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spurred his horse and ran at him full speed, but the Child meeting him in full career gave him such greeting, that shield nor breast plate availed, for the lance went through his shoulder and he fell down dead. The Child drew out the lance and met the second knight so directly that he rent his helmet from his head and bore him to the ground. He cried out for help, whereon three halberders issued out, to whom he said Kill this traitor! they all ran violently on the Child and slew his horse, but he lightly rose, and first he drove his lance through the knight, between the ear and neck, then bestirred himself against the other three, who coming behind had wounded him in the shoulder, so that he lost much blood, full well he recompensed the villain that did it, for he clove him down to the chest. The others fled, crying aloud for help, the Child leapt on the horse of one of the knights and followed, and he saw a knight unarmed at a door who cried out to him what hath moved thee to come here and kill my people? Sir, quoth the damsel, this is the villain? Villain, said the Child, dearly shalt thou pay for thy disloyal dealing, go arm thee, else I will slay thee naked as thou art, for to such wretches there should be no mercy shown. But the damsel cried out, kill him, that he live not to abuse any more, for that will be to your account. Ah, wretch! quoth he, in an evil hour came he hither in thy company, and he went in telling the Child to wait for him, for it was no use to fly.

Galpano soon came armed into the court, mounted on a lusty white courser, and cried to the Child,* well mayest thou repent the time that ever thou sawest this

*

Ay Cavallero Malandante.-The phrase is untranslatable. Erring knight has something of the same play upon the phrase.

damsel, for it will cost thee thy head. Thereat in anger he replied, Each must guard his own, and let he who cannot, lose it. Without longer stay they couched their spears, which in their encounter pierced through shield and armour to the flesh, and so forcibly did shields, helmets and bodies clash together that they both fell. Soon they arose, and laid hand to sword, and threw their shields before them and began a fierce combat. The splinters of their shields were strewn about, and pieces of their armours, and their helmets were battered and broken, and the ground whereon they fought covered with their blood. Galpano who felt a sore wound in his head drew back to wipe away the blood from his eyes. How now Galpano? quoth the Child, dost thou not remember that we fight for our heads, and if thou defendest not thy own thou wilt lose it! Be patient awhile, answered Galpano, and let us breathe a little, we have time enough to make an end. Not so, said the Child, I do not combat thee for courtesy! and so fiercely then he smote him that. he bent his knees to the ground, yet quickly he arose and defended himself; but the Child pressed him that he could scarce lift his sword, and now sought only to protect himself with the shield, and the shield was hewn away piecemeal, then having no remedy he fled, and would have got into a tower where his men were, but the child overtook him by the steps, and caught him by the helmet, and smote his head from his shoulders, then turning to the damsel, said, now may ye chuse another lover, for this to whom ye swore hath discharged ye from your vow. He would have ascended the tower, but the steps were drawn up, then mounting the horse of Galpano which was a goodly one, he said, let us be gone. I will take the head of

this villain, said she, and present it to the knight to whom I am sent on your behalf. The Child answered, not the head, that will be troublesome; take the helmet instead, and he asked to whom she was going. To Agrayes, said she, son of the King of Scotland, she then by her importunity learnt who had succoured her, and went her way.

The Child rode on, but he bled fast along the way, and the white horse was stained with his blood, about the hour of vespers he saw a castle, from whence an unarmed knight came out to meet him, and asked him where he took those wounds. In a castle not far behind.—And that horse?—I took him in the place of my own which they slew there. And where is the knight whose he was? He has lost his head, said the Child. Then would the knight have kissed his feet, saying, Ah, sir, you are right welcome, for by you have I recovered my honour! for this was one whom Galpano had conquered. Sir knight, then said the Child, where can I find some remedy for my wounds? In my house, he replied; my niece shall cure ye better than any other in this land. So he caused him to be unarmed, and laid in a sumptuous bed, where his wounds were looked to by the lady, who told him that if he could rest there for a few days, he would be made whole.

CHAP. VIII.—How the three Knights came to the Court of King Languines, and the other Knight in the litter, and his traiterous Wife, by command of Amadis.

IN the third day after the Child of the Sea had

left the court of King Languines, the three brethren arrived there with their false sister and her wounded husband in a litter, and they delivered

the woman into the king's hand, on the part of a new knight who had lately left his court. The king blest himself at hearing the woman's wickedness, and, turning to the wounded man, said, Methinks so wicked a woman as your wife deserveth not to live. Sire, said he, do therein what you think fit, but I never will consent to kill the thing I most love. So the brethren then took leave of the king, and carried with them the wounded knight, leaving their sister to receive judgment. The king said to her, Thy husband is more loyal to thee, than thou hast been to him; but ye shall dearly abide your falsehood. And he made her be burnt.

Languines marvailed much who the knight could be, for no one but Oriana, and the damsels who had been with her, knew that the Child of the Sea was knighted, and the king thought he was gone to visit Gandales. The squire was standing by who had lodged him, and afterward conducted him to the castle where he delivered King Perion. It may be, quoth he, a young knight, with whom I and a damsel of Denmark that is here, kept company for a while. Know you his name? said Languines.-No, sire; but he is young, and exceeding fair, and I saw him do such rare deeds of chivalry in so little time, that in mine opinion, if he live, he will prove one of the best knights in the world. Then discoursed he of all that he had seen him atchieve in rescue of King Perion, and added, Mayhap the damsel who came hither with me can tell ye more tidings of him, for I met them together. Presently was she sent for, whereupon she declared so much as she knew, chiefly, how Urganda brought him the lance, and said it was for the best knight in the world; but in sooth, quoth she, I know not his name, for never could I learn it of him. Ah

God! said the king, who may it be?

Now she who

loved him, doubted not who it was; but she was in great trouble, for the king her father had sent for her, and loath was she to go where she could not so often receive news from him whom she loved more than herself.

After six days, as the king was conferring with his son Agrayes, who now was about departing to succour the king his uncle, there came in a damsel and knelt to the prince, and said, Sir, hear me a while before the king your father. Then took she in her hand a helmet, with so many sword-dints and breaches that there was not a sound place in it. Take, sire, this helmet instead of the head of Galpano. I present it to you on the part of a young knight, whom of all living it best becomes to follow arms, and this he sends you because Galpano dishonoured a damsel who was going on your service. What! quoth the king, is Galpano overcome by the hand of one man? This certainly must be the same young knight. And he asked the damsel if she knew his name. That learnt I, she answered, with great importunity. He is called the Child of the Sea. Ah! quoth Agrayes, where may I find him ?---My lord, he commendeth himself to you, giving you to understand that you shall find him at the wars. Great was the joy for these good tidings of the Child of the Sea: but above all was his lady Oriana rejoiced, though she concealed it. The king enquired from the damsels how he was knighted, and when they told him by their means, he replied, More courtesy hath he found in you than in me; though I only delayed, thinking he was yet too young. The damsel now delivered her bidding to Agrayes, and he departed with a good company for Gaul.

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