This is a LibreVox recording. All LibreVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibreVox.org. A vein by Kretien Detroit, translated by WW Comfort. Section 1 Arthur, the good king of Britain, whose prowess teaches us that we too should be brave and courteous, held a rich and royal court upon that precious feast day, which is always known by the name of Pentecost. The court was at Cardwell in Wales. When the meal was finished, the knights betook themselves wither they were summoned by the ladies, damsels, and maidens. Some told stories, others spoke of love, of the trials and sorrows, as well as the great blessings, which often fall to the members of its order, which was rich and flourishing in those days of old. But now its followers are few, having deserted it almost to a man, so that love is much abased, for lovers used to deserve to be considered courteous, brave, generous, and honorable. But now love is a laughing stock, for those who have no intelligence of it assert that they love, and in that they lie. Thus they utter mockery and lie by boasting where they have no right. But let us leave those who are still alive to speak of those of former time. For, I take it, a courteous man, though dead, is worth more than a living maid. So it is my pleasure to relate a matter quite worthy of heed, concerning the king whose fame was such that men still speak of him far and near, and I agree with the opinion of the Bretons that his name will live on forevermore. And in connection with him, we call to mind those goodly chosen knights who spent themselves for honour's sake. But upon this day, of which I speak, great was their astonishment at seeing the king quit their presence, and there were some who felt chagrined and who did not mince their words, never before having seen the king, on the occasion of such a feast, enter his own chamber either to sleep or to seek repose. But this day it came about that the queen detained him, and he remained so long at her side that he forgot himself and fell asleep. Outside the chamber door were Dodonel, Sagremore, and Kay, my Lord Gawain, my Lord of Aime, and with them Callagranet, a very comely knight, who had begun to tell them a tale, though it was not to his credit, but rather to his shame. The queen could hear him as he told his tale, and rising from beside the king, she came upon them so stealthily that before any caught sight of her, she had fallen, as it were, right in their midst. Callagranet alone jumped up quickly when he saw her come. Then Kay, who was very quarrelsome, mean, sarcastic, and abusive, said to him, By the Lord Callagranet, I see you are very bold and forward now, and certainly it pleases me to see you the most courteous of us all.  And of course it is natural that my lady should suppose that you surpass us all in courtesy and bravery. We failed to rise through sloth for sooth, or because we did not care. Upon my word it is not so, my Lord, but we did not see my lady until you had risen first. Really Kay, the queen then says, I think you would burst if you could not pour out the poison of which you are so full. You are troublesome and mean thus to annoy your companions. Lady, says Kay, if we are not better for your company, at least let us not lose by it. I am not aware that I said anything for which I ought to be accused, and so I pray you say no more. It is impolite and foolish to keep up a feigned dispute. This argument should go no further, nor should anyone try to make more of it. But since there must be no more high words, command him to continue the tale he had begun. Thereupon Callaghanath prepares to reply in this fashion, My Lord, little do I care about the quarrel which matters little and affects me not. If you have vented your scorn on me, I shall never be harmed by it. You have often spoken insultingly, my Lord Kay, to braver and better men than I, for you are given to this kind of thing. The manure pile will always stink, and gadflies sting, and bees will hung, and so a bore will torment and make a nuisance of himself. However, with my ladies leave, I'll not continue my tale today. I beg her say no more about it, and kindly not give me any unwelcome command. Lady, says Kay, all those who are here will be in your debt, for they are desirous to hear it out. Don't do it as a favour to me, but by the faith you owe the king, your Lord and mine, command him to continue, and you will do well. Callaghanath, the queen then says, do not mind the attack of my Lord Kay the Seneshaw. He is so accustomed to evil speech that one cannot punish him for it. I command and request you not to be angered because of him, nor should you fail on his account to say something which it will please us all to hear. If you wish to preserve my goodwill, pray, begin the tale anew. Surely, lady, it is a very unwelcome command you lay upon me. Rather than tell any more of my tale today, I would have one eye plucked out if I did not fear your displeasure. Yet will I perform your behest, however distasteful it may be. Then, since you will have it so, give heed. Let your heart and ears be mine, for words, though heard, are lost unless understood within the heart. Some men there are who give consent to what they hear, but do not understand. These men have the hearing alone. For the moment the heart fails to understand, the words fall upon the ears simply as the wind that blows, without stopping to tarry there. However, it quickly passes on if the heart is not so awake as to be ready to receive it. For the heart alone can receive it when it comes along and shut it up within. The ears are the path and channel by which the voice can reach the heart, while the heart receives within the bosom the voice which enters through the ear. Now, whoever will heed my words must surrender to me his heart and ears, for I am not going to speak of a dream, an idle tale, or lie, with which many another has regaled you, but rather shall I speak of what I saw. It happened seven years ago that, lonely as a countryman, I was making my way in search of adventures, fully armed as the night should be, when I came upon a road leading off to the right into a thick forest. The road there was very bad, full of briars and thorns. In spite of the trouble and inconvenience, I followed the road and path. Almost the entire day I went thus riding, until I emerged from the forest of Pritchellians. Out from the forest I passed into the open country, where I saw a wooden tower at the distance of half a well-sleep. It may have been so far, but it was not any more. Proceeding faster than a walk, I drew near and saw the palisade and moat all rounded, deep and wide, and standing upon the bridge, with a molted falcon upon his wrist, I saw the master of the castle. I had no sooner saluted him than he came forward to hold my stirrup and invite me to dismount. I did so, for it was useless to deny I was in need of a lodging-place. Then he told me more than a hundred times at once that blessed was the road by which I had come thither. Meanwhile, we crossed the bridge, and passing through the gate, found ourselves in the courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard of this Vavasor, to whom may God repay such joy and honour as he bestowed upon me that night, there hung a gong, not of iron or wood, I trow, but all of copper. Upon this gong the Vavasor struck three times with a hammer, which hung on a post close by. Those who were upstairs in the house, upon hearing his voice and the sound, came out into the yard below. Some took my horse, which the good Vavasor was holding, and I saw coming toward me a very fair and gentle maid. On looking at her narrowly, I saw she was tall and slim and straight, skillful she was in disarming me, which she did gently and with a dress. Then, when she had rode me in a short mantle of scarlet stuff, spotted with a peacock's plumes, all the others left us there, so that she and I remained alone. This pleased me well, for I needed not else to look upon.  There I found her so elegant, so fair of speech and so well informed of such pleasing manners and character, that it was a delight to be there, and I could have wished never to be compelled to move. But as ill luck would have it, when night came on, and the time for supper had arrived, the Vavasor came to look for me. No more delay was possible, so I complied with his request. For the supper I will only say that it was all after my heart, seeing that the damsel took her seat at the table just in front of me. After the supper, the Vavasor admitted to me that, though he had lodged many an air of night, he knew not how long it had been since he had welcomed one in search of adventure. Then, as a favour, he begged of me to return by way of his residence, if I could make it possible. So I said to him, right gladly, Sire, for a refusal would have been impolite, and that was the least I could do for such a host. That night indeed I was well lodged, and as soon as the morning light appeared, I found my steed ready-saddled, as I had requested the night before. Thus my request was carried out. My kind host and his dear daughter and I commended to the Holy Spirit, and, after taking leave of all, I got away as soon as possible. I had not proceeded far from my stopping-place when I came to a clearing, where there were some wild bulls at large. They were fighting among themselves and making such a dreadful and horrible noise that if the truth be known, I drew back in fear, for there is no be so fierce and dangerous as a bull. I saw sitting upon a stump, with a great club in his hand, a rustic lout, as black as a mulberry, indescribably big and hideous.   