Heroines of the French Epic
Page 41
He led her first away from town and tavern
To buy her robes of many different fashions
Befitting one of noble state and stature –
Then did the same for Varocher her vassal!
1580 He led her then to lodge inside his palace,
And asked his wife to serve as her companion.
Whatever thing she craved he gave her gladly,
And everything she sought was brought exactly!
If you had seen good Varocher’s apparel,
You’d not have thought him anything but handsome!
When he himself beheld his dress, he swaggered
Among the rest and mingled with the barons!
The Magyar king was neither loath nor laggard.
Without delay he sent away a galley
1590 With four of his best men aboard to carry
The Queen’s report across the Eastern channel.
The Emperor deserved to know exactly
How Blancheflor, his daughter fair and gallant,
Had had to flee so wretchedly from Paris,
Charged wrongfully of such outrageous actions
That Charlemagne, her husband, in his anger
Had cast her forth, from France and from their marriage.
How she was now in Hungary, and anxious
To know his will and how she should enact it.
1600 The envoys left and sped across the fathoms
Without a halt until the galley anchored
Inside the port that Constantine established.
When this was done, they hastened down the gangway
To find a lodge where they could leave their baggage.
The Emperor, on hearing men had travelled
From Hungary to see him on a matter
Of urgent need, sent welcome to them gladly.
He summoned them at once inside his palace,
So he could hear exactly what had happened.
41. How the envoys addressed Blancheflor’s father
1610 The Emperor bade welcome to the four,
And straightaway besought them to report
The tidings that had brought them to his shores.
Without delay the envoys raised their voice:
“You are to know, fine Emperor, my lord:
A lying tongue at Charles’s court has forced
Your daughter thence, the fair-faced Blancheflor.
The charge was such it left her lord no choice:
Though great with child, she had to leave his court,
With just one knight to guide her and assure
1620 She safely left the realm of France and all
Her husband’s lands, thence banned for evermore.
But then, my lord, the liar who had brought
Your daughter down, pursued her on his horse
Until he slew her escort with his sword.
Inside a wood she sped from his assault
And fled as far as Hungary before
She found a lodge and gave birth to a boy.
Her host was kind and bore the infant forth
To be baptised in church for Christ the Lord.
1630 But fortune sent our monarch there, who saw
A cross of white the baby’s shoulder bore,
And knew at once the child was nobly born.
Because of this King Louis made quite sure
The service took the highest royal form.
He then addressed your daughter, who informed
Him straightaway from start to end of all
The injuries and wrongs that she had borne.
On learning this, he led her forth and saw
Her nobly dressed and taken to his hall.
1640 My lord, she is so honoured at our court
That everything her will desires is brought.
But now our king is keen to know your thoughts:
What you intend he’s ready to support.
Your daughter calls upon you and implores
Your Highness not to leave her lost and lorn.”
On hearing this, especially the call
Of anguish from his daughter Blancheflor,
The king was moved – as you would be, I’m sure.
But first he asked the envoys to record
1650 His grateful thanks for all their king had wrought,
And honoured them with very rich rewards.
42. How the Eastern Emperor summoned his men
THE EMPEROR, on learning of the pain
His daughter bore, so fair of hair and face,
Was angered sore – as you would be, in faith!
With every step he wept about her fate,
But then he said: “Our answer shall not fail!
I shall select ambassadors to sail
Back home with you and bring her home again
With honour that befits her high estate!
1660 King Charlemagne shall not escape my rage
For having brought my daughter such disgrace.”
When this was said the king made no delay,
But summoned forth, from those he cherished, eight
Who, to a man, were of his clan and race,
The best of men his royal geste contained.
“My lords,” he said, “I bid you all make haste
To bring my daughter home, alive and safe!
Her husband Charles has sent her forth, in shame,
Not just from France but all of his domains.
1670 May I lose mine and never rule again
If I should fail to punish Charlemagne
For banishing a worthy wife this way
And setting her on such a shameful trail!”
43. How Blancheflor was summoned home
THE EMPEROR’S was not a heart for daunting –
Though sadder then than anytime beforehand,
To hear the fate of his exquisite daughter.
He loved her so, with tender heart and loyal,
His heart was low – as I am sure would yours be!
