four days before Saint Barnabe
One month since my lord told me a story, he came again this past night. I reminded myself of Marzin the Magician, and demanded of my lord if he had not a son or a family.
My lord says me that he is the son of the devil and a nun. That he has not family, but that he is the lover of the fairy Viviane.
It is Viviane who made him prisoner in nine magic circles of light, invisible as air, but more strong than stone. He wanders still the Broceliande, although he is very rarely seen.
Viviane met Marzin at the Fontaine de Barenton and then enchanted him at the Fontaine de Jeunesse Eternale. She used the chants of Marzin himself to turn his age into youth.
Marzin built for her a crystal stronghold beneath the lake at Concoret. It falsely reflects the Chateau de Comper. My lord says me that if one plunges into the lake and looks far enough down, the stronghold of Viviane can be seen.
I demanded of my lord to take me to the lake and to teach me to swim.
He laughed at me and replied to me that girls swim not.
I replied to him that I am not a young girl, but a woman. And that his wife. And if he can swim, than I am sure to be able to. I have two arms and two legs as has he.
He laughed the harder, his head falling from his hand and onto the bed.
At this I came from the bed, walked to beside him at the foot, and lifted my robe that he could see how sturdy were my legs.
He stopped laughing.
one day before Saint Jean-Baptiste
My lord has gone to Dinan these two weeks. He left Anne and I. I have tried to interest Anne in books.
She says me that reading gives her pain in the head and tires her eyes.
I told her of an invention in Italy of glasses one puts in front of the eyes to be aided to see.
She says me that they must be ugly or they would be the fashion, and that no man loves a women with red eyes, crossed from reading.
one day before Sainte Marie-Madeleine
My lord rendered me a visit.
I demanded of him information on the chevaliers of Arthur and how many there were.
My lord says me that there were 350. And when they feasted, they sat at a great round table so that there was no first or last among them. They were the most strong and most courageous chevaliers in all the world. And they went out from Arthur in search of adventure, and returned to him only when they had overcome many things and obtained much glory.
As Arthur became aged, he began to think they must lose respect for him, for he had not fought a battle in many years. He made the decision to show the chevaliers that he was still the most strong and the most courageous. He called them to battle against the Romans.
Before his leaving, he gave his kingdom to the keeping of his nephew, Mordred. Mordred was Lord of Verre, where there was neither summer nor winter.
When Arthur came near to the Romans, the army came out to meet him. The fight lasted three days. At the finish, only seven of the chevaliers of Arthur had life. The rest of the 350 had been killed. But still, Arthur made the Romans retreat. At this moment here, messengers brought news that Mordred had taken Guenievre to the Land of Verre and had there married her and made of himself the King of the Two Bretagnes.
Arthur left the Romans and returned to Bretagne. There, Arthur and the chevaliers discovered that Mordred had made an alliance with the Saxons, and led an army of 50,000. There was much fighting and the sea became red with blood.
The final battle took place in Kamlann and was the battle the most bloody the world has ever seen. There were 100,000 deaths. Of the seven chevaliers that had returned from fighting the Romans, only three remained: Morvran ab Tegit who was so ugly people thought him the devil; Sanddey Bryd Angel who was so fair people thought him an angel and feared to touch him: and Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr who was the last chevalier to see Arthur alive.
Arthur and Mordred found themselves face to face in the middle of the field of battle. Arthur pierced Mordred through the chest with Rongomyant, his lance. But, before his death, Mordred stuck his sword in the sides of Arthur.
Faithful servants of Arthur carried him to a chapel by the sea.
Arthur demanded of his servants to help him gain the sea. Then he took his sword and took his leave of it. He demanded it be thrown into the sea.
The faithful servants then took the sword and launched it at the sea. At the point where it touched the waters, an arm appeared from the sea and lifted high the sword three times, and then drew the sword beneath the waves.
Arthur took his leave of the faithful servants, saying, “Where I am going, you cannot follow, but one day I must return.”
Then the faithful servants took leave of their king, but in their leaving they saw a boat that reached the shore not far from Arthur. And in the boat sat the Fairy Morgane, the sister of Arthur, who, when she saw the king, left the boat and touched him. Arthur got to his feet as if healed and leapt into the boat.
The boat sailed to Avalon where Arthur lives still.
I demanded of my lord why I have not heard before of Morgane, the sister of Arthur He says me that the name of Morgane is spoken with reverence. She is a healer and a prophetess and a magician.
I have made note that all good women are fair, as are Olwen and Guenievre.
Must that mean that Anne is wicked?
day of Saint Dominique
I see many children of all the tradesmen. It is my duty as a wife to have children for my lord.
I demanded of Agnes how I might have children and she replied to me that sometimes God is slow: she told me that I must say extra Ave Marias, and then God will hear my prayer, and that if my lord renders me visits more often this will help.
day of Saint Laurent
I have taken the decision that I will write a mystery, a play in verse, for the services this year for Easter. The first task must be to choose a story. For a mystery, perhaps something Breton, the life of St. Ivo or Saint Guenole. Or something more pious: the life of Jesu Christ. If I will work hard, and write well, then I may have 1,000 verses.
day of Assomption
I have explained to my lord that which I will try to accomplish: a mystery with 1,000 verses. He says me that the priest is not decided what importance these mysteries have to the church.
But I tell my lord that he has much power, and why should the priest not listen to the advice of a comte?
My lord looked at me, an appraisal I must imagine, and says me that I begin to think like a comtesse. But also that he must read the mystery in whole before he will recommend it to the priest even in part.
I will begin my work tomorrow.
one day after Assomption
This day I have chosen St. Ivo as my mystery. I had wanted the life of Jesu Christ, but then have reminded myself that the scene of the crucifixion must take as long as it did for our lord, the Christ. If the priest is not decided on the value of a mystery, then perhaps a mystery which will take fifty of the peasants the day entire to perform, would not be a wise choice.
And now, I must educate myself on the life of St. Ivo. Who better to tell me the story of this saint than my lord? Surely it must number among the dozens of which he has knowledge.
two days after Assomption
I have demanded of my lord to come to my chamber this night.
He replied to me to be certain that this is what I desire.
I replied to him, but of course I am.
And in leaving, he raised my hand to his lips and kissed it.
When he is come, he has seen me at my desk. And he says me, I had thought to come to your chamber of your heart and I come instead to the chamber of your head?
