A TRUCE
As Tirant came near the port of Transimeno they saw the whaling
ships that had been with the Turkish armada quickly entering the
port of Bellpuig, shouting out the bad news about the capture of
the kings, and the loss of the armada and all its men. When
Tirant reached port, he found many of his ships there, and many
of the enemy's that had been captured. After Tirant had been
there for two days, all his men had returned except Hippolytus.
Earlier, when Hippolytus had not been able to find his captain,
he thought Tirant must have gone toward Turkey, so he ordered his
pilot to set that course. While not finding the captain, he did
see a new ship from the armada. When he followed the ship, it
fled and stopped at an island that was nearly unpopulated. The
wind was against it, and the men abandoned ship and made land by
boat. When Hippolytus drew alongside, he captured the ship that
was empty of men but full of riches, and took possession of it.
When the captain saw that everyone was there except Hippolytus,
he sent out three ships to search for him. And they found him
coming back with his prize. When the captain got news of it, and
saw that he was returning with such great honor, he was very
content.
This Hippolytus turned out to be a very valiant knight, generous
and courageous. And he accomplished singular acts in his life
because he tried to imitate his master and lord.
When Lord Malvei learned that Tirant had come back triumphant and
victorious, he was very glad, and he rode out to meet him. But
before going, he sent one messenger to the emperor and another to
the camp, and then everyone rejoiced. On hearing the news, the
emperor had all the bells in the city rung, and there were great
celebrations.
When Lord Malvei found Tirant, he advised him to go to the
emperor as soon as he could. And there was nothing Tirant wanted
more, because he wanted to see the princess. He assembled all
the men who had been with him, and they set sail.
When they were in sight of the city of Constantinople, the
emperor was told that their captain was coming with the entire
armada, and the ships were already in sight. The emperor quickly
had a wooden bridge constructed that extended thirty paces out
over the water, entirely covered with rich satin cloths. And he
had a cenotaph placed in the center of the marketplace, covered
with brocade and silk, for himself, the empress, the princess and
all the maidens. And from the cenotaph to the end of the bridge
where they would disembark, he had cloth of red velvet put down
so that the captain would step on silk instead of on the ground.
(And when it was over, whoever managed to take a piece of silk
was able to keep it, and many hands were wounded with swords and
knives as they tried to cut a piece of silk.)
As the ships came into port, the captain's ship drew alongside
the wooden bridge, and he came out with the Grand Caramany on his
right, the King of Upper India on his left, and all the barons in
front. They were met by all the townspeople, and led in a great
procession to the marketplace where the emperor and all the
ladies were.
When Tirant was up on the cenotaph with the emperor, he knelt and
kissed his hand, and he told the Grand Caramany to kiss his hand.
But the Caramany answered that he would not; then Tirant
immediately dealt him such a hard blow to the head with his
gauntlet that the Caramany was forced to put his head to the
ground, and Tirant said to him:
"Dog, you son of a dog, now you're going to kiss his feet and his
hand whether you want to or not."
"I won't do it of my own free will, or even by force," said the
Grand Caramany. "And if you and I were in a different place, I'd
show you what it means to come close to a king. You still don't
know how far my power extends. But I swear to you by our holy
prophet, Mohammed, and by this beard, that if I ever get my
freedom back, I'll make you kiss the feet of one of my blacks."
And he said no more. But his companion, the other king, so that
he would not be dealt the blow too, knelt on the hard ground and
kissed his hand and foot. Then the emperor had them seized and
placed under a stiff guard inside an iron cell.
The emperor and all the ladies came down from the cenotaph, and
they went to the great church of Saint Sophia. Tirant took the
empress by the arm and escorted her, and she said to him:
"Captain, you are the most glorious man in the world. If only
you had come to the kingdom of Germany in my time, when my father
was emperor of Rome, in those days when I was wooed by a thousand
suitors. If I had seen you, out of the thousand I would have
chosen you. But now that I am old and belong to another, my hope
comes along too late."
The princess heard all these things, and when they got to the
palace, she said to Tirant:
"That old mother of mine is pitying herself, and she would like
to play too. She thinks that if you had come in her day, she
would be worthy of your love."
Then the emperor came out and asked the captain about his wounds.
Tirant answered that they felt a little feverish:
"And I think the sea voyage has made my fever rise."
The emperor ordered the doctors to take him to his quarters.
When they had treated him they told him to stay in bed so that
his arm would not be permanently injured. Tirant followed the
doctors' advice, and the emperor visited him every day, and told
the empress and his daughter to visit him twice a day, in the
morning and in the afternoon. Widow Repose, moved more by love
than mercy, served him continually.
Now let us go back and see how the Turks are dealing with the
Christians who stayed in the camp. After they heard of the cruel
battle between the captain and the Grand Turk, they often came to
the city of Saint George and killed or captured many Christians.
They made many forays, engaging them in a cruel war, so that very
few survived if they fell into their hands. How the Christians
suffered when they thought about Tirant not being there, and that
they would have to go out and fight without him. Not even wise
Diafebus or Lord Agramunt could save their lives by placing
themselves in the most dangerous positions during the battles.
And they all cried out for Tirant as if he were a saint. They
never felt safe, but were terrified of the Turks, because the
great courage they had had during their victories when Tirant had
been there, was lost now that he was gone. And they offered a
special prayer to Our Lord to help Tirant, for they felt that all
their hope lay with him.
