Melusine; or, The noble history of Lusignan by Jean d’Arras

Author:Jean d’Arras
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Pennsylvania State University Press
Published: 2012-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

GEOFFROY BIG-TOOTH IN IRELAND

For the moment let me leave these two children and tell you instead about Geoffroy Big-Tooth, who was the hardiest, fiercest, and most daring of the lot. You should know that Geoffroy was afraid of no man, and according to the story and true chronicle, on the meadow below Lusignan he once did battle with a fairy knight or evil spirit, as you shall hear later in this factual account. Geoffroy was enormous, indeed overgrown, for anyone living in those times. Having heard that in Ireland there was a clan that refused to pay the tribute they owed his father, he swore by God that he would force them into compliance. He said good-bye to his father, who regretted his departure, and led a force of some five hundred combatants and one hundred crossbowmen into Ireland, where he inquired as to the whereabouts of the rebels. Those who were partisans of Raymond told him how to find the fortresses belonging to those men, and then armed themselves and promised Geoffroy they would help him destroy his enemies.

“By God, my lords,” replied Geoffroy, “you are good, loyal men, and I thank you for your generous offer, but at the moment there is no need, for I have enough men without troubling you in order to accomplish this mission, God willing.” “Ah, but sire,” they protested, “your need is greater than you think, for your enemies are powerful and amazingly fierce, and they are all cousins from the greatest bloodline in the land.” “Never fear,” said Geoffroy, “I’ll come out of this in fine shape, for I shall subject anyone who refuses to obey me, no matter how powerful they are, to an ignominious death. Nonetheless, my lords, if the need does arise, I’ll send for you.” “We shall all be ready, now or whenever you need us,” they told him, and he assured them of his gratitude.

He left them and headed for a fortress called Sion occupied by one of his enemies, Claude of Sion, the youngest of three brothers. That fraternal trio was extremely savage, violent, and arrogant, and aspired to subjugate all their neighbors and lord it over everyone. Geoffroy sent a messenger to inform them that they were to do obeisance to his father, Raymond. They told the messenger that they did not intend to do anything whatsoever, neither for Raymond nor for anyone representing him, and that he would be foolish ever to approach them again. “You have my word that I won’t do that,” snapped the messenger, “unless I bring you a doctor who will give you such an elixir that you’ll all hang by the neck!” The brothers were outraged by this retort, and if the messenger hadn’t spurred his mount he would surely have perished, for they were odious and cruel, fearing neither man nor God. He hastened back to tell Geoffroy about the three brothers’ overbearing bravado. “That may be,” said Geoffroy, “but even a little shower can calm a mighty wind.

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