Huon de Bordeaux (G)

De Charlemaine à l’aduré coraige ,

of Charlemagne of the steadfast heart,

Et de Huon , ki tant ot vaselaige ,

and of Huon, who had such great valour,

Et d’Auberon , le petit roi sauvaige ,

and of Oberon, the little wild king,

Que tout son tans conversa en boscage .

who spent all his days living in the woods.

Chil Auberons , que tant ot segnoraige ,

This Oberon, who had such great lordship,

Sachiés k’il fu fieus Juliien Cesare ,

know that he was the son of Julius Caesar,

10Qui tint Hungrie , une tere sauvaige ,

who held Hungary, a wild land,

Et Osteriche et trestout l’iretaige .

and Austria and all that inheritance.

Constantinoble tint il tot son éaige ;

He held Constantinople all his life;

VII . lieues grans fist faire de muraige ,

he had seven great leagues of wall built,

Qui encor durent desc’ à le mer salvaige .

which still stand as far as the wild sea.

Jules ot feme une dame moult sage ,

Julius had as his wife a very wise lady,

Morge ot à nom , moult ot cler le visaige ;

Morgan was her name, she had a very fair face;

Cele fu mere Auberon le sauvaige ,

she was the mother of Oberon the wild,

Si n’ot plus d’oirs en trestot son éaige .

and she had no other heir in all her life.

Huimais orrés cançon de fier barnaige .

Now you shall hear a song of proud baronial deeds.

Segnour , oiiés , que Diex vous puist aidier !

Lords, listen, and may God help you!

Si faites pais et laisiés le noissier ;

Be at peace, and leave off your noise;

S’orrés chançon que moult fait à proisier ,

and you will hear a song well worth praising,

De Karlemaine , ki Franche a à baillier ,

of Charlemagne, who has France in his keeping,

Et de Huon , le nobile guerrier ,

and of Huon, the noble warrior,

Qui tint Bourdele et le grant iretier ,

who held Bordeaux and the great inheritance,

Et d’Auberon , le noble chevalier ;

and of Oberon, the noble knight;

Ens son estant n’ot de grant que . iii . piés ,

standing upright he was no more than three feet tall,

Et s’ert faés , de vreté le sachiés .

and he was enchanted, know it for truth.

Che fu à Pentecouste , le haut jor enforcié ,

It was at Pentecost, the high, great feast day,

C’à Paris tint sa cort Karles o le vis fier .

that Charles of the fierce face held his court at Paris.

Que en infer as diasbles parler ;

Than to go into hell to speak with the devils;

Car en tel lieu vous convenra aler ,

For you will have to go to such a place

Se vous volés envers moi acorder ,

If you want to be reconciled with me.

XV . mesaiges i ai ge fait aler ,

I have sent fifteen messengers there,

Je n’en vi onques . i . tot seul retorner .

And I never saw a single one of them come back.

Çou est tout droit outre la roge mer ,

It is straight across the Red Sea,

En Babilone , la mirable chité .

In Babylon, the wondrous city.

Là te convient mon mesaige porter ;

There you must carry my message;

Au roi Gaudise te convenra parler .

You will have to speak to King Gaudisse.

Se tu pues faire çou que m’oras conter ,

If you can do what you will hear me tell,

Et tu pues mais en France retorner ,

And can ever return to France again,

Ne serés pas envers moi parjurés .

You will not be [held] forsworn toward me.

Quant vous serés outre la rouge mer ,

When you are across the Red Sea

Et vous venrés ens la bonne chité ,

And you come into the good city,

Il vous convient et plevir et jurer

You must both pledge and swear

Tant atendrés ù palais à entrer

That you will wait to enter the palace

Que l’amirés ert asis au disner .

Until the emir is seated at dinner.

Et après çou , el palais monterés

And after that you will go up into the palace

Si faitement con vous dire m’orrés :

In just the way you will hear me tell you:

L’auberc vestu , lacié l’elme jesmé ,

Hauberk on, jewelled helmet laced,

L’espée nue vous convenra porter ,

You will have to carry the naked sword,

Et le premier c’au mengier troverés ,

And the first man you find at the meal,

Ja n’ert tant frans ne si emparentés

He will never be so noble or so well connected

Que , tout errant , le cief ne li copés .

That you do not cut off his head at once.

Et après çou te convenra faire el :

And after that you will have to do something else:

Une fille a Gaudise l’amirés ,

Gaudisse the emir has a daughter,

C’est Esclarmonde qui tant a de biautés ;

That is Esclarmonde, who has such great beauty;

Il vous convient plevir et afier ,

You must pledge and promise

Que , voiant tous , . iii . fois le baiserés ,

That in sight of all you will kiss her three times,

Et après chou men mesaige dirés

And after that you will deliver my message

A l’amiral , voiant tot son barné .

To the emir, in sight of all his barons.

De moie part l’amiral rouverés

On my behalf you will ask the emir

Que il m’envoit . m . espreviers mués ,

To send me a thousand moulted sparrowhawks,

M . ours , . m . viautres très bien encaenés ,

A thousand bears, a thousand boarhounds well chained,

Et . m . vallés , tous jouenes bacelers ,

And a thousand squires, all young men,

Et . m . puceles qui aient grant biautés ,

And a thousand maidens of great beauty,

Et de sa barbe les blans grenons mellés ,

And from his beard the white grizzled whiskers,

Et de sa geule . iiii . dens maiselers »

And from his mouth four molar teeth.'

Dient François : « Vous le volés tuer !

The French say: 'You want to kill him!'

— Par Dieu , dist Karles , vous dites verité !

'By God,' said Charles, 'you speak the truth!'

Ains n’en soc mot , se me puist Dix salver ,

I knew nothing of it, so may God save me,

Si vi gesir mon frere enmi le pré ;

and then I saw my brother lying in the middle of the meadow;

Saciés de voir moult oc le cuer iré .

know for truth, my heart was full of anger.

