"Very easily mayest thou do this thing, so thou dost but walk
prudently; but take thou good heed to have no dealings with my wife."
Thereupon the two companions departed one from the other, with tears;
Amis riding to the Court of the King in the guise of Amile, and Amile
to the house of his comrade in the guise of Amis. Now the wife of Amis,
seeing him draw near, hastened to embrace him whom she thought was her
lord, and would have kissed him. But Amile said--
"Is this a time for play? I have matter for tears rather than for
claspings, for since I parted from thee have I suffered many bitter
griefs, yea, and yet must suffer."
And that night as they made ready to lie together in one bed, Amile set
his naked sword between the twain, and said to his brother's wife--
"Beware lest thy body draw near in any wise to mine, for then will I
slay thee with this sword."
In such fashion passed the night, and every night, until Amis repaired
secretly to the castle to know certainly whether Amile kept faith and
word in this matter of his wife.
The day appointed for the combat now was come, and the Queen awaited
Amile, sick of heart; for Arderay, that traitor, cried aloud, that
certainly ought she never to come near the King's bed, since she had
suffered and consented to Amile's dealings with her maid. Whilst
Arderay boasted thus, Amis entered within the Court of the King at the
hour of noon, clad in the apparel of his comrade, and said--
"Right debonair and Lord Justicier of this realm, here stand I to seek
ordeal of battle with this false Arderay, because of the blame he has
laid upon me, the Queen, and the Princess, her child."