Zellandine’s Death-Like Sleep

“She’d been in her chamber with two of her cousins when she took from the hands of one of the girls a distaff laden with flax and began to spin.  But she’d barely begun when she lay down, overcome by sleep, and she hasn’t woken, drunk or eaten since – though she’s lost no weight or colour.  Everyone’s amazed she’s still alive, but they say the goddess Venus, whom she’s always served, keeps her in good health.” ~ elderly lady of Zeeland to Troylus^[1]

Zellandine’s tale began with the importance of pure love, agape.  The love between a man and woman is meant as an allegory of God’s agape for us (this is true regardless of whether the lovers are believers in Christ).  So, when Troylus and Zellandine fall in love, it is an allegory of God’s love for His Beloved.   

But we live in a fallen world.  The feelings of eros – desire (which is a fancy word for lust) – can be confused with agape.  Although Zellandine’s story begins with agape, eros is quick to take hold, as shown through Venus’ involvement in her story. 

In Zeeland, it was believed that three goddesses are in attendance at the birth of a child: Lucina goddess of childbirth, Venus goddess of “love”, and Themis goddess of destiny.  After the birth, they go to another room in which a lavish banquet is prepared for them.^[2]  Insulted that she does not have a knife at her place, Themis declares that when Zellandine spins flax into linen, “a shard will pierce her finger and cast her into a sudden sleep, from which she’ll never wake until it’s sucked out.”  

But all is not lost – Venus says she will make everything right.^[3]

Zellandine’s aunt overhears this, and (we assume) ensures that Zellandine does not spin.  Instead, the girl is given other tasks, such as making a magical shield for one worthy of her love.  She finds her worthy knight in Troylus, as we’ve seen.  After the tournament, Zellandine is sent back to Zeeland by her brother, and Troylus goes on adventures.  The next we hear of Zellandine, she has fallen into the death-like sleep decreed at her birth.

But – and this is important – her heart is not necessarily asleep.  It’s been awakened by Troylus, and his love can save her.

Is this what Venus meant?  No.  If you know anything about Venus (the Greek Aphrodite), you’ll know any “salvation” she promises is a double edged sword.  Although the Romans tamed her a bit, she still has the cruel streak seen in the Greek writings.  She would never be described as “compassionate,” and is more accurately described as the goddess of lust, not love.  That is her trade – and so we can expect that to be her means of saving Zellandine.

Saved by lust?  I don’t think so.  Eros is selfish, seeking to take and not to give.  If anyone is saved through such a situation, it is in spite of lust, not because of it.

But Troylus has agape in his heart – and so upon hearing the news, he hastens to Zeeland to save his Zellandine…

Sources

[1] Bryant, Perceforest, p. 385

[2] Bryant, Perceforest, p. 387-388

[3] Bryant, Perceforest, p. 409