2

SONE AND THE GRAIL

The Grail romances may … have preserved
for the West a Christian initiatic tradition.

…

S. R. Wilson, “Rene Guénon and the Heart of the Grail”

There are two medieval romances that preserve detailed accounts, both descriptive and interpretive, of the Grail Temple. They were written close to each other in time, one in France, the other in Germany. Both reflect the belief in the Grail as an actual relic and the building that housed it as a physical place. They have been largely ignored by Grail scholars and only brief excerpts have been translated into English.

The first of these texts is Sone de Nansay, an epic romance that exists in a single manuscript found in the Royal Library of Turin, Italy (Ms. 1626) as part of a collection of chivalric and Arthurian tales, including Chrétien de Troyes’s Cligès. Written in medieval French, the copy was made sometime during the mid-fourteenth century, but the poem of Sone itself dates from somewhat earlier, between the end of the thirteenth and the early fourteenth centuries. It consists of some 21,321 lines, with a lacuna of some 2,400 lines, the result of fire damage, the contents of which can be inferred from the remainder of the work. Just two editions of the work have appeared to date: the first by Moritz Goldschmidt in 1899 and a more recent edition by Claude Lachet in 2014. Lachet’s modern French edition was published in 2012. Sone is said to derive from the German name Sueno, while Nansay is probably Nanbsheim, near Neuf-Brisach in northeastern France.

The story has received little attention until now, due in part to its length and the dismissive comments of the first scholars to notice it, who termed it prolix and lacking in skill, as well as failing to grasp the nature of the Grail material, which was seen as having been “inserted” into the romance in a clumsy way. In fact, a great deal of the poem is taken up with the Grail story, with its titular hero’s life being compared to that of the first Grail guardian, Joseph of Arimathea. It also adds many important details to the Grail myth, especially in its description of the building where the sacred relic is kept. This is the only part of the poem to receive any attention until now, although it will quickly be seen, as we continue our exploration, that there are many subtle references within the work that add significantly to our understanding of the Grail myth.

The only full-length study of the poem in English to date is by Kruger Normand in a PhD dissertation submitted in 1975 to the University of Pennsylvania. Normand categorizes the work as “ancestral and biographical” since it describes the life of the hero from birth to death and deals both with his antecedents and successors. We must be grateful to Dr. Normand for providing the fullest and most detailed summary of the work, which made our own task lighter, but unfortunately there are a number of errors within this that make the reading of the poem significantly different, while the overall study of the romance is limited and lacks a detailed understanding of the Grail tradition in particular.50

Given the length of the poem, we decided to include only those passages that are of particular relevance to our argument. We believe these to be the first complete translations of these passages into English—with the exception of the visit to the Castle of the Grail (lines 4271–5020) that were partially translated by R. S. Loomis in 1963.

Much of the poem falls outside the scope of this book, but to make the arc of the story more understandable, we have placed the translated sections within a complete summary. In preparing this we have followed the breakdown of the text into sections suggested by Normand, not including the prologue, which he omits, and some additional details from a shorter summary by Pierre Langlois in his book La Societe Francais au XIII Siecle, published in 1904. The sections Gareth has translated into English are set in bold type to set it apart from our summary, which is not a direct translation. A detailed exploration of the meaning of the text follows in chapter 3.

The prologue begins with a curious prelude attributed to one of Sone’s descendants. It continues with an overall tour of Sone’s family history, chronicling both his ancestors and successors, placed within a pseudo-historical framework.

Sone de Nansay
translated by Gareth Knight

1: Prologue
The Beginning of Sone
(lines 1–352)

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Holy Virgin who bore him, and all the saints, may the writing of the work that I begin this day exalt the faith and courage of all valiant knights who sustain the Holy Church against miscreants throughout time. As Lady of Beyrouth and Chatelaine of Cyprus, my patrimony by the grace of Our Lord, I have the true history of my ancestors in diverse accounts that tell how they founded and sustained the Holy Church over more than a hundred and forty years. I would like them to be united into a single history that pleases me to evoke and to hear, and be remembered after me through my clerk Branque, at my command, to whom I have entrusted these histories.

Fane of Beyrouth

…

I, Branque, clerk to the Lady of Beyrouth over the past forty years, a master in logic, medicine, canon law, and astronomy, and knowledgeable in geometry, have never obtained a benefice in the Holy Church nor ever sought one; and though a hundred and five years old and one who has ever done his best to study, I would not claim to be more than half a clerk, yet at my lady’s command I will tell the history of her ancestors.

I begin with Count Anselm of Brabant, who, as well as being the most handsome, was one of the bravest knights of his time, also renowned for the wisdom of his counsel at courts of law in France and Germany, where none of his peers dare oppose him. He married Aélis, daughter of Ernoul, count of Flanders, a good, beautiful, and pious lady, by whom he had two sons, the elder named Renaut and the second Henri.

When she died, the countess was buried at the monastery of St. Gertrude at Nivelles, and God performed several miracles through her. Her mother then sought to have her remains removed to Gand, where she had been born, and as neither count nor abbess objected, this was done, although it has been said that it may not have pleased Our Lord.

The count died in 632. Renaut became an accomplished knight, and, according to the records of the time, possessed a domain worth two thousand pounds on the borders of Alsace, which he gave to his brother, Henri, who paid homage to the emperor for it. The emperor thought well of him and knighted him, as he had many fine qualities. At Leyde, a city near Germany, he presented him with Ydoine, daughter of the Duke of Mélone, in marriage.

The wife of King Floire of Hungary was the sister of this duke and therefore the aunt of Ydoine who had married Henri. She was extremely tall, even for Germany, where knights were generally tall, but she was well made for her size and so beautiful that no one knew any other who combined such beauty with such high morals. Henri sent her to his castle of Nansay, where she was much loved and honoured by all and bore her husband two children.

The older one was a dwarf, so small that they were astonished to compare him to the lady who bore him and the father who engendered him, who were both very tall and good looking. But he was noble hearted and was named Henri, after his father. The younger son was called Sone, a German name, and had a very different appearance.

Their father and mother died on the same day, so after they were buried, others brought up the children until the age of reason. Sone quickly learned to read and write and bent all his efforts to learning. He grew much and progressed well, being knowledgeable, courteous, and handsome, and assuredly one of the finest-looking boys in the world, with many virtues. He learned with such application in infancy that he left four of his tutors behind, who were astonished by his intelligence.

Eudes of Douchery—not Douchery-on-Meuse but the castle—had served the emperor well, who now knighted him. For the celebration, Eudes invited ladies, maidens, and knights from all around. Sone turned up at this magnificent fête and after the meal there was round-dancing, in which Eudes’s young sister took part. All who saw her said they had never seen such a beautiful girl. Sone was seized with such passion for her that he had to leave the fête and return to Nansay, but was so taken with love for her that she became the object of all his desire. He returned to the young lady several times to seek her love but found her so proud that he was unable to see how he could stay. So at the age of twelve and a half he entered the service of the Count of Santois, who was a very fine knight.

Sone won his first prize at a tourney at Châlon-sur-Saône, as you will learn later in the tale of his great deeds. He won his second at a round table tournament reserved for squires that took place between Lyons and Cluny in Bourgogne, and here, as you will learn in the course of this story, he championed his lord’s daughter, who, after he had won fifteen horses, was crowned queen of the event. On his return his lord wanted to marry him to his daughter. But Sone still loved Yde so much that he could not keep away from her and went again, seeking her love. But the fair Yde treated him badly.

He was greatly hurt by this, and leaving his brother, rode toward the coast and went to England, then to Scotland, and from there to Ireland, where the queen bore him a son, who later became King of Sicily. Finally he passed from Ireland to Norway where he increased his exploits, as you will learn. He married the daughter of the King of Norway where he was crowned king in his turn, and fathered three sons.

It was at this time that the Pope demanded that he join him to become emperor and so Sone had to leave. His son Houdient, just eighteen months old, was crowned King of Norway and later married Matabrune, the worst woman in the world, on whom he fathered King Oriant, who in turn married Élouse, who bore him triplets, each of the three boys born wearing a little gold chain round his neck.

Because she hated Élouse, Matabrune stole the gold necklet from one of the boys, who transformed into a swan, so she dare not try this again. The swan flew towards the river that ran at the foot of the wall of Galoche. This was the swan that accompanied his brother Élyas—known as the Knight of the Swan.

Élyas killed the Saxon champion at Nimègue and married Béatrix, the heiress, who gave birth to Yde. Despite forbidding her to do so, Béatrix could not resist asking Élyas his identity; at which he replied: “After today you will never see me again, as you did not obey my conditions,” and blew his horn. His swan brother was ready with the little boat. Élyas stepped into it and arrived at Beyrouth, the port of my lady, who still lived there and also had three sons.

They were at the great battle that took place at the port of Acre where 120,000 Christians and 300,000 pagans were killed and no miscreant escaped death. The battle lasted for five days and five nights, and Élyas was cut to pieces. His brother the swan brought him back by sea to die in the arms of my lady. Nor did anyone witness such grief as that shown by his brother the swan. Nothing could console him. He threw himself into the waves and perished.

I have brought this matter up at the start because the story does not say any more about it. Sone went off to Rome with three of his sons. One was King of Sicily, the second King of Norway, the third, King of Jerusalem (father of Fane of Beyrouth, who asked for this story); the fourth became Pope of Rome.

2: Sone’s Early Adventures
in Chivalry and Love
(lines 353–2918)

Sone now journeys to the court of the Count Vandémont-en-Saintois, who is well known for his dedication to chivalry. On learning of Sone’s family history, the count willingly takes him into his household, and Sone thereafter accompanies his new master everywhere—including to tournaments. At one of these he rescues the count from a mêlée. For this he is counted a hero. But his mind is still on Yde and he begs to be allowed to leave to go and see his friends. He departs for Doncheri, much to the sorrow of Luciane, the count’s daughter, who is secretly in love with him.

Back at Doncheri Sone finds Yde even more beautiful. He declares his love in front of a room full of people but is greeted scornfully by Yde, who suggests he has learned his “art” of courtship from “Chateau Landon,” a place known for its ill-bred people, where “in praising one, they blame another.”

Shocked and distressed, Sone prepares to leave. Yde, seeing how upset he is, relents and hands him his gloves, which he had dropped, whispering that it is a friend who returns them. Sone is far too sorrowful to notice this small kindness and departs to return to Saintois.

Luciane is desperately happy to see him, and the count and countess honour him and offer the hand of their daughter in marriage. But all Sone can think of is Yde, while back in Doncheri, she reviews her recent actions, wondering if she has been too harsh. Wavering between humility and pride, she decides to keep silent but wishes Sone well wherever he goes.

Soon after this, a tournament is to be held at Saintois, to which each baron sends a squire to test his skills. At his master’s bidding, Sone attends, bringing Luciane and her women with him, each wearing a new red dress; but secretly he sends a message to Yde, begging her to attend.

The tournament is a splendid affair, with many knights and nobles attending. In the midst of a field next to the lists is a tent containing a chair for the lady who will be crowned as queen of the tournament according to the prowess of her champion. Sone is fighting in Luciane’s name, but in his heart it is Yde he champions.

On the first day Sone wins eight jousts and receives the acclaim of all, but he wears plain armour and carries a blank shield so that no one knows who he is. Next day Sone continues to fight bravely and at the end wins the crown for Luciane. All of this is observed by Yde’s servants, who are also in attendance.

