My lady, and my sovereign, flower most rare,
In whom honour and worth are glorified,
Fountain of all things wise, gracious, and fair;
Who art my way toward virtue, and the guide
That over all my goings dost preside;
Lady, to whom humbly is vowed my fate,
Serving in that sweet service at thy side,
All of my days to thee I dedicate.
How else, since none could with thyself compare?
Thou Beauty filled with sweetness, O provide
Ensample kindling me to do and dare,
And bring my ship in honour's port to ride!
So sweet my joy, Lady, it cannot hide;
Therefore, in my simplicity elate,
Out of my heart and body have I cried;
All of my days to thee I dedicate.
Most noble Duchess, surely the hours prepare
That time, when thou shalt well be certified
How my heart serves thee with its every prayer.
Then shall my life be brimmed and satisfied,
When thou its full devotion having tried
Know'st it all truth; O honour's path and gate!
Fame's flowering tree! O valour's starry guide!
All of my days to thee I dedicate.
Princess, who dost in power and praise abide,
Early I learnt to love thee; and love, being great,
Lifts up my heart above all thought of pride,
All my days, all, to thee I dedicate.
And now I must turn me again to the former matter.
In all haste, a great and fair festival was prepared, where many folk
had much diversion. And proclamation was made of the jousts, at the
which whosoe'er would combat lustily might win jewels of great worth and
the prize, and that to this tournament there would come twenty knights
who would joust with all comers.
And on the day appointed, the meeting was held in a fair meadow, where,
well placed at the end of a lake, was a castle the which had six high
towers. And in this meadow were set up large and spacious tents and
scaffolds, and pavilions in great number, and all was made ready for the
festival and the jousts. And without adding more of this, I tell you
that when the day named was come, my sweet lady arrived before
nightfall, and there met her a goodly company of noble folk, and,
certes, minstrels with drums, of the which there were more than three
pairs, and trumpets the which they blew so loudly that the hills and
valleys resounded.
And know that I had great joy when I saw my goddess coming toward me,
and never could aught beside happen from the which I could derive such
joy. So I met her in the way with a very noble retinue, and I approached
her litter, and saluted her, as she did me, and then my fair lady said
to me, "You take great trouble, fair cousin, for it puts you to
inconvenience to come at such a time."
Thus holding, with joyful countenance, much converse with my sweet and
dear lady, we came nigh unto the castle, and riding beside her litter
(and, certes, it seemed to me that I had for my service sufficient
recompense, since my great joy was doubled in that it appeared to me
that she then looked on me more tenderly than she had ever done afore),
we arrived at the castle, where we found awaiting her many fair ladies,
who kneeled before her in seemly manner.
And in the courtyard she descended down from the litter, and was
received there with great rejoicing; and I forthwith escorted her
through the rooms to her tiring chamber. And all the house had been made
ready for her whom I thought on, and at whose dwelling I had sojourned.
Then those whose duty it was brought wine and comfits, and the fair one
desired that I should partake of them with her. And after this we
withdrew, and retired elsewhere, so as to suffer her to have repose for
a while, and I straightway withdrew me elsewhere, and dressed and
attired me.
And so as to dance in the German fashion, and to the end that naught
should be wanting to make the festival perfect, I had caused an hundred
rich liveries to be made according to my device, and I remember me that
the five-and-twenty of them the which the knights had on this occasion,
were of green velvet, and of cloth of gold broidered. But on the day
following the joust, the esquires and the gentlefolk, but not the
waiting-men, apparelled them, whatsoe'er it cost, in satin, broidered
with silver.
And when that we were dressed, we appeared before my mistress. And there
we found a goodly assemblage of ladies and damsels of the country who
were already come to this festival. Then, without tarrying, I saluted my
lady and them all, and verily do I believe that I changed colour.
Ne'ertheless I said, "My Lady, it is time to sup." And straightway I
took her by the hand, and led her to the hall. Then each one descended
thither. The knights led the ladies, and the minstrels blew their
trumpets in such manner that everything re-echoed with the sound, and
the feast gave such pleasure, that it made a goodly sight to witness.
And my lady seated herself on the large raised dais, and I think not
that it was displeasing to her that next to her I placed my mother, and
that, after her, four countesses, who entertained her well, seated them
close by, following down the hall each one according to her rank. And
the gentlewomen-in-waiting all sat them down in order of rank. And the
gentlemen seated them apart. And I hope and believe that in all respects
they were well served at the supper with meats and with wine.
And, without making any excuse, I tell you that, when we had supped,
after taking comfits, we drank. Then the minstrels came forward, and
began to sound their horns in pleasing harmony. And, in a short space,
there began the dance, joyous and gay, and at it every one, because of
the happy festival, made merry.
Then no longer did I tarry, but I went straightway to beseech my lady to
dance. And for a little she made excuse, but at last she gave consent.
So I took her by the hand, and led her to the dance, and then I escorted
her back to her seat, and misdoubt not that I was so carried away by
love of her, that I seemed to myself to be altogether overcome of
delight to be near her. I bethink me that I conceived this to be indeed
the celestial paradise, and desired naught better. And that which
pleased and rejoiced me the most, was her very sweet countenance, the
which, fearlessly and without frowardness, and with a gentle, tender
glance, looked upon me so sweetly and so kindly, that it seemed to me
that all I said and did was pleasing unto her. And I observed her very
intently, and then I cried for joy, for I seemed to possess the great
happiness which I desired.
And it was right fitting that I should now approach her joyously. And so
we danced merrily a greater part of the night, and then the revel ended,
for it was time to make ready to retire to rest. Then I led her who was
as fair as amber to her chamber, and there many a courteous word was
spoken. And when she had gazed on me with her eyes the more to inflame
my passion, after partaking of comfits, I took leave of her and of all.
And we laid us down, here and there, on fair beds, with rich coverlets,
but all the night long I ceased not to think on her beauty, and I gave
utterance to these words, the which were in my heart:--