Quotes from Chrétien de Troyes

veáis precisado a combatir con algún caballero, acordaos de lo que ahora os quiero decir y rogar: si vos lo vencéis, de modo que él ya no pueda defenderse de vos ni oponérseos y se vea obligado a ponerse en vuestra merced, pensad en tenerle merced y a pesar de ello no lo matéis.

Any wise man fears open spitefulness, whether it be in seriousness or in jest.

elle lui mettait la clef de l'amour en la serrure du cœur.

Through their kisses and caresses they experienced a joy and wonder the equal of which has never been known or heard of. But I shall be silent...; for the rarest and most delectable pleasures are those which are hinted at, but never told.

the most delightful and choicest pleasure is that which is hinted at, but never told.

When it hurts and destroys its follower, Love is worse than Hatred.

He who spends all his time amassing wealth is a slave to it.

A good silence never harmed anyone but speaking often causes harm.

He who wants to do more than he is able must admit defeat or retire.

My good sir, is she your daughter then?' 'Yes, but don't pay any attention to what she says,' said the lord. 'She's a child - a silly, foolish thing.' 'Indeed,' said my lord Gawain, 'then I'd be very ill-mannered not to do what she wants.

One cannot love with the eyes alone.

I don't give a fistful of ashes!

How wretched is the man who sees the perfect opportunity and still waits for a better one.

What the eyes do not see can never pain the heart.

Come, let me know whether thou art a creature of good or not.' And he replied: `I am a man.

The dead with the dead, the living with the living.

But many have to look on in silence at what distresses them.

Potem dobywa nagiego i przetrzymawszy chwilk? w d?oni wk?ada z powrotem do pochwy. Wiedzcie, ?e pi?knie mu z mieczem u boku, a jeszcze pi?kniej – z mieczem w d?oni.

Alexander did not dare request what he really desired, though he knew that if he asked him for his sweetheart's hand he would have it. But he was so afraid of displeasing her (who would have been overjoyed) that he preferred to suffer without her than have her against her will.

When a man fails to honour ladies, his own honour must be dead.

The man who goes quickly by the direct road passes the man who strays from the path.

Doit chascuns panser et antandre A bien dire et a bien aprandre ; Qu'il est louable de s'appliquer à bien dire et à bien enseigner.

Because no one has ever seen a woman behave so wrongly as to ask a man to love her, unless she were more deranged than the next person. I would be a proven fool if I ever spoke a word that would bring me reproach. If he were to learn it from my mouth, I think he would lose esteem for me and lastingly reproach me for having spoken first. May love never stoop so low that I beseech him first since he would then esteem me less.

Fortune has hair in front but is bald behind.