WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Poetry Fix: Guigemar, Part Four

Episode Date: November 3, 2024

This installment of Guigemar introduces some important new characters into the story. Most important of these is a young lady, imprisoned by her jealous and much older husband. A portrait of Venus hanging in the young lady's chamber contains some clues as to what the poet intends to do with her character.

Welcome to the Poetry Fix on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm your host, Erica Kaima, bringing you your weekly fix of poetry from across time. Today we're continuing our journey through Marie de France's Guizhmar. We pick up as the Wounded Nights ship sails into a port, and the poet introduces us to some important characters that inhabit this town. As it happens, the city's lord is of great age and married to a much younger woman who he keeps imprisoned. Keep in mind that this marriage was almost surely a political one, and that the young lady likely had no choice in the matter. Also note the poet's depiction of a portrait of Venus that hangs in the young lady's room. For context, Venus was forced by her father to marry Vulcan, but Mars, the god of war, was the one she came to love.

What could Marie de France be setting up through this early portrayal of the imprisoned young lady? With all that said, let's dive in. Gizhmar by Marie de Fros, translated by Dorothy Gilbert. The city's lord was of great age, and he was joined in marriage to a fine name of high degree. Wise, noble, skilled and courtesy, madly jealous the husband was, and by his nature, covetous, suspicious, as old men will be, wild at the thought of cuckoldry. Such is old coot's perversity. He did not guard her carelessly. A garnet lay. just by the keep, set with enclosures high and steep. Walls of green marble all around, oh, formidably stout and sound. It had one entrance, one sole way, and that was guarded night and day.

Then, on the other side, the sea, made an effective boundary, for none could enter or go out, unless they did so with a boat, should need arise within the keep. Inside these walls so stout and steep, the Lord, to keep his wife secure, had made a chamber, a lovelier room under heaven, has never been. A chapel was in front, and then the room, its paintings. On the wall, Venus, goddess of love, with all her traits portrayed, how lovers must serve loyally and live their trust. The Book of Ovid, where he tells how lovers must restrain themselves, was being cast

cast in a fierce fire, and divine Venus in her ire was calling excommunicate all who had bred or followed in. Here the Lord's wife was prisoned. She'd a young girl to wait on her. Thus was the husband degenerous, noble and well brought up she was, the Lord's own niece, his sister's daughter. Much the two women loved each other. And always, when the Lord was gone, the niece was there until his return. Man or woman, there was none who could have entered or have flown such walls. A hoary elderly priest held in charge the postured key. His lower members were long lost.

This was the reason for his trust. He sent God's service this old priest and served the lady her repast. Early that very afternoon, the dame had to the garden gone. After her meal she slept, and then wanted diversion. She looked down, she and her maiden toward the shore, saw how the ship was rising there, climbing the waves and rapidly sailing toward port. She could not see that someone steered. Anxiety rose at her, and she wished to flee, small wonder.

In her fear she blushed deeply, into her face, blood rushed. But the young girl, intelligent, and with a bolder temperament, comforted and assured her, Then, wasting no time, they hurried down, and the girl tossed her coat off. Now, boarding the ship, so beautiful, she saw no living thing, apart from the one man, the sleeping night. She stood still, looking down. The color of the man's face, the awful pallor, convinced her he was dead. And she went to her lady hastily, reporting truly what she'd seen, lamenting. much the poor dead man. You've been listening to The Poetry Fix with Erica Kaiba. If you enjoyed

this episode, consider following the Poetry Fix on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Join me next week, and we'll be continuing our journey, Jhijbar.