His beard was black and his whiskers twisted, his chin merged into his chest, and his backbone was long, but twisted and hunched. There he stood, leaning upon his club and accoutred in a strange garb, consisting not of cotton or wool, but rather of the hides recently flayed from two bulls or two bees. These he wore hanging from his neck. The fellow leaped up straight away when he saw me drawing near. I do not know whether he was going to strike me or what he intended to do, but I was prepared to stand him off until I saw him stop and stand stock still upon a tree trunk where he stood, full seventeen feet in height. Then he gazed at me but spoke not a word, any more than a beast would have done, and I suppose that he had not his senses or was drunk. However, I made bold to say to him, Come, let me know whether thou art a creature of good or not. And he replied, I am a man. What kind of men art thou? Such as thou cease me to be, I am by no means otherwise. What dost thou here? I was here, tending these cattle in this wood. Were thou really tending them? By Saint Peter of Rome, they know not the command of any man. I guess one cannot possibly guard wild beasts in a plain or wood or anywhere else unless they are tied or confined inside. Well, I tend and have control of these beasts so that they will never leave this neighborhood. How dost thou do that? Come, tell me now. There is not one of them that dares to move when they see me coming, for when I can get a hold of one I give its two horns such a wrench with my hard strong hands that the others tremble with fear and gather at once round about me as if to ask for mercy. No one could venture here but me, for if he should go among them he would be straight away done to death. In this way I am master of my beasts. And now thou must tell me in turn what kind of a man thou art and what thou seekest here. I am, as thou seeest, a knight seeking for what I cannot find. Long have I sought without success. And what is this thou feign which find? Some adventure whereby to test my prowess and my bravery. Now I beg and urgently request thee to give me some counsel, if possible, concerning some adventure or marvelous thing. Says he. Thou wilt have to do with that, for I know nothing of adventure, nor did I ever hear tell of such. But if thou wouldst go to a certain spring here, hard by, and should comply with the practice there, thou wouldst not easily come back again. Close by here thou can easily find a path which will lead thee thither. If thou wouldst go right, follow the straight path, otherwise thou mayst easily go astray among the many other paths. Thou shalt see the spring which boils, though the water is colder than marble. It is shadowed by the fairest tree that ever nature formed, for its foliage is ever green, regardless of the winter's cold, and an iron basin is hanging there by a chain long enough to reach the spring. And beside the spring, thou shalt find a massive stone, as thou shalt see, but whose nature I cannot explain, never having seen its like. On the other side, a chapel stands, small, but very beautiful. If thou wilt take of the water in the basin, and spill it upon the stone, thou shalt see such a storm come up, that not a beast will remain within this wood. Every doe, star, deer, boar, and bird will issue forth, for thou shalt see such lightning bolts descend, such blowing of gales and crashing of trees, such torrents fall, such thunder and lightning, that, if thou canst escape from them without trouble and mischance, thou wilt be more fortunate than ever any night was yet. I left the fellow then, after he had pointed out the way. It must have been after nine o'clock, and might have been drawing on toward noon, when I aspired the tree in the chapel. I can truly say that this tree was the finest pine that ever grew on earth. I do not believe that it ever rained so hard, that a drop of water could penetrate it, but would rather drip from the outer branches. From the tree I saw the basin hanging, of the finest gold that was ever for sale in any fair. As for the spring, you may take my word that it was boiling like hot water. The stone was of emerald, with holes in it like a cask, and there were four rubies underneath, more radiant and red than is the morning sun when it rises in the east. Now not one word will I say which is not true. I wish to see the marvelous appearing of the tempest and the storm, but therein I was not wise, for I would gladly have repented, if I could, when I had sprinkled the perforated stone with the water from the basin. But I fear I poured too much, for straight away I saw the heavens so break loose, that for more than fourteen directions the lightning blinded my eyes, and all at once the clouds let fall, snow and rain and hail. The storm was so fierce and terrible, that a hundred times I thought I should be killed by the bolts which fell about me, and by the trees which were rent apart. Know that I was in great distress until the uproar was appeased, but God gave me such comfort that the storm did not continue long, and all the winds died down again. The winds dared not blow against God's will, and when I saw the air clear and serene I was filled with joy again, for I have observed that joy quickly causes trouble to be forgot. As soon as the storm was completely passed I saw so many birds gathered in the pine tree, if anyone will believe my words, that not a branch or twig was to be seen, which was not entirely covered with birds. The tree was all the more lovely then, for all the birds sang in harmony, yet the note of each was different, so that I never heard one singing another's note. I too rejoiced in their joyousness, and listened to them until they had sung their service through, for I have never heard such happy song, nor do I think anyone else will hear it, unless he goes to listen to what filled me with such joy and bliss that I was lost in rapture. I stayed there until I heard some nights coming, as I thought it seemed that there must be ten of them. But all the noise and commotion was made by the approach of a single night. When I saw him coming on alone I quickly caught my seat and made no delay in mounting him, and the night, as if with evil intent, came on swifter than an eagle, looking as fierce as a lion. From as far as his voice could reach, he began to challenge me and said, Vassal, without provocation you have caused me shame and harm. If there was any quarrel between us, you should first have challenged me, or at least sought justice before attacking me. But, sir Vassal, if it be within my power, upon you shall fall the punishment for the damage which is evident. About me here lies the evidence of my woods destroyed. He who has suffered has the right to complain, and I have good reason to complain that you have driven me from my house with lightning bolt and rain. You have made trouble for me, and cursed be he who thinks it fair. For within my own woods in town you have made such an attack upon me that resources of men of arms and fortifications would have been of no avail to me. No man could have been secure even if he had been in a fortress of solid stone and wood. But be assured that from this moment there shall be neither truce nor peace between us. At these words we rushed together, each one holding his shield well gripped and covered himself with it. The knight had a good horse and a stout lance, and was doubtless a whole head taller than I. Thus I was all together at a disadvantage, even shorter than he, while his horse was stronger than mine. You may be sure that I will tell the facts in order to cover up my shame. With intent to do my best I dealt him as hard a blow as I could give, striking the top of his shield, and I put all my strength into it with such a fact that my lance flew all to splinters. His lance remained in tire, being very heavy and bigger than any knight's lance I ever saw. And the knight struck me with it so heavily that he knocked me over my horse's cupper and laid me flat upon the ground, where he left me ashamed and exhausted, without bestowing another glance upon me. He took my horse, but me he left, and started back the way he came, and I, who knew not what to do, remained there in pain and with troubled thoughts. Seating myself beside the spring, I rested there awhile, not daring to follow after the knight for fear of committing some rash act of madness. And indeed, had I had the courage, I knew not what had become of him. Finally, it occurred to me that I would keep my promise to my host and would return by way of his dwelling. This idea pleased me, and so I did. I laid off all my arms in order to proceed more easily, and thus with shame I retraced my steps. When I reached his home that night, I found my host to be the same good-natured and courteous man as I had before discovered him to be. I could not observe that either his daughter or he himself welcomed me any less gladly, or did me any less honour, than they had done the night before. I am indebted to them for the great honour they all did me in that house, and they even said that, so far as they knew, or had heard tell, no one had ever escaped, without being killed or kept a prisoner from the place whence I returned. Thus I went, and thus I returned, feeling, as I did so, deeply ashamed. So I have foolishly told you the story which I never wished to tell again. By my head, cries my lord of Aime, you are my own cousin German, and we ought to love each other well, but I must consider you as mad to have concealed this for me for so long.  