there came riding to the palace the flower of all the ladies of the world. She came mounted upon a palfrey, white as snow, which carried her softly, as though she loved her burthen. Beneath the sky was no goodlier steed, nor one more gentle to the hand. The harness of the palfrey was so rich, that no king on earth might hope to buy trappings so precious, unless he sold or set his realm in pledge
Great form of imagery. She is being described beautifully
strife
angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict
succour
assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.
roused the jealousy of the Queen.
Okay so the Queen seems like a brat to me
Every day they came to his chamber, to know of his meat and drink, for much they feared that presently he would become mad.
So they want to taunt him and yet they are scared that he is going to go mad? yeah well of course he might
He cared little for his life, and was content to obey the judgment of the Court.
This is respectful
slain
Past participle of slay
Launfal cursed his hot and unruly tongue.
So it seems that he does regret everything that he had said
bewailed
express great regret, disappointment, or bitterness over (something).
She lay sick upon her bed, from which, she said, she would never rise, till the King had done her justice, and righted this bitter wrong.
Is she still giving him a chance to stop? Will she still be with him even after all of what he did and said?
e, is so rich in state, that the very meanest of her maidens, excels you, Lady Queen, as much in clerkly skill and goodness, as in sweetness of body and face, and in every virtue.”
Wow, this words can be very hurtful to hear. I can only imagine how she is feeling and the fact that the is openly able to say this about his mistress is just unreal.
When the Queen heard this, she was full of wrath, and spoke many hot and bitter words.
As she rightfully should
troth.
I think this just means truth lol
Amongst these merry and courteous lords hasted not Sir Launfal.
Its good to know that he isn't interested in the other women. Makes me feel that he is a good guy and not just a lustful man.
gay
lighthearted and carefree
she, whom I serve, is so rich in state, that the very meanest of her maidens, excels you, Lady Queen
How dare he spoke to the Queen like that!
in his haste spake words that he repented long, and with tears
Oh no he's about to make a terrible mistake.
Yvain the fair.
They use the word fair quite often to describe the positive attributes of someone. When they say fair do they mean light in color? if so, was being very light considered beautiful? Just curious
minstrel.
a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility.
Well I deem that you will only call your friend where she may be found without reproach or shame of men.
This is very typical for the woman to say since she literally gave it up in one night lol
There are sins more black that a man may have upon his soul.
She is suggesting it's sinful to be gay.
Stranger and friend alike he comforted at need
Wow he becomes a model of generosity, giving gifts freely.
Launfal returned to his lodging, and was greeted by servitors, clad no longer in ragged raiment.
So it isn't a dream :) or is he still dreaming?
Maiden
Sounds like a manipulative woman
Certainly neither Semiramis in the days of her most wanton power, nor Octavian, the Emperor of all the West, had so gracious a covering from sun and rain.
Her lodgings were described as superior to those of the Assyrian queen Semiramis and the Roman emperor Octavian--historical reference here.
Launfal
Right off the bat, he is described as a powerless man.
Sir Launfal was son to a King of high descent, though his heritage was in a distant land. He was of the King’s household, but since Arthur gave him naught
He was born to wealth and nobility, and yet, he does not get anything from King Arthur and he does not ask for anything either.
As the Maiden rode at a slow pace through the streets of the city, there was none, neither great nor small, youth nor sergeant, but ran forth from his house, that he might content his heart with so great beauty. Every man that saw her with his eyes, marvelled at a fairness beyond that of any earthly woman.
It seems as if she is riding slowly because she is aware of her beauty and wants others to marvel at her beauty so she provides ample time for observers to take in all of her features and admire her
The Court already had given too much time to the business,
It seems as if they already know the answer to their decision and are going through actions to further prove their point even though it isn't absolutely necessary
Thereat
After that
The lords of the household came together on the day appointed for this judgment.
It would be a group decision rather than a biased one side decision which is nice
Launfal was altogether mazed and bewildered at this judgment, for he had neither friend nor kindred in the land.
