After the defeat of the Sultan and the flight of his wicked wife, Prince
Arthur and Sir Artegall wished to hand over the place and all its wealth
to Samient to hold for her lady, while they departed on their quest; but
the maiden begged them so earnestly to go with her to see Queen Mercilla
that at last they consented.
On the way she told them of a strange thing near at hand—to wit, a
wicked villain who dwelt in a rock not far off, and who robbed all the
country round, and took the pillage home. In this his own wily wit, and
also the security of his dwelling-place, both of which were
unassailable, were of great assistance. For he was so crafty both to
invent and execute, so light of hand and nimble of foot, so smooth of
tongue and subtle in his tale, that any one looking at him might well be
taken in. Therefore he was called Deceit.
He was well known for his achievements, and by his tricks had brought
many to ruin. The rock, also, where he dwelt was wondrous strong, and
hewn a dreadful depth far under ground; within it was full of winding
and hidden passages, so that no one could find his way back who once
went amiss.
The Knights, hearing this, longed to see the villain where he lurked,
and bade Samient guide them to the place. As they came near, they agreed
that the best plan would be for the damsel to go on in front, and sit
alone near the den, wailing and raising a pitiful uproar. When the
wretch issued forth, hoping to find some spoil, they, lying in wait,
would closely ensnare him before he could retreat to his den, and thus
they hoped to foil him easily.
Samient immediately did as she was directed, and the noise of her
weeping speedily brought forth the villain, as they had intended.
He was as dreadful a creature as ever walked on earth, with hollow,
deeply set eyes, and long shaggy locks straggling down his shoulders. He
wore strange garments all in rags and tatters, and in his hand he held a
huge long staff, the top of which was armed with many iron hooks, to
catch hold of everything that came within reach of his clutches, and he
kept casting looks around in all directions. At his back he bore a great
wide net, with which he seldom fished in the water, but which he used to
fish for silly folk on the dry shore, and in fair weather he caught
many.
When Samient saw close beside her such an ugly creature she was really
frightened, and now in earnest cried aloud for help. But when the
villain saw her so afraid, he tried guilefully to persuade her to banish
fear; smiling sardonically on her, he diverted her mind by talking
pleasantly and showing her some amusing tricks, for he was an adept at
jugglery and conjuring feats. Whilst her attention was engaged, he
suddenly threw his net over her like a puff of wind, and snatching her
up before she was well aware, ran with her to his cave. But when he came
near and saw the armed Knights stopping his passage, he flung down his
burden and fled fast away.
[Illustration:
“=The Damzell straight went, as she was directed,
Unto the rocke; and there upon the soyle
Gan weepe and wayle, as if great grief had her affected.=
=The cry whereof entering the hollow cave
Eftsoones brought forth the villaine, as they ment.=”
]
Sir Artegall pursued him, while Prince Arthur still kept guard at the
entrance of the den. Up to the rock ran Deceit, like a wild goat leaping
from hill to hill, and dancing on the very edge of the craggy cliffs. It
was useless for the armed Knight to think of following him, but he sent
his Iron Man after him, for Talus was swift in chase.
Then wherever Deceit went Talus pursued him, so that he soon forced him
to forsake the heights and descend to the low ground. Now Deceit tried a
new plan: he suddenly changed his form. First he turned himself into a
fox, but Talus still hunted him as a fox; then he transformed himself to
a bush, but Talus beat the bush till at last it changed into a bird, and
passed from him, flying from tree to tree, and from reed to reed; but
Talus threw stones at the bird, so that presently it changed itself into
a stone, and dropped to the ground; whereupon Talus took the stone up in
his hand and brought it to the Knights, and gave it to Sir Artegall,
warning him to hold it fast for fear of tricks. While the Knight seized
it in a tight grip, the stone went unawares into a hedgehog, and pricked
him, so that he threw it away; then it began to run off quickly,
returning to Deceit’s own shape; but Talus soon overtook him and brought
him back.
But when he would have changed himself into a serpent, Talus drove at
him with his iron flail, and thrashed him so that he died. So that was
the end of Deceit the self-deceiver.
Leaving his dead body where it fell, the two Knights went on with the
maiden to see her Lady, as they had agreed. Presently they beheld a
stately palace, mounted high with terraces and towers, and all the tops
were glistering with gold, which seemed to outshine the sky, and with
their brightness dazzled the eyes of strangers. There alighting, they
were directed in by Samient, and shown all that was to be seen. The
magnificent porch stood open wide to all men, day and night; yet it was
well guarded by a man of great strength, like a giant, who sat there to
keep out guile and malice and spite, which often under a feigned
semblance works much mischief in Princes’ courts. His name was _Awe_.
Passing by him they went up the hall, which was a wide large room,
filled with people, making a great din. In the thickest of the press the
marshal of the hall, whose name was _Order_, came to them, and
commanding peace, guided them through the throng. All ceased their
clamour to gaze at the Knights, half terrified at their shining armour,
which was a strange sight to them; for they never saw such array there,
nor was the name of war ever spoken, but all was joyous peace, and
quietness, and just government.
So by degrees they were guided into the presence of the Queen. She sat
high up, on a throne of bright and shining gold, adorned with priceless
gems. All over her was spread a canopy of state, glittering and gleaming
like a cloud of gold and silver, upheld by the rainbow-coloured wings of
little cherubs. Thus she sat in sovereign majesty, holding a sceptre in
her royal hand, the sacred pledge of peace and clemency. At her feet lay
her sword, the bright steel brand rusted from long rest, yet when foes
forced it, or friends sought aid, she could draw it sternly to dismay
the world. Round about her sat a bevy of fair maidens, clad in white,
whilst underneath her feet lay a great huge lion, like a captive thrall,
bound with a strong iron chain and collar.
Now at the instant when the two stranger Knights came into the presence
of the Queen, she was holding, as it happened, a great and important
trial. Having acknowledged their obeisance with royal courtesy, she gave
orders to proceed with the trial; and wishing that the Knights should
see and understand all that was going on, she bade them both mount up to
her stately throne, and placed one on each side of her.
Then there was brought forward as prisoner a lady of great beauty and
high position, but who had blotted all her honour and titles of nobility
by her wicked behaviour. This was no other than the false Duessa, who
had wrought so much mischief by her malice and cunning. Seeing the
piteous plight in which she now stood, Prince Arthur’s tender heart was
touched with compassion; but when he heard the long roll of her crimes
read forth, he could no longer wish that she should escape punishment.
Sir Artegall, for the sake of justice, was against her, and she was
judged guilty by all. Then they called loudly to the Queen to pronounce
sentence. Mercilla was deeply moved at the sight of Duessa’s wretched
plight, and even then would gladly have pardoned her; but in order to
save her land from further evil, which would grow if not checked, she
was obliged to keep to the stern law of justice. Melting to tears, she
suddenly left her throne, unable to speak the words that doomed the
prisoner to death; and she never ceased to lament with bitter remorse
the fate which the wretched Duessa had brought on herself.