a maiden riding, and a dwarf beside her, in a great heat as though
with haste. This maid was called Elene the bright and gentle; no
countess or queen could be her equal in loveliness. She was richly
clad, and the saddle and bridle of her milk-white steed were full of
diamonds. Her dwarf wore silk of India; a stout and bold man was he,
and his beard, yellow as wax, hanged down to his girdle. His shoes
were decked with gold, and truly seemed a knight that felt no poverty.
His name was Teondelayn; he was skilled in playing all musical
instruments.
The dwarf spoke to the maiden, and bade her tell her errand, and lose
no time. She knelt in the hall before all the knights, and greeted
them with honour, and said, "Never was sadder tidings than I bring. My
lady of Synadown is brought into a strong prison; she prays King
Arthur to send her a knight of stout courage, to win her out of
prison."
Up started the young knight Le Beau Disconus; his courage was stout
and high. "Arthur, my lord," he said, "I shall take up this combat,
and win the lady bright, if you are true to your word."
"Certain it is that I have promised even so," said King Arthur. "God
grant you grace and might."
Then Elene began to complain, and said, "Alas that I was ever sent
hither! Now will the word go forth that Arthur's manhood is lost, if
you send a witless and wild child to deal doughty blows, when there
are here knights of proved valour, Launcelot, Percevale, and Gawain."
Le Beau Disconus answered, "Never yet was I afraid of any man; I have
learned to fight with spear and sword. I will take the battle, and
never forsake it, as is Arthur's law."
Then said Arthur, "Maiden, you get no other knight of me. If you think
him not man enough, go get another of greater might where you can."
The maid said no more; but for wrath she would neither drink nor eat
at their feast, but sat down with her dwarf till the tables were taken
away.
King Arthur bade four of the best knights of the Round Table arm Le
Beau Disconus straightway in arms true and perfect. "Through the help
of Christ, he shall hold to his word, and be a good champion to the
lady of Synadown, and uphold all her rights," he said.
When he was armed Sir Le Beau Disconus sprang on his horse and
received the king's blessing, and set forth a-riding with the maiden
and the dwarf. Till the third day she railed at the young knight
continually; and on the third day, when they came to a certain place,
she said, "Caitiff, now is your pride undone. This vale before us is
kept by a knight who will fight every man that comes; and his fame is
gone far abroad. William Selebranche is he named, and he is a mighty
warrior. Through heart or thigh of all those who come against him he
thrusts his spear."
"Does he fight so mightily then?" asked Le Beau Disconus. "Has he
never been hit? Whatsoever betides me, against him will I ride and
prove how he fights."
On they rode all three till they came to a castle in a vale. There
they saw a knight in bright armour. He bore a shield of green, with a
device of three lions: and he was that William Selebranche of whom
maid Elene had spoken. When the knight had sight of them he rode
towards them, and said, "Welcome, fair brother. He that rides here,
day or night, must fight with me, or leave his arms here shamefully."
"Now let us pass," said Sir Le Beau Disconus, "We have far to go to
our friends, I and this maid; we must needs speed on our way."
"You shall not escape so," answered William. "Ere you go we will
fight."
Then said Le Beau Disconus, "Now I see that it must be so. Make ready
quickly and do your best. Take a course with the spear, if you are a
knight of skill, for I am in haste."
No longer did they wait, but rode together in arms. Le Beau Disconus
smote William in the side with his spear; but William sat firm in his
saddle. Nevertheless so mightily was he struck that his stirrup
leathers were broken, and he swayed over the horse's crupper and fell
to the ground. His steed galloped away, but William started up
speedily. "By my faith, never met I so stout a man," he said. "Now
that my steed is gone, let us fight on foot." They fell to on foot
with falchions. [Footnote: Broad, short swords.] So hard they struck
that sparks flew from their helmets. But William drove his sword
through Le Beau Disconus's shield, and a piece of it fell to the
ground; and thereat Le Beau Disconus was wroth. He smote with his
sword downwards from the crest of William's helmet even to his
hawberk, and shaved off with the point of his blade the knight's
beard, and well-nigh cut the flesh also. Then William smote back so
great a blow that his sword brake in two.
"Let me go alive," cried William at that, seeing himself reft of his
arms. "It were great villainy to do to death an unarmed knight."
"I will spare you," said Le Beau Disconus, "if you swear a vow ere we
go from one another. Kneel down, and swear on my sword to go to King
Arthur, and say to him, 'Lord of renown, a knight sent me hither,
defeated and a prisoner: his name is Le Beau Disconus, of unknown kith
and kin.'"
