Cobbled together by Crispin Sexi, with parts pinched from The Little Booke For Children.
Your Excellencies, Lords and Ladies all, I have a tale today for thy enjoyment. Now there are tales of war and woe, of joy and mirth. Some are or treachery and guile, some bawdy, some of fairy stuff. Yet truly most are of love. One such I tell this day; the story of Guion and Clarice.
Of noble birth was Guion. Visiting a foreign court he laid eyes on fairest Clarice, of palest skin and golden hair, and at once commenced to love her. Oft he came by day or night to flatter her and woo her. He gladdened for seeing her, sang of her beauty and at last begged for her heart's devotion.
Yet Clarice did not share his zeal. She said to him “Fie! Thou art no worthy match for me. Go forth, thou with words of praise, and equal them in deed to prove thyself. Journey thou to the first corner of the Earth and fetch me back a jewel that shines the beauty thy words compare with me.”
Said Guion, “By thy honour and my valour, I will so fetch thee back a jewel that shines the beauty my words compare with thee.”
Thus he took his leave and went his way, through many lands. Search he did for a jewel, good and rich in a far off country, for a diamond that shone with dazzling light, that delighted all who saw it.
And search he did for many moons to no avail, though never did his determination falter.
Then in a dread cavern in a high mountain, recovered he at no small danger to himself, a stone that satisfied his quest.
So came home, did Guion, as soon as he might, with great haste, sped on by his prowess and success, to show for sooth sweet Clarice how strong and mighty was his love.
At once Guion went to fair Clarice and said to her “Lo! I have wrought in thy name.”
Yet Clarice did not share his zeal. She said to him “Fie! Thou art no worthy match for me. Go forth, thou with words of praise, and equal them in deed to prove thyself. Journey thou to the second corner of the Earth and slay for me the fierce beast that dwells there.”
Said Guion, “By thy honour and my valour, I will so slay for thee the fierce beast that dwells there.” Thus he took his leave and went his way, through many lands. And go he did for many moons and never did his determination falter.
He came unto a forest glade, of no small peace and beauty, such that it eased his mind. Guion pondered on the song of birds, fluttering in the trees and the tinkling of water in the brook, the sweet smell of flowers reminding him of that fair maid, his heart's desire for whom he ran this quest.
And out sprang upon Guion a dread beast, savage with fury! And defeat it he did, at no small danger to himself, and recovered the beast's body.
So came home, did Guion, as soon as he might, with great haste, sped on by his prowess and success, to show for sooth sweet Clarice how strong and mighty was his love. At once Guion went to fair Clarice and said to her “Lo! I have wrought in thy name.”
Yet Clarice did not share his zeal. She said to him “Fie! Thou art no worthy match for me. Go forth, thou with words of praise, and equal them in deed to prove yourself. Journey thou to the third corner of the Earth and best for me the army of infidels that dwells there.”
Said Guion, “By thy honour and my valour, I will best for thee the army of infidels that dwells there.”
Thus he took his leave and went his way, through many lands. And go he did for many moons and never did his determination falter.
Such a journey did Paris make when he led away the Queen to Troy. And so too did Ulysses who with great cunning stole her back again.
Then on a burning plain Guion espied the army of infidels and challenged them thus “Do thy worst, for I shall best thee!” And valiant in battle was Guion and bested he every last infidel.
So came home, did Guion, as soon as he might, with great haste, sped on by his prowess and success, to show for sooth sweet Clarice how strong and mighty was his love. At once Guion went to fair Clarice and said to her “Lo! I have wrought in thy name.”
Yet Clarice did not share his zeal. She said to him “Fie! Thou art no worthy match for me. Go forth, thou with words of praise, and equal them in deed to prove yourself. Journey thou to the fourth corner of the Earth and fetch me back the forbidden fruit.”
Said Guion, “By thy honour and my valour, I will so fetch thee back the forbidden fruit.”
Thus he took his leave and went his way, through many lands. Guion sped forth for many moons to seek that which caused the fall from grace, the food of which a sampling of led man to know both shame and desire, bitter sweet.
And many moons indeed did pass and weary was Guion before he found a bountiful cornucopia, a source of the most amazing food, that delighted all who succored from it. And recovered he at no small danger to himself, a fruit that satisfied his quest.
So came home, did Guion, as soon as he might, with great haste, sped on by his prowess and success, to show for sooth sweet Clarice how strong and mighty was his love.
At once Guion went to fair Clarice and said to her “Lo! I have wrought in thy name.”
And when Clarice saw all that Guion had wrought, she swooned and fell into his arms, and they were wed 'ere long in his own country.
So ends the tale of Guion and Clarice.
When telling this story at a feast, I included a few "props" I had planted around the audience:
Copyright Jaysen Ollerenshaw 2009. Free use within the SCA.
Joan & Crispin's Homepage: http://aelflaed.homemail.com.au/