CHAPTER XXXV

OF SIR CALIDORE AND THE LADY BRIANA

As Sir Artegall was returning from his latest enterprise, he met a certain Sir Calidore, who was in high repute among the knights and dames of Fairyland for his courtesy and honesty. These two had been friends in old time, and now were right glad to meet.

“Hail, noble sir,” said Sir Calidore, “tell me, I pray you, how you have prospered in your enterprise.”

And when the other had unfolded the whole matter in order, what hindrances he had encountered, and what success he had achieved in the end, “Happy man,” he said, “that have accomplished so great an enterprise! You are at the end of your labours, but I am but beginning mine, nor do I know where to begin; the way is all untried. I know not what dangers await me, nor what provision I must make.”

“What, then, is this enterprise of yours?” said Sir Artegall.

“I pursue,” answered the other, “the Blatant Beast, a monster that, having been nurtured in the regions below, has now come forth on the earth to be the plague and bane of men. My task is to follow him, if need be, all over the world, till I can destroy him.”

“Such a creature I myself saw,” said Sir Artegall, “after that I left the Savage Island. It seemed to have full a thousand tongues, and with all of these it bayed and barked at me; I heeded him not, and this seemed to move him to still greater rage.”

“Doubtless,” answered Sir Calidore, “that is the monster which I follow.”

“Go on and prosper,” said Sir Artegall; and so they parted in all friendship and amity.

After Sir Calidore had travelled a mile or so, he came upon a squire, a comely youth to behold, whom his enemies had bound to a tree. The same loudly called on him for help, which he, without waiting to ask questions, promptly rendered. When he had loosed his bonds he said: “Tell me, unhappy man, how you came into this evil plight; who was it that captured you and bound you in this fashion?”

“Sir Knight,” said the man, “be assured that it was by misfortune only, not by fault committed, that I came into this condition. Not far from this place there is a very strong castle, where they keep this evil custom. No man may pass along the road—and the road so lies that none may pass without leave obtained from them who hold the castle—without payment of toll. And the toll is this—from every lady her hair, and from every knight his beard.”

“As shameful a custom as ever came to my ears!” cried Sir Calidore, “and one speedily to be overthrown! But tell me how it came about, and what was its beginning?”

“In this castle,” the squire made reply, “there dwells a certain lady, Briana by name; there is no one on earth more proud, and it vexes her sorely that she loves a certain Sir Crudor, and that he will not deign to return love for love, until she shall make for him a mantle lined with the hair of ladies and the beards of knights. And she to gain this end uses the castle, having for her minister in the matter a certain Maleffort, who, indeed, does her will in the most cruel fashion. This very day, as I journeyed by the road with the lady whom I love, this Maleffort made an assault upon us. Me first he took prisoner, for I could not withstand him, so strong was he. This done, he pursued the damsel, binding me to this tree until he should come back. But whether he has found her or not, I know not.”

While he was yet speaking, they heard a loud shriek from hard by, and looking to the place saw the knave holding a lady by her garments and about to shear the tresses from her head. When Sir Calidore saw this he was greatly moved with wrath; the squire he left, and turned to pursue the villain. “Hold!” he cried, “leave that evil doing, and turn to answer me!”

The fellow, trusting in his strength, which, indeed, had never failed him, answered him scornfully. “Who,” said he, “are you that defy me in this fashion? You take this maiden’s part; will you then give your beard, though it be but little, for her locks? Nay, nay, you may not purchase them so cheaply.” So saying he ran at Sir Calidore in a mighty rage, and rained upon him a great shower of blows. The knight, who was well skilled in arms, held back awhile, standing on his defence, and let him spend his strength. But when he perceived that he was failing somewhat, then he began to press him; the more he gave way the more strongly he assailed him. At last the fellow lost heart, and turned to fly, hoping to gain the castle and find shelter. So he fled, Sir Calidore pursuing; and now he had reached the gate and cried aloud that they should open to him without delay. This indeed they who were within, seeing in what extremity he was, made haste to do, but even as he stood in the porch Sir Calidore dealt him a mighty blow with his sword, and cleft his head from the crown to the chin. He fell down dead where he stood, and when they would have shut the gate, they could not, for the carcase blocked the way, and Sir Calidore entering in, slew the porter where he stood. Then all who were in the castle set at him, but in vain; he swept them aside full easily, as an ox, standing in a meadow on a summer day, sweeps away the flies which trouble him. So he passed from the porch into the hall, where the Lady Briana met him, and assailed him with angry words, calling him villain because he had slain her steward, and was now come to rob her of her possessions.

