Courtly love

Courtly love is a concept present in Medieval romance poetry. Its characteristics include the theme of a man setting out adventures and pursing a lady, long distance, the idealization of the woman, the codified role of the lover and the beloved, and love outside of marriage.

A Love Afar
Jaufre Rudel

By God's own love, what joys must lie
Within love's citadel, afar.
If she'd consent, I'd lodge nearby
Who now must lie aline afar.
Never on earth shall speech seem dear
As when this far-off love comes near
To give joy and to take its fill.

The repeating word throughout this poem is "afar". It emphasizes that the lover is at distance, which is a feature of courtly love. In this stanza, the poet associates love with God, indicating that love is secured by divine force, and thus purifying and magnifying the idealized love. "Citadel" means a walled city literally. However, when used in connection with love, the poet is indicating that their love is protected like a walled city. The religious and locational references imply that the poet might be a crusader or pilgrim, both literally and romantically, in which he endures great hardship to please the lady faraway.


Cruel are the Pains I've Suffered
Comtessa de Dia
One night I'd like to take my swain
To bed and hug him, wearing no clothes--
I'd give him reason to suppose
He was in heaven, if I deigned
To be his pillow! For I've been more
In love with him than Floris was
With Blanchefluer: my mind, my eyes
I give to him; my life, mon cor.

The distant and refined aspect of courtly love is seen through this stanza. "To bed and hug him, wearing no clothes" is obviously a reference for sex. However, the poet restrains her narrative, using only suggestive language such as "hug" and "wearing no clothes". The refined language, though a bit awkward, emphasizes the delicate and distant aspects of the courtly love, as an explicit description of sex would be inappropriately bold.

Nightingale, for Me Take Flight
Peire d'Alvernhe
Since first I lay my eyes on him,
I've been attracted to his ways;
I don't care to conquer any man
Who springs from higher lineage,
I'm content
No regrets
Nothing is displeasing:
Wind nor sleet;
Neither heat
Of sun nor weather freezing.

The codified roles of man and woman in a romantic relationship as the lover and beloved are seen in this stanza. This stanza is words of the woman to whom the man sends a message to. In courtly love, a lady is an idealized beloved figure who has a higher status than the man. The lady here fits the codified role of the beloved figure with a higher status than the lover, as implied by "I don't care to conquer any man who springs from higher lineage". The word "conquer" also suggested her dominance role in the romantic relationship.