Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende: A Tale of the Times of King Arthur
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CHAPTER VI. THE ORCHARD OF BRUNISSENDE.
Harassed, {087}fatigued, and sore with many a bruise, Jaufry was sinkingtoo for food and drink; and yet the want of sleep,--of all our wantsthe most imperious,--so weighed him down, he scarce could keep his seat.Still he went on a quarter of the night with limbs benumbed and eyelidspartly closed, taking such course his charger pleased to lead.
Serene and lovely was the atmosphere, and by the light the stars inshining gave he by adventure a large orchard saw, shut in with marblewalls and skirt with trees of umbrage such as earth scarce saw before.Flowers and fragrant herbs abounded there; and with each {088}puff ofwind there issued out a sweet and balmy breath like paradise. 'Twas thusthat, as night fell, the birds for leagues around did hither flock,and perching on the leafy boughs, warbled their dulcet notes till matinprime.
This orchard appertained to a great dame known as fair Brunissende.Within the castle of Montbrun she lived; and father, mother, husband,had she none; fine was her court and rich, of breeding high; and knightsand burghers, minstrels, jugglers from all countries, hither troopingcame. The palace, built of hewn and massive stone whereon the sculptorhad employed his art, was flanked with towers blackened o'er by time.'Twas in the centre Brunissende was lodged; and to it seven gates apassage gave, whereof the keepers could each one lead forth a thousandmen.
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Five hundred damsels waited her commands; but though 'twere rare to seesuch beauty met, yet Brunissende held empire over all in loveliness andgrace: one might have sought throughout the realms of earth, and yet notfound such high and gentle dame, or one so fine in form. Her eyes andher sweet face swept from the mind of those who gazed on her all thoughtof {089}former charms. She was more fresh, more fair, more purely whitethan snow that lies upon the frosted dew, and rose that opens on alily's breast. *
* Car plus es fresca e bella e blanca Que neus gelada sus en branca Ni que rosas ab flor de lis.... Que cant hom auria cercat, Totas cellas que son nascudas..... Non auria hom una trobada Tan bella ni tan gen formada; Que sos oueils e sa bella cara Fai oblidar qui ben l'esgara Totas cellas que vistas a.
Ms. fol. 36, w. 3062 and 3159.
But, ah, felicity did not attend her charms. Yielding to some deepgrief, four times a day she sadly wept and mourned; and thrice she roseat night to mourn again. Her sole delight was listening to the notesof those sweet birds which filled her orchard near; which, when shehad heard, she got some brief repose,--soon to awake again to weep andmourn; and all her vassals, of each age and sex, little and great, atthat same hour of woe uttered the self-same moans, and shed like tears.
Arrived, as we already said, before her orchard fair, Jaufry got down;and seeing an open gate, he ventured in, removed the bridle from hischarger's mouth, so that {090}he grazed at ease, and his shield placing'neath his weary head, his limbs outstretching on the flowery turf, hesoon most soundly slept. Just then did Brunissende her footsteps taketowards her chamber, followed by her maids. Surprised the birds nolonger tuned their notes, she straightway bade the seneschal appear, towhom she said with wrath:
"Some creature surely must have passed the gates, and scared my gentlebirds. Go, quickly find it out; and if perchance a man it prove to be,he must be hither brought, alive or dead."
"Lady," the seneschal at once replied, "I go with speed."
Two squires preceding him, each with a lighted torch, his horse hemounted, and rode down in haste, and in the orchard found the wearyknight, wrapt in profoundest sleep. He called him frequently, then shookhim hard; but for a time in vain. His eyes at length with effort heunclosed, when, raising up his head,--
"Fair knight," quoth he most courteously, "by thine attainments and thygentle birth, I do entreat thee, in God's name, to let me here abide andsleep my fill."
"Sleep {091}must you now no more," replied the chief, "but come beforemy lady; she'll not rest until avenged on him who scares her birds."
Quoth Jaufry:
"God permit, thou shalt not take me off without a fight!"
The seneschal, on hearing such resolve, called to his squire to bringhim out his arms. Meanwhile the son of Dovon slept again; so that theseneschal, when fall equipped, was forced a second time to wake him up,and roughly as at first.
"Knight," exclaimed Jaufry, as he then arose, "'tis a great sin totrouble my repose, for I am wearied out; but since thou hast chosen toaccept the fight, wilt thou allow me to sleep on in peace if I do theeunhorse?"
"By Heaven's faith, I swear't!" laughing, the other said.
