Heroines of the French Epic
Page 52
As pity claimed his heart to see a maid so mournful.
Then – when he saw her cloak, with fur upon its borders,
And noticed that her robe was torn at many corners
From brambles and from thorns through which she must have drawn it,
And yet the skin it bared was flower-fair and flawless –
He wondered what or who had brought her there or forced her,
And then, what border rare had grown so fair a daughter.
When Bertha had revived she rose again, but halted
As Simon came to her, and greeted her with caution.
1180 His greeting she returned, as courtesy had taught her:
“God bless you, noble lord, and crown your soul with glory!
Please show me, if you will, I earnestly exhort you,
The way to Simon’s house, whose courtesy is lauded:
For I am lost and lorn – a starving, frozen orphan
Affrighted in these woods from yester-night till dawning.
In Christian charity, please show me to his doorstep.”
WHEN SIMON, CALLED the Warden, heard Bertha talking thus,
He knew that she was noble and he was deeply touched:
His bosom filled with pity and spilled in tears of love:
1190 “Who are you, gentle lady? I won’t betray your trust.”
She answered him: “Good vassal, I’ll tell you who I was:
My homeland is Alsatia; but there, as I grew up,
A heavy war was raging, of which we bore the brunt.
I am Sir Climent’s daughter, a wealthy vavasour
Whose hall and lands were taken, with everything he’d won.
My family and kinsmen were forced to leave at once
And seek in foreign countries survival’s wretched crumbs.
My step-mother was cruel – both sharp of hand and tongue –
And she abused me daily from light of dawn to dusk,
1200 By slapping me or kicking until she’d drawn some blood –
Until I couldn’t stand it and knew I’d had enough.
The other day I left them – but, ever since, I’ve come
To rue it, for I’ve suffered far greater on the run!
A gentle hermit told me, this morning, at his hut,
That if, by his direction and help from God above,
I reached the house of Simon, I’d find a change of luck,
For they were worthy people who’d welcome me with love.
But I have lost my bearings, and all my hope is crushed.
Good man, if you can tell me the path I should have struck,
1210 For God’s sake, I implore you, inform me so at once!”
“Allay your fears,” said Simon, “and let your tears be done,
“For I am warden Simon, most truly, lovely one!”
On hearing this, young Bertha was dumb with joy, but flung
Her arms towards the Heavens in thanks to God above,
As Simon led her homewards, as gently as a dove.
Arriving at his cabin, he hailed his wife at once,
A woman of great virtue called Dame Constanzia:
“ My love, I have a present for you to open up!
I found her in the forest – it was a miracle!
1220 She tells a sorry story of how she’s come to us,
But this I can assure you: she’s made of gallant stuff –
She has survived the dangers of weather rude and rough,
At night, inside the forest, and I for one am stunned
That she’s escaped the jaws of its deadly denizens!
She’s very weak from hunger, and shivering and numb:
Look after her, I beg you. Revive her with your love.”
“Your will, my lord,” she answered, “as always, will be done!”
She took the hand of Bertha, with tenderness enough,
But Bertha, hurt and frozen, still whimpered at the touch.
1230 Constanzia wept also, as tenderly they hugged.
She led her to her bedroom and laid her on a rug
Before the fire, exhorting her daughters then to rub
Her limbs and body gently, but well, to warm her up.
The pair of them, for pity, wept also as they rubbed.
When Bertha felt the comfort, she thanked the Lord above.
IT’S TRUE, MY noble lords: although the house was humble
It filled the Queen with joy, who thanked the Lord above us
That she had found respite from fortune’s evil clutches.
Constanzia was grieved to see how she had suffered,
1240 As were her daughters too, whose names I have discovered
Were Isabelle the one and Eglantine the other.
What winsome girls they were – good-hearted, young and lovely,
Both kind of mind and true – the image of their mother.
They all did what they could to help their charge recover:
They brought her food and tried to make her swallow something.
But in the woods she’d been so sorely hurt and troubled
That more than thirty pains, in every limb and muscle,
Had made her very weak and she could swallow nothing.
“God’s mercy bless your soul, sweet hermit,” Bertha muttered,
1250 “For showing me the road that rendered me this comfort.
My body was ill-used, my spirit sorely troubled
Inside the freezing wood amid the rain and thunder.”
She stretched before the fire and wept to feel so lucky.
CONSTANZIA was moved by the tears that Bertha shed,
As were indeed her daughters, each one of them possessed
Of feelings that were tender and strong with good intent.
Each one of them was eager to ease and please their guest:
Good Simon built the fire up with laudable largesse.
