When the two Knights and the Lady Una had rested awhile in the castle of
Giant Pride, they set out again on their journey. Before they parted,
Prince Arthur and the Red Cross Knight gave each other beautiful
gifts—tokens of love and friendship. Prince Arthur gave a box of
adamant, embossed with gold, and richly ornamented; in it were enclosed
a few drops of a precious liquid of wonderful power, which would
immediately heal any wound. In return the Red Cross Knight gave the
Prince a Bible, all written with golden letters, rich and beautiful.
Thus they parted, Prince Arthur to go about his own work, and the Knight
to fight the terrible Dragon that was laying waste the kingdom that
belonged to Una’s father and mother. But she, seeing how thin and ill
her champion looked, and knowing that he was still weak and weary, would
not hasten forward, nor let him run the chance of any further fighting,
until he had recovered his former strength.
As they travelled, they presently saw an armed knight galloping towards
them. It seemed as though he were flying from a dreaded foe, or some
other grisly thing. As he fled, his eyes kept looking backwards as if
the object of his terror were pursuing him, and his horse flew as if it
had wings to its feet.
When he came nearer they saw that his head was bare, his hair almost
standing on end with fright, and his face very pale. Round his neck was
a hempen rope, suiting ill with his glittering armour.
The Red Cross Knight rode up to him, but could scarcely prevail upon him
to stop.
“Sir Knight,” he said, “pray tell us who hath arrayed you like this, and
from whom you are flying, for never saw I warrior in so unseemly a
plight.”
The stranger seemed dazed with fear, and at first answered nothing; but
after the gentle Knight had spoken to him several times, at last he
replied with faltering tongue, and trembling in every limb: “I beseech
you, Sir Knight, do not stop me, for lo! he comes—he comes fast after
me!”
With that he again tried to run away, but the Red Cross Knight prevented
him, and tried to persuade him to say what was the matter.
“Am I really safe from him who would have forced me to die?” said the
stranger. “May I tell my luckless story?”
“Fear nothing,” said the Knight; “no danger is near now.”
[Illustration:
“=So as they traveíled, lo! they gan espy
An armed knight towards them gallop fast,
That seemed from some feared foe to fly,
Or other griesly thing that him aghast.=”
]
Then the stranger told how he and another knight had lately been
companions. The name of his friend was Sir Terwin. He was bold and
brave, but because everything did not go exactly as he wished, he was
not happy. One day when they were feeling very sad and comfortless, they
met a man whose name was _Despair_. Greeting them in a friendly fashion,
Despair soon contrived to find out from them what they were feeling, and
then he went on to make the worst of everything. He told them there was
no hope that things would get any better, and tried to persuade them to
put an end to all further trouble by killing themselves. To Sir Terwin
he lent a rusty knife, and to the other knight a rope. Sir Terwin, who
was really very unhappy, killed himself at once; but Sir Trevisan,
dismayed at the sight, fled fast away, with the rope still round his
neck, half dead with fear.
“May you never hear the tempting speeches of Despair,” he ended.
“How could idle talking persuade a man to put an end to his life?” said
the Red Cross Knight. He was ready to despise the danger, and he trusted
in his own strength to withstand it.
“_I_ know,” said the stranger, “for trial has lately taught me; nor
would I go through the like again for the world’s wealth. His cunning,
like sweetest honey, drops into the heart, and all else is forgotten.
Before one knows it, all power is secretly stolen, and only weakness
remains. Oh, sir, do not wish ever to meet with Despair.”
“Truly,” said the Red Cross Knight, “I shall never rest till I have
heard what the traitor has to say for himself. And, Sir Knight, I beg of
you, as a favour, to guide me to his cabin.”
“To do you a favour, I will ride back with you against my will,” said
Sir Trevisan; “but not for gold, nor for anything else will I remain
with you when you arrive at the place. I would rather die than see his
deadly face again.”