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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f57f44 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text +*.htm text +*.html text +*.png binary +*.jpg binary +*.svg text +*.pdf binary +*.bmp binary +*.zip binary +*.midi binary +*.mp3 binary @@ -0,0 +1,18697 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc, by +Joanot Martorell and Marti Johan d'Galba + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +** This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg eBook, Details Below ** +** Please follow the copyright guidelines in this file. ** + +Title: The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc + +Author: Joanot Martorell and Marti Johan d'Galba + +Translator: Robert S. Rudder + +Posting Date: March 18, 2012 [EBook #378] +Release Date: December, 1995 +Last Updated: July 25, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WHITE KNIGHT: TIRANT LO BLANC *** + + + + +Produced by Robert S. Rudder + + + + + + + + +The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc +written and copyrighted by Robert S. Rudder + + + +Joanot Martorell and Marti Johan d'Galba. +The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc. + + +Robert S. Rudder. 1556 Lafayette Rd. Claremont, CA. 91711. +rrudder@lausd.k12.ca.us + + + +THE WHITE KNIGHT: TIRANT LO BLANC + + + + + +by + +Johanot Martorell + +and + +Marti Johan d'Galba + + Edited and Translated + +by + +Robert S. Rudder + + For + +Jose Rubia Barcia + +Friend and colleague at UCLA + +A true "caballero andante" + + TABLE OF CONTENTS: + +INTRODUCTION + + + +CHAPTER I. COUNT WILLIAM OF WARWICK +CHAPTER II. THE TOURNAMENT +CHAPTER III. SICILY +CHAPTER IV. CONSTANTINOPLE +CHAPTER V. THE BATTLEFIELD +CHAPTER VI. A TRUCE +CHAPTER VII. IN THE PRINCESS'S BED +CHAPTER VIII. THE BETROTHAL +CHAPTER IX. WIDOW REPOSE +CHAPTER X. THE BARBARY COAST +CHAPTER XI. PLAERDEMAVIDA +CHAPTER XII. CONQUEST +CHAPTER XIII. THE WEDDING +CHAPTER XIV. DEATH +CHAPTER XV. AFTERMATH DEO GRATIAS + + + +INTRODUCTION + +"Tirant lo Blanc is the best European novel of the fifteenth +century," says Damaso Alonso in his excellent study.(1) Miguel +de Cervantes, writing from the 17th century, affirms: "as far as +style is concerned, this is the best book in the world."(2) If +this is so, why has the novel all but disappeared from view? + +Some place the blame on the language of the original: Catalan, +whose literature is not widely read in the original tongue. +Others say it is the fault of the erotic scenes ~~ too shameful +for the polite society of earlier times. To my mind, a heavily +contributing factor is its rhetoric. As Joseph Vaeth says: +"Within this work may be found religious and philosophical +discourses, speeches and disputations...; formal debates...; +documents and papers...; formal challenges and replies...; +dramatic lamentations; long and fervent prayers; and allusions to +classical Latin authors, to biblical characters and to figures +prominent in medieval literature." He goes on to say that if the +novelist had omitted many of these elements, "his book would in +that case have been reduced to approximately one-fourth of its +present size, but quite probably it would now be considered a +masterpiece of narration and dialogue."(3) + +Such has been the aim of this translation: The story line has +been slightly abridged, but the most dramatic change is that most +of the rhetoric has been eliminated. If the reader's literary +palate is tickled by this version, and if he would like to read +the entire manuscript in English, he is referred to the version +by David Rosenthal or to the even more complete translation by +Ray La Fontaine.(4) + +Who was the author of this spicy, brutally realistic novel of +kings and knights of the fifteenth century? We know that Joanot +Martorell, son of the king's chamberlain, Francesc Martorell, was +born in Valencia in about 1413. He lived in England during the +years 1438 and 1439, and also traveled to Naples. Death came to +him in 1468. During his life he wrote several letters of combat, +and he began to write his novel Tirant lo Blanc in about 1460. +Whether or not he actually finished the book is still a matter of +debate, for it was not published during his lifetime. Another +writer, Marti Joan de Galba, adds his name as a second author, +and says that he wrote the last one-fourth of the book. But he +died six months before it was published, and his contribution, if +any, is questionable. + +And what was the success of this novel? Only 715 copies were +printed on its initial run in 1490, and apparently all were sold. +A second edition did not appear until 1497. An abridged +translation into Spanish was finally produced in 1511, and no +further Spanish editions appeared until the 20th century.(5) It +was translated into Italian in the 16th century, into French in +the 17th century, and finally into English late in the 20th +century. + +Of interest is the fact that soon after the appearance of Tirant +lo Blanc, and throughout the 16th century, Spain was flooded with +novels of chivalry. But these were of quite a different nature. +Although the major characters are also knights highly instilled +with the code of chivalry, they become involved in fantastic +adventures filled with dragons, enchanters, and the like, +following the lead of the French romances that were translated +into Spanish beginning in the 13th century. These Spanish novels +of chivalry were produced in such great numbers and read so +widely that no less than Spain's great mystic, Saint Teresa of +Avila, was for a time a voracious reader of them. + +While Tirant lo Blanc had no literary followers until Cervantes +more than one hundred years later, it does have the honor of +being "the earliest existing romance of chivalry printed in the +Peninsula."(6) This being so, from where did Joanot Martorell +receive his inspiration? Although Professor Henry Thomas notes +that "the tracing of sources...(may be only) one degree higher +than the hunting of cats,"(7) we feel impelled to relate some of +the more important discoveries of literary scholarship. The +first section of the book is in imitation of an English romance, +"Guy of Warwick", in which England fights off a Danish invasion. +When Tirant lo Blanc appears for the first time, asleep on his +horse, and stumbles upon the hermit who explains at great length +the order of chivalry, the entire section (which this present +translation omits) is taken from Ramon Lull's Libre del Orde +d'Cauayleria.(8) Tirant himself may be an amalgamation of +several historical figures: Roger de Flor, Richard Beauchamp, +Louis IX, Peter II of Aragon, Joan Hunyadi lo Blanch of Hungary, +etc. Tirant's adventures in Africa closely parallel many people, +events and place names from Ramon Muntaner's Chronica.(9) + +More important than any of these "sources", however, is this +question: What did Martorell do with the material that came to +him from books, from life, and from his imagination? + +Cervantes, writing more than one hundred years after Tirant lo +Blanc was published, was sufficiently impressed to talk about it +in his Don Quixote not once, but on two separate occasions, in +fairly glowing terms.(10) Furthermore, some readers have pointed +out scenes that appear to be similar in both books: both Philippe +and Don Quixote find holes in their stockings, which leads one +into great searching for a lost needle, and the other into even +deeper depression; there is a cat-howling episode in both books, +etc. And there is one other way that Tirant lo Blanc points the +way toward the Quixote: in the framework. Cervantes uses a +device often found in the novels of chivalry that preceded his +work, stating that his book is no more than a "translation" from +another language. (While, in fact, the authors of those books +are simply advertising the next novels they intend to write in +the series, much as the "Hardy Boys" or "Nancy Drew" series +advertise in the final pages of each novel.) But in the Quixote +the device has a far deeper purpose: Cervantes informs us that +Don Quixote is a flesh and blood figure whose real-life +adventures appear in several Arabic histories, and one in +particular, by a certain Cide Hamete Benengeli. With the aid of +a translator, Cervantes says, he is now bringing the story of Don +Quixote's life back into the Spanish tongue. What we have here +is, of course, a ploy to make the characters seem more real, and +Cervantes makes this assertion with a broad wink, for while we +are "suspending our disbelief," we also know that it is nothing +more than his artistry. + +And what of Tirant lo Blanc? According to Martorell's +dedication, his book is also a translation: from the English +original, he is translating into Portuguese, and from the +Portuguese into Catalan. But where is the English original from +which this book is simply a translation? There is no character +in English literature or history named Tirant lo Blanc, and +discounting the beginning pages, taken from the "Guy of Warwick" +romance, there is no book in English from which this one has +been translated. As for the translation into Portuguese, there +is no book about Tirant in that language. So why does Martorell +tell us all this? (Although, as we have noted, other novels of +chivalry speak of themselves as "translations", all were printed +after the publication of Tirant lo Blanc.) Is this novel then, +which Cervantes so admired, also presenting us with a "true +history" which has been "translated" in a way similar to the +Quixote? Within Tirant lo Blanc we also find allusions to +historians who have "originally" set these words down. For +example: "Here the book returns to the emperor..." +"Hippolytus... performed singular acts of chivalry which this +book does not relate, but defers to the books that were written +about him." Is there any difference between this and the +statements of Cervantes about his characters? ("Here Cide Hamete +Benengeli leaves him for an instant and returns to Don +Quixote..." "The history goes on to tell that when Sancho +saw...") But we are given no broad wink from Martorell. It is +all true, he tells us, and there is nothing more to be said. +That Martorell died before the work was published, and that Marti +Joan de Galba may have made some additions before it was finally +published, does not clarify the matter. For De Galba also +affirms that the book is no more than a translation from the +English to the Portuguese, and from that language into the +Valencian tongue, and that he is merely finishing what Martorell +was unable to complete. + +There are no broad winks. But the characters belie the +"history": They come to life as no straight-forward, factual +history can bring its subjects to life. As Damaso Alonso so +accurately puts it: this fifteenth century work "is precisely +that whip that could excite Cervantes' imagination. Tirant was +not yet the modern novel, but in it were many elements, and +furthermore, essential elements of what would become the modern +novel."(11) + +Having read this novel, who could forget the characters that +Martorell has brought to life? Who would not feel grief at the +death of Tirant and the princess, no less united in soul than +Calisto and Melibea in Spain (making their appearance a few short +years later in Fernando de Rojas' masterpiece, La Celestina), +than Romeo and Juliet in England, and no less tragic. And in +remembering Tirant, who would not smile at the thought of him +serving as a go-between for Prince Philippe and the infanta, +Ricomana. Could anyone be more delightful than the forthright +Plaerdemavida (whose name translates literally as +"Pleasure-of-My-Life") -- surely one of the best delineated +characters in any literature. Or anyone more villainous than the +odious Widow Repose -- a figure stamped indelibly on our minds, +wearing her ridiculous red stockings and hat in the bath. + +As Cervantes says: "In (Tirant lo Blanc) knights eat and drink, +sleep and die in their own beds, and make their wills before they +die..." And his praise for Tirant is also borne out by the +characters in the Quixote. For in many of that book's most +memorable episodes, they too eat and drink (and regurgitate), +they sleep (when someone or something does not awaken them to a +new adventure), Don Quixote makes out his will (to the +contentment of some of the beneficiaries), and finally he dies in +his bed (and Cervantes warns us that no one should try to revive +him: "For me alone Don Quixote was born, and I for him... We two +alone are as one." This identification of the author with his +work was felt no less keenly by Martorell. As he says in his +dedication: "And so that no one else may be blamed if errors are +found in this work, I, Johanot Martorell, knight, alone wish to +bear the responsibility, and no one else with me, for this work +has been set down by myself alone..." + +If Don Quixote's Dulcinea did not exist until she took form in +his (or in Cervantes') mind, or the windmill that was a giant, or +the Cave of Montesinos, they have now come into existence in the +mind of every reader of that novel. So may Tirant and his men, +the princess, the emperor, Plaerdemavida, also come to life +alongside the gentle and not so gentle folk of Cervantes, in +every reader's imagination. Let me leave the reader with these +words about Tirant lo Blanc by Cervantes: "Take him home and read +him, and you will see that what I have said of him is true." (12) + +Finally, a word about this English translation which brings +Martorell's work full circle, back into the English language from +which he says he has translated it. My work was begun in 1976, +and completed in 1982. Shortly afterward, the English +translation by David Rosenthal appeared, which includes most of +the "philosophical discourses, speeches", etc. that I have +purposefully omitted. So my translation lay unmolested in a box +during these past several years while the computer has been +developing at breakneck speed, now allowing this great 15th +century novel to be read, electronically, throughout the world. +(What would Joanot Martorell say...?) And more "finally", +thanks to the many people who have supported me on this project +and on others in the past: To Walter Pattison who awakened me to +the excitement and beauty of Spanish literature; to my late +friend, Arturo Serrano Plaja, who made a valiant attempt to +refine my taste, and who guided me throughout the years; to my +many colleagues and friends at the University of Minnesota; and +also to good memories of several of my colleagues at UCLA: my +dear friend, the late Richard Reeve, John Crow, the late Donald +Fogelquist, Julio Rodgriguez Puertolas, Enrique Rodriguez Cepeda, +Carlos Otero, Paul Smith, and of course the incredibly fine man +to whom I dedicate this translation, and who helped me in my +darkest hours: Jose Rubia Barcia. There being so many, if I have +neglected anyone in particular, I pray and know that they will be +more than understanding. Vale + +Robert S. Rudder Claremont, California Nov. 1995 + + + +NOTES + + (1) Primavera de la literatura europea (Madrid: Ediciones +Guadarrama, 1961). p. 237. + +(2) Don Quixote. Tr. Walter Starkie. (London: Macmillan, 1957), +pp. 89-90. + +(3) Tirant lo Blanc: A Study of Its Authorship, Principal Sources +and Historical Setting (N.Y.: AMC, 1966), pp. 159-60. + +(4) David H. Rosenthal (N.Y.: Shocken, 1984). Ray La Fontaine +(New York: Peter Lange, 1993). Although Rosenthal's translation +appeared in print first, the fact is that La Fontaine's more +complete translation preceded it, lying in hibernation, much as +my own manuscript, since 1974. + +(5) Madrid: Alianza, 1969. Tr. by J. F. Vidal Jove. +Introduction by Mario Vargas Llosa. Also, further editions of +the 1511 translation by Martin de Riquer (1947-49; 1974) and by +F. Buendia (1954). + +(6) Henry Thomas, Spanish and Portuguese Romances of Chivalry +(Cambridge: University Press, 1920), pp. 32-33. It should also +be noted that El cavallero Cifar, although not in print until +1512, was probably composed at the beginning of the 14th century. +Amadis de Gaula, the model for so many imitations, and not +printed until 1508, was in manuscript form in the 14th century. + +(7) p. 277 + +(8) See the English translation by William Caxton: The Book of +the Ordre of Chyualry. Westminster: William Caxton, 1484? And +reprinted several times. For these and other medieval +translations from the Spanish, the reader may wish to consult my +bibliography: The Literature of Spain in English Translation. New +York: Ungar, 1975. + +(9) See the English translation by Lady Goodenough: The Chronicle +of Muntaner. London: Hakluyt Society, 1920-21. + +(10) After his initial words of praise ("a treasure of delight, a +mine of entertainment,... the best book in the world"), Cervantes +adds this puzzling phrase: "the author deserves to be praised, +for he did not deliberately commit all these follies, which had +they been intentional would send him to the galleys for the rest +of his life." [Starkie's trans., p. 90] Here, he is apparently +condemning the book, although, in the next breath, the curate +recommends the book to the barber: "Take him home and read +him..." And in a later chapter Cervantes speaks of "the never +enough to be praised Tirante the White." So what are we to make +of this apparently condemnatory phrase about the "galleys"? +Scholarship has provided some ingenious theories to negate the +condemnation, to wit: it is not a statement, but a question; the +galleys are less a punishment than a death sentence would be; it +is not Cervantes' opinion, but the curate's; the word galleys +actually refers to "galley-proofs" and mean that the work should +remain in print forever, etc. (See, for example, Patricia J. +Boehne, The Renaissance Catalan Novel [Boston: Twayne, 1989], +Antonio Torres Alcala, El realismo del Tirant lo Blanch y su +influencia en el Quijote [Barcelona: Puvill, 1979?], and the +studies by Martin de Riquer.) Very interesting theories, but we +are no more certain of the meaning behind Cervantes' words than +when we first read them: they remain a puzzle. However, the +novel Tirant lo Blanc also speaks to us: Do we feel that the +novel is utter nonsense and badly written, or is it moving, at +times exciting, often humorous? In short, is it good literature? +Through our own eyes we can make a judgement about the meaning of +those apparently incongruous words of Cervantes. + +(11) Footnote: pp. 203-204. + +(12) p. 90. + + + +CHAPTER I + +COUNT WILLIAM OF WARWICK + + In the fertile, rich and lovely island of England there lived a +most valiant knight, noble by his lineage and much more for his +courage. In his great wisdom and ingenuity he had served the +profession of chivalry for many years and with a great deal of +honor, and his fame was widely known throughout the world. His +name was Count William of Warwick. This was a very strong knight +who, in his virile youth, had practiced the use of arms, +following wars on sea as well as land, and he had brought many +battles to a successful conclusion. + +The count found himself at the advanced age of fifty-five, and +moved by divine inspiration he decided to withdraw from the +practice of arms and make a pilgrimage to the holy land of +Jerusalem. This virtuous count wanted to go, because he felt +sorrow and contrition for the many deaths he had caused in his +youth. + +That evening he told the countess, his wife, about his plans, and +although she was virtuous and discreet, she became very upset at +the news because she loved him so much. In the morning the count +had all his servants, both men and women, come to him, and he +said: + +"My children and most faithful servants, it is the will of His +Divine Majesty that I should leave you, and the time of my return +is uncertain. Since the journey will be very dangerous, I want +to pay each of you now for all the good services you have +rendered to me." + +He had a large chest full of money brought out, and to each of +his servants he gave much more than he owed, so that they were +all very satisfied. Then he gave the countess all his land and +all his rights. And he ordered that a ring of gold be made with +his and the countess's coat of arms on it, and this ring was made +in such a way that it was divided into two parts. Each part was a +complete ring in itself, showing half the coat of arms of each of +them, and when the two halves were joined together the entire +coat of arms could be seen. + +When all this had been done, he turned to the virtuous countess, +and said kindly: + +"I know that you will accept my departure with love and patience, +and if it is God's will, my journey will soon be over. I am +leaving in your charge everything I have. And here is half of +the ring I had made. I beg you dearly to hold it in my stead, +and to guard it until I return." + +"Oh, dear!" cried the countess. "Then it's true, my lord, that +you are leaving without me? At least allow me to go with you so +that I can serve you. I would rather die than go on living +without you. Just when I was thinking that all my misfortunes +were over, I see that my unhappiness is only increasing. I'm +left with only this poor son as a pledge from his father, and his +sad mother must be consoled with him." + +She seized her small son by the hair and pulled it, and then +slapped his face, saying: + +"Cry, my child, for your father's departure, and you will be good +company to your mother." + +The tiny infant, who had been born only three months before, +burst out crying. The count, seeing both mother and child in +tears, felt deeply grieved, and he could not hold back his own +tears. And for some time he could not speak, while all three of +them wept. + +The count took his leave of her, kissing her again and again, +tears running freely from his eyes. He said farewell to the +other ladies, and when he left he took only one squire with him. + +Leaving his city of Warwick, he boarded a ship, and sailed with a +good wind, and as time passed he arrived safely at Alexandria. +There he disembarked and made his way to Jerusalem. When he +reached Jerusalem he confessed his sins, and with great devotion +he received the precious body of Jesus Christ. Then he entered +the holy sepulchre of Jesus Christ and prayed there fervently and +tearfully, with great contrition for his sins. + +After visiting all the other sanctuaries, he returned to +Alexandria. Then he boarded a ship and went to Venice. When he +was near Venice he gave all the money still in his possession to +his squire who had served him well, and he arranged a marriage +for him so that he would not want to return to England. Then he +had his squire spread the news that he had died, and he arranged +for merchants to write to England that Count William of Warwick +had died while returning from the Holy Land of Jerusalem. + +When the countess heard the news, she felt deeply grieved, and +went into mourning, and she arranged for the funeral rites that +such a virtuous knight deserved. With the passing of time, the +count returned alone to his own land, having let his hair grow +down to his shoulders, while his beard, completely white, reached +to his waist. He was dressed in the habit of the glorious Saint +Francis, and lived from charity, and he secretly entered a devout +hermitage of Our Lady which was very close to his city of +Warwick. + +This hermitage was in a lovely spot on a high mountain, with a +dense thicket of trees, and a clear running spring. The count +retired to this solitary place, and lived alone to escape the +materialistic world and to do penance for his sins. Living from +charity, he went to his city of Warwick once a week to beg for +alms. With his thick beard and long hair the people there did +not recognize him, and he went to the countess, his wife, to beg. +When she saw him asking for charity so humbly, she made them give +him more than they gave any of the others. And he spent his +poor, miserable life this way for some time. + +Some time later the great King of Canary was filled with anger +because some pirate ships had plundered a village that belonged +to him. He left his land with a large armada, and sailing with a +favorable wind he reached the fertile, peaceful shores of +England. + +In the dark of night the entire fleet entered the port of +Southampton and all the Moors went ashore very quietly. When +they were on land, they put their troops in order and began to +attack the island. + +When the peace-loving king received the news, he gathered as many +men as he could to put up a resistance, and went into battle with +the Moors. The fighting was great, indeed: many men died, +especially the Christians. Because the Moors were greater in +number, the forces of the English king were destroyed. He had to +retreat with his remaining men, and he took refuge in a city +called Saint Thomas of Canterbury where that holy body now rests. + +The King of England mustered more men, and he learned that the +Moors were conquering the island, killing many Christian men and +dishonoring the women and young girls, making captives of them +all. When this Christian king discovered that the Moors held the +pass near a watercourse, he placed his forces in a passage at the +hour of midnight. But he did not do it very secretly, and the +Moors heard of it, and held back until it was broad daylight. +Then they pressed them in a very cruel battle where many +Christians died, and those whose lives were spared fled with the +unfortunate king, while the Moorish king remained in the camp. + +Great was the misfortune of this Christian king who lost nine +battles, one after another, and had to withdraw to the city of +London. When the Moors learned of it they laid siege to the +city. Every day there was heavy fighting until finally the poor +king was forced to leave London, and he went toward the +mountains, passing through the city of Warwick. + +When the countess heard that the king was fleeing to that city, +she had food and everything necessary prepared for the night. +The countess, who was a very prudent woman, began to think of how +she could strengthen her city so that it would not be lost so +quickly, and as soon as she saw the king she said to him: + +"Virtuous king, I see that your grace, and all of us on this +island, are in great danger. But Sire, if Your Highness would +like to remain in this city, you will find it abundant in +provisions and everything necessary for war. My lord and +husband, William of Warwick, who was count in this land, +provided this city and his castle with arms as well as bombards, +cross-bows and culverins, and many other kinds of artillery. And +divine Providence, in its mercy, has given us a great abundance +of fruit from the land for the last four years. So your grace +may be safe here." + +"I am very happy", said the king, "to stay here, and I pray you, +countess, to arrange things so that my army will have everything +they need." + +The countess and two of her ladies immediately left the king, and +went with the magistrates of the city through the houses, making +them bring wheat and barley and everything necessary. When the +king and his men saw what a great abundance there was of +everything, they were very pleased. + +When the Moors discovered that the king had left the city of +London, they pursued him until they learned that he had taken +refuge in the city of Warwick. On the way the Moors attacked and +took a castle called Killingworth, two leagues from where the +king was. Since they had now conquered a great part of the +kingdom, the Moorish king appeared with all his forces before the +city of Warwick. The wretched Christian king, seeing that there +was no hope, did not know what to do: he climbed to the top of a +tower in the castle, and watched the huge body of Moors burning +and destroying villas and castles, killing as many Christians as +they could, both women and men. Those who were able to escape +came running and shouting toward the city. Their terrible +screams could be heard a good half league away, and it would have +been better for them to die than to become captives of the +infidels. + +As the king watched the immense suffering and destruction, he +thought he would die from all the grief he felt. Unable to look +any longer at the desolation, he came down from the tower and +went into a small chamber where he began to sigh deeply. Tears +ran from his eyes, and he lamented more gravely than any man had +ever done. The stewards were outside the chamber listening to +the king's agony, and when he had cried and lamented at length, +he said: + +"Lord, Thy compassion and pity will not allow for this. Thy +mercy will not allow Thy Christian people, great sinners though +they may be, to be afflicted by the scourge of the Moors. +Rather, defend and preserve them and let them be returned to Thy +holy service so that they may serve Thee and praise Thee and +return glory unto Thee." + +While the poor king was lamenting, he put his head down on the +bed, and it seemed to him that he saw a very beautiful lady +coming through the doorway to his chamber, dressed in white +damask, holding a small child in her arms. Following her were +many other ladies, all singing the Magnificat. When he had +finished his prayer, the lady walked toward the king, and placing +her hand upon his head, she said: + +"Oh, king, be doubtful of nothing. Be very confident that the +Son and the Mother will help you in this great trial. The first +man you see with a long beard who asks you for alms in the name +of God, kiss him on the mouth as a sign of peace, and beg him +graciously to put aside the habit, and make him captain over all +the people." + +The poor king awoke and saw nothing. He was astonished at the +dream, and he thought about it a great while, remembering +everything he had seen. Then he left the chamber, and there +stood all the principal knights, who told the king: + +"Your grace, all the Moors have set up their tents in front of +the city." + +The king did everything possible to have the city well guarded +that night. + +The following morning the hermit-count climbed the high mountain +to gather herbs for his sustenance, and he saw the great number +of Moors teeming over all the land. He left his desert +habitation and went into the city. + +The poor old man, who had spent several days on a diet of nothing +but herbs, saw that the city was in deep sorrow, and he went to +the castle to beg alms from the countess. When he was inside the +castle he saw the king coming from mass, and when he saw him so +nearby, he sank to his knees and begged him in God's name to give +him alms. The king remembered the dream and helped him up. Then +he kissed him on the mouth, took hold of his hand and led him +into a room. When they had sat down, the king said to him: + +"I beg you to help and advise us in our time of need, for I see +that you are a holy man and a friend of Jesus Christ. I beg you +dearly, if you love God and if you have charity in your heart, +cast off the clothing you are wearing for penance, and dress +yourself in the clothes of charity, which are arms. For with +God's help and your command we will have a glorious victory over +our enemies." + +When the king had finished these words, the hermit began to +speak: + +"My lord, I am astonished that your grace is asking me, a poor, +weak man, for advice and help. As Your Excellency can see, my +old, weak body is in a state of decrepitude because of its many +years and the harsh life I've led so long on the mountain, eating +only herbs and bread. I don't have the strength to bear arms. I +beg Your Excellency to allow me to decline." + +The king became very pained at this answer, and said: + +"Reverend Father, I kneel at your feet and with these tears I +again beg you, if you are a steadfast Christian, to have +compassion on me, a miserable king, and on all Christians. All +their hope and mine is in the mercy of God and in your great +virtue. Don't refuse me this." + +The painful tears of the king moved the hermit to pity, and his +heart softened. + +After a brief pause while the hermit made the king rise, he said: + +"Out of love for you, my king, I will obey your commands and try +to save you and your kingdom. And, if necessary, I will place +myself in the thick of battle, old as I am, to defend +Christianity and bring the haughty Mohammedan sect to its knees, +with the understanding that Your Excellency will be guided by my +advice." + +The king answered: "Reverend Father, since you grant me so much +grace, I promise you, on my word as king, that I will not go one +step beyond your orders." + +"Now, my lord," said the hermit, "when you are outside in the +great hall, show a happy and very content face to the knights and +all the people, and speak to them very complacently. And when +you dine, eat well and enjoy yourself, and show much more +happiness than you ordinarily do, so that all those who have lost +hope will regain it. For a lord or a captain should never wear a +sad face, no matter how great an adversity there may be, so that +his people will not be discouraged. Have some Moorish garments +brought to me, and you shall see what I am going to do. When I +was on my way to the Holy Land of Jerusalem I stayed in +Alexandria, and in Beirut they taught me the Moorish tongue, +because I was there many days. In Beirut I learned to make +explosives of certain materials that delay six hours before they +ignite, but when they do, they could burn up the entire world, +and all the water in the world would not be able to extinguish +them, unless oil and pine resin is used." + +"It is astonishing," said the king, "that they can only be +extinguished with oil or pine resin. I thought water would put +out any fire in the world." + +"No, my lord," said the hermit. "If your grace will allow me to +go to the castle gate, I will bring you a special substance, and +with clear water or wine you will be able to light a torch." + +"In faith," said the king, "I will take great pleasure in seeing +it." + +The hermit immediately went to the castle gate since, when he +entered, he had seen quicklime there, and he picked up a little +sod and came back to the king. Then he took some water, and +throwing it on the quicklime he lighted it the way a straw lights +a candle. + +The king said: "I would never have been able to believe such a +thing if I had not seen it with my own eyes. Now I am certain +there is nothing that men cannot do. I beg you, Reverend Father, +please tell me what we need to make the explosives." + +"My lord," said the hermit, "I will go and buy it, because it is +much better to know if the materials are good, and I have made +them many times with my own hands. When they are made, Sire, I +will go to the Moors' camp alone, and put the explosives near the +king's tent. At the hour of midnight the explosives will ignite +and all the Moors will run there to put out the fire, and your +grace will be armed and waiting with all your men. When you see +the huge fire, attack them with all your forces, and your +lordship may be sure that ten thousand of your men will cause +confusion among one hundred thousand of theirs." + +The hermit's words pleased the king, and he gave deep thanks for +his offer, and was very happy. He immediately gave orders that +everything the hermit had commanded should be carried out. + +The hermit, who had left the king, soon returned with the things +they needed for the explosives, and he said to the king: + +"My lord, there is only one element we lack, but I know that the +countess has it. When her husband, William of Warwick, was +alive, he had a great deal of it since it can be used for many +things." + +The king said: "Then I want both of us to go to the countess now +to get it." + +The king sent word to the countess that he wanted to speak with +her. When the countess came out of her room she saw the king and +the hermit. + +"Countess," said the king, "by your grace and virtue, be so kind +as to give me a little sulfur, the kind which causes heat and +does not burn itself up, the kind that the count, your husband, +put into the torches so that no matter how much the wind blew +they would not go out." + +The countess answered: "Who told your grace that my husband, +William of Warwick, could make torches like that with that kind +of flame?" + +"Countess," said the king, "this hermit standing here." + +And the countess quickly went to the weapons chamber, and she +brought back so much of it that the king was highly pleased. + +When the king had returned to the great hall where the meal was +already prepared, he took the hermit by the hand and sat down at +the table, making the hermit sit at his side, honoring him as he +deserved. The king's courtiers were astonished at the great +honor the king was bestowing upon the hermit, and the countess +was even more astonished because she was accustomed to giving him +alms. And she said to her ladies: + +"Oh, how angry I am at my great ignorance! Why did I not honor +this poor hermit much more? Now I see that he must be a man who +has led a very holy life." + +Rising from the table, the King of England gave the hermit +permission to go and make the explosives. A few days later, when +they were finished, the hermit went to the king and said to him: + +"Sire, if your grace will give me leave, I will carry out our +plan. + +Your Excellency should have all the men get ready."' + +The king said that he would. In the dark of night the hermit +changed into the Moorish clothing that was prepared for him. He +went out through a back door of the castle very secretly, and no +one saw him. Then he went into the Moors' camp. + +When he thought the time right, he threw the explosives into the +camp, near the tent of a great captain who was a relative of the +Moorish king. And when it was almost midnight the fire broke +out, and it grew so great and so terrible that everyone was +astonished at the enormous flames. The king and the other Moors, +unarmed, hurried to where the fire was greatest in order to put +it out. But instead of being extinguished, the more water they +threw on it, the more brightly it burned. + +When the King of England saw the huge fire, he went out of the +city, armed, and with the few men he still had he attacked the +Moors. And they brought such great destruction to them that it +was fearful, and they spared no one. + +When the Moorish king saw such a large fire and so many of his +men dead, he mounted a horse and fled. He took shelter in a +castle he had taken, named Killingworth, together with all those +who had escaped the camp, and they recovered their resolve. + +He and all the other Moors were astonished at how they had been +defeated, and they could not understand what had caused such a +great disaster, because their forces were fifty times greater +than those of the Christians. When the Moors fled, the +Christians pillaged their camp, and day was upon them when they +entered the city victoriously. + +After four days had passed, the Moorish king sent his emissaries +with a letter challenging the King of England, and it said the +following: + +"To you, Christian king who rules the isle of England, I, Abraim, +king and lord of Canaria, say that if you wish the war between +you and me to end, and the killing between your people and mine +to cease, let us have a joust, king against king, under the +following pacts and agreements: If I should defeat you, you will +hold all England under my power and command, and you shall give +me two hundred thousand pieces of gold in tribute each year. And +if fortune decides that you are the conqueror, I shall return to +my own land, and you will remain in yours in peace, and you and +all your people will enjoy full peace and tranquility. And in +addition I shall restore to you all the cities and castles that I +have won and conquered by my own victorious hand. + +"These words are not spoken for vainglory or out of disdain for +the royal crown, but so that God Who is great may give to each +that share which, by his merits, he will deserve." + +Two great Moorish knights, whom the King of Canary was sending to +the city of Warwick as envoys to the King of England, left the +castle of Killingworth, and before they departed, they sent a +messenger to the city to request safe conduct. + +When the messenger came to the gates of the city the guards told +him to wait a little while, and they would return with the reply. +One of the guards quickly went to the king to tell him. After +the king had held a brief counsel, he told the guard to let him +in. When the messenger was inside the city, the Count of +Salisbury spoke to him and said: + +"Messenger, on behalf of His Majesty, the king, I can tell you +that the envoys may come without danger and in safety, for they +will not be harmed in any way." + +And the count gave him a silk garment and one hundred pieces of +gold. The messenger departed, very content, and before the +envoys came, the hermit said to the king: + +"My lord, let us put fear into the hearts of these Moors. Your +Majesty should order two grandees to go out to the gate and +receive the envoys. And let many men, very well armed, but +without helmets, go with them. Have three hundred men at the +gate to guard it, armed like the others. And let all the ladies +and maidens who are able, old as well as young, hang banners in +the windows and on the roofs, as tall as the women's chests, and +each of these women should put armor on her head. When the +envoys pass by they will see the coats of mail shining, and will +think they are all warriors. Have the three hundred guarding the +gate follow them by other streets, and let them appear in the +square and on the corner. Then, after the envoys have passed by, +let them do the same again and again until they reach Your +Highness. And you may be sure that they will be frightened when +they see so many soldiers after the battle they have lost. +Seeing the great number of men, they will believe that many have +come from Spain or France or Germany to help us." + +The king and all his council thought very highly of the hermit's +words. It was decided that the Duke of Lancaster and the Count +of Salisbury should receive the envoys, and that four thousand +men should go with them, each wearing a garland of flowers on his +head. They went a good mile out of the city to receive the +envoys. + +Then the Duke of Bedford said: + +"Tell us, Father, since there are so many ceremonies to be +performed for the envoys, how should they find the king, clothed +or naked, armed or unarmed?" + +"That would be a good question," said the hermit, "if there were +not so much anger behind your words. But I see the meaning of +your words, and that they are intended more for malice than good. +It is because I am old and a hermit that you are trying to +besmear my advice and belittle me before my lord the king. Hold +your tongue. If you do not, I shall put a bridle in your mouth +that will make you stop at every turn." + +At this, the duke rose to his feet, drew his sword, and said: + +"If it were not because you are so old and you wear the habit of +Saint Francis, I would take this sword and cut your skirts right +up to the waist." + +Then the king rose angrily to his feet, seized the duke and took +the sword out of his hand, and had him imprisoned in the tower. +All the other noble lords there calmed the hermit, telling him +that because of his age and the habit he wore he should be +forgiving, and he was content to forgive. But the king would +not, in spite of all the pleas of the hermit and the other noble +lords. + +In the midst of these troubles, news was brought to the king that +the Moorish envoys were approaching, and those who had been +chosen went out quickly as they had arranged. + +When the envoys stood before the king, they gave him the letter, +and the king commanded that it be read in everyone's presence. +The hermit drew near to the king and said to him: + +"Your Highness, accept the challenge." + +Then the king said: + +"I agree to the battle, in accordance with the conditions your +king sets down." + +He begged the envoys to remain there until the following day when +he would give them the formal reply. He showed them to very +comfortable chambers and gave them everything they needed. + +Then the king convoked a general council, and while it was being +prepared, the hermit, along with the other lords, went to the +king. + +He knelt at the king's feet and kissed his hands and feet, and +very humbly begged him to give him the keys to the tower so that +he could release the duke. The hermit pleaded so much, as did +the other lords, that the king was obliged to give them to him. +Then the hermit went with the others to the tower where the duke +was imprisoned, and there they found a friar hearing his +confession, because he was certain he would be killed. When he +heard the door open he was so startled that he felt he was losing +his mind, for he thought they were coming to take him out to +execute him. + +When the hermit saw him he said: + +"My lord, duke, if you and I have spoken harmful words to each +other, I beg you to forgive me, for I most willingly pardon you." + +When they had made their peace they all returned to the council +where the king and all the dukes, counts and marquis were, and +they read the letter from the Moorish king once more. Because +the king and all the others loved and revered the hermit and they +saw that he led a saintly life, and that he expressed himself +well and was knowledgeable about arms, they all agreed that he +should be the first to speak, and this led to the following +discourse. + +"I will tell you my opinion, although I realize that I am not +worthy to speak of such things since I know little of the use of +arms. Because of the weak disposition of my lord, the king, who +is young and has a weak constitution and is sickly, although he +has the courage of a virtuous knight, it would not be fitting or +just for him to do battle with a man as robust as the Moorish +king. Instead, let the Duke of Lancaster, who is the uncle of my +lord king, undertake this battle, and let our king grant to him +the scepter and the royal crown so that the Moorish king will not +be deceived and so that he may combat a true king." + +Scarcely had the hermit spoken these last words when three dukes +sprang to their feet in great anger: the Duke of Gloucester, the +Duke of Bedford, and the Duke of Exeter. And they began to cry +loudly that they would not consent for the Duke of Lancaster to +enter into battle and be made king, because each of them was more +closely related to the king, and it was more just for them to do +battle than the Duke of Lancaster. + +The king would not permit any further discussion, and he said: + +"It is not my pleasure that any of you should take my place in +battle. Since I have accepted, I wish to carry it out alone." + +A baron stood up and said the following: + +"Sire, may Your Excellency forgive me for what I am about to say. +We will never consent to what Your Highness has said. If our +Heavenly Father has indeed given you the desire, he has taken +from you the strength. We all know that Your Highness is not +ready for such a formidable and arduous battle as this will be. +Let your grace be ruled by our counsel and will. If we believed +that Your Excellency were disposed for such an undertaking, we +would very willingly have agreed to what Your Highness has +commanded." + +All the other barons and knights praised what this baron had +said. + +"My most faithful vassals and subjects," said the king, "since it +is not to your liking, and you see that I am not fit to combat +the Moorish king, I give you my thanks for the great love you +have shown me, and I submit to your will. But it is my wish and +my command that no one, under pain of death, shall be so bold as +to say that he will take my place in battle, except the one I +shall choose. Unto him I shall give the crown, the kingdom and +the royal scepter." + +Then the king said: + +"Dukes, counts and marquis, and all the rest of my most faithful +subjects, I am relinquishing my station, the scepter and the +royal crown, and my title to my beloved father hermit." + +He removed the garments, and said: + +"As I relinquish these royal robes, and put them on the father +hermit, in the same way I relinquish my throne and my station to +him. I beg him to accept, and to do battle for me with the +Moorish king." + +When the hermit heard the king say these words, he arose quickly +because he wished to speak, and all the great lords who were +there also stood and gathered so closely to the hermit that they +would not let him speak, but instead removed the habit he was +clothed in and made him dress in the royal robes. As the king +turned over all his power to the hermit, it was duly noted in the +presence of all the council and with the consent of all the +barons. When the hermit king heard the pleas of all those in the +council, he accepted the kingdom and the battle, and quickly +asked them to bring him armor that would fit him well. They +brought him many suits of armor, but of all the ones they +brought him there was none he was pleased with. + +"In faith," said the hermit king, "nothing will stop this battle, +even if I have to go dressed in only my shirt. I beg you, my +lords," said the hermit king, "to be so good as to go to the +countess and entreat her by her great virtue and kindness, to +lend me the armor of her husband, Sir William of Warwick, which +he wore when he went into battle." + +When the countess saw so many dukes, counts and marquis, and the +entire council of the king approaching, and she heard the reason +they had come, the virtuous countess gave them a suit of armor +of little value. When the king saw it, he said, "This is not the +one I asked for. There is another that is much better." + +All the barons returned once more to the countess and asked for +the other armor, and the countess told them that there was no +other. When the king heard the answer, he said: + +"My lords and my brothers, let us all go, and we shall try our +luck." + +When they were all before the countess, the king said: + +"Countess, out of your great kindness and gentility, I beg you to +lend me the armor of your husband, Sir William of Warwick." + +"Sire," said the countess, "may God take this child from me, for +I have no other dear thing in the world: I have already sent the +armor to you." + +"That is true," said the king, "but this is not what I asked for. +Lend me the armor that is in the small chamber in your bedroom, +covered by green and white damask." + +The countess knelt, and said: + +"Sire, by your mercy and your grace, I beg Your Majesty to tell +me your name and how you came to know my lord and husband, Count +William of Warwick." + +The king answered: "My lady, because you wish me to tell you, I +will. I was in his company continually, for in the wars we were +brothers in arms." + +The countess immediately replied: + +"I beg your lordship to forgive me for not doing all that I could +have for Your Highness when you were a hermit. If I had known +how close you were to my lord, William of Warwick, I would have +honored you much more and given you more of my possessions than I +did." + +The king was very content with the words of the countess: + +"Where there is no error there is no need to beg forgiveness. I +only ask you, out of your great virtue and genteelness, to lend +me the armor I have asked you for." + +The countess immediately had other armor brought to him, covered +with blue brocade. When the king saw it, he said: + +"Countess, my lady, how well you have kept the arms of your +husband! In spite of all the supplications that these lords and +I have made to you, you have been unwilling to lend them to us. +These are the ones which William of Warwick used in tournaments; +the ones I want are hanging in the alcove, and are covered with +white and green damask, with the emblem of a lion wearing a +golden crown. And if my entering there would not anger you, +countess, I am sure that I would find them." + +"Oh, wretched me!" said the countess. "It's as though you had +been raised in this house! Your grace may indeed go in and look, +and take everything you wish." + +When the king saw her willingness he thanked her, and they all +went into her chamber and saw them hanging there. The king had +them brought to him, and he had them repaired. + +The battle was arranged for the following day. In the evening +the king went to the main church and stayed there all night, +kneeling before the altar of the holy Mother of God, Our Lady, +with all his armaments upon the altar. When it was full +daylight, he very devoutly heard mass. After mass he had himself +fitted with armor inside the church, and ate a partridge in order +to fortify himself. Then he went out to the field. + +When the hermit king was in the field he saw the Moorish king +with all his foot soldiers and horsemen. All the Moors climbed +to the top of a hill to view the battle, and the Christians +remained near the city. The hermit king held a well sharpened +lance and had a small shield on his arm, along with his sword and +a dagger. The Moorish king had a bow and arrow, a sword, and on +his head was a helmet wrapped with a turban. + +When the two brave kings were in the field, they charged at each +other. The Moorish king quickly shot an arrow which hit the +center of the hermit king's shield, passing freely by him near +his arm, and at once the Moorish king shot another which hit him +in the thigh, but with the armor the hermit king was wearing the +arrow could not penetrate it completely. The hermit king hurled +the lance at him when they were near. The Moorish king was very +skillful with his arms: when he saw the lance coming he deflected +it with his bow. By this time the hermit king had drawn so near +that the Moorish king could not shoot more arrows. When he was +so close that he could almost touch him with his hand, the hermit +king cried out in a loud voice: + +"If You help me, Lord, it will not matter if all the Moors in the +world attack me." + +When the Moorish king saw him so near, and realized that he could +not shoot any arrows, he felt that he had lost. + +After the hermit king had thrown the lance, he quickly reached +for his sword, and drawing as close to the Moorish king as he +could, he gave him a mighty blow on the head. But he did him +little harm because of the thick turban the Moorish king wore! +Then the hermit king struck him a mighty blow with his sword, +cutting off his arm, and as he plunged his sword fully into his +side the Moorish king fell to the ground. As quickly as he +could, the hermit king cut off his head. Then he picked up his +lance and stuck the head on the end of it, and rode back into the +city in triumph. + +Imagine what rejoicing there was among the Christians, the women +and the young girls, when they thought they were now released +from their captivity! When the king was inside the city he had +the doctors brought to him, and they ministered to his wounds. + +On the morning of the following day the king held his council in +the bed where he lay, and it was decided that two knights would +be sent as envoys to the Moors, to tell them that they wished to +observe the pacts they had all agreed to and sworn to, and that +they could go to their own lands in safety, with all their ships +and clothing and jewelry, and that no one in the kingdom would +harm them. + +The envoys departed, and when they were with the Moors they +explained their mission to them. They were given lodging, and +were asked to await the reply. The Moors told them this in order +to do them great harm, for they were now very vengeful because of +the death of their king. + +Among them a great dispute arose over whom they would make king. +Some wanted Cale-ben-Cale, others wanted Aduqueperec, +cousin-german of the dead king. Cale-ben-Cale was chosen king, +and he immediately ordered the envoys seized, along with all who +had come with them, and he had them put to death. They cut off +their heads, put them inside a packsaddle, and sent them to the +city on a mule. The guards who were in the city towers saw two +horsemen driving the mule on. When they were near the city they +abandoned the mule and galloped away. The captain of the guards +saw them and ordered ten men on horseback to go and see what it +was all about. When they got there they wished they had not gone +out to see such a terrible thing, and they immediately went to +tell the king and his entire council. When the king heard the +news he was very much taken aback, and he said: + +"Oh, cruel infidels: you who have little faith, for you cannot +give what you do not have! Now I make a solemn vow, wounded as I +am, never to enter a covered building, except to hear mass at a +church, until I have driven these Moors from the entire kingdom." + +He quickly had his clothing brought to him, and he left his bed +and had the trumpets sound. The first to leave the city was the +king, and he had all the men who were more than eleven years old +and less than seventy summoned, and under penalty of death they +all had to follow him. That day his tents were raised on the +very spot where the Moors had been defeated, and the king had a +great deal of artillery for war brought out. + +When the virtuous countess learned that the king had proclaimed +such a summons, and that those who were more than eleven years +old were to follow him, she was very upset, for she realized that +her son was included. So she hurried to where the king was, and +fell to her knees on the hard ground. Then, with a grieving +voice, she began to say: + +"Have pity on me. I have nothing of value except this son who is +so young that he cannot help you. Grant me this favor in memory +of your great friendship and love for my virtuous husband. And +let me remind your grace of the alms that I used to give you when +you were a hermit. Please hear my supplications, and leave my +son with me. His father is dead, and the only thing I have to +console me is this poor son." + +The king saw the countess's error, and quickly replied: + +"I would very much like to obey you, Countess, if your petition +were honorable and just. But it is well known that men must +learn to use arms, and they must know the practice of war, and +the gentle ways of this blessed order of chivalry. It is +customary for men of honor to begin to use arms when they are +very young, for they learn better at that age than at any other. +And because he is now at the best age in the world to see and +understand the great honors that knights achieve, I wish to keep +him in my company as my own son. He must come with me, and +tomorrow I shall dub him a knight so that he may imitate the +virtuous actions of his father, William of Warwick." + +"I am called mother only by this son of mine," said the countess, +"and if he dies in battle, what will become of me, for I shall +have lost my husband and my son and all that I had in this +miserable world?" + +When the countess had finished, her son began to speak: + +"Madam, I beg you, please do not cry for me. You know that I +have now reached an age when I have to leave the protection of my +mother's wings, and that I am worthy of bearing arms and going +into battle to show the mettle I am made of, and who my father +was. If it is God's will, He will keep me from harm and will +allow me to carry out such actions that He will be pleased, and +they will give consolation to my father's soul, and your grace +will be made happy." + +When her son had gone, the countess went into the city, weeping, +and many virtuous women of the city went with her, consoling her +as best they could. + +That night the king had the camp well guarded, and he allowed no +one to take off their armor. In the morning, when the sun came +out, he had the trumpets sound, and they moved the camp to within +half a league of where the Moors were. When the tents were set +up he let the men rest. This happened after the noon hour. + +When the Moors learned that the Christians had come out of the +city, they were astonished, because a short time before they had +not dared take a step outside the city, and now they came looking +for them. Some captains said this was because of the great +cruelty of their king, Cale-ben-Cale, who had killed the +Christian ambassadors so cruelly, and they said that they might +be recruiting men from Spain or France: + +"That is why they are coming so near, and you can be sure that +any of us they capture will be cut to shreds." + +One of the ambassadors who had taken the letter to convene the +joust, said: + +"They paid us many honors, and as soon as we were in the city we +saw great numbers of men in the towers, the squares, in the +windows and on the rooftops. It was astonishing to see so many +armed men. By Mohammed, I would guess there were two hundred +thousand soldiers. And this wicked king killed their ambassadors +without reason." + +After all the captains had heard the words of this ambassador, +they talked to the other Moors who had gone into the city with +him, and when they knew the truth of the situation, they killed +Cale-ben-Cale and chose a new king. Nonetheless, they armed +themselves for battle and went in sight of the Christians. + +The sun was nearly down, but they still decided to go up a nearby +hill. When the hermit king saw them, he said: + +"In faith, they're afraid of us. That's why they've gone up to +such a high place. Let everyone do what I do, and with Divine +help we will have vengeance on our enemies." + +He took a basket in one hand, and a spade in the other, and went +in front of them all. When the great lords saw the king do this, +each of them did the same, and followed him. + +Before leaving the city, the virtuous king had procured +everything necessary for the war. Around the palisade he dug a +deep ditch that led to a large water hole, and they left a great +entryway in the middle, through which one hundred fifty men could +pass at one time. On the other side they dug another ditch that +led to a high cliff. + +The king said: + +"Since we've finished, and there are only two hours left till +dawn, you, Duke of Gloucester, and you, Count of Salisbury, go +quickly to the countess, and ask her to give me two large barrels +that belong to William of Warwick. They are full of copper +spikes, and she will find them upstairs, in the weapons room." + +They went there quickly and begged and commanded her, on the +king's behalf, so that she gave them to them, even though she was +upset with the king because he had not given her son back to her. +But she realized how great their needs were, and so she did it, +although she could not help saying: + +"Lord, have mercy on me! What's going on that this king knows so +much about my house? There's nothing I have that has to do with +weapons or war that he doesn't know about. I don't know if he is +only guessing or if he's a wizard." + +The barons had the barrels of spikes loaded onto carts, and took +them to the camp. When they were before the king, they told him +everything the countess had said, and the virtuous king burst out +laughing, and he smiled and joked with them at length. + +Afterward he had the spikes taken to the gate, and they placed +them on the ground so that when the Moors came through, they +would stick into their feet. He also had many holes, like wells, +dug, so that if they escaped one danger they would fall into +another. And the Christians worked at this all night long. + +When daylight broke, the Moors began to beat drums, and they blew +trumpets and pipes, and shouted their battle-cries, and with +great joy they streamed down the mountain to attack the +Christians. The hermit king ordered all the men to lie down on +the ground, and pretend to be asleep. When they were almost +within range of bombards they all got up, and gave signs of being +unprepared for battle. When the Moors were inside the entryway, +the king said: + +"Gentlemen, do not dismay, I beg you. Let's turn our backs, and +pretend to run away." + +When the Moors saw them fleeing, they rushed forward as quickly +as they could. They ran inside the entryway which, as we have +mentioned, they could not pass through because the copper spikes +stuck into their feet. When the virtuous hermit king saw the +Moors inside the entryway he made his men slow down, like an +expert in war and weaponry, and he saw the Moors stopping because +of the wounds from the spikes, while others were falling into the +wells that were covered by branches with dirt piled on top. Then +the king began to shout with a loud voice: + +"Oh knights of honor, take your eyes from the city, and turn your +faces to the enemies of the Christian faith. Let us attack with +great courage, for this day is ours. Give them a cruel battle, +and grant mercy to no one!" + +The king was the first to strike a blow; then the others +followed. The Moors saw the Christians doing battle savagely +while they were all unable to move because of their wounds, and +so they were forced to die, and great destruction was wrought +unto them. Those who were coming behind saw how the Christians +were slaughtering the Moors, and they fled back to the castle +they had come from, without offering resistance. + +The king pursued them, killing and beheading as many as he could +catch. When the king was worn out from his wounds, he stopped +for a moment and they captured a very tall Moor of enormous +proportions. After the king had knighted the countess's son, he +wanted him to kill that Moor. And very bravely the boy stabbed +him with his sword until he killed him. When the king saw that +the Moor was dead he took the boy by the hair and threw him on +top of the Moor, and rubbed him hard against the man, filling his +eyes and face with blood, and he made him stick his hands into +the wounds, and in that way he baptized him in the blood of the +Moor. He grew up very bravely, and in his time in a large part +of the world there could not be found so worthy a knight. + +When the good king saw that the battle was won, he began to +pursue the Moors, and he killed all those he caught. This was +the greatest destruction and slaughter of men that took place in +that time, for ninety-seven thousand Moors died in the space of +ten days. Since the king could not walk well because of his +wounds, they brought him a horse so he could ride. + +"In truth, I shall not," said the king. "All the others are +going on foot, and if I went on horseback it would be very +unjust." + +They went along slowly until they came to the castle where the +Moors had barricaded themselves, and here they made camp and +rested that night. In the morning, when it was broad daylight, +the king ordered the trumpets blown, and all the men armed +themselves. The king put on his royal tunic and went in front of +all the rest, and they charged the castle. They were met by +cross bows and spears and rocks that were thrown down on them +from the top of the castle. And the king pressed on so hard +that he went ahead alone, without anyone being able to help him. +The countess's son shouted loudly: + +"Run, knights of honor! Let us run and help our king and lord +who has placed himself in great danger!" + +And he took hold of a small shield that a page was carrying, and +jumped into the moat to go to where the king was. The others, +seeing the small boy going by, all rushed forward at the same +time to get to the other side, and many knights died or were +wounded. But the small boy, with the aid of Our Lord, suffered +no harm. + +When they had all crossed over they gathered a great deal of +wood, and they set fire to the door of the castle. The boy began +to shout as loudly as he could, and he said: + +"Oh, English ladies! Come out, and regain your lost liberty: the +day of your redemption has come." + +Three hundred nine women were inside the castle. When they heard +that voice they all ran to the back door of the castle, for there +was a huge fire at the other one and all the women were welcomed +by the Christians, and among them were many noblewomen. + +When the Moors saw the great fire, and that the entire castle was +burning, they wanted to surrender, but the valiant king would not +permit it. + +Instead, he wanted them all to die by fire and the sword. And +those who came running out of the castle were either quickly +killed, or the spears forced them back inside. In this way +twenty-two thousand Moors were killed and burned that day. + +The hermit king left the castle with all his men, and they went +through all the kingdom to those places the Moors had taken. +They did not find one Moor that they wanted to spare, and they +went all the way to the port of Southampton where they found all +the vessels and ships on which they had come. Afterward the king +ordered that any Moor who came to the island of England, no +matter what his business might be, should die without mercy. + +When they had retaken the entire kingdom, the king's vow was +fulfilled and all the people went into the city of Warwick. When +the countess learned that the king was coming she went out to +welcome him with all the ladies and maidens of the city, since +not one man had stayed there except the sick and wounded. When +the countess was near the king, she fell to her knees, and all +the other women shouted with a loud voice: + +"Welcome, victorious King!" + +The virtuous gentleman embraced them all, one by one, and took +the countess's hand, and they walked along, talking, until they +were inside the city. The countess thanked him profusely for all +the honor he had bestowed on her son, and then she thanked all +the other great lords. + +Having rested for a few days, the hermit king was in his chamber +one day, thinking to himself. Since he had ended the war, and +the entire kingdom was at peace, he decided to reveal who he was +to his wife, the countess, and to all the others, so that he +could return the royal scepter to the first king, and go back to +his penance. + +He called his chamberlain, and giving him the half-ring he had + +divided with the countess before going to Jerusalem, he told him +to speak to her and give her the ring. The chamberlain quickly +went to the countess, and kneeling before her, he said: + +"My lady, one who has loved and continues to love you sends you +this ring." + +The countess took the ring, and when she looked at it she turned +pale. She ran into her chamber and opened a box where she kept +the other part of the ring. She put the two parts together, and +saw that they were one piece, revealing the family arms. She +understood that it belonged to her husband, the count, and she +cried out: + +"Tell me, sir, where is my husband, the Count of Warwick?" + +And she tried to find the door to leave the chamber, but in her +confusion she could not. Then she fell to the floor in a faint. + +When the chamberlain saw what a state the countess was in, he ran +to the king in fright. The king said: + +"My friend, what's wrong? What news do you bring me?" + +The chamberlain fell to his knees before him, and said: + +"I dearly wish you had not sent me. I don't know what special +power that ring has, or if it was made by sorcery and your +worship took it from the Moors, because as soon as the countess +placed it on her finger she fell to the floor, dead." + +The king got up from his seat and quickly went to her chamber +where he found her more dead than alive, with all the doctors at +her side. As soon as the countess regained consciousness, and +saw her husband and king, she quickly got up and knelt before him +to kiss his feet and his hands. But he would not allow it, and +instead he took her arm and lifted her from the floor, and +embraced and kissed her many times. Then he revealed who he was +to all the lords in the kingdom, and to the entire town. And all +the lords and ladies came to honor the king and their new queen. +When the son learned that the king was his father, he hurried to +the chamber and knelt and kissed his hands and feet many times +over. + +There were great celebrations, and after nine days four hundred +carts arrived, loaded with gold and silver, jewels, and very +valuable items which they had found in the Moors' possession. +The king ordered the jewels, the gold, and the silver to be given +to four lords: the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Bedford, the +Count of Salisbury, and the Count of Stafford. + +After this had been done the king called a general council for +the following day. When they were all present, the king came +into the council chamber in his royal robes, the crown on his +head and the scepter in his hand, and sitting down, he said: + +"My lord and king, Your Highness must be content with the grace +that almighty God has given you, for with the help of your +vassals you have recovered the entire isle of England. And so, +in the presence of all these worthy lords, I return to you the +kingdom, the crown, the scepter and the royal robes." + +He immediately removed the garments and dressed again in his +habit. + +The king and all the barons recognized his great virtue and +gentility, and gave him many thanks. The king asked him to +remain in his court, and offered to make him Prince of Wales, but +he excused himself, saying that he would not leave God's service +for the vanities of this world. Then he left the king and those +in the court, and went to his village, about a league from the +city, and there he rested for a few days. + +When the countess learned that her husband had gone, she left the +castle without saying a word to the king or to anyone, and went +with her ladies and maidens to be with her husband. + +Within a few days the king and his people were ready to leave. +Then the hermit-count told his son to go with the king, and to +serve him fully. And if disagreements arose in the kingdom, in +no case should he turn against his king and lord. + +After the king had left for London, the countess begged her +husband: + +"My lord, let me stay with you so that I may serve you. Let us +make a hermitage separated into two parts, with a church in +between." + +So much did the countess implore him that the count was forced to +obey her. The countess then wanted to go to another site that +was lovely, with many trees and a beautiful, clear spring, and in +the middle of that fine meadow was a pine tree of striking +beauty. And everyday all the wild beasts of the forest came to +drink from that clear spring. + +When the hermitage was finished, and the count and countess were +about to go and live in it, the Count of Northumberland arrived, +as an ambassador of the king, to ask them to go to London, for +the king was to marry the daughter of the King of France. And if +the count could not go, the countess was requested to go, for she +was needed to teach the queen the customs of England. + +The count-hermit answered: + +"Ambassador, tell His Majesty, the king, that I would he very +happy to serve His Excellency, but I cannot abandon the vow I +have made to serve God. As for the countess, her presence there +can take the place of both of us." + +The countess would have preferred to remain behind and serve her +husband, but when she saw her husband's wishes, and realized her +duty to the king, she agreed to go. The count left them with +many tears and went to the hermitage. And every day, after +prayer, he went underneath the beautiful tree to see the animals +drink from the clear spring. + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE TOURNAMENT + + Day after day the English knights were languishing. Abandoning +themselves to idleness, they spent many days in peace, +tranquility, rest and enjoyment. So they would not be completely +idle and fall into languor, the King of England decided that as +the wedding had been arranged he would invite everyone to his +court and have a display of arms. The news of the great +celebration that the king was preparing was spread throughout all +the Christian kingdoms. + +It happened that a gentleman of ancient lineage, a native of +Brittany, was traveling in the company of many other gentlemen +who were going to the celebration. He fell behind the others, +and went to sleep on his horse, because he was so weary from the +long journey he had made. His horse left the road and took a +path that led him to the delightful spring of the hermit, who at +this moment was finding pleasure in a book entitled Tree of +Battles. As he read this book he constantly gave thanks to God, +our Heavenly Father, for the singular favors he had won in this +world by serving the order of chivalry. + +While he was at this task he saw a man coming along the plain on +horseback, asleep. He stopped reading, and decided not to wake +him. When the horse was in front of the spring and saw the +water, it drew closer, wanting to drink, but because the reins +were tied to the saddle bow, it could not. And it struggled so +much that it was inevitable that the gentleman should awaken. As +he opened his eyes, he found himself confronted by a hermit with +a very long and completely white beard, his clothing torn, +revealing a thin body. + +The gentleman was astonished at such a sight, but with his good +sense he realized that it must be some man who led a saintly +life, and who had withdrawn to that place to do penance and save +his soul. He quickly dismounted and bowed deeply to him. The +hermit received him cordially, and they sat down in the +delightful, green meadow. The hermit began to speak: + +"Gentle sir, I beg you upon your courtesy and gentility to tell +me your name and upon what business you have come to this lonely +spot." + +The gentleman quickly answered: + +"Reverend Father, since your holiness wants to know my name, I +will be very happy to tell it to you: I am called Tirant lo +Blanc. My father was lord of the March of Tirania, which faces +England along the sea, and my mother was daughter of the Duke of +Brittany, and her name is Blanca, and so they decided to name me +Tirant lo Blanc. The news has spread among all the Christian +kingdoms that the King of England has called for a court to be +held in the city of London, and that he has arranged a marriage +with the daughter of the King of France, who is the most +beautiful maiden in all Christendom and has qualities that no one +else possesses. I can give you an example: While I was in the +court of the King of France, in the city of Paris, last +Michaelmas, the king was holding a great celebration because that +day the wedding had been agreed to. The king, the queen and the +infanta were all eating at the same table, and I can tell you +truly, sir, that as the infanta drank red wine, it could be seen +as it passed down her throat because her skin is so very fair, +and everyone there was astonished. Afterward it was said that +the King of England wishes to become a knight, and that he will +then make knights of everyone who wishes to enter the order of +chivalry. I asked kings-of-arms and heralds why the king had not +been made a knight during his wars with the Moors. And I was +told that it was because he had been defeated in all the battles +he undertook against the Moors until the appearance of that +famous knight and conqueror, Count William of Warwick, who +quickly defeated the Moors and put all his kingdom at peace. +They say, moreover, that on Saint John's day the queen will be in +the city of London and great celebrations will be held that will +last a year and a day, and so we thirty gentlemen in name and in +arms have left Brittany, prepared to enter the order of chivalry. +And as I came along the road, fortune decided that I would fall +somewhat behind because of my horse's weariness and because of +the great hardships I have endured on the long journeys I have +made--for I left after the others. As I was thinking to myself I +fell asleep, and my horse left the main road and brought me +before your reverence." + +When the hermit heard the gentleman say that he was going in +order to receive the order of chivalry, he heaved a deep sigh and +began to think, remembering the great honor chivalry had bestowed +upon him for so long. + +"I tell your lordship," continued Tirant, "even if there were +many more dangers in it than there are, that would not stop me +from receiving the order of chivalry. No matter what happens to +me, I will consider my death worthwhile if I die loving and +defending the order of chivalry and serving it with all my +strength so that I won't be reprimanded by good knights." + +"My son," said the hermit, "because you so desire to receive the +order, do it with renown and fame. On the day you receive it +perform a show of arms so that all your relatives and friends +will know that you are ready to maintain and serve the order of +chivalry. Now because the hour is late and your company is going +far ahead, I think you should leave: you are in a foreign land +and do not know the roads, and you run the danger of becoming +lost in the great forests hereabouts. I beg you to take this +book and show it to my lord, the king, and to all the good +knights so that they may know about the order of chivalry. And +when you return, I pray you, my son, come by here and tell me who +have been made new knights, and about all the celebrations and +festivities that take place, so that I will know about them, and +I will be very grateful to you." + +And he gave him the book, taking his leave at the same time. + +Tirant took the book with great joy, giving him many thanks and +promising to return, and Tirant said, as he left: + +"Tell me, my lord: if the king or the other knights ask me who is +sending the book, what shall I say?" + +The hermit answered: + +"If you are asked such a question, say that it was someone who +has always loved and honored the order of chivalry." + +Tirant bowed deeply to him, mounted his horse, and went on his +way. + +Meanwhile his companions were wondering what could have become of +him and why he was delayed. They were afraid that he might have +become lost in the forest, and many of them turned back to look +for him. They found him on the road, reading about the +chivalresque acts written down in the book, and of all the order +of chivalry. + +When Tirant reached the town where his companions were staying, +he told them about the beautiful adventure Our Lord had taken him +on, and how the saintly hermit had given him that book. And they +read all that night until morning when it was time to leave. + +They traveled a day at a time until they reached the city of +London,where the king was with many knights. Many had come, both +from his own kingdom and from foreign lands, and no more than +thirteen days remained before the celebration of Saint John's +day. + +When Tirant and his friends had gathered together they went to +pay homage to the king, who received them very cordially. The +infanta was two days journey from there in a city named +Canterbury where the body of Saint Thomas of Canterbury lies. On +Saint John's day the celebrations began, and that day the king +was seen with the infanta, his bride. These celebrations lasted +a year and a day. + +When the celebrations were over the king was married to the +infanta of France, and all the foreigners took their leave of the +king and queen and returned to their own lands. + +After Tirant left the city of London with his companions, he +remembered the promise he had made to the hermit, and when they +were near the place where he lived, he said to them: + +"Gentlemen, my brothers, I must go to where the hermit is." + +And everyone in his company begged him to let them go too, for +they had a great desire to see the saintly hermit. Tirant was +most content that they should, and they all set out on the road +toward the hermit. At the time they arrived, the hermit was +under the tree, in prayer. + +When he saw so many people arriving he wondered who they could +be. Tirant drew closer than the others, and when he was near he +dismounted, and all the rest with him, and they approached the +hermit with deep humility, kneeling and paying him the honor he +deserved. Tirant wished to kiss his hand, as did all the others, +but he would not permit it. + +The hermit, very attentive and courteous, paid them great honor, +embracing them all and begging them to sit on the grass near him. +And they answered that he should sit down and they would all +remain standing, but the valorous gentleman would not allow it +and made them all sit next to him. When they were all seated, +they waited for the hermit to speak. The hermit, understanding +the honor they were paying him, said: + +"I could not possibly tell you, magnificent gentlemen, how +content I am at seeing so many good people. Please tell me if +you are now coming from the court of my lord, the king. I would +like to know who became new knights, and about the celebrations +that have taken place. And I beg you, Tirant lo Blanc, tell me +the names of all these gentlemen here." + +And he paused. Tirant turned to his companions, for there were +many of higher lineage and wealth, and he said to them: + +"Oh, valiant knights! I pray you to answer the questions that +the reverent hermit has asked us. I have told you many times of +his wisdom and holiness; and he is a father of chivalry and +deserves great honor, so I beg you to speak to him." + +They all answered: + +"You speak, Tirant. Speak for us all, for the holy father met +you first." + +"Then, since that is your pleasure," said Tirant, "and the father +commands it, if I am wrong about anything, please correct me." + +They all said they would. + +Then the hermit said: + +"I beg you, please tell me who was judged the best of the knights +and who was given the honor of this festive occasion?" + +"My lord," said Tirant, "many gentlemen of great authority and +power came to these celebrations. There were kings, dukes, +counts and marquis, nobles and knights and many gentlemen of +ancient lineage; and almost all those who were not knights were +given the order of chivalry. The Duke of Acquaviva put on a +display of arms with great knightly spirit and many men were with +him, and from among them more than sixty gentlemen were knighted. +This duke jousted on foot and on horseback, and he was always +victorious. The brother of the Duke of Burgundy went into battle +with great courage like the virtuous knight that he is. Next the +Duke of Cleve jousted, and he was highly praised. Many other +gentlemen who came jousted like noble knights, and I can tell +you, sir, in all truth, that more than one hundred fifty knights +were killed. + +"And I will tell your grace something astonishing: One day a boy +(It looked to me like he was no more than fourteen or fifteen +years old, and everyone honored him, including the king, and they +called him the high constable of England) came to the lodging of +these gentlemen here and asked for me. He did not know my name, +but he recognized me, and he begged me very graciously to lend +him my horse and arms because the king and the countess, his +mother, did not want him to joust on foot or on horseback on +account of the danger. He begged me so much and with such good +grace, that I could not refuse him, and I told him that I would +be very pleased to give them to him. + +"I tell you, sir, of all the knights who took up arms, there was +no one who performed as beautifully or as well as he did. The +first time he went out he caught his adversary in the middle of +the headpiece so that most of the lance went through him. When +the knight was dead and the king heard that it was his constable +who had jousted so well, he sent for him. And the constable was +so frightened that he made excuses not to go, but finally he went +to the king, and the king reprimanded him severely. His +Excellency showed that he loved him very much, indeed, telling +him that he had fought without his permission against a man of +enormous strength, the Lord of Escala Rompuda. And furthermore, +he told him not to dare to joust anymore without his permission." + +When the constable saw how severely the king was reprimanding +him, he angrily said: 'Well, my lord, is it true then that even +though I've received the order of chivalry, I must be held as the +least of all knights because Your Majesty will not let me joust +for fear that I might die? Since I am a knight I must do the +works of a knight, the same as all good knights. If Your Majesty +doesn't want me to face the danger of weapons, order me to go +around dressed like a woman with the queen's maidens. Doesn't +Your Majesty know that when my father and lord, William, Count of +Warwick, held the royal scepter he conquered the Moors? And he +took me by the hair and made me kill a Moor even when I was +young, because he wanted to make me a conqueror, soaked with +blood, and leave me that for a legacy? My lord, if I want to +imitate my father in chivalry, Your Highness should not stop me. +I beg Your most serene Majesty to give me leave to combat a +knight tomorrow, hand to hand, to the death.' + +"Then the king said: + +"'I truly believe that this will be the best knight in the world, +or he will be the worst, because his life will not last long. +And by the faith I owe to chivalry, I will not allow that to +happen. Since fortune has allowed you to be victorious, you +should content yourself with the battle prize.' And he would not +hear another word." + +Then the hermit said: + +"Tell me, since you have spoken so much about this constable, who +was honored above all the knights?" + +Tirant was quiet,and would not reply. + +"Tirant, my son," said the hermit, "why don't you answer my +question?" + +A knight named Diafebus stood up and said: + +"Sir, I will tell you the truth: the one judged best of all the +battles was Tirant lo Blanc. He was also the first to receive +the order of chivalry from the king, and he was the first to +joust. On that day he was taken to a hall and given a chair made +entirely of silver. Then the Archbishop of England came before +him, and with the king and all the others there, he said: + +"'You, sir, who are receiving the order of chivalry, do you swear +that you will defend ladies and maidens, widows, orphans, and +even married women with all your power if they should ask your +aid?' + +"When he had sworn the oath, two great lords, the mightiest +there, took hold of his arms and led him before the king. The +king laid the sword on his head and said: 'May God and my lord, +Saint George, make you a good knight' And he kissed him on the +mouth. + +"Then seven maidens came in, dressed in white, representing the +seven joys of Virgin Mary, and they strapped his sword on him. +Then came four knights, the most dignified to be found, +representing the four evangelists, and they put spurs on him. +Afterward the queen came, and she took him by one arm, and a +duchess took the other, and they led him to a beautiful platform +and seated him in the royal chair. Then the king sat on one +side, and the queen on the other, and all the maidens and knights +sat around them, below. Next a very abundant collation was +brought. And this, sir, is the procedure that was held for all +those who were made knights." + +"Tell me, if you will, about the jousts Tirant participated in." + +"My lord, on the eve of the appointed day, Tirant went to where +the twenty-six knights were. When he was at their door he +delivered a document stating that any knight who wanted to joust +against him would have to battle until one of them had drawn +blood twenty times, or until either of them gave up. His +conditions were immediately accepted, and we returned to our +lodging. The next day all the maidens came for him and took him +to the list, fully dressed in his armor. The king and queen were +already on the cenotaphs when Tirant came in completely covered +with armor, except for his head. In his hand he held a fan that +had the crucifixion of Jesus Christ painted on one side, and the +figure of Our Lady painted on the other. + +"When Tirant was in the middle of the field he made a deep bow to +the king and the queen, and then he went to each of the four +corners of the list, and made the sign of the cross at each +corner with the fan. He found the defender at the far end of the +list, and Tirant went to the other end of the field. When +everyone was quiet the king ordered them to begin. Quickly they +dug in their spurs, lances in the sockets, and they clashed so +fiercely that their lances flew to pieces. Afterward they turned +and charged many times with many singular encounters. On their +twentieth turn the defender struck the beaver of Tirant's helmet +and bent it, wounding him in the neck, and if the lance had not +broken our knight would be dead. He and the horse fell to the +ground. Tirant quickly got up and another horse was brought to +him that was better than the first, and he begged the judges to +give him permission to get another lance. Tirant had a very +thick lance brought to him, and the other man did the same, and +they clashed with a mighty blow, and Tirant's lance passed +completely through the other man so that he fell to the ground, +dead. The maidens took Tirant's horse by the reins, and led him +with honor back to his lodging. They removed his armor and +looked at the wound on his neck, and they made the doctors come +to care for him. The maidens tended to Tirant very well because +they were very happy that the first knight to joust for a maiden +had been the victor. + +"The king and all the great lords went into the palisade where +the dead knight lay, and with a great procession they carried him +to the Church of Saint George where they had made a chapel for +those who died jousting. And in this chapel only knights could +be buried. + +"My lord, when Tirant was well again, he gathered all his company +once more, and we went to the twenty-five knights. He gave them +a written document stating that he wished to fight a knight on +foot and to the death, and they accepted. Tirant went into the +list armed in the normal fashion, with an ax, a sword, and a +dagger. When they were inside the pavilion everything necessary +was prepared. The sunlight was divided so that it would not +shine into one man's eyes any more than into the other's. + +The king came with the other assistants and they went up to the +cenotaphs, while each of the knights stood armed at the gate of +his pavilion, their axes in their hands. When they saw the king, +they knelt to the ground on one knee, paying deep reverence to +the king and queen, which showed plainly that they were very +worthy knights, and all the maidens knelt on the ground and +begged our Lord to give victory to their knight. + +"When the people were quiet, the trumpets sounded and the heralds +cried out that no man or woman should dare speak, cough, or make +any noise at all under penalty of losing their life. + +"When the announcement had been made, the two men came at each +other, using their weapons so valiantly that it was impossible to +know who was winning. The battle lasted a long time, and +because the defender was so hard pressed he grew short of breath. +Finally he reached a point where he could no longer hold up his +ax, and his face showed that he would prefer to make peace rather +than do battle. When Tirant saw the condition his adversary was +in, he took his ax with both hands, and gave him such a blow on +the helmet that he stunned him and the man could not keep his +footing. Then Tirant went up to him and gave him a mighty push +that knocked him to the ground. When he saw him in such a +pitiful state, he removed the helmet from his head, using his +dagger to cut the cords it was tied with, and he said: + +"'You can see, virtuous knight, that your life is in my hands, so +you command me. Tell me if you want to live or die. I will have +more consolation from good than from evil, so command my right +hand to have mercy on you and forgive you, and not to harm you as +much as it could." + +"'I am more hurt,' said the knight, 'by your cruel words, full of +vainglory, than I would be of losing my life. I would rather die +than ask forgiveness from your haughty hand.' + +"'My hand is accustomed to forgiving conquered men,' said Tirant, +'and not to harming them. If you wish, I will very willingly +free you from all the harm I could cause you.' + +"'Oh, what a wonder it is,' said the knight who was lying on the +ground, 'when men are victorious because of luck, or someone +else's misfortune. Then they're loose with all kinds of words. +I am the knight of Muntalt, reproachless, loved and feared by +many, and I have always had mercy on men.' + +"'I want to use these things you've mentioned in your favor,' +said Tirant, 'because of your great virtue and goodness. Let us +go before the king, and on your knees, at my feet, you will have +to ask me for mercy, and I will forgive you.' + +"In a great rage the knight began to speak: + +"'God forbid that I should commit an act that's so shameful to me +or mine, or to that eminent lord of mine, Count William of +Warwick, who gave me this bitter order of chivalry. Do whatever +you please with me, because I would rather die well than live +badly.' + +"When Tirant saw his ill will, he said: + +"'All knights who want to use arms to acquire renown and fame are +cruel, and have their seat in the middle of hell.' + +"He pulled out a dagger and stuck the point of it in his eye, and +with his other hand he gave a mighty blow to the hilt of the +dagger that made it come out the other side of his head. What a +valorous knight this one was, preferring death to shame and the +vituperation of the other knights! + +"After some days it happened that their Majesties, the king and +queen, were resting in a meadow near the river, dancing and +enjoying themselves. A relative of the queen, named Fair Agnes, +was there. She was the daughter of the Duke of Berri, and the +most graceful maiden I have ever seen. My lord, on that day this +Fair Agnes wore a very pretty bauble between her breasts. When +the dances were over, in the presence of the king and queen and +all the knights, Tirant went up to the genteel lady and kneeling, +he said: + +"'My lady, knowing of your great worth in lineage as well as +beauty, grace and wisdom, and all the other virtues that can be +found in a body more angelical than human, I would like to serve +you. I would consider it a great favor if you gave me the bauble +you're wearing between your breasts. If you give it to me, I +will accept it and wear it in your honor and service. And I +swear before the altar and on the order of chivalry, to combat a +knight on foot or on horseback, to the death, armed or unarmed.' + +"'Oh Holy Mary be with me!' said Fair Agnes. 