Avant pasai , tot nu le branc letré ;

I went forward, my inscribed blade all bare;

Que celeroie , par Dieu de maïsté ?

why should I hide it, by God in majesty?

J’ocis Karlot , qui fix Karlemaine ert .

I killed Charlot, who was Charlemagne’s son.

Je nen seuc mot qu’il l’éust engerré .

I did not know at all that he had begotten him.

A cort alai por le mien cors tenser ;

I went to court to defend myself;

Mais après moi fu li cors aportés .

but the body was brought there after me.

Car plus est biaus que solaus en esté .

For he is more beautiful than the sun in summer.

Auberons est par droit non apelés .

He is called Oberon by his right name.

Il n’est cors d’omme , s’il est u bos entrés ,

There is no living man, if he has entered the wood

S’à lui parole , ki li puist escaper ;

And speaks to him, who can escape him;

Et , puis qu’il est aveuc lui demorés ,

And once he has stayed with him,

N’em partira jamais en son aé .

He will never leave there in all his life.

Et si vous di , par droite loiauté ,

And I tell you, in all good faith,

Que chil nains est de si grant poesté ,

That this dwarf has such great power

Quant le boscaige cuiderés trespaser ,

[That] when you think to pass through the woodland,

Ançois c’aiiés . xii . lieues alé ,

Before you have gone twelve leagues,

Le verrés vous devant vous aresté .

You will see him standing in front of you.

Si parlera de Dieu de maïsté

He will speak of God in majesty in such a way

Qu’il n’est nus hom qui n’en fust esperés .

That there is no man who would not be stirred by it.

Se ne volés à son gent cors parler ,

If you will not speak to his noble person,

Il en sera tant forment tormentés

He will be so sorely vexed by it

Que moult grant hide en vo cuer en arés ,

That you will have very great fear in your heart,

Car il fera et plovoir et venter ,

For he will make it both rain and blow,

Arbres brisier et fort esquarteler .

Make trees break and split violently apart.

Et après çou qu’il ara si ouvré ,

And after he has worked in this way,

Vous fera il une riviere tel

He will make for you a river so great

C’on i poroit grant navie mener ,

That one could take a great fleet on it,

Et par sanblant . i . grant batel de mer .

And, to all appearance, a great sea-going ship.

Mais je vous di , ce saciés par vreté ,

But I tell you, know it for the truth,

C’ert tous fantomes canque vous i verés :

All that you see there will be phantoms:

Tout à sec pié par l’aige paserés ;

You will cross the water dry-footed;

N’i moillerés ne cauce ne soller .

You will wet neither hose nor shoe there.

Très bien vous di , ja mar le mesquerrés ,

I tell you plainly, you would be wrong to doubt it,

Que [ben soi taire] ne vous puet il grever .

That [keeping silent] can do you no harm.

Gardés très bien nes un mot ne sonnés ;

Take good care not to utter a single word;

Car , se parliés , c’est fine verités ,

For if you spoke, this is the plain truth,

Jamais de lui delivrés ne serés ,

You will never be free of him,

Car à respondre trestout perdu avés .

For by answering you have lost everything.'

— Par foi , dist Hues , je n’i quier ja parler »

'By my faith,' said Huon, 'I have no wish to speak there.'

Adont remontent , ne [bsont plus aresté] ,

Then they mount again and [stay there no longer],

Se il le trait et il li vient à gré ,

if he shoots at it and it pleases him,

Que ne le prenge tot à se volenté .

that he would not take it entirely at his will.

Et ot au col . i . cor d’ivoire cler ;

And he had at his neck a horn of bright ivory;

A bendes d’or estoit li cors bendés ;

the horn was banded with bands of gold;

Fées le fissent en une ille de mer .

fairies made it on an island in the sea.

Une en i ot qui donna . i . don tel :

There was one of them who gave it a gift like this:

Qui le cor ot et tentir et sonner ,

whoever hears the horn ring and sound,

S’il est malades , lues revient en santé ;

if he is sick, at once returns to health,

Ja n’avera tant grande enfermeté .

however great an infirmity he may have.

Et l’autre fée i donna mieus asés :

And the next fairy gave it far better:

Qui le cor ot , çou est la verités ,

whoever hears the horn, this is the truth,

S’il a famine , il est tous asasés ,

if he is starving, he is fully fed,

Et s’il a soif , il est tous abevrés .

and if he is thirsty, he has drunk his fill.

Et l’autre fée i donna miex asés :

And the next fairy gave it far better still:

Qu’i n’est nus hons qui tant ait povretés ,

that there is no man in such great hardship

S’il ot le cor et tentir et sonner ,

that, if he hears the horn ring and sound,

K’au son del cor ne l’estuece canter .

he is not compelled to sing at the sound of the horn.

Le quarte fée le vaut mix asener ,

The fourth fairy chose to endow it better,

Quant li donna tel don que vous orrés :

when she gave it such a gift as you shall hear:

Que il n’a marce , ne païs , ne regné ,

that there is no march, nor land, nor kingdom,

Desc’au sec arbre ne si de là la mer .

as far as the Dry Tree, or beyond the sea,

S’il velt le cor et tentir et sonner ,

if he wishes to make the horn ring and sound,

Auberons l’ot à Monmur , sa cité .

Oberon hears it at Monmur, his city.

Li petis hons commença à corner ,

The little man began to blow his horn,

Et li . xiiii . commencent à canter .

and the fourteen begin to sing.

Hé Dix ! dist Hues , qui nous vient viseter ?

“Ah, God!” said Huon, “who is coming to visit us?

Je ne senc faim ne nule povreté »

I feel no hunger nor any hardship.”

Et dist Geriaumes : « C’est li nains boceré .

And Gériaume says: “It is the hunchbacked dwarf.

Por Diu vous proi , sire , que n’i parlés ,

For God’s sake I beg you, sire, do not speak to him,

Par foi , dist Hues , Dix nous a conforté ,

'By my faith,' said Huon, 'God has comforted us,

Quant du nain sonmes ensement escapé »

Since we have escaped from the dwarf like this.'

