ave well defended me against the
men of my household. Come now, and I'll lead you on." Hand in hand they
enter the hall, but he was not at all pleased, and would have willingly
dispensed with her.

(Vv. 1207-1292.) In the midst of the hall a bed had been set up, the
sheets of which were by no means soiled, but were white and wide and
well spread out. The bed was not of shredded straw or of coarse spreads.
But a covering of two silk cloths had been laid upon the couch. The
damsel lay down first, but without removing her chemise. He had great
trouble in removing his hose and in untying the knots. He sweated with
the trouble of it all; yet, in the midst of all the trouble, his promise
impels and drives him on. Is this then an actual force? Yes, virtually
so; for he feels that he is in duty bound to take his place by the
damsel's side. It is his promise that urges him and dictates his act.
So he lies down at once, but like her, he does not remove his shirt. He
takes good care not to touch her; and when he is in bed, he turns away
from her as far as possible, and speaks not a word to her, like a monk
to whom speech is forbidden. Not once does he look at her, nor show her
any courtesy. Why not? Because his heart does not go out to her. She
was certainly very fair and winsome, but not every one is pleased and
touched by what is fair and winsome. The knight has only one heart, and
this one is really no longer his, but has been entrusted to some one
else, so that he cannot bestow it elsewhere. Love, which holds all
hearts beneath its sway, requires it to be lodged in a single place.
All hearts? No, only those which it esteems. And he whom love deigns to
control ought to prize himself the more. Love prized his heart so highly
that it constrained it in a special manner, and made him so proud of
this distinction that I am not inclined to find fault with him, if he
lets alone what love forbids, and remains fixed where it desires. The
maiden clearly sees and knows that he dislikes her company and would
gladly dispense with it, and that, having no desire to win her love,
he would not attempt to woo her. So she said: "My lord, if you will not
feel hurt, I will leave and return to bed in my own room, and you will
be more comfortable. I do not believe that you are pleased with my
company and society. Do not esteem me less if I tell you what I think.
Now take your rest all night, for you have so well kept your promise
that I have no right