But, calling eight of his best kinsmen forward,
1680 He bade them sail to bring her home escorted.
Those messengers, the four who’d crossed the waters
To speak with him at royal Louis’ orders,
He honoured much with noble clothes and horses:
He gave to each a stately, Eastern palfrey.
The Magyar king would also be rewarded:
He promised him fine gold and silver also,
And choice of lands within his lengthy borders.
Beside the eight their potentate appointed,
The Magyars left, with happy hearts and joyful.
1690 They sailed the sea to Hungary, where shortly
They disembarked and hastily rode forward.
On seeing them, the king embraced the former
And honoured them with tokens rich and royal.
They answered him by thanking him most warmly
For all he’d done to help their monarch’s daughter.
No words of mine could honour as they ought to
The welcome that those envoys were accorded
By him, and Blancheflor, who when she saw them,
With laughing face came running up towards them.
1700 She knew them all, as kinsmen and as courtiers,
And asked at once about her father’s fortunes,
Her mother’s too, for truly she adored them.
They said at once: “They grieve at your misfortune,
And say, through us, that they will soon restore it!
So, with your child, come home with us and join them!”
“Most willingl
y,” said Blancheflor, rejoicing.
44. How Blancheflor left the Magyar king
THE MAGYAR KING was chivalrous and wise.
The messengers, as soon as they arrived,
Were welcomed like his closest kin and kind,
1710 While Blancheflor, to celebrate the time,
Received a robe of sendal silk design,
As did indeed the woodsman by her side,
Determined still to guard her with his life!
Then, when the time arrived to say goodbye,
The king ensured their ship was well supplied
With everything they needed or desired
To eat and drink – good meat and bread and wine.
To honour her the Magyar king assigned
An escort too, composed of four brave knights
1720 From his own court, most splendidly attired,
Who joined the ship at its departure time.
Queen Blancheflor, with courtesy of mind,
Besought the king and Magyar queen alike
To grant her leave upon the heaving tide.
She also hailed good Primerain and plied
Her host with wealth, and presents for his wife,
Then told them both of her sincere desire:
To take with her which daughter they should like
And make of her a happy, wealthy bride,
1730 By finding her a husband to be prized.
With this agreed, fair Blancheflor, beside
Good Varocher, departed from their sight.
Let us, in turn, depart from them a while,
And tell again of Charles, the fierce of eye,
And Naimon too, of wisdom true and bright.
45. How Charlemagne had informed Blancheflor’s father
KING CHARLEMAGNE, upon that fateful morn
He’d found his wife in bed beside the dwarf,
Had stayed his hand, at worthy Naimon’s call,
From punishing in full fair Blancheflor
1740 Till messengers could tell her father all
About the crime his daughter there had wrought:
How she had held her husband’s name at naught,
And shamed her own by acting like a whore.
Her father’s shame would surely not be small!
So, at that time, he’d called an envoy forth,
A count of France, to carry this report –
Bérart of Montdidier this knight was called –
The King had said: “Bérart, you must abroad
On my behalf! I want you to inform
1750 Constantinople’s king, the Emperor,
That I have caught his daughter, like a whore,
In bed, not with a prince or duke what’s more,
But, to my shame, with a misshapen dwarf!
My vengeance won’t be little, rest assured!
I cannot let her conduct be ignored,
Nor can my knights endure the country’s scorn!”
Bérart replied: “I’ll tell him all, my lord,
When I arrive, God willing, at his court.”
On saying this, he’d hastened to the port,
1760 Then boarded ship to reach the Eastern shores.
Arriving there, he’d found the king installed
Beside his wife, with noble lords galore
Assembled there to keep a festival.
And this, my friends, was what he’d told them all:
46. How Charles’s envoy had spoken in Constantinople
“FINE EMPEROR, my lord, I bid you listen!
King Charlemagne, the best of Monarchs living
In Christendom and any other kingdom,
Has given me this message to deliver
To both of you –although I’m loath to give it –
1770 For, hearing it will anger and afflict you.
Before I do, I must assure you quickly
That none before who wore a crown has witnessed
More honour than your daughter has been given
By Charlemagne, so valiant of visage.
But she has made to him the poor remittance
Of cuckoldry, by sleeping with a midget –
Adultery to which the king was witness.
Because of this I’m sent upon this mission,
Lest you should be amazed to learn, unwitting,
1780 That judgement has been passed on her as fitting.”
On hearing this, the Eastern king was stricken
With disbelief at such a proposition.
