The twelve “lays” of the mysterious medieval poet Marie
de France are here presented in sprightly English verse by poet and
translator David R. Slavitt. Traditional Breton folktales were the raw
material for Marie de France’s series of lively but profound
considerations of love, life, death, fidelity and betrayal, and luck
and fate. They offer acute observations about the choices that women
make, startling in the late twelfth century and challenging even today.
Combining a keen wit with an impressive technical bravura, the lays are
a minor treasure of European culture.
… It was with some shame
that he explained how, in the wood,
he lived on whatever prey he could
capture and kill. She digested this
and then inquired of him what his
costume was in these bizarre
forays. “Lady, werewolves are
completely naked,” was his reply.
She laughed at this (I can’t guess why)
and asked him where he hid his clothes—
to make conversation, I suppose.
