul
+is severed from the body, when Thessala shall have given her a
+drink that will make her cold and wan and pale and stiff, without
+speech and without breath; and yet she will be quite alive and
+sound, and will feel neither good nor ill, nor will she suffer
+any harm during a day and a whole night in the tomb and in the
+bier.
+
+When Fenice had heard it, thus has she spoken and replied:
+"Nurse, I put myself in your care, I give you free leave to do
+what you will with me. I am at your disposal; think for me, and
+bid the folk here that there be none who does not go away. I am
+ill and they disturb me." The nurse tells them courteously: "My
+lords, my lady is unwell and wishes you all to go away, for you
+speak too much and make too much noise, and noise is bad for her.
+She will have neither rest nor case as long as you are in this
+room. Never heretofore that I remember had she illness of which I
+heard her complain so much, so very great and grievous is her
+sickness. Depart, and it vex you not." They speedily go, one and
+all, as soon as Thessala had commanded it. And Cliges has quickly
+sent for John to his lodging, and has said to him privily: "John,
+knowest thou what I will say? Thou art my serf, I am thy lord,
+and I Can give thee or sell thee and take thy body and thy goods
+as a thing that is my own. But if I could trust thee concerning
+an affair of mine that I am thinking of, thou wouldst for
+evermore be free, and likewise the heirs which shall be born of
+thee." John, who much desires freedom, forthwith replies: "Sir,"
+says he, "there is no thing that I would not do wholly at your
+will, provided that thereby I might see myself free and my wife
+and children free. Tell me your will; never will there be
+anything so grievous that it will be toil or punishment to me,
+nor will it be any burden to me. And were it not so, yet it will
+behove me to do it even against my will, and set aside all my own
+business." "True, John, but it is such a thing that my mouth dare
+not speak it, unless thou warrant me and swear to me, and unless
+thou altogether assure me that thou wilt faithfully aid me and
+will never betray me." "Willingly, Sir," quoth John, "never be
+doubtful of that. For this I swear you and warrant you that as
+long as I shall be a living man I will never say aught that I
+think will grieve or vex you." "Ah, John! not even on pain of
+death is there a man to whom I should dare to say that concerning
+which I wish to seek counsel of thee; rather would I let my eyes
+be plucked out. Rather would I that thou shouldst kill me than
+that thou shouldst say it to any other man. But I find thee so
+loyal and prudent, that I will tell thee what is in my heart.
+Thou wilt accomplish my pleasure well, as I think, as regards
+both thy aid and thy silence." "Truly, Sir! so aid me God!"
+Forthwith Cliges relates to him and tells him the enterprise
+quite openly. And when he has disclosed to him the truth, as ye
+know it who have heard me tell it, then John says that he
+promises him to make the tomb well and put therein his best
+endeavour, and says that he will take him to see a house of his
+own building, and he will show him this that he has made, which
+never any man, woman, or child yet saw, if it pleases him to go
+with him there where he is working and painting and carving all
+by himself without any other folk. He will show him the fairest
+and most beautiful place that he ever saw. Cliges replies: "Let
+us then go."
+
+Below the town in a sequestered spot had John built a tower, and
+he had toiled with great wisdom. Thither has he led Cliges with
+him, and leads him over the rooms, which were adorned with images
+fair and finely painted. He shows him the rooms and the
+fireplaces, and leads him up and down. Cliges sees the house to
+be lonely, for no one stays or dwells there. He passes from one
+room to another till he thinks to have seen all, and the tower
+has pleased him well, and he said that it was very beautiful. The
+lady will be safe there all the days that she will live; for no
+man will ever know her to be there. "No, truly, lord, she will
+never be known to be here. But think you to have seen all my
+tower and all my pleasaunce? Still are there lurking-places such
+as no man would be able to find. And if it is allowed you to try
+your skill in searching as well as you can, never will you be
+able to ransack so thoroughly as to find more rooms here, however
+subtle and wise you are, if I do not show and point them out to
+you. Know that here baths are not lacking, nor anything that I
+remember and think of as suitable for a lady. She will be well at
+her ease here. This tower has a wider base underground, as you
+shall see, and never will you be able to find anywhere door or
+entrance. With such craft and such art is the door made of hard
+stone that never will you find the join thereof." "Now hear I
+marvel," quoth Cliges; "go forward; I shall follow, for I long to
+see all this." Then has John started off, and leads Cliges by the
+hand to a smooth and polished door, which is all painted and
+coloured. At the wall has John stopped, and he held Cliges by the
+right hand. "Lord," quoth he, "no man is there who could have
+seen door or window in this wall, and think you that one could
+pass it in any wise without doing it injury and harm?" Cliges
+answers that he does not think he could, nor ever will think it,
+unless he sees it with his own eyes. Then says John that his lord
+shall see it, for he will open for him the door of the wall.
