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
Then, when the emperor saw that dawn was breaking he got up and
wanted everyone to go with him to escort Tirant to his chambers.
Tirant thanked him for the great honor he was paying him, and he
wanted to escort the emperor to his chambers, but the worthy lord
would not permit it.
When Tirant was in his chambers he thought that because
Plaerdemavida was so unhappy with him she had probably written
him some letter, but when he went into his room he saw a heap of
gold on the floor. He was astonished at the princess's great
virtue, and he thought more highly of her good will than he did
of the gift. He had Hippolytus come, and ordered him to
safeguard it.
When it was time for mass all the lords went, and Tirant found no
way to talk to the princess, to thank her for what she had sent
him, until after dinner. After eating they told the emperor that
since he had slept so little the night before he should go and
rest, and that when it was time for the festivities they would
all return. As the ladies went back to the palace Tirant drew
near to the princess and told her:
"I haven't the spirit to talk, nor can my tongue express all the
words of love that befit the works of honor that Your Majesty
bestows on me every day."
She quickly replied, although she did not dare to speak much
because the emperor was passing by. She only said to him:
"You are my lord; I am in your power. Decide what you will do
with me: make war or peace. If I don't help you, who are my
lord, whom would I help? What I do now is little, if you
consider what I plan to do. But if you want more, the doors to
the treasure are open for you, and closed for anyone else."
With Tirant again thanking her, they reached the emperor's
chambers, and the emperor went inside with the ladies. Only
Widow Repose remained outside. She stood at the head of the
stairs, waiting for Tirant. With her feminine malice she was
prepared to commit an unspeakable crime. When she saw Tirant she
put on a sympathetic face, and with graceful gestures designed to
make him love her, she said:
"I'm not surprised that you want to conquer the world: you've
already captivated me. With the pity I have for your grace, I
want to help you. So, my lord Tirant, if you'd like to be in a
certain secret place after two o'clock, you'll be able to see
everything I've told you about."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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