Chivalry -- Fiction; Knights and knighthood -- Fiction; Romances, Spanish -- Translations into English
The next morning Galaor and his guide departed; they crossed the river
in the boat, and proceeding about five leagues came to a fortress. Wait
for me a little, said the Damsel; I will be here presently: and she
entered the castle. Presently she returned, bringing with her another
Damsel and ten Knights on horseback; and that other Damsel, who was
passing fair, said to Galaor, Sir, my Cousin tells me you are in quest
of the Knight who bears two grey lions in a vermilion shield, that you
may know who he is; but I tell you that you cannot learn by force, for
there is no Knight like him in all the islands, and he will neither
tell you nor any other for three years, unless it be forced from him.
Damsel, said Galaor, I shall not cease my enquiry, and would rather
learn his name by force than by other means. Since that be so, said
she, within three days I will bring you to him, at my Cousin's request.
They set forth, and by vespers time came to an arm of the sea that
clipped round an island, so that there was full three leagues of water
to cross; a bark was ready at the harbour, but before they entered it
an oath was demanded, that there was only one Knight in company. Why
is this oath required? said Galaor. The Damsel replied, the Lady of
the island will have it so; when one Knight has crost over, no other
is suffered to come till the first return, or is slain.—Who is it that
kills or conquers them?—The Knight whom you are seeking; he has been
here half a year, and by this occasion: a turney was held here by the
Lady of the island, and another Dame of great beauty; this Knight came
hither from a foreign land, and being on her side won the victory.
Whereat she was so pleased, that she never rested till she had won him
for her paramour; but because he is desirous of seeking adventures,
the Lady, to detain him with her, invites Knights to joust against
him. If by chance they are slain, they are there interred; otherwise,
they are sent back, and he gives their arms and horses to his mistress.
She is a full fair Lady, and her name Corisanda; the island is called
Gravisanda. How came he, said Galaor, to keep the forest? It was a boon
asked of him by a Damsel, said she, tho' his mistress hardly permitted
him to perform it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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