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The Seneschal
The seneschal’s wife falls in love with Equitan, whom her husband, the seneschal, works for. Like most noblewomen in the Lais, she is described as being beautiful, intelligent, and delightful company. She is also more cautious than her would-be lover. She argues that it isn’t possible for a king like Equitan to have a truly equal relationship with her, his vassal’s wife. However, she finally accepts Equitan’s pleas, though she continues to feel insecure about the possibility that Equitan will eventually abandon her and marry a princess instead. So, she comes up with a plan to kill off her husband the seneschal in a boiling bathtub, allowing her and Equitan to marry. However, when the seneschal unexpectedly thwarts the plan, he throws his wife into the bath intended for him, killing her along with Equitan.
The Seneschal’s Wife Quotes in The Lais of Marie de France
The The Lais of Marie de France quotes below are all either spoken by The Seneschal’s Wife or refer to The Seneschal’s Wife. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
II. Equitan
Quotes
Because you are a powerful king and my husband is your vassal, you would expect, as I see it, to be the lord and master in love as well. Love is not honourable, unless it is based on equality. A poor man, if he is loyal and possesses wisdom and merit, is of greater worth and his love more joyful than that of a prince or king who lacks loyalty. If anyone places his love higher than is appropriate for his own station in life, he must fear all manner of things.
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His evil plan rebounded on him, whereas the seneschal was safe and sound. […] Seizing his wife immediately, [the seneschal] tossed her head first into the bath. Thus they died together, the king first, then the woman with him. Anyone willing to listen to reason could profit from this cautionary tale. Evil can easily rebound on him who seeks another’s misfortune.
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The Seneschal’s Wife Quotes in The Lais of Marie de France
The The Lais of Marie de France quotes below are all either spoken by The Seneschal’s Wife or refer to The Seneschal’s Wife. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
II. Equitan
Quotes
Because you are a powerful king and my husband is your vassal, you would expect, as I see it, to be the lord and master in love as well. Love is not honourable, unless it is based on equality. A poor man, if he is loyal and possesses wisdom and merit, is of greater worth and his love more joyful than that of a prince or king who lacks loyalty. If anyone places his love higher than is appropriate for his own station in life, he must fear all manner of things.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
His evil plan rebounded on him, whereas the seneschal was safe and sound. […] Seizing his wife immediately, [the seneschal] tossed her head first into the bath. Thus they died together, the king first, then the woman with him. Anyone willing to listen to reason could profit from this cautionary tale. Evil can easily rebound on him who seeks another’s misfortune.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
