Dorigen 3 Two promises

Long, long ago

Armorica was the name

Of what is Brittany today.

In Armorica lived a knight
And his name was Roderick.

He served his lady well and long.

Many great adventures he carried out

And many dangers he endured for her.

And she was worth it for she was

The fairest lady and the best

In all the land from east to west.   

And in the end, for after this world’s ways

No woman says yes in the early days,

Or if she does, she will regret such quick consent,

She finally with full accord,

Seeing his worth and all that he had done,

Took him for her husband and her lord.

A bargain they made there and then.

He promised her that day or night

He never would insist

On anything against her will. 

And she replied,

‘Since you give me so free a rein

I promise you that all my life

I’ll be your true and humble wife’.

If there’s one thing that I’m sure of,

It’s that friends must give and take

If their friendship’s going to last.

Love cannot brook control.

If one commands, the god of love anon,

Flaps his wide wings, and farewell, he is gone!

Women by their nature must be free,

And cannot bear being bossed around,

And nor can men, I’ve always found.

So the accord they came to was the best

To live in peace and free from strife.

She has her lover and her husband,

And he his lover and his wife.