Li viex Geriaumes en a dit son pensé :

Old Geriaume spoke his mind about it:

Sire , dist il , se me puist Dix sauver ,

'Sire,' he said, 'as God may save me,

Ja tost verrés revenir le maufé ;

You will very soon see the devil come back;

Moult sera tost devant vous atrotés »

He will very soon come trotting up before you.'

Entrues qu’il ont tout ensement parlé ,

While they were talking like this,

Si comme il durent à . i . poncel paser ,

Just as they were about to cross a little bridge,

Li petis hom lor saut devant les nés .

The little man leaps out in front of their noses.

Hues le voit , moult en fu esfraés .

Huon sees him and was much afraid.

Dix ! dist li enfes , revés ci le malfé »

'God!' said the youth, 'here is the devil again!'

Auberons l’ot , fierement a parlé :

Oberon hears him and spoke fiercely:

Vasal , dist il , tu ne dis mie asés ,

'Vassal,' he said, 'you do not speak rightly,

Car , par celui qui en crois fu penés ,

For, by Him who suffered on the cross,

Je ne fui onqes anemis ne maufés ,

I was never a fiend or a devil;

Ains te di bien , se me puist Dix salver ,

Rather I tell you truly, as God may save me,

Je sui . i . hom conme . i . autres carné .

I am a man of flesh like any other.

Encor vous vien de par Dieu conjurer ,

Again I come to conjure you in God's name,

De canqu’il a et fait et estoré ,

By all that He has made and established,

D’oile et de cresme , de bautesme et de sel ,

By oil and chrism, by baptism and salt,

Tu ne sés mie quel homme t’as trové ;

You do not know at all what man you have found;

Tu le saras , gaires n’ert demoré .

you will know it, it will not be long.

Jules Cesar me nori bien soué ;

Julius Caesar brought me up most tenderly;

Morge li fée , qui tant ot de biauté ,

Morgan the fairy, who had such great beauty,

Che fu ma mere , si me puist Dix salver .

she was my mother, so may God save me.

De ces . ii . lui conçus et engerrés ;

Of these two I was conceived and begotten;

N’orent plus d’oirs en trestout lor aé .

they had no other heirs in all their lives.

A ma naisence ot grant joie mené ,

At my birth there was great rejoicing;

Tous les barons manderent du rené ;

they summoned all the barons of the kingdom;

Fées i vinrent ma mere revider .

fairies came there to visit my mother.

Une en i ot qui n’ot mie son gré ,

There was one of them who was not at all pleased,

Si me donna tel don que vous véés ,

and she gave me such a gift as you see,

Que jou seroie petis nains bocerés ;

that I would be a little hunchbacked dwarf;

Et jou si sui , s’en sui au cuer irés .

and so I am, and I am grieved at heart by it.

Jou ne cruc puis que j’oi . iii . ans pasé .

I have not grown since I was three years old.

Quant ele vit qu’ensi m’ot atorné ,

When she saw that she had made me like this,

A se parole me vaut puis amender ;

she wished afterwards to amend her word for me;

Si me donna tel don que vous orrés ,

and she gave me such a gift as you will hear,

Que jou seroie li plus biaus hom carnés

that I would be the most handsome man of flesh

Qui onqes fust en après Damedé .

who ever was, after the Lord God.

Or sui iteus que vous ichi véés ;

Now I am such as you see me here;

Autant sui biaus con solaus en esté .

I am as fair as the sun in summer.

Et l’autre fée me donna mix asés :

And the other fairy gave me far better:

Jou sai de l’omme le cuer et le pensé ,

I know the heart and the thought of a man,

Et si sai dire comment il a ouvré ,

and I can tell how he has acted,

Et en après son peciet creminel .

and besides that, his deadly sin.

La tierce fée me donna mix asés ,

The third fairy gave me far better,

Por moi mix faire et por moi amender ,

to do more for me and to better me,

Si me donna tel don qe vous orrés :

and she gave me such a gift as you will hear:

Qu’il nen a marce , ne païs ne rené ,

that there is no march, nor land, nor kingdom,

Desc’au sec arbre , ne tant c’on puet aler ,

as far as the Dry Tree, or as far as one can travel,

Se jou m’i veul souhaidier en non Dé ,

where, if I wish myself there, in God’s name,

Que jou n’i soie tout à me volenté ,

I would not be there, entirely at my will,

Tout aussi tost con je l’ai devisé ,

just as soon as I have said it,

A tant de gent con je veul demander .

with as many people as I wish to ask for.

Et quant je veul . i . palais maçoner ,

And when I want to build a palace,

A plusors canbres et à maint grant pilier ,

with many chambers and many great pillars,

Jou l’ai tantost , ja mar le mesquerrés ,

I have it at once, you need not doubt it,

Et tel mengier con je veul deviser ,

and such food as I wish to name,

Et itel boire con je veul demander .

and such drink as I wish to ask for.

Et si fui , certes , tot droit à Monmur nés ;

And I was, truly, born right at Monmur;

Lonc est de chi , je vous di par vreté ,

it is far from here, I tell you in truth,

IIIIcc . lieues i puet on bien conter :

a full four hundred leagues can be counted to it:

Plus tost i sui et venus et alés

I have gone there and come back more quickly

Que . i . chevaus n’ait arpent mesuré »

than a horse could cover an acre.”

Dist Auberons : « Je fui nés à Monmur ,

Oberon said: “I was born at Monmur,

Une cité qui mon ancestre fu ;

a city that belonged to my ancestor;

Plus tot i sui et alés et venus

I have gone there and come back more quickly

C’uns cevax n’ait . i . petit camp couru .

than a horse could run across a little field.

El faudestuef sist Auberons li ber ;

On the faldstool sat the noble Oberon;

Li pecoul furent de fin or esmeré ,

its feet were of fine refined gold,

Li arc d’Amors i furent compasé .

the bows of Love were wrought on it.

