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Cligés · 1914

Lines 6347–6392

by Chrétien de Troyes fl. c. 1160–1190

Translated by W. W. Comfort (Everyman's Library, 1914)


Fenice was in the tower, I believe, all that year and full two months of the next, until summer came again. When the trees bring forth their flowers and leaves, and the little birds rejoice, singing gaily their litanies, it came about that Fenice one morning heard the song of the nightingale. Cligés was holding her tightly clasped with his arms about her waist and neck, and she held him in a like embrace, as she said: "Dear fair lover mine. A garden would do me good, in which I could disport myself. For more than fifteen months I have not seen the light of moon or sun. If possible, I would fain go out yonder into the daylight, for here in this tower I am confined. If there was a garden near, where I could go and amuse myself, it would often do me good." Then Cligés promises her to consult with John about it as soon as he can see him. At that very moment John came in, as he was often wont to do, and Cligés spoke to him of what Fenice desired. John replies: "All that she asks for is already provided and supplied. This tower is well equipped with what she wishes and requires." Then Fenice was very glad, and asked John to take her there, which he said he would very gladly do. Then John goes and opens a door, constructed in a fashion which I cannot properly describe. No one but John could have made it, and no one could have asserted that there was any door or window there--so perfectly was it concealed.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Troyes, Chrétien de. Cligés, Lines 6347–6392. Translated by W. W. Comfort. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/cliges-comfort/88/.

Chicago

Troyes, Chrétien de. Cligés, Lines 6347–6392. Translated by W. W. Comfort. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/cliges-comfort/88/.

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