CHAPTER XIX

OF SIR PARIDELL AND OTHERS

It was, in truth, a great deliverance that Britomart had worked for the Lady Amoret. Nevertheless this same lady was somewhat in doubt how she should bear herself to her deliverer. For, on the one hand, she was well aware that all her love and homage was due to Sir Scudamore, nor was there aught in her heart that hindered her from rendering it. It should be told indeed that she was not only betrothed to this same Scudamore, but verily wedded, only it had come to pass on the very wedding-day, when the guests were somewhat overtaken with wine, that the enchanter Busyrane had entered the palace, and, under cover of a jest, had carried her away into captivity. So now she said to herself:

“This is a very noble knight, and it irks me to show him any discourtesy; yet, on the other hand, I fear me much lest I should seem in any wise disloyal to my own dear lord,” for she knew not that Britomart was a maid. And Britomart, on her part, desiring that the secret should not be known, bore herself with a certain freedom. Nothing unseemly did she say or do; but none had guessed her to be what she was.

As they journeyed together they came to a castle, where a great company of knights and ladies had assembled to hold a tournament. Now it was a custom of tournament that every knight entering the lists bore the colours of some lady, and averred that she was the fairest of all ladies, and that he would prove it with spear and sword. Thus it came to pass that when the knights were gathered together, and the master of the ceremony asked of each his lady’s name, a certain young and lusty knight cried out, “My lady is the fair Amoret, and that I will avow with spear and sword.”

When Britomart heard these words she was not a little wroth; nevertheless she dissembled her anger, and said only, “I am loath to make strife; but this young man must needs make good his words!” So they jousted together, and the knight was easily overthrown, being thus made to suffer for coveting that which was not his. But Britomart, seeing that he was a brave man, and being herself as courteous as she was strong, cast about how she could save his honour. She said, therefore, to the master of the ceremony: “Let me have this knight for my champion.” And as she spoke she doffed her helmet, and her golden hair, which had been cunningly coiled up within, fell down to her very feet. All that stood by, both ladies and knights, were not a little amazed.

Some said, “This is wrought by magic!” others, “This is Bellona’s self that has come among mortal men.” As for the young knight, he worshipped her as though she were divine, and the fair Amoret, all her doubts being removed, was knit to her in the closest bonds of affection and tenderness.

The next morning they departed together from the castle, the one ever cherishing in her heart the thought of Sir Artegall and the other of Sir Scudamore. After a while they were aware of two knights riding towards them, having each a lady at his side; ladies, indeed, they were not, save in outward appearance, for one was the false Duessa, the other was called Até, which name by interpretation is Strife, than whom there is no more baleful creature under the sun, and she has her dwelling hard by the gates of hell. Many ways are there by which a man may go into that place, but none by which he may come forth. And the walls on every side are hung with the rent robes and broken sceptres of kings, shivered spears and shields torn in twain, spoils of Babylon and of Rome, relics of great empires that have been and are no more. Até herself was hideous to behold, if one could see her as she was in truth. But now she was fair to look at, for she had put on, as can all evil things, the semblance of beauty.

The knight who rode by her side was a certain Blandamour, gallant and strong, and most expert in arms, but of a fickle and inconstant heart; and he that was companion to the false Duessa was Sir Paridell. When Sir Blandamour saw from afar Britomart and Amoret, he said to Sir Paridell: “See you, my friend, that knight with a lady by his side? There is a fair adventure for you!” But Sir Paridell, for now they were near enough to discern the fashion of Britomart’s arms, perceived that this knight bore the like scutcheon to one by whom he had of late been worsted in battle; nor was he minded to tempt his fate again.

“I know that knight full well, Sir Blandamour,” he said; “he proved his skill on me, and I count it folly when he who has escaped a danger challenges it again.”

“Then I,” replied Sir Blandamour, “will try my fortune; take you, meanwhile, this dame in charge.” And he laid his spear in rest and charged. Britomart, on her part, made ready to receive him, and gave him an uncouth welcome. Scarce had they met than he found himself lying helpless on the ground. Meanwhile his conquering adversary rode on, not deigning so much as to say a single word.

When his companions saw in what an evil plight he was, they hastened to his help, and put him on his steed, for mount himself he could not, and held him up as he rode. Ill-content he was that he had ventured so much and won so little.

After that they had journeyed awhile, they saw two knights coming towards them across the plain. When Sir Blandamour perceived them, he grieved more than ever for his late mishap, for he saw that one of them was his old enemy Sir Scudamore, knowing him to be such by the device that he wore, to wit, the god of love with his wings spread out on this side and on that. “Here,” he said to himself, “is evil fortune! Yonder is my enemy, and I am so bruised with this late encounter that I cannot do battle with him.” Then he said to Sir Paridell: “My friend, will you, of your affection, do somewhat for me, even as I have done for you? My hurts keep me back from battle, but I have just cause of enmity against yonder knight. Will you, therefore, maintain this my cause against him?”

Sir Paridell answered: “Trouble not yourself. There is a proverb that the left hand rubs the right. As you have fought for me, so will I for you.” Forthwith he laid his spear in rest, and charged, swift as an arrow from a bow. Nor was Sir Scudamore slow to make himself ready. So they met in fierce encounter, and with so great a shock, that both were driven from their saddles, and they lay stretched upon the ground. Sir Scudamore was soon on his feet again, and said to the other: “Laggard, why lie you so long?” But Sir Paridell lay tumbled in a heap, without sense or speech, all unheeding of his adversary’s reproach. Then his companion ran to him, and unlaced his helmet, and loosened his coat of mail, and so brought him back to feeling; but not a word did he speak. Then said Sir Blandamour:

“False knight, you have overcome by craft a better man than yourself. It is well for you that I am not in such good case to-day that I can avenge him.”

To this Sir Scudamore made no answer, though there was great anger in his heart. Then the false Duessa, not seeing how her ends would be served by a quarrel between these two, would have made peace between them. But, on the other hand, Até made up a fresh contention, for she turned Sir Scudamore against Amoret, slandering that true lady with false tales of how she had given her love to a stranger knight, who, indeed, was none other than Britomart. Nor was she content with this, but she made a quarrel also between Paridell and Blandamour. And the contention between these two grew so hot that they were ready to do battle with each other. What had been the end thereof none can say, but by good luck there came that way a certain squire who was well known to both, and not a little beloved by them. No easy thing was it for him to get hearing from the two, so full of fury were they. Yet, at the last, he persuaded them to stay their hands. This done, he said: “Brave knights, you ought to be at peace and not at variance. There are those that seek your harm, and you would do well to ally yourselves against them.” Thus he persuaded them to swear friendship again. So being reconciled, they pursued their journey. After a while they saw two knights and two ladies with them, and they sent on their squire to inquire who these might be. And when the squire came back to his company he said: “These are two famous knights, brave Cambell and stout Triamond; and the ladies are Cambina, who is wife to Cambell, and Canacé, who is wedded to Triamond. But would it please you, gentle sirs, to hear their story, for I know it well, and it is worth the hearing?”

Sir Blandamour answered, “Speak on.” So the squire told this tale that follows.