s not of such easy access that any one may
claim acquaintance by hear-say only and without personal experience.
I have come to know that well enough myself; for I could never learn
anything of love through flattery and wooing words, though I have often
been in the school of experience, and have been flattered many a time.
But I have always stood aloof, and now he makes me pay a heavy penalty:
now I know more about it than does the ox of ploughing. But one thing
causes me despair: I fear he has never been in love. And if he is not in
love, and never has been so, then I have sowed in the sea where no seed
can take root. So there is nothing to do but wait and suffer, until
I see whether I can lead him on by hints and covered words. I shall
continue this until he is sure of my love and dares to ask me for it. So
there is nothing more about the matter, but that I love him and am his.
If he loves me not, yet will I love him."

(Vv. 1047-1066.) Thus he and she utter their complaint, unhappy at night
and worse by day, each hiding the truth from the other's eyes. In such
distress they remained a long time in Brittany, I believe, until the end
of the summer came. At the beginning of October there came messengers
by Dover from London and Canterbury, bearing to the King news which
troubled him. The messengers told him that he might be tarrying too long
in Brittany; for, he to whom he had entrusted the kingdom was intending
to withstand him, and had already summoned a great army of his vassals
and friends, and had established himself in London for the purpose of
defending the city against Arthur when he should return.

(Vv. 1067-1092.) When the King heard this news, angry and sore
displeased he summons all his knights. In order the better to spur them
on to punish the traitor, he tells them that they are entirely to blame
for his trouble and strife; for on their advice he entrusted his land to
the hands of the traitor, who is worse than Ganelon. [215] There is not
a single one who does not agree that the King is right, for he had only
followed their advice; but now this man is to be outlawed, and you may
be sure that no town or city will avail to save his body from being
dragged out by force. Thus they all assure the King, giving him their
word upon oath, that they will deliver the traitor to him, or never
again claim their fiefs. And the King proclaims throughout Brittany that
no one who can bear arms shall refuse to follow him at