+John, who himself had wrought the work, unlocks and opens to him
+the door of the wall, so that he neither hurts it nor injures it,
+and the one passes before the other, and they descend by a spiral
+staircase to a vaulted room where John wrought at his craft, when
+it was his pleasure to construct aught. "Lord," quoth he, "here
+where we are was never one of all the men whom God created save
+us two; and the place has all that makes for comfort, as you will
+see in a trice. I advise that your retreat be here, and that your
+lady-love be hidden in it. Such a lodging is meet for such a
+guest, for there are rooms and baths and in the baths hot water,
+which comes through a pipe below the earth. That man who would
+seek a convenient spot to place and hide his lady would have to
+go far before he found one so delightful. You will deem it a very
+fitting refuge when you have been all over it." Then has John
+shown him all, fair chambers and painted vaults, and he has shown
+him much of his workmanship, which pleased him mightily. When
+they had seen the whole tower, then said Cliges: "John, my
+friend, I free you and your heirs one and all, and I am wholly
+yours. I desire that my lady be here all alone, and that no one
+ever know it save me and you and her, and not another soul." John
+replies: "I thank you. Now we have been here long enough, now we
+have no more to do, so let us start on the return journey." "You
+have said well," Cliges replies, "let us depart." Then they turn
+and have issued forth from the tower. On their return they hear
+in the town how one tells another in confidence: "You know not
+the grave news about my lady the empress. May the Holy Spirit
+give health to the wise and noble lady, for she lies in very
+great sickness."
+
+When Cliges hears the report, he went to the court at full speed;
+but neither joy nor pleasure was there; for all were sad and
+dejected on account of the empress, who feigns herself ill;
+feigns--for the evil whereof she complains gives her no pain or
+hurt; she has said to all that as long as the malady whereby her
+heart and head feel pain holds her so strongly, she will have no
+man save the emperor or his nephew enter her chamber; for she
+will not deny herself to them; though if the emperor, her lord,
+come not, little will it irk her. She must needs risk great
+suffering and great peril for Cliges' sake, but it weighs on her
+heart that he comes not; she desires to see naught save him.
+Cliges will soon be in her presence and stay there till he shall
+have related to her what he has seen and found. He comes before
+her and has told her; but he remained there a short time only,
+for Fenice, in order that people may think that what pleases her
+annoys her, has said aloud: "Away! Away! You tire me greatly, you
+weary me much; for I am so oppressed with sickness that never
+shall I be raised from it and restored to health." Cliges, whom
+this greatly pleases, goes away, making a doleful
+countenance--for never before did you see it so doleful.
+Outwardly he appears full sad; but his heart is blithe within,
+for it looks to have its joy.
+
+The empress, without having any illness, complains and feigns
+herself ill; and the emperor, who believes her, ceases not to
+make lamentation, and sends to seek leeches for her; but she will
+not let that one see her, nor does she let herself be touched.
+This grieves the emperor, for she says that never will she have
+leech except one, who will know how to give her health quickly,
+when it shall be his will. He will make her die or live; into his
+keeping she puts herself for health and for life. They think that
+she is speaking of God, but a very different meaning has she, for
+she means none other than Cliges. He is her God, who can give her
+health and who can make her die.
+
+Thus the empress provides that no leech attend her, and she will
+not eat or drink, in order the better to deceive the emperor,
+until she is both pale and wan all over. And her nurse stays near
+her, who with very wondrous craft sought secretly through all the
+town, so that no one knew it, until she found a woman sick of a
+mortal sickness without cure. In order the better to carry out
+the deception, she went often to visit her and promised her that
+she would cure her of her ill, and each day she would bring a
+glass to see her water, till she saw that medicine would no
+longer be able to aid her and that she would die that very day.
+She has brought this water and has kept it straitly until the
+emperor rose. Now she goes before him and says to him: "If you
+will, sire, send for all your leeches, for my lady, who is
+suffering from a sore sickness, has passed water and wishes that
+the leeches see it, but that they come not in her presence." The
+leeches came into the hall; they see the water very bad and pale,
+and each says what seems to him the truth, till they all agree
+together that never will she recover, and will not even see the
+hour of None, and if she lives so long, then at the latest God
+will take her soul to himself. This have they murmured secretly.
