The maiden was rending
her garments, and tearing her hair and her tender crimson face.
Erec sees her and, wondering greatly, begs her to tell him why
she cries and weeps so sore. The maiden cries and sighs again,
then sobbing, says: "Fair sire, it is no wonder if I grieve, for
I wish I were dead. I neither love nor prize my life, for my
lover has been led away prisoner by two wicked and cruel giants
who are his mortal enemies. God! what shall I do? Woe is me!
deprived of the best knight alive, the most noble and the most
courteous. And now he is in great peril of death. This very
day, and without cause, they will bring him to some vile death.
Noble knight, for God's sake, I beg you to succour my lover, if
now you can lend him any aid. You will not have to run far, for
they must still be close by." "Damsel," says Erec, "I will
follow them, since you request it, and rest assured that I shall
do all within my power: either I shall be taken prisoner along
with him, or I shall restore him to you safe and sound. If the
giants let him live until I can find him, I intend to measure my
strength with theirs." "Noble knight," the maiden said, "I shall
always be your servant if you restore to me my lover. Now go in
God's name, and make haste, I beseech you.
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