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And Arderi was vanquished, and Amis smote off his head. The King was troubled that he had Arderi; yet was he joyous that his daughter was purged of her guilt. And he gave to Amis his daughter, and a great sum of gold and silver, and a city hard by the sea wherein to dwell. And Amis received the same with great joy.
And the King answered benignly and said: "Be thou nought troubled, Count, for if thou vanquishest the battle, I will give thee to wife Belisant my daughter." On the morrow's morn, Arderi and Amis entered armed into the field in the presence of the King and his folk.
Now was the term of the battle come, and the Queen abode Amile all full of fear, for the traitor Arderi said, all openly, that the Queen should nevermore draw nigh the bed of the King, whereas she had suffered and consented hereto, that Amile should shame her daughter.
And when his wife heard the same, she ran thereto all dishevelled, and making great dole, whereas she had in memory of how he had slain Arderi. And straightway they laid him in a very fair bed, and said to him: "Abide with us, fair sir, until that God shall do his will of thee, for whatsoever we have is for thee to deal with." And he abode with them, and his sergeants with him.
And so when that was done Amile doubted not to lay bare his secret to Arderi. But whenas Amile was a-giving water to the King to wash his hands withal, the false Arderi said to the King: "Take thou no water from this evil man, sir King: for he is more worthy of death than of life, whereas he hath taken from the Queen's Daughter the flower of her virginity."
Wherefore I pray thee that thou give me frist of counsel; and that I may purge me of this guilt before thee, and do the battle against Arderi the traitor, and make him convict of his lies before all the Court."
Arderi brought with him the Count Herbert for his part; but Amile found none who would be for him saving Hildegarde the Queen, who took up the cause for him, and gat frist of counsel for Amile, on such covenant that if Amile came not back by the term established, she should be lacking all days of the bed of the King.
Then he returned at his speediest to his hostel wherein he had left Amile his fellow; but whenas Amile saw him coming with much company of horse, he deemed that Amis was vanquished, and fell to fleeing: but Amis bade him return in all safety, for that he had vanquished Arderi, and thereby was wedded for him to the King's Daughter.
But keep thee well from touching the daughter of the King; and above all things beware of Arderi the felon." Amile answered him: "I will take heed of thy commandment; but betake thee back hither so soon as thou mayest." Thuswise departed Amis.
But when Amile went to seek counsel, he happened on Amis, his fellow, who was betaking him to the King's Court; and Amile lighted down from his horse, and cast himself at the feet of his fellow, and said: "O thou, the only hope of my salvation, evilly have I kept thy commandment; for I have run into wyte of the King's Daughter, and I have taken up battle against the false Arderi."
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