Hello One and All!
A lay was a type of medieval narrative poem, was usually just about 600 to a 1000 lines in length, which was popular in Great Britain and France. They frequently dealt with courtly ideals such as chivalry, nobility and courage. The lay at hand here - Sir Launfal - is a Middle English Lay from the late 14th century CE (originally based on a Marie de France lay, titled Lanval), which in fact satirizes the courts of humans, and juxtaposes mortal rule with that of the faeries. The luxurious spheres that the nobility inhabit are just a illusions to cover their lack of morals, which is in contrast with the nobility of the faeries.
Sir Launfal
In the era of King Arthur, England was ruled justly,and many of his servants were rewarded for their good service to the kingdom. The King held his summer court in Carduel, and it is here that the sovereign rewarded his knights of the round table and other warriors with largesses. All of the notable noblemen were invited to a grand feast and received rewards, that is, all except Sir Launfal; usually this did not bother him much but it stung on this occasion, perhaps because he had recently been bankrupted and was in a desperate situation. To take his mind off this the knight rode into the countryside and the city fell into the distance, but still he continued on, until he came upon a stream which his horse refused to cross, whereupon he dismounted and lay in the meadow next to the river.
Two figures appeared and interrupted his commiseration - the most beautiful women he had ever seen. The older one carried a golden basin, whereas the younger woman had a white towel balanced over her hand. Remembering his manners, he launched to his feet and greeted the two women.
"Sir Launfal," said the the elder one ",our lady has sent us to fetch you. See, her pavilion is over yonder."
The knight left his mount and followed the two maidens until they arrived at a mammoth tent, the likes of which he had never seen before, constructed of silk and gold. Within this structure was a woman; her attractiveness the personification of a fresh rose. Her skin was as pale as the ermine clothing she wore and atop hear head was a crown of rose thorns. She called him over and he bent his knee.
"Oh Launfal, you obeyed me?" she said. "I'm pleased, for I have travelled from my faraway land to meet you, all because you are virtuous, truthful and valiant above all others. I love you, my dear sir."
The knight heard the four-letter word and his heart returned the woman's affections in an instant.
With those emotions kindled in his heart, he answered, "I am honoured to hear a fair lady as yourself utter those sweet words. If you deign to let me, then I will be your faithful servant. I will do anything to fulfill our love, even if it meant that I had to renounce my people and kingdom."
She thanked him for his kind words, took the knight's face in her hands and kissed him sweetly.
Sir Launfal stayed with his new love until the late afternoon, when she roused him.
"Know that you may ask anything of me, my dear," she said. "I must warn you though, that you must never reveal what has occurred here to anyone else; if our love is known, then it would become lost. You must go now and get ready, my love."
The knight rose and took hold her of pale fingers with his weathered hands, then he tore himself away and let himself be led out by her two servants to an area, in which he was cleansed in a hot tub, perfumed with the richest incenses and outfitted with new garments. That evening,Sir Launfal and his lady had a merry supper, after which they embraced tenderly. After the time spent together, the knight had to bid his love farewell and mounted his steed once again, even though he couldn't but help glance back while he rode back to the city.
When the knight returned to his hostel, he discovered that his poor abode had been lavished with the most intricate decorations and all his attendants were clad in the best finery. The humble cavalier then discovered mystery funds that he used to provide lodging to all of the homeless knights in the city, ransomed prisoners and gifted largesses to strangers and friends alike. Each evening, without fail, he would ride out to that meadow to be in the company of his lady.
That same year, after the feast of St. John, a party of thirty knights went to the yard below the castle to relax. Queen Guinevere heard of this group approaching and, seeing Sir Launfal was among them, sent out thirty of her own maidens to distract the others in the group. After the other men had been led away, only then the lady showed herself to her chosen knight and seated herself next to him.
She said, "Long have I yearned to see you, my knight. Know that all my love is yours."
"Pardon me, but I do not seek your love, my lady; I only want to serve my liege Arthur, as I have done for many years."
She bristled when she heard his rejection. "I heard you do not know how to love," she said ",and it seems to have been the truth. Furthermore, my lord seems to have chosen a coward to serve him, and he suffers much for it, in my opinion."
"Lady, I do not know whence that rumour came, but I do know how to love - my heart, in fact, is not my possession to give anymore. I love and am loved by the most wondrous being on this earth, and your beauty is a pale imitation of her bright light. In goodness, wisdom and grace my darling exceeds thee."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she rushed off and shut off herself in her chamber. The pointed insults had stung her soul. King Arthur returned from a hunt and the queen thew herself at his feet and beseeched him to deal with Sir Launfal, because he had wronged her. He had made serious advances, Guinevere said, and when she had rebuffed his attentions, he had started to deride her. The king burned up with rage and he swore that his knight would pay for his actions.
