TT4
The Fair Unknown
Then said Ai thur, " Maiden, you get no othei
knight of me. If you think him not man enough,
go get another of greater might where you may."
The maid said no more ; but for wrath she would
neither drink nor eat at their feast, hut sat down
with her dwarf till the tables were taken away.
King Arthur bade four of the best knights of the
Round Table arm Le Beau Dtsconus straightway in
arms true and perfect. " Through the help of Christ,
he shall hold to his word, and be a good champion
to the lady of Synadown, and uphold all her rights,"
he said.
When he was armed Sir Le Beau Disconus sprang
on his horse and received the King's blessing, and set
forth a-riding with the maiden and the dwarf. Till
the third day she ever chided the young knight ; and on
the third day, when they came to a certain place, she
said, "Caitiff, now is thy pride undone. This vale
before us is kept by a knight who will fight every man
that comes ; and his fame is gone far abroad. William
Selebranche is he named, and he is a mighty warrior.
Through heart or thigh of all those who come against
him he thrusts his spear."
" Does he fight so mightily then ? " asked Le Beau
Disconus. " Has he never been hit ? Whatsoever be-
tides me, against him will I ride and prove how he
fights."
On they rode all three with gay and steadfast hearts
till they came to a castle adventurous in a vale
perilous. There they saw a knight in bright armour.
He bore a shield of green, with a device of three
"5
Wonder Book of Old Romance
lions : and he was that William Sclebranche of whom
maid Elene had spoken.
When the knight had sight of them he rode to-
wards, and said, "Welcome, fair brother. He that
rides here, day or night, must fight with me, or ieave
his arms here shamefully."
" Now let us pass," said Sir Le Beau Disconus.
"We have far to go to our friends, I and this maid;
we must needs speed on our way."
" You shall not escape so," answered William. " Ere
you go we will fight, a furlong here to the west."
Then said Le Beau Disconus, "Now I see that it
must be so. Make ready quickly and do your best.
Take a course with the spear, if you are a knight of
skill, for I am in haste."
No longer did they abide, but rode together in
arms. Le Beau Disconus smote William in the side
with his spear; but William sat firm in his saddle.
Nevertheless so mightily was he struck that his stirrup
leathers brake, and he swayed over the horse's crupper
and fell to the ground. His steed galloped away,
but William started up speedily. " By my faith,
before this day never found I so a stout man," he
said. "Now that my steed is gone, let us fight on
foot."
Le Beau Disconus agreed, and they fell to on foot
with falchions. So hard they struck that sparks flew
from their helmets. But William drove his sword
through Le Beau Disconus's shield, and a piece of it
fell to the ground ; and thereat Le Beau Disconus
was wroth. He smote with his sword downwards
116
The Fair Unknown
from the crest of William's helmet even to his
hawberk, and shaved off with the point of his blade
the knight's beard, and well nigh cut the flesh also.
Then William ^mote him back so great a blow that
his sword brake in two.
" Let me go alive," cried William at last, seeing
himself reft of his arms. " It were great villainy to do
to death an unarmed knight."
" I will spare you," said Le Beau Disconus, " if you
swear a vow ere we go from one another. Kneel
down, and swear on my sword to go to King Arthur,
and say to him, ' Lord of Renown, a knight sent
me hither, defeated and a prisoner : his name is Le
Beau Disconus, of unknown kith and kin.' '
William went upon his knees and took a vow as
Le Beau Disconus bade him, and thus they departed
each on his way. William took the road to Arthur's
court ; and it chanced that as he went, he met, on
that self-same day, three proud knights, his own
sister's sons.
" William our uncle," said they when they saw his
wounds and his sorry array, " who has done you this
shame ? "
" Nought is the man to blame," answered William.
"He was a knight stout and stern; a dwarf rode
before him as if he were his squire, and also there
went with him a fair damsel. One thing only grieves
me borely, that I must at his bidding go to King
Arthur's court." And he told them of his vow.
" You shall be full well avenged," said they. " He
alone against us three is not worth a straw. Go your
117
Wonder Book of Old Romance
way, uncle, and fulfil your vow; and we will assail
:^his traitor ere he be out of this forest."
Then William went on his way to the court of
King Arthur. But the three knights his nephews
armed themselves, and leapt on their steeds, and with-
out more tarrying went after Le Beau Disconus.
Le Beau Disconus knew nought of this, but rode
on with the fair maid, and made great mirth with
her, for she had seen that he was a true and doughty
knight. She asked pardon for the ill things she had
said against him at the King's court, and he forgave
her this trespass; and the dwarf was their squire, and
served them in all their needs.