+Then the emperor has bidden and conjured them that they tell the
+truth of the matter. They reply that they have no hope at all of
+her recovery, and that she cannot pass the hour of None, for
+before that hour she will have given up the ghost. When the
+emperor has heard the word, scarcely can he refrain from swooning
+to the ground, and likewise many a one of the others who heard
+it. Never did any folk make such mourning as then prevailed
+through all the palace. I spare you the account of the mourning,
+and you shall hear what Thessala is about, who mixes and brews
+the draught. She has mixed and stirred it, for long beforehand
+she had provided herself with all that she knew was needed for
+the draught. A little before the hour of None she gives her the
+draught to drink. As soon as she had drunk it, her sight grew
+dim, and her face was as pale and white as if she had lost her
+blood, nor would she have moved hand or foot even if one had
+flayed her alive; she neither stirs nor says a word, and yet she
+hearkens to and hears the mourning which the emperor makes, and
+the wailing with which the hall is full. And o'er all the city
+the folk wail who weep and say: "God! what a sorrow and a
+calamity has accursed death dealt us! Greedy death! Covetous
+death! Death is worse than any she-wolf, for death cannot be
+sated. Never couldst thou give a worse wound to the world. Death,
+what hast thou done? May God confound thee who hast extinguished
+all beauty. Thou hast slain the choicest creature and the fairest
+picture--if she had but remained alive!--that God ever laboured
+to fashion. Too patient is God, since He suffers thee to have the
+power to ruin His handiwork. Now should God be wroth with thee
+and cast thee forth from thy dominion, for thou hast committed
+too wanton and great arrogance and great insult." Thus all the
+people storm, they wring their hands and beat their palms, and
+the clerks read there their psalms, who pray for the good lady
+that God may show mercy to her soul.
+
+Amid the tears and the wails, as the writings tell us, have come
+three aged physicians from Salerno, where they had been a long
+time. They have stopped on account of the great mourning, and ask
+and inquire the reason of the wails and tears, why folk are thus
+demented and distressed. And they tell them and reply: "God!
+Lords, know ye not? At this ought the whole world, each place in
+turn, to become frenzied together with us, if it knew the great
+mourning and grief and hurt and the great loss which this day has
+opened to our ken. God! whence then are you come, since you know
+not what has happened but now in the city? We will tell you the
+truth, for we wish to join you with us in the mourning wherewith
+we mourn. Know you nought of ravenous death, who desires all and
+covets all and in all places lies in wait for the best, and how
+great an act of folly he hath to-day committed, as he is wont?
+God had lit the world with a brilliance, with a light. But Death
+cannot choose but do what he is wont to do. Ever with his might
+he blots out the best that he can find. Now doth he will to prove
+his power, and has taken in one body more worth than he has left
+in the world. If he had taken the whole world, he could not have
+done one whit worse, provided that he left alive and sound that
+prey whom he now leads away. Beauty, courtesy, and knowledge, and
+whatsoever appertaining to goodness a lady can have, has Death,
+who has destroyed all good in the person of my lady the empress,
+snatched from us and cheated us of. Thus hath Death slain us."
+"Ah, God!" say the leeches, "thou hatest this city, we know it
+well, for that we came not here a little space ago. If we had
+come yesterday, Death might have esteemed himself highly, if he
+had taken aught from us by force." "Lords, my lady would not for
+aught have allowed that you should have seen her or troubled
+yourself about her. There were enough and to spare of good
+leeches, but never did my lady please that one or other of them
+should see her who could meddle with her illness." "No?" "By my
+faith, that did she truly not." Then they remembered Solomon, and
+that his wife hated him so much that she betrayed him under a
+pretence of death. Perhaps this lady has done the same thing; but
+if they could by any means succeed in touching her, there is no
+man born for whose sake they would have lied or would refrain
+from speaking the whole truth about it, if they can see deceit
+there. Towards the court they go forthwith, where one would not
+have heard God thundering, such noise and wailing there was. The
+master of them, who knew the most, has approached the bier. None
+says to him: "You touch it at your peril." Nor does any one pull
+him back from it. And he puts his hand on her breast and on her
+side and feels beyond a doubt that she has her life whole in her
+body; well he knows it and well he perceives it. He sees before
+him the emperor, who is frenzied and readv to kill himself with
+grief. He cries aloud and says to him: "Emperor, comfort thyself.
+I know and see for a certainty that this lady is not dead. Leave
+thy mourning and console thyself. If I give her not back to thee
+alive, either slay me or hang me." Now all the wailing throughout
+the palace is calmed and hushed, and the emperor tells the leech
+that now it is permitted him to give orders and to speak his will
+quite freely. If he brings back the empress to life, he will be
+lord and commander over him; but he will be hanged as a robber,
+if he has lied to him in aught. And he says to him: "I accept the
+condition; never have mercy on me, if I do not make the lady here
+speak to you. Without hesitation or delay have the palace cleared
+for me. Let not one or another stay here. I must see privately
+the evil from which the lady suffers. These two leeches alone,
+who are of my company, shall stay here with me, and let all the
+others go without." This thing Cliges, John, and Thessala would
+have gainsaid: but all those who were there would have
+interpreted it to their harm, if they had attempted to prevent
+it. Therefore they keep silence and give the counsel that they
+hear the others give, and have gone forth from the palace. And
+the three leeches have by force ripped up the lady's
+winding-sheet, for there was neither knife nor scissors: then
+they say: "Lady, have no fear, be not dismayed, but speak in all
+safety. We know for a surety that you are quite sound and well.