'You want to joust +to the death for such a small thing of so little value? So that +you will not lose the prize of your good works and the order of +chivalry, I shall willingly consent in the presence of the king +and the queen. Take the bauble with your own hands.' + +"Tirant was very happy with the reply of Fair Agnes. Since the +bauble was tied on with her dress straps, it could not be removed +without untying them, and when he did, his hands could not help +touching her breasts. Tirant took the bauble in his hand and +kissed it. Then he fell to his knees, and said: + +"'I give you many thanks, my lady, for this great gift. I am +happier with it than if you had given me the entire kingdom of +France. And I swear to God that whoever takes the bauble from me +will leave his life in my hands.' + +"And he put it on the crest of the cap he wore. + +"The next day, while the king was at mass, a French knight named +Lord Vilesermes came. He was a very brave man and very +experienced in weapons, and he said to Tirant: + +"'Knight, wherever you are from, you have been far too daring in +touching the glorified body of Fair Agnes, and no knight in the +world ever made such a wicked request. You must return the +bauble to me willingly or by force. It is my right to possess it +because since infancy I've loved, served and venerated this lady. +And if you will not give it to me, your life will not last long.' + +"'To my way of thinking,' said Tirant, 'it would be a great +offense if I gave away what was given to me freely, and what my +own hands untied. In truth, I would be considered the most vile +knight ever born if I did such a thing. And yet, knight, your +evil tongue shows that you are far too haughty, and I will have +to pull you down.' + +"The knight attempted to take the bauble away from him, but +Tirant was ready. He pulled out a dagger he carried, and all the +others lay hold of their weapons. A fight broke out, and before +they could be separated twelve of the knights and gentlemen were +dead. The queen, who was nearest to them and heard the noise and +the loud cries the people were making, placed herself between the +men to separate them. And I can give you a good account because +I was wounded four times and many others were wounded too. When +the king found out about it, everything had quieted down. But +before three days had gone by, the French knight sent a page with +a letter for Tirant, and it said the following: + +"'To you, Tirant lo Blanc. + +"'If you dare to confront the danger of weapons that are +customary among knights, let us make an agreement: armed or +unarmed, on foot or on horseback, dressed or naked, in whatever +way you feel most comfortable, your sword and mine will fight to +the death. -- Written by my hand and sealed with the secret seal +of my arms. + +"'Lord Vilesermes.' + +"After Tirant had read the letter, he took the page into a room, +and giving him one thousand gold coins he made him promise not to +tell anyone about this. When the page had gone, Tirant went +alone to see a king-of-arms, and he took him three miles away and +said to him: + +"'King-of-arms, by the trust that has been given to you and by +the oath you swore on the day you were given this office, you are +bound to hold secret what I am going to tell you, and to advise +me well and faithfully about the use of weapons.' + +"The king-of-arms, whose name was Jerusalem, answered: + +"'My lord, Tirant, I promise you by the office I hold and by the +oath I have sworn, to keep everything you tell me secret.' + +"Then Tirant showed him the letter, and made him read it. When +he had finished, Tirant said to him: + +"My good friend, Jerusalem, I will be very honored to satisfy the +desire of that virtuous knight, Lord Vilesermes. But since I am +young and I know nothing about the practice and custom of +chivalry (for I've just turned twenty years old), and I trust +your great discretion, I want your advice. And don't think that +I've told you this out of cowardice or fear. I wouldn't want to +be condemned by the king who has instituted certain laws about +the jousts in his kingdom, or by good knights for being weak in +this matter.' + +"The king-of-arms answered: + +"Oh, knight, virtuous young man, beloved by everyone! I will +give you the advice you are asking me for. You, Tirant lo Blanc, +can fight this knight without any reproach from the king, judges +or knights, since you are the defender and he is the one who +began this wickedness. Do you know when you would be at fault? +If you had been the challenger. So perform like a good knight, +and always show the bold spirit of a knight to the people. Go +into battle quickly, and have no fear of death.' + +"'I feel very comforted by your advice,' said Tirant. 'Now I +want to beg you earnestly, Jerusalem, by the office you hold, to +be judge of the battle between Lord Vilesermes and me, and to +have jurisdiction over it all so that you will bear true witness +about everything that happens between him and me.' + +"Jerusalem said: + +"'I will be very happy to arrange it. But according to the +requirements of our office I could not be your judge, and I will +tell you why: No knight, king-of-arms or herald who gives advice +can be a judge. Not even my lord, the King of England, if he is +the judge of a battle, should say favorable words about anyone. +And if he did he could be called an unjust judge, and that battle +should not take place. But so that neither you nor he will lose +the battle prize, I will find you a competent judge who will be +suspect in nothing. He is a member of our office, and his name +is Claros of Clarence--a man who is very knowledgeable about +arms.' + +"'I know him well,' said Tirant, 'and I am satisfied with him if +Lord Vilesermes agrees, because he is a good king-of-arms and he +will give the honor to the one who earns it. I want him to be +informed about everything because Lord Vilesermes sent a page to +me with this letter, and if I sent him an answer in the same way +it could be found out easily and the battle would not come to the +conclusion that he and I want. So let us do this: let us go back +to my lodgings, and I will give you a 'carte blanche' signed by +my hand, and sealed with my coat of arms. And you will arrange +the battle so that it's all to his advantage. Since he is the +challenger and I am the defender, and he is giving me the choice +of weapons, as he says in the letter, I willingly renounce the +choice, and I will let him choose whatever pleases him most. I +will do only what you say and order. And no matter how cruel the +weapons he chooses, you will tell him that I agree: that way my +glory will be even greater.' + +"Tirant went back to his lodging with the king-of-arms, and he +immediately drew up the 'carte blanche.' That is, it was signed +by his hand and sealed with his arms; and he gave it to +Jerusalem, the king-of-arms. + +"The king-of-arms departed to arrange the battle, and he searched +throughout all the king's and queen's estates. When he saw that +he could not find Lord Vilesermes he went into the city and found +him in a monastery of friars, where he was making confession. +After he had confessed, Jerusalem called him aside and asked him +to come outside the church so that they could talk, for in such a +place it is not fitting to speak of criminal things. They left +the church and the consecrated ground at once, and Jerusalem +began to speak: + +"'Lord Vilesermes, I would feel very honored if I could arrange +peace and harmony between you and Tirant lo Blanc. But if you do +not wish to come to an agreement, here is your letter and his +answer, a 'carte blanche,' sealed and signed by his hand. He +commanded me, as part of my office, to come to you to arrange the +battle in this way: concerning the weapons, he says that you are +to be given the power to choose whatever pleases you, provided +they are equal and without trickery. And the battle should take +place this evening, if possible.' + +"'I am very satisfied,' said Lord Vilesermes, 'with Tirant. +Nothing but complete virtue could be expected of him. I accept +the power that you give me on his behalf to choose the weapons +and the battle. It will be this way: + +"'It is my decision that the battle will be on foot, in shirts +made with cloth from France, both of us having paper shields, and +on our heads a garland of flowers, with no other clothing at all +on our bodies. The offensive weapons for both of us will be +Genoese knives with a cutting edge on both sides, and very sharp +points. In this way I will combat him to the death. And I am +astonished at you, king-of-arms, when you try to make peace out +of discord. Our minds are made up to go into battle, and you +talk to me of peace.' + +"'What I said,' said the king-of-arms, 'is part of my office: not +to want the death of any honorable knight.' + +"'Since we agree, I accept the battle with Tirant.' + +"'I am happy that you are in agreement,' said the king-of-arms. +'Let us go get the weapons and everything you need before +nightfall.' + +"They both went immediately to buy the knives, and they had them +well keened, with very sharp points. Then they found cloth from +France, and they quickly had the shirts cut and sewn. They made +them a little long, and the sleeves cut short--up to the +elbow--so that their movements in battle would not be hindered. +Then they took a sheet of paper, and cut it down the middle and +with each half they made a shield. Imagine what sort of defense +a half sheet of paper could make! + +"When they had finished it all, the knight said to the +king-of-arms: + +"'You have arranged the battle, and you are here on Tirant's +behalf. But I want no one to take my side except God alone, and +my own hands which are used to bathing themselves in the noble +blood of war. So you take some of the weapons, and I will take +the ones you've left.' + +"'Lord Vilesermes, I'm not here to take anyone's side. Even if +you were to give me all that you have, I wouldn't defraud my +honor or my office. Let's do what we have to do; otherwise, give +me my leave and find someone else you trust.' + +"'Upon my Lord and Creator, king-of-arms, my words didn't have +the meaning you're giving them. I only wanted us to go to +battle, because I see nighttime coming on. Since you're our +judge, arrange things quickly.' + +"'My lord, I'll tell you how it's going to be,' said the +king-of-arms, 'I can't be a judge between you since I've advised +you and Tirant, and I could be reprimanded as an unjust judge if +I did. But I'll get another competent judge that both you and he +can trust, whose name is Claros of Clarence. He's a +king-of-arms, and he knows a great deal about war and arms. He +came a short while ago with the Duke of Clarence, and he is a man +who would rather die than do anything against his honor.' + +"'I'm satisfied with everything,' said the knight, 'as long as +the matter is equal and it is secret.' + +"'I give you my word,' said the king-of-arms, 'not to tell this +to anyone at all except to Claros of Clarence.' + +"'Now,' said the knight, 'take the weapons and give them to +Tirant, and let him choose the ones he likes best. I will wait +for you in the hermitage of Saint Mary Magdalene. So that if +anyone in my company should see me, I can pretend that I'm there +to pray.' + +"Jerusalem left and went looking everywhere for Claros of +Clarence, king- of-arms. When he found him he told him +everything, and the man said he was very willing to do it. But +the sun had already gone down, and it was growing late now, and +he did not want to endanger two knights in the dark night. +Instead he would be willing to be judge the morning of the next +day, when the king was at mass and everyone was resting. + +"Jerusalem went back to Tirant and told him how the battle was to +take place and about the weapons he had chosen, and he said that +he was to take whichever of the two he liked better. And in the +morning while the king was at mass, the battle would take place. + +"'Since the battle will not take place this evening,' said +Tirant, 'I don't want to have the weapons in my possession. If I +should defeat or kill him I would not want people to say that I +had performed some trickery on the weapons while I had them +during the night, and that that was the reason I defeated him. +Give them back to Lord Vilesermes, and tomorrow when the battle +takes place, have him bring them.' + +"When Jerusalem heard Tirant speak that way, he looked into his +face and said: + +"'Oh, virtuous knight, versed in arms! You are worthy of wearing +a royal crown: I cannot believe that you will not be victorious +in this battle.' + +"The king-of-arms left Tirant and went to the hermitage where the +other knight was, and he told him that the hour was growing late, +and the judge could not decide the battle well if it was not +daytime, but that they had arranged it for the following day when +the king would be at mass. Lord Vilesermes said that he was +satisfied with that. + +"Early in the morning the kings-of-arms got the two knights and +took them to the middle of a forest where no one would be able to +see them. When they saw that they were ready, Jerusalem said: + +"'Knights of great virtue, this is your death, and your +sepulcher. These are the weapons chosen by this knight and +accepted by Tirant. Let each take whichever ones he pleases.' + +"And he placed them on the lovely meadow grass. + +"'Now,' said Claros of Clarence, 'gentlemen of great nobility and +chivalry, you are in this isolated place. Expect no help from +relatives or friends. You are at the point of death, so place +your hope only in God and in your virtue. I want to know who you +wish to serve as judge of this battle.' + +"'What?' said Lord Vilesermes. 'Didn't we agree that it would be +you?' + +"'And you, Tirant, who do you want to be judge?' + +"'I want it to be the one Lord Vilesermes wants.' + +"'Since you want to have me as your judge, you must swear by the +order of chivalry to obey all my commands.' + +"They swore that they would. After the oath, the knight said to +Tirant: + +"'Take the weapons you like and I will go into battle with the +ones you leave behind.' + +"'No,' said Tirant. 'You have been holding them, and they were +brought here in your name. You are the challenger, so you choose +first, and then I will take mine.' + +"And the knights stood there, arguing about ceremony; the judge +picked up the weapons to put an end to the dispute. He put some +of them on the right side and the others on the left. Then he +picked up two straws, one of them long, and the other short. The +judge said: + +"'Whoever gets the longest one, take the weapons on the right; +and whoever gets the short one, the weapons on the left.' + +"When they had each picked up the weapons, they quickly took off +all their clothes and put on the painful shirts that could well +be called hair-cloths of sorrow. The judge made two lines on the +field and he placed one of the men on one line and the other man +on the other, and he ordered them not to move until he said to. +They cut a tree's branches so that the judge could be on a sort +of cenotaph. When everything was ready the judge went to Lord +Vilesermes and said: + +"'I am judge by the authority you have given to me, and it is my +duty to warn you and beseech you not to come to such a narrow +strait as this. Remember God and don't die so desperately. As +you know, the justice of our Lord does not pardon a man who +brings on his own death, and he is condemned for all eternity.' + +"'Let's stop all the talk now,' said the knight. 'Each of us +knows his worth and what he can do, both in the temporal life and +in the spiritual one. Have Tirant come here to me, and it might +be possible for us to come to an understanding.' + +"'I don't think that what you're asking is reasonable,' said the +judge. 'You are equals: why should he come to you? But in any +case, Jerusalem, go and ask Tirant if he wants to come and talk +to this knight.' + +"Jerusalem went to Tirant, and asked him if he wanted to go +there. Tirant answered: + +'"'If the judge is commanding me to go, I will, but for that +knight over there I wouldn't take a step backward or forward for +everything he's worth.' + +"Jerusalem told him how the judge was obligated to do everything +possible to make peace between the knights. Then Tirant said: + +"'Jerusalem, tell the knight that I see no reason why I should +have to go to him. If he wants something from me, let him come +here.' + +"He took the answer to him, and then the judge said: + +"'All right. It seems to me that Tirant is doing what he should +do. But, knight, you can go to the middle of the field, and +Tirant will come there.' + +"So it was done that way. When they were facing each other, Lord +Vilesermes said: + +"'Tirant, if you want to have peace with me, and if you want me +to forgive you because of your youth, I'll do it--on condition +that you hand over the bauble of that illustrious lady, Dona +Agnes of Berri, to me, along with the knife and the paper shield +so that I can show it to the ladies. Because you know very well +that you're not worthy of having anything at all from such a +lofty and virtuous lady as she is. Your station, lineage and +condition aren't good enough even to allow you to take off her +left slipper. They're not even enough to raise you to my rank; +in fact, it was out of kindness that I decided to do combat with +you.' + +"'Knight,' said Tirant, 'I'm not unaware of who you are, or what +you can do. But this is not the time or place for us to discuss +the merits of our lineages. I am Tirant lo Blanc: when a sword +is in my hand, no king, duke, count, or marquis can deny me. +That is known throughout the world. But anyone can easily find +the seven capital sins in you. Let's go to battle and do what we +came here for, and let's not go on with unnecessary and worthless +words: if even one of my hairs fell to the ground, I wouldn't +surrender it to you, much less allow you to pick it up.' + +"'Since you don't want to reach an agreement,' said the judge, +'do you want life or death?'" + +Lord Vilesermes said: + +"'I am very sorry about the death of this haughty young man. +Let's go to battle, and let each one go back to his place.' + +"The judge got up on the cenotaph that had been made with +branches, and he shouted: + +"'Go now, knights, and let each of you act like a valiant and +good knight!' + +"They went at each other in a fury. The French knight carried +his knife high, in front of his head, and Tirant held his just +above his chest. When they were close to each other, the French +knight struck hard at the middle of Tirant's head. Tirant +parried and struck back, and he dealt him a blow on top of his +ear that almost dug into his brain. The other man struck Tirant +in the middle of his thigh, and the wound gaped about a +handsbreadth. He quickly stabbed him again in his left arm, and +the knife sunk in as far as the bone. They both fought so hard +that it was dreadful. And they were so close to each other that +with every swing they took they drew blood. It was a pitiful +sight for anyone who saw the wounds of the two men: their shirts +had become completely red from all the blood they lost. +Jerusalem repeatedly asked the judge if he wanted him to make +them stop fighting, and the cruel judge answered: + +"'Let them come to the end of their cruel days, since that's what +they want.' + +"'I am convinced that at that very moment both of them would +rather have had peace than war. But since they were very brave +and very courageous knights they fought ceaselessly, without +mercy. Finally Tirant saw that he was near death because of all +the blood he was losing, so he drew as close to the other man as +he could, and stabbed him in the left breast, straight into his +heart. The other man dealt him a mighty slash to his head, +causing him to lose the sight of his eyes, and he fell to the +ground before the other one. And if the Frenchman had been able +to hold himself up when Tirant fell, he could easily have killed +him if he had wanted. But he did not have enough strength, and +he immediately fell dead on the ground. + +"When the judge saw that the knights were lying there so still, +he got down from the cenotaph, and going up to them, he said: + +"'Upon my word, you two have behaved like good and very honorable +knights: no one could find fault with you.' + +"And he made the sign of the cross twice over each of them, and +taking two sticks he made a cross and laid it over the two +bodies. Then he said: + +"'I see that Tirant's eyes are still open a little, and if he +isn't dead he's very near to it. Jerusalem, I charge you to stay +here and guard these bodies, and I'll go to the court to give the +news to the king.' + +"He found the king leaving mass, and in everyone's presence, he +said: + +"'My lord, in truth, there were two most valiant knights in Your +Majesty's court in the morning, and now they are so near death +that there is no hope for them.' + +"'Who are these knights?' + +"'My lord,' said Claros of Clarence, 'one is Lord Vilesermes and +the other is Tirant lo Blanc.' + +"'I am very displeased,' said the king, 'by this news. Let us go +out there before we eat to see if we can help them.' + +"'In faith,' said Claros, 'one has already departed from this +world, and I believe the other will soon join him--that is how +badly they were wounded.' + +"When the relatives and friends of the knights heard the news +they gathered up their arms and rushed as quickly as they could, +on foot and on horseback, and our Lord God gave us the grace to +get there before the others. We found Tirant so covered with +blood that he was unrecognizable, and he had his eyes slightly +open. + +"When the others saw their lord lying dead, they quickly ran +toward our knight, wanting to take his life, and we defended him +very well. We split our group into two parts, and, with our +backs to each other, we kept his body between our lines. There +were many more of them than of us, but every place they advanced +they found their way blocked. At the same time they shot arrows +and one of them struck poor Tirant, who was lying on the ground. + +"The high constable arrived immediately, with many men, and he +separated us. Soon afterward the king came with the tournament +judges. When they saw the knights, one dead and the other +seemingly in the throes of death, they ordered no one to move +them until they had held counsel. + +"While the king was in council, listening to the tale of Claros +of Clarence and Jerusalem, the kings-of-arms, the queen arrived +with all the ladies and maidens. When they saw them they wept +for the deaths of two such singular knights. Fair Agnes turned +to Tirant's relatives, and said: + +"'Knights who love Tirant, are you doing so little for your good +friend and relative that you let him leave life like this? +That's the way he'll die, lying on the cold ground, his blood +pouring out. A half hour more, and he won't have a drop of blood +left in his body.' + +"'My lady, what would you have us do?' said a knight. 'The king +has commanded, under penalty of death, that no one should dare to +touch them or move them from here.' + +"'Oh, poor me!' said Fair Agnes. 'Our Lord does not want a +sinner to die, and the king does? Have a bed brought, and put +him on it until the king finishes his counsel: the wind is +getting into his wounds and will make him worse.' + +"The relatives immediately sent for a bed and a tent. While they +were getting it, Tirant was continually nauseous because of the +wounds and because of all the blood he was losing. When Agnes +saw how much pain Tirant was in, she said: + +"'In all conscience, I should not be blamed by father or mother, +by brothers and sisters, or other relatives, or by our lords the +king and queen, because I am doing this with pure intentions.' + +"She removed the clothes she was wearing, which were of white +velvet, and she put them on the ground, and had Tirant placed on +top of the clothing. Then she begged many of her maidens to take +off their clothes and lay them over Tirant. When Tirant felt the +warmth of the clothes he opened his eyes wider than before. Fair +Agnes sat down and took his head and put it in her lap, saying: + +"'Oh, poor me, Tirant! What an unlucky bauble it was that I gave +you. If I had known that something like this would happen, I +wouldn't have given it to you for anything in the world. I beg +you, knights, bring the body of Lord Vilesermes here, next to me. +Even though I did not love him while he was alive, I do want to +honor him in his death.' + +"They quickly brought him to her, and putting his head on the +left side of her lap, she said: + +"'Lord Vilesermes spent seven years of his life trying to win me, +and this is his reward. He performed extraordinary acts of +chivalry out of love for me, and he wanted to marry me. But I am +of greater lineage and wealth, and I refused to consent to +something that was for his pleasure and satisfaction. And now +the poor knight is dead because of jealousy.' + +"The king came out of his council, having heard the complete +story from the kings-of-arms, and he had the three archbishops, +the bishops and all the clergy come in a solemn procession from +the city, to honor the dead knight. Tirant's relatives had +doctors and a bed and tent brought, and everything else that was +needed. They found that he had eleven wounds in his body, and +four of them were critical. + +"After Tirant had been treated and all the clergy had arrived, +the king and the judges ordered the dead knight placed in the box +that the dead are carried in, covered with a beautiful gold cloth +that was used for knights who die in battle. Tirant went behind +him, carried on a large shield. Even though his hand was useless +and he could not use it or hold it up, it was decided to tie it +to a stick, with the bare sword that he had killed him with in +his hand. + +"In this fashion the clergy went first, and afterward came the +dead knight with all the knights on foot. Then came the king +with all the great titled lords. Then came Tirant the way I have +described, with the queen following, and all the ladies and +maidens. Then came the High Constable with three thousand armed +men. They went to the Church of Saint George, and here they very +solemnly held a requiem mass. + +"When the king and queen left the church with all the others, +they accompanied Tirant to his lodging, and every day the king +went to see Tirant until he had completely recovered. That is +what was done to all the wounded. And thirty maidens were given +to Tirant to serve him continually. + +"At the hour of vespers the king and the queen went to the Church +of Saint George, and had Tirant brought there, and after vespers +the king had the following proclamation read: + +'As we, judges of the tournament, have been given license by the +king to judge all the battles that will be held within the time +established by His Majesty we state and declare: + +'Lord Vilesermes died like a good knight and we declare that he +is to be buried and admitted to the holy mother Church, and that +the glory of the battle will be given to Tirant lo Blanc.' + +"When the judgement was published, the clergy sang a very +beautiful litany over the knight's sepulcher, and the honors +given him lasted till nearly midnight. + +"Afterward they took Tirant to his lodging, with the king and +queen and all the others paying him great honor. And they also +honored all the other victorious knights." + + + +"May you have joy and consolation from what you most love," said +the hermit. "For you have told me how Tirant has been the victor +over three knights he defeated." + +"My lord," said Diafebus, "he has done even more singular deeds +that I have not yet told your grace." + +"I would be very pleased," said the hermit, "if you would tell me +about them." + +"My lord, your holiness should know that two months after Tirant +had gotten out of his bed and could bear arms again, something +very strange happened to him. + +"The Prince of Wales came to the celebration with a large retinue +of noblemen. His lodgings were near the city wall, and as he is +a great hunter he had many greyhounds. One day the king went to +his lodging with three or four knights to greet him, because when +they were children they had been great friends and they were very +close relatives. The prince wanted to joust, and when he saw the +king he begged him to have the tournament judges come to counsel +him. Tirant was returning from the city, and when he was in +front of the prince's lodgings a greyhound broke its chain and +got out of its cage, and it was so fierce that no one dared to go +near it. + +"As Tirant was passing through the middle of the square he saw +the greyhound running swiftly toward him to attack him. He +quickly dismounted and pulled out his sword. When the greyhound +saw the sword, it turned back and Tirant said: + +"'I don't want to lose my life or my honor for an animal.' + +"And he mounted his horse again. The king and the judges were +standing where they could see him. The Prince of Wales said: + +"'In faith, my lord, I recognize that evil tempered greyhound, +and since he's loose, if the knight that just went by is brave, +we'll see a pretty battle between them.' + +"'I believe,' said the king, 'that that is Tirant lo Blanc, and +since he's made it run away one time I don't think it will dare +to go near him again.' + +"When Tirant had gone twenty steps further, the greyhound again +ran at him in a rage, so Tirant had to dismount again, and he +said: + +"'I don't know whether you're a devil or under a spell.' + +"He took out his sword, and ran toward it, and the greyhound ran +in circles around him, but it didn't dare go near him for fear of +the sword. + +"Now, said Tirant, 'since I see that my weapons make you afraid, +I don't want anyone to say that I fought you with superior arms.' +"He threw his sword behind him. The greyhound made two or three +leaps, and ran as swiftly as it could. It picked up the sword +with its teeth and carried it off a distance. Then it came +running back at Tirant. + +"'Now,' said Tirant, 'I'll attack you with the same weapons you +want to use against me.' + +"They struggled together in a fury, and bit each other mortally. + +"The greyhound was huge and sublime, and it made Tirant fall to +the ground three times, and three times it nearly knocked him +down. This struggle of theirs lasted half an hour, and the +Prince of Wales commanded his men not to go near to separate them +until one of them was defeated. + +"Poor Tirant had many bites on his legs and on his arms. Finally +Tirant grabbed it around the neck with his hands and squeezed as +tightly as he could, sinking his teeth into its throat with such +ferocity that it fell to the ground, dead. + +"The king quickly came out with his judges and picked Tirant up +and carried him to the prince's house, and there they had the +doctors come to minister to him. + +"When the queen and the maidens heard about Tirant, they quickly +came to see him. When the queen saw how badly he was hurt, she +told him: + +"'Tirant, honors are won by danger and work. You get out of one +bad situation, and you fall into another.' + +"'Most serene lady, full of all human and angelic perfection, let +Your Majesty be the judge of my sin,' said Tirant.' I was not +intending to bring harm to anyone when a devil in the form of a +dog appeared before me with his master's consent, and decided to +satisfy my desire.' + +"'You shouldn't be sad at all, no matter how many misfortunes +befall you,' said the queen, 'for here you show your virtue all +the more.' + +"At this moment the king and the judges came out, and they told +Tirant that as they had seen the battle between him and the +greyhound, and since he had thrown away his sword and the two +were equal in arms, the judges were giving him the honor and the +prize in battle, as if he had defeated a knight. And they +commanded the kings-of-arms, heralds, and messengers to announce +throughout the city the honor that was bestowed on Tirant that +day. And when they took him to his lodging they gave him those +honors that are given in other battles." + + "I am very content with everything you have told me," said the +hermit. "As long as I have lived in this miserable world I have +never heard of such great celebrations." + +When they thought it was time to go, they all took their leave of +the father-hermit, each thanking the other. + +And from this time forward the hermit is never mentioned again. + + + +CHAPTER III + +SICILY + + Tirant and his companions journeyed until they reached the city +of Nantes. When the Duke of Brittany heard that Tirant was +coming with his relatives, he went out to welcome him with all +the city magistrates and many knights, and they paid him the +highest honor they could, for he had been the best knight of all +those who had been at the festivities in England. The duke feted +him, and Tirant was held in high esteem by all the people in the +land. + +One day while Tirant was with the duke and many other knights, +relaxing and talking, two knights came from the King of France. +The duke asked if there was any news from the court, and they +told him that the Genoese had invaded the island of Rhodes, and +that the Christians there were in need of help. + +The news had reached the King of France, and he had lamented +loudly, but did very little. Then the knights left the court of +the King of France, and came to the Duke of Brittany. The duke +showed compassion for the Grand Master and the religious at +Rhodes, and he told everyone there that he would send ambassadors +to the King of France. Then, if the king wanted to send +assistance to the Grand Master of Rhodes, and if he wanted him to +go as captain, he would do it very willingly and he would spend +two hundred thousand crowns of his own money on it. + +The morning of the following day they chose four to be +ambassadors: an archbishop, a bishop, a viscount, and Tirant lo +Blanc. When the ambassadors were before the King of France, they +explained their mission, and he told them that in four days he +would give them an answer. A month went by and they still did +not know what he intended to do. Finally he told them that at +the moment he could not intervene in these things because he was +occupied with other matters that were more important to him. The +ambassadors returned with the reply. + +When Tirant saw that so many Moors were on Rhodes and that no one +was sending help, he talked to many sailors, asking if he could +do something. They told him that if he would go, he could help +them very much, and that he would not have to enter the castle of +Rhodes from the dock, but would be able to go in another way. + +Tirant bought a large ship, and had it well stocked and armed. +It happened that Tirant had become a good friend of the five sons +of the King of France. The youngest of them all, whose name was +Philippe, was somewhat unlearned, and was considered gauche, so +the king thought very little of him, and no one ever spoke about +him. A gentleman who served him, knowing that Tirant had a ship +and was going to Rhodes and then to Jerusalem, wanted to go there +very much. So he told Philippe: + +"My lord, knights who want honor should not stay in their +parents' home while they're young and able, especially if they +are younger than their brothers, and their father ignores them. +Think of that famous knight, Tirant lo Blanc: After the great +honor he received in the battles he won in England, he is now +preparing a large ship to go to Rhodes and to the holy land of +Jerusalem. Oh, what glory it would be for you if you and I would +leave here secretly, without saying a word to anyone until we +were on the ship, one hundred miles out to sea! And Tirant is +such a virtuous knight that he will obey you and honor you as +someone from your house deserves." + +"My good friend, Tenebroso, I know that the advice you are giving +me is good," said Philippe, "and I will be very happy if we can +do it." + +"It seems to me," said the gentleman, "that I should go to +Brittany first, to where Tirant is preparing the ship. We are +such good friends that I will ask him to let me go along to the +holy land of Jerusalem, and I'll ask him what things will be +needed for me and two squires. After we have his decision we'll +put everything we need on the ship," + +Philippe was very satisfied with this, and he said: + +"Tenebroso, while you go talk to Tirant I'll get all the money I +can, and clothing and jewels," + +The following day the gentleman left with two squires, and +Tenebroso journeyed until he came to where Tirant was. They were +very happy to see each other, and Tenebroso told him the reason +for his visit. Tirant was highly pleased, for he knew that +Tenebroso was a very valiant gentleman and very discreet, and he +valued his company. He answered him: + +"My lord and brother, Tenebroso, my worldly goods, myself, the +ship, and everything I have are at your service." + +When Tenebroso heard Tirant say this, he was the happiest man in +the world, and he gave many thanks to Tirant for his great +gentility. + +He left one of his servants there to prepare a room inside the +ship where they could eat and sleep, and where Philippe could +stay secretly. Tenebroso set out again, riding until he was back +with Philippe who was waiting for him in great anticipation. +Philippe was very pleased at Tirant's answer. Tenebroso told him +to get ready to leave, and Philippe said that he already had +everything he needed to take. + +The following day Philippe went to his father, the king, and in +the queen's presence he begged him to allow him to go to Paris to +see the fair, which was two days' journey from there. The king +told him coolly: + +"Do whatever you like." + +He kissed his hand, and then the queen's hand. They set out on +their journey very early in the morning, and finally they reached +the sea port. Philippe slipped into a room on the ship without +letting anyone see him. When the ship had weighed anchor and +they were two hundred miles out to sea, Philippe revealed his +presence to Tirant. Tirant was very surprised at this, but +because they were so far out to sea, they had to continue on +their course toward Portugal, and they arrived at the city of +Lisbon. When the King of Portugal learned that Philippe, son of +the King of France, was on the ship, he sent a knight who +graciously begged him to come ashore to rest from the long sea +voyage. Tirant and Philippe dressed in their finery, and +accompanied by many knights and gentlemen who had come with +Tirant, they left the ship and went to the palace. When the king +saw Philippe he embraced him and paid him great honor, and did +the same to the others. They remained in the king's court ten +days. + +When they decided to leave, the king had them fill the ship with +everything they needed. From there Tirant sent a gentleman to +the King of France with letters explaining what had happened to +his son. When the King of France learned that his son was in +such good company he was very pleased, and the queen was +especially happy, because so much time had passed with them +knowing nothing that they thought he was either dead or had +entered some monastery. + +Philippe took his leave of the King of Portugal, and the ship set +sail, reaching the Cape of Saint Vincent to pass through the +Straits of Gibraltar. There they encountered many Moorish +vessels, and when they saw the ship, all the vessels went into +formation. They attacked it fiercely, and the combat lasted half +a day, with many men from both sides dying. After Tirant's men +had rested, they renewed the battle, and it was very fierce. Now +Tirant's ship was much larger and lighter than any of those of +the Moors, but it was alone, while there were fifteen of the +others, large and small, and all of them carried weapons. + +One very able sailor on the ship, named Cataquefaras, had sailed +a great deal, and he was very clever and valiant. When he saw +that the situation was taking a turn for the worse, he took many +ropes from the ship and made a net. He placed those ropes from +stern to prow and around the mast, and he put them up so high +that the men did not find their weapons hindered in any way; +instead it kept them from being taken prisoner. For the missiles +that the Moors launched were so many and so thick that it was a +great marvel to see, and if the ship had not been covered by that +net of ropes, it would have been completely filled with stones +and iron bars. In that way it was protected so that no stone +could pass through it; instead, when a stone hit against the +ropes, it bounced into the sea. What else did this sailor do? +He took up all the mattresses that he found on the ship, and he +covered the forecastles and the sides of the ship, and as the +missiles fell on top of the mats they could not damage the ship. +And he did still more. He took boiling oil and tar, and when +the ships drew alongside, they threw the oil and boiling tar with +ladles, causing grave injuries to the Moors, who had to draw +apart from the ship. But still they passed through the entire +Straits of Gibraltar, fighting night and day. There were so many +missiles, darts and spikes that the sails were pinned to the +ship's mast when the Moors left them. They were very near land, +and certain that the ship would run aground, stern first, near +the city of Gibraltar. But the sailors were so capable that they +quickly put the ship around and raised the sails. Then they +passed out of the Straits and entered the great sea. + +Philippe, Tirant and many others were wounded in these battles. +They went to a deserted island near the land of the Moors, and +there they tended to their wounds and repaired the ship as well +as they could. Then they sailed along the Barbary Coast where +they fought many battles with Genoese and Moorish vessels until +they were close to Tunis. There they decided to go to the island +of Sicily to take on wheat. They went to the port of Palermo +where the king and queen were, with their two sons and a very +beautiful daughter named Ricomana, a very intelligent maiden of +many virtues. When the ship was in port, they made a scribe +disembark along with five or six men, with orders to tell no one +about Philippe or Tirant, but rather to say that their ship had +come from the west and was on its way to Alexandria with some +pilgrims who were going to the Holy Sepulcher. + +When the king learned that they had come from the west he had the +scribe from the ship and all the others called before His Majesty +so he could have news of those lands. Before the king, they told +about the great battles they had had with the Moors and Genoese +in the Straits of Gibraltar, and forgetting at that moment +Tirant's words, they mentioned that Philippe, son of the King of +France, was there, in the company of Tirant lo Blanc. When the +king heard that Philippe was on that ship, he had a great wooden +bridge, covered with cloth and satin, constructed from land to +the ship. And to pay him honor, the king went on board the ship +with his two sons, and implored Philippe and Tirant to come on +land and rest a few days from the great hardships they had +endured at sea, and from their battles with the Moors. Philippe +and Tirant thanked him and told him that, to please him, they +would go with His Majesty. + +The king brought them to the city, furnished them with very nice +quarters, and had them served excellent dishes and other things +men need who have been at sea. + +Philippe, following Tirant's counsel, told the king that they +would not stay in their room until they had seen the queen. And +the king was very pleased. When they were upstairs in the +palace, the queen, along with her daughter, the princess, +received them very graciously. And when they returned to their +lodgings they decided that she was everything a king's daughter +should be. + +Afterward, everyday at mass or after eating, they were with the +king and especially with the infanta, who was so pleasant to the +foreigners who came and went, that everyone spoke of her great +virtue. And by speaking with the infanta everyday at the king's +court, Philippe grew very enamored of her, as she did of him. +But Philippe was so shy when he was in her presence that he +scarcely dared speak, and when she asked him questions, he did +not know how to respond to some of them. Tirant quickly answered +for him and said to the infanta: + +"Oh, my lady, what a thing love is! That Philippe! When we are +in our lodgings or away from here his lips never tire of praising +Your Majesty, and when you are present he is overcome with love, +and finds it difficult to speak. In truth, I tell you, if I were +a woman and I found someone with his genteel quality, and I knew +he was of a long and good lineage, I would forget everyone else +and would love only him." + +"Oh, Tirant," said the infanta. "Your words sound nice, but if +it turns out that he is vulgar by nature, what pleasure would it +be for a maiden to have everyone laugh at him. For love's sake, +don't tell me such things; I would prefer a man who was prudent +and discreet, rather than for him to be vulgar and avaricious." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "you are right, but he doesn't fit that +description. He's young and of tender years, but he's old in the +best sense, generous, more valiant than anyone, and very amiable +and gracious. During the night he gets up and doesn't let me +rest the way I would like. If I want to give him pleasure I have +only to speak of Your Majesty. If this isn't love, tell me, what +could it be? My lady, love someone who loves you. He is the son +of a king, like you, and he loves you more than his life. If he +does not talk as much as Your Grace would like, that is a virtue. +Guard yourself, my lady, from those men who boldly dare to court +a maiden. That kind of love is not good love: it comes and goes. +And men like those are called corsairs, because they make booty +of everything. My lady, give me a man who appears before his +lady with great fear and shame, with his hands trembling, and who +can scarcely utter a word." + +"Tirant," said the infanta, "because of your great friendship +with Philippe, you are right to honor him so much. With your +noble order of chivalry, you can do nothing but what is expected +of you, and that's why I think highly of you. But don't imagine +that I'm a woman who is easily convinced. I have to put my hands +in up to the elbows in the sense of knowing his manners, his +station and condition, and if he could bring me happiness. +Although I'm happy when I see him, experience tells me that he +seems vulgar and avaricious, and both of those vices are +incurable." + +"I beg Your Highness to give me an audience, and not to be angry +at what I say to you. I see ambassadors from the Pope coming to +the court to arrange a marriage between Your Highness and his +nephew (and some wonder if he isn't his son). And I also see +ambassadors from the King of Naples, the King of Hungary, and the +King of Cyprus. Although I may not have the power of the most +Christian King of France, I would like to talk to your father and +Your Highness about the wedding. I see that you are wise and +discreet, my lady. But because of your perfection you deserve to +be on the imperial throne and subject to the crown of France: it +is of greater height than the Roman Empire." + +At this time the queen arrived and interrupted their delightful +conversation. After a few moments the queen said to Tirant: + +"Virtuous knight, scarcely an hour ago the king and I were +speaking of you and your chivalrous deeds, and the king wishes to +place an undertaking in your charge that is very important to him +and to me. + +And I regard you so highly that if you attempt it you will surely +come out of it with honor. But to avoid all doubts I will put +forth all the obstacles there that I can." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "Your Excellency speaks in such a covert +manner that I don't know what to reply, unless Your Highness can +give me a clearer explanation. But whatever I can do for Your +Excellency, with the consent of the king, I'll do it most +willingly, even if it should be to carry the cross on my back." + +The queen gave him many thanks. Tirant took leave of the queen +and the infanta, and when he was at his lodgings he was sorry +that the ship was not repaired so that he could depart +immediately. + +Tirant saw a ship on the high seas. He wanted to have news +before going to dine, and he sent an armed brigantine that left +very swiftly and then returned. They told him that this ship +came from Alexandria and Beirut, and that it had touched on the +island of Cyprus, but that it had not been able to land at +Rhodes, because there were so many Moors that held it besieged on +land and sea. Many Genoese vessels were guarding the port, and +the city of Rhodes was in such straits that they had no bread to +eat. It had been three months now since the Grand Master or +anyone in the castle or the city had eaten. They ate nothing but +horse meat, and the day they could find even that was a +fortunate one. They truly believed that in a few short days they +would have to surrender to the Moors. + +When Tirant heard this news, he reflected at length. And he +decided to load the ship entirely with wheat and other victuals, +and embark to give aid to Rhodes. He quickly sent for merchants, +and he gave them so much money that they loaded the ship with +wheat, wine and salted meat. + +When the king learned of this he sent for Tirant, and said: + +"The glory of your undertaking puts all the princes of +Christianity to shame who have refused to aid the master of +Rhodes. I would like to go with you to Jerusalem (in disguise so +that no one would recognize me). That would please me more than +if you gave me a kingdom, and I would be in your debt for the +rest of my life. So I beg you with great love, don't refuse this +to me." + +When the king had finished, Tirant said: + +"If it should become necessary, I will treat Your Highness as my +own lord, as though I had served you all my life. As for going +on my ship, my lord, the ship, my possessions, and myself all +belong to Your Excellency, and you may command and order +everything as if it were your own." + +And so they agreed. When the king had seen the ship, he asked +for his room to be prepared near the mast, because a ship is +safer there when disaster strikes. + +Every day the king and Tirant discussed many things, and finally +they spoke about Philippe. Tirant wanted to arrange a marriage +between him and the infanta, and for him to have the dowry the +king had mentioned. The king favored a union with the house of +France, but he said: + +"Tirant, I won't make a decision about any of these things until +I know what my daughter thinks. If she agrees, then I will +consent to the marriage. I will be very happy to talk to the +queen and to my daughter, and if they agree, the wedding will be +held before we leave." + +The king had the queen and his daughter brought to his chambers, +and he said to them: + +"The reason that I had you come here, my queen and my daughter, +was to tell you about a journey I will be making soon. I have +decided to go with Tirant to Jerusalem, and so that no one will +know me I am taking along only one gentleman to serve me. And +because my life and death are in the hands of God, our Heavenly +Father, I would like to see you well married, my daughter. If +you like the king's son who is here, and who would unite us with +the greatest king in Christianity, I am certain that with +Tirant's aid and counsel and Philippe's willingness, everything +can be arranged satisfactorily." + +"It seems to me," said the infanta, "that Your Majesty knows it +will be two weeks before the ship's cargo is loaded and it's +ready to weigh anchor. In that time, Your Highness, with the +counsel of my uncle and your brother, the Duke of Messina, you +can take care of the matter, because the duke is expected here +tonight or tomorrow." + +"You speak well, my daughter," said the king, "and what you say +is reasonable." + +"Pardon me, Your Highness," said the infanta, "but since Your +Excellency has decided to go on this saintly journey, you should +hold a great celebration so that Tirant and all the men with him +will be more willing to serve you when you are at sea, and +besides if it reaches the ears of the King of France, he will +know that Your Highness is showing consideration to his son, +Philippe. Next Sunday a celebration could be held that would +last three days; the tables could he set night and day, and +there would always be enough food on them for everyone who wanted +to attend.' + +"In faith, my child," said the king, "you've thought it out +better than I could have, and I am very happy to do it, But I'm +very busy planning my journey, and I want to leave the kingdom in +such a good state that no one will note my departure, and besides +there could be many problems when we are in the land of the +Moors. So I would like you, my child, to plan this and be in +complete charge of it ." + +The king immediately had the steward and the purchasers brought +in, and he told them to do everything his daughter, Ricomana, +commanded, and they said they would be happy to. + +The infanta planned everything very well, and many different +dishes were chosen. Now the infanta held this celebration solely +to see how Philippe would conduct himself at the table. + +The infanta gave instructions that on the day of the great feast +the king, the queen, Philippe and she would eat together at a +table above the others, and that the Duke of Messina, Tirant, and +all the counts and barons and others would eat at a table below +the king's. The evening before the celebration the king sent two +knights to Philippe and Tirant, asking them to go with him to +mass and to dinner the following day. And they humbly accepted +the invitation. + +In the morning they dressed in their finest clothing, and all +their men did the same, and then they went to the palace and paid +homage to the king. The king received them very kindly, and he +took Philippe's hand, as did the Duke of Messina to Tirant, and +they went to the church. When the king was at his chapel, they +asked his permission to accompany the queen and his daughter, and +the king gave his consent. As they walked with the ladies, +Philippe took the infanta's arm so that he could be closer to +her, and Tirant never left Philippe's side for fear that he would +do or say something foolish that would annoy the infanta. + +When the mass was finished and the king and all the others had +gone back to the palace, the dinner was ready. The king sat in +the center of the table with the queen at his side. To honor +Philippe, the king had him sit at the head of the table, with the +infanta facing him. Tirant wanted to remain standing in order to +be near Philippe, but the king said to him: + +"Tirant, my brother, the Duke of Messina is waiting for you, and +he doesn't want to sit down without you." + +"My lord," said Tirant, "if you please, tell him to take a seat, +because at a feast like this it's fitting that I should serve the +king's son." + +The infanta was impatient, and with a rather cross look on her +face she said to him: + +"Don't bother yourself about being at Philippe's skirts all the +time, Tirant. In my father, the king's house, there are enough +knights to serve him so that you don't have to do it." + +When Tirant heard the infanta speaking so heatedly and saw that +he had to leave, he put his mouth to Philippe's ear and said to +him: + +"When water is brought to the king, and you see the infanta +getting up and then kneeling and holding the vessel for him, you +do what she does, and be careful not to do anything gauche." + +He said that he would, and Tirant left him. When they were all +seated, the king's water bowel was brought, and the infanta knelt +and held the laver. Philippe tried to do the same, but the king +would not allow it. And the same happened with the queen. When +it was the infanta's time to wash, she took Philippe's hand so +that they could wash together, and Philippe courteously and with +gentility, said that it was not seemly. Then he knelt and +attempted to hold the dish for her, but she refused to wash until +they both washed together. Then the bread was brought and placed +before the king and the others, and no one touched it as they +waited for the dinner to be brought. When Philippe saw the bread +before him he quickly took a knife, and picking up a loaf of +bread he cut through it and made twelve large pieces. When the +infanta saw such a sight she could not contain her laughter. The +king and everyone there, including the serving boys, made great +sport of Philippe, and since the infanta was laughing too, it was +inevitable that it should come to Tirant's attention, because he +did not take his eyes from Philippe for a moment. Standing up, +he ran from the table and said: + +"By heaven, Philippe must have stained his honor with some great +foolishness." + +He went to his side at the king's table, and saw the slices of +bread that Philippe had cut. When he saw that neither the king +nor anyone else had touched their bread, he immediately +understood the reason for the outbursts of laughter. Tirant +quickly picked up the slices of bread; then he reached into his +pocket, took out twelve gold ducats and put one ducat on each +slice, and he had them given to the poor. When the king and the +infanta saw what Tirant had done, they all stopped laughing. +The king asked Tirant the meaning of what he had done. + +"My lord," said Tirant, "when I have finished what I must do I +will tell Your Highness." + +Tirant gave out all the bread slices, each one with its ducat, +and he put the last one to his mouth, said an Ave Maria over it, +and gave it away. The queen said: + +"I would like very much to know about this ceremony." + +Tirant answered: + +"My lord, Your Excellency and all the others are astonished at +what Philippe began and I have finished, and you've all mocked +him. The reason for it, since Your Highness wants to know, is +that the most Christian kings of France, because of all the +blessings they've received from the immense goodness of Christ +our Lord, began this tradition: Before any of their children +entered the order of chivalry, they were not allowed to eat the +first loaf of bread that was put in front of them at dinner until +they had cut it into twelve slices, and placed a silver "real" on +each one, and had given it to the poor in memory of the twelve +apostles. Then, after the order of chivalry had been bestowed on +them they would put a piece of gold on each slice. And even down +to today everyone in the house of France continues the custom. +And, my lord, that's why Philippe cut the bread and made twelve +slices, one for each apostle." + +"Praise God," said the king, "that sort of charity is the most +beautiful I've ever heard of. I'm a crowned king and I don't +give as much in alms in a month." + +Dinner came, and the infanta told Tirant to go back and eat. +Philippe saw what he had done wrong and how discreetly Tirant had +remedied it, and he was very careful with the meal, and ate only +as the infanta did. + +When they left the table, the infanta began to talk to one of her +ladies whom she deeply trusted, and with a little anger mixed +with love, she began to lament: + +"Look at what a sad state I'm in, to have this Tirant as the +enemy of my desires: I can't talk alone to Philippe for even an +hour. Tell me, Tirant, why do you make me so mad? You must know +how nice it is to be alone with the person you love. Now, poor +me, when I want to sleep I cannot, night is longer than I would +like it to be, nothing that I eat tastes sweet to me--instead +it's as bitter as gall. If this is life, what can death be?" + +And the love-struck maiden lamented, tears flowing from those +eyes that had sparked many flames in Philippe's heart. While the +infanta had this sad face, the king and his brother, the Duke of +Messina, came into her chambers. + +When they were in the room the king, seeing such grief in her +face, said to her: + +"What's wrong, my daughter? Why are you crying?" + +"And don't I have reason to, Sire? Your Grace is about to leave. +What am I to do all alone? Who will be here to console me? How +will my soul find peace? + +The king tenderly consoled his daughter as best he could. Then +they went to the queen. The four held counsel, and the king +said: + +"I beg you, Duke, tell me what you think of this marriage with +Philippe." + +"Sire," said the duke, "since Your Highness and Philippe are +going on this holy pilgrimage, I feel that this marriage should +take place only with the consent of his father and mother." + +Tirant was then put in charge of writing letters to the King of +France, and he explained all the details of the marriage pact, if +the king would agree. The King of Sicily then prepared a +brigantine to go to the mainland with the letters. + +At the same time, Tirant's ship was loaded with wheat and other +provisions. When the brigantine was ready to depart, the king +pretended he was going on it, and he had the news spread that he +was going to Rome to talk to the Pope. That night Tirant had the +king and Philippe brought on his ship, and when all the men were +on board, Tirant went to take his leave of the princess and +everyone in the court. Tirant then set sail at night, and in +four days he was within sight of Rhodes. + +When the Genoese saw the ship coming, they thought it was one of +the two they had sent to bring provisions to their camp. They +could not imagine that any other ship would dare to come into the +midst of as many ships as were in the port. The ship approached, +and as it drew near it unfurled all its sails. This, and the +shape of the ship, made the Genoese realize that it was not one +of theirs, and they hurried to prepare to attack. But the ship +was so close that none of their ships had time to raise their +sails, and this ship swiftly sailed through all of them at full +mast. However, they used lances, spikes and bombards, and all +the weapons used at sea. Then Tirant ordered the helmsman and +the pilot not to turn the ship, but to head the prow straight +into land. And they did, at full speed. + +When the people in the city saw the ship beach itself, they +thought it was the Genoese coming to take the city. All the men +ran there and bravely attacked it. They were also being attacked +by the ships at sea, and they were in dire straits until a sailor +quickly took one of Tirant's flags and raised it. When the +people from the city saw the flag they stopped fighting. Then +one of the men told them that the ship had come to help them. +Hearing that the captain of the ship was French, and that the +ship was loaded with wheat for them, the people on land went to +tell the Grand Master. + +When the Grand Master discovered that it was Tirant, he was very +anxious to see him, because he had heard of his fame. He sent +two knights of the Order to the ship, to ask Tirant to come on +land. Tirant told them to tell the Grand Master confidentially +that the King of Sicily and Philippe, son of the King of France, +were on his ship and that they were going on a holy pilgrimage to +Jerusalem, and to ask if they would be safe on his land. The +Grand Master promised to keep their presence secret. Then the +king and Philippe disembarked, in disguise, and went to the rooms +that were prepared for them. Tirant then went on land, +well-outfitted. When Tirant was with the Grand Master they +talked at length. The Grand Master told him how the sultan was +besieging them on land, day and night, and that the Genoese were +doing the same by sea; that they were at the point of +surrendering because of their great hunger, and they could not +last much longer. They had eaten all the horses and other +animals, including the cats, and it would be a wonder to find one +still alive. + +Tirant then had many barrels of wheat brought from the ship, and +he asked the Grand Master to have it distributed among all the +people, and he said there was still more for the castle. They +also gave them the oils and the vegetables and meat, and all the +other supplies. + +That night Tirant and his men stood watch over the port. The +Genoese ships--especially the captain's ship--were very close to +land. It was nearly midnight when a sailor approached Tirant and +said: + +"Sir, what would your grace give to someone who, tomorrow night, +set fire to the ship that's so close to shore, and that they say +belongs to the Genoese captain?" + +"If anyone could do that," said Tirant, "I would gladly give him +three thousand gold crowns." + +"Sir," said the sailor, "if you promise me, on your word as a +knight, to give them to me, I will do everything I can. And if +I'm not able to do it I will become your slave." + +"My friend," said Tirant, "I don't want you to put any +obligations on yourself: the shame you will bring if you don't do +it, will be punishment enough for you. As for me, I promise you +on my order of chivalry, that if you set it on fire tomorrow, I +will give you everything I said I would, and more." + +The sailor was very satisfied because he knew he could do it, +with all the skill he had both on sea and land. In the morning +he prepared everything he needed. + +When the Grand Master had heard mass, he went to see the king, +Philippe and Tirant, and they spoke at length about the war and +about many things regarding the city which I will not go into so +as not to be tiresome. A very old knight of the Order, who had +come with the Grand Master, said: + +"It seems to me, gentlemen, since you have brought enough +supplies to last the city several days, that my lord, the Grand +Master, should make a gift for the sultan of many different kinds +of foods, in order to make him lose any hope he has of taking us +by hunger." + +All the great lords praised the old knight's advice, and the +order was immediately given to send him four hundred hot loaves +of bread straight from the oven, wine, honey and sugar +sweetmeats, three turkeys, chickens and capons, honey, oil, and +all the other things they had brought. + +When the sultan saw the present, he said to his men: + +"Damn this present and the traitor who sent it! This will bring +the perdition of my honor, and will be my ruin." + +When it was nearly midnight, and very dark, the sailor had +everything ready to set the captain's ship on fire, and he did it +this way: + +The sailor had fixed a very strong capstan into the ground near +the sea. Then he put a thick rope in a boat along with a hemp +cord as thick as a man's finger. He got into the boat, and two +men rowed for him. When they were so near the ship that they +could hear the men on the poop deck talking, they stopped rowing. +He took off all his clothes and tied a cord around his waist. +Then he took a very sharp knife so that he could cut any cords he +needed to, and he put it in back of him so it wouldn't bother him +when he swam. He attached one end of the cord to the knife +sheath, and he told the men in the boat to keep feeding him line. +When everything was ready he slipped into the water, and swam +until he was so close to the ship that he could hear the men on +watch talking. Then he swam underwater so that no one would see +him, and he reached the rudder. He looped the cord through an +iron ring under the rudder, and swam underwater back to his boat. +He took the end of the cord and tied it to one end of the thick +rope and he held it up and greased it thoroughly. Then he took a +chunk of grease for the bar, to let it slide through easily and +noiselessly. + +Finally he gave orders to the men, and swam back to the ship and +greased the bar. The men on the boat stuck an iron pin through +the cord and pulled until the pin caught on the ring. And the +sailor knew that the other end of the rope was in the boat. When +he thought it was time, they rowed back to land. He tied one end +of the rope to the capstan, and the other end was tied to a large +boat, a type of whaling boat, that had been filled with firewood +and candlewood, all soaked with oil so it would burn well. + +They set it afire, and let it catch well. Then one hundred men +were set at the capstan, and they began to turn it with all their +strength. And with the power from the capstan it all happened so +quickly that the large boat had barely started to move when +suddenly it was flush against the side of the ship. With the +huge fire on it sending out enormous tongues of flame, it quickly +set fire to the ship with such a fury that nothing in the world +could have put it out. The men on the ship thought only of +getting away in small boats. Others threw themselves into the +sea to swim to the other ships, while many were burned to death +because they did not have time enough to get off, and the fire +caught many others sleeping. + +When it was daylight Tirant took three thousand crowns and gave +them to the sailor, along with a silk garment lined with martens +and a brocade doublet. The sailor thanked him very much and was +very pleased. + +Then the sultan summoned his captains, both on sea and land. He +told them what had happened, and also about the present the Grand +Master had sent him to show how well supplied the city was with +everything it needed and more. And as winter was setting in, the +cold weather and rain were beginning to bother them. So they +decided to raise camp and go back, but with the intention of +returning another year. + +He quickly ordered the camp trumpets and pipes to play, and the +ships to raise their sails and come near the island, because he +would be there to get all the men. + +When Tirant saw the Moors raising camp, he armed himself, and +with all his men he left the city and went to the camp. He set +fire to the palisades and huts so that if they came back they +would have to build them again. + +Then the sultan set sail and returned to his land. The lords +there were well informed about the reason he was returning, and +they went together to see him. They took him prisoner, and put +him in a lion's den where he died horribly. Then they chose +another sultan. The new sultan ordered all the Genoese ships to +form a large armada with all the men who had come from Rhodes, +along with many more, and he had them advance on Greece. And so +it was done. And the Grand Turk was also invited, and he came +with many soldiers on horseback and on foot. In the two armies +were seventeen thousand Moors. + +And as soon as they set foot in Greece, they took over many +villas and castles, and seized sixteen thousand small children, +and sent them all to Turkey, to the land of the sultan, to be +raised in the Mohammedan sect. And they sent many ladies and +maidens into perpetual captivity. + +And the Island of Rhodes was freed from the power of the infidel. + +When the people at Cyprus knew that the sultan's armada had left +the city of Famagusta, they quickly loaded many ships with wheat, +oxen, sheep and other victuals, and they took it all to Rhodes +because of the great hunger there. Many other places also sent +supplies. And in a short time the city and the island had so +much that all the elders said they had never seen or heard their +ancestors tell of so great an abundance on the Island of Rhodes. + +A few days after the sultan had gone, two galleys arrived from +Venice, loaded with wheat, and carrying pilgrims to the holy land +of Jerusalem. When Tirant learned about it he went to tell the +king and Philippe, and they were very happy to hear it. + +That night the king and Philippe and Tirant said farewell to the +Grand Master and boarded the Venetian galleys with the few people +who came with them, for all the others stayed at Rhodes. +Diafebus, Tirant's relative, did not want to stay behind; nor did +Tenebroso, so he could serve Philippe. + +They made such good time that in a few days they reached the port +of Jaffa, and leaving there, as the weather was fair and the sea +was calm, they reached Beirut with no trouble. All the pilgrims +disembarked there and found good guides: there was a guide for +every ten people. When they were in Jerusalem together, they +stayed two weeks to visit all the holy places. Then they boarded +the galleys again and raised the sails, and they had such good +weather that they reached the island of Sicily in only a few +days. + +There was great rejoicing among the Sicilians at the return of +their lord, and a courier was sent to the queen to tell her of +the king's arrival. The king asked about the queen's health, and +about his daughter and two sons, and his brother, the duke. They +answered that they were all very well, and they told him how the +King of France had sent forty knights as ambassadors, with a +company of gentlemen. + +They rested there a few days because they were very tired from +the sea voyage. After they had rested, the king and all the +company set off for Palermo where the queen was staying. + +On the day that he was to arrive, his brother, the duke, came out +first, accompanied by very fine people. Then came the +archbishop, with all the clergy. Then came the queen, +accompanied by all the ladies of honor in the city; then, after a +moment, the infanta Ricomana came with all her maidens and those +of the city, very well dressed, and they were a wonderful sight +to behold; then came the forty ambassadors of the King of France, +wearing gold chains and dressed in garments of crimson velvet +which reached to their feet. + +When the king had greeted the queen, and his daughter had paid +him reverence, Philippe and Tirant bowed to the queen. Philippe +took the infanta's arm, and they went to the palace. On the way +the forty ambassadors came to pay their respects to Philippe +before they did to the king, and Tirant said to Philippe: + +"My Lord, tell the ambassadors to go and pay reverence to the +king before they speak with you." + +Philippe told them, and the ambassadors replied that they had +been instructed by their lord, the King of France, his father, to +go to the king and give him the letters they were bringing after +they had paid obeisance to him. And Philippe again told them +that above all they should go to the king before speaking with +him. + +"Since Philippe wishes it," said the ambassadors, "we will do as +he commands." + +When the king reached the palace with all the people, the +ambassadors from the King of France went to pay him reverence, +and they gave him the letters. The king received them very +warmly, and paid them great honor. Then they went to Philippe +and honored him, as was their duty, because he was the son of +their own ruler. Philippe regaled them, and there was great +rejoicing. + +After the celebration for the king's arrival was over, the +ambassadors explained their mission, which had three parts. +First, that the King of France was very pleased to have his son +Philippe marry the infanta Ricomana, as Tirant had arranged. +Second, that if the King of Sicily had a son, he would give a +daughter of his to him as his wife, together with one hundred +thousand crowns as a dowry. Third, that he had asked the pope, +the emperor, and all the princes of Christianity to send him aid, +because he had decided to march against the infidel, and all +those to whom he had sent word had offered to help him. And on +behalf of their lord, the King of France, they were asking him +to give assistance, and if his lordship decided to send an armada +he should make Philippe captain and send him too. + +The king's reply was that as far as the marriage was concerned he +was very pleased, but as to the rest he would hold counsel. + +When the infanta learned that her father had consented to her +marriage with Philippe, she said to herself: + +"If I can find some defect in Philippe that shows that he's +gauche or avaricious, he will never be my husband. From now on I +intend to devote every moment to discovering the truth." + +And while the infanta was deep in thought, a maiden in whom she +had complete confidence came into her chambers, and said to her: + +"Tell me, my lady, what is Your Highness thinking about that +makes you look so disturbed?" + +The infanta answered her: + +"I'll tell you. My father, the king, has given his consent to +the ambassadors from France for the wedding, and I have a deep +suspicion that Philippe is gauche, and that he may even be +avaricious. And if he is, in the slightest, I wouldn't be able +to stay in the same bed with him for an hour; instead I would +become a nun or go into a convent. I've done everything I could +to get to know him, but because of that traitor, Tirant, fortune +hasn't been with me. Yes; I Pray God that I'll see him boiled +and fried because that day when the bread was cut I would really +have known Philippe if it hadn't been for him." + +When Philippe received the money his father had sent, he dressed +up in elegant clothing, and he wore many jewels and gold chains +and other valuable jewelry. + +On the day of Our Lady, in August, the king invited Philippe and +all the ambassadors, and everyone who held a title in his land to +dine. When the king was sitting at the table it began to rain +very hard. The infanta was very pleased, and she said: + +"Now I can find out what I want to know." + +When the tables were cleared the minstrels came, and they danced +a while before the king and queen. Then came the collation. The +king went into his chambers to rest, but the infanta would not +stop dancing for fear that Philippe would leave. + +When it was nearly time for vespers the skies cleared and the sun +came out, and then the infanta said: + +"It's such a nice day, wouldn't it be a fine idea for us to go +riding through the city?" + +Philippe quickly answered: + +"My lady, why would you want to ride through the city in this +terrible weather? If it starts to rain again you'll get +drenched." + +Tirant saw through the infanta's wiles, and he tugged at +Philippe's coattails to make him be quiet. The infanta caught a +glimpse of the signal Tirant was making, and she became very +angry. She ordered the horses brought out, and they all sent for +the animals. When the infanta was mounted she almost turned her +back on Philippe, but kept sight of him out of the corner of her +eye. And Philippe said to Tirant: + +"Send for another suit of clothes so that this one won't be +ruined!" + +"Oh," said Tirant, "the clothes be damned! Don't worry about +your clothing. If this suit gets dirty, there will be another +one." + +"At least," said Philippe, "see if there aren't two pages who +will carry my coattails so they won't drag along the ground." + +"For the son of a king," said Tirant, "you're very stingy! Hurry +along now, the infanta is waiting." + +Then Philippe, very troubled, started out. While the infanta, +who had been watching them talk, wasn't able to make out their +words. + +So they rode through the city, and the infanta enjoyed herself +immensely, seeing how the clothes of that miserly Philippe were +getting wet, and how he was always looking at them. The infanta, +to have more pleasure, told them to bring the falcons and they +would go a little way out to the outskirts and hunt some quail. + +"Don't you see, my lady?" said Philippe. "This is no time for +hunting. There's nothing but mud and water everywhere." + +"Oh, you niggardly fellow!" said the infanta. "This oaf still +won't do anything that I want.' + +But she paid no attention to him, and went out of the city and +found a peasant. She took him aside and asked him if some river +or canal was not close by. The peasant answered: + +"My lady, straight ahead, not far from here, you'll find a large +canal that will come up to a mule's groin." + +"That's just what I'm looking for." + +The infanta went ahead, and they all followed her. When they +came to the water, the infanta rode through it, and Philippe +stayed behind and asked Tirant if there were any servants who +would hold up the tails of his clothing. + +"I'm tired of your prattle. Don't worry: I'll give you mine. +The infanta has gone through and she's riding ahead. Hurry, and +go to her side." + +And Tirant laughed out loud so that it would look as though +Philippe had been telling him a joke. When they had gone through +the water, the infanta asked Tirant what he was laughing at. + +"In faith, my lady," said Tirant, "I was laughing at a question +Philippe has been asking me all day long, before we left Your +Highness's chambers, then when we were riding, and now as we went +through the water. He asked me what love is and where it comes +from. The second thing he said to me is: Where does love abide? +I tell you, on my word, that I don't know what love is or where +it comes from, but, my lady, the true and loyal love that +Philippe feels for you does not retreat from anything." + +"Let's go back to the city," said the infanta. + +As they went through the water, she watched to see if the two men +were talking together again. Philippe, seeing that his clothes +were already soaked, was unconcerned as they rode through the +water. And the infanta was very much relieved, and believed +everything Tirant had said to her. But her soul was still not +entirely at ease, and she went to Tirant and said to him: + +"I'm in a situation where fortune holds me in its hands. I would +rather renounce my life and possessions than take a husband who +is gauche, vile and avaricious. And I want to tell you in all +truth, Tirant, that my fortune has always been adverse. Now if I +take this man for a husband, and he turns out not to please me, I +would find myself having to do very desperate things, because it +is my opinion that it's better to live alone than to live with a +bad companion." + +Tirant quickly replied: + +"Philippe is one of the best knights in the world today. He is +young, more genteel than any other man, courageous, generous and +more wise than gauche. That's been his reputation wherever we've +gone, among knights, duennas and maidens. Even the Moorish women +who saw him, loved him and wanted to serve him. If you doubt it, +look at his face, his hands, his feet, and his entire body. And +if you would like to see him completely naked, I can arrange that +too, my lady. I know that Your Highness loves him deeply, for he +is loved by all people. You are to blame, my lady, if you don't +have him by your side in a bed perfumed with benjamin, civet, and +pure musk, and on the following day if you complain to me about +him I will suffer whatever torment Your Highness decides." + +"Oh, Tirant," said the princess. "I would be very happy if I +could have someone who would please me. But what use would it be +if I had a statue at my side who could only give me pain and +desperation?" + +At this moment they reached the palace and found the king in the +hall, speaking with the ambassadors from France. When he saw his +daughter he took her by the hand and asked where she had been. +Dinner was ready, and Philippe and the ambassadors took their +leave of the king and the infanta, and went to their chambers. + +After dinner they began to dance, and the infanta purposefully +caused the dancing to continue until late at night. The king saw +that it was past midnight, and he left without a word so that he +would not disturb his daughter's pleasure. And as it began to +rain the infanta sent word to the king, asking him to permit +Philippe to remain that night, and to sleep in the palace with +her brother, the infante. The king answered that that was +agreeable to him. + +After the king had left, the dancing ended and the infante begged +Philippe to stay there that night to sleep because most of the +night was already past. Philippe answered that he was deeply +grateful, but that he would go to his lodgings. + +The infanta took hold of his clothes and said: + +"Since it is my brother, the infante's, wish for you to stay +here, this will be your lodging tonight." + +Tirant said: + +"Since they are so fond of you, stay here to give them pleasure, +and I'll stay with you so that I can serve you." + +"That won't be necessary, Tirant," said the infanta, "because in +the house of my father, my brother, the infante, and myself, +there will be no lack of people to serve him." + +Seeing how angrily she spoke, Tirant realized that they did not +want him, and he left with the others for his lodging. When they +had gone, two pages came with torches and asked Philippe if it +was his desire to go to sleep. And he answered that he would do +whatever his lady, the infanta, and her brother commanded. They +said that it was time now. Philippe bowed to the infanta and +followed the pages, who led him to a room where there were two +beds. + +The king had ordered a very special canopy made entirely of +brocade, to be given to his daughter on her wedding day, and he +had another placed in a room to serve as its model. When the +brocade canopy was finished, the two beds were placed next to +each other, and the coverlet was of the same brocade. And on it +they put the sheets for the wedding, with embroidered pillows, so +that it was an exceptional bed. The other bed in the same room +was entirely white, and there was a great difference between the +two. + +When Philippe saw such a luxurious bed he was astonished, and he +thought it better to lie down on the other one. That evening, +while dancing, he had slightly torn his stocking, and he thought +that his servants would not come as soon as he would get up in +the morning. The pages had been well instructed by the infanta, +who was in a place where she could see very well what Philippe +would do. Philippe said to one of the pages: + +"Please go bring me a needle and a little bit of white thread." + +The infanta had seen him give orders to the page but she did not +know what he was asking for. Then the page went to the infanta, +and she had them give him a needle with a little thread. The +page took it to him, and found him pacing from one end of the +room to the other, and he did not say one word to the second page +who was there. + +When Philippe had the needle he went to a torch and opened a +blister that was on his hand. The infanta immediately thought he +had asked for the needle because of the blister. He put it on +the bed where he had decided to sleep. Philippe then took off +his clothing and sat on the bed. After the pages had removed his +stockings, Philippe told them to go to sleep and to leave a torch +lit for him. + +They did so, closing the door. Philippe got up from where he was +sitting in order to get the needle and sew his stocking, and he +began to look for it from one end of the bed to another. He +gloomily lifted the coverlet, and he twisted and turned it so +much that it fell on the floor. Then he lifted up the sheets and +tore the entire bed apart without finding the needle. He thought +about making up the bed again and sleeping in it; but when he saw +it all undone, he said to himself: + +"Oh well. Won't it be better for me to sleep in the other one +instead of making this one up again?" + +A very singular needle was that for Philippe. He lay down in the +bed of rich covers. The infanta, who had seen the entire +display, said to her maidens: + +"Upon your life, look how great the knowledge of foreigners is, +especially Philippe. It was my intention to test him, as I have +done other times, with these two beds. I thought that if +Philippe were gauche and avaricious he would not dare sleep in a +bed like this one, but instead would lie down in the other which +is more plain. He has done something quite different: he has +torn apart the plainest one and has thrown its covers on the +floor, and he has gone to bed in the best one to show that he is +the son of a king. Now I can see that Tirant is a loyal knight +who has always told me the truth." + +And with this thought, she left to go to bed. + +Very early in the morning Tenebroso came to Philippe's chambers +with his pages, and brought him more clothing so that he could +change. When the infanta was dressed and still fastening her +skirt, she sent for Tirant and with a show of great happiness she +told him: + +"I have come to realize how special Philippe is. I have seen +with my own eyes his speech and royal manners, and that he is +very generous. Until now I felt very hesitant about giving my +consent to this marriage, but from now on I will do everything +His royal Majesty, my father, commands me." + +Tirant heard the infanta's words, and he was the happiest man in +the world. He quickly answered: + +"I am very happy that Your Excellency has come to know the truth. +I am going to speak with my lord, the king, immediately in order +to bring the matter to a swift conclusion." + +Tirant took his leave of the infanta and went to the king and +told him: + +"I see the ambassadors from France in great anguish about this +wedding so I have come to Your Majesty to beg you to either have +it take place, or give the ambassadors your leave so that they +can return to their king. And if it will not make Your Majesty +angry to have me speak with my lady, the infanta, on Your +Highness' behalf, I believe that she will be inclined to do +whatever Your Majesty commands." + +"If God gives health to my soul and my body," said the king, +"that will please me. I beg you to go to her and make the +request on my behalf and your own." + +Tirant left the king and went back to the infanta. He found her +combing her hair, and he told her about the conversation he had +had with the king. Then the infanta said: + +"My lord Tirant, I have complete confidence in your nobility and +virtue, so I am putting this entire matter in your hands, and I +will agree to everything. If you want it done now, I will do +it." + +Tirant saw how willing she was, and he saw Philippe at the door, +waiting to accompany the infanta to mass. He asked the infanta +to have the maidens leave because he wanted to tell her other +things in Philippe's presence. The infanta ordered the maidens +to go, and they were very surprised to see the infanta speaking +so docilely to Tirant. + +When all the maidens were gone, Tirant opened the door to the +chamber and had Philippe enter. + +"My lady," said Tirant, "here is Philippe who has a greater +desire to serve your ladyship than all the princesses in the +world, and so I beg your grace, here on my knees, to kiss him as +a sign of good faith." + +"Oh, Tirant!" said the infanta. "These are the words you wanted +to tell me? Your face reveals what you bear in your heart. When +my king and my father commands it of me, then I will do it." + +Tirant motioned to Philippe, who quickly took her up in his arms, +and carried her to a lounge that was there, and kissed her five +or six times. The infanta said: + +"Tirant, I placed no little trust in you. What have you made me +do? I thought of you as a brother and you have put me in the +hands of someone I am still unsure of--I do not know whether he +will turn out to be my friend or my enemy." + +"Your words are cruel, my lady. How can Philippe be an enemy to +Your Excellency if he loves you more than his own life, and +desires to hold you in that bed where he slept this evening, +completely nude, or in your chemise? You can be certain that +this would be the greatest blessing in the world. So, my lady," +continued Tirant, "allow Philippe, who is dying of love for you, +to enjoy part of the glory that he has desired so much." + +"May God not permit it," said the infanta, "and may He keep me +from an error like that. I would think of myself as vile if I +gave my consent to such a thing." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "Philippe and I are here only to serve +you. + +Let your benign grace have a little patience." + +And Tirant caught her hands while Philippe attempted to make use +of his own resources. The infanta cried out, and the maidens +came and calmed them down. + +When the infanta had laced up her garments, she dressed very +elegantly, and Philippe and Tirant accompanied her and the queen +to mass. And there, before mass, they were engaged. The +following Sunday the wedding was held with great ceremony, and +celebrations took place which lasted a week, with jousts, +tournaments, dances, and buffoonery, night and day. + +In this way the infanta was entertained, and she was very pleased +with Tirant, and much more with Philippe whose work was so +wonderful that she never forgot it. + +When the wedding celebrations were over, the King of Sicily +decided to lend his assistance to the King of France, and he had +ten galleys and four large ships armed, and gave the men six +months' wages. Tirant bought a galley, but he refused to accept +wages or to associate with anyone, because he intended to act on +his own. When the galleys were armed and well stocked with food, +they received word that the King of France was in Aigues-Mortes +with all the vessels of the King of Castile, of Aragon, Navarre +and Portugal. + +Philippe was chosen captain, and the infante of Sicily went with +him, and they found themselves in the port of Savona with ships +from the pope, the emperor, and everyone who had offered their +aid. They all left together and sailed until they came to the +island of Corsica where they found the King of France. There +they took on water, and they approached the great city of Tripoli +in Libya before dawn, and no one in the entire armada knew where +they were going with the exception of the king. But when they +saw the king's ship turning and everyone taking up arms, they +realized that that was their destination. Then Tirant, who was +on his galley, went to the king's ship on a skiff. He climbed +aboard with many others, and they found the king arming himself +and preparing for mass. + +During the reading of the Gospel, Tirant knelt before the king +and begged him to let him make a vow, and the king gave his +consent. Tirant placed himself at the feet of the priest who was +saying mass, and knelt down, and the priest took up the missal +and turned it toward the king. Tirant, while kneeling, put his +hands on the book and said: + +"By the grace of Almighty God, I belong to the order of chivalry. +As a knight who wants to attain honor, I make my vow to God and +all the saints in paradise, and to my lord, the Duke of Brittany, +captain-general of this armada, that I will be the first to touch +land and the last to return." + +Afterward Diafebus vowed to write his name on the gates to the +city of Tripoli. + +Then another knight made a vow that he would go so near the wall +that he would put an arrow inside the city. + +Another knight stood up and vowed that he would enter the city +and take a Moorish maiden from her mother's side, that he would +put her on the ship and give her to Philippa, the daughter of the +King of France. + +Another knight vowed that he would place a flag on the highest +tower in the city. + +On the king's ship there were many knights--more than four +hundred fifty. And where there are many, envy and ill will are +engendered, for the sin of envy has many branches. Many were +moved by the desire to make Tirant break his vow, and they made +preparations with boats and vessels and small galleys to be the +first to reach land. + +There were so many Moors that when they saw such a great armada +they positioned themselves near the sea to stop the Christians +from reaching land. All the galleys pressed forward toward land, +and they were so close that their sides nearly touched. + +When they were so near to land that they could throw down the +ladders, all the ships turned about so the men could disembark. +But Tirant ordered his galley to head in to land, prow first. +When he felt the ship touch land, Tirant, who was standing, +armed, on the prow, jumped into the water. The Moors saw him and +ran toward him to kill him; but Diafebus and others defended him. +Many armed men and many sailors leapt after him in order to go to +his aid. + +As soon as the king's galley and the others had turned about, +they lowered their ladders. But who dared disembark when they +saw so many Moors? The greatest fight was where Tirant stood. +Virtue, goodness, strength and wisdom were in the king and his +men who, as valiant knights, climbed down the ladders, and their +haste to attack the Moors was so great that many fell into the +sea. When all the men were on land, they gave the Moors great +battle, and many men from both sides died. + +As soon as the Moors attempted to take refuge in the city, many +good knights went in and took five streets of the city, but they +were unable to take more. All the knights fulfilled their vows +on those five streets that they took, and they loaded the ships +and the galleys with the great booty that they had taken. But so +great was the aid that the Moors received that they could not +push on. + +When they had to withdraw, therein lay the great danger, and many +of them died. + +When they were all on board, Tirant remained behind, because he +had not yet fulfilled his vow. His galley had now debeached, and +its ladder was on land, waiting for Tirant to board. A knight +who was searching for honor, and who well deserved it for his +virtues, was named Ricart lo Venturos, and he remained behind +with Tirant. Ricart said to Tirant: + +"All the men are on board or are dead. Only you and I are still +here. You had the glory of being the first of the conquerors, +because your feet were the first to touch this cursed land. But +don't forget how I defended you many times from danger. Let me +go on board the galley first, so that we can be equals in honor +and fame and brotherhood, for at times a person who wants all +worldly glory loses everything." + +"There is no time to waste on words," said Tirant. "Life or +death is in your hands. I will be considered victorious if both +of us die at the hand of these infidels, and I'm sure that our +souls will be saved if we die with our faith firm, like good +Christians, defending ourselves. So give me your hand, Ricart, +and let us die like knights." + +The two knights were in the sea up to their chests because of the +lances, darts, spears and stones that were being hurled at them. +When Ricart saw that Tirant was going up to the shore to attack +the Moors, he caught him by the coat and brought him back into +the water, and said: + +"I know of no knight in the world as fearless as you are. And +since I see how great your courage is, do this: Put your foot on +the ladder first, and then I will be first to climb up." + +The king was in great anguish, afraid that those two knights +would be lost. Tirant wanted to give him part of the honor, so +he put his right foot on the ladder. Then Ricart went up first, +and Tirant was the last of all, and so he fulfilled his vow. + +There was much discussion about these two knights: some said that +Tirant had fulfilled his vow, and the king and many others paid +him high honor. When Ricart saw that they all were honoring +Tirant, he said: + +"If the matter is duly judged by the code of chivalry, who should +the honor and glory be given to, if not to me? Tirant was a +coward in battle even when fortune aided him, so the prize for +this act should be given to no one but me. I am barefoot, and I +will never again put shoes on my feet until His Majesty, the +king, and the noble knights make a decision about this. It is +well known that after all the men had retreated, Tirant and I +stayed behind alone on the shore. He and I argued at length +about who would be the first to go on board. When he saw that I +did not want to, he put his foot on the ladder before I did. And +so, my lord, may it please Your Highness to summon your sacred +council, and let Your Majesty give the honor to the one it +belongs to, as it rightfully and justly belongs to me. And if +Your Highness does not want to judge this case, I say in the +presence of everyone that I am a better knight than Tirant, and I +will fight him, man to man, to the death.'" + +The king answered: + +"Ricart, no good judge can decide anything if he does not listen +to all sides first, and this cannot be done without Tirant here." + +This conversation came to Tirant's attention, and he brought his +galley alongside the king's ship. When he came aboard, the king +was in his chambers, sleeping. When Ricart heard that Tirant had +come, he went up to him and said: + +"Tirant, if you dare to say that I'm not a better knight than you +are, I offer to do battle with you to the death." And he threw +his gloves at him as a challenge. + +When Tirant saw that he wanted to fight him with so little +provocation, he raised his hand and dealt him a hard blow. The +noise they raised was so loud that the king had to come up with +his sword in hand. When Tirant saw the king, he went up to the +forecastle, and from there he defended himself, and he said to +the king: + +"Sire, Your Majesty should punish this shameless knight who is +the instigator of all evil. He has never found himself in a +joust, much less seen the flash of an angry sword before his +eyes, and now he wants to fight me to the death over nothing. If +he defeats me he will have defeated all the chivalresque acts I +have accomplished to my glory and honor. And if I am the victor +I will have conquered a man who has never borne arms." + +After he had said these words he swung safely down to his galley +on a rope. If the king had been able to put his hands on him at +that moment, because he committed such an outrageous act on his +ship, it would not have been surprising if he'd had his head +removed from his shoulders. + +The king departed with the entire armada from Tripoli in Libya, +and went toward Cyprus, sacking the Turkish coast and setting it +red with blood and flames, and they loaded all the ships with the +many riches they had taken. When they reached Cyprus they went +to the city of Famagusta, took provisions of food and turned +toward Tunis. There the king disembarked and they pressed the +city hard in combat. Tirant and his men attacked a tower which +had a deep moat at its foot, and Tirant fell into it. Ricart was +heavily armed to see if he could take revenge on Tirant. When he +reached the tower he saw Tirant lying in the moat. Ricart leapt +into the moat, wearing all his armor, and helped Tirant get up. +Then he said: + +"Tirant, here stands your mortal enemy who can give you death or +life. God forbid that I should let you die at the hands of the +Moors, when I can give you aid." + +And he pulled him out, for they would surely have killed him if +they had found him there. When he was out, Ricart said to him: + +"Now you are free, Tirant. Protect yourself from death as well +as you can, because you can be sure that I will do everything in +my power to kill you." + +"Virtuous knight," said Tirant, "I have seen your great goodness +and courtesy, and I know that you saved me from a cruel death. I +kneel to the ground and beg your forgiveness for the way I +offended you. I give you my sword so that you can take whatever +vengeance you like on me." + +When the knight heard such humble words, he forgave him and was +happy to be his friend, and from that time on they were good +friends, and were inseparable in life, until death. + +After the king had taken and sacked the city of Tunis, Ricart +would not go onto the king's ship, but went on Tirant's galley +instead. When the king and the knights heard what had happened, +they praised both of them because each had shown great gentility. + +After the King of France left the city of Tunis, they turned +toward Sicily to see his daughter-in-law and to disembark in +Palermo. When the King of Sicily learned of his arrival, he had +a great celebration prepared for the King of France. The King of +Sicily went on board his ship, and when they met they were both +delighted. They went on land where the daughter-in-law was +waiting, and the father-in-law and daughter-in-law met joyfully. +The king gave her many presents and held her hand all day long +and would not let her leave his side. And as long as the King of +France remained there, each day, before the infanta arose, he +would send her some expensive gift: one day brocades, another +silks, gold chains, trinkets, and other jewels of great value. +The King of Sicily presented the King of France with one hundred +very beautiful and unique horses, which the King of France made a +great show of appreciation over. And the King of Sicily had his +daughter go on board the ships personally and inspect them to see +how well they were stocked with food, and to supply them with +everything they needed. The King of France thought highly of +what his daughter-in-law was doing, and he was very pleased to +see that she was a very discreet and diligent woman who was on +board the ships from morning to night, and that she did not eat +until they had been supplied. + +When the ships were filled and the horses were put on board, the +King of France took his leave of the King of Sicily, the queen +and the infanta, and departed, taking the Prince of Sicily with +him, and when they were in France he gave him one of his +daughters for a wife. + +The armada left the port of Palermo and turned toward Barbary, +and moving along the shore line they came to Malaga, Oran and +Tlemcen. They passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, then went +to Ceuta, Alcazar Segur, and Tangier. As they turned along the +other coast of Cadiz, Tarifa and Gibraltar, they went by +Cartagena, for in those days the entire coast was in the hands of +the Moors. From there they went by the islands of Ibiza and +Majorca, and then they went to the port of Marseille to +disembark. The king gave liberty to all the ships except the +ones belonging to his son, Philippe; he wanted him to go along +and see his mother, the queen. Tirant went with them, and from +there he went to Brittany to see his father and mother and his +relatives. + +After a few days, while the King of France held the wedding for +his daughter and the prince of Sicily, he wanted Philippe to +return to his wife. Philippe received word that the King of +Sicily's other son had renounced the world, and become a friar. +Philippe begged his father, the King of France, to send for +Tirant to accompany him to Sicily. The king wrote letters to the +Duke of Brittany and to Tirant, asking him to go with Philippe to +Sicily, and asking the duke to plead with him earnestly. When +Tirant saw the petitions of two such great lords, he was obliged +to obey their commands, so he left Brittany and went to the court +of the king. The king and queen begged him earnestly to go with +Philippe; and he very graciously gave his consent. + +Philippe and Tirant left the court and went to Marseille where +they found the galleys well stocked. They boarded them, and had +such a good voyage that in a few days they reached Sicily. The +king, the queen and the infanta were very happy to see them. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CONSTANTINOPLE + + After a week, while the king was in council, he remembered a +letter the emperor of Constantinople had sent him, telling about +certain troubles. He summoned Tirant, and had it read in his +presence, and it said the following: + +"We, Frederick, Emperor of the Empire of Greece by the immense +and divine majesty of the sovereign and eternal God, extend +health and honor to you, King of the great and abundant island of +Sicily. By the pact made by our ancestors, sealed, signed and +sworn by you and by me through our ambassadors: We do notify your +royal personage that the sultan, the Moorish renegade, is inside +our empire with a great army, and in his company is the Grand +Turk. They have overpowered a large part of our realm, and we +have been unable to lend assistance, for because of my old age I +cannot bear arms. After the great loss we have suffered of +cities, towns and castles, the dearest possession I had in this +world was killed -- my first born son who was my consolation, and +a guardian of the holy Catholic faith -- doing battle against the +infidel, to his great honor and glory and to mine, And as a +greater misfortune, he was killed by his own men. That sad, +painful day was the perdition of the imperial house and of my +honor. It is known to me and is common knowledge that in your +court you have a valiant knight, whose name is Tirant lo Blanc; +he belongs to the brotherhood of that singular order of chivalry +said to be founded on that glorious saint, the father of +chivalry, Saint George, on the island of England. Many singular +acts worthy of great honor are told about this knight and are +celebrated throughout the world, and they are the reason we ask +you to beg him on your behalf and mine to come to my service, for +I shall give him all my possessions he may desire. And if he +will not come I pray Divine Justice to make him suffer my pain. +Oh, blessed King of Sicily! As you are a crowned king, have pity +on my pain so that the immense goodness of God will keep you from +a similar situation, for we are all subject to the wheel of +fortune, and there is no one who can detain it." + +When the emperor's letter was finished, and Tirant had heard it, +the king said: + +"You should thank Almighty God, Tirant, my brother, for He has +given you such perfection that your name reigns throughout the +world. I place my trust in your generosity, and so I dare to beg +you on behalf of the Emperor of Constantinople and myself. And +if my pleas have no effect on you, at least have pity on that +unfortunate emperor so that he will not lose his imperial +throne." + +When the king had said this, Tirant replied: + +"If Your Majesty commands me to go serve that prosperous emperor +who reigns in Greece, I will do it because of the great love I +hold for Your Highness. But, Sire, I can only do as much as a +man can do; that is plain to God and to the whole world. And I +am even more astonished at that great emperor--who has passed +over all the excellent kings, dukes, counts, and marquis in the +world who are more knowledgeable and more valiant than I am in +the art of chivalry--that he should pass over them for me." + +"Tirant," said the king, "I know very well that there are good +knights in the world, and you should not be forgotten among them. +If, by chance, their honor should be examined, among the +emperors, kings, and expert knights, the prize, honor and glory +would be given to you as the best of them all. So I beg you as a +knight to go and serve the imperial state, and I advise you to do +so as if you were my son." + +"Since Your Majesty commands and advises me to do this," said +Tirant, "I will go." + +The king ordered all the galleys to be stocked with everything +they would need. And when the king told the emperor's +ambassadors that Tirant was willing to go, they were the happiest +men in the world, and they heartily thanked the king. + +As soon as the ambassadors had reached Sicily they were ready to +offer a salary to the men. They gave half a ducat each day to +the crossbowmen, and a ducat to the soldiers. And since there +were not enough men in Sicily, they went on to Rome and Naples, +and there they found many men who accepted wages very willingly, +and they also bought many horses. + +Tirant took his leave of the king and queen, and of Philippe and +the infanta. And with all the men on board, they let a favorable +wind fill the sails, and they sailed quickly over a calm sea +until one morning they found themselves before the city of +Constantinople. + +When the emperor heard that Tirant had arrived, he was happier +than he had ever been, and he said that he felt as if his son had +come back to life. As the eleven galleys neared shore, all the +cries of happiness made the entire city resound. The emperor +went up on a great cenotaph to watch the galleys come in. When +Tirant learned where the emperor was, he had two large flags of +the King of Sicily brought out, and one of his own. He had three +knights come out in armor, each of them with a flag in his hand, +and every time they passed in front of the emperor they lowered +the flags until they nearly touched the water, while Tirant's +touched it each time. + +This was a sign of greeting, and because of the emperor's dignity +they humbled themselves so lowly before him. When the emperor +saw this, which was something that he had never seen before, he +was very pleased. + +When Tirant was on land he found the Count of Africa waiting for +him on shore with many men, and he welcomed him with great honor. +They then made their way to the platform where the emperor was. +As soon as Tirant saw him he knelt to the ground, along with all +his men, and when they reached the middle of the platform they +bowed again. When he was six feet away he knelt and tried to +kiss his foot, and the worthy lord would not permit it. He +kissed his hand, and the emperor kissed him on the mouth. + +When they had all bowed to him, Tirant gave him the letter from +the King of Sicily. After the emperor had read it in everyone's +presence, he spoke to Tirant: + +"This is no small happiness I feel at your arrival, virtuous +knight. So that everyone will know how grateful I am to you, I +am bestowing on you the imperial and general captaincy over the +soldiers and over justice." + +He offered him a rod made of solid gold, and on its enamel head +was painted the coat of arms of the empire. When Tirant saw that +it was the emperor's will he accepted the rod and the captaincy, +and kissed his hand. The trumpets and minstrels began to play by +order of the emperor, and they announced throughout the city by +imperial proclamation how Tirant lo Blanc had been chosen captain +by command of their lord, the emperor. + +After all this the emperor came down from the cenotaph to go back +to the palace, and they passed by a very beautiful lodging that +had been prepared for Tirant and his men. The emperor said: + +"Captain, since we are here, go into your chambers so that you +can rest a few days from the hardships you have endured at sea." + +"What, my lord! Do you imagine that I would be so ill mannered +as to leave you? My consolation is to accompany Your Majesty--to +Hell itself, and even better, to the palace." + +The emperor had to laugh at what Tirant had said. And Tirant +continued: + +"My lord, if it please Your Majesty, when we are in the palace, +allow me to go and pay my respects to the empress and to your +beloved daughter, the infanta." + +The emperor gave his consent. When they were in the palace the +emperor took him by the hand and led him to the empress's +chamber. They found her in the following condition: the chamber +was very dark, for there was no light at all, and the emperor +said: + +"My lady, here is our captain who has come to pay you his +respects." + +She replied in a very weak voice: + +"Very well. He is welcome." + +Tirant said: + +"My lady, it is by faith that I must believe that the one +speaking to me is the empress." + +"Captain," said the emperor, "whoever holds the captaincy of the +Greek Empire has the power to open windows, and to look everyone +in the face, to remove the mourning they bear for a husband, +father, son or brother." + +Tirant asked for a lighted torch to be brought, and it was done +immediately. When the light was cast on the room the captain +discovered a pavilion entirely in black. He went up to it, +opened it, and saw a woman dressed in coarse cloth with a large +black veil over her head that covered her entirely, down to her +feet. Tirant removed the veil from her head so that her face was +uncovered, and when he saw her face he knelt to the ground and +kissed her foot and then her hand. She held a rosary in her +hand, made of gold and enamel; she kissed it and then had the +captain kiss it. Then he saw a bed with black curtains. The +infanta was reclining on the bed, dressed in a black satin skirt +and covered with a velvet garment of the same color. A woman and +a maiden were sitting at her feet on the bed. The maiden was the +daughter of the Duke of Macedonia, and the woman was called +Widow Repose, and she had nursed the infanta with her own milk. +In the back of the room he saw one hundred seventy women and +maidens, all with the empress and the infanta Carmesina. + +Tirant approached the bed, made a deep bow to the infanta, and +kissed her hand. Then he opened the windows. And it seemed as +though all the women were coming out of a long period of +captivity: they had been plunged into darkness a long while +because of the death of the emperor's son. Tirant said: + +"My lord, speaking by your leave I will tell Your Highness and +the empress my idea. I see that the people in this notable city +are very sad and troubled for two reasons. The first is because +of the loss of the prince, your son. Your Majesty should not be +troubled, for he died in the service of God, upholding the holy +Catholic faith. Instead you should praise and give thanks to the +immense goodness of God, our Lord, because He gave him to you and +it was His wish to take him from you for His own good, and He has +placed him in the glory of paradise. The second reason they are +sad is because all the Moors are so nearby that they are afraid +of losing their possessions and their lives, and as a lesser evil +that they will become captives of the infidel. That is why Your +Highness and the empress must show smiling faces to everyone who +sees you: to console them in their grief so that they will gather +courage to fight against the enemy." + +"The captain's advice is good," said the emperor. "It is my wish +and my command that men as well as women shed their mourning +immediately." + +While the emperor was talking, Tirant's ears were attentive to +what he was saying, but his eyes were contemplating the great +beauty of Carmesina. As the windows had been closed it was very +warm, so her blouse was partly open, exposing her breasts like +two apples from the garden of Eden. + +They were like crystal and allowed Tirant's eyes to gain +entrance, and they remained prisoners of this free person +forever, until death separated them. The emperor took his +daughter Carmesina by the hand and led her from the room. The +captain took the empress's arm, and they went into the other room +which was very nicely decorated and completely covered with works +of art depicting the following love-stories: Floris and +Blanchfleur, Thisbe and Pyramus, Aeneas and Dido, Tristram and +Isolde, Queen Guinevere and Lancelot, and many more whose loves +were displayed in very subtle and artistic paintings. And Tirant +said to Ricart: + +"I never thought there could be as many wondrous things on this +earth as I am seeing." + +By this he meant, more than anything, the great beauty of the +princess. But Ricart did not understand him. + +Tirant took his leave of the others and went to his chambers. He +entered a bedroom and put his head on a pillow at one end of the +bed. It was not long before someone came to ask him if he wished +to dine. Tirant said he did not, and that he had a headache. He +was wounded by that passion that traps many. Diafebus, seeing +that he was not coming out, went into the room and said: + +"Captain, please, tell me what's the matter. I'll be glad to +help you if I can." + +"My cousin," said Tirant, "the only thing wrong is that the sea +air has left me with ardor." + +"Oh, captain! Are you going to keep things hidden from me? I +have been the archive of all your good and bad fortune, and now +are you keeping secrets from me? Tell me, I beg you. Don't hide +anything from me." + +"Don't torment me even more," said Tirant. "I have never felt a +worse illness than I do now." + +He turned over from shame, not daring to look Diafebus in the +face, and no other words could come out of his mouth except: + +"I am in love." + +As he said this, tears flowed from his eyes. When Diafebus saw +how ashamed Tirant was he understood why, because Tirant had +always reprimanded all of his kinsmen and all his friends on the +subject of love. And as Diafebus thought of the remedies for +this illness, he said: + +"Although you may think that it is difficult and strange to be +subjugated by the yoke of love, you may be sure that no one can +resist it. And so, my captain, the more intelligent a man is, +the more he should hide his thoughts, and not reveal the pain and +anguish that are attacking his mind." + +When Tirant saw the good advice that Diafebus was giving him, he +got up, feeling ashamed, and they went in to dinner, which was +excellent, because the emperor had planned it. But Tirant could +not eat. The others thought he was still feeling the ill effects +of the sea. And because of his great passion, Tirant left the +table and went into his room, sighing and ashamed of the +confusion that was overcoming him. + +Diafebus took another knight, and they went to the palace, not to +see the emperor but to see the ladies. The emperor, who was +sitting near a window, saw them passing by, and sent word for +them to come up. Diafebus and the other knight went up to the +emperor's rooms, and found him with all the ladies. The emperor +asked what had become of their captain, and Diafebus told him +that he felt a little ill. When he heard it he was very +concerned, and told his doctors to go at once to see him. + +When they returned, the doctors told the emperor that his illness +had only been caused by the change of air. The magnanimous +emperor begged Diafebus to tell him about all the celebrations +that had taken place in England with the marriage of the king to +the daughter of the King of France, and about all the knights who +had jousted, and which ones had been victorious in the field. + +"My lord," said Diafebus, "I would be very grateful if Your +Majesty would excuse me from telling about these things. I +wouldn't want Your Highness to think that because I'm a relative +of Tirant I would favor him. I will tell you what truly +happened. And as proof, I have all the acts signed by the king, +and the judges of the camp, and by many dukes, counts and +marquis, kings-of-arms, and heralds." + +The emperor begged him to have them brought immediately. +Diafebus sent for them and told the emperor extensively about all +the celebrations, and he did the same about the jousts. +Afterward they read the acts and they saw that Tirant had been +the best of all the knights. The emperor was very pleased, and +his daughter Carmesina even more so, as were all the ladies who +were listening very attentively to all the magnificent +chivalresque acts of Tirant. Afterward they wanted to know +about the wedding of the princess of Sicily and the liberating of +the Grand Master of Rhodes. + +When everything had been explained the emperor held counsel, as +he usually did for a half hour in the morning and one hour in the +evening. Diafebus wanted to go with him, but the valiant lord +would not permit it and told him: + +"It is a well known fact that young knights have a greater desire +to be with the ladies." + +He left, and Diafebus stayed behind, and they spoke of many +things. + +Princess Carmesina begged her mother, the empress, to let them go +to another room where they could enjoy themselves, since they had +been inside a long while in mourning for her brother. The +empress said: + +"My child, you may go wherever you please." + +They all went to a marvelous hall built completely with +brick-work, done artfully and with delicate craftsmanship. When +the princess was in the hall, she drew apart from the others with +Diafebus, and they began to talk about Tirant. When Diafebus saw +that she was speaking of Tirant with such interest, he quickly +said: + +"Take everything that I say as a loyal servant, and keep it in +the most secret part of your heart: It was only the fame of Your +Highness that brought Tirant here to see you and serve you. +Don't imagine, Your Highness, that we have come at the request of +the valiant King of Sicily, or because of the letters your +father, the emperor, sent to the King of Sicily. And Your +Highness should not imagine that we have come to test ourselves +in the exercise of arms, or because of the beauty of the land, or +to see the imperial palaces. Your Highness, the reason for our +coming was none other than the desire to see you and to serve +Your Majesty. And if wars and battles take place, it will all be +to win your love and admiration." + +"Oh, wretched me," said the princess. "What are you saying to +me? Shall I grow vain, thinking that all of you have come +because of love of me, and not for the love of my father?" + +"In faith," said Diafebus, "on that I could swear that Tirant, +our brother and lord, begged us to come with him to this land to +see the daughter of the emperor, whom he desired to see more than +anything in the world. And the first time his eyes rested on +Your Highness he was so overcome by the vision of Your Excellency +that he took to his bed." + +When Diafebus said these things to the princess she became +withdrawn and remained deep in thought, and could not speak. She +was half beside herself, her angelic face blushing, for feminine +fragility had so overtaken her that she could not utter a word. + +At that instant the emperor arrived and called Diafebus, and they +spoke of many things until the emperor wished to dine. Diafebus +excused himself, approached the princess, and asked Her Majesty +if she would like to command him to do anything. + +"Yes," she said, "take these embraces of mine and keep them for +yourself, and give part of them to Tirant." + +Diafebus drew near to her and did what she commanded. + +When Tirant heard that Diafebus had gone to the palace and was +talking to the princess, he wanted very much for him to come back +so that he could have news of his lady. When he came into the +room, Tirant got up from the bed and said: + +"My good brother, what news do you bring me of the lady who has +captured my heart?" + +When Diafebus saw Tirant's great love, he embraced him on behalf +of his lady, and told him their entire conversation. Then Tirant +was happier than if he had been given a kingdom, and he +recuperated so well that he ate well and was happy, and longed +for morning to come so he could go and see her. + +After Diafebus had left the princess, she remained lost in +thought, and she had to leave her father's side and go into her +chambers. The daughter of the Duke of Macedonia was named +Stephanie. She was a young lady whom the princess loved deeply, +because they had been raised together from the time they were +very small, and they were both the same age. When she saw that +the princess had gone into her chambers, she left the table and +followed her. When they were together the princess told her +everything Diafebus had said to her, and about the great passion +she felt from Tirant's love. + +"I tell you that I have been more pleased by the vision of this +man than all the men I have ever seen in the whole world. He is +tall, of excellent disposition, and he shows his great spirit by +his manners, and the words that come out of his mouth are +delightful. I think he is more courteous and agreeable than +anyone I have ever known. Who wouldn't love a man like that? +And to think that he came here more out of love for me than for +my father's sake! Truly, my heart is inclined to obey all his +commands, and the signs indicate that he will be my life and my +salvation." + +Stephanie said: + +"My lady, from among those who are good, choose the best. +Knowing his extraordinary feats of chivalry, there is no lady or +maiden in the world who would not love him and obey his every +wish." + +While they were engaged in this delightful conversation, the +other maidens came in, along with Widow Repose, who was very +concerned with Carmesina since she had suckled her. She asked +them what they were discussing, and the princess said: + +"We were talking about what that knight was saying--about the +great celebrations and honors that were given in England to all +the foreigners who were there." + +And they spent the night speaking of these and other things so +that the princess slept neither a little nor a great deal. + +The following day Tirant put on a cloak of gold braid, and in his +hand he carried the gold captain's stick. All the rest of his +countrymen dressed in brocades and silks, and they all went to +the palace. + +When the emperor heard that his captain had come, he told them to +let him enter. As he came in the emperor was dressing and the +princess was combing his hair. Then she brought him water to +wash his hands, as she did every day. The princess was dressed +in a skirt of gold thread. + +When the emperor had finished dressing he said to Tirant: + +"Tell me, captain, what was the illness you were suffering from +yesterday?" + +"Your Majesty, my affliction was brought about entirely by the +ardor of the sea, for the winds of these lands are finer than are +those of the west." + +The princess replied before the emperor could speak: + +"Sire, that ardor does no harm to foreigners if they behave as +they should; instead it brings them health and a long life." + +As she spoke these words she looked steadfastly at Tirant, +smiling at him so that he could see she had understood him. + +The emperor and the captain left the chamber together, talking as +they went, and the princess took Diafebus' hand, and holding him +back, she said: + +"After what you told me yesterday I have not slept all night +long." + +"My lady, what can I tell you? We've had our share as well. But +I am very happy that you understood Tirant." + +"How could you think," said the princess, "that Greek women are +of less worth than the French? In this land all women understand +your Latin, no matter how obscurely you speak." + +"That is why," said Diafebus, "we are more content having +conversations with intelligent people." + +"As far as conversations go," said the princess, "you will soon +see the truth, and you'll see if we understand your wiles." + +The princess ordered Stephanie to bring other maidens to keep +Diafebus company, and many young ladies quickly appeared. When +the princess saw him well engaged, she went back into her chamber +to finish dressing. Meanwhile Tirant accompanied the emperor to +the great church of Saint Sophia, and then left him there saying +prayers, and returned to the palace to be with the empress and +Carmesina. When he was in the great hall he found his cousin +Diafebus there, surrounded by many maidens, and telling them +about the love between Philippe and the daughter of the King of +Sicily. Diafebus was so accustomed to being in the company of +maidens, that it seemed as though he had been raised with them +from birth. + +When they saw Tirant come in they all stood up and welcomed him; +then they made him sit with them, and they talked of many things. +Then the empress came out, and she took Tirant aside and asked +him about his illness. Tirant told her that he was much better +now. It was not long before the princess came out. + +Tirant took the empress's arm because, as captain, he held +precedence over the others. There were many counts and marquis +there, men of high position, and they went to the princess to +take her arm, and she said: + +"I want no one at my side except my brother Diafebus." + +They all left her, and he took her arm. But God knows that +Tirant would much rather have been near the princess than near +the empress. As they went to the church, Diafebus told the +princess: + +"Look, Your Highness, how spirits attract." + +The infanta said: + +"Why do you say that?" + +"My lady," said Diafebus, "because Your Excellency has on a +sequined dress, embroidered with large pearls, and the +sentimental heart of Tirant brings what it needs. Oh, how +fortunate I would feel if I could place that cloak over this +dress!" + +As they were very near the empress, he pulled Tirant's cloak. +When he felt his cloak being tugged, he stopped, and Diafebus +placed the cloak over the princess's dress, and said: + +'My lady, now the stone is in its place." + +"Oh, wretched me!" said the princess. "Have you gone mad, or +have you lost your senses?" Are you so shameless that you say +these things in front of so many people?" + +"No, my lady," said Diafebus. "No one hears or notices or sees +anything, and I could say the Pater Noster backward and no one +would understand me." + +"You must," said the princess, "have learned about honor in +school, where they read that famous poet, Ovid, who speaks of +true love in all his books. If you knew what tree the fruits of +love and honor are plucked from, and if you knew the customs of +this land, you would be a very fortunate man." + +As she was saying this they reached the church. The empress went +behind the curtain, but the princess did not want to go in, +saying that it was very hot. The truth was that she did not go +in so that she could observe Tirant at her pleasure. He went +near the altar where there were many dukes and counts, and they +all gave him the honor of being first because of his station. He +said mass on his knees, and when the princess saw him kneeling on +the ground, she took one of the brocade pillows that had been +placed there for her, and gave it to one of the maidens to give +to Tirant. The emperor saw his daughter performing that +courteous act, and he was very pleased. When Tirant saw the +pillow that the maiden was giving him to kneel on, he stood up +and then, with his cap in his hand, he bowed deeply on one knee +to the princess. + +Do not imagine that during the entire mass the princess could +finish saying her Hours as she looked at Tirant and all his men +dressed in the French fashion. When Tirant had gazed at the +striking beauty of the princess, he let his mind play over all +the ladies and maidens he could remember seeing, and he thought +to himself that he had never seen or hoped to see anyone as well +endowed by nature as she, for in lineage, in beauty, in grace, in +wealth, along with infinite wisdom, she seemed more angelic than +human. + +When mass was finished they returned to the palace, and Tirant +took his leave of the emperor and of the ladies, and went to his +quarters with his men. As they reached their quarters he went +into his chamber and fell upon the bed, thinking of the +princess's great beauty. And her beautiful features only served +to make him feel worse: so that while he had felt one pain +before, he now felt one hundred. Diafebus went into the chamber, +and when he saw him with such a sad face he said: + +"My captain, you are the most extraordinary knight I have ever +seen in my life. Anyone else would hold a great celebration for +all the joy they had when they saw their lady. And the flattery +and honor she paid you--more than to all the great lords there. +And then she presented the brocade pillow to you with such grace +and love in everyone's presence. Here, when you should feel like +the most fortunate man in the world, you seem to have lost all +reason." + +When Tirant heard Diafebus' comforting words he said in a +mournful voice: + +"The reason my heart is grieving is that I am in love, and I +don't know if my love will be returned. This is what torments me +most, and makes my heart colder than ice. I have no hope of +gaining my desire, because fortune always opposes those who are +in love." + +When Diafebus saw how tormented Tirant was, he would not let him +continue, and he said: + +"If you keep on behaving that way, infamy will follow you the +rest of your life. And if this should reach the emperor's ears, +God forbid, what would happen to you and the rest of us? He +would say that you fell in love with his daughter the day you +arrived in order to bring shame to his entire realm, the crown +and the empire. So, my captain, use your discretion, and don't +let anyone guess you're in love." + +Tirant listened to the wise words of Diafebus, and he was very +glad to have the advice of his good friend and relative. He +thought for a moment, and then got out of bed and went to the +hall to join his men who had been surprised at Tirant's +discourteous behavior. + +After they had eaten he begged Diafebus to go to the palace and +give the infanta some very singular Hours he had, from Paris, +which had solid gold covers and were very delicately decorated. +They also had an ingenious lock so that when the key was removed +no one could see where it opened. Diafebus wrapped the Hours and +gave them to a page to carry. When Diafebus was in the palace he +found the emperor in the ladies' chamber, and following Tirant's +instructions, he told him: + +"Your Majesty, your captain begs your permission to go see the +Moorish camp within a few days. And he also sends Your Highness +these Hours. If you don't care for them, he says they should be +given to one of the infanta's maidens." + +As soon as the emperor saw them he was astonished at their +uniqueness. "This," said the emperor, "can only belong to a +maiden of the royal family." + +He gave them to his daughter, Carmesina. She was very happy +because the Hours were so beautiful, and also because they were +Tirant's, and she stood up and said: + +"Sire, would Your Majesty approve if we sent for the captain and +the minstrels, and had a small party? The mourning and this +sadness have lasted such a long time." + +"My dearest daughter, don't you know that I have no other +consolation in this world except you and Isabel, the Queen of +Hungary who, for my sins, is absent from my sight? And since my +son died I have no other worldly good but you. All the happiness +you can have will bring me peace in my old age." + +The infanta quickly sent a page for Tirant and had Diafebus sit +next to her. When Tirant received his lady's command he left his +quarters and went to the emperor, who asked him to dance with his +daughter, Carmesina. The dancing lasted nearly till evening when +the emperor wanted to dine. Then Tirant returned to his lodging +very happily, because he had danced continuously with the infanta +and she had said many delightful things to him. + +The following day the emperor held a great banquet for Tirant. +All the dukes, counts and marquis ate at the table with him, the +emperor and his daughter. The rest ate at other tables. When +the meal was over there was dancing. After they had danced for a +while came the collation. Then the emperor had them mount their +horses so he could show Tirant the entire city. + +Afterward the emperor called for a general council, and he told +his daughter to be there because many times he had said to her: + +"My daughter, why don't you come to the council often so that you +will know how it is conducted? After I die you will need to know +how to rule your land." + +The princess went, both to see how the council was run and to +hear Tirant talk. And when everyone was seated at the council, +the emperor spoke to Tirant. + +"I beg you, captain, to prepare for battle with our enemies, the +Genoese. We have received news that Genoese ships, coming from +Tuscany and Lombardy, have reached the port of Aulis, filled with +soldiers, horses and provisions. Our own ships have reached the +island of Euboea, and I believe they will soon be here." + +Tirant took off his cap and said: + +"Command me to go against the Genoese whenever you wish, Your +Majesty. I am ready." + +"I'll tell you what you must do for now," said the emperor. "Go +to where my judgment seat is. I want you to sit on it, listen to +the cases brought before you and judge them with mercy." + +One of the members of the council named Montsalvat stood up and +said: + +"Sire, Your Majesty should take a closer look at these matters, +for there are three obstacles. First, the Duke of Macedonia +should not be deprived of his rights: he has the captaincy, and +it is his privilege since he is closer to the throne. Second, it +should not be given to a foreigner who has no official position +in the empire. Third, before the soldiers leave here they should +make a pilgrimage, bearing gifts to the island where Paris stole +Helen, for that is how the Greeks were victorious over the +Trojans in ancient times." + +The emperor could not tolerate the knight's foolish words, and he +said very angrily: + +"If it were not for the respect I have for our Heavenly Father I +would have you beheaded. It would fit all your merits, and it +would be a sacrifice to God and an example to this world, because +you are a wicked Christian. It is my command that Tirant, who is +our captain now, be above all our captains: he deserves it +because of his virtue and shining chivalry. The Duke of +Macedonia, who is cowardly and inept at war, never knew how to +win a battle. The person I designate will be captain, and anyone +who contradicts him will receive my punishment in such a way that +they will be remembered throughout the world." + +The emperor stood up, and would not hear another word from +anyone. He had a proclamation read throughout the city that +anyone having a complaint against anyone else should go to the +hall of justice the following day and from that day forward, and +justice would be meted out. + +The following day the captain sat on the imperial judgment seat, +and heard everyone with a complaint, and made judgments on them +all. For from the time the Grand Turk and the Moorish sultan +had come into the empire no justice at all had been given. + +Two weeks after Tirant came, all the emperor's ships arrived, +carrying men, wheat and horses. Before the arrival of the ships +the emperor presented the captain with eighty-three large and +beautiful horses, and many suits of armor. Tirant had Diafebus +come up first so he could choose from the weapons and horses. +Then Ricart made his choice, and finally all the others, while +Tirant took nothing for himself. + +Tirant was deeply in love with the princess, and his suffering +increased daily. His love was so great that when he was with her +he did not dare talk to her about anything concerning love. And +the day for his departure was drawing near, for they were waiting +only for the horses to recover from the hardships they had +endured at sea. + +The discreet princess knew about Tirant's love. She sent a page +to ask Tirant to be at the palace at noon because that was the +time when all the others would be resting. When Tirant received +his lady's command, he was the happiest man in the world. He +immediately sent for Diafebus, to give him the news, and to tell +him that she wanted only the two of them to go. Diafebus said: + +"Captain, I am very pleased at this beginning, even though I +don't know what the end will bring." + +At the appointed hour the two knights went up to the palace and +quietly entered the princess's chamber, hoping to have victory. +When she saw them she was very happy. She stood up and took +Tirant's hand, and made him sit next to her. Then Diafebus took +Stephanie by one arm and Widow Repose by the other, and led them +aside so they would not hear what the princess was saying to +Tirant. The princess smiled and softly said: + +"Since you are a foreigner I would not want you to come to any +harm unknowingly. I know you came to this land at the bidding of +the King of Sicily, because he had confidence in your merits. +But he could not tell you of the danger that might befall you, +because he did not know about it." + +Tirant answered: + +"So that you will not think me ungrateful for what you are +telling me, I kiss your hands and feet, and I promise to do +everything Your Highness commands me." + +Tirant begged her to give him her hand so he could kiss it, but +she would not. Then he insisted several times, and when he saw +that she still would not, he called Widow Repose and Stephanie. +To satisfy the captain they begged her to allow him to kiss her +hand. She did it this way: not wanting to let him kiss the back +of her hand, she opened it so he would kiss the palm. Because +kissing the palm is a sign of love, and kissing the back of the +hand is a sign of dominance. Then the princess said to him: + +"Blessed knight, may merciful God keep you from the hands of that +ravenous lion, the Duke of Macedonia: he is a cruel and envious +man, and very knowledgeable about treachery. He is infamous for +the fact that he has only killed people wickedly. It is well +known that he killed that valiant knight, my brother. When my +brother was fighting courageously against the enemy, he came up +behind him and cut the straps of his helmet so that his head +would be uncovered, and he was killed by the Moors. A great +traitor like him should be feared. And so, virtuous knight, I +advise you, when you are in battle, be wary of him. Don't trust +him even while you are eating or sleeping." + +It happened one day at dinner time that Tirant found the empress +and the princess still at the table. He came into the hall and +served the empress and her daughter as steward and cup-bearer, +since this was his privilege as captain. When Tirant saw that +the meal was nearly over, he asked the empress to clear up a +matter he was uncertain about. The empress answered that if she +could she would do it very gladly. + +"Tell me, my lady," said Tirant, "for a knight, which is most +honorable, to die well or to die badly, since he must die?" + +And he said not a word more. The princess said: + +"Holy Mother of God! What a question to ask my mother. Everyone +knows it's better to die well than to die badly." + +Then Tirant struck the table with his clenched fist and muttered, +"So be it," so softly that they could barely hear him. Without +another word he got up and went to his lodgings. And everyone +was left astonished at Tirant's behavior. + +The following day the princess was feeling very upset by what +Tirant had said. In the morning, while the emperor was at mass +with all the ladies, Tirant went into the church for prayer, and +he told the emperor: + +"Sire, the galleys are ready to go to Cyprus to bring back +provisions. Does Your Majesty want them to leave?" + +The emperor said: + +"I wish they were one hundred miles out to sea right now!" + +Tirant quickly went to the port to give the order for them to set +sail. When the princess saw Tirant leaving, she called Diafebus +and asked him to give Tirant the message that after he had eaten +he should come to see her immediately, because she wanted very +much to talk to him, and that later they would dance. + +When Tirant heard the news he considered at once what it might +mean. He had the most beautiful mirror bought that could be +found, and put it inside his sleeve. When he thought it was +about time, they went to the palace and found the emperor talking +to his daughter. The emperor saw them coming and sent for his +minstrels, and they danced for a good while. After watching them +for a time the emperor withdrew to his chambers. The princess +immediately stopped dancing, and taking Tirant by the hand they +sat at a window. The princess said: + +"Virtuous knight, I have great pity for you, seeing how disturbed +you are. Tell me, I beg you, what is troubling you." + +"My lady, since Your Highness is forcing me to tell you, I can +only say that I am in love." + +He said nothing more, and lowered his eyes. + +"Tell me, Tirant," said the princess, "who is the lady that is +causing you so much pain? If I can help you in any way, I will +be very glad to." + +Tirant put his hand in his sleeve, drew out the mirror, and said: + +"My lady, the face you will see here can bring me life or death." + +The princess quickly took the mirror, and with hurried steps she +went into her chamber, thinking she would find a portrait of some +woman in the mirror. But she saw only her own face. Then she +was astonished that a lady could be courted in this way, without +words. + +While she was happily reflecting on what Tirant had done, Widow +Repose and Stephanie came in. They found the princess sitting +with the mirror in her hands, and they said to her: "My lady, +where did you get such a pretty mirror?" + +The princess told them about the way Tirant had declared his love +for her, and she said she had never heard of it being done +before: + +"Not even in all the story books I've read have I ever found such +a graceful declaration. How knowledgeable these foreigners are!" + +Widow Repose answered: + +"Tell me, my lady, should Your Highness be paying as much +attention as you are to a servant your father has taken into his +house nearly out of charity, and who was thrown out by that +famous king of Sicily, along with other foreigners wearing gold +and silk clothes they've borrowed? Do you want to lose your good +reputation for a man like him?" + +The princess was very upset by what the Widow had said, and she +went into her chambers nearly crying. Stephanie went with her, +telling her not to be so upset, and consoling her as best she +could. + +"Isn't it terrible?" said the princess. "Here I am, scolded by +the very mistress who nursed me! What if she had seen me doing +something really bad? I believe she would have sent out a crier +to advertise it in the court and to the entire city. I trust God +that her wicked, dishonest, cursing tongue will have the +punishment it deserves." + +"It's normal," said Stephanie, "for maidens in the court to be +loved and courted, and for them to have three kinds of love: +virtuous, profitable and vicious. The first one, which is +virtuous, is when some grandee loves a maiden, and she feels very +honored when others know that he dances, jousts, or goes into +battle for her love. The second is profitable, and it is when +some gentleman or knight of ancient and virtuous lineage loves a +maiden and sways her to him with gifts. The third is vicious, +when the maiden loves the gentleman or knight for her own +pleasure, and he is generous in words that give her life for a +year, but if they go too far they can end in a heavily curtained +bed among perfumed sheets where she can spend an entire winter's +night. This last kind of love seems much better to me than the +others." + +When the princess heard Stephanie say such witty things, she +began to smile and most of her melancholy left her. While they +were talking the empress asked where her daughter was, since she +had not seen her for a long time. She went out into the hall and +met the empress who asked her why her eyes were red. + +"My lady," said the princess, "all day long today I've had a +headache." + +She made her sit on her knees, and kissed her at length. + +The following day Tirant said to Diafebus: + +"My brother, go to the palace, I beg you, and talk to the +princess. + +See if you can find out how she felt about the mirror." + +Diafebus went at once and met the emperor going to mass. When it +was over Diafebus went up to the princess, and she asked him what +had become of Tirant. + +"My lady," said Diafebus, "he left his lodging to go sit in the +judgment seat." + +"If you only know," said the princess, "the trick he played on +me! He declared his love for me with a mirror. Just let me see +him and I'll tell him a few things he won't like " + +"Oh my good lady!" said Diafebus. "Tirant brought a flaming log +and found no wood to burn here." + +"Yes," said the princess, "but the log has gotten wet. However, +here in this palace you'll find a bigger and better one that +gives much more warmth than the one you're talking about. It's a +log called Loyalty, and it's very tender and dry, and it gives +happiness to anyone who can warm themselves by it." + +"My lady, let us do this," said Diafebus. "If it pleases Your +Highness, let us take some of yours which is good and dry, and +some of ours which is wet and moist, and let us make a shape in +your likeness and Tirant's " + +"No," said the princess, "it isn't a good idea to make two +opposites into one." + +And they joked in this way until they had returned to her +chamber. Then Diafebus took his leave and went back to his +lodgings where he told Tirant everything he and the princess had +said. + +After they had eaten Tirant knew that the emperor must be asleep, +so he and Diafebus went to the palace. Through a window +Stephanie saw them coming, and she quickly went to tell the +princess: + +"My lady, our knights are coming now." + +The princess came out of the chamber. When Tirant saw his lady, +he made a deep bow before her. The princess returned his +greeting with a less pleasant expression than usual. Tirant was +not very happy at the lady's expression, and in a low voice, he +said: + +"Lady, full of perfection, I beg Your Excellency to tell me what +you are thinking. I don't believe I have seen Your Highness +behave this way for many days." + +"My behavior," said the princess, "cannot please God, and much +less the world, but I will tell you the reason, and your lack of +knowledge and goodness will be revealed. What will people say +about you when they hear of this? That the emperor's daughter, +who is in such a lofty position, has been courted by his captain +whom he loved deeply and trusted. You have not kept the honor +and reverence you are obligated to have for me. Instead you have +acted with bad faith and dishonest love." + +She got up to go back into her chambers. When Tirant saw that +she was leaving he caught up to her, took hold of her shawl, and +begged her to listen to him. Stephanie and Diafebus pleaded with +her so much that she sat down again, and Tirant said: + +"If there was any fault, you must forgive me, for love has +absolute control over me. Doesn't Your Highness remember the day +when the empress was present and I asked if it was better to die +well or to die badly? And Your Majesty answered that it was +better to die well than badly. I knew that if I did not let you +know of my suffering, one night they would find me dead in the +corner of my room, and if I did tell you, I would come to the +point where I am now. And so, on my knees, I ask only that after +my death your angelic hands dress me, and that you write letters +on my tomb that say this: Here Lies Tirant lo Blanc Who Died of +Great Love." + +His eyes became a sea of tears, and sighing painfully he got up +from the princess's feet, and left the chamber to go to his +lodging. When the princess saw him leaving so disconsolately, +she began to cry uncontrollably, and she sighed and sobbed so +that none of her maidens could console her. Then she said: + +"Come here, my faithful maiden, you know how to have pity on my +torment. Poor me, what shall I do? I think he is going to kill +himself. That's what he told me, and his heart is so lofty and +noble that he will do it. + +Have pity on me, my Stephanie; go run to Tirant and beg him for +me not to do anything, for I am very displeased at what he told +me." + +The princess was crying helplessly while she said this. To carry +out her lady's wishes, Stephanie took a maiden with her and went +to Tirant's lodging, which was very near the palace. She went to +his room and found him taking off a brocade cloak, with Diafebus +at his side, consoling him. + +When Stephanie saw him in his doublet she thought he had taken +off his clothes to place his body in the grave. Stephanie threw +herself at Tirant's feet as if he were her real lord, and she +said to him: + +"My lord, Tirant, what are you trying to do to yourself? Her +Majesty was saying all that just to tease you, I swear it." + +She was silent and said no more. When Tirant saw Stephanie +kneeling down, he at once knelt beside her. He did this because +she was a maiden who served the emperor's daughter, and even more +because she was the emperor's niece, daughter of the Duke of +Macedonia, the greatest duke in all Greece. + +Tirant replied: + +"Death does not bother me when I think I'll be dying for such a +lady. By dying I will come back to life in glorious fame, for +people will say that Tirant lo Blanc died of love for the most +beautiful and virtuous lady in the world. So, my lady, I beg you +to go away and leave me with my pain." + +The princess was in undescribable anguish when she saw that +Stephanie was not coming back with news of Tirant. Not being +able to endure it, she called one of her maidens, named +Plaerdemavida. She took a veil and put it over her head so she +would not be recognized, and went down the stairs to the garden. +With the garden door open, she went to the house where Tirant +was, without being seen by anyone. When she saw Tirant and +Stephanie on their knees, talking, she knelt down too and said: + +"I beg you, Tirant, if my tongue said things that offended you, +do not keep them in your heart. I want you to forget everything +I told you in anger, and I beg your forgiveness." + +When Tirant saw his lady speaking with so much love, he was the +happiest man in the world. Stephanie said + +"Since peace has been made, my lady, I promised him that Your +Highness would let him kiss your hair." + +"I will be very happy," said the princess, "to have him kiss my +eyes and my forehead if he promises me, upon his word as a +knight, not to do anything untoward." + +Tirant promised very willingly, and swore it, and their sadness +turned into great happiness and contentment. The princess, +accompanied by Tirant and Diafebus, quickly went to the garden. +The princess told Plaerdemavida to have all the other maidens +come, and in a short time they were all in the garden, and Widow +Repose with them. She had seen all the moves and suffered deeply +because of the princess, and with her own involvement in the +matter she had even more to think about. The emperor soon saw +Tirant and his daughter in the garden. He went down to the +garden and said to Tirant: + +"Captain, I sent for you at your lodging, but they didn't find +you there. I'm glad to see you here." + +"My lord," said Tirant, "I asked for Your Majesty, but they told +me Your Highness was sleeping. So that I wouldn't awaken you I +came here with these knights to dance or practice some sport." + +"What a black, evil sport we have!" said the emperor. "We must +hold a council: it is very important." + +He gave the order for the council bell to be rung. When everyone +in the imperial council was together, the emperor had the +emissary come forward, and said that everyone should know the bad +news because it was not something that could be kept secret. +Then he ordered the emissary to explain his mission. Making a +humble bow he said: + +"Most excellent lord, last Thursday night, fourteen thousand men +came on foot and concealed themselves in a large meadow. Because +of all the water there the grass grew very tall, and no one +could see them. When the sun rose we saw horses and Turkish +horsemen who must have numbered, in all, one thousand four +hundred, more or less, together in a part of the water. The Duke +of Macedonia, a very haughty man of little intelligence as his +actions show, had the trumpets blow so that everyone would mount +their horses. The constable and the others, who know more about +war than he does, protested and told him not to leave. But no +matter what they said he would not obey anyone. He went up to +the river with all his men, and he ordered them to cross, both +those on horseback and those on foot. The water came up to the +horses' cinches and there were even places where they had to +swim. + +"Near the enemy's side there was a bank that the horses had great +difficulty in climbing, and the enemy met them there. At the +slightest advance that the soldiers or their horses made, they +quickly fell into the water and were not able to get up, and they +were all swept down river. If the duke had only gone one mile +upstream all his men would have been able to get across without +getting wet. The enemy drew back a little so that the men would +come across, and they pretended to retreat to a small hill there, +and the duke used all his forces to try to take them. When the +men in ambush saw the Greeks fighting so boldly, they came out +furiously and fell into the thick of the Christians, spilling +their blood. The duke could not take the fierce battle any +longer and he secretly fled without doing much harm to the enemy. +And those who were able to escape went with him. + +"After their victory the Moors laid siege to the city. The Grand +Turk himself came, along with the Moorish sultan and all the +kings that had come to aid them, and all the dukes, counts and +marquis of Italy and Lombardy who were mercenaries. As soon as +the sultan heard the news he gave himself the title of Emperor of +Greece, and said he would not lift the siege until he had taken +the duke and all those with him prisoner, and that he would then +come here to attack this city. I can tell you, Sire, that the +duke has provisions for only one month, a month and a half at +most. + +So, my lord, Your Majesty must look into what we should do about +all this." + +Tirant said: + +"Tell me, knight, upon your honor, how many men were lost in +battle?" + +The knight answered: + +"Captain, it is known that of the men killed in battle, those who +were drowned and those taken prisoner, we've lost eleven thousand +seven hundred twenty-two men." + +The emperor said: + +"Captain, I beg you to do whatever has to be done, out of +reverence for God and love of me, so that you can leave in +fifteen or twenty days with all your men to help those miserable +people." + +"Oh, Sire!" said Tirant. "How can Your Majesty say that we won't +have left in twenty days? In that time the enemy could attack +the city, and they are so powerful that they could invade it." + +Tirant again asked the emissary how many men there might be in +the enemy's forces. The emissary answered: + +"In faith, there are many Turks and they are very skillful in +warfare, and are cruel, ferocious men. In our opinion and +according to what some prisoners say, they number more than eight +hundred thousand." + +"My feeling," said Tirant, "is that a royal proclamation should +be read throughout the city. All those who have hired themselves +out, and those who want to, should go to the Imperial House to +receive their payment, and they should all be ready to leave in +six days." + +The emperor thought that was good advice, and he thanked Tirant. +As soon as the proclamation was read, all the grandees outside +the city were notified and they were all soon there with their +horses rested. And those who had come from Sicily were ready. +The bad news of the losses that had been sustained ran throughout +the city, and many of the townsfolk, both men and women, gathered +in the market square. Some were crying for their brothers, +others for their sons, some for their friends and relatives, and +still others for the destruction of the empire. Most of the +empire was lost, and the hope of the emperor and those around him +was placed only in God. They were afraid there would be great +starvation and thirst because of the enemy's victory, and that +the city would be burned, and they could imagine themselves in +captivity and miserable slavery. Two of the empire's barons +told the emperor that he should send his daughter Carmesina to +Hungary to be with her sister. + +When Tirant heard these words, his face turned pale as death. +All the maidens and even the emperor noticed, and he asked Tirant +what had made his color change so much. + +"Sire," said Tirant, "I've had a bad stomachache all day today." + +The emperor had his doctors come immediately to give him some +medicine. When the emperor saw that Tirant was all right, he +turned to Carmesina and said to her: + +"My daughter, what do you think of the things the council has +said about you? In my opinion, it would be a good idea, because +if the empire and all its people were lost, you would be safe." + +The discreet lady answered her father, saying: + +"Oh, merciful father! Your Highness should not allow me to be +separated from you. I prefer to die near Your Majesty and in my +own land than to be wealthy and living a life of pain and sorrow +in a foreign land." + +When the emperor heard such discreet and loving words from his +daughter he was very pleased. + +On the morning of the following day the banners were blessed with +a great procession and celebration. All the men armed themselves +and mounted their horses to depart. + +When the emperor saw all the men outside he called the captain +from his window and told him not to leave. He wanted to talk to +him, and he had some letters for him to give to the Duke of +Macedonia and a few others. As soon as the foot soldiers and +those on horseback were outside the city, Tirant returned and +went upstairs to the emperor's chambers. He found him in his +chamber with the secretary, writing, and did not want to disturb +him. + +When the princess saw Tirant, she called to him and said: + +"Captain, I see that you are ready to leave. I pray that God +will give you an honorable victory." + +Tirant knelt before her and thanked her for her words. And he +kissed her hand as a token of good luck. Then the princess said: + +"Is there anything you would like from me, Tirant, before you +leave? Tell me if there is, for I will grant you whatever you +wish." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "I would only like Your Highness to do me +the favor of giving me this blouse you are wearing, because it is +closest to your precious skin. And I would like to take it off +with my own hands." + +"Holy Mary, protect me!" said the princess. "What are you +telling me? I'll be very happy to give you my blouse, my jewels, +my clothes, and everything I have. But it would not be right for +your hands to touch me where no one else has ever touched." + +She quickly went to her room, and took off the blouse and put on +another. She went out to the great hall where she found Tirant +joking with the maidens. She took him aside and gave him the +blouse, kissing it many times to make him more content. Tirant +took it very happily and went to his lodging. And he told the +maidens: + +"If the emperor calls me, tell him I'll be right back, that I've +gone to arm myself so that I can leave quickly." + +When Tirant was at his lodging he finished arming himself, and he +found Diafebus and Ricart there. They had come back to put on +the coats of arms that had been made, of metal plates. + +Then the three knights went to take their leave of the emperor +and of all the ladies. When they went upstairs they found the +emperor waiting for the captain to come, because he wanted to +dine with him. When the emperor saw Tirant, he said: + +"Captain, what coat of arms is this that you're wearing?" + +"My lord," said Tirant, "if you knew what was in it, you would be +astonished." + +"I would like very much to know about it," said the emperor. + +"Its force," said Tirant, "is to do well. When I left my land a +maiden gave it to me, and she is the most beautiful maiden in the +world. I'm not speaking in offense of the princess here, or of +the other ladies of honor." + +The emperor said: + +"It is true that no good feat of arms was ever accomplished +unless it was for love." + +"I promise you," said Tirant, "on my word as a knight, that in my +first battle I will make friends and enemies marvel at it." + +The emperor sat down to eat, as did the empress and her daughter, +and the captain sat beside her. And he had the two knights sit +at another table with all the ladies and maidens. Then they all +ate with great pleasure, and especially Tirant who shared a plate +with his lady. + +CHAPTER V + +THE BATTLEFIELD + + Tirant then took his leave of all the ladies and the others +there. When the three knights were outside the city they gave +their chargers to the pages and mounted other horses. Within a +short time they reached the soldiers. Each knight went to his +squadron, and Tirant went from one squadron to another, directing +them constantly to stay in order. + +That day they traveled five leagues. They set up their tents in +a beautiful meadow where there was water. After they had eaten, +Tirant had two thousand pikesmen keep watch until midnight, and +he sent men along the road to see if they heard soldiers or +anything else. Tirant kept watch over the camp, moving from +place to place. At the hour of midnight he had two thousand +other pikesmen take the place of those on watch, and he would not +let them have pages, but made them all arm as if they were going +into battle at any moment. + +When Tirant was in a war he never took off his clothes except to +change his shirt. Every morning, two hours before sunrise, he +had the trumpets blow for the men to saddle their horses and to +hold mass. Then the entire camp would arm themselves and quickly +mount. At dawn they would all be ready to leave. They kept up +this routine until they were a league and a half from the enemy, +in a city named Pelidas, which was in danger daily of +surrendering to the powerful Turks. + +When they found out that soldiers were coming to their aid they +were very happy, and they opened the gates to the city. The +captain did not want to go in during the day so they would not be +seen, but he did not do it secretly enough to avoid being heard. +And the first to be notified that soldiers had gone into the city +of Pelidas was the Grand Turk, but he did not know how many there +were. The Grand Turk went at once to tell the Moorish sultan, +who sent four men toward the city of Pelidas as spies to find out +what they could about the men who had gone in. + +The next day Tirant took a man with him who knew the countryside +very well, and they rode out as secretly as they could, and drew +near the camp by back roads. From a hill they could see both the +city and the camp. + +The Moorish sultan was at one end, and the Grand Turk at the +other. + +They recognized him by the large, painted tents they saw. When +they had looked the situation over very carefully, they returned +to the city. On the way back they saw the Moorish guards. + +When they were back in the city and had dismounted, Tirant went +to the square where he found most of the townspeople, and he told +them: + +"Come here, my brothers. We have just been spying on the enemy +camp, and on our way back we saw four of the camp guards. For +each guard you bring to me alive I'll give you five hundred +ducats, and if you bring his head I'll give you three hundred. +How many of you want to go?" + +Seven men who knew the land well volunteered immediately. They +left at night so no one would see them, and when they had +traveled a good distance one of them said: + +"Why don't we go to the spring near here, and cover ourselves +with branches? The Moors are certain to come here to drink +around noon with all this heat, and that way they'll fall into +our hands." + +They agreed to do that, and they kept a very close watch from +their hiding place. When the sun came out they saw the Moors on +top of the hill. As the sun grew hotter they became thirsty and +went to the spring for water. When they arrived one of the +Christians who was hidden said: + +"Let's not move until they have drunk and are full of water: that +way they won't be able to run very fast." + +And that is what they did. When the Moors had drunk and eaten +their fill the Christians fell upon them with loud cries, and +immediately caught three of them. One tried to escape. When +they saw that they could not catch him they shot at him with a +crossbow. The arrow pierced his side, and he fell to the ground. +They cut off his head and stuck it to the point of a lance. Then +they tied the hands of the others and took them to their captain. +When Tirant saw them he was very pleased, and he took the three +Moors and had them closely guarded. + +Tirant had ordered everyone to eat early that day, and to saddle +the horses and arm themselves so they would be ready to leave. +He had all the men go out of the city in order, both the foot +soldiers and those riding horses. Behind them came three +thousand men with the mares. When they were near the Moors' camp +he had all the soldiers go to one side so the mares could pass by +without the other horses sensing them. + +When the mares were at the entrance to the camp all the foot +soldiers went in with them, and they divided into two groups: one +went toward the Moorish sultan and the other toward the Grand +Turk. Then the camp horses noticed the mares: some got loose, +others broke their halters, and others tore out the stakes that +held them fast. You should have seen the horses running loose +through the camp: some here, some there, and all of them after +the mares. + +When this melee had gone on for a good while and the entire camp +was in confusion because of the horses, Tirant came and fell on +part of it with half his men. Then the Duke of Pera and his men +attacked the other side, calling on that glorious knight, Saint +George. + +Finally the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk and their men fled +to the mountain while the others went to the plain. Tirant +pursued them relentlessly, and he and his men killed everyone +they caught, giving quarter to no one. All those who went to the +mountain reached it safely, and those who went to the plain were +either killed or taken prisoner. + +They pursued them for three leagues, and those heading for the +mountain (where the road was shorter) came to a river with a +wooden bridge where they could cross safely. When the sultan and +some of his men had crossed over and they saw the Christians +close behind, they broke the bridge in the middle. Then those +who had not yet crossed were lost while those who had already +crossed the bridge were safe. + +The Duke of Macedonia heard of Tirant's victory, and how none of +the enemy were left except those who were badly wounded and could +not flee. So he and his men went out and sacked the camp, and +they found large amounts of gold and silver, clothing, weapons +and many jewels. When they had taken everything, they put their +booty in the town. The duke left soldiers to guard it, and he +gave orders that if Tirant or any of his men came, they should +not be allowed inside. When they had put away everything they +had stolen, the duke took the route to the plain, and he and his +men were astonished at all the dead bodies they saw. + +The guards at the camp told the captain that armed men were +approaching quickly. Tirant had all his soldiers mount their +horses, and he prepared for battle, thinking that the enemy had +regrouped in the villages that belonged to them. They went out +to meet them, and when they were near they recognized each other. +Tirant took the helmet off his head and gave it to a page, and +all the other captains did the same. When they were close to the +duke, Tirant dismounted and walked up to him, paying him great +honor. The duke did not move at all except to put his hand on +his head without saying a word. This made all the others very +angry, and none of them would dismount for him. Tirant remounted +his horse and tried many times to talk to him, but the duke +scarcely uttered a word. But all the other knights and gentlemen +paid great honor to the dukes and to Tirant. Then they rode +together until they were near the tents. + +Tirant said to the duke: + +"Sir, if your lordship would like to stay in that meadow where +there are very beautiful trees and you would be near the river, +I'll have the men who are there move to another place." + +The duke answered: + +"I don't want to be near you. I prefer to go to a place farther +away." + +"You can do that," said Tirant, "but I said what I did out of +kindness, thinking that you deserved it." + +The duke would not listen to him, and turned his horse about +without a word. He set up his tents a mile upriver. + +After he dismounted Tirant sent three of his knights to the duke, +and when they were there they said to him: + +"Sir, our captain has sent us to your lordship to ask if you +would like to eat with him. He knows that your lordship will +have better food here, but you can have his more quickly, because +all you have to do is wash your hands and sit down to eat." + +"Oh, what a bother for nothing!" said the duke. "Tell him that I +don't want to." + +And he turned his back to them very haughtily. When the +emissaries had mounted their horses to go, the duke told them: + +"Tell Tirant that if he wants to come and eat with me, I would +prefer that to eating with him." + +"Sir," said Diafebus, "if there is no fire lit in your entire +camp, what could you offer him? You couldn't give him anything +but food for chickens and drink for oxen." + +The duke answered angrily: + +"I can give him chickens, capons, partridge and pheasant." + +The knights refused to listen to him anymore, and they wheeled +about. + +After they had gone, a knight said to the duke: + +"You didn't understand, sir, what that knight said to you. He +told you that you would serve his captain food for chickens and +drink for oxen. Do you know what he meant by that? Food for +chickens is grain, and what oxen drink is water." + +"On my father's grave!" said the duke. "You're right. I didn't +understand. Those foreigners are very haughty. If I had +understood him I would have made him leave with his hands on his +head." + +When Tirant heard what the reply was, he sat down to dine with +the dukes, counts and marquis who were already there. + +The morning of the following day the captain had a large and +beautiful tent raised, with a bell on top. That tent was only +for mass and council meetings, and he had it set up in a meadow +between the duke's camp and his own. When the time came to say +mass, Tirant courteously sent word to the duke to see if he would +like to come to mass. The duke haughtily answered no, but the +other grandees came very happily. After mass they held council, +and it was decided that the Marquis of Saint George, the Count of +Acquaviva, and two barons should go to the Duke of Macedonia as +ambassadors. When they were with him the Marquis of Saint George +said: + +"Duke, you should not be surprised to see us: our captain and the +illustrious dukes, counts and marquis have sent us here. We want +you to give us a share of the treasure you took from the enemy +camp." + +And he said no more. + +"How overjoyed I am," said the duke, "to hear idiotic words from +such ignorant people! How could you think I would do such a +thing when we have been battling day and night with sweat and +blood against our enemy?" + +The ambassadors got back on their horses, and in the camp they +found the captain and the grandees holding a meeting in the +council tent. Then the marquis told them about the duke's reply, +and he said: + +"Let us all mount our horses: an insult like this can't be +forgotten!" + +The marquis quickly left the tent and armed himself, as did all +the others. + +When the captain saw the disturbance in his camp, he was very +upset and he immediately had a proclamation made that no one, +under penalty of death, should mount their horses. Then he went +up and down, seizing the knights, and he begged the dukes and +marquis not to do this, because if they became involved in a +quarrel, the Turks they had taken prisoner would fall upon them. + +When the disturbance had subsided, Tirant ordered them to go to +the battle site, and take the clothing from all the dead bodies +they found and to keep it. Some of the knights asked why, and he +told them that at some time they might be able to use it. + +As the Moors were being defeated in battle and were fleeing, +Diafebus thought about how to bring renown and fame to Tirant, in +the present and the future. He went to him and asked him for the +captain's ring. Tirant removed his glove, took off the ring and +gave it to him. Diafebus halted for a moment even though the +others were pressing forward, and he stopped one of his squires +who was a good and faithful man, and gave him the ring. He +instructed him about everything he was to say to the emperor and +to Carmesina, and then to all the others. + +To carry out his master's order, the squire wheeled his horse +about, dug in his spurs and galloped away without stopping until +he was in Constantinople. + +When he stood before the emperor, he knelt and said: + +"My lord, I have good news. Give me my reward." + +After the emperor promised to do so, Pyramus gave him the ring, +and told him all about the battle, and how they had conquered the +Turks--which had been like a miracle. + +The following day the sultan sent three ambassadors to Tirant. +They put a sheet of paper on a stick and held it up as a signal +for safe-conduct. When they were inside the tent the ambassadors +were welcomed by the captain and all the others, and they gave +the sultan's letter to Tirant. He had it read in everyone's +presence, and it said the following: + +"I, Armini, great sultan of Babylonia, and lord of three empires. +Glorious Tirant lo Blanc, Captain of the Greeks and defender of +the Christian faith, we salute you. And we declare to you, by +counsel and deliberation of the Grand Turk and the five kings +here under my power and command, with another ten who are in my +own land, that if you ask me for a lasting peace or a treaty of +six months, we will offer you our "white face" to show our +honesty and the six months of peace, out of reverence for all +powerful God, in the old manner. Written in our camp on the +eastern shore on the second day of the moon and of the birth of +our holy prophet Mohammed, etc." + +After the letter had been read, Tirant told the ambassadors to +explain their embassy. One of the ambassadors, Abdalla Salomon, +stood up, bowed, and said: + +"We have been sent to you, Tirant lo Blanc, captain of the Greek +people, as representatives of the magnanimous and glorious lords, +the Grand Turk and the sultan. After the great number of deaths +you brought to our soldiers, you imprisoned a small child, the +brother in law of our sovereign lord, the great sultan, his +wife's brother, along with many other virtuous knights. We beg of +you, on behalf of the thing you love most in this world, to give +us the child. If you will not do this for love, ask a ransom for +him, in silver or gold, and it will be granted." + +Tirant replied: + +"Since you hold up to me the thing I love most in the world, and +you ask for a prisoner, I'll give him to you and forty more along +with him. As for the other part of your embassy, I'll hold a +meeting with my men, and then I will give you an answer." + +Tirant summoned his constables and told them to go with the +ambassadors to select forty-one prisoners for release. + +Then Tirant addressed all the great lords there: + +"Illustrious princes and lords. We've seen the request of the +sultan and the Turk. Do you think we should grant them the truce +they are asking for?" + +First the Duke of Macedonia spoke: + +"Most egregious and noble lords. This is more my business than +it is the rest of yours because I am closer to the imperial +crown. It's my advice and my demand that we grant them the +six-month truce they're asking for, and even longer if they wish, +and even peace if they want it, whether the emperor likes it or +not." + +The Duke of Pera couldn't stand to hear anything more from the +Duke of Macedonia--for they were at odds with each other because +each of them wanted to take the princess as his wife--and he +said: + +"Gentlemen, it seems to me that for His Majesty the emperor's +benefit, and for the well being of the entire empire and the +republic, we shouldn't offer them peace or a truce." + +Many felt they should accept a truce, but most agreed with the +Duke of Pera. + +Then Tirant said: + +"Since His high Majesty, the emperor has given me the right to +speak in his place, I tell your lordships that I don't think it +would help anyone to have a truce with these evil people. All +their blood that's been spilled is because of your might, and +that's the reason they're asking for peace or for a six- month +truce. Because during that time, gentlemen, you know that +they'll be waiting for the Genoese ships to bring foot soldiers +and cavalry. And in that time they would fill this land with +such great numbers of men that afterward all the power of +Christianity wouldn't be enough to throw them out." + +The Duke of Macedonia spoke up and said: + +"Tirant, if you don't want to have a truce, I do, and I'll make +one. And I advise everyone to make it with me." + +"Duke," said Tirant, "don't make disorder out of what the emperor +has ordered. If you try to do that, I'll have you seized and +taken to His Majesty, the emperor." + +Then the duke stood up, his eyes moist, and he left the tent and +went to his camp, and Tirant and his men went to their own. + +Next to a spring of very fresh water that ran beside their camp, +Tirant set up a canopy, with many tables placed around the +crystalline spring. + +Tirant had the ambassadors served at one table, and the prisoners +that had been released to them at a lower table on the left; all +the dukes and lords, low on the right. And they were served +splendidly with chickens and capons, pheasant, rice and couscous, +and many other dishes and very fine wines. The ambassadors were +very pleased, seeing how Tirant had the dukes and himself served +with such ceremony. + +Then they all went to the council tent, and Tirant gave them the +following reply: + +"You tell the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk that I will in no +way give them peace now unless they face Mecca and swear in the +presence of all the good knights that in six months they and all +their men will leave the empire and will return the lands of the +empire that they have occupied." + +Then Ambassador Abdalla Salomon stood up and said: "Since you +don't want to give us peace, wait for the fifteenth day of the +moon. For on that day such a multitude of Moorish soldiers will +come here that the earth will not be able to hold them up." + +After they had departed Tirant ordered Diafebus to go to +Constantinople that night with many soldiers, on foot and on +horseback, and all the prisoners. + +When Diafebus reached the city, the emperor and all the others +acknowledged Tirant as the victor, and all the knights were +praised, and the victory was celebrated with great joy. Diafebus +delivered four thousand three hundred prisoners to the emperor on +Tirant's behalf so that the Greeks would see his virtue and great +generosity. The emperor had them taken and carefully guarded. +The following day the emperor took fifteen ducats for each +prisoner from his treasury, and delivered them to Diafebus to +give to Tirant. + +When the princess knew that Diafebus was free from his duties she +sent word to him to come to her chambers. There was nothing +Diafebus wanted more than to be able to talk to her and to +Stephanie with whom he was very much in love. When the princess +saw him she quickly said to him: + +"My good brother, what news do you bring me from that virtuous +knight who holds my heart captive? When will the time come that +I can see him and have him near me without being afraid? You +know that I want to see him more than anything in the world." + +Diafebus answered: + +"Your Excellency's loving words would have turned that famous +knight's sadness to joy if he had heard them, and would lift his +spirit to the highest heaven." + +The princess was very pleased by what Diafebus said about Tirant. +Then Stephanie said: + +"You've spoken, and now it's my turn. Please listen to what I +have to say. Tell me, my lady, who but Tirant is worthy of +wearing the crown of an emperor? Who else but Tirant deserves to +be your husband? Why didn't God make me the emperor's daughter? +Why didn't he make you Stephanie and me Carmesina? I can assure +you that I wouldn't refuse him anything. If he lifted up my +skirt I would lift up my blouse for him, and I would satisfy him +in every way I could. If Your Highness takes some foreign king, +how do you know that he won't give you a life of pain? And if +you want someone from this land, I'll talk against my father. +Because with his rank he should be your husband, but when you +want to play, he'll be snoring; and when you want to talk he'll +be asleep. If you take the Duke of Pera, why he's not even your +age. This is what Your Highness needs: Someone who knows how to +keep you and your whole empire from danger. Who else can defend +and increase it the way he is doing? He's the one who will make +you run all around your bedroom, sometimes completely naked and +other times in your nightshirt." + +The princess laughed, delighted at what Stephanie was saying. +Diafebus said: + +"Lady Stephanie, by your nobility, tell me the truth: if it were +Tirant's good fortune for the princess to take him as