This is such a lonely thing to imagine
Naught he found to do but to wring his hands, and call upon the Maiden, begging her to forgive his trespass, and to talk with him again, as friend to friend.
He disregards any romantic relationship they had or any affection they shared and wants the bare minimum of her friendship, shows how much he really needs her.
pallor
somewhat pale
palfreys
horses that mostly used by women
Launfal and the Maiden ate and drank with mirth and content. But one dish was more to the knight’s relish than any other. Sweeter than the dainties within his mouth, was the lady’s kiss upon his lips.
This line is very cheesy but I think its cute how much he appreciates her company and how much he adores her.
succour
some kind of help or support during a tough time or situation
sureties
people who take responsibility for the actions of others
chase
refers to hunting
clear water
Why is there a need to state that the water is clear? Is this any sort of symbol?
besmirched
damaged her reputation
“Fair friend,”
This has to be the harshest friendzone. They spent the night together "embracing" each other just to be called a "fair friend"
dainties
something that is very delicious in taste and is pleasurable to taste
evensong
refers to the Christian practice of services utilizing psalms, canticles, and hymns, particularly in the Anglican church
dower
to give a dowry to; traditionally from man to woman's family
litten
lit up
rondure
a graceful curving or roundness
vesture
robe or vestment
lances
a long wooden shaft with a pointed metal head, used as a weapon by knights and cavalry soldiers in charging
wanton
deliberate and unprovoked. or a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman
provand
a place where food is stored or kept
demoiselle
unmarried girl or young woman
discreet
careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress
raiment
clothing
mantles
loose shawls or cloaks worn by women
kirtles
women's gowns
damsels
young, unmarried women
unbitted
the act of taking a bridle off of an animal, such as a horse.
bestowed
to present something or give something to someone else
Right heavy
Does this have anything to do with the two halves of the brain. The right side of the brain does not deal with too much logic. Maybe Launfal was not thinking too much into the actions of the king.
Knights of the Round Table.
Most likely an elite group
.
These stories all are connected through love, secret, forbidden love. All the stories challenge what makes love really and right or wrong. I think the stories all ended appropriately and made sense. I also didn't find myself trying to stop reading to distract myself, so the overall readability and entertainment was good!
Launfal bestowed rich gifts.
I hope this isn't the only reason she's staying lol
His lady,
His lady? So have they formed some type of relationship rather than just sex? or is that was he just calls her
He fared richly, lay softly, and spent largely, but never knew how his purse was filled.
This shows how powerful love is. No amount of money can give one the happiness that love and attention can give
In his heart he doubted that it was but a dream.
So it seems that he may be a bit obsessed at the moment. Is the first time that he has made love to someone?
So Launfal kissed,
Wait, who did he kiss? was it the same girl he slept with?
Sweeter than the dainties within his mouth, was the lady’s kiss upon his lips.
Interesting lol
I lay this charge upon you, and pray you urgently, that you tell not to any man the secret of our love.
First of all, its crazy that they went on and already did the do but then now their asked to keep their love a secrete by the lady. I don't like to judge people but the lady seems a bit on the wild side to me.
When Launfal heard these words he rejoiced greatly, for his heart was litten by another’s torch.
It seems like this may have made Launfal happy since he really doesn't get much regognition
This lord, who was forgotten and misliked of the King, was named Launfal. He was beloved by many of the Court, because of his beauty and prowess, for he was a worthy knight, open of heart and heavy of hand
hmm. I wonder why a king described like that was so unliked and forgotten.
.
I think the poet has done a terrific work in making use of romance and folklore elements to reshape the Underworld. However, Beowulf's heroism impresses me more than Orfeo's chivalry. It's still a joy to read because of its beautiful translation, preserving the rhyming couplets and alliterative lines of the original Middle English poem. I'd prefer if it kept the old English words to the minimum though.
Folk long thought dead were by a spell Brought hither, and as living found: Some headless stood upon the ground, Some had no arms, and some were torn With dreadful wounds, and some lay bound Fast to the earth in hap forlorn.
