The true St. George, meanwhile, had wandered far away. Now that he had
left the Lady Una, he had nothing but his own will to guide him, and he
no longer followed any fixed purpose.
Presently he saw coming to meet him another warrior, fully armed. He was
a great, rough fellow, who cared nothing for God or man; across his
shield, in gay letters, was written “Sans Foy,” which means _Faithless_.
He had with him a companion, a handsome lady, dressed all in scarlet,
trimmed with gold and rich pearls. She rode a beautiful palfrey, with
gay trappings, and little gold bells tinkled on her bridle. The two came
along laughing and talking, but when the lady saw the Red Cross Knight,
she left off her mirth at once, and bade her companion attack him.
Then the two knights levelled their spears, and rushed at each other.
But when Faithless saw the red cross graven on the breastplate of the
other, he knew that he could never prevail against that safeguard.
However, he fought with great fury, and the Red Cross Knight had a hard
battle before he overcame him. At last he managed to kill him, and he
told his servant to carry away the shield of Faithless in token of
victory.
[Illustration: Two knights jousting on horseback while a woman watches
from her horse.]
When the lady saw her champion fall, she fled in terror; but the Red
Cross Knight hurried after her, and bade her stay, telling her that she
had nothing now to fear. His brave and gentle heart was full of pity to
see her in so great distress, and he asked her to tell him who she was,
and who was the man that had been with her.
Melting into tears, she then told him the following sad story:—She said
that she was the daughter of an emperor, and had been engaged to marry a
wise and good prince. Before the wedding-day, however, the prince fell
into the hands of his foes, and was cruelly slain. She went out to look
for his dead body, and in the course of her wandering met the Saracen
knight, who took her captive. “Sans Foy” was one of three bad brothers.
The names of the others were “Sans Loy,” which means _Lawless_, and
“Sans Joy,” which means _Joyless_. She further said that her own name
was “Fidessa,” or _True Religion_, and she besought the Knight to have
compassion on her, because she was so friendless and unhappy.
“Fair lady,” said the Knight, “a heart of flint would grieve to hear of
your sorrows. But henceforth rest safely assured that you have found a
new friend to help you, and lost an old foe to hurt you. A new friend is
better than an old foe.”
Then the seemingly simple maiden pretended to look comforted, and the
two rode on happily together.
But what the lady had told about herself was quite untrue. Her name was
not “Fidessa” at all, but “Duessa,” which means _False Religion_. If Una
had still been with the Knight, he would never have been led astray; but
when he parted from her he had nothing but his own feelings to guide
him. He still meant to do right, but he was deceived by his false
companion, who brought him into much trouble and danger.