Yonec

by Marie de France {blog by P.M. Ratliff}

[books-n-quotes]

“It’s always nice being wanted. Even if it’s by the wrong person.”

— Tabitha Suzuma, Forbidden

[yoneciamyourfather]

“Since I have begun some lais, I will never leave off my work; the adventures that I know of them I will tell all in rhyme. I think it worthwhile and I want to tell you now of Yonec, and of how his father first appeared to his mother...”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“He was very far along in age. Because he had a great deal to leave, he took a wife so as to have children, who would be his heirs after him.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“The maiden was of a noble family, wise, courteous, and very beautiful.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“...he put all his care into guarding her: he closed her up in his tower in a great stone-floored chamber.”

“He had a sister of his, old and widowed, without a lord; he put her in with the lady to keep her better under guard.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“Wretched me,” she said. “I was born in an evil and cursed hour!” 

[yoneciamyourfather]

“…she saw the shadow of a great bird…”

“It looked like a goshawk…”

“When it had stood there for a bit and she had looked at it carefully, it turned in to a handsome, noble knight.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“The lady considered this a wonder; her mind was upset and troubled, she was greatly afraid, she covered her head.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“...make me your beloved!” 

“I have loved you for a long time and greatly desired you in my heart...”

“But I could not have come to you nor left my palace...”

“Now indeed I can be your beloved”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“..never once in her life had she seen so handsome a knight nor will she ever see one so handsome.

“Lady,” he said. “you speak well. I would not for anything wish that there be any concern about me...”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“I will take on your appearance...”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“Lady, whenever it pleases you, I will never be late.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“She looked after her body with great care, she entirely recovers her beauty.”

“From the great joy that she felt, that she often had from seeing her lover, her appearance was quite changed.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“...what may it be and from whence it comes that makes her so happy.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“The old woman saw him, and looked at how he came and went…”

“When the lord had returned, who had not gone far at all, she told him and showed him the truth about the knight, and he was very upset by it.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“He hastened to make traps to kill the knight.”

[yoneciamyourfather]

“...he comes flying to the window, but the spikes were in front of it.”