There are dead bodies in the fairy kingdom? It says that all who died were brought to the fairy kingdom. This makes me question if people get killed in the fairy kingdom? Or if the fairy kingdom is the place people go after they die?
” Alas ! alas ! ” he gan to cry, “Why will not death dispel my pain? Alas! alas! would I could die Now I have seen my love again. Alas, that I must live, who fain Would perish! for I dared not speak To her, nor she to me. Ah, vain Is life ; alas ! my heart will break ! ”
Even though they did not speak to each other, the fact that he has seen her finally after ten years makes his suffering worth it.
He sought for counsel: all were dumb, For none could proffer words of good.
This part breaks my heart. It s as if nobody understands the pain he is going through by losing someone who he loves so deeply, all the advice he receives just seems "dumb".
For aye with us in fairy land; And if thou failest, woe to thee, For thou shalt feel the fairies’ hand ! ‘
Are the fairies scary beings? I still am not understanding why she hurt herself so badly during a dream about fairies. I'm also curious as to why she is chosen to go to fairy land.
Queen Juno
Juno was a goddess, according to classical myth, the wife of Jupiter.
King Pluto
According to classical myth, Pluto was god of the underworld.
Then sudden with a cry she rose And burst in tears of wild despair, And wrung her hands, and showered blows Upon her breast, and tore her hair.
The terror she is feeling is told through such simple language but it creates a gruesome image of a woman literally beating herself up and pulling out her hair. I think the simple language and vivid imagery is effective here since the story thus far has felt very whimsical and cheerful and now it takes a sudden turn and it does so in just a few words.
More beautiful I never spied. He showed me castles, rivers wide, Towers, and vast forests, mead and plain.
The imagery of the dream seems so beautiful. Why did she wake up so violently then?
.
So the steward passes the test, Orfeo makes his true identity known, and Orfeo and Heurodis are newly crowned.
And wrung her hands, and showered blows Upon her breast, and tore her hair.
The terror she is feeling is told through such simple language but it creates a gruesome image of a woman literally beating herself up and pulling out her hair. I think the simple language and vivid imagery is effective here since the story thus far has felt very whimsical and cheerful and now it takes a sudden turn and it does so in just a few words.
jollity
cheerful behavior
fealty
loyalty
rue
regret
dost
Dost is an old-fashioned second person singular form of the verb 'do'.
corse
an archaic word for corpse
melody Sweeter than ever tongue can tell
I like this description.
Gleemen
minstrels
tabours
bestow
present; give
Straightway
Immediately
befallen
happened to
minstrel-thrall
servant-slave
treachery
Treachery is behaviour or an action in which someone betrays their country or betrays a person who trusts them.
demesne
land; domain
lothly
horrible
Twere
contraction of "it were"
ye
Ye is an old-fashioned, poetic, or religious word for you when you are talking to more than one person.
quoth
said
durst
a past tense of dare
minstrel
In medieval times, a minstrel was a singer and musician who travelled around and entertained noble families.
tabernacle
fain
happy, well pleased
garb
clothing
forlorn.
to lose completely
Parfay
Be my faith
gan
gan = began?
The harpers writ that men should praise The gallant deeds that were before Of such the Britons made their lays. And that we all should featly hold In heart the mirth of elder days,
We should all work to maintain the reputation and the positive influences of those who lived before us. It is told here as an unwritten rule of society that should come naturally out of simple respect for previous generations.
wont
accustomed
daintily
beautifully
gaily
showily with bright colors
fray
fight
whence
from where
His harp that ever solaced him, He hid within a hollow tree; And when the day was clear and free He took it forth, and musing played, And when the gentle melody Was echoed far through gorse and glade, The wildest creatures hidden there For very joy about him played, And all the birds from everywhere Came forth and heard; for all obeyed The witching music that he made, Such perfect melody it was; And when he ceased, they fled afraid And hid them, wild and timorous.
