Passage

Bisclavret

Marie De France, 12th Century 

Not too long after this occurred  219

– such is my thought, so I have heard – 

into the forest went the king 

– so noble and so wise a being – 

where he’d first found the bisclavret. 

The animal was with him yet. 224

The night of this return, the king 

took, in this countryside, lodging. 

And this the wife of Bisclavret

well knew. Dressed fetchingly, she set 228

out to have speech with him next day;

rich gifts were part of her display.

Bisclavret saw her come. No man

had strength to hold him as he ran 232

up to his wife in rage and fury.

Hear of his vengeance! Hear the story!

He tore her nose off, then and there. 

What worse could he have done to her? 236

From all sides now, and full of threat

men ran and would have killed him, but

a wise man expeditiously

spoke to the king. “Listen to me! 240

He’s been with you, this animal;

there is not one man of us all 

who has not, long since, had to see 

and travel with him, frequently, 244

and he has harmed no one, not once, 

shown viciousness nor violence 

save just now, as you saw him do. 

And by the faith I owe to you, 248

he has some bitter quarrel with her 

and with her husband, her seigneur. 250