1S24.] 



" Sir Danayn, intent upon the joiistlng, 

 Caught nothing of this speecii. But, by 



some chance, 

 Sir Geron had been standing near enough 

 To hear what Lak vfas saying to tlie iiing; 

 And tho' liis heart burnt in him, that a man 

 Should dare so speak concerning his friend's 



wife, 

 Yet, thonght he, this must be no vulgar 



knigirt, 

 Who feels within him such a daring spirit. 



' Geron then went up to him, and address'd 



him 

 III friendly guise, and let him understand 

 He was aware of what to Meiiad 

 Sir Lak had spoken : * I acknowledge it,' 

 Retorted Lak, ' nor should I shun the trial 

 If you were one of these same six-and- 



twenty.' 

 " ' If so,' said Geron, * and for woman's sake 

 You would engage with six-and-tvventy of us, 

 It would no doubt be very easy for you 

 To snatch from us the honours of the 



tourney.' 



" ' Done : let us try,' said Lak. King Meiiad, 

 And Danayn, who now approach'd,took part 

 In the defial, and it was agreed 

 Three times to joust ; Sir Geron against Lak, 

 And Danayn against King Meiiad, 

 At the tirst onset Danayn and Geron 

 Ran down amain their two antagonists. 

 The second time the chances were revers'd. 

 And the two friends were ousted from their 



saddles. 

 But, the third time, they both again pievail'd. 

 And kept with loud applause their twice- 

 won prize. 

 " When night approach'd, there came to 



Danayn 

 A hasty messenger, with tidings that 

 The murderers of his nephew, whom he 



lour'd for. 

 Had a few hours ago been seen about 

 At no great distance. Instantly the knit^ht 

 Set off in the pursuit, but said to Geron, 

 ' Brother, a private business calls me hence, 

 Which cannot be delay'd ; meanwhile, go you 

 To Maloane, and there wait for me.' Then 

 He said as much to his wife, and she prepar'd 

 "Next morning with her escort to return. 

 " Sir Geron had not yet forgot the words 

 Which Lak had spoken, — half, it seem'd, 



in earnest. 

 No sooner was the dame of Maloane 

 Gone from Morlaix, than he at distance 



foUow'd. 

 And, sure enough. Sir Lak had risen early. 

 In order not to miss his lovely booty, 

 And deep within a lonely woody valley, 

 Through which she had to pass, was hid in 



ambush. 

 Soon as the escort came, he fell upon them. 

 Like to a sudden thunderbolt from heaven, 

 Drove all the aix-and-twenty to disperse, 

 iSeiz'd 00 the lady, and rode off with her. 



Wieland'u " Giron h CourteoisJ 



509 



" Sir Geron had, by some misapprehension, 

 Not taken just the road the lady took. 

 And, turning on one side to seek the traces. 

 By great good luck he pounced upon the 



robber, 

 Who, with his lovely booty well content. 

 Came trotting on. The precious burden well 

 Deserv'd a combat unto life or death. 

 " Wringing her lovely hands, most anxiously 

 The lady call'd on every saint in heaven; 

 Made more vows for her friend than for 



herself; 

 But soon the brave one had remov'd all fear 

 About the issue : with a lion's fury 

 He grasp'd the rude aggressor, flung him 



down. 

 And made him to the mercy of the lady 

 Owe a dishonour'd life. 



How great the joy 

 Was hers, when thus she felt herself deliver'd 

 And by the hand of him whom best she lov'd. 

 Nor scarcely less was his to see her rescued. 

 And to have fitly punish'd the presumption 

 Of a wild rival. Both gaz'd on each other. 

 And remain'd speechless; their whole souls 



were seated 

 Now in their eyes. Around is only wood, 

 Silent and solitary ; she and he 

 The only in the world. Ah ! what a moment 

 For to forget a friend in. 



But Sir Geron, 

 Soon to himself restor'd, stept back and said, 

 ' Lady, you now are ridded of this knight, 

 And can return to Maloane in peace. 

 At your own pleasure.' 



Him the lady answer'd, 

 ' Most noble sir, to God and to your arm 

 Be everlasting thanks for my deliverance I 

 I had been else dishonour'd, if your courage 

 Had not preserv'd me in the threaten'd 



danger. 

 But what can I do now ? My sorry people 

 Are all dispers'd, — the damsels and the 



knights ; 

 And I am left alone.' 



The knight replied, 

 * Lady, be not uneasy ; all your escort 

 Cannot be far away ; they'll soon collect 

 Again, and come about yo\i. Let us ride. 

 Meanwhile, along this path, which certainly 

 Must lead us back into the beaten road.' 

 And with these words they rode together 



onwards. 



" Now when the lovely dame of Maloane, 

 Freed from her terrors, saw herself alone, 

 And with the man above all others dear 

 To her whole soul, and thought within herself. 

 How at the tourney he surpass'd tliem all, 

 How nobly brave, how gently courteous, he 

 In every thing behav'd, her inner heart 

 Was so much mov'd, she hardly could 



conceive 

 What was the matter with her,what she ought 

 To say or to withhold. She wants to speak, 

 And yet the fear of being once again 

 Put off had terrors for her. 



Love 