Back at Vandémont-en-Saintois, Sone receives news that his brother is ill and returns to Nansay. Henri is soon better and tries to keep Sone from leaving by offering him land and riches. But nothing will deter the young man, who sets off for Doncheri. There, once again, he declares his love for Yde, who has heard of his success in the tournament but still rejects him, telling him that he should love the one for whom he jousted and who was crowned in the tent—in other words, Luciane.

Hurt and angry, Sone returns to Nansay, where he finds a maiden reading a lay composed for him by Luciane. Distraught, Sone determines to leave again immediately. He saddles his good horse, Moriel, and departs, heading for England.

3: Sone’s Journey to England and Scotland
(lines 2919–3150)

Sone had gone off towards England and did not stop until he came to the sea. Having reached port, the youthful company boarded a ship that took them across the sea. Arriving in England, they hardly paused before crossing to the salt sea on the other side of the country. Passing Berwick, they were soon in Scotland and lodged in the town of Liendlousiel.51 They were closely watched by the Scots, who remarked on the striking beauty of Sone, passing this information on to the court, where the queen was awaiting her husband.

After they told her, she was eager to meet Sone and invited him to come to court along with his warhorse. Sone replied that he would gladly bring the horse and had it saddled up while he put on his sumptuous squire’s attire. They brought the horse, which he mounted and rode to court accompanied by a favourite page.

They arrived at the bridge while the queen awaited them in the great hall. When Sone arrived along with such a horse, which seemed as if it must be the finest in the world, a lady in waiting remarked to the queen, “Never can you have seen, madame, such a young lord. If it pleases you, go down and see how well he sits in the saddle. It is as if he were enchanted. He hardly seems a member of the human race but more like an angel come down from heaven to inspect us.”

Thus praising the young man to the queen, they led her down to meet him. When the queen saw him, she declared that they had certainly spoken truly. Sone dismounted on seeing the queen and her suite, passed his horse to a servant, and approached her, kneeling at her feet for a moment before, finding him so pleasant to look at, she invited him to stand, looking upon him with as much pleasure as she had looked upon his horse.

Leading him up to the reception hall, she asked his name and country. “Tell us your name and where you were born, if you please, and what brings you here. The journey must have been tiresome.”

“Madame, my name is Sone and my country is called Alsace. I am a son of the Lord of Nansay, but my parents are dead and my brother is lord of the domain. And that is the truth!”

But a knight was present, just returned from Saint Jacques de Compostella,52 who had been present at the Table Round tournament where Sone had successfully jousted. Having seen him there, the knight also recognized the horse on which he had fought. Recalling all this, he told the queen about it, the crowning of the young girl, and the honors awarded them, to the confusion of the young man before them, as the knight affirmed that throughout the whole world there could not exist, in his opinion, such a squire able to handle such arms and such horses.

“In those respects he is greatly experienced,” he added. “Keep him if you want. The king will let you know if you may do so.”

The queen reflected that Sone’s great beauty would not engender any suspicion in the matter for she was not in the habit of so diverting herself.

Sone remained standing, intently observed by all because he was such an extraordinary being, but they did not, for all that, honour him. So Sone decided to ask to take formal leave of the queen and her court and return the way he had come. All gave their leave but without exchanging a word of farewell, nor did Sone insist upon it.

4: Sone’s Arrival in Norway
and His Service to the King
(lines 3151–3410)

Sone sets out from Norway in a hired ship. The king of that land, whose name is Alain, hears of his coming.

The king sent a messenger to the ship to ask what merchandise it had brought. The sailors replied it was enough wheat for a large population to live on for a long time. “Then welcome, your cargo will be sold at a profit.” When the messenger saw Sone preparing to disembark, along with his servants, his packhorse, and his good warhorse Moriel, he returned to his lord and told him what he had seen.

Having heard this, the king rode to the ship, saluted Sone, and invited him to come and dine with him, adding: “It would be helpful to tell us your name. You would be very welcome, and I would like to know if you are a knight.”

“Sire, I am called Sone, but I have not yet been dubbed a knight.”

The king took him by the hand and led him to his castle, and to honour his visitor ordered his servants to carry Sone’s baggage and that of his squire.

When Sone entered, the great hall was lit up by his beauty. It was like the moon appearing in the midst of the stars, so did Sone shine, disconcerting the rest of the world. The king’s sons, Houdiant and Thomas, welcomed him with great marks of respect. Their sister, Odée, came down from her room as soon as she saw Sone in the hall, asking her brothers if this young man was a messenger or envoy from the King of Ireland. “Sister,” replied Houdiant, “we know nothing yet of the reasons for his coming.”

At this they asked for water to be brought to wash their hands. The king was very courteous and sat them along with his barons at the table of honour as the hall filled with knights who sat at tables where they could, for they were very numerous. The king’s sons paid particular attention to Sone as the dishes were brought in along with ale and wine, as was their custom. They stayed so long at table that it could have been irksome to anyone not used to it. In fact, they drank so much that each told stories that no one else listened to and were so keen to talk that no one could hear anything. A third of the day passed this way.

Each knight wore a hauberk with shield hung round his neck and sword at hand. All Ireland would be massacred, according to everyone as they drank, and on his arrival the King of Scotland would be the first to be killed and his brother never leave prison.

Sone, unfamiliar with these customs, looked on in a stupor. He would have preferred the company of his horse. One of the king’s sons amiably prayed Sone not to be angry: “It is the way they pass the time, to drink, eat, talk, threaten the absent; it is the custom of the country, and if you were the first to rise, they would be greatly offended.”

As they conversed on many subjects, the king’s daughter, Odée, approached them, holding a great goblet. She drank from it first and then, kneeling, passed it to Sone, saying: “Dear sir, drink deep by the faith that you owe me.”

Sone, who did not know this custom, replied that he would not drink while the young girl remained kneeling. The king’s son intervened: “Drink, or you will be blamed by everyone. It is our custom. She does you great honour. Accept it without any more talk. Remember that she is the king’s daughter and we are both her brothers.”

When Sone heard this custom, he thought it very foolish but took the cup that the girl offered. It contained a drink that did not much please him but he said nothing of what he thought and thus “howled with the wolves.” Having drunk, he passed the cup to those with whom he had eaten. His companion drank and then passed the goblet on to his brother, who completely emptied it. The girl then rose before declaring: “My lords, I thank you for having well drunk as you have done.”

She returned to her room but did not forget them. Having taken three shining swords and three lances with sparkling iron tips, she offered them to the young men to whom she had brought the drink. The first she took to Sone, who did not refuse them, and each of the brothers were given the same.

The eldest, Houdiant, was very keen to instruct Sone, if he could, in their customs. First they took up the tablecloths that were fashionable in their country but after the meal did not wash their hands. Almost all present carefully observed Sone and said they had never seen anyone so handsome; all the same, they could not divine what necessity had brought him here. Then the king rose and took Sone and his sons to one side.

He said to Sone, “Welcome among us, dear sir. And if it pleases you to stay, that would be useful in the perilous situation in which we find ourselves. I promise to pay you to your liking, for I have need of friends. The King of Ireland is driven with a desire for war and will be attacking with armed forces to put us in prison. He swears he will seize my two sons despite all my efforts to protect them and will marry my daughter to a peasant. But if it pleases God, in whom I believe, he will not have such power over me. Dear sir, will you agree to be the protector of my children?”

Then the queen came, holding her daughter by the hand. She courteously greeted Sone and gave him a magnificent gold ring, saying: “I give you this jewel through affection for you, but with this present I pray you, through friendship of a sincere heart, to keep company with my two sons. In times of danger, do not go without them, but remain with each as a faithful friend.” She added, “My daughter prays for that too.”

“Willingly, madam,” said the young man, “and welcome. I will help with all my power.”

They all thanked him, assured of his help.

5: War and Single Combat
(lines 3411–4270)

Back in Scotland, the king of that land returns, hears of Sone’s decision to fight on the Norwegian side, and learns of his tremendous prowess. The king begins preparations for war, conscripting men from the court.

In Norway cities and castles are provisioned in readiness for war. Hearing that the kings of Scotland and Ireland have landed at the harbour of St. Joseph with 60,000 poorly equipped and half-naked men, Sone and the king’s sons, Houdiant and Thomas, arm themselves and lead a force against the invaders.

Arriving at St. Joseph, they surprise the invading army and slaughter 10,000 of the Irish, taking many more prisoners; but in the maelstrom both of King Alain’s sons are killed.

The King of Scotland now proposes a single combat to decide the outcome without further deaths. The King of Norway accepts and the date is set twenty days hence. The Scots choose Aligos, an eleven-foot giant, to be their champion. Sone volunteers and is accepted as champion of Norway.

6: The Visit to the Grail Castle
(lines 4271–5020)53

Because of his dangerous mission, the king determined to prepare Sone well, to take him to a holy place to make his confession, hear the word of God, and gain confidence in defending his cause. They set off in a party of only twenty men, and the king kept Sone close beside him.

Crossing Norway they discovered many strange places. On one high mountain an eyrie of rare falcons no longer found in Christian lands. On another, animals called elks that can appear quite large but are really quite small, with thin bodies, looking like rapidly moving camels. Other beasts included mountain wolves with hair so long that it trailed on the ground. They too can seem big because their hair picks up and drags along loose branches. King Alain kept some and described their nature.

They passed through valleys and mountains for a couple of days in a country so strange it can hardly be described, proving very difficult until they came to a grassland at the foot of a mountain that all declared the most beautiful place they had ever seen. This took two more days to cross, but one could not say how far because it ran alongside a rugged coast.

When they had crossed it, the king struck camp and the party rested for the evening. Rising at midnight, they travelled on until noon, making for the sea and the place they sought. Here at some time in the past a raised roadway had been built, leading into the water. It was difficult to find, and many brave knights must have come to grief before doing so or even catching a glimpse of it. But the king, who owned these lands, knew them well and took them directly to where two rocks formed a gateway that led into the sea.

The king drew his horn and sounded a call, after which they saw a boat approaching, propelled by two monks. As they arrived between the rocks, it could be seen that they were weeping. The monks appeared reluctant and hardly pleased to see them and asked who they were. The king replied that they ought to be happy enough when they knew, and when they recognized him, they were overjoyed and ceased their crying.

“Welcome, sire, we had keenly hoped for your coming, having heard you had suffered great grief and misfortune. Is there anything you need? Have you come to stay with us?”

“One could wish for nothing better,” replied the king.

“Then step aboard,” said one of the monks. “The ferry will be along to pick up your men and horses.”

And so the king and Sone stepped into the boat, and the monks rowed them across to the castle.

Never had anything more beautiful been seen. It stood in the open sea at a distance where no machine could hurl anything to harm its crenelated walls that rose up out of the living rock. On its outer wall were four towers that looked the finest in the world, and in the centre, midway between them, a greater one surpassing the others. This contained the palace; surely nothing more sumptuous had ever been built.

In every direction it was a hundred feet wide because it was perfectly circular. At the centre of the central tower was a fireplace that rested on four gilded pillars that supported a pure copper pipe, four feet high, decorated with gold coloured mosaics that crossed the reception hall. I am sure no more wondrous place had ever been built.

Any who carefully studied its detail would never be puzzled by it if truly loved by God. Here was the basis of faith; the beginnings of religion, of the angel who was sent by God to greet the holy Virgin, of the comportment that God observed in his earthly life, of the way he died and descended into hell to lead out the faithful, and the way we must act to enter paradise. All the good things, of which you may have heard, if it pleases God, were figured there in abundance, rendered in fine gold.

