Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende

urred bravely on, and by the morrow safely reached the spot his host had named. While he

the night long, and hastens f

him placing both his lance and shield, he passed within the door. At first his eyes no other forms beheld than those which omed the walls; but as he wandered on from room to room, he came at length where lay the wounded knight, and at his couch two dame

e lady then explained that Taulat, whose brutality a

led, each year, upon the feast-day of St. John, he has him fastened to a stake hard by, and beaten with a scourge until the wounds are opened once again. For this the

ide, I trust, will Taulat fall. In eight days' time to seek hi

od, where he did trust some man to meet to lodge him in his hut. The wood was gloomy, intricate, and dense; and at

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jaw. Her arms were sinewy, and her hands all knots; her face was colourless and wrinkled o'er; her body puffed; her shoulders round and high; her legs were skinny and of brownish hue; her knees were pointed; her toe-nails so long,

er figure strange, and ugly face. She turned her head,

ps, sir knight,

y, "till I learn why thou dos

he hag replied; "and death or

herefo

nd thou w

t with whom I'll

shalt meet

too; what

med, as, rising, she unfolded her hu

ed, "in thee I trust; wh

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wled the wretched hag, "and

"I hold them as the wind, or nothingness." Pricking his

hame, at once upsprang, and, sword in hand, wished to avenge his fall; but, lo, no foe was there. He looked about, above, around, below, but horse and knight had vanished quite away. Again he mounted on his charger's back, when, at the instant, his strange foe returned, with lowere

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issing and growling as the thunder doth when tempests vex the air, and for the third time bore him to the ground. Jaufry, on his side, had so aimed his lance, i

rive my lance a fathom through his breast, I hurl him to the ground; and yet

hen off his horse, no creature did he see; but as he sat him on his charger's back the sable knight appeared to strike and hew. Weary of fight, Sir Jaufry then resolved to go on

rmit rose, and with his stole and cross and holy water, chanting a psalm, forth issued from his cell. The sable knight did not attend his coming; s

d, and thus obtained from him, the secret o

be, is ne'er without his peer, it happed this giant did return one night so grievously ill-used, that, at the end of three short days, he died. The hag, then, fearing for her own sad life and that of her two sons, called by her magic from the lower world that evil spirit who, for thirty years, these lands hath vexed. Meantime her sons have waxed in y

iant, if he held the wish, need not have gone so far to find him out: I am th

d joyously set out; and scarce had ridden for an hour's space when he beheld the giant swiftly come, bearing beneath his arm,-with the same ease as he had done a child,-a damsel, who did utter doleful cries. Her voice was hoarse from screaming

. His shield advanced, his lance within the rest, he at the

to mother earth both Jaufry and his steed. The knight full quickly leapt upon his feet; and with his ready sword struck at the monster with such vigorous hand, he sliced from off his flank a palm of flesh; and through the gaping wound one might behold his beating heart, whilst streams of blood poured through. Exhausted, tottering, s

thanks; for more than life have you pr

"God for ever aid you! But ex

onducted me; it was our usual walk; when, as we left the gates, behold, yon giant suddenly appeared, se

ut where, I pray you, was your worthy sire, a

me, asking me of them. One fain would say that you did kn

your father's, Augier's good house, where I, at need

ight, you harboured 'neath our roof; a

or who shall come, they who do hold or they who hold them not, or what the future keeps for us in store. Well it becomes us, then, to rend

inquired the maid, "if I may a

I must haste: time presses; and e'en now

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placed upon his horse; for he resolved she should not quit his sight until he put her in