William went upon his knees and took a vow as Le Beau Disconus bade
him, and thus they departed each on his way. William took the road to
Arthur's court; and it chanced that as he went, he met, on that
self-same day, three proud knights, his own sister's sons. "William
our uncle," said they when they saw his wounds and his sorry array,
"who has done you this shame?"
"The man is not to blame," answered William. "He was a knight stout
and stern. One thing only grieves me sorely, that I must at his
bidding go to King Arthur's court." And he told them of his vow.
"You shall be full well avenged," said they. "He alone against us
three is not worth a straw. Go your way, uncle, and fulfil your vow;
and we will assail the traitor ere he be out of this forest." Then
William went on his way to the court of King Arthur.
But the three knights his nephews armed themselves, and leapt on their
steeds, and without more tarrying went after Le Beau Disconus.
Le Beau Disconus knew nought of this, but rode on with the fair maid,
and made great mirth with her, for she had seen that he was a true and
doughty knight. She asked pardon for the ill things she had said
against him at the king's court, and he forgave her this trespass; and
the dwarf was their squire, and served them in all their needs.
At morning when it was day, as they rode on towards Synadown, they saw
three knights in bright mail. They cried to him straightway, "Thief,
turn again and fight."
"I am ready to ride against you all," quoth Le Beau Disconus. He
pricked his horse towards them. The eldest brother (Sir Gower was his
name) ran against him with a spear; but Le Beau Disconus smote him
such a blow that he broke his thigh, and ever thereafter was lame. The
knight groaned for pain, but Le Beau Disconus with might and main
felled him altogether.
The next brother came riding fierce as a lion, as if to cast Le Beau
Disconus down. Like a warrior out of his wits he smote Le Beau
Disconus on his helmet with his sword; he struck so hard that the
blade drove through the helmet and touched the young knight's head.
Then Le Beau Disconus, when he felt the sword touch him, swung his
sword as a madman, and all that he struck he clove through. Though two
were against him--for the third brother also came riding to the
fray--they saw that they had no might to withstand him in his
fury. They yielded up their spears and shields to Le Beau Disconus,
and cried mercy.
"Nay," answered Le Beau Disconus, "you escape not, unless you plight
me your faith to go to King Arthur, and tell him that I overcame you
and sent you to him. If you do not so, I will slay you all three." The
knights swore to go to King Arthur, and plighted their troth upon
it. Then they departed, and Le Beau Disconus and the fair maid rode on
towards Synadown. All that day they rode, and at night they made their
lodges in the wood out of green leaves and boughs, for they came nigh
no town or castle; and thus for three days they pricked ever
westwards.
THE FIGHT WITH THE TWO GIANTS
Retold by F. J. H. Darton
As they slept at night the dwarf woke, fearing that thieves might
steal their horses. Suddenly his heart began to quake, for less than
half a mile away he saw a great fire. "Arise, young knight," he
cried. "Arm yourself, and to horse! I doubt there is danger here: I
hear a great sound, and smell burning afar off."
Le Beau Disconus leapt on his war-horse and took his arms, and rode
towards the fire. When he drew nigh he saw there two giants, one red
and loathly to look upon, the other swarthy as pitch. The black giant
held in his arms a maiden as bright as a flower, while the red giant
was burning a wild boar on a spit before the flaming fire.
The maiden cried aloud for help. "Alas," she said, "that ever I saw
this day!"
Then said Le Beau Disconus, "It were a fair venture to save this
maiden from shame. To fight with giants so grim is no child's game."
He rode against them with his spear, and at the first course smote the
black giant clean through the body and overthrew him, so that never
could he rise again. The maiden his prisoner fled from his grasp, and
betook herself to maid Elene; and they went to the lodge of leaves in
the wood, and prayed for victory for Le Beau Disconus.
But the red giant, seeing his brother fall, smote at Le Beau Disconus
with the half-roasted boar, like a madman; and he laid on so sore that
Le Beau Disconus's horse was slain. But Le Beau Disconus leapt out of
the saddle, like a spark from a torch, and drove at him with his
falchion, fierce as a lion. The giant fought with his spit till it
broke in two; then he caught up a tree by the roots, and smote Le Beau
Disconus so mightily that his shield was broken into three pieces. But
before the giant could heave up the tree again, Le Beau Disconus
struck off his right arm; and at that sore wound he fell to the
ground, and Le Beau Disconus cut off his head.
Then Le Beau Disconus turned to the two maidens; and he learned that
she whom he had saved was called Violette, and her father was Sir
Autore, an earl in that country. Long had the two giants sought to
take her; and the day before at eventide they had sprung out upon her
suddenly and carried her off.
