'Father, I never needed thy help as I do to-day, Now give me I pray thy counsel, for the knight he hath said me yea.' 560 'Whate'er be thy will, little daughter, an I may, I will give it thee, For happy the day whose dawning brought thee, a fair gift to me, Then Good Fortune smiled sweetly on me.' 'I will tell thee, my father dear, But the thing that so sore doth vex me thou must it in secret hear, So hearken, and do as I pray thee!' Then he bade them to lift the maid 565 On his charger, 'But what of my playmate?' Many knights round their leader stayed, And they strove which of them should take her, for each one well pleased would be, Then one as his prize he claimed her, for Clauditté was fair to see. Then riding, he spake, her father, 'Now Obilot tell to me How dost thou need my counsel? What is it that vexeth thee?' 570 'I have promised my knight a token, and my wits were I ween astray, If nothing I find to give him then worthless my life to-day; Since he vowed unto me his service then in sooth must I blush for shame, If I give him naught--Never hero truer love from a maid might claim!' Then he quoth, 'Trust to me, little daughter, and thy token I will prepare, 575 If service from him thou winnest thou shalt give him his payment fair, If thy mother she too be willing--God grant he may bring us aid, That gallant knight and worthy; what trust I on him have laid! Tho' never a word to the hero had I spoken before to-day, Yet last night in a dream I saw him, as asleep on my couch I lay.' 580 Then Lippaut he sought the Duchess, and with him he led the maid, And he quoth, 'Now lady, help us, for we twain sorely need thine aid; And my heart would shout for gladness that God gave me this maiden fair, And parted me from the sorrow that I all guiltless bare.' Then out spake the Duchess, 'Tell me, what wilt thou of my grace?' 585 'Lady, since thou wilt hearken, this maid craves a better dress, And she deems she of right may ask it, since a knight will her token bear, And he asketh her love, and he offers to do for her service fair.' Then out spake the maiden's mother, 'Ah, good and gallant knight! Of the stranger I ween thou speakest, as May-tide his glance of light.' 590