Fées le fisent en une ille de mer ,

Fairies made it on an island in the sea,

Roi Alixandre le fisent presenter ,

they had it presented to King Alexander,

Qui les tornois fist faire et estorer .

who had tournaments made and established.

Le roi Cesar le fist après donner ;

Afterwards he had it given to King Caesar;

Cil le laissa son fil par amisté .

he left it to his son out of love.

Li fausdestuef fu de tel disnité ,

The faldstool was of such virtue

S’il ciet en fu , il ne puet embraser ;

that if it falls into fire, it cannot burn;

Chil qui sus ert puet estre aséurés ,

whoever sits on it can be secure,

Car ne puet estre por riens envenimés ,

for he cannot be poisoned by anything,

Por nul venin ne puet estre grevés :

by no venom can he be harmed:

Tantost le voit c’on li a aporté ,

at once he sees what has been brought to him,

Par le vertu du faudestuef doré .

by the power of the gilded faldstool.

Li rois avoit . i . bliaut endossé ,

The king had put on a bliaut [a long tunic],

Qui tous estoit de soie naturel ,

which was all of natural silk,

Ançois vous veul de mes joiax donner »

Rather, I want to give you some of my treasures.”

Gloriant a maintenant apelé :

At once he has called Gloriant:

Frere , dist il , mon hanap m’aportés »

“Brother,” he said, “bring me my cup.”

Il le va querre , et puis li a livré ,

He goes to fetch it, and then has handed it to him,

Et Auberons l’a à . ii . mains conbré .

and Oberon has grasped it in both hands.

Hues , dist il , ce hanap esgardés :

“Huon,” he said, “look at this cup:

Le grant pooir que Jhesus m’a donné ,

the great power that Jesus has given me

(En faerie fai jou ma volenté) ,

(in fairyland I do as I will),

Bien le poras maintenant esprover .

you can now put it well to the test.

Tu vois or bien che boin hanap doré ,

You see clearly now this good gilded cup,

Qui est tous vuis , et ja sera conblés »

which is quite empty, and soon it will be full.”

De se main destre l’a trois fois enviré ,

With his right hand he circled it three times,

Puis fist crois sus de Dieu de maïsté ;

then made over it the cross of God in majesty;

Lors devint plains de vin et de claré .

then it became full of wine and of spiced wine.

Dist Auberons : « Hues , or m’entendés :

Oberon said: “Huon, now listen to me:

T’as bien véu conment jou ai ouvré ;

you have clearly seen how I have worked;

C’est de par Dieu que chis hanas est tés .

it is by God’s doing that this cup is such.

Et s’est encore de si grant disnité

And it is moreover of such great virtue

Que , se tout chil qui sont de mere né

that if all who are born of woman

Et tot li mort fusent resusité ,

and all the dead were raised to life again,

Si fusent chi venu et asanblé ,

and had come here and gathered together,

Si renderoit chis hanas vin asés ,

this cup would give wine enough,

Aussi fait boire c’on vauroit deviser ,

whatever drink one might wish to name,

Mais que preudom l’éust en poosté ;

provided a worthy man had it in his keeping;

Car je te di , en fine loiauté ,

for I tell you, in perfect good faith,

Nus n’i puet boire s’il n’est preudom par Dé ,

no one can drink from it unless he is a worthy man, by God,

Et nes et purs et sans pecié mortel .

and clean and pure and without mortal sin.

Lues ke mauvais i veut se main jeter ,

As soon as a wicked man tries to lay his hand on it,

A il perdu du hanap le bonté .

he has lost the virtue of the cup.

Si m’aït Diex , li rois de maïsté ,

So help me God, the king of majesty,

Se t’i pues boire , il te sera donné .

if you can drink from it, it will be given to you.”

— Sire , dist Hues , Dix vous en sace gré ;

“Sire,” said Huon, “may God reward you for it;

Mais je me douc que ne soie pas tés

but I fear that I am not such a man

Que g’i péusse ne boire n’adeser .

that I could either drink from it or touch it.

Ainc en ma vie ne vi tel poosté ;

Never in my life have I seen such power;

Mien ensient , vous savés encanter .

to my mind, you know how to work enchantments.

Sire , dist Hues , envers moi entendés :

Sire,” said Huon, “listen to me:

Je vous di , certes , je me sui confesés

I tell you truly, I have confessed

A l’apostole de Romme la chité ;

to the pope in the city of Rome;

Repentans sui de mes peciés mortés ,

I repent of my mortal sins

En tel maniere , se me puist Dix salver ,

in such a way, so may God save me,

Que ne hac homme qui soit de mere né »

that I hate no man born of woman.”

Dont pase avant li gentis baceler ;

Then the noble young man steps forward;

Le hanap prist , a . ii . mains l’a conbré ,

he took the cup and grasped it in both hands,

Mist l’à se bouce , car tous plains de vin ert ,

put it to his mouth, for it was brimming with wine,

Puis en a but à moult très grant plenté .

then drank from it in very great plenty.

Quant Auberons a tout çou esgardé ,

When Oberon has seen all this,

Moult en fu liés , se le court acoler :

he was very glad, and runs to embrace him:

Hues , biau frere , dist Auberons li ber ,

“Huon, fair brother,” said the noble Oberon,

Si m’aït Dix , preudomme t’ai trové ;

“so help me God, I have found you a worthy man;

Or le te doins , en non de carité ,

now I give it to you, in the name of charity,

Le boin hanap qui a tel disnité ,

the good cup that has such virtue,

En tel maniere que ja dire m’orrés :

on such terms as you will now hear me say:

Que se tu gardes desour ta loiauté

that if you take care, upon your loyalty,

Que tu en veulles par mon consel ouvrer ,

to act in this by my counsel,

Je t’aiderai loiaument , sans fauser ;

I will help you loyally, without fail;

Mais ja si tost mençoigne ne dirés

but no sooner will you tell a lie

Que ne pergiés du hanap le bonté

than you will lose the virtue of the cup

Et de mon cors trestote l’amisté .

and all the friendship of my person.”

