The White Knight: Tirant Lo BlancMartorell, Joanot
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The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc
Martorell, Joanot
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction; Adventure stories; Knights and knighthood -- Fiction
"I was not born among the lower classes in Rome. My mother was
born in that city, and my ancestors were noble citizens of Rome.
Tirant, lord of the world, why did you speak to me so timidly?
Is your grace unaware of what you have in me? My heart, my body,
my will and all my thoughts have no other purpose in this world
than to serve your grace. I won't say anything more to you
because a knight who is waiting to go into battle shouldn't be
worn out by words. But when the emperor is dining I'll go to
your rooms and give you news that will please you very much."
Then Tirant kissed her eyes and her face with great joy. He left
her, and Plaerdemavida went back to the garden where she found
the princess with the emperor. The emperor went into the upper
chambers, and Plaerdemavida and the princess entertained
themselves and decided what time Tirant should come. The
princess told her everything that she had said and done with
Tirant, and Plaerdemavida was very glad to see how happy her lady
was.
The hour arrived when the emperor was to dine, and Tirant did not
forget to go to the palace quickly. He met Plaerdemavida coming
down the stairs to his quarters. She told him how it was to be
done, and what time he should come. Then they went back the way
they had come.
After everyone in the palace had retired and was asleep, the
princess got up from her bed, and the only ones with her were
Plaerdemavida and another named Lady Montblanc who knew all about
the affair. The princess put on a dress that the emperor had
ordered made for her wedding. Neither he nor anyone else had
ever seen it, and it was the most beautiful dress anyone had ever
seen at that time. Her gown was of crimson satin embroidered
with pearls. Her mantle was lined with ermine, and on her head
she wore a stunning imperial crown. Plaerdemavida and Lady
Montblanc took lighted torches in their hands, and waited for
Tirant to come. When the clock struck eleven (which was the
hour that he was awaiting so anxiously), he quickly went to the
garden gate. Climbing the stairs to the sitting room, he found
Lady Montblanc with the lighted torch, and as soon as she saw him
she knelt before him and said:
"Of knights, the best, and the most beloved in the world by a
beautiful lady."
And Tirant replied:
"Maiden, may your wishes be fulfilled."
They both went up to the sitting room and waited there until
Plaerdemavida came in, happier and more content than Paris was
when he carried off Helen. They went into one chamber while the
princess was coming in from another door, and they met very
happily, and Tirant knelt on the ground, and she did likewise.
They remained like this for some time. Then they kissed, and
their kiss was so delicious that one could have walked a mile
while they had their lips pressed together. Plaerdemavida saw
the danger in their dilatoriness, and went up to them and said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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