At this time, in the palace, the doctors were coming to Tirant's
room. The empress had finished her hours, and she and the
princess and other ladies went to Tirant and asked the doctors
when they would allow Tirant to come to the palace.
"My lady," answered the doctors, "he'll be able to walk in three
or four days."
When the princess was back in her chamber, a sweetness came into
her heart because of her great love for Tirant, and she fell to
the floor in a swoon. When the maidens saw her lying on the
floor they raised such a cry that it reached the emperor's ears,
and he came running, thinking the world was about to collapse
around him.
He saw his daughter sprawled on the ground as though dead, and he
threw himself over her, crying piteously. The mother had placed
her daughter's head in her lap, and was crying and wailing so
that the entire palace heard her, and her face and clothing were
bathed in tears. Word was quickly sent to the doctors who were
in Tirant's lodging. A gentleman came who told them, in secret:
"Come quickly. The princess is in such a state that you'll be
lucky to find her still alive!"
The doctors hurried to the princess's chamber. Tirant sensed
that something had happened to the princess because of the outcry
the men and women were making. He got up quickly, sick as he
was, and went to the princess's chambers, where he found her
conscious and lying in bed.
He learned that the doctors had used all their efforts to bring
back her health. When the emperor saw that his daughter had
recovered, he went to his rooms with the empress, and the doctors
went with him because they saw that he was exhausted from what
had happened to his daughter. Tirant went into the chamber,
nearly out of his mind, and when he saw the princess lying on the
bed, he said, pitifully:
"I have never felt greater pain than now, when I thought I might
lose the greatest treasure I had in the world. I heard shouts,
and as soon as I thought of Your Majesty I said to myself, 'If
something is wrong with her, she'll let me know.' But I've come
myself to see what Your Highness' illness is.
The princess quickly replied:
"Tirant, my lord, you alone were the cause of my illness: it was
brought on by the thought of your love. Love already has more
power over me than I would like. I beg you to go see the emperor
so that he won't know that you came to see me before you did
him."
She put her head under the covers, and told Tirant to put his
there too. Then she told him:
"Kiss my breasts to bring me consolation and to give you peace."
And he did it very willingly. After he had kissed her breasts,
he kissed her eyes and her face. Then Tirant left, very content.
When he was in the emperor's chambers, and the doctors saw him,
they reprimanded him soundly because he had gotten out of bed
without their consent. Tirant answered:
"Even if it cost me my life, I wouldn't refrain from coming to
see His Majesty, the emperor, for anything in the world. When I
saw you leaving my side so quickly, I could only suppose that he
was in some great difficulty."
Meanwhile, the men in Tirant's camp were desperate because of his
illness, and they had no hope for victory without him. The
sultan sent ambassadors to the camp to deal with Tirant. When
they arrived the captain was not there, and they were
disappointed. They sent a message to the emperor, and he told
them to come and see him, for they would be allowed to come and
go safely.
So they went to the emperor, and he welcomed them very
graciously. He honored them highly because the King of Armenia
was with them as an ambassador, and he was the brother of the
Grand Caramany. Abdalla Salomon, who was more knowledgeable than
the others, was asked to speak, and he said:
"My lord, we are sent to Your Majesty by that feared and most
excellent and great lord of the Mohammedan sect, the great Sultan
of Babylonia, and also by the Grand Turk and Lord of the Indies,
and the other kings in his camp. We come before Your perfect
Majesty for three things (not counting the first, which is to
know about your health, life, honor and condition). The first
is: a three month truce will be given to you, on land and sea, if
you would like it. The second: knowing that this virtuous
captain of the Christians has captured that powerful lord, the
Grand Caramany, with his mighty sword, and the King of Upper
India who was with him, if you would like to give him to us, we
will pay three times his weight in gold as ransom. And we will
give you one and a half times the weight of the King of Upper
India. Let us come to the third item: If Your Excellency would
like a treaty of peace (with no iniquity or ill will; but only
peace and love), he will think of you as a father, and you can
think of him as a son. And as a token of that peace you would
give him your daughter, Carmesina, as his wife--under this
condition: if a son is born to them he will have to be raised in
the sect of our holy prophet, Mohammed; and if a daughter is
born, she will be given to the mother to live under Christian
law. He will live under his law, and the princess under hers.
In this way we can put an end to all our misfortunes, and as a
reward for such a marriage he will give you all the cities, towns
and castles that he has taken in your empire. In addition, he
will make a lasting peace with you and your people. And he will
defend you against anyone who tries to harm you."
The emperor held counsel, and then invited all the ambassadors
in. He told them that out of love and consideration for the
Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk, he would sign the three month
peace treaty, but about the other things he would reserve
judgment.
One day, while Tirant was in the princess's chamber, with many
other maidens there, he said:
"Oh, Tirant! Why are you hesitant about dying when you see the
father in alliance with his council against his daughter? To
think that so much beauty, virtue and grace, along with greatness
of lineage, will be subject to a Moorish enemy of God and our
holy law, and it will be destroyed and fall into decay!"
The princess quickly answered:
"How could you think that I would subject myself to a Moor, or
that I would stoop to be a friend of a Moorish dog? They have as
many wives as they like and not one of them is really a wife,
because they can leave them whenever they wish. Forget all those
thoughts, virtuous knight, and trust your Carmesina. She will
defend all your rights just as you have defended hers. And you
can command me in everything you wish, as if you were my lord."