+Now be wise and amenable, and despair of nought; for if you seek
+advice from us, we will assure you all three of us, that we will
+help you with all our power, where it be concerning good or
+concerning evil. We will be right loyal towards you, both in
+keeping your secret and in aiding you. Do not compel us to reason
+long with you. From the moment that we place our power and
+services at your disposal, you ought not to refuse us
+compliance." Thus they think to befool and to cheat her, but it
+avails nought; for she cares and recks nought of their service,
+so that when the physicians see that they will avail nothing with
+regard to her by cajolery or by entreaty, then they take her off
+the bier and strike her and beat her; but their fury is to no
+purpose, since for all this they draw not a word from her. Then
+they threaten and frighten her and say that, if she does not
+speak, she will that very day find out the folly of her action;
+for they will inflict on her such dire treatment that never
+before was its like inflicted on any body of caitiff woman. "Well
+we know that you are alive and do not deign to speak to us. Well
+we know that you are feigning and would have deceived the
+emperor. Have no fear of us at all. But if any man has angered
+you, disclose your folly, before we have further wounded you, for
+you are acting very basely; and we will aid you, alike in wisdom
+or in folly." It cannot be, it avails them nought. Then once more
+they deal her blows on the back with their straps, and the
+stripes that run downwards become visible, and so much do they
+beat her tender flesh that they make the blood gush out from it.
+When they have beaten her with straps till they have lacerated
+her flesh, and till the blood which issues through her wounds
+runs down from them, and when for all that they can do nothing
+nor extort sigh or word promise her; they are meddling to no
+purpose. And from her, and she never moves nor stirs, then they
+tell her that they must seek fire and lead, and that they will
+melt it and will pour it into her palms rather than fail to make
+her speak. They seek and search for fire and lead; they kindle
+the fire; they melt the lead. Thus the base villains maltreat and
+torture the lady, for they have poured into her palms the lead,
+all boiling and hot just as they have taken it from the fire. Nor
+yet is it enough for them that the lead has passed through and
+through the palms, but the reprobate villains say that, if she
+speak not soon, straightway they will roast her till she is all
+grilled. She is silent and forbids them not to beat or ill-treat
+her flesh. And even now they were about to put her to the fire to
+roast and grill, when more than a thousand of the ladies, who
+were in front of the palace, come to the door and see through a
+tiny chink the torture and the unhappy fate that they were
+preparing for the lady, for they were making her suffer martyrdom
+from the coal and from the flame. To break in the door and
+shatter it they bring hatchets and hammers. Great was the din and
+the attack to break and smash the door. If now they can lay hold
+on the leeches, without delay all their desert shall be rendered
+them. The ladies enter the palace all together with one bound,
+and Thessala is among the press, whose one anxiety is to get to
+her lady. She finds her all naked at the fire, much injured and
+much mishandled. She has laid her back on the bier and covered
+her beneath the pall. And the ladies proceed to tender and pay to
+the three leeches their deserts; they would not send for or await
+emperor or seneschal. They have hurled them down through the
+windows full into the court, so that they have broken the necks
+and ribs and arms and legs of all three; better never wrought any
+ladies. Now the three leeches have received from the ladies right
+sorry payment for their deeds; but Cliges is much dismayed and
+has great grief, when he hears tell of the great agony and the
+torture that his lady has suffered for him. Almost does he lose
+his reason; for he fears greatly and indeed with justice--that
+she may be killed or maimed by the torture caused her by the
+three leeches, who have died in consequence; and he is despairing
+and disconsolate. And Thessala comes bringing a very precious
+salve with which she has anointed full gently the lady's body and
+wounds. The ladies have enshrouded her again in a white Syrian
+pall, wherein they had shrouded her before, but they leave her
+face uncovered. Never that night do they abate their wailing or
+cease or make an end thereof. Through all the town they wail like
+folk demented-high and low, and poor and rich-and it seems that
+each sets his will on outdoing all the others in making
+lamentation, and on never abandoning it of his own will. All
+night is the mourning very great. On the morrow John came to
+court, and the emperor sends for him and bids him, requests and
+commands him: "John! if ever thou madest a good work, now set all
+thy wisdom and thy invention to making a tomb, such that one
+cannot find one so fair and well decorated." And John, who had
+already done it, says that he has prepared a very fair and
+well-carved one; but never, when he began to make it, had he
+intention that any body should be laid there save a holy one.