The king having disembarked with Sone, the monks instructed servers to lead them into the palace. The king entered first and the others willingly followed. As they passed inside they were observed by the monks, who wept as they did so, their hearts melting into tears.

And when he was asked, in the name of God, why we had come, King Alain told them about Sone, saying, “He is a great warrior whom God has sent to help us. He has already avenged my two sons and I pray you to honour him when he represents us in single combat.” At which the monks felt greatly relieved.

Then the abbot said to the king: “Sire, it is past noon and a meal is ready. If it is your pleasure, shall we have it brought in?” And the king agreed that they do so.

Tables were placed in a sheltered area that overlooked the outer wall and gave onto the sea. It was bounded by a carved balustrade of white marble upon which no bird, animal, or fish could not be found represented, including ten leopards, each with a gaping mouth, whose heads turned ever to face the wind to produce agreeable harmonies. Whoever wished to contemplate the sea could find no better place.

In the other direction lay woodlands of laburnum, cypress, sycamore, alisier, 54 almond, olive, and other beautiful trees flourishing by the sea. To see stags and deer at play, swans, peacocks, moose, birds diving into fresh or salt water, though with wings that cannot fly far. Some who have seen them say they can be as big as badgers, though not any smaller, and similar to bats in that their wings are covered in fur. They have hair, pointed features, and make such a racket that the woods resound with it. 55

Three streams of water meet at the castle that well up from the rock and flow into the sea, mixing the fresh water with the salt. There are so many fish gathered here as could never be destroyed by fishing. Search the whole world and you would never find so solid a castle provided with such riches. Whoever built this one was certainly no apprentice!

The abbot, the king, and his knights were seated at tables of honour, while Sone took his place to one side where a seat had been reserved for him. The guests had a profusion of dishes to eat, enough to exhaust even those who served them. After the meal, when all had washed their hands, the monks left for church to give thanks for all the blessings so generously dispensed by God.

Talking to the abbot, the king said that next morning early he would like to see the reliquaries opened up to make their confessions, after which they would leave. “Including Sone, for we have great need of him.”

“We will hear your confessions willingly, sire, and intend to pray for you overnight; the perilous situation calls for it and you will find us ready in the best way we know how to fight—by invoking Jesus Christ.”

Sone met the holy community and took an old monk by the hand to confess, repenting and weeping hot tears. Absolving him, the good monk emphasized he would be fighting to maintain the peace of the kingdom.

He concluded: “Dear brother, you will be fighting in the name of God, as you will discover. And tomorrow the abbot will preach the necessary virtues you need to bear.”

Sone went to bed very thoughtfully, for he had been well instructed that day.

…

Next morning the dawn bell was rung. The monks had performed their overnight vigil as promised. King and knights heard Mass at the church, the abbot in person chanting it. Then, in his priestly garments, he stood before them to preach.

“Hear this, O King, as well as those you have brought with you. As you may know, this castle was founded by a saint, who rests in one of the coffins you see before you.

“On his death bed, he asked for the story of his life to be written, and it is right that I should speak of it from the beginning, for we can take great profit from it. It is astonishing how those who live on earth can sometimes choose to act—seemingly without fear of losing their reason or their life.

“Originally from Arimathea, Joseph worked as a bailiff for seven years in the house of Pilate, but ever revered Jesus Christ, who had preached the new religion. Thus after seven years, on conclusion of his service, he asked if he might have the body of Jesus as a gift.

“Pilate liked Joseph but thought him mad not to have asked for something better, though he did not refuse. For his part, Joseph felt well paid, for he believed Jesus to be a true king whom he adored in body and soul. Keen to remove it from the cross, he extracted the nails and placed the body in a sepulchre—for which he was accused of going against the religion of the country.

“Far from denying this, Joseph continued to call upon God, in whom he believed in all sincerity. But when these accusations were brought to Pilate, although he respected his former bailiff, he did not hesitate to render justice on him. For admitting his Christian faith, Joseph was cast into a deep pit 20 toises deep56 and swarming with snakes, toads, and spiders that greatly harassed him. Enormous stones were rolled across the top, which was sealed with cement.

“Being imprisoned in this terrible place troubled Joseph greatly until Jesus appeared to him and offered him a wonderous vessel. You can safely believe me for you will very soon see it!

“It consoled Joseph greatly, for it removed the vermin, caused the stench of the place to disappear, and softened the rock, which from now on was easier to lie on than a fine woolen mattress. The place became fragrant with the true blood of Christ that spread a light as bright as the sun. And when Joseph put the vessel to his lips, he suffered neither hunger nor thirst.

“For forty years things continued thus, and he suffered no further torment. Vespasian, the Roman emperor, was a leper. He had once been handsome but was now hideous, until Veronica cured him with her miraculous veil with which she had comforted Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion.

“Vespasian proclaimed that he now believed in God and Jesus Christ, as he had recovered his health thanks to him. And as God and Jesus Christ had cured him, so he would now fight for him with his army. He thus led his troops towards Jerusalem, and night and day attacked the city and those who dwelt there. At least one starving mother ate her children, and when the city was abandoned, thirty Jews could be bought for a denier.57

“When all were gone, Veronica and the high priest, Ananias, told Vespasian how Joseph had been incarcerated in the bottom of a cavern forty years ago. ‘Let us at least have his bones, sir,’ they said, ‘for his flesh will have rotted by now.’

“‘Take me there,’ replied the king. ‘I have heard about this.’ Ananias led him to the cavern, and the emperor had the stones removed and the opening completely cleared. From the cave came a light as bright as if the sun had risen and such a sweet fragrance that all were overcome.

“Vespasian looked in and saw Joseph, hailed him in the name of God, and addressed him as a friend.

“‘God and Saint Mary be praised!’ cried Joseph, ‘I have heard your voice before, and if you believe in God and Jesus Christ, let it ring out again.’

“‘My friend, I am a Christian king and wish only the best for you if you have been walled up for believing in God and Jesus Christ.’

“‘Yes,’ replied Joseph, ‘I believe in him and would not wish for any other religion.’

“The emperor arranged straight away to have him pulled up.

“Joseph still carried in his arms the vessel given him by God. It was gazed upon by all the people, who desired to kiss it. Any of the sick that touched it were returned to perfect health, exalting their faith. And so Christianity was assured, and its bounds increased.

…

“Now when Joseph was imprisoned, he already had a son, named Josephé, who became a very fine clerk and was the first Christian bishop; a very wise and virtuous man, he led a saintly life, and the faith was greatly increased thereby. Vespasian was also joined by his son, Titus.

“Joseph of Arimathea still had the wonderous vessel in his possession, and now he knocked down a wall and took out the holy lance with which Longinus had pierced the side of God, who later forgave him. Joseph had previously hidden the lance in the wall, which was how he knew it was there. Now he honoured it and kept it with him.

“He later spent some time in Syria. God told him to cross the sea and increase the divine faith there. He found a ship awaiting him near Ascalon with nothing within it.

“‘Come aboard, fear not,’ said a voice, ‘let God act according to his will. He will lead you well, as he pleases.’ Following this order, Joseph quickly boarded the boat.

“He was deprived of nothing, for the holy vessel was his friend, and he had the holy lance for companion, thanks to which Longinus received his pardon. The boat was good and solid that carried Joseph and his precious objects, although as yet he had no followers. He willingly accepted whatever God did, and so it was that as he boarded the boat, it left port as fast as any other craft could, despite lacking mast or sail—a sight the inhabitants of Caesarea found miraculous.

“Joseph’s boat was guided by God until it arrived at Gaète,58 where Joseph disembarked to find a horse standing by with armour fine enough to suit the most valiant warrior.

“By his progress, Joseph increased the faith and caused it ever to advance. But I cannot tell you all ways by which God allowed him to work. God liked him to do it thus and Joseph also loved it. He crossed many countries as a valiant knight and friend of God until he arrived in Norway, from which he drove the Saracens.

“He killed the king who ruled there and who had the most beautiful daughter in the world. Joseph was greatly taken with her—in body, heart, and will, but acted foolishly. For he had the young girl baptized, who had no call for it, for she did not believe in God or Jesus Christ. Indeed, she hated Joseph more than anyone because he had killed her father and most of their friends.

“Joseph did not want to renounce his intention to marry her, and when they were wed he loved her with all his heart. But God, who greatly loved Joseph, decided, through her, to tempt him; he wounded him in the reins and below, from which Joseph endured terrible suffering.

“Finding himself like this, he repented and sought support from all his vassals, by whom he was truly loved. Because Norway was a kingdom, he felt he ought to wear a crown; his barons approved and crowned him king. And his wife, having borne a child, was also crowned.

“He had this child brought up by able-bodied friends while kept by God in this state whereby he could not serve, use his limbs, feed himself, or move about, but remained lying down. But he thought constantly of Jesus Christ so that his whole heart beat for him. He led a saintly life, and the Holy Church was thus exalted.

“During the time he remained thus wounded, the castle that Sone now observed was built. One could not find a better fortress, situated in the open sea, free from assault. No ship could reach it by sea for fear of being cast on hidden rocks. And as the fresh water flows and strikes the walls here, there is always a profusion of fish of all kinds.

“The good king had a boat in which, after celebrating Mass, he went fishing, aided by a sailor who guided the boat to wherever he wanted to go. The fishing and the company of the sailors pleased him. Here he could forget his terrible suffering, for such pain could kill many a man. And because he thus fished, his popular name spread everywhere: he was called the Fisher King—a name that is still well known.

“He led this life for many days until a knight came that could cure him; and afterwards he was so powerful through the practice of arms that he destroyed the miscreants. Although his young son sinned and lies in the other coffin, the king himself lived a very long time, during which the faith was exalted.

“When he was on his deathbed, he appointed thirteen monks to serve in the tradition of the named apostles, and we remain thirteen in this castle.

“I have told you quite frankly the true story of his life. In that time the country was called Logres, a name of suffering, renowned for its tears and weeping. It very much merited being renowned for suffering since one can grow neither beans nor wheat, no child be born, no young girl find a husband, no tree bear leaves, no grass regrow, no bird have chicks, no beast have young since the king was mutilated and until he had expiated his sins, for Jesus Christ was strongly opposed by the actions of Joseph and the miscreant [whom he had married]. By the example of Adam, you can see that one must never transgress a divine command. Joseph and his wife, the transgressor, realised it through suffering.

“I speak to you also of this country that has been called Norway since then. Sir King, you hold it from God and have no other lord. Those who defend it serve God who grants all recompense, but whoever makes war on it will meet no agreeable end. You can see an example with the Irish who have come to die here. And know for sure that whoever fights against Sone will die.

“Do not worry, Sone! God will come to your aid, I know that for certain truth but will not reveal all I know about you—and nor will you learn about us. But I love you in complete loyalty and know very well that I must.”

Here, the holy abbot wept hot tears from the bottom of his heart so that the chasuble he had put on again became quite wet.

“Sone, come to my side and take advantage from it, whatever your sins, as I show you the vessel that was once called the Graal and is still called that today. Be valiant and loyal, for I do not seek to hide from you that it is necessary to endure pain. I will not preach to you any longer but will show you the holy vessel. Repent your sins, for each must fight his own guilt!”

He called for all to kneel in turn and take the holy cross. It contained a sliver of the sacred wood on which the body of God was hung. The abbot then gave his blessing and accorded his plenary indulgence, then opened an ivory reliquary ornamented with sculpted scenes and took out the holy Graal.