So Orfeo is wandering in the wilderness of the woods, playing his harp to alleviate his grief. He hides in a hollow tree to play. His music is amplified throughout the woods and attracts the beasts and birds, which joyfully gather around him to listen. When his music stops, the beasts and birds are gone. Looks like his harp has some kind of magical power!
solace
to give comfort or cheer to (a person) in time of sorrow, distress, etc.
tempests
violent storms
surcease
ending
Ere
before
dole
a share of money or food or clothing that has been charitably given
swooned
fainted
oft
often
sward
an area covered with grass
proffer
offer
Alas ! my life, Dearer than life, and must I thus Lose thee, my queen, my love, my wife?
Oh this is sad...
stout
strong and brave
Distraught
extremely worried, nervous, or upset
self-same
identical
to-morrow
same as "tomorrow"?
hither
toward this place
A steed. And so I rode away Upon a palfrey by his side. He brought me to his palace gay; More beautiful I never spied. He showed me castles, rivers wide, Towers, and vast forests, mead and plain. Again to horse, again we ride, And so he brought me home again
This is kind of romantic!
Alas!
used to express unhappiness, pity, or concern
aught
meaning "anything whatever"
hath
the third person singular form of the present tense of "have"
erst
meaning "formerly" here?
.
I loved the language in this story. The poem form didn't take away from the story as I would think it might. It is much easier to conform a story to a poem than vice versa. The story itself is a bit sad though. I do have one question though: is the fairy king death? It would make sense, but I am not sure that it was meant to be this.
afleth
What's the meaning of "afleth"?
cried in teen
What does "cried in teen" mean?
hasten
to move or act quickly
stolen out of life
Quite the poetic way of saying "died"
minstrel
a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility.
damsels
young, unmarried women
pages
a boy in training for knighthood, ranking next below a squire in the personal service of a knight
rout
a large evening party or reception.
And when the day was clear and free He took it forth, and musing played, And when the gentle melody Was echoed far through gorse and glade,
This is showing that not all of his ten years were gloomy. There was his music and it played a gentle melody.
palfrey
a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women
erst
long ago; formerly.
rent
v. tear (something) into two or more pieces
And in the merry month of May When day is fraught with happy hours, When wintry storms have passed away, And every field is full of flowers,
I am glad to see that the descriptions of the months and seasons have remained the same.
Fairest of all fair ladies; Naught surpassed her gentleness, Full of love and courtesies; None can tell her loveliness.
I am confused by these lines. The first three are praising Lady Heurodis, then the last is contradictory. At least it seems this way to me. Can anyone explain?
plight
unpleasant condition
Then sudden with a cry she rose And burst in tears of wild despair, And wrung her hands, and showered blows Upon her breast, and tore her hair.
a great twist of mood and vivid description of her pain
squire
a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area
frantic
emotionally out of control
repose
a formal or literary term used to mean the act of resting, or the state of being at rest
When wintry storms have passed away
personification
morn
morning
fraught
filled with
the merry month of May
The Merry Month of May is a poem written by Thomas Dekker in 1599.
Thrace
Thrace is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
harp
looks like harp is a prominent symbol in the poem
In poverty to try thy door, To test thy faith and loyalty,
Sir Orfeo was truly a loving man that would do anything for his queen. His love was tested but he did not give up and left everything behind. His faith kept him going in hopes that he would once get his queen back, which he finally did. This was a sweet love story
lineage
ancestry
” Lo, see the man ! his hair is sprent Like moss about his shaggy head; ” His beard is fallen to his feet Like weathered ivy tumbling down ! ”
Great imagery. Makes the king really look and sad. Also ironic that he is in his own castle looking like a beggar
Ten years agone, by fairy spell;
So now we finally can understand why the queen had left.
Then take her by the hand and go. Joy have of her and never woe ! ”
How can someone just give his queen away to someone else? But anyway this is interesting to see how Orfeo was able to pull this off.
requite
make appropriate return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing)
To hear the lay of Orfeo.
