Kelly Perioris MST201
Dublin Core
Title
Kelly Perioris MST201
Subject
My exhibit focuses on the Bisclavret, the werewolf-like being in the Lias of Marie de France; a collection of short, narrative, lyrical poems organized into octosyllabic couplets about love and the otherworldly. This story in particular is found in one of Marie’s Lais, “Bisclavret”. My chosen passage is from lines 67-103.
Description
She asked, inquired one thing more: he Undressed? Or what did he wear?
"My lady," he said, "I go all bare."
"Where are your clothes? Tell, for God's sake." "My lady, I won't say this, no;
For if I lost them by this mistake,
From that moment on, I'd know
I'd stay a bisclavret forever;
Nothing could help me, I'd never Change back till I got them again.
That's why I don't want it known."
"My lord," the lady replied, "It's true More than all the world I love you.
You should hide nothing from me, nor Ever doubt I'm loyal in any affair.
That would not seem like true friendship. How have I ever sinned? What slip Makes me seem untrustworthy to you? Do what's right! Now tell me, do!"
She nagged him thus, and thus harassed Him till he just had to tell, at last.
"My lady," he said, "near that wood, Where I come home, along that road, Standing there is an old chapel,
Which often serves me well.
The stone is there, hollow and wide, Beneath a bush, dug out inside;
I put my clothes there under the bush Until I can come back to the house."
The lady heard this marvel, this wonder. In terror she blushed all bright red, Filled with fear by this adventure.
Often and often passed through her head Plans to get right out, escape, for
She didn't want ever to share his bed. (Bisclavret, Marie de France 67-103).
"My lady," he said, "I go all bare."
"Where are your clothes? Tell, for God's sake." "My lady, I won't say this, no;
For if I lost them by this mistake,
From that moment on, I'd know
I'd stay a bisclavret forever;
Nothing could help me, I'd never Change back till I got them again.
That's why I don't want it known."
"My lord," the lady replied, "It's true More than all the world I love you.
You should hide nothing from me, nor Ever doubt I'm loyal in any affair.
That would not seem like true friendship. How have I ever sinned? What slip Makes me seem untrustworthy to you? Do what's right! Now tell me, do!"
She nagged him thus, and thus harassed Him till he just had to tell, at last.
"My lady," he said, "near that wood, Where I come home, along that road, Standing there is an old chapel,
Which often serves me well.
The stone is there, hollow and wide, Beneath a bush, dug out inside;
I put my clothes there under the bush Until I can come back to the house."
The lady heard this marvel, this wonder. In terror she blushed all bright red, Filled with fear by this adventure.
Often and often passed through her head Plans to get right out, escape, for
She didn't want ever to share his bed. (Bisclavret, Marie de France 67-103).
Creator
Kelly Perioris
Source
Burgess, Glyn S. and Busby Keith. Bisclavret, "The Lais of Marie de France", 1986.
Date
ca. 1150-1200 CE
Contributor
Kelly Perioris
Format
Manuscript
Language
English
Collection Items
There are currently no items within this collection.