At morning when it was day, as they rode on
towards Synadown, they saw three knights in bright
mail riding out of Caerleon, armed for a fight to the
death. They cried to him straightway, "Thief, turn
again and fight."
" 1 am ready to ride against you all," quoth Le
Beau Disconus.
He pricked his horse towards them. The eldest
brother (Sir Gower was his name) ran against him
with a spear ; but Le Beau Disconus smote him such
a blow that he brake his thigh, and ever thereafter
was lame. The knight groaned for pain, but Le Beau
Disconus with might and main felled him altogether.
The Dwarf Teondelayn took the riderless steed by
Ihe rein, and leapt himself into the saddle, and rode
to where the fair maid sat. Then laughed she, and
said, " This young knight is the be.-^t champion we
could have chosen."
118
The Fair Unknown
The next brother came riding fierce as a lion, as
if to cast Le Beau Disconus down. Like a warrior
out of his wits he smote Le Beau Disconus on his
helm with his sword; he struck so hard that the
blade drove through the helm and touched the young
knight's head.
Then Le Beau Disconus, when he felt the sword touch
him, swung his sword as a madman, and all that he
struck he clove through. Though two were against him
for the third brother also came riding to the fray
they saw that they had no might to withstand him
in his fury. They yielded up their spears and shields
to Le Beau Disconus, and cried mercy.
" Nay," answered Le Beau Disconus, " you escape
not so unless you plight me your faith to go to King
Arthur, and tell him that I overcame you and sent
you to him. If you do not so I will slay you all
three."
The knights swore to go to King Arthur, and
plighted their troth upon it. Then they departed,
and Le Beau Disconus and the fair maid rode on
towards Synadown. All that day they rode, and at
night they made their lodges in the wood out of green
leaves and boughs, for they came nigh no town or
castle ; and thus for three days they pricked ever
westwards.
But as they slept at night the dwarf woke, fearing
that thieves might steal their horses. Suddenly his
heart began to quake, for less than half-a-mile away
he saw a great fire.
"Arise, young knight," he cried. "Arm vourself,
119
Wonder Book of Old Romance
and to horse ! I doubt there is danger here : I hear
a great sound, and smel! burning afar off."
Le Beau Disconus leapt on his war-horse and took
his arms, and rode towards the fire. When he drew
nigh he saw there two giants, one red and loathly
to look upon, the other swarthy as pitch. The black
giant held in his arm a maiden as bright as a flower,
while the red giant was burning a wild boar on a
spit before the flaming fire.
The maiden cried aloud for help. "Alas," she said,
"that ex r er I saw this day!"
Then said Le Beau Disconus, " It were a fair venture
to save, this maiden from shame. To fight with
giants so grim is no child's game."
He rode against them with his spear, and at the
first course smote the black giant clean through
the body and overthrew him, so that never might he
rise again. The maiden his prisoner fled from his
grasp, and betook herself to maiden Elene ; and they
went to the lodge of leaves in the wood, and prayed
for victory for Le Beau Disconus.
But the red giant, seeing his brother fall, smote at
Le Beau Disconus with the half-roasted boar, like a
madman ; and he laid on so sore that Le Beau
Disconus's horse was slain. But Le Beau Disconus
leapt out of the saddle, like a spark from a torch, and
drave at him with his falchion, fierce as a lion. The
giant fought with his spit till it broke in two ; then
he caught up a tree by the roots, and smote Le Beau
Disconus so mightily that his shield was broken into
three pieces. But ere the giant could heave up the
120
x
I z-^.< % w JLsl
"'Brtse, \joung ftnfgbt, arm yourself, tbcre is Danger.'"
The Fair Unknown
tree again, Le Beau Disconus struck off his right arm ;
and at that sore wound he fell to the ground, and
Le Beau Disconus cut off his head.
Then Le Beau Disconus turned to the two maidens ;
and he learned that she whom he had saved was
called Violette, and her father was Sir Atitore, an
earl in that country. Long had the two fell giants
sought to take her; and the day before at eventide
they had sprung out upon her suddenly and carried
her off.
Le Beau Disconus took the giants' heads, and when
he had escorted the maidens to the castle of Sir
Autore, he sent the heads to King Arthur. Sir Atitore
would fain have given him Violette to wife ; but Le
Beau Disconus refused, saying that he was upon a
quest with fair Elene. And with that they set forth
once more on their journey.
Anon they came to the fair city of Kardevyle, and
saw there in a park a castle stout and stark, royally
built: never such a castle had they seen. "Oh," said
Le Beau Disconus, "here were a worthy thing for a
man to win."