It is evident that we have dined, says Kay, with his ever-ready speech. There are more words in a pot full of wine than in a whole barrel of beer. They say that the calf is merry when full. After dinner no one stirs, but each one is ready to slay noradin, and you will take vengeance on foray. Are your saddle clothes ready stuffed and your iron greaves polished and your banners unfurled? Come now, in God's name, my lord of Aime. Is it tonight or tomorrow that you start? Tell us, fair sire, when you will start for this rude test, for we with Aime convey you thither. There will be no provost or constable who will not gladly escort you, and, however it may be, I beg that you will not go without taking leave of us. And if you have a bad dream tonight, by all means, stay at home. The devil, sir Kay, the queen replies. Are you beside yourself that your tongue always runs on so?   Damn be any tongue that never ceases to speak ill. As for your tongue, it babbles so that it makes you hated everywhere. It cannot do you greater treachery. See here, if it were mine, I would accuse it of treason. Any man that cannot be cured by punishment ought to be tied like a madman in front of the chancel in the church. Really, madam, says my lord of Aime, his impudence matters not to me. In every court my lord Kay has so much ability, knowledge and worth that he will never be deaf or dumb. He has the wit to reply wisely and courteously to all that is mean, and this he has always done. You well know if I lie in saying so. But I have no desire to dispute or to begin our foolishness again. For he who deals the first blow does not always win the fight, but rather he who gains revenge. He who fights with his companion had better fight against some stranger. I do not wish to be like the hound that stiffens up and growls when another dog yaps at him. While they were talking thus, the king came out of his room where he had been all this time asleep, and when the night saw him, they all sprang to their feet before him, but he made them and once sit down again. He took his place beside the queen, who repeated to him word for word with her customary skill, the story of Calogernond. The king listened eagerly to it, and then he swore three mighty oaths by the soul of his father, Uther Pendragon, and by the soul of his son, and of his mother too, that he would go to see that spring before a fortnight should have passed, and he would see the storm and the marvels there on the eve of my lord St. John the Baptist's feast. There he would spend the night, and all who wished might accompany him. All the court thought well of this, for the knights and the young bachelors were very eager to make the expedition, but despite the general joy and satisfaction, my lord of vain was much chagrined, for he intended to go there all alone, so he was grieved and much put out because of the king who planned to go. The chief cause of his displeasure was that he knew that my lord K, to whom the favor would not be refused if he should solicit it, would secure the battle rather than he himself, or else perchance my lord Gawain who first asked for it. If either one of these two should make request, the favor would never be refused him. But, having no desire for their company, he resolves not to wait for them, but to go off alone, if possible, whether it be to his gain or hurt, and whoever may stay behind. He intends to be on the third day in the forests of Recheliand, and there to seek, if possibly he may find, the narrow wooded path for which he yearns eagerly, and the plain with a strong castle, and the pleasure and delight of the courteous damsel, who is so charming and fair, and with the damsel, her worthy sire, who is so honorable and nobly born that he strives to dispense honour. Then he will see the bulls in the clearing with the giant boar who watches them.  Then too he will see, if possible, the stone and the spring itself, and the basin and the birds and the pine tree, and he will make it rain and blow. But of all this he will not boast, nor, if he can help it, shall anyone know of his purpose until he shall have received from it either great humiliation or great renown, then let the facts be known. My lord of Vane gets away from the court without anyone meeting him, and proceeds alone to his lodging place. There he found all his household and gave orders to have his horse saddled.  I shall go out at once through yonder gate upon my palfry. For thy part do not delay, for I have a long road to travel. Have my steed well shod and bring him quickly where I am. Then shall thou lead back my palfry. But take good care, I adjure thee, if anyone questions thee about me to give him no satisfaction. Otherwise, whatever thy confidence in me, thou need never again count on my good will. Sire, he says, All will be well, for no one shall learn anything from me. Perceive, and I shall follow you. Avain, by Kretien Detroit, translated by WW Comfort, Section 2 My lord Avain mounts it once, intending to avenge, if possible, his cousin's disgrace before he returns. The squire ran for the arms and steed. He mounted it once without delay, since he was already equipped with shoes and nails. Then he followed his master's track until he saw him standing mounted, waiting to one side of the road in a place apart. He brought him his harness and equipment, and then accretured him. My lord Avain made no delay after putting on his arms, but hastily made his way each day over the mountains and through the valleys, through the forests long and wide, through strange and wild country, passing through many gruesome spots, many a danger and many a strait, until he came directly to the path which was full of brambles and dark enough. Then he felt he was safe at last, and could not now lose his way. Whoever may have to pay the cost, he will not stop until he sees the pine which shades the spring and stone, and the tempest of hail and rain and thunder and wind. That night, you may be sure, he had such lodging as he desired, for he found the Vavasor to be even more polite and courteous than he had been told, and in the damsel he perceived a hundred times more sense and beauty than Calogrenant had spoken of, for one cannot rehearse the sum of a lady's or a good man's qualities. The moment such a man devotes himself to virtue, his story cannot be summed up or told, for no tongue could estimate the honorable deeds of such a gentleman. My lord Avain was well content with the excellent lodging he had that night, and when he entered the clearing the next day, he met the bulls in the rustic bore who showed him the way to take, but more than a hundred times he crossed himself at the sight of the monster before him, how nature had ever been able to form such a hideous, ugly creature. Then to the spring he made his way, and found there all that he wished to see.  And when God had appeased the storm, the birds came to perch upon the pine, and sang their joyous songs up above the perilous spring. But before their jubilee had ceased, there came the night, more blazing with wrath than a burning log, and making as much noise as if he were chasing a lusty sag. As soon as they aspired each other, they rushed together and displayed the mortal hate they bore. Each one carried a stiff, stout lance, with which they dealt such mighty blows that they pierced the shields about their necks and cut the meshes of their halbergs. Their lances are splintered and sprung, while the fragments are cast high in air. Then each attacks the other with his sword, and in the strife they cut the straps of the shields away, and cut the shields all to bits from end to end, so that the shreds hang down, no longer serving as covering or defense, for they have so split them up that they bring down the gleaming blades upon their sides, their arms and hips. Fierce indeed is their assault, yet they do not budge from their standing place any more than would two blocks of stone. Never were their two knights so intent upon each other's death. They are careful not to waste their blows, but lay them on as best they may. They strike and bend their helmets, and they send the meshes of their halbergs flying so that they draw not a little blood, for the halbergs are so hot with their body's heat that they hardly serve as more protection than a coat. As they drive the sword-point to the face, it is marvelous that so fierce and bitter a strike should last so long. But both are possessive such a courage that one would not, for ought, retreat a foot before his adversary until he had wounded him to death. Yet, in this respect, they were very honorable in not trying or dating to strike or harm their steeds in any way, but they sat astride their steeds without putting foot to earth, which made the fight more elegant.  