The women warmed her body with blankets, right and left,
1260 And placed some heated towels across her trembling breast.
“Constanzia,” said Simon, “her body must be fed!”
“By St Germain,” she answered, “I swear that’s coming next!”
As Bertha too made answer: “This warming feeds me best,
Although I’ve eaten nothing since yesterday – and yet
The hermit did provide me a little of his bread:
I simply couldn’t eat it, my heart was so distressed.”
A MONDAY MORN it was, the working week commencing,
When in the Mansel wood fair Bertha’s life was rescued
From awful pain and strain, as well as mortal peril.
1270 But God – Who fills our hearts with happiness unending,
And when we lose our way, is our eternal Shepherd –
Had seen her on that day, alone and full of terror,
And that is why He’d sent good luck in her direction!
Good Simon left the room with everyone except for
His daughters and his wife, who lovingly attended
To Bertha, doing each their very best to help her.
Like whitest wool her skin was paler white than ever.
Her hair was blonder far than that of ancient Helen.
AMID THE SAVAGE forest Queen Bertha lay inside
1280 The house of worthy Simon, his daughters and his wife,
Whose care displayed their pity; and it was clear alike
That what they did for Bertha had saved her mortal life:
She even ate a little when she had slept a while.
“What happened to you, dearest?” Constanzia inquired:
“What drove you to these woodlands without a guard or guide?”
To Simon, with the story of her despairing flight.
The wife replied: “My dearest, I have to say that I
Do think you were mistaken to leave your father’s side
1290 And lose his love because of your new stepmother’s spite:
For you are left with nothing, and that cannot be right.”
“Good mother,” answered Bertha, “I know your words are wise,
But I don’t think that either have missed me or have tried
To search for me – or worried if I should live or die!”
By saying this she managed to keep her vow and hide
The truth from Simon’s household as long as fate conspired.
She warmed herself with pleasure that day before the fire,
And ate and drank at leisure, whenever she desired.
“NOW, WHAT’S YOUR NAME, my dear?” Constanzia asked kindly:
1300 “Do not despair or fear – we welcome your arrival.”
“I’m Bertha,” she replied, “I do not seek to hide it.”
“Nor should you.” said the dame, “Your name could not be finer –
For so is named our Queen, a maiden whom our Highness
King Pepin’s made his bride and everyone delights in:
Her beauty, so they say, and goodness are unrivalled.”
On hearing this, the fear in Bertha only heightened:
She groaned at her own name, and wished she had disguised it.
Constanzia went on: “You have indeed been frightened!
How long have you been lost or used the wood to hide in?”
1310 “Since yesterday at dawn I’ve wandered, lost inside it,
And then I had to bide the terrors of its night-time,
Alone, among the thorns, the brambles and the briars.
My clothing has been torn, its stitches shorn to slivers.
My body has been pierced from top to toe entirely,
As, like a frightened beast, my panic drove me blindly.
But thanks to God above, and to St Mary’s kindness,
I saw the dawn of day and met your husband Simon.
God bless you for the love and care you have provided.
You have restored my health and warmed my heart with kindness.
1320 My need was great indeed, for I was close to dying.”
MOST EARNESTLY regretting that she had told her name,
She wished that she had changed it when making up her tale.
“Constanzia,” said Simon, “prepare a private place
Where she may sleep a little or rest as best she may.
Her night inside the forest was no delight, I’d say.”
“My worthy lord,” said Bertha, “God bless you with His grace!
Whatever fate awaits me I cannot now but praise
The monk I met this morning who pointed out the way
That I should go to find you – God bless him too, in faith!
1330 I would have died already without the hermit’s aid.”
Then to herself she whispered, so none could hear her say:
“May God, born of the Virgin in Bethlehem that day,
Confound the scheming Tybert for a deceitful knave,
And old Margiste, the servant by whom I was betrayed!
I’m sure the king my father, whose heart is true and brave,
Queen Blancheflor my mother, my sister too, Aalais,
Would not have hailed my marriage if they had known its fate!
If now they knew, I’m certain that many hearts would break
With sorrow in their kingdoms, and many heads would shake!”
1340 At this, her courage faltered and Bertha wept again.
CONSTANZIA spoke forth: “Do not despair, I pray you!
Your stepmother was cruel to chide you so and chafe you,
But, rest assured, God knows the wrongs she did against you
And will reward in kind her most unkind behaviour.
A bad stepmother’s love is little short of hatred.
Forget the time that’s past, for better shall replace it.
You’re safe within these walls; here nobody will plague you.
