When Rose Can Be Picked

 

I repeat, two scans from 'Roman de la Rose' manuscript 'Francais 25526' from 1325-1350. The picture on the left and right are related.  Picture on top: harvesting grain (left) and threshing grain (right). Than we must read picture on bottom as: harvest fertility (left) and of the right:

• ... separate the edible part from the straw
• ... cut the crap (not literally)
• ... choose a fertile man among the potential fathers
• ... stop messing around and let's make love
• ... when the rose can finally be picked

In 1900 this book in old French was translated into English by Ellis (based on ‘Orleans ed. 1878’). He considered the last part of this book as too “hot” (my word) that he dare not to translate it. His words: “giving reasonable offence”.

Last week I read Horgan’s (1994) translation based on ‘Felix Lecoy edition 1965-1970’. She dared to translate the last chapter ‘The conquest of the rose’ into English too. What was considered too hot for the 1900 eyes? Quotes:

"If she commanded, he obeyed; under no circumstances would he refuse to gratify her every desire. He could lie with his sweatheart, and she would neither resist nor make complaint. They played such games of love that she became pregnant."

(…) "He may pluck it [the gift of the rose] while the two of us are alone here. I should have received him long ago, for I can see that his love is true."

(…) "There to fulfil my pilgrimage. I had laboriously brought with me my scrip and my staff that was so stiff and strong that it needed no ferrule when going on journeys."

(…) "However, I continued my assault until I noticed a narrow passage through which I thought I could pass, but first I had to break down the barrier. This tiny, narrow pathway that I have mentioned."

(…) "Nothing, however, could have prevented me from sliding my staff all the way in. I did so without delay."

(...) "For I was the first to do so, and the place was not yet in the habit of collecting tolls."

(…) "Therefore I forced my way into it, for it was the only entrance, in order duly to pluck the rose-bud."

(…) "I can tell you that at last, when I had shaken the bud, I scattered a little seed there. This was when I touched the inside of the rose-bud and explorered all its little leaves, for I longed, and it seemed good to me, to probe its very depths (…) with the result that all the rose-bud swelled and expanded."

(…) "I plucked with joy the flower from the fair and leafy rose-bush. And so I won my bright red rose. Then it was day and I awoke."

 

"And my staff that was so stiff and strong," how does that sound in old French? Quote from Ellis (appendix line 22142ff; bold by JD):

Ge qui l'en rens mercis cent mile,
Tantost comme bons pelerins,
Hatis, fervens et enterins
De cuer, comme fins amoreus,
Après cest otroi savoreus,
Vers l'archiere acueil mon voiage
l'or fornir mon pelerinage ;
Et port o moi par grant effort
Escherpe et bordon grant et fort,
Tel qu'il n'a mestier de ferrer
Por jornoier, ne por errer.
L'escherpe est de bonne feture,
D'une pel souple sans cousture ;

These lines in translation by Horgan (around line 21312ff):

"I thanked him a hundred thousand times, and promptly made my way, like the good pilgrim I was, with heart as ardent, ferfent, and loyal as any true lover, towards the aperture, there to fulfil my pilgrimage. I had laboriously brought with me my scrip and my staff that was so stiff and strong that it needed no ferrule when going on journeys. The script was well made of a supple, seamless skin.”

P.S. Translation by Ellis digital: here.