Beneath his kerchief, his head was split to the very brains, so that the meshes of his bright halberg were stained with the brains and blood, all of which caused him such intense pain that his heart almost ceased to beat. He had good reason then to flee, for he felt that he had a mortal wound, and that further resistance would not avail. With this thought in mind, he quickly made his escape towards his town, where the bridge was lowered and the gate quickly opened for him. Meanwhile, my lord of vain, at once spurs after him at topmost speed. As a gerfalkin swoops upon a crane when he sees him rising from afar and then draws so near to him that he is about to seize him, yet misses him, so flees the knight, with a vein pressing him so close that he can almost throw his arms about him, and yet cannot quite come up with him, though he is so close that he can hear him groan for the pain he feels. While the one exerts himself in flight, the other strives in pursuit of him, fearing to have wasted his effort unless he takes him alive or dead, for he still recalls the mocking words which my lord Kay had addressed to him. He had not yet carried out the pledge which he had given to his cousin, nor will they believe his word unless he returns with the evidence. The knight led him a rapid chase to the gate of his town, where they entered in, but finding no man or woman in the streets through which they passed, they both rode swiftly on till they came to the palace gate. The gate was very high and very wide, yet it had such a narrow entrance way that two men or two horses could scarcely enter a breast or pass without interference or great difficulty, for it was constructed just like a trap which is set for the rat on mischief bent, and which has a blade above ready to fall and strike and catch, and which is suddenly released whenever anything, however gently, comes in contact with the spring. In like fashion, beneath the gate there were two springs connected with a portcullus up above, edged with iron and very sharp. If anything stepped upon this contrivance, the gate descended from above, and whoever below was struck by the gate was caught and mangled. Precisely in the middle the passage lay as narrow as if it were a beaten track. Straight through it exactly the knight rushed on, with my lord of vein madly following him apace, and so close to him that he held him by the saddle-bow behind. It was well for him that he was stretched forward, for had it not been for this piece of luck he would have been cut quite through, for his horse stepped upon the wooden spring which kept the portcullus in place. Like a hellish devil the gate dropped down, catching the saddle and the horse's haunches, which it cut off clean. But, thank God, my lord of veins only slightly touched when it grazed his back so closely that it cut both his spurs off even with his heels. And while he thus fell into smay, the other with his mortal wound escaped him, as you now shall see. Farther on there was another gate, just like the one they had just passed. Through this the knight made his escape, and the gate descended behind him. Thus my lord of veins was caught, very much concerned and discomfited as he finds himself shut in this hallway, which was all studded with gilded nails, and whose walls were cunningly decorated with precious paints. But about nothing was he so worried as not to know what had become of the knight. While he was in this narrow place, he heard open the door of a little adjoining room, and there came forth alone a fair and charming maiden who closed the door again after her. When she found my lord of veins, at first she was sore and dismayed. Surely sir knight, she says, I fear you have come in an evil hour. If you are seen here, you will be all cut to pieces, for my lord is mortally wounded, and I know it is you who have been the death of him.  But as yet their grief is such that they are unable to attend to you.  And my lord of veins replies to her, if God will, they shall never kill me, nor shall I fall into their hands. No, she says, for I shall do my utmost to assist you. It is not manly to cherish fear, so I hold you to be a man of courage, when you are not dismayed, and rest assured that if I could, I would help you and treat you honorably, as you in turn would do for me. Once my lady sent me on an errand to the king's court, and I suppose I was not so experienced or courteous, or so well-behaved as a maiden ought to be. At any rate, there was not a knight there who deigned to say a word to me, except you alone, who stand here now. But you, in your kindness, honored and aided me. For the honor you did me then, I shall now reward you. I know full well what your name is. I recognize you at once. Your name is my lord of vein. You may be sure and certain, that if you take my advice, you will never be caught or treated ill. Please take this little ring of mine, which you will return when I shall have delivered you. Then she handed him the little ring, and told him that its effect was like that of the bark that covers the wood, so that it cannot be seen. But it must be worn so that the stone is within the palm. Then he who wears the ring upon his finger need have no concern for anything. For no one, however sharp his eyes may be, will be able to see him any more than the wood which is covered by the outside bark. All this is pleasing to my lord of vein. And when she had told him this, she led him to a seat upon a couch, covered with a quilt so rich that the Duke of Austria had none such. And she told him that if he cared for something to eat, she would fetch it for him. And he replied that he would gladly do so. Running quickly into the chamber, she presently returned, bringing a roasted fowl and a cake, a cloth, a full pot of good grape wine covered with a white drinking cup. All this she offered to him to eat. And he who stood in need of food very gladly ate and drank.  Then the damsel said to a vein, Friend, do you hear them all seeking you? There is a great noise and uproar brewing. But whoever may come or go do not stir for any noise of theirs, for they can never discover you if you do not move from this couch. Presently you will see this room all full of ill-disposed and hostile people who will think to find you here. And I make no doubt that they will bring the body here before interment, and they will begin to search for you under the seats and the beds. It will be amusing for a man who is not afraid when he sees people searching so fruitlessly, for they will all be so blind, so undone, and so misguided that they will be beside themselves with rage. I cannot tell you more just now for I dare no longer tarry here. But I may thank God for giving me the chance and the opportunity to do some service to please you as I yearn to do. Then she turned away and when she was gone all the crowd with one accord had come from both sides of the gates, armed with clubs and swords. There was a mighty crowd and press of hostile people surging about. When they aspired in front of the gate the half of the horse which had been cut down. Then they felt very sure that when the gates were opened they would find inside him whose life they wished to take. Then they causally drawn up those gates which had been the death of many men. But since no spring or trap was laid for their passage they all came through a breast. Then they found at the threshold the other half of the horse that had been killed. But none of them had sharpened their eyes to see my Lord of Aime whom they would gladly have killed. And he saw them beside themselves with rage and fury as they said, How can this be? For there is no door or window here through which anything could escape unless it be a bird, a squirrel, or a marmot or some other even smaller animal. For the windows are barred and the gates were closed as soon as my Lord passed through. The body is in here, dead or alive, since there is no sign of it outside there. We can see no more than half of the saddle in here. But of him we see nothing except the spurs which fell down severed from his feet.  Thus they all, a flame with rage sought him about the room beating upon the walls and beds and seats but the couch upon which he lay was spared and missed the blows so that he was not struck or touched. But all about they thrashed enough and raised an uproar in the room with their clubs like a blind man who pounds as he goes about his search. While they were poking about under the beds and the soles there entered one of the most beautiful ladies that any earthly creature ever saw. Word or mention was never made of such a fair Christian dame and yet she was so crazed with grief that she was on the point of taking her life. All at once she cried out at the top of her voice and then fell prostrated in a swoon and when she had been picked up she began to claw herself and tear her hair like a woman who has lost her mind. She tears her hair and rips her dress and faints at every step she takes nor can anything comfort her when she sees her husband born along lifeless in the fire for her happiness is at an end and so she made her loud lament. The holy water and the crosses and the tapers were born in advance then came missiles and sensors in the priests who pronounced the final absolution required for the wretched soul. My Lord of Vain heard the cries and the grief that can never be described for no one could describe it nor was such ever set down in a book. The procession passed but in the middle of the room a great crowd gathered around the buyer for the fresh warm blood trickled out again from the dead man's wound and this betokened