Gentle
lady, as yet you know not what this is to be; no more do I. You
are troubled without cause. But know this truly: if there were
in me only so much courage as your love inspires, truly I should
not fear to face any man alive. But I am foolish to vaunt
myself; yet I say it not from any pride, but because I wish to
comfort you. So comfort yourself, and let it be! I cannot
longer tarry here, nor can you go along with me; for, as the King
has ordered, I must not take you beyond this point." Then he
kisses her and commends her to God, and she him. But she is much
chagrined that she cannot follow and escort him, until she may
learn and see what this adventure is to be, and how he will
conduct himself. But since she must stay behind and cannot
follow him, she remains sorrowful and grieving. And he went off
alone down a path, without companion of any sort, until he came
to a silver couch with a cover of gold-embroidered cloth, beneath
the shade of a sycamore; and on the bed a maiden of comely body
and lovely face, completely endowed with all beauty, was seated
all alone. I intended to say no more of her; but whoever could
consider well all her attire and her beauty might well say that
never did Lavinia of Laurentum, who was so fair and comely,
possess the quarter of her beauty.
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