Another day Tirant was going to the princess's chamber and he met
Plaerdemavida. He asked her what the princess was doing, and she
answered:
"Oh, you saint! Why do you want to know what my lady is doing?
If you had come earlier you would have found her in bed. And if
you had seen her the way I've seen her, your soul would be in
paradise. The more a person sees what he loves, the more he
wants it. That's why I think it's more delightful to see
something than to imagine it. Come in if you'd like: you'll find
her dressed in her skirt. I want to talk to you about my own
desire: Why doesn't my Hippolytus come with you? It's hard to
think that I hurt inside when today's pleasure shouldn't be put
off for later."
"Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you to tell me in all truth if the
empress or anyone else I should fear is inside."
"I wouldn't tell you one thing if it were something else," said
Plaerdemavida. "It would be bad for both of us: You for going
in, and me for letting you go. I know that the princess doesn't
want your love for her to go unrewarded. And since I know how
much you hunger for your heart's desire, I want to help you."
Then Tirant went into the chamber and found the princess combing
her hair. When she turned and saw him she said:
"Who gave you the right to come in here? You shouldn't come into
my room without my permission: if the emperor knew about this he
could charge you with disloyalty. I beg you to leave: my breast
is trembling in fear."
Tirant paid no attention to the princess's words, but took her in
his arms and kissed her again and again on her breasts, her eyes
and her mouth. When the maidens saw Tirant playing with their
lady that way they were silent, but when they saw Tirant putting
his hand under her skirt they came to her aid. While they were
frolicking this way the empress was coming to her daughter's
chamber to see what she was doing, and with their games they did
not hear her until she was at the chamber door.
Tirant quickly lay on the floor and they spread clothes over him.
Then the princess sat on top of him, and began combing her hair.
The empress sat down at her side, nearly on Tirant's head. Only
God knows how shamefully afraid Tirant was then! He was in
anguish while they talked about the celebrations they were
planning, until a maiden came with the Hours. Then the empress
got up and withdrew to one side of the room to say the Hours.
The princess was afraid the empress might see him, and did not
dare move. When the princess had finished combing her hair, she
put her hand under the clothes and combed Tirant's hair, and from
time to time he kissed her hand and took the comb away. All the
maidens went in front of the empress, and then Tirant got up
quietly and left with the comb the princess had given him.
When he was outside the room, thinking he was safe and that no
one had seen him, he saw the emperor and a chamberlain coming
directly to the princess's chamber. When Tirant saw them passing
through the great hall he panicked and quickly went back into the
princess's chamber and said to her:
"My lady, help me. The emperor is coming."
"Oh!" said the princess. "We get out of one bad situation, and
then go into one that's even worse. I told you what would
happen, but you're always coming at the worst times."
She quickly had the maidens stand in front of the empress again,
and they quietly led him to another chamber. There they put
mattresses on top of him so that if the emperor came in, as he
often did, he would not see him. When the emperor came into the
chamber he found his daughter combing her hair. He stayed there
until she had finished and the empress had said her Hours, and
all the maidens were dressed. When the princess was at the
chamber door she asked where her gloves were. Then she said:
"Oh, I put them in a place none of you knows about."
She and her maidens went back inside the chamber where Tirant
was, and took off all the mattresses covering him. Then he
jumped up and caught the princess in his arms, dancing around the
room with her and kissing her again and again.
"Oh, how beautiful you are! I have never seen a maiden as
perfect as you. Your Majesty is so superior to all women in
knowledge and discretion that I'm not surprised the Moorish
sultan would want to have you in his arms."
"Appearances are deceiving," said the princess. "I'm not as
perfect as you say I am. That light shining in your eyes is
love. Kiss me and let me go; the emperor is waiting for me."
Tirant could not answer her because the maidens were holding onto
his hands so he could not muss her hair with his playing around.
When he saw her leaving, and that he could not touch her with his
hands, he stretched out his leg and put it under her skirt so
that his shoe touched her where it should not, and he put his leg
between her thighs. Then the princess ran out of his chamber to
be with the emperor, and Widow Repose took Tirant out through the
garden door.
When Tirant was in his own lodging he took off his shoes and
stockings. Then he had the stocking and shoe that had touched
the princess embroidered with pearls, diamonds and rubies worth
more than twenty-five thousand ducats.
On the day of the joust he wore the shoe and stocking, and
everyone who saw it was amazed at the fine jewels, for a shoe
like that had never been seen before. And on that foot he wore
no armor, but only on the left foot. As a crest for his helmet,
he wore four golden rods, the Holy Grail. And upon that was the
comb the princess had given him, with a motto that read: "There
is no virtue but that which exists in her."
Everyday Tirant was in the court, talking and taking his ease
with the emperor and much more so with the ladies. And he
changed clothes every day, but he always wore the same stocking.
One day the princess said to him in a mocking tone:
"Tell me, Tirant this custom you have of wearing an embroidered
stocking on one foot but not on the other, is it something they
do in France or in some other place?"
This was the day the festival had ended, and they were on their
way to Pera. And the princess said these words with Stephanie
and Widow Repose close by.