The vessel was like no other. The holy man, friend of God,59 placed the Graal on the altar, next to the Cross. He went next to bring the holy lance of which you have heard me speak. The abbot and the monks wept so copiously one could say they dissolved into tears. The iron of the lance was magnificent and brilliant. At its point, to the fore, formed a drop of red blood, at which many of them marvelled. The abbot showed them two coffins, in one reposed the body of Joseph and in the other Adam, his son, was found. Joseph had only two children. The eldest was called Josephé and he was the first consecrated bishop.

Protected by these relics, the abbot honoured God first and the relics afterward. The monks and he served them with zeal. When the abbot had shown all, he removed the robes in which he had sung the mass, took the young man by the hand, and said to him: “Come now, my friend, you have fasted too long. It has rung noon. Go to restore yourself, for you will have much need of it.”

The monks brought the king to the board, for the meal was ready. The abbot and the king washed their hands and were installed at the table of honour. Sone sat in the company of a clerk who told him much about the monastery. The meal lasted a long time and the dishes came very often, until the king, once reseated, said he wished to leave.

The abbot did not wish to stay him, for he had much to do besides. He declared: “Sire, you may leave but will take a solid comfort from here; for night and day we will pray for you.”

Sone and King Alain now set out to return to Norway, where…

…the abbot, not wishing to forget Sone, sent him the sword with which Joseph of Arimathea had protected the realm. With the holy community, he had sung three high Masses in the name of God and of his saints because the monks were desirous of praying for the love of the king who loved them in good faith.

The abbot had the sword, which had never been lent before, in his keeping. He asked that Sone should send it back to him when God had consoled them.

The sword was very long and big. Sone drew it from the scabbard, he seized it and lifted it into the air; he had fallen deeply in love with it and said many times that he wished to hold it and did not want to be separated from it. He turned it every way, examining it carefully under the eyes of the people and the king. He held himself a fool to love it so. And when he had looked it over to his satisfaction, he replaced it in the scabbard. He placed it in the keeping of one of his servants in whom he had full trust, who guarded it as a treasure.

7: Sone Receives Knighthood,
Fights in Single Combat,
and Is Loved by Odée
(lines 5021–5499)

The day for the single combat dawns, and Sone receives knighthood from King Alain. The battle commences. After a long struggle Sone uses the sword of Joseph of Arimathea to defeat the eleven-foot giant Aligos, cutting off first his sword arm, then his head, which he takes to the Scottish king. Knowing he has lost the battle, the king departs for home with his battered army. Sone returns to his hosts, where he is praised and honoured—especially by Odée, King Alain’s daughter.

The story now turns to Yde, who is beginning to regret her stubbornness and refusing Sone’s love. She speaks with her servant Sabine, who tells her that everyone else thinks she should have accepted Sone and that she has no good reason not to.

8: The Abbot Requests the Sword;
A Storm and Journey to Ireland
(lines 5500–6916)

The abbot now requests the return of Joseph’s sword, but Sone is reluctant to give up the great weapon. His thoughts returned to Yde, and on the pretext of needing to test his mettle as a new knight, he determines to return to France to take part in any tournaments he can find.

Odée is so besotted she determines to keep the sword of Galoche60 for Sone, despite her father’s objections. On the pretext of bringing him a message, Odée boards Sone’s ship and at that moment a huge storm drives them out to sea. They are tossed about on the water for three days, finally arriving in Ireland at a city called Alexandria.

When word of Sone’s arrival spreads, he is hated for having killed the Irish king. The ship’s crew offer to help him if he will give them Odée. Sone refuses and is attacked. Odée produces the sword and encourages Sone to use it. He defeats his attackers and takes refuge with Odée in a Templar church, where they are surrounded by angry townspeople. Sone explains that he defeated the king in fair combat. The people, still not happy about this, declare that he may leave if he fights two of their champions at once. Before he can leave, the Queen of Ireland requests a meeting. She falls in love with Sone on sight and tries to persuade him to stay. When Sone proves reluctant, she requests the help of the master of the Templars, who comes up with a plan. As night falls, the Templar master takes Sone to the queen’s chamber on the pretext of making peace between them. The queen says she cannot help hating Sone for killing her husband; the master tells him to kneel before her and ask forgiveness. Sone does so, and at that point the master departs quietly, leaving Sone and the queen alone.61

9: The Shipboard Fight and
Return to Norway
(lines 6917–7226)

On the ship returning to Norway the crew mutinies, seeking to kill Sone and take Odée to claim a reward. Odée overhears them plotting and tells Sone, who successfully defends them both. He receives a wound in the thigh and Odée one near the heart, but they successfully drive off the mutineers, holding them at bay until the ship arrives in the port of St. Joseph. Odée now declares her love for Sone and says she will die if he does not return her feelings. The people of St. Joseph come out to welcome them home with great jubilation, and Sone and Odée are taken home to rest and recover from their wounds. The remaining mutineers are all hung.

10: Sone’s Recovery from Wounds
and His Departure
(lines 7227–8208)

A struggle now begins to keep Sone in Norway. Odée proclaims her love again, telling Sone he owns her, body and soul. Her parents offer him the kingdom if he marries their daughter. But Sone refuses all the offers and is determined to leave. Nevertheless, he embraces Odée and promises to return. That night a feast is thrown in his honour, and Odée presents him with a casket full of gold. That night she comes to his room but does not stay long. Next day he departs and Odée, watching sadly, convinces herself he will indeed return.

11: Sone’s Return and Rejection of Yde
(lines 8209–8868)

Sone sails back to Doncheri via Wales, Scotland, and Denmark. He goes from Finland to Logarde,62 then Bruges. From there he sends a letter and a ring to Odée, promising to keep his word. He also writes to his brother Henri, warning him of his arrival. Everyone rejoices, especially Yde, but when Sone arrives she cannot face him or find any way to tell him of her feelings. After some awkward moments Yde says she has heard all about Odée and tells Sone he should return to her. She then storms out. Hurt and angry, Sone returns to Nansay swearing to forget Yde.

12: Tournament and False Knight
(lines 8869–9646)

An invitation comes to a tournament at Chalons, arranged by the Countess of Champagne. Sone pretends to decline but in fact goes along in plain armour. He distinguishes himself well and wins the prize on the first day. After, as he is unarming himself, a minstrel named Romenans enters his tent. Sone’s brother recognizes him as an honourable and chivalrous man and welcomes him. Sone speaks of the torments meted out to him by Yde, and Romenans weeps for the pains of love.

Wishing to remain incognito, Sone changes armour the next day and having fought well, takes himself off in the evening. A nameless knight, noticing Sone’s departure, decides to pretend that he was the victor in the tournament. He acquires plain armour and beats it up to give the impression of having been in the tournament. He then appears before the countess and claims to be the victor.

Completely fooled, the countess awards him the prize and honors him before all. At this point Romenans appears and slowly and devastatingly reveals the fraud. The false knight is forthwith taken off to jail.

13: Tournament at Machau
and Some Symbolic Lances
(lines 9647–11516)

Determined to bring Sone out of hiding, the countess announces another tournament, to take place at Machau. She sends messages to Sone, Yde, and her brother Eudes. Sone pretends to refuse but goes anyway, again in disguise. He challenges every knight whose shield is displayed near where Yde sits, defeating them all. He also defeats Eudes. Romenans is present also and finds out from Henri that the anonymous knight is indeed Sone.

At the end of the day, the countess seizes Sone before he can escape and takes him to her pavilion, where he is taken care of by her own squires. At the following banquet, Sone is seated first with Yde next to him, but they scarcely speak. At the end of the evening, the countess takes Sone’s and Yde’s hands and tells them they should be kind to each other.

Also present at the feast is Sone’s uncle, Reynaud of Brabant, who hears of Sone’s love for Yde and her failure to respond. He tells her she should be kinder to his nephew, and she promises to do so.

Next day Yde prepares five special lances of different colours: white, green, blue, red, and gold. She displays these close to her seat and tells Renault of Brabant she is doing as she had promised.

When Sone sees her and the lances, he falls into a kind of stupor and has to be woken from his dream by a herald. He then comes for a lance and Yde sings to him from a ballad that tells him the white lance is for her beloved friend.

Sone, as ever, defeats every opponent, winning each lance from the hand of Yde. The count asks her for the meaning of each one, and she answers that the white refers to the love (for Sone) she has kept secret, the green signifies the flowering of that love, the blue is the royal colour which brings comfort, the red means she will give her love totally, and the gold represents the long-term feelings she has had for Sone.

Yde explains why she has acted so harshly until now; as the godchild of Sone’s mother, the church forbids the union. Hearing this, Sone is utterly disconsolate and departs the field without taking his leave of anyone or claiming a prize. At the banquet that night, the count now decides to woo Yde—for himself. She refuses and prepares to leave. The countess is once again left without a victor to award the prize—a golden stag—and the count advises her to send it to the queen, then sets out to Doncheri and asks Yde’s brother for her hand. Eudes agrees, but she refuses point-blank. The count returns to Brabant in a lovesick mood.

14: A Tournament in France;
Sone and Henri at the French Court
(lines 11517–11672)

The French king and queen hold court at Paris. The golden stag, intended for the best knight in the recent tournaments, is brought to them. They hear of the mysterious knight who should have been awarded the prize for his prowess. On hearing a description of this knight, the queen recognizes him as her cousin Sone. The king proposes another tournament at Montargis to follow in a month, with the stag to be awarded to the best knight there. This will be followed by a round table tournament at which the prize would be a statue of a white lion. The announcement is made, and Henri and Sone hear of it when they encounter a messenger on the way to Nansay. Sone recognizes him as Gratian and learns that the King of Norway (Alain) had died three months before and that the Norwegians would like Sone to rule over them. He thinks of the kindness of the king and queen and of the gentleness of Odée. He sends a white horse and a gold ring to her, promising to return shortly.

Gratian returns to Norway with the gifts and informs the queen that Sone will come soon. Overhearing this, Odée thinks that her mother wants Sone for herself and swears she will die if this happens. Gratian reassures her and gives her the horse and ring. Mollified, Odée decides to send Sone a message.

Meanwhile, still trying to forget his feelings for Yde, Sone receives a letter from his cousin, the Queen of France. Gratian then tells him of the plan to marry Yde to the Count of Machau, who is over eighty years old.

Sone regrets not having taken formal leave of the count and countess, and also for his treatment of Yde, especially considering her father’s kindness to him.

Sone and Henri travel to the town of Bar, where they meet with Luciane and her parents. Luciane reminds Sone of his promises to her. She tells him her father did not want to give her to another while there was a chance that he might fulfil their desire to see the couple married. Sone replies gently but firmly that he has no desire to disinherit her father.63 On hearing this, Luciane knows that she and Sone will only ever be friends. Both parents try to persuade him to stay and marry her, but Sone refuses, preparing to depart so as not to add to Luciane’s sorrow.

Sone sets out for France with Henri, arriving at Senlis, where the king and queen are holding court. Word of Sone’s exploits have preceded him, and he is made welcome by both the king and queen (his aunt). When asked to tell of his adventures, Sone blushes. The queen notices this and gives him a hard look.

There are a number of courtiers who do not like the queen, including the seneschal, and when they see how glad she is to see Sone, they make a point of ignoring him. Sone is offended by this and decides to leave. When she hears of this, the queen is furious and, taking a large stick, goes into the hall and strikes first the seneschal and then a knight who had joined with the others in insulting Sone. The king himself has to take the stick away from his wife.