+"Now, let the empress be enclosed within in lieu of relics; for
+she is, I ween, a very holy thing." "Well said," quoth the
+emperor, "in the minster of my lord Saint Peter shall she be
+buried, there outside where one buries other bodies; for before
+she died, she begged and prayed me with all her heart that I
+would have her laid there. Now go and busy yourself about it, and
+set your tomb, as is right and meet, in the fairest place in the
+cemetery." John replies: "Gladly, sire." Forthwith John departs,
+prepares well the tomb, and did thereat what a master of his
+craft would do. Because the stone was hard, and even more on
+account of the cold, he has placed therein a feather bed; and
+moreover, that it may smell sweet to her, he has strewn thereon
+both flowers and foliage. But he did it even more for this, that
+none should spy the mattress that he had placed in the grave. Now
+had the whole office been said in chapels and in parish churches,
+and they were continually tolling as it is meet to toll for the
+dead. They bid the body be brought, and it will be placed in the
+tomb, whereat John has worked to such effect that he has made it
+very magnificent and splendid. In all Constantinople has been
+left neither great nor small who does not follow the corpse
+weeping, and they curse and revile Death; knights and squires
+swoon, and the dames and the maidens beat their breasts and have
+railed against Death. "Death!" quoth each, "why took'st thou not
+a ransom for my lady? Forsooth, but a small booty hast thou
+gained, and for us the loss is great." And Cliges, of a truth,
+mourns so much that he wounds and maltreats himself more than all
+the others do, and it is a marvel that he does not kill himself;
+but still he postpones suicide till the hour and the time come
+for him to disinter her and hold her in his arms, and know
+whether she is alive or not. About the grave are the lords, who
+lay the body there; but they do not meddle with John in the
+setting up of the tomb, and indeed they could see nought of it,
+but have all fallen swooning to the earth, and John has had good
+leisure to do all he listed. He so set up the tomb that there was
+no other creature in it; well does he seal and join and close it.
+Then might that man well have boasted himself who, without harm
+or injury, would have been able to take away or disjoin aught
+that John had put there.
+
+Fenice is in the tomb, until it came to dark night; but thirty
+knights guard her, and there are ten tapers burning, and they
+made a great light. The knights were sated and weary with
+mourning, and have eaten and drunk in the night till they all lay
+asleep together. At night Cliges steals forth from the court and
+from all the folk. There was not knight or servant who ever knew
+what had become of him. He did not rest till he came to John, who
+gives him all the counsel that he can. He puts on him a suit of
+armour, which he will never need. Both all armed go forth to the
+cemetery at post haste; but the cemetery was enclosed all around
+by a high wall; and the knights, who were sleeping, and had
+closed the door within that none might enter, thought they were
+safe. Cliges sees not how he may pass, for he cannot enter by the
+door, and yet by hook or by crook he must enter, for love exhorts
+and admonishes him. He grips the wall and mounts up, for right
+strong and agile was he. Within was an orchard and there were
+trees in plenty. Near the wall one had been planted so that it
+touched the wall. Now has Cliges what he wished for; he let
+himself down by this tree. The first thing that he did was to go
+and open the door to John. They see the knights sleeping and they
+have extinguished all the tapers, so that no light remains there.
+And now John uncovers the grave and opens the tomb, so that he
+injures it not at all. Cliges leaps into the grave and has
+carried forth his lady, who is very weak and lifeless, and he
+falls on her neck and kisses and embraces her. He knows not
+whether to rejoice or mourn; for she moves not nor stirs. And
+John has closed again the tomb with all the speed he may, so that
+it does not in any wise appear that it had been touched. They
+have approached the tower as quickly as ever they could. When
+they had put her within the tower in the rooms that were
+underground, then they took off the grave-clothes, and Cliges,
+who knew nothing of the draught that she had within her body,
+which makes her dumb and prevents her stirring, thinks in
+consequence that she is dead, and he loses hope and comfort
+thereat, and sighs deeply and weeps. But soon the hour will have
+come that the draught will lose its force. And Fenice, who hears
+him lament, tries and strains that she may be able to comfort him
+either by word or by look. Her heart nearly breaks because of the
+mourning she hears him make. "Ha! Death," quoth he, "how base
+thou art, in that thou sparest and passest by worthless and
+outcast creatures! Such thou dost allow to last and live. Death!
+art thou mad or drunk that thou has killed my love without
+killing me? This that I see is a marvel: my love is dead and I am
+alive. Ah, sweet love! why does your lover live and see you dead?
+Now might one rightly say that you are dead for my sake, and that
+I have killed and slain you. Loved lady! then am I the Death who
+has killed you; is not that unjust? For I have taken away my life
+in you and yet have kept yours in me. For were not your health
+and your life mine, sweet friend? And were not mine yours? For I
+loved nought but you: we twain were one being. Now have I done
+what I ought, for I keep your soul in my body, and mine is gone
+forth of yours; and yet the one was bound to bear the other
+company, wherever it was, and nothing ought to have parted them."
+At this she heaves a sigh and says in a weak, low voice: "Friend!
+friend! I am not wholly dead, but well-nigh so. But I hope nought
+about my life. I thought to have a jest and to feign: but now
+must I needs complain, for Death loves not my jest. A marvel
+'twill be if I escape alive, for much have the leeches wounded
+me, broken and lacerated my flesh; and nevertheless, if it could
+be that my nurse were here with me, she would make me quite
+whole, if care could avail aught herein." "Friend! then let it
+not distress you," quoth Cliges, "for this very night I will
+bring her here for you.....Friend! rather will John go." John
+goes thither and has sought till he found her, and he imparts to
+her how greatly he desires her to come; never let any excuse
+detain her; for Fenice and Cliges summon her to a tower where
+they await her; for Fenice is sore mishandled, and she must come
+provided with salves and electuaries, and let her know that the
+lady will live no longer if she succour her not speedily.