a husband, +who would you take?" + +"My lord Diafebus," said Stephanie, I can assure you that if +fortune had the princess become Tirant's wife, I would take his +nearest blood relative." + +"If it were by blood line, it would have to be me, especially +because I am as obedient to your grace as Tirant has been to the +princess who, with her beauty and dignity, deserves to rule the +world. So please accept me as steward of your chamber, and kiss +me as a token of faith." + +"It would be neither honest or just," said Stephanie, "for me to +grant you anything without the command of my lady who has raised +me from an early age, especially in Her Majesty's presence." + +Diafebus knelt on the floor, and with his hands pressed together +begged the princess, devoutly and with humility, as if she were a +saint in paradise, to permit him to kiss her. But for all his +pleading, she would not give him permission. Stephanie said: + +"Oh, hardened and cruel heart! Your Majesty never wants to lean +toward mercy no matter how much you are begged. I will never be +happy until I see Tirant with my own eyes." + +"Oh, brother Diafebus!" said the princess. "Don't ask me for +unjust things now." + +While they were saying these pleasant words, the emperor sent for +Diafebus to have him go quickly back to the camp. + +The guards then came from their watch at sea and told the emperor +that five large ships were coming from the east. The emperor, +afraid that they were Genoese, stopped Diafebus from going that +day, and had many men board their own ships and galleys in port. +When the other ships approached, the emperor learned that they +had been sent by the Grand Master of Rhodes, with soldiers on +board. + +The good prior leapt down to the land along with many knights of +the white cross. Diafebus was at the port, near the sea, waiting +for them. When they met they recognized each other, and Diafebus +paid them great honor. Together they went to the great palace of +the emperor, and found him seated on his throne. Bowing, the +prior of Saint John said: + +"Your Excellency, knowing that the greatest of all knights, +Tirant lo Blanc, is in the service of Your Majesty as +captain-general of all the empire, the Grand Master of Rhodes has +sent two thousand paid soldiers, on foot and on horseback, to +serve Your Highness for the space of fifteen months." + +The emperor was very happy at their arrival. After they had +rested for four days they left with Diafebus for the camp. When +they were five leagues away, they learned that Tirant had gone +forward to take a well- defended plaza, and they heard the loud +pounding of bombards. When Tirant saw a part of the wall broken, +he dismounted and gave battle on foot, and he went so near the +wall that a large rock was thrown at his head, and he was felled. +His men struggled to pull him out of the moat, and at this moment +Diafebus and the prior came to the villa. + +The Turks, inside, were terrified when they saw so many men +coming, and they lost all hope. After Ricart had taken Tirant to +safety, he again attacked the villa mightily, and they broke +through by sheer force. + +The Turks, far from any hope of victory, fell into a rage and +prepared to die fighting. But as the Christians took the villa, +they killed every Turk they saw without mercy, and so they were +all given the terrible knife. The Prior of Saint John arrived in +time for the attack on the villa, and his men shared in the +booty, and this indicated to them that they would be victorious. +They went to the cot where Tirant was lying, and explained to him +everything the Master had commanded them. + +Tirant thanked them and the Grand Master for the noble help they +were bringing. But he said these words very wearily: he could +barely speak because of the great pain he felt in his head. The +doctors came, and they took sheep's heads and cooked them in +wine, and applied this to Tirant's head with cloths. And the +following morning he was well. + +For a few days the men in the field rested. When the moon was in +its fifteenth day, the Turks came just as the ambassador had said +they would. They came up next to a bridge, with their encampment +remaining on one side, and Tirant's camp on the other side, the +bridge being broken in the middle. When all the men were +together, they numbered two hundred seventy battalions. + +When they were all ready, they had the bombards set in place. +The following day their firing was so loud and came so often that +Tirant found it necessary to shift his encampment to the top of a +hill, very close to the river, where there were springs of pure +water and large expanses of meadowland. At times all the +bombards fired together. And although it was a very clear day, +the sky grew dark, for they had more than six hundred bombards, +both small and large, despite the fact that they had lost so many +when they were defeated. + +When Tirant's men so saw many of them, they were frightened at +the large number of men on horseback and on foot. There were +many who wished they were one hundred leagues from there. + +When the sultan saw that he could not cross the river to engage +the Christians in battle, he quickly had the bridge repaired. +When Tirant saw them repairing the bridge, he took four of his +men a league distant to a large stone bridge, and at each end of +the bridge there was rocky ground and a castle. When the sultan +had conquered all that land, he saw that bridge, but Lord Malvei, +the gentleman who was lord of the two castles, would never make a +pact with him, no matter how much he promised. For he never +wanted to deny or be ungrateful to God or to his natural +lord--the emperor. Instead, from those castles at the bridge, +they often waged war against the villas and cities the Turks had +taken. As a result, the sultan was forced to make a wooden +bridge so that his men could cross over to carry out the conquest +of the empire. + +When Tirant reached the castle, he spoke with the knight whose +name was Malvei and who had a very valiant son. The father +occupied one castle, and his son the other. They each had thirty +horsemen, and with the war they had become very wealthy. The +son, whose name was Hippolytus, became a great friend of Tirant +and almost never left his side. The father and son begged Tirant +to grant him the honor of chivalry, and he did so. + +Then Tirant had many trees in the woods cut down, the driest they +could find. They measured the width of the river and they made +beams, nailing them together with heavy spikes, and they made +them so long that they reached across the river. And they put +those beams underneath the stone bridge, and from one beam to +another they nailed heavy joists, and over the joists they nailed +wooden slabs. It was smooth from one end to the other, and it +was well caulked with pitch. When this raft was finished, they +put a chain at each end and attached it to the stone bridge. And +they covered it well with green branches in order to hide it. + +When the Turks had finished repairing their bridge, the men began +to cross it on foot, little by little. But they readied the +bombards so that, if the Christians came, they could defend the +bridge and the soldiers who had already gone across. When Tirant +saw the Turkish soldiers crossing, the men in his camp were very +disheartened, but he encouraged them and raised their spirits. +He had the trumpets blown so that everyone would mount their +horses, and they shifted their camp near the stone bridge. When +the Turks saw Tirant's camp being raised, they assumed that they +were fleeing out of fear, and they went across more +enthusiastically. + +When the sultan and the Grand Turk had gone across with all their +armies, their battalions in order, one after the other, they made +their way toward the Christians. When Tirant saw that they were +near, he crossed over the stone bridge and waited for them. The +Moors, seeing them on the other side, quickly returned to their +wooden bridge. When they had crossed it, they made their way +upriver to meet him and wage battle. And Tirant, when he saw +them near, raised camp and went back to the other side. + +This went on for three days. + +The Turks held council, and the King of Egypt said: + +"Give me one hundred thousand soldiers and I'll go to one side of +the river, and all of you can stay on the other side, and at the +same time that I engage them in battle, as quickly as you can, +you must come to my aid. This way, we will be victorious." + +All the captains and nobles praised the wise words of the King of +Egypt, but the sultan answered: + +"It's foolish to say that you will take them on with one hundred +thousand men, even though they have even fewer. You take half +our men, and I will take the other half. And whoever engages +them first will do so, and if the other half will bravely help +us, we will have true glory and honor." + +And the discussion ended. + +The kings took one half of the men, and the sultan took the other +half and crossed the bridge. When Tirant saw how their forces +were divided, with the river in between, he said: + +"This is exactly what I wanted." + +He raised his encampment that was on the side of the kings and +had all the tents and carts placed inside the two castles with +all the pages. And Tirant held his men back until nightfall. +And before the sun had passed the columns of Hercules, Tirant +crossed the bridge to the side where he had first been, and he +had the foot soldiers climb a hill that was in line with the head +of the bridge. When the foot soldiers were up, he had the men +with weapons also go up, one squadron behind the other. The +sultan, who was on that side, seeing that almost all the men had +gone up the side of the hill to give battle, and that there were +only four squadrons remaining, went swiftly toward them and +attacked them, making them flee up the hill, and sixty Christians +were killed. Tirant retreated, battling all the time, and night +fell. The Turks came down to the foot of the hill and set up +their tents. + +When Tirant went up the hill, he found all the knights and nobles +absolutely disconsolate. They were running here and there, +crying and moaning, with sad, woeful countenances. When Tirant +saw them acting that way, he called them all together and said: + +"I only want to tell you that if you will put your effort into +this, with the aid of Our Lord and His Holy Mother, Our Lady, I +will make you victorious over your enemies within three hours." + +Nearly all were consoled by the captain's words, except for the +Duke of Macedonia who, before the battles were finished, sent a +squire of his with instructions about what he should tell the +emperor. When he reached the city, he dismounted and left his +horse, indicating that he had fled the battle-site and that he +had tears in his eyes. When he was in the palace, he found many +people there, and he said: + +"Where is that poor man they call the emperor?" + +When he was informed that Albi, the Duke of Macedonia's squire, +had arrived, the emperor quickly came out of his chambers. When +Albi saw the emperor he fell to the ground, pulling his hair and +lowering his eyes and face, and he said mournfully: + +"It has been your will to degrade your captains and vassals, and +to honor foreigners of ill repute, men who are known for no +deeds, and who wear shoddy tunics. Oh, Emperor! You are lost +and so are all your people, for it has been your wish to take +away the succession of the empire from that famous and +illustrious nobleman, the Duke of Macedonia, to give it to a vile +foreigner who has led himself and all the men in the camp to +their destruction, and has run away, and we don't know where he +is. This is what the person who was the emperor deserved! For +the Moors have them trapped on a small hill, and they have no +bread or wine, or even water for the horses. By now they must +all be dead. I am going to leave with my great pain, and you, +who were the emperor, must remain with your own." + +"Oh, woe is me!" cried the emperor. And he went into his +chambers and fell upon his bed, lamenting. + +The princess approached her father to comfort him, but there was +no one to console the empress and the other maidens. Rumors of +the bad news ran throughout the city, and everyone broke into +loud wailing for the friends and relatives they believed had been +killed. Let us leave them to their weeping and see what is +happening to Tirant. + +Having bolstered his men's spirits with his words, they were very +optimistic, trusting the great judgement of the captain. Tirant +left the encampment at the top well guarded, and took a man with +him and went down the back side of the mountain without being +seen. When he was at the bottom, he left his armor under a tree, +and cautiously stole up to the castle of Lord Malvei. He picked +up two stones, one in each hand, and just as they had agreed, he +signaled by hitting them together. When Lord Malvei heard the +signal, he opened the gates of the bridge. Tirant went in, and +found everything that had been prepared. First he had a great +deal of oil and tar poured into a wooden bucket, along with pitch +and quicklime and other things that would help make a fire, and +he gathered a good deal of dry wood, and he had it all spread on +top of the wooden raft he had made, and tied two long ropes to +each of the chains of the raft. The two men got into a small +fishing boat, and each of them held one of the ropes. When the +raft was untied, the current carried it downriver, and whenever +it would become stuck on one side of the river one of the men +would pull on a rope to free it. Tirant told them not to light +the fire until they were near the bridge. + +When the Turks saw such huge flames in the river, they believed +they were lost, and the sultan and all his men abandoned their +camp. Fleeing as quickly as they could, they ran toward the +wooden bridge. As the sultan had a good horse, he first waited +until the fire reached the bridge, and then he went across, and +many men followed him. And if the two men had followed the +captain's orders and waited to light the fire, all would have +been killed or taken prisoner. In their rush to cross to the +other side, many Moors and their horses fell into the water. The +fire was so great that the entire bridge quickly burned down. +And twenty-two thousand or more men were unable to cross the +bridge. + +When Tirant observed the fire going down the river, he cautiously +worked his way back to his troops. He found nearly all of them +mounted, wanting to get their enemies' booty. But Tirant would +not allow it, telling them: + +"We would gain no honor now. Tomorrow we will have the honor and +the booty." + +In spite of all that had happened, Tirant had a very tight watch +set that night, saying: + +"Not all of them could have gotten across. In their desperation, +couldn't they fall on us?" + +When the clear day broke and the sun appeared on our horizon, the +captain had the trumpets blown, and everyone mounted. They had +the carts and the pages brought out, and all the men went back +down to their former camp, and from there they saw what was left +of the enemy. + +Diafebus, seeing the pitiful state of the Turks, took the ring +from Tirant's hand, and Tirant said to him: + +"Cousin, what are you doing?" + +Diafebus said: + +"I want to send Pyramus to the emperor. They haven't had word +from us for so long!" + +"I beg you, cousin," said Tirant, "send word to him that we need +flour and supplies before we run out." + +Pyramus left. When he reached the city of Constantinople, he saw +everyone looking very sad and oppressed, and all the women were +crying. He went into the palace, and it was worse: their faces +were scratched, their clothing torn. Of all those who saw him, +no one said a word to him. When he spoke to anyone, they would +not answer. He thought the emperor must have died, or the +empress, or their daughter. + +He went further inside, into a hall, and recognized the emperor's +chamberlain, and he ran to him, laughing. The chamberlain said: + +"With all your unbridled happiness, how dare you come to the +emperor's chamber?" + +"Friend," said Pyramus, "don't be angry with me: I don't know +what is making everyone sad here. Let me talk to the emperor, +and if he is sad, I will make him happy." + +Without saying another word, the chamberlain went into the +empress's chamber where he found the emperor with his daughter +and the maidens, the windows closed and all of them in mourning. +The chamberlain said: + +"Sire, one of those reprobate traitors with that reprobate +knight, Tirant lo Blanc, is at the door. His name is Pyramus, +and I am certain he has fled the battle with his lord. He says +he wants to talk to Your Majesty." + +The emperor said: + +"Tell him to get out of here, and to leave my lands. And if I +find him or any of his master's men, I will have them thrown down +from the highest tower in the palace." + +And as the emperor spoke these words, imagine how the pain in the +princess's heart grew twofold. For no matter how much harm +Tirant might have done, she could not completely forget him. + +After the chamberlain told Pyramus about the emperor's response, +Pyramus said: + +"In faith, I will not leave. For my lord Tirant has committed no +treachery, nor have any of his men. If the emperor will not +listen to me, tell the princess to come out here to the chamber +door, and I will tell her things that will make her very happy." + +The chamberlain told the emperor what Pyramus had said. Then the +emperor told Carmesina to go out and talk to him, but that she +was not to let him come inside the chamber. When the princess +came out to the hall with such a sad face, Pyramus knelt and +kissed her hand, and then he began to speak: + +"My most excellent lady, I am startled by the great change I see +in Your Majesty, in everyone in the palace and in the entire +city. I'm very astonished because I don't know what has caused +this, and no one I've asked has been willing to tell me. If His +Majesty, the emperor, doesn't want that famous knight, Tirant lo +Blanc, to be his captain, tell me, and we will quickly leave the +empire." + +When the distressed princess had listened to Pyramus words, with +tears in her eyes she told him everything the duke's squire had +said. When Pyramus heard such wickedness, he put his hands to +his head and answered: + +"My lady, have the ones who brought you such news, and caused the +emperor so much pain, put into prison. And arrest me if the +truth isn't that Tirant has been victorious and caused the sultan +to flee, and burned down the bridge, and has more than twenty +thousand of the enemy trapped near the river. If all this isn't +true, let them cut me to pieces. + +And as greater proof, here is the captain's seal that Tirant gave +me." + +When the princess heard such glorious news, she quickly ran into +the chamber where her father was, and told him everything Pyramus +had said. The poor emperor, with all the excessive happiness he +felt, fainted and fell from his chair. The doctors were +summoned, and they restored him to consciousness. He had Pyramus +brought in, and as soon as he heard the news from his lips, he +had all the bells in the city rung, and everyone went to the +church, and there they gave praise and thanks to God, Our Lord, +and to His Holy Mother, for the victory that had been achieved. +When they returned to the palace, the emperor had the duke's +squire imprisoned. Then Pyramus begged him to have the ships +leave quickly with provisions for the encampment. The following +day Pyramus left with many words of praise for Tirant and for +many others. When this emissary returned with the news, Tirant +was amazed at what the Duke of Macedonia had done. + +The day Pyramus left, the Turks, having lost all hope, realized +that they could not carry on the battle. So to choose the lesser +of two evils, they decided to let themselves be taken prisoner. + +Luckily, the wise Moor, Abdalla Salomon, was still with them, and +they decided to send him as ambassador to Tirant once more. He +put a rag on the end of a lance, and when Tirant saw it, he +answered immediately. Abdalla Salomon went up to Tirant's camp, +presented himself, and very humbly said: + +"If your lordship, magnanimous captain, would do us the grace of +sparing our lives, you would be regarded as glorious among your +enemies. I beg you to act with all the virtue you have in you." + +The captain had the Moor and all who were with him come into his +tent, and he fed them. And they certainly needed it. Then the +captain met with all the great lords, and they agreed with what +Tirant said to them. He had Ambassador Abdalla summoned, and gave +him the following reply: + +"I don't think it will be very long before I'll give the sultan +and all the others a fitting punishment, but so that they will +see that I don't wish to harm them as much as I could, I'll be +satisfied if they will bring all their offensive and defensive +weapons to the middle of that meadow. And I don't want them all +brought together, but one hundred at a time, and then they can +bring the horses. That's the way I want it done." + +The ambassador took his leave of the captain, and went back and +did everything Tirant had ordered. + +When all the weapons had been laid down, the captain had them all +brought to the camp, and then all the horses were brought up. +The Turks were very pleased that he didn't have them all killed, +because they thought that even if they were held captive, they +could be ransomed. Tirant had them come, unarmed, to the foot of +the mountain, and there he gave them food in abundance while his +men kept them guarded. Then Tirant went down to them and seized +the Christian dukes, counts and knights among them, and he had +them come with him up to his camp. He made them go into a tent, +and they were well-served with everything necessary for human +sustenance. But many were not pleased that the captain was +paying them so much honor when they did not deserve it, for they +had come to help Moors against Christians. And when Tirant's men +said so to their faces, they recognized their error, and stopped +eating. + +Tirant held the prisoners this way until the ships arrived. + +Two days later the ships came loaded with provisions. After they +had unloaded everything, the captain consulted with the others, +and they decided to transfer all the prisoners to the ships and +have them taken to the emperor. The High Constable was put in +charge of them, and they set out. The constable had the sails +raised, and with a favorable wind they reached the port of +Constantinople in only a few days. The emperor and all the +ladies were at the windows, watching the vessels as they +approached. The constable had the prisoners disembark, and he +took them to the palace. The constable went up to where the +emperor was, and kissed his hands and feet. And delivering the +good wishes of the captain, he presented the prisoners. + +The magnanimous lord received them very happily, and indicated +how pleased he was with the captain. And placing the prisoners +under heavy guard, the emperor had the constable go into this +chambers where the empress and the princess were. He asked him +about everything at the encampment, and the constable told him, +adding: + +"Tonight or tomorrow, Diafebus will be here, with the noblemen +that he is bringing as prisoner." + +"What!" said the emperor. "Are there still more?" And his +happiness grew greater than ever. + +The following day Diafebus entered the center of the city with +his prisoners, while his trumpets and tambourines played. The +emperor and all the people were astonished at the great multitude +of prisoners. + +When they were at the square in front of the palace, the emperor +was at a window. Diafebus bowed deeply to him, and quickly went +up to his chambers to kiss his hand, and then did the same to the +empress and the princess. After he had embraced all the ladies, +he turned back to the emperor and gave him the good wishes Tirant +had sent. When the emperor had spoken at length with Diafebus, +he had the prisoners placed in the strongest towers they had. + +When Diafebus had the opportunity, he went to the princess's +chamber and found her with all the maidens. When the princess +saw him, she got up to go to him. Diafebus hurried toward her, +and knelt and kissed her hand, saying: + +"This kiss is from someone whom Your Highness has condemned to a +stronger prison than the one that the prisoners I have brought +are in." + +As the maidens approached, he could say nothing further for fear +that they might hear him. But she took him by the hand and they +went to a window- seat. Then the princess summoned Stephanie, +and Diafebus said: + +"Your Highness should not forget such a noble knight, and the +lack of liberty he has had since the moment he saw you." + +Smiling, the princess answered: + +"Oh Diafebus, my brother! I receive your words as the vassal of +your lord, and I return his wishes just as strongly, and even +more so." + +As they were speaking, the emperor came in and saw Diafebus +deeply involved in conversation with his daughter, and he said: + +"Upon my father's bones, what a wonderful sight to see how these +maidens like to hear of the exploits of these good knights." + +And he told his daughter to leave the room and go out to the main +plaza in the market-place. Diafebus went with the emperor; then +he came back to escort the empress and the princess. When they +were in the market-place they saw a large cenotaph that the +emperor had made, entirely covered with cloth of gold and silk. +When all the ladies had been seated, the emperor commanded that +all the prisoners be brought out, and they were ordered to sit on +the ground, Moors as well as Christians. + +Then the people were silenced, and the following proclamation was +read: + +"We, Frederick, by divine grace Emperor of the Greek Empire of +Constantinople. So that it may be known and made manifest to the +whole world how these wicked knights and unfaithful Christians +have accepted payment from the infidel, and taking up arms have +united with them in waging war against Christianity. They are +deserving of great punishment, and of being removed from the +order of chivalry and disinherited by the nobility from which +they are descended. So that it may be a punishment for them and +an example for all others, we pronounce them traitors to all +Christians here present. And we sentence them to be dealt with +as all such traitors against God and the world." + +When the sentence had been read, twelve knights came out dressed +in long robes and hoods, and the emperor dressed in a similar +fashion. Then they had the men rise from the ground, and they +were brought up to the cenotaph where they were armed and then +degraded as is done with evil knights, and then they were +returned to prison. Then the emperor said: + +"Let there be justice, and let us show mercy to no one." + +The Duke of Macedonia's squire was brought out with a large chain +around his neck. And he was condemned to die, hanging upside +down, for all the anguish he had caused. When Diafebus saw the +squire, he hurried to the emperor and knelt at his feet, begging +him not to have the squire killed so that wicked people could not +say that it was done because he had spoken badly about his +captain. When the princess saw that Diafebus' words were futile, +she too came and knelt at the emperor's feet to beg him. And +when that proved futile, the empress and all the maidens came to +plead for his life as well. The emperor said: + +"Who has ever seen a death sentence revoked that has been handed +down by the general council? I have never done it, nor will I do +it now." + +The princess caught his hands, pretending to kiss them, and she +stealthily removed the ring from his finger without his noticing +it, and said to him: + +"It is not Your Majesty's custom to be so cruel as to sentence +anyone to die with such pain." + +The emperor said: + +"My child, change his death sentence as you wish." + +The princess handed the ring to Diafebus, and he rode swiftly to +where they were holding the execution, and gave the ring to the +constable. The squire was already on the ladder, about to be +executed, and Diafebus grabbed him and took him to his lodging. +When Diafebus left to go to the palace, the squire quickly ran to +the monastery of San Francisco where he became a friar. + +The next day, the emperor sent all the Turks who had not been +ransomed to other places to be sold: Venice, Sicily, Rome and +Italy. Those that could not be sold were traded for arms, horses +or food. + +When it came time for the constable and Diafebus to leave, the +emperor took as much gold from his treasury as he had received +from the ransom of the prisoners, and sent it along with them for +the captain. + +The day before they were to leave, Diafebus discovered that the +emperor had retired, and he went to the princess's chamber. The +first one he met there was Stephanie, and he bowed deeply on one +knee and said: + +"Gentle lady, I would consider myself the most fortunate man +alive if you would accept me as your closest servant. I love you +above all the ladies in the world." + +At that moment the emperor's chamberlain came in and told him +that the emperor wished to speak with him. Diafebus begged +Stephanie to wait for him there, and said that he would return as +quickly as he could. + +When the emperor saw Diafebus, he told him that he and the +constable were to leave before nightfall. Diafebus returned to +the chamber and found his lady deep in thought and with tears in +her eyes, because she knew that the emperor summoned him only to +tell him that he must leave. Diafebus, seeing her so +disconsolate, tried to show her that it was hurting him even more +to leave. + +While they were consoling each other this way, the princess came +into the chamber from the treasure tower, wearing a blouse and a +skirt of white damask, her hair falling down to her shoulders +because it was so warm. When she saw Diafebus she tried to turn +back, but Diafebus blocked her way. + +"Shall I tell you something?" said the princess. "I don't care +what happens in your presence. You are like a brother to me." + +Plaerdemavida spoke up: + +"My lady, can Your Highness see Stephanie's face? It looks like +she's been blowing on a fire: her face is as red as a rose in +May. I can't imagine that Diafebus' hands were idle while we +were in the tower. We should have known he'd be here! She was +here with the thing she loves most. I tell you, if I had a +lover, I'd play with him too, the way both of you do. But I'm a +barren woman, and I have no one to love. Lord Diafebus, do you +know who I love with all my heart? Hippolytus--Tirant's page. +And if he were a knight, I'd love him even more." + +"I promise you," said Diafebus, "that in the next battle I take +part in, he will be made a knight." + +And they joked this way for a long while. Then the princess +said: + +"Do you know something, Diafebus? When I turn around and look +everywhere in the palace and I don't see Tirant, I feel as though +I'm dying. I want you to take him all my good wishes, and along +with them--wrapped up so that no one will see them--half the load +of gold a horse can carry so that he may spend it as he wishes. +And when it is gone, I will give him even more. I don't want him +or his men to lack for anything. Also, an aunt of mine left me a +county called Sant Angel in her will. I want Tirant to have it, +and for him to be named the Count of Sant Angel. So if it +becomes known that I love Tirant, at least they will say that I +am in love with a count." + +Diafebus was astonished when he heard the princess uttering words +filled with so much love, and he said: + +"I don't feel capable of thanking you for the honor you are +bestowing on Tirant. So I beg you, on behalf of that famous +knight and then on behalf of all of us of his lineage, allow me +to kiss your hands and feet." + +Stephanie was so bursting with love that she could not contain +herself any longer, and she said: + +"I'm envious of what Your Excellency is doing for that glorious +knight, Tirant. And since I must imitate Your Highness, allow me +to give everything I have to Diafebus here." + +And she got up and went into her chamber. There she wrote out a +document that she placed in her bosom, and then she went back out +to the princess. + +Meanwhile, Diafebus had been pressing the princess to allow him +to kiss her. But the princess would not give her consent. Then +Diafebus said: + +"Oh, how blind I've been! I would have given my life a hundred +times to do some service for Your Majesty. And Your Highness +will not allow me the pleasure of even a small part of the fruit! +From now on, find yourself another brother and servant to be at +your side. And don't imagine for a minute that I'll say anything +to Tirant on your behalf, and even less that I'll take him the +money. As soon as I reach camp, I'll take my leave of him and go +back to my own country. But someday you'll be sorry I left." + +Just then the emperor came into the chamber and told Diafebus +that he should get ready to leave that same evening. + +"Sire," said Diafebus, "I've just come from our lodging, and +everyone is ready to leave." + +The emperor then brought him out of the chamber and led him +through the palace, reminding both him and the constable of what +they were to do. + +"Oh, poor me!" said the princess. "Look how angry Diafebus was! +I don't think he'll want to do anything for me now. Stephanie, +beg him for my love not to be angry." + +"I certainly will," said Stephanie. + +Plaerdemavida spoke up: + +"Oh what a strange one you are, my lady. At a time when we're at +war, you don't know how to hold the friendship of these knights. +They put themselves in danger to defend Your Highness and the +entire empire, and you raise a ruckus over a kiss! What's wrong +with kissing? In France it doesn't mean anything more than a +handshake. If he wanted to kiss you, you should have let him. +And you should have done the same even if he had wanted to put +his hand under your skirts, when there are times of great need +like we have now. Later on, when we have peace, then you can +make virtue out of vice. Good woman, good woman, how deceived +you are!" + +Stephanie had already left, so the princess went to her room and +begged her to go and bring back Diafebus: + +"Now I'm afraid he really will leave just the way he said he +would. + +And if he goes away, it won't be surprising if Tirant leaves too. +And even if he doesn't, because of his love for me, many others +will go too. And then, just when we thought we were winning, we +would lose." + +"Don't make things so hard," said Plaerdemavida. "Don't send +anyone else, Your Highness. It would be better if you went +yourself on the pretext of seeing the emperor. Then talk to him, +and his anger will disappear quickly." + +The princess hurried to her father and found him talking. When +he had finished, she took Diafebus aside and pleaded with him not +to be angry with her. Diafebus replied: + +"Madam, it has to be one of two things: either kiss or leave. If +you give me what I'm asking for, then you can command me to do +anything, just or unjust, and I will do it." + +"Since you won't wait for the one who holds my heart captive," +said the princess, "kiss, kiss." + +Diafebus knelt on the hard floor and kissed her hand. Then he +went over to Stephanie and kissed her three times on the lips for +the Holy Trinity. + +Stephanie said: + +"Since at your great insistence, and by command of my lady, I +have kissed you, I give you my permission to take possession of +me, but only from the waist up." + +Diafebus was not slow to follow her request. He immediately put +his hands on her breasts, touching her nipples and everything +else that he could. His hands then found the document, and +thinking it was a letter from a rival suitor, he stopped cold, +almost losing his senses. + +"Read what is written there," said Stephanie, "and lose your +suspicions." + +The princess took the document from Diafebus' hand and read it: + +"I, Stephanie of Macedonia, daughter of the illustrious Prince +Robert, Duke of Macedonia, promise you, Diafebus of Muntalt, to +take you as my husband and lord. And looking toward our +marriage, I bring you the duchy of Macedonia with all the rights +belonging thereto. In testimony of which I sign and seal my name +in my own blood. + +"Stephanie of Macedonia." + +This Stephanie was not the Duke's daughter. Her father was a +glorious prince, and a very worthy and wealthy knight. He was +the emperor's first cousin, and this was his only child. When he +died, he left the duchy to her, stating in his will that it was +to be given to her when she was thirteen years old. In order to +have more children, her mother had then married the Count of +Albi, and he had taken the title of Duke of Macedonia. + +By now this maiden was fourteen years old. + +When night fell and they were all ready to leave, Diafebus, +happier than we can say, took his leave of the emperor and all +the ladies, and especially of Stephanie, begging her to think of +him while he was away. And she kissed him many times, in front +of the princess and Plaerdemavida. + +When they were back again with Tirant, he was very glad to see +them. Diafebus and the constable gave him the money the emperor +had sent. + +By now the Turks were desperate, and they cursed the world and +fortune that had brought them so much pain. By their +calculations they had lost, between the dead and those taken +prisoner, more than one hundred thousand men. In their anger +they held counsel to decide how they might kill Tirant. It was +decided that the King of Egypt should kill him, because he was +more skilled at arms than any of the others. + +The following day he called a council of all the great kings, +dukes, counts, and all the Christians, and they gathered in the +middle of a large meadow. When they were all there, the King of +Egypt said: + +"If you want me to challenge him to a battle to the death, he is +a very spirited knight and he will not be able to refuse. Then, +when he's here, we'll fight. If you see me getting the better of +him, leave us alone, and I will kill him. But if he is beating +me, shoot him down with an arrow. In either case, he will die +and so will everyone who comes with him." + +They were all pleased by what the king said. When the council +was over, the King of Egypt went into his tent and prepared to +write a letter. + +Now the sultan had a servant who had been born a Christian in the +city of Famagosta, and who had been taken prisoner at sea when he +was very young. And with his youth and lack of discretion, they +had made him become a Moor. When he grew older, he realized that +the Christian law was better than the Mohammedan sect, and he +decided to go back to the Christian faith. He did it the +following way. He prepared his arms and a good horse, and set +out for the bridge of stone were Lord Malvei was. When he was an +arrow shot away, he put his headdress on the tip of his lance, +asking for safety. When the men in the castle saw that it was +only one man, they offered him safety. But when the Moor was +near, an archer who knew nothing about the guarantee of safety, +shot an arrow that wounded the horse. + +Lord Malvei was very upset, and he promised the Moor that if the +horse died they would give him a better one. The Moor told him +how he had come there to become a Christian, and that he wanted +to talk to the great captain. They agreed that he should return +the following day and that Lord Malvei would advise Tirant. The +Moor was very pleased, and went back to the camp. The sultan +asked him where he had been and how his horse had been wounded. +The Moor replied: + +"Sir, I was bored here, so I went over to the bridge. I saw a +Christian on horseback and rode toward him. When I was close to +him, he shot an arrow at me. I spurred my horse on and caught up +to him and knocked him to the ground. Then I dismounted and +prepared to kill him. On his knees he begged my forgiveness. So +I pardoned him and we became good friends. And he has promised +to tell me everything that is happening in the Christian camp." + +"This is excellent news to me!" said the sultan. "Go back +tomorrow and find out if they intend to fight more, or if they +are going back to the city of Constantinople." + +The next day the Moor took one of the sultan's best horses and +rode to the bridge, where he was taken inside the castle. Tirant +soon arrived and paid reverence to Lord Malvei and his son, and +then embraced Lady Malvei, and gave honor to the Moor. The Moor +told him that he wanted to become a Christian and to serve him. +They went to the church, and there he was baptized with the name +Cipres of Paterno. Then he said: + +"Sir, now that I have been baptized a true Christian, I wish to +live and die in this holy faith. I will stay here if you like, +or I will go back to the camp and tell you what is happening +every day. No one in all our camp knows what is going on better +than I, because all the council meetings are held in the sultan's +tent, and I am a member of the council." + +Tirant begged him to go back, and to advise Lord Malvei as often +as he could about the Turk's plans. He agreed, and said: + +"I beg you, captain, let me have some sort of sweetmeats so I can +give them to the sultan. For he likes to eat these things, and +with this as an excuse, I'll be able to come and go easily, and +he won't suspect me." + +The Lord of Malvei said: + +"I can give them to you." + +And he had dates and sweetmeats brought in a box, and gave them +to Cipres de Paterno. + +When he had returned, the sultan asked him for news about the +Christians. He replied that his friend had told him that they +did not intend to leave. + +"Until your lordship changes your camp site. And sir, I was +given these dates and sweetmeats." + +The sultan was very pleased at what he had brought, and had him +go often. So he went and told Lord Malvei everything he knew, +and Lord Malvei kept Tirant informed. Cipres of Paterno swore +never again to serve the sultan. + +When the King of Egypt had the letter of battle drawn up, he +ordered a messenger to take it to Tirant, the captain of the +Greek army. It said the following: + +"From Abenamar, by the will of God, King of Egypt, to you, Tirant +lo Blanc, captain of the Greek army. + +"I challenge you to battle, man to man, on foot or on horseback +whichever you desire to your own advantage, before a competent +judge. We will do combat until one of us is dead, so that I may +present your head to my lady. If you wish to answer this letter, +give your reply to Egypt, my messenger, and that will suffice to +show your agreement, and to bring our battle to the end that I +desire. + +"Written in our camp on the eastern shore, the first day of this +moon, and signed. + +"King of Egypt" + +After Tirant held counsel in his tent, he answered the King of +Egypt's letter in the following way: + +"I vow to God and my lady, and to the honor of chivalry, that +twenty days into August, four days before or after, I will be on +the eastern shore, before your camp, with all the power to do +battle if you should wish it. Written by my hand and sealed with +my coat of arms in the camp called Transimeno. The fifth of +August. + +"Tirant lo Blanc." + + Here the book returns to the emperor who wanted very much to +have news of the camp. He saw seven sailing ships approaching, +and when they had docked he learned that they came from Sicily, +and that they were bringing four thousand soldiers and many +horses which the King of Sicily was sending. The reason for this +I shall now relate. + +As we have said previously, the eldest son of the King of Sicily +was in France, married to the daughter of the King of France. He +was virtuous and discreet, and his father-in-law would not allow +him to leave the court because of his great love for him. It +happened then that this son fell ill, and died. When his father, +the King of Sicily, learned of his death he was very sad. The +other son who had become a friar, did not want to leave the +religious life to be king after the death of his father. The king +was very upset when he saw that his son would not obey him, and +he fell sick to his bed. Realizing that he was dying, he put his +soul and his kingdom in order, and in his will he named his +daughter, Philippe's wife, to be his successor. + +When Philippe found himself king, remembering Tirant's help and +honor, he decided to go to his aid with the greatest forces he +could muster. But his wife, the queen, and everyone in his +kingdom pleaded with him not to go that year, because the queen +was with child. Seeing their great opposition, he decided to +stay. He sent in his place, as captain, the Duke of Messina, +with five thousand soldiers on foot and on horseback. Because of +her dealings with Tirant, the queen sent him two thousand +soldiers and made the Lord of Pantanalea their captain. + +When the soldiers had been given lodging, the emperor said: + +"I have decided to go to the camp to make peace between the Duke +of Macedonia and our captain. If I don't, they'll kill each +other some day. Since this sort of thing has happened twice +already, we have to guard against a third time. If I get the +Duke of Macedonia in my hands, I swear I'll cut off his head." + +Then the emperor ordered all his men to prepare to leave. + +"What, my lord!" said the empress. "Are you going with so few +men?" + +The emperor replied: + +"These barons from Sicily are here, and they'll go with me." + +All the emperor's servants quickly made ready. + +The following night, while the princess was asleep, Stephanie +came to her bed. She woke her and said: + +"My lady, I dreamt that I saw Diafebus, and that he told me: +'Stephanie, my love, Tirant and I are so fortunate to have you +here! Just being able to see you makes us sure we'll defeat the +Turks.' So, my lady, when I woke up I came here to tell Your +Highness that, if you wish, we can quickly satisfy your desires. +And they'll know first hand how great our love is: we will go to +them when they can't come to us." + +The princess said: + +"Give me my chemise, and don't say another word." + +She quickly dressed, and then she went to the emperor's chambers. +He had not yet gotten up, and she told him: + +"My lord, the maidens are afraid, hearing about the war, and +especially about the battles. So, Your Majesty, please don't +refuse me a favor. You should grant it to me for two reasons: +First, Your Majesty should not go anywhere without me because of +your age, for I love you more than anyone, and if Your Majesty +got sick I could serve you and be at your bedside, because I know +your nature better than anyone. The second reason is that it's +nature's course that whoever is born first should die first, +although sometimes we see the contrary. And if I go with Your +Majesty I could see and know about war, and in case the need +should arise in the future I would not be afraid." + +At first the emperor tried to dissuade her, but when she +insisted, he said: + +"My daughter, since you want it so much, I'll give my consent." + +On the day they left, the princess dressed in a skirt with gold +braid, and armed herself in a coat of mail she had had made for +her. She mounted a large white horse, and with a staff in her +hand she went as captain over her people. In her company were +sixty of the most beautiful and elegant maidens in the entire +court. She made Stephanie the commander, while the Duke of +Pera's daughter, Saladria, had the position of marshal. +Comtesina was lord constable, and Plaerdemavida carried the +emblem. Eliseu carried the large banner, Widow Repose was usher +of the chamber, and each of the others had their own office. And +this is how they rode until they reached Tirant's tent. + +When the emperor was situated in the camp tents, he sent word to +Lord Malvei, asking him to come talk with him. As soon as he +received the request, he quickly went to pay homage to the +emperor. He told him all about Tirant and the virtuous acts that +he did every day, and the princess was very pleased to hear the +praises of Tirant. Lord Malvei asked him if he would like to +stay at his castle, because he would be very safe there. So he +went, while all the Sicilian barons set up their tents near the +river. + +Lord Malvei covertly sent one of his men to the Valley of +Espinosa to tell the captain that the emperor had come with his +daughter and with the barons of Sicily. Tirant kept it secret +until the following day so that no one would leave with the +excuse of going to see the emperor or their relatives. He told +only Diafebus in great secrecy. + +When it was midnight, or very near it, everyone mounted their +horses. He had the foot soldiers go first, with Diafebus as +their captain, and with 400 lancers, their horses completely +decorated. Tirant earnestly charged Diafebus to stay behind some +rocks about a league from the enemy camp, and for him and his men +not to show themselves even if they saw that the battle was lost. +Even if he saw that they were killing him, they were not to come +out to help. Still not satisfied, he made him swear not to move +until he gave the command. + +Each division put their men in order. Tirant did the following: +All the horses were put in a row so that not one head was in +front of another. And everyone was in order except the Duke of +Macedonia who refused to obey any of the captain's orders. The +emperor's flags were in the middle. The Duke of Sinop was at the +end of one wing, and the Duke of Pera was at the other end. +Meanwhile the captain went up and down the line urging the men to +keep in order, for if they did, with the help of Our Lord he +would make them victorious that day. + +When the sultan saw the Christians preparing for battle, he +quickly put all his forces in order: All the men with lances were +put in front; next came the archers and crossbowmen; then the +Christians that the Grand Turk had hired to fight for him, on +horses which were nicely covered and with large plumes, and they +were more than fifteen paces behind the crossbowmen. The Turks +were last of all, and they had more than four hundred bombards. +They thought that with the bombards they would kill more than +seven hundred men. When all the men were in place the King of +Egypt sent a messenger to Tirant to thank him for keeping his +promise, and to tell him that he would kill him or take him +prisoner on that day. He said Tirant would taste the point of +his lance very soon, and he would see how bitter it tasted. +Tirant answered that he would be very happy to see how it tasted +because he had so much sugar that he would not notice any bitter +taste at all, but that that day he would engage him in battle, +and he would spill his blood. + +Tirant again urged his men on. He took away their fear, and gave +them hopes of having a glorious victory. The Turks shot one +bombard, and the blast went wide without touching anyone. Tirant +had a small axe tied to his arm with a silk cord, and in his hand +he held a small banner, and he signaled with it. The Duke of +Pera, who commanded one wing, turned his men toward the flags in +a very slow and orderly way, so that their backs were to the +enemy. At the other end of the wing was the Duke of Sinop, and +he held his men steady. When the men under the Duke of Pera had +turned and were in order again, Tirant signaled with the small +banner, and the men under the Duke of Sinop turned around in the +same orderly way. Then they were all facing the mountain, where +Diafebus was, with their backs to the enemy. They spurred their +horses forward at a gallop, always in a very orderly way, with +none of the horses going ahead of the others, When the Turks saw +them going back, they began to shout: + +"They're running away! They're running away!" + +The foot soldiers threw away their shields, others their lances, +and others their crossbows, to run after their Christian enemies. +The men on horseback threw off the coverings so that their horses +could run more swiftly. From time to time Tirant turned and saw +all the men coming, wave after wave, in confusion, and so he was +unconcerned about anything except for his troops to continue +moving in a very orderly way. And the Moors with good horses +came close enough to throw their lances at their backs. + +When the emperor, who was up in the tower, saw his men fleeing, +he believed that the battle was lost. All that night the maidens +did not take off their clothes, and prayed earnestly, begging the +Conqueror of Battles and His Holy Mother to give the Christians +victory. + +When Tirant saw the foot soldiers falling far behind, and that +they had passed the place where Diafebus was, Tirant raised the +banner he was carrying and they all stopped. Then each squadron +drew a stone's throw apart from the one next to it. When the +Turks saw them stop, they realized they had been tricked. Tirant +ordered the Duke of Pera to attack first, and he charged into the +enemy. When Tirant saw the enemy coming with reinforcements, he +had the Marquis of Saint George lead an attack, then the Duke of +Sinopoli. And so many men were killed that it was an astonishing +sight to see. + +Tirant saw that half his men had been involved in the attacks, +and they were still winning. Then, in the melee, he saw the King +of Cappadocia killing many Christians (He recognized him by his +coat of arms: a gold lion with a banner), and he took a lance and +spurred toward him. When the king saw him coming he did not turn +his back, but waited for him in anticipation. And when they met, +it was with such force that both they and their horses fell to +the ground. They both got up bravely, and slashed at each other +with their swords. But so many men were fighting aground them +that they could not fight well. Then the Turks helped their king +mount again. Pyramus went in front of the king so Tirant could +mount, and the others surrounded him, defending him until the +squadron of Count Plegamans could attack. This squadron came to +where the captain was, and they helped him mount behind Lord +Agramunt who took him out of the thick of battle. Since many +horses had lost their riders and were running loose, they caught +one and gave it to their captain, and he quickly went back into +the fray. + +The captain commanded all the squadrons to attack, some on the +right and some on the left. Then they saw helmets falling to the +ground, and many knights from both sides were being killed or +wounded. It was a startling sight to see. Tirant attacked too, +first in one place, then in another. And he did not fight in +only one place, but in many, helping wherever he was needed. + +The King of Egypt was able to see Tirant fighting very bravely. +He drew apart from the battle, and the Kings of Cappadocia and +Africa came out with him. The King of Egypt asked them to leave +the others and try to kill only Tirant. And with this accord +they returned to the battle. While Tirant was fighting, the Duke +of Macedonia came up behind Tirant, and plunged his sword into +his neck, under the helmet. Hippolytus and Pyramus saw it, and +cried: + +"You traitor! Why are you trying to kill one of the best knights +in the world?" + +The three kings had lances, and they worked their way forward +until they saw Tirant. They galloped toward him, but only the +King of Egypt and the King of Cappadocia were able to reach him. +The clash was so great that both Tirant and his horse fell to the +ground. The horse had seven wounds. + +The King of Africa attacked the Duke of Macedonia who was +fighting near Tirant, and the king plunged his lance into the +duke's chest with such force that it came out the other side, and +that is how he paid for his wickedness. + +Tirant was on the ground with his horse lying on his leg, and he +could barely get up. But with a great effort he stood up, and +the beaver fell from his helmet, for a lance hit him there, and +another hit his left vambrace. If it had not been for his own +soldiers then, he would have been killed. The King of Egypt saw +him on the ground, and quickly tried to dismount. When his leg +was on the saddlebow Lord Agramunt plunged a lance into his +thigh, and it came out the other side. The wound left him in +great pain, and he fell to the ground. When Tirant saw him +stretched out on the ground like that he ran toward him, but with +all the men fighting he could not reach him. The king stood up +again and picked up a lance that he found lying on the ground, +and he made his way forward until he was able to hurl his lance +at Tirant. Tirant was hit in the cheek, and since he had no +beaver, four of his teeth were knocked out, and he lost a great +deal of blood, but that did not stop him, and he continued to +fight. Hippolytus saw him on foot, wounded, and he made his way +to him. Then he dismounted as quickly as he could, and said: + +"My lord, take my horse, I beg you." + +Tirant was fighting at one end of the wing, moving away from the +thick of battle little by little. He mounted, and said to +Hippolytus: + +"What will you do?" + +Hippolytus answered: + +"Sir, save yourself. Even if they kill me, my love for you is +such that I will consider it worthwhile." + +Tirant turned back to the fighting, looking to see if he could +find the King of Egypt, but because of his painful wound the king +had left the battle. When Tirant saw that he could not find him, +he fought the others. It was much later, while he was still +fighting, that he encountered the King of Cappadocia. When this +king saw him he went out to meet him, and with his sword he +slightly cut the hand that held the axe. Then Tirant drew so +near to him that he struck him on the head with his axe, and +caved in his helmet, and the king fell to the ground, half dead. +Tirant quickly dismounted, and cut the straps of his helmet. + +A knight came up and cried out: + +"My lord, do not kill the king. Since he is mortally wounded and +is near death, be merciful and give him the short time he has +left to live. + +You have done enough by defeating him." + +Tirant said: + +"What moved you to want mercy on our enemy who has done +everything possible to kill me? Now is the time only for +cruelty." + +And he removed the helmet and cut off his head. Tirant's axe +stood out from all the others, for it was red, dripping blood +from the men he had killed. The ground was covered with dead +men, and was completely red from all the blood that had been +spilled. Tirant mounted his horse again, and when the Turks saw +their king killed, they fell upon him in great numbers, trying to +kill him. Tirant was badly wounded, and was again knocked from +his horse. He quickly stood up, not at all overcome by the fall +or frightened because of his wounds. He went into the thick of +the fray on foot, fighting to help his men, and he again mounted +his horse. + +This was a harsh and terrible battle, and by now it was nearly +time for vespers. + +Diafebus was cursing Tirant for putting him there, and he said: + +"He always wants the honors for himself, and he won't share them +with anyone else. He's left me here as though I weren't good for +anything. But by God, I want part of the honor. Let's go!" he +said. "Let's go into battle without being afraid of any danger." + +He and his men came out from their concealment and they attacked +very boldly. The Turks saw so many men coming out (when they had +thought there were no more), and they became very dejected. + +The sultan left the battle because he was slightly wounded, and +he said to his men: + +"I see that our forces are losing. I think it's better for us to +flee than to die." + +When Tirant saw the sultan and his men fleeing with their banners +he rode after them and killed many of them. This battle lasted +from daybreak until three hours after noon. There were so many +Moors that the Christians grew weary from killing them. + +The captain and most of his men reached the city that formerly +belonged to the Marquis of Saint George. It had been lost to the +King of Egypt, and he kept it well supplied. When the King of +Egypt saw that the battle was lost, he had fled with the others, +and he felt so much pain from the wound in his thigh that he had +to leave the sultan and his men, and stop there. When Tirant +arrived it was nearly dark. They stayed in camp until the +following day. That evening they all had their wounds attended +to, and many died during the night. But on that eastern shore +there had never been such a harsh and deadly battle: many women +became widows, and many young maidens lost their fathers, but +they were filled with the hope of being set free from slavery. + +The following day Tirant had the men take up arms, and they +attacked the city, but the Turks defended themselves very well, +for they had very good men inside. After four unsuccessful +attacks, the Marquis of Saint George rode around the entire city +and came to the Jewish quarter. There he called out to a Jew +named Jacob. When the Jew heard the marquis' voice, he realized +it was his lord, and he ran to open the gate for him. The +marquis and his men quickly rode into the city, and they took +half of it before the King of Egypt or the other Moors knew what +had happened. + +The marquis sent word to Tirant to stop fighting and to come in +through the Jewish quarter because the city had already been +taken. When Tirant and his men came in through that gate, he +found that the marquis' forces had already defeated all the +Turks, and that he had the King of Egypt trapped in a thicket of +trees where he was continuing to fight, wounded as he was. When +the marquis had captured the king, he sent word to the captain to +come and behead his enemy, the King of Egypt. The captain +replied that he would never kill a man who was being held +prisoner. Whereupon the marquis seized the king by the hair, and +slit his throat with a knife. + +Even though Tirant was victorious that day, he would allow no +celebrations to take place. He only said in everyone's presence: + +"If Diafebus had done what I ordered him to, I would have killed +the sultan and taken prisoner all the great dukes who were there, +and I would be lord of the entire empire." + +Getting back to the emperor, the great pain he felt when he +thought Tirant had lost the battle was changed into relief +because Lord Malvei sent one of his men on horseback for news of +the battle. He returned with the news of what had happened, and +how the captain had gone after the fleeing Turks. + +A few moments later the emperor mounted his horse to go with the +barons of Sicily, and the princess wanted to go with him. When +they were in the Moorish camp they found all the tents with all +the wealth inside, and the men wanted to loot them, but the +emperor would not allow it. Instead he had the Lord of +Pantanalea and Lord Malvei hold all the booty for safekeeping +until the men who had conquered the camp were notified. + +While the emperor was in the Moors' camp, the princess saw a +little black boy at a distance. She rode toward him and quickly +dismounted and went into the tent where the little black boy had +gone to hide. Grabbing him by the hair, she took him out to the +emperor and said: + +"Now I can boast in front of our captain about how I have been a +valiant lady-knight, who went boldly into the enemy camp, and +took a Turk prisoner." + +The emperor and all the others were very amused at his daughter's +wit. + +Diafebus saw that Tirant was angry with him, and so he did not +dare show himself out of shame. When the emperor heard of the +glorious battle from others but not from Diafebus, he told the +princess: + +"Since I've had no news from Diafebus, I fear that he may be +dead." + +When Stephanie heard this, she burst into tears. On their return +to the castle of Malvei, she sent a man to find out what had +happened to Diafebus, along with a letter that said: + +"My love for you demands that I have news from you. For I have +heard that you may be dead. So I beg you, my lord, to come here +quickly. + +And if something has happened to you, I want to die with you." + +When Diafebus saw this letter from his lady, he was overjoyed. +He took the letter to Tirant's room. When Tirant had read it, he +sent for the messenger and asked him about the emperor and the +virtuous princess. The messenger told him everything that had +happened in the camp, and how the princess had gone armed into +the Moors' tents and had captured a black, and that she was +holding him under guard. + +"To show him to your lordship, as soon as she can see you." + +Tirant was very pleased, and he ordered Diafebus to go to His +Majesty, the emperor. And Diafebus rode off very quickly. + +When he reached the castle of Malvei, he went directly to the +emperor. The entire castle heard that Diafebus had come, and the +maidens quickly went to see him--especially Stephanie. They +found him in the emperor's chamber, talking about the battle. + +The emperor asked how many men were killed, and Diafebus said: + +"I don't know the number of Turks who are dead, but from here to +the city of Saint George you can't travel on the main road: it's +too full of corpses. But of our forces I can give you an exact +account, because the captain has had all their bodies gathered +and buried. We found the Duke of Macedonia dead from a lance +wound, and the Duke of Babylonia, the Marquis of Ferrara, and the +Marquis of Guast, Count Plegamans. These are the main ones. +There are also many other knights who were killed, among them the +High Constable. In all, one thousand two hundred thirty-four men +died." + +The emperor was very pleased with Tirant's accomplishments, and +did not know how to reward him. Diafebus remained there, +pretending he was ill, and the emperor had him taken care of as +well as he would have his own daughter. Tirant stayed in the +camp, guarding it well. + +Meanwhile the sultan and all those who had escaped with him went +into the city of Bellpuig. The sultan remained there, feeling +safe, but for two weeks he kept to his room, crying over the +battle they had lost, and lamenting the death of the King of +Cappadocia. But he still knew nothing of the death of the King +of Egypt and he was anxious to hear any news. Cipres of Paterno +said to him: + +"Sir, does your lordship want me to go? If I can talk to my +friend, I'll know everything there is to know." + +The sultan begged him very much, in front of all who were there, +to go. + +Under his jubbah Cipres wore a tunic of white damask that Tirant +had given him with the cross of Saint George embroidered on it. +When he was on the road and the Moors couldn't see him, he took +off the jubbah and sat on it while he rode. When the Christian +spies along the road saw him, they thought he was one of their +own, and they did not stop him. In the city, he asked where the +captain's lodgings were. The captain was very glad to see him, +and asked what news there was. + +"Sir," said Cipres of Paterno, "they've found 103,700 men missing +from their ranks, who have either been killed or taken prisoner. +If you had pursued them, you would have taken them all, for their +horses were too tired to go on. They had to stop halfway along +the road to Bellpuig and spend the night: many were wounded, many +were fatigued, and many died that night since there were no +doctors to attend them: the cold entered their wounds, and there +they died." + +"Do you have any other news?" + +"Yes, sir," said Cipres of Paterno. "Seven ships have come from +Turkey, loaded with wheat, barley and other foods. And they say +for a certainty that the Grand Caramany is on them with fifty +thousand soldiers and horsemen, and that he's bringing his +daughter to give her as a wife to the sultan, and that in his +company is the King of Upper India." + +"Have they unloaded those seven ships yet?" asked Tirant. + +"No, sir," said Cipres. "The wind has been against them, and +they haven't been able to make port." + +They spoke of many other things, and after Cipres of Paterno had +returned to the sultan, he told him about the death of the King +of Egypt. And there was great wailing among the Moors, for he +was much loved. + +Tirant took a man with him who knew the land well, and which +secret roads they could travel by to avoid difficulties. When +they were in sight of the sea, they saw the city of Bellpuig at +the top of a high mountain, and the ships, their sails turning to +and fro in the wind, unable to make port. Tirant returned +quickly, and learned that the emperor, along with all the barons +from Sicily, had gone out to conquer the many villas and castles +nearby. Then he and the Duke of Pera left with a party of +soldiers, and he left the rest with the Marquis of Saint George +as their captain. When Tirant was near the castle of Malvei, he +learned that the princess had remained inside with her maidens, +and with Diafebus as their protector. So he sent Hippolytus +inside with a message. When Hippolytus was before the princess, +he knelt and kissed her hand and said: + +"Your Majesty, my lord sends me to beg Your Highness to give him +safe- conduct so that he may come and go from here freely." + +The princess replied, "Oh, new knight. Doesn't the good captain +know that we are all under his captaincy and in his care?" + +Then Hippolytus stood and embraced all the maidens. And don't +think that Plaerdemavida was displeased to see Hippolytus. +Meanwhile the princess took pen and ink, and wrote: + +"With my own hand I sign this document. I will in no way limit +your freedom to come and go as you wish. September 7, in the +Castle of Malvei." + +When he had the document in hand, Tirant quickly went up to the +castle where he found the princess in a great hall. She took the +Duke of Pera by one hand, and Tirant by the other, and sat +between them. And they spoke of many things. They talked about +how the emperor had been taking villas and castles, and they +decided to go and help the emperor in the morning. And the +princess said: + +"If you go to where the emperor is, I'm going too." And she had +them bring out her prisoner, saying: "Do you think that when I've +been in hard- fought battles the way you have, I don't know how +to take prisoners from among our cruel enemies?" + +And saying these things, they went in to dine. But the princess +ate very little, for she could not keep her eyes off Tirant. The +duke began to talk to the lady of the castle and to Widow Repose, +telling them about the battles they had won under Tirant's +leadership. And Widow Repose's love of Tirant grew even +stronger, but she was afraid to show it. While they were talking +Plaerdemavida came up, and sitting at Tirant's feet, she said: + +"My lord and captain, no one loves you as I do. I feel +compassion for you, for none of these ladies has told you to lay +down your weapons. In faith, that shirt you are wearing is well +trampled. I saw it being put on and taken off, well-perfumed, +and now I see it all torn and smelling of iron and steel." + +The princess said: + +"Give me that hand that has not had mercy on the deaths of the +Moorish Kings, our enemies." + +Stephanie took his hand and placed it in the princess's lap. +When she saw it on her knees, she bent over and kissed it. + +Tirant said: + +"If Your Highness would give me leave to kiss your hands whenever +I wished, oh how fortunate I'd be. And I would be even more so +if I could kiss your feet and your legs." + +The princess took his hands again, and said: + +"From now on, Captain, I want your hands to do as they will with +me: that is your right." + +She quickly got up because they had spent the greater part of the +night there. And so that the duke and the others would have no +reason to gossip, they went with her to her room where she bid +them all a good night. And the duke and Tirant slept in the same +bed. + +The following morning the trumpets blew, and they all armed +themselves and mounted their horses. The princess wanted to go +with them, and they rode until they found the emperor, who was +attacking a well fortified city. With Tirant's men helping, they +entered the villa and killed and made prisoner of many. + +The following day the emperor held council to decide where they +should attack next. The captain spoke, and said: + +"Sire, it would be better if Your Highness would go with the +barons of Sicily back to the palace with all the prisoners we've +taken. The Duke and I will take charge of guarding and +conquering the nearby cities and villas. And Your Majesty can +send us the supplies we need." + +When they were back in the castle, the emperor summoned Tirant, +and then had the princess and the other maidens come, and he +said: + +"Captain, since fortune has been so contrary to our High +Constable, the Count of Bitinua, who is dead, who do you think we +should choose as our next constable?" + +Tirant knelt and said: + +"My lord, if Your Majesty would be pleased to give the office of +High Constable to Diafebus, I would consider it a great favor." + +"I will do as you wish," said the emperor. "Because of my +affection for you, and because of his many merits, from this +moment on, I grant to Diafebus the office of High Constable. And +to you I give the County of Sant Angel, which I take from my +daughter and bestow upon you. Tomorrow I will have a celebration +where you will take the title of count." + +Tirant replied: + +"Sire, I give you infinite thanks for doing me such a great +honor, but I will accept it only if I can give the title in turn +to Diafebus, my closest relative." + +"It makes no difference to me what you do with it afterward, as +long as I have offered it and you have accepted it." + +Then Tirant knelt and kissed the emperor's hands and feet for his +honor. + +The morning of the next day the emperor wanted mass held in the +middle of a meadow, and he wanted Diafebus between himself and +his daughter. After mass the emperor put the ring on Diafebus' +hand and kissed him on the mouth. Then all the trumpets began to +peal very loudly, and a king- of-arms cried out in a loud voice: +"This is the most eminent and virtuous knight, Count of Sant +Angel and High Constable of the Greek Empire." + +Afterward the dances and festivities began, and all day long the +princess did nothing but dance with the High Constable. When it +was time to eat the emperor had the High Constable sit at his +right, and the duke sat on his left, while the princess sat to +the right of the constable. Tirant acted as steward since he was +giving the celebration. The ladies ate at other tables, and the +barons and knights ate at their right. Next were all the +soldiers. And that day all the prisoners ate at tables to honor +the celebration. Tirant even had the horses eating barley mixed +with bread. + +When the dinner was half finished, Tirant summoned the +kings-of-arms and heralds, and gave them a thousand ducats. And +all the trumpets were pealing, and they came before the emperor's +table and cried out, "Largesse, largesse!" + +After the meal the repast was held with many sugared dainties. +Then they all rode, armed and holding the constable's banners, +jousting before the emperor. They held a beautiful display of +arms without getting hurt. And they went like this up to the +place where the sultan usually held camp, and came back very +happily. + +When they thought it was time to have the evening meal, they held +the festivities in that same place, and they were very well +served with many varied dishes. During the entire meal, as +Tirant was serving it, he seemed very sad. The princess had him +come over to her, and she whispered in his ear: + +"Tell me, Tirant, why are you so sad? Your face shows that +something is wrong. Tell me, what it is, please!" + +"My lady, I have so many troubles that they could not be counted. +My life is worth nothing. Your Highness is leaving tomorrow, and +I will be left behind in great sadness, knowing that I will not +see you." + +"It is only right," said the princess, "that anyone who causes +misfortune should suffer for it. You are the one who brought it +on: You advised the emperor to go back to the city with all the +prisoners. I've never seen such bad advice given by any man who +was in love. But if you would like me to pretend I am sick for +two or three weeks, I will do it because of my love for you, and +I'm sure the emperor will wait because of his love for me." + +"But what will we do," said Tirant, "with all these prisoners we +have here? I can't find any way to relieve my pain. Sometimes I +feel like taking poison, or dying a sudden death, to escape this +anguish." + +"Don't do any such thing, Tirant," said the princess. "Go talk +to Stephanie, and see if she can do something to help that won't +be difficult for me, and will bring you relief." + +Tirant quickly went to Stephanie and told her his troubles. And +they, and the constable, agreed that when everybody was resting +and the maidens were asleep, the two men would come to the +chamber and there they would decide what they could do to give +release to their passion. + +When it was night, and time for everyone in the castle to be +asleep, the maidens had gone to bed. All the ladies were +sleeping with Widow Repose; there were only five sleeping in the +room they had to pass through. + +The princess and Stephanie were in their chamber, and when +Plaerdemavida saw that the princess did not want to go to sleep, +and then she heard her putting perfume on, she quickly thought +that there was going to be a night of merry-making. + +When the time came, Stephanie picked up a lighted candlestick in +one hand, and went to the bed where the five maidens were +sleeping, and she looked at them all, one at a time, to see if +they were asleep. Plaerdemavida wanted to see and hear +everything that would happen, and she tried to stay awake. And +when Stephanie came with the candlestick, she closed her eyes and +pretended to be sleeping. When Stephanie saw that all the ladies +were asleep, she quietly opened the door so that no one would +hear her, and she found the two knights already waiting at the +door more devoutly than the Jews await the Messiah. As they came +in, she put out the light and took the constable's hand. She led +the way, with Tirant following the constable, until they came to +the door of the chamber where the princess was waiting for them, +alone. + +When Tirant saw how beautifully she was dressed, he bowed deeply +to her, and with one knee on the ground, he kissed her hands many +times, and they exchanged amorous words. Later, when they felt +that it was time for them to go, they said goodnight and went +back to their room. Who could sleep that night, some because of +love, and others because of pain. + +As soon as it was light everyone got up, because the emperor had +to leave that day. When Plaerdemavida was up she went to the +princess's chamber and found her dressing. Stephanie was +sitting on the floor, not yet finished dressing, because her +hands would not help her tie on her hat, and her eyes were half +closed so that she could scarcely see. + +"Holy Mary, help me!" said Plaerdemavida. "Tell me, Stephanie, +what kind of behavior is this. What's wrong with you? I'll go +get the doctors so they can bring you back to health." + +"That's not necessary," said Stephanie. "My illness won't last +long. It's only a headache. The air from the river last night +made me ill." + +"Be careful about what you're saying," said Plaerdemavida. "I'm +afraid you may die. And if you die, your death will be criminal. +Be careful about pain in your heels, I've heard doctors say about +us women that pain comes to our heels first, then our feet, then +it comes up to our knees, and our thighs, and sometimes it goes +into our secret place. There it brings us a great deal of pain, +and it goes up to our head from there. And don't think that this +sickness comes often, as the great philosopher Galen says--a very +wise doctor, for it only comes once in a lifetime. Even though +it's an incurable illness, it is never deadly, and there are many +treatments if a person wants to try them. What I'm telling you +is true, and you shouldn't be astonished that I know about +sickness. If you show me your tongue I'll be able to tell you +what your illness is." + +Stephanie stuck out her tongue. When Plaerdemavida had seen it +she said to her: + +"I would swear by everything my father taught me that you lost +blood last night." + +Stephanie quickly answered: + +"You're right. I had a nosebleed." + +"I don't know if it came out of your nose or your heel," said +Plaerdemavida, "but you've lost blood. And my lady, if Your +Majesty would like, I'll tell you a dream I had last night, as +long as Your Highness will promise me that if I say something +that annoys you, you'll forgive me." + +The princess was delighted by what Plaerdemavida had said, and +laughing, she told her to say whatever she liked, that she +forgave her. And Plaerdemavida began to tell about her dream. + +"I'll tell Your Majesty everything I dreamed. As I was asleep in +a side chamber with four maidens, I saw Stephanie come in with a +lighted candle so that it wouldn't shine too brightly, and she +came up to our bed and saw us all sleeping. The truth is that I +was half asleep: I don't know if I was asleep or awake. In my +dream I saw how Stephanie opened the chamber door very quietly so +that she wouldn't make any noise, and she found my lord Tirant +and the constable there, waiting. They were dressed in their +doublets, with cloaks and swords, and they wore woolen stockings +on their feet so they wouldn't make any noise when they walked. +When they came in, she put out the light, and went in front, +holding the constable's hand. After him came your knight. She +was like a blindman's guide, and she put them in your chamber. +Your Highness was all perfumed, dressed and not naked. Tirant +held you in his arms and carried you around the room, kissing you +over and over again, and Your Highness was saying, 'Stop it, +Tirant, stop it!' And he put you on a bed. And Plaerdemavida +went up the bed and said, 'Oh, in the bed! If only the people +who knew you before could see you now!' And it seemed to me that +I got out of bed in my chemise and went up to that hole in the +door, and that I watched everything you were doing." + +The princess laughed, and said: + +"Was there more to your dream?" + +"Holy Mary, yes!" said Plaerdemavida. "Let me go on, and I'll +tell you the whole thing. My lady, you said, 'Tirant, I let you +come here so you could have a little rest, because of the great +affection I feel for you.' + +And Tirant wasn't sure he would do what you told him. And you +said: 'Don't refuse me what I'm asking of you, because my +chastity that I've kept can pride itself on being free of all +sin.' 