— Sire , dist Hues , je m’en quit bien garder ;

“Sire,” said Huon, “I believe I can guard well against that;

Se il vous plaist , or m’en laisiés aler »

if you please, now let me go.”

Dist Auberons : « Encore atenderés ,

Oberon said: “You will wait a little longer,

Car j’ai çaiens . i . cor d’ivoire cler ,

for I have in here a horn of bright ivory,

Et por itant preudomme t’ai trové

and since I have found you a worthy man,

Et net et pur et sans pecié mortel ,

and clean and pure and without mortal sin,

Le te donrai , si aie jou santé ;

I will give it to you, as I hope for health;

Ens t’aumosniere le pues moult bien porter .

you can very well carry it in your purse.

Et après çou jou te veul créanter

And besides this I want to pledge to you,

Del grant pooir que Jhesus m’a donné

by the great power that Jesus has given me

En faerie ù je sui arestés :

in fairyland, where I have my dwelling:

Tu ne seras en tant lontain rené

you will never be in a kingdom so far away

Que se tu cornes ce cor d’ivoire cler ,

that, if you blow this horn of bright ivory,

Que jou ne l’oie à Monmur , ma cité ;

I will not hear it at Monmur, my city;

Et si te jur , desour ma loiauté ,

and I swear to you, upon my loyalty,

Que jou mes cors i serai aprestés ,

that I myself will be there ready,

En me compaigne . cm . hommes armés ,

with a hundred thousand armed men in my company,

Car vers tous hommes t’aiderai à tenser .

for I will help you defend yourself against all men.

Mais une cose te veul je conmander ,

But one thing I want to command you,

Si cier que t’as de m’amor desevrer ,

as dearly as you would hate to be parted from my love,

Et bien le saches en droite loiauté :

and know it well in true faith:

Jou te deffenc , sour les membres coper ,

I forbid you, on pain of having your limbs cut off,

Que ja por nient n’aies le cor sonné ;

ever to sound the horn for nothing;

Car , se le fais , se me puist Dix sauver ,

for if you do it, so may God save me,

Se n’as besoing , tu te pues bien vanter

when you have no need, you may be sure

Tu te verras en si grant povreté

you will find yourself in such great misery

Qu’il n’est cors d’omme qu’il n’en presist pité .

that there is no living man who would not take pity on it.”

— Sire , dist Hues , je m’en quit bien garder ;

“Sire,” said Huon, “I believe I can guard well against that;

Or m’en laissiés , se il vous plaist , aler »

now, if you please, let me go.”

XXV . cambres a ou palais listé ;

There are twenty-five chambers in the ornamented palace;

Ains de plus rice n’oï nus hom parler .

No man ever heard tell of a richer one.

Et s’a . ii . hommes à l’entrer de l’ostel ;

And there are two men at the entrance of the dwelling;

Tout sont de keuvre et fait et compasé ,

They are made and fashioned all of copper,

Si tient cascuns . i . flaiel acouplé ,

And each one holds a jointed flail;

Tout sont de fer , moult font à redouter .

They are all of iron, much to be feared.

Tout adès batent et y ver et esté ,

They keep beating all the time, winter and summer,

Et si vous di , par fine verité .

And I tell you, in pure truth,

Une aloete , que bien tost set voler ,

A lark, which knows how to fly very fast,

Ne poroit mie ens el palais voler

Could not fly into the palace

Que ne fust morte ; ne poroit escaper .

Without being killed; it could not escape.

Et laiens maint . i . grans gaians dervés ;

And inside lives a great raging giant;

Orgilleus est par droit nom apelés .

He is called Orgilleus by his right name.

A . iiii . oisiaus qui moult font à loer ,

there are four birds, much to be praised,

Qui adès cantent et yver et esté ;

which sing all the time, winter and summer;

Le jor li traient [bquant il doit ajorner] .

they herald the day for him [when it is about to dawn].

Harpe ne gigle n’est tele à escouter ;

No harp or fiddle is so good to hear;

Par ingremant i furent compassé .

they were fashioned by necromancy.

Ne me pot onqes ne tant ne quant grever .

Could never harm me in the slightest.

Je li toli , par mon cief , cest ostel ,

I took this dwelling from him, by my head,

Et aveuc çou . i . bon hauberc safré .

And with it a good gilded hauberk.

Il n’est nus hom qui de mere soit né ,

There is no man born of a mother,

Se il pooit ens le kavece entrer ,

If he could get inside its neck-opening,

Qui ja par armes péust estre matés ;

Who could ever be overcome by arms;

Mais il n’est mie à tous abandonnés :

But it is not granted to everyone:

Ce dist la letre qui est ens el coler

The writing that is on the collar says

Que nus ne puet le hauberc endosser ,

That no one can put on the hauberk

S’il n’est preudons et sans pecié mortel ,

Unless he is a worthy man and without mortal sin,

Et nés et purs con s’il fust noviax nés .

And clean and pure as if he were newly born.

Et se la mere qui l’averoit porté

And if the mother who bore him

Avoir à homme en sa vie pensé ,

Had ever in her life thought of a man

Fors c’a celui qui l’aroit espousé ,

Other than the one who had married her,

Lors ne poroit ens el hauberc entrer .

Then he could not get into the hauberk.

Et por che di ge li hons n’est mie nés

And that is why I say the man is not born

Qui le péust , par mon cief , endosser .

Who could, by my head, put it on.

Li haubers est de si grant disnité

The hauberk is of such great worth

Que cil qui l’a dedens son dos jeté ,

That he who has thrown it over his back,

S’il ciet en eu , il ne puet esfondrer ,

If he falls into water, cannot sink,

S’il ciet ens fu , il ne puet enbraser .

If he falls into fire, cannot burn.

Car , par Mahom , je le n’ai esprové ,

For, by Muhammad, I have not tried it on;

Tu me donnas congié de moi armer ,

You gave me leave to arm myself,

Foi que doi Dieu , c’est li rois Auberon .

By the faith I owe God, it is King Oberon.

— Comment ! dist Hues , ne sai mie ton non .