It is so crazy to see that one who used to be king is now the one performing and singing for a king
fairy lond.
I think this probably is saying "fairy land"
Sweet Heurodis, as one asleep Beneath a tree in grasses deep,
I am actually really confused. Why is his wife sleeping and what exactly is going on?
His beard, that once was black and trim, Was white, and lengthened to his knee;
In this part of the story, the reader can now the character is now older and has aged. It has been 10 years since he had left, but this is a long time to be grieving. The changing of his beard and the color of his beard helps shows the timeline since he has left and how it has affected him.
forlorn.
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
In at a rock the ladies rode, And fearlessly he followed fast.
Oh god, she left him again. I can only imagine how he must be feeling after this encounter and her acting so nonchalant.
haps
luck; fortune
Alas! alas! would I could die Now I have seen my love again.
So all of this time he had only been living in hopes of seeing her again?
Dumb with a like astonishment, His stolen queen, sweet Heurodis.
Oh my god! He found his wife after so long. I wonder why she's come and I wonder if they are going to be together again.
One day he saw a galaxy Of ladies ride by his retreat;
It is cool to see that he still manages to keep his music going and the aura he projects is still very king like
writ
a legal document from a law court
Ah, who can tell the pain and woe This king endured ten years and more!
Wow, it had been 10 years already since he had left. I thought that this would not last. But this is a long time to be grieving.
gallant
chivalrous
Went like a beggar from them all. In poverty he left the town;
The love for his wife is so strong that the loss of has caused him to give up everything
desolate
make (a place) bleakly and depressingly empty or bare
Then woefully he rose, and sent For all his barons, earls, and lords
I think he went back to the bed because this is where it all started, when the queen woke up out of her sleep. He must have figured out something
When Orfeo had heard, he was Distraught, and moaned, ” Alas ! my life, Dearer than life, and must I thus Lose thee, my queen, my love, my wife?”
It is so evident that he really loves her and doesn't want to lose her.
palfrey
a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women.
It was a precious jewel rare, And blazed as brightly as the sun
Must be a diamond
damsels
a young unmarried woman.
the whistling wind wailed
Literary device: onomatopoeia
He wore a gown of blue that reached to the ground.
the color blue was associated with purity during this time... hmmm
Then took she her leave and left him there, for more of that man she might not get.
She finally took a hint that he's not going to succumb to anything other than what he has already given her. Let it go girl, let it go...
sweet smiling softly they slip
literary device: alliteration
coif
a woman's close-fitting cap
froth foamed from his mouth foul at the corners, and he whet his white tusks. It was irksome
"froth foamed from his mouth"- this boar is pissed off! They better watch out cause I'm scared for them
travail
painful or laborious effort.
What! Are you ignorant, who garner all praise, or else do you deem me too dull to heed your dalliance? For shame! I come hither single and sit to learn of you some game; do teach me of your wit, while my lord is away.’
could she not be any more thirsty and upfront jeez...
wild swine
another word for wild pig
night when they met
so each night they would exchange each others winnings. I feel it's only going to get worse from here for Gawain
if you would tell me where you won this same prize by your own wits.’ ‘That was not pledged,’ quoth he, ‘ask me no more; for you have taken what’s due, none other to you I owe.’
Woah was he asking Gawain where he got the kiss? and in reply tells him he doesn't owe him an explanation because that wasn't part of the deal...if so that was a close one!
53
This part goes into grave detail of how they processed the meat from the hunt. Not sure why it goes into such depth but I'm assuming this hunt is a metaphor for something perhaps the affair and by giving us all this detail could symbolize the repercussions yet to come??
Master Wace, the writer of this book, cannot add more to this matter of his end than was spoken by Merlin the prophet. Merlin said of Arthur—if I read aright—that his end should be hidden in doubtfulness.
I think that this is saying how the author of thinks that Merlin was a prophet. I think that Master Wace's point of writing his book was to end of the thoughts of doubt and curiosity. I like how the author helps shoe the intent of the writing of the book and really shows why it was written.