From his horse sprang the gallant hero, Jeschuté she held his rein; Swift sprang the squires to aid them, and thronged close around the twain, And they spake, 'We will care for the horses,'--Orilus, on the grass he laid His shield so marred and splintered, and he asked of the gracious maid 820 For whose sake he had ridden thither, and they showed him the lady's seat, Kunnewaaré she was of Lalande, and her mien for a maid was meet. Then, armed, he drew near unto them--King and queen bade him welcome fair, He thanked them, and to his sister his pledge was he fain to swear, But the maiden, right well she knew him by the golden dragon's shine, 825 And she spake, 'Thou art sure my brother, Orilus, or Lähelein, And pledge will I take from neither, for both of ye aye were fain To render to me such service as I from your hands would gain. I were dead to all truth and honour if I dealt with thee as a foe, My courtesy sure were shamèd by my own hand, and laid alow.' 830 Then the prince knelt before the maiden and he spake, 'Thou the truth hath said, I am Orilus thy brother; the Red Knight this oath hath laid On me that my pledge I yield thee, for so must I buy my life, Wilt thou take it, then have I done that which I sware after bitter strife.' Then his pledge, who had borne the dragon, in her white hand the maid must take, 835 And she set him free, and he rose up, and thus to his sister spake: 'Now to sorrow shall faith constrain me, alas! who hath smitten thee? The blows perforce must wound me--He who lusted thereto might see, If this were the hour for vengeance, that grief I with thee must share; And the bravest of men mourneth with me that ever a woman bare, 840 He calleth himself the Red Knight--O king! he doth bid me greet Both thee and the queen thy lady, he doth offer ye service meet, As he fain would serve this my sister--His service ye will repay, If ye kindly entreat this maiden that her shaming be put away. And I, too, had fared far better at the hand of this dauntless knight, 845 Had he known the maid for my sister, and her blows on my heart must light.'