+Thessala forthwith runs and takes ointment and plaster and an
+electuary that she had made, and has joined company with John.
+Then they issue from the town secretly and go till they come
+straight to the tower. When Fenice sees her nurse, she thinks she
+is quite cured, so much she loves her and believes in her and
+trusts her. And Cliges embraces and greets her and says:
+"Welcome, nurse! for I love and esteem you greatly. Nurse, in
+God's name what think you of this damsel's illness? What is your
+opinion? Will she recover? "Ay, sir! fear not that I cannot cure
+her right well. A fortnight will not have passed before I make
+her whole, so that never at any time was she more whole and gay."
+
+Thessala sets her mind on curing the lady, and John goes to
+provide the tower with whatsoever store is meet. Cliges comes and
+goes to the tower boldly, in view of all, for he has left there a
+goshawk moulting, and says that he comes to see it, and none can
+guess that he goes there for any other reason save only on
+account of the hawk. Much does he tarry there both night and day.
+He makes John guard the tower, that no one may enter there
+against his will. Fenice has no hurt whereof she need grieve, for
+well has Thessala cured her. If now Cliges had been duke of
+Almeria or of Morocco or of Tudela, he would not have prized such
+honour a berry in comparison of the joy he has. Certes, Love
+abased himself no whit when he put them together; for it seems to
+both when one embraces and kisses the other that the whole world
+is made better for their joy and their pleasure. Ask me no more
+about it; I will but say that there is nought that one wills that
+the other does not welcome. So is their will at one as if they
+twain were but one. All this year and some space of the next, two
+months and more, I ween, has Fenice been in the tower, until the
+spring of the year. When flowers and foliage bud forth, and the
+little birds are making merry--for they delight in their
+bird-language--it happened that Fenice heard one morning the
+nightingale sing. Cliges was holding her gently with one arm
+about her waist and the other about her neck, and she him in like
+manner, and she has said to him: "Fair, dear friend, much joy
+would an orchard afford me, where I could take my pleasure. I
+have seen neither moon nor sun shine for more than fifteen whole
+months. If it might be, full gladly would I sally forth into the
+daylight, for I am pent up in this tower. If near by there were
+an orchard where I could go to disport myself, great good would
+this do me often. Then Cliges promises that he will seek counsel
+of John as soon as he shall see him. And now it has happened that
+lo! John has come thither, for he was often wont to come. Cliges
+has spoken with him of Fenice's desire. "All is prepared and
+already at hand," quoth John, "whatsoever she orders. This tower
+is well provided with all that she wishes and asks for." Then is
+Fenice right blithe and bids John lead her thither, and John
+makes no demur. Then goes John to open a door, such that I have
+neither skill nor power to tell or describe the fashion of it.
+None save John could have had the skill to make it, nor could any
+one ever have told that there was door or window there, as long
+as the door was not opened, so hidden and concealed was it.
+
+When Fenice saw the door open and the sun which she had not seen
+for a long time shine in, she has all her blood awhirl with joy
+and says that now she seeks nothing more, inasmuch as she can
+come forth out of the hiding-place, and seeks no refuge
+elsewhere. By the door she has entered the orchard, and this
+greatly pleases and delights her. In the midst of the orchard
+there was a grafted tree loaded with flowers and very leafy, and
+it formed a canopy above. The branches were so trained that they
+hung towards the ground and bent almost to the earth, all save
+the top from which they sprang, for that rose straight upwards.
+Fenice desires no other place. And below the grafted tree the
+meadow is very delectable and very fair, nor ever will the sun be
+so high even at noon, when it is hottest, that ever a ray can
+pass that way, so skilled was John to arrange things and to guide
+and train the branches. There Fenice goes to disport herself, and
+all day she makes her couch there; there they are in joy and
+delight. And the orchard is enclosed around with a high wall
+which joins the tower, so that no creature could enter it, unless
+he had climbed to the top of the tower.
+
+Now is Fenice in great delight: there is nought to displease her,
+nor lacks she aught that she could wish, when 'neath the flowers
+and leaves it lists her embrace her lover. At the time when folk
+go hunting with the sparrow-hawk and with the hound, which seeks
+the lark and the stonechat and tracks the quail and the
+partridge, it happened that a knight of Thrace, a young and
+sprightly noble, esteemed for his prowess, had one day gone
+a-hawking quite close beside this tower; Bertrand was the
+knight's name. His sparrow-hawk had soared high, for it had
+missed the lark that was its aim. Now will Bertrand consider
+himself ill served by fate, if he lose his sparrow-hawk. He saw
+it descend and settle below the tower in an orchard, and it
+pleased him much to see this, for now he reckons that he will not
+lose it. Forthwith he goes to scale the wall, and wins to get
+over it. Under the grafted tree he saw Fenice and Cliges sleeping
+together side by side. "God!" quoth he, "what has befallen me?
