Die gute Frau (ca. 1230)
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Miscellaneous Romances
Die gute Frau (ca. 1230)
Sommer, E. (ed.): Die gute Fraue. In: ZfdA 2 (1842), p. 385-481.
DgF-1:
A book is found in Arle, written on behalf of King Karl and dealing with his descent. The chaplain of the Margrave of Nunfferran has read it and was asked by this lord to translate it into German.
Motif References:
DgF-21:
In France lives a virtuous count called Ruoppert who reigns over Barria. Two years after his marriage, a daughter is born. One of the count’s vassals is of almost the same rank except for the fact that he receives land from the count on feudal tenure. The two lords are faithful friends to each other. A son is born to the vassal at nearly the same time as the count’s daughter. The children grow up together as close friends.
Motif References:
T 23 (Bm) Childhood sweethearts
P 310 Friendship
DgF-92:
The girl’s father dies and she fears being separated from her friend. Wife and daughter are commended to vassal’s custody. Two years later the girl’s mother dies as well and many nobles woo the rich orphan. After some time also her guardian dies. She lives a virtuous life and gives alms to the poor so that she is called “the good lady” all over the country.
Motif References:
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
Z 731 (Bm) Eponymous account of nicknames
DgF-175:
The young woman decides to stay unmarried because love causes pain. She leads the comfortable life of a noble lady: owns castles and land, horses and clothes, has an entourage of knights and ladies, is entertained by hunting, music, chants, stories. She fears that her husband would either neglect his duties because of her or stay away from home because of tournaments and fights. The latter possibility would cause her anxiety.
Motif References:
P 60 Noble (gentle) ladies
T 311 Woman averse to marriage
DgF-231:
The boy becomes a virtuous young knight. He serves the young lady who is his friend since childhood. She is friendly disposed towards him since his father committed his son to her benevolence on his deathbed.
Motif References:
P 52.2 (Li) Knight in service of a lady
M 258 Promise to dying man (sacred)
DgF-301:
Love (minne) has two keys, one for love and one for pain. Love overcomes and subjects the young hero. Dialogue between him and Love. He begs for his lady’s love but Love refuses to grant his request. She teaches him to avoid bad women’s company and serve good ladies with knightly behavior. He resolves to accomplish brave deeds in his lady’s honor and thus rise in people’s estimation.
Motif References:
T 29 Falling in love - miscellaneous
T 91.6.1 Lowly person falls in love with king (queen)
Z 137 (Li) Love personified: “Frau Minne”
Z 150 Other symbols
DgF-403:
The young hero wants to leave the country and stay abroad for one year. He takes his leave from his lady, promising to undertake feats of valor in her honor and declaring that his heart would always stay with her. She tries to hold him back, not knowing that love compels him to leave her.
Motif References:
DgF-503:
He informs her that he is going to fight for the count of Pettowe whose land has been assaulted by the king of Spain and the duke of Pritanie (Britain). He sets out the next morning, accompanied by only eight servants.
Motif References:
P 58 (Bm) Knight aids man [woman] unjustly besieged [assailed]
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
H 1223 Quest to undertake feats of valor
DgF-551:
He reaches Pettow where villages, castles and fields have been burnt down by the enemy. The poor suffer from hunger. Since 13 years the king of Spain assaults the count’s land from time to time. He is supported by a relative, the British duke. The young hero distinguishes himself as a fighter. Since he fights for his lady’s love, he declines any reward. The king devastates the count’s land only in summer.
Motif References:
L 225 Hero refuses reward
DgF-633:
Using war-machines for siege (ebenhoch and mange), the king takes many castles, among them Cawirss and Mushart. Only Linode, Rodel, Poitiers and Lenseny are left to the count who assembles his vassals for a council of war. He deliberates on whether he should venture a battle against the invaders or submit himself, becoming vassal of the king. They decide on fighting back. The counselors advise to move to one of the remaining towns and appoint principals to each town to whom others should swear an oath of allegiance.
Motif References:
P 557.0.1 (Li) Council of war
DgF-709:
On his counselors’ advice the count asks his guest to take the charge of Linode upon him. His guest feels honored and reluctantly consents. The count gives him an escort of 100 knights and the young hero starts off for Linode the next morning. There, he receives oaths of allegiance. The town is the starting point for assaults on the enemies. The hero accomplishes that the enemy’s food provision becomes more and more difficult. The duke volunteers for capturing the dangerous opponent and chooses 300 knights for this enterprise.
Motif References:
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
K 2350 Military strategy
DgF-804:
A page reveals to the young hero that the Britons will waylay him. In the same night, he hides himself together with his companions in a forest near the enemies. He advises his knights to keep silent during the night and wait for him the next morning. He will approach the enemy and in case he will be chased by only a few pursuers return to the forest. If the pursuers are too many for open combat, he will ride another way. He takes only 13 companions with him. As the enemies notice him, he flees towards the forest, killing five horses of his pursuers.
