BRITOMART
Sir Guyon returned to rest awhile in the castle of the Lady Alma, where
also he had Prince Arthur for companion. Acrasia he sent to Queen
Gloriana under a strong guard, lest perchance her friends and followers,
of whom there was great multitude, should seek to deliver her. After a
while the two knights set out again on their journey. Many good deeds
they did, helping the weak and setting right the things that were wrong.
It happened on a certain day that they espied a knight riding towards
them, with an aged squire by his side, who seemed too weak for the
burden which he bare. The knight had a shield with the device of a lion
on a field of gold. Sir Guyon said to Prince Arthur, “Let me, I pray
you, have this turn.”
So he put his spear to rest, and charged, and the stranger did likewise.
They met full and fair; Sir Guyon’s spear, so fast and furious was the
onset, was like to pierce the stranger’s shield, but this it did not
avail to do, nor did it drive the stranger from his seat: nevertheless
he was somewhat shaken. On the other hand, Sir Guyon himself was carried
back, ere he was aware, nigh upon a spear’s length behind the crupper of
his saddle, yet without hurt to life or limb. Nevertheless his anger was
great, for never since the day when he first bore arms as a knight had
he been dismounted in such fashion. And indeed, if he had known the
whole truth of the matter, his anger had been both less and greater;
less because the spear by which he had been overthrown was of the magic
sort, and greater, because the knight by whom he had been overthrown was
no man, but a maid, even the famous Britomart. Full of rage he was and
hot to do away his disgrace, as leaping from the ground he drew his
sword. And now the pilgrim in great haste came between the knight and
his purpose, for being a holy man and wise, he perceived that there was
some marvellous power in that same spear-point. This indeed he did not
disclose, for it was not lawful so to do, but he made other pretence:
“Nay, Sir Knight, it were ill advised to seek amends with your sword for
the mischance of your spear. If haply your steed swerved somewhat to the
side, or your page was somewhat careless in the ordering of your
equipage, why should you be so carried away by wrath; for, remember, you
have no quarrel with this knight.”
With such prudent counsels did the pilgrim pacify Sir Guyon’s wrath.
Thus concord was made between the two, in which the prince also was
joined.
When they had journeyed awhile Prince Arthur and Sir Guyon set off on an
adventure of their own, to rescue some fair lady in distress. But
Britomart, finding that they two would suffice for that enterprise, on
which her own mind was in nowise set, rode on without company until she
came to a fair castle, with a meadow before the gate, on which she saw
six knights setting upon one. He was not a little pressed by such odds,
yet in nowise dismayed. Indeed, the six dared not to stand up against
him face to face, so shrewd were the blows which he dealt them, but
sought to take him at a disadvantage from behind. Britomart endured not
to see such knavish work, but setting spurs to her horse and crying
aloud, “Have done with such foul tricks,” made all haste to help. And
when they ceased awhile from the attack, she said to the single knight:
“How comes it, sir, that you do battle in such fashion and at such
odds?”
“Sir,” he made answer, “these six would have me swear that the lady of
this castle hard by is fairer than the lady whom I love. Now that I
utterly refuse; I had sooner die than break my plighted word in such a
fashion.”
Then said one of the six, speaking for his fellows: “In this castle
which you see there dwells a lady of such a beauty that none in all the
world can be compared with her. She has ordained this law, that any
knight coming to this place, if he have no lady-love already, shall vow
himself to her service; but if he have such a lady-love, then he shall
confess that she is of less grace and beauty, or failing so to do, shall
do battle with us.”
“By heaven!” cried Britomart, “this is a hard choice! And tell me, pray,
if this knight be obedient to this same law, what reward shall he have?”
“He shall have the lady’s fair regard. But tell us, sir, for
yourself—have you a lady-love?”
“That,” said Britomart, “I answer not; whether I have such or have not,
I pay no such homage as you ask to your lady. Rather, I take up this
good knight’s cause against you.” And even while she spoke, she rode at
one of the six and laid him low upon the ground, and then at another,
and then again at a third, with the like end. Meanwhile the knight had
discomfited the fourth. And the two that were left were fain to sue for
peace. “See,” said Britomart, “how truth and honour prevail!”
Then was Britomart taken into the castle and received with great honour.
Yet she misliked the place and the company, for that they both seemed
unduly given over to ease and luxury. Nor would she doff her armour,
nor, indeed, do aught but raise the visor of her helmet. And when the
lady of the place, seeing that the stranger was very fair and of a noble
presence, bore herself as one greatly enamoured, she departed in great
discontent. The six knights would fain have stopped her going, and one
of them, Gardanté by name, shooting with an arrow, for to come to closer
quarters was not to his mind, wounded her in the side. But he and his
companions received manifold more hurt than they gave, not only from
Britomart, but from the strange knight and Sir Guyon also, for they,
hearing the tumult, came to her help.
As they journeyed, it came into Sir Guyon’s mind to inquire of his
companion concerning her condition, and how she came to be wandering in
these parts. Britomart was not a little disturbed by this questioning.
For a while she was silent, and could make no answer, but trembled and
blushed, no knight but a very woman. But when the passion had passed,
and she had gathered her strength together, she said: “Sir Knight, I
would have you know that from a child I have been trained in things of
war, to carry a shield, and to put spear in rest, that the life of ease,
which women, for the most part, follow, pleased me not; and as for
fingering the fine needle and the slender thread, by heaven! I had
sooner be struck dead by a foeman’s spear! And so, all my heart being
set on deeds of arms and perilous adventures, by sea and by land,
wheresoever they might be met, I came from my own country, which men
call the Greater Britain, into this land. For it was told me that in
this same fairy land many such adventures were to be found, and much
glory and honour won thereupon. And now, courteous sir, I would ask you
one question: Know you, perchance, of one Artegall, for he has done me a
wrong for which I would fain requite him?”
Scarcely had she spoken the words, when she fain would have called them
back. But Sir Guyon, taking them up with no small heat, made answer:
“Fair warrior, surely you do ill to accuse so true and loyal a knight as
is Sir Artegall with ill-behaviour. Truly of all who have ever taken
part in tilt or tourney, there is not one that stands in better repute
than he. It were indeed the greatest of marvels that he should do an
unworthy act, or even think in his heart an unworthy thought. And if you
have come with such a purpose in your heart, then I say that you have
journeyed far on a false errand.”
Now Britomart, in her secret heart, was glad to hear such praises of Sir
Artegall. For, indeed, as will be seen, she loved him, and it was her
woman’s craft, by speaking ill of him to his friends, so to call forth
his praises. And when, with this thought in her heart, she had again
uttered some injurious words concerning him, Sir Guyon answered: “It
would be well, lady, that you should listen to reason in this matter.
Truly he is not one whom you can compel by force to do this thing or
that, for there is not, I take it, a knight upon earth that can match
him in equal fight. And, indeed, for what you ask me, where is Sir
Artegall to be found, I cannot tell you. He is not one who will remain
for long time in any certain place; rather he wanders round the world,
seeking occasion for great deeds, by which he can help to right such as
suffer wrong.”
Britomart was greatly pleased to hear such praises of the knight. Still
she dissembled the matter and said: “Whether it be easy or hard to find
the man I know not; but at least I would know how I may profitably seek
him. Tell me some mark by which I may know him, the manner of his
shield, the fashion of his arms, the bearing of his steed, and other
things by which I may certainly know the man should I chance to
encounter him.” Then Sir Guyon told her all that she would know, and
she, listening to all that he said, found it most welcome to her heart.