+What kind of miracle is it that I see? Is it not Cliges? Yea,
+faith. Is not that the empress by his side? Nay, but she
+resembles her, for no other being ever was so like. Such a nose,
+such a mouth, such a brow she has as the empress, my lady, had.
+Never did nature better succeed in making two beings of the same
+countenance. In this lady see I nought that I should not have
+seen in my lady. If she had been alive, truly I should have said
+that it was she." At that moment a pear drops and falls just
+beside Fenice's ear. She starts, awakes, sees Bertrand and cries
+aloud: "Friend, friend, we are lost! Here is Bertrand! If he
+escapes you, we have fallen into an evil trap. He will tell folk
+that he has seen us." Then has Bertrand perceived that it is the
+empress beyond all doubt. Need is there for him to depart, for
+Cliges had brought his sword with him into the orchard, and had
+laid it beside the couch. He springs up and has taken his sword,
+and Bertrand flees swiftly. With all the speed he might he grips
+the wall, and now he was all but over it, when Cliges has come
+after, raises now his sword, and strikes him, so that beneath the
+knee he has cut off his leg as clean as a stalk of fennel.
+Nevertheless, Bertrand has escaped ill-handled and crippled, and
+on the other side he is received by his men, who are beside
+themselves with grief and wrath, when they see him thus maimed;
+they have asked and inquired who it is that had done it to him.
+"Question me not about it," quoth he, "but raise me on my horse.
+Never will this story be recounted till it is told before the
+emperor. He who has done this to me ought not forsooth to be
+without fear--nor is he, for he is nigh to deadly peril." Then
+they have put him on his palfrey, and, mourning, they lead him
+away in great dismay through the midst of the town. After them go
+more than twenty thousand, who follow him to the court. And all
+the people flock there, the one after the other, and the devil
+take the hindmost.
+
+Now has Bertrand made his plea and complaint to the emperor in
+the hearing of all, but they consider him an idle babbler because
+he says that he has seen the empress stark naked. All the town is
+stirred thereat; some, when they hear this news, esteem it mere
+folly, others advise and counsel the emperor to go to the tower.
+Great is the uproar and the tumult of the folk who set out after
+him. But they find nothing in the tower, for Fenice and Cliges
+are on their way, and have taken Thessala with them, who comforts
+and assures them, and says that, even if perchance they see folk
+coming after them who come to take them, they need have no fear
+for aught, for never to do them harm or injury would they come
+within the distance that one could shoot with a strong crossbow
+stretched by windlass.
+
+Now the emperor is in the tower and he has John sought out and
+fetched: he bids that he be tied and bound, and says that he will
+have him hanged or burned and the ashes scattered to the wind.
+For the shame that the emperor has suffered, John shall pay the
+penalty (but it will be a bootless penalty!) because he has
+secreted in his tower the nephew and the wife of the emperor.
+"I'faith you speak the truth," quoth John; "I will not lie in the
+matter; I will stick to the truth throughout, and if I have done
+wrong in any point, right meet is it that I be taken. But on this
+score I could well excuse myself, that a serf ought to refuse
+nought that his rightful lord commands him. And it is known full
+surely that I am his and the tower is his." "Nay, John, rather is
+it thine." "Mine, sire? Truly, as his serf I am not even my own,
+nor have I anything that is mine, save in so far as he grants it
+to me. And if you would say that my lord has done you wrong, I am
+ready to defend him from the charge without his bidding me so to
+do. But the knowledge that I must die makes me bold to speak out
+freely my will and my mind as I have fashioned and moulded it.
+Now, be that as it may be, for if I die for my lord, I shall not
+die in dishonour. Surely without a doubt is known the oath and
+promise that you pledged to your brother, that after you, Cliges,
+who is going away into exile, should be emperor. And if it please
+God, he will yet be emperor. And you are to be blamed for this,
+for you ought not to have taken wife, but all the same you took
+one and wronged Cliges, and he has wronged you in nought. And if
+I am done to death by you and die for him unjustly, if he lives,
+he will avenge my death. Now do your utmost, for if I die, you
+will die too.
+
+Beads of wrath break out on the emperor's brow when he has heard
+the words and the insult that John has uttered against him.
+"John," quoth he, "thou shalt have respite until what time thy
+lord be found, for base has he proved himself towards me, who
+held him right dear, nor thought to defraud him. But thou shalt
+be kept fast in prison. If thou knowest what has become of him,
+tell me straightway, I bid thee." "Tell you? And how should I
+commit so great a treason? Of a surety, I would not betray to you
+my lord, not though you were to rend my life out of my body, if I
+knew it. And besides this, so may God be my guard, I cannot say
+any more than you in what direction they have gone. But you are
+jealous without a cause. Too little do I fear your wrath not to
+tell you truly in the hearing of all how you are deceived, and
+yet I shall never be believed in this matter. By a potion that
+you drank, you were tricked and deceived the night that you
+celebrated your wedding. Never at any time, save when you slept
+and it happened to you in your dreams, did any joy come to you of
+her; but the night made you dream, and the dream pleased you as
+much as if it had happened in your waking hours that she held you
+in her arms; and no other boon came to you from her. Her heart
+clave so straitly to Cliges that for his sake she pretended to be
+dead; and he trusted me so much that he told me and placed her in
+my house, of which he is lord by right. You ought not to lay the
+blame on me for it; I should have merited to be burnt or hanged,
+if I had betrayed my lord and refused to do his will."
