When the knight heard these words he made answer very swiftly, “Lady, name it not the Lay of the Four Sorrows, but, rather, the Lay of the Dolorous Knight.  Would you hear the reason why it should bear this name?  My three comrades have finished their course; they have nothing more to hope of their life.  They are gone, and with them the pang of their great sorrow, and the knowledge of their enduring love for you.  I alone have come, all amazed and fearful, from the net wherein they were taken, but I find my life more bitter than my comrades found the grave.  I see you on your goings and comings about the house.  I may speak with you both matins and vespers.  But no other joy do I get—­ neither clasp nor kiss, nothing but a few empty, courteous words.  Since all these evils are come upon me because of you, I choose death rather than life.  For this reason your Lay should bear my name, and be called the Lay of the Dolorous Knight.  He who would name it the Lay of the Four Sorrows would name it wrongly, and not according to the truth.”

“By my faith,” replied the lady, “this is a fair saying.  So shall the song be known as the Lay of the Dolorous Knight.”

Thus was the Lay conceived, made perfect, and brought to a fair birth.  For this reason it came by its name; though to this day some call it the Lay of the Four Sorrows.  Either name befits it well, for the story tells of both these matters, but it is the use and wont in this land to call it the Lay of the Dolorous Knight.  Here it ends; no more is there to say.  I heard no more, and nothing more I know.  Perforce I bring my story to a close.

IV

THE LAY OF ELIDUC

Now will I rehearse before you a very ancient Breton Lay.  As the tale was told to me, so, in turn, will I tell it over again, to the best of my art and knowledge.  Hearken now to my story, its why and its reason.

In Brittany there lived a knight, so courteous and so brave, that in all the realm there was no worthier lord than he.  This knight was named Eliduc.  He had wedded in his youth a noble lady of proud race and name.  They had long dwelt together in peace and content, for their hearts were fixed on one another in faith and loyalty.  Now it chanced that Eliduc sought his fortune in a far land, where there was a great war.  There he loved a Princess, the daughter of the King and Queen of those parts.  Guillardun was the maiden’s name, and in all the realm was none more fair.  The wife of Eliduc had to name, Guildeluec, in her own country.  By reason of these two ladies their story is known as the Lay of Guildeluec and Guillardun, but at first it was rightly called the Lay of Eliduc.  The name is a little matter; but if you hearken to me you shall learn the story of these three lovers, in its pity and its truth.