The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
Children's literature
But the red giant, seeing his brother fall, smote at Le Beau Disconus
with the half-roasted boar, like a madman; and he laid on so sore that
Le Beau Disconus's horse was slain. But Le Beau Disconus leapt out of
the saddle, like a spark from a torch, and drove at him with his
falchion, fierce as a lion. The giant fought with his spit till it
broke in two; then he caught up a tree by the roots, and smote Le Beau
Disconus so mightily that his shield was broken into three pieces. But
before the giant could heave up the tree again, Le Beau Disconus
struck off his right arm; and at that sore wound he fell to the
ground, and Le Beau Disconus cut off his head.
Then Le Beau Disconus turned to the two maidens; and he learned that
she whom he had saved was called Violette, and her father was Sir
Autore, an earl in that country. Long had the two giants sought to
take her; and the day before at eventide they had sprung out upon her
suddenly and carried her off.
Le Beau Disconus took the giants' heads, and when he had escorted the
maidens to the castle of Sir Autore, he sent the heads to King Arthur.
Sir Autore wished to give him Violette to wife; but Le Beau Disconus
refused, saying that he was upon a quest with fair Elene. And with
that they set forth once more on their journey.
Presently they came to the fair city of Kardevyle, and saw there in a
park a castle stout and stark, royally built: never such a castle had
they seen. "Oh," said Le Beau Disconus, "here were a worthy thing for
a man to win."
Then laughed maid Elene. "The best knight in all the country round
owns that castle, one Giffroun," she said. "He that will fight with
him, be it day or night, is bowed down and laid low. For love of his
lady, who is wondrous fair, he has proclaimed that he will bestow a
gerfalcon, white as a swan, on him who brings a fairer lady. But if
she be not so bright and fair as his lady, he must fight this knight
Giffroun, who is a mighty warrior. Giffroun slays him, and sets his
head on a spear, that it may be seen afar abroad; and you may see on
the castle walls a head or two set thus."
"I will fight this Giffroun," said Sir Le Beau Disconus, "and try for
the gerfalcon; I will say that I have in this town a lady fairer than
his; and if he would see her I will show him you."
"That were a great peril," said the dwarf. "Sir Giffroun beguiles many
a knight in combat."
"Heed not that," answered Le Beau Disconus. "I will see his face ere
I go westward from this city."
Without more ado they went to the town, and dwelt there in the inn for
the night. In the morn Le Beau Disconus rose and armed himself, and
rode with the dwarf towards Giffroun's palace.
Sir Giffroun, when he came out of his house, saw Le Beau Disconus
advancing as proudly as a prince. He rode out to him, and cried in a
loud voice, "Come you for good or for ill?"
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