"What, my lady! Doesn't Your Majesty know what this custom
means? Doesn't Your Excellency remember that day when the
empress came in and I was hidden with your maiden's clothing on
top of me, and the empress nearly sat on my head? Afterward your
father came in, and you hid me in the little chamber under the
mattresses, and when they were gone, while I was playing with
Your Highness, since I couldn't reach you with my hands, my foot
had to take their place, and I put my leg between your thighs,
and my foot touched higher up, where my soul wishes to find its
happiness."
"Oh, Tirant!" said the princess. "I remember very well what you
told me that day, and my body still bears the marks. But the day
will come when, just as you have one leg embroidered today, you
will be able to embroider both of them, and you may place them
where you will, at your pleasure."
When Tirant heard her saying these words so full of love, he
quickly dismounted from his horse, saying that his gloves had
fallen, and he kissed her leg above her skirt, and said:
"The place were grace was granted should be kissed."
As soon as they reached the city of Pera, and when they were
about to don their armor, they saw nine galleys approaching land.
The emperor would not allow the tournament to begin until they
found out where the galleys were from. The galleys put into port
in less than an hour, and they turned out to be French. Their
captain was a cousin of Tirant. He had been a page to the king,
and the king had made him Viscount of Branches. This viscount
had decided to come and help his cousin in his battles against
the infidel, and he and other nobles had come, along with five
thousand French archers that the King of France had given to
them. And each of the archers had a page and a squire. And when
the galleys had docked at Sicily, the king there had given them
many horses.
The emperor postponed the tournament for the following day. Then
eight hundred knights with gold spurs came out to the grounds,
and no one was allowed to participate if he had not been dubbed a
knight and unless he wore silk or brocade or gold trappings. The
Duke of Pera was captain of half the men, and Tirant commanded
the other half. So that each would know who the other was, they
had small flags attached to their helmets, some green and others
white. Tirant had ten knights enter the field of battle, and the
duke ten others, and they began to fight very well.
Then twenty entered, then thirty, and they began to mix together.
Each of them did as well as he possibly could in using his
weapons. Tirant kept an eye on his men, and when he saw that
they were not doing well, he entered the fray with his lance
poised, and he went against another knight so ferociously that he
thrust his lance completely through him and it came out the other
side. Then he drew his sword and dealt terrible blows all around
so that he seemed like a ravenous lion, and all the onlookers
were amazed at his great strength and spirit.
The emperor was very satisfied at this singular display of arms.
When it had gone on for nearly three hours, the emperor came down
from the cenotaph, mounted a horse and quickly rode into the fray
to separate the men, because he saw that tempers were rising, and
many were wounded. After all the knights had disarmed
themselves, they went to the palace. There they talked about
their singular display of arms, and the foreigners said they had
never seen such valiant men. The sultan's ambassadors, who had
seen them, were filled with wonder.
That night the emperor returned with his men and all the ladies
to the city of Constantinople. The following day, after mass,
they all went to the market place which was as nicely decorated
as it had been the first day. When the sultan's ambassadors
arrived, and everyone was present, the emperor gave them this
reply:
"Nothing brings greater anguish than to have His Majesty hear
abominable words that offend God and the world. I pray that His
immense goodness will not permit me to do things against His holy
catholic faith, like giving my daughter as wife to a man who is
outside our law. For all the treasure that the Grand Caramany
and the King of Upper India could pay, they cannot have their
liberty unless they restore all my empire to me."
When they had heard these words the ambassadors stood up and took
their leave, and went back to the sultan.
After the celebration was over and the ambassadors had gone, the
emperor held war councils many times. Tirant fostered his
romance, and was very insistent about staying near the princess
because he saw that the end of the truce was approaching. The
emperor indicated that he wanted the captain to be in camp to
take charge of the men, and the captain showed that he was
attending to the men going with him so that they would be ready,
since he was very eager to confront the Turks.
Tirant pleaded insistently with the princess to give him the
satisfaction he wanted. The princess saw how great Tirant's
passion was, and she said:
"Tirant, I know full well what you want, but my reputation is
spotless. Tell me, what gave you the hope of being in my bed?
Just to imagine it is great infamy. If I gave in to you, I
couldn't hope that it would not be known. What could I use to
excuse my transgression? I beg you, Tirant, my lord, do not rob
me lightly of my tender virginity."
And she would say no more. Tirant was rather stunned by the
princess's words which showed how little she loved him. For he
thought he had progressed in his love affair, and now he found it
was entirely the opposite.
While they were talking the emperor came into the chamber, and
took his daughter Carmesina by the hand. They went upstairs
together to the treasure-tower to take out money and give it to
Tirant so that he would go to the camp.
When they had gone Tirant was left with the maidens. He thought
about what the princess had said to him, and he realized that
Widow Repose had overheard his secret, and everything he had said
to her. Tirant decided to see if he could win the Widow over
with promises, and with warm and tender words he said:
"I believe I have been offended by my lady. I want to do great
services for the princess so that she will see that I am worthy
of her love. Although Stephanie already has many possessions and
great wealth, I would like to give her even more. I would give
Widow Repose a duke or count or marquis for a husband, and as
many possessions as would make her happy. And I would like to do
the same for Plaerdemavida and all the other ladies."
Stephanie thanked Tirant for herself and for all the other women.
Widow Repose said to Stephanie:
"You thank him for yourself. I know how to thank him on my own."
