Those who knew the truth of this piteous adventure, after many days shaped it to a Lay, that all men might learn the plaint and the dolour that these two friends suffered by reason of their love.

XIV

THE LAY OF THE THORN

Whosoever counts these Lays as fable, may be assured that I am not of his mind.  The dead and past stories that I have told again in divers fashions, are not set down without authority.  The chronicles of these far off times are yet preserved in the land.  They may be read by the curious at Caerleon, or in the monastery of St. Aaron.  They may be heard in Brittany, and in many another realm besides.  To prove how the remembrance of such tales endures, I will now relate to you the adventure of the Two Children, making clear what has remained hidden to this very hour.

In Brittany there lived a prince, high of spirit, fair of person, courteous and kind to all.  This Childe was a King’s son, and there were none to cherish him but his father and his father’s wife, for his mother was dead.  The King held him dearer than aught else in the world, and close he was to the lady’s heart.  The lady, for her part, had a daughter by another husband than the King.  Very dainty was the maiden, sweet of colour and of face, passing young and fair.  Both these children, born to so high estate, were right tender of age, for the varlet, who was the elder of the twain, was but seven years.  The two children loved together very sweetly.  Nothing seemed of worth to one, if it were not shared with the other.  They were nourished at the same table, went their ways together, and lived side by side.  The guardians who held them in ward, seeing their great love, made no effort to put them apart, but allowed them to have all things in common.  The love of these children increased with their years, but Dame Nature brought another love to youth and maid than she gave to the child.  They delighted no more in their old frolic and play.  Such sport gave place to clasp and kisses, to many words, and to long silences.  To savour their friendship they took refuge in an attic of the keep, but all the years they had passed together, made the new love flower more sweetly in their hearts, as each knew well.  Very pure and tender was their love, and good would it have been if they could have hidden it from their fellows.  This might not be, for in no great while they were spied upon, and seen.

It chanced upon a day that this prince, so young and debonair, came home from the river with an aching head, by reason of the heat.  He entered in a chamber, and shutting out the noise and clamour, lay upon his bed, to ease his pain.  The Queen was with her daughter in a chamber, instructing her meetly in that which it becomes a maid to know.  Closer to a damsel’s heart is her lover than her kin.  So soon as she heard that her friend was come again to the house, she stole forth from her mother, without