certainly that the man was still surely present who had fought the battle and had killed and defeated him. Then they sought and searched everywhere and turned and stirred up everything until they were all in a sweat with the trouble and the press which had been caused by the sight of the trickling crimson blood. Then my Lord of Vain was well struck and beaten where he lay but not for that did he stir it all and the people became more and more distraught because of the wounds which burst open and they marveled why they bled without knowing whose fault it was and each one to his neighbor said the murderer is among us here and yet we do not see him which is passing strange and mysterious. At this the lady showed such grief that she made an attempt on her life and cried as if aside herself oh God then will the murderer not be found the traitor who took my good Lord's life good I the best of the good indeed true God thine will be the fault of thou dost let him thus escape no other man than thou should I blame for it who just hide him from my sight such a wonder was never seen nor such injustice as thou dost to me in not allowing me even to see the man who must be so close to me when I cannot see him I may well say that some demon or spirit has interposed himself between us so that I am under his spell or else he is a coward and is afraid of me he must be a craven to stand in awe of me and it is an act of cowardice not to show himself before me ah thou spirit craven why art thou so in fear of me when before my Lord thou wert so brave oh empty and elusive thing why cannot I have thee in my power why cannot I lay hands upon thee now but how could it ever come about that thou didst kill my Lord unless it was done by treachery surely my Lord would never have met defeat of thy hands hath he seen thee face to face for neither God nor man ever knew of his life nor is there any like him now surely hath thou been immortal man thou which never have dared to withstand my Lord for no one could compare with him thus the lady struggles with herself and thus she contends and exhausts herself and her people with her for their part show the greatest possible grief as they carry off the body to burial after their long efforts in search they are completely exhausted by the quest and give it up from weariness in as much as they can find no one who is in any way guilty the nuns and priests having already finished the service had returned from the church and were gone to the burial but to all this the damsel and her chamber paid no heed her thoughts are with my Lord of Aen and coming quickly she said to him the people have been seeking you in force they have raised a great tumult here and have poked about in all the corners more diligently than a hunting dog goes ferreting a partridge or a quail doubtless you have been afraid upon my word you are right says he I never thought to be so afraid and yet if it were possible I should gladly look out through some window or aperture at the procession in the corpse yet he had no interest in either the corpse or the procession for he would gladly have seen them all burned even had it cost him a thousand marks a thousand marks three thousand verily upon my word but he said it because of the lady of the town of whom he wished to catch a glimpse so the damsel placed him a little window and repaid him as well as she could for the honour which he had done her from this window my Lord of Aen despised the fair lady as she says sire may God have mercy upon your soul for never I verily believe did any night ever sit in saddle who was your equal in any respect no other night my fair sweet Lord ever possessed your honour or courtesy generosity was your friend boldness your companion may your soul rest among the saints my fair dear Lord then she strikes and tears whatever she can lay her hands upon whatever the outcome may be it is hard for my Lord of Aen to restrain himself from running forward to seize her hands but the damsel begs and advises him and even urgently commands him though with courtesy and graciousness not to commit any rash deeds saying you are well off here do not stir for any cause until this grief shall be assuaged let these people all depart as they will do presently if you act as I advise in accordance with my views great advantage may come to you it will be best for you to remain seated here and watch the people inside and out as they pass along the way without their seeing you but take care not to speak violently for I hold that man to be rather imperdent than brave who goes too far and loses strength and commits some deed of violence the moment he has the time and chance so if you cherish some rash thought be careful not to utter it the wise may conceal his imprudent thought and works out righteousness if he can so wisely take good care not to risk your head for which they would accept no ransom be considerate of yourself and remember my advice rest assured until I return for I dare not stay longer now I might stay so long I fear that they would suspect me when they did not see me in the crowd and then I should suffer for it then she goes off and he remains not knowing how to comport himself he is loath to see them bury the corpse without his securing anything to take back his evidence that he has defeated and killed him if he has no proof for evidence he will be held in contempt for K is so mean and obstinate so given to mockery and so annoying that he could never succeed in convincing him he would go about forever insulting him flinging his mockery and taunts as he did the other day these taunts are still fresh and rankling in his heart but with her sugar and honey a new love now softened him he had been to hunt upon his lands and had gathered in his prey he carries off his heart and he loves the creature who hates him most the lady, all unaware has well avenged her lord's death she has secured greater revenge than she could ever have done unless she had been aided by love who attacks him so gently that he wounds his heart through his eyes and this wound is more enduring than any inflicted by lance or sword a sword blow is cured at once as soon as a doctor attends to it but the wound of love is worst when it is nearest to its position this is the wound of my lord of aim from which he will never more recover for love has installed himself with him he deserts and goes away from the places he was wont to frequent he cares for no lodging or landlord save this one and he is very wise in leaving the lodging place in order to but take himself to him in order to devote himself completely to him he will have no other lodging place though often he is wont to seek out lowly hostilities it is a shame that love should ever so basically conduct himself as to select the meanest lodging place quite as readily is the best but now he has come where he is welcome and where he will be treated honorably this is the way love ought to act being such a noble creature that is marvelous how he dares shamefully to descend such low estate he is like him who spreads his balm upon the ashes and dust who mingles sugar with gall and sewage with honey however he did not act so this time but rather lodged in a noble place for which no one can reproach him when the dead man had been buried all the people dispersed leaving no clerks or knights or ladies excepting only her who makes no secret of her grief she alone remains behind often clutching at her throat wringing her hands and beating her palms as she reads her psalms and her guilt lettered Psalter all this while my lord evades at the window gazing at her the more he looks at her the more he loves her and is enthralled by her he would have wished that she should cease her weeping and reading and that she should feel inclined to converse with him love who caught him at the window filled him with this desire but he despairs of realizing his wish for he cannot imagine or believe that his desire can be gratified so he says I may consider myself a fool but I cannot have her lord it was whom I wounded mortally and yet do I think I can be reconciled with her upon my word such thoughts are folly for at present she has good reason to hate me more bitterly than anything I am right in saying at present for a woman has more than one mind that mind in which she is just now I trust she will soon change indeed she will change it certainly and I am mad thus to despair God grant that she change it soon for I am doomed to be her slave since such is the will of love whoever does not welcome love gladly when he comes to him commits treason and a felony I admit and let whosoever will heed what I say that such a one deserves no happiness or joy but if I lose me for such a reason rather will I love my enemy for I ought not to feel any hate for her unless I wish to betray love I must love in accordance with love's desire and ought she to regard me as a friend yes surely since it is she whom I love and I call her my enemy for she hates me though with good reason for I killed the object of her love so then am I her enemy? surely no but her true friend for I never so loved anyone before I grieve for her fair tresses surpassing gold in their radiance I feel the pangs of anguish and torment when I see her tear and cut them nor can her tears air be dry which I see falling from her eyes by all these things I am distressed whether full of ceaseless ever flowing tears