WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The Poetry Fix: Guigemar Part 7

Episode Date: December 8, 2024

This final installment of Guigemar that we will read portrays Guigemar and his lady as they finally come to terms with their love for one another, and as Guigemar is sped on to declare his love for her.

Welcome on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm your host, Erica Kaiba, bringing you your weekly fix of poetry from across time. In this excerpt of Marie de Francis Gijmar, the knight finally decides to declare his love to the lady, spurred on by her attendant maiden. Several motifs and themes common to chivalric romances appear in the confession scene. Lovers that pine for one another, tortured by hidden inner turmoil, the necessity of staying true to the beloved and the courage to be forthright when one falls in love. With all that said, let's dive in.

Gishmar by Marie de France, translated by Dorothy Gilbert. Again, he sighed. After a bit, there came to him another thought, that he must suffer and endure. There was no other way, no cure. All night he lay awake and pined. He sighed and struggled in his mind, seeing again all he had seen.

Her speech, her beauty, and her mean, her lovely mouth, her sparkling eyes, stirred in his heart's sweet agonies. Just to himself, inaudibly, he almost called her his ami. If he'd suspected half her thought, how love likewise distressed her heart, he'd have felt joy, it's my belief, some consolation, some relief. from all that agony and dolor that robbed his countenance of color. If his love pangs made him distraught, she could not boast advantage, but before the daybreak and the light she rose,

she had not slept all night and desperately complained. For sure, a more it was that tortured her. Her maiden, though, astute and keen, quickly saw, from the ladies' mean, she'd fallen for the Chevalier, who was their guest, sojourning there, resting and hoping for a cure. She did not know if he loved her. The lady went to the chapel then. The girl slipped in to see the man. She sat herself down by his bed.

At that, he spoke to her and said, Friend, where has my lady gone? Why did she rise before the dawn? Then he was silent, sighed. And she spoke to him expeditiously. Ha, sire, you are in love, I see. Fair sire, beware of secrecy kept too long. You've a chance to have place in my lady's heart and love.

He who would win my lady's heart must hold her always in his thought. Steadfast and faithful to each other. That's the right way, lover to lover. Courage. You are a handsome knight, and she is beautiful. At that he spoke, I feel that spark ignite. If I've no help, some rotten plight will find me, and this tale will end wretchedly. Counsel me, dear friend.

What shall I do, then, with this love? She, with the natural sweetness of her nature, gave the Chevalier comforting words to reassure, with all her skills the wretched night, she was most skillful and adroit. The lady, coming back for Mass, was mindful too of polites and duty for the sick man's sake. Had he slept well or lain awake? Her passion had not gone away. The maiden called to her to say, go to the Chevalier. Oh, go.

There they could at their leisure, show what moved each heart, what drove each will. Turn it to fortune, good or ill. You've been listening to The Poetry Fix with Erica Kudel. Signing off till next semester. If you enjoyed this episode, consider following the poetry fix on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. We'll be back in January.