The Cream of the Jest · Chapter
II: Introduces the Ageless Woman explained
Count Emmerick plans a marriage-feast for his sister La Beale Ettarre and Sir Guiron des Rocques.
What happens
Count Emmerick plans a marriage-feast for his sister La Beale Ettarre and Sir Guiron des Rocques. Ettarre, watching from the turrets of Storisende, confides in Horvendile her lingering fear of Maugis d'Aigremont. Horvendile, hopelessly in love with Ettarre, delivers a philosophical discourse on love and illusion, arguing that she embodies an ageless, idealized woman beyond humanity—a figure glimpsed by poets from Homer to Theocritus. He declares his intention to return to his own country, where no woman can be loved because they are all too familiar and lack mystery.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Idealization
Horvendile's love for Ettarre is based on an idealized, unattainable image; he refuses to see her as human, linking her to mythological and literary figures.
Art and Illusion
Horvendile compares Ettarre to characters from Homer, Sophocles, and medieval romances, suggesting that love requires illusion and mystery.
Disillusionment and Cynicism
Horvendile criticizes the women of his own country for lacking reticence, leaving no room for illusion or hope, which prevents him from loving them.
Characters to notice
- La Beale Ettarre
The ageless woman, Count Emmerick's sister, betrothed to Sir Guiron. Watches from the turrets, fears Maugis, and pities Horvendile.
- Horvendile
The clerk, hopelessly in love with Ettarre. Delivers a speech on love and illusion, identifying her with legendary figures like Calypso, Antigonê, and Medeia.
- Count Emmerick
Plans the marriage-feast for his sister Ettarre and Sir Guiron.
- Sir Guiron des Rocques
Ettarre's betrothed, described as a noble and constant lover.
- Maugis d'Aigremont
Master-villain in hiding, feared by Ettarre; Horvendile rescued her from his clutches in the forest of Bovion.
Key passages
“love, I take it, must look toward something not quite accessible, something not quite understood.”
Love requires an element of mystery and unattainability.
Horvendile explains why he cannot love the women of his own country.
“For you embody all that I was ever able to conceive of beauty and fearlessness and strange purity. Therefore it is evident I do not see in you merely Count Emmerick's third sister, but, instead, that ageless lovable and loving woman long worshiped and sought everywhere in vain by all poets.”
You represent the ideal of beauty and purity that poets have always sought, so I cannot see you as an ordinary human.
Horvendile idealizes Ettarre as a timeless figure.
“My poor Horvendile, you are in love with fantasies. There was never any lady such as you dream of.”
You are in love with an illusion; no woman like your dream exists.
Ettarre gently dismisses Horvendile's romantic idealization.