“Nay, nay, fair lady,” he made answer, “I deserve not these reproaches. I came to abate an evil custom that you wot of. Such things do dishonour to the laws of courtesy. I pray you, therefore, of your own accord, to do away with this evil. Rather show kindness and hospitality to all such as pass by this way; so shall you gain a glory that is better far than earthly love.”

These words did but make her wrath more strong. “Know, sir,” she cried, “that I disdain all this talk of kindness and courtesy, and defy you to the death.”

“I hold it no shame,” answered Sir Calidore, “to take defiance from a lady; but were there one here who would abide the trial with his sword, gladly would I prove my words upon him.”

Then the lady in great haste called to her a dwarf who served her, and taking from her hand a ring of gold, gave it to him, saying: “Take this with all speed to Sir Crudor; and tell him that there is a knight here who has slain my steward and done much damage to my people;” for it had been agreed between them, that when urgent need should arise she should send this ring. So the dwarf departed with the ring, and travelled all that night. Meanwhile Sir Calidore abode in the castle, the lady being now scornful, now angry, and he enduring her moods with all patience and courtesy.

The next day, before the sun rose, came the dwarf, bringing a message from Sir Crudor that he would come to her help before he had broken his fast, and would deliver to her the enemy alive or dead; and he sent his helmet as a true token. Greatly did the Lady Briana rejoice to have such news, and behaved herself more scornfully than ever to Sir Calidore. He took no heed of her ways, rather rejoicing that he should have someone with whom to settle this quarrel. So he donned his arms, and waited for the coming of Sir Crudor. Nor did he wait long. Right soon did he espy a knight riding across the plain. “This,” said he to himself, “is the Lady Briana’s champion,” and without staying to ask of anyone who this new-comer might be, he rode forth to meet him. The two came together in the middle of the plain with so strong a shock that both were rolled upon the ground, each rider with his horse. Sir Calidore rose lightly from the ground, while his adversary still lay without sense or speech, but he disdained to do him any damage; it would ill become a courteous knight to strike a sleeping foe. But Briana, where she stood upon the castle walls, thought that her champion was dead, and loudly bemoaned him, and made as if she would throw herself from the walls to the earth.

After a while Sir Crudor raised himself from the ground, but in listless fashion, like to one who can scarcely rouse himself from sleep. But when he saw his adversary, his spirit returned to him as before, and he renewed the fight, hoping that he would fare better on foot than he had fared on horseback. Long did they fight, dealing each to other fearful blows. Not once, so fierce were they, did they pause to take rest. At the last, when, as if by common consent, both lifted their swords high in the air to deal what might be a final blow, and so finish the fight, either for this champion or for that, Sir Calidore, being more nimble and quicker of sight than his adversary, was beforehand with him, and struck him with so sharp a blow upon his helmet that he brought him to his knee. Nor did he fail to follow up his advantage, but redoubling the fierceness of his strokes, brought him altogether to the ground. As he lay there he would have unlaced his helmet, and given him his death-blow, but the vanquished man begged for mercy. Then Sir Calidore, mastering his anger, such was his courtesy, said: “Mercy I grant with all goodwill. Do you learn not to treat strangers with such rudeness. This ill befits a knight, for his first duty is to conquer himself. And now I give you your life on these conditions, that you help to the best of your power all wandering knights, and also give aid as you can to all ladies in need.”

These things the knight, being thus delivered beyond all hope from the fear of death, promised to do, and swore fealty to Sir Calidore as being his liege lord for all his life. All this time the Lady Briana was looking in great dismay and trouble of mind; and now Sir Calidore, bidding her to approach, told all that had been agreed between him and Sir Crudor. She was overcome by so great a courtesy, and thanked him with all her heart, for indeed it was in her inmost heart that she was moved. She threw herself at his feet, and declared herself to be wholly bound to him. After this they all betook themselves to the castle, where the lady entertained them in most joyous fashion.

The banquet ended, she said: “Sir Calidore, I do bestow this castle upon you freely and without price, by way of token of how great is my debt to you.”

Then answered Sir Calidore: “Lady, I thank you for this gift; but I am not minded to take any hire or reward for any good deed that it may be given me to do.” So he gave the castle to the squire, that he and the damsel might dwell there. And when he had tarried there certain days, and was now made whole of his wounds, he went forth again on his quest.