Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende

like fatigued, when he beheld a young and handsome squire running towards him at his greatest speed. Rent was hi

out Jaufry from afa

ckly from this spot, an that tho

, fair friend?" a

f God, say I; nor lo

exclaimed the knight, "such counse

h slain my lord,-a knight of price, who was conducting to his castle-home his lady-wife, a Norman count's most noble daught

ry, red with rage, "thou counsell'st flight to

Its wretched mother, with dishevelled hair, followed with piercing cries. When s

ove of Heaven, grant me help, and ge

d Jaufry, "wheref

ause it is hi

no other

our glori

fry, "he is wrong; and I will

she following; and cried aloud

ed wretch! and bring

ideous leper answered with a laugh; for he had reached the threshold of his door. He darted in for refuge, followed full speed by Jaufry; who, di

l in first youth, whose beauty in that age could scarce be matched. Her cheek was fresher than an opening rose at break of day, and her torn vesture half-betrayed a bosom snowy w

and full of knots, his cheeks were spread with pustules and with scales; a broken pupil, eyes without lids but with vermilion edged, blue l

,' the knig

evil hour sen

on

what see

ath been torn by lep'rous hands,

all now be sealed; better for thee thou hadst not risen

d cause to flee the stroke he saw impending; for that huge mass of iron as it fell made the vast hall to tremble. Then Jaufry, with a bound, before the leper stood, and with firm hand dealt him in turn a blow

d a column; the monster struck it with such dire strength, the m

prayed Heaven, as humbly on the

ou who hast done so much to save us all,-now save me from t

dly groaned, the palace trembled to its very base and shook the outer air. In vain did Jaufry dodge his falling mace, it struck him to the ground; so that from nostrils, eyes, and mouth, the purple stream burst for

, Jaufry ran up, his s

e will soon be made

rcely strove the wretch, and with his foot hurled him so madly 'gainst the distant wall, Sir Jaufry fell deprived of sound and sight. His

zel a si

op l'a de

st a sigh, she ran for water, and his face she bathed. His senses half-re-turned, he staggered up, and thinking still to hold his trusty blade, he struck the damsel,-deeming

came; and in a voice of

orget ye what is due to chivalry, of which you are a lord? your courage and your

part, lo

la par

er li tol

à terr

ot yin cla

lo nas e l

8 verso, v

s heart'ning speech, an

hath removed my casque,

rd, whilst you w

nt, what

t him on a bench until his senses were again restored; then, when the dizziness had fled his brain, he thought upon the mother and the child, and s

they must be found; for I'll not hold me at a denier's worth till to the mot

thrown open wide, he could not pass it through. Spite of his will, his

said, "what! am

or. Still all was vain, he could not cross the sill. Again and yet again he tried, till

me strength to kill yon wicked wretch;

here broke upon his ear from some nigh place

, save us,

with great noise; yet answer none was made: enraged at this, he burst it in with force, and with his naked blade entered a gloomy vault. There was the leper fou

truck down the wretch, who called his ma

ul this earth hath fled: and thou, for erstwhile

d at a blow. The wretch upon the blood-stained paveme

by constraint and force I killed these babes. My lord, who sought to cure his

fry to him then, "an that thou g

my life, not knowing of the spell, a hundred thousand y

still have much to bear. Such is the fashion of this castle's spell, my lord alone could power grant t

lt thou succee

yonder casement hi

my faith!

troy the charm: but first your armour carefully put on; for whe

h, Jaufry then bound him by the feet and

it moaned, it bounded up, hissing and growling as a thunderbolt; whilst the vexed elements at once unchained, and beam and stone at war with frightful din came crushing over Jaufry. Vainly his shield was raised to guard his head; Heaven's face was darkened o'er; an awful storm, where

Size -- M

some steps, then fell. The maid, the slave, and mother with her child, who had sought refuge 'neath a huge

the damsel smiling spoke,

ound," replied the knight; "but such this latte

rms, and pressed her lips upon his eyes

, "hast thou reg

d; thanks, be i

, babes, and leper,-all. There I must beg you go, King Arthur

onsigned his friends to Heaven's care, resumed his quest of Taulat: albeit 'twas

he like hour, and with her went the leper and the rest; nor stayed she on t

arded her wit

at want they here?" The curious crowd followed that damsel fair up to the castle-gates,

nee, and as a dame of

ds doth justly hold the keys of good and ill, increase you

en save you, sweet damsel, who are fai

ck full many a weary fight. This land did hold, alas, a giant dread, of hideous aspect, and of awful strength, eaten with leprosy and fearful sores, whose thought doth make my very soul to heave. Before us suddenly this wretch appeared; and taking from his neck a monstrous club, struck at my lord with force so terrible, he stunned him with the blow. Like as a child then, clutching at his arm, against a rock he

message each relates, we will to Jaufry go, who onward still his course doth slowly ta