Le Beau Disconus took the giants' heads, and when he had escorted the
maidens to the castle of Sir Autore, he sent the heads to King Arthur.
Sir Autore wished to give him Violette to wife; but Le Beau Disconus
refused, saying that he was upon a quest with fair Elene. And with
that they set forth once more on their journey.
Presently they came to the fair city of Kardevyle, and saw there in a
park a castle stout and stark, royally built: never such a castle had
they seen. "Oh," said Le Beau Disconus, "here were a worthy thing for
a man to win."
Then laughed maid Elene. "The best knight in all the country round
owns that castle, one Giffroun," she said. "He that will fight with
him, be it day or night, is bowed down and laid low. For love of his
lady, who is wondrous fair, he has proclaimed that he will bestow a
gerfalcon, white as a swan, on him who brings a fairer lady. But if
she be not so bright and fair as his lady, he must fight this knight
Giffroun, who is a mighty warrior. Giffroun slays him, and sets his
head on a spear, that it may be seen afar abroad; and you may see on
the castle walls a head or two set thus."
"I will fight this Giffroun," said Sir Le Beau Disconus, "and try for
the gerfalcon; I will say that I have in this town a lady fairer than
his; and if he would see her I will show him you."
"That were a great peril," said the dwarf. "Sir Giffroun beguiles many
a knight in combat."
"Heed not that," answered Le Beau Disconus. "I will see his face ere
I go westward from this city."
Without more ado they went to the town, and dwelt there in the inn for
the night. In the morn Le Beau Disconus rose and armed himself, and
rode with the dwarf towards Giffroun's palace.
Sir Giffroun, when he came out of his house, saw Le Beau Disconus
advancing as proudly as a prince. He rode out to him, and cried in a
loud voice, "Come you for good or for ill?"
"I should have a great delight in fighting you," answered Le Beau
Disconus, "for you say a grievous thing, that there is no woman so
fair as your lady. I have in this town one fairer, and therefore I
shall take your gerfalcon and give it to Arthur the king."
"Gentle knight," said Giffroun, "how shall we prove which of the two be
fairer?"
"Here in Kardevyle city," said Le Beau Disconus, "they shall both be
set in the market-place where all men may look on them. If my lady be
not esteemed so fair as yours, I will fight with you to win the
gerfalcon."
"All this I grant," said Sir Giffroun. "This day shall it be done."
And he held up his glove for a proof.
Sir Le Beau Disconus rode to his lodging, and bade maid Elene put on
her seemliest robes. Then he set her on a dappled palfrey, and they
rode forth to the market-place. Presently came also Sir Giffroun
riding, with his lady and two squires. And the lady was so lovely
that no man could describe her. All, young and old, judged that she
was fairer than Elene; she was as sweet as a rose in an arbour, and
Elene seemed but a laundry-maid beside her.
Then said Sir Giffroun, "Sir Le Beau Disconus, you have lost the
gerfalcon."
"Nay," said Le Beau Disconus, "we will joust for it. If you bear me
down, take my head and the falcon; and if I bear you down, the falcon
shall go with me."
They rode to the lists, and many people with them. At the first course
each smote the other on the shield, so that their lances were broken;
and the sound of their onset was as thunder. Sir Giffroun called for a
lance that would not break. "This young knight is as firm in his
saddle as a stone in the castle wall," quoth he. "But were he as bold
a warrior as Alexander or Arthur, Launcelot or Percevale, I will shake
him out over his horse's crupper."
Together they charged again. Le Beau Disconus smote Giffroun's shield
from his arm at the shock: never yet had man been seen to joust so
stoutly. Giffroun, like a madman, struck furiously back at him, but Le
Beau Disconus sat so firm that Giffroun was thrown, horse and all, and
broke his leg.
All men said that Giffroun had lost the white gerfalcon; and they bore
him into the town upon his shield. But Le Beau Disconus sent the white
gerfalcon to King Arthur for a gift, and the king sent him a hundred
pounds' weight of florins. And thereafter he feasted forty days in
Kardevyle.
At the end of this feasting, Le Beau Disconus and maid Elene took
their leave of Kardevyle, and rode towards Synadown. As they were
riding, they heard horns blowing hard under a hill, and the noise of
hounds giving tongue in the vale. "To tell truth," said the dwarf
Teondelayn, "I know that horn well. One Sir Otes de Lyle blows it; he
served my lady some while, but in great peril fled into Wirral."
As they rode talking, a little hound came running across their way;
never man saw hound so gay; it was of all colours of flowers that
bloom between May and midsummer.
"Never saw I jewel," said maid Elene, "that so pleased me. Would I had
him!"
