BY ROBERT SOUTHEY 1872.  s
the Child of the Sea approached the castle he
met a damsel accompanied by a squire and
page, she was a fair damsel, and her hair was
beautiful which she rent as she went along, and made
great lamentation. When the knight heard how she had
suffered from the custom of that castle, he took her bridle and said, Come with me and I shall avenge you. So
they rode on and entered the base court where was a
knight on horseback who said to him, Come on and receive your dishonour! Tell me, quoth the Child, art thou
the villain who forced this lady ? No, said he, but if
I were, what wouldst thou then? Revenge her, said
the Child of the Sea. The knight of the castle then spurred his horse and ran at him full speed, but the
Child meeting him in full career gave him such
greeting, that shield nor breast plate availed, for the
lance went through his shoulder and he fell down
dead. The Child drew out the lance and met the
second knight so directly that he rent his helmet from
his head and bore him to the ground. He cried out
for help, whereon three halberders issued out, to whom
he said Kill this traitor ! they all ran violently on the
Child and slew his horse, but he lightly rose, and first
he drove his lance through the knight, between the
ear and neck, then bestirred himself against the other
three, who coming behind had wounded him in the
shoulder, so that he lost much blood, full well he recompensed the villain that did it, for he clove him
down to the chest. The others fled, crying aloud for
help, the Child leapt on the horse of one of the knights
and followed, and he saw a knight unarmed at a door
who cried out to him what hath moved thee to come
here and kill my people ? Sir, quoth the damsel, this
is the villain? Villain, said the Child, dearly shalt
thou pay for thy disloyal dealing, go arm thee, else I
will slay thee naked as thou art, for to such wretches
there should be no mercy shown. But the damsel
cried out, kill him, that he live not to abuse any more,
for that will be to your account. Ah, wretch ! quoth
he, in an evil hour came he hither in thy company,
and he went in telling the Child to wait for him, for
it was no use to fly. Galpano soon came armed into the court, mounted on a lusty white courser, and cried to the Child, [1] well mayest thou repent the time that ever thou sawest this damsel, for it will cost thee thy head. Thereat in anger he replied, Each must guard his own, and let he who cannot, lose it. Without longer stay they couched their spears, which in their encounter pierced through shield and armour to the flesh, and so forcibly did shields, helmets and bodies clash together that they both fell. Soon they arose, and laid hand to sword, and threw their shields before them and began a fierce combat. The splinters of their shields were strewn about, and pieces of their armours, and their helmets were battered and broken, and the ground whereon they fought covered with their blood. Galpano who felt a sore wound in his head drew back to wipe away the blood from his eyes. How now Galpano? quoth the Child, dost thou not remember that we fight for our heads, and if thou defendest not thy own thou wilt lose it ! Be patient awhile, answered Galpano, and let us breathe a little, we have time enough to make an end. Not so, said the Child, I do not combat thee for courtesy! and so fiercely then he smote him that he bent his knees to the ground, yet quickly he arose and defended himself ; but the Child pressed him that he could scarce lift his sword, and now sought only to protect himself with the shield, and the shield was hewn away piecemeal, then having no remedy he fled, and would have got into a tower where his men were, but the child overtook him by the steps, and caught him by the helmet, and smote his head from his shoulders, then turning to the damsel, said, now may ye chuse another lover, for this to whom ye swore hath discharged ye from your vow. He would have ascended the tower, but the steps were drawn up, then mounting the horse of Galpano which was a goodly one, he said, let us be gone. I will take the head of this villain, said she, and present it to the knight to whom I am sent on your behalf. The Child answered, not the head, that will be troublesome; take the hel met instead, and he asked to whom she was going. To Agrayes, said she, son of the King of Scotland, she then by her importunity learnt who had succoured her, and went her way. The Child rode on, but he bled fast along the way, and the white horse was stained with his blood, about the hour of vespers he saw a castle, from whence an unarmed knight came out to meet him, and asked him where he took those wounds. In a castle not far behind.And that horse? I took him in the place of my own which they slew there. And where is the knight whose he was ? He has lost his head, said the Child. Then would the knight have kissed his feet, saying, Ah, sir, you are right welcome, for by you have I recovered my honour ! for this was one whom Galpano had conquered. Sir knight, then said the Child, where can I find some remedy for my wounds? In my house, he replied ; my niece shall cure ye better than any other in this land. So he caused him to be unarmed, and laid in a sumptuous bed, where his wounds were looked to by the lady, who told him that if he could rest there for a few, days, he would be made whole. [1] Ay Cavallero Malandante. The phrase is untranslatable. Erring knight has something of the same play upon the phrase. |