But she who’d raised so tenderly and strictly
The child herself, and knew her daughter’s spirit,
The queen, I mean, addressed the envoy swiftly:
“The charge is mad, and madder those who bring it!
Good messenger, a mother knows her issue,
And what you say can’t even be considered.
For all God’s gold there is no way my infant
1790 Would ever think, or let herself be driven,
To wrong her lord or do a thing so sinful.
It’s she who’s wronged, if he has found her guilty,
And that’s the truth – my daughter is the victim!
No Christian land has wife more loyal in it!
To think her not, the King is wrong, and wicked!”
The king spoke up: “I’m so enraged in spirit
That Charlemagne could entertain suspicion
Against my child for this, and with a midget,
I tell you now, my anger strains its limits!
1800 When you return to Charlemagne I bid you
To tell your lord from me and all my kingdom:
That he must shield my girl from further insult
Or injury connected to this business.
If he can prove one wrong she has committed,
Then have him send her back to me this instant,
So I may hear the sin and she admit it.
And if she does, she’ll wish her life were finished!
But speak no more about my daughter sinning.
Her virtue is, to me, above suspicion,
1810 And any charge against her is the vicious,
Malicious lie of a most wicked villain!
That’s my response: do not forget to give it!”
47. How the Emperor of Constantinople had responded
“GOOD MESSENGER, do not forget your task!
On my behalf inform the King of France
That I’ve no doubt my daughter’s wrongly charged.
I urge him, thus, to halt his judgment’s cast
And send her here to tell me what has passed.
If he is right, and she’s dishonoured Charles,
I’ll punish her as such a crime demands.
1820 But tell your King from me, in equal part:
If she is harmed before I’ve had the chance
To learn the truth from her own honest heart,
My honour’s hurt will never lose its smart.
And I shall wield the strength at my command
In swift revenge on my and her behalf!”
“The King of France is wise,” replied Bérart.
“He will not set his course on folly’s path.
I’ll leave at once to tell him what you ask.”
48. How Charlemagne had answered the Emperor’s request
BERART HAD SAID: “Fine monarch, I assure you
1830 That every word you’ve said shall be reported.”
And then he’d left, when leave had been accorded.
But long before he’d reached his native border,
He’d heard the news about Macaire and Aubri,
And, hearing it had made him very thoughtful.
But on he’d gone, returning ever northward
To Paris, where he’d found himself some quarters.
Then straightaway, without a moment pausing,
He’d gone to court with the request and caution
1840 The Emperor had made in his rejoinder.
He’d said to Charles the moment that he saw him:
“My lord, I’ve seen the Eastern king, as ordered,
And with your words addressed him and his courtiers.
And every word I said to him that morning,
His wife heard too, for she was present also.
The king was stunned to hear the news I brought them,
And naught I said in any way could alter
His firm belief that Blancheflor was faultless.
He cautions you to not prejudge his daughter
1850 But send her home for him to see and talk to,
So from her lips themselves he hears the story.
He’ll know, he says, if she has acted falsely,
And if she has, he gives you an assurance
His punishment will be direct and awful:
‘The world’ he said, ‘will shudder at her torment.’
But if he thinks your charge is false, he warns you
Against the wrong of punishing her falsely
Upon the word of an ill-willed informer.”
Imagine, lords, King Charlemagne’s annoyance!
1860 He looked at once to Naimon and implored him:
“My noble lord, how mighty a misfortune
That wretched rogue, the fiend Macaire, has wrought us!
He laid this trap my wife and I are caught in!
Advise me now, my best and wisest stalwart:
What can I tell the Emperor to stall him,
Or let him know what’s happened to his daughter?”
The duke had said: “The truth, Sire, as you ought to:
He must be told of everything you’re sure of:
That you had sent your wife from court, escorted
1870 By Aubri, both a gallant knight and courtly.
But Lord Macaire, an evil-scheming fraudster,
Rode after them, against your strictest orders,
And slew the knight with his malicious sword-blade.
You do not know her whereabouts thenceforward,
Because Macaire, before his life was shortened,
Could not say where he’d left the Queen your daughter –
For she had fled through foreign woods and water.”
The King had then approved this speech , exhorting
That not a word be left unsaid or altered.