V
THE LAY OF THE NIGHTINGALE
Now will I tell you a story, whereof the Breton harper already hasmade a Lay. Laustic, I deem, men name it in that country, which, beinginterpreted, means rossignol in French, and nightingale in good plainEnglish.
In the realm of Brittany stands a certain rich and mighty city, calledSaint Malo. There were citizens of this township two knights, so wellspoken and reputed of all, that the city drew therefrom great profitand fame. The houses of these lords were very near the one to theother. One of the two knights had to wife a passing fair lady, rightgracious of manner and sweet of tongue. Wondrous pleasure found thisdame to array herself richly, after the wont and fashion of her time.The other knight was yet a bachelor. He was well accounted of amongsthis fellows as a hardy knight and as an honourable man. He gavehospitality gladly. Largely he gained, largely he spent, and willinglybestowed gifts of all that he had.
This bachelor set his love upon his neighbour's wife. By reason of hisurgent prayers, his long suit and service, and by reason that all menspake naught of him but praise--perchance, also, for reason that hewas never far from her eye--presently this lady came to set her hearton him again. Though these two friends loved right tenderly, yet werethey so private and careful in their loves that none perceived whatwas in their hearts. No man pried on them, or disturbed their goingsand comings. These were the more easy to devise since the bachelor andthe lady were such near neighbours. Their two houses stood side byside, hall and cellar and combles. Only between the gardens was builta high and ancient wall, of worn gray stone. When the lady sat withinher bower, by leaning from the casement she and her friend might speaktogether, he to her, and she to him. They could also throw messages inwriting, and divers pretty gifts, the one to the other. Little enoughhad they to displease them, and greatly were they at their ease, saveonly that they might not take their pleasure together, so often astheir hearts had wished. For the dame was guarded very straitly whenher husband was abroad. Yet not so strictly but that they might haveword and speech, the now by night and now by day. At least, howeverclose the watch and ward, none might hinder that at times these fairlovers stood within their casements, and looked fondly on the other'sface.
Now after these friends had loved for a great space it chanced thatthe season became warm and sweet. It was the time when meadow andcopse are green; when orchards grow white with bloom, and birds breakinto song as thickly as the bush to flower. It is the season when hewho loves would win to his desire. Truly I tell you that the knightwould have done all in his power to attain his wish, and the lady, forher part, yearned for sight and speech of her friend. At night, whenthe moon shone clearly in the sky, and her lord lay sleeping at herside, often the dame slipped softly from her bed, and hastening to thecasement, leaned forth to have sight of him who watched. The greaterpart of the dark they kept vigil together, for very pleasant it is tolook upon your friend, when sweeter things are denied.
This chanced so often, and the lady rose so frequently from her bed,that her lord was altogether wrathful, and many a time inquired thereason of her unrest.
"Husband," replied the dame, "there is no dearer joy in this world,than to hear the nightingale sing. It is to hearken to the song thatrises so sweetly on the night, that I lean forth from the casement.What tune of harp or viol is half so fair! Because of my delight inhis song, and of my desire to hear, I may not shut my eyes till it bemorn."
When the husband heard the lady's words he laughed within himself forwrath and malice. He purposed that very soon the nightingale shouldsing within a net. So he bade the servants of his house to devisefillets and snares, and to set their cunning traps about the orchard.Not a chestnut tree nor hazel within the garth but was limed andnetted for the caging of this bird. It was not long therefore ere thenightingale was taken, and the servants made haste to give him to thepleasure of their lord. Wondrous merry was the knight when he held himliving in his hand. He went straightway to the chamber of his dame,and entering, said,
"Wife, are you within? Come near, for I must speak with you. Here isthe nightingale, all limed and taken, who made vigil of your sleepinghours. Take now your rest in peace, for he will never disturb youmore."
When the lady understood these words she was marvellously sorrowfuland heavy. She prayed her lord to grant her the nightingale for agift. But for all answer he wrung his neck with both hands so fiercelythat the head was torn from the body. Then, right foully, he flung thebird upon the knees of the dame, in such fashion that her breastwas sprinkled with the blood. So he departed, incontinent, from thechamber in a rage.
The lady took the little body in her hands, and wept his evil fate.She railed on those who with nets and snares had betrayed thenightingale to his death; for anger and hate beyond measure had gainedhold on her heart.
"Alas," cried she, "evil is come upon me. Never again may I rise frommy bed in the night, and watch from the casement, so that I may see myfriend. One thing I know full well, that he will deem my love is nomore set upon him. Woe to her who has none to give her counsel. This Iwill do. I will bestow the nightingale upon him, and send him tidingsof the chance that has befallen."
So this doleful lady took a fair piece of white samite, broidered withgold, and wrought thereon the whole story of this adventure. In thissilken cloth she wrapped the body of the little bird, and calling toher a trusty servant of her house, charged him with the message, andbade him bear it to her friend. The varlet went his way to the knight,and having saluted him on the part of the lady, he told over to himthe story, and bestowed the nightingale upon him. When all had beenrehearsed and shown to him, and he had well considered the matter,the knight was very dolent; yet in no wise would he avenge himselfwrongfully. So he caused a certain coffret to be fashioned, made notof iron or steel, but of fine gold and fair stones, most rich andprecious, right strongly clasped and bound. In this little chest heset the body of the nightingale, and having sealed the shrine, carriedit upon him whenever his business took him abroad.
This adventure could not long be hid. Very swiftly it was noised aboutthe country, and the Breton folk made a Lay thereon, which theycalled the Lay of the Laustic, in their own tongue.
