The twelve “lays” of the mysterious medieval poet Mariede France are here presented in sprightly English verse by poet andtranslator David R. Slavitt. Traditional Breton folktales were the rawmaterial for Marie de France’s series of lively but profoundconsiderations of love, life, death, fidelity and betrayal, and luckand fate. They offer acute observations about the choices that womenmake, startling in the late twelfth century and challenging even today.Combining a keen wit with an impressive technical bravura, the lays area minor treasure of European culture.


… It was with some shame


that he explained how, in the wood,


he lived on whatever prey he could


capture and kill. She digested this


and then inquired of him what his


costume was in these bizarre


forays. “Lady, werewolves are


completely naked,” was his reply.


She laughed at this (I can’t guess why)


and asked him where he hid his clothes—


to make conversation, I suppose.