Le Beau Disconus caught the hound, and gave him to her. And they went
on their way. They had scarce ridden a mile before they saw a hind
fleeing, and two greyhounds close upon it. They stopped and waited
under a linden tree to watch; and they saw riding behind the hounds a
knight clad in silk of India, upon a bay horse. He began to blow his
bugle, so that his men should know where he was. But when he saw Le
Beau Disconus, and the dog in maid Elene's arms, he drew rein and
said. "Sir, that hound is mine; I have had him these seven years
past. Friends, let him go."
"That shall never be," said Le Beau Disconus, "for with my two hands I
gave him to this maiden."
Straightway answered Sir Otes de Lyle (for it was he), "Then you are
in peril."
"Churl," said Le Beau Disconus, "I care not for whatever you say."
"Those are evil words, sir," said Sir Otes. "Churl was never my name.
My father was an earl and the Countess of Karlyle my mother. Were I
armed now, even as you are, we would fight. If you give me not the
hound, you shall play a strange game ere evening."
"Whatsoever you do," answered Le Beau Disconus, "this hound shall go
with me."
Then they took their way westward once more. But Sir Otes rode home to
his castle, and sent for his friends, and told them that one of
Arthur's knights had used him shamefully and taken his little hound.
They armed themselves, and when all was ready, rode out after Le Beau
Disconus. Upon a high hill they saw him riding slowly. "Traitor, you
shall die for your trespass," they cried to him, when they came a
little distance from him.
Sir Le Beau Disconus beheld how full of knights the vale was. "Maid
Elene," he said, "we are come into a sorry case for the sake of this
little hound. It were best that you go into the greenshaws and hide
your heads. For though I be slain, yet will I abide combat with these
knights."
Into the woods they rode; but Le Beau Disconus stayed without, as
beseems an adventurous knight. They shot at him with bows and
arbalists, [Footnote: A crossbow] but he charged with his horse, and
bore down horse and man and spared none; whosoever Le Beau Disconus
struck, after the first blow that man slept for evermore.
But soon Le Beau Disconus was beset as in a net. Twelve knights came
riding through the forest, in arms clear and bright: all day they had
rested, and thought thereby to slay Le Beau Disconus. One of them was
Sir Otes himself and they smote at Le Beau Disconus all at once, and
thought to fell him.
Fierce was the fight; sword rang on steel, sparks sprang from shield
and helmet. Le Beau Disconus slew three, and four flew. But Sir Otes
and his four sons stayed to sell their lives there.
Le Beau Disconus against those five fought like a madman. His sword
brake, and he took a great blow on his helmet that bore him down. Then
the foeman thought to slay him outright; but Le Beau Disconus was
minded suddenly of his axe that was at his hinder saddle-bow. He
quitted himself like a true knight: three steeds he hewed down in
three strokes.
Sir Otes saw that sight, and turned his horse and fled. Le Beau
Disconus stood no longer on defence, but pursued him, and caught him
under a chestnut tree and made him yield.
Le Beau Disconus sent this knight also to King Arthur for a sign of
his powers; and himself and maid Elene went to Sir Otes's castle, and
there rested and were refreshed.
IN THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERERS
Retold by F. J. H. Darton
When they had tarried at this castle a certain time, they rode forth
again. It was the month of June, when the days are long and birds'
songs are merry. Sir Le Beau Disconus and maid Elene and the dwarf
Teondelayn came riding by a river-side, and saw a great and proud
city, with high strong castles and many gates. Le Beau Disconus asked
the name of this city.
"They call it Golden Isle," answered maid Elene. "Here hath been more
fighting than in any country, for a lady of price, fair as a rose, has
put this land in peril. A giant named Maugis, whose like is nowhere on
earth, has laid siege to her. He is as black as pitch, stern and stout
indeed. He that would pass the bridge into her castle must lay down
his arms and do a reverence to the giant."
Then said Le Beau Disconus, "I shall not turn aside for him. If God
give me grace, ere this day's end I will overthrow him."
They rode all three towards the fair city. On a wooden bridge they saw
Maugis, as bold as a wild boar. His shield was black, and all his
armour black also. When he saw Le Beau Disconus, he cried, "Tell me,
fellow in white, what are you? Turn home again for your own profit."
"Arthur made me a knight," said Le Beau Disconus, "and to him I made a
vow that I would never turn back. Therefore, friend in black, make
ready."
They rode forthright at one another. Their lances brake at the first
blows. But they drew swords in a fury and rushed at one another. Le
Beau Disconus smote the giant's shield so that it fell from him; but
Maugis in turn slew Le Beau Disconus's steed with a great blow on its
head. Le Beau Disconus said nought, but started up from his dead
charger and took his axe: a great blow he struck, that shore the head
of Maugis's horse clean from its body.