'I felt sure,' said Tirant, 'that you would be in +agreement with my wishes without being afraid of any future +danger, but since Your Highness is displeased, I will do whatever +Your Majesty desires.' And you made him swear that he would not +anger you in any way: 'And even if you wanted to, the anguish +you would give me would be enormous--I would curse you all the +days of my life, for when virginity is lost it cannot be +regained.' I dreamed that you and he said all these things to +each other. Then, in my vision, I saw how he kissed you again +and again and untied the cord over your bosom, and that he +quickly kissed your breasts. After he had spent some time +kissing you he tried to put his hands under your skirts, and you, +my good lady, would not permit it. And I think that if you had +allowed it his oath would have been in danger. Your Highness +said to him, 'The time will come when what you want so much will +be given to you, and my virginity, intact, will be yours.' Then +he put his face next to yours, and with his arms around your +neck, and yours around his, like vines on a tree, he received +your loving kisses. Later, still dreaming, I saw how Stephanie +was on that bed, and it seemed to me that her legs were turning +white, and she said many times, 'Oh, my lord, you're hurting me! +Have a little pity on me; don't kill me.' And Tirant was saying +to her, 'Stephanie, why do you want to put your honor in jeopardy +by screaming so loudly? Don't you know that walls sometimes have +ears?' And she grabbed the sheet and stuffed it in her mouth and +bit down on it with her teeth so she wouldn't scream. But after +a short while she couldn't help giving out a loud shriek and +saying, 'Poor me, what shall I do? The pain is making me scream. +From what I can see you've decided to kill me.' + +"Then the constable closed her mouth. When I heard that sweet +moan I cursed my misfortune because I wasn't the third one with +my Hippolytus. The more I thought about it, the more it grieved +me, and it seems to me that I took a little water, and washed my +heart, my breasts, and my stomach to take away pain. And as my +soul looked through the hole I saw how, after a second, Stephanie +held out her arms and gave up, in surrender. But still she said: +'Go away, you cruel, unloving man. You have no pity or mercy on +maidens until you've taken away their chastity. Oh, you +faithless man! If I decided not to forgive you, what punishment +would you deserve? And all the while I'm complaining about you, +the more I love you.' + +"She called to the princess and Tirant, and showing them the +shirt, she said: 'Love must make amends for this blood of mine.' +She said this with tears in her eyes. After all this, when day +was approaching, Your Majesty and Tirant consoled her as well as +you could. Then, when the roosters started to crow again, Your +Highness begged Tirant to go so that you would not be seen by +anyone in the castle. And Tirant begged Your Highness to release +him from his oath so that he could achieve the glorious triumph +that he desired, as his cousin had done. Your Highness refused, +and you were victorious in the battle. When they had gone I woke +up. I didn't see a thing, not Hippolytus or anyone else, but I +began to think that it might really have happened, because I +found my breasts and my belly wet with water. My pain increased +so much that I began to toss and turn in bed like a sick man who +is about to die. So I decided to love Hippolytus with all my +heart, and pass my life in pain, just as Stephanie is doing. +Shall I keep my eyes closed with no one coming to give me relief? +Love has disturbed my feelings so much that I'll die if +Hippolytus doesn't come to my aid. If I could at least spend my +life sleeping! By heaven, it's a trial to wake up when you're +having a good dream." + +The other maidens had gotten up, and they came into the chamber +to help their lady dress. After mass the emperor left with the +barons of Sicily, and the Duke of Pera, and all the prisoners. +Tirant and the constable accompanied them a good league. The +emperor told them to go back, and since he had told them once +already, they had to do it. After Tirant had taken his leave of +the emperor and the barons, he approached the princess and asked +if Her Majesty wanted something. The princess lifted the veil +she wore in front of her face and her eyes could not help +shedding tears, and she could say nothing but: + +"Perhaps..." + +And she could say no more because the words would not come, and +everything was sobs and sighs of farewell. She let the veil fall +completely over her face so that her sadness would not reach the +ears of the emperor or the rest of the people. + +No one could remember anything ever having happened to any knight +like what happened to Tirant who, after he had said farewell to +the princess, fell off the horse he was riding. As soon as he +had fallen he got up and raised his hand toward the horse, saying +that it was the one that was hurt. The emperor and many others +saw it and ran to him. And he pretended to be looking at the +horse's hoof. + +The emperor said to him: + +"How did you happen to fall?" + +And Tirant told him: + +"My lord, I thought my horse was hurt, and I started getting down +to see what was wrong with it, and the stirrup broke. But it's +nothing to be surprised at, my lord, to see a man fall: a horse +has four feet and it falls down: all the more reason for a man to +fall since he has only two." + +He quickly mounted again, and each went his way. Tirant came to +the castle of the Lord of Malvei. He ordered the constable and +half of the men, both those on horse and on foot, to go to the +camp and guard it. + +"I'll go," said Tirant, "to the port where the ships are, and +have them unloaded. And if I see that there isn't enough I'll +send them to the city again, or to Rhodes." + +By night Tirant was in the port, and he found the ships almost +unloaded. The ships' masters and the sailors were very happy at +the captain's visit, and they told him that the seven Genoese +ships had sailed into the port of Bellpuig. + +"We have all been very cautious because we were afraid they would +come here and attack us." + +Tirant said: + +"That shows they are afraid of you, since they haven't dared to +attack. Shall we make them more afraid than they already are?" + +They took a fishing boat and armed it. And they sent it out to +see how many men there could be, more or less, on the ships, and +how many vessels were in port. That night he had all the wheat +unloaded. By morning the spy-boat returned with the news that +there were seven large ships, and that they had unloaded all the +horses; that all the men were on land, and that now they had +begun to unload the wheat and other food. + +"By the Lord who sustains the whole world," said Tirant, "I will +do everything I can, since they've taken off the horses, to eat +of their wheat." + +He quickly had the ships prepared, and many soldiers and bowmen +boarded them. Tirant struck out to sea that night. It was no +more than thirty miles from one port to another. When day broke, +clear and beautiful, the men on land saw Tirant's five ships, and +thinking that they were part of those coming with the Grand +Caramany they paid no attention to them at all. As the ships +came into port each of them attacked another ship, and many men +jumped aboard the others. Then they attacked the two remaining +ships, and since few men were aboard they took them all with very +little trouble and without anyone being killed. Then they +brought back all the ships loaded with wheat and barley, salted +oxen and wine from Cyprus. I can assure you that in the +Christian camp it was very helpful and timely since, because of +all the fighting, they had no wheat or meat unless it came to +them by sea. Tirant gave the wheat to the Lord of Malvei; all +the rest he had transported to the camp at the city of Saint +George. + +When Tirant returned from the attack he spoke to the Turks who +had been made his prisoners on the ship, and asked them for news +about Turkey. They told him that it was true that the Grand +Caramany was coming with a great armada, along with the King of +Upper India, and that the Caramany was bringing his daughter, who +was a maiden of great beauty, to give to the sultan for his wife. + +"And he is bringing many maidens with him, of high station, and +the betrothed of the Great Turk's son is with them." + +One of the Turks said: + +"When we docked at the port they told us that a devil of a +Frenchman was here as captain of the Greeks and that he is +winning all their battles, and they say he is called Tirant. In +faith, he may do all those great things they say he does, but his +name is ugly and vile because Tirant means a robber of goods, or +more properly, a thief. And believe me, his actions will do +justice to his name. Because according to a letter that the King +of Egypt wrote, he didn't dare fight him man to man, and it also +said that he was in love with the emperor's daughter. When he's +won the battles, he'll get the emperor's daughter pregnant, and +then the wife, and then he'll kill the emperor. That's the way +the French are: they're evil people! And then you'll see that, +if the Turks and the Christians let him live long, he'll make +himself emperor." + +"Upon my word," said Tirant, "you have spoken the truth: these +French are very evil people. And he'll do even worse than you've +said, because he's a real thief, and he travels the roads to rob. +And you'll certainly see him get the emperor's daughter pregnant, +and he'll take the throne, and afterward who will stop him from +raping all the maidens?" + +"By heaven," said the sailor, "I see that you know him well, and +you know about the treachery he's done and that he will do." + +Hippolytus was standing there, and he drew his sword to cut off +the man's head, but Tirant got up quickly and took the sword away +from him. And Tirant, continuing to speak badly of himself, made +him talk more. The sailor said: + +"I swear by the water I was baptized with that if I could catch +that traitor, Tirant, the way I've caught many others, I'd have +him hanged from the highest mast on the entire ship." + +Tirant laughed, and was very amused by what the sailor said. If +it had been someone else instead of Tirant, they would have dealt +severely with him, or would have hanged him. But Tirant took a +silk jacket and thirty ducats and gave them to him, and as soon +as they were on land, he freed him. Imagine how the poor sailor +must have felt when he discovered that it was Tirant! He knelt, +and begged his forgiveness. And Tirant very willingly forgave +him. + + The following day the barons from Sicily came to the camp. When +they were at the castle of Malvei they saw many carts carrying +bombards to the port. They were told that the captain was at the +port, and they went there, knowing that he wanted to go to sea. +They begged him to allow them to go along. The captain was glad +to, precisely because they were from the islands, and they knew +how to sail. He gave orders to his captains and had many men go +on board the ships, both soldiers and crossbowmen. Although the +ships were not very large, they were armed with good men, and +they were well supplied. Other ships were loaded with wheat, +horses, and as many men as they could carry. + +Soon they saw a galley with sails unfurled and oars driving it +on, and they quickly realized that enemy ships were approaching. +The captain had all the men go on board, and they carried the +bombards and everything they needed on board. When it was nearly +vespers the ships could be seen from the port. Then the +captain's ship moved out in front of all the others. When the +Turks saw it they shouted with joy, saying that that ship would +soon be theirs. The Grand Caramany had his daughter and all the +other women come out on deck so they could see the ship they +would capture. A few minutes later the Lord of Pantanalea's ship +moved out, and then the Duke of Messina's ship. And the Turks' +and Genoese's shouts of joy grew louder. + +The Grand Caramany said to his daughter: + +"Choose one of the ships you see. I'll give it to you; I want it +to be yours." + +She asked for the first one she had seen, and it was promised to +her. Then Lord Agramunt's ship came out, then Hippolytus's, and +they all came out, in order, one at a time. The good Prior of +Saint John came out last because he was captain of the rear +guard. When he came out it was nearly dark of night. When the +Genoese saw the twelve large ships, they were astonished, +wondering where they had come from. Afterward came all the +whaling ships, and all the ship's boats; then the fishing boats. +The boats that had no mast raised a long staff or an oar, and +fastened it down tightly, and at the top of the staff they put a +light inside a lantern. The captain's ship first raised a lamp +at the stern. Then all the other vessels, large and small, did +the same, following the captain's orders, and when all the lights +were lit there were seventy-four. The enemy saw all the lights, +and thinking every light was a large ship, they said: + +"This must be the armada of the Grand Master of Rhodes, and the +armada of the King of Sicily. When they heard we were here they +must have gotten together this great armada to try to destroy +us." + +So they decided to flee and go back to Turkey. + +When morning came Tirant did not see any of the vessels, except +the Grand Caramany's ship. When it was nearly noon he reached +the ship, and they went into battle. The Turks threw quicklime +at them to blind them. + +Then they hurled boiling oil with iron ladles. Both sides threw +boiling pitch at each other, and they did not stop day or night. +Many men on both ships died, and there were so many broken +lances, shields, darts, arrows and spears that the dead bodies +thrown in the sea could not sink. + +Now let us leave them fighting, and see what the other barons and +knights are doing. The eleven ships did not see the captain's +ship because he had put out his light. But they sighted ten +ships within reach of a bombard, and they pulled alongside. + +Hippolytus did not want to draw close to any of them; instead he +sailed windward and observed the battle. He saw that Lord +Pantanalea's ship was being defeated, and that so many Turks had +climbed on board that they outnumbered the Christians. Then +Hippolytus attacked the enemy ship, and since most of the Turks +were now on the other ship and had taken everything except the +poop castle, Hippolytus and his men went on board the Turks' +ship, and all the dead and wounded Turks and Genoese they found, +they threw into the sea. Then they assisted Lord Pantanalea, and +their help was like a dose of medicine. Hippolytus consoled +them, urging them to take heart, and he removed fear from the +fearful, and gave them all courage and new hope. Soon he left, +and went back to his ship to help those who most needed his aid. + +When Lord Pantanalea saw that there was no one left on the Turk's +ship, he divided his men between the two ships, and he set sail +in pursuit of the ships that were fleeing, and was the first to +reach them. He attacked one ship, and while they were in combat +another ship arrived. It surrendered immediately, so that he had +three ships. The eleven ships did the same to the two galleys so +that they took fourteen ships, and there were two that they made +beach themselves. The others escaped. + +Now let us see what Tirant is doing, for I can still see them in +battle. They began fighting at noon and continued all night long +until the following day. They fought twenty-seven times, and +Tirant, alone and without help, fearlessly attacked time after +time. + +"I will take you," said Tirant, "or I will die trying." + +During the fighting Tirant was wounded in the arm by a spear. +Then, when he tried to climb the forecastle an arrow struck him +in the thigh. + +The Turks well needed to wound him, for in great desperation +three Turks leaped inside the forecastle, but they were no sooner +inside than they were thrown into the water. + +When the Grand Caramany saw that his men were losing badly, he +had a case full of money, jewelry and clothing brought up. He had +his daughter dressed in a jubbah with gold brocade, and he tied a +golden silk rope around her neck. He had the case full of jewelry +and all their riches tied to the other end of the rope, and he +threw his daughter and the case into the sea. Then he threw all +the other maidens on board into the waters. + +Then he and the King of Upper India went into the daughter's +chamber, leaving the ship entirely deserted. They lay their +heads on the bed, and covering themselves, they awaited their +death. + +When the ship was completely taken, Tirant, wounded as he was, +went on board and asked for the Grand Caramany. + +"Captain," said one of the gentlemen from the captain's ship, +"he's hiding below decks with his head covered, waiting to be +killed. And the King of Upper India is with him." + +"The king is here?" asked the captain. + +"Yes, sir. Both of them are here." + +"Have them come up," said the captain. "I want to talk to them." + +And the gentleman carried out the captain's order. But the Grand +Caramany refused to go, saying that he preferred to die in his +daughter's chamber instead of on deck. + +"No," said the king. "Let us go up and die like men." + +But he wouldn't go until the gentleman had to use a little force +with him. Tirant honored them like kings because he was such a +humane knight. + +He had them sit while he stood, but with the wound in his thigh +he could not remain standing long, so he had to sit down. + +And very kindly, he said: + +"Your cruelty has been very great, and the most cruel death would +not be enough for what you deserve--and especially you, Grand +Caramany, for you have killed your daughter and other Moorish +women so cruelly and with such inhumanity. They would have +fallen into the hands of a man who would have given them their +freedom. And although you are not worthy of forgiveness, the +emperor is such a man that he will spare your lives." + +And he said no more. + +The Grand Caramany replied: + +"You say I killed my daughter. I don't have to answer for that +to you or to anybody. I would rather see her dead than +dishonored by you or any of your men. And I don't want anyone +enjoying my jewelry or my treasure. And don't think you're going +to sway my heart, because I'm ready to throw my body into the +bitter sea or give it up to the earth before I would do anything +you told me to." + +Instead of answering the Grand Caramany, Tirant politely asked +them to go on board his ship, and they had to do it in spite of +themselves. When the captain had them inside, he divided up the +few men he had left between the two ships, and they set sail. He +unplugged the ship's scuppers, and such a gush of blood came +pouring out that it seemed as though the ship was full of it. On +the Turk's ship there wasn't a living soul except for the two +kings. And on the captain's ship, out of four hundred eight men, +only fifty-four survived, and sixteen of those were wounded. + +CHAPTER VI + +A TRUCE + + As Tirant came near the port of Transimeno they saw the whaling +ships that had been with the Turkish armada quickly entering the +port of Bellpuig, shouting out the bad news about the capture of +the kings, and the loss of the armada and all its men. When +Tirant reached port, he found many of his ships there, and many +of the enemy's that had been captured. After Tirant had been +there for two days, all his men had returned except Hippolytus. + +Earlier, when Hippolytus had not been able to find his captain, +he thought Tirant must have gone toward Turkey, so he ordered his +pilot to set that course. While not finding the captain, he did +see a new ship from the armada. When he followed the ship, it +fled and stopped at an island that was nearly unpopulated. The +wind was against it, and the men abandoned ship and made land by +boat. When Hippolytus drew alongside, he captured the ship that +was empty of men but full of riches, and took possession of it. + +When the captain saw that everyone was there except Hippolytus, +he sent out three ships to search for him. And they found him +coming back with his prize. When the captain got news of it, and +saw that he was returning with such great honor, he was very +content. + +This Hippolytus turned out to be a very valiant knight, generous +and courageous. And he accomplished singular acts in his life +because he tried to imitate his master and lord. + +When Lord Malvei learned that Tirant had come back triumphant and +victorious, he was very glad, and he rode out to meet him. But +before going, he sent one messenger to the emperor and another to +the camp, and then everyone rejoiced. On hearing the news, the +emperor had all the bells in the city rung, and there were great +celebrations. + +When Lord Malvei found Tirant, he advised him to go to the +emperor as soon as he could. And there was nothing Tirant wanted +more, because he wanted to see the princess. He assembled all +the men who had been with him, and they set sail. + +When they were in sight of the city of Constantinople, the +emperor was told that their captain was coming with the entire +armada, and the ships were already in sight. The emperor quickly +had a wooden bridge constructed that extended thirty paces out +over the water, entirely covered with rich satin cloths. And he +had a cenotaph placed in the center of the marketplace, covered +with brocade and silk, for himself, the empress, the princess and +all the maidens. And from the cenotaph to the end of the bridge +where they would disembark, he had cloth of red velvet put down +so that the captain would step on silk instead of on the ground. +(And when it was over, whoever managed to take a piece of silk +was able to keep it, and many hands were wounded with swords and +knives as they tried to cut a piece of silk.) + +As the ships came into port, the captain's ship drew alongside +the wooden bridge, and he came out with the Grand Caramany on his +right, the King of Upper India on his left, and all the barons in +front. They were met by all the townspeople, and led in a great +procession to the marketplace where the emperor and all the +ladies were. + +When Tirant was up on the cenotaph with the emperor, he knelt and +kissed his hand, and he told the Grand Caramany to kiss his hand. +But the Caramany answered that he would not; then Tirant +immediately dealt him such a hard blow to the head with his +gauntlet that the Caramany was forced to put his head to the +ground, and Tirant said to him: + +"Dog, you son of a dog, now you're going to kiss his feet and his +hand whether you want to or not." + +"I won't do it of my own free will, or even by force," said the +Grand Caramany. "And if you and I were in a different place, I'd +show you what it means to come close to a king. You still don't +know how far my power extends. But I swear to you by our holy +prophet, Mohammed, and by this beard, that if I ever get my +freedom back, I'll make you kiss the feet of one of my blacks." + +And he said no more. But his companion, the other king, so that +he would not be dealt the blow too, knelt on the hard ground and +kissed his hand and foot. Then the emperor had them seized and +placed under a stiff guard inside an iron cell. + +The emperor and all the ladies came down from the cenotaph, and +they went to the great church of Saint Sophia. Tirant took the +empress by the arm and escorted her, and she said to him: + +"Captain, you are the most glorious man in the world. If only +you had come to the kingdom of Germany in my time, when my father +was emperor of Rome, in those days when I was wooed by a thousand +suitors. If I had seen you, out of the thousand I would have +chosen you. But now that I am old and belong to another, my hope +comes along too late." + +The princess heard all these things, and when they got to the +palace, she said to Tirant: + +"That old mother of mine is pitying herself, and she would like +to play too. She thinks that if you had come in her day, she +would be worthy of your love." + +Then the emperor came out and asked the captain about his wounds. +Tirant answered that they felt a little feverish: + +"And I think the sea voyage has made my fever rise." + +The emperor ordered the doctors to take him to his quarters. +When they had treated him they told him to stay in bed so that +his arm would not be permanently injured. Tirant followed the +doctors' advice, and the emperor visited him every day, and told +the empress and his daughter to visit him twice a day, in the +morning and in the afternoon. Widow Repose, moved more by love +than mercy, served him continually. + +Now let us go back and see how the Turks are dealing with the +Christians who stayed in the camp. After they heard of the cruel +battle between the captain and the Grand Turk, they often came to +the city of Saint George and killed or captured many Christians. +They made many forays, engaging them in a cruel war, so that very +few survived if they fell into their hands. How the Christians +suffered when they thought about Tirant not being there, and that +they would have to go out and fight without him. Not even wise +Diafebus or Lord Agramunt could save their lives by placing +themselves in the most dangerous positions during the battles. +And they all cried out for Tirant as if he were a saint. They +never felt safe, but were terrified of the Turks, because the +great courage they had had during their victories when Tirant had +been there, was lost now that he was gone. And they offered a +special prayer to Our Lord to help Tirant, for they felt that all +their hope lay with him. + +At this time, in the palace, the doctors were coming to Tirant's +room. The empress had finished her hours, and she and the +princess and other ladies went to Tirant and asked the doctors +when they would allow Tirant to come to the palace. + +"My lady," answered the doctors, "he'll be able to walk in three +or four days." + +When the princess was back in her chamber, a sweetness came into +her heart because of her great love for Tirant, and she fell to +the floor in a swoon. When the maidens saw her lying on the +floor they raised such a cry that it reached the emperor's ears, +and he came running, thinking the world was about to collapse +around him. + +He saw his daughter sprawled on the ground as though dead, and he +threw himself over her, crying piteously. The mother had placed +her daughter's head in her lap, and was crying and wailing so +that the entire palace heard her, and her face and clothing were +bathed in tears. Word was quickly sent to the doctors who were +in Tirant's lodging. A gentleman came who told them, in secret: + +"Come quickly. The princess is in such a state that you'll be +lucky to find her still alive!" + +The doctors hurried to the princess's chamber. Tirant sensed +that something had happened to the princess because of the outcry +the men and women were making. He got up quickly, sick as he +was, and went to the princess's chambers, where he found her +conscious and lying in bed. + +He learned that the doctors had used all their efforts to bring +back her health. When the emperor saw that his daughter had +recovered, he went to his rooms with the empress, and the doctors +went with him because they saw that he was exhausted from what +had happened to his daughter. Tirant went into the chamber, +nearly out of his mind, and when he saw the princess lying on the +bed, he said, pitifully: + +"I have never felt greater pain than now, when I thought I might +lose the greatest treasure I had in the world. I heard shouts, +and as soon as I thought of Your Majesty I said to myself, 'If +something is wrong with her, she'll let me know.' But I've come +myself to see what Your Highness' illness is. + +The princess quickly replied: + +"Tirant, my lord, you alone were the cause of my illness: it was +brought on by the thought of your love. Love already has more +power over me than I would like. I beg you to go see the emperor +so that he won't know that you came to see me before you did +him." + +She put her head under the covers, and told Tirant to put his +there too. Then she told him: + +"Kiss my breasts to bring me consolation and to give you peace." + +And he did it very willingly. After he had kissed her breasts, +he kissed her eyes and her face. Then Tirant left, very content. +When he was in the emperor's chambers, and the doctors saw him, +they reprimanded him soundly because he had gotten out of bed +without their consent. Tirant answered: + +"Even if it cost me my life, I wouldn't refrain from coming to +see His Majesty, the emperor, for anything in the world. When I +saw you leaving my side so quickly, I could only suppose that he +was in some great difficulty." + +Meanwhile, the men in Tirant's camp were desperate because of his +illness, and they had no hope for victory without him. The +sultan sent ambassadors to the camp to deal with Tirant. When +they arrived the captain was not there, and they were +disappointed. They sent a message to the emperor, and he told +them to come and see him, for they would be allowed to come and +go safely. + +So they went to the emperor, and he welcomed them very +graciously. He honored them highly because the King of Armenia +was with them as an ambassador, and he was the brother of the +Grand Caramany. Abdalla Salomon, who was more knowledgeable than +the others, was asked to speak, and he said: + +"My lord, we are sent to Your Majesty by that feared and most +excellent and great lord of the Mohammedan sect, the great Sultan +of Babylonia, and also by the Grand Turk and Lord of the Indies, +and the other kings in his camp. We come before Your perfect +Majesty for three things (not counting the first, which is to +know about your health, life, honor and condition). The first +is: a three month truce will be given to you, on land and sea, if +you would like it. The second: knowing that this virtuous +captain of the Christians has captured that powerful lord, the +Grand Caramany, with his mighty sword, and the King of Upper +India who was with him, if you would like to give him to us, we +will pay three times his weight in gold as ransom. And we will +give you one and a half times the weight of the King of Upper +India. Let us come to the third item: If Your Excellency would +like a treaty of peace (with no iniquity or ill will; but only +peace and love), he will think of you as a father, and you can +think of him as a son. And as a token of that peace you would +give him your daughter, Carmesina, as his wife--under this +condition: if a son is born to them he will have to be raised in +the sect of our holy prophet, Mohammed; and if a daughter is +born, she will be given to the mother to live under Christian +law. He will live under his law, and the princess under hers. +In this way we can put an end to all our misfortunes, and as a +reward for such a marriage he will give you all the cities, towns +and castles that he has taken in your empire. In addition, he +will make a lasting peace with you and your people. And he will +defend you against anyone who tries to harm you." + +The emperor held counsel, and then invited all the ambassadors +in. He told them that out of love and consideration for the +Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk, he would sign the three month +peace treaty, but about the other things he would reserve +judgment. + +One day, while Tirant was in the princess's chamber, with many +other maidens there, he said: + +"Oh, Tirant! Why are you hesitant about dying when you see the +father in alliance with his council against his daughter? To +think that so much beauty, virtue and grace, along with greatness +of lineage, will be subject to a Moorish enemy of God and our +holy law, and it will be destroyed and fall into decay!" + +The princess quickly answered: + +"How could you think that I would subject myself to a Moor, or +that I would stoop to be a friend of a Moorish dog? They have as +many wives as they like and not one of them is really a wife, +because they can leave them whenever they wish. Forget all those +thoughts, virtuous knight, and trust your Carmesina. She will +defend all your rights just as you have defended hers. And you +can command me in everything you wish, as if you were my lord." + +Another day Tirant was going to the princess's chamber and he met +Plaerdemavida. He asked her what the princess was doing, and she +answered: + +"Oh, you saint! Why do you want to know what my lady is doing? +If you had come earlier you would have found her in bed. And if +you had seen her the way I've seen her, your soul would be in +paradise. The more a person sees what he loves, the more he +wants it. That's why I think it's more delightful to see +something than to imagine it. Come in if you'd like: you'll find +her dressed in her skirt. I want to talk to you about my own +desire: Why doesn't my Hippolytus come with you? It's hard to +think that I hurt inside when today's pleasure shouldn't be put +off for later." + +"Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you to tell me in all truth if the +empress or anyone else I should fear is inside." + +"I wouldn't tell you one thing if it were something else," said +Plaerdemavida. "It would be bad for both of us: You for going +in, and me for letting you go. I know that the princess doesn't +want your love for her to go unrewarded. And since I know how +much you hunger for your heart's desire, I want to help you." + +Then Tirant went into the chamber and found the princess combing +her hair. When she turned and saw him she said: + +"Who gave you the right to come in here? You shouldn't come into +my room without my permission: if the emperor knew about this he +could charge you with disloyalty. I beg you to leave: my breast +is trembling in fear." + +Tirant paid no attention to the princess's words, but took her in +his arms and kissed her again and again on her breasts, her eyes +and her mouth. When the maidens saw Tirant playing with their +lady that way they were silent, but when they saw Tirant putting +his hand under her skirt they came to her aid. While they were +frolicking this way the empress was coming to her daughter's +chamber to see what she was doing, and with their games they did +not hear her until she was at the chamber door. + +Tirant quickly lay on the floor and they spread clothes over him. +Then the princess sat on top of him, and began combing her hair. +The empress sat down at her side, nearly on Tirant's head. Only +God knows how shamefully afraid Tirant was then! He was in +anguish while they talked about the celebrations they were +planning, until a maiden came with the Hours. Then the empress +got up and withdrew to one side of the room to say the Hours. +The princess was afraid the empress might see him, and did not +dare move. When the princess had finished combing her hair, she +put her hand under the clothes and combed Tirant's hair, and from +time to time he kissed her hand and took the comb away. All the +maidens went in front of the empress, and then Tirant got up +quietly and left with the comb the princess had given him. + +When he was outside the room, thinking he was safe and that no +one had seen him, he saw the emperor and a chamberlain coming +directly to the princess's chamber. When Tirant saw them passing +through the great hall he panicked and quickly went back into the +princess's chamber and said to her: + +"My lady, help me. The emperor is coming." + +"Oh!" said the princess. "We get out of one bad situation, and +then go into one that's even worse. I told you what would +happen, but you're always coming at the worst times." + +She quickly had the maidens stand in front of the empress again, +and they quietly led him to another chamber. There they put +mattresses on top of him so that if the emperor came in, as he +often did, he would not see him. When the emperor came into the +chamber he found his daughter combing her hair. He stayed there +until she had finished and the empress had said her Hours, and +all the maidens were dressed. When the princess was at the +chamber door she asked where her gloves were. Then she said: + +"Oh, I put them in a place none of you knows about." + +She and her maidens went back inside the chamber where Tirant +was, and took off all the mattresses covering him. Then he +jumped up and caught the princess in his arms, dancing around the +room with her and kissing her again and again. + +"Oh, how beautiful you are! I have never seen a maiden as +perfect as you. Your Majesty is so superior to all women in +knowledge and discretion that I'm not surprised the Moorish +sultan would want to have you in his arms." + +"Appearances are deceiving," said the princess. "I'm not as +perfect as you say I am. That light shining in your eyes is +love. Kiss me and let me go; the emperor is waiting for me." + +Tirant could not answer her because the maidens were holding onto +his hands so he could not muss her hair with his playing around. +When he saw her leaving, and that he could not touch her with his +hands, he stretched out his leg and put it under her skirt so +that his shoe touched her where it should not, and he put his leg +between her thighs. Then the princess ran out of his chamber to +be with the emperor, and Widow Repose took Tirant out through the +garden door. + +When Tirant was in his own lodging he took off his shoes and +stockings. Then he had the stocking and shoe that had touched +the princess embroidered with pearls, diamonds and rubies worth +more than twenty-five thousand ducats. + +On the day of the joust he wore the shoe and stocking, and +everyone who saw it was amazed at the fine jewels, for a shoe +like that had never been seen before. And on that foot he wore +no armor, but only on the left foot. As a crest for his helmet, +he wore four golden rods, the Holy Grail. And upon that was the +comb the princess had given him, with a motto that read: "There +is no virtue but that which exists in her." + +Everyday Tirant was in the court, talking and taking his ease +with the emperor and much more so with the ladies. And he +changed clothes every day, but he always wore the same stocking. +One day the princess said to him in a mocking tone: + +"Tell me, Tirant this custom you have of wearing an embroidered +stocking on one foot but not on the other, is it something they +do in France or in some other place?" + +This was the day the festival had ended, and they were on their +way to Pera. And the princess said these words with Stephanie +and Widow Repose close by. + +"What, my lady! Doesn't Your Majesty know what this custom +means? Doesn't Your Excellency remember that day when the +empress came in and I was hidden with your maiden's clothing on +top of me, and the empress nearly sat on my head? Afterward your +father came in, and you hid me in the little chamber under the +mattresses, and when they were gone, while I was playing with +Your Highness, since I couldn't reach you with my hands, my foot +had to take their place, and I put my leg between your thighs, +and my foot touched higher up, where my soul wishes to find its +happiness." + +"Oh, Tirant!" said the princess. "I remember very well what you +told me that day, and my body still bears the marks. But the day +will come when, just as you have one leg embroidered today, you +will be able to embroider both of them, and you may place them +where you will, at your pleasure." + +When Tirant heard her saying these words so full of love, he +quickly dismounted from his horse, saying that his gloves had +fallen, and he kissed her leg above her skirt, and said: + +"The place were grace was granted should be kissed." + +As soon as they reached the city of Pera, and when they were +about to don their armor, they saw nine galleys approaching land. +The emperor would not allow the tournament to begin until they +found out where the galleys were from. The galleys put into port +in less than an hour, and they turned out to be French. Their +captain was a cousin of Tirant. He had been a page to the king, +and the king had made him Viscount of Branches. This viscount +had decided to come and help his cousin in his battles against +the infidel, and he and other nobles had come, along with five +thousand French archers that the King of France had given to +them. And each of the archers had a page and a squire. And when +the galleys had docked at Sicily, the king there had given them +many horses. + +The emperor postponed the tournament for the following day. Then +eight hundred knights with gold spurs came out to the grounds, +and no one was allowed to participate if he had not been dubbed a +knight and unless he wore silk or brocade or gold trappings. The +Duke of Pera was captain of half the men, and Tirant commanded +the other half. So that each would know who the other was, they +had small flags attached to their helmets, some green and others +white. Tirant had ten knights enter the field of battle, and the +duke ten others, and they began to fight very well. + +Then twenty entered, then thirty, and they began to mix together. +Each of them did as well as he possibly could in using his +weapons. Tirant kept an eye on his men, and when he saw that +they were not doing well, he entered the fray with his lance +poised, and he went against another knight so ferociously that he +thrust his lance completely through him and it came out the other +side. Then he drew his sword and dealt terrible blows all around +so that he seemed like a ravenous lion, and all the onlookers +were amazed at his great strength and spirit. + +The emperor was very satisfied at this singular display of arms. +When it had gone on for nearly three hours, the emperor came down +from the cenotaph, mounted a horse and quickly rode into the fray +to separate the men, because he saw that tempers were rising, and +many were wounded. After all the knights had disarmed +themselves, they went to the palace. There they talked about +their singular display of arms, and the foreigners said they had +never seen such valiant men. The sultan's ambassadors, who had +seen them, were filled with wonder. + +That night the emperor returned with his men and all the ladies +to the city of Constantinople. The following day, after mass, +they all went to the market place which was as nicely decorated +as it had been the first day. When the sultan's ambassadors +arrived, and everyone was present, the emperor gave them this +reply: + +"Nothing brings greater anguish than to have His Majesty hear +abominable words that offend God and the world. I pray that His +immense goodness will not permit me to do things against His holy +catholic faith, like giving my daughter as wife to a man who is +outside our law. For all the treasure that the Grand Caramany +and the King of Upper India could pay, they cannot have their +liberty unless they restore all my empire to me." + +When they had heard these words the ambassadors stood up and took +their leave, and went back to the sultan. + +After the celebration was over and the ambassadors had gone, the +emperor held war councils many times. Tirant fostered his +romance, and was very insistent about staying near the princess +because he saw that the end of the truce was approaching. The +emperor indicated that he wanted the captain to be in camp to +take charge of the men, and the captain showed that he was +attending to the men going with him so that they would be ready, +since he was very eager to confront the Turks. + +Tirant pleaded insistently with the princess to give him the +satisfaction he wanted. The princess saw how great Tirant's +passion was, and she said: + +"Tirant, I know full well what you want, but my reputation is +spotless. Tell me, what gave you the hope of being in my bed? +Just to imagine it is great infamy. If I gave in to you, I +couldn't hope that it would not be known. What could I use to +excuse my transgression? I beg you, Tirant, my lord, do not rob +me lightly of my tender virginity." + +And she would say no more. Tirant was rather stunned by the +princess's words which showed how little she loved him. For he +thought he had progressed in his love affair, and now he found it +was entirely the opposite. + +While they were talking the emperor came into the chamber, and +took his daughter Carmesina by the hand. They went upstairs +together to the treasure-tower to take out money and give it to +Tirant so that he would go to the camp. + +When they had gone Tirant was left with the maidens. He thought +about what the princess had said to him, and he realized that +Widow Repose had overheard his secret, and everything he had said +to her. Tirant decided to see if he could win the Widow over +with promises, and with warm and tender words he said: + +"I believe I have been offended by my lady. I want to do great +services for the princess so that she will see that I am worthy +of her love. Although Stephanie already has many possessions and +great wealth, I would like to give her even more. I would give +Widow Repose a duke or count or marquis for a husband, and as +many possessions as would make her happy. And I would like to do +the same for Plaerdemavida and all the other ladies." + +Stephanie thanked Tirant for herself and for all the other women. +Widow Repose said to Stephanie: + +"You thank him for yourself. I know how to thank him on my own." + +And, smiling, she turned to Tirant and said: + +"Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. But I want no +other husband, no matter how great a lord he is, except the one I +adore day and night. He has not killed me yet, but he has given +me reason to die. I won't say any more about that because this +isn't the time or place." + +When Widow Repose finished, Plaerdemavida said: + +"My lord and captain, don't you know that repentance follows sin? +You've come to my lady's rooms, and found them like a tomb, since +you can find no mercy in them. Please don't lose hope, I beg +you. Rome wasn't built in a day. Are you discouraged because of +some trifle my lady said to you? When you're in a hard-fought +battle, you're like a lion, and you always come out victorious, +and yet are you afraid of a lone woman who, with our help, you'll +conquer? Do you remember that pleasant night in the castle of +Malvei when I was dreaming? You saw how mercifully you dealt +with that situation. I'm only trying to tell you that we'll all +help you in this affair. And I know what the solution is: you +have to mix in a little force, because your fear--which comes +from ignorance--stops you from using it. It's a terrible thing +for maidens to have to say those awful words: 'I like it.' I'll +work as hard as I can for you in this affair, I promise you. And +I think that as a just reward--very inferior to my work--I +deserve to have your grace help with the love of my Hippolytus. +But I'm more than a little afraid, because I can see where his +wayward steps are taking him, and I don't like the way he's going +at all. I'm afraid of the danger he'll place himself in, because +he is a very good swordsman, and he strikes not at the legs but +at the head. And he knows much more than I have shown him." + +Tirant brightened up a little at Plaerdemavida's jokes, and he +stood up to tell her: + +"Maiden, it looks to me as though, instead of hiding your +advances toward Hippolytus, you don't care who knows about them." + +"What do I care if everybody knows?" said Plaerdemavida. "You +men think that just because we're maidens we won't dare to say +anything. It's your nature to be good at first, and then bad +afterward. You're like the ocean: when someone starts to go in +the water it seems soft, and then later, when he's all the way +in, it's a torrent. That's the way love begins: at first you're +soft, and later on you're harsh and terrible." + +While they were talking, the emperor came in. He took Tirant by +the hand and led him out of the room, and they talked at great +length about the war. When it was time to eat, Tirant and his +men went to their quarters. + +That night, when the princess wanted to go to bed, Widow Repose +said to her: + +"My lady, if Your Majesty knew about the things Tirant said to us +ladies, you would be amazed. He took me aside and told me things +about Your Excellency that I am loathe to repeat, because his +words show how little he cares for you." + +Widow Repose's words had a great effect on the princess. Without +letting her say another word, she put her cloak back on, and they +went into a tiny chamber where no one could overhear them. First +the Widow told her what Tirant had said to all the ladies, and +how he wanted to arrange honorable marriages for them all. Then, +with great wickedness and deceit, the evil Widow gave vent to her +malice: + +"Tirant is a cruel man. He doesn't have the good sense of the +others, but he is more shameless and daring. If Your Highness +knew what he says about you, you would never be able to love +him." + +"Tell me at once," said the princess, "and don't make me suffer +so." + +"He spoke to me secretly," said Widow Repose, "and he made me +swear on the Gospel that I wouldn't say a word to anyone. But +since you are my mistress, and I would be going against the +loyalty I owe you, any oath I've made is worthless. First, he +told me that Stephanie and Plaerdemavida are in alliance with him +so that, with your consent or by force, he will possess Your +Majesty. And if you don't do it of your own free will, he'll +plunge his sword through your neck and kill you cruelly, and then +he will do the same thing to your father. He will steal all your +treasure and they'll get on their ships and go back to their +land. And with the treasure they carry off, the clothing and +jewels, they'll find maidens there who are much more beautiful +than Your Highness, for he says that you don't look any better +than a serving girl and that you are completely shameless: that +you'll give it to anyone who wants it. Watch out for your +virtue, my lady. You can see what that mad traitor thinks of +Your Highness! And that faithless man says even more: that he +didn't come to this land to fight, and that he has been hurt too +many times because of his misfortune of knowing you and your +father. Do you think, my lady, that that way of talking is +proper for knights? Look at what he thinks of the honor of Your +Excellency and the emperor, who have granted him so many benefits +and honors. Anyone who says things like that should burn in +flames! Do you know what other things he says? That he doesn't +love any woman alive, unless it's for her wealth. He says many +other wicked things too. I remember he told me that if he ever +had another night like that one in Malvei, even if he made you a +thousand promises, he wouldn't keep any of them. With your +consent or by force, he would take you, and then he would say to +you, 'You evil woman, I don't thank you, now that I've had my +pleasure.' Oh, my lady, my heart cries blood when I think of all +the terrible things he said about Your Highness! That's why, my +lady, I want to give you some advice even though you haven't +asked me for it. There's no one who has more compassion for you +than I have. I cradled you in my arms and fed you from my own +breast, and Your Highness has hidden from me to entertain that +wicked Tirant. You've had more faith in Stephanie and +Plaerdemavida than in me: and they have betrayed you and sold +you. Oh, poor you! How they've defamed you, and they'll do it +even more from now on! Keep away from friendships like those +since you know the truth, because what I tell you is the Gospel +itself. You must swear that you'll never tell a soul about these +things I've told Your Majesty. I'm afraid that if that traitor, +Tirant, hears about it, he'll have me killed and then he'll +leave. So, my lady, make pretenses, and break off your +friendship with him little by little, because if Your Highness +suddenly stopped seeing him, he would think that I told you. And +those two ladies deserve to be whipped. Don't you see how big +Stephanie's belly is? I'm astonished that the emperor hasn't +noticed it. And the same will happen to Plaerdemavida." + +The princess was very upset. With tears flowing from her eyes, +she began to lament angrily: + +"Oh, God! Where is Your justice? How is it that fire does not +descend from heaven to turn that cruel, ungrateful Tirant into +ashes? He was the first knight that I considered my master. I +thought he would bring an end to all my troubles, and now I see +everything turned around. Oh, who would ever have thought that +words like these could come from the mouth of such a virtuous +knight? What have I done to him, to make him want the deaths of +my father and my mother and their miserable daughter? Oh, +Tirant! What happened to the love we shared? What crime did I +commit for you to think me vile and abominable? Did you really +say that you love no lady or maiden unless it's for her wealth, +and that you want to take my virginity by force? Oh, if I wanted +to be cruel, before the sun came up your chamber would be full of +blood; yours and the blood of all your men." + +And she said no more. But hearing the call for matins, she +added: + +"Widow, let's go to bed, even though I'll get little sleep +tonight with the great hate I have for Tirant--the one I used to +love so much." + +The Widow answered: + +"My lady, I beg you, please. Don't say a word about this to +anyone. Who knows what might happen?" + +"Don't worry," said the princess. "I'll protect you." + +When they were in their chamber, Stephanie saw them come in, and +said: + +"It looks to me, my lady, as though you've had a great deal of +pleasure listening to the Widow--you've been with her so long. +I'd like to know what you're thinking about." + +The princess climbed into bed without answering, and began to cry +bitterly. When the Widow had gone, Stephanie asked her why she +was crying. The princess told her: + +"Stephanie, let me be, and take care that this doesn't happen to +you." + +Stephanie was surprised at this, not knowing what it could mean. +She did not reply, but drew close to her as she usually did. All +that night the princess could not sleep a wink and cried and +lamented continually. + +In the morning she got up, ill, because of her lack of sleep. +Nonetheless, she forced herself to go to mass. + +When Tirant learned of her condition, and when Stephanie told him +about her tears and crying all night long, he was very surprised, +and wondered what he had done. Going up to the princess, he +said: + +"If Your Excellency would like to tell me what is wrong, I would +be very pleased." + +Tirant could say no more because of the great emotion that he +felt, and the princess softly began to say the following words: + +"I will spend the rest of my life hiding the cause of my grief. +And don't think that it doesn't cost me a great deal of effort to +keep such terrible pain hidden." + +She could say no more because the doctors came, along with the +empress. Tirant took his leave to go to his lodgings, immersed +in thought about what the princess had told him, and he felt +distressed. He could not eat, and did not want to leave his +chamber until the constable went to the palace and spoke at +length with Stephanie and Plaerdemavida. He told them what great +anguish Tirant was in because of what the princess had said to +him. + +"How can we help him," said Stephanie, "if everything I mend by +day the Widow tears apart at night? If it weren't for the Widow, +I would have had him in her chambers, not once, but a hundred +times, like it or not, the way I did that night in the castle of +Malvei." + +As they finished talking, they went into the princess's chamber. +She was deeply involved in conversation with Widow Repose, and +Stephanie could not talk to her. The emperor, knowing that the +constable was there, thought that Tirant must be there too. So +he had them summoned, and as they had to hold counsel, the +emperor said: + +"Let us go to Carmesina's chambers, and we will see how she is, +because she has not felt well all day long." + +The constable went first, then came the emperor and Tirant, and +then everyone in the council who wished to go. They found the +princess playing cards with the Widow, withdrawn to a corner of +the chamber. The emperor sat at her side, asking about her +illness, and she quickly answered him: + +"Sire, as soon as I see Your Majesty, my illness suddenly +disappears." + +Then she turned her eyes on Tirant and smiled. The emperor was +very happy at Carmesina's words, and much more so when he saw her +in such a good mood. They spoke of many things, and the princess +answered everything Tirant said to her, because Widow Repose had +advised her to be nice to Tirant. + +What the Widow wanted was not for Tirant to return to his +country, but to lose hope of having the princess, and for him to +love the Widow instead. That is why she spoke so wickedly to the +princess. + +When it was nearly night, the emperor and all his men went to +their chambers, and the next day the emperor expressed his regret +that all the men had to leave for the camp. Tirant and his men +got ready as quickly as they could. While Stephanie was talking +with the princess that evening, she gave her the news about +Tirant, and the princess quickly said to her: + +"Be quiet, Stephanie. Don't make me any angrier. All those who +make appearances of love are not made exactly of gold." + +Stephanie tried to talk but she would not let her. + +So two or three days went by, and the princess showed a smiling +face to everyone, including Tirant, because she knew that soon +they would have to leave. And to the emperor she said: + +"Sire, here is Tirant, your virtuous captain, who will shortly do +to the sultan what he did to the Caramany and the King of Upper +India, or what he did to the King of Egypt. If everyone in the +world went into battle, he would certainly be the only one to win +honor and lasting fame. And that is worthy of a singular prize, +for he is a great warrior, and he has gone into battle with true +courage." + +The emperor said: + +"Virtuous captain, I thank you for all the honors you have +brought me, and I beg you to do the same from now on, or better, +for this is the hope I place in you." + +When Tirant heard so many superfluous words, and saw that the +princess had brought them on, almost in mockery, he could utter +only: + +"Perhaps." + +Tirant wanted to go to his chambers, and he went down a +staircase, into a room where he found the High Constable, +Stephanie and Plaerdemavida in animated conversation. Tirant +went to them and said: + +"My sisters, what are you talking about?" + +"My lord," answered Stephanie, "about how little love the +princess is showing your lordship when you are about to leave. +Now, more than ever, she should be showering you with love. +Then, my lord, we talked about what will happen to me if you go +away. Because the empress said to me last night, 'Stephanie, you +are in love.' I blushed and shamefully lowered my eyes. That +was a sign of assent, since I was silent, because at first I +didn't know what love was, except for that night at Malvei. And +if you leave there will be little good fortune and a miserable +gift of love for me except for all the pain I'll have for +company. Oh, poor me! That's the way I will be +punished--because of your wrongdoing." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "didn't I tell you that the day we left I +would beg the emperor, in the presence of the empress and the +princess, to give his consent to this marriage? The constable +will be here, and then we will hold your wedding." + +"And how will I get along," said Stephanie, "when you aren't +here? There won't be any celebration or dancing or festivities +at all without your lordship here." + +"Who wants festivities at a wedding if there weren't any at the +engagement?" said Tirant, "Leave the partying and merrymaking for +the bed." + +While they were talking, the emperor came down with Carmesina. +Tirant thought that this was a good time to tell the emperor. So +he went over to the emperor, and in Carmesina's presence he sank +to one knee, and humbly began the following plea: + +"With deep humility I beg Your Majesty, and the empress, and the +princess, to hold the marriage of the maiden Stephanie of +Macedonia to my singular brother, the Count of Sant Angel and the +High Constable of Your Highness, because marriages like these are +a union of the deepest kind of love." + +The emperor replied: + +"I am going to delegate my power to my daughter here so that she +can ask her mother's consent." + +And he left without another word, while the princess stayed +behind with them. When Stephanie saw that the emperor had gone +so quickly, she assumed that he did not approve of the marriage, +and she left the princess, Tirant, the constable and +Plaerdemavida, and went into a chamber alone and began to cry. + +Tirant took the princess's arm, and went with the constable and +Plaerdemavida to the empress's chambers. There Tirant and the +princess asked the empress to give her consent to this marriage, +since the emperor had agreed, and she answered that she would be +very happy to. They immediately called all the court to +Stephanie's betrothal. They all gathered in the great hall, +along with a cardinal who had been summoned to marry them. Then +they sent word for the bride to come, and they found her still +crying because she had heard no news until they came looking for +her and told her that the emperor and all the others were waiting +for her. + +The betrothal was celebrated with dances and a sumptuous feast. +The emperor wanted the wedding to take place the following day so +that Tirant's departure would not be delayed, and so it was done. +Great celebrations were held with jousts and dances and gaiety. +And everyone was happy except poor, miserable Tirant. + +The night of the wedding, Plaerdemavida caught five little +kittens and put them by the window where the bride was sleeping, +and they meowed all night long. After Plaerdemavida had put the +cats there she went to the emperor's chambers and said to him: + +"My lord, come to the bride's chamber quickly: the constable must +have hurt her terribly because I heard some loud cries. I am +really afraid that he may have killed your dear niece, or at +least hurt her badly; and since Your Majesty is such a close +relative of hers it's you who should go to her side." + +Plaerdemavida's words were so amusing that the emperor dressed +again and the two of them went to the door of the bridal chamber +and listened. When Plaerdemavida saw that they were not talking, +she quickly called out: + +"My lady, my bride, how is it that you aren't crying out or +talking now? It must be because in that battle your pain (That +pain that reaches down to your heels, and won't let you shout +that delightful 'Oh!') and your even greater haste are over. +It's a great pleasure, if you listen to what the maidens say. +Since you're so quiet, that's a sign that you've finished the +meal, bone and all. It will be bad for you if you don't do it +again. The emperor is right here, listening for you to cry out +because he's afraid you might be hurt." + +The emperor told her to be quiet, and not to say he was there. + +"I certainly will not," said Plaerdemavida. "I want them to know +that you're here." + +Then the bride began to cry out and to say that he was hurting +her and for him to be still, and Plaerdemavida said: + +"My lord, everything the bride is saying is a lie. Her words +don't come from the heart. They sound false to me, and they're +not to my liking." + +The emperor could not contain his laughter at Plaerdemavida's +delicious remarks. Then, when the bride heard them laughing so +hard she said: + +"Who put those wretched cats out there? Put them somewhere else, +I beg you: they won't let me sleep." + +Plaerdemavida replied: + +"That I certainly won't do. Didn't you know that I can get live +kittens out of a dead cat?" + +"Oh, what a lively young lady!" said the emperor. "How my heart +is warmed by the things you say. I swear to you by the Almighty +that if I didn't already have a wife I would have no other girl +but you." + +The empress had gone to the emperor's chamber and found the door +closed, and no one was there but a page who told her that the +emperor was at the door of the bridal chamber. Then she went +there and found him with four maidens. Plaerdemavida saw the +empress coming, and before anyone could talk she said: + +"Hope to die quickly, my lady: listen to what my lord the emperor +said to me--that if he didn't already have a wife he would have +no one but me. And since you're in my way, fall down dead right +now--as quickly as you can." + +"Oh, you wicked child!" said the empress. "Is that the sort of +thing you say to me?" And turning to the emperor: "And you, you +blessed saint, what do you want another wife for? To give her +taps instead of thrusts? Don't you know that no lady or maiden +ever died from being tapped?" + +And, joking, they went back to their chambers happily, and the +empress and the maidens returned to theirs. + +The next day, in the morning, everyone was happy, and they highly +honored the constable and the bride. They took them to the main +church where they heard mass with great honor. When they had +read the scripture the preacher mounted the pulpit and gave a +solemn sermon. + +When the sermon and the mass were finished, they had the +constable put on the clothing of the duchy of Macedonia, and they +displayed the flags of that duchy. On his head they put a crown +made entirely of fine silver, and they crowned Stephanie in the +same way. + +When these things were finished they left the church, riding +through the city with flags flying in the wind. The emperor, +with all the ladies and all the grandees, dukes, counts and +marquis, and many others on horseback, rode around the entire +city. Afterward they all went outside the city to a beautiful +meadow where there was a shining spring called Holy Spring. +After the flags were blessed, they baptized the duke and duchess +of the kingdom of Macedonia by pouring perfumed water on their +heads. + +The duke went to the Holy Spring, and the emperor took water from +the spring and baptized him again, giving him the title of Duke +of Macedonia. Then the trumpets sounded, and the heralds +shouted: + +"This is the illustrious Duke of Macedonia, of the great lineage +of Rocasalada." + +At that moment three hundred knights with golden spurs came, and +they all made a deep bow to the emperor, and paid great honor to +the Duke of Macedonia. And from this moment on he was no longer +called Constable. These three hundred knights separated into two +groups, and each knight took the most beautiful lady or the one +that was most to his liking. They held them with the reins of +the horses they were riding on. And each of them, in order, rode +forward: first those of highest station and lineage, and then +those who wished to joust. And when they met, one would tell the +other to give up the lady they had, or he would have to joust +with him, and the one who broke the other's lance first would +take his lady. + +While the knights were engaged in these games, the emperor went +to the city of Pera where the celebration was prepared. It was +already past noon, and the knights had not yet returned, so the +emperor went to the top of a high tower. He had a great horn +blown that could be heard more than a league away, and when the +knights heard the horn, they all set out on the road to Pera. +Then three hundred other knights came out, dressed in the same +color of garments, and they blocked the road. A very singular +display of arms took place there which greatly pleased the +emperor. + +All the ladies and maidens who had been taken prisoner fled to +the city and left the knights. + +The combat between the knights lasted more than two hours as the +emperor did not want to stop it, and when they had broken all +their lances they fought with swords. The emperor called for the +trumpets to sound, and they all separated, each group to a +different side. When the knights were separated, each sought out +his lady, and they could not find them. Then they began to say +that the other knights had taken them prisoner, and each of them +complained to the empress and the princess about the ladies they +had lost. They answered that they knew nothing, and that they +believed the other knights had them hidden. Then these knights, +very furious, raised their swords and spurred toward the others, +and they began to fight again. + +When it had gone on for a good spell, they saw the ladies on the +palace walls. A trumpet sounded, and they all gathered together +and attacked the palace mightily, and the women defended it. But +the men outside broke in by force of their arms. When they were +inside the great patio they divided into two groups, and taking a +king-of-arms, they sent him to the knights who had come most +recently, demanding that they leave, for they were each there to +get back their lady, along with the ones they had won. They +answered that they would not leave for anything in the world. +They wanted their share of what was due to them, as they had +placed themselves in such grave danger of death. After this, +they held combat on foot inside the palace, and it was a +delicious sight to see, for some were falling here and others +there. Others delivered marvelous blows with their axes, and +whoever lost his axe could not fight again, nor could anyone +whose body or hand touched the floor. They fought in such a way +that it became a fight of ten against ten, and then it was +beautiful to see. Finally the emperor had them separated, and +then they were all disarmed in the great hall, and there they +dined. When it was a half hour before sunset they began to +dance, and they held a long and pretty dance. They took the +princess and all the ladies, and dancing, they went to the city +of Constantinople. + +After the meal Tirant gathered all those of his lineage, +thirty-five knights and gentlemen who had come with him or the +Viscount of Branches. They went to kiss the foot and hand of the +emperor, thanking him for the great kindness he had done them in +giving his beautiful niece to Diafebus for his bride. And after +they had all thanked him, the emperor smiled and said: + +"Because of the great virtue I see in you, Tirant, I love you +deeply. And I would not want anyone to marry a relative of mine +if he were not of the lineage of Rocasalada. I would have begged +you to take Stephanie, my niece, as your wife, along with the +duchy of Macedonia, so that you would be more united with the +crown of the Empire of Greece, and I would have given you many +other things. At the time that I offered it, you did not want to +be a count; instead you gave it to your relative. And now I +would have given you the duchy, along with a lady who is a +relative of mine, and you did not want that either. I don't know +what you're waiting for! If you want me to give you my empire, +don't count on it: I need it." + +Tirant replied: + +"The greatest glory I could have is to leave an inheritance to my +relatives and friends. As an inheritance of my own I want +nothing more than a horse and arms, so Your Highness will have to +work a great deal to make me rich." + +The old emperor was pleased by Tirant's words. Turning to his +daughter, the emperor said: + +"I have never known a knight with as much virtue as Tirant. If +God gives me life I will see him crowned a king." + + CHAPTER VII IN THE PRINCESS'S BED + +After the celebrations were over, Diafebus, the Duke of +Macedonia, lived in the emperor's palace. The following day the +duke invited all those of his lineage, Rocasalada, to dine. +While the guests were eating, the emperor told his daughter to go +to the duchess' chamber since all the foreigners from Brittany +were there. + +"The duke is attempting to pay them honor, and celebrations like +this are useless if there are no maidens present." + +The princess replied: + +"My lord, I will obey Your Majesty's command." + +Accompanied by many ladies and maidens she started toward the +duchess' chamber. With great malice Widow Repose went up to her, +and said: + +"Oh, my lady! Why does Your Highness want to go where these +foreigners are? Do you want to disturb their dinner? When they +see Your Excellency no one will dare eat in your presence. You +and your father want to honor them and give them pleasure, and +yet you do them great harm. For all of them would prefer to see +the wing of a partridge than all the maidens in the world. Your +Highness should not act so freely, going to such a place, since +you are the emperor's daughter. Think highly of yourself if you +want to be well thought of by other people. It's a bad sign when +I see Your Excellency always with that fool, Tirant." + +"Don't I have to obey what my father, the emperor, orders me to +do?" said the princess. "I don't think anyone would blame me for +obeying my father's command." + +But she went back to her own chamber without visiting the +duchess. When everyone had eaten, Plaerdemavida decided to see +Tirant and talk to the duchess. Seeing Tirant sitting there, +deep in thought, she went over to him, and to console him she +said: + +"Captain, my lord, my soul suffers deeply when it sees you so sad +and lost in thought. Tell me, your grace, how I can help, for I +will not fail you even if my life were in the balance." + +Tirant was very grateful to her. The duchess approached them, +and asked Plaerdemavida why the princess had not come. +Plaerdemavida answered that Widow Repose was the cause, for she +had scolded her at length. + +And she would not tell what the Widow had said about Tirant so +that he would not explode in anger. + +"I wish," said Tirant, "that she were a man. Then I could repay +her for all the wicked things she says." + +"Would you like to do it properly?" asked Plaerdemavida. "Let's +leave the wickedness aside and get right down to business; the +remedies will come later. I'm well aware that we won't +accomplish anything if we don't mix in a little force, so I'll +tell you what I think. Her Highness told me to prepare a bath +for her the day after tomorrow. So when everyone is eating I'll +take you into the chamber where she takes her bath in such a way +that no one will see you. When she comes out of the bath and +goes to sleep I'll be able to place you by her side in the bed. +And just as you are serious and skillful on the battlefield you +must be the same way in bed. This is the quickest road for +getting what you want. If you know a better one, speak up, don't +hold your tongue." + +The duchess said: + +"Let me talk to her first, and I'll see what sort of answer she +gives. Your idea will have to be the last thing we do to get +what we want." + +Tirant spoke: + +"I wouldn't want to do anything that would offend my lady. What +good would it do me to have my desire with Her Highness if it's +against her will? I would rather undergo a cruel death than make +Her Majesty angry in any way, or do anything against her wishes." + +"In God's faith, I don't like what I'm hearing from you," said +Plaerdemavida. "If the desire to love exists in you, you won't +run away from the narrow path I'm offering you. My experience +speaks for itself, and it desires to serve you and bring you all +the good I can--even more than I can. But I see that you're +going off in a strange direction. You want to go down a dead-end +street. From now on you go find someone else to take care of +your problem. I don't want to have anything more to do with it." + +"Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you, please, don't be angry. Let's +put our minds together and do what's best. If you fail me in +this, there's nothing left for me to do but go off, hopeless, +like a madman." + +"Not even the angels," said Plaerdemavida, "could give you better +advice than I have." + +They decided that the duchess should go to the princess's chamber +to see if it was possible for him to talk to her. When they got +there they found her in her room, combing her hair. Then the +duchess thought up some youthful mischief: she went into a room +that the princess would have to pass through when she came out of +her chamber. She lay down at the foot of the bed and leaned on +her elbow, very dejected. When the princess heard that she was +there, she sent word for her to come into the chamber, but the +duchess did not want to go. And Plaerdemavida, who had contrived +it all this way, told her: + +"Leave her alone. She can't come. She's very sick and I don't +know what's wrong with her. She's very sad." + +When the princess had combed her hair, she came out of the +chamber and saw the duchess with a very sad face. She went over +to her and said: + +"Oh, my dear sister! What's wrong? Please, I beg you, tell me +quickly, for I feel very bad about your illness, and if I can +help you in any way, I will." + +"I'll tell Your Highness what hurts me, for I am prepared to lose +my life in this matter. It's impossible for me to go back on the +promise I made, by your command, to Tirant in the castle of +Malvei. So, my lady, I beg Your Excellency not to allow me to +remain a perjurer or for you to be the cause of my downfall, for +I will have to be on bad terms with the duke and with Tirant." + +As the duchess said this, tears flowed from her eyes. The +painful tears of the duchess moved the princess to pity, and she +forgot much of the anger she felt for Tirant. With a humble +voice she answered tenderly: + +"Duchess, you have to realize that I am just as sad as you are. +But, my lady and sister, don't grieve any longer, for you know +that I love you more than anyone in the world, and I will behave +from now on as God wills. Since you want me to talk to Tirant, I +will, out of love for you, even though I have little desire to do +anything for him. If you knew how he treats me and all the +things he's said about me, you would be astonished. I'll put up +with him because of the great danger we're in, and because we all +need him. But I swear to you by this blessed day that if it +weren't for that I would never allow him in my presence again. +Who would think that such ingratitude could exist in such a +virtuous knight." + +The duchess replied with the following words: + +"My lady, I am astonished that Your Highness could believe that a +knight as noble and virtuous as Tirant could have said even one +word to offend Your Majesty. If his ears had heard anything +spoken against you, he would have killed everyone including +himself. So don't even think, Your Highness, that Tirant is the +way he's been described to you. Some miserable person has led +you to believe a false story, and is trying to destroy the +reputation of the best knight in all the world." + +Plaerdemavida stepped in and said: + +"My lady, take that vice of having bad thoughts about Tirant out +of your head, for if anyone in the world deserves merit, it's +Tirant. Who is the half-wit who could make Your Majesty believe +that a knight exists who can even compare to him in glory, honor +and virtue? There is no one (unless they wanted to lie) who +could say (unless it's with great wickedness) that Tirant would +say anything but good things about Your Excellency. Forget what +wicked people say, and love the one you should love, for it will +be to your great glory to possess such a virtuous knight. Love +one who loves you, my lady, and leave the wicked talk to that +devil, Widow Repose. She's the one who's causing all this +trouble, and I trust God that it will all fall back on her. I +have only one hope in this world: to see her whipped through the +streets of the city, naked, with cow entrails hanging down her +shoulders, her eyes and her face." + +"Be quiet," said the princess. "You just think Widow Repose is +telling me all this, but she's not. I'm the one who can see all +the terrible things that could happen. But in spite of it all, +I'll do whatever you tell me." + +"If you listen to my advice," said Plaerdemavida, "I'll tell you +to do only things that will bring you honor." + +And so they left. The duchess went back to her chambers and +found Tirant there, and she told him everything that had +happened. Tirant, very happy, went to the great hall where the +emperor, the princess and the empress were, with all the ladies, +and they danced there for a good while. And the princess +continually entertained Tirant. + +After the dancing was over, when the princess withdrew to dine, +Widow Repose approached her. With no one around to hear, she +said: + +"It hurts me to see how much love permits, and I curse the day +you were born. For many people constantly turn their eyes to +Your Majesty, and then to me, and they say to me three times: +'Oh, Widow! Oh, Widow Repose! How can you allow a man who is a +foreigner to carry off Carmesina's virginity?' Just imagine if +someone who hears words like those doesn't have the right to +grieve and to despair of their life? How could you think, my +lady, that such a thing could be done without bishops and +archbishops knowing of it? I'm only telling you all this, my +lady, to bring it to mind again, for I've already told you about +it several times." + +She decided to say no more, and waited to see what the princess +would say. The princess was brimming with emotion at this +moment, but she had no time to reply to the poisonous words of +the wicked Widow because the emperor was at his table, waiting +for the princess, and he had sent word for her to come twice +already. + +The princess said: + +"Madam Widow, to be able to give an answer to everything you have +told me would be a delicious meal for me." + +She left the chamber, and when the duchess, who was waiting to +find out if Tirant could go to her that night, saw her come out +so agitated and flushed, she did not dare say a word to her. But +when Plaerdemavida saw her in that state too, and also saw the +Widow following behind, she said to her: + +"Oh, my lady, I've always noticed that when the sky turns red +it's the sign of a storm." + +"Shut up, you madwoman," said the princess. "You're always +spouting nonsense." + +You can imagine how the princess must have appeared, for when the +emperor saw her he asked her why she looked that way, and if +anyone had made her angry. The princess answered: + +"No, my lord. Since I left Your Majesty's side I've been lying +down in my bed, because my heart has been in pain. But thanks to +Our Heavenly Father I have found a cure for my ache." + +The emperor commanded the doctors to oversee her diet, and they +ordered pheasant for dinner, which is gentle meat for the heart. +The duchess sat at her side, not to eat, but to be able to talk +to her and to tell her that Tirant was waiting for her in his +chamber with good news. When the meal was over, the duchess +leaned toward her and whispered: + +"What is open has the seal of truth, and what is done secretly, +as the Widow does, shows evil. A vassal cannot deceive his +master, and since the Widow is my vassal, I want her death, for +her actions deserve great punishment." + +"My duchess," said the princess, "I love you very much, and I +will do as much for you as one can reasonably do for her +sister--even more. Leave Widow Repose alone, because even though +she's your vassal, she's not to blame for anything." + +The duchess said: + +"Give me an answer to that matter of Tirant: Do you want him to +come tonight? I'm sure that's what he's hoping for so anxiously. +Don't tell me no, upon your life." + +"I'll be very happy for him to come this evening," said the +princess. "I'll wait for him here and we shall dance, and if he +wishes to tell me anything, I'll listen to him." + +"Oh, my dear girl," said the duchess. "Now you want to change +the game on me. I'm only telling you that if you want that +virtuous man, Tirant (without whom you can gain neither blessings +or honor) to come see you, the same way he did that pleasant +night in the castle of Malvei-- let's see if you can catch my +meaning now!" + +"I can't think at all when you mention Tirant's name to me," said +the princess. "You may certainly tell Tirant that I beg him, as +a knight full of faith and virtue, to stop tempting my soul which +has been crying tears of blood for many days. But after he comes +here it will be I who will consent, and in a greater way than he +imagines." + +"Oh, my lady!" said the duchess. "If Your Excellency wishes to +do battle with Tirant, place yourself in his arms again with the +same fear you felt that night at Malvei, with the promises and +oaths you swore to him." + +"Shall I tell you something, my sister and my lady?" said the +princess. "I want to keep my reputation and my honor as I value +my life. And this I intend to do with God's help." + +The duchess left very angrily, and when she saw Tirant she told +him about her lady's bad disposition. Tirant's anguish increased +to an even greater degree than usual. + +When the emperor had dined, knowing that Tirant was in the duke's +chamber, he sent for him and said to the princess: + +"Send for the minstrels so that the knights can enjoy themselves. +The time for their departure has been set." + +"No," said the princess. "I feel more like going to bed than +dancing." + +She immediately took leave of her father and withdrew to her +chamber so that she would not have to talk to Tirant. Widow +Repose, who had heard her say these words, was very satisfied +with what she had done. Plaerdemavida went to the duchess' +chamber and said to Tirant: + +"Captain, put no hope in this lady as long as Widow Repose is +around her. They've already withdrawn to her chamber, and are +speaking together about your affairs. You'll never get your way +with her unless you do what I'm going to tell you: Tomorrow +she'll take her bath, and I will be so clever that at night I'll +put you in her bed. You'll find her completely naked. Do what +I'm telling you, for I know she'll never say a word. Where the +duchess used to sleep, I've taken her place now that she's no +longer there. Since this is the case, let me take care of it." + +"Maiden," said Tirant, "I am extremely grateful to you for all +your gentility, and for what you are telling me, but there is one +thing you should know about me: I wouldn't use force against a +lady or maiden for anything in the world, even if it should cost +me the crown of the Empire of Greece, or of Rome, or of the +entire Kingdom of Earth. I prefer to go through the pain and +trial of pleading with her, for I am completely convinced that +she was created in Paradise. Her gracefulness shows that she is +more angelic than human." + +He said no more. Plaerdemavida, showing her anger to Tirant, +said: + +"Tirant, Tirant, you will never be brave or feared in battle if +you don't mix a little bit of force in when you love a lady or a +maiden. Since you have a good and genteel hope, and you love a +maiden valiantly, go into her room and throw yourself down on her +bed when she's naked or in her nightshirt, and wound her boldly, +because among friends no towel is necessary. And if you don't do +it, I won't be your ally any longer, for I know many knights who +have deserved honor, glory and fame from their ladies because +they had their hands ready and valiant. Oh Lord, how wonderful +to have a tender maiden, about fourteen years old and completely +naked, in your arms! Oh Lord, how wonderful to be in her bed, +kissing her all the while! Oh Lord, how wonderful if she's of +royal blood! Oh Lord, how wonderful to have an emperor as her +father! Oh Lord, how wonderful to have her rich and generous, +and free of all infamy!... Now what I want most of all is for +you to do what I tell you." + +By this time most of the night was gone and they wanted to lock +up the palace, so Tirant had to leave. When he had said +goodnight to the duchess and was already going out, Plaerdemavida +said: + +"Captain, my lord, I wouldn't be able to find anyone who would do +as much for me: Go to sleep, and don't come back from the other +side." + +Tirant burst out laughing and said to her: + +"You have such an angelic nature, you're always giving good +advice." + +And so they went their separate ways. + +That night Tirant thought about everything the maiden had said to +him. The next morning the emperor sent for the captain, and he +immediately went and found him dressing, and the princess had +come to wait on him. She was wearing a brocade skirt, with no +cloth covering her breasts, and her hair, loosened somewhat, +almost reached to the ground. When Tirant approached the emperor +he was astonished to see as much perfection in a human body as he +saw in her then. The emperor said to him: + +"Captain, in God's name, I beg you to do everything possible so +that you can leave with your men soon." + +Tirant was so impressed by the vision of this striking lady that +he was stupefied and could not speak. After some time had passed +he recovered and said: + +"I was thinking about the Turks when I saw Your Majesty, so I +didn't hear you. Your Highness, tell me what you want me to do, +I beg you." + +The emperor was surprised to see him so distracted, but since he +had understood so little he thought that that must be the case, +for he had seemed entranced for half an hour. The emperor +repeated what he had said, and Tirant answered: + +"My lord, Your Majesty should know that the crier is running +throughout the city, telling everyone that the departure is set +for Monday, and today is Friday. So we will be leaving very +soon, my lord, and nearly everyone is already prepared." + +Tirant stood behind the emperor so that he would not see him, and +covering his face with his hands, he looked at the princess. She +and the other maidens laughed out loud while Plaerdemavida stood +in front of the emperor, and taking the emperor's arm, she turned +him toward her and said: + +"If you have done anything noteworthy it's because of Tirant, who +conquered the Grand Turk and made him lose the false and terrible +madness he had about ruling the entire Greek empire. He also +intended to conquer the old emperor here with pretty words, and +instead the Turkish kings and the sultan desperately ran for +safety to the great fortress in the city of Bellpuig. And not at +their leisure, but swept along by the fear that took control of +their feet. He has won renown by his own virtue, and if I had +the royal scepter and were lord of the Greek empire, and if +Carmesina had come from my body, I know very well whose wife I +would make her. But all of us girls are foolish like this: we +want nothing but honor, position, and dignity, and as a result +many of us come to a bad end. What good would it do for me to +belong to the line of David if I lost what I had for lack of a +good man? And you, my lord, try to save your soul, since you've +spared your body in battles in the past, and don't even think +about giving any other husband to your daughter but... Do I have +to say it? I won't... I must: the virtuous Tirant. Take this +consolation while you're alive, and don't expect it to be done +after your blessed days are over, because the things that nature +wills and that are ordered by God must be consented to. That way +you'll have glory in this world and paradise in the next." + +Then she turned to the princess, and said: + +"You who are of such lofty blood, take a husband soon--very soon. +If your father won't give you one, I will, and I'll give you none +other than Tirant. For it's a wonderful thing to have both a +husband and a knight, whoever can have one. This man is greater +than all the others in prowess. If you don't think so, Your +Majesty, look at the disorder of your empire and the point it had +reached before Tirant came to this land." + +"Please be quiet, girl," said Tirant, "and don't say such +outlandish things about me." + +"Go on out to your battles," said Plaerdemavida, "and let me be." + +The emperor answered: + +"By the bones of my father, the emperor Albert, you are the most +extraordinary maiden in the world, but the further you go, the +more I like you. And now, as a present, I'm going to give you +fifty thousand ducats." + +She knelt to the ground and kissed his hand. The princess was +very disturbed by what she had said, and Tirant was somewhat +embarrassed. When the emperor had finished dressing he went to +mass. As they came out from mass Tirant had an opportunity to +talk to the princess, and he said to her: + +"Anyone who makes a promise puts himself in debt." + +"The promise," said the princess, "was not made in the presence +of a notary." + +Plaerdemavida, who was standing nearby, heard the princess's +reply, and quickly said to her: + +"Let's have none of that: a promise to fulfill love doesn't +require any witnesses, and even less a notary. What a miserable +state we'd be in if we had to have it in writing every time! +There wouldn't be enough paper in the world! Do you know how +it's done? In the dark and without witnesses, because the +lodging is never missed." + +"Oh, this madwoman!" said the princess. "Do you always have to +talk to me about the same thing?" + +No matter how much Tirant spoke to her, no matter how he pleaded, +she would do nothing for him. + +When they were in the chambers, the emperor called Carmesina and +said to her: + +"Tell me, my daughter, those things Plaerdemavida said--where do +they come from?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, my lord," said the princess. "I never +spoke of such a thing to her. But this madwoman is impertinent +and she says anything that comes into her head." + +"She's no madwoman," said the emperor. "In fact, she's the most +sensible maiden in my court. She's a good girl, and she always +gives good advice. Haven't you noticed when you've come to the +council chambers that when you make her talk she is always very +discreet? Would you like to have our captain for your husband?" + +The princess blushed shamefully, and could not utter a word. +After a moment, when she had recovered, she said: + +"My lord, when your captain has finished conquering the Moors, +then I will do whatever Your Majesty commands me." + +Tirant went to the duchess' chamber, and sent for Plaerdemavida. +When she was there, he said: + +"Oh, genteel lady! I don't know what help you can give me: My +soul is in discord with my body, and unless you can cure my +illness I don't care whether I live or die." + +"I'll do it tonight," said Plaerdemavida, "if you do as I say." + +"Command me, maiden," said Tirant, "and may God increase your +honor. The things you said when the emperor was here, about the +princess and me: who told you to say them?" + +"You, and my lady, and the emperor too: You're all thinking the +same thing," said Plaerdemavida. "When he asked me, I gave him +even better reasons why you're worthy of having the princess as a +wife. To what better man could she be given than to you? And he +agrees with everything that I say. I'll tell you why, in strict +confidence: He's in love with me, and he would pull up my chemise +if I'd let him. He's sworn to me on the Bible that if the +empress was dying, he would take me as a wife in a minute. And +he told me: 'As a sign of our pact, let's kiss; this kiss will be +very little, but it's better to have something than nothing.' +And I answered him: 'Now that you are old, you're a lecher. When +you were young, were you virtuous?' Only a few hours ago he gave +me this string of fat pearls, and now he's with his daughter, +asking her if she wants you for a husband. Do you know why I +said that to him? Because if you go to her chamber at night and +it's your bad fortune to cause a commotion, and they try to +charge me with something, I'll have an alibi. I'll say: 'My +lord, I already told Your Majesty. The princess ordered me to +let him in.' And that way no one will be able to say anything. +So that you can see my good will and how much I want to help and +honor your grace, when the emperor is dining, come to me. I +promise to put you in my lady's bed, and in the refreshing night +you'll see how solace comes to those who are in love." + +While they were talking, the emperor, knowing that Tirant was in +the duchess' chamber, sent for him, and interrupted their +conversation. + +When Tirant held counsel with the emperor, they spoke at length +about war and what things would be needed, and at that time they +were all dressed in readiness for battle. When the dark shadows +of night had fallen, Tirant came to the duchess' chamber, and +while the emperor was with the ladies, Plaerdemavida went into +the chamber very happily, took Tirant by the hand and led him +away. He was dressed in a jacket of red satin, with a cloak over +his shoulders and a sword in his hand. Plaerdemavida put him in +the chamber. A large box was there with a hole she had made so +he could breathe. The bath had been prepared, and it stood in +front of the box. After the ladies had eaten, they danced with +the gallant knights. When they saw that Tirant was not there +they stopped dancing, and the emperor retired to his chamber +while the ladies departed, and left the princess alone with her +ladies-in-waiting in her chamber where Tirant was. Plaerdemavida +opened the box under the pretext of taking out a sheet of +delicate linen for the bath, and she left it slightly open, +putting clothing on top so that none of the other women would see +him. The princess began to take off her clothes, and +Plaerdemavida prepared her seat which had been placed directly in +front so that Tirant could see her clearly. + +When she was completely naked Plaerdemavida brought a lighted +candle to give pleasure to Tirant, and looking at all of her body +and everything that was in view, she said: + +"In faith, my lady, if Tirant were here and could touch you with +his hands the way I am, I believe he would prefer that to being +made ruler of the kingdom of France." + +"Don't believe it," said the princess. "He would rather be king +than touch me the way you are." + +"Oh, my lord Tirant! Where are you now? Why aren't you standing +here, nearby, so that you can see and touch the thing you love +most in this world and in the world beyond? Look, my lord +Tirant, here are the locks of my princess; I kiss them in your +name, for you are the best of all knights in the world. Here are +her eyes and her mouth: I kiss them for you. Here are her +crystalline breasts: I hold one in each hand, and I kiss them for +you. See how small, how firm, how white and smooth they are. +Look Tirant, here is her belly, her thighs and her secret place. +Oh, wretched me, if I were a man I would want to spend my last +days here. Oh, Tirant! Where are you now? Why don't you come +to me when I call you so tenderly? Only the hands of Tirant are +worthy to touch where I am touching, and no one else, because +this is a morsel that there is no one who would not like to choke +on." + +Tirant was watching all this, and could not have been more +pleased by the fine wit of Plaerdemavida's comments, and he felt +sorely tempted to come out of the box. + +When they had been there some time, joking, the princess stepped +into the bath and told Plaerdemavida to remove her clothes and +join her. + +"I will, under one condition." + +"What's that?" asked the princess. + +Plaerdemavida answered: + +"That you consent to have Tirant in your bed for one hour while +you're in it." + +"Hush! You're mad!" said the princess. + +"If you please, my lady, tell me what you would say if Tirant +came here one night without any of us knowing it?" + +"What else could I tell him," said the princess, "but beg him to +leave, and if he wouldn't go, I would keep quiet rather than be +defamed." + +"In faith, my lady," said Plaerdemavida, "that's what I would do +too." + +While they were saying these things, Widow Repose came in, and +the princess begged her to join her in the bath. The Widow +removed all her clothing except her red stockings and a linen hat +on her head; and although she was very pretty and well endowed, +the red stockings and the hat on her head made her so ugly that +she looked like a devil, and it is true that any lady or maiden +you see in that sort of attire will look very ugly to you no +matter how genteel she may be. + +When the bath was finished they brought the repast to the +princess, which was a pair of partridges, and then a dozen eggs +with sugar and cinnamon. Afterward she lay down in her bed to +sleep. + +The Widow went to her chamber with the other ladies except for +two who slept in the chamber. When they were all asleep, +Plaerdemavida got up from the bed and she led Tirant from the box +in her nightshirt, and made him take off all his clothing, +quietly, so that no one would hear him. And Tirant's heart, +hands and feet were trembling. + +"What's this?" said Plaerdemavida. "There's not a man in the +world who is valiant with weapons, but who isn't afraid when he's +with women. In battle there's not a man alive you're afraid of, +and here you tremble at the sight of one lone maiden. Don't +worry, I'll be with you the whole time. I won't leave your +side." + +"By the faith I owe our Heavenly Father, I would be happier to +joust ten knights to the death than commit an act like this." + +The maiden took him by the hand, and he followed her, trembling, +and said: + +"Maiden, all my fear is really shame, because of the extreme good +will that I desire for my lady. I would much rather go back than +continue on when I think that Her Majesty knows nothing about any +of this. When she sees what's happening she will be completely +frightened, and I would rather die than offend Her Majesty." + +Plaerdemavida was very angry with Tirant's words, and she said: + +"Oh, you faint-hearted knight. Does a maiden frighten you so +much that you're afraid to go near her? Oh, unlucky captain. Do +you have so little courage that you dare say such words to me? +Pluck up your courage. + +When the emperor comes, what story will you invent to tell him? +I'll have you discovered, and God and the whole world will know +that you have spoken ill, and let me remind you that this time +you'll lose your honor and your fame. Do what I tell you and +I'll give you a secure life and have you wearing the crown of the +Greek Empire, because the time has come when I can tell you only +one thing: to go quickly and take those steps that will lead you +to the princess." + +Seeing the frankness in Plaerdemavida's words, Tirant said: + +"Let's go on without delay, I beg you, and let me see that +glorified body. And since there's no light I'll see her only +with the eyes of the imagination." + +"I've used great ingenuity to bring you here," said +Plaerdemavida, "so conduct yourself in a proper way." + +And she let go his hand. Tirant discovered that Plaerdemavida +had left him, and he did not know where she was because there was +no light in the room. She made him wait half an hour, barefoot, +and in his shirt-sleeves. He called to her as softly as he +could, and she heard him perfectly well but did not answer. When +Plaerdemavida saw that she had made him grow quite cold, she had +pity on him, and going up to him she said: + +"That's the way people who aren't in love are punished. How +could you imagine that any lady or maiden of high or low station, +wouldn't want to be loved? Anyone who can go in by honest or +secret roads, by night or by day, through a window, a door or a +roof, is thought of highly. I wouldn't be unhappy if Hippolytus +would do it to me. And I wouldn't be upset if he would take me +by the hair, and drag me through the room, with my consent or +without it, and make me be quiet, and I would let him do anything +he wanted. I would rather know that he's a man. In other things +you should honor, love and serve her; but when you're alone in a +room with her, that's no time to be polite." + +"In faith, maiden," said Tirant, "you've pointed out my defects +to me better than any confessor could, no matter how great a +teacher of theology he might be. Take me to my lady's bed +quickly, I beg you." + +Plaerdemavida took him there, and made him lie down beside the +princess. The head of the bed did not touch the wall, and when +Tirant was lying down, the maiden told him to be still and not to +move until she said so. Then she stood at the end of the bed, +and she put her head between Tirant and the princess, facing the +princess. Because the sleeves of her blouse bothered her, she +rolled them up, and taking Tirant's hand, she placed it on the +princess' breasts, and he touched her nipples, and her belly, and +below. The princess awoke, and said: + +"My heaven, what a bother you are! Can't you let me sleep?" + +Plaerdemavida, with her head on the pillow, said: + +"Oh! You're a very difficult lady to take. You've just come out +of the bath, and your skin is so smooth and nice that it makes me +feel good just to touch it." + +"Touch all you like," said the princess, "but don't put your hand +so far down." + +"Go back to sleep," said Plaerdemavida, "and let me touch this +body that's mine, because I'm here in Tirant's place. Oh, +Tirant, you traitor! + +Where are you? If you had your hand where I have mine, wouldn't +you be unhappy!" + +Tirant had his hand on the princess' belly, and Plaerdemavida had +her hand on Tirant's head, and when she saw that the princess was +asleep, she loosened her grip, and then Tirant touched at will, +and when she was about to wake up, the girl squeezed Tirant's +head, and he stopped. They spent more than an hour at this play, +and he did not cease touching her. When Plaerdemavida saw that +she was deep in sleep she removed her hand completely from +Tirant, and he carefully tried to accomplish his desire. But the +princess began to wake up, and half asleep, she said: + +"But what are you doing, you wretched girl? Can't you let me +sleep? Have you gone mad, trying to do what's against your +nature?" + +It was not long until she knew that it was more than a woman, and +she refused to surrender to him and began to cry out. +Plaerdemavida covered her mouth and whispered in her ear so that +none of the other girls would hear her: + +"Hush, my lady, you don't want to be dishonored. I'm terribly +afraid that the empress will hear you. Be quiet: this is your +knight who is ready to die for you." + +"Oh, you wicked girl!" said the princess. "You've had no fear of +me or shame of the world. Without my consent you've put me in a +very bad situation and defamed me." + +"What's done is done, my lady," said Plaerdemavida. "It seems to +me that being quiet is the only solution for you and me: it's the +safest thing, and what's best in this case." + +Tirant softly pleaded with her as well as he could. She found +herself in a difficult situation, because love was conquering her +on the one hand, and fear on the other, but since fear was +stronger than love, she decided to be still and she said nothing. + +When the princess first screamed, Widow Repose heard her, and she +was fully aware that the cause of that scream had been +Plaerdemavida, and that Tirant must be with her. And she thought +that if Tirant was seducing the princess, she couldn't accomplish +her own desire with him. Now everyone was silent and the +princess was not saying a thing, but instead was defending +herself with graceful words so that the pleasant battle would not +come to an end. The Widow sat bolt upright in her bed and cried +out: + +"My daughter, what's wrong?" + +She woke up all the girls, shrieking loudly and making so much +noise that the empress heard it. They all got up, some entirely +naked and others in their nightshirts, and quickly ran to the +door of the bedchamber which they found closed fast, and they +cried out for a light. At the very moment that they were +pounding on the door and calling for light, Plaerdemavida seized +Tirant by the hair, and pulled him from the place where he would +have liked to end his life. She led him to a small chamber and +made him jump to a rooftop there. Then she gave him a hemp rope +so that he could drop down to the garden and from there could +open the gate. She had it very well prepared so that when he +came he could leave by another door before daybreak. But the +disturbance and the cries of the Widow and the girls were so loud +that she could not let him out the way she had planned, and she +was forced to let