+
+When the emperor heard tell of the potion which it delighted him
+to drink, and by which Thessala deceived him, then first he
+perceived that he had never had joy of his wife--well he knew
+it--unless it had happened to him in a dream, and that such joy
+was illusory. He says that, if he take not vengeance for the
+shame and the disgrace brought on him by the traitor who has
+carried off from him his wife, never again will he have joy in
+his life. "Now, quick!" quoth he, "to Pavia, and from there to
+Germany, let neither castle, town, nor city be left where he be
+not sought. He who shall bring them both prisoners will be more
+cherished by me than any other man. Now, set well to work and
+search both up and down and near and far!" Then they start with
+great zeal, and they have spent all the day in searching; but
+Cliges had such friends among them that, if they found the
+lovers, they rather would lead them to a place of refuge than
+bring them back. Throughout a whole fortnight with no small pains
+they have pursued them, but Thessala, who is guiding them, leads
+them so safely by art and by enchantment that they have no fear
+or alarm for all the forces of the emperor. In no town or city do
+they lie, and yet they have whatsoever they wish and desire, as
+good as or better than they are wont to have, for Thessala seeks
+and procures and brings for them whatsoever they wish, and no one
+follows or pursues them, for all have abandoned the quest. But
+Cliges does not delay; he goes to his uncle, King Arthur. He
+sought him till he found him, and has made to him a complaint and
+an outcry against his uncle the emperor, who, in order to
+disinherit him, had taken wife dishonourably, when he should not
+have done so, seeing that he had pledged his word to Cliges'
+father that never in his life would he have a wife. And the king
+says that with a navy will he sail to Constantinople, and fill a
+thousand ships with knights and three thousand with infantry,
+such that nor city nor borough nor town nor castle, however
+strong or high it be, will be able to endure their onset. And
+Cliges has not forgotten to thank the king then and there for the
+aid which he is granting him. The king sends to seek and to
+summon all the high barons of his land, and has ships and boats,
+cutters and barques sought out and equipped. With shields, with
+lances, with targes, and with knightly armour he has a hundred
+ships filled and laden. The king makes so great a preparation to
+wage war that never had even Cesar or Alexander the like. He has
+caused to be summoned and mustered all England and all Flanders,
+Normandy, France, and Brittany, and all tribes, even as far as
+the Spanish passes. Now were they about to put to sea when
+messengers came from Greece, who stayed the expedition and kept
+back the king and his men. With the messengers who came was John,
+who was well worthy to be believed, for he was witness and
+messenger of nought that was not true and that he did not know
+for certain. The messengers were high men of Greece, who were
+seeking Cliges. They sought and asked for him until they found
+him at the court of the king, and they have said to him: "God
+save you, sire. On the part of all the inhabitants of your
+empire, Greece is yielded and Constantinople given to you,
+because of the right that you have to it. Your uncle--as yet you
+know it not--is dead of the grief that he had because he could
+not find you. He had such grief that he lost his senses: never
+afterwards did he either eat or drink, and he died a madman. Fair
+sire, return now hence, for all your barons send for you. Greatly
+do they desire and ask for you, for they will to make you
+emperor." Many there were who were blithe at this message, but on
+the other hand there were man who would gladly have left their
+homes, and who would have been mightily pleased if the host had
+set out for Greece. But the expedition has fallen through
+altogether, for the king sends away his men, and the host
+disperses and returns home. But Cliges hastens and prepares
+himself, for his will is to return into Greece, no care has he to
+tarry longer. He has prepared himself, and has taken leave of the
+king and all his friends: he takes Fenice with him, and they
+depart and do not rest till they are in Greece, where men receive
+him with great joy, as they ought to do their lord, and give him
+his lady-love to wife; they crown them both together. He has made
+his lady-love his wife, but he calls her lady-love and dame, nor
+does she for that cease to be cherished as his lady-love, and she
+cherishes him every whit as much as one ought to cherish one's
+lover. And each day their love grew; never did he mistrust her
+nor chide her for aught. She was never kept in seclusion, as
+those who came after her later have been kept (for henceforth
+there was no emperor who was not afraid lest his wife might
+deceive him, when he heard tell how Fenice deceived Alis, first
+by the potion that he drank and then by the other treason). For
+which reason the empress, whoever she be, be she of never so
+splendid and high degree, is guarded in Constantinople; for the
+emperor trusts her not as long as he remembers Fenice.
+
+
+Here ends the work of Chretien.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+ End of the Project Gutenberg etext of Cliges: A Romance by
+Chretien de Troyes. 
+
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