Then they fell to on foot, and no man can tell of the blows that
passed from one to the other; and they fought till evening drew nigh.
Sir Le Beau Disconus thirsted sore, and said, "Maugis, let me go to
drink. I will grant you what boon you ask of me in like case. Great
shame would it be to slay a knight by thirst."
Maugis granted it, but when Le Beau Disconus went to the river and
drank, Maugis struck him unawares such a blow that he fell into the
river. "Now am I truly refreshed," cried Le Beau Disconus, as he
climbed out. "I will repay you for this."
Then a new fight was begun, and they continued till darkness grew
apace. At length Le Beau Disconus struck such a blow that the giant's
right arm was shorn off. Thereupon Maugis fled, but Le Beau Disconus
ran swiftly after him and with three stern strokes clove his backbone.
Then Le Beau Disconus smote off the giant's head, and went into the
town; and all the folk welcomed him.
A fair lady came down to meet him, called Le Dame d'Amour; and she
thanked him for his aid against the giant, and led him to her
palace. There he was clad in clean raiment, and feasted, and the lady
would have had him be lord of her city and castle.
Le Beau Disconus granted her prayer, and gave her his love, for she
was indeed fair and bright. Alas that he did not refrain! Twelve
months and more he dwelt there; and fair Elene was afraid lest he
might never go thence, for the lady of the castle knew much of
sorcery, and put a charm upon Le Beau Disconus so that he wished never
to leave her.
But it fell on a day that Le Beau Disconus met maid Elene by chance
within the castle. "Sir knight," she said, "you are false of faith to
King Arthur. For love of a sorceress you do great dishonour. The lady
of Synadown lies in prison yet!"
At her words Le Beau Disconus thought his heart would break for sorrow
and shame. By a postern-gate he crept away from the lady of the
castle, and took with him his horse and his armour and rode forth with
maid Elene and the dwarf and a squire named Gyfflet. Fast they rode
without ceasing till on the third day they came in sight of the strong
city of Synadown.
But Le Beau Disconus wondered at a custom he saw as he descried the
town. For all the waste and refuse that was cast outside the town was
gathered again by the folk and kept.
"What means this?" asked Sir Le Beau Disconus.
"This it is," said maid Elene. "No knight may abide here without leave
of a steward called Sir Lambard. Ride to that eastern gate yonder, and
ask his leave to enter fairly and well; ere he grants it, he will
joust with you. And if he bears you down, he will blow his trumpets,
and all through Synadown, at the sound thereof, the maidens and boys
will throw on you this filth and mud that they have gathered; and so
to your life's end will you be known as a coward, and King Arthur
shall lose his honour through you."
"That were great shame for any man living," said Sir Le Beau Disconus.
"I will meet this man. Gyfflet, make me ready." Then they made ready
and rode to the castle gate, and asked where knights might find
lodging. The porter let them in and asked, "Who is your overlord?"
"King Arthur, the well of courtesy and flower of chivalry, is my
lord," answered Le Beau Disconus.
The porter went and told Sir Lambard of the knight, and Sir Lambard
was glad, and vowed to joust with him. Thereupon the porter came again
to Le Beau Disconus, and said, "Adventurous knight, ride to the field
without the castle gate, and arm you speedily, for my lord would joust
with you."
Sir Le Beau Disconus rode to the field and made ready. Presently there
came the steward all armed for the fight, and they fell to. Long and
fierce was the fray, but at the last Le Beau Disconus struck Sir
Lambard so fiercely that he was borne clean out of his saddle
backwards.
"Will you have more?" asked Sir Le Beau Disconus.
"Nay," answered Sir Lambard. "Never since I was born came I against
such a knight. If you will fight for my lady, you are welcome, sir
knight."
"Nay," said Sir Le Beau Disconus, "but I fight for a lady even now."
Then they went into Sir Lambard's castle and feasted and were right
merry. Sir Lambard and Sir Le Beau Disconus spoke much of adventures,
and at last Sir Le Beau Disconus asked him concerning his quest. "What
is the knight's name who holds in prison the gentle lady of Synadown?"
"Nay, sir, knight is he none. Two magicians are her foes, false in
flesh and bone: Mabon and Irayn are their names, and they have made
this town a place of strange magic arts. They hold this noble lady in
prison, and often we hear her cry, but have no power to come to
her. They have sworn to slay her if she will not do their will, and
give up to them all her rights in this fair dukedom which is hers."