Birth Date: 12th century
Death Date: 12th century

(Marble head of Marie de France)

List of Works
LAIS
"Bisclavret"-"The Werewolf"
"Chevrefoil"-"The Honeysuckle"
"Les Deus Amanz" "The Two Lovers"
"Les Quatre Deuls"-"The Four Sorrows"
"Yonec"
"Le Chaitivel"-"The Unfortunate One"
"Equitan"
"Le Fresne"-"The Ash Tree"
"Lanval"
"Laustic"-"Nightingale"
"Eliduc"

FABLES
Saint Patrick's Purgatory
About a Woman and Her Paramour
Another Story of a Woman and Her Paramour
The Wife and Her Husband
The Wife and Her Husband in the Forest
The Man and the Wife Who Quarreled
The Crow and the Sheep
The Fox and the Rooster
 

ISSI AVINT QU'UN CERS BEVEIT
text by Marie de France

A thirsty deer was standing by
A stream and drinking, when his eye --
Suddenly, as he sipped -- was caught
By his reflection. "Ah!" he thought
"What handsome, shapely horns have I!"
No hornless beast, I vow, can vie
With likes of me..." And on and on
He sang his praises; until, anon,
He spied a pack of hunting hounds,
Spurred by the huntsman, heard the sounds
His horn blared forth, as they drew near
With one intent -- to bag the deer.
Trembling, he turned to flee, and started
Into the wood... He dashed, he darted,
He flew... But all at once betwixt
Branches and boughs, he stood transfixed:
A tree had caught his horns!... The pack
Grew closer now, would soon attack...
"Alas, alack! he sighed, distraught,
"How true it is, as man has taught,
That we too often blindly prize
Those things that we had best despise;
While in our folly we abhor
Those we should well be thankful for."
 

Authors:  Andrew V. & Sara V.
Links
Birth Place
Biography
Review
Mrs. West's Web Site

Additional Links
(Amazon.com)
                 (Marie de France Society)