Motif References:
N 832 Boy as helper
K 2369 Military strategy - miscellaneous
DgF-880:
The hidden companions come to his aid and the battle starts. Though the duke’s army is superior in number they are put to flight. The hero captures the duke on the battlefield and the king is compelled to ransom his relative.
Motif References:
R 5 Capture on field of battle
L 325 (Bm) Victory over superior force
P 533.1 Hostages
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
DgF-923:
After his return to Linode the hero sends a messenger to inform the count of the victory and the duke’s capture. The grateful count offers him the hand of his daughter and the country of Poittowe after his death, but the hero declines, recommending the duke as proper husband, since this marriage would confirm peace. The count follows this advice.
Motif References:
T 103 (Bm) Hero, offered hand of princess as reward, remains true to betrothed [beloved]
M 201.5 Covenant confirmed by marriage
DgF-973:
One day a messenger arrives, reporting that the hero’s lady is in distress: Count Wide of Averne has conquered and scorched half of her land because she had refused to marry him. The young knight goes to meet the count, kneels down before him and tells him what has happened. His host assures him of his military aid and assembles 500 knights. The young hero leads this troop back to his home country where it is enforced by the lady’s warriors: 500 knights and 1000 pages.
Motif References:
P 58 (Bm) Knight aids man [woman] unjustly besieged [assailed]
T 75.2.1 Rejected suitors’ revenge
T 104.1 Rejected suitor wages war
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)
DgF-1069:
The next day the hero’s army approaches the enemy and pitches camp beside a river called Aller which runs between the two armies and is too deep to be crossed with horses. Count Wide of Averne compares war with a board game or game of dice. He has his army divided into three parts: one troop led by the count of Murlan, who rules over Gason, another led by Count Lufer of Provenze; the third is Count Wide’s own. He chooses the best knights for battle. The hero has two troops and asks the count to bring up the rear.
Motif References:
P 552 Battle formations
DgF-1127:
The next morning the armies engage in a battle at a ford. Finally, Count Wide is defeated, his knights captured, slain or put to flight. The hero is wounded on one hand and one finger stays curved. His lady comes to the army camp to meet the count and give thanks to him.
Motif References:
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
DgF-1237:
She also welcomes her friend and then returns home. Many people praise her extraordinary beauty. The young knight accompanies his helpers for three days on their way back after the booty has been divided. They assure each other of their friendship and loyalty. The hero is still in love with the lady and strives to act in an honorable way: honor good women and shun the company of bad. Also the girl falls in love and longs for the boy’s company. Both lose their interest in food, drinking, laughing or songs.
Motif References:
T 24.1 Love-sickness
T 29 Falling in love - miscellaneous
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
DgF-1306:
Excursus about the nature of love: love often causes pain. An example for this is the story of the queen of Babylon. She stays unmarried but spends the nights with different men who are beheaded the next morning. Thus love causes both joy and pain.
Motif References:
P 29 Queens - miscellaneous
S 133 Murder by beheading
T 470 Illicit sexual relations - miscellaneous motifs
DgF-1371:
The young man does not dare to hope for his lady’s love because she is richer than he himself whereas she considers his virtue high enough to compensate her higher rank. She decides to marry him no matter what her counselors say and resorts to a ruse, telling her counselors that an enemy is planning to attack her land. The counselors advise her to choose a husband who would defend her and her land and eventually recommend the knight who has rescued the count of Poitowe.
Motif References:
P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court [King’s council]
T 91.7 Unequals in love - miscellaneous
K 1760 Other bluffs
DgF-1441:
Her choice is approved by all subjects. Her husband devotes himself to hunting (with goshawks, dogs, falcons and greyhounds) and tournaments. One day he goes out hunting birds and follows a brook until he reaches a mill where he notices 12 paupers lying asleep. Some are lame, some blind. The young knight inquires who takes care of them and the miller answers that the country’s lady has put them into his custody.
Motif References:
Z 71.8 Formulistic number: twelve
N 760 Other accidental encounters
N 771 King (prince) (lost) on hunt has adventures
DgF-1503:
The knight rides on considering his own fortune and God’s grace who bestowed so many gifts upon him. On his way home he thinks about his salvation and that it could be lost by his social rank and wealth. The next morning he has come to the conclusion that it were better for their soul if he and his wife would abandon all worldly goods. His wife agrees.
Motif References:
J 347 Wealth and glory sacrificed for freedom and virtue
V 440 Other religious virtues
V 520 Salvation
DgF-1598:
At night the couple puts on worn-out clothes and leaves the castle secretly. Within a year, their appearance changes so much that nobody would ever recognize them. They go begging and rejoice when they are treated in a rough way. Together they rove about until the woman conceives two sons.