him out by the roof. So, giving him the long +rope, she quickly turned and closed the window and then went back +to her lady. + +Tirant turned around and tied the rope securely, and in his haste +to leave without being seen or heard, he did not watch carefully +to see whether or not the rope reached the ground. He let +himself slide down the rope which hung more than thirty-five feet +from the ground. He had to let go because his arms could not +hold the weight of his body, and he hit the ground so hard that +he broke his leg. + +Let us leave Tirant stretched out on the ground, unable to move. + +When Plaerdemavida returned, they brought the light, and all the +women came in with the empress who immediately asked what the +disturbance was and why she had cried out. + +"Madam," said the princess, "a huge rat jumped up on my bed and +ran over my face, and I was so frightened that I screamed. He +scratched my face with his claws, and if he had gotten my eye, +you can imagine what damage he would have done!" + +Now that scratch had been made by Plaerdemavida when she covered +her mouth so she would not scream. The emperor had gotten up, +and he entered the princess's chamber with his sword in his hand, +and hearing about the rat, he looked through all the rooms. But +the maiden had been discreet: When the empress came in and was +talking to her daughter, she jumped out onto the roof and quickly +removed the rope. She heard Tirant moaning, and immediately +realized that he had fallen, and she went back to the chamber +without saying a word. There was so much noise throughout the +palace, between the guards and the palace officials, that it was +a wonder to hear and to behold; and if the Turks had entered the +city the disturbance would not have been any greater. The +emperor, who was a very discreet man, suspected that this had to +be more than a rat, and he even looked into the coffers. Then he +had all the windows opened, so that if the maiden had not been +quick about removing the rope he would have found it. + +When the duke and duchess, who knew what was going on, heard all +the noise, they thought Tirant had been discovered. Imagine how +the duke must have felt, thinking that Tirant was in such a +difficult situation, and that he must have been killed or +imprisoned. He quickly armed himself to help Tirant since he had +his weapons there, and he said: + +"Today I'll lose my entire kingdom because Tirant is in such a +bad situation." + +"And look at me," said the duchess. "I don't have enough +strength in my hands to put on my blouse." + +When the duke was armed he left his room to see what was +happening, and to find out where Tirant was. And as he was going +out he saw the emperor returning to his chamber. The duke asked +him: + +"What is it, Sire? What's the cause of this disturbance?" + +The emperor answered: + +"Those foolish maidens who aren't afraid of anything. According +to what they say, a rat climbed over my daughter's face, and she +says it left a scratch on her cheek. Go back to sleep, you're +not needed here." + +The duke went back to his room and told the duchess, and they +were both very relieved that nothing had happened to Tirant. +Then the duke said: + +"For the love of Our Lady, I went out of here in such a state +that if the emperor had imprisoned Tirant I would have killed him +and everyone who came to his aid, and then Tirant or I would have +been emperor." + +"But it's best that it turned out as it did," said the duchess. + +She quickly got up and went to the princess's chamber. When +Plaerdemavida saw her, she said: + +"My lady, please, I beg you, stay here, and don't let anyone +speak badly of Tirant. I'll go and see how he is." + +When she was out on the roof she did not dare speak for fear that +someone would hear her, and she heard him moaning loudly, and +saying: + +"I can feel myself descending toward the dark and gloomy palaces. +And since I cannot restore my miserable life with all my sighs, +I'm content to die, because life without you, dear princess, is +completely unbearable. Oh Lord and eternal God! You who are all +merciful, grant me the grace of dying in the arms of that most +virtuous princess, so that my soul may be more content in the +next world." + +At this moment Hippolytus knew nothing about Tirant's actions, +but he was aware of the great uproar in the palace that was +spreading throughout the city. Seeing that Tirant was inside the +palace and that he had told everyone he was sleeping in the +duke's chamber that night, and with the viscount and Hippolytus +knowing about his love for the princess, they had all the men +take up arms. Lord Agramunt said: + +"I can only think that Tirant must have done some mischief in the +princess's chamber, and news of it has reached the emperor, and +all of us will take part in the wedding along with him. So we +must prepare ourselves quickly to help him if we have to. +Because in all the nights he's slept here nothing unusual has +happened, and as soon as he's outside you see what a great outcry +there is in the palace." + +Hippolytus said: + +"While you're arming yourself I'll go to the palace gate to see +what's happening." + +"Hurry," said the others. + +When they were all outside, the viscount followed Hippolytus. + +"My lord," said Hippolytus, "you go to the main gate and I'll go +to the one in the garden. Whoever discovers what is really +happening--what all this noise is about--will go and tell the +other one." + +The viscount said he thought that was a good idea. When +Hippolytus was at the gate to the garden, thinking he would find +it locked, he stood, listening, and he heard a mournful voice +crying. It sounded like a woman's voice, and he said to himself: + +"I would much rather hear Tirant than this woman's voice, whoever +she is." + +He stood, looking to see if he could scale the wall. When he saw +that it was impossible, he went back to the gate with an easy +heart, thinking it must be a woman. + +"Let her wail, whoever she is--lady or maiden," said Hippolytus, +"for this has nothing to do with my lord Tirant." + +He left and went to the plaza where he found the viscount and +others who wanted to know what had caused the disturbance. But +by now the cries had subsided a great deal, and the disturbance +had been quelled. Then Hippolytus explained to the viscount how +he had been at the garden gate and had not been able to go in, +and that he had heard what seemed to be a woman's voice moaning, +and he did not know who it was, but that he thought the woman was +the cause of all the outcry. + +"If it please you, let's go there," said the viscount, "and if +she's a lady or a maiden who needs help, let's give it to her if +we can, because it's our obligation under the 'laws of +chivalry.'" + +They went to the garden gate, and heard the loud laments coming +from inside the garden, but they could not understand what was +being said or recognize the voice: with all the pain she was in, +her voice was altered. The viscount said: + +"Let's break down the gate. It's night, and no one will know we +did it." + +But the gate was unlocked, because during the night, not +imagining that so much harm would be done, Plaerdemavida had left +it that way so that Tirant could open it easily whenever he +liked. + +And they both pushed against the gate with all their might, and +it flew open easily. The viscount went in first and walked +toward the voice which sounded so strange. + +The viscount said: + +"Whoever you are, I beg you in God's name, tell me if you're an +errant spirit or a mortal body who needs help." + +Tirant thought it must be the emperor and his men, and so that he +would not be recognized, and they would leave, he disguised his +voice, even though the pain he was in had already disguised it, +and he said: + +"In my time I was a baptized Christian, and I am condemned to +wander because of my sins. I am an invisible spirit, and if you +see me, the reason will be that I am taking on form. The evil +spirits here are stripping off my flesh and my bones and throwing +them in the air piece by piece. Oh, what a cruel torture I am +suffering. If you come any closer to me, you will share in my +pain." + +They were very frightened when they heard these words, and they +made the sign of the cross and recited the Gospel of Saint John. +The viscount spoke so loudly that Tirant heard him: + +"Hippolytus, do you think we should go to our chambers and get +all our armed men and some holy water, and then come back here to +see what this is?" + +"No," said Hippolytus, "we don't need to go back to our chambers +for anything. We both have the sign of the cross on our swords: +let me go there." + +When Tirant heard the viscount call Hippolytus' name, he said: + +"If you are Hippolytus, a native of France, come to me and have +no fear." + +Then Hippolytus took out his sword, and holding the handle in +front of him, he made the sign of the cross and said: + +"As a true Christian, I fully believe in the articles of the +Catholic faith, and everything that the holy Roman church +teaches: in this holy faith I want to live and die." + +He went closer in great fear, but the viscount was even more +afraid, and did not dare to approach. And in a soft voice Tirant +called to him and said: + +"Come closer. I am Tirant." + +At that he became even more frightened, and was ready to go back. +Tirant saw this, and raising his voice he said: + +"Oh, what a cowardly knight you are!" + +Hippolytus recognized him when he spoke, and ran up to him and +said: + +"Oh, my lord, is it you? What misfortune brought you here?" + +"Don't be worried, and don't say anything," said Tirant. "But +who is that with you? If he's of the lineage of Brittany, have +him come here." + +"Yes, my lord," said Hippolytus. "It's the viscount." + +He called him, and when the viscount saw Tirant he was amazed at +the adventure and at everything he had said to them during the +time they had not recognized him. + +"Let's not waste words," said Tirant. "Hurry and take me away +from here." + +Together they lifted him in their arms and took him out of the +garden and closed the gate. Then they carried him to his lodging +and lay him under the portico. + +"I'm in more pain than I've ever felt before," said Tirant. "Of +all the times I've been wounded and near death, my body has never +felt so much pain. I'll need to have doctors without the emperor +knowing about it." + +"My lord," said Hippolytus, "may I give you some advice? You are +so badly hurt that it can't be kept hidden, especially with the +disturbance in the palace. Mount your horse if you can, my lord, +and let's go to the palaces of Bellestar where your horses are. +We'll make everyone think that your horse fell on you and broke +your leg " + +The viscount answered: + +"It's true, my cousin and lord, Hippolytus is right. Otherwise +the emperor will certainly hear about it. I would be happy if, +after you're cured and we've accomplished our aims, we returned +to our lands." + +"My lord viscount," said Tirant, "this is no time to talk about +these things, but you, Hippolytus, have them bring the animals +here secretly, and bring the horse with the smoothest gait." + +Let us return to the princess. Plaerdemavida stayed out on the +roof until she saw them carry Tirant away. Then she went into +the room where the princess was with the duchess and all the +ladies. The empress was astonished that there should be such a +great uproar in the palace over a rat, and sitting on her bed she +said: + +"Do you know the best thing for us to do, ladies? Since the +palace is calmed down again, let's go back to sleep." + +The princess called Plaerdemavida and whispered to her, asking +where Tirant was. + +"My lady, he's gone," said Plaerdemavida, "and he's in great +pain." + +But she did not dare tell her that he had a broken leg, or what +he had said. She was very pleased that they had not seen or +found him. The empress got up, and Widow Repose said: + +"It would be a good idea, my lady, to tell your daughter to sleep +with you, so that if the rat came back it wouldn't frighten her +even more." + +The empress answered: + +"What the Widow says is true. Come, my child: you will sleep +better with me than by yourself." + +"No, my lady. Let Your Excellency go on: the duchess and I will +sleep together. Don't spend a bad night on my account." + +The empress said: + +"Come with me. I'm getting cold standing here." + +"My lady, since you insist," said the princess, "you go on, and +I'll come soon." + +The empress left, telling her to come right away. The princess +turned to the Widow and said angrily: + +"Now I know how much you're to blame. Who gave you the right to +tell my mother that I should go and sleep with her, and to +deprive me of my pleasure? From what I can see, you don't live +by virtue, but by envy and malice." + +The Widow replied + +"I'll tell you what I've done wrong. I honored and loved you +more than you liked: that's how I'm to blame. Do you imagine, my +lady, that I have no feelings for Tirant, and that I didn't see +him letting himself down by the rope, and it breaking, and him +falling so hard I think he broke his legs and his ribs?..." + +She began to cry miserably, and threw herself to the ground, and +pulled her hair, saying: + +"The best of all knights is dead!" + +When the princess heard these words, she said three times: + +"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" + +And she fell to the floor in a faint. She had cried out the name +of Jesus so loudly that the empress, who was in her chamber, +asleep in her bed, heard it. She quickly got up and hurried to +her daughter's chamber. She found her there, unconscious, and +nothing helped to revive her. The emperor had to get up, and all +the doctors came. But still the princess did not regain +consciousness, and three hours passed before she did. The +emperor asked how his daughter had come to such a state. They +told him: + +"My lord, she saw another tiny rat, and because her imagination +was dwelling on the one she had seen on her bed, when she saw +this one she suffered a terrible shock." + +"Oh, old emperor, sad and embittered! In my last days must I +suffer so much pain? Oh, cruel death! Why don't you come to me +when I want you so?" + +When he had said this he lost consciousness and fell in a faint +beside his daughter. The cries and shouts were so great +throughout the whole palace that it was astonishing to see and +hear the laments the people were making: and this disturbance was +greater than the first. + +Tirant, standing before the portico waiting for the animals to be +brought, heard such loud cries that he thought the sky was +falling in. He quickly mounted, full of pain and anguish, and +the pain grew as he became fearful that the princess might have +come to some harm. Hippolytus took a cloth and wrapped his leg +so that the cold would not get into it. So, as best they could, +they rode to the gates of the city. The guards recognized Tirant +and asked him where he was going at this hour. He answered that +he was going to Bellestar to look after his horses because he +would soon be leaving for the camp. The gates were quickly +opened for him and Tirant went on his way. When they had ridden +half a league, Tirant said: + +"I am deeply afraid that the emperor has done the princess some +harm because of me. I want to go back and help her in case she +needs me." + +The viscount said + +"In faith, you're in fine condition to help her!" + +"My dear viscount," said Tirant, "I feel no pain now! You know +that a greater injury makes a lesser one diminish. I beg you, +please, let's go back to the city so that we can help her in case +she needs us." + +"You've lost your mind," said the viscount. "You want to go back +to the city so that the emperor will find out what you've done. +We'll be doing well enough if we can keep this from the people so +that they won't blame you for it. You can be certain that if you +go back you won't escape injury or death if things are the way +you say they are." + +"Since I'm the cause of all the trouble," said Tirant, "is it +unreasonable for me to have the punishment? I'll consider my +death worthwhile if I die for such a virtuous lady." + +"God help me," said the viscount, "I won't let you go back even +if I have to use force. Isn't the duke there, and if he hears +something that puts the princess in danger or dishonors her, +won't he go and help her? Now you see what sad love-affairs lead +to. Let's not stay here any longer. + +The more time we lose, the worse it is for you." + +"Since you don't want to let me go back," said Tirant, "do me a +favor. You go, and if anyone harms her, kill them all and show +mercy to no one." + +Tirant begged the viscount so much that he had to return to the +city, and as he turned back he said softly so that Tirant didn't +hear, but so Hippolytus could understand: + +"By Heaven, I wish I didn't have to concern myself with any lady +or maiden, but only arrange for the doctors to come." + +Tirant went on ahead with Hippolytus. + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE BETROTHAL + + When the viscount was at the gates of the city, the guards would +not let him in until he said that the captain had fallen from his +horse and he was in a hurry to summon the doctors. He couldn't +find them as quickly as he wanted because they were all with the +emperor and his daughter. When they had taken care of the +emperor they took everything they needed for Tirant, and they did +not dare tell the emperor that his captain was injured. But the +viscount did everything he could to see the princess, so that he +could tell Tirant how she was. + +When she had regained consciousness, she opened her eyes and +said: + +"Is the one who holds my soul captive dead? Tell me quickly, I +beg you. Because if he's dead, I want to die with him " + +The empress, who was upset by all the anguish she felt for her +daughter, could not understand her, and she asked what she had +said. The duchess was holding her on her knees, and she answered +the empress: + +"My lady, the princess is asking if the rat is dead." + +The princess, her eyes closed, again said: + +"I didn't say that. I asked if the one who is my hope is dead." + +The duchess answered in a loud voice: + +"He's not dead: they never caught him." And turning to the +empress, she said: "She's delirious. This illness has the effect +of turning the wisest people into madmen who don't know what +they're saying." + +Her delirium subsided, and two doctors went with the viscount and +the duke. When the princess found out, she cried: + +"Oh, my lord Tirant! Father of chivalry! Now the lineage of +Rocasalada has fallen, and the house of Brittany has lost so +much. You are dead! Dead! For anyone who has fallen from as +great a height as you cannot hope to live long. Why couldn't I +have suffered the harm, since I was the cause, and you would find +yourself free from these dangers?" + +The duchess was very agitated, both because of the princess's +illness and Tirant's injury. She did not want to say anything +more for fear of the maidens who were nearby. The doctors left +quickly without saying anything to the emperor so that he would +not have a relapse, because his constitution was very delicate. + +When the doctors reached Tirant they found him lying on a bed in +great pain. They looked at his leg and found it completely +broken, the bones protruding from the flesh. With their +ministrations Tirant fainted three times, and each time they had +to revive him. The doctors treated him as best they could the +first time and said that under no circumstances should he be +moved from his bed, because his life was in danger. Then they +went back to the palace. The emperor asked them where they had +been, since he had not seen them at mealtime. One of them +answered: + +"My lord, your captain has been injured, and we went to Bellestar +to minister to him." + +The emperor said; + +"And how was he hurt?" + +"My lord," said the doctor, "they say that early this morning he +left the city to go to where his horses are so that Monday +morning everyone would be ready to leave. He was riding a +Sicilian horse and, galloping along the road, he fell in a trench +and hurt his leg." + +"Holy Virgin Mary," said the emperor. "Tirant has no lack of +troubles. I want to go see him immediately." + +When the doctors heard the emperor's decision--that he wanted to +leave--they detained him for a day so that he would have time to +recover. The emperor saw that the doctors advised against it, so +he decided to stay. He went to the princess's chambers to ask +about her illness and to explain what had happened to Tirant. +What grief the princess felt in her heart! But she did not dare +show it for fear of her father, and her own pain seemed as +nothing when she thought of Tirant's suffering. + +The emperor stayed with his daughter until dinnertime. The +following day, seeing the doctors pass by from a window and +knowing that they were going to see Tirant, he called to them to +wait. Then he mounted and went with them and saw their second +treatment. From what he saw he understood at once that Tirant +would not be able to go to the encampment for a long time. When +they had finished their treatment, the emperor said: + +"I can't begin to tell you how much grief I feel. As soon as I +heard about your injury I knew how great my misfortune was, +because I had placed all my hope in your leadership. I had +envisioned the blood of those cruel enemies of mine and of the +holy Catholic faith being shed by the strength of your arm, and +the blow of your sword. But now, when they hear that you are not +there, they will be afraid of no one and will overrun my entire +empire." + +Tirant weakly said: + +"My lord, you don't need my sword and my leadership. In your +empire you have courageous knights who can take on the enemy +right now. But it only seems right to me, since you are pressing +me so much, that I should go to the camp. My lord, I will be +ready to go on the day we had set." + +When the emperor heard him say that, he was very happy, and he +took his leave and returned to the city. When the empress saw +him she said: + +"My lord, tell us the truth about our captain. How is he? Is he +near death, or is there hope for him?" + +In the presence of the princess and the maidens the emperor said +to the empress: + +"My lady, I don't think he's in danger of dying, but there is no +doubt that he's in a bad way. The bones in his leg are sticking +out through the skin, and it's a terrible sight to see. But he +says he will be ready to leave Monday." + +"Holy Mother of Jesus!" said the princess. "What is Your Majesty +trying to do? You want a man who is so badly hurt that he's at +death's door to go to the encampment and end his days while he's +on the road? How could he help the soldiers? Do you want to put +his life and the entire empire in danger too? No, my lord; +that's no way to fight these battles. It's better to have him +alive than dead, because with him living all your enemies will be +afraid, and once he's dead they won't be afraid of anything." + +The emperor went into the council chamber where they were waiting +for him, and they all agreed from what he had seen of Tirant that +he should not be moved. + +After the emperor had left Bellestar, where Tirant was, Tirant +immediately ordered a box made so that he could be carried in it. +When it was Sunday evening and the duke and all the others had +gone back to the city, and without anyone knowing of it except +Hippolytus, Tirant ordered the viscount and Lord Agramunt not to +disturb him until they were ready to depart. They had not an +inkling that Tirant would commit such an act of folly as to +leave. + +Tirant gave one doctor a large amount of money to go with him, +but the other doctor ordered him not to move and would not go +along. Tirant had them put him in the box, and using shafts to +carry it on their shoulders, they left for the encampment. +Before he left he ordered them to tell everyone who came from the +city that since he had not been able to sleep at night he was +resting. Some who came to see him went back, and others stayed, +waiting for him to awaken. When it was noon the Duke of +Macedonia who was a close relative, as was the viscount, wanted +to go inside. + +Saying that anyone who was wounded should not sleep so much, they +forced their way in and discovered that he was gone. They +quickly mounted their horses and rode after him, and they sent +word to the emperor, telling how his captain had obeyed his +command, and cursing the emperor and all of his kind. When the +emperor heard the news, he said: + +"By the living God, he carries out his promises!" + +When the duke and the viscount overtook him and learned that he +had passed out on the road five times, they reprimanded the +doctor and Hippolytus, and said they cared nothing for him. + +"And you, Hippolytus," said the duke, "of our lineage of +Rocasalada and of the kindred of Brittany, to allow our master +and lord to leave! The day his life ends we will all be lost and +no one will ever hear of us again. You deserve the worst sort of +reprimand. If I had no fear of God or felt no sense of worldly +shame, I'd do worse to you with this sword than Cain did to Abel: +You miserable knight! Get away from me, or upon my word of honor +you'll get the punishment you deserve." + +And turning to the doctor he gave vent to his anger. + +"I lose all patience when I think of the outrageous act of this +doctor who put the light of Rocasalada in mortal danger." + +And the duke rode furiously at the doctor, his sword raised, +while the doctor attempted to flee to save his miserable skin, +but it gained him nothing because when he reached him he brought +the sword down on his head so hard that it split in half, down to +his shoulders, and his brains flew out. + +When the emperor received news of the death of such a singular +doctor he quickly rode to Tirant, and found him in a hermitage +where the duke had put him: there he was being given everything +he needed. When the emperor saw Tirant's condition he took great +pity and had all his doctors come there to see how his leg was. +The doctors found it much worse and they told him that if he had +gone one league further, either he would have died or had to have +his leg cut off. + +All the barons in the empire came to see him. The emperor held +council there and they decided that since Tirant could not go, +all the men should leave the next day. Tirant said: + +"My lord, I think Your Majesty should give two months' wages to +all the men, and since they will only serve one and a half +months, everyone will be happy, and they'll put up a better +fight." + +The emperor answered that he would do it immediately, and he +said: + +"This evening I've received letters from the Marquis of Saint +George in our camp, telling me that great numbers of Moors have +come. It says here that the King of Jerusalem, who is a cousin +of the Grand Caramany has come, and with him are his wife and +children and some sixty thousand soldiers from the land of +Enedast, a very fertile and abundant province. As soon as a male +child is born there, he is raised with great care. When he is +ten years old they teach him to ride and to fence. Then they +teach him to fight, and throw a lance. And last, they teach him +how to butcher, so that he will get used to cutting up meat and +will not be afraid of spilling blood. This makes them cruel, and +when they are in battle and capture Christians, they quarter them +and haven't the slightest feeling of pity about flesh or blood. +The King of Lower India has come here, and they say he is the +brother of the prisoner from Upper India; he is a very rich man +and he's bringing forty-five thousand soldiers with him. Another +king, called Menador, has come with thirty-seven thousand +soldiers. The King of Damascus has come with fifty-five +thousand. King Veruntament has come with forty-two thousand. +And many others have come with them." + +Tirant replied: + +"Let them come, my lord. I have so much faith in the divine +mercy of Our Lord and in His most Holy Mother, Our lady, that, +even if there were twice as many as there are, with the help of +the singular knights Your Majesty has, we would be victorious +over them." + +When they had finished their conversation, the emperor commended +Tirant to God, and ordered the doctors to leave him alone and to +allow him to depart. + +The princess was very upset by Tirant's injury. When it was +Monday, all the soldiers were ready to leave. The Duke of Pera +and the Duke of Macedonia were in charge of leading all the men. +When they reached the camp of the Marquis of Saint George, the +others were very happy to see them. Tirant stayed in the +hermitage, waiting for the doctors to give him permission to go +into the city. Lord Agramunt who never wanted to leave him +alone, remained with him, for he said that he had left his +country only for love of him, and that he would not leave him +while he was injured. Hippolytus stayed in his company, and went +to the city every day for whatever he needed, but especially to +bring news about the princess to Tirant. And when they wanted to +make him eat or do other things the doctors prescribed, they +would say it was for the princess, and he would do it +immediately. + +After this had happened to Tirant, the princess often reprimanded +Plaerdemavida for what she had done, and wanted to shut her up in +a dark room to have her do penance there; but she defended +herself with choice words, or with jokes, saying: + +"What will your father say if he finds out? Do you know what +I'll tell him? That it was you who told me what to do, and that +Tirant has stolen your virginity. Your father wants me to be +your stepmother, and I can assure you that when I am I'll punish +you. When that valiant knight, Tirant, comes again, you won't +cry out the way you did the last time. Instead you'll be quiet, +and you won't move." + +The princess became very angry, and told her to shut her mouth. + +"Since you're speaking to me so harshly, my lady, I want to leave +Your Highness' service, and I'm going to go back to my father, +the count." + +She immediately left the chambers and gathered up all her +clothing and jewels. Leaving the Widow of Montsant, who was in +the court, in charge, and without saying a word to anyone, she +mounted a horse and with five squires she rode to where Tirant +was. + +When the princess discovered that Plaerdemavida had gone, she was +very upset and wanted her to return. She sent men in all +directions to make her come back. + +Plaerdemavida rode by back roads to the hermitage where Tirant +was, and when he saw her he forgot his pain. When Plaerdemavida +went up to him and saw how much his appearance had changed, she +would not hold back her tears. And with a weak voice she said: + +"Oh, I am the most miserable person in the world! I am so sorry +when I think of your injury, because I am to blame for all the +harm that has come to the best knight in the world. I can only +ask you for mercy." + +With a sigh Tirant said: + +"Virtuous maiden, there is no reason at all for you to ask my +forgiveness: you're not to blame for anything, and even if you +were, I would pardon you not just once but a thousand times, +because I know how much affection you've always had for me. I +won't say another word about this because I want to know what the +princess has been doing while I've been gone. + +I'm sure Her Highness's love has grown weak, and she probably +doesn't want to see me again." + +Plaerdemavida, with a smile, told him she was very happy to do +him such a service, and in a soft voice she said: + +"After you left there was so much shouting and such a tumult in +the palace that the emperor got out of bed. He went looking +through all the rooms furiously, with a sword in his hand, saying +whether it was a mouse or a man he would kill it without mercy. +The empress went back to her chambers to sleep. The love-sick +Widow went to the princess with her own wickedness, because she +is related to the old witch who brings only harm to those who +love her. With a false expression of compassion on her face she +told her: 'My lady, I saw Tirant lower himself by a rope, and +half-way down it broke; and he fell from such a height that he +was smashed to pieces.' And she began to wail very loudly. +When the princess heard the news she could say only, 'Jesus, +Jesus, Jesus,' three times, and immediately her spirit left her. +I don't know where it went or on what business, because she was +senseless for three hours. All the doctors came, but they +couldn't revive her, and at that moment the emperor thought he +was losing everything that nature and fortune had given him. And +the tumult and cries in the palace were even greater than they +had been the first time." + +Then she told him everything she and the princess had said to +each other. + +"All her anger is feigned. She can't make up her mind about how +to behave the first time she sees you: Whether or not to show +that she is bothered by your injury. Because she says that if +she smiles at you, you'll want to come back every day, and if she +doesn't, you will be angry with her." + +Tirant replied: + +"What crime does Her Highness say that I've committed besides +loving her? Her Majesty would do me a great favor if she would +just grant me a visit. I believe that then most of her anger +would disappear." + +Plaerdemavida answered: + +"My lord, do me a favor. Write her a letter, and I'll work with +her so that she'll give you an answer. That way you'll be able +to know what she is thinking." + +As they were talking, the men that the princess had sent in +search of Plaerdemavida entered the chamber. When they saw her +they told her what the princess had ordered them to do. +Plaerdemavida answered: + +"Tell my lady that she can't force me to serve her. I want to go +to my parents' home." + +"If I had found you someplace else," said the knight, "I would +have forced you to go back. But I don't imagine the captain will +be happy if the princess's will isn't carried out, and as a +virtuous knight he will take care of the situation." + +"Don't doubt for a minute," said Tirant, "that my lady will be +served in every way. This maiden will quickly go with you." + +Tirant had ink and paper brought, and with the great pain he felt +in his leg he could not write as well as he wanted to, but in +spite of his injury he wrote the following words of love: + +"Who knows the great perfection that I see in Your Majesty, and +in no one else? The fear I have of not having Your Highness' +love makes me feel twice as much pain, because if I lost Your +Majesty I would lose everything. You must know that in you all +perfection is contained. My petition is based on that moment +when you heard about my injury and said, 'Jesus, Jesus, +Jesus!'--which has moved me deeply." + +When Plaerdemavida had left Tirant, and the princess knew that +she was coming, she ran to the landing of the stairs and said to +her: + +"Oh, my beloved sister! What made you so angry that you wanted +to leave me?" + +"Why, my lady!" said Plaerdemavida: "Your Excellency swept me +from your mind and didn't want to see me again." + +The princess took her by the hand, and led her to her +bedchambers. She turned to the men who had brought her, and +thanked them. When they were inside the chambers the princess +said: + +"Don't you know, Plaerdemavida, that disagreements between +parents and their children often reach heights of anger, and that +the same thing happens between brothers or sisters? Even if you +and I had words, that's no reason for you to be angry with me. +You know very well that I love you more than all the maidens in +the world, and you know all my secrets as you do my heart." + +"Your Majesty spins very fine words," said Plaerdemavida, "but +your actions are bad. You want to believe Widow Repose and all +her wickedness, and you won't listen to me or anyone else. She +was the cause of all this trouble. I remember that night when my +lord Tirant broke his leg and Your Highness fainted: there was +nothing but tears and anguish. But the Widow was the only one +who was glad. Your Excellency has many virtues, but you lack +patience." + +"Let's stop talking about these things now," said the princess. +"Tell me about Tirant: How is he? When can I see him? The +happiness he brings me makes me think about him more than I would +like to." + +"Since the time he left you, all the memories of Your Excellency +make him sigh and grieve. You can be sure that no one deserves +you as much as Tirant does. And he sends you this letter." + +The princess took it very happily, and when she had read it she +decided to write an answer: + +"I tried to beg you several times not to steal my chastity; and +if my words did not move you to pity, my tears should have. But +you brought so much pain to your princess. The sound of my last +words was carried to the ears of Widow Repose, and the empress +came. I don't know how it was that I said, 'Jesus, Jesus, +Jesus,' and I threw myself in the duchess' lap because I hated +life..." + +When she had finished her answer she gave it to Hippolytus. When +Hippolytus returned to Tirant, he gave him the letter. Tirant +was very pleased to get it. He had paper and ink brought to him, +and despite his injury he wrote the following letter: + +"Now is the time when all things are at rest, except I who am +awake, thinking of Your Highness and how you have forgotten about +all the years I have been in love with you. But I give thanks to +God for allowing me to know a maiden who is so full of +perfection. And I see full well that no one but myself deserves +Your Majesty's beauty. If you feel that I am worthy of reply, I +am prepared to obey everything Your Excellency commands me." + +When Tirant had finished writing the letter he gave it to +Hippolytus and begged him to give it to the princess in +Plaerdemavida's presence, and to get a reply if possible. +Hippolytus gave the letter to the princess as he had been +commanded, and the princess took it, very pleased. As the +empress came to see her daughter at that moment, she could not +read it immediately. But when she saw that the empress was +engaged in conversation with Hippolytus, asking him about +Tirant's injury, and him answering her, the princess got up from +where she had been sitting and went into her chamber with +Plaerdemavida to read the letter. + +After they had spoken at length about Tirant's illness, the +empress said to Hippolytus: + +"Your face looks quite altered, Hippolytus, thin and discolored. +The illness of such a valiant knight as Tirant must bring grief +to all his relatives. I have been suffering greatly too. At +night I wake up, filled with anxiety. Then, after I remember his +injury, I go back to sleep." + +Hippolytus quickly answered: + +"If I were near a lady, and found myself in her bed, I wouldn't +let her have as much rest as Your Majesty gets, no matter how +deeply she slept. But it doesn't surprise me in Your Majesty: +you sleep alone, and no one says a word to you. That's what is +making my face so thin, not Tirant's illness. Everyday I ask Our +Lord with all my heart to take away these painful thoughts that I +keep having. Only those who know what love is have a real +knowledge of what suffering means." + +The empress presumed that Hippolytus must be in love and that all +the sadness in his face was nothing but the passion of love. She +thought also that since Plaerdemavida had said many times that +she loved Hippolytus, she must be the one he was troubled about. +And the empress unhesitatingly asked Hippolytus who the lady was +that was causing him so much grief. + +"Tell me, who is bringing you so much sadness?" + +"My bitter misfortune," said Hippolytus. "And here, where I am, +don't let Your Majesty think that my life is in less danger than +Tirant's." + +"In case you should tell me," said the empress, "I would keep it +to myself always." + +"Who would dare reveal his grief," said Hippolytus, "to a lady of +such excellence?" + +"There is no one," said the empress, "who should not listen to +what another wants to say. And the loftier one's position, the +more humbly he should listen." + +"My lady," said Hippolytus, "since you want to know: love, it's +love that I have, and it's not clothing that I can remove." "I'm +not lacking in knowledge," said the empress, "about what you're +saying. You say you're in love, and I ask you: With whom?" + +"I don't have my five senses," said Hippolytus, "to tell you." + +"Oh, man of little understanding" said the empress. "Why don't +you say what it is that's making you suffer?" + +"There are four things," said Hippolytus, "that surpass all +others in excellence, and the fifth is the knowledge of truth. +It is Your Majesty whom the heavens have foretold that I should +love all the days of my life..." + +Having said this he did not dare raise his face again, and he +said nothing more. As he was leaving, the empress called him, +but because of his shame he did not dare turn around. Hippolytus +thought to himself that if she asked him why he didn't stop he +would say he did not hear her. He went to his room thinking that +he had spoken wrongly and acted even worse, and he was deeply +repentant of what he had said. + +The empress stood there, thinking about what Hippolytus had told +her. + +When Hippolytus knew that the empress had gone back to her +chambers, he felt both ashamed and frightened at how daring he +had been. He wished he were already gone so that he would not +have to face the empress again. But he had to return to the +palace for the princess's reply. He went into her chambers and +found her on Plaerdemavida's knees, with other maidens who felt +affection for Tirant. Hippolytus begged her for a reply to the +letter he had brought. The princess said to Hippolytus: + +"Since the messenger is faithful, I beg you to excuse me from +writing my reply. You may tell him that I will make arrangements +with the emperor for us to go and see him one day this week, and +if it pleases the Divine Being he will soon he well again, and we +will be excused from this task." + +Hippolytus answered: + +"My lady, your heart shows that you have no compassion. From all +the harm you have caused him you could tell him just this little +bit of good news that he hopes to hear from you." + +The princess replied: + +"Since I don't want to show my lack of knowledge, I will keep +quiet, but your over-loose tongue ought to be answered. +Plaerdemavida, pull out three hairs from my head, and give them +to Hippolytus so that he will give them to my master, Tirant. +And tell him, since I cannot write to him, to take the hairs as +his answer." + +"God help me if I'll take them," said Hippolytus, "unless you +tell me what they mean and why there are three of them and not +four, or ten instead of twenty. For God's sake, my lady! Does +Your Highness think we are following the old customs when these +niceties were the rule? Back then a maiden who had a love-sick +swain, and who was in love with him, would give him a bouquet of +perfumed flowers or a hair or two from her head, and the poor +fellow considered himself very fortunate. I know very well that +my lord Tirant would like to take hold of you in bed, naked or in +your nightgown, and he wouldn't care a jot if your bed wasn't +perfumed. But if Your Majesty is going to give me three hairs to +take to Tirant, well, I'm not used to carrying things like that: +send them with someone else, and let Your Excellency tell me with +what hope they've come out of your head.'' + +"I'll be glad to tell you," said the princess. "One hair stands +for the great love I've always had for him above all people in +the world, and it was so much that I forgot my father and my +mother, and if you press me, I nearly forgot God; and I wanted to +offer him my body along with everything I own. The second one +stands for all the grief he is causing me. The third one means +that I know well how little he loves me. Now you know completely +what the hairs mean, and with your wickedness you won't take them +with you." + +She took them out of his hands, and very angrily tore them apart +and threw them on the ground, and tears burst from her eyes and +ran down her breasts. When Hippolytus saw that the princess had +become angry over such a slight matter, he said with a humble +expression: + +"It's true that you were held in your mother's chamber, but you +were not violated. Tell me, my lady, how can you blame Tirant +for having attempted such a singular act? Who could condemn him +to any punishment? If he is lost, more than ten thousand +soldiers will be lost, and they will be sorely needed to bring +the war to a successful conclusion. Look how many men the King +of Sicily has at the service of Your Highness; and the +Grand-Master of Rhodes, the Viscount of Branches--how many men +he's brought. Well, if Tirant weren't here, none of those men +would stay. Then you'll see if Widow Repose will fight the +battles for you and your father." + +To help Hippolytus in Tirant's favor, Plaerdemavida said: + +"It would have been better for me if I had never known of Your +Majesty's existence. You don't love the person who deserves it +as you should. How can I serve you with a willing spirit if I +see such ingratitude in you? If Your Excellency could feel that +glory that many maidens have experienced, if God would grant that +I might show you the glory that lovers feel in this life, and the +pleasure it brings with it, then you would be worthy of being +among the privileged ones who have loved well, and you would be +deserving of eternal praises in this life. But Your Excellency +is like a person who smells the odor of meat but does not taste +it. If Your Highness would taste its sweetness and the pleasure +it brings in this instance, when you died you would rise again in +glorious renown. But my lady, since I see that you don't love my +lord Tirant, there's no reason for you to love any of his men. +There will come a time when you will cry over him and his +friends, and you'll tear your eyes from your face, and curse the +day and night for the rest of your life. I know that the day +Tirant can ride again, seeing Your Highness' great unhappiness he +will go back to his country, and all the others will follow him +because of the affection they have for him. You will be left all +alone as you deserve, and the entire empire will be lost. And +when you're dead and you appear before the judgment seat of your +Lord, He will ask for an account of your life with words like +these: + +"'It was by My command that man was made in My image, and from +man's rib a female companion was made. And, moreover, I said: +Increase and multiply and fill the earth. Carmesina, I have +taken your brother from you so that you would be at the head of +the empire. Now tell me, what account do you give to me +concerning that which I encharged to you? Have you left behind +sons to defend the Catholic faith and increase the numbers of +Christians?' What are you going to answer?" said Plaerdemavida. +"Oh, my lady, you will not be able to give a good reply! I'll +tell you what your reply will be: 'Oh Lord, full of mercy and +pity! You Who are so merciful, forgive me!' And the guardian +angel will make you say these words: 'It is true, Lord, that I +loved a knight who was very virtuous in arms, whom Your Holy +Majesty sent to us to rescue Your Christian people from the hands +of the infidel. I loved him and I held him in great devotion, +and I wanted him for a husband, as my beloved. And I had a +maiden in my service whose name was Plaerdemavida, who always +gave me good advice and I did not want to accept it. She put him +in my bed one night and, like a fool, I cried out. And when I +realized what was happening I stopped shouting, and was quiet. A +widow who heard me scream began to cry out and woke up the entire +palace, so a great deal of anguish and pain followed because of +my fear. Later they begged me to give in to the knight, but I +never would.' And they'll have to leave you in hell along with +Widow Repose. And when I leave this life there will be a great +celebration in paradise, and they will give me a seat in the +eternal glory of the Highest, and as an obedient daughter I will +be crowned with the other saints." + +The emperor entered the room without anyone seeing him. He +stayed near his daughter for a little while, and then he took +Hippolytus by the hand, and they spoke of the war and of the +captain's illness. As they were talking they passed through a +room where the empress was, and at that moment Hippolytus would +have liked to have been a day's journey away. When she saw him +she smiled and looked at him fondly. Then she got up from where +she was sitting and approached the emperor, and the three of them +stood, talking of many things. They dwelt especially on the +cruel misfortune in which their son departed from this miserable +world in the flower of his youth, and the empress began to cry. + +Many old knights who formed part of the council entered the +chamber, and they consoled the empress. Then they told +Hippolytus of the great valor the emperor had shown when they +brought him the news that his son had died. The good man, on +hearing of the death of his son, had answered the cardinal and +the others who brought him the news: + +"Be assured that what you are telling me is nothing new, because +I bore him to die. It is the law of nature to receive life, and +to relinquish it when it is asked of us." + +The emperor withdrew to one side of the chamber to speak with +some of his council, and Hippolytus remained with the empress. +When she saw that he was silent she thought it must be because he +felt embarrassed. And she said: + +"Although I can't speak to you in as fine a manner as I would +like, you will understand it much better than my lips could +express it. I beg you to tell me who made you say what you did. +Tell me if it came from your master Tirant, so that if I decided +to love you he could make better use of the power that he wants. +I'm dying to know." + +Hippolytus quickly replied, lowering his voice: + +"I'll tell you everything. I was with the emperor, and we came +into these chambers, and when I saw Your Majesty I nearly fell to +the ground. I was afraid the emperor would notice, because at +that moment fear and shame were battling within me. Afterward I +sighed, and I saw that Your Highness was laughing pleasantly at +my sigh. My lady, I beg you not to make me say anything further, +but command me to do anything dangerous, and Your Majesty will +see how steadfast Hippolytus is. As for what Your Majesty said +about Tirant, I swear to you that neither Tirant nor my confessor +(which is even worse) knew any such thing about me." + +"Hippolytus, you must tell me your thoughts openly. Love doesn't +recognize nobility, lineage or equality; it doesn't differentiate +between people in high and low positions. You can be sure that +no matter how criminal your words were, I wouldn't tell them to +the emperor or to anyone else on earth." + +Hippolytus plucked up his courage, and in a whisper, he said: + +"Because of my great attraction for you, my lady, I often wanted +to reveal my deep love for Your Majesty. But fear stopped me +from telling you my feelings until now, since you are the most +excellent of all things excellent. But if love makes me speak +indiscreetly, you must suffer it patiently, and must punish me +with tender words. Tell me, I beg you, how I must behave in your +honor." + +The empress replied: + +"You've given my heart many worries and cares. I'm wondering +what has given you hope of having me since the distance between +our ages is so great. If it became known, what would they say +about me? That I've fallen in love with my grandson. Any maiden +would be overjoyed to be loved by you. But I would rather +someone else had your love, without any crime or infamy, than for +me to perish because of love." + +The empress could say no more since the emperor had gotten up +from where he was sitting. He went over to the empress and took +her by the hand, and they went in to dine. + +That night Hippolytus could not talk to the princess, but he +spoke with Plaerdemavida, and she said to him: + +"What were you talking to the empress about for so long? You two +are always together." + +"It's nothing," said Hippolytus. "She was just asking about our +captain." + +Early the next day, Hippolytus left without a reply from the +princess. When Tirant saw him, he said: + +"It's been five days since I've seen you." + +"My lord," said Hippolytus, "the emperor made me stay there, and +so did the princess, and while we were out walking we talked +about you. Everyone intends to come see you. That's why the +princess decided not to give you any answer, because her visit +will be so soon." + +Tirant said: + +"That is very good news." + +He had the doctors come, and begged them to take him to the city +since he was feeling so well. + +"I can tell you, truly, that I'll get better in one day in the +city than I could here in ten. Do you know why? I was born and +raised near the sea, and sea air is very healthy for me." + +All the doctors agreed, and two of them went to tell the emperor. +The emperor then rode to where the captain was, and Tirant was +taken to the city in four days in a bier carried on the shoulders +of four men. + +When he was in his chambers, the empress and all her ladies went +to see him. They were very happy that he was feeling better, and +all the ladies from the palace as well as the city often visited +him. But the empress, who was warned by one of her maidens she +trusted much more than the others, seldom left her daughter alone +when she was in Tirant's room, and so they had little time to +talk about their love. In the meantime Plaerdemavida came every +day, trying to find a way for the battle to come to a conclusion. + +Let us stop talking about Tirant now, and return to the +encampment. + +When the truce ended, the war began, cruel and savage, for the +Turks knew about Tirant's injury. Every day they came near the +city of Saint George where the camp was, and every day there +were fierce battles, and many men from both sides were killed. +Each day the emperor wrote to them to tell them how Tirant was, +and to encourage them. He told them that Tirant was getting out +of bed now to strengthen his leg and to help him recover. They +all felt comforted, especially the Duke of Macedonia, who loved +him dearly. + +Tirant was getting better daily, and he could walk through his +chambers with the aid of a staff. Almost every day the ladies +came to see him and keep him company, and the princess +entertained him. And do not think that Tirant wanted to be +healed very soon; this was because of the lovely sight that he +had daily of the princess. He had few thoughts about going to +war; instead it was his wish to fulfill his desire with his lady, +and as for the war--let someone go there who wanted to. + +As the emperor and the empress were in Tirant's room, he could +not talk to the princess without being overheard by the empress. +So he called Hippolytus and quietly said to him: + +"Go outside and then come back in shortly and go to the empress's +side. Start talking to her about whatever you think will please +her most, and I will see if I can talk to the princess about my +love for her." + +Hippolytus returned as he had agreed, and went to the empress, +and quietly said to her: + +"I always want to be near Your Excellency. This is because I +love you so much, and I beg you to grant me a boon that will +increase my honor and my fame. If I am loved by Your Majesty, +then there will be no one more fortunate than I." + +And he said no more. + +The empress replied: + +"Your great virtue is making me go beyond the bounds of chastity. +If you swear to me by all that is holy that you will say nothing +of this to the emperor or to anyone, you will have everything you +like. In the still of night wait for me quietly on the roof near +my chamber. And if you come, have no doubts, for I love you +dearly, and I will not be late unless death itself stands in my +way." + +Hippolytus tried to tell her about one thing he was afraid of, +and the empress told him that to think of every possible danger +was a sign of weakness in spirit. + +"Do what I tell you, and don't worry about another thing now." + +Hippolytus answered: + +"My lady, I will be happy to do everything Your Majesty commands +me." + +When they had finished their conversation the empress left +Tirant's lodgings with all the other ladies. And when they were +in the palace, the empress said: + +"Let us go visit the emperor." + +When they were together with him they conversed pleasantly. +Afterward the empress stood up, feeling the anguish of her new +love, and she said to Carmesina: + +"Stay here with these maidens and keep your father company." + +The empress then went to her chambers and told her maidens to +have the stewards come, as she wanted to change the satin +curtains and put up others fringed in silk, saying: + +"The emperor told me that he would like to come here, and I want +to entertain him a little since he has not come for a long time." + +She quickly had the entire chamber furnished with linens of silk +brocade. Then she had the chamber and the bed sprinkled with +perfume. + +After they had eaten, the empress retired, saying she had a +headache, and in everyone's presence a maiden named Eliseu said +to her: + +"My lady, does Your Highness want me to call the doctors to help +minister to you?" + +"Do as you like," said the empress, "but summon them in such a +way that the emperor does not find out, so that he will have no +excuse for not coming tonight," + +The doctors came quickly and took her pulse, and they found it +very rapid, because she hoped to do battle with a young knight, +and she was fearful. The doctors said: + +"My lady, Your Majesty should take a few sweetened +hemp-seeds with a glass of malmsey: that will help your headache +and make you sleep." + +"As far as sleeping is concerned, I don't think I'll do much of +that with my illness. The way I'm feeling I'll probably be +tossing and turning all over the bed." + +"My lady," said the doctors, "if that happens to Your Majesty, +send for us right away. Or if you wish we'll stand watch at the +door to your chamber or there inside so that we can look at your +face from time to time. + +And we'll do this all night long." + +"I won't accept that offer right now," said the empress. "I want +the whole bed to myself, and I don't want any of you looking at +my face. The illness I have won't stand for anybody to be +watching." + +The doctors left. When they were at the door they told her not +to forget the comfits and to moisten them well with malmsey. The +empress was so obedient that she ate a large box of them. Then +she had her bed sprinkled with perfume, and she had civet put on +the sheets and pillows. When this was done and she was perfumed, +she told her maidens to go to sleep and to close the door to +their chamber. + +In the empress's chamber there was a sitting room where she +always went to dress, and in the sitting room was a door that +opened out to the roof where Hippolytus was. When she got out of +bed Eliseu heard her and quickly got up, thinking something was +wrong, and when she was in the chamber she said: + +"Why did Your Highness get out of bed? Are you feeling worse?" + +"No," said the empress. "I'm fine, but I forgot to say the +devout prayer that I always pray every night." + +Eliseu said: + +"My lady, would you be so kind as to tell it to me?" + +"I'll be happy to," said the empress. "This is it: At night, at +the first star you see, you must kneel down on the ground and say +three 'Our Fathers' and three 'Hail Marys' in reverence to the +three Kings of the Orient, that just as they were guided and +guarded while they were watching and sleeping, and when they were +in the hands of King Herod, that they will give you grace to be +free from infancy and so that all your affairs will be prosperous +and increase in all that is good. Now don't disturb me in my +devotions." + +The maiden went to her bed and the empress went into the sitting +room. When she saw that the maiden was in bed she put a dress of +green velvet lined with sable on over her chemise. Then she +opened the door to the roof and saw Hippolytus crouched down so +that no one would see him. That made her very pleased as she +thought that her honor would be safe. When Hippolytus saw her, +he got up quickly and went to her. He knelt on the ground and +kissed her hands and tried to kiss her feet. But the worthy lady +would not permit it, and instead kissed him again and again on +the mouth. She then took his hand and showed him great love and +told him to come to her chamber. Hippolytus said: + +"My lady, Your Majesty must excuse me, but I will not go to your +chamber until my desire has a taste of its future glory." + +And he took her in his arms, and laid her on the floor, and there +they enjoyed the climax of their love. + +Afterward they went into the sitting room very happily. +Hippolytus, with great joy, gave her true peace, and with a happy +spirit and loving expression, he said: + +"If I dared to say what glory I feel at this moment with the +great perfection I've found in Your Majesty, I don't believe my +tongue would have enough power to express it." + +The empress, smiling, replied: + +"Although my mind finds itself tormented, I will not complain +about you, or even less about God or myself, because I have been +able to win you." + +"My lady," said Hippolytus, "now is not the time for words. Let +us go to bed, and there we will speak of other matters that will +increase your delight, and will be of great consolation to me." + +After he had said this, Hippolytus quickly stood naked. Then he +went to the genteel lady and removed the clothing she had on so +that she was left in her chemise. And whoever saw her in this +way would recognize that she was like a maiden, and that she +possessed as much beauty as can be found in this world. Her +daughter, Carmesina, resembled her in many ways, but not in all, +for this lady's beauty, in her time, surpassed that of her +daughter. The young gallant took her by the arm and placed her +on the bed, and there they remained, talking and sporting as +lovers do. When half the night had passed, the lady heaved a +deep sigh. + +"Why is Your Majesty sighing" said Hippolytus. "Is it because I +did not satisfy you?" + +"It is quite the opposite," said the empress. "The feelings I +have toward you have increased even more. At first I thought of +you as a good man, and now I find you much better and more +valiant. The reason for my sighing has been only that I am +grieved because they will hold you as a heretic." + +"What, my lady!" said Hippolytus. "Why should I be considered a +heretic?" + +"Because," said the empress, "you have fallen in love with your +mother." + +"'My lady,"' said Hippolytus, "no one knows how worthy you are +but me." + +The two lovers spoke of these things and of many others, with all +the delights and sweet words that two people in love enjoy. They +did not sleep the whole night through, and morning was nearly +upon them. The empress had spoken the truth when she told the +doctors that she would sleep very little that night. Now, tired +from staying awake, they slept, for the new day had arrived. +When the day was fully upon them the maiden Eliseu, who was +completely dressed by now, entered the empress's chambers to ask +her how she was, and if she wanted anything. When she approached +the bed she saw a man lying at the side of the empress, her arm +under the gallant's head, and his mouth to her breast. + +"Oh, Holy Mary help me!" said Eliseo. "Who is this traitor who +has deceived my lady?" She was tempted to cry out, loudly: "Kill +the traitor who, by cunning and deception, has entered this +chamber to possess the delights of this bed!" Then she thought +that no one would be so bold as to enter there against the +empress's will. She tried as hard as she could to see who it +was, but it was impossible because he had his head hidden. She +was afraid that the other maidens might enter the chamber to wait +on the empress as they usually did, so Eliseu went in to where +they were sleeping, and said to them: + +"My lady bids you not to leave the room so that you will not make +any noise, because sleep has not yet satisfied her eyes." + +After half an hour had passed the doctors came to see how the +empress was. The maiden went to the door and said the lady was +resting because during the night she had been a little ill. + +"We will stay here," said the doctors, "until Her Majesty +awakens. That is the emperor's command." + +The maiden did not know how to remedy the situation, nor whether +she should awaken her or not. She was filled with indecision +until the emperor knocked on the chamber door. The maiden, +upset, and without sufficient patience or discretion, went +anxiously to the bed and cried out, softly: + +"Wake up, my lady, wake up! Death is approaching! Your poor +husband is knocking at the door and he knows that you have +offended him. Who is this cruel man who lies at your side and +brings so much grief? Is he an unknown king? I pray to God +Almighty that I will see him with a crown of fire on his head. +If he is a duke I hope to see him end his days in prison. If he +is a marquis, I hope to see his hands and feet eaten. If he is a +count, he should die by evil weapons. If he is a viscount, may a +Turk's sword slice him through from his head down to his navel. +And if he is a knight, sailing at the sea's will, may he end his +days in the deep." + +When the empress found herself awakened by such an evil noise, +which was worse than a trumpet, she lay motionless, unable to +utter a word. Hippolytus did not understand the maiden's words, +but he did understand her tone of voice. And so that no one +would recognize him, he put his head under the blanket. When he +saw what great anguish his lady was in he put his arm around her +and made her duck under the blanket, asking her why she was so +frightened. + +"Oh, my son!" said the empress. "Get up: the emperor is at the +door, and your life and mine are in God's hands at this very +moment. And if I cannot speak to you, or you to me, forgive me +with all your heart, as I do you, because now I see that this day +has been the beginning and the end of all happiness and delight, +and the final hour of your life and mine." + +When Hippolytus heard the empress saying these words, he began to +feel very sorry for himself, because he had never been in a +situation like this before. Young as he was, he joined the +empress, serving her up tears instead of advice and aid. But he +begged the maiden to bring him the sword that was in the sitting +room, and plucking up his courage, he said: + +"Here I shall become a martyr before Your Majesty, and deliver up +my spirit." + +At that instant the empress heard no noise whatsoever, and she +said to Hippolytus: + +"Go hide in that sitting room, my son. I will delay them, and +you can escape with your life." + +"I wouldn't abandon Your Majesty even if they gave me the whole +Greek Empire four times over. I will give my life and everything +I have before I leave Your Highness, and I beg you to kiss me as +a token of faith," said Hippolytus. + +When the empress heard these words her pain increased, and with +the increase of pain she felt her love increasing. As she heard +no noise at all she went to the chamber door to see if she could +hear soldiers or some other bad sign. Through a small crack in +the door she saw the emperor and the doctors discussing her +illness, and she realized that there was no danger. She ran back +to Hippolytus and pulling his ears, she kissed him hard. Then +she said: + +"My son, by the great love I have for you I beg you to go into +that sitting room until I can make up an excuse for the emperor +and the doctors." + +"My lady," said Hippolytus, "in all things I will be more +obedient to you than if you had bought me as a captive, but don't +ask me to leave here, because I don't know if they will harm +you." + +"Don't worry," said the empress. "It's not what Eliseu told me, +at all. There would be a great uproar in the palace if it were." + +Hippolytus quickly went into the sitting room, and the empress +got back into her bed and had the doors to the chamber opened. +The emperor and the doctors went to her bed and asked about her +illness and how she had spent the night. The empress answered +that her headache and the pain in her stomach had not let her +sleep all night long, and she had not been able to rest until the +stars in the sky had disappeared. + +"Then, since I could no longer stay awake, I slept, and now I +feel much happier than before. And I believe that if that +pleasant dream had lasted longer, I would feel even better. But +in this world a person cannot be completely happy: with the +painful awakening this maiden has given me, my spirit is in more +anguish than I can say. If I could go back to the way I was, it +would be a great consolation to me. I could touch and hold in my +arms the things I love and have loved most in this world." + +The emperor said: + +"Tell me, my lady, what was it that you held in your arms?" + +The empress answered: + +"My lord, the greatest blessing that I have ever had in the +world. I fell asleep, and soon it seemed to me that I was up on +the roof in my chemise, saying the prayer that I always pray to +the three Kings of the Orient. And when I had finished the +blessed prayer, I heard a voice telling me: 'Do not go, for in +this place you will possess the grace you are asking for.' And +soon I saw my beloved son coming toward me, accompanied by many +gentlemen, all dressed in white, and they held Hippolytus by the +hand. Surrounding me, the two of them caught up my hands and +kissed them, and they wanted to kiss my feet, but I would not let +them. And as we sat on the roof we exchanged many words which +gave me great delight, and they were so many and so delicious +that they will always remain in my heart. Afterward we entered +the chamber, and I held him by the hand. My son and I got into +bed, and I put my right arm around his shoulders, and his mouth +kissed my breasts. I have never had such a pleasant sleep. And +my son said to me, 'My lady, since you cannot have me in this +miserable world, take my brother Hippolytus as your son, for I +love him as much as I love Carmesina.' And when he said these +words he was lying beside me, and Hippolytus was obediently +kneeling in the middle of the chamber. I asked him where his +room was, and he told me that he was among the martyred knights +in paradise, because he had died in battle against the infidel. +And I could not ask him more because Eliseu woke me up with a +sound more strident than a trumpet." + +"Didn't I say," said the emperor, "that all her talk was only +about her son?" + +"Oh, my lord," said the empress, "it has hurt no one more than +me. I held him in this arm; his pleasant mouth was touching my +breasts; and the dreams you have in the morning often come true. +I think he still may not have left. I would like to try to go +back to sleep to see if he will talk to me again." + +"I beg you," said the emperor, "put this madness out of your +head, and get up out of bed." + +"I beg you, my lord," said the empress, "for my health and +pleasure, let me rest a little. My eyes are clouded from lack of +sleep." + +"My lord," said the doctors, "it would be better if Your Majesty +would leave and we let her sleep, because if we take this +pleasure from her it would not be surprising if her illness got +much worse." + +The emperor left, and so did all the maidens in the chamber +except Eliseu. When the doors were closed the empress had +Hippolytus come back in, and she said to the maiden: + +"Since fortune has permitted you to know about this matter, I +command you to serve Hippolytus, even more than myself, with all +your heart. Stay in that sitting room until we have slept a +little. I shall favor you more highly than all the others, and I +will marry you to a man of higher station than the others. +Afterward Hippolytus will give you so many of his possessions +that you will be very satisfied." + +"Heaven help me," said Eliseu, "but I have no desire to serve +Hippolytus, and even less to love and honor him, but since Your +Majesty commands me, I'll do it. Otherwise I wouldn't stoop to +the floor to pick up a needle for him. I tell you, since the +time I saw him lying next to Your Majesty, I have never felt more +ill will for any man in the world than I feel for him. I would +like to see a lion eat up his eyes, his face, and all the rest of +him!" + +Hippolytus answered: + +"Maiden, I never meant to make you angry. I want to love you and +do more for you than for all the other maidens in the world." + +"Do it for the others," said Eliseu, "but don't bother with me. +I don't want anything that belongs to you." + +And she quickly went into the sitting room, and began to cry. +The two lovers stayed in bed so long that it was nearly time for +Vespers when they got up, and they found the maiden still crying. +When she saw them coming into the sitting room she stopped her +wailing, and the empress consoled her and begged her not to say +anything about what Hippolytus had done. + +"My lady," said the maiden, "Your Majesty needn't worry about me. +I would die before I'd tell anybody anything without your +command. As for the second thing, have no fear: I will serve +Hippolytus in every way I can, out of consideration for Your +Majesty." + +The empress was satisfied, and she left Hippolytus in the sitting +room and went back to her bed. Then she commanded the chamber +doors to be opened. Soon her daughter was there, along with all +the maidens, the emperor and the doctors. And again she told +them about her pleasant dream. + +The meal was served, and the empress ate like someone who was +tired from walking a long distance. The maiden was diligent in +serving Hippolytus, and she gave him some pheasants to eat. And +when he did not want to eat, she begged him on behalf of her +lady. Hippolytus spoke to her and joked, but she would not +answer him unless it was something to do with her service. + +Here was the empress, not moving from her bed until the following +day when the emperor had already eaten lunch. After she had +dressed she went to chapel to hear mass, and there was a great +dispute among the priests as to whether they should read the +scriptures, because it was already past noon. + +Hippolytus remained in the sitting room with this pleasure for a +week. When the lady saw that he was quite exhausted, she asked +him to leave, telling him to return to her chamber another day +after he had rested, and he could take her as he pleased. And +from a box where she kept her jewelry the empress took out a gold +chain, and put it around his neck, saying: + +"Pray God that I may live, Hippolytus, because I will be +surprised if I don't put a crown on your head before many years +have passed. Now, for love of me, wear this. Since it will be +in view you will remember someone who loves you as much as she +does her own life." + +Hippolytus knelt to the ground, thanked her, and kissed her hand +and her mouth and said: + +"My lady, how could Your Majesty deprive yourself of such an +exquisite jewel to give it to me? If it were mine I would give +it to Your Highness where it would be put to better use. I beg +you to keep it." + +The empress answered: + +"Hippolytus, never refuse what your lover gives you." + +"Then, my lady, how will you command my life? What do you want +me to do?" + +"I beg you to leave. I am terribly afraid that tomorrow the +emperor may enter this sitting room and find you here. Go now, +and let this fear of mine pass. There will be other days when +you can return." + +Let us leave these endearments of hers for Hippolytus now, and +return to Tirant to see how his love is doing. When his leg was +mended he often went to the palace without anyone's help. His +only obstacle was that the doctors would not let him go as often +as he would have liked. The emperor often asked them how many +days it would be before he would be entirely well so that he +could leave for battle. They told him that he would soon be well +enough to ride. When Tirant knew how much the emperor wanted him +to go, he felt great anguish because he could not have his desire +or at least some contact with the princess. + +The passion that the Widow carried inside had not been revealed +until that time. But when she learned from the emperor that +Tirant would be leaving soon, she thought that she might be able +to persuade him to take her along to the camp with the excuse +that she would serve him there. And if this was impossible, her +diabolical plans were to spread a seed throughout the court +called discord. She went to the princess and said: + +"Did you know, my lady, that Tirant told me as we were leaving +mass that he wanted to talk to me. I told him that I would be +glad to talk to him if I could have Your Majesty's permission. I +think he realizes that he will be leaving soon, and he wants to +see if he can commit some treachery against Your Highness. He is +thinking to himself: If he can do it, well and good, and if he +can't, then when he's gone he'll forget all about you. He told +me the other day that that's the way he is, and he laughed as +though he had said something wonderful." + +"Then let's do this," said the princess. "You go talk to him, +and we'll see if there is some treachery in his heart. Your +advice is good: I should be careful with him." + +"But, my lady," said the Widow, "if I'm to find out what's really +in his heart, you must not leave this room until I come back." + +The Widow went out, called a page and told him: + +"Tell Tirant that the princess is here, in this chamber, and is +very anxious to talk to him." + +The page quickly went to tell him. When Tirant heard that his +lady had asked him to come, he did not wait for anyone to go with +him. The Widow was watching carefully to see when he would come, +and as soon as she saw him she pretended to be coming out of the +princess's chamber at that very moment, and she went up to him +and said: + +"Unfortunately, the empress just took the princess to her +chambers, and they are talking right now. I asked her to send +for you because just as Jesus Christ enlightened his disciples, +so you spread light to everyone whenever you are in the palace, +and as soon as you leave we feel sad. The princess told me to +come and keep you company until the empress is gone. So let's +sit down until Her Highness comes: I don't want you to hurt your +leg on my account." + +They sat in the drawing room, and Tirant said: + +"Calling to mind, my lady, what you just said to me, the +consolation you feel when you see me, I thank you very much for +saying that. Take this chain as proof of my affection, I beg +you, so that when you look at it you'll think of me, because I +want to do a great deal for you." + +The Widow answered: + +"There's no one who doesn't know how you hurt your leg, but +because of their situation they don't want to offend you or make +you angry, and because of the war they hide their feelings and +pretend not to know anything. If they were certain there would +be peace, Carmesina would be the first to throw you into +everlasting and bitter grief. Are you so blind that you can't +see the dishonest things that are plotted and carried out in this +palace? It all seems so vile and abominable to me that I won't +agree to any of it. That's why they don't like me. I know for a +fact that you're not highly regarded the way you should be. Tell +me, wouldn't it be better for you to love a woman who was expert +in the art of loving, and very honest, even if she weren't a +virgin? She would follow you across the sea and over land, in +war and in peace. She would serve you in your tents both night +and day, and would never think of anything but how to please +you." + +"Tell me, my lady," said Tirant, "who is the woman who would +perform such remarkable services for me?" + +"Oh, wretched me!" said the Widow. "Why are you trying to make +me suffer more than I already do? Haven't I said enough? Don't +pretend that you don't understand what's so clear. I've tried to +find a time when we wouldn't be interrupted by anyone to reveal +my pain to you. It seems to me that I've made my intention known +to you very clearly, and the knight who is so graciously offered +such a gift can feel very fortunate." + +Tirant did not hesitate to reply: + +"To satisfy you, I'll answer your kind words. It makes me angry +that I can't do what you are asking because your words are filled +with so much love. But my free will is captive, and even if I +wanted to, my five senses would not allow it." + +"Everything I've told you was only to test your patience, and to +show you, Lord Tirant, how much I want to serve you. I think you +should be aware of all the things you don't know. I don't want +you to be deceived by the princess's actions: she no longer has +any honor, and she has none of her father's or her mother's honor +either. She could have satisfied her appetites honestly with a +valiant and virtuous knight like you, or with many others who are +in love with her, but the sky, the earth, the sea and the sands +abominate the sin she has committed (and still commits daily). +Only Our Lord would permit such an abominable crime of adultery +without punishing her! If you knew what I know you would spit in +her face. + +But why should I try to exaggerate such an ugly crime with +unnecessary words? She has become involved with Lauseta--that's +his name. He's a black slave, a Moorish gardener who takes care +of the orchard. And don't think, your grace, that all these +things I've told you are simply fables, because I'll let you see +it with your own eyes. She has made me live with this enormous +pain for a long time. How many kinds of herbs have I gone to +pick, and then placed them inside her to destroy the fetus in her +infamous stomach! Oh wretch, the poor thing was punished because +of my sin! And its body wasn't buried, but instead made its trip +down the river. What else could I do so that the grandchild +would not be seen by the emperor, its grandfather? She has the +pleasure, if it can be called that, and I have the blame." + +Tirant, with all the melancholy he felt, said: + +"Widow, your words have gone straight to my miserable heart. +They hurt me more deeply than I have ever been hurt before. I +beg you, virtuous lady, show me the cause of my pain, because +otherwise I couldn't believe words that sound so unreasonable. +It seems impossible that such a celestial person would freely +place her beauty in the hands of a black savage." + +Then he was silent. Widow Repose was very worried because Tirant +did not fully believe her false words. During this conversation +the emperor came into the chamber, and when he saw Tirant, he +took him by the hand, and they both went into a room to talk +about the war. The Widow was left alone, and she began to say to +herself: + +"Since Tirant did not believe me, this deception I have planned +won't succeed. But I'll make him give in to me, even if I have +to sell my soul to the devil to do it." + +Furious, she swept into the princess's chamber. Then, feigning +laughter, she showed her the gold chain Tirant had given her, and +she said: + +"You'd be astonished, my lady, if you knew his latest whim. He +wants to bring a galley here, and carry you off to his land by +force." + +And she continued to invent stories almost in mockery. When the +princess saw that she was mocking Tirant, she became inwardly +very angry, and she left and went to her sitting room. She began +to think a great deal about Tirant and how deeply she loved him, +and of the gifts that he gave to her ladies because of her. The +thought of how much she loved him made her reflect deeply, and +brought her bitter pain. After thinking for a long time, she +dressed and went out to the hall to talk to Tirant, because she +knew that he would soon have to leave for the field of battle. + +Widow Repose waited for Tirant, and said to him: + +"My captain, I would like to have your word that you will not +tell the princess, even in jest, what I said to you. Before +twenty-four hours have gone by I will let you see it with your +own eyes." + +"Widow," said Tirant, "I will be very happy if you show me. And +so that you will have complete confidence in me, I promise by the +blessed Saint George, in whose name I hold the honor of +chivalry, not to tell a soul." + +As the emperor turned he saw the Widow, and said to her: + +"Go quickly and tell the empress and my daughter to go to the +orchard right away. I'll be waiting for them there." + +Soon all the ladies were with the emperor, and they talked about +many things, including how the emperor had sent the order to the +camp for two thousand lancers to come and accompany the captain. +When the princess heard the news she became very agitated, and +pretending that she had a headache, she said: + +"I will not deprive myself just because the captain is here; I'll +let my hair down even though he's present." + +Then she let down all her hair, allowing it to hang loose--and it +was the most beautiful hair any maiden ever had. When Tirant saw +it in all its splendor he was astonished, and his love doubled in +strength. The princess was dressed that day in a skirt of white +damask. At that moment her hands were struggling with the cord +of her skirt, and she seemed to be in great anguish as she walked +alone through the orchard. The emperor tried to question her +about her illness, and asked if she wanted the doctors to come. +She answered no, that: + +"My illness requires neither doctors nor medicine." + +At this moment Widow Repose got up from where she was sitting, +and taking a companion and two squires along as her escorts, she +went to a painter's house and told him: + +"Since the festival of Corpus Christi is near, I would like to +put on a play. You're the best painter in the world: Could you +make a mask of flesh color according to my instructions? It +should be over a fine, black skin that would look like Lauseta, +the gardener of our orchard. It should have hair on its face, +some white and some black, and I'll put gloves on my hands so +that I will appear entirely black." + +"Madam," answered the painter, "that can be done, but I have a +great deal of work right now. However, if you pay me well, I'll +put aside all my other work so that I can serve you." + +The Widow reached into her purse and gave him thirty ducats in +gold so that he would do a good job. And he made it with the +exact shape and features of Lauseta. + +When the princess had strolled through the garden at length, she +saw Lauseta pruning an orange tree, because it was his job to +work in the garden, and she went up to him to talk to him. The +Widow, who had returned by now, was watching Tirant, and she made +a sign to him so that he would notice that his lady was talking +to the Negro, Lauseta. Tirant turned around (for he was at the +emperor's side), and saw the princess speaking animatedly with +the black gardener, and he said to himself: + +"Oh, that wicked Widow! She's still trying to make me believe +that what she told me is the truth! No matter what she says or +does, no one can tell me that the princess would do such a +terrible thing, and nothing in the world will make me believe it +unless I see it with my own eyes." + +At that moment the emperor called a maiden and said to her: + +"Come here, Praxidis,"--for that was her name. "Go over to my +daughter and ask her to call the captain and tell him that she +wants him to leave for the camp soon. Often young knights will +do more for ladies than they will for themselves." + +The princess replied that she would, since His Majesty had asked +her to. After she had spent a while talking with Lauseta about +the orange trees and the myrtles, she went back to strolling +through the garden. When she was near the emperor she called to +Tirant and told him that she was tired, and she asked him to take +her arm so they could walk through the garden together. God +knows how happy Tirant felt when the princess said this to him. +And when they were some distance from the others, Tirant said: + +"I have only you in my thoughts now, and I spend day and night +thinking of you. If fortune would like to have a little pity on +me, let it allow me to have only a part of my desire, because +then I will become the most glorious knight who ever lived. All +I need is a little hope from Your Excellency." + +The virtuous lady kept her pain secret, and replied: + +"Tirant, my lord, harbor no doubt whatsoever about what I tell +you, because even if I have occasionally been cruel with you, I +don't want you to think I have not always been with you in +spirit. I have always loved you and looked on you as a god, and +I can tell you that as my age increases so does my love. And now +the time has come when you can know fully whether I love you, +for I want to give you the prize of your love. And I beg you, +please, to guard my honor as you do your own life." + +Tirant's heart was filled with happiness when he saw that this +lofty lady had shown her great love for him, and that he was on +the path of possessing the crown of the Empire of Greece. He +felt that he could conquer the entire world, and he wanted to +tell his cousin Diafebus, the Duke of Macedonia, about it, +because he thought everyone would feel just as delighted as he +did. And as a greater pledge, he took out a reliquary he +carried, and he made the princess place her hands there, asking +her to declare that she would marry him, and she very happily +swore it. Then Tirant said: + +"My lady, I make the same oath to be faithful and true to you and +never to forget you for anyone else in the world." + +When all this had been done, Tirant knelt down on the ground to +kiss her hands because he was more afraid of offending her than +of a saint. The princess said: + +"To keep my honor and my reputation I am holding back what you +most desire. After your great victory, we will take that sweet, +delicious fruit of love which is plucked in matrimony, and you +will wear the crown of the Empire of Greece." + +In a trembling voice, Tirant said: + +"I am so anxious to have what I desire most in the world that +every hour I wait seems like a thousand years. I would like to +change that future time to the present." + +The princess, with a kind face, quickly answered: + +"I cannot completely resist your entreaties without offending +you. But shame and fear hold me back, telling me to keep myself +from losing what I will never be able to recover. I beg you, let +us leave this conversation so the emperor will not begin to +wonder about me. You talk to Plaerdemavida, and whatever you +decide I will agree to." + +They kissed many times without anyone seeing them, because the +orange trees were between them and the emperor, and protected +them from everyone's view. When they returned to the emperor, +the princess saw him deep in thought and said to him: + +"My lord, what are you thinking about?" + +The emperor answered: + +"My daughter, I want to hold a celebration tomorrow in Tirant's +honor. For every battle he has won on land and on sea, I want +that many flags placed in our Church of Santa Sofia, and for +every castle, villa and city he has conquered, I want that many +standards placed around the high altar with Tirant's coat of +arms. For he has brought this empire so many benefits, showing +himself to be truly a lover of the public good and a conqueror of +the world." + +The emperor sent for all those in his council and told them what +he wanted, and they all praised him, saying it would be a very +good thing to do. When they had made their calculations they +found that in four and one half years he had conquered three +hundred seventy-two villas, cities and castles. + +When the emperor held his council and Tirant found out that he +was discussing these things, he did not want to be present, and +he went to his chambers. On leaving the orchard, Tirant said to +Hippolytus: + +"Tell Plaerdemavida to go out to the great hall. I have to talk +to her." + +Hippolytus took the message, and she quickly went there. Tirant +embraced her, and smiling, he took her hand. When they had sat +down by a window he said: + +"I have been with Her Highness and we have exchanged many words +of love, and she promised to do whatever you and I decided. I +was to tell you all my concerns, and tonight I would speak with +Her Majesty. We held hands and solemnly swore that as long as +she and I should live I would be her servant, husband and lord, +and I would have a resting place of perpetual glory and delight +in her chambers, in her bed." + +Plaerdemavida listened to Tirant. She thought for a moment, and +then said: + +"I was not born among the lower classes in Rome. My mother was +born in that city, and my ancestors were noble citizens of Rome. +Tirant, lord of the world, why did you speak to me so timidly? +Is your grace unaware of what you have in me? My heart, my body, +my will and all my thoughts have no other purpose in this world +than to serve your grace. I won't say anything more to you +because a knight who is waiting to go into battle shouldn't be +worn out by words. But when the emperor is dining I'll go to +your rooms and give you news that will please you very much." + +Then Tirant kissed her eyes and her face with great joy. He left +her, and Plaerdemavida went back to the garden where she found +the princess with the emperor. The emperor went into the upper +chambers, and Plaerdemavida and the princess entertained +themselves and decided what time Tirant should come. The +princess told her everything that she had said and done with +Tirant, and Plaerdemavida was very glad to see how happy her lady +was. + +The hour arrived when the emperor was to dine, and Tirant did not +forget to go to the palace quickly. He met Plaerdemavida coming +down the stairs to his quarters. She told him how it was to be +done, and what time he should come. Then they went back the way +they had come. + +After everyone in the palace had retired and was asleep, the +princess got up from her bed, and the only ones with her were +Plaerdemavida and another named Lady Montblanc who knew all about +the affair. The princess put on a dress that the emperor had +ordered made for her wedding. Neither he nor anyone else had +ever seen it, and it was the most beautiful dress anyone had ever +seen at that time. Her gown was of crimson satin embroidered +with pearls. Her mantle was lined with ermine, and on her head +she wore a stunning imperial crown. Plaerdemavida and Lady +Montblanc took lighted torches in their hands, and waited for +Tirant to come. When the clock struck eleven (which was the +hour that he was awaiting so anxiously), he quickly went to the +garden gate. Climbing the stairs to the sitting room, he found +Lady Montblanc with the lighted torch, and as soon as she saw him +she knelt before him and said: + +"Of knights, the best, and the most beloved in the world by a +beautiful lady." + +And Tirant replied: + +"Maiden, may your wishes be fulfilled." + +They both went up to the sitting room and waited there until +Plaerdemavida came in, happier and more content than Paris was +when he carried off Helen. They went into one chamber while the +princess was coming in from another door, and they met very +happily, and Tirant knelt on the ground, and she