Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende

iting words of Quex: "Your courage will be higher when you're drunk,"-and he yet trusts to prove that lord did lie by beating Taulat fasting. Onward he there

tive, of stout build and large of limb, who held within his grasp three pointed darts that were as razor

cried; "I'll have

Size -- M

ew rein,

thy quest, g

d knightly arms; for upon such

ean to say an armed and mounted knig

, but for the t

ll I give up my horse or arms, till st

ith gentle grace," the yeoman sai

what harm have I

gorge, and bilk the toll that's

the force

fly see; meantime I b

o so," qu

ut gal-loped off amain. As o'er the road he sped, the man let fly the missile with just aim; it hit the shield, and that with force so great, red fir

; but, lo, at that instant he had leapt aside, and in the act discharged a second dart, which lighted on h

senses had now back returned, thought only of his horse, which he rode here and there to guard it from the blow of the third dart. Not this, however, was his foe's

ry wheeled round his horse at this stem threat; and as the dart came hissing to its prey, he deftly bowed him do

e as a roe or deer, and leapt from place to place to such effect, that Jaufry missed his aim; and as he passed, the yeoman seized a rock and hurled it at the knight, who, but for his shield, must fain have bit th

eet this fiend? The world I'll hold not at

ing his lo

to the yeoman cried, "o

girdle plucked his k

ave this spot tho

"take my promise on't; before we

and ere that Jaufry could draw-in the rein, with mighty spring u

," he cried, "unless

he could not stir a limb, while in his ear he hissed his future fate: how that a prison should his body hold, where tortures, griefs, unheard-of pain

earth, than let my body be a dungeon

he forced the hand to loose the gleaming knife: then, when he saw the arm was paralysed and drooped inertly down, he fixed with both hands on the yeoman's left, which he then twiste

uoth Jaufry, "ne'er will I pi

ds he cut off

r battle more with knights. Take to another trade

ld, and, mounting on his horse, p

, that Jaufry held this speech; but a

bserved, "if thou perchance hol

d-twenty are there held in chains beyond

t guard such prize." Without delay he hied him to the house, whose massive por

the impriso

d the

wnright folly. You wake my pity; therefore take advice, and get you gone before m

th smiles

ights; quickly lead on, tha

hold you as a fool distraught, not to have hied you hence; for should my lord

e lies. The knights shall now be free, and thou, my prisoner, their place shalt take, s

ds, and from great pain will draw those suffering knights, whose language is but moans; this featly will I do, who by

id Jaufry, "lead

nd-twenty knights were rudely chained, as each by turns had been the yeoman's prey. Jaufry on enter

n was e'er born, who thus ha

as he gaily

not one of us who doth not grieve to see the yeoman's prisoner in thee. Unhappy was the day that saw thy birth. In person thou art tall and fair to view, yet soon like ours will torments be thy lot." Quoth Jaufry,

ped from out his mouth, w

birth; for thou hast saved us all, an

yed, and with a hammer broke in bits their chains. They all aros

ith us as thou please, be it

de you, none shall come from me. All that I ask of you is simply this,

shall thy behest be done; but to the service

r chains. Now quickly set ye out; and, mark, my friendship ne'er

e led them to the great highway, and in their company rode full a league. In passing by, he pointed to the place where, cold and motionless, the yeoman lay: they stayed an instant to observe

; "I can delay no more; alread

and lance, "accept again our thanks: where'er we be, the servic

hey found King Arthur in his flowery mead with five-and-twenty of his primest knights. There, kneel

ery creature doth, give you good luck, and guard from pai

St. Mary keep thee and thy mates! Speak

thee, from Jaufry, Dovon's son; he

ur tidings. Is't long since y

and sound, ardent and full of strength, tracking a lord

grant I may Jaufry see unchecked, unscathed; for, an I hold him n

he king how this adventure happed, we will go back to foll