The Seven Champions of ChristendomKingston, William Henry Giles
Science
The Seven Champions of Christendom
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Christian saints
This speech so completely changed Saint George's view of things, that he
told Saint David he would hand over the Magician to him. Then the
Champion of Wales went forth from the castle, and with one blow of his
sword cut off Ormandine's hideous head, and sticking it on a pole, which
he delivered to the faithful Owen to carry, informed his brother
Champion that he was ready forthwith to depart for the court of the
Emperor of Tartary.
The other nine hundred and ninety-eight gallant knights and squires,
released by the courage and wisdom of Saint George, having expressed a
strong desire to follow his fortunes, he undertook to lead them round
the world in search of adventures worthy of their prowess. Saint David,
also, promised, when he had fulfilled his vow to the Emperor of Tartary,
to search him out and aid him.
Often had the noble Champion of England thought of the lovely Sabra, but
knew not where she was. At length, with his army of valiant knights and
trusty squires, having reached the kingdom of Bagabornabou, he, on
inquiring for her, heard, with dismay, that she had been carried off a
prisoner by Almidor, the black King of Morocco, and had ever since been
pining in a dungeon.
Calling his knights around him, he told them of the occurrence, and with
loud shouts, waving on high their swords, they promised to accompany him
to rescue her, or to die in the attempt. Setting off forthwith, they
reached the dominions of the black King; when Saint George, disguising
himself as a humble palmer, entered the city, followed by De Fistycuff,
in the same habit, to ascertain in what vile dungeon the lovely Sabra
was shut up.
In vain he wandered up and down, whispering her name, and inquiring of
all he met, till, at length, he saw a beautiful white dove fly upward
from a hole in the ground beneath the massive wall of a huge castle.
Catching the dove, he wrote on a slip of parchment, which he placed
under its wing, "Saint George of England has come to Sabra's rescue.
Tell me if you are here!"
Soon the dove, having entered the hole, returned to the Knight, when he
discovered, under its wing, on the same parchment: "I, the hapless
Sabra, am here; oh, free me, and receive a maiden's grateful love!"
Instantly returning to his knights, and throwing off his palmer
garments, Saint George led them to the assault.
On every side the castle-walls were stormed. Some climbed up ladders,
some over each other's backs, with such desperate valour, that the
Moorish soldiers gave way on every side; till Almidor, hearing the
turmoil and loud shouts of war, rushed to the battlements. Then ensued
a fight most desperate between the noble Champion of England and the
black King, in which the latter would most assuredly have been slain had
he not, like a recreant, turned his back and fled, among his followers,
through a postern gate, which, happily for him, stood open,--proudly
asserting that he would return and fight another day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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