A note on the Garden-Cemetery Cligès by Chrétien de Troyes

• Autores: Martine Paul
• Localización: Studies in the history of gardens and designed landscape, ISSN 1460-1176, Vol. 4, Nº 3, 1984, págs. 305-306
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • What is relevant for the purposes of this special issue is to draw attention to an interesting passage in Cliges by the twelfth-century French romance writer, Chretien de Troyes. The story is, briefly, as follows: Fenice and Cliges are in love with each other, but unfortunately Fenice is the wife of the Emperor of Constantinople. To free herself, Fenice feigns illness and then death. Her obsequies are celebrated and her body laid "El plus bel leu del cemetire" (v. 6023) where her sepulchre is furnished with a "lit de plume" (v. 6028) to ensure her comfort. Chretien says at verse 6079 that "Fenice est an la sepolture". Meanwhile her lover, Cliges, and his faithful servant, Jean, are anxious to rescue Fenice once night has fallen (vv. 6080-6095) and repair to the cemetery. This is encircled with a high wall ("... clos... tot anviron... de haut mur", v. 6098-99). The gate to it is closed and denies them entry ("... que nus n'i entrast", v. 6103). Nothing daunted, Cliges jumps over the wall (v. 6108-9). Once inside, Chretien narrates, he finds himself in "uns vergiers" [orchard] which "a dedanz estoit" (v. 6110), so it is clear that the orchard must be inside the cemetery. Immediately afterwards we are told that in this orchard trees were planted (v. 6111) and we even get it specified that there is an espalier: Pres del mur en ot un plante, Ensi que au mur se tenoit" (v. 6112-3).