And, smiling, she turned to Tirant and said:
"Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. But I want no
other husband, no matter how great a lord he is, except the one I
adore day and night. He has not killed me yet, but he has given
me reason to die. I won't say any more about that because this
isn't the time or place."
When Widow Repose finished, Plaerdemavida said:
"My lord and captain, don't you know that repentance follows sin?
You've come to my lady's rooms, and found them like a tomb, since
you can find no mercy in them. Please don't lose hope, I beg
you. Rome wasn't built in a day. Are you discouraged because of
some trifle my lady said to you? When you're in a hard-fought
battle, you're like a lion, and you always come out victorious,
and yet are you afraid of a lone woman who, with our help, you'll
conquer? Do you remember that pleasant night in the castle of
Malvei when I was dreaming? You saw how mercifully you dealt
with that situation. I'm only trying to tell you that we'll all
help you in this affair. And I know what the solution is: you
have to mix in a little force, because your fear--which comes
from ignorance--stops you from using it. It's a terrible thing
for maidens to have to say those awful words: 'I like it.' I'll
work as hard as I can for you in this affair, I promise you. And
I think that as a just reward--very inferior to my work--I
deserve to have your grace help with the love of my Hippolytus.
But I'm more than a little afraid, because I can see where his
wayward steps are taking him, and I don't like the way he's going
at all. I'm afraid of the danger he'll place himself in, because
he is a very good swordsman, and he strikes not at the legs but
at the head. And he knows much more than I have shown him."
Tirant brightened up a little at Plaerdemavida's jokes, and he
stood up to tell her:
"Maiden, it looks to me as though, instead of hiding your
advances toward Hippolytus, you don't care who knows about them."
"What do I care if everybody knows?" said Plaerdemavida. "You
men think that just because we're maidens we won't dare to say
anything. It's your nature to be good at first, and then bad
afterward. You're like the ocean: when someone starts to go in
the water it seems soft, and then later, when he's all the way
in, it's a torrent. That's the way love begins: at first you're
soft, and later on you're harsh and terrible."
While they were talking, the emperor came in. He took Tirant by
the hand and led him out of the room, and they talked at great
length about the war. When it was time to eat, Tirant and his
men went to their quarters.
That night, when the princess wanted to go to bed, Widow Repose
said to her:
"My lady, if Your Majesty knew about the things Tirant said to us
ladies, you would be amazed. He took me aside and told me things
about Your Excellency that I am loathe to repeat, because his
words show how little he cares for you."
Widow Repose's words had a great effect on the princess. Without
letting her say another word, she put her cloak back on, and they
went into a tiny chamber where no one could overhear them. First
the Widow told her what Tirant had said to all the ladies, and
how he wanted to arrange honorable marriages for them all. Then,
with great wickedness and deceit, the evil Widow gave vent to her
malice:
"Tirant is a cruel man. He doesn't have the good sense of the
others, but he is more shameless and daring. If Your Highness
knew what he says about you, you would never be able to love
him."
"Tell me at once," said the princess, "and don't make me suffer
so."
"He spoke to me secretly," said Widow Repose, "and he made me
swear on the Gospel that I wouldn't say a word to anyone. But
since you are my mistress, and I would be going against the
loyalty I owe you, any oath I've made is worthless. First, he
told me that Stephanie and Plaerdemavida are in alliance with him
so that, with your consent or by force, he will possess Your
Majesty. And if you don't do it of your own free will, he'll
plunge his sword through your neck and kill you cruelly, and then
he will do the same thing to your father. He will steal all your
treasure and they'll get on their ships and go back to their
land. And with the treasure they carry off, the clothing and
jewels, they'll find maidens there who are much more beautiful
than Your Highness, for he says that you don't look any better
than a serving girl and that you are completely shameless: that
you'll give it to anyone who wants it. Watch out for your
virtue, my lady. You can see what that mad traitor thinks of
Your Highness! And that faithless man says even more: that he
didn't come to this land to fight, and that he has been hurt too
many times because of his misfortune of knowing you and your
father. Do you think, my lady, that that way of talking is
proper for knights? Look at what he thinks of the honor of Your
Excellency and the emperor, who have granted him so many benefits
and honors. Anyone who says things like that should burn in
flames! Do you know what other things he says? That he doesn't
love any woman alive, unless it's for her wealth. He says many
other wicked things too. I remember he told me that if he ever
had another night like that one in Malvei, even if he made you a
thousand promises, he wouldn't keep any of them. With your
consent or by force, he would take you, and then he would say to
you, 'You evil woman, I don't thank you, now that I've had my
pleasure.' Oh, my lady, my heart cries blood when I think of all
the terrible things he said about Your Highness! That's why, my
lady, I want to give you some advice even though you haven't
asked me for it. There's no one who has more compassion for you
than I have. I cradled you in my arms and fed you from my own
breast, and Your Highness has hidden from me to entertain that
wicked Tirant. You've had more faith in Stephanie and
Plaerdemavida than in me: and they have betrayed you and sold
you. Oh, poor you! How they've defamed you, and they'll do it
even more from now on! Keep away from friendships like those
since you know the truth, because what I tell you is the Gospel
itself. You must swear that you'll never tell a soul about these
things I've told Your Majesty. I'm afraid that if that traitor,
Tirant, hears about it, he'll have me killed and then he'll
leave. So, my lady, make pretenses, and break off your
friendship with him little by little, because if Your Highness
suddenly stopped seeing him, he would think that I told you. And
those two ladies deserve to be whipped. Don't you see how big
Stephanie's belly is? I'm astonished that the emperor hasn't
noticed it. And the same will happen to Plaerdemavida."