Then laughed maid Elene. "The best knight in all
the country round owns that castle, one Giffroun,"
she said. " He that will fight with him, be it day or
night, is bowed down and laid low. For love of his
lady, who is wondrous fair, he has proclaimed that
he A'ill bestow a gerfalcon, white as a swan, on
him who brings a fairer lady. But if she be not so
bright and fair as his lady, he must light this knight
Giffroun, who is a mighty warrior. Giffroun slays
Wonder Book of Old Romance
him, and sets his head on a spear, that it may be
seen afar abroad ; and you may see on the castle
walls a head or two set thus."
" I will fight this Giffroun," said Sir Le Beau
Disconus, " and try for the gerfalcon ; I will say
that I have in this town a lady fairer than his ; and
if he would see her I will show him you."
"That were a great peril," said the dwarf. "Sir
Giffroun beguiles many a knight in combat."
" Heed not that," answered Le Beau Disconus. " I
will see his face ere I go westward from this city."
Without more ado they went to the town, and
dwelt there in the inn for the night. In the morn
Le Beau Disconus rose and armed himself, and rode
with the dwarf towards Giffroun's palace.
Sir Giffroun, when he came out of his house, saw Le
Beau Disconus come pricking as proudly as a prince.
He rode out to him, and cried in a loud voice,
"Come you for good or for ill?"
" 1 should have a great delight in fighting you,"
answered Le Beau Disconus, " for you say a grievous
thing, that there is no woman so fair as your lady. I
have in this town one fairer, and therefore I shall take
your gerfalcon and give it to Arthur the King."
"Gentle knight," said Giffroun, "how shall we prove
which of the two be fairer ? "
u Here in Kardevyle city," said Le Beau Disconus,
" they shall both be set in the market-place where all
men may look on them. If my lady be not esteemed
so fair as yours, I will fight with you to win the
gerfalcon."
124
The Fair Unknown
"All this I grant," said Sir Giffroun. "This day
shall it be done." And he held up his glove for a
proof.
Sir Le Beau Disconus rode to his lodging, and bade
maid Elene put on her seemliest robes. Then he set
her on a dappled palfrey, and they rode forth to the
market-place.
Presently came also Sir Giffroun riding, with his
lady and two squires. And the lady was so lovely
that no man could describe her. All, young and old,
judged that she was fairer than Elene ; she was as
sweet as a rose in an arbour, and Elene seemed but
a laundry-maid beside her.
Then said Sir Giffroun, " Sir Le Beau Disconus,
you have lost the gerfalcon."
" Nay," said Le Beau Disconus, " we will joust for
it. If you bear me down, take my head and the
falcon ; and if I bear you down, the falcon shall go
with me."
They rode to the lists, and many people with them.
At the first course each smote the other on the shield,
so that their lances were broken ; and the sound of
their onset was as thunder.
Sir Giffroun called for a lance that would not
break. "This young knight is as firm in his saddle
as a stone in the castle wall," quoth he. "But were
he as bold a warrior as Alexander or Arthur, Lance-
lot or Perceval, I will shake him out over his horse's
crupper."
Together they charged again. Le Beau Disconus
smote Giffroun's shield from his arm at the shock :
125
Wonder Book of Old Romance
never yet had man been seen to joust so stoutly,
Giffroun, like a madman, struck furiously back at
him, but Le Beau Disconus sat so firm that Giffroun
was thrown, horse and all, and brake his leg.
Then said all men that Giffroun had lost the white
gerfalcon ; and they bore him into the town upon
his shield. But Le Beau Disconus sent the white
gerfalcon to King Arthur for a gift, and the King
sent him a hundred pounds' weight of florins. And
thereafter he feasted forty days in Kardevyle.
At the end of this feasting, Le Beau Disconus and
maid Elene took their leave of Kardevyle, and rode
towards Synadown. As they were riding, they heard
horns blowing hard under a hill, and the noise of
hounds giving tongue in the vale.
"To tell truth," said the dwarf Teondelayn, "I
know that horn well. One Sir Otes de Lyle blows
it ; he served my lady some while, but in great peril
fled into Wirral."
As they rode talking, a little hound came running
across their way; never man saw hound so gay;
it was of all colours of flowers that bloom between
midsummer and May.
"Never saw I jewel," said maid Elene, "that so
pleased me. Would I had him!"
Le Beau Disconus caught the hound, and gave
him to her. And they went on their way.
They had scarce ridden a mile before they saw a
hind fleeing, and two greyhounds close upon it.
