Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion · 1914
Lines 4635–4674
Translated by W. W. Comfort (Everyman's Library, 1914)
Then he goes away in great distress, and there is no one who recognises him save Lunete, who accompanied him a long distance. Lunete alone keeps him company, and he begs her insistently never to reveal the name of her champion. "Sire," says she, "I will never do so." Then he further requested her that she should not forget him, and that she should keep a place for him in his mistress' heart, whenever the chance arose. She tells him to be at ease on that score; for she will never be forgetful, nor unfaithful, nor idle. Then he thanks her a thousand times, and he departs pensive and oppressed, because of his lion that he must needs carry, being unable to follow him on foot. He makes for him a litter of moss and ferns in his shield. When he has made a bed for him there, he lays him in it as gently as he can, and carries him thus stretched out full length on the inner side of his shield. Thus, in his shield he bears him off, until he arrives before the gate of a mansion, strong and fair. Finding it closed, he called, and the porter opened it so promptly that he had no need to call but once. He reaches out to take his rein, and greets him thus: "Come in, fair sire. I offer you the dwelling of my lord, if it please you to dismount." "I accept the offer gladly," he replies, "for I stand in great need of it, and it is time to find a lodging."
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this text
MLA
Troyes, Chrétien de. Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion, Lines 4635–4674. Translated by W. W. Comfort. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/yvain-comfort/34/.
Chicago
Troyes, Chrétien de. Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion, Lines 4635–4674. Translated by W. W. Comfort. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/yvain-comfort/34/.