The princess was very upset. With tears flowing from her eyes,
she began to lament angrily:
"Oh, God! Where is Your justice? How is it that fire does not
descend from heaven to turn that cruel, ungrateful Tirant into
ashes? He was the first knight that I considered my master. I
thought he would bring an end to all my troubles, and now I see
everything turned around. Oh, who would ever have thought that
words like these could come from the mouth of such a virtuous
knight? What have I done to him, to make him want the deaths of
my father and my mother and their miserable daughter? Oh,
Tirant! What happened to the love we shared? What crime did I
commit for you to think me vile and abominable? Did you really
say that you love no lady or maiden unless it's for her wealth,
and that you want to take my virginity by force? Oh, if I wanted
to be cruel, before the sun came up your chamber would be full of
blood; yours and the blood of all your men."
And she said no more. But hearing the call for matins, she
added:
"Widow, let's go to bed, even though I'll get little sleep
tonight with the great hate I have for Tirant--the one I used to
love so much."
The Widow answered:
"My lady, I beg you, please. Don't say a word about this to
anyone. Who knows what might happen?"
"Don't worry," said the princess. "I'll protect you."
When they were in their chamber, Stephanie saw them come in, and
said:
"It looks to me, my lady, as though you've had a great deal of
pleasure listening to the Widow--you've been with her so long.
I'd like to know what you're thinking about."
The princess climbed into bed without answering, and began to cry
bitterly. When the Widow had gone, Stephanie asked her why she
was crying. The princess told her:
"Stephanie, let me be, and take care that this doesn't happen to
you."
Stephanie was surprised at this, not knowing what it could mean.
She did not reply, but drew close to her as she usually did. All
that night the princess could not sleep a wink and cried and
lamented continually.
In the morning she got up, ill, because of her lack of sleep.
Nonetheless, she forced herself to go to mass.
When Tirant learned of her condition, and when Stephanie told him
about her tears and crying all night long, he was very surprised,
and wondered what he had done. Going up to the princess, he
said:
"If Your Excellency would like to tell me what is wrong, I would
be very pleased."
Tirant could say no more because of the great emotion that he
felt, and the princess softly began to say the following words:
"I will spend the rest of my life hiding the cause of my grief.
And don't think that it doesn't cost me a great deal of effort to
keep such terrible pain hidden."
She could say no more because the doctors came, along with the
empress. Tirant took his leave to go to his lodgings, immersed
in thought about what the princess had told him, and he felt
distressed. He could not eat, and did not want to leave his
chamber until the constable went to the palace and spoke at
length with Stephanie and Plaerdemavida. He told them what great
anguish Tirant was in because of what the princess had said to
him.
"How can we help him," said Stephanie, "if everything I mend by
day the Widow tears apart at night? If it weren't for the Widow,
I would have had him in her chambers, not once, but a hundred
times, like it or not, the way I did that night in the castle of
Malvei."
As they finished talking, they went into the princess's chamber.
She was deeply involved in conversation with Widow Repose, and
Stephanie could not talk to her. The emperor, knowing that the
constable was there, thought that Tirant must be there too. So
he had them summoned, and as they had to hold counsel, the
emperor said:
"Let us go to Carmesina's chambers, and we will see how she is,
because she has not felt well all day long."
The constable went first, then came the emperor and Tirant, and
then everyone in the council who wished to go. They found the
princess playing cards with the Widow, withdrawn to a corner of
the chamber. The emperor sat at her side, asking about her
illness, and she quickly answered him:
"Sire, as soon as I see Your Majesty, my illness suddenly
disappears."
Then she turned her eyes on Tirant and smiled. The emperor was
very happy at Carmesina's words, and much more so when he saw her
in such a good mood. They spoke of many things, and the princess
answered everything Tirant said to her, because Widow Repose had
advised her to be nice to Tirant.
What the Widow wanted was not for Tirant to return to his
country, but to lose hope of having the princess, and for him to
love the Widow instead. That is why she spoke so wickedly to the
princess.
When it was nearly night, the emperor and all his men went to
their chambers, and the next day the emperor expressed his regret
that all the men had to leave for the camp. Tirant and his men
got ready as quickly as they could. While Stephanie was talking
with the princess that evening, she gave her the news about
Tirant, and the princess quickly said to her:
"Be quiet, Stephanie. Don't make me any angrier. All those who
make appearances of love are not made exactly of gold."
Stephanie tried to talk but she would not let her.
So two or three days went by, and the princess showed a smiling
face to everyone, including Tirant, because she knew that soon
they would have to leave. And to the emperor she said:
"Sire, here is Tirant, your virtuous captain, who will shortly do
to the sultan what he did to the Caramany and the King of Upper
India, or what he did to the King of Egypt. If everyone in the
world went into battle, he would certainly be the only one to win
honor and lasting fame. And that is worthy of a singular prize,
for he is a great warrior, and he has gone into battle with true
courage."
The emperor said:
"Virtuous captain, I thank you for all the honors you have
brought me, and I beg you to do the same from now on, or better,
for this is the hope I place in you."
When Tirant heard so many superfluous words, and saw that the
princess had brought them on, almost in mockery, he could utter
only:
"Perhaps."