In the intervening time, Sir Launfal had ridden to his lady's meadow, but where once there were beautiful silk pavilions, there now only stood knolls of grass. He cried out and fell to his knees. The knight cursed himself for talking about the existence of his one true love. During the journey back to his hostel the darkest thoughts filled his mind. At the entrance of his home, there stood three barons, whom took him into custody and conveyed him to court. Launfal offered no resistance. If he had been slain it would've been a relief to him, he thought. When the accused arrived in the great hall, King Arthur sat in the centre, his eyes as hard as stones.
"My vassal," he said ,"you have done me and yourself a great disservice with your words. How could a knight make improper advances and insult his queen!?"
Sir Launfal denied all the charges and repeated what had in fact transpired, but this only served to enrage the king further and he summoned his nobility, so that a verdict could be delivered. Until then, Sir Launfal was ordered to return to his hostel and wait for his judgement. The dejected knight was so morose and terse that Sir Gawain and his companions were forced to check on him every day, so as to ascertain that he had eaten a meal each day.
The lords convened and debated long for long periods. There were perhaps 300 nobles who were for pardoning the young cavalier, but there were also a great number who wanted to have Launfal executed, in order to curry favour with their king.
When the arguments had risen to a crescendo, the Duke of Conrwall took to the floor and spoke, "Launfall has been accused but there is no definite evidence. Furthermore, there are two conflicting accounts of what occurred, thus it is only right that the man come and present evidence for the existence of the mystery woman, so that the veracity of his words can be measured. If he cannot then he will be punished."
A messenger was sent to Launfal but the accused sent him back to the judges - the request was beyond his power. The assembled nobles could not tarry longer; the king and queen pressured them for a judgement and the time for a decision had come. They rose from their seats just as two pale maidens on white steeds approached. The duo walked to the King's palace and confronted him, where he sat on the daïs. The maiden's speech was as delicate as their beauty.
"King," said both of them simultaneously ", prepare chambers, decorated with the finest silk, where our lady may sojourn."
King Arthur did as they instructed and then he demanded a judgement from his barons.
"Sire," they replied ",we still have to finalise our decision, in part because we were interrupted by the two fair maidens. Allow us to convene."
A fierce debate broke out between themselves but was once again interrupted; two maidens, in gold embroidered robes, rode on mules and caused great excitement among the populace with their unusual appearance.
These women arrived in the audience chamber of King Arthur, and the eldest of them spoke.
"King, order your attendants to prepare a chamber for us - our lady will arrive soon."
Thy were led to the chamber, prepared in the most lavish fashion.
The king at last turned to his barons and commanded them to deliver a verdict, for they had started to test his patience. As the nobles strode forth to give their judgement, a clamour broke out again outside. A woman, seated on an ivory palfrey, approached the king; she had a poise and grace which drew every eye to her. Her body remained still, even as she balanced atop her galloping steed. Her blue eyes were serene, framed by the fairest hair that curled slightly at certain edges. She was accoutered with a deep purple mantle and a white lace skirt underneath. All the while a hawk perched atop her hand and a giant hound followed. All who saw her had love kindled in their heart.
The remarkable woman dismounted in front of King Arthur and locked eyes with the monarch.
She said, "Arthur, I have loved one of your knights, the one called Sir Launfal. If harm befalls him then it will be against my will, let that be known to all persons assembled here. With respect to the crimes he has been accused of, your queen is in the wrong; he did not approach her in any way, and any boasts that he may have made was only the mutterings of a love struck man. You will acquit him."
The king did as she bid - all of the eyes present could judge Launfal's innocence. Despite many entreating the lady to stay, she turned her steed around and rode back from whence she came. Before she disappeared, Sir Launfal bounded off a marble step outside the hall and mounted the palfrey as she rode by, locking his arms around her waist. Everyone looked on as the two lovers dissipated.
The two paramours were never seen again after that fateful day. It is said that the fairy woman had taken Sir Launfal with her to the fair island of Avalon, where they could live without the jealousies of man to intrude on their pure love.
Thank you for reading!
