Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical settingVaeth, Joseph Anthony
History
Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting
Vaeth, Joseph Anthony
Martorell, Joanot, -1468. Tirant lo Blanch
When the emperor heard of the quarrel between the duke and Tirant,
he went to the camp to settle the dispute once for all. The princess
accompanied him, and with her went Stephania, Viuda Reposada, Plaer de
mi Vida, and other ladies of the court. While they were in camp, the
greatest battle of all that had been fought up to this time took place.
It was waged fiercely on both sides, from early in the morning until
late in the afternoon. The contending foes fought with determination
and desperation. Tirant wielded his battle-ax wherever help seemed to
be needed most. The King of Egypt recognized him on the field, and he,
together with the King of Cappadocia and the King of Africa, agreed to
make it their special duty to slay him that day. While Tirant was in
the midst of violent fighting, the Duke of Macedonia came up behind him
and with a vigorous blow of his sword wounded him in the neck. A few
moments later the King of Cappadocia and the King of Egypt suddenly
came upon our hero, and they attacked him with such force that both
he and his steed fell. He had some difficulty in getting up, for his
charger had fallen on one of his legs, but fortunately one of his men
came to the rescue. The latter, with his lance, wounded the King of
Egypt in the thigh. A moment later the king’s lance struck Tirant on
his cheek and knocked out four of his teeth. Then the king withdrew
from the field on account of his wound. Tirant searched for him, but in
vain. He met, however, the King of Cappadocia and slew him. Finally,
the sultan, seeing that the tide of battle was going against him,
withdrew from the battlefield, and soon afterward the Turks were put to
flight. Tirant and his forces pursued them and continued to slaughter
many until it was very late. The sultan and his defeated army sought
refuge in a certain city, and this was taken by Tirant’s forces the
following morning. Among the many prisoners captured there, was the
King of Egypt. Tirant was notified that this important royal personage
was a prisoner, and was invited to come to slay him, but he replied
that for nothing in the world would he take the life of a prisoner.
Thereupon the Marquis of Saint George dispatched the unfortunate
king. In this battle and pursuit the Turks lost 103,000 men, including
those who were taken prisoners. Among the Greeks that were slain were
the Duke of Macedonia and the Constable. The brave Ricart, too, was
among the dead. A messenger announced the result of the battle to the
emperor, and immediately the venerable monarch knelt down and offered
thanks to Christ and His Most Blessed Mother, Our Lady. (Chaps. 155-158)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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