“I wept bitterly, and retired to my chamber, where I would not listen to the messages of my friends and youthful companions, who wished me to join with them in the amusements appointed for that afternoon and evening. I spoke harshly too with my attendant, when she brought into the room a finely-made fishing-rod, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, with a golden line and silver hook, which I was to have used on the following day at a gay party on the water. But of what consequence were to me such diversions now that I had lost my ring! The girl, discontentedly, set the fishing-rod in the window-corner, and, as I would not notice her, left me alone to weep. Towards evening I became more tranquil, and the loud laughing of my young companions, who were playing at ball in the garden, induced me at last to look through the window. Then I observed that Blanchefleur, feeling that her ring was inconvenient, took it from her finger, laid it on a moss-covered seat under my window, and thoughtlessly ran back to her game. With a beating heart and anxious wishes, I drew open the lattice, upon which motion the fishing-rod, as if offering its services, fell into my arms. I immediately made a trial,--found that the golden line reached down to the ring, which, on the first touch, as if I had been assisted by magic, attached itself to the hook, and was drawn up and received by me with a thousand kisses. “My triumph, however, was again but short-lived. No sooner had the childish Blanchefleur complained to her brother, and the ring been observed on my finger, (for I was too proud to conceal what I supposed to be my own property,) than he again requested that I would appoint a champion to defend my cause. And how could any one resist the giant strength of Sir Folko? My new warrior was overthrown like his predecessor; and this time Blanchefleur gave the ring into her brother’s care, so that I had less hope than ever of regaining it. However, I did not fail to keep constantly in view an object which was so dear to me; and one day, when, after a hunting-party, we were resting beneath a tree almost without branches, some one said, that it would be quite impossible to climb to the top of it. Then, in a tone of mockery, I challenged Sir Folko de Montfaucon to make a trial of his hitherto invincible powers in this adventure. Just as I had hoped, his ambition and excessive delight in all knightly exercises made him quite lose sight of every other consideration. Consequently he laid the ring, which he generally wore always on his finger, on the grass, because it hindered him in climbing, then began his endeavours. I understood afterwards, that, after many vain attempts, he succeeded in reaching the top of the tree; but meanwhile, I had, unobserved, availed myself of the opportunity to seize on my treasure, and was on my way to England, in order that, in the court of King Richard Cœur de Lion, I might find out a knight able to maintain my rights against the