Back in Nansay, Sone feels melancholic and sends two horses to Luciane and Yde in the hope that they will still be his friends. Odée, meanwhile, is thinking of the forthcoming tournament she believes Sone will attend and wonders what message to send him. Having considered for a time, she decides to put her thoughts into the form of a lay. She singles out a girl named Papegay, who sings and plays the harp beautifully. Odée teaches her the lay, then sends her with a lady named Countess Orvale, famed for her ugliness, to France.

Meanwhile, Sone begins to throw off his melancholy and decides to attend the tournament, again incognito. Henri orders several suits of clothes for him in variable styles.

15: Souvrain Mesnil;
Sone Prepares for the Tournament
(lines 12673–13220)

Near the forest of Montargis lies a fortified house named Souvrain Mesnil. Partially ruined, it is the home of a noble family who has fallen on hard times due to the lies of the bailiff with a powerful influence on the king.

When Sone arrives he finds an older lady in bed, attended by her daughter, who is in rags that barely cover her. Sone at once has his squire bring her a better garment. Godefroy, the master of the house, now appears and greets his visitors humbly. He looks undernourished and is poorly dressed. He is embarrassed to be seen in this way but offers his guests the best that he has.

Moved by his host’s state, Sone himself provides food for the entire household. While they eat, Godefroy tells his story. At one time he was lord of 100 liegemen and had castles, towns, and property. His wife was nobly born and much admired, one of the four daughters of the Count of Flanders. Her aunt was Aelis la Belle, also known as St. Aelis of Nivelle.

Godefroy’s fall from grace was partly due to his own desire to appear a great man. He used always to travel with a retinue of thirty knights, but the cost of this was great and in the end he borrowed money from usurers, one of whom falsified his accounts, changing a sum from £2,000 to £100,000. The king’s bailiff, Clabaud, had supported this claim, and Godefroy lost everything.

Listening to this sad tale, Sone realises that Godefroy’s wife is actually his cousin. He sends out at once for the best materials to make new clothes for the whole family. Dressed again in fine clothes, the lady and her daughter, Nicole, weep for joy.

Sone now decides that he will take part in the tournament and represent Godefroy and his family as their champion. As ever, he wants to be in disguise. Godefroy suggests he set up a temporary camp in the forest near the tourney field so that he can retire there and change his armour after each bout.

Henri meanwhile talks to the lady of Souvrain Mesnil and tells her his grandmother was Aelis of Nivelle. This makes both he and Sone her cousins, which is very pleasing to the lady. Dressed in her new finery, she greets her husband and Sone on their return from setting up camp. She now firmly believes that Sone’s championing of their cause will restore their fortunes and hopes that Sone will fall in love with her daughter and rescue her from poverty. Sone promises to do what he can and sets off for the tournament dressed entirely in white.

16: The Four-Day Tournament
(lines 13221–15541)

Sone sends a squire ahead to find out who is at the tournament. He learns that the king and queen are there, along with Romenans, who is explaining the shields to the queen. Also present are the Countess of Champagne, the Duchess of Bourgogne, the Countess of Bar, and numerous ladies and nobles.

As usual, Sone acquits himself well in the lists, beating everyone he encounters. Just as he had entered mysteriously, so he departs, changing his white armour first for red and then for green. Romenans, watching him, feels certain he recognizes the mysterious knight’s style of fighting, but keeps silent so as not to give away his friend.

At the end of the day, Sone retires to Souvrain Mesnil. He sees a boy watching from the woods and thinks he might be a spy. He sends a knight named Tubes to question him. Learning that Tubes is a poor knight that has taken part in the tournament, the boy departs. His mistress is the Countess of Champagne, who had sent him to find out the identity of the mysterious champion. She now believes it to be Tubes.

Meanwhile, the court is discussing the relative merits of the various knights—white, red, and green. Each one seems more powerful than the last, but no one realizes he is the same person, except for Romenans. That same night Romenans is attacked by twenty knights whom he had chided for their boastfulness and determination to kill Sone the next day. Seeing this, the queen interrupts the braggart knights, and Romenans leaves at once for Souvrain Mesnil to relay word of the imminent attack and the insulting behaviour of the knights to the queen. He also relates how the bailiff who caused Godefroy’s problems has done the same thing to several other good men.

Next day Sone dons blue armour with a golden eagle on his shield and sets out for the tournament field with Godefroy. Once again he defeats all comers, changing to white armour and carrying a shield with three croissans (crescents), easily defeating six more knights.

At the end of the day, the golden stag has still not been claimed and the court is subdued. The queen, however, is happy, despite an exchange of insults between herself and the bailiff.

The third day dawns. Romenans informs Sone that the boorish knights have hung their shields in opposition to him. Romenans then returns to the Countess of Champagne. The poet now tells us that she had married a young baron who died soon after and that she had not remarried, despite having many suitors.

Meanwhile, Sone proceeds to overcome all his opponents, defeating five knights once again with ease. The sixth is clearly a better man because he succeeds in wounding Sone, immediately calling to his friends to continue the attack upon him. Despite his wound, Sone fights off all twelve of them. At this point, a herald named Plumelen identifies the mighty knight as Sone de Nansay, and at once the queen rises from her seat, mounts a horse, and rides into the centre of the melee. She rides right up to Sone, seizes his horse’s bridle, and demands that he name himself. Sone refuses, saying he will only do so when justice is done.

Sone then leaves for Souvrain Mesnil. The queen orders Plumelen to follow him and report back to her. Once she learns of his whereabouts, she sends the knight named Welerans,64 well known for his wisdom, to ask Sone to return. Again he refuses, declaring he will not come because the court disinherited Godefroy. When he learns of this, the king promises to return Godefroy’s estates and houses and prepares to punish the bailiff, who flees.

When he learns of this, Sone and Godefroy, dressed in fine clothing, journey to the court. Sone is now honoured, and the king orders him not to leave his side.That night at table Sone is the centre of attention, and the conversation revolves around love, its pains, and its delights, much to his secret distress.

Next day the tournament (now a Round Table event65) continues, with many knights arriving from England, coming to joust for the white lion. All day Nicole sits with the queen and hands Sone each new lance that he uses. On this day he finally wears his own armour and carries a shield with his ancestral device: three rampant lions on a field of gold.

Yet again Sone is triumphant, but his wound grows worse throughout the day and that night he is cared for by the countess and her ladies. The countess takes the opportunity to tell Sone that, if he wishes, she is his, but he responds in his usual vague way.

The king and queen now seek to bring Sone to the court, but he is still reluctant until his cousins are fully restored to their original position. The king promises to do this, and though still weak from his wound, Sone appears at court. The lady of Souvrain Mesnil has saved all the changes of clothing with which Sone had disguised himself as the red, white, and green knights. With his identity revealed, he receives both prizes—the golden stag and the white lion. He gives the former to his aunt and the latter to the Countess of Champagne.

That night, at the banquet to celebrate the great tournament, the plan is that every knight present should sit either with his wife or his love. Thierry, Count of Alsace, has fallen in love with Nicole and wishes to marry her. Knowing this to be a great marriage and having secured her consent, Sone agrees to the match providing Thierry’s sister, Felisse, should marry his brother Henri. All is agreed, and a double wedding is celebrated.

17: Arrivals from Norway
and the Lay of Odée
(lines 15523–16572)

The king entered the meadow exactly at the place of the jousts, followed by the barons and ladies of noble lineage. After their arrival the great gates were closed, but they had prepared meals outside where each one had food in abundance. Those invited to the full court washed their hands. The king seated the most powerful barons at his table. Within the enclosure other barons of renown were seated at tables. Then began the circulation of those who served, bringing the plates of food.

It was then that those sent by Odée, bringing the falcon, presented themselves at the gates. The guards, armed with great axes, let no one enter.

Papagay, a maiden of great beauty, spoke first: “My lords, pray let us in. We bring rare gifts for the king.”

Those who carried the falcon were allowed to enter. Along with them came a burly Breton who had heard their authorization and joined their company, mixing in with the barons and closely following she who carried the falcon. Papagay advanced to where the king was to be found at the table of honour.

She noticed Sone near the king and she flushed. And when Sone saw her, he too changed colour. It was on account of their great natural beauty, although those who looked on assumed it might be proof of some amorous liaison. But she was very beautiful as well as honourable. With her was another lady, named Orvale, whose ugliness surpassed any living, along with a deformed body.

Sone saw this ugly woman and politely asked the king to honour her, as she was the daughter of a count and a peer. “Willingly,” the king replied and commanded a knight to give her a seat at table. He approached Orvale and said: “Madam, there is nothing to be done but to do as I say, for the king wants you to come and eat at his table.”

“I will come,” replied Orvale, “but first I must have some water.” And they brought some for the lady to wash her hands.

Everywhere knights were seated eating with their ladies. As could be seen, everyone saw Orvale wash her hands, but her looks were such that all were astonished. There was not a knight in the whole place, however tall, who could not have sheltered under her arm. She was equally proportioned apart from having a hump behind and one before that supported her chin. From the lump of the rear she had fashioned an ear for her head. She thus had her head raised behind and leaning on something in front. She was blacker than ink and had a great beard and teeth so long that her upper lip was two fingers distant from the lower. She had eyes bigger than a warhorse, and above them eyebrows three fingers wide. The sides of her head were wrinkled, her arms long and fat with big hands. She had features too ugly to be describable. They prepared a napkin for her to drive herself. Then a knight brought her to Sone, who greeted her nobly and sat her beside him with great welcome before saying: “And how is that perfect woman, my good lady, the queen? And Odée, my fiancée?”

“She often wets her cheeks,” replied Orvale, “like a tender friend, on account of you, who have behaved so badly. You have taken her heart that she accorded you in good faith, along with her body and her money, with which you have acted unwisely. You could do much better if you accepted my advice.”

“I will,” replied Sone. “I never believed you could think such ill of me. Your father, the count, loved me most sincerely, and I was greatly esteemed. I ask with astonishment—what could be the cause of this anger towards me?”

“It is not with me but with Odée that you have acted so disloyally, to your great shame.”

“My dear friend,” continued Sone, “eat, don’t be angry. I will put to rights all the wrongs I have committed.”

“If you right your wrongs,” concluded Orvale, “I think you will greatly profit from it.”

Orvale sat to eat, for she was in great need of it and was perfectly served, thanks to the attentions of Sone. However, everyone was surprised to see her eating at the king’s table.

The meal continued a long time with an abundance of dishes. Ladies, young girls, and knights amused themselves during the feasting. Then they raised the tablecloths and those at the table of honour washed their hands.

The great Celot66 entered the enclosure when they brought in the falcon, with two bucklers67 and two swords hidden about his person, along with a batten of medlar wood with which he could give violent blows. Celot was big and strong and came before the king with a buckler and sword. He gave such rapid strokes with the sword that birds would not have been able to fly around him without being struck with the whirling blade. When he had shown his tricks, he addressed the king in these terms: “Sire, Sir King, I will take on any three of your men, and when I have beaten them, give me whatever price I claim.”

“You will get,” replied the king, “whatever you deserve.”

Mirant, a very impetuous royal champion, wanted to know what handicap he required. Celot replied: “Take this very sharp sword and choose one of these bucklers and give me the little club; I would not want to fight with any other weapon. If you can cut my head off, then do the worst you can.”

