My telling of The Franklin’s Tale:
There was in Brittany a knight who loved a lady so fair to behold, and of such high station that she was seemingly beyond his reach. Yet year after year he won honour in her name, in every deed, and word. And so it was that he won her favour and in time her hand in marriage. He pledged unto her that he would always serve her, never to to be jealous, and pledging to submit always to her will. And she pledged to serve him as his faithful wife, and to always be true to him. And it was that she was both his wife and his love.After a year had passed in perfect joy, it came to pass that this knight, Avergus went into England to fight in tournaments. And in his absence, Dorigen, his wife, became sick with loneliness. Nothing would bring her joy in the absence of Avergus, and she would not eat.
At length her friends seeing her wasting away brought her out for walks along the rocky coasts. Yet seeing the cliffs and treacherous rocks, Dorigen was put to lament, ‘Why had God made such dangerous cliffs which served no purpose?’. And then she would look out to the sea and upon the ships that sailed and asked Is there but one that will bring my Avergus back to me?”Her friends seeing this began to think that perhaps the cliffs were not the best place to bring her. So then they began to bring her to a place called “The Garden of Venus”, a place contrived by men that each sight and smell was a pleasure and so that it would be unmatched except by paradise. Yet Dorigen only looked down thinking of her husband.
There were dancers who were bright and gay who congregated in this place. One among them, named Aurelius, more handsome and graceful than any of the other men, was secretly in love with Dorigen. He gave no open sign of his love he bore except to gaze at her every so often and to sing of a love could never attain. What a piteous state he was in, to be wholly in love with a wife who loved her husband!Aurelius was a good singer and dancer and well liked in this company, and also Dorigen’s neighbour, and so it came to pass that they two were to have private discourse. At length this Aurelius let his heart be known saying “With one word you can slay me or save me, if only you would love me before all other men!”
Dorigen, as lonely as she was still did not hesitate for a moment in refusing him. “I will never be an unfaithful wife.”Aurelius sinking into the depths of despair pleaded “What ever could I do to win you Dorigen?”
She replied “You would have to remove every stone from the shores of the coasts that there would be no more cliffs on the shores of Brittany!” knowing that he could never do such a thing.At length Avergus returned from his travels, and he and Dorigen delighted, yet poor Aurelius began to waste away, knowing that Dorigen would never love him. However he had a brother who was well learned who returned from studies at the university. When he learned of his brother plight he recalled in his days at the university where he learned of wonders done in heathen days with ancient knowledge. He had come to know a sorcerer. Thus he told his brother not to despair, they would make the beaches of Brittany clean.
They traveled together to the university, but found that the old sorcerer had ended his days alive on the earth, there was however a magician who they found. He told them that he could not make the shores of Brittany bare, but he could make the illusion that they were, and make it last for several weeks. But to do this he would require of Aurelius one thousand gold coins. Aurelius readily agreed and the three returned to Aurelius’ estates. The magician was hosted well that night; they killed their fastest pig and gave him fine rooms.The next day he began to work his art and ‘ere long the shores of Brittany appeared as clean and bare of rocks and cliffs as the gentlest beaches anywhere. Aurelius went then to Dorigen and said, “I have done what you asked of me, there is no rock upon the coasts, you may go to see for yourself. Now that I have done this I expect that you wil be my lover as you have promised.”
Not knowing what to do she left on the point of tears. If she denied him she would break her word, but to give in would make her an unfaithful wife. Doomed to dishonour on either count she realized her only honourable recourse. For she thought on all of the maidens in history who took their own lives rather than be had by men against their will. She thought, of a wife it is more a shame to be ravished so. And she decide that to take her own life was what she must do.When she told Avergus of this, he told her “You must not take your own life.” He then slowly went on, “And I will not have your word be dishonoured. You will go to him as you have promised.” But then he began to cry in despair, and said, that though eh would bear it he wished that she would never speak a word of this to anyone.
With a sore heart and slow feet she went then to the garden of Venus. On the way there she encountered Aurelius, who was also on his way there. She told him that she was going to the garden to fulfil her promise as her husband bade her, though against her better wishes. When Aurelius learned of the sorrow and reluctance she felt, and of her husband’s generosity he had pity on them and told her that he would relent and allow her to return to the arms of her proper mate.When Dorigen returned and told Avergus of what had occurred they rejoiced and were happy until the end of their days. Aurelius however despaired, for to pay the sum of 1000 gold coins would leave him a destitute man, for he would have to sell all he owned including his estate.
He brought immediately to the magician 500 gold coins and pleaded that the magician give him a few years to raise the rest, for to pay he would have to sell his inheritance. Looking sternly upon him the Magician asked, “Have I not worked my art well?”Aurelius frowned but solemnly nodded saying, “Yes”
The Magician went on, “ have you not had your lady in your arms?”“No” was his reply “For Avergus, her husband, and Dorigen’s love was too great and they too honourable to deceive so.
Understanding the magician nodded and then released Aurelius from the bargain saying that a scholar can be as generous as a knight or noble.
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