'What!' said Huon, 'I do not know your name.'

— Si le saras , j’ai à non Malabron ,

'You shall know it: my name is Malabron;

De le maisnie sui au roi Auberon ;

I am of King Oberon's household;

Si m’aït Dix , je sui ses liges hon .

So help me God, I am his liegeman.

Si me donna li miens sires tés don

My lord gave me such a gift

Que jou seroie . xxx . ans en mer luiton .

That I would be a sprite in the sea for thirty years.'

— Amis , biax frere , dist Huelins li ber ,

'Friend, fair brother,' said the valiant young Huon,

Por l’amor Diu qui tout a à sauver ,

'For the love of God, who has all things to save,

M’oserai jou en ton gent cors fier »

Shall I dare to trust myself to your fair person?'

Dist Malebruns : « Ne te convient doter ;

Said Malabron: 'You need not be afraid;

Porterai toi outre la rouge mer

I will carry you across the Red Sea

Bien loiaument et sans nul point fauser ,

Most faithfully and without any deceit,

En tel maniere , se me puist Dix salver ,

In such a way, as God may save me,

N’i moilleras ne cauce ne soller .

That you will wet neither hose nor shoe.

Mais or fai tost et soies apresté ,

But now be quick and get ready,

Car je m’en vois ens en ma pel entrer .

For I am going to get into my skin.

Deseur ma crupe te convenra monter ;

You will have to climb up on my back;

Saine toi bien , ne poras mescaver

Cross yourself well (you cannot come to grief)

Que li vrais Dieus nous maint à sauveté »

So that the true God may lead us to safety.'

Cil Malabruns est en sa pel entrés ;

Malabron has gone into his skin;

Deseur le crupe li est Hues montés ,

Huon has climbed onto his back,

Et Malebruns rest salis ens la mer .

And Malabron has leapt back into the sea.

Ne vous sai dire combien mist al paser ,

I cannot tell you how long he took over the crossing,

Mais il n’a chi varlet ne baceler

But there is no servant or young man here

Et s’il i vient , maufés l’aportera »

And if he comes, the devil will bring him.'

Atant se teut et outre s’en ala .

With that he fell silent and went on across.

A lui méismes l’enfes se dementa ;

The youth lamented to himself;

Après a dit : « Damediex m’aidera .

Then he said: 'The Lord God will help me.

Bien sai de voir diables m’encanta

I know for certain the devil bewitched me

Quant je menti à ce pont par delà »

When I lied at that bridge back there.'

Dès ore a Hues les . iiii . pons pasés .

Now Huon has crossed the four bridges.

Quant il fu outre et il fu aroutés ,

When he was across and had set out on his way,

Dont pert le voie du grant palais listé .

Then he loses the road to the great ornamented palace.

Ens ou vregiet l’amiral est entré ;

He has entered the emir's orchard;

Dix ne fist arbre qui péust fruit porter

God made no tree that could bear fruit

Que il n’éust ens el vregiet planté .

That he did not have planted in the orchard.

Une fontaine i cort par son canel ;

A spring runs there along its channel;

De paradis vient li ruis sans fauser .

The stream comes from Paradise, without a lie.

Il n’est nus hom qui de mere soit nés ,

There is no man born of a mother,

Qui tant soit vieus ne quenus ne mellés ,

However old he may be, or white-haired or grizzled,

Que se il puet el ruis ses mains laver ,

Who, if he can wash his hands in the stream,

Que lues ne soit meschins et bacelers .

Is not at once a lad and a young man [again].

Hues i vint , d’encoste est arestés ;

Huon came there and stopped beside it;

Ses mains lava et but de l’aige asés .

He washed his hands and drank plenty of the water.

S’est la fontaine à l’amiral Gaudis ;

This is the spring of the emir Gaudisse;

Li ruisiaus vient del flun de paradis .

The brook comes from the river of Paradise.

Dix ne fist feme , tant ait fait ses delis ,

God made no woman, however much she has had her pleasure,

Que , s’ele boit de l’aige . i . seul petit ,

Who, if she drinks even a little of the water,

Ne soit pucele comme au jour ke nasqui .

Is not a virgin as on the day she was born.

Hues i fu , li damoisiaus de pris ;

Huon was there, the young man of worth;

Ses mains lava , deseure s’est asis .

He washed his hands and sat down above it.

Sele fontaine , . i . serpent le gardoit ;

That spring, a serpent guarded it;

Ja nus mauvais n’i metera le doit

No wicked man will ever put his finger in it

Qui soit traïtres ne qui fause sa loit ,

Who is a traitor or false to his faith,

Et s’il i vient , il est mors orendroit .

And if he comes there, he is dead on the spot.

Hues i vint , li serpens l’enclinoit

Huon came there; the serpent bowed to him

Par le vertu del haubert qu’il portoit ;

By the power of the hauberk he was wearing;

De l’aige but , ses blances mains lavoit ;

He drank of the water and washed his white hands;

Ore oublia chou que faire devoit .

Now he forgot what he was supposed to do.

Hues fu ens , el vregié est entrés .

Huon was inside; he has entered the orchard.

A le fontaine Gaudise l’amiré

At the spring of Gaudisse the emir

Ainc n’i laissa nule riens à conter

He left out nothing at all in the telling

Dont lui péust tant ne quant ramembrer ;

that he could call to mind, great or small;

Et l’apostoles li a tout pardonné .

and the pope has forgiven him everything.

Après , li a la pucele espousé ;

Afterwards he has wedded the maiden to him;

Messe fu dite , et , li mestiers finé ,

Mass was said, and, the service ended,

Arriere vienent ens u palais listé .

they come back into the adorned palace.

Dont li ostai . iiii . dens maselers ,

Then I took from him four molar teeth,

Et , en après , les blans grenons mellés »

And after that, the white grizzled whiskers.'

Dist Gerars : « Sire , et comment les gardés ?

Gerard said: 'Sire, and how do you keep them?'

— Jel vous dirai , dist Hues , en non Dé .

