La Damigella di Scalot
La Damigella di Scalot is a thirteenth-century
The character of the Lady of Scalot is based on the
The original story from Il Novellino, translated in English
QUI CONTA COME LA DAMIGELLA DI SCALOT MORÌ, PER AMORE DI LANCIALOTTO DEL LAC. |
HERE IS NARRATED OF HOW THE LADY OF SHALOTT DIED, FOR LOVE OF LANCELOT OF THE LAKE Queen Guinevere. So intensely she loved Lancelot, that she came to her death, and she ordered that, when her soul should depart from her body, [that] a rich boat should be furnished, covered in vermilion samite, with a rich bed within, with rich and noble silk coverings, adorned with rich precious stones: and that her body should be placed upon this bed, dressed of her most noble vestments, and with a beautiful crown on her head, rich of much gold and many precious stones, and with rich belt and purse. And in that purse she kept a letter, of tones unfolded hereafter. Yet, first, we tell what happens before the letter. The lady died of lovesickness, and it was done of her as she had said. The boat, with no sail, and with no oars and no-one on, was set to sea, with the woman on. The sea drove her to Camelot, and it stopped on the shore. The buzz reached the court. Knights and barons dismounted from their palaces, and the noble King Arthur went there, and was greatly surprised that it had no pilot. The King got on board: he saw the lady and her . He had the purse opened: they found the letter. He had it read, and it said thus: “To all the knights of the Round Table sends health this lady of Shalott, as to the best people of the world. And if you want to know why I came to my end, that is because of the greatest knight in the world, and the most villainous; that is my lord Sir Lancelot of the Lake, whom I was unable to pray of his love such that he would have pity of me. And thus, weary, I died, for loving well, as you can see!”.
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—Il Novellino. Le ciento novelle antike. LXXXII |
References
- ^ Il Novellino: Le ciento novelle antike
- ISBN 978-1-4068-0844-5. Retrieved 13 December 2012.