yet never were there such lovely eyes the sight of her weeping causes me agony but nothing pains me so much as the sight of her face which she lacerates without it having merited such treatment I never saw such a face so perfectly formed nor so fresh and delicately colored and then it has pierced my heart to see her clutch her throat surely it is all too true that she is doing the worst she can and yet no crystal nor any mirror is so bright and smooth God, why is she thus possessed and why does she not spare herself why does she bring her lovely hands and beat and tear her breast would she not be marvelously fair to look upon when in happy mood seeing that she is so fair in her displeasure surely yes, I can take my oath on that never before in a work of beauty was nature thus able to outdo herself for I am sure she has gone beyond the limits of any previous attempt how could it ever have happened then whence came beauty so marvelous God must have made her with his naked hand that nature might rest from further toil if she should try to make a replica she might spend her time in vain without succeeding in her task even God himself for he to try could not succeed I guess in ever making such another whatever effort he might put forth end of section 2 this is a labor box recording all labor box recordings are in the public domain for further information or to volunteer please visit laborbox.org a vein by cretine detroit translated by W. W. Comfort section 3 thus my lord a vein considers her who is broken with her greed and I suppose it would never happen again that any man in prison like my lord a vein in fear for his life would ever be so madly in love as to make no request on his own behalf when perhaps no one else will speak for him he stayed at the window till he saw the lady go away and both the portcullises were lowered again another might have grieved at this who would prefer a free escape to tarrying longer where he was but to him it is quite indifferent whether they be shot or opened if they were open he surely would not go away even were the lady to give him leave and pardon him freely for the death of her lord for he is detained by love and shame which rise up before him on either hand he is ashamed to go away for no one would believe in the success of his exploit on the other hand he has such strong desire to see the lady at least if he cannot obtain any other favor that he feels little concerned about his imprisonment he would rather die than go away and now the damsel returns wishing to bear him company with her solace and gaiety and to go and fetch for him whatever he may desire but she found him pensive and quite worn out with the love which had laid hold of him where upon she addressed him thus my lord of aim what sort of a time have you had today I have been pleasantly occupied with his reply pleasantly in God's name is that the truth what how can one enjoy himself seeing that he is hunted to death unless he courts and wishes it of a truth he says my gentle friend I should by no means wish to die and yet as God beholds me I was pleased am pleased now and always shall be pleased as I saw well let us say no more of that she makes reply for I can understand well enough what is the meaning of such words I am not so foolish or inexperienced that I cannot understand such words as those but come now after me for I shall find some speedy means to release you from your confinement I shall surely set you free tonight or tomorrow if you please come now I need you away and thus he makes reply you may be sure that I will never escape secretly in like a thief when the people are all gathered out there in the streets I can go forth more honorably than if I did so surreptitiously then he follows her into the little room and the damsel who was kind secured and bestowed upon him all that he desired and when the opportunity arose she remembered what he had said to her how he had been pleased by what he saw when they were seeking him in the room with intent to kill him the damsel stood in such favor with her lady that she had no fear of telling her anything regardless of the consequences for she was her confidant and companion then why should she be backward in comforting her lady and in giving her advice which should read down to her honor the first time she said to her privately my lady I greatly marvel to see you act so extravagantly do you think you can recover your lord by giving away thus to your greed nay rather if I had my wish says she I would now be dead of grief and why in order to follow after him after him God forbid you again as good a lord as is consistent with his might thou didst never speak such a lie as that for he could never give me so good a lord again he will give you a better one if you will accept him and I can prove it be gone peace I shall never find such a one indeed you shall my lady if you will consent just tell me if you will who is going to defend your land when King Arthur comes next week to the margin of the spring you have already been apprised of this by letter sent to you by the damacelle salage alas what a kind service she did for you you ought to be considering how you will defend your spring and yet you cease not to weep if it please you my dear lady you ought not to delay for surely all the nights you have are not worth as you well know so much as a single chamber maid neither shield nor lance will ever be taken in hand by the best of them you have plenty of craven servants but there is not one of them brave enough to dare to mount a sea and the king is coming with such a host that his victory will be inevitable the lady upon reflection knows very well that she is giving her sincere advice but she is unreasonable in one respect as also our other women who are, almost without exception guilty of their own folly and refuse to accept what they really wish be gone she says leave me alone if I ever hear thee speak of this again it will go hard with thee unless thou flee thou wearest me with thy idle words very well my lady she says it is evident for women will grow irate when she hears anyone give her good advice then she went away and left her alone and the lady reflected that she had been in the wrong she would have been very glad to know how the damsel could ever prove that it would be possible to find a better knight than her lord would ever been she would be very glad to hear her speak but now she has forbidden her with this desire in mind waited until she returned but the warning was of no avail for she began to say to her once my lady is it seemingly that you should thus torment yourself with grief for God's sake now control yourself and for shame at least cease your lament it is not fitting that so great a lady should keep up her grief so long remember your honorable estate and your very gentle burden think you that all virtue ceased with the death of your lord there are in the world a hundred is good or better men may God confound me thou dost not lie just named me a single one who is reputed to be so excellent as my lord was all his life if I did so you would be angry with me and would fly into a passion and you would esteem me less no I will not surely then may it all be for your future welfare if you would but consent and may God so incline your will I see no reason for holding my peace for no one hears or heeds what we say doubtless you will think I am impudent but I shall freely speak my mind when two knights have met in an a fray of arms and when one has beaten the other which of the two do you think is the better my heart I award the prize to the victor now what do you think it seems to me you are laying a trap for me and intend to catch me in my words upon my faith you may rest assured that I am in the right and I can irrefutably prove to you that he who defeated your lord is better than he was himself he beat him and pursued him valiantly until he imprisoned him in his house now she replies I hear the greatest nonsense that was ever uttered be gone thou spirit charged with evil be gone thou foolish and tiresome girl never again utter such idle words and never come again into my presence to speak a word on his behalf indeed my lady I knew full well that I should receive no thanks from you and I said so before I spoke but you promised me you would not please and that you would not be angry with me for it but you have failed to keep your promise and now as it has turned out you have discharged your wrath on me and I have lost by not holding my peace there upon she goes back to the room where my lord of aid is waiting comfortably guarded by her vigilance but he is ill at ease when he cannot see the lady and he pays no attention and hears no word of the report which the damsel had given him the lady too was in great complexity all night being worried about how she should defend the spring and she begins to repent of her actions to the damsel whom she had blamed and insulted and treated with contempt she feels very sure and certain that not for any reward or bribe nor for any affection which she may bear him would the maiden ever have mentioned him and that she must love her more than him and give her advice which would bring her shame or embarrassment the maid is too loyal a friend for that thus low the lady is completely changed she fears now that she to whom she had spoken harshly will never love her again devotedly and him whom she had