'I will tell you,' said Huon, 'in God's name.

Vés là Geriaume qui les a u costé ;

See Geriaume there, who has them in his side;

Deseur le hance les a enséelés ,

Above the hip he has them sealed in,

Car là les mist Auberons li faés ,

For Oberon the fairy put them there

Par faerie , par le Diu volonté .

By fairy power, by the will of God.'

— Li qués est ce » dit Girars li desvés .

'Which one is he?' said Gerard the madman.

Et respont Hues : « Cis viex que là véés ,

And Huon replies: 'That old man you see there,

Tous . iii . les a errant desprisonés ,

At once he freed all three of them from prison,

Puis les asist dalés lui au disner .

Then seated them beside him at dinner.

Auberons prent sen bon hanap d’or cler ,

Oberon takes his good cup of bright gold,

Si fait crois sus de Diu de maïsté ,

And makes over it the cross of God in majesty,

Et li hanas devint plains de vin cler .

And the cup became full of clear wine.

Li rois le prent , le dame l’a livré .

The king takes it and hands it to the lady.

Et ele but , à Huon l’a livré ,

And she drank, and handed it to Huon,

Et il le rent Geramme le barbé .

And he passes it to Geriaume the bearded.

Et Auberons a Huon apelé :

And Oberon called to Huon:

Or tost , fait il , amis , sus vous levés ,

'Quickly now,' he says, 'friend, get up,

Et si portés ce bon hanap d’or cler

And carry this good cup of bright gold

A Karlemaine , le fort roi coroné ;

To Charlemagne, the mighty crowned king;

En non de pais à boire li donés .

Give it to him to drink in the name of peace.

S’il ne le prent , si m’aït Damedés ,

If he does not take it, so help me the Lord God,

Jou li ferai cierement comperer »

I will make him pay dearly for it.'

Karles l’entent , ki ne sot ke penser ;

Charles hears him, and did not know what to think;

Tous cois se taist , k’il n’i ose parler

He keeps quite still and silent, for he dares not speak

Pour les mervelles ke il ot demener .

Because of the wonders he hears being worked.

Sire , dist Hues , je ferai tout vo gré »

'Sire,' said Huon, 'I will do all your will.'

Si se dreç[a] , s’a le hanap combré ,

Then he rose and took hold of the cup,

Vint à Karlon , et si li a donné .

Came to Charles, and gave it to him.

Li rois le prent , k’il ne l’ose véer ;

The king takes it, for he dares not refuse it;

Lues qu’il le tint , li vins en est alés .

As soon as he held it, the wine was gone.

Vasal , dist Karles , vous m’avés encanté »

'Vassal,' said Charles, 'you have bewitched me.'

Dist Auberons : « Ains fait vo mauvaisté ;

Said Oberon: 'No, your wickedness does it;

Car li hanas est de tel disnité

For the cup is of such worth

Nus n’i puet boire s’il n’est preudom clamé ,

That no one can drink from it unless he is known as a worthy man,

Et nes et purs et sans pecié mortel .

And clean and pure and without mortal sin.

Drois emperere , se me puist Dix sauver ,

Rightful emperor, as God may save me,

Jou en sai . i . ki moult est crimineus ,

I know of one [sin] that is very grievous,

Que vous fesistes moult a lonc tans passé ,

Which you committed a very long time ago,

Ne ainc n’en fustes à prestre confessés ;

And you never confessed it to a priest;

S’il ne m’estoit por vo cors avieuter ,

If it were not that it would shame you,

Ja le diroie sans point de demorer »

I would tell it now without any delay.'

Et de ma tere le moitié li donnés »

and give him half of my land.”

François l’entendent , si pleurent de pité .

The French hear it, and weep for pity.

Dist Auberons : « Se me puist Dix salver ,

Oberon said: “So may God save me,

Tos l’ors du mont nes poroit respiter ,

all the gold in the world could not reprieve them;

Ains les souhaide là sus emmi les prés ,

rather I wish them up there in the midst of the meadows,

Que il i soient tous . iiii . traïné ,

so that all four of them may be dragged there,

Par faerie et par ma disnité .

by fairy power and by my dignity.

A unes fourqes soit Gerars encrués ,

On a gallows let Gerard be hanged,

Il et se sires , Gibouars de Viesmés ,

he and his lord, Gibouart of Viesmes,

Et aveuc aus souhaide jou l’abbé ,

and with them I wish there the abbot

Et l’autre moine que il ot amené ,

and the other monk whom he had brought,

Por çou qu’il vinrent tesmoignaige porter .

because they came to bear witness.

Les fourques veul ensement demander ,

The gallows too I want to call up;

Plus hautes soient c’uns ars ne puist jeter »

let them be higher than a bow can shoot.”

Tantost i furent com il l’ot devisé ;

At once they were there, as he had described;

Tout . iiii . furent pendu et traïné ;

all four were hanged and dragged;

Lour loier ont de lor grant malvaisté .

they have their reward for their great wickedness.

Karles le voit , moult en est esfraés ,

Charles sees it, and is greatly frightened by it,

Puis s’escria , voiant tot le barné :

then cried out, in the sight of all the barons:

Par foi , dist Karles , cis hom est Damedé ;

“By my faith,” said Charles, “this man is the Lord God;

Se il voloit , nous seriens tout tué »

if he wished, we would all be killed.”

Auberons l’ot , se li a escrié :

Oberon hears it, and has called out to him:

Drois emperere , se me puist Dix salver ,

“Rightful emperor, so may God save me,

Ne sui pas Dix , ains sui . i . hon carné .

I am not God, but I am a man of flesh.

Auberons sui par droit non apelés ,

I am called Oberon by my right name;

Droit à Monmur , certes , là fui ge nés .

right at Monmur, truly, there I was born.

Jules Cesar me nori bien souef ,

Julius Caesar brought me up most tenderly,

Qui les cemins fist faire et compasser ;

he who had the roads built and laid out;

Morge la fée , qui tant ot de biauté ,

Morgan the fairy, who had such great beauty,

Ce fu ma mere , se me puist Dix sauver ;

she was my mother, so may God save me;

IX . mois tos plains me porta en ses lés .

nine full months she carried me within her.

