LXXVI To inform himself of that Martano bent; And heard that he to Antioch was addrest, With Origilla, where a tournament Was to be solemnized by royal hest. To track whom Aquilant was so intent, Assured that Gryphon had pursued his quest, He Antioch left again that very day, But not by sea again would take his way. LXXVII He towards Lidia and Larissa goes, -- At rich Aleppo makes a longer stay. God, to make plain that he, even here, bestows On evil and on good their fitting pay, At a league's distance from Mamuga, throws Martano in the avenging brother's way, Martano travelling with the tourney's prize, Displayed before his horse in showy wise. LXXVIII Sir Aquilant believed, at the first show, His brother he in vile Martano spied. For arms and vest, more white than virgin snow, The coward in the warrior's sight belied, And sprang towards him, with that joyful "Oh!" By which delight is ever signified; But changed his look and tone, when, nearer brought He sees that he is not the wight he sought: LXXIX And through that evil woman's treachery, Deemed Gryphon murdered by the cavalier; And, "Tell me," he exclaimed, "thou, who must be Traitor and thief -- both written in thy cheer -- Whence are these arms? and wherefore do I thee View on the courser of my brother dear? Say is my brother slaughtered or alive? How didst thou him of horse and arms deprive?" LXXX When Origille hears him, in affright She turns her palfrey, and for flight prepares: But Aquilant, more quick, in her despite, Arrests the traitress, ere she further fares. At the loud threats of that all furious knight, By whom he so was taken unawares, Martan' turns pale and trembles like a leaf, Nor how to act or answer knows the thief. LXXXI Aquilant thundered still, and, to his dread, A falchion, pointed at his gullet, shewed, And swore with angry menaces, the head From him and Origille should be hewed, Save in all points the very truth be said. Awhile on this ill-starred Martano chewed, Revolving still what pretext he might try To lessen his grave fault, then made reply: LXXXII "Know, sir, you see my sister in this dame, And one of good and virtuous parents born, Though she has lately led a life of shame, And been by Gryphon foully brought to scorn; And, for I loathed such blot upon our name, Yet weened that she could ill by force be torn From such a puissant wight, I laid a scheme Her by address and cunning to redeem. LXXXIII "With her I planned the means, who in her breast Nursed the desire a better life to prove, That she, when Gryphon was retired to rest, In silence from the warrior should remove. This done: lest he should follow on our quest, And so undo the web we vainly wove, Him we deprived of horse and arm, and we Are hither come together, as you see."