Jaufry then hastened to his horse's side; replaced the bit, and tightlydrew the girths. Mounted, he galloped at the seneschal; who, havingdrawn him back a space, on rushing drove his lance at Jaufry's shield,but never harmed the knight. He, on the contrary, with happy strokeunhorsed the seneschal; who, full {092}of shame, with head bowed down,and slow and thoughtful step, regained the castle and his lady's room.
"What is't," asked Brunissende, "that there doth lurk?"
"A knight all armed, whose peer the world not holds, sleeping so soundlyhe would scarce awake."
"Why broughtst thou him not here? I wish him hither led; for, with God'shelp, no food shall pass these lips till that bold knight be hanged."
"Lady," replied the seneschal, "he would not come; nor could I wake himup."
"Indeed," quoth she; "then bid the tocsin sound, and rouse me up myknights."
The seneschal obeyed; the sound was heard, and straightway flocking camefive hundred knights. The hall they entered, where their lady stood withspite and anger pale.
"Barons," she said, "a bold and wicked knight my grounds hath passed, andwill not quit the walls; now if his head pay not this insolence, I neverwill hold land or honour more."
"Lady," replied a tall and proper knight of great renown,--Simon the Redby name,--"I will go seek him {093}out, if such your wish; and trust,alive or dead, to bring him here."
"So be it," said Brunissende.
Added the seneschal:
"My troth, good friend, I bid thee shield thyself. He can most sturdilydefend his sconce; and brave indeed I'll hold the happy knight who takesit off by force."
Simon, without a word, went on his way, and Jaufry found still sleeping;rudely he cried:
"Up, up, sir knight; arouse!"
Jaufry, who moved not more than any rock, received from Simon then sostrong a kick, it woke him up in haste.
"Nathless, thou promisedst to let me sleep," he then exclaimed; "and'tis a villain's act to break thy faith, when thus I'm overcome."
"Come, speak then to my lady," Simon said; "or I by force must take theeto the hall."
"We first will see who's strongest,--thou or I," said Jaufry in lowtone; when, springing on his horse, he ran at Simon, who like hastedisplayed.
Bold Simon's lance was split on Jaufry's shield; but he was borne bythat of his brave foe so swift to earth, {094}it nearly cost his life.Jaufry ran up, as though to make it sure, when loud he called for grace.
"Wilt thou annoy me further in my sleep, if I do grant it?"
"No, lord, I promise thee."
"Go, then," said Jaufry, who again lay down, and quick reclosed hiseyes.
Simon the Red, with flush upon his face and shame at heart, slowlyretraced his steps. Certes, did he make but half the noise he made onsetting out; so that the seneschal, who watched him come, could notwithhold his smiles.
"Lady," he said, "behold your champion; but with him comes no knight.I'd wage my spurs, like me, he has taken oath."
"Maugre this pleasantry," the dame replied, "ere I have rest, thisnaughty knight shall hang."
Hearing the words, one of the keepers of the seven gates descended tothe orchard; but soon his troop returned, bearing him faint and bleedingon his shield. At such a spectacle, fair Brunissende could scarcecontain her rage,--
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"What! have I round me naught but coward folk," sh
e loudly cried, "andknights without a heart? Go {095}fifty; if it need, go thrice thatnumber still; but bring this vassal, or no more return!"
At this reproach, the knights rushed off in troop, and to the gardenhied with dash and din. When there, they Jaufry seized,--some by thearm, and others by the leg; while some his shoulders held, and some hishead, and brought him thus into that lordly hall without his being ableto stir limb. On seeing them arrive, the dame impatient came with hastystep and bade them set him free. They loosed their hold, and Jaufrystood upright; nor could he think, as round his glance was thrown, 'twassport that brought him 'mong such iron folk. Tall and well-shaped, hisnatural manly grace, set off with hauberk rich and burnished casque,struck Brunissende, who eyed him curiously.
"'Tis you," at length she said, "who all this ill have wrought."
"Fair lady," he replied, "so far am I from doing what you say, orcausing you annoy, I would defend you with my utmost strength 'gainstall of mother born."
"In that you say not truth; for you erewhile have so misused my knight,that he may chance to die."
"I {096}own it, lady fair, but he was in the wrong; having by oathengaged to let me sleep, he thrice returned to wake me up, and struck mewith his lance. Still, had I known him feoffee to you, never on him hadrisen this knightly hand, e'en for a greater cause."
"No matter! I can see," replied the dame, "we 'll find in you,--and thatere morning sun,--a proper subject for the cord, or worse."
Whilst thus she spoke, Jaufry regarded her; and ne'er had tired admiringher brow, her neck, her fair and sweet fresh face, her rosy mouth, andblue and loving eyes.
