Lines 1-44 of Béroul’s Tristan et Yseut:
Translation into Modern English:
[She is careful]
Not to make any sign
As she gets close to her friend
Listen to how she speaks first:
“Lord Tristan, in the name of God our King,
You are so wrong in regard to me
In sending for me at such an hour!”
Then she pretends to cry…
In the name of God, who created the air and the sea
Never send for me again.
I am telling you, Tristan, with regret,
I would certainly not come again to you.
Lord Tristan, the king thinks
That I have loved you sinfully;
But I swear to God that I have been faithful:
Let Him place a scourge upon me
If anyone, except him who took me as a virgin,
Ever enjoyed my love a single day!
Even if the wicked barons of this kingdom
For whom you once fought
The Morholt, whom you killed,
Make him believe—so it seems—
That we are in love united,
You, my lord, have no such desire;
As for me, by God Almighty,
I am not tempted in any way by some illicit love
Which would result in my dishonour.
I would rather be burned at the stake
And have my ashes scattered to the wind,
Than love
Any man other than my husband.
Yet, oh God, he does not believe me.
I can indeed say: From a higher position
I have fallen so low!
My lord, Solomon does speak the truth:
He who removes a thief from the hanging post
Will never be loved by him (Mermier).
Works Cited
Mermier, Guy R. Béroul: Tristan and Yseut. New York City: Peter Lang, 1987. 2-5.