Each one adjusted their clothes and returned for a buckler. “Now we will see how brave you are,” said the king to his champion, before adding: “Cut off the head of this good-for-nothing!”

At that moment Sone summoned his squire and whispered: “Bring me my best sword, quickly.” Far from making him wait, the squire soon brought the sword to his master, concealed under his clothes, and awaited his orders.

Celot the Breton had returned and now raised his arms in the air. He was extraordinarily big and well muscled. He had his buckler on his arm, and the club with which he proposed to fight was small and heavy looking, while the sword with which Mirant prepared to fight was solid and very sharp in his right hand. He knew little of handling a buckler, being used to larger and heavier shields. As he held his buckler and sword, Celot threw himself upon him; maneuvering behind his buckler, he struck Mirant with many blows of his club, so fast that Mirant, clumsy with the buckler, did not know how to protect himself. Celot gave him such a blow on the forehead as to crack the bone, then attacked again with the club and broke the right arm of his opponent, who was forced to drop his sword. Thus the fight was over.

Celot stood before the king the second time and declared: “Sir King, bring on those who want to fight me.”

The king ordered no one, and none of the barons approached Celot, who turned to the king and said: “King, all the members of your suit have returned to their nests for protection, and no one can make them come out. There is no longer a warrior among them brave enough to fight me—all are beaten without a blow being struck. But I promise you that when I leave here, I will tell in all the other courts what I found in yours: that all have admitted themselves beaten.”

These words so greatly irked the king that he blanched. The barons were annoyed by the insults of this fool. Some rose and stood before the Breton and declared: “Fool, you will suffer greatly by criticizing the barons thus.”

“It is to your ill fortune that you think that,” replied Celot. “You who have reproached my folly, I can see you want to fight, but it is your blood I will spill. Run far from me before you seize a buckler. But if you like fighting, take this short sword and whatever buckler you want. You’ll meet death from this club, and I would not wish for any other weapon.”

“If that is your will,” replied Sone, “take your own buckler and sword, and I will fight with mine.”

Sone was now approached by his squire, who gave him his steel blade, which he held in his right hand. Then furious battle commenced.

The onlooking barons feared the death of Sone, who all the same was very fierce; in fact, his face seemed quite disfigured, for he bared his teeth with a most threatening look. He was as red in the face as burning embers. His ardent look never ceased to fix Celot in trenchant manner, fixed so as to make anyone sick with fright. Never had anyone seen a face of such beauty so deformed.

Celot asked himself with astonishment how Sone could have become such an expert with his sword. He greatly feared for his life, as Sone rained many blows upon him, cutting his buckler into pieces, so that they flew through the air, neither wood nor metal able to resist. Realizing that his buckler would fail him, Celot attacked vigorously with his sword, convinced that one of them would soon die. The two adversaries multiplied their efforts without remit and made their swords fly so quickly that it was impossible to count the exchanges. The battle lasted long without the flesh of either being wounded.

Sone pressed Celot strongly and cut his buckler in such pieces that the other only with great difficulty could protect himself and feared greatly for his death. He tried to fight body to body, for he was exhausted from trading blows. Sone realised his adversary’s desire to close with him and held his buckler before him, preventing Celot from approaching. The latter was unbalanced when Sone, after calm reflection, attacked his most unprotected side. He struck him in the throat so violently that he cut off his head, which flew out of the field of battle. Sone then kicked his adversary in the chest and turned him over onto his back.

The king had the body of Celot removed, clearing the place of he who had spoken so foolishly and received an appropriate reward. Like a mad dog he had enjoyed a short journey!

Orvale then gave her the falcon. No better bird existed this side of Cornwall. Papagay regained her spirits and took the falcon on her fist gracefully and elegantly. She came before the king and declared: “Hear, O King of France, you are the greatest of sovereigns and have just title to protect the faith that God has given us. We have come to you from afar and found you, thanks be to God, and have brought you this falcon, the best that ever flew. If you have someone to put it to the test, you will soon learn the truth about that. The daughter of the King of Norway offers it to you. Accept it, King, and judge with deliberation your opinion that she should legitimately have her man after having heard her cause.”

“I accept the falcon,” replied the king, “and will hear her cause. When I have heard what my barons gathered here judge of the affair, I will lose no time in making it known.”

“Then pay attention,” continued Papagay, “and let your barons be silent.”

The good king received the falcon from her, and she took up her harp, the finest that had ever been strung. Papagay was so beautiful that everyone marvelled. She turned towards the king and said: “Sire, you will now hear a lay composed from the truth, telling the adventures of my lady, which is why we have assembled here. Then we will hear your judgement.” She struck the harpstrings and began the words of the lay.

Listen to the story in the following verses.

[The lay takes from line 15984 to line 16143. It is omitted here.]

These words ended the song that was attentively heard, along with many tears before the end of the poem. They in fact realised it to be the truth. They saw Sone blush and great tears run down his face.

Papagay declared: “Sire, dear King, that is the just cause of my lady. Much more could I have sung, but it is not courteous to tell all. After what I have told, judge truly if your friend should be married to so loyal and tender a queen, who would lose her life if she lost him. And since if he comes to her he will have the crown at his disposition, the kingdom and all the country want no more then the lady and her champion. Judge then, dear King; from now on you will not hear me plead more.”

After some consideration, the court declared that Sone and Odée should marry. Sone admits that he is the person described in the lay and agrees to abide by the decision of the court. He will marry Odée and become King of Norway. When she hears this, the Countess of Champagne is distraught but hides her feelings.

Sone prepares to depart for Norway, but before he goes he has one last task to perform. Thierry d’Alsace dies unexpectedly and Sone is able to obtain from the Emperor of Cologne permission for his brother Henri, who is of course married to Thierry’s sister, to become the new count. Stones from the walls of the old castle of Nansay are used to build a new, much stronger castle, and Henri is established there. The region becomes known for its fine wines, which are widely exported.

18: Return to Norway
and Sone’s Marriage to Odée
(lines 16573–17114)

Odée, Sone’s loyal fiancée, thought of him day and night, and ardently wished for his homecoming. Oppressed by the pangs of love, she would climb up into the tower, dressed in her most sumptuous attire, to scrutinize the distant horizon for his galley speeding on its way. She did not want to move from the place until his ship arrived and had even equipped galleys to meet the ones that were arriving.

Sailors on an eighty-oared galley leading the rest sought the arrival of Sone and his party, whose presence would soon rejoice her. The sailors on the ships knew what to do, for they had all been trained together. Those in the leading one from the town asked the arrivals if they had brought their lord with them, who loudly cried: “Yes! Rejoice!”

Sone, who heard the noise, returned to the city, making for it as quickly as birds could fly. Reaching port, they informed the town of the coming of the valorous Sone, which all so greatly desired. As the news spread, Odée knew for certain. She had ordered all the sailors across the city to stay close and in great barques, nefs, galleys, sloops, transport barges, large and small fishing boats, all were ready to serve. Three hundred vessels had left port, filled with musical instruments. Trumpets, drums, symbols, tambourines, flageolets, sarrasan horns, and those that were sounded for guests of honour. Great cornemuses, harps, psalteries, vielles, rotes, and other instruments encouraged the dancers, while conjurors performed magic tricks. Each showed the greatest possible joy in their performance as they awaited the galley that carried their lord.

As soon as it arrived, they nobly greeted it, the arrivals saluting in turn. The instruments started up again, sounding joyously as new instruments joined in and the inhabitants of the city rejoiced. They had decorated the streets with banners, ornamented the doors, and carpeted the roads with flowers. Agile young men were equipped for jousting. All the bells rang throughout the town. Not even white-haired old women failed to feel their hearts beat with joy as all, great and small, ran to the port in jubilation.

As Sone’s galley pulled in, he leaped from the ship and mounted a horse brought by barons overjoyed to see him again. Without cloak or hood, so all could see him, he entered the city in triumph. The inhabitants heartily welcomed him, and he greeted them in turn. The people bowed before him and prayed, hands joined in supplication, begging him to become their true lord and protect their kingdom.

Sone passed on to climb toward the castle, which he entered and found all well arranged. The queen mother came to meet him, held him in her arms, and kissed him on the mouth, which touched him to the heart. Odée arrived after her mother and behaved with great wisdom, without revealing all she felt. She welcomed her friend with her eyes and greeted him simply, saying: “Sir, you are welcome as our sovereign if it pleases you to accept that title, and to command all as our lord. I do not wish to hide that I have called you my love with a true heart, and from now on will act according to your will.”

“We will act in such a way as not to encourage reproach,” declared Sone, and retired to a room where they took his equipment and brought him scarlet clothes and ermine fur with which he was adorned, while a girl with a comb dressed his hair. He was then taken to the people as the bishop arrived, who greeted him in the name of God.

The noble queen rejoined them to explain why she wanted to remit the kingdom to Sone to govern and defend. The bishop bade them sit and listen carefully as he said: “My lords, your King Alain, so wise and courteous, is dead; we cannot bring him back to life. And as a woman is not able to protect the land, my lady will give her daughter to Sone, whom she has sought for this marriage, and he will govern the land.” And to Sone, “If you are pleased to accept it as lord, I believe you will do it well; in fact, you know already what valor that requires.”

All who heard replied to the bishop: “By the grace of God, we pray him to accept us as his vassals. He has given complete satisfaction, and so if he wishes and the queen agrees, we will all be joyful.”

“I proclaim, Sone,” resumed the bishop, “that you are our lord and will marry the princess and be crowned. Commit yourself to her before us all, and she will do the same for you.” They did as the bishop proposed, who announced their solemn engagement before the barons, and all rejoiced.

Odée was overjoyed; she now possessed her man. She could forget the painful torments she had for so long endured in their adventures together when threatened by pirates and the insults thrown by those who said that Sone had already slept with her. Joy could now replace regret.

For his part, Sone felt greatly honoured. The barons had met him, and following his good advice sent a galley to Galoche, sumptuously equipped, and charged with a sealed message. The ship left port, the rowers making numerous detours to avoid the rocks, but maintaining their speed as far as Galoche, where they moored.

The faithful captain Gratien, by whom they had sent the letter, went up to the castle and was directed to the abbot, who had seen the messenger coming. The sailor gave him the letter that the bishop read, and rising from his seat happily entered the church where he rang a little bell. The monks assembled and the abbot read the letter to them. There is no point in repeating all, but they showed their jubilation in the name of God because of the message from the queen. They compiled a reply, sealed it, and sent it by the sailor, whom they pressed to leave immediately according to the instructions contained in the missive. Without delay, Gratien rejoined his crew and made them row so hard that the galley bounded over the sea by day and night and returned to St. Joseph, where he climbed up to the castle and delivered the letter.

Happily all had soon read it and shown great joy because the abbot had let it be known that all would soon be ready for the ceremony. The queen had convoked the great barons of her realm to come without delay to Galoche to offer their service. Sone would be crowned there, according to everyone’s desire. The news was spread immediately. The queen made all the necessary preparations, putting great riches on board the galleys.

The barons showed unmistakable joy. Odée had not yet come fully to believe that she was loved by Sone. She loved him in fact so passionately that jealousy was mixed with love and she would have liked to have come into his rooms and keep him company, but Sone awaited the day when they could proclaim their love openly. And thus they made their way as far as Galoche.

At the port the queen was very happy surrounded by her barons. The abbot came down from the castle and boarded a boat with experienced men that brought them to port quickly. He went to greet the queen and calling Sone to one side said to him, “Lord, when you have become king, I advise you to make your confession before being anointed and crowned. You must show yourself particularly worthy since you will be entrusted with guarding a large part of the holy cross upon which hung the body of God.