did likewise. +They remained like this for some time. Then they kissed, and +their kiss was so delicious that one could have walked a mile +while they had their lips pressed together. Plaerdemavida saw +the danger in their dilatoriness, and went up to them and said: + +"I declare you good and loyal lovers, but I will not leave this +battlefield until you are lying in bed together. And I won't +deem you a knight if you make peace before spilling blood." + +They stood up, and the princess took the crown from her head and +placed it on Tirant's head. Then she fell to her knees and said: + +"Oh Lord God, Jesus Christ, all powerful and merciful, Who, +having pity on mankind, came down from heaven to earth and took +on human form in the virgin womb of the most Holy Virgin Mary, +Your Mother and Our Lady, and Who died on the tree of the true +cross to redeem the sins of mankind, and came back to life on the +third day by Your own power, in a glorified body, true God and +true man! May it please Your most Holy Majesty to allow my lord +Tirant to possess this crown, with the title and reign over all +the Empire of Greece, after the death of my father, inasmuch as +Your divine goodness has granted him the grace to have retaken it +and freed it from the infidel. And may this be done in honor, +praise and glory of Your most Holy Majesty and of Your most Holy +Mother, and for the benefit of the holy Catholic faith." + +When she had finished her prayer, the princess got up and took +some scales that the emperor used for weighing gold coins, and +she said: + +"My lord Tirant, good fortune has decided that on this day I will +submit to your power of my own free will, and without my mother's +and father's consent, or that of the people of Greece. Here I +hold some scales of perfection: on the right side is love, honor +and chastity; on the other side is shame, infamy and grief. +Choose which of these pleases you most, Tirant." + +As one who always wished to serve honor, Tirant took the scale on +the right hand side, and said: + +"Before I was given news of Your Majesty I had heard of your +virtues, which as I now know would be too many to mention. For +Your Highness practices virtue continually and has such great +beauty that it is far greater than that of all other ladies in +the world." + +Then, holding up the scale on the right, he said: + +"I place love and honor above the crown and the scale with all +the firmness that it has. And I beg you dearly to speak no more +of this. Rather, with true will, let our marriage take place." + +The princess answered: + +"You have embraced the scale of love and honor. Now I beg you to +preserve my chastity, and for the present do not violate it. +Otherwise, what will the emperor say, and my mother, and the +entire country who think of me as a saint? What will they say of +me? There will be no one who can trust Carmesina. And when you +are gone away, if I am offended by anyone, who will I go to for +help? A brother or a husband? And if I become with child, what +counsel could I take?" + +Tirant could no longer withstand the tears of the princess, and, +smiling, he replied: + +"My lady, I have been waiting so long to see you in your +nightgown or completely naked on a bed. I don't want your crown +or your kingdom. But give me all my rights which belong to me, +as our Holy Mother Church commands with the following words: 'If +a maiden gives herself in true matrimony, he who is able but does +not have copulation after marriage is in mortal sin.' As for me, +my lady, if you love my body you should love my soul too, and +Your Majesty should not willfully cause me to sin. You know very +well that if a man goes into battle while he's in mortal sin, God +will not come to his aid." + +And as he was saying these words Tirant was not slow about +removing her clothing: he unfastened her skirt while he kissed +her again and again, saying: + +"Every hour that we're not in bed is like a year to me. Since +God has given me such a treasure, I don't want to lose it." + +Plaerdemavida exclaimed: + +"Oh, my lord! Why wait until you are in bed? Do it on top of +her clothes so that they can be a more certain witness. We'll +close our eyes and say that we saw nothing. If you wait for Her +Highness to take off her clothes you'll have to wait until +morning. Afterward Our Heavenly Father could punish you as a +knight unworthy of love. Heaven help you if you should fail at a +time like this. Seeing that you were such a polite lover, Our +Heavenly Father wouldn't want to give you a morsel like this +again, nor would He have anything to give you. There's no man in +the world who wouldn't swallow it, even if he knew for a +certainty that he would choke to death." + +The princess answered: + +"Be quiet, you enemy of all goodness! I would never have +thought, Plaerdemavida, that you could be so cruel. Up to today +I've always thought of you as a mother or a sister, but now you +are like a stepmother because of the reprehensible advice you're +giving about me." + +At this point Tirant had finished removing her clothing, and he +took her in his arms and placed her on the bed. When the +princess saw herself in such a situation, and that Tirant, who +had taken off his clothes, was at her side working with the +artillery to penetrate the castle, she saw that she could not +defend it by the strength of her arms. She thought that perhaps +with feminine arms she could resist him, and with her eyes +pouring forth tears she began to lament: + +"You are trying to keep me from loving you. You want to use your +absolute power over me and make me very angry. Tirant, open the +eyes of your understanding, and look at the misfortune that +awaits you, and when you recognize it, give way to reason, and +restrain your lustful appetite." + +The princess made all these and other laments with her eyes +pouring forth tears. Tirant saw all the tears and the discreet +words of his lady, and he decided to make her content that night +and to follow her will. Although all night long the two lovers +slept very little, but rather played and found amusement now near +the head of the bed and now near its foot, caressing each other +continually, both of them very content. When it was nearly +daybreak and the people in the palace were beginning to stir, the +princess said: + +"For my own satisfaction I would that the day had not come so +quickly, and it would be my pleasure if this delight could last a +year, or never end. Arise, Tirant, lord of the Empire of Greece, +for tomorrow, or whenever it pleases you, you may return to the +same place." + +Tirant got up very reluctantly, and said: + +"I shall do what you command, but I fear that my desire will +never be satisfied, and my thoughts are very restless." + +So that no one should see or hear him, he left full of passion +and anguish, kissing her wildly at the moment of their parting. +When he was gone Plaerdemavida was so distraught that she could +bear no more. The princess sent for her and had Lady Montblanc +summoned, and both knew what had taken place between her and +Tirant. + +"God help me!" said Plaerdemavida. "Your Highness had the +pleasure and Tirant the delight, and I the sin. But it grieves +me so much that there was no consummation that I feel I shall die +from anger. Bring that skinny, spineless knight to me, and +you'll see what I say to him! I shall never again do anything +for him; instead I will try to stand in his way whenever I can." + +"In faith," said Lady Montblanc, "he has shown great virtue as +the most valiant and courteous knight he is, for he has wished to +forego his pleasure rather than anger my mistress." + +They spoke of this at length until it was bright daylight and the +emperor sent word to the empress and to his daughter that all the +ladies should dress in their finery, and then they should all +come to the festivities being held for Tirant. He also sent word +to all the knights and ladies of the city so that they would go +to the palace. God knows well that in that instance the princess +would have liked more to sleep than to leave her chambers. But +for love of Tirant and so that the celebration could take place, +she left her bed and dressed very beautifully, and they went out +from the great hall where they found the emperor with all his +retinue of nobles and knights and ladies of the city. + +When the procession was ready, they went through the city with +the two hundred seventy-two flags in front, until they came to +the church. Tirant went up to the princess, and she received him +warmly, but she could only say: + +"Tirant, my lord, all that I have is yours." + +Tirant did not dare answer her because the empress and the others +were near. The mass was begun with great solemnity. On +administering the holy water they set up one flag; after +confession another was put in place; then, at psalm or scripture +reading they put up another one. Finally, when the mass was +over, all the flags were in place. Tirant did not want to sit in +his usual place, or even next to the emperor. Instead he went +into a chapel with his Hours in his hand, and from there he could +see the princess very well. In truth, Tirant said very few Hours +at that mass. I could not tell you about the princess, but as +long as the holy service lasted she did not take her eyes from +Tirant. + + CHAPTER IX WIDOW REPOSE + + After the service was over and everyone had eaten, there was +dancing in the square. While they were dancing the princess went +to the palace, to her chamber, to change clothes, and she had +them close the door. When she was in her tunic she went up to +the treasure tower with two maidens. There the three of them +weighed out a load of ducats. The princess gave them to +Plaerdemavida to carry to Tirant's rooms. When she had dressed +again she went back to where the emperor was. She went up to him +and to Tirant who was nearby. She whispered in Tirant's ear so +that the emperor would not hear: + +"Your hands have caressed me so much that there is no part of my +body that does not remember your touch." + +Tirant answered: + +"It is very fortunate for me that my hands have learned something +new." + +The emperor said: + +"What are you two talking about so secretly." + +"My lord," said the princess, "I was asking Tirant if there would +be jousts at this celebration. He told me there would not, and +that they were waiting to hold them against the Turks." + +"That is the best news I could possibly hear," said the emperor. +"Do you feel well enough to be able to leave?" + +"Yes, by the Holy Virgin!" said Tirant. "When the celebration is +over, I will take the doctors with me, and I'll be able to go." + +They spoke of other things until Plaerdemavida came and signaled +from a distance. When the emperor began to talk to other people +Tirant quietly went to Plaerdemavida to ask her what she wanted. +She answered: + +"It is only logical that you've lost the prize of all your +efforts so many times, my lord, with your neglect and lack of +persistence. You don't deserve to be rewarded any further since +you're satisfied with what you have, and you've lost it through +your own fault. As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to be +involved in your love affairs any longer. You don't need me--you +need Widow Repose: she'll give you what you deserve. I'm not +bound to do anything more for you: you are the most disloyal, +unworthy knight who was ever born. And that you can't deny. If +I were a knight, I would fight you. You were in bed with a +maiden in your arms--the most beautiful, most pleasing, the +worthiest lady who ever lived--and you shouldn't have left her +just because she begged you to or because she shed tears. And if +she went there a virgin, I saw her leave a virgin--to your shame +and confusion. The great error you committed will hurt me all my +life. There is no lady or maiden in the world who wouldn't +consider you the lowest of men if she knew what you have done. I +don't want to talk about this anymore: I've already said enough. +I only want to tell you that when the emperor sits down to +dinner, you'll have to be there. I've just now come from your +chambers, and here's the key to your room. I beg you to go there +quickly. I brought the keys so that no one could read what +you'll find written there." + +Tirant took the keys, and wanted to reply to what Plaerdemavida +had told him, but it was impossible because the emperor was +telling him to come right away. When he was there the emperor +told him that he was to sit alone at the table. The emperor, the +empress, the princess, and all the maidens waited on him. And +there was no knight or lady who dared approach to serve him, +because they were all in their seats waiting to hear what an old +knight who was very experienced in arms would say. He was a very +eloquent and great reader who began to recite all the +chivalresque deeds that Tirant had performed. The men and women +forgot to eat as they listened to the great honors that Tirant +had achieved up to that day. When Tirant had finished eating, +the knight stopped reading-- and his recitation had lasted more +than three hours. + +When evening arrived, the dinner was as abundant as the afternoon +meal had been. After the dancing there were farces and short +plays, as were required at such festivities. These festivities +lasted almost the whole night through, and the emperor did not +want to leave until dawn. The princess was never bored at the +celebration because she could see and talk to Tirant. And Tirant +barely dared to talk to the princess for fear of the emperor who +was very near, but he told her quietly: + +"My lady, last night was certainly more enjoyable to me than +tonight is." + +Plaerdemavida quickly interjected: + +"My lord, your words are fine, but not your actions." + +Then, when the emperor saw that dawn was breaking he got up and +wanted everyone to go with him to escort Tirant to his chambers. +Tirant thanked him for the great honor he was paying him, and he +wanted to escort the emperor to his chambers, but the worthy lord +would not permit it. + +When Tirant was in his chambers he thought that because +Plaerdemavida was so unhappy with him she had probably written +him some letter, but when he went into his room he saw a heap of +gold on the floor. He was astonished at the princess's great +virtue, and he thought more highly of her good will than he did +of the gift. He had Hippolytus come, and ordered him to +safeguard it. + +When it was time for mass all the lords went, and Tirant found no +way to talk to the princess, to thank her for what she had sent +him, until after dinner. After eating they told the emperor that +since he had slept so little the night before he should go and +rest, and that when it was time for the festivities they would +all return. As the ladies went back to the palace Tirant drew +near to the princess and told her: + +"I haven't the spirit to talk, nor can my tongue express all the +words of love that befit the works of honor that Your Majesty +bestows on me every day." + +She quickly replied, although she did not dare to speak much +because the emperor was passing by. She only said to him: + +"You are my lord; I am in your power. Decide what you will do +with me: make war or peace. If I don't help you, who are my +lord, whom would I help? What I do now is little, if you +consider what I plan to do. But if you want more, the doors to +the treasure are open for you, and closed for anyone else." + +With Tirant again thanking her, they reached the emperor's +chambers, and the emperor went inside with the ladies. Only +Widow Repose remained outside. She stood at the head of the +stairs, waiting for Tirant. With her feminine malice she was +prepared to commit an unspeakable crime. When she saw Tirant she +put on a sympathetic face, and with graceful gestures designed to +make him love her, she said: + +"I'm not surprised that you want to conquer the world: you've +already captivated me. With the pity I have for your grace, I +want to help you. So, my lord Tirant, if you'd like to be in a +certain secret place after two o'clock, you'll be able to see +everything I've told you about." + +Tirant said that was agreeable to him, and that he would be +ready. The Widow left Tirant at once. Behind the garden she and +a very old woman had a house already prepared, and she had her +furnish it nicely with a bed, as would befit Tirant. When the +raging Widow saw that the time had come, she went looking for +Tirant secretly, and she made him swear at length, and then +disguise himself. Then they went to the old lady's chambers. In +the chamber was a small window overlooking the garden, and +through it a person could see everything that went on in the +garden; but the window was very high, and only by climbing a +ladder could you see out. The Widow brought two large mirrors, +and put one at the window and the other one lower, in front of +Tirant, facing the first mirror. And everything that appeared in +the top one was reflected in the lower one. + +When the Widow had done this and had left Tirant in the room, she +went quickly to the palace, and found the princess sleeping in +her bed. The Widow said to her: + +"Get up, my lady. My lord, the emperor, sent me to tell you that +the doctors want you to get out of your bed and not to sleep so +long. After you stayed up so late last night, and having eaten +lunch, if you sleep now with this warm weather it could endanger +your health." + +She opened the windows of the chamber so that she would not +sleep, and the princess permitted her to because of her father's +tender words. + +When she was up she put on a brocade tunic with the top +completely unbuttoned, no kerchief over her breast, and her hair +hanging loose over her shoulders. Then the Widow said to her: + +"The doctors think it would be good for you to go down to the +garden and see all the greenery, and we'll entertain ourselves +there with some games so that your drowsiness will pass. I have +a costume for the festival of Corpus Christi that looks like your +gardener. Plaerdemavida likes these things very much and she +will put it on, and will tell you her usual witty things." + +The princess went down to the garden with the Widow and two +maidens while Tirant was watching the mirror carefully. He saw +the princess coming with the maidens, and watched as they sat +down near a small stream. The Widow had foreseen everything, and +she had sent the black gardener to the city of Pera so that he +would not be in the garden. + +The Widow helped dress Plaerdemavida, and put the mask on her +that had been made to look exactly like the black gardener; and +she went into the garden wearing his clothing. When Tirant saw +her coming he thought that it was in fact the Moorish gardener, +carrying a spade over his shoulder. He began to dig, and soon +approached the princess. He sat at her side, and took her hands +and kissed them. Then he put his hands on her breasts and +touched her nipples, and made overtures of love. The princess +broke into great peals of laughter, and all her weariness left +her. Then he drew her even closer and put his hands under her +skirts, while all the maidens laughed, as they listened to +Plaerdemavida's amusing words. The Widow turned toward Tirant +and twisted her hands as she spat on the ground, indicating the +loathing and pain she felt for what the princess was doing. + +Imagine poor, miserable Tirant, who the day before had been so +pleased at having won a lady of such high rank as his betrothed, +the thing he desired most in the world, and then to see his +misery, his affliction and his pain with his own eyes. And when +he began to think, he wondered if the mirrors were reflecting a +false image, and he broke them and looked inside to see if they +contained something evil made by the art of necromancy, but he +found nothing of the sort. He wanted to get up to the window to +find out if he could see more, and to discover how those games +would end, and he saw that there was no ladder, because the Widow +had been afraid that he might do this and she had hidden it. +Tirant, finding no other recourse, took the bench from in front +of the bed and stood it up. Then, taking a cord that he cut from +the curtains, he passed it over a beam and pulled himself up by +it. He saw how the black gardener had taken the princess by the +hand, and was leading her to a hut in the garden where he kept +his gardening tools and a bed to sleep on. Plaerdemavida led her +into that room, where they looked through everything, including +the clothing which the black man kept in a chest. After a time +the princess came out, as the Widow and a maiden were walking +near the hut. When they saw her, the Widow went over to the +maiden and gave her a scarf. To go ahead with the game and make +everyone laugh, she said to her: + +"Put it under the princess's skirts." + +When she was in front of Her Highness, the maiden knelt on the +ground as the Widow had instructed her, and put the rag under her +skirts. And the princess' naivete played into the hands of the +Widow's malice. When Tirant saw such a heinous thing, he was +completely aghast, and with a voice full of anguish, he began to +lament: + +"Oh, fortune, enemy of all who want to live upright in this +world: Now, when I had achieved such a marriage, you have let me +be dishonored by a man of the most vile condition and nature that +could be found. Oh, princess, my lady! I would never have +believed that in a maiden of such tender years there could be so +little shame and boldness that you would commit such an +abominable sin." + +At this moment Widow Repose came in. She had waited a short time +at the door, and when she heard Tirant's lament, she said: + +"Now all the things I have begun are coming to pass." + +When she entered the room she saw that Tirant was in great +anguish, his pillow full of tears, continuing his lamentations. +She sat down near him to see if Tirant wanted to say anything to +her, and ready to do whatever he said. When the Widow saw that +Tirant was not changing his tone, she said to him: + +"That lover of all dishonesty won't leave her abominable life, no +matter how much you beg or threaten her. Her only desire is to +satisfy her lust. What can I do, poor me? With these breasts," +and she pulled them out so that Tirant would see them, "I nursed +that lady." + +She let them hang out like this for a good while, pretending that +with her lamentations she had forgotten to cover them. Then she +added: + +"Lord Tirant, take comfort from me. Oh, Almighty God, Holy +Trinity! With great anguish in my soul, with great anger and +many tears, I revealed those thoughts that ran through my mind +almost every day. But at night, alone in my room, I would find +myself drying my tearful eyes--with sackcloth so that I would +feel the pain even more." + +Tirant quickly replied: + +"Your love, Widow Repose, can't be compared to mine, because +yours is diminishing: It grows smaller and smaller, while mine is +increasing. But I have more reason to grieve than any lover +because in one day's time I have reached the highest peak of love +that fortune could grant me, and the next day I have been the +most confused and downtrodden lover in the entire world. My eyes +have seen a black Moor easily possess what I have not been able +to have by supplications or by all the dangers and hardships I +have endured. A man as unlucky as I should not go on living, so +that he will not have to trust any maid or maiden." + +He got up from the bed as though to leave, and the Widow said to +him: + +"My lord, rest a while. There are many people outside, and I +value my life so much that I would not want anyone to see you +leaving. I'll go to the window and tell your grace when it is +safe to go." + +Tirant went slowly back to the bed, never ceasing to ponder his +grief. The Widow went into the room of the old mistress of the +house and quickly took off her clothing and dressed in a perfumed +blouse, and a skirt of black velvet. With her blouse completely +unfastened she went into the bedchamber and lay down beside +Tirant very boldly and shamelessly, and said: + +"If you knew the hardships my soul endures for love, you could +not help but have pity on me. Where will you find greater +affection than mine in any woman? It would be more to your glory +to have me always in your chambers or in your tents, serving you +in every way that I can, than to love a false maiden who is given +over to a black captive Moor. Take me as a servant and as one +who loves you more than her own life." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "please don't torment my sad soul. I +can't give an answer to anything you've said. I can only tell +you that I could not forget Her Majesty any more than I could +renounce my faith." + +The Widow said: + +"Since you don't want to love me, at least let me lie next to you +a while, completely naked." + +She quickly removed her tunic, which was already unfastened. +When Tirant saw her in her chemise, he leapt out of bed, flung +open the door, and went back to his quarters with great pain. +And the Widow was left with no less. + +When Tirant was in his room his emotion was so great that he did +not know what to do, and as he walked back and forth tears flowed +from his eyes. And so he did nothing for three hours but pace, +lie down and get up again. Then he left the room full of anger. +As secretly as he could he went in disguise to the garden gate, +and in the orchard he found the black gardener who had arrived +only shortly before. He saw him in the doorway of his room, +putting on a pair of red pants. When Tirant saw him, he looked +around, and no one else was in sight. Then he seized him by the +hair, pushed him into the room and cut off his head. He returned +to his room without anyone seeing him, because everyone was in +the square where the celebration was taking place. Tirant then +said: + +"Oh, just and true God! You who correct our faults, I ask of you +vengeance and not justice for this lady. Tell me, pitiless +maiden, was my disposition less agreeable to your desires than +this black gardener? If you had loved as I thought you did, you +would still be mine. But you never did love me." + +Let us leave Tirant in his lament now, and return to the emperor +who, with all the ladies, was getting ready for the celebration. +At this moment a message arrived, telling him about an +unfortunate event that had happened in the camp three days +previously. + +The Duke of Macedonia and the Duke of Pera were captains of the +camp, and they often went out to do battle against the Turks. +But the Turks were afraid of all the water that the Christians +released. They often fought, and many men from both sides died. +But for every ten Christians who died, three hundred Turks died. +The reason for this was that when the Turks came into the city of +Saint George, the Christians released all the river waters, and +from the canals the ground was like clay so that the horses could +not get out of it, and the men on foot could not escape. + +But one day the Turks decided to come four thousand strong, armed +with spades and baskets, and picks, vinegar and fire to cut +through the mountain so that the water would spread down the dry +river bed, and would leave them free. Further on, a league from +where the Turks were, was a large section of a toppled wall where +there was no one. All the Moorish soldiers went there at night. +The foot soldiers stayed in that deserted place while those on +horseback went into a forest half a league away so they would not +be seen. In the morning the spies came and told the captains +that the Turks had arrived. They held council, and they all +agreed to mount and ride against the Turks. + +First they sent out scouts, who came back with the news that the +enemy was going to try to cut through the mountain to control the +water. The Christians went there. As soon as they arrived the +foot soldiers began skirmishes that lasted a long time, so that +many men from both sides died. Finally, when it was nearly noon, +the Turks found themselves too tightly pressed, and they +abandoned their tools and took flight. The Christians quickly +went to the pass half a league away, and there was so much water +there that they could not cross it except at great effort and +danger. Then, when they did make their way across, the others +were at a great advantage. At a gallop the Moors left all the +foot soldiers behind, with about five thousand men following them +until they took refuge in the unpopulated village. But it was +too heavily populated for the Christians! When the Turks +regrouped at the broken wall, the Duke of Macedonia said: + +"Gentlemen, I don't think we should go any further. We don't +know what kind of an ambush may be in store for us: the enemy is +always thinking of how they can do us the most harm." + +The Duke of Pera, who was the other captain, was very envious, +and he said maliciously: + +"Duke of Macedonia, you have very little experience in arms, and +here you are telling us about the danger we could run into. Turn +back and flee: you would be better off with women in the city +than here!" + +The Duke of Macedonia did not want to create discord among the +men, and have them start fighting among themselves. So he tried +to hold his tongue, but he could not restrain himself, and he +answered: + +"Duke of Pera, you would be better off if you kept quiet. Who +has been honored in battle? I, the Duke of Macedonia, am known +as a conqueror, while the Duke of Pera is held in low esteem +because of the battles he has engaged in." + +The other knights and grandees interrupted the argument, and made +them stop. Some wanted to advance and others to retreat. But in +the end they had to go on, because the Duke of Pera said: + +"Whoever wants to come with me or go back is free to do so." + +And he started out, so all the others felt they had to follow +him. When they reached the deserted village, the Turks on top of +the wall defended it bravely. There was a ditch there, and they +had to dismount and fight with lances, because they had no other +arms. While they were doing this, the forces of the sultan and +the Turk came out, some through one gate and some through +another, and they caught them in the middle. There was a great +slaughter, and they captured many of them. I can say about this +sad adventure that everyone who dismounted was killed or taken +prisoner, and only one knight was able to escape. With this +victory the Turks returned to the city of Bellpuig and put their +captives in strong prisons. + +This news reached the emperor while he was in the hall waiting +for the ladies to come so they could go to the square for the +celebrations. + +The emperor, in the presence of all who were there, cried: + +"Oh, disconsolate widows, lament, tear out your hair, scratch +your faces, dress in mourning! For the flower of chivalry has +died, and it will never be recovered." + +The crying, the wailing, was so great in the palace that it soon +spread throughout the city. And the festivities turned into +mourning and lamentations. + + Then the emperor sent for Tirant to give him the sad news and +show him the letters he had received. When the chamberlain came +to Tirant's door, he heard him crying out: + +"Oh, poor me! Oh, cruel fortune! Why have you done these things +to me? To think that that excellent lady would give herself to a +black Moor, the enemy of our faith. Would that I had never seen +such a thing--the woman I loved most in the world and hoped to +serve. Oh, you wicked Widow! I wish I had never known you, for +you will be the cause of my death and destruction!" + +The emperor's chamberlain heard him talking and crying, but he +could not make out the words because the door was closed. But to +do the emperor's bidding, he called out: + +"Oh, captain! The emperor is calling you and wishes to see you." + +When the chamberlain returned to the emperor, he said: + +"Sire, your captain already knows about the terrible things that +have happened. I heard him grieving piteously!" + +The captain came to the chamber and saw the princess lying on the +ground with the doctors gathered around her. When he saw her +like this, he could not help but exclaim, "Why are you allowing +this lady to die without helping her? Even though her guilt +cannot be excused, I still pray God that she will live longer +than I." + +The doctors didn't understand him, and thought he was bewailing +the bad news. And Tirant thought everyone was crying because of +the princess. Then he turned and saw the empress who had torn +all the veils from her head. At another side he saw the emperor +sitting on the floor, still as a statue. He had the letters in +his hand, and motioned Tirant over and gave them to him. When +Tirant read them, he said: + +"It's worse than I thought." + +Then he began to console the emperor. At this moment the +princess regained consciousness. She opened her eyes, and begged +Tirant to come to her. The princess made him sit next to her and +said: + +"Oh, my last hope! If you truly love me, don't let your life and +mine be taken from this world until the day that all the dukes, +counts and marquis are recovered who have been killed or placed +in cruel prisons." + +While she was speaking, two men who had fled the camp came in, +and she could say no more, nor could Tirant answer. They told +them in detail about the destruction, and about the terrible +argument between the Duke of Macedonia and the Duke of Pera, and +how five thousand knights had been killed or taken prisoner. The +emperor, his eyes brimming with tears and barely able to speak, +began to lament: + +"Oh, unlucky captains! You, more willful than wise, have ignored +my counsel. Find comfort in a cruel prison, thinking that you +will never again see your emperor, for your actions have not been +well thought out." + +The emperor got up from his seat, and went into a chamber, tears +springing from his eyes, his head in his hands. When the +princess saw how he was grieving, she lost consciousness. The +wisest doctor of them all said: + +"I have little hope for this lady's life. She has fainted three +times and now I cannot feel her pulse." + +When Tirant heard the doctor say these words, he quickly said: + +"Oh, cruel death! Wouldn't it be better and more just for you to +come to me first, instead of letting me see her die? Even though +she has deeply hurt me, I want to keep her company." + +And with extreme grief he fell to the ground and all the weight +of his body fell on the leg which had been broken, and it broke +again, and was even worse than before. Blood came out of his +nose and his ears, and especially from his leg, and it was a +wonder that he did not lose his life. They quickly went to tell +the emperor, and he said: + +"It is not at all surprising, for of all his relatives there is +not one left who is not dead or being held prisoner. But this is +my consolation, because to get his relatives and friends out of +prison he will perform admirable feats." + +The emperor began to go to Tirant when he saw his daughter lying +half dead. And he said: + +"God help me, I don't know which of them to help first." + +But he had his daughter lifted up and placed in her bed, and then +Tirant was put in a beautiful room. They quickly removed his +clothing and treated his leg, straightening it a little. And he +was completely unaware of everything they did for him, because he +was unconscious for thirty-six hours. When he regained +consciousness, he asked who had brought him there, and Hippolytus +told him: + +"What, my lord! Don't you know what a great fright you brought +us? + +You've been unconscious for two days, and haven't had anything to +eat. Your body can't hold up that way, so please take what the +doctors order you to have." + +"I don't want anything that will bring my health back," said +Tirant. "I want only death." + +They quickly went to tell the emperor, and the princess +overheard, for she had now regained consciousness. Then Tirant +said: + +"Tell me how the princess is." + +Hippolytus answered: + +"Very well, my lord. She's recovered now." + +"I'm sure she is," said Tirant. "Her illness could not be great. +A few days ago she had things she wanted a great deal, but now I +don't think she will brag much about them. She's not the first +to do this, nor will she be the last. I know very well that +she's not made of iron. Oh, how painful it is for a man not to be +able to share his grief." + +At this moment the emperor came in, followed by all the ladies +with the empress, and they all asked him how he was. But he did +not want to answer anyone. They were all astonished that he had +not answered the greetings of the emperor or the ladies, and +continuing to show his grief he began to lament: + +"Oh, Son of God, all powerful Jesus. I am dying of love, and You +wished to die for love, to free mankind. You suffered so much +pain, lashings, wounds and torments, and my pain was the sight of +a black Moor. Outside of You, Lord, who can compare with my +love? Lord, Your Holy Mother, and Our Lady, suffered great pain +at the foot of the cross, and I stood with a cord in my hand, +with two mirrors that represented, Lord, the greatest pain that +any Christian has ever endured." + +The emperor and all the ladies were in the room, along with the +cardinal and many other clergymen, and they were all astonished +at the pious words they heard Tirant saying. + +Then Tirant lowered his head, and began to lament again, because +death was calling him. The doctors ordered many things for him, +but they did not help. Hearing of his illness, an old Jewess +came to the emperor, and very boldly said: + +"Your Majesty sees that Tirant's life is near its end, all the +doctors have given up hope, and I am the only one who can help +him. Call the soldiers together, and have them start shouting +and go into his chambers and beat their swords against their +shields. When he wakes up and sees so many armed men and hears +them shouting, and he asks what is happening, you can tell him +the Turks are at the gates of the city. Then all those thoughts +of his will disappear, and with that virtue he has and out of +fear of being shamed, he will get up." + +The emperor sent for his doctors and his wise men and explained +what the Jewess had advised. They all agreed that it would be +worth trying. + +The shouting and the uproar were so loud in the city that Tirant +heard it even before they came into his chamber. The Jewess, who +stood at the head of the bed, told him: + +"Get up, my captain. Don't be afraid of death. Here are your +enemies, the Turks, at the gates to the city, and they're coming +to take revenge on you." + +When Tirant heard the old lady saying this, he said: + +"Is it true that the Turks are so close?" + +"They're even closer than you think," said the Jewess. "Get up. +Go to the window, and you'll see what they plan to do to you." + +Tirant immediately called for his clothes, and he had his leg +bound with towels. Then he put his armor on as best he could and +mounted his horse, along with many other men. He was so ready +and willing to fight that his illness went almost entirely away. +The emperor and the doctor who were there told him to take some +restoratives, and that would make him better able to do battle. +He did everything they advised him, and then he realized that it +had all been contrived to help him get over his illness. Tirant +said: + +"Praise be to God: a woman has delivered me from the arms of +death, for another woman had killed me." + +With all the noise the soldiers raised, the princess ran to her +mother's chamber. They saw the emperor coming back with Tirant, +and all the ladies looked out the windows to see what had +happened. When Tirant was in front of the princess's window he +lifted his head and put both hands over his face. The empress +asked her daughter why Tirant had covered his face, because the +only reason that was ever done was when a love affair had gone +wrong. The princess answered that she didn't have any idea. + +After they had gone by and were at the palace door, the emperor +dismounted, and Tirant begged his leave to go to his lodging. +The emperor did everything he could to make Tirant dismount, +telling him he would be given everything he needed in the palace, +but Tirant insisted on leaving. The princess wondered why Tirant +did not want to stay in the palace despite all the emperor's +pleas, for he had wanted to many times before. She also wondered +why he had covered his face. + +When Tirant reached his lodging, he immediately went to his room +and called Lord Agramunt and Hippolytus. He begged them to arm +and provision ten galley ships. They said they would, and +leaving Tirant, they stocked the galleys. + +After Tirant had eaten, he arranged everything for his departure. +He ordered all his men to go by land to the castle of Malvei, and +said he would go by sea and they would meet there. When it was +evening and the doctors had left, they told the emperor that +Tirant was all right. When it was nearly the hour for prayer, +the princess, upset that she did not see Tirant, asked +Plaerdemavida and Lady Montblanc to go to Tirant's lodging to +find out what was wrong. As the maidens were coming, one of +Tirant's pages saw them and quickly went into Tirant's chambers +and said: + +"Cheer up, my lord, two gallant ladies are coming with a message +from the princess." + +"Go right away," said Tirant, "and tell them I am all right but +that I'm sleeping." + +The page did what he was told, for Tirant did not want to see +them. + +When the maidens returned to the palace with the reply, the +princess insisted so much that her mother and the emperor went to +Tirant's lodging, and when Tirant heard that the emperor was +coming he gave two pages instructions about what to do. When the +emperor was at the door to his chamber, the more clever of the +pages said: + +"Your Majesty should not come into the chamber because of the +captain's sickness. He has not rested for so many days that he +is catching up on all the rest he needs now. He is nearly +drenched with sweat, and it would be good for a doctor to come in +without awakening him." + +Tirant quickly got into bed, and he moistened his face with a wet +cloth and pretended to be asleep. The doctor came in, and when +he left again he told the emperor: + +"My lord, it would be very harmful for us to awaken him now. Why +doesn't Your Highness go now. Tomorrow morning you can come back +and visit him." + +The princess could not take it calmly when she was not able to +see Tirant, but she had to return with the emperor. When Tirant +knew that they had all gone, he quickly got up and had all his +clothing gathered and taken to the galley. At midnight he +secretly went on board, and he would have liked to cast anchor +then, but the ship was not ready. + +In the morning, when the sun came up, the emperor heard the +galley trumpets giving the signal for the men to go on board. +Tirant sent Lord Agramunt to the emperor as his courier, and when +he was before him he gave him the following message: + +"Your captain has gone on board one of the galleys, and has +ordered the ships to go to the port of Transimeno. He will go by +ship to the castle of Malvei while the soldiers go there by land. +I have been sent here to tell Your Highness about his decision to +leave." + +The emperor answered: + +"Knight, I am very happy to have this good news, and I give many +thanks to Divine Goodness for bringing health to our captain so +that he can leave. This is what I wanted most in the world after +the salvation of my soul." + +Lord Agramunt kissed his hand and begged his leave. Then he went +to the empress's chamber and bade her farewell, and did the same +to the princess. When the empress saw that Hippolytus would have +to go, and the princess saw that Tirant was leaving, they shed +bitter tears, especially the princess because Tirant was going +without a word to her. They quickly went to the emperor's +chamber to see if it was true that they were leaving, and the +emperor told them everything. The princess urged the emperor to +go to the water's edge so that she could go along, and the +empress did not dally. The emperor reached the sea before they +did, and he went on board the ship, begging Tirant to do +everything he could for the empire. Tirant spoke to him very +kindly, and said he would do everything he could, and the emperor +felt very relieved. + +All the soldiers advised the emperor to go back on land quickly +because a black cloud with thunder and lightning was coming their +way. So the emperor went on land. The princess was sorry that +she had not been there when her father went on the galley so that +she could have gone too and talked with Tirant. By now the sea +was so choppy that the women were not allowed on board, nor would +her father have given his permission. The princess, sighing +deeply, and with tears streaming from her eyes, had no recourse +other than to beg Plaerdemavida to go on board the galley and +find out why Tirant had left so secretly, without saying anything +to her, and why he had placed his hands over his face as he +passed by, and also why he had not wanted to stay in the +palace--which he had wanted to do so many times before. + +Plaerdemavida understood exactly what her lady wanted, and she +got on a boat with Hippolytus and some others who were with him. +The pain that the empress felt as she saw Hippolytus going on +board the galley cannot be described. When Plaerdemavida was on +board, Tirant paid no attention to her. But she insisted, and +said to him: + +"Oh, cruel knight! Who has turned your thoughts? To leave such +a virtuous lady, who has more dignity and virtue than anyone in +the world, without so much as telling her goodbye! If you want +her life to be sad and to hasten her death, don't go back on +land, and don't look at her. But if you want to restore her +bitter life, let her see your lordship for a short time." + +When she had said this she could no longer hold back her tears, +and she wrapped her cloak around herself, and moaned softly but +would say no more. Tirant wanted to reply to what Plaerdemavida +had told him, and very softly so that no one could hear him he +said: + +"Her beauty and discretion so far surpasses all the others that +only a madman could compare anyone else with her. But I saw this +lady with the black gardener, Lauseta, and she was not thinking +of me at all. First I saw them kissing, and I was offended by +the sight. Then I was even more shocked when I saw them +embracing like lovers and going into a chamber. When they came +back out Widow Repose knelt down at her feet and put a silk scarf +high under her skirt. Painful thoughts attacked my mind when I +saw how he treated her. I don't know why I didn't kill someone +right then, but the wall was in my way. But I could not take the +terrible jealousy of the black gardener out of my mind, and I cut +through his neck with my sword. Still the pain kept increasing +so much that I was beside myself, and I went into my chamber, +pretending to be terribly tired so I would be left alone. And +now I want to be in the sea; I want my body to float, unburied, +on the waves until it reaches the princess, so that she can dress +me in my shroud with her delicate hands." + +Then he would say no more. When Plaerdemavida heard what was +bothering Tirant and that the black gardener had been killed, and +no one would know who did it unless she told them, she was very +agitated. Still she forced herself to smile, and with Hippolytus +there, she said: + +"Even if you did see it, it was all a game to cheer up the +princess. Widow Repose got some costumes from the plays for the +Corpus Christi festivals, and I dressed up like our gardener." + +And she told him everything that had happened. + +Tirant was astonished by it all, and said he could not believe +it. The maiden laughed, and said: + +"My lord, the best thing would be for me to stay here while +Hippolytus goes to my room. Under my bed he will find all the +clothing of the black gardener. And if I'm not telling the +truth, you can throw me into the ocean." + +Tirant told Hippolytus to take the keys and go, and to come back +quickly because the sea was very choppy. Hippolytus did what +Tirant commanded. When he came back with the clothing, the ocean +swells were so high that Hippolytus could not board the galley, +and Plaerdemavida could not go back on land. They threw a rope +to the ship and tied the clothing of the black gardener to it so +that it could be pulled up to the galley. When Tirant saw the +mask and the clothing, he saw all the wickedness of Widow Repose. +He then swore in everyone's presence that if he could go on land +just then, he would have her burned before the emperor, or he +would do to her what he had done with the black man. Then Tirant +begged Plaerdemavida to forgive the bad thoughts he had had about +the princess, and about her, and when she was with Her Highness +to beg her forgiveness. Plaerdemavida agreed, very graciously. + +Suddenly the sea became so stormy that the people who saw the +boat Hippolytus was on, began to pray that it would not sink. It +headed back to land, and the men on it were drenched while the +boat was half-filled with water. The wind and rain were so +strong and the waves were so high that the galley's ropes broke, +and they were swept out to sea. Two of the galleys remained +there; the people on them were saved, but the ships were lost. +The three galleys that found themselves in the middle of the +tempestuous sea had their masts broken and their sails torn +apart. A gust of wind threw one of the galleys into a small +island, and its men took refuge there. Tirant's galley and the +other one were leeward. They could not make it to the island, +and Tirant's galley found itself with its rudder smashed. The +other galley was nearby, and it split apart. The men on board +fell into the bitter sea, and all of them drown. + +Tirant's galley continued toward Barbary, and the sailors lost +their bearings and did not know what seas they were in, and they +lamented loudly. Tirant heard the great cries the sailors were +making, and he saw the galley's boatswain, who was the best of +all the sailors, commending his soul to God because a +tackle-block had fallen on his head. A galley slave got up and +went to Tirant, and with a great effort he said: + +"My lord, order the men to bale out the water in the galley. +Here is your staff of authority. Hold it in your hand and run +through the galley: the boatswain is dead, and all the men see +that they are very near death, and are fainting. Do everything +you can to make them bale, because if we can get beyond the cape, +we can save our lives. It is better for us to be captives of the +Moors than to die." + +Tirant lifted his head, and said: + +"What seas are we in?" + +"My lord," said the galley-slave, as he pointed, "those are the +seas of Sicily, and these are the seas of Tunis. And because you +are a virtuous man I'm sorrier for you than I am for myself. It +is Fortune's will that we shall perish on this Barbary Coast, and +in a case like this every man should beg forgiveness of the +others." + +Tirant quickly got up, although the dreadful sea was crashing +about him so that he was barely able to stand. Then he brought +out the best clothing he had, and he dressed in it. He took a +sack containing a thousand ducats, and put a note inside that +said: "I beg whomsoever should find my body to give it an +honorable burial. I am Tirant lo Blanc from Brittany, and of +that singular lineage of Roca Salada, High Captain of the Greek +Empire." + +By now it was already past noon, and the further the galley went +the more water it took on. The cries increased and death drew +near. As they were near land the Moors saw the galley +approaching, and they realized that it would run aground just +where they wanted it, while the Christians knew that they could +not escape death or being captured. + +The galley came close to land, and all the men threw themselves +into the sea to save their lives. By this time it was nearly +dark of night. When Tirant saw the sailors jumping overboard he +decided not to leave the ship, no matter what might happen. And +by then there was no boat, rope or oar that had not been lost. +Tirant begged two sailors, faithful friends of his who had come +on the ship with him when it was stocked in Brittany, to take +care of the maiden. They took off all her clothes, and by this +time nearly all the galley was underwater. Taking up a corkwood +plank, the sailor tied it across her breasts while the other man +helped her stand up. The sea sent a wave crashing into +Plaerdemavida and the sailors, and hurled them about. The man +carrying the plank drowned in order to save her. The other +sailor helped the maiden as long as he could, and finally was +forced to abandon her. It was her good fortune to find herself +near land at night, and she could hear the loud noise the Moors +were making as they captured the Christians. The maiden's feet +touched bottom, and since she was all alone she stopped and +decided not to go ashore. Instead she went closer to land so +that she would not be in such deep water, but waves sometimes +came crashing over her head. As she walked through the water +close to shore, she moved away from the shouts, afraid that she +would be killed. For she saw that the Moors were killing each +other as each one tried to capture the most prisoners. And when +lightning flashed, she could see the reflection of swords near +the sea. She continued to walk in the water, completely naked, +following the shoreline, and whenever she heard anyone she would +duck underwater, and stay there until they were gone. + +CHAPTER X + +THE BARBARY COAST + + + +Poor Plaerdemavida, raw naked, continually called on Our Lady, +the Mother of God, imploring her to bring her some good person +who would help her. She continued to walk nearly half a league +until she came upon some fishing boats. She went into a hut and +found two sheepskins, and she tied them together with a thin +string and put them on, one in front and one in back, and in this +way she found some protection from the cold. Then she lay down +to sleep a little while, for she was completely fatigued by her +travails in the ocean. + +When she awoke, finding herself alone, she began to weep and +lament, tears streaming from her eyes, which did harm to her eyes +and her voice, making her so hoarse that she could barely speak. +Then, with timorous steps, she began to search out the roads of +cruel fortune. Dawn began to break and she heard a Moor coming +along, singing. She hid near the road so that he would not see +her, and when he had passed she saw his pure white beard and +thought that perhaps this old Moor would give her counsel. So +she approached the old Moor and told him all about her +misfortune. The Moor was moved to compassion when he saw the +maiden who was young and nice looking, and he said to her: + +"Maiden, I want you to know that long ago I was a captive of +Christians in Spain, in a place called Cadiz. The lady who held +me captive was pleased with the services I performed for her. It +happened that she had a son whose enemies came to kill him. And +if it had not been for me, they would have done it, because I +lifted my lady's son from the ground, and with a sword in my hand +I wounded two of them and made the others flee. Because of this, +my lady gave me liberty. She provided me with new clothing, and +gave me money for my journey, and as I wished, she had me taken +to Granada. And because of the kindness that lady showed me, you +will have a place at my side. I have a daughter who is widowed, +and she will take you in with all the tenderness of a sister." + +Plaerdemavida immediately knelt on the ground and gave him many +thanks. The Moor removed his cloak and gave it to Plaerdemavida, +and the two of them went to a place near Tunis, called Rafal. + +When the Moor's daughter saw the maiden, so young and helpless, +she felt great compassion. Her father begged her to be the best +companion to her that she could, and he told her: + +"I want you to know, my daughter, that this girl is the daughter +of that lady who gave me my freedom, and I want to repay my debt +with this maiden." + +Because of the great love she had for him, his daughter took in +the poor maiden with deep affection. She gave her a blouse and a +Moorish garment with a head-dress. And anyone seeing her would +think she was Moorish. + +Let us return now to Tirant who, shortly after Plaerdemavida was +swept overboard with the two sailors in whose care Tirant had +placed her, stayed with a sailor until the galley was completely +filled with water and was going down. Then Tirant decided to +jump into the sea with the sailor, and with the sailor's help he +would be able to reach shore. Nevertheless, Tirant never thought +he would be able to avoid death, because when the Moors learned +that he was Tirant, the captain of the Greeks, who had done so +much damage to the Turks, they would not leave him alive for all +the treasure in the world. But with the aid of Divine Providence +and the sailor, they made it to shore, for it was now night, and +completely dark. Crawling quietly on their hands and knees, they +drew away from the sounds of the Moors. When they had gone some +distance, they no longer heard any people, and they went inland, +away from the sea, and they came upon a vineyard that at that +time was full of grapes. The sailor said: + +"My lord, for God's sake, let's stop here in this delicious +vineyard, and we can take a look at the land, and tomorrow we can +stay here all day long. Then tomorrow night, we can go wherever +your lordship commands, for I will not leave you in death or in +life." + +Tirant gave in to his entreaties. When their stomachs were full +of grapes they saw a cave and went inside to sleep, naked as they +were. When they awoke they felt very cold. They got up, and to +get warm they carried rocks from one place to another. When the +sun came out, Tirant's legs ached terribly. + +It happened then that the King of Tremicen was sending as his +ambassador to the King of Tunis his best and most trusted knight. +He was the captain-general of all his land, and everyone called +him the commander of commanders. This ambassador had been there +more than three months, and he and his men had been given lodging +in a place that was lovely and abundant with animals to hunt. It +so happened that that morning he went out for sport with falcons +and greyhounds. While hunting, they pursued a hare which was +very tired of running after being chased by dogs and falcons, and +since it could find no other place to run, it went inside the +cave where Tirant was. One of the hunters saw it go in, and he +dismounted at the entrance to the cave and saw Tirant stretched +out on the ground inside, with no desire to budge. The sailor +helped him catch the hare. Then the hunter went directly out to +the captain, and told him: + +"Sir, come with me. Inside a small cave there is a man whose +body must be the most perfect nature has every formed. But, +unless my eyes deceive me, he has been hurt badly, and he seems +more dead than alive." + +The ambassador went toward the cave, When the sailor saw so many +men coming, he left Tirant without saying a word, and fled very +quietly, and the Moors did not see him. + +When the ambassador reached the cave, he stood looking at Tirant +for a long while, and feeling pity for him, he said: + +"By our holy prophet, Mohammed, who has plucked you from such +grave danger and has brought you into my hands: since nature has +formed your body with such singularity, I am sure that He has +given you many virtues. I have three sons, and you will be the +fourth." He called his second son and told him: "Look on this +man as your brother." Then he said to Tirant: "If you want to +please me, tell me what brought you here. At the moment I am +engaged in an undertaking for my eldest son. They are trying to +take his betrothed from him, and I will not allow it, for she is +a very virtuous maiden, and the daughter of King Tremicen. If +Mohammed gives me success in this dangerous undertaking, do not +worry about your loss, no matter how great it may be, for I will +make you wealthy as soon as I return to my home." + +Tirant stood and replied: + +"Your Lordship, I am a gentleman, although I am not a prince or +lord. As a young man I went to seek my fortune in the Levant. +There I heard and believed the false and diabolical words of a +widow. She had me enter an orchard at mid-day, and there she +made me witness the most evil sight I would ever behold. I felt +such unbearable suffering that with my own hands I took vengeance +on the greatest enemy of my life. Then I boarded a ship and went +to the Holy Land of Jerusalem to make amends for my sins. +Sailing on a galley from there, you can see my misfortune. Saved +by Divine Mercy from the stormy sea, I now beg your lordship's +help." + +The ambassador said: + +"Take comfort. I have a great deal of land and am very wealthy. +As soon as we get to my home, you will have everything you wish." + +His son then took off his jubbah and gave it to him. And they +had him sit behind the son on the horse, and took him to their +village, where he was dressed in fine clothing of the Moorish +style. When Tirant found himself dressed so finely, and he had +heard the kind words of the commander, he felt very comforted. +They wanted to travel by night, and the sky was blue and the moon +full and it lit up everything very clearly; so when the wind died +down they started off. But the first step Tirant took as he left +the house, he fell flat on the ground, his arms outstretched. +Then all the Moors said: + +"This is a very bad sign. Since this Christian has fallen with +his arms out to the sides, his life will not last long." + +Tirant got up quickly, and hearing what the Moors were saying, he +said: + +"Your interpretation of this is wrong. I am called Blanc or +White. + +And the moon is clear, white and beautiful at this moment when I +fell. And the moon was straight over my head and arms, and it +was pointing to the road that I have to take, while my hands were +open and stretching out to the moon. And this shows that I, with +Divine Power, must conquer all of Barbary." + +Then all the Moors burst out laughing, and they took it as a joke +and proceeded on their way, and finally they came to a castle. +Now the ambassador's son (the one betrothed to the King of +Tremicen's daughter) was away; hearing that his father had sent +him a very good Christian prisoner, he ordered them to put Tirant +in chains. + +After two months the ambassador received the reply from the King +of Tunis and returned to the King of Tremicen whom he found +disconsolate. It happened that King Escariano's land was on the +border of the kingdom of Tremicen, and he wanted the King of +Tremicen to give him his daughter as a wife along with all his +wealth, and after his death he wanted his kingdom. King +Escariano was a very strong figure: He was completely black, and +a giant compared to other men. A very powerful king, he had +many men and a great deal of wealth. King Tremicen was weak in +spirit, and he had sent word to King Escariano that his daughter +was already betrothed to the son of his head commander. +Furthermore, she was with child, and he felt that he would not +want to raise another man's child in his house. However, if he +was doing this only for his treasure, he was prepared to divide +that with him if he would leave him and his sons in peace. +Finally, they could not come to an agreement, and King Escariano +had marched against him with all his forces: fifty-five thousand +strong, on horseback and on foot. + +Now this King of Tremicen had only about twenty thousand +warriors. Knowing that the other king was near and was coming +still closer, he took up position in the mountains and waited for +him. King Escariano came to a river, and as they forded it he +lost many men. But once across, they went up the mountains and +found the King of Tremicen at the highest part, and they besieged +him in a beautiful valley. In this valley were three castles +with large villas and very strong fortresses. This was where the +King of Tremicen lived with his wife and sons. + +Two castles were on one side of the river, and one was on the +other side, linked together by a huge stone bridge. King +Escariano attacked one castle repeatedly, and finally took it. +The King of Tremicen was in another castle that was much +stronger, but he felt that all was lost. The commander had fled +from the battle and came to his own castle where Tirant was. +There he told his son: + +"You would be better off dying than to see your beloved who is of +royal blood taken from you. Go to your lord and serve him as a +good knight." + +The son agreed, and rode off to the castle where he heard and saw +the battle. Then, very happily, he and fifteen of his horsemen, +went into the castle where the king was. + +The commander of commanders had fled out of fear, and he went +into the castle where Tirant was being held. After he had +dismounted, he asked his son about the Christian prisoner. When +he was told that Tirant was in a prison cell and being carefully +guarded, the commander became very angry. He remembered what +Tirant had said as he left and fell on the ground: that he would +conquer all of Barbary. He had thought about those words many +times, and he also considered that since Tirant was a Christian +he must be skillful at arms. He went in to see him. Realizing +that Tirant had more than enough reason to be angry with him, he +smiled and said: + +"I beg you, valiant Christian, not to be angry if my son has +treated you badly. I swear to you by the prophet Mohammed that +it was not done by my command or consent. Instead, it was my +intention to look on you as a son. I am hopeful that you will be +able to help me. And don't be surprised if I make a request of +you on behalf of my lord, even though you are a fugitive from +battle. From your scars, I am sure that you, Christian, must +know a great deal about weapons, and you must have been in many +wars." + +Tirant replied: + +"I won't hide my past from you. In Spain I practiced the noble +tradition of arms, and I can advise you and help you as much as +anyone, and I will be one of the first to go into combat. +Forgive me for praising myself, but my works will be their own +best witness. If this king has your king under siege you should +not be surprised, for that is the way with kings. If you are +afraid that the bombards will demolish the castle, I will destroy +every one they have." + +The commander was very pleased with what Tirant told him, and +helped him get ready to leave. He insisted that Tirant take +whatever materials he needed to destroy the bombards, and he also +gave Tirant the best horse he had, and weapons, and plenty of +money. + +Tirant bought some very old whale bile, and then he took +quicksilver, saltpeter, Roman sulfate and other materials, and +mixed them together to make an unguent, and he put it in a box. +Then they left the castle as secretly as they could, crossed the +river, and at night took refuge in the other castle. Now this +castle was about one fourth a league from the one where the king +was. When Tirant reconnoitered the land, he saw a stone bridge +going across the river, and the enemy was positioned in the +middle of the large orchard, so that no one dared cross over the +bridge for fear of falling into the hands of the enemy. Then +Tirant told the commander to give him a Moor who would not be +recognized and who could be trusted, and to deliver two hundred +sheep to the Moor, and they were brought immediately. Tirant +then dressed in a shepherd's cloak, as though he were the Moor's +servant. + +King Escariano knew that none of his adversaries could hurt him, +and he had thirty-seven bombards, large and small, firing +continually, three times a day; and they had already knocked down +half the castle. + +The Moor and Tirant went up a good league toward the bridge with +their sheep, and they came right into the encampment. They asked +a great deal more for each sheep than it was worth so that they +would not sell them quickly. They stayed there three days, +leading the sheep close to the bombards. Tirant, under the +pretext that he was simply looking, went near them, and spreading +some of the unguent he had prepared over his hand, he put it on +every one of the bombards. The unguent was made up of such +ingredients that whatever metal it came into contact with would, +in the space of three hours, turn to rust. So as soon as it was +fired, any bombard or crossbow would break apart. + +The following day, when they fired on the castle, all the +bombards broke apart, and not one of them was left intact. King +Escariano was very surprised at this, and he took it as a bad +sign. Tirant and the Moor went back to the castle where the +commander was. + +Then Tirant ordered them to destroy one of the arches on the +bridge, and there they put up a wooden drawbridge, with iron +chains to raise and lower it. When that was done huge beams were +placed on that part of the bridge and there they put up a +palisade. When that was ready, Tirant armed himself well and +mounted a good steed, and with a good lance in his hand he rode +right into the enemy's camp, and he found five Moors enjoying the +sun. Tirant rode toward them. The Moors were unconcerned, +seeing that he was coming alone, and they thought it was someone +from their own camp. And Tirant killed all five of them with his +lance. There was a great outcry, and the entire camp rushed into +action: they armed themselves and mounted their horses. Tirant +concerned himself only with killing anyone in his path. When he +saw that the men were armed and on horseback, and that they were +coming against him, he retreated to the palisade while using his +weapons continuously. Once he was in the palisade, he quickly +dismounted, and the Moors came up to him. The men in the castle +came down to help Tirant, and there was a great skirmish where +many men died. The men from the enemy camp pressed on so +forcefully that Tirant had to retreat, and they lifted the +drawbridge for fear of the Moors. Then the Moors broke apart the +palisade, and Tirant had it built again during the night. And +so, every day, at all hours, they fought and many men from both +sides were dying continually. + +One day Tirant said to the commander: + +"My lord, would you like me to rescue your king from the castle +and bring him here to you, or to some other place where he will +be safe?" + +The commander answered: + +"If you could do that for me, and bring my Moorish maiden and her +betrothed to me, I would make you the lord of everything I own. +And even if you forgot about the king, that would not matter a +great deal to me." + +"Then, my lord," said Tirant, "have two horses prepared, and +bring a page whose face is well known. Have them go under that +pine tree a half league from here with someone who can guide +them." + +It was quickly done. When day broke bright and clear, Tirant +mounted his horse and with one hundred armed men he rode out of +their stockade. + +The other camp saw them and rode toward them. The battle between +the two forces was fierce, and that day almost no one was left +behind in the enemy camp. Then Tirant said to the commander: + +"My lord, you stay here and show your face while I go where I +have to." + +He dug in his spurs and galloped to where the page was waiting +for him. When he got there his horse was spent. He dismounted, +gave it to the Moor, and took the fresh one that he had. Then he +and the page left, going through the orchard as cautiously as +they could so that no one would see them. And he made the page +go first because the people in the castle did not know Tirant. +Finally they came so close that the betrothed recognized the +page, his younger brother, and told the men not to fire. When +they were inside the castle the king came out to the hall to see +him and to pay him honor. + +"My lord," said Tirant, "you and your daughter mount our horses +immediately. I'll take you to safety." + +The king took the page's horse, and had the betrothed climb on +its back; Tirant had the maiden climb on the back of his own +horse. Then they raced out of the castle, galloping all the way, +until they were a league from camp. When night fell on them, +they rode more quickly. The king knew the terrain very well, and +he went directly toward his strongest city: Tremicen. + +When they reached the city of Tremicen there was great rejoicing +because the people had recovered their king. The king had a fine +room arranged for Tirant where he was well served. While he +stayed there the king presented him with many gifts, and all the +Moorish knights and others came to see him, and everyone was +impressed with his agreeable manner. + +One day Tirant came to the palace to ask the king's permission to +go back to his lord, the commander, because he had given his word +that he would return. The king answered: + +"Virtuous Christian, do not leave me, I beg you. I've sent for +your lord, the commander, and he will be here in ten days. Help +me prepare the city, and I promise to ransom you and give you +your freedom." + +Tirant kissed the king's hands and feet, and said: + +"My lord, I give you my word as a Christian that I will not leave +you until I have killed King Escariano, or taken him prisoner, or +until I've made him flee from your kingdom." + +The king's daughter, seeing the beautiful disposition of Tirant +and the virtuous acts he had done for the king, her father, and +for her, and the praises that were bestowed upon him in +everyone's presence, wished that God would do her the favor of +having her betrothed die so that she could take Tirant for her +husband. + +After a few days had gone by, the commander of commanders came, +and he was very happy when he learned that his son, and the king +and his daughter, were out of that very grave danger. After +bowing to the king, he praised Tirant highly. The king spoke to +the commander, asking him to give Tirant his freedom. When it +was done, Tirant kissed the king's hands and feet, and said: + +"Sir, I swear to you as a Christian that I will not leave Your +Grace until I have killed King Escariano or taken him prisoner, +or made him leave all your lands." + +The king and the others were very content. + +When King Escariano learned that the King of Tremicen had +escaped, his surprise turned to anger, and he set out to conquer +the entire kingdom. And with his great power there were no +cities, villas or castles that did not fall to him. + +Hearing of this, the King of Tremicen often called his council +together, and they reenforced the city, and gathered enough food +to last them five years. One day, during the council, Tirant +said to the king: + +"Sir, do this for me: let me go as an ambassador to see King +Escariano, and I'll find out what sort of situation his men are +in, and if we can somehow rout them." + +They all praised his advice, but most of the council were afraid +he would cross over to the enemy camp, as many others had done. + +Tirant got things ready, and with many men he went directly to +King Escariano. When he was in the king's presence, he explained +his mission: + +"The King of Tremicen has sent me here because on several +occasions he has heard people speak very highly of you, and he is +certain that you are one of the wisest kings in the world. For +that reason he is very astonished, and he wonders what has moved +you to take up arms against him." + +The king immediately replied: + +"I want your lord to know that I have attacked him for a just +reason. For no one, not your lord or anyone else, is unaware +that long ago a marriage pact was drawn up between his daughter +and me, signed and with the marriage date agreed upon. And now +your king has treated the matter lightly, and tried to shame me. +I have told you this so you will know that this maiden, whom I +love and adore, is the cause for this war. And it will end with +her and for no other reason. This is my reply to you." + +And he turned his back, wanting to hear no more from Tirant. So +Tirant left and went back to his lord, the King of Tremicen, and +told him of their entire conversation. Then the king asked +Tirant if the enemy had many men. + +"In faith," said Tirant, "there are many, and more come to their +aid every day. I wasn't able to see them all, but I would say +more than eighty thousand." + +They held council, and decided that Tirant and the commander +would take ten thousand soldiers to another city called Asinac. +Because if that city fell, the entire kingdom would be lost. So +Tirant went there and fortified that city well. + +The king stayed on in the city of Tremicen which was well +supplied with everything he needed. And in this way they waited +for the enemy to come. + +It happened one day that a Jew who lived in the city of Tremicen, +and was the wealthiest man in the city, left secretly and went to +King Escariano. Very cunningly he told him: + +"My lord, why are you plowing the sand? Everything you are doing +is useless unless you capture King Tremicen first. Once he has +fallen you will have power over the entire kingdom in two days. +You would not have to travel the dangerous roads in fear; instead +you and your men would be completely safe. If your lordship will +reach an agreement with me I will give you a victory over your +enemies, and I will also put the king and his daughter in your +hands." + +When King Escariano heard him say that, he took it as a joke, and +he answered: + +"How could you possibly do all that? But I'll tell you this: If +you do arrange it, I give you my word as king to make you the +most powerful man in my kingdom. But I can't believe that you +could do what you said. It would be better for you to go back: +instead of hurting them, you might bring me harm." + +The Jew quickly replied: + +"If Your Majesty will closely examine what I say, you'll +understand that it's not a dream, but an infallible plan. If it +will make you feel more secure, I will put my three sons in your +power, and if I fail you are free to put them to a horrible +death. I will do this for Your Majesty under the following +conditions: I have a daughter, and I want her to have an +honorable marriage (and I will give twelve thousand ducats as her +dowry) with a Jew who sells oil in your camp. If you will +arrange this for me, I promise to have you gain entry into the +city of Tremicen. In my house there's a door that's next to the +wall of the city, and it's under my care. I can put one hundred +thousand soldiers into the city through there." + +So they agreed, and the king arranged with the Jew that they +would be in front of the city of Tremicen on the seventeenth of +the month, and at midnight they would go inside under the cover +of darkness. + +At the proper time the king and all his captains were in front of +the city of Tremicen, and the Jew did not forget the promise that +was made concerning his daughter's marriage. He carefully opened +the door of the Jewry, and the king rushed in with all his men. +They went to the palace and fought, and finally they were able to +get inside. They killed the King of Tremicen, his sons, and all +the others. They took no prisoners except for the genteel lady. +Then they attacked the castle, but they were not able to take it. +King Escariano did not feel very safe there, so he left most of +his men inside the city to guard it, while he left with the King +of Tremicen's daughter who was crying over the deaths of her +father, her brothers, and her betrothed. Then he put her in an +impregnable castle. + +The cruel news reached the commander and Tirant, and the Moors +cried bitterly. They felt that they were lost, and they began to +say that they should surrender to King Escariano. + +Tirant told the commander: + +"Sir, that is not the thing to do. You have ten thousand +soldiers here, and you still have some castles and towns under +your command. We can defend ourselves well here." + +The commander agreed with Tirant's advice, but he still mourned +the death of his king, and that of his sons even more. They +wondered how the great destruction had happened, with the city +being so well guarded. And they learned the truth from a man who +had had his house looted, seven of his sons killed, while his +wife and other children were being held under guard. He told +them how the Jew had betrayed the city, and how King Escariano +had then ordered all the Jew's possessions taken. Then this +Jewish traitor was placed in prison and tied up. They removed +all his clothing, cudgeled him, poured honey over him, and the +next day had him quartered and left for the dogs to eat. For the +king had said: Who can protect himself from a traitor? The +treachery he had committed to his own lord, he could just as well +do to him and to the entire city if need be. + +Tirant then learned that King Escariano had taken the King of +Tremicen's daughter to the very strong castle of Mont Tuber. The +new queen was now being held in this castle with seventy men to +guard her. + +On a day following these cruel events, Tirant went to the city +gate, worn with care. He was thinking about what had happened to +his princess, and wondering what danger had befallen +Plaerdemavida, and about how all his relatives were captives of +the Moors. He did not know whether to leave, or even if the +Moors would allow him to go. While he was thinking of all this, +a Christian captive from Albania came out the gate, crying and +lamenting because his master had cruelly whipped him, and was +making him dig in an orchard of his near the city. Tirant knew +the captive because he had talked to him several times, and +considered him a discreet man. He felt pity for him, and +thinking that there was no one else he could trust, he called the +slave over, and said to him: + +"If you will do something for me, you will be given your freedom +to leave, or to stay here if you wish. However, you will have to +let yourself be whipped in our camp with a strap that will not +hurt you very much, and you will have to have your ears cut a +little. With your help, we'll be able to take the castle of Mont +Tuber where the king is. If it turns out as I think it will, +you'll be able to become a great lord. And if it does not turn +out well, I will still make sure you are given your liberty, and +that you have a good life." + +The Christian captive answered: + +"I want very much to have my freedom again, so I'll do what +you're asking." + +Tirant thanked him, and said: + +"I give you my word as a knight that I will not eat until you +have your freedom." + +Tirant immediately left the captive and went to talk to the +commander. With the money he had, he ransomed the captive for +one hundred ducats. + +One day it happened that the king sent two men who told Tirant's +forces that if they would come to terms with him he would be very +generous to them. The commander and Tirant told them that they +were not interested in any proposition; instead they wanted to +avenge the deaths of the King of Tremicen and his sons. After +they had this discussion, Tirant had a meal brought out for them +while the Albanian prepared to carry out the plan they had made. + +When the meal was over the Albanian went over to where the silver +was, and stole a large, gilded urn made of silver. The guard +began to shout so that Tirant, as he was talking with the men +from the town, asked what all the uproar was about. Then +everyone saw the Albanian running with many men behind him, and +they saw them catch him and take him to the captain. The guard +had hold of him by the hair, and he said: + +"My lord, I would like you to pass judgment on this thief. He +stole this silver urn." + +Tirant wanted the commander to speak first, and he said: + +"My sentence is for him to be hanged." + +Tirant then said: + +"Commander, this is no time for us to be killing people unless +it's in battle. I beg you to change the sentence, and have him +whipped and his ears cut." + +So they did what he said in the presence of the men from the +town. After they cut his ears they tied the urn to his neck and +whipped him around the camp. The third time around, when he was +in front of the town, he pulled away violently, untied his hands +and began running toward the town. + +The guard who was running after him fell down purposefully so +that the Albanian had time to go inside the town. The men on the +walls defended him with their crossbows so that no one could +catch him. The townspeople took him up to the castle where the +king was, and when they saw him naked and whipped, with his ears +cut and bleeding, they felt sorry for him. They gave him a shirt +and other clothes, and the king had so much pity on him that he +let him keep the urn, and received him into his household. + +Tirant pretended to be very angry at the Albanian's escape. He +told the men there to ask the king to give the man back, and he +said that if he would not do it, that he would cut off the hands +and feet, nose and ears of every man they caught, and then he +would kill them. The king answered that in no way would he give +him back, and that if he could catch Tirant he would do worse to +him than they had done to the captive. Tirant would listen to no +more, and he left with all his men for the city they had come +from. The Albanian then told King Escariano: + +"When I think of the cruel things they've done to me, and the +infamy that could come to me if it becomes known, my heart cries +out for revenge on that treacherous, mad captain who was starving +us to death. If I committed a crime it was because I needed the +money. But, my lord, if Your Excellency will give me permission +to come and go, I will bring you news every day about what your +enemies are doing, what they are planning and where they go. +That way Your Highness can do the same thing to them that you did +to that famous and illustrious King of Tremicen." + +The king said: + +"I will agree to that: You can come and go whenever you like." + +He ordered all the guards to let him pass by at will. The king +asked some of his knights for advice concerning this matter, and +they all told him: + +"My lord, this man has been hurt very badly by his own people, +and he'll do anything to bring about their total destruction. +But still, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on him." + +The Albanian left the castle by a back door so that no one would +see him, and went directly to Tirant and told him everything that +was said. Tirant gave him seven doubloons, three and one half +reals, and some loose change, a sword and a basket of peaches, +because there were none in that town since Tirant had had all the +trees cut down to level the orchard around the villa. And Tirant +told him: + +"Tell the king, in secret so that he'll be more inclined to +believe you, that I am having a great deal of bread kneaded +because I plan to be there in three or four days." + +The Albanian left Tirant, and when he was in the castle, King +Escariano welcomed him. The Albanian gave the peaches to the +queen, and the king was more pleased with them than if he had +given her a villa, because he knew that the queen liked them, and +he had not seen her laugh or smile since she had been with him. +After the Albanian had given her the gift he showed the king the +money he had, and said to him: + +"My lord, look at this money that I took from one of the men in +the enemy camp. If I go there often I can bring many things, +because a relative of mine is in the service of this wicked +captain, and he secretly tells me everything he does. My lord, +he told me that he is having a great deal of bread made and a +large supply of food stored up in order to come here. You have +time to get ready to attack and defeat him." + +The Albanian's words pleased the king a great deal, and he said: + +"Now I will see if your relative told you the truth." + +On the third day Tirant came and stayed in the same place that he +had the other times. The king placed great faith in the +Albanian's words and he decided to appoint him as one of the main +guards of the castle. As companions, he gave him six very loyal +men who had been in his service a long time. When it was this +Albanian's turn to stand guard, he bought some sweetmeats and +invited all the men who were with him to eat and drink. And he +stood guard-duty every five days. + +Tirant returned after having been away for three days, and they +continually discussed peace with the king, but Tirant drew out +finalizing a treaty as long as he could. This lasted two months, +and Tirant was always coming and going, and he seldom attacked +anyone. The king often made the Albanian go to Tirant's camp so +that he would bring back fruits and sweet-meats for the queen. +One day he brought a mule loaded with wine, and a bloody sword. +When he was before the king he said to him: + +"My lord, I learned that the captain was having a great deal of +wine brought to the city, and when I heard of it I went out to +the road. + +There, one muleteer fell behind the others. I hit him in the +side with a stone, and he fell to the ground. Then I struck him +so many times that I left him for dead. I took the sword and the +mule from him, and it was loaded with the finest wine I have seen +in many days. So I beg you, my lord, please give me permission +to set up a tavern here, and when this supply has run out, I will +steal or buy more, and I'll do all the harm, evil and dishonor to +them that I can." + +The king was well pleased, and many Moors came to drink every +day. And every night that the Moor stood guard he took a large +cask of wine up to the tower, and gave his companions a good deal +to drink, and all the Moors were very happy to have him there. + +Tirant talked with King Escariano and his men many times, going +back and forth often with an escort of soldiers. When he saw +with his own eyes how much King Escariano trusted the Albanian, +Tirant had a round container made of iron and put some holes in +it. When the night for the treachery arrived, and it was the +Albanian's turn to stand watch, the Albanian put hot coals inside +the container. The wind came in through the holes which were so +small that the fire did not go out. Then he wrapped the +container in a piece of leather and held it to his chest. When +they were in the tower, standing guard, and his companions began +drinking, the Albanian hid the container in a hole so that the +fire would not go out. They had some large drums, and they +stayed there drinking and beating them until it was nearly +midnight. There were special liqueurs in the wine to bring on +sleep. And with the pleasure of drink the guards slept so +soundly that they never awoke. When the Albanian saw that the +counter-round had gone by and the guards were sleeping, he took +out the fire-box, and hid its light with his cape. Then he lit a +straw, and put it in a niche in the wall that faced the camp. He +did this three times. Tirant soon saw this signal which they had +planned in advance, and he quickly left the camp with only a few +men. All the other men stayed behind, ready and armed, waiting +to be called, and the commander stayed with them as their +captain. Because of all the water there, Tirant and his men had +to pass near a tall tower, but the Albanian was making a great +deal of noise with the drums, and when Tirant passed close to the +tower they were not heard. When they were near and the guards +called out, "All clear, all clear," they quickly ran ten or +twelve steps, and when the guards were silent, they stopped. +They kept this up until they had passed by the first tower and +reached the other tower. Tirant made his men stop, and he went +to the foot of the tower alone and found a cord that the Albanian +had thrown down. He had tied the other end to his leg in case he +fell asleep, so that when the cord was pulled he would wake up. +But he never stopped beating on the drums, and when he felt the +cord moving he quickly went near the tower and pulled up a rope +ladder that he tied very tightly to the wall, and then he tied +another. Tirant climbed the first one, and when he saw the +guards sleeping he said to the Albanians: + +"What shall we do with these men?" + +"My lord," he answered, "leave them there. They're in no +condition to do any harm." + +However, Tirant wanted to see for himself, and he found the six +of them with their heads cut off, covered with blood. When he +saw this he had his men come up, and he put one of them in charge +of the drums. There were one hundred sixty men, and they spread +out over the tower. Then, with the Albanian going first, they +went down to the warden's chamber. When the warden saw all these +men coming he got up, completely naked, took a sword in his hand +and tried to defend himself. Tirant swung an axe down on his +head and split it in half, and his brains fell out onto the +ground. His wife began to scream, and the Albanian, who was +nearest did the same thing to her that Tirant had done to her +husband. Afterward they went through the castle, and shot the +bolts on the doors to the chambers, and the noise of the drums +was so loud that no one heard a sound. + +They went up to the towers and the guards there thought they were +the watch, and said nothing to them. And when they came near +they threw them off the castle through the merlons. One of them +fell onto the barbican and into the moat, and was saved. Soon he +got up and went shouting through the villa and everyone woke up. +The news spread through the villa, but in the castle they still +did not know, except for one man who was fishing. He heard the +noise and opened the windows of his chamber, and he heard many +people inside the castle. Then he began to cry out, and his +shouts were heard by those in the castle, but when they tried to +leave their chambers they found the doors bolted. The king, who +had been sleeping in the main tower, barricaded himself there +with the queen and a chamber-maid. + +When day broke they put many flags on the castle towers, and held +great celebrations. All the outsiders in the villa fled. When +the commander saw that the castle had been taken and saw the +others fleeing, he attacked them and took many prisoners. When +he returned, they stationed many men in the villa and others on +the barbicans and in the orchards near the villa. When the +commander went up to the castle he saw that none of his men had +been killed or wounded, and he was the most astonished man in the +world: he thought Tirant must be more angel than human, because +nothing that he tried turned out to be impossible. + +They searched the entire castle and found it full of many kinds +of food: millet and wheat, sorghum and panic-grass--enough to +last seven years, with a sparkling spring of water that came out +of a rock. That night the king took pity on the queen, and +calling down from a window in the tower, he said: + +"Which of you is the knight I can surrender to?" + +"Sir," said Tirant, "here is the commander, and a very virtuous +knight." + +The king realized that this was the ambassador he had talked with +so many times, and he said to him: + +"Since you have been sent to me as an ambassador, give me your +pledge of safety so that I can do my duty as a knight and a +crowned king." + +Tirant answered: + +"I will guarantee your safety for a month after you surrender to +me. I give you my word." + +The king felt as good about that as if he had been given