_Guy wins the Emperor's Daughter from several Princes, and
returning to Warwick is sent forth by Felice to seek new
Adventures; but before his departure destroys a monstrous Dun Cow
upon Dunsmore Heath._
Our noble Guy, at last disengaged from Love's cruelty, now armed himself
like a Knight of Chivalry, and crossing the raging ocean, quickly
arrived at the Court of Thrace, where he heard that the Emperor of
Almain's fair daughter Blanch was to be made a prize for him that won
her in the field; upon which account the Worthies of the World assembled
to try their fortunes. The golden trumpets sounded with great joy and
triumph, and the stately pampered steeds pranced over the ground, and
each He there thought himself a Cæsar that none could equal. Kings and
Princes were there, to behold who should be the conqueror, every one
thinking that fair Blanch should be his.
After desperate charging with horse and man, much blood was shed; and
our noble Guy laid about him like a lion, among the princes; here lay
one headless, another without a leg or an arm, and there a horse. Guy
still, like Hercules, charged desperately, and killed a German Prince
and his horse under him. Duke Otto, vowing revenge upon our English
champion, gave Guy a fresh assault, but his courage was soon cooled.
Then Duke Rayner would engage our favourite Knight, but with as little
success as the rest; and at length no man would encounter Guy any more:
so by his valour he won the Lady, in the field.
[Illustration]
The Emperor, being himself a spectator, sent a messenger for our English
Knight. Guy immediately came into the Emperor's presence, and made his
obeisance, when the Emperor, as a token of his affection, gave him his
hand to kiss, and withal resigned to him his daughter, a falcon and a
hound.
Guy thanked his Majesty for his gracious favour; but for fair Felice's
sake, left fair Blanch to her father's tuition, and departed from that
graceful Court, taking with him only the other tokens of his victory.
Now Guy beginning to meditate upon his long absence from his fair
Felice, and doubting of her prosperity, or that she might too much
forget him, departed for England; and having at last arrived at the
long-wished for haven of his love, thus greeted his beloved mistress:
"Fair foe," said he, "I am now come to challenge your promise, the
which was, upon my making my name famous by martial deeds, I should be
the master of my beloved mistress. Behold, fair Felice, this stately
steed, this falcon, and these hounds, part of the prize I have won in
the field, before Kings and Princes."
[Illustration]
"Worthy Knight," quoth Felice, "I have heard of thy winning the Lady
Blanch from Royal Dukes and Princes, and I am glad to find that Guy is
so victorious. But thou must seek more adventures, earn yet a nobler
name, before I wed thee."
Guy, discomfited at this unlooked for answer, took leave of fair Felice,
clad himself again in Bellona's livery, and set forth on his travels.
While waiting for a fair wind to sail for France, Guy heard of an
exceeding great and monstrous Cow, four yards in height and six in
length, lurking within the woods not many miles from Warwick, and making
there most dreadful devastations. This Cow was of a Dun colour, and from
thence named the Dun Cow; and the place where she lay being on the
borders of a great Heath, was from thence called Dunsmore Heath, which
name it retains to this day.
Guy arming himself with his sword, a strong battle axe, and his bow and
quiver, rode to the place where this monster used to lurk, which was in
a thicket of trees, which grew on the side of a heath near a pool of
standing water; and being come within a bow shot of it the monster
espied him, and set up a dreadful roaring, enough to fill any heart with
terror. Guy nothing daunted bent his bow of steel; but his arrow
rebounded as from an adamantine wall, when the dreadful beast rushed at
him like the wind. Guy observing this, lifted up his battle axe and
smote her such a blow as made her recoil. Enraged yet more, she again
rushed at him, and clapping her horns upon his breast, dented his
armour, though of highest proof. Wheeling his warlike steed about, he
gave her a desperate wound under the ear, and following this stroke with
others no less forcible, at last he brought her to the ground. Then Guy
alighting from his horse hewed her so long, till with a horrid groan she
breathed her last.
[Illustration]
The whole country, when they heard of the monster's death, came to
behold the dead carcase, and loaded Guy with thanks and presents; and
the King, after a splendid entertainment, gave him the Order of
Knighthood.