“You will also guard the holy lance that pierced his side, and be the guardian of the holy Graal. You must thus take care to act in a saintly way; thus your soul will be saved, for the holy king who brought the Graal here took care of it in a very saintly fashion. You must also take an oath to govern the kingdom according to the just customs that rule it. Do not deprive the towns or the barons of the rights to which they are used, but maintain them loyally; you will take an oath on that subject. If you want to know the truth, official documents will be brought to you, and thus you will be reassured in maintaining us according to our customs.”

“I would like to see these writings, since I will need to have counsel,” declared Sone.

The abbot brought the texts of the law instituted by Joseph of Arimathea and instituted himself with the powers of a tribune in company with the knights, queen, and the barons. He revealed the precepts of the law introduced by Joseph, contained in these documents. After having killed the pagan king, Joseph had converted the people to the religion prescribed by Jesus Christ, who had given the Holy Scriptures to St. Peter when he ascended to heaven, leaving St. Peter on earth, which was the moment when Joseph received the Holy Scriptures. Thus the abbot revealed the faith and all present willingly listened and regretted their sins, weeping at the recall of the Scriptures. They also well understood the secular law that they respected.

When the abbot had eloquently recalled to Sone that he must swear by God and the Holy Scriptures to rule the land according to the customs he had recalled, Sone replied, “I will swear to it, if it pleases God, and carry it out loyally. For the present, write out the law so that I am unlikely to commit any injustice.”

When the abbot had so written and Sone had sworn to rule the land like Joseph and never to transgress the law, the oath was pronounced. The abbot went to Sone and said, “Lord, confess yourself now, and then go to the castle. After your marriage, for which all is ready, you will be anointed and crowned along with your spouse.”

The abbot called a monk, a religious man endowed with great kindness, who took Sone to one side and confessed him, avowing all the sins by which he thought he might have annoyed God. The holy man, having seen a repentant Sone beat his breast and cry, absolved him of his sins. Sone was thus put to rights and went aboard the galley with the most powerful barons.

They arrived at Galoche and climbed up to the castle. The great lords entered by a little door that was locked, and less eminent persons remained outside. The clerks intoned their chant while the abbot dressed again in his priestly robes, there also being present an archbishop and three bishops, all wearing priestly vestments. Thus they began the Mass that the archbishop chanted. Sone was clad in a white robe in which he married Odée. They led the young couple to the main altar where they prostrated themselves, after which they placed over them brand-new rich white silk material over white linen.

When all was ready, the archbishop chanted over them. The newlyweds had the sacraments put before them, which they received piously, and when told descended from the altar. Having observed the ritual and been anointed with holy oils, they were crowned. The abbot chanted the rest of the Mass with gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh, and the queen presented her offerings.

The divine service once ended, the Graal was brought and exposed to the view of all, also the lance with which God had his side pierced and received death to redeem our sins, along with a cross containing a large fragment of holy wood on which Jesus Christ was hung and put to death to pay for our sins. There was a golden candelabrum carrying five candles, the one in the centre burning with an inextinguishable flame. It was held in high esteem for it was present at the birth of God, as Joseph witnessed in a sealed writing.

When God was born of the Virgin, the holy angel performed his service by bringing three candles; there were two of them before the tomb of Mahomet, and Joseph had the third in his possession. It was given him in his lifetime, when he had recovered his health, after having been ill a long time. He went overseas and acted as a valiant knight, and it was on his return to his own country that the candle was given him. All his life he honoured it, and it burned there on this candelabrum. The four candles around it burned in its honour.

The abbot kissed the Graal, then the king [Sone] carried it in his arms at his breast and the holy lance was placed before, preceded by the cross blessed by the holy wood. The candelabrum went before with the lit candles. Such was the procession. A holy bishop of great renown sang the Mass, and all brought their offerings.

At the end of the office, the abbot took the Graal and put it in an ivory reliquary. The holy lance and holy cross he placed appropriately and finally the candelabrum to a place chosen by Joseph. When all had been put in its rightful place, the abbot said to the king, “Now we must go to the island to observe the festivities prepared there.”

“So be it!” replied the king.

19: The Visit to the Square Island
(lines 17115–17524)

All cried “To the ships!” and many vessels were prepared. The archbishop had boarded a specially prepared boat accompanied by the three bishops, and the first had already left port and disembarked on the island. Without waiting any longer, Sone boarded the galley with Odée at his side. The barons had embarked on another ship and all landed on the island, but I have not yet described it or tried to explain the purpose it served.

It was situated half a league out to sea and one could never find a more beautiful one in the world. It was such a perfect square that it was impossible to tell which side was the longest. The pagan king who had built it was called Tadus. He was very wise and generous, for he had heard tell of the Christian faith and had written up the words he had heard, truly believed them and converted all his people. His son Baudemagu was wise and intelligent and the most courtly of his times, but his son Meleagant was most perfidious and the worst of all the lords of the island.

It was beautiful, magnificent, well fortified, and surrounded by the sea. It had very high sandstone walls that faced the sea, built on the rocks and crenelated at their tops which were so wide that two wagons could easily pass. At the four corners of the walls, four edifices were built that faced the sea. On the side facing the interior of the island, the walls rested on sumptuous pillars of porphyry, and the arches were so well made that they supported the rest. Each edifice was finely carved and perforated, facing each other, and when one wanted to close them, one could drop a great door sustained by great pulleys that pulled it up or down. Near this, at an arched doorway, was a great causeway in the sea that came up to the walls where, according to witnesses, the Sword Bridge could be found. It is here alleged that many heads had been cut off when Meleagant had been lord of the island, a cruel traitor who did evil wherever and whenever he could and died a violent death that perfectly merited his end.

On the island was a cemetery where the bodies of notables were buried, each possessing their own sepulchre, with the tombstone inscribed with the name of the baron who reposed there.

In the cemetery there were now many different kinds of tree, giving off a sweet and attractive fragrance, whilst in the very centre of the island a spring flowed through a gold plated copper horn, producing a very great quantity of cool fresh water. There was only one entrance to the island, which was closed everywhere else, but which no one had seen one more sumptuous.

Once all the barons had entered, Sone went to the place that had been prepared at the table of honour, his queen at his side. Each wore a crown with white vestments according to the custom of previous sovereigns. The abbot had changed and abandoned his religious garments for others of scarlet vermillion to the astonishment of many. But this was the rule because he was at the same time an abbot and a count. He was served before the king and given the first dish. All was prepared within.

Having given his orders, the abbot looked all round him and saw the sky was covered with clouds to such an extent that one could hardly see anymore. Then lightning flashed and it began to thunder so violently that all thought the sky was about to fall on their heads. Such a storm was unleashed that it broke and tore the great trees situated inside, whose fragments struck the walls. The sea was so rough that it threw waves over the walls, covering the island with water in which goods floated. People would all have been drowned if they had not rushed to the walls. The storm became stronger and stronger, without the least respite, provoking terrible suffering such as the old had never seen before.

Sone climbed to the top of the walls, with Odée at his side, but such a downpour of water fell on them that they were nearly washed off into the sea. They spent a day and a night without the hurricane ceasing for a single minute; it was so violent that all were close to perishing. The queen would have died had she not been in the arms of her husband, who thus brought her great comfort. The storm lasted for three days and three nights during which they ate or drank nothing, nor slept or rested, but endured more suffering than could be told. With the new dawn the lightning struck brusquely in the cemetery, producing a clap of thunder that shook the whole island. The people at the top of the walls no longer expected any help and were on the point of being knocked down. But when God willed, the storm ceased to torment them a little.

The lightning accompanying the thunder ceased, the hurricane was carried out to sea, and the sky above cleared. This was needful for those survivors who found themselves on the island. The sun appeared and the light brought much good. The hurricane had gone, but the ships were lost; the storm had broken their rigging and sunk them. The island was inundated with water thrown over the walls, now flowing off in great streams.

The island was thus a mess but there were so many conduits in the walls that it was rapidly emptied. When the water had gone and the land had cleared, a smell so foul spread that the hearts of everyone ceased to beat. It came from the cemetery, where the lightning had fallen. The people high on the walls were tired, having passed three days without sleep or rest, with nothing to eat or drink. They were exhausted and close to death if God did not help them.

However, those who had stayed in Galoche and seen the hurricane had raised the moorings of the boats, barques, and galleys in the port. They hastily mounted on board and made towards the island. Arriving there, they were not able to approach as the smell was so strong, and they had to retreat. All the same, Gratien loved the king and was his faithful sailor. He understood that if God almighty did not help them, they would all be lost as they had suffered so much. Although astonished by the smell, he forced himself to penetrate the isle and go toward the infected place. In the cemetery he saw a hole had been struck by the lightning and thrown up a tomb enclosing a corpse. The gravestone was completely broken, but the corpse, with flesh and body intact, lay with open mouth that exhaled this infection.

Gratien was in a very bad way, but all would have been worse if he had left the body there. He dragged it to the ship and put himself to great trouble by breathing in this terrible smell; then he threw it to the bottom of the sea within a fjord. Be sure that there is no one in the world like a mariner when in danger, for enduring such pain without anxiety and acting with praiseworthy courage, Gratien had eliminated this terrible smell by returning to the island. The day was fine and clear, the infection disappeared, and the people were greatly comforted.

The king held the queen in his arms but did not know if she were alive or dead for she frequently fainted. He looked at the queen who had endured so much suffering and sighed, but others had played their parts as well. Gratien, the faithful sailor, feared that the king, who loved him and whom he had served many times, might be dead. But he was mounted high on the walls, holding the exhausted queen in his arms, whom they then passed from one to the other, Gratian calling, “Madame, keep enough courage to board a ship.”

The queen observed him attentively and recognized him. Then she had looked at her husband, who had put his arms around her neck, saying: “My lords, let us leave here as quickly as possible.”

“My dear sweet love,” replied the king, “do not let ourselves fail now.” They descended to the foot of the walls and embarked in a galley where Gratian installed them at their ease and took them as far as Galoche.

Seeing them arrive, the monks were pressed to open the doors. They carried the queen mother very gently as far as the great chamber where they laid her on a bed for she was exhausted. At her side, the king climbed with several of their friends. The abbot who had known plenty of misfortune was most desirous that the seneschals prepare a meal, for everyone was starving.

When the seneschals had done their task and all had eaten at least a small amount of nourishment, the old queen suffered severe pain, and, overcome by the smell, died that day. A number of people who remained on the island never came off it. If they received no help from others, they would rot away forever, to be buried in the cemetery where the corpse had been for so long, which still stank enormously. The survivors had stayed in the forest to recover their health, for one could find no better place in the world to benefit from venison in quantity and all kinds of fish. Here they stayed for a long time until cured.

The king remained at the castle, which greatly pleased him, seeing the beauty of the place. All honoured him, and the queen was soon cured who had endured such pain; she had forgotten all because now she was assured of the love of her husband.

One day the sovereign found himself at Galoche with the abbot, who took the king on one side and declared, “Sire, let us go and see what has happened on the island.” The king willingly agreed and they asked Gratien to prepare a galley. They had hardly landed, accompanied by all the barons who desired to come, when, arrived at the cemetery, they saw the great hole caused by the lightning. Gratien had taken the corpse that had lain exuding its smell.

