FOLIO 5v

~~~~~ Like those Knights who went in Quest of the Holy Grail, Cueur has now set out with his Page Desire to win the loveliest of ladies, Sweet Grace.
~~~ Encased in heavy armor, his face invisible behind the closed visor of his helmet which is crowned with
a winged heart encircled by a wreath of pansies (amoureuses pensees or loving thoughts ) , his shield bearing a devise of three fotget-me-nots, Cueur carries gifts ( dons ) on the sharp point of his cypress-wood lance, with which to conquer the enemies of Love. He rides the steel Candor ( Franc Vouloir ) spurred on by love's remembrance (d'amoureux souvenir ). The horse's saddlecloth is embroidered with winged hearts.

~~~Here the two men have just emerged onto a grassy plain from a deep forest, in an unknown country. Under a pine stands a tent, wondrous and lovely to behold, guarded by a rectangular column of jasper which is inscribed as follows:

Oh ye noble and engaging hearts,
longing to win sweet favors and Joyful gratitude
from the God of Love and your Lady,
do not waver In your resolution,
never abandon your first love but be true to her,
Unchanging from one day to the next........

~~~A lady has come out of the tent and stands before them, holding the reins of Cueur's horse. She is no longer young, but of noble bearing, royally clad, and wearing a golden crown. She tells Cueur that her name is Hope ( Esperance ), that Amour himself ordered the inscription on that column to guide all lovers on their quest, and gives him encouragement concerning the road ahead. He will have to withstand many battles, but he will always be able to count on her aid.

~~~This scene takes place in broad daylight, with all the details-pine branches, richly embroidered borders on the tent, costumes- lovingly executed. The painting is a model of composition with text and illustration blended into a perfect whole on one book page: an objectively motivated upward extension of the picture on the left takes the place of the decorative framework, balanced by a similar projection on the right of the next folio. .......Continue ...

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C. Preston Guice