Motif References:
P 16.1 King (prince) retires from world (becomes hermit [monk, pilgrim], swineherd [beggar])
T 587 Birth of twins
J 910 Humility of the great
DgF-1655:
One day the woman falls seriously ill and her husband brings her and the children to a hospital where she stays till her older son is grown up and goes begging with his father. As the people do not give alms any more and they have nothing to eat for two days, the woman asks her husband to find a lady whom she could serve.
Motif References:
DgF-1719:
He does not want to leave his wife but finally has to give in and searches a noble lady. He finds one who comes with him and offers two pounds to the man for selling his wife. Thus the woman of noble birth becomes a serf, wraps the money her husband has received for her into a red taffeta and hands it over to him. The parting of husband and wife is immensely painful.
Motif References:
L 113.2 Menial heroine
T 292 Wife sold unwillingly by husband
T 299 Other aspects of married life - miscellaneous
DgF-1781:
The husband leaves, carrying his sons till he reaches a bridge which leads across a swollen river. He sets down one child and carries the other on his back to the opposite river-bank. As he is about to fetch his other son and crossing the footbridge, it is swept away by the flood. The water carries him away till he is swept to the bank half a mile way down. He hurries back to his children but meanwhile the bishop of Reims and the count of Urliems have found the boys and each one of them taken one child with them. Thus the boys are rescued from poverty.
Motif References:
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
N 310 Accidental separations
N 315 Separation by being on different banks of stream
N 399 Additional unlucky accidents
N 835 Wealthy (powerful) man as helper
N 846 Cleric as helper
DgF-1833:
The hero sits down beneath a tree and puts off his wet clothes. He prays to God, expressing his willingness to serve him further on. As he falls asleep an eagle comes and takes away his money-bag. The man runs after bird but has to give up and continues his journey.
Motif References:
V 50 Prayer
N 352.2 Jewel (garment, [money-bag]) carried off by bird (from bather)
DgF-1865:
Attacked by crows and kites the eagle drops the money-bag in the moment when he flies above the town where “the good lady” abides. The woman finds it and picks it up. She assumes that her husband has died and reproaches herself for having left him and the children. She cries and beats her breast. Nevertheless she trusts in God’s guidance and protection.
Motif References:
N 399 Additional unlucky accidents
V 440 Other religious virtues
DgF-1927:
Whereas the hero leads a mendicant life, the woman serves a noble lady. On a frame she fabricates braids, belts and schapels with gold and silver threads and educates the lady’s two daughters. Finally she regains health and her former beauty. She is praised by many people and also the count of Beleis, lord of her new home-town Treis, hears about her and sends for the merchant. The count demands his servant-woman as his concubine, promising to exempt the merchant from taxes in return. The merchant agrees and the woman prays that God may protect her honor.
Motif References:
V 50 Prayer
T 210.1 Faithful wife
M 220 Other bargains
P 431 Merchant
N 851 Merchant as helper
DgF-1993:
The woman is led to the count who falls in love with her and wants to make her his concubine. But as they sleep together, he is not able to have sexual intercourse with her because God is protecting her honor. He asks her if she is still a virgin and if she has used some magic. He declares that he will make her countess no matter whether they are married or not. She denies the charge of having used magic and tells him not only that she has been married before but also the events leading to her present situation.
Motif References:
V 59 Prayers answered - miscellaneous
T 91.6 Noble and lowly in love
V 201 God
T 321 Escape from undesired lover by miracle
T 350 Chaste sleeping together
N 817.0.1 God as helper
DgF-2103:
The next morning they attend mass and the count makes his castles, land and vassals subject to his new wife. Both live happily together, and the countess pleases the people with gifts and benevolence. Thus the count’s relatives and vassals are even more loyal to her than to him.
Motif References:
L 162 Lowly heroine marries prince (king, [count])
T 315.2 The continent husband
DgF-2143:
As Count Diebald dies the woman inherits his property in preference to other relatives according to the custom in France where women have equal right of succession as men.
Motif References:
P 527 (Li) Problems of inheritance (legacy)
DgF-2167:
The king of France has intended to marry the queen of Arragon but she has eloped on her way to France with the king of Portugal. Counselors urge the French king now to take another wife and finally the king agrees. He suggests the countess of Beleis and his counselors consent, and recommends sending the abbot of Saint Nise to the lady.
Motif References:
P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court [King’s council]
P 18 Marriage of kings
T 64 King seeks bride only because counsellors insist
DgF-2250:
The abbot relates the king’s proposal to the countess, who is thankful but requests to be allowed to postpone her answer.
