Marie of France: Milun

The poet who occupies himself in composing tales must vary his narratives; he will always speak in a reasonable way, so that. his speeches can please society. In dealing with Milo, I will tell you in a few words the reasons which led to the naming of this Lai.

Milo was born in South Wales, and from the moment he was knighted, he never entered the lists but felled his rivals and threw them into the arena. So his fame spread rapidly. Milo was esteemed and well known in Ireland, Norway, Denmark, the country of Logres and Albania; many were jealous of his successes, others loved him for his prowess, and many princes had great esteem for him. In his country was a baron, whose name does not come back to me, who had a charming daughter. The account of the heroic deeds of Milo having reached him, they inspired a violent passion in this young person, who informed him of the feelings she had for him. The knight, flattered to hear such agreeable news, hastens to thank the young lady, swears her endless love, and says a hundred similar things to her. He generously rewards the messenger who brings the news.

My friend, he said to him, I demand of your friendship that you make me obtain an appointment with my beautiful, in order to understand us and to keep our secret loves. You will give her my gold ring, and tell her that if she pleases, she will come to me or that I will go to her. The messenger returns to the castle to report on his mission, and hands over the ring he had received. The young lady, flattered to see her wishes fulfilled, accepts the proposal made to her; she invites her lover to come and find her in an orchard near her bedroom, where she used to go to recreate. Milo went there often; her love increased unceasingly, and her friend was not long in showing the proofs of her weakness. As soon as the young lady notices her condition, she calls for her lover, complains bitterly that she has lost her father and his property. All misfortunes will descend on me, she said, and I will be cruelly punished. You know that I will be treated roughly, and that I will be sold to go to another country; and you must not ignore it, this custom comes from the ancients who established it.

Very afflicted, Milo asks his dear friend for advice, and promises to do whatever she commands him to do. As soon as I am delivered, you will take my child to my sister, a wise, educated woman, who is richly married, and who lives in Northumbria. You will let her know by your letter that this child is mine, and that he is causing me much grief, that I beg her to have him fed and to take the greatest care of him, whether it is boy or girl. Besides that I will tie your ring to his collar, I will place between his diapers a letter in which I will write the names and the adventure of his parents. These marks will only be given to him when he has reached the age of reason, so that he can one day recognize us. This opinion was adopted; and, having reached her term, the young lady gave birth to a son. An old woman who watched her took her measurements so carefully that no one in the chateau suspected what had happened. The mother put the knight's ring and a silk purse which contained the letter around the collar of her beautiful child, so that no one could read it. The child was then placed in a cradle surrounded by beautiful white linen; his head rested on an excellent pillow; the whole was enveloped in a rich stuff lined with marten all around.

It was in this state that the old woman gave the new-born child to Milo, who was waiting in the garden. The knight commands his people to carry his son to the designated place, and traces for them the route they must follow. During the trip, two nurses made him drink seven times a day, bathed him and made him rest several times. Finally we arrive at the aunt's who, after having read the letter, took the greatest care of her nephew and sent the servants back to their master. Milo left his country to serve a foreign prince. During his absence, the baron married his daughter to one of his neighbours, a very valiant and highly esteemed man. What was the despair of this tender lover on hearing the news of this marriage! On the one hand she regrets Milo; on the other, she fears that her husband will realize that she was a mother. Not only am I no longer a virgin, but I still fear, in losing my husband, that I will descend to the rank of servant for the rest of my days. I had no idea that it was so, I thought on the contrary that I never belonged to anyone but my lover. It suits me to die for the pain I feel, but I am not free. Unfortunately I am surrounded by guardians old and young, by chamberlains who, hating love, seem only to enjoy the sadness of others. It is therefore necessary to contain my pain since I cannot die.

Finally, the wedding took place, and the new husband took his wife to his castle. Returning to his country, Milo reflected on his fate and his hopes, he could not defend himself in spite of himself from an extreme sadness which was dissipated only near the places inhabited by his friend. But how will he be able to tell her of his return without being seen. He writes a letter, seals it, and entrusts it to a swan whom he had raised and whom he loved singularly. The letter hidden among the feathers is attached to the bird's neck. Milon calls his squire and charges him with the message. Get dressed right away, then you'll go to my beauty's castle. You will take my swan with you, and leave it to no one but yourself to present it. Following the instructions he had received, the squire goes out carrying the bird; he arrives at the castle, crosses the town, and the great gate of which he calls the guardian. Friend, he said to him, do me the pleasure of listening to me. I am a bird catcher by trade, I had stretched my lakes within earshot of Carlion, I took a superb swan of which I want to pay homage to the lady in the room, and I wish to present it myself.

