United States or Ukraine ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He never forgot that he had sworn a false oath, and it was to no purpose that Belisante reminded him of all the ill deeds done by the steward to him and others. 'This time, he said sadly, 'I have the wrong and he the right, therefore I am afraid to fight, and no other answer could she wring from him. Way out of the tangle there seemed none.
So, to save Belisante from her father's wrath, he swore a great oath that there was no truth in that tale, and, flinging down his glove, offered to fight any man whom the duke should appoint, and prove his innocence on his body. Then the king bade his steward pick up Sir Amys' glove, and fixed a morning, fourteen days hence, when the two should meet in single combat.
This speech so wrought upon Belisante that she broke out in such tears and entreaties that Sir Amys, to gain time to ponder what best to do, replied that if in eight days her mind was still set on him, he would ask her hand in marriage.
He sprang to his feet in surprise as Belisante the Fair drew near him; but she begged him to sit beside her, and told him how that she had been sick of love, and besought him of his grace not to withhold this good gift from her.
But even in that assembly Sir Amys was taller and stronger and fairer to look upon than the rest. 'He shall be my knight, said Belisante to herself, never dreaming that any man alive could pass her by. But Sir Amys' thoughts dwelt not upon women, and he hardly so much as marked her where she sat. This slight was more than the spoiled damsel could bear.
Methinks I hear the voice of the nightingale, for the trees make such darkness that he knows not night from day. 'Let us leave her, answered her mother, and signing to her ladies they all returned to the castle. For a moment Belisante lay still, feigning to sleep; then she raised herself on her arm and looked about her.
By this time the duke's only daughter, Belisante, had reached the age of fifteen, and on her birthday her father proclaimed a great tournament, which was to last for fourteen days. Knights from far and near flocked to break a lance in honour of the fair damsel, but, though many doughty deeds were done, the prize fell to Sir Amys.
Then, followed by the duchess and Belisante, he entered the palace to gird himself with the armour of Sir Amys. When his helmet and sword were buckled on him, he prayed them to leave him, as he would fain be alone for a short space before he mounted his horse. So the two ladies embraced him and left him, wishing him God-speed.
By ill-luck for both the knight and the maiden, the steward, who had been seeking a chance of doing Sir Amys an ill turn, had seen Belisante leave the wood and go in search of Sir Amys. Creeping stealthily up to them, he hid himself behind a clump of bushes and heard all that was said.
The young man would have fared badly, and indeed would at once have been thrown into prison, had not both Belisante and her mother offered themselves as sureties for his presence when the day arrived. But not all the wiles of the fair Belisante could chase the gloom from the face of Sir Amys.
Word Of The Day