A lay was a type of medieval narrative poem, was usually just about 600 to a 1000 lines in length, which was popular in Great Britain and France. They frequently dealt with courtly ideals such as chivalry, nobility and courage. The lay at hand here - Sir Launfal - is a Middle English Lay from the late 14th century CE (originally based on a Marie de France lay, titled Lanval), which in fact satirizes the courts of humans, and juxtaposes mortal rule with that of the faeries. The luxurious spheres that the nobility inhabit are just a illusions to cover their lack of morals, which is in contrast with the nobility of the faeries.
Sir Launfal
In the era of King Arthur, England was ruled justly,and many of his servants were rewarded for their good service to the kingdom. The King held his summer court in Carduel, and it is here that the sovereign rewarded his knights of the round table and other warriors with largesses. All of the notable noblemen were invited to a grand feast and received rewards, that is, all except Sir Launfal; usually this did not bother him much but it stung on this occasion, perhaps because he had recently been bankrupted and was in a desperate situation. To take his mind off this the knight rode into the countryside and the city fell into the distance, but still he continued on, until he came upon a stream which his horse refused to cross, whereupon he dismounted and lay in the meadow next to the river.
Two figures appeared and interrupted his commiseration - the most beautiful women he had ever seen. The older one carried a golden basin, whereas the younger woman had a white towel balanced over her hand. Remembering his manners, he launched to his feet and greeted the two women.
"Sir Launfal," said the the elder one ",our lady has sent us to fetch you. See, her pavilion is over yonder."
The knight left his mount and followed the two maidens until they arrived at a mammoth tent, the likes of which he had never seen before, constructed of silk and gold. Within this structure was a woman; her attractiveness the personification of a fresh rose. Her skin was as pale as the ermine clothing she wore and atop hear head was a crown of rose thorns. She called him over and he bent his knee.
"Oh Launfal, you obeyed me?" she said. "I'm pleased, for I have travelled from my faraway land to meet you, all because you are virtuous, truthful and valiant above all others. I love you, my dear sir."
The knight heard the four-letter word and his heart returned the woman's affections in an instant.
With those emotions kindled in his heart, he answered, "I am honoured to hear a fair lady as yourself utter those sweet words. If you deign to let me, then I will be your faithful servant. I will do anything to fulfill our love, even if it meant that I had to renounce my people and kingdom."
She thanked him for his kind words, took the knight's face in her hands and kissed him sweetly.
 |
| "Sir Launfal and Tryamour" by Kinuko Kraft. |
Sir Launfal stayed with his new love until the late afternoon, when she roused him.
"Know that you may ask anything of me, my dear," she said. "I must warn you though, that you must never reveal what has occurred here to anyone else; if our love is known, then it would become lost. You must go now and get ready, my love."
The knight rose and took hold her of pale fingers with his weathered hands, then he tore himself away and let himself be led out by her two servants to an area, in which he was cleansed in a hot tub, perfumed with the richest incenses and outfitted with new garments. That evening,Sir Launfal and his lady had a merry supper, after which they embraced tenderly. After the time spent together, the knight had to bid his love farewell and mounted his steed once again, even though he couldn't but help glance back while he rode back to the city.
When the knight returned to his hostel, he discovered that his poor abode had been lavished with the most intricate decorations and all his attendants were clad in the best finery. The humble cavalier then discovered mystery funds that he used to provide lodging to all of the homeless knights in the city, ransomed prisoners and gifted largesses to strangers and friends alike. Each evening, without fail, he would ride out to that meadow to be in the company of his lady.
 |
| "The Lady Guinevere" by Howard Pyle. |
That same year, after the feast of St. John, a party of thirty knights went to the yard below the castle to relax. Queen Guinevere heard of this group approaching and, seeing Sir Launfal was among them, sent out thirty of her own maidens to distract the others in the group. After the other men had been led away, only then the lady showed herself to her chosen knight and seated herself next to him.
She said, "Long have I yearned to see you, my knight. Know that all my love is yours."
"Pardon me, but I do not seek your love, my lady; I only want to serve my liege Arthur, as I have done for many years."
She bristled when she heard his rejection. "I heard you do not know how to love," she said ",and it seems to have been the truth. Furthermore, my lord seems to have chosen a coward to serve him, and he suffers much for it, in my opinion."
"Lady, I do not know whence that rumour came, but I do know how to love - my heart, in fact, is not my possession to give anymore. I love and am loved by the most wondrous being on this earth, and your beauty is a pale imitation of her bright light. In goodness, wisdom and grace my darling exceeds thee."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she rushed off and shut off herself in her chamber. The pointed insults had stung her soul. King Arthur returned from a hunt and the queen thew herself at his feet and beseeched him to deal with Sir Launfal, because he had wronged her. He had made serious advances, Guinevere said, and when she had rebuffed his attentions, he had started to deride her. The king burned up with rage and he swore that his knight would pay for his actions.
