giant know that I told ye this. And fearing lest Galaor should privately depart, he sent to tell the giant that his scholar was now of fit age and eager to be knighted. Forthwith the giant rode to the hermitage, and finding Galaor very comely and strong above his years, he said to him, I understand, son, that you are desirous to be knighted; come with me, and I will see that it shall be done greatly to your honour. But before he departed, Galaor knelt before the hermit, and begged that he would remember him. The good man wept, and kissed him many times, and gave him his blessing. So he rode to the giant's castle who gave him arms to his measure, and made him ride and throw the cane, and appointed him two masters to practise him with the sword and shield, and to teach him all things convenient for a knight, so that in a year's space he was grown marvellous perfect.

When the year was compleat, Galaor said to the giant, Now, father, let me be made a knight! and he who saw that it was time, enquired of him by whom he chose to be knighted. By King Lisuarte, said he, of whom the fame runs. The giant was well pleased, and on the third day, having prepared all things, they departed. In two days they came near a strong castle, which was by a salt water. The castle was called Bradoyd, and it was the goodliest in all that land. It stood upon a rock; on one side was the water, and on the other a marsh, and from the side of the water it was not possible to enter without a bark; but, across the marsh there was a causey, being so broad that two cars might pass each other, and at the entrance of the causey was a draw-bridge, and the water under it was very deep. Facing the bridge there grew two goodly elms, whereunder the

giant and Galaor saw two damsels and a squire, and a knight mounted on a white courser, and bearing lions in his shield, who, because he could pass no further, called with a loud voice to those of the castle. Then Galaor said to the giant, Let us see what the knight will do.

Anon there came from the castle two armed knights and ten fellows on foot, who came and demanded of the knight what he would? I would enter in, quoth he. That, said the other, cannot be, unless you first combat with us.-Then lower the bridge, and come on ! This presently they did, and he who was first, ran fiercely against the knight, who sent him man and horse to the ground. He met the second on the bridge; their lances failed in the attaint, and they encountered so rudely with their bodies, that the knight of the castle fell into the water and was drowned. Then the conquerors past on towards the castle, and the villains drew up the bridge after him. At this the damsels cried aloud to him, and he turned; but there came against him three knights, well armed, who said to him, In an evil hour camest thou here, for thou shalt die in this water, as he has done who was better than thee. All three then ran at him, and smote him so firmly that his horse knelt and was like to fall, and their lances broke, and by two of them he was wounded; nevertheless, one of them he met in such order that the lance entered at one side, and came out at the other beyond the iron. This done, he drew his sword, and addressed himself to the other twain, and seeing it was for death manfully he bestirred himself, and smote off the right arm of one, who galloped away, and cried out, Help, help, they are killing our lord! When he of the lions heard that

he with whom he must yet deal was the lord of the castle, he delivered him such a rigorous blow on the helmet that he lost his stirrups, and staggered and fell upon the horse's neck. The knight then seized his helmet and plucked it off, and got between him and the castle lest he should escape like the other, and cried, Yield thyself or thou art dead. Mercy, quoth he, good knight, and I am your prisoner! But he of the lions, who now saw knights and villains coming from the castle to succour their lord, held him by the shield, and placing the sword to his face, bade him to command his men to return, and make the bridge be lowered: which when he had done he crossed the bridge, taking his prisoner with him. when the knight of the castle saw the damsels, he knew that one of them was Urganda the unknown; and cried out, Ah! Sir knight, if you save me not from that damsel I am but dead! As God shall help me, he replied, that shall I not do, but do with you what she commands. Then calling to Urganda, he said, Here is the lord of the castle, what would ye that I do unto him? Smite off his head, quoth she, if he will not release my friend whom he keepeth in prison, and put the damsel in my power for whom he is detained. He besure made no delay to send for them, and when they came, he of the lions said to the knight, There is your lady and great cause you have to love her for the pains she hath taken to deliver you from thraldom, and I do love her, quoth he, more than ever! and then Urganda embraced him. Afterwards the conqueror asked what should be done with the damsel? She shall die, said Urganda, I have long borne with her; and then she made a spell, so that the damsel ran all trembling to throw herself into the

water. Lady, cried the knight of the lions, let her not die for the love of God, since by me she was taken. For your sake then I forgive her, but let her take heed how she again offend me. Hearing that the lord of the castle took heart, and said, Sir knight, I have performed with what hath been commanded, I beseech you to deliver me from Urganda. I release you, replied Urganda herself, for his sake. The knight of the lions then asked the damsel why she was going to throw herself into the water. Sir, quoth she, it seemed that there were lighted torches burning me on all sides, and I ran to save myself in the water. Thereat he smiled. Certes damsel, your folly is overgreat to provoke her who can so well avenge herself.

Galaor seeing all this said to the giant, I will be knighted by him, for if King Lisuarte is so renowned, it is for his greatness, but his knight deserves to be so for his great hardihood. Go then and ask him, said the giant, and if he will not do it, it will be to his own harm. Then Galaor took with him four squires and two damsels, and went towards the knight of the lions, who was sitting under the elms, and saluted him and said, Sir knight, grant me a boon. He who thought him the goodliest person he had ever seen, took him by the hand and said, Let it be lawful and I grant it. Then I beg you of your courtesy make me a knight, and you will spare me the journey to King Lisuarte. Great wrong should you do yourself, replied he of the lions, to leave receiving that honour from the best king in the world, and take it from a poor knight like me. Sir, quoth Galaor, the greatness of King Lisuarte can put no courage in me like that which I have seen you do; therefore, so please you, fulfil your promise.-Gentle squire, I shall be better

content to grant anything than this which befits not me, and is to you little honour. At this time Urganda came up as one who had heard nothing of their talk, and asked him what he thought of the Child.-Truly a fairer have I never seen; but he asks a thing of me neither for himself nor me convenient; and then he related what had passed. Certes, said Urganda, I advise him to insist upon the promise, and you to fulfil it; and I tell you that knighthood will be better employed in him than in any other in all the Isles of the Sea, except only one. Since it is so, said the knight, in God's name let us go to some church to perform the vigil. It is not necessary, answered Galaor, for I have this day heard mass, and seen the real body of God. It sufficeth then, said he of the lions, and having fastened on his spur, he kissed him, and said, now are you a knight, and may receive the sword from whom it pleaseth you. That, said Galaor, must be only from you; and he called a squire to bring the sword which was ready. Not that, then cried Urganda, but this which hangs in a tree. They all looked up, and saw nothing. She laughed thereat ;-Ten years

hath it hung there, and no passenger ever saw it, and

They looked again, and bough, a fair sword and

now it shall be seen by all! there hung the sword from a fresh, as if it were just hung there, and the scabbard was richly wrought with silk and gold. He of the lions took it down, and girding it on Galaor said, So fair a sword beseemeth so fair a knight, and whoso has kept it there for you so long, bears you besure no ill will. Then was Galaor well contented; Sir, quoth he, I must needs go to a place whence I cannot be excused; but I desire your company above that of any other in the world, and if it please you tell me where I may find