My dear, replied the porter, no one speaks to madame; however I will go and find out if it can be done. Follow me. They come first to the room where two knights, seated near a large table, were playing a game of chess, and quickly retrace their steps, so as not to be seen, go to the apartment without being noticed. no one noticed their approach. Before entering the doorman calls, and immediately a young girl opens the door for them, introduces them to her mistress, to whom the swan is presented. The lady recommends one of her valets to have the utmost care of this bird. I promise you, madam, I can even assure you that the man who brought it to you will never take one like it. He gave you a real royal present, for the animal seems to be as well trained as it is handsome. The valet places the swan in the hands of the lady who, stroking its head and neck, realizes that a letter is hidden under the feather. She flinches, and the blush rises to her face. Who other than her lover could have employed such a means? She rewards the squire and asks to be left alone.

Scarcely had the men left than she sent for a young woman to be her confidante, to help her and ask her advice. The letter is detached, the broken seal of which reveals Milo's signature. This tender lover fucks a hundred times while crying these characters, without being able to speak. She learns the details of all the sorrows and sorrows that her friend suffered night and day for her. In you, he told her, is my life or my death. Try to find a way to talk to us if you want me to live. The chevalier, in his letter, begged his lady to return her answer by the swan, which she would deprive of nourishment for three days before letting him depart. You can be assured that he will return to the places from which he left, and that he will bring back your missive. She took advantage of the advice, so after taking great care of the bird for a month, she then put it on a diet. The lady had only kept the bird so long because she did not know how to obtain ink and parchment. The lady did so much that she managed to procure the things she needed to write. She writes her letter, which she seals with her ring, and after having deprived the swan of food, the lady attaches it to his neck, and then sets him free.

This bird which, by its nature, eats a lot, being hungry, did not take long to go to the place from which it had come out the first time. He takes his flight, comes to the city, recognizes the house of his master, at whose feet he comes to stand. Milo seeing the swan is overjoyed, he takes it by the wings and caresses it. Then calling his spender, he orders him to feed his bird. Before handing it to her, he unfastens from her collar the letter he was waiting for with so much impatience. His lover told him: Without you I cannot live and taste any pleasure, and my only consolation is to hear from you. For twenty years the swan was the messenger of the two lovers who could not see or speak to each other. For twenty years he was showered with friendships and caresses. They did not employ any means other than to make the bird fast before letting it go. The one to whom he arrived immediately gave him something to eat. The swan was fully trained for this exercise, he acquitted himself of it all the more easily because the lady was very embarrassed and held tight enough to always find her.

The sister of the lady to whom Milon's son had been entrusted took the greatest care of him. As soon as he had reached full age, this young man of a distinguished bearing, had already won his spurs, and had just been armed as a knight. Before her nephew left to seek adventures, the good aunt gave him back the ring and the letter which he wore on his collar when it was given to him. She told him the story of his birth, the name of his father, that of his mother, and made him acquainted with the exploits of the author of his days. On earth, she told him, he is no better knight, he is brave, bold and valiant. The young man, who listened attentively, was pleasantly surprised when he heard the story of Milo's great deeds; delighted with what he had just learned, he reflected that he would not be worthy of such an origin if he did not seek to illustrate himself in foreign countries. The next day he takes leave of his aunt who, by giving him a lot of money, urges him to always behave like a loyal knight.

The young man leaves, arrives in Southampton, embarks, and gets off at Barfleur. He immediately goes to Brittany, where he was noticed in tournaments and esteemed by brave and rich people. The young man never went to a tournament without gaining an advantage over the other fighters. He loved the poor knights, gave them what he earned from the rich, and always spent a lot. Wherever he took his steps, the young knight won the prize of valor. Also the news of his courage, his courtesy, his liberality, and the reputation of the hero spread quickly. It was even learned in his country that a damsel had crossed the sea to win the prize in the tournaments, and that he showed in himself all the qualities required in the man invested with the sublime order. As his origin was unknown, he was nicknamed the peerless man. The report of his exploits reached Milo's ears; he is angry to find a braver braver than himself, and becomes jealous thinking that a young knight could surpass him. He is surprised that none of the elders dared to try their strength against the newcomer.

