ABSTRACT
You have certainly heard who Ricchaut de Berbesiu was and how he fell in love with the wife of Jaufre de Tonnay, who was a beautiful, noble, young lady. He loved her beyond all measure and called her “Better-than-a-lady” and she loved him in the courtly manner. Ricchaut beseeched her to give him “pleasure in love” and called for her mercy. 1 The lady responded that she was very willing to give him pleasure so long as it would bring her honor. She told Ricchaut that if he loved her as he said he did then he should not want her to say any more about it, or do anything more for him than what she was already doing and saying.
