The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in StoryGuerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
General
The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in Story
Guerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
Epic poetry -- Adaptations
They two soon met a couple of warriors, who, on hearing their tale,
laughingly assured them they need make no further efforts to rescue
Amoret, as she had meantime been saved by a handsome young knight,
with whom she was gayly riding through the forest. Incensed by this
statement, Sir Scudamore offered to fight both informers, who,
laughing at him for being jilted, rode contemptuously away. These two
mockers hadn't gone very far, however, before they encountered a
beautiful damsel, whom they mistook for the long-lost Florimell, but
who was merely an image of her conjured up by the witch to comfort her
son when he blubbered over the loss of his fair lady. As many knights
were in quest of Florimell, some of them soon encountered the
scoffers, who declared they were leading the lady back to court. But a
little while later the Squire of Dames found them contending for the
possession of the false Florimell, and suggested that they settle
their difference at the court of Sir Satyrane, where a tournament had
been proclaimed and where Florimell's girdle was to be bestowed by the
victor upon the fairest lady present. Hearing this, both knights,
anxious to win the girdle, set out for the tournament, where many
others had assembled to take part in the knightly games.
Here any number of feats of valor were performed before, on the third
day, Sir Artegall entered the lists. To his surprise, however, he was
unhorsed by a stranger knight, Britomart, who, little suspecting her
opponent was the lover she sought, bore off in triumph the girdle her
prowess had won. Then, summoning all the maidens present, she picked
out the false Florimell as the greatest beauty and handed her the
girdle. But, to the surprise of all present, the lady could not keep
the girdle clasped about her waist, and, incensed at the mocking
remarks of the bystanders, finally challenged the other ladies present
to try it on. Thus it was ascertained that none could wear it save
Amoret, evidently the only perfectly faithful lady present.
Having thus disposed of her prize, Britomart rode off with her
companion, little suspecting she was turning her back on the very man
she was seeking. Meantime Sir Scudamore, encountering Sir Artegall and
hearing he had been defeated by the knight who had carried off Amoret,
invited him to accompany him and seek revenge. They two soon met
Britomart, now riding alone through the forest, for, while she was
asleep one day, Amoret had strayed away and gotten lost. Spurring
forward to attack the stranger, Sir Scudamore was unhorsed at the
first touch of her spear, and, when Sir Artegall rushed forward to
rescue him, he too was disarmed. But, in the midst of the fight,
Britomart's helmet fell off, so both knights perceived they had been
defeated by a woman. Humbly kneeling before her, they begged her
pardon, Sir Scudamore realizing with joy that, as his wife had been
travelling with a woman, his mad jealousy was without cause!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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