In the intervening time, Sir Launfal had ridden to his lady's meadow, but where once there were beautiful silk pavilions, there now only stood knolls of grass. He cried out and fell to his knees. The knight cursed himself for talking about the existence of his one true love. During the journey back to his hostel the darkest thoughts filled his mind. At the entrance of his home, there stood three barons, whom took him into custody and conveyed him to court. Launfal offered no resistance. If he had been slain it would've been a relief to him, he thought. When the accused arrived in the great hall, King Arthur sat in the centre, his eyes as hard as stones.
"My vassal," he said ,"you have done me and yourself a great disservice with your words. How could a knight make improper advances and insult his queen!?"
Sir Launfal denied all the charges and repeated what had in fact transpired, but this only served to enrage the king further and he summoned his nobility, so that a verdict could be delivered. Until then, Sir Launfal was ordered to return to his hostel and wait for his judgement. The dejected knight was so morose and terse that Sir Gawain and his companions were forced to check on him every day, so as to ascertain that he had eaten a meal each day.
The lords convened and debated long for long periods. There were perhaps 300 nobles who were for pardoning the young cavalier, but there were also a great number who wanted to have Launfal executed, in order to curry favour with their king.
When the arguments had risen to a crescendo, the Duke of Conrwall took to the floor and spoke, "Launfall has been accused but there is no definite evidence. Furthermore, there are two conflicting accounts of what occurred, thus it is only right that the man come and present evidence for the existence of the mystery woman, so that the veracity of his words can be measured. If he cannot then he will be punished."
A messenger was sent to Launfal but the accused sent him back to the judges - the request was beyond his power. The assembled nobles could not tarry longer; the king and queen pressured them for a judgement and the time for a decision had come. They rose from their seats just as two pale maidens on white steeds approached. The duo walked to the King's palace and confronted him, where he sat on the daïs. The maiden's speech was as delicate as their beauty.
"King," said both of them simultaneously ", prepare chambers, decorated with the finest silk, where our lady may sojourn."
King Arthur did as they instructed and then he demanded a judgement from his barons.
"Sire," they replied ",we still have to finalise our decision, in part because we were interrupted by the two fair maidens. Allow us to convene."
A fierce debate broke out between themselves but was once again interrupted; two maidens, in gold embroidered robes, rode on mules and caused great excitement among the populace with their unusual appearance.
These women arrived in the audience chamber of King Arthur, and the eldest of them spoke.
"King, order your attendants to prepare a chamber for us - our lady will arrive soon."
Thy were led to the chamber, prepared in the most lavish fashion.
 |
| "Sir Lanval's Lady Appeals to the Judges" by Byam Shaw from the book Romance and Legend of Chivalry by A.R. Hope Moncrieff. |
The king at last turned to his barons and commanded them to deliver a verdict, for they had started to test his patience. As the nobles strode forth to give their judgement, a clamour broke out again outside. A woman, seated on an ivory palfrey, approached the king; she had a poise and grace which drew every eye to her. Her body remained still, even as she balanced atop her galloping steed. Her blue eyes were serene, framed by the fairest hair that curled slightly at certain edges. She was accoutered with a deep purple mantle and a white lace skirt underneath. All the while a hawk perched atop her hand and a giant hound followed. All who saw her had love kindled in their heart.
The remarkable woman dismounted in front of King Arthur and locked eyes with the monarch.
She said, "Arthur, I have loved one of your knights, the one called Sir Launfal. If harm befalls him then it will be against my will, let that be known to all persons assembled here. With respect to the crimes he has been accused of, your queen is in the wrong; he did not approach her in any way, and any boasts that he may have made was only the mutterings of a love struck man. You will acquit him."
The king did as she bid - all of the eyes present could judge Launfal's innocence. Despite many entreating the lady to stay, she turned her steed around and rode back from whence she came. Before she disappeared, Sir Launfal bounded off a marble step outside the hall and mounted the palfrey as she rode by, locking his arms around her waist. Everyone looked on as the two lovers dissipated.
 |
| "Sir Lanval's Dream" by Josephine Wall. |
The two paramours were never seen again after that fateful day. It is said that the fairy woman had taken Sir Launfal with her to the fair island of Avalon, where they could live without the jealousies of man to intrude on their pure love.
Thank you for reading!
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