repulsed she now loyally and with good reason pardons seeing that he had done her no wrong so she argues as if you were in her presence there she begins her argument come she says can thou deny that my lord was killed by thee that says he I cannot deny indeed I fully admit it tell me then the reason of thy deed did thou do it to injure me prompted by hate or by spite may death not spare me now if I did it to injure you in that case thou hast done me no wrong nor art thou guilty of ought toward him for he would have killed thee if he could so it seems to me that I have decided well and righteously thus by her own arguments she succeeds in discovering justice reason and common sense how that there is no cause for hating him thus she frames the matters conform with her desire and by her own efforts she kindles her love as a bush which only smokes with a flame beneath until someone blows it or stirs it up if the damsel should come in now she would win the quarrel for which she had been so reproached and by which she had been so hurt and next morning in fact she appeared again taking the subject up where she had let it drop meanwhile the lady bowed her head knowing she had done wrong in attacking her but now she is anxious to make amends and to inquire concerning the name character and lineage of the knight so she wisely humbles herself and says I wish to beg your pardon for the insulting words of pride which in my rage I spoke to you I will follow your advice so tell me now if possible about the knight of whom you have spoken so much to me what sort of a man is he and of what parentage if he is suited to become my mate and provided he be so disposed I promise you to make him my husband and lord of my domain but he will have to act in such a way that no one can reproach me by saying this is she who took him who killed her lord in god's name lady so shall it be you will have the gentlest, noblest and fairest lord who ever belonged to abel's line what is his name my lord of aim upon my word if he is king urion's son he is of no mean birth but very noble as I well know indeed my lady you say the truth and when shall we be able to see him in five days time that would be too long for I wish you were already come let him come tonight or tomorrow at the latest my lady I think no one could fly so far in one day I shall send one of my squires who can run fast and who will reach king Arthur's court at least by tomorrow night I think that is the place we must seek him that is a very long time the days are long but tell him that tomorrow night he must be back here and that he must make greater haste than usual if he will only do his best he can do two days journey in one moreover tonight the moon will shine in today and when he returns I will give him whatever he wishes me to give leave all care of that to me for you shall have him in your hands the day after tomorrow at the very latest meanwhile you shall summon your men and confer with them about the approaching visit of the king in order to make the customary defense of your spring behooves you to consult with them none of them will be so hardy as to dare to boast that he will present himself in that case you will have a good excuse for saying that it behooves you to marry again a certain night highly qualified seeks your hands but you do not presume to accept him without the unanimous consent and I warrant what the outcome will be I know them all to be such cowards that in order to put on someone else the burden which will be too heavy for them they will fall at your feet and speak their gratitude for thus the responsibility will be at an end for whoever is afraid of his own shadow willingly avoids if possible any meeting would lance her spear for such games a coward has no use upon my word the lady replies so I would have it and so I consent having already conceived the plan which you have expressed so that is what we shall do but why do you tarry here go without delay and take measures to bring him here well I shall summon my liegemen thus concluded their conference and the damsel pretends to send to search for my lord of vain in his country while every day she has him bathed and washed and groomed and besides this she prepares for him a robe of red scarlet stuff brand new and lined with spotted fur there is nothing necessary for his equipment which he does not lent him a golden buckle for his neck ornamented with precious stones which make people look well a girdle and a wallet made of rich gold orcade she fitted him out perfectly then informed her lady that the messenger had returned having done his errand well how is that she says is he here then let him come at once secretly imprivile while no one else is here with me see to it that no one else comes in for I should hate to see a fourth person here but this the damsel went away and returned to her guest again however her face did not reveal the joy that was in her heart indeed she said that her lady knew that she had been sheltering him and was very much incensed at her further concealment is useless now the news about you has been so divulged that my lady knows the whole story and is very angry with me keeping me with blame and reproaches but she has given me her word to take you into her presence without any harm or danger I take it that you will have no objection to this except for one condition for I must not disguise the truth or I should be unjust to you she wishes to have you in her control and she desires such complete possession of your body that even your heart shall not be at large certainly he said I readily consent to what will be no hardship to me I am willing to be her prisoner so shall you be I swear it by this right hand laid upon you now come and upon my advice demean yourself so humbly in her presence that your imprisonment may not be grievous otherwise feel no concern I do not think that your restraint will be irksome then the damsel leads him off now alarming now reassuring him and speaks to him mysteriously about the confinement in which he is to find himself for every lover is a prisoner she is right in calling him a prisoner for surely anyone who loves is no longer free taking my lord of vein by the hand the damsel leads him where he will be dearly loved but expecting to be overcieve is not strange if he is afraid they found the lady seated upon a red cushion I assure you my lord of vein was terrified upon entering the room where he found the lady who spoke not a word to him at this he was still more afraid being overcome with fear the thought that he had been betrayed he stood there to one side so long that the damsel at last spoke up and said five hundred curses upon the head of him who takes into a fair lady's chamber a knight who will not draw near and who has neither tongue nor mouth nor sense to introduce himself there upon taking him by the arm she thrust him forward with the words come step forward knight and have no fear that my lady is going to snap at you but seek her good will and give her yours I will join you in your prayer that she pardoned you for the death of her lord as squad os the red then my lord of vein clashed his hands and falling upon his knees spoke like a lover with these words I will not crave your pardon lady but rather thank you for any treatment you may inflict on me knowing that no act of yours could ever be distasteful to me is that so sir and what if I think to kill you now my lady if it please you you will never hear me speak otherwise I never heard of such a thing as this that you put yourself voluntarily and absolutely within my power without the coercion of anyone my lady there is no force so strong as that which commands me to conform absolutely to your desire I do not fear to carry out any order you may be pleased to give and if I could atone for the death which came through no fault of mine I would do so cheerfully what she says come tell me now and be forgiven if you did no wrong in killing my lord lady he says if I may say it when your lord attacked me why was I wrong to defend myself when a man in self defense kills another who is trying to kill or capture him tell me if in any way he is to blame no if one looks at it a right and I suppose it would have been no use if I had had you put to death but I should be glad to learn once you derive the force that bids you to consent unquestioningly to whatever my will may dictate I pardon you all your misdeeds but be seated and tell us now what is the cause of your distility my lady he says the impelling force comes from my heart which is inclined toward you my heart has fixed me in this desire and what prompted your heart my fair sweet friend lady my eyes and what the eyes the great beauty that I see in you and where is beauty's fault in that lady in this that it makes me love love and whom you my lady dear I yes truly really and how is that to such an extent that my heart will not serve from you nor is it elsewhere to be found to such an extent that I could not think of anything else I surrender myself all together to you whom I love more than I love myself and for whom if you will I am equally ready to die or live and would you dare to undertake the defense of my spring for love of me yes my lady against the world then you may know that our peace is made thus they are quickly reconciled and the lady having previously consulted her lords says we shall proceed from here to the