st. Meanwhile you
shall summon your men and confer with them about the approaching visit
of the King. In order to make the customary defence of your spring it
behoves you to consult with them. None of them will be so hardy as to
dare to boast that he will present himself. In that case you will have
a good excuse for saving that it behoves you to marry again. A certain
knight, highly qualified, seeks your hand; but you do not presume to
accept him without their unanimous consent. And I warrant what the
outcome will be: I know them all to be such cowards that in order to put
on some one else the burden which would be too heavy for them, they
will fall at your feet and speak their gratitude; for thus their
responsibility will be at an end. For, whoever is afraid of his own
shadow willingly avoids, if possible, any meeting with lance or spear;
for such games a coward has no use." "Upon my word," the lady replies,
"so I would have it, and so I consent, having already conceived the plan
which you have expressed; so that is what we shall do. But why do you
tarry here? Go, without delay, and take measures to bring him here,
while I shall summon my liege-men." Thus concluded their conference. And
the damsel pretends to send to search for my lord Yvain in his country;
while every day she has him bathed, and washed, and groomed. And besides
this she prepares for him a robe of red scarlet stuff, brand new and
lined with spotted fur. There is nothing necessary for his equipment
which she does not lend to him: a golden buckle for his neck, ornamented
with precious stones which make people look well, a girdle, and a wallet
made of rich gold brocade. She fitted him out perfectly, then informed
her lady that the messenger had returned, having done his errand
well. "How is that?" she says, "is he here? Then let him come at once,
secretly and privily, while no one is here with me. See to it that no
one else come in, for I should hate to see a fourth person here." At
this the damsel went away, and returned to her guest again. However, her
face did not reveal the joy that was in her heart; indeed, she said
that her lady knew that she had been sheltering him, and was very much
incensed at her. "Further concealment is useless now. The news about
you has been so divulged that my lady knows the whole story and is very
angry with me, heaping me with blame and reproaches. But she has given
me her word that I may take you into her presence without a