"Lady," quoth he, love gliding o'er his soul, "do with me what you will;for with no other arms than that rich robe, you would have vanquishedme with greater ease than ten knights clad in mail. If, 'gainst myknowledge, I have caused you pain, wreak now your own revenge; and never'gainst you shall uprise my sword, or lance or shield be used."
Hearing him reason thus so courteously, the dame forgets her wrath. Lovewith his golden shaft hath pierced her heart, and now she pardons all.Those lips still bear a menace to the ear; but those sweet eyes belie't.
Grown {097}bold, the knight, who still did on her gaze, begged her togrant a boon.
"Let me," he said, "but slumber at my ease; then do what justice bids.Fear not that I shall hence seek means to fly; for, Heaven preserveme, you have somehow gained such power o'er my soul, that you alone arebetter guard than are ten hundred of your men with arms in hand."
Fair Brunissende retired with a sigh, leaving for sole adieu a lookso sweet, that, spite of his dull sense, it filled his heart with joy.Meantime the seneschal, whose care it was, bade the attendants thenprepare a couch in middle of the hall: he there conducted Jaufry, andthen asked his name and country.
"I'm of King Arthur's court," quoth Dovon's son; "now prithee ask nomore, but, in God's name, let me in quiet rest."
Full armed as he then was, he laid him down, and sleep his eyelidsclosed. Not so fair Brunissende. Love in her chamber had renewedthe assault, and banished sleep away; and thus she mused, until thecity-watch gave forth the accustomed sound. At that trumpet's call, eachin the castle and the city rose; and all at once gave loose to tearsand groans. High dames {098}and damsels, Brunissende in chief, claspingtheir hands in sign of deepest woe, beat their fair breasts and face;while the knights who guarded Jaufry made such dreadful din, it woke himup, and made him ask the cause.
All at the word rushed forward to the couch, and struck with lance andsword and iron mace. Well 'twas for him his hauberk was of proof;for the blows came just like to a storm of hail. Nor did they cease,thinking the knight was dead, until the doleful cries had died away.Then each resumed his post, and silence fell o'er all. Again, at mid ofnight, those cries uprose; but Jaufry, whom no sleep again had blessed,and whose cleared thoughts were fixed on Brunissende, took careful noteto guard his curious tongue; holding his breath, he said within himself:
"Certes are these men no folk of flesh and blood, but demons hithersent to pester earth. With Heaven's help, to-morrow's blessed sun shan'tlight upon me here."
Persuaded he was dead after that storm of blows, the knights relaxedtheir watch, and slumbered at their posts; Jaufry then seized thechance, and noiselessly uprose. With shield and lance in hand, he leftthe castle-halls {099}on tip of toe; by good luck found his horse, andmounting quick, at fullest speed set out. Had he but dreamt the lovefair Brunissende conceived, not all her men-at-arms would from Montbrunhave chased him but with slaughter. Little deemed he, as hill and dalehe crossed with breathless speed, she at that hour was in her fancymusing how she might make him hers.
Who shall depict, as rose the sun next mom, fair Brunissende's dismay,when, of the first who to the hall came down, she heard of Jaufry'sflight? As one deprived of sense, those hundred knights she loudly didaccuse of treason to their faith; their negligence she banned; andto the seneschal in wrath exclaimed, that, if he found not Jaufry, heshould by fire or cord full surely die, even if torments yet unheardwere hers.
Whilst that this scene was passing at Montbrun, Jaufry already was wellon his road. And shortly after rising of the sun, he met a neatherd,driving of a car laden with bread and wine and other things. This maninvited him, by holy charity, to eat with him; and used such kindlywords, that Jaufry yielded to his hearty wish, frankly avowing that forthree whole days he {100}had not tasted food. The neatherd thereforetook his shield and lance, drew from his car good wheaten bread andwine, two roasted capons, three grilled partridges, and part of awild-boar; then, spreading on the turf beneath a leafy tree a fair whitecloth, a brook just bubbling by, he served the knight, and paid himgreat respect.
When they had eat their fill, and in their thirst emptied two bowls ofwine, Jaufry prepared to go, thanking the neatherd for his welcome meal.This man was vassal to fair Brunissende, the lady of high worth; and asthe knight was turning to depart, he drew the charger's rein and gentlysaid:
"Good friend, one thing I fain would ask of you, which I hadhalf-forgot: why do the people of this fair domain so weep and loudlymoan?"
"Ah, rascal, wretch, thou traitor, and thou fool!" exclaimed theneatherd, bursting forth with rage, "thy wretched life shall answer forthose words."
