Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion

Alone, Laudine wonders if there might be a better man than her late husband. Lunete returns and declares that she can name a better knight but fears her lady will grow angry again. Laudine promises to listen. The maiden then says that, by the custom of chivalry, the winner of the contest between two knights ought to be considered the better man. Laudine becomes angry, but Lunete chides her for breaking her promise not to lose her temper. 

Lunete reports her progress to Yvain, but he is heedless, bereft at being separated from his new love. Meanwhile, Laudine begins to regret her anger toward her servant—who, after all, is a dear friend who only wants what’s best for her. Laudine calms herself and tries to recover her reason. She’s in need of a champion, and she knows that her husband’s slayer fought him in accordance with the knightly rules of combat. She imagines confronting this man, asking him if he meant her harm, and decides that he would rightly deny any such motive. The situation dictates that she must forgive him. “Thus what she wishes she justifies” (61). Something new stirs in her heart.

Laudine apologizes to her maid and asks to know the identity of the stranger, saying that if he is as noble as Lunete believes, then Laudine should offer to marry him. Lunete names him, and Laudine recognizes Yvain as the son of the great King Urien. She wishes to meet him immediately, but her maid insists that Yvain must by now have returned to King Arthur’s court. Impatient, Laudine wants to see him as soon as possible and insists that he ride as fast as he can to be there. Lunete says she’ll send a messenger to inform him.

Laudine will consult with her people, asking who among them will defend the fountain, knowing none are brave enough to step forward, at which point she’ll inform them she’s sent for Yvain.

Lunete pretends to send a messenger, then goes to Yvain and gets him to bathe and groom himself while she prepares fine robes and jewelry for him to wear at his audience with Laudine. Not long after, Lunete reports to her lady that the messenger has returned with Yvain. Laudine tells Lunete to bring the knight to her in secret.

Lunete talks to Yvain, pretending Laudine knows he’s been at the castle all along and wants to question him before throwing him in prison. Yvain would like nothing better, but Lunete warns him in to behave humbly toward the lady so that his imprisonment may be easier. She knows that the prison he will enter is his love for Laudine. 

Lunete leads Yvain to a chamber where Laudine awaits, seated. At first, she is silent, and Yvain fears he has been betrayed. Lunete berates her lady for her rudeness and tells Yvain to step forward. He does so, takes a knee, and thanks her for whatever she might do to him. She responds with doubt, “Truly? And if I have you killed?” (68). Yvain says he will thank her and do whatever she commands. If he could bring back her husband, he would. She retorts that he speaks as if blameless in her husband’s death. He answers that, in a fight, he must do his utmost to prevail.

She asks why, then, he is so willing to put his life in her hands. Yvain replies that he loves her and would die for her. Laudine asks if he would protect the Brocéliande fountain; he says he would do so against anyone. She says, “Well then, we are truly in accord” (70). 

Laudine tells Yvain that they will go before the people, where she will announce that, for the duchy’s need of a champion, she and he will be married. 

Laudine and Yvain, hand in hand, appear before the state council assembled in the great hall. Deeply impressed by Yvain, the councilors declare that he is the right choice to lead them. The Seneschal, or castle manager, makes a speech on the threat of an attack by the king’s forces and the need for a champion to defend them. The crowd shouts its assent. Laudine answers humbly that she will do as they ask and assures them that Yvain is more than worthy to be her husband.

The council wants them to marry immediately. The ceremony is held forthwith before a large crowd of the people, who then celebrate with a feast that lasts many days.

Meanwhile, King Arthur travels with a large company to the forest of Brocéliande to view the fountain. Kay notices that Yvain is nowhere to be found and derides him as a coward. Gawain protests that they don’t know what Yvain might be doing and that Yvain always speaks respectfully of Kay.

They arrive at the magic fountain, and at once Yvain gallops toward them, ready for battle, but Arthur and his men don’t recognize him. Kay begs Arthur to let him take the first joust, and the king assents. Kay and Yvain charge at each other; their lances break on each other’s shields, but Kay is knocked from his horse. Yvain dismounts, retrieves Kay’s horse, presents it to Arthur, and identifies himself. Arthur’s knights laugh at Kay. Yvain offers them the hospitality of his new castle, and Arthur agrees to stay for a week. One of Yvain’s entourage launches a messenger hawk to fly ahead and notify Laudine of their arrival. 

The entire town turns out to welcome Arthur and his entourage. The streets are decorated with tapestries and drapes; trumpets blare and dancers perform. Laudine appears, elaborately bejeweled and more beautiful than a goddess. She and Arthur exchange greetings and a brief hug.

Gawain meets Lunete. He learns that she saved Yvain’s life, notes her beauty, finds her blessed “With wisdom, kindness and courtesy” (82), and quickly becomes smitten. Sixty or more ladies of noble birth greet the other knights, and much flirting ensues. Laudine charms everyone.

During the week, Arthur and his knights inspect the woods and castles of Yvain’s new realm. They’re impressed, but many urge Yvain to return with them. Gawain, especially, fears that his friend “Through his love into sloth doth fall” and that marriage will make him worthless as a knight (85). Gawain argues that Laudine will fall out of love with Yvain if he stops pursuing greatness.

Gawain admits that he, too, would be tempted to stay home with so lovely a woman as Laudine. Still, he urges Yvain to join him on the jousting circuit, where he can polish his virtue. What’s more, absence from his wife will keep their ardor intense and make their reunion sweeter. 

Yvain asks Laudine for her consent to his leaving to pursue a great jousting campaign. She agrees but insists he return within a year; beyond that, “my love will turn to hate” (87). 

What would happen, asks Yvain, if he were wounded or imprisoned and could not return in time? Laudine say she would forgive that, but she gives him a magic ring that will protect him from danger. She has never offered this ring to anyone but him: “I lend it you now, out of love” (88).

Yvain prepares to leave with his king. When he and Laudine part, they kiss and can taste each other’s tears. 

Yvain senses that his heart has remained with Laudine. Still, he proves brilliant on the jousting circuit, sometimes winning every prize at a tournament. Gawain, greatly enjoying his company, keeps urging him to continue jousting. More than a year passes.

One evening, as Arthur’s men camp outside a town, Yvain suddenly realizes he has broken his promise to Laudine and is stricken with remorse. At that moment, a messenger maid arrives on horseback, dismounts, and enters the tent where the knights are gathered. She announces that Laudine sends a message to Yvain, “That foul liar, and oath-breaker, / Who’d deserted and deceived her” (92), that she missed him and worried for him every night for a year, then realized that his love was a deceit. He must never see her again, but he must return the ring.