The abbot walked towards the tombstone and read the inscription. He had known the storm was to do with the wife of Joseph, who had once been the king of this land, and it was remembered that she had never loved Jesus Christ. As a result, these great sufferings—the stain and this terrible smell—had overwhelmed and affected the people so that many had died.

For his action, Gratien received many marks of gratitude, and the king awarded him with many favours.

Sone and Odée, accompanied by the abbott, now set forth on a progress through the kingdom, seeking the promise of fealty from the people. Sone refused all the many gifts offered to him so as not to cause anyone to suffer poverty.

20: Visitors from Ireland;
Odée Gives Birth to Twins
(lines 17525–17689)

Soon after this, a boat arrives at the harbour of St. Joseph. On it is the old Templar master, Margon, accompanied by a woman with a baby. The Templar master tells Sone that when she heard of his marriage, the Queen of Ireland could not be comforted. She put the baby at his door and together with the woman who had escaped by night. Sone sent the child to Odée and requests Margon to remain as his advisor. Margon tells Odée about the child. Soon after this she gives birth to twins, named Houdians and Henri, the latter after Sone’s brother. The other baby is named Margon (after the Templar?) and the three boys are raised together.68

21: A Message from the Pope;
Sone Fights the Saracens and Becomes Emperor
(lines 17690–18007)

A message arrives from the Pope requesting Sone to take up the sword of St. Peter and fight for Christendom. That same night Odée gives birth to another son, who is named Milon, after the Pope, and whom he will one day succeed.

A second message now arrives from Rome. This time the Pope writes that the emperor is dead and that he will excommunicate Sone unless he comes to the aid of the church. Sone goes to see the Abbot of Galoche, taking his one-and-a-half-year-old son Houdians to be knighted and crowned as King of Norway in the event of his father’s death. He leaves the child with the abbot to raise and teach him how to be king.

[At this point there is the lacuna of some 2,400 lines, which must tell of Sone’s journey to fight the Saracens, followed by his coronation as emperor of Rome. From later references we gather that he killed seven Saracen kings and took possession of three of their gods—presumably idols. In return, the Saracens have abducted Odée.]

22: Emperor Sone Rescues Odée and
Fights Three Saracen Kings
(lines 18008–18546)

Sone is now emperor and wages war against the Saracens in Southern Italy. Odée has been abducted by a Saracen king, and Sone is now advised by Medus and Vande, whom we have not met before. The Saracens are willing to exchange Odée for the return of their three gods, presumably won by Sone in previous battles. Sone arrives at Otrente69 with a fleet. One of the pagan kings, Madoc, known to be wise and kind, speaks with two other Saracen kings, Simonins and Andala, about the great losses Emperor Sone has caused them. At his advice they send him to see Sone in person, to plead for their rights to the lands they inhabit.

Armed with an olive branch, Madoc arrives in the emperor’s camp and speaks at length about the history of the world. He lists Africa, Asia, and Europe, which he claims to be the Saracens’ heritage. Julius Caesar, Clovis, Pepin, and Charlemagne are all named as having caused great pain and suffering to the Saracens.

Madoc now throws down the gauntlet. If Sone will not leave their lands, he must stand against three kings in single combat. If Sone wins the fight, he can do with them as he will, but if he loses, he must withdraw and leave Europe to the pagans.

Having taken council with Medus and Vande, Sone elects to exchange the three gods for Odée. After this he will fight the three kings, as he has no intention of withdrawing.

Odée has been treated well and with great honour by her captors. She is now released and sent home, dressed in gold and riding a mule in the company of numerous ladies. She promises to pray for her captors.

23: Sone Fights the Three Kings
(lines 18547–19008)

The day of the combat with the Saracen kings draws near. Sone prepares for battle advised by Medus of the fighting style of his opponents. He puts on a mail hauberk and a silk tunic which, when wet, prevents wounds. Odée laments his certain death.

Sone goes out to meet his foes. Madoc repeats his threats, which Sone dismisses. The fight begins. Sone defeats Andala. Meanwhile, Odée goes to pray for him and puts on rags to show her penitence. While she prays, Sone fights Simonins, killing him. As he watches, Madoc begins to lose faith in his gods, and when Sone strikes him down, he surrenders and begs for baptism.

Sone grants he enemy’s wish, sending him to Odée, whom he finds in the chapel. He offers her his sword and she gives him knighthood. He is then baptized and given a new name by Sone.

24: Sone’s Crusade
(lines 19009–19312)

Sone now embarks on a crusade to clear out the pagans from several cities. He sends messages via the newly converted Medus to Otrente and Trapes, offering them the teachings of Christ. When they refuse, he takes the cities and has the people put to death. Only one, Bladon, the ruler of Trapes, escapes without a fight. Sone sends men to take over the city and castle.

25: Sone’s Fame Spreads
(lines 19313–20194)

Sone’s fame spreads through the Empire. He is lauded for his bravery and generosity. The Pope commends him. His nobles love him. He gives away all his material goods, keeping only his horse and his sword.

When the pagans come near to the site of the Holy Sepulchre, Sone comes to the rescue. His mere presence causes the Saracens to sue for peace. Sone meets the Sultan of Baghdad and agreement is reached. All prisoners are released, and Gratian becomes the bailiff of Damas.70 Sone continues to spread the word of Christ throughout his realm.

26: Sone’s Son Henri Dispenses Justice
(lines 20195–20348)

Henri, Sone’s second son, proves to be just as good and generous as his father, giving away his possessions to others less fortunate than him. When he learns how the bailiff of Mechines71 is siphoning off all the wealth of the city, he makes his way there. A brief sea battle follows in which Henri is slightly wounded but is victorious. The bailiff is captured, the emperors see all taken from him, and he is condemned to be torn apart by four horses.

27: Sone’s Son Margon and the Lady Giloine
(lines 20349–20511)

Sone’s son Margon surpasses all of his children in beauty and goodness. He falls in love with Giloine, one of the two daughters of King Ourses of Sicily, who has been brought up by Empress Odée. Giloine begs the emperor and empress to allow her to marry Margon and that they should reign together over her lands. Sone and Odée agree, and the pair are married with great ceremony.

28: Henri Becomes King of Jerusalem
(lines 20512–20711)

A message arrives from Rome asking Sone to send his son Henri to the Holy Land to help the Templars and Hospitallers defend them against the Saracens. Henri goes to Baruth72 with a large force. While there he falls in love with Hermione, daughter of the late ruler. The Templars and Hospitallers support them, offering riches if they marry. Sone agrees, and they are married soon after. After this Henri becomes king of Jerusalem.

29: Sone’s Son Becomes Pope
(lines 20712–20746)

All is well with Sone. His lands are at peace. Three of his sons are crowned kings and the fourth becomes a holy cleric. Milon becomes a cardinal and is finally elected pope.

30: A Family Reunion
(lines 20747–21080)

Sone never ceased to love the Holy Virgin who, in return, protected him in all his combats. She delayed his death so he could meet up with his sons. Messengers went to Norway, where King Houdiant had married Matabrune of Bohemia, a very cruel woman. He left for Rome, where the other sons had gathered. Odée was very pleased to see her children, although it was Sone she loved the most. On the day of Pentecost Sone crowned his sons, who in turn crowned their mother, while their brother Pope Milon sang the Mass. The festivities lasted four days, and on the fifth Sone announced the principles of good government: to love God, keep the commandments, and serve the people in their care as a good ruler should. After this he divided all he had between his sons. To Houdiant he gave the sacred vessel, the sword of Joseph of Arimathea, and his sense of reason; to Henri his valor and the sword of Brudon; Margon received his oliphant,73 his carbuncle, his charm and his courtesy, and his warhorse, Flori. Finally, to Milon, the favour that was always his own: to be ever regarded with affection.

31: Henri and Welerans, the
Sons of Sone’s Brother, Are Tested
(lines 21081–21223)

Sone now summons the two sons of his brother Henri, Welerans and Henri (the Younger). He tells them one of them will be emperor after him, but they must fight each other to the death to achieve this honour. He then sends them to separate rooms to consider.

After a time Welerans, the elder of the two, returned to say that he was willing to kill his brother to be emperor. Sone then sends for Henri, who comes in weeping. Despite being mocked by Sone, he declares that he could not kill his brother for the sake of the empire. Sone embraces him and sends Welerans away, saying he never wants to see him again. Calling all his sons together, he commands them to crown Henri emperor after his death.

32: Sone’s Death
(lines 21224–21321)

His illness getting worse, Sone is confined to bed. A dispute about succession breaks out between Welerans and Henri, which Sone proposed should be settled by single combat. Welerans remained the most aggressive, while Henri would not oppose his elder brother, whom Sone now banished from the court and ruled that his nephew Henri should succeed him after his death. Sone then called Odée and asked her not to be anxious about his death, for he left her among their sons. Seeing his death was nigh, the cardinals reconciled the emperor. After he had received communion, the pope absolved him and purified him of his sins.

Sone then asked that the wood of the True Cross should be brought to him. Taking it in his arms, he kissed it a hundred times. Rendering up his soul, he left his body, though his colour seemed unimpaired.

Odée, who could not bear to be parted from her husband, lay on his breast and gave up the ghost as well …

Placed in a copper coffin, the couple were buried before the altar at St. Peter’s in Rome; the four brothers crowned Henri emperor and were present at his marriage to Gille, the sister-in-law of Margon, before returning to their respective countries.

Explicit Sone de Nansay

Thus ends the extraordinary story of Sone. Judged alongside other romances of the time, it is every bit as engrossing as any and filled with details that appear in no other source. For this reason alone, it is worthy of study; for the purpose of our understanding of the temples of the Grail, it is of enormous importance. Let us now look more deeply at aspects of Sone’s story that reveal the Grail and its environs with increasing clarity.

[contents]

50. Normand, A Study of the Old French Romance of Sone de Nansay.

51. Possibly Galashiels.

52. St. James of Compostella.

53. The following section, as translated, assumes a personal quality that feels very much as though the writer was present at an actual site. This is not of itself unusual within medieval romance literature, but the sudden switch from impersonal to personal in the narrative is. It was this that suggested to some who have studied the text that this part could be an interpolation. However, the style and setting are so precise when compared to the rest, before and after, that is seems unlikely to be the case. It is more likely that the author wanted to add veracity to the story he was telling, making it a reminiscence rather than an imaginative telling. Equally, he may be repeating an actual traveller’s account.

54. Sorbus Torminalis, or service tree, native to England and Wales.

55. These strange creatures may possibly be raccoon dogs, who are neither dog nor raccoon but have long fur and pointed faces and are quite noisy.

56. About 120 feet.

57. A small silver coin.

58. Either a city in Italy or a township in Holland.

59. i.e., Joseph.

60. An alternative name for the sword of Joseph of Arimathea.

61. It is later revealed that Sone fathers a child on her this night.

62. Possibly a town in Portugal.

63. The suggested meaning for this is that whoever she marries will become the lord of her father’s lands on his death.

64. Possibly Gawain, whose name is sometimes spelled Walewein in several texts from this period. However, one of Sone’s children is later given this name.

65. Round Tables were elaborate events set up to emulate the descriptions of tournaments in Arthurian romances.

66. The Breton warrior who had entered the castle with Papagay.

67. A small round shield, also known as a targe.

68. Clearly this is Sone’s child by the Irish queen, but the author is shy of saying this exactly.

69. Likely Otranto.

70. Almost certainly Damascus.

71. Mechlin?

72. Beirut.

73. This is probably a hunting horn made from elephant ivory.