Tirant wanted to go to his chambers, and he went down a
staircase, into a room where he found the High Constable,
Stephanie and Plaerdemavida in animated conversation. Tirant
went to them and said:
"My sisters, what are you talking about?"
"My lord," answered Stephanie, "about how little love the
princess is showing your lordship when you are about to leave.
Now, more than ever, she should be showering you with love.
Then, my lord, we talked about what will happen to me if you go
away. Because the empress said to me last night, 'Stephanie, you
are in love.' I blushed and shamefully lowered my eyes. That
was a sign of assent, since I was silent, because at first I
didn't know what love was, except for that night at Malvei. And
if you leave there will be little good fortune and a miserable
gift of love for me except for all the pain I'll have for
company. Oh, poor me! That's the way I will be
punished--because of your wrongdoing."
"My lady," said Tirant, "didn't I tell you that the day we left I
would beg the emperor, in the presence of the empress and the
princess, to give his consent to this marriage? The constable
will be here, and then we will hold your wedding."
"And how will I get along," said Stephanie, "when you aren't
here? There won't be any celebration or dancing or festivities
at all without your lordship here."
"Who wants festivities at a wedding if there weren't any at the
engagement?" said Tirant, "Leave the partying and merrymaking for
the bed."
While they were talking, the emperor came down with Carmesina.
Tirant thought that this was a good time to tell the emperor. So
he went over to the emperor, and in Carmesina's presence he sank
to one knee, and humbly began the following plea:
"With deep humility I beg Your Majesty, and the empress, and the
princess, to hold the marriage of the maiden Stephanie of
Macedonia to my singular brother, the Count of Sant Angel and the
High Constable of Your Highness, because marriages like these are
a union of the deepest kind of love."
The emperor replied:
"I am going to delegate my power to my daughter here so that she
can ask her mother's consent."
And he left without another word, while the princess stayed
behind with them. When Stephanie saw that the emperor had gone
so quickly, she assumed that he did not approve of the marriage,
and she left the princess, Tirant, the constable and
Plaerdemavida, and went into a chamber alone and began to cry.
Tirant took the princess's arm, and went with the constable and
Plaerdemavida to the empress's chambers. There Tirant and the
princess asked the empress to give her consent to this marriage,
since the emperor had agreed, and she answered that she would be
very happy to. They immediately called all the court to
Stephanie's betrothal. They all gathered in the great hall,
along with a cardinal who had been summoned to marry them. Then
they sent word for the bride to come, and they found her still
crying because she had heard no news until they came looking for
her and told her that the emperor and all the others were waiting
for her.
The betrothal was celebrated with dances and a sumptuous feast.
The emperor wanted the wedding to take place the following day so
that Tirant's departure would not be delayed, and so it was done.
Great celebrations were held with jousts and dances and gaiety.
And everyone was happy except poor, miserable Tirant.
The night of the wedding, Plaerdemavida caught five little
kittens and put them by the window where the bride was sleeping,
and they meowed all night long. After Plaerdemavida had put the
cats there she went to the emperor's chambers and said to him:
"My lord, come to the bride's chamber quickly: the constable must
have hurt her terribly because I heard some loud cries. I am
really afraid that he may have killed your dear niece, or at
least hurt her badly; and since Your Majesty is such a close
relative of hers it's you who should go to her side."
Plaerdemavida's words were so amusing that the emperor dressed
again and the two of them went to the door of the bridal chamber
and listened. When Plaerdemavida saw that they were not talking,
she quickly called out:
"My lady, my bride, how is it that you aren't crying out or
talking now? It must be because in that battle your pain (That
pain that reaches down to your heels, and won't let you shout
that delightful 'Oh!') and your even greater haste are over.
It's a great pleasure, if you listen to what the maidens say.
Since you're so quiet, that's a sign that you've finished the
meal, bone and all. It will be bad for you if you don't do it
again. The emperor is right here, listening for you to cry out
because he's afraid you might be hurt."
The emperor told her to be quiet, and not to say he was there.
"I certainly will not," said Plaerdemavida. "I want them to know
that you're here."
Then the bride began to cry out and to say that he was hurting
her and for him to be still, and Plaerdemavida said:
"My lord, everything the bride is saying is a lie. Her words
don't come from the heart. They sound false to me, and they're
not to my liking."
The emperor could not contain his laughter at Plaerdemavida's
delicious remarks. Then, when the bride heard them laughing so
hard she said:
"Who put those wretched cats out there? Put them somewhere else,
I beg you: they won't let me sleep."
Plaerdemavida replied:
"That I certainly won't do. Didn't you know that I can get live
kittens out of a dead cat?"
"Oh, what a lively young lady!" said the emperor. "How my heart
is warmed by the things you say. I swear to you by the Almighty
that if I didn't already have a wife I would have no other girl
but you."
The empress had gone to the emperor's chamber and found the door
closed, and no one was there but a page who told her that the
emperor was at the door of the bridal chamber. Then she went
there and found him with four maidens. Plaerdemavida saw the
empress coming, and before anyone could talk she said:
"Hope to die quickly, my lady: listen to what my lord the emperor
said to me--that if he didn't already have a wife he would have
no one but me. And since you're in my way, fall down dead right
now--as quickly as you can."
