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XXXII. Narcissus (Legend of the Two Theodorics)
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267 XXXII Narcissus (Legend of the Two Theodorics) The theme of a chaste wife pursued by an evil brother-in-law, followed by her trials, tribulations, and eventual vindication, emerges in a large number of stories that reached medieval Europe in various adaptations, probably from an Indian original. In Europe it quickly acquired a Christian context. The version probably used by our author was contained in a collection of miracle stories originally centering around the Virgin Mary, although he or an intermediary source substituted Saint Peter as the major worker of miracles in the story. The names “Narcissus” and “Theodoric” appear to be the invention of our author; there is no historic connection with any Roman emperor. His rendition of the story is less about rulership than the rewards of Christian virtue. the book reveals that his brother Narcissus now held the Empire. He was an old man, too old to expect to father children. When he took over the Empire, he asked the people every day to pray to God—for his own divine honor—to send him an heir who would take care of the Empire after him. The people sought this in their prayers, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth, became pregnant and bore two fine sons in a single night. According to heathen custom both twins were given the name “Theodoric.” In the sixth year after that, it came to pass—just as I am telling you—that both the emperor and his queen died, and much unrest broke out in the territories that had been under them. Rulership was to be given to the brother who married first, as the Imperial Law at Rome prescribed. 268 Chapter Thirty-two The boys were raised with great care, and they matured quickly. At the time they were coming of age there was a king ad Affricanam [toward Africa] who had a most attractive daughter named Crescentia, and the young lords separately sought her hand in marriage, each trying to outdo his brother. Her father, the king, was puzzled as to what he should do and consulted with the princes, not wanting to assign her to one of the brothers as long as the other might object to it. The Senate offered this proposal: “To decide the matter let a circle be drawn [and let the two men stand inside it]. Whichever one the lady chooses , let him also have the Empire,” and everyone agreed to this outcome. One of the Theodorics was a hero in good looks as well as deeds, the sort who could be expected to be favored by the princes. He was called “the handsome Theodoric.” By way of contrast, the twin who shared his name was of blacker hair and paler skin. Throughout the Empire, people called him “the homely Theodoric.” When they went to stand in the ring, the good lady chose the one less well favored; his spirit appealed to her more than his brother’s did. Her choice was to lead her into great misery afterwards. And so he became judge and ruler, and his use of power gained him a fine reputation. Rome and the Lateran pledged him their allegiance, and he subdued the Normans, for which the Romans were very thankful. Then he led a huge army overseas, intending to defeat a rich and powerful king, but before he left he asked his trusted advisors how they thought he should maintain his beautiful wife, who was as dear to him as life itself, until he should return. They advised him to take her and send her back over the sea to her worthy father and kindly mother. They would make every effort to maintain and protect her, so that she would not have any reason to regret the ruler’s expedition. The king soon regretted the advice his men had given him, but he went ahead and shared it with the queen. He embraced her and said, “Having to send you home to your own country grieves me sorely. I am afraid that if I am killed on this expedition, others may want to ban you from the Empire—yes, I am really afraid that could happen. But now, my dear, give me your own advice as to how I should have you looked after in a way worthy of my honor.” [18.208.203.36] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 07:10 GMT) Narcissus 269 “If I am to play the part of your counselor, then let me...