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For he is very fair and handsome
In body, in face, and in fashion.
We shall yet hear, peradventure.
Of what kin he is descended and born.
My sweet daughter, now take care of
The child whom I here bring you.”
“Great thanks are due to you for this,”
Said Melior, “fair father dear;
I take care of him very willingly.”
Then she takes the child and leads him away,
Brings him into her chamber,
Has a robe brought for him,
And has him clothed and well cared for.
When he was dressed in the robes,
And fittingly provided with shoes,
So gracious and so very fair
And so frank was the boy.
That his equal could not be met with
Beneath the light of the sun,
For his beauty, for his appearance.
And Melior, who was so bountiful,
Caused one of her servants
To carry a repast before him.
And he, being hungry, ate it,
And returned then to his duty.
Wherefore if he is a king's son
'Tis no dishonour, as I believe,
If he serves at the emperor's court
And (serves) a damsel of such worth
As was Melior the beautiful.
Thus remained with the damsel
William, as you may hear;
Much pains he takes to serve her
And all the others likewise.
Very excellently he demeans himself,
Like, indeed, a man who had never been
Nourished in court or household,
But nature also proves him,
And he, above every creature,
Gives attention and puts his whole heart
To whatever he ought to undertake.
There was no youth, in any service,
So high and so rich at court.
The child so gave his attention there,
And understood and learnt so much,
That before the year was passed,
He was so prudent and so wise,
That no one could reprove him
(So well can he take care), nor perceive
For anything that he could see,
That he mistook or misdid anything.
Ye have long ago heard say
That the bird of gentle breed
Learns even by himself,
Without correction by another;
Even as ye here may hear,
William thus taught himself.
Thus William lives at the court,
He deserves that all should honour him,
And does nothing to displease.
He is very frank and amiable,
Serviceable, courteous, and prudent,
And makes himself much loved by all,
And (he is) bounteous as far as he is able.
And know well, there is no need
To correct him for his words,
Which are neither rude nor silly,
But staid and pleasing.
He knew more of chess and tables,
Of hawking, of the woods, of the chase,
Than any one in Lombardy,
Or in all the territory of Rome;
There is no lad, son to a great man,
Nor rich prince by birth
(When William sits on his horse,
Shield on his neck, lance in his fist),
Can be of such fierce appearance,
So gracious, nor so dexterous;
I know not that I can tell you more about it.
So that all seem plebeian beside him.
Both Lombard and Roman.
He seems to be the lord of them all
In all the kingdom and empire.
There is no one, low or high,
Who possesses-whereof I boast(?)—
The virtues, which people relate of him;
Every one speaks of them and tells them.
All the people, in common (honour him),
And the emperor, in like manner,
Honours, loves, and holds him dear
As the son of his own wife;
And when he goes out for amusement.
He always takes William with him;
In great affairs, or in case of ueed,
Always he goes there, whether near or far.
And those of the country round about,
The great lords and barons,
For love of the emperor,
Love and greatly honour him,
And still more for his bounty,
For which every one praises and esteems him.
And what can I say of the maidens,
Of the ladies and the damsels?
Certes, so God give me joy,
I believe there is none who sees him
Or hears his praise told,
Of however great consideration she may be,
However fair, courteous, and estimable,
However noble by birth.
However wise, proud, or elever,
But she wishes to be his love!
He has great good praise in the country,
Everywhere spreads his renown.
Thus at the court three full years
Was William, among the Romans,
As ye have heard me tell,
Well grown and of good stature;
And the youth became gracious,
And strong and of fine form and fair;
In the chamber he is very admirable;
The maidens above everything,
For his frankness and his valour,
Accord him very great honour.
When Melior the amiable
Hears the praise of the lad told,
And the great goodness that is in him,
And sees there is none in the world so fair,
No youth of his worth,
(Whether) son of king or of emperor,
Nor any of such good renown,
Soon her heart and her thought
Very quickly turns she towards him.
Then she is so very sad and sorrowful,
That she minds nothing else.
She reproves and blames and rebukes her heart,
And says often, “Heart, what hast thou?
What hast thou beheld or seen—
For mine eye shews or tells me nothing—
That has cast me into this debate?
So that I know not what is the matter,
Nor what fault makes me grieve,
Or complain more than I am wont.
Oh God! what evil is it I thus grieve for,
That makes me thus move restlessly?