ABSTRACT
Before giving up, he fell in love with another lady from Provence whose name was Lady Gidas de Mondus, the niece of Guillem de Montpellier, the first cousin of the Queen of Aragon. 1 He loved her and served her for a long time, composed many good songs about her and put her in a position of high repute and praise. And during the time that he was beseeching her she said to him, “Gui d’Uisel, you are a noble man, even if you are a cleric and you are greatly praised and appreciated. And I wish you so much good that I cannot defend myself against my own desire to do anything that would please you. I am a very noble lady and I wish to get married. Therefore I want you to know that you can have me, as lover or wife, as you wish, and I leave it to you to decide in which capacity you wish to have me.” Gui d’Uisel was very happy and asked his cousin, Sir Elias d’Uisel for advice in song. This is what he said: Now tell me your opinion, Sir Elias, of a fine lover Who loves without a cheating heart And is loved without any deception; Which should he most desire According to the right way of loving: That he be His-Lord’s lover or husband If it happens that the choice is his to make? (194, 2)
