Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion

The messenger removes the ring from Yvain’s finger; then, saluting Arthur and all his men except for Yvain, she departs. Stunned, Yvain rises and leaves the tent. He wanders, half-naked and half-mad, through the countryside, despising himself and tearing at his own flesh. His compatriots search for him to no avail. Yvain comes upon a youth with a bow and quiver and commandeers the weaponry. He kills a deer and eats it raw.

In this savage state, Yvain stumbles one day toward a hermit priest’s cabin. The priest, noting Yvain’s state but fearing for himself, quickly sets out some bread and water and hides. Yvain enters, finds the food, devours it, and leaves. The next day he returns, carrying fresh-killed venison. The priest skins and cooks it while Yvain is gone and, again, sets out a meal for Yvain when he returns. After some days, Yvain takes the skins away and sells them for much better bread.

A noblewoman, the Lady of Noroison, and two of her maids, riding in the woods, chance upon Yvain lying asleep, naked. One of the maids recognizes the scar on his face and says he’s the famous knight Yvain. She suggests that, if healed, Yvain would make a good knight for the lady in her war against her enemy, Count Alier.