done long before sundown in chancing on the knight.  He gave over the sealed writing with which he was charged, praying the knight to hasten to his friend without any tarrying, since her husband was in his grave.  Milon rejoiced greatly when he knew this thing.  He showed the message to his son, and pressed forward without pause or rest.  They made such speed, that at the end they came to the castle where the lady had her lodging.  Light of heart was she when she clasped again her child.  These two fond lovers sought neither countenance of their kin, nor counsel of any man.  Their son handselled them together, and gave the mother to his sire.  From the day they were wed they dwelt in wealth and in sweetness to the end of their lives.

Of their love and content the minstrel wrought this Lay.  I, also, who have set it down in writing, have won guerdon enough just by telling over the tale.

XIII

THE LAY OF YONEC

Since I have commenced I would not leave any of these Lays untold.  The stories that I know I would tell you forthwith.  My hope is now to rehearse to you the story of Yonec, the son of Eudemarec, his mother’s first born child.

In days of yore there lived in Britain a rich man, old and full of years, who was lord of the town and realm of Chepstow.  This town is builded on the banks of the Douglas, and is renowned by reason of many ancient sorrows which have there befallen.  When he was well stricken in years this lord took to himself a wife, that he might have children to come after him in his goodly heritage.  The damsel, who was bestowed on this wealthy lord, came of an honourable house, and was kind and courteous, and passing fair.  She was beloved by all because of her beauty, and none was more sweetly spoken of from Chepstow to Lincoln, yea, or from there to Ireland.  Great was their sin who married the maiden to this aged man.  Since she was young and gay, he shut her fast within his tower, that he might the easier keep her to himself.  He set in charge of the damsel his elder sister, a widow, to hold her more surely in ward.  These two ladies dwelt alone in the tower, together with their women, in a chamber by themselves.  There the damsel might have speech of none, except at the bidding of the ancient dame.  More than seven years passed in this fashion.  The lady had no children for her solace, and she never went forth from the castle to greet her kinsfolk and her friends.  Her husband’s jealousy was such that when she sought her bed, no chamberlain or usher was permitted in her chamber to light the candles.  The lady became passing heavy.  She spent her days in sighs and tears.  Her loveliness began to fail, for she gave no thought to her person.  Indeed at times she hated the very shadow of that beauty which had spoiled all her life.

Now when April had come with the gladness of the birds, this lord rose early on a day to take his pleasure in the woods.  He bade his sister to rise from her bed to make the doors fast behind him.  She did his will, and going apart, commenced to read the psalter that she carried in her hand.  The lady awoke, and shamed the brightness of the sun with her tears.  She saw that the old woman was gone forth from the chamber, so she made her complaint without fear of being overheard.