When she heard how Erec intended to
take her cousin in such very poor array to the Queen's court, she
spoke about it to the Count. "Sire," she says, "it would be a
shame to you more than to any one else if this knight should take
your niece away with him in such sad array." And the Count made
answer: "Gentle niece, do you give her the best of your dresses."
But Erec heard the conversation, and said: "By no means, my lord.
For be assured that nothing in the world would tempt me to let
her have another robe until the Queen shall herself bestow it
upon her." When the damsel heard this, she replied: "Alas! fair
sire, since you insist upon leading off my cousin thus dressed in
a white shift and chemise, and since you are determined that she
shall have none of my dresses, a different gift I wish to make
her. I have three good palfreys, as good as any of king or
count, one sorrel, one dappled, and the other black with white
forefeet. Upon my word, if you had a hundred to pick from, you
would not find a better one than the dappled mount. The birds in
the air do not fly more swiftly than the palfrey; and he is not
too lively, but just suits a lady. A child can ride him, for he
is neither skittish nor balky, nor does he bite nor kick nor
become unmanageable.
Pages:
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77