Part II: Anglo-Norman Literary Period, part of the Middle Ages Literary Period
Part II: Anglo-Norman Literary Period, part of the Middle Ages Literary Period
25
The Lay of Milun: He loves a maid and gets her with child
WHO would diverse stories tell,
Must start each separate tale well,
And speak it eloquently, for then
It delights both women and men.
I’ll tell you the story of Milun;
Here, in brief, since I’ve begun,
I’ll tell you how and why this lay
Was so wrought, in a former day.
Milun was born in South Wales;
Once he was dubbed, so run the tales,
Nary a knight was to be found
He failed to topple to the ground,
For he was a most worthy knight,
Courteous, strong, good in a fight.
This was he known for in Ireland,
And in Norway too, and in Jutland,
In Logres and in Albany,
Where he did arouse much envy;
Yet was he much loved for valour,
And by princes held in honour.
There lived a baron, in this same
Land, though I know not his name,
And he possessed a daughter fair,
A sweet maid, she’d a courteous air.
Now she heard Milun spoken of,
And would have him as her love;
And sent to say he may have her,
If twould please him, as his lover.
Milun, at this, felt great delight,
And sent to thank the maid, outright;
Gladly he’d take her as his lover,
Nor would he part from her forever.
Thus he framed a courteous reply,
While granting friendship thereby
To her messenger, with a reward.
‘Now,’ said he, ‘I wish, my lord,
To speak, if I may, with my love,
But secret must our meeting prove!
Bear to her this, my ring of gold,
And then, from me, let her be told
When she please to come to me,
Or I could go to her, equally.’
He took his leave without delay,
And the lord to her made his way,
Showed the ring of gold; his task,
He said he’d done as she did ask.
The maid was delighted indeed
That her love was well-received.
In an orchard near her chamber,
Where she walked, she and her lover
Milun, would oft meet together,
And speak there with one another.
He went so oft, love so beguiled,
That the maid was soon with child.
Now when she realised her state,
She summoned Milun, and did berate
Her lover, told him that, to her cost,
Her honour and her rank were lost.
When all was known, what is more,
She’d suffer the weight of the law,
For she’d be put to the sword,
Or sold into service now abroad,
The punishments for such a crime
In olden days as in their time.
The Lay of Milun: The maid bears a son, secretly, who is sent away
MILUN replied that he would do
Whatever she might ask him to.
‘When the child is born,’ said she,
‘Then to my sister, send it swiftly,
Who in Northumberland doth dwell;
Noble and wise, she married well;
Write to her, and so instruct her,
And tell her the tale in your letter;
A child will be born to her sister,
Who for it shall be made to suffer.
See that, whether it is a son or
A daughter, it is well-cared for.
From its neck I’ll hang your ring,
And wrap in linen the little thing,
With a note that names its father,
And tells the story of its mother.
When the child is fully-grown,
At that age when, as tis known,
The mind is fit