Motif References:
T 51 Wooing by emissary
P 426 Clergy
DgF-2300:
At night the lady kneels down and prays to God that her future rank would not hinder her from his blessings. While she is sleeping, a voice whispers into her ear that she shall become queen of France and would receive a crown in heaven as reward for her good life.
Motif References:
V 50 Prayer
V 59 Prayers answered - miscellaneous
Q 172 Reward: admission to heaven
M 302.7 Prophecy through dreams
M 369 Miscellaneous prophecies
D 1812.3.3 Future revealed in dream
D 1814.2 Advice from dream
DgF-2334:
The lady assembles her counselors and asks their opinion. They advise her to marry the king. She follows their advice and tells the abbot to ask the king’s counselors whether they would come to fetch her or she should travel to the wedding. The abbot reports the countess’ answer to king.
Motif References:
DgF-2391:
The four princes conduct the woman to Paris where the king awaits her. The new queen is received with a big celebration.
Motif References:
T 133 Travel to wedding
T 136.1 Wedding feast
P 634 Feasts
DgF-2429:
The queen who has eloped with the king of Portugal knows a magician from Toledo who writes a magic formula for her. With this she is able to do harm to the king of France; the spell causes the king’s impotence which no physician can heal. After the wedding night the king is ashamed but his bride appeases him. As compensation, the king states that if she should ever have another husband or children, they should be rich as well.
Motif References:
T 591 Barrenness or impotence induced by magic
D 1273 Magic formula (charm)
D 1336.8 Magic spell gives weakness
D 1711 Magician
D 1837 Magic weakness
DgF-2495:
The next morning the royal crown and garments, adorned with sapphires, balases, rubies and gold, are prepared for the couple. King and queen go to church wearing their crowns and are married there.
Motif References:
P 29 Queens - miscellaneous
DgF-2550:
After one year the king dies. It is custom in France that the king is obliged to enfeoff 12 princes by handing over the banner. If those 12 reach an agreement they are able to outvote the king. They advise the queen to remarry and she consents on the condition that she is allowed to mourn the king for one year. She spends this year with giving alms and praying. She hopes that her former husband will return within this year or that she will learn whether he is dead or still alive.
Motif References:
P 50 Noblemen (knights) [rules of chivalry]
Z 71.8 Formulistic number: twelve
T 151 Year’s respite from unwelcome marriage
DgF-2615:
After the king’s death, the queen sends messengers throughout the country to invite the paupers to Saint Nise so that they will receive clothes and food out of her hand. At the king’s burial the abbot himself sings the mass and the queen gives an offering of 20 bisants (gold coins).
Motif References:
V 69 Funeral rites - miscellaneous
DgF-2672:
One pauper forces his way through the crowd till he reaches the queen, begging for alms. The queen notices that one of the beggar’s fingers is deformed and thus recognizes her husband. She leads him away and orders a chamberlain to provide him with everything he needs.
Motif References:
H 79 Recognition by physical attributes - miscellaneous
T 96 Lovers reunited after many adventures
H 152.1 Poor people given alms: one of them recognized
N 741 Unexpected meeting of husband and wife
DgF-2703:
After the mass, the queen kneels down and gives thanks to God for this miracle. Then she orders her head-chamberlain to prepare a bath and beautiful clothes for the pauper. The queen has a meal with her guests. After the meal she dismisses the servants to be able to talk alone with the princes. She tells them her life-history. They agree that her newly found husband should be the legitimate king.
Motif References:
V 50 Prayer
DgF-2791:
Though the bath removes the dirt from the pauper, his skin still remains dark. His body shows marks of knightly combats, wounds from lances and traces on the forehead from bearing a helmet. The chamberlain recognizes that the pauper must have been a knight once. Servants bring a white shirt and an undergarment with a beautiful belt. Despite his resistance, they dress him with trousers made of scarlet and ermine clothes. The queen sends a precious belt, made of gold and silk, and the message that he will soon become king. Children are brought to court.
Motif References:
H 56 Recognition by wound
DgF-2867:
At nones the queen assembles the country’s princes and lords and recounts her life-story. She sends for her husband and both rejoice in being reunited. The electoral princes acknowledge him as new king.
Motif References:
DgF-2907:
As the queen inquires after her children her husband gives an account of how he has lost them. A count speaks up and reveals to be the one who has found a child near the Sein four years ago and that the bishop has found the other one. Both children are brought to court.
Motif References:
N 730 Accidental reunion of families
DgF-3011:
The princes are invested by the new king with castles and land and swear an oath of allegiance to him. The king’s name is Karelman, the queen is called La bone dame. Their children are named Karle and Pippin. Pippin is the smaller one because of his mother’s former sickness. Karle becomes king at Arle and has laws (phahte) written down. The Swabians and Franks should always be thankful for that. Karle had a daughter, named Gerdrut, a holy woman, whose grave is at Haspelgowe.
Motif References:
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
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