The Lais of Marie de France

This Breton lay is set in the land of Normandy near “a marvellously high mountain where […] two young people lie” (82). The king, the lord of the Pistrians and a widower, has a beautiful daughter whom he prefers to keep to himself following the death of his wife. He will not let anyone marry her unless that person can carry the girl all the way up the mountain without resting. For a long time, no one succeeds.

A young count’s son falls in love with the princess, and she returns his affections. When he asks her to elope with him, she refuses out of love for her father. However, she invites her suitor to go to Salerno, where an expert in herbs and roots will fashion a potion that will help him carry her all the way up the mountain. The young man goes to Salerno and returns with a potion that will dispel his fatigue when he drinks it.

Meanwhile, the princess starves herself to be as light as possible. He carries her half the way up the mountain with great ease, and “she brought him such great happiness that he did not remember his potion” (84). She implores him to drink but he refuses, thinking his love for her is inspiration enough.