hall where my men are assembled whom in view of the evident need have advised and counseled me to take a husband at their request and I shall do so in view of the urgent need here and now I give myself to you for I should not refuse to accept as lord such a good night and a king's son now the damsel had brought about exactly what she had desired and my lord of veins mastery is more complete than could be told or described for the lady leads him away to the hall which was full of her knights and men at arms and my lord of veins was so handsome that they all marveled to look at him and all rising to their feet salute and bow to my lord of veins guessing well as they did so this is he whom my lady will select cursed be he who opposes him for he seems a wonderfully fine man surely the empress of Rome would be well married with such a man would now that he had given his word to her and she to him with clasped hand and that the wedding may take place today or tomorrow thus they spoke among themselves at the end of the hall there was a seat and there in the sight of all the lady took her place and my lord of veins made as if he intended to seat himself at her feet but she raised him up and ordered the seneschal to speak aloud so that his speech might be heard by all then the seneschal began being neither stubborn nor slow of speech my lord he said we are confronted by war every day the king is preparing with all the hasty can command to come and ravage our lands before a fortnight shall have passed all will have been laid to waste unless some valiant offender shall appear when my lady married first not quite seven years ago she did it on your advice now her husband is dead and she is greeted six feet of earth is all he has who formerly owned all this land and who was indeed its ornament it is a pity he lived so short a while a woman cannot bear a shield nor does she know how to fight with lance it would exalt and dignify her again if she should marry some worthy lord never was there greater need than now do all of you recommend that she take a spouse before the custom shall lapse which has been observed in this town for more than the past sixty years at this all at once proclaim that it seems to them the right thing to do they all throw themselves at her feet they strengthen her desire by their consent yet she hesitates to assert her wishes until as if against her will she finally speaks to the same intent as she would have done indeed if everyone had opposed her wish my lord since this year wish this knight who is seated beside me has wooed me and ardently sought my hand he wishes to engage himself in the defense of my rights and in my service for which I thank him heartily as you do also it is true I have never known him in person but I have often heard his name know that he is no less a man than the son of King Urian besides his illustrious lineage he is so brave, courteous and wise that no one has caused to disparage him you have all already heard I suppose of my lord of aim and it is he who seeks my hand when the marriage is consummated I shall have a more noble lord than I deserve I shall say, few are so prudent this very day shall not go by without the marriage being solemnized for it is folly to postpone for a single hour an advantageous act they beseech her so insistently that she consents to what she would have done in any case for love bids her to do that for which she asks counsel and advice but there is more honor for him in being accepted with the approval of her men to her their prayers are not unwelcome rather do they stern and cite her heart to have its way the horse, already under speed goes faster yet when it is spurred in the presence of all her lords the lady gives herself to my lord of aim from the hand of her chaplain he received the lady laudine du landuque daughter of duke laudine of whom they sing a lay that very day without delay he married her and the wedding was celebrated there were plenty of miters and croziers there for the lady had summoned her bishops and abbots great was the joy in rejoicing there were many people and much wealth was displayed more than I could tell you of were I to devote much thought to it it is better to keep silent than to be inadequate so my lord of aim is master now and the dead man is quite forgot he who killed him is now married to his wife the people love and esteem their living lord more than they ever did the dead they served him well at his marriage feast until the eve before the day when the king came to visit the marvelous spring in its stone bringing with him upon this expedition his companions and all those of his household no one was left behind and my lord came remarked ah what now has become of a vain who after his dinner made the boast that he would avenge his cousin shame evidently he spoke in his cups I believe that he has run away he would not dare to come back for anything he was very presumptuous to make such a boast he is a bold man who dares to boast of what no one would praise him for and who has no proof of his great feats except the words of some false flatterer there is a great difference between a coward and a hero for the coward seated beside the fire talks loudly about himself holding all the rest as fools and thinking that no one knows his real character a hero would be distressed at hearing his prowess related by someone else and yet I maintain that the coward is not wrong to praise and vaunt himself for he will find no one else to lie for him if he does not boast of his deeds who will all pass over him in silence even the heralds who proclaim that they are brave but discard the cowards when my lord K had spoken thus my lord Gawain made this reply my lord K have some mercy now since my lord Avain is not here you do not know what business occupies him indeed he never so debased himself as to speak any ill of you compared with the gracious things he has said sire says K I'll hold my peace for today since I see you are offended by my speech then the king in order to see the rain poured a whole basin full of water upon the stone beneath the pine and at once the rain began to pour it was not long before my lord Avain without delay entered the forest fully armed riding faster than a gallop on a large sleek steed strong, intrepid and fleet of foot and it was my lord K's desire to request the first encounter for whatever the outcome might be he always wished to begin the fight and joust the first or else he would be much incensed before all the rest he requested the king to allow him to do battle first the king says K since it is your wish and since you are the first to make the request the favor ought not to be denied K thanks him first then mounts his steed if now my lord Avain feels like demiled disgrace upon him he will be very glad to do so for he recognizes him by his arms each grasping his shield by the straps they rush together spurring their steeds they lower the lances which they hold tightly gripped then they thrust them forward a little so that they grasped them by the leather wrapped handles so that when they came together they were able to deal such cruel blows that both lances broke broken splinters clear to the handle of the shaft my lord Avain gave him such a mighty blow that K took a somersault from out of his saddle and struck with his helmet on the ground my lord Avain has no desire to inflict upon him further harm but simply dismounts and takes his horse this pleased them all and many said ah ah see how you prostrate lie who but now how others up to scorn and yet it is only right to pardon you this time for it never happens to you before there upon my lord Avain approached the king leading the horse in his hand by the bridle and wishing to make it over to him sire says he now take this steed for I should do wrong to keep back anything of yours and who are you the king replies I should never know you unless I heard your name or saw you without your arms then my lord told him who he was and K was overcome with shame, mortified humbled and discomforted for having said that he had run away but the others were greatly pleased and made much of the honor he had won even the king was greatly gratified my lord Avain a hundred times more than anyone else for he loved his company more than any of the other knights he knew and the king requested him urgently to tell him if it be his will, how he had fared for he was very curious to learn all about his adventure so the king begs him to tell the truth and he soon told him all about the service and kindness of the damsel not passing over a single word not forgetting to mention anything and after this he invited the king and all his knights to come lodge with him saying they would be doing him great honor in accepting his hospitality and the king said that for an entire week he would gladly do him the honor and pleasure and would bear him company and when my lord Avain had thanked him they tarry no longer there would mount and take the most direct road to the town my lord Avain sends in advance of the company a squire bearing a crane falcon an order that they might not take the lady by surprise and that her people might decorate the streets against the arrival of the king when the lady heard the news of the king's visit she was greatly pleased nor was there anyone who upon hearing the news was not happy and elated and the lady summons them all and requests