The Faithful Steward of "Sir Orfeo"
Throughout Sir Orfeo we have the theme of chivalric love, the primary example, of course, being Sir Orfeo's love for his queen, Heurodis. But there is another example of this courtly sentiment, namely the service-oriented love between Sir Orfeo and the steward. The steward shows that he is respectful, dutiful, and compassionate in regard his lord, as is evident near the end of the Breton lay. In all, the steward portrays the other kind of chivalric love and service: that of a man's love to his lord.
We can infer that the steward is well respected through his very anointment by the king. As stated in Orfeo's speech:
'My lords,' he said, 'before you here,
My high steward I designate
To rule my kingdom from this date:
In my place he shall remain
To govern my entire domain.'
(pg 220)
We may assume that Orfeo's choice for his replacement would not have been made unwisely and without forethought. Through earlier mention in the lay we learn that Sir Orfeo is a generous and kind ruler; these personal factors would lead one to the conclusion that, as king, he would only chose a man he felt he could trust; a man fit to rule, who would be respected by all. Therefore, it is a safe assumption that the steward meets Orfeo's criteria of a respectable character; respectful enough to govern in Orfeo's place.
Another example of the steward's respect for Orfeo occurs near the end of the lay. The steward show his departed lord some respect by inviting in the haggard looking, heathen wandering minstrel, who was really Orfeo incognito. Despite the poor physical condition and adherence to a foreign religion of the harp player, the steward says:
...'I welcome all good harpers here
For Orfeo's sake, who held them dear.'
(pg 227)
The steward allows the minstrel the comfort of the court solely on the respect he has for his missing lord. There must be an incredible amount of respect for Orfeo because ten long years have passed without any word of his happenings, yet the steward still respects what Orfeo enjoyed and honors him by not turning away the proclaimed heathen minstrel. Had he rushed the minstrel out of town or lent him a deaf ear, then Orfeo would know right away that the steward no longer respected or loved his king's memory.
Besides being respectful, the steward also shows that he values a sense of duty. He proves this by never usurping the throne for himself during Orfeo's ten year leave. The steward follows the guidelines stated by Orfeo at the beginning of the lay:
...'And when you hear my life is spent,
Summon together a parliament,
And elect yourselves a king,
And do your best in everything.'
(pg 220)
Although the steward has the chance to fake the announcement of Orfeo's demise and to seize the throne, he does not, precisely because of his lord's trust in him to do his "best in everything." His sense of duty to his lord comes before his own personal gain.
Along with being respectful and dutiful, the steward also proves to be a compassionate man. There are several examples of his compassion for his lord, the least being his acceptance of the poor minstrel's offer to play for the court. As stated earlier, the steward could have been hard-hearted and thrown the minstrel out on his rear, but respect and compassion for his lord's memory would not allow it. Another proof of his compassion occurs when the steward responds to the tale of the minstrel's finding of the harp:
'Oh,' said the steward. 'What utter woe!
That was my lord Sir Orfeo.
Ah wretched me, what shall I do,
My lord being lost, And I forlorn?
Alas, that ever I was born!
That such hard fate should be ordained,
And such vile death should be his end.'
(pg 228)
Upon hearing this story the steward's immediate emotion is intense grief for his fallen lord, and then finally grief for himself at losing such an excellent master. This is the bulk of the test that Orfeo has laid out for him, which the steward unwittingly passes. If he had been an uncompassionate man, then the steward would have probably immediately called together a parliament and attempt to be elected king. But he is a compassionate man instead and actually ends up swooning with such severe grief. A final example in the lay of the steward's compassion occurs on the recognition that the minstrel is actually his king, Sir Orfeo. In his excitement to be next to his lord he actually:
...Leapt up and overthrew the board
And fell before his King and Lord.
(pg 228)
This rather humorous scene is a testament to the man's genuine love for his returned lord.
As we have seen, Orfeo's choice for steward fulfilled his obligations to his lord, even after ten years of no word of the lord's whereabouts or health. The lay even makes mention that the steward behaved as he should have:
King Orfeo could tell by then
His steward was a faithful man
Who loved him as he ought to do....
(pg 228)
Thus, the steward remained a respectable, dutiful, and compassionate man during his lord's absence. As the poem nears it's end, we get one final happy note about the faithful steward:
And when their [Orfeo & Heurodis] long lives reached their end,
The steward was king, and ruled the land.
(pg 229)
Work Cited:
Stone, Brian, trans. Sir Orfeo. Medieval English Verse. Radice, Betty, ed. New York, New York: Viking Penguin Inc. 1971. pgs 215-29.
© sklender, 1996 - Until My Death, and then three weeks beyond that.