Summary
A Breton knight Arviragus and Dorigen who came to be happily married. Equality was an important piece in their marriage. Neither one saw themselves as higher or lower than each other. Soon after the marriage, Arviragus was sent away to Britain for two years to work. Dorigen was distressed about the absence of her husband, she would even go for long walks with her friends to help clear her mind. The sight of ships going into the harbor only made things worse as she was hoping that one of them would be carrying her husband. Even the thoughts of the ship carrying her husband crashing into the rocks on the shore was prominent in her mind.
Her friends organized a party and dance in a beautiful garden. This is where Aurelius, a squire, found his way dancing in front of Dorigen. His singing and dancing was better than of any mans’ and was one of the most handsome men alive. Little to her knowledge, Aurelius has been in love with her for two years. During the dance, he confessed his love for her despite her being married.
Dorigen responded by telling Aurelius that she would never be untrue wife and had no intention of cheating on her husband. In a flirty manner, Dorigen told Aurelius that she would love him and only him if all the rocks were removed from the coast, as she thought this was an impossible task. Everyone left the party besides Aurelius, who fell to his knees and wept to the gods for mercy.
Arviragus returned to Dorigen and the two became happy again, besides Aurelius who was still sad. His brother gave him advice to seek a law student at Orleans who was versed in the sciences of illusion and “magic”. Aurelius and his brother went to Orleans and met a young clerk who knew exactly what they were looking for. The man-made it seem by illusion that the rocks had been removed from the shore.
Arviragus is a man of honor and even though he was sad about his wife’s promise that she made to another man, he still made her abide by her oath and sent her on her way to go see Aurelius. Aurelius is astounded by Dorigen”s decision to let his wife fulfill her promise. In a sense of feeling almost guilty, he is also a man of honor and turns down the promise, and let's Dorigen and Arviragus live happily married. He returns to the magician and pays off his debt even though the deal they made was unfulfilled.
Her friends organized a party and dance in a beautiful garden. This is where Aurelius, a squire, found his way dancing in front of Dorigen. His singing and dancing was better than of any mans’ and was one of the most handsome men alive. Little to her knowledge, Aurelius has been in love with her for two years. During the dance, he confessed his love for her despite her being married.
Dorigen responded by telling Aurelius that she would never be untrue wife and had no intention of cheating on her husband. In a flirty manner, Dorigen told Aurelius that she would love him and only him if all the rocks were removed from the coast, as she thought this was an impossible task. Everyone left the party besides Aurelius, who fell to his knees and wept to the gods for mercy.
Arviragus returned to Dorigen and the two became happy again, besides Aurelius who was still sad. His brother gave him advice to seek a law student at Orleans who was versed in the sciences of illusion and “magic”. Aurelius and his brother went to Orleans and met a young clerk who knew exactly what they were looking for. The man-made it seem by illusion that the rocks had been removed from the shore.
Arviragus is a man of honor and even though he was sad about his wife’s promise that she made to another man, he still made her abide by her oath and sent her on her way to go see Aurelius. Aurelius is astounded by Dorigen”s decision to let his wife fulfill her promise. In a sense of feeling almost guilty, he is also a man of honor and turns down the promise, and let's Dorigen and Arviragus live happily married. He returns to the magician and pays off his debt even though the deal they made was unfulfilled.
Vocabulary
Forbearance (410): The action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.
Lamented (411): A conventional way of describing someone who has died or something that has been lost or that has ceased to exist.
Recompense (415): Make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.
Daintiness (416): Delicately small and pretty.
Chivalry (418): The medieval Knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.
Languishing (419): failing to make progress or be successful.
Furlongs (421): An eighth of a mile, 220 yards.
Victuals (421): Food or provisions.
Negligence (422): Failure to take proper care in doing something.
Abominable (423): Causing moral revulsion.
Lamented (411): A conventional way of describing someone who has died or something that has been lost or that has ceased to exist.
Recompense (415): Make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.
Daintiness (416): Delicately small and pretty.
Chivalry (418): The medieval Knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.
Languishing (419): failing to make progress or be successful.
Furlongs (421): An eighth of a mile, 220 yards.
Victuals (421): Food or provisions.
Negligence (422): Failure to take proper care in doing something.
Abominable (423): Causing moral revulsion.