With all his strength he then at Jaufry cast the pond'rous axe he bore,which struck his shield and brought out fire and flame. The knightspurred on his horse and got clear off; but mid a storm of stones. Theneatherd then, enraged at missing him, shivered his car {101}to bits,and with his axe struck both his oxen dead. *
* Cervantes has wittily parodied this adventure by that of the braying of the ass, which sets two villages of La Mancha at strife with each other (Aventura del rebuzno, parte ii. lib. vi. cap. xxv.).
In ignorance of the cause of all this rage, Jaufry at length relaxed hishorse's speed; still as he went exclaiming, that he'd hold as naughtall that he yet had done till he had met a creature who could tellthe reason of that wailing. Busied with such-like thoughts and theremembrance of fair Brunissende, he rode the live-long day, spite offatigue and heat. When daylight waned, two youths well-horsed, withfalcon on the fist, and hounds and terriers running at their feet,came up to him; and after slight discourse, invited him to share theirevening meal,--and that so courteously, he could not make denial. Thethree young men then gaily went along, talking of love and battle's ironstrife; when, as 'twas sunset, rose again that cry, at which the youthslike madmen howled and wept.
"Good youths," quoth Jaufry, with astonishment, "what means this grief?What heard you, sirs, I pray; and why such noise?"
"_Why?_ {102}ask'st thou, foolish, treacherous serf? that word shallcost thy life!"
And as one cast at him his startled bird, the other plucked his cap fromoff his head and threw it madly 'gainst bold Jaufry's shield. Their furyand hard words finished as ceased that cry; when, quickly following thewond'ring knight, with honeyed phrase they charmed away his wrath, andto their habitation led the way.
&n
bsp; This was a chatelet of graceful form, girded by lofty walls and outerfosse, through which a living stream for ever ran. Beside the bridgethere sat an aged knight, listing a minstrel's song,--_The Lay of theTwo Lovers_. * It was the father of the two young men: beholding Jaufry,he in haste arose, and came to give him welcome; saying, with joyfultone: **
* Of Marie of France.
** This knight in Cervantes' hands is the nobleman clad in green (Cavaliero vestido en gavan de pano fino verde, parte ii. lib. v. cap. xvi.).
"I am beholden, lord, to those who've brought you: seven long years haveflown since stranger-guest hath this my threshold crossed whose aspectpleased me so: God save you, sir!"
Thus speaking, by the arm the knight escorted Jaufry {103}to the hall,where the two youths removed his armour bright. Soon there came in adamsel fair, of fresh and smiling look, who brought him a rich mantle,which when he had put on, she, on a cushion placed beside him, sat. Thenthey discoursed on various pleasant things until 'twas time for water tobe brought. A well-bred page did pour it o'er his hands, while the fairdamsel held the ready bowl; at which Sir Jaufry said:
"Maiden, I'll not this kindly act refuse; for should you e'er needservice at my hands, whate'er the hour or place, you may full surelycall me to your aid."
They then at table sat; and when the meal was o'er, the cloth removed,the damsel went the couches to prepare, and left her father and theknight alone. The old man asked his name, and wept for joy to learn theson of Dovon was his guest,--his ancient friend in arms. He would havefain a month detained him there; but Jaufry cleverly excuses made, andat the point of day he in his saddle found himself again. The maid hadgiven him his shield and lance, and he his leave was then about totake, when it occurred to him to ask his host about that wailing cry.Scarcely, however, was the question put when the old man and his two{104}sons alike assailed him with hard names: they called him knave andwretch and villain's son; they hair in that unseemly rage.
Jaufry by dint of spur escaped their wrath; and wond'ring saw them oneach other turn their fitful ire, and tear their clothes to rags. Theirfury spent, they called him back again; and Jaufry, wishing to have newsof Taulat, consented to return. As it fell out, no man could give himmore. The aged knight well knew that champion fierce, and in these termsdid tell him what he sought:
"Follow," he said, "all day this very road; it leads across a tract ofdesert space, where ne'er are found or house or town, or bread or wine,or man of mother born. If you should wish in passing to repose, naughtbut the turf can be your host or tent. Go onward thus until to-morrow'ssun. Before the noon you will have reached a plain, wherein is seta high and rugged mount. There, at its foot, a castle you'll behold,pleasant and finely built; and round its moats a crowd of tents andhuts, where harbour knights and lords of high descent. Pass stoutly on,nor speak a word to man; go to the castle without stop or stay, whatevertried to strike at him with sturdy dubs, and tore their may {105}befall,and enter boldly in, leaving without your lance, and eke your shield.There will you find two dames,--one old, one young,--who watch a woundedknight. Go to the ancient dame, and to her say, that Augier de Cliartsends you there, that she may tell you why the people groan, and giveyou news of Taulat."