They stopped and waited under a linden tree to
watch ; and they saw riding behind the hounds i
126
The Fair Unknown
knight clad in silk of India, upon a bay horse. He
began to blow his bugle, so that his men should
know where he was. But when he saw Le Beau
Disconus, and the dog in maid Elene's arms, he
drew rein and said, " Sir, that hound is mine ; I
have had him these seven years past. Friends, let
him go."
"That shall never be," said Le Beau Disconus,
"for with my two hands I gave him to this maiden."
Straightway answered Sir Otes de Lyle (for it was
he), "Then you are in peril."
"Churl," said Le Beau Disconus, "I care not for
whatever you say."
"Those are evil words, sir," said Sir Otes. "Churl
was never my name. My father was an earl and
the Countess of Karlyle my mother. Were I armed
now, even as you are, we would fight. If you give
me not the hound, you shall piay a strange game
ere evening."
"Whatsoever you do," answered Le Ecau Disconus,
"this hound shall go with me."
Then they took their way westwards once more.
But Sir Otes rode home to his castle, and sent for his
friends, and told them that one of Arthur's knights
had used him shamefully and taken his little hound.
"The traitor shall be taken," said they one and all,
"though he were a doughtier knight than Lancelot
of the Lake himself."
They armed themselves, and when all was ready,
rode out after Le Beau Disconus. Upon a high hill
thry saw him riding slowlv.
J D J
127
Wonder Book of Old Romance
"Traitor, you shall die for your trespass," they
cried to him, when they came a little distance from
him.
Sir Le Beau Disconus beheld how full was the
vale of knights. "Maid Elene," he said, "we are
come into a sorry case for the sake of this little
hound. It were best that you go into the green-
shaws-and hide your heads. For though I be slain,
yet will I abide combat with these knights."
Into the woods they rode ; but Le Beau Disconus
stayed without, as beseems an adventurous knight. They
bhot at him with bows and arbalists, but he charged
with his horse, and bare down horse and man and
spared none, so that they thought him a devil ; for
whosoever Le Beau Disconus struck, after the iirst
blow that man slept for evermore.
But soon Le Beau Disconus was beset as in a net.
Twelve knights he saw come riding through the
forest, in arms clear and bright : all day they had
rested, and thought thereby to slay Le Beau Disconus.
One of them was Sir Otes himself; and they smote
at Le Beau Disconus all at once, and thought to fell
him.
Fierce was the fight ; sword rang on steel, sparks
sprang from shield and helmet. Le Beau Disconus
slew three, and four Hew. But Sir Otes and his four
sons stayed to sell their lives there.
Le Beau Disconus against those five fought like a
madman. His sword brake, and he took a great
blow on his helmet that bore him down. Then the
foeman thought to slay him outright ; but Le Beau
128
5 armeD, even as sou are, we wouIC* fight.'"
The Fair Unknown
Disconus was minded suddenly of his axe that was
J
at his hinder saddle-bow. Then quitted he himself
like a true knight : three steeds he hewed down in
three strokes. Sir Otes saw that sight, and turned
his horse and fled. Le Beau Disconus stood no
longer on defence, but pursued him, and caught him
under a chestnut tree and made him yield.
Le Beau Disconus sent this knight also to King
Arthur for a sign of his powers; and himself and
maid Elene went to Sir Otes' castle, and there rested
and were refreshed.
When thev had tarried at this castle a certain time.
j
they rode forth again. It was the month of June,
when the days are long and birds' songs are merry.
Sir Le Beau Disconus and maid Elene and the
dwarf Teondelayn came riding by a river-side, and
saw a great and proud city, with high strong castles
and many gates. Le Beau Disconus asked the name
of this city.
"They call it Isle d'Or," answered maid Elene.
" Here hath been more fighting than in any country,
for a lady of price, fair as a rose, has put this land
in peril. A giant named Maugis, whose like is no-
where on earth, has laid siege to her. He is as
black as pitch, stern and stout indeed. He that
would pass the bridge into her castle must lay down
his arms and do a reverence to the giant."
Then said Le Beau Disconus, " I shall not turn
aside for him. If God give me grace, ere this day's
end I will overthrow him."
They rode all three towards the fair city. On a
Wonder Book of Old Romance
wooden bridge they saw Maugis, as bold as a wild
boar. His shield was black, and all his armour
olack also.
When he saw Le Beau Disconus, he cried, "Tell
me, fellow in white, what are you ? Turn home again
for your own profit."
"Arthur made me a knight," said Le Beau Disconus,
"and to him I made a vow that I would never turn
back. Therefore, friend in black, make ready."