Remain here for a month in liberty and safety.
Of all that you require our household will avail you.”
1350 Said Bertha: “From my heart I thank you for this favour!
All blessings on this house and on the hermit’s haven!
May God, the Holy Ghost, and Jesus Christ our Saviour,
Reward your souls today, and save them through the ages!”
AMID THE MIGHTY forest of lofty firs galore,
Inside the house of Simon and good Constanzia,
Lay lovely, royal Bertha; with lowered head and voice
She prayed and prayed that Jesus would joyfully reward
The hermit who had shown her the pathway to their door.
Constanzia attended her every need and call,
1360 As did indeed the daughters – may God reward them all.
As one girl brought her chicken to eat, the other thought
To thin her wine with water so she could swallow more,
Before they wrapped her snugly in furs to keep her warm.
Both night and day they watched her with every care and joy.
God – if they’d been aware of just who that care was for!
WITHIN THE COTTAGE walls of Simon, called ‘The Warden’,
Inside a curtained room lay lovely Bertha Broad-Foot.
If Simon’s wife had known she had the Queen before her,
Whom treachery had seen abandoned like an orphan
1370 Inside the wood at night, affrighted and exhausted,
I’m sure she would have shown great deference towards her.
But Bertha, as she stayed each further day, was shortly
So well beloved because she willingly and always,
And with a graceful skill that still was meek and loyal,
Did all that she was asked in any task’s performance.
She also kept the vow of secrecy she’d sworn to,
A vow she wouldn’t now, for anything, be false to.
Constanzia herself loved Bertha like a daughter.
Her calibre of mind endeared her even more so.
1380 CONSTANZIA’S two daughters were skilful artisans
In thread of gold and silk-work –– I know this for a fact.
Next day the honest Bertha was watching, as she sat
Beside them at their labour, and said: “I would be glad
To teach you a new pattern that you might like to add.
My mother was a seamstress who came from near Alsace.”
Said Isabelle: “Good Bertha, please teach us all you can!”
And so, as it is stated in histories they have
At Saint-Denis, the fame of Queen Bertha’s hand began,
As one whose skill at sewing was peerless in the land:
1390 Said Eglantine: “My sister, the skills we thought we had
Are naught, you must admit it, compared to Bertha’s hand!
I shall at once tell mother – and make her understand
That if good Bertha leaves us, we should be more than sad!”
She ran off to her mother and straightaway began:
“By all my faith in Jesus and good St Nicholas,
I’ve never seen a seamstress with skills that Bertha has!
I swear, if she should leave us, you’ll never hold me back,
Or Isabelle, from leaving to follow in her tracks!”
“Enough of that, my lovely!” replied Constanzia:
14
00 “I too would keep her with us and help her all I can
To thrive, and help her marry, if she aspires to that.
Until that time I’ll make her your close companion:
You three shall sleep together inside the room I have.”
Her daughter laughed with pleasure and gave her hands a clap:
“Oh thank you, lovely mother, and God above,” she sang,
“For giving us, in Bertha, the best companion!
I love the summer roses – but none of those can match
The graciousness of spirit and character she has!”
CONSTANZIA, at once, returned to raise the matter
1410 With Eglantine, who glowed from head to toe with gladness!
Fair Bertha was at work upon a wondrous pattern
Most difficult to sew – but not for her to handle!
Constanzia looked on, with tenderest compassion:
“O Bertha!” she exclaimed, “There’s nothing that we have here
Shall not be shared with you to make you well and happy!
Remain within our care, away from danger’s harrow,
And solemnly I swear I’ll never treat you badly.”
“God bless you,” Bertha cried, “Whose sun dispels the shadows.
Whatever is my share I’ll bear it well and gladly!”
1420 “I’LL GLADLY STAY, my lady, since you have asked me thus.”
Said Bertha, and she added: “May God reward your trust!
I bless the road that brought me to this abode of love!”
And certainly, young Bertha was loved by all of them.
But now I’d tell of others – then, when the moment comes
To tell again of Bertha, you’ll know it well enough!
She stayed there for a decade with kind Constanzia,
And Simon, in whose friendship she found support at once.
So peerlessly she served them she well deserved and won
The keys that ran the household and lives of everyone!
1430 She always wore on Fridays the shirt that penitents
Put on to honour Jesus, Who pardoned Longinus,
And praise the Virgin Mary, who bore us such a Son!
Each Saturday she fasted, on water and some crusts,
But thought of Pepin daily, and called on God above
To bless him in his lifetime, and when his days were done.
She also missed the monarch her father very much,