"Oh, you wicked child!" said the empress. "Is that the sort of
thing you say to me?" And turning to the emperor: "And you, you
blessed saint, what do you want another wife for? To give her
taps instead of thrusts? Don't you know that no lady or maiden
ever died from being tapped?"
And, joking, they went back to their chambers happily, and the
empress and the maidens returned to theirs.
The next day, in the morning, everyone was happy, and they highly
honored the constable and the bride. They took them to the main
church where they heard mass with great honor. When they had
read the scripture the preacher mounted the pulpit and gave a
solemn sermon.
When the sermon and the mass were finished, they had the
constable put on the clothing of the duchy of Macedonia, and they
displayed the flags of that duchy. On his head they put a crown
made entirely of fine silver, and they crowned Stephanie in the
same way.
When these things were finished they left the church, riding
through the city with flags flying in the wind. The emperor,
with all the ladies and all the grandees, dukes, counts and
marquis, and many others on horseback, rode around the entire
city. Afterward they all went outside the city to a beautiful
meadow where there was a shining spring called Holy Spring.
After the flags were blessed, they baptized the duke and duchess
of the kingdom of Macedonia by pouring perfumed water on their
heads.
The duke went to the Holy Spring, and the emperor took water from
the spring and baptized him again, giving him the title of Duke
of Macedonia. Then the trumpets sounded, and the heralds
shouted:
"This is the illustrious Duke of Macedonia, of the great lineage
of Rocasalada."
At that moment three hundred knights with golden spurs came, and
they all made a deep bow to the emperor, and paid great honor to
the Duke of Macedonia. And from this moment on he was no longer
called Constable. These three hundred knights separated into two
groups, and each knight took the most beautiful lady or the one
that was most to his liking. They held them with the reins of
the horses they were riding on. And each of them, in order, rode
forward: first those of highest station and lineage, and then
those who wished to joust. And when they met, one would tell the
other to give up the lady they had, or he would have to joust
with him, and the one who broke the other's lance first would
take his lady.
While the knights were engaged in these games, the emperor went
to the city of Pera where the celebration was prepared. It was
already past noon, and the knights had not yet returned, so the
emperor went to the top of a high tower. He had a great horn
blown that could be heard more than a league away, and when the
knights heard the horn, they all set out on the road to Pera.
Then three hundred other knights came out, dressed in the same
color of garments, and they blocked the road. A very singular
display of arms took place there which greatly pleased the
emperor.
All the ladies and maidens who had been taken prisoner fled to
the city and left the knights.
The combat between the knights lasted more than two hours as the
emperor did not want to stop it, and when they had broken all
their lances they fought with swords. The emperor called for the
trumpets to sound, and they all separated, each group to a
different side. When the knights were separated, each sought out
his lady, and they could not find them. Then they began to say
that the other knights had taken them prisoner, and each of them
complained to the empress and the princess about the ladies they
had lost. They answered that they knew nothing, and that they
believed the other knights had them hidden. Then these knights,
very furious, raised their swords and spurred toward the others,
and they began to fight again.
When it had gone on for a good spell, they saw the ladies on the
palace walls. A trumpet sounded, and they all gathered together
and attacked the palace mightily, and the women defended it. But
the men outside broke in by force of their arms. When they were
inside the great patio they divided into two groups, and taking a
king-of-arms, they sent him to the knights who had come most
recently, demanding that they leave, for they were each there to
get back their lady, along with the ones they had won. They
answered that they would not leave for anything in the world.
They wanted their share of what was due to them, as they had
placed themselves in such grave danger of death. After this,
they held combat on foot inside the palace, and it was a
delicious sight to see, for some were falling here and others
there. Others delivered marvelous blows with their axes, and
whoever lost his axe could not fight again, nor could anyone
whose body or hand touched the floor. They fought in such a way
that it became a fight of ten against ten, and then it was
beautiful to see. Finally the emperor had them separated, and
then they were all disarmed in the great hall, and there they
dined. When it was a half hour before sunset they began to
dance, and they held a long and pretty dance. They took the
princess and all the ladies, and dancing, they went to the city
of Constantinople.
After the meal Tirant gathered all those of his lineage,
thirty-five knights and gentlemen who had come with him or the
Viscount of Branches. They went to kiss the foot and hand of the
emperor, thanking him for the great kindness he had done them in
giving his beautiful niece to Diafebus for his bride. And after
they had all thanked him, the emperor smiled and said:
"Because of the great virtue I see in you, Tirant, I love you
deeply. And I would not want anyone to marry a relative of mine
if he were not of the lineage of Rocasalada. I would have begged
you to take Stephanie, my niece, as your wife, along with the
duchy of Macedonia, so that you would be more united with the
crown of the Empire of Greece, and I would have given you many
other things. At the time that I offered it, you did not want to
be a count; instead you gave it to your relative. And now I
would have given you the duchy, along with a lady who is a
relative of mine, and you did not want that either. I don't know
what you're waiting for! If you want me to give you my empire,
don't count on it: I need it."
Tirant replied:
"The greatest glory I could have is to leave an inheritance to my
relatives and friends. As an inheritance of my own I want
nothing more than a horse and arms, so Your Highness will have to
work a great deal to make me rich."
The old emperor was pleased by Tirant's words. Turning to his
daughter, the emperor said:
"I have never known a knight with as much virtue as Tirant. If
God gives me life I will see him crowned a king."