They rode forthright at one another. Many lords
and ladies leant from the towers hard by to see the
light, and prayed with good-will for Le Beau Disconus.
The two met. Their lances brake at the first blows.
But they drew swords in a fury and rushed at one
another. Le Beau Disconus smote the giant's shield
so that it fell from him ; but Maugis in turn slew
Le Beau Disconus' steed with a great blow on its
head. Le Beau Disconus sa>d nought, but started up
from his dead charger and took his axe : a great
blow he struck, that shore the head of Maugis' horse
clean from its body. Then they fell to on foot, and
no man can tell of the blows that passed from one to
the other ; and they fought till evening drew nigh.
Sir Le Beau Disconus thirsted sore, and said,
" Maugis, let me go to drink. I will grant you what
boon you ask of me in like case. Great shame would
it be to slay a knight by thirst."
Maugis granted his will, but when Le Beau
Disconus went to the river and drank, Maugis struck
him unawares such a blow that he fell into the
river.
132
The Fair Unknown
"By St. Michael," cried Le Beau Disconus, "now
am I truly refreshed. I will repay you for this."
Then a new fight wa begun, and they continued
till darkness grew apace At length Le Beau Disconus
struck such a blow that the giant's right arm was
shorn off. Thereupon Maugis fled, but Le Beau
Disconus ran s\viftly after him and with three stern
strokes clave his backbone. Then Le Beau Disconus
smote off the giant's head, and went into the town ;
and all the folk welcomed him.
A fair lady came down to meet him, called La
Dame d'Amour ; and she thanked him for his aid
against the giant, and led him to her palace. There
he was clad in clean raiment, and feasted, and the
lady would have had him be lord of her city and
castle.
Le Beau Disconus granted her prayer, and gave
her his love, for she was indeed fair and bright.
Alas that he did not refrain ! Twelve months and
more he dwelt there ; and fair Elene was afraid lest
he might never go thence, for the lady of the castle
knew much of sorcery, and put a charm upon
Le Beau Disconus so that he wished never to
leave her.
But it fell on a day that Le Beau Disconus met
maid Elene by chance within the castle. " Sir
knight," she said, "you are false of faith to King
Arthur. For love of a sorceress you do great dis-
honour. The lady of Synadown lies in prison yet!"
At her words Le Beau Disconus thought his heart
would break for sorrow and shame. By a postern-
Wonder Book of Old Romance
gate he crept away from the lady of the castle, and
took with him his horse and his armour and rode
forth with maid Elene and the dwarf and a squire
named Gyfilet. Fast they rode without ceasing till on
the third day they came in sight of the strong city
cf Synadown, with its castle and its fair-wrought
palace.
But Le Beau Disconus wondered at a custom he
saw as he descried the town. For all the waste and
refuse that was cast outside the town was gathered
again by the folk and kept.
"What means this?" asked Sir Le Beau Disconus.
"This it is," said maid Elene. "No knight may
abide here without leave of a steward called Sir
Lambard. Ride to that eastern gate yonder, and
ask his leave to enter fairly and well ; ere he grants
it, he will joust with you. And if he bears you
down, he will blow his trumpets, and all through
Synadown, at the sound thereof, the maidens and
boys will throw on you this filth and mud that they
have gathered; and so to your life's end will you be
known as coward, and King Arthur shall lose his
honour through you."
"That were great shame for any man living,"
said Sir Le Beau Disconus. " I will meet this man.
Gyfflet, make me ready."
Then they made ready and rode to the castle gate,
and asked where adventurous knights might rind
lodging.
The porter let them in and asked, "Who is your
overlord ?"
134
"Sic fcniijbt/ sbc saiD, 'Y?OU are false of faitb to
Iknui artbur.'"
The Fair Unknown
" King Arthur, the well of courtesy and flower ol
chivalry, is my lord," answered Le Beau Disconus.
The porter went and told Sir Lambard of the
knight who had come, and Sir Lambard was glad
thereat, and vowed to joust with him. Thereat the
porter came again to Le Beau Disconus, and said,
"Adventurous knight, do not tarry, but ride to the
field without the castle-gate, and arm you speedily,
for my lord would fain joust with you."
"That is a tale that I like well," said Sir Le Beau Dis-
conus ; and he rode to the field and made ready.
Presently there came the steward all armed for the
fight, and they fell to. Long and fierce was the fray,
but at the last Le Beau Disconus struck Sir Lambard
so fiercely that he was borne clean out of his saddle
backwards.
" Will you have more ? " asked Sir Le Beau
Disconus.
"Nay," answered Sir Lambard. "Never since I
was born came I against such a knight. I have a