From The Legend of Good Women (Translation)
IX. The Legend of Hypermnestra
Incipit Legenda Ypermystre.*
In Greece there once were two brothers, of whom one was named Danaus, and had many sons from his body, as such false lovers often know how to do. Among all his sons there was one he loved best of all; and when this child was born, this Danaus crafted him a name and called him Lynceus. The second brother was named Aegyptus, and in love he was false as ever he pleased, and in his days he begat many daughters, among whom he begot by his own wife a dear daughter, the youngest of them all, and let her be named Hypermnestra. This child by her horoscope was born to all good virtues, as it pleased the gods before her birth that she should be the wheat of the sheaf.* 2579
The Fates, whom we call Destiny, ordained for her that she should be compassionate, steadfast, wise, and true as steel, as these women* well agreed. For though Venus gave her great beauty, she was so compounded by the influence of Jupiter that tenderness, and fidelity, and fear of disgrace, and preservation of the good name of her wifehood--these all seemed to her to yield happiness on earth. And at that time of year red Mars was so feeble that he was bereft of his power for malice; Venus repressed his cruel activity. What with her power and other oppression by celestial houses, Mars' venom was kept down, so that Hypermnestra dared not handle a knife with evil intent, even if it were to save herself. But as the heavens then revolved, she came under the evil aspects of Saturn, which made her to die in prison, as I shall afterwards tell. 2599
To Danaus and to Aegyptus as well, though they were two brothers, it seemed good to make a marriage between Hypermnestra and Lynceus (for at that time consanguinity was no hindrance to marriage), and appointed it should be on such a day, and the full agreement was made. The preparation was completed, and the time was near at hand. And thus Lynceus wedded the daughter of his uncle, and each had the other. The torches and the bright lamps burned, the sacrifices were fully prepared, the incense emanated sweetly from the fire; flower and leaf were torn up by the roots to make garlands and high crowns. The place was full of the sound of minstrelsy, of the amorous songs of marriage, as was he custom at that time. And this was in the palace of Aegyptus, who ruled in his house as he wished. And thus they wore the day to an end, and friends took their leave and went home. 2621
The night had come, and the bride had to go to bed. Aegyptus hastened to his chamber and secretly summoned his daughter. When the house was emptied of all people, he looked on his daughter with a joyful expression, and spoke to her as you shall hear. "My own true daughter, my heart's treasure, since the day when my first shirt was made, or I received my lot at the hands of the Sisters of Fate, never has a thing came so near my heart as you, my Hypermnestra, beloved daughter! Take heed what I your father say here to you, and always follow the will of one who is wiser than you. For, first of all, daughter, I love you so that the entire world is not half so dear to me! And I would not advise you to your harm for all the wealth under the cold moon. And what is in my mind shall be said directly, with this protestation, that unless you do as I shall tell, you shall die, by Him who created all! In a few words, you will not escape from my palace before you die, unless you consent and work according to my counsel. Take this as my full resolution." 2646
Hypermnestra cast down her eyes and trembled like the leaf of the green aspen; her hue grew deathly and like ashes, and she said, "Lord and father, God knows I will do all your will, according to my power, so it may be no dishonor to me." 2652
"I will not," he said, "have any exception." And he brought forth a knife, sharp as a razor. "Hide this," he said, "so that it may not be seen. And when your husband has gone to bed, cut his throat in two while he sleeps. For in my dreams I am warned that my nephew shall be my slayer, but which nephew I know not; therefore I wish to be safe. If you say no, by Him that I have sworn, we two shall have a quarrel, as I have said." 2662
Hypermnestra nearly lost her wits, and, to pass from there unharmed, she consented to him; there was no other way to behave graciously. And with that he took up a flask, and said, "Give him a glass of this, or two or three, to drink when he goes to rest, and he shall sleep as long as ever you would like him to sleep, as the narcotics and opiates are so strong. And go on your way, lest he grow impatient." 2671
Out came the bride; and with a grave countenance, as is often the manner with maidens, was brought to the chamber with revel and song. And in brief, lest this tale be too long, this Lynceus and she were soon brought to bed, and every person hastened out the door. 2677
The night wore on and he fell into slumber. She began to weep full tenderly, and arose, and quaked with fear, like a branch that Zephyrus* buffets; and all in that city of Argos was hushed. Now she grew cold as frost; for pity so constrained her heart and fear of death so pained her that three times she fell down in distress. She arose and staggered here and there, and looked hard at her hands. 2688
"Alas! And shall my hands be bloody? I am a maiden, and, by my nature and my appearance and my clothes, my hands are not shaped for a knife, to tear any man from his life. What the Devil do I have to do with this knife? And shall I have my throat cut in two? Then I shall bleed, alas, and perish; and this thing must necessarily have an end, either he or I must die. Now surely," she said, "since I am his wife, and he has my vow, it is better for me to die with wifely honor than to be a traitor living in shame. Be as it may, for earnest or game, he shall awake and arise, and go on his way by this gutter, before it is light." 2705
And she wept tenderly on his face, and embraced him in her arms, and shook him, and gently awoke him. And when she had warned him and provided his escape, he leaped out at the window from the upper room. This Lynceus was swift and light of foot, and ran swiftly before his wife. 2712
This hapless woman, alas, was so weak and helpless that before she had gone far, her cruel father had her seized. Alas, Lynceus, why so unkind? Why did you not remember to take her and lead her forth with you? For when she saw that he was gone, and that she could not go so fast or follow him, she sat herself down at that moment, until she was caught and fettered in prison. 2722
This tale is told for this end*-- 2723
[Unfinished.]
___
57 Incipit Legenda Ypermystre. Here Begins the Legend of Hypermnestra.
58 Wheat of the sheaf:. She would be the best part of the entire stalk of wheat, i.e., of all his children.
59 Women. I.e., the Fates.
60 Zephyrus. The west wind, the warmth of which usually signifies the arrival spring.
61 This end. Chaucer is nearly finished with this tale. There is much speculation as to why he ends this tale, and the work as a whole, at this point.
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Legend of Good Women. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
