“Since my lady of Champagne wishes me to undertake to write a romance, I shall very gladly do so, being so devoted to her service as to do anything in the world for her, without any intention of flattery. But if one were to introduce any flattery upon such an occasion, he might say, and I would subscribe to it, that this lady surpasses all others who are alive, just as the south wind which blows in May or April is more lovely than any other wind. But upon my word, I am not one to wish to flatter my lady. I will simply say: “The Countess is worth as many queens as a gem is worth of pearls and sards.” Nay I shall make no comparison, and yet it is true in spite of me; I will say, however, that her command has more to do with this work than any thought or pains that I may expend upon it.”
I would never flatter this woman who is more beautiful than God or the sun or a basket of rubies, because other garbage people will do that, because they’re full of lies, but not me, because I can just honestly and objectively see that you, my boss, Lady Champagne, just happen to be better than like, the wind, and other various elements. That’s just me being honest.
“Chrétien does this for the most worthy man in all the empire of Rome: that is, Count Philip of Flanders, who surpasses Alexander, whom they say was so great. But I shall prove that the count is much more worthy than he, for Alexander had amassed within himself all the vices and wickedness of which the count is pure and exempt.”
Chrétien! Friend! That’s precious, but, you know, “And Count Philip of Flanders wept, for there were no worlds left to conquer” is not a saying for a reason. And he’s not the tenth of the Nine Worthies, you know? “Great as Count Philip of Flanders,” said no one who was not named Chrétien de Troyes. When you lay it on too thick, it rings false!
“The clerk Godferoy de Lagny has put the final touches on The Knight of the Cart; let no one blame him for completing Chrétien’s work, since he did it with the approval of Chrétien, who began it. He worked on the story from the point at which Lancelot was walled into the tower until the end. He has done only this much. He wishes to add nothing further.”
I just find this deeply charming! Godferoy is so worried someone is going to say ‘That scene in Meleagant’s castle did not have the Chrétien de Troyes ring to it, perhaps the clerk Godferoy de Lagny inserted something with Chrétien’s approval.” WELL, HE DIDN’T. HE ONLY ADDED THE STUFF THAT CHRETIEN SAID HE COULD, THAT BIT AT THE END.
“Thus Chrétien brings to a close his romance of the Knight with the Lion. I’ve not heard any more about it, and you’ll never hear anything more unless one adds lies to it.”
This is so unnecessarily threatening! It’s not really on-theme, but I think it’s sort of endearing.
“And so Chrétien de Troyes says that it is reasonable for everyone to think and strive in every way to speak well and to teach well, and from a tale of adventure he draws a beautifully ordered composition that clearly proves that a man does not act intelligently if he does not give free reign to his knowledge for as long gives him the grace to do so.”
That is his OPENING LINE! “This is a beautifully ordered composition.” Believe in yourself the way Chrétien de Troyes believes in his work, okay?
“Then Erec said that he wished to defend the hawk on behalf of his daughter; for surely there will be no damsel who is one hundredth part as beautiful as she. And if he takes her with him, he will have good and just reason to maintain and to prove that she is entitled to carry away the hawk.”
Again, this isn’t super in keeping with the theme, but I love the idea of giving birds of prey to beautiful women as, I guess, rewards for facial symmetry.