A ma naisence ot grant joie mené ;

At my birth there was great rejoicing;

Tous les haus hommes manderent du rené .

they summoned all the great men of the kingdom.

Jules , mes peres , fist grant feste crier ;

Julius, my father, had a great feast proclaimed;

Grans fu la cors des barons naturés .

great was the court of high-born barons.

Fées i vinrent ma mere revider ;

Fairies came there to visit my mother;

Une en i ot qui n’ot mie son gré ,

there was one of them who was not at all pleased,

Si me donna tel don que vous véés ,

and she gave me such a gift as you see,

Que je seroie petis nains bocerés ;

that I would be a little hunchbacked dwarf;

Et jou si sui , s’en sui au cuer irés :

and so I am, and I am grieved at heart by it:

Je ne cruc pas puis [j’oi] . iii . ans pasés .

I have not grown since [I had] passed three years.

Quant ele vit qu’ensi fui atournés ,

When she saw that I was made like this,

A se parole vaut auqes amender ,

she wished to amend her word somewhat,

Si me donna tel don qe vous véés ,

and gave me such a gift as you see,

Que jou seroie li plus biaus hon carnés

that I would be the most handsome man of flesh

Qui onqes fust en après Damedé ,

who ever was, after the Lord God,

Et jou si sui , si qe bien le véés ;

and so I am, as you can well see;

Aussi biaus sui com solaus en esté .

I am as fair as the sun in summer.

Et l’autre fée me donna mix asés ,

And the other fairy gave me far better,

Mais ne veul pas tot ore raconter

but I do not want to tell just now

Çou que les fées m’orent dit et donné .

what the fairies told me and gave me.

Drois emperere , dist Auberons li ber ,

Rightful emperor,” said the noble Oberon,

Si m’aït Dix , li rois de maïsté ,

“so help me God, the king of majesty,

Moult aimme droit et foi et loiauté ;

who greatly loves right and faith and loyalty;

Pour chou aim jou Huon le baceler ,

that is why I love Huon, the young knight,

Car preudon est , et bien l’ai esprové »

for he is a worthy man, and I have well proved it.”

A icest mot , a Huon apielé .

With this word, he has called Huon.

Amis , dist il , or tost , sus vous levés :

“Friend,” he said, “now quickly, get up:

En seur que tous dus Nales li barbés .

and above all Duke Naimes the bearded.

La cours depart , n’i sont plus aresté ;

The court breaks up; they stay there no longer;

Rois Auberons a Huon apielé .

King Oberon has called Huon.

Hues , dist il , envers moi entendés :

“Huon,” he said, “listen to me:

Je vous commant , si kier que vous m’avés ,

I command you, as you hold me dear,

III . ans pasés , à Monmur en venrés ,

when three years have passed, you will come to Monmur,

Si averés toute ma roiauté ,

and you will have all my kingdom,

Et aveuc chou arés ma disnité .

and with that you will have my dignity.

Saciés de voir bien le vos puis donner ,

Know for certain that I can well give it to you,

Car je vous di en fine verité ,

for I tell you in very truth

Qu’ensi me fu au naistre devisé

that so it was ordained for me at my birth

Que bien le puis qui qe je veul donner ;

that I may give it to whomever I wish;

Et je vous ainme en bone loiauté ,

and I love you in good loyalty,

Si vous donrai toute ma disnité .

so I will give you all my dignity.

Couronne d’or en vo cief porterés ,

You will wear a crown of gold on your head,

Et à Geriaume donrés vos iretés ,

and you will give your inheritances to Gériaume,

Car bien les a deservi , en non Dé :

for he has well deserved them, in God’s name:

Servi vous a de cuer et sans fauser ,

he has served you with his heart and without falseness,

Et s’a pour vous maint travail enduré .

and he has endured many hardships for you.

Moult est preudom et de grant loiauté ;

He is a very worthy man and of great loyalty;

Mix l’en doit estre , se me puist Dix salver .

he ought to fare the better for it, so may God save me.”

— Sire , dist Hues , moult avés bien parlé ;

“Sire,” said Huon, “you have spoken very well;

Je li donrai quant vous le commandés »

I will give them to him, since you command it.”

Dist Auberons : « Amis , or m’entendés :

Oberon said: “Friend, now listen to me:

Je ne veul plus au siecle demorer ,

I no longer wish to remain in the world;

Là sus m’en veul em paradis aler ,

I want to go up there to paradise,

Car nostre Sires le m’a certes mandé ,

for our Lord has truly sent me word,

Et je ferai la soie volenté .

and I will do his will.

Mes sieges est à son destre costé ;

My seat is at his right side;

En faerie ne veul plus arester .

I no longer wish to stay in fairyland.

Chou que te di ne met en oublier ,

Do not let what I tell you slip into forgetting,

Si te desfen , sur les menbres coper ,

and I forbid you, on pain of having your limbs cut off,

Et sur le foi que tu me dois porter ,

and on the faith you owe me,

Que vers le roi n’aies mais estrivé ;

ever again to quarrel with the king;

Te sires est , se li dois foi porter .

he is your lord, and you must keep faith with him.”

— Sire , dist Hues , g’en ferai tot vo gré »

“Sire,” said Huon, “I will do all your will in this.”

Rois Auberons a congiet demandé ;

King Oberon has asked leave to go;

Il acola Karlemaine le ber ,

he embraced Charlemagne the noble,

De Huelin li proie au desevrer ,

on parting he pleads with him for young Huon,

Huon baisa et puis s’en est tornés .

kissed Huon, and then has turned away.

Il s’en reva à Monmur sa chité ,

He goes back to Monmur, his city,

O lui enmaine tot son rice barné .

taking with him all his rich company of barons.

Et li rois Karles est à Paris ralés ,

And King Charles has gone back to Paris,