Introduction

Conseil (Advice) is preserved in five manuscripts: (i) S (C in Grigoriu, Peersman and Rider); (ii) A: Paris, BNF, fr. 837; (iii) B: Paris, BNF, fr. 1593; (iv) D: Paris, BNF, Rothschild 2800; (v) E: Paris, BNF, Moreau 1729 (an incomplete eighteenth-century copy). Our translation is based on S, which is currently unpublished (an edition by Leslie C. Brook is forthcoming in the 2016 issue of Le Cygne). The recent translation by Grigoriu and Rider is based on A.

One Christmas Eve, at a large gathering in an unspecified plenary court, there is much talk of love. A powerful and wealthy lady present is being courted by three knights. Parting from them amicably, she approaches a knight she sees sitting alone. She tells him of her situation and asks his advice about which of the three is most suitable for her. First, he asks her to tell him about the respective qualities of the three knights. This she does briefly, relying on both her own observations and hearsay. The knight comments on each of the three suitors, condemning braggarts and slanderous talk and stressing the need for secrecy in love. But he refuses to choose between them, suggesting that she should seek advice from others and not rely simply on him. The lady is nevertheless impressed by the openness of his responses and the discussion is then prolonged by her request that he tell her more about the nature of love and how to keep it secret. The knight answers all her questions at length, dealing with both desirable and undesirable behaviour in men and women. Finally, she is so taken by his advice and obvious knowledge of the world that she gives him a belt she is wearing and asks him to present it to the man most suitable to receive her love. He puts the belt around his own waist and offers to be her companion in love. They become discreet lovers, and her wealth enables him to attend tournaments, which he often wins. After a time, the lady's husband dies and the couple are able to marry and live happily together.