Milon forms the project of crossing the sea and going to joust against the adventurous youngster, in order to fight and defeat him. He absolutely wants to joust with him to have the honor of making him leave the stirrups, of knocking him down on the arena, to avenge his honor which he believes outraged. After the fight, he will go in search of his son, of whom he has had no news since the moment he left his aunt's house. Milo informs his friend of his views, tells her of his intentions, and speaks to her of the swan which will make it easier to bear the boredom of absence. When the lady was informed of her lover's project, she congratulated him and approved of his conduct. Far from wanting to turn him away, she on the contrary urges him to leave to go quickly to their son. After having read his friend's letter, Milon prepares himself richly, he leaves and disembarks in Normandy to go to Brittany. He visits the knights, inquires about the places where there were tournaments. Milo held a large estate, and gave generously to all the poor knights. During a winter that he remained in Armorica, he kept several brave men with him, and from the Easter holidays, the time when the jousts and fights begin again, he began to look everywhere for the opportunity to make feel the strength of his arm.

A tournament was announced at Mont Saint-Michel; a considerable number of Normans, Bretons, Flemish, French, but very few English. Milo, the good knight who had gone there one of the first, prayed that someone would point out to him the young hero who filled the earth with the sound of his prowess. Several provided him with information, told him the places he had traveled, the victories he had won, and pointed out the color of his shield and the weapons he carried. The tournament begins; he who joust seeks, finds it immediately; who wants to fight in the ranks, may soon lose or win, and may find a dangerous rival. I will tell you that Milo, having placed himself among the combatants, performed many commendable exploits that day. But the young man won the prize. Milon advanced into the fray, he saw his son use his weapons so well that he was enchanted by his courage and good demeanor. He stands opposite him to joust; at the first race Milo's spear shattered into pieces, but without being shaken, his son made him empty the stirrups.

In his fall the visor of Milon's helmet came open, and the young man saw that his adversary had a beard and hair whitened by the years; saddened by what had just happened, he seized the steed of the fallen warrior by the reins, and said to the latter: Lord, get back on your horse, I cannot express to you the sorrow I feel at having jousted against a knight of your age, please be convinced that my intention was not to outrage you. On resuming his horse, Milo, flattered by the courtesy of his adversary, recognized the ring that the young man was wearing, and as soon as he had remounted, he spoke to him in these terms: My friend, for the love of God, do me the pleasure of listening to me, tell me the name of your parents, I have the greatest interest in knowing it. I will admit to you that I have traveled a lot, that I have been in many battles, wars, tournaments, and that I have never left the stirrups. You defeated me in the joust, and therefore I must particularly esteem you (i). My father, replied the young man, was born, I believe, in the Wales, and his name is Milon. He loved the daughter of a rich man who secretly gave birth to me. As soon as I was born I was sent to Northumbria, where I was brought up with an old aunt who took the greatest care of my childhood.

When I reached old age, she gave me arms, a horse, and sent me to this country, where I have been for a long time. I plan to cross the sea to go to my homeland, to find out how the author of my days behaves with my mother. I'll show him his gold ring and I'll give him so much information that he won't be able to misunderstand me. On the contrary, I am convinced that he will love me tenderly and that he will esteem me. When Milo had heard this speech, he could not contain himself; he immediately dismounts, and seizing the skirt of the hauberk of the young warrior: Friend, he says, God be praised, kill my son, it is to go in search of you that I have come to these places, and that I left my country. The young man throws himself into Milon's arms, kisses him, and both shed the sweetest tears. The spectators of this moving scene looked at them with interest; they wept with joy and tenderness. The tournament over, the two brave men return together, for Milo longs to speak to this son so worthy of him, and to know the designs he has formed. They return to their hotel, and as soon as they are disarmed, they give a feast to the knights. Milo told his son the story of his love with his mother, the marriage she had been forced to contract, the duration of their fires; the swan's messages were not forgotten.

It was reported how when one could not trust anyone, this bird carried the letters and their answers. My father, said the son, I want to unite you with your beloved, I will go and challenge her husband, I will kill him, then you will marry his widow. The next day the two knights took leave of their friends, and left to go to Wales. They crossed the sea with a good wind, and they had just disembarked to set out when they were joined by a young man who had come on behalf of the lady, and was going to Brittany to deliver a letter to Milo. He has greatly diminished his pain since he made this encounter. By delivering the missive he was carrying, the young man invited the two travelers to be diligent in order to return promptly to the lady, because she had just lost her husband. Milo, who was overjoyed at this news, communicated it to his son, and both hurrying and soon arrived at the chateau of the lady, who was enchanted with the high qualities of her son. They did not ask anyone for advice, did not invite any relatives, the son brought together the authors of his days who lived for a long time in perfect bliss.

Of the history and happiness of these spouses, the ancient Bretons made a Lai; and I, who put it into verse, find great pleasure in recounting it.