absolute +freedom. He came down from the tower, opened the door, and stood +in the entryway, his sword in his hand. And he said: + +"Have them bring me that little child." (This was a boy of no +more than five years of age, the son of a woman who baked bread.) + +When the boy was near him, he knighted the boy and kissed him on +the mouth. Then, handing his sword to the boy, he placed himself +in his power. + +The commander then seized the king and took him to a room where +he had him put in chains. This made Tirant very angry, but he +said nothing so that he would not offend the commander. When the +king was in chains, they went into the main tower where they +found the queen in tears. + +Tirant had one hundred thousand doubloons sent to Tunis to the +commander's cousin who was magistrate of the king of that region. +He begged him to release Lord Agramunt and all the others who +were on his galley. The governor took them all out of captivity +and sent them to Tirant. When they were taken on land they lost +all hope of ever being freed--until they saw their captain. And +don't think they felt only a small mount of relief when they saw +him. Tirant immediately asked his cousin, Lord Agramunt, if he +had seen Plaerdemavida. He answered: + +"Since that day we lost sight of the galley, I never heard +anything about her again. I'm afraid she died in the stormy +sea." + +It happened one day that the queen called Tirant to her chamber. +Not knowing what she might want, Tirant went quickly. When he +was there, the queen smiled and had him sit at her side. Then +she said softly: + +"My eyes have found their lost light, and when I raise my head I +see you as lord of the world, for heaven and earth and all things +that God has created obey you. That night when you brought us +out of the terrible prison, I found such pleasure in your +virtuous appearance, so handsomely formed, that I detested my +betrothed and could not continue to look at him. + +I beg you, sir, do me the honor of ruling this land at my side." + +Tirant was astonished, and he immediately replied: + +"It fills me with great love to serve you, but I must confess my +sin: I have been in love with a maiden of high esteem for a long +while, as she has been with me. If I should betray her love, it +would be worse than death to me. And there is one more reason +that I must not forget: you are a Moor and I am a Christian, and +our marriage would not be lawful." + +With tears in her eyes, the queen replied: + +"You say that I am a Moor and you are a Christian, and that such +a marriage is impossible. Let me tell you how it can be done: +you can easily become a Moor, and then the marriage can take +place. As for the maiden you say you are in love with, I believe +that is simply an excuse, and the real reason is that I do not +please you." + +Tirant reflected for a moment, and he saw a way by which +Christianity would be exalted. He decided to show the queen +great love so that she would decide to become a Christian. And +smiling, he said: + +"My reason obliges me to keep the faith I have sworn. But I beg +of you, my lady, to receive baptism in the holy and true +Christian faith, and with my help you will regain your kingdom. +And for a husband I will give you a young and virtuous crowned +king. Although I cannot take you as a wife, since I already have +one, you would always be my friend." + +The queen dried her tears and sighed: + +"Your wise words have led me to this decision: give me baptism +quickly, for you are the flower of all those who are baptized." + +When Tirant saw that the queen wanted to become a Christian, he +quickly had a gold basin and a pitcher brought from the booty +they had taken from King Escariano. Tirant had the queen's head +uncovered, letting her hair fall loose, and it was so beautiful +that her face seemed more angelic than human. Tirant had her +kneel down, and he poured water over her head from the pitcher, +and said: + +"Maragdina, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and +the Holy Spirit." + +Then she declared herself to be a good Christian, and there, in +the presence of everyone, four ladies who served the queen +received holy baptism. And they led very saintly lives. + +When King Escariano heard that the queen had become a Christian, +he sent for Tirant and told him: + +"I tell you, Captain, since I see that my lady, the queen, has +become a Christian, I want to follow her virtuous works. So I +beg you to give me holy baptism, and to be my brother in arms for +as long as we live, being friends of our friends and enemies of +our enemies." + +After the queen had been baptized, and the king had been +instructed about Christianity, Tirant took the king out of prison +and had him go down to the city. There was a lovely square in +that villa, and Tirant had ordered them to make a pretty cenotaph +there, nicely decorated with brocade and satin cloths. The king +sat on a beautiful chair covered with brocade on the cenotaph, +and a large silver bowl filled with water was placed at one end +of the cenotaph. Tirant had a very wide ladder constructed so +that everyone who wanted to be baptized could go up and down. + +King Escariano's captains and all his men, peacefully and +unarmed, left the camp on foot because they were very near the +villa. When they came to the entrance, the captains and knights +went in first, then the others followed them. When they were in +the square before the king's cenotaph, they all bowed deeply to +him, and asked what his lordship wanted of them. With a strong +voice he said: + +"My faithful vassals, relatives and brothers: Divine Mercy has +had pity on me and on all of you--if you wish it--for He has +enlightened my soul and my understanding. I have received many +favors from this captain: First, he has taken me out of prison +and given me freedom. Second, he has instructed me about the +holy Catholic faith so that I know for a certainty that the sect +of Mohammed is false and wicked, and all those who believe in it +are going to total destruction and condemnation. So I beg you +and command you, as good vassals and brothers, to join me and +receive baptism. Trust me: you will be receiving baptism for the +salvation of your souls. Those who want baptism should not +move; those who do not want baptism, empty the square and leave +room for the others." + +After he had said this the king took off his outer garments in +everyone's presence, remaining in his shirt. Tirant led him to +the bowl, and pouring water from the pitcher over his head, he +baptized him, saying: + +"King Escariano, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the +Son, and the Holy Spirit." + +Then Tirant baptized almost all the prisoners, for most of them +were close relatives of the king. Afterward two captains and all +their lineage were baptized: one of their people was called +Bencarag and the other Capcani. On that day more than six +thousand Moors were baptized by Tirant. The others stayed there +the next day and the following days until they were all made +Christians. Few of them left, and the most vile were those who +did not receive baptism. + +The news of all this was soon spread throughout Barbary, so that +it reached the ears of the kings who were coming to King +Escariano's aid. Very angry, they advanced as quickly as they +could and took away his entire kingdom. They gave it to the King +of Persia, and immediately crowned him king. + +While these kings were conquering King Escariano's lands, +messengers came to him daily with the bad news that they were +taking his entire kingdom from him, and that he had only three +castles that were defending themselves and refusing to surrender. + +After King Escariano became a Christian, Tirant begged him to +give all the villas and cities he had taken from the King of +Tremicen back to the queen, to whom they belonged. The king very +generously did this, but then he begged Tirant, as a brother in +arms, to give the queen to him for his wife. So one day Tirant +approached the queen, and said: + +"I beg you to take this king for your husband. He loves you very +much. You already know him, and you would be much better off +with him than with someone who may not love you." + +The queen listened to Tirant, and replied: + +"I have complete trust in you, so I am putting myself and my +possessions in your power. I will do whatever you command me." + +Tirant knelt on the ground and gave her many thanks. He +immediately sent for the king and the friar, and in everyone's +presence they were betrothed. The following day they heard mass, +because they were Catholic Christians. After the wedding, which +took place with great solemnity--as corresponds to royalty--King +Escariano took possession of the entire kingdom of Tremicen, as +husband of the queen, and she was happy because it was at +Tirant's command. The king loved Tirant above all others, and +there was nothing that he would not do for him. And Tirant +likewise loved the king and queen. + +While the king and Tirant were celebrating this new marriage, +news reached the king daily that the Moorish kings would soon +take the three castles, and that they would fall on him and on +all the Christians, and would give them all cruel deaths. + +When Tirant heard of this, he said: + +"Sir, we need to think of how we can save our lives. Let's +gather all our men and see how many are prepared to go into +battle." + +"What?" said the commander. "Do you think you're the lord of the +whole world? You ought to be satisfied with imprisoning this +magnanimous king, and go on back to the land you came from. Let +us live according to our own law, and let the new Christians +forget about this so-called holy baptism. If these kings are +coming with so many troops, and they find us adhering to their +law, they'll have mercy on us." + +King Escariano turned to the commander in a rage, and he brought +his bare sword down on the commander's head so hard that his +brains spilled out onto the chamber floor, and he said: + +"Oh, you dog, you son of a dog, born into a wicked sect! This is +the payment such a vile person deserves!" + +Tirant was very displeased at the commander's death, and he felt +very angry. But he held himself back and did not reprimand the +king because he was afraid of causing more trouble. Some people +were glad the commander was dead, and others were not. But his +death served to restrain many. + +Tirant mustered all the men to see how many there were, and they +counted 18,230 horsemen and forty-five thousand foot soldiers. +Tirant paid them all. Then they enlisted twenty-five thousand +more. At the same time, four hundred forty horses and many arms +arrived from Tunis where they had disembarked after arriving from +Sicily. And now Tirant was unafraid of attacking three thousand +enemy horsemen. + +The king and Tirant left the city with all their men to meet the +enemy and see if they could resist them. When they were three +leagues away from them, at the top of a mountain, the Christians +could see all the Moorish forces that were coming. They set up +their tents in view of each other, and many embassies were sent +back and forth. The Moors sent word to King Escariano, telling +him and Tirant and all the other Christians to convert to +Mohammedanism, because if they did not, they would all die a +cruel death. When Tirant heard this, he mocked them and would +not give them a reply. Then the ambassadors became very angry +with Tirant. + +They had conquered all of King Escariano's realm, and now they +were going to attack him. Tirant said: + +"Sir, they've raised camp, so they'll be here tomorrow. Your +lordship can stay here in the city with half the men while I take +the other half, and we'll see how well organized they are." + +"Oh, Tirant! I would much rather go with you, and we can leave +Lord Agramunt here as the captain." + +Tirant agreed, and made Lord Agramunt captain, telling him: + +"Keep your horses saddled, and your men armed. When you see a +red flag with my arms painted on it, have all your men attack on +the right, and we'll destroy our enemy." + +To reach the Christians, the Moors had to cross over a tall +mountain that had many springs. During that night and the +following day, Tirant went around the mountain and he could see +all the Moors coming from a great distance. Tirant rode into a +dense thicket, and he had all the men dismount and take their +ease while he climbed a tall pine tree and watched the enemy come +up the mountain. They set up their tents near the springs, and +they were still a league away from the city. The ones who +followed behind set up camp at the foot of the mountain where +there were beautiful meadows and a canal. The men here had about +four thousand horses. + +When Tirant saw that nearly half the enemy had dismounted, he and +the king attacked their camp and killed so many Moors that the +number of corpses stretched out on the ground were a wonder to +behold. And there would have been even more if night had not +fallen. The Moors up on the mountain heard the cries, but they +did not think the Christians would dare come so close to their +camp. + +The morning of the following day, as soon as the sun came out, +King Meneador came down from the mountain, not suspecting that +King Escariano and Tirant would be there. He thought, instead, +that these must be thieving marauders. So he sent a messenger to +them, telling them to convert back to the Mohammedan faith or he +would hang as many of them as he found. + +Tirant told the messenger: + +"You tell your lord that I don't intend to answer his madness. +But if he's a crowned king, and brave enough to come down the +mountain with his men, I'll let him feel the strength of the one +he wants to hang." + +The messenger went back to his lord with the reply, and the king +was so enraged that he dug his spurs into his horse, and all his +men followed. The battle was harsh and cruel. After they had +fought for a time, and there were many deaths on both sides, King +Meneador retreated toward the mountain, and he sent for his +brother, the King of Lower India, to come to his aid. When he +was there, King Meneador told him: + +"Brother, these baptized Christians are fighting so hard that +I've lost most of my men, and I'm slightly wounded too. I won't +hold myself as a knight unless I kill with my own hands a great +traitor who is their captain. His armor and the vest he wears +are damask green with three stars on each side. On one side +they're gold and on the other side silver. Around his neck he +wears a gold Mohammed with a long beard. And this Mohammed +carries a small child holding onto his neck as he crosses a +river. And that must be the one who helps him in his battles." + +The King of Lower India haughtily replied: + +"Show him to me. I will avenge you even if he has ten Mohammeds +in his belly." + +His men quickly mounted their horses and bore down upon the +Christians. Shouting wildly, like madmen, they went into battle, +and soon you could see horses running around without riders. +When Tirant broke his lance, he made use of his ax, and he +wounded or gave death with every blow. The two kings drew up to +Tirant and wounded him with the point of a sword. Finding +himself wounded, Tirant cried out: + +"Oh, king, you who have dealt me a deadly wound according to the +great pain I feel, before I enter hell, you will go before me as +a messenger to open the gates, for I will send you there +quickly!" + +He brought his ax down on the king's head, splitting it into two +parts, and the king fell at the feet of his horses. When the +Moors saw his body on the ground, they struggled to pick it up. +This was the King of Lower India who had spoken so boastfully. +When the other king saw his brother dead, he fought desperately. + +The other kings were told of his death, the King of Bogia in +particular, for he had brought them together. Then they raised +camp and set up their tents at the foot of the mountain. + +The Christians, seeing how many men they had and that Tirant was +wounded and in great pain, decided to leave during the night. +The following morning the Moors prepared to give battle, but they +found no one. They followed the Christians' tracks and came to +the city where they had taken refuge. + +Tirant had Lord Agramunt take his men out and do battle with +them, and many men died on both sides. Then the Christians +retreated back into the city while the Moors pounded on the gates +with their lances. + +The following day Lord Agramunt led his men into battle, and many +died on both sides, and again they retreated into the city. +Tirant was troubled that he could not take part, and that they +were losing men, and he told the king: + +"Sir, I don't think we should go out and do battle so often. +We're only losing men." + +And so they waited until Tirant was healthy again. Then, when he +was nearly cured, he put on his armor and mounted his horse, and +with most of the men he attacked one side of the camp. The +Moors, in a tumult, came out to fight the Christians. And that +day, and many others that followed, Tirant came out the worst. +When Tirant saw his men fleeing that day, and that he could not +keep them in order, he went to the river. He saw the King of +Africa riding toward him wearing a helmet with a crown of gold +and many precious stones. His saddle was silver, and his +stirrups gold, while his jubbah was crimson and embroidered with +large oriental pearls. + +When the king saw Tirant's troubled face, he approached him and +said: + +"Are you the captain of the Christians?" + +Tirant did not reply, but instead looked at his men who had left +him, and all the dead bodies and banners scattered over the +ground. That day, they had scarcely defended themselves against +the Moors. + +In a loud voice that the Moors and the wounded could hear, he +cried out: + +"Oh, poor men! Why do you bear arms? Oh, sad, vile men: you +will be rightly condemned for this day on which you die so +miserably, and your reputation will suffer greatly!" + +When the King of Africa heard him crying this way, he called out +to his men: + +"I'm going to cross the river, and I'll put this Christian dog in +chains or I'll kill him. If I need any assistance, come and help +me." + +When the king had crossed over, he rode swiftly at Tirant, and +struck him so hard with his lance that Tirant's horse sank to its +knees. The lance passed through his brassard and his +breast-plate, and slightly pierced his chest. Tirant was feeling +such great pain for the dead men, and was thinking of the +princess, and he didn't notice the king until he had been +wounded. He drew his sword, since his lance had been broken at +the outset. And they fought for a long space of time. The king +fought valiantly, and when it had lasted a long while, Tirant +thrust hard at the king, but he could not reach him because the +king's horse suddenly turned. However, he caught the horse's +head and cut it off, so that the horse and the king tumbled to +the ground. The king's men came to his aid, and mounted him on +another horse, even though Tirant tried to stop them. + +When Tirant realized that he could not hold out any longer, he +seized a Moor and took away his lance. Then he wounded the +first, the second and the third men he encountered, and knocked +them to the ground; then he wounded the fourth, fifth and sixth +and also knocked them down. + +The Moors were astonished at the way one lone man bore arms. + +Lord Agramunt was at a window in the castle, and he recognized +Tirant by his coat of arms and saw that he was fighting alone. +And he cried out: + +"Men, go quickly and help our captain. He's about to lose his +life." + +Then the king went out with the few men he had. Tirant was +wounded in three places, and his horse had been struck many +times. For this reason Tirant was forced to retreat, but he did +so against his will, and they pursued him right up to the gates. + +The doctors arrived and had Tirant's armor removed, and they +found many wounds including three that were very dangerous. + +When the Moors saw that the Christians had withdrawn inside the +city, they tightened the siege and crossed over the river. They +brought so many oxen and camels that they could not be counted. +They used these as an obstacle to the Christians in battle, for +their horses could not run, and no one could enter or leave the +city. + +Tirant was afraid they might mine under the castle. He ordered +the men to make a countermine, and in all the lower rooms they +were to place brass basins. This was done so that if a pickaxe +was about to come through a wall in that room, all the brass +basins would clang together and make a great noise. After the +brass basins were set up, they began to work on the countermine. + +After a few days, when Tirant was well and ready to bear arms, a +serving girl inside the castle was kneading flour, and she heard +the basins moving around, making noise. She ran quickly to tell +her mistress: + +"I don't know what it is, but I've heard folks say that when +basins make a noise it's the sign of a storm or of bloodshed." + +The lady was the wife of the captain of the castle, and she +quickly went to tell her husband, and he told the king and +Tirant. + +Secretly, without making a sound, they went to the room, and saw +that what the girl had said was true. They quickly armed +themselves and went into a chamber, and not even an hour went by +before they saw light in the room. The Moors who were digging +thought no one in the castle had heard them, and they made the +hole much bigger. Then they began to come out of the mine. When +there were more than seventy Moors in the room, the men from the +castle went in and slew and quartered everyone they found. The +ones who could escape back through the mine certainly didn't +stand around waiting for each other, but Tirant had many bombards +fired into the mine, and everyone inside died. + +Tirant saw that his men were nearly faint from hunger, and he +decided to do battle. He told the king: + +"Sir, I'll take half the men we have left, and you can take the +other half. I'll go into the little forest there, and as soon as +the sun comes up, you go out through the gate of Tremicen and go +all around the city, and you attack the center of their camp +while I attack from the other side, and we'll see if we can't +confuse them. If we do, we can take over their camp. But what +disturbs me most are the cattle: we'll have to go right through +them, and every time we do, they'll kill many of our horses." + +A Genoese who had been a slave on Tirant's galley when the ship +went down spoke up. His name was Almedixer, and he was a very +discreet man and was knowledgeable about many things. He said: + +"Captain, do you want me to make all the cattle run off so that +there won't even be a sign of one around? The Moors will go +running after them to get them back, and that will be the time to +attack their camp and fall upon them." + +"If you can do that," said Tirant, "upon Carmesina's name I +promise to make you a great lord and give you villas and castles +and a great inheritance." + +The king said to Tirant: + +"Brother, if that's what you're going to do, I beg you to let me +go into the forest. And when I see the banner flying from the +highest tower I'll attack the center of the camp." + +Tirant agreed, and ordered everyone to shoe their horses and +repair their saddles. + +The Genoese took the hair of many goats, and mutton fat, and he +crushed it all together and put it in shallow pans, and he filled +more than seventy of them. + +Right at the hour of midnight the king went into the forest +without any of the Moors seeing him. Almedixer took the pans of +grease he had made and went out of the castle at dawn, and put +them one next to the other. + +Then he set them on fire. When the flames were going well, the +wind blew the smoke toward the cattle. And when they smelled the +odor they stampeded through the middle of the camp, bringing down +tents and injuring men and horses so that it seemed like all the +devils in hell were after them. They even ran into each other so +that hardly an ox or camel was left uninjured. Many Moors on +foot and on horseback pursued them to make them turn back, and +all the Moors were astonished, not understanding what had caused +the stampede. + +When the oxen were gone, Tirant had the white and green flag +raised. The king saw the flag and rode out of the forest, +crying: + +"Long live the Christians!" + +As they had planned, Tirant also attacked from the other side. +Then the terrible, cruel battle unrolled. Whoever saw it could +tell the goings on of it all, for you could see thrusts of lance +and sword being given and taken that brought awful grief, and in +a few hours excellent knights were lying dead on the ground. All +the battles came together and made such a noise that it sounded +like the earth would fall in. You could see Tirant here and +there, tearing helmets from men's heads and shields from their +bodies, killing and wounding and doing the most astonishing +things in the world in his ever-burning fury. King Escariano was +doing very well, for he was a very good knight, young and +courageous. As for the Moors, there were some very good and +valiant knights, the King of Africa in particular who, because of +the death of his brother, threw himself against the Christians +most cruelly. The King of Bogia was also a very courageous +knight. + +The battle was long and hard fought, and mercy was shown by none. +Everyone was using their weapons, and it was a wonder to behold. +We mustn't forget about Lord Agramunt, for he fought so well that +the enemy feared him. + +It happened that the King of Africa recognized Tirant by his +armor and rode toward him, and they ran at each other, and both +the king and Tirant were knocked to the ground. But Tirant +feared death and was the more spirited, and he got up first, +while the king was still lying on the ground. He reached down to +cut the straps of his helmet, but before he could do so the Moors +saw their king on the ground, and it was a wonder that they did +not kill Tirant. They pulled him off the king's body two times +and threw him on the ground. When Lord Agramunt saw Tirant in +such great danger, he rode over to him and saw that the camp +commander was doing everything he could to kill Tirant. Lord +Agramunt turned to the commander, and they engaged in such a hard +fought battle that every blow intended to bring death--one of +them to defend Tirant and the other to try to attack him--and +both of them were badly wounded. + +Almedixer was near and cried out in alarm. King Escariano raced +into the tumult and saw the King of Bogia standing over Tirant, +about to cut off his head. These two kings were brothers, and +King Escariano recognized his brother, but still, when he saw +Tirant in that situation, he immediately thrust his lance into +his brother's back so powerfully that it went right through his +armor and came out the other side, piercing his heart, and the +King of Bogia fell to the ground, dead. Then the battle grew +more cruel than it had ever been, and on that day many men from +both sides died. + +The battle went on very cruelly, throughout the day, but when +night fell, they broke apart. The Christians went back into the +city very happily, because they had been victorious on the field. +They knew for a certainty that three kings had died in the +battle: the King of Bogia, King Geber, and the King of Granada. +Among the wounded, mention is made only of the King of Damascus +and the King of Tana. + +That night the men and horses rested, and before dawn the +Christians were armed and ready, and the Moors were surprised +that they were eager to fight, because the Moors had not been +able to bury their dead. The battle took place on the second +day, and it was very cruel and bloody. Large numbers of Moors +died, but not very many Christians: for every Christian, one +hundred Moors died. The reason so many Moors were killed was +because they weren't as well armed as the Christians, and their +horses and trappings weren't as good. The battle lasted five +days, and the Moors couldn't endure it any longer because of the +stench from the corpses, so they sent messengers to the +Christians, asking for a truce. King Escariano and Tirant felt +very pleased, and they agreed willingly. + +The Moors then took their dead and threw them into the river, +each with a note of identification attached so that downriver +their relatives could bury them. But there were so many dead +bodies that the river was stopped up, and the water had to change +course. + +Then the Moors went up the mountain while the Christians went +back to the city. During this truce the Marquis of Luzana +arrived; he was a servant to the King of France. In Tunis he +heard of Tirant's great victories, and he decided to go to him. + +The Moors decided to leave one night before the truce was over, +and go to the mountains of Fez where they could defend themselves +against the Christians. So, very unexpectedly, nearly at the +hour of midnight, they broke camp and went on their way. Early +the next morning the guards came running to the city gates to +warn the captain that the Moors were leaving. When Tirant saw +that they had gone beyond the pass, he set himself to conquering +all the kingdoms and lands this side of the pass. After many +days had gone by, Lord Agramunt said to the captain: + +"My lord, it seems to me that if we want to end this conquest +quickly, I should go beyond the pass to conquer the villas, +castles and cities there. After your lordship has taken over +these kingdoms, you can go over to that land, and you will easily +be the master of all Barbary." + +Tirant was pleased with what Lord Agramunt told him. He +consulted King Escariano, and they agreed that he should leave +soon. Lord Agramunt departed with ten thousand men on horseback, +and eighteen thousand foot soldiers. When he had gone beyond the +pass he learned that the kings had left, and each had gone back +to his own land. Seeing that there were so few armed men in that +land, Lord Agramunt began to conquer it, and he took over many +cities, villas and castles, some willingly and others by force. + +They came near a city called Montagata which belonged to the +daughter of the King of Belamerin (This king had died at the +beginning of the war) and to her betrothed. When the people in +the city learned that the Christians were so nearby, they held a +council and decided to send the keys of the city to Lord +Agramunt, and, very kindly, he took them and granted them +everything they requested. But when they were near the city, the +rulers changed their minds and decided that they would die +before they would surrender. + +When Lord Agramunt saw that he had been mocked, he decided to go +into battle, for he was as bold and hard as he could be. As he +came close to a wall, they shot at him with a crossbow. The +arrow hit him in the mouth and came out the other side. When his +men saw him stretched out on the ground, badly wounded, they +thought he was dead. They put him on a shield and carried him to +his tent, and they fought no more that day. Then Lord Agramunt +made a vow to God and to the holy apostles that because of the +way they had deceived him and because of the great pain his wound +was causing him, he would not leave until the city was taken and +his sword had slain everyone: men and women, large and small, old +and young. And he quickly sent word to Tirant. + +When Tirant received the news that his cousin had been so badly +wounded, he and all his men went to the city. Before they could +dismount he ordered them to attack the city, and the battle was +so fierce and so harsh that they took a large tower--a +mosque--attached to the city walls. When night fell Tirant +ordered a halt to the fighting. In the morning the Moors sent +word to the captain that they would surrender on condition that +they be allowed to live by their own laws, and they would give +them thirty thousand gold crowns every year, and free all the +prisoners they held. Tirant answered that because of the act +they had committed against his cousin they would have to go to +Lord Agramunt, and whatever he decided would be done. + +When the Moors stood before Lord Agramunt, he would consent to +nothing, no matter how much they pleaded with him. Then the town +decided to send their lady and several maidens to see if they +could reach an agreement with him, since many times a maiden's +pleas are successful. At this point the book presents an +incident to relate the deeds of Plaerdemavida. + +CHAPTER XI + +PLAERDEMAVIDA + + By the great mercy of God, Plaerdemavida was saved from the +shipwreck and taken to the city of Tunis, to the house of a +fisherman's daughter, as was related previously. Then, after two +years had passed the fisherman's daughter took a husband near +that city. And while they held Plaerdemavida captive there, she +always lived very honestly, working gold and silk as the maidens +of Greece are accustomed to doing. It happened one day that her +mistress went to the city of Montagata, and left Plaerdemavida to +watch the house. She had gone to the city to make some +purchases, and while she was there she went to talk to the king's +daughter, and she told her: + +"My lady, I've been told that you are planning to marry, and that +you are supplying yourself with blouses embroidered with gold and +silk and other things proper for maidens. I have a young slave +who is able to do what I have taught her from the time she was an +infant: to embroider all manner of things as befits young women. +Here are some samples of what she can do. If you want her, I +will give her to you for one hundred doubloons, even though I +will be losing all the training I have given her." + +The princess, seeing the samples, wanted her very much, and she +said that she would be happy to give her the one hundred +doubloons. The Moor said: + +"I'll be glad to give her to you for that price, on one +condition: you must tell her that I have loaned her to you for +two months, because if she guessed that I had sold her, she would +be so sad that she would fall into despair." + +Plaerdemavida was placed in her hands and she came to love the +princess very much. It happened a short time later that the city +was attacked, and the Moors took many Christians prisoner. Among +the men they captured was a soldier who had been an oarsman on +Tirant's galley when it was lost. Plaerdemavida recognized him, +and she said: + +"Aren't you one of the Christians who were on Tirant's galley +when it went down at sea?" + +"My lady," said the man "it's true: I was there, and I nearly +drowned. I reached the shore half dead, and afterward I was +beaten, and bought and sold. I went through great trials in +those days." + +"What can you tell me about Tirant?" said Plaerdemavida. "Where +did he die?" + +"By the Virgin Mary!" said the prisoner. "He is very much alive. +He's right here. He's the commander, and he's using all his +might to conquer this land." + +He also told her that Lord Agramunt was wounded, and then she +asked him: + +"What became of Plaerdemavida?" + +"That maiden you're asking about," said the prisoner, "it's +believed that she died in the sea, and our captain has grieved +deeply over her." + +When she heard the news she ordered all the prisoners to flee. +Hearing that Tirant was alive and so near, she also wanted very +much to escape, but considering how Tirant had conquered so much +of the Barbary Coast, and thinking of the victories that were +told about the Christian captain, she was very happy. For she +had known nothing about him and believed that he had drowned in +the sea. She fell to her knees, raised her clasped hands to +heaven and gave thanks and praise to God Our Lord for the great +success He had given to Tirant and to the new Christianity, for +he was making war on the enemies of Jesus Christ so bravely. She +became very hopeful that soon she would be out of captivity, and +all the suffering she had gone through up to then seemed to be +nothing to her: the thought that she would see Tirant consoled +her that much. + +On the day her mistress had to go and talk to the captains, she +disguised herself so well that no one would recognize her. When +the lady was before the captain, she was accompanied by fifty +maidens, but Tirant would not listen to her and he sent her to +his cousin, Lord Agramunt. And if he had replied badly to the +ambassadors, he gave an even worse reply to the lady. Hopeless, +they went back, crying and lamenting loudly. All that night, men +as well as women did not cease their wailing and sighing. + +In the morning Plaerdemavida told her mistress and the honorable +men of the city that if they would give her liberty to go out, +she would talk to the captain, and would tell him such things +that he would do anything she wished. They agreed that she +should go, because they had lost all hope and had only that one +day left. That day Plaerdemavida dressed as a Moor, and painted +her eyes so that she would not be recognized. She took thirty +well dressed maidens with her. At noon they left the city and +went to the camp, and there they saw Tirant at the door of his +tent. When he saw them coming he sent word that they should go +to Lord Agramunt, and that he could do nothing since he had +turned all his power over to him. Plaerdemavida answered: + +"Tell the captain that he should not refuse to see us, and even +less to speak to us, because if that captain did such a thing he +would be cruel and unjust. Since he is a knight and we are +maidens, in accordance with the order of chivalry he must aid us, +and give us his advice and his support." + +The chamberlain immediately took the reply back to the captain: + +"Upon my word, my lord, there is a maiden with those Moors who is +very gracious. She speaks the Christian tongue most beautifully. +And if your grace would like to do me a very great favor for the +services I have performed for you, when we take the city I beg +you to make her a Christian and to give her to me for a wife." + +"Have them all come here," said the captain. + +When they stood before him, they made a deep bow to him. +Plaerdemavida, smiling, said: + +"My captain, your generous heart cannot fail to act according to +its custom. Your nobility is full of mercy, and you must forget +the great crime of the ignorant inhabitants of this city, who +will fold their hands and kneel down and kiss your feet, begging +you for mercy. Look, virtuous captain, I speak with the spirit +of prophecy. Do you remember that fortunate day when you were +given the honor of chivalry in that prosperous court of the King +of England? And the singular battles you fought at that time and +won with great honor, with no trickery? What should I say of +Philippe, son of the King of France? In your great wisdom you +made him King of Sicily, and now he possesses the daughter, the +kingdom, and the crown. And when that blessed lord, who is of +greater excellence than anyone in the world, the Emperor of +Constantinople, heard of your fame, he had you come to the city +of Constantinople. His high Majesty made you his captain, and +you showed the Turkish enemies your strength and power, +conquering them time and time again. I am a Moor who speaks by +prophecy, and my heart cries tears of blood for those worthy +knights, because now they are as good as dead. Cry, miserable +people and lament the fact that Tirant lo Blanc has forgotten +you! And it does not surprise me that he does not remember you, +for he has forgotten a lady (I won't say who she is, but I can +call her the greatest and best in all Christendom) in order to +conquer this cursed land." + +Tirant was quite astonished when he heard these words, and he +begged her to tell how she knew so much. + +"Oh Tirant, how little mercy you are showing. Go on pursuing +those fleeing kings so that you can have all of Barbary in your +lap, and let us live in blessed peace. Aren't you that prince of +the line of Roca Salada who went into battle that pleasant night +in the castle of Malvei with that most serene princess, the +beautiful Carmesina? And if my heart hasn't gone mad or I +haven't lost all my senses, it seems to me that I heard tell that +Her Highness let you into her chambers at a very late hour. She +put her father's crown--that of the Greek Empire--on your head, +and accepted you as her universal lord, with the help of a sad +maiden named Plaerdemavida. You have given so little thought to +either of them, it's as if you'd never known them. Her Highness, +with you forgetting about her, is more dead than alive in the +Monastery of Santa Clara, always calling out the name of Tirant +in whom she has placed all her hope. Oh, Tirant! How you have +shed all kindness. You know full well that the Turks have +overrun all of Greece, that all they have left to do is take the +city of Constantinople and seize the emperor, his wife and the +grieving princess." + +When Tirant heard the maiden say these things, he heaved a sigh +from the depths of his heart as he remembered the lady he loved +more than anyone in the world. He was so stricken that he fell +to the ground, senseless. When everyone saw their captain lying +there, his eyes filled with tears, they thought he had delivered +up his spirit to God and his body to the ground. + +The doctors came and said: + +"Our captain must be very ill. He looks as though he is near +death." + +King Escariano quickly had the maiden seized and her hands +tightly bound. When Plaerdemavida saw herself treated so badly, +she angrily said: + +"Let me go to the captain. I nourished him from my breast before +you ever heard of him. Let me use the remedies I know, because I +can see that these ignorant doctors don't know how to help him." + +The maiden quickly sat on the ground, unfastened her robes and +the blouse she was wearing down past her bosom, uncovering her +breasts. + +She took Tirant's body, placed it in her lap, and lay his head on +her breasts. When the maiden saw Tirant open his eyes and sigh +deeply, she was very happy, and she said: + +"Captain, my lord, for a long time you have been fighting us +night and day. I don't want your grace to suffer such terrible +hardships when I can free you from them. Begin with me. I am +right here, a defenseless maiden, and your sword is very sharp. +Now you can use your strong hand and bathe your sword with the +blood of someone who, after God, wants to serve only you." + +Tirant answered as well as he could: + +"Maiden, it seems to me that you are like the bee that carries +honey in its mouth and a stinger in its tail. I have heard +things from you that have left me astonished. I want very much +to know how news about that most serene princess has reached you. +Tell me, I beg you, and you can count on this: In consideration +of Her Majesty, I will do such things for you that you will all +leave here highly satisfied." + +Plaerdemavida was very happy at the captain's reply. While they +were talking, Lord Agramunt came into the tent in a rage, with a +bare sword in his hand. He had been misinformed by King +Escariano about how Tirant had fallen into a faint in the +maiden's arms. When he saw Tirant in her lap and without +noticing his captain's condition, with a fierce face and a +terrible voice, he cried: + +"What is this poisonous woman doing here, this devil-worshipper? +How can you all stand by, seeing how she's killed him, and not +behead her? Since the rest of you won't do it, I will." + +He grabbed her by the hair and jerked back her head. And he put +his sword by her neck to take away her life. When Tirant saw the +sword so close to the maiden, and heard her cry, he seized the +sword with his hands. Lord Agramunt, feeling the sword against +something hard, thought it was the maiden's neck. So he slashed +as hard as he could, and put a large gash in Tirant's hands. And +according to the doctors Tirant was very fortunate that he was +not badly injured. + +When Tirant saw that his cousin had shown him so little honor, he +became very angry. King Escariano made Lord Agramunt leave, and +Lord Agramunt lowered his eyes and became very ashamed. Then he +bowed deeply to the king and to Tirant, and left the tent. And +his humility and shame went a long way toward cooling Tirant's +anger and making him feel pity instead. + +Then Tirant turned toward the maiden and asked her very kindly if +she had been a captive in Constantinople, and he asked who had +told her so many things about the princess. She quickly got up, +and falling to her knees, she said: + +"What is this, captain! Have you lost your memory entirely? +There is a great deal of truth in the fact that where there is no +love there can be no remembrance. What! Aren't I poor, +miserable Plaerdemavida who, for your lordship, endured so much +pain and misery, and finally captivity?" + +Tirant's eyes flew open with recognition at once, and he would +not allow her to say another word, realizing full well at this +moment that she was Plaerdemavida. He knelt to the ground before +her, and embraced her and kissed her many times over. + +After they had embraced for a good while, Tirant ordered a +beautiful platform placed at the door of the tent, covered +entirely with brocade cloth above, and with satin on the sides +and floor. Plaerdemavida was seated at the top step of the +platform, and covered with a mantle of crimson brocade lined with +ermine--one belonging to Tirant that he had ordered put on her +since she had completely torn her robes. The lady of the city +was made to sit on the top step, and her maidens below, on the +satin cloths. In this situation it seemed that Plaerdemavida was +indeed a queen. + +Tirant had taken the head-dress off her head, and now her hair +hung loose over her shoulders. He paid her such great honor that +everyone thought Tirant was going to take her as his wife. He +had a proclamation read throughout the entire camp that everyone +should come and kiss Plaerdemavida's hand, under penalty of +death. Then he had another proclamation made that everyone in +the city, men and women, were pardoned, and that each of them +could live under any law they wished, and that no one in the camp +should dare harm anyone from the city. Afterward he had many +dishes prepared, and held a general banquet so that everyone +could come who wished. And the most singular celebration ever +held in a camp took place there, lasting eight days. + +Plaerdemavida begged the lady of the city to be baptized, and she +answered that she would do it. Then Tirant asked her if she +would marry Melquisedic. Plaerdemavida also pleaded with her, +and the others insisted so much that she consented. And the +wedding was held with great celebrations. + +Tirant often spent his time talking to Plaerdemavida. One day, +while they were talking about the princess and the emperor, +Plaerdemavida scolded him, and asked him why he did not forget +about conquering Barbary and help the emperor and his daughter. +Tirant answered that he wanted to know for certain what the +situation was in the empire before he moved. He begged +Plaerdemavida to tell him what had happened to her after she was +swept over the side of the galley. With tears in her eyes, +Plaerdemavida said: + +"I beg you, lord Tirant, don't make me talk about it. Whenever I +think about it I would rather die a hundred deaths than go on +living." + +When Tirant heard her speaking so painfully, he said: + +"Rejoice, valiant maiden. I promise you, by the lady who has +been the cause of your misfortune, that I will repay you. I will +mix your blood with that of Roca Salada, and you will be reckoned +among the women of Brittany, among whom you are certain to have +the title of queen." + +There was a long argument between Tirant and this maiden about +the marriage he had decided upon, which was between her and Lord +Agramunt. He gave her many different reasons, citing very holy +authorities, so that Plaerdemavida finally submitted to Tirant's +will, and replied in a few words: + +"Your servant is here, Lord Tirant. Do with me according to your +will." + +Tirant took a beautiful chain from his neck and placed it around +Plaerdemavida's neck as a sign of her future marriage. He had +brocade brought, and dressed her like a queen. Then Tirant sent +for Lord Agramunt, and he begged him at length not to refuse what +he would tell him, since he had already made a promise. Lord +Agramunt answered him: + +"Lord Tirant, I am astonished that you would plead with me about +anything. Just by commanding me you are doing me a great favor." + +Tirant said: + +"Cousin, I have decided to make you King of Fez and Bogia, and to +give Plaerdemavida to you as your wife. You know how indebted +all of us are to her for the work she has done for us. She is a +maiden of great discretion who has lead a virtuous life, and it +will be very good for both of you." + +Lord Agramunt answered: + +"Cousin and lord, I had no thought of taking a wife, but it is +too much grace and honor for your lordship to entreat me to do a +thing that I should beg you for. I kiss your hand and your +feet." + +Tirant would not allow it. Instead he took him by the arm, +lifted him up, and kissed him on the mouth. Afterward he thanked +him, both for the kingdoms and for the new wife. + +Tirant felt more satisfied at having arranged this marriage than +by all of his conquests in Barbary. He quickly had Lady +Montagata's palace decorated with beautiful gold and silk cloth, +and he had all the musicians from that area come, with every kind +of instrument that could be found. Then he had many dainties and +special wines brought to insure the success of the celebration. +Plaerdemavida was very richly dressed, and her presence and +appearance showed that she was a queen. She was taken to the +great hall where King Escariano and Tirant were, with many other +barons and knights, along with the wife of King Escariano and +many other ladies of rank. After the wedding vows were exchanged +there was a great celebration with dances of different types and +very singular foods. + +While the celebrations lasted, Tirant had the table prepared for +everyone who wished to eat, and for a week there was a great +abundance of everything. + + CHAPTER XII + +CONQUEST + + When the celebrations were over Tirant had a large ship armed, +and he had it loaded with wheat to send to Constantinople to help +the emperor. + +He had Melquisedic, Lord of Montagata, brought to him, and he +told him to go on that ship as a messenger to the emperor. He +told him to become well informed about the emperor's condition, +and how the empire was, and about the princess. He gave him +instructions and letters of credence, and he had him embark, well +outfitted and better escorted. + +Then Tirant ordered his men to break camp, and to get all the +cavalry and foot soldiers ready. They filled the carts with food +and all the supplies and weaponry necessary to fight the cities, +villas, and castles. + +They went toward the city of Caramen, at the edge of Barbary and +bordering on the black Kingdom of Borno. Because three kings who +fled from the battle scene had taken refuge in that city, while +the others had gone back to their own lands. So the great +numbers of cavalry and foot soldiers went through the land, +conquering castles, villas and cities. Some were taken by force, +and others surrendered willingly. Many became Christian, while +others remained in their sect, and they were not harmed or +wronged in any way. Finally they reached the city where the +kings had taken shelter. There, Tirant's forces set up their +tents and encircled the city at a distance of about two crossbow +shots. + +Tirant held council with King Escariano, Lord Agramunt, the +Marquis of Luzana, the Viscount of Branches, and many other +barons and knights in the camp. They chose a Spaniard from the +town of Oriola to be their envoy. His name was Lord Rocafort, +and he had been a captive on a Moorish galley until Tirant had +freed him. They told him to observe how many men might be in the +city, and what condition they were in, and they give him detailed +instructions about everything he should do and say. + +After receiving assurances of safe-conduct, the envoy went to the +castle where the kings were. These were the King of Fez, King +Menador of Persia, and the King of Tremicen. This last king was +nephew to the other King of Tremicen, and had been chosen king +when his uncle had been killed by King Escariano. The other +kings had died in the battles they had been waging. + +The envoy stood before the kings who had gathered to listen to +his embassy, and without greeting them or showing them any +reverence, he said: + +"I have come to you who were powerful kings on behalf of the most +Christian King Escariano and the magnanimous captain, Tirant lo +Blanc, to notify you of the will of their lordships. They say +that you and your forces must leave the city of Caramen and all +of Barbary within three days." + +King Menador of Persia gave the reply for the other kings: + +"You can tell that traitor and renegade, King Escariano, +Mohammed's enemy and ours, and his friend Tirant lo Blanc, that +we won't leave the city, much less Barbary, for them. And so +that they'll know how great our power is, let them be ready for +battle tomorrow because we'll come out of the city and give them +terrible destruction." + +As soon as King Menador had finished, Tirant's ambassador turned +his back and left without another word, and he went back to his +camp. When he was with King Escariano and Tirant, he told them +all about King Menador of Persia's reply. Tirant immediately +called together all the barons, knights and captains of both +cavalry and foot soldiers. When they were together, he told them +to get ready because the Moors were going to do battle with them. + +The following morning the Moors put their forces together in a +beautiful plain outside the city, and they began to move toward +Tirant's camp. The Christians' spy saw the Moors coming, and ran +to warn Tirant. Tirant had all his cavalry ready and his foot +soldiers in order, and they went toward the Moors. + +When the battalions drew near each other, the trumpets and pipes +began to sound, and the screams and shouts of both armies were so +great that it seemed like heaven and earth would come together. +Tirant ordered his first battalion to attack, and the good +captain Lord Rocafort went into battle so fiercely that it was a +wonder to behold. + +The King of Tremicen, who was captain of the first battalion of +Moors also attacked so powerfully that the best knight in the +world could have done no better, and they fought so fiercely +against the Christians that the Christians were beaten back. +Then the second squadron of Moors attacked very savagely, and one +could see lances breaking, and knights and horses falling, and +many men lying dead on the ground, both Christians and Moors. + +Tirant saw that the battle was going badly, and that his men were +being beaten. So he had four squadrons attack together, his +being the only one that held back. They attacked so powerfully +that in a few hours, before the enemy realized what had happened, +they had killed a great number of Moors. + +King Escariano came face to face with the King of Fez, and their +horses clashed so mightily that they broke their lances. They +both fell to the ground, and got up, fighting with their swords, +like lions. When the two sides saw their king on the ground, +they rushed in to help them, and in the harsh battle that +followed, many men died. + +Then Tirant attacked too, with his men, and you would have had to +see the great tumult and the terrible cries of the Moors who were +not able to resist the Christians. King Menador of Persia, who +had gone into battle like a raging dog, came against Tirant, and +hit his head with his sword so hard that he nearly knocked Tirant +from his horse. + +Tirant then raised his sword and brought it down so hard that he +cut the king's arm completely off at the shoulder, and the king +soon fell to the ground, dead. + +During the battle it happened that Tirant came upon the King of +Tremicen, and gave him such a blow to the head with his sword, +that he knocked the king to the ground. And if it had not been +for the king's good helmet, he would have been dead. Tirant went +on ahead, and the Moors picked up their king and lay him over a +horse, taking him quickly back to the city. + +When the battle had gone on for a long while, the Moors could not +stand up against the Christians, and they had to turn and flee. +When Tirant saw the Moors running away, he cried: + +"The time has come, good knights, the day is ours! Kill them +all!" + +They rushed after the Moors who were trying to take refuge inside +the city. But with all their efforts, the Moors could not avoid +the deaths of more than forty thousand of their men that day. + +With the battle won, Tirant immediately had a galley armed in the +port of One, and he entrusted a knight named Espercius as its +captain. This man was a native of Tremicen, and a good +Christian. Tirant charged him to go to Genoa, Venice, Pisa and +Majorca (which at this time was a great trading center), and to +enlist as many ships, galleys, caravels, and all kinds of +vessels, as could carry many men. He was to promise them a +year's wages, and take them to the port of Constantine in the +kingdom of Tunis. When Espercius was informed about everything +he was to do, he embarked on his journey. + + When Ambassador Melquisedic left Barbary he had such favorable +weather that he reached Constantinople in a few days. When the +emperor was informed that a ship was in port, he immediately +sent a knight to find out what ship it was, and what its purpose +was in coming. The knight went to the port, boarded the ship and +spoke with the ambassador. Then he returned to the palace and +told the emperor that the ship had come from Barbary, that Tirant +had sent it, stocked with wheat, to His Majesty, and that a +knight was on it whom Tirant had sent as his ambassador. + +When the emperor heard this news he felt very relieved because of +the straits they were in, and he gave thanks and praise to God, +Our Lord, that he had not been forgotten. The emperor +immediately commanded all the knights of the city to go and +escort the ambassador that Tirant had sent, and they all went to +the port, and had them disembark. + +The ambassador, accompanied by the people with him, came out, +very finely dressed. When they were on land, they were received +by the emperor's knights, who paid the ambassador high honors +because of their great desire for Tirant to come. They took him +to the emperor and the empress who were in the emperor's chamber. +The ambassador bowed to the emperor, and kissed his foot and +hand, and also the empress's hand. + +They received them, smiling, and showing great pleasure at their +arrival. + +The ambassador explained his mission to the emperor and his +council, and they were all astonished and comforted by Tirant's +great prosperity in conquering Barbary. Then the ambassador +asked permission to go see the princess. Hippolytus escorted him +to the convent where she was staying, and he presented her with a +letter from Tirant. She felt very comforted by his words, +convinced that he would be coming to her soon. Then she asked +the ambassador what news he had of Plaerdemavida: if she was dead +or alive. He told about her adventure in detail, and how she had +married Lord Agramunt, and how Tirant had promised to make her a +queen. Then he took his leave of the princess and went to the +lodging. + +A few days later the emperor had a letter composed to Tirant, +explaining in detail the situation his empire was in: that the +empire had been overrun by the Turks, and now all that remained +was the city of Constantinople, the city of Pera, and a few +castles. He had the ambassador come before him, and gave him the +letter. Then he begged him earnestly to press Tirant to remember +him and to have compassion on his old age, and on all the people +who were in danger of renouncing the faith of Jesus Christ, and +on the women and maidens who lived in fear of being dishonored +unless they had divine aid and his aid as well. The ambassador +took his leave, kissing his feet and hand, and likewise the +empress's. + +Afterward the ambassador went to the convent where the princess +was, and he told her that he had come to see Her Highness in case +she wished to command anything of him. The princess told him she +was very pleased that he would be returning so soon, for she +trusted his goodness and gentility that he would do everything +possible to make Tirant come quickly to free them from the great +danger they were in. And she earnestly begged him to do this. +Then she gave him a letter she was sending to Tirant. + +When their talk was over, the ambassador kissed the princess's +hand, and took his leave of her. As the ambassador had carried +out all the things Tirant had entrusted to him, he boarded the +ship, and had the sails raised so they could be on their way. In +a few days he reached the city where Tirant was, who received him +very happily. Bowing, he gave him the emperor's letter. + +When Tirant had read the emperor's letter, he felt great +compassion for him. His eyes filled with tears when he thought +of his anguish, and he remembered the Duke of Macedonia and his +other relatives and friends who were being held captive in the +hands of the infidels because of him, and that they had no hope +of escaping without him. He also thought about all he had +conquered in the Empire of Greece while he had been there, and +that it and much more had been lost in such a brief span of time. + +He asked the ambassador about all that he had seen, and he told +him everything. He also asked him about the princess and how she +was. He answered that he had found her in the convent of Santa +Clara (for with his absence she had given herself over to the +service of God) and about how she also wore a veil over her face +and led a very holy life, and how she had received him very +happily. + +"She asked me how you were and what had happened to you, and she +begged me at length to plead with you not to forget her, +especially now that they were in danger of becoming prisoners of +the Moors. And that if she had ever angered your lordship, she +begged you not to make her grieve for it. That, as you were +merciful toward your enemies, you would treat her, who was your +own, as well. That you should think of her as your own flesh, +and not forget her." + +And he told him many other things that the book does not relate. + +The ambassador gave him the princess's letter, and it said the +following: + +"After I read your letter, I was filled with infinite joy, and +great happiness softened my sad heart. The greatest peace, calm +and joy I have felt after I lost your presence is this outpouring +of my words, as I feel myself coming back to you. For I have +been, I am and will be your secret captive. I thank you with all +my heart, for I know all that you have suffered because of me. +And I forgive you for the false opinions you held about me, on +the sole condition that the African soil find itself abandoned by +you so that you will return to me and my deserted people. Let me +bring to your memory the crown of the Empire of Greece that +awaits you; and my virginity which you so desired, and that is +now in danger of being stolen by some infidel; and I, your wife, +who am in danger of being taken captive. I don't know what to +say, I don't know what to show you! Until now my thoughts have +been able to hold these deceptions: gazing at, kissing, adoring +some jewels and things that were yours, and finding my +consolation in them. Then, going to the doors of my room, +saying: 'Here is where my Tirant sat, here he caught me, here he +kissed me, here in this bed he held me naked.' And so, rambling +most of the night and day, I ease my troubled mind. Let these +thoughts cease, then, for they avail me very little, and let +Tirant come, for he will be my true consolation, my end, the +remedy and peace for my ills, and the redemption of the Christian +people." + +When Tirant had finished reading the princess's letter, he felt +great agony from the pain and compassion he had for the emperor +and for the princess, and in thinking of the Duke of Macedonia, +his cousin, being held prisoner, and of all his other relatives +and friends. + +Tirant then told King Escariano that they would leave and go to +Tunis. Before they left, he gave the kingdoms of Fez and Bogia +to Lord Agramunt. Then all the men set out for Tunis. + +When the kingdom of Tunis learned that King Escariano and Captain +Tirant were coming with such a mighty force, they sent word to +them, begging them not to harm them. Since their lord had died, +they would be happy to obey them and to do whatever they +commanded. They willingly accepted, and entered the city of +Tunis very peacefully. Tirant had them swear to accept King +Escariano as their lord, and all the cities, villas and castles +surrendered to him. + +While Tirant was feeling very content, the news reached him that +six large ships had docked at the port of Constantine. He +immediately sent Melquisedic, giving him many doubloons, and +ordered him to load the six ships with wheat, and send them to +Constantinople. + +Melquisedic departed and quickly carried out Tirant's orders, and +in a few days they were stocked, and they set sail. Then Tirant +had King Escariano take possession of the kingdom of Tunis, and +they swore their allegiance to him as their king and lord. + +When all these things had been done, he felt like the happiest +man in the world. He begged King Escariano to go with him to +Constantinople, with all his forces, to recover the Empire of +Greece that the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk had seized. +And King Escariano told him that he would be very happy to carry +out everything that he commanded. + +He also told Lord Agramunt, King of Fez and Bogia, to go to his +kingdoms and to enlist as many men as could go with him. Lord +Agramunt was very happy, and he left immediately. Then King +Escariano wrote letters to the entire kingdom of Tunis, to all +the captains and knights, telling them to be in the city of +Constantine on a certain day with all their arms and everything +they needed for battle. And in three months they were in the +city of Constantine. There were forty-four thousand men on +horseback and one hundred thousand on foot from the kingdom of +Tremicen and from Tunis. Then came the King of Fez and Bogia, +Lord Agramunt, with twenty thousand men on horseback and fifty +thousand foot soldiers. + +While these men were coming, the galley of Knight Espercius +arrived with many ships, galleys and other vessels, from Genoa, +Spain, Venice and Pisa, and there were even more. When Espercius +disembarked from the galley, he told Tirant that he had carried +out everything he had been charged with. Tirant was very +satisfied at all this. He quickly had the galley loaded, and he +told Espercius that he wanted him to go as his ambassador to the +King of Sicily, and he replied that he would do it gladly. +Tirant gave him instructions about what to say to the King of +Sicily, and Knight Espercius went aboard his galley and set out +for Sicily. + +A few days after the ambassador had left, all the ships were +together in the port of Constantine, and when Tirant saw that he +had enough vessels, and that he would need no more, he paid for +the fleet for one year. Then he immediately had thirty ships +stocked with wheat and supplies from the Barbary Coast. When the +ships were loaded, a day was set for all the armed men to meet. +Those on horseback and those on foot, and all the people in the +city and many others came to a beautiful spot in front of the +city of Constantine. Tirant had a very tall cenotaph made there +so that all the people could be around it. Then Tirant, King +Escariano, the King of Fez and many other barons and knights went +onto the cenotaph until it was completely filled. The others +stayed down below, and when the people were silent, Tirant spoke +briefly, and a friar gave a sermon. + +When the sermon was over, all the Moors who were not baptized +cried out, asking for baptism. Tirant immediately had large +basins filled with water, as well as conches, casks and tubs, and +all the friars and clerics came, for Tirant had had many +monasteries and even more churches built in the cities he had +taken, and many clerics and friars had come from the Christian +realms. Everyone was baptized--those who were leaving as well as +those who were staying behind--and in three days three hundred +thirty-four thousand Moors--men, women and children--were +baptized. + +Afterward, Tirant went to talk to King Escariano, and he said to +him: + +"I have been thinking, my lord and brother, that if it is to your +liking, instead of going with us by sea you could return to your +kingdom of Ethiopia, and enlist as many men as possible, foot +soldiers and cavalry, and I will go by sea with these men. And +with you on one side and me on the other, we will catch the +sultan and the Turk in the middle, and we will destroy them." + +King Escariano said he would prefer to go with him, but that he +understood how much aid he could give him with all his men, and +he was content to do so. The book explains that this King +Escariano was a very strong and valiant knight, and that he was +totally black. For he was lord of the Negritos of Ethiopia, and +was called King Jamjam. He was very powerful, owning many horses +as well as great treasures, and he was well loved by his vassals. +His kingdom was so large that it extended to Barbary, and the +kingdom of Tremicen, and on the other side to the Indies and +Abyssinia through which the River Tigris passes. + +Then King Escariano prepared to depart with five hundred knights, +and he and the queen took their leave of Tirant, and the King and +Queen of Fez, and all the other barons. Tirant accompanied him +more than a league, and then he returned to the city of +Constantine to give the order for the men to ready themselves +with their horses and their entire army. Here the history ceases +to speak of Tirant, and it returns to Ambassador Espercius who +was going to the island of Sicily. + +After Ambassador Espercius left the port of Constantine, he had +such favorable weather that in a few days he reached the island +of Sicily. He learned that the king was in the city of Messina, +and he went there. When he was near the port he dressed very +well and had all his men put on their finery. Then he +disembarked and went to the king's palace. + +When he was before the king, he bowed, and the king honored him +and asked the reason for his coming. The ambassador answered: + +"Most excellent sir, Tirant lo Blanc sends me to Your Majesty as +his ambassador." + +He immediately gave the ambassador a very fine room, and he had +everything he needed brought to him. He also sent beef of an ox +and pork and fresh bread to the galley for the men. + +On the morning of the following day, after the king had heard +mass, he summoned his council, and when they were seated in a +great hall he told the ambassador to explain his mission. The +ambassador said: + +"Most excellent sir, Your Excellency is aware that Tirant lo +Blanc was carrying on a war for the Emperor of Constantinople +against the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk. It happened that +they took from the emperor all the lands Tirant had conquered, +and so he has decided to take the mightiest force he can to +Constantinople. He begs Your Highness to go with him personally +with all your forces, to help carry out the conquest of the +Empire of Greece. And since he has so much confidence in your +lordship he will be here very soon." + +The ambassador said no more. The king quickly replied: + +"Knight, it makes me very happy to know of the good fortune of my +brother Tirant, and I am very pleased to be able to help him." + +The ambassador stood and thanked the king. When they left the +parley, the king had letters drawn up to all the barons and +knights of Sicily, and to all the cities and royal villas, that +on a certain day they should send all their magistrates to the +city of Palermo, because he had decided to hold a general +parliament there. + +On the appointed day the king and all those who were invited were +in Palermo, and when the parliament opened the king asked the +entire kingdom for aid. They were all happy to give their +assistance, and those who could decided to go with him. When the +parliament was over, all who had decided to go quickly made +ready, and in a short time the king gathered four thousand +horses, and he had at his disposal a large fleet of ships and +many provisions. + +Here the book ceases to speak of the King of Sicily, who is +putting all his ships in order, and gathering all the provisions +and the horses and arms, and it returns to the six ships Tirant +had sent to Constantinople, loaded with wheat. + +After the six ships had left the port of Constantine they had +such a favorable wind that in a few days they reached the Port of +Valona, which is in Greece. There they received news that the +sultan and the Turk had passed the Bosphorus with many ships and +galleys that they had sent for from Alexandria and Turkey, and +that they had laid siege to the city of Constantinople. The +emperor was extremely concerned, and all those in the city prayed +continually to Jesus Christ to send Tirant so that they could be +freed from their captivity. At the same time they felt very +confident because they were sure that Tirant was coming with all +his forces. The princess returned to the emperor's palace to +console her father, and she told him to gather courage, for Our +Lord would help them. The emperor had made Hippolytus his +captain-major, and every day he performed great acts of chivalry. +If it had not been for him, the sultan would have taken the city +before Tirant arrived. + +When the captains of the six ships learned that the sultan's +forces were about to fall on Constantinople they sent a courier +by land to the emperor, informing him that they were there, in +the port of Valona, but that they did not dare go on to aid His +Majesty out of fear of the Moorish army that was facing the city. +However, they notified His Majesty that Tirant had already left +the city of Constantine and that he was coming with great haste +to assist him. In addition, they armed a brigantine and sent it +to Tirant to warn him that the Turk and the sultan had laid siege +to the city of Constantinople. The brigantine left very secretly +and steered for Sicily, and it had such favorable weather that in +a few days it reached the port of Palermo. + +As soon as King Escariano had left Constantine, Tirant ordered +all the horses, the food supplies and the people brought +together. The thirty ships stocked with wheat arrived, and he +had them filled with men. When they were all on board, Tirant, +the King of Fez and Plaerdemavida went on the ship, along with +all the knights who had been on land with Tirant. When +everything was ready, they sailed toward Sicily. + +When the brigantine that had come from the port of Valona saw +Tirant's fleet, it sailed out of the port and steered toward +them, asking for the captain's ship, and it was pointed out to +them. When the brigantine was next to Tirant's ship they told +him that the six ships were in the port of Valona and that they +had not been able to pass by the sultan's fleet, and of the siege +that had been laid against the city. This made Tirant very +angry, and he sailed to the port of Palermo where he saw the +ships of the King of Sicily that began to celebrate with trumpets +and bombards. Those of Tirant answered them, and they raised +such a din that it seemed as though the world was going to cave +in. + +As soon as Tirant's armada was in port and had laid anchor, the +King of Sicily came on board Tirant's ship and there they +embraced and kissed. The King of Sicily honored all the barons +and knights who were on Tirant's ship, and he kissed and embraced +the King of Fez, and they all went on land together. Tirant +ordered that no one on the ships was to go on land, since he +wanted to leave the following day. The King of Sicily had his +queen come to the sea, and she honored Tirant and the King of Fez +and the queen, especially when she heard that she had been the +servant of so virtuous a lady as the princess. They all went to +the palace together, with a great multitude of ladies and +maidens, and other people who followed them. When they were in +the palace a splendid meal was prepared for them, and they ate +their fill with great pleasure from all sorts of victuals. + +When they left their tables, Tirant and the King of Sicily went +into a chamber. The Queen of Sicily and the King of Fez, along +with his wife, remained in the hall with many ladies and +gentlemen, and they began to dance and entertain themselves. +Tirant told the King of Sicily about all the misfortunes he had +suffered, and how afterward Our Lord had protected him and had +given him a great victory, and how he had conquered all of +Barbary. Then he told him of the condition the emperor was in, +and that he needed their aid immediately. The King of Sicily +answered him: + +"My brother and my lord, the horses and arms have been prepared, +along with most of the men." + +Tirant answered: + +"My brother and lord, I beg you to have a proclamation sent out +through the city that everyone shall gather, as you wish to +depart this evening." + +The King of Sicily immediately sent one of his chamberlains, and +the trumpeters went through the city commanding all those who +were to leave to gather together, and it was quickly done. +Tirant and the king went back to the hall with the queen, and +there they found a little diversion. The Queen of Sicily drew +apart with the Queen of Fez, and embraced her, asking her many +questions about the princess, about her beauty and about the love +between Tirant and the princess. The Queen of Fez praised the +princess, saying she would never be able to tell of all her +wonderful qualities. She passed lightly over the love affair +with great discretion. Then she began to flatter the queen--an +art at which she was a master--telling her that after Her +Highness, the princess, she was without equal in the world; that +she had never seen or heard of a lady with such a genteel mind or +so much beauty as Her Majesty, and that she was very much in love +with her and her singular qualities; and she told her many other +things, all of which gave the Queen of Sicily great pleasure. + +After the party and celebrations had ended it was time to dine, +and they ate with great satisfaction. When they had left the +table, Tirant begged the King of Sicily to make ready quickly, +and the king told him he would. They took their leave of the +Queen of Sicily and of all those who were staying with her. The +King of Sicily entrusted the regency of the kingdom to a +cousin-german of the queen, who was Duke of Messina, a good and +virtuous knight. He made him viceroy, and put the queen and his +entire household in his charge. + +When everything was done that was necessary, the king and Tirant +and all their company gathered together, and the entire fleet, +Tirant's as well as that of the King of Sicily, set sail. At the +port of Valona the six ships loaded with wheat were waiting, and +they were very pleased when they saw Tirant's fleet. + +Here the book ceases talking about Tirant and continues with the +story of King Escariano. As soon as King Escariano left Tirant, +he and his wife, the queen, rode until they came to his land--the +Kingdom of Ethiopia. After he had rested a few days, he called +all the barons and knights of his kingdom to the city of +Trogodita, and he told them: + +"It must have come to your knowledge that I was the prisoner of +the captain of the Christians: Tirant lo Blanc. He is the best +knight in the world, for he gave us our liberty and made us his +companion in arms. Furthermore, he has given me as my wife the +daughter of the King of Tremicen, along with that kingdom, and he +has also given to me the Kingdom of Tunis. Now he must carry out +the conquest of the Greek Empire for the Emperor of +Constantinople--because the sultan and the Grand Turk have taken +away his entire empire. So he has called on me, as his brother +and servant, to help him with all my power. Thus, I beg all of +you who are willing, to come with me to Constantinople." + +One by one, they each responded that they loved him with a great +love, and that they would follow him and die for him, not only in +Constantinople but to the ends of the world. + +King Escariano thanked them all. Then he sent messages to all +the cities and towns of his kingdom that all who wished to put +themselves at his service--both cavalry and foot soldiers, +citizens and foreigners--should come to the city of Trogodita. +When they had all gathered there, King Escariano found that as +part of his army he had at his command twenty thousand horsemen, +strong and able with weapons. The queen also made ready, and +they left the city of Trogodita with their entire army. + +Here the book returns to Tirant lo Blanc's armada as they are +going to Constantinople. + +When Tirant was at the port of Valona he sent a galley into the +port and commanded the captains of the six ships to come out of +the port and follow the armada. So they set sail and came out of +the port and followed the fleet. When the armada was in the +canal of Romania it set its course for the port of Gigeo, which +is the port of Troy, and there they waited for the rest of the +armada to join them. + +Tirant held counsel with the King of Sicily and the King of Fez +and all the other barons and knights, for he knew that the +sultan's entire armada was in the port of Constantinople, and +that they had more than three hundred vessels. It was decided to +send a man overland who knew the Moorish language, and who would +go into Constantinople at night to inform the emperor that Tirant +and his entire armada were in the port of Troy, a little more +than one hundred miles from Constantinople. They did not want to +give him any sort of letter, so that if he were taken prisoner +by the Moors they would not have any warning. So they would tell +him everything he should say to the emperor. + +When the council was over Tirant called a knight from Tunis who +had been a Moor of the royal house. His name was Sinegerus, and +he was a very ingenious and eloquent man, and a valiant knight. +He had been a captive in Constantinople, and knew the area well. +Tirant told him everything he was to say to the emperor and the +princess, and he gave him his seal so the emperor would have +faith in him. + +This knight dressed himself in Moorish fashion as a lackey. A +brigantine picked him up, and at night they put him ashore a +league from the Moorish camp that was laying siege to the city of +Constantinople. The knight carefully turned away from the +encampment and set out for the city, but before he could escape +he fell into the hands of spies from the Moorish camp. He spoke +to them very discreetly in their language, and told them he was +one of them, and they let him pass. When he reached the city, +the men who were guarding the gate seized him, thinking he was +from the Moorish encampment. He told them not to harm him +because he was Tirant's ambassador, and that he was coming to +talk to the emperor. The guards immediately took him to the +emperor who, at that moment, was getting up from the dinner +table. + +When Sinegerus was before the emperor, he knelt and kissed his +hand and foot, and gave him Tirant's seal. The emperor looked at +it and recognized Tirant's coat of arms. Then the emperor +embraced him, telling him he was very welcome. Sinegerus said: + +"Most excellent Sire, I was sent here by that great captain +Tirant lo Blanc who commends himself in grace and mercy to Your +Majesty, for soon, with the help of God our Lord, he will free +you from all your enemies. In addition, he begs you to put all +your cavalry in order, and have the city well guarded, for +tomorrow morning he will attack the Moorish armada, and he fears +that when the Moors see their squadron lost they will mount a +powerful attack against the city. Tirant is coming with enough +might to take them and kill them all, and of this Your Majesty +should not have the slightest doubt." + +"Friend," said the emperor, "we feel very relieved by what you +have told us. May our Lord grant us the grace that it will be as +you have said, for we have so much trust in the great virtue and +chivalry of Tirant, that with the help of God he will fulfill our +good desire and his own." + +The emperor immediately summoned Hippolytus, his high captain, +and when he was before him he said: + +"Our captain, you know that Tirant is in the port of Troy with a +great squadron. He has decided to attack the Moorish army +tomorrow morning, and so it is very important that you quickly +call all the cavalry in the city and all the constables and +captains of the foot soldiers, and that you have your men ready +in case the Moors decide to attack the city." + +After the ambassador, Sinegerus, had explained his mission, he +asked the emperor's permission to go pay reverence to the empress +and the princess, and the emperor gave his consent. When he had +received permission he went to the empress' chambers where he +found her daughter with all the ladies. The knight bowed to the +empress and kissed her hand, and then the princess's hand. Then, +kneeling, he said: + +"Ladies, my captain and lord Tirant lo Blanc sends me to kiss +your hands. And he offers to come here very soon to pay his +respects to you." + +When the princess heard that Tirant was coming and that he was so +close, she became so happy that she nearly fainted. For some +time she seemed delirious with happiness. When she had +recovered, the empress and the princess rejoiced with the +ambassador. They asked him about many things, especially what +men were coming in Tirant's company. + +The ambassador answered that the King of Sicily was coming with +him with all his forces, and the King of Fez with all his forces +and with his wife, the queen, whose name was Plaerdemavida. And +all the barons of the kingdoms of Tunis and Tremicen were coming. +Many other knights who had accepted payment for their services +were coming from Spain, France and Italy because of the great +fame and renown of Tirant. And also that magnanimous King +Escariano, the lord of Ethiopia, was coming overland. + +"He is coming with a mighty army of men on foot and on horseback, +and he is bringing his wife, the queen, with him. She is very +desirous of seeing Your Excellency, Princess, because of the +great beauty she has heard attributed to you. For this queen is +one of the most beautiful women in the world, and possesses all +virtues." + +He also told them how Plaerdemavida had married Lord Agramunt, +and that she was coming so His Majesty the emperor and the ladies +would honor her for the wedding. He explained to them at length +how Tirant had carried out the conquest of Barbary, and how he +had given away all that he had conquered and won, and had kept +nothing. And that everyone who saw him or heard of him adored +him. He told them many other virtuous and praiseworthy things +about Tirant, which neither ink nor words would suffice to +describe. + +When the empress and the princess heard about all Tirant's +virtues and singular acts, they were astonished at the great +grace that God, our Lord, had given him so that he was loved by +everyone. And they wept with happiness when they thought that he +would be the restorer and defender of the crown of the Empire of +Greece. For they were already beyond hope, and each of the women +thought they would be made captives and dishonored by the enemies +of the faith. And they were very pleased when he told them about +the coming of the Queen of Ethiopia, especially the princess, +because they had told her she was very beautiful and virtuous, +and she wanted very much to have her friendship. And they talked +late into the night. + +The empress remained in her chamber and the princess went to her +own. The ambassador took her by the arm and accompanied her, and +she asked him why he had kissed her hand three times. He +answered that it was by his lord Tirant's command, who begged her +to please pardon him, for he would never dare come to her because +of the great error he had committed. + +The princess answered: + +"Knight, tell my lord Tirant that where there is no error, there +is no need for forgiveness. But if he feels he has wronged me, I +beg him to correct it by coming here quickly, for it is the thing +I desire most in this world." + +The ambassador took his leave of the princess and went to the +lodging that the emperor had prepared for him. That night +Captain Hippolytus had a careful watch set up throughout the +city, and no one slept at all with their great fear of the Moors, +and because they were looking forward to the battle Tirant would +give the Moorish army. + +Here the book stops talking of the emperor who is having the city +well guarded, and goes back to tell about Widow Repose, alias the +Devil. + +When Widow Repose heard that Tirant was coming and that he was +already so nearby, she was stricken with such fear that she +thought she was going to die, and she said that her heart felt +terribly ill. She went into her chamber, and there she lamented +loudly, crying and striking her head and face, for at that moment +she felt she was dead, and she truly believed that Tirant would +deal a cruel sentence against her. Since she knew that he had +been informed by Plaerdemavida, she thought that if the princess +knew of the heinous crime she had accused her of, how could she +possibly face her? On the other hand, she was still terribly in +love with Tirant, and thus she was driven mad. + +She spent the entire night this way, fantasizing and struggling +within herself, for she did not know what to do. And it was not +something she dared tell to anyone, nor could she ask for advice, +because if she did they would all be her enemies. + +Finally she decided to poison herself in such a way that her +wickedness would not be known, so that her body would not be +burned or given to the dogs to eat. + +She immediately took some arsenic that she had for making a +depilatory, and she put it in a glass of water and drank it. She +left the door to her chamber open, undressed and lay down on the +bed. Then she began to cry loudly, saying that she was dying. +The maidens who were sleeping nearby heard the loud cries and +quickly got up and went to the Widow's chamber, and there they +found her screaming continuously. + +The empress and the princess got out of bed, and there was a +great uproar in the palace. The emperor got up quickly, thinking +the Moors had broken into the city with their weapons, or that +his daughter might have unexpectedly become ill. He fainted, and +the doctors were summoned. When the empress and the princess +heard that the emperor had fainted, they left Widow Repose and +went running to the emperor's chamber where they found him more +dead than alive. Then the princess began to wail loudly, and it +was terrible to see her anguish. The doctors came quickly and +immediately tended to him. As soon as he regained consciousness +he asked what had caused all the disturbance, and if the Moors +had entered the city. They told him no, but that Widow Repose +was having great dizzy spells, and that she was crying terribly +and was very close to death. The emperor ordered the doctors to +go, and to do whatever they could to save her. The doctors went +immediately, and at the very minute they reached her chambers, +she surrendered her soul to Pluto's realm. + +When the princess learned that Widow Repose had died, she wailed +loudly, because of her great love for her, for she had been +nursed by her. She had them place her in a beautiful coffin, +because she wanted her to be given a very honorable burial. In +the morning the emperor and all his court, the empress and the +princess and all the magistrates and honorable men of the city, +escorted the body of the Widow to the great church of Santa +Sofia, and there they held a very solemn funeral. Then the +emperor and all the people went back to the palace. + +Here the book leaves off speaking of Widow Repose and returns to +Tirant. After Tirant had put the knight Sinegerus ashore so that +he could warn the emperor, he had his entire fleet make ready. +He commanded his vessels to attack the ships, and the galleys to +attack the galleys. At the same time he ordered all the +captains, when they attacked the Moors, to create a tremendous +noise with trumpets, pipes and horns, and the others with +bombards and terrible cries to frighten them to death. + +When everything was ready he gave the order to set sail. All the +ships very quietly left the port of Troy at daybreak and sailed +all day and the following night. Our Lord favored them so much +that the entire day was foggy and misty and neither the Moors nor +the people in the city could see them. They came upon the +Moorish fleet two hours before daybreak while the Moorish armada +was completely unsuspecting. Then they attacked the Moorish +fleet mightily, with a great explosion of trumpets, pipes and +horns and loud cries, and many bombards that they shot +simultaneously. And the noise they made was so loud that it +seemed as though the earth and the sky would cave in. They built +great bonfires on each ship that lit up the heavens. When the +Moors heard such a loud noise and saw the light and the ships +bearing down on them, they were so frightened that they did not +know what they were doing, for they had been caught sleeping and +unarmed. All the ships were taken with little difficulty since +they were so alarmed that they gave no resistance. And there was +such a slaughter that it was a sight to see, for they beheaded +every man they found on the ships and spared no one. + +Those who threw themselves into the sea and swam ashore carried +the bad news to the sultan and the Turk. When the Moors in the +camp learned that all the ships had been seized and all the men +were dead, and they had heard the noise and seen the fires, they +did not know who had done it and they were frightened. They all +armed and mounted their horses and prepared for battle, because +they were afraid they would be tricked as the ships were. They +went down to the water's edge so that no one would come ashore. + +When Tirant saw that all the Moorish ships had been taken, he was +the happiest man in the world, and he knelt down, and with great +devotion he said: + +"Great Lord, full of infinite mercy and grace, I give thanks to +Your immense goodness for all the help You have given me. +Without losing one of my soldiers You have let me take three +hundred ships." + +This victory was won so quickly that when they had finished +taking the ships it had barely turned daylight. When those on +the city wall heard the loud noise of the bombards and the +trumpets and shouting near the port, and saw so many lights, they +were astonished, for it seemed that all the might in the world +was there. They realized that it was Tirant's armada that had +attacked the Moorish fleet, and they were surprised that at that +moment the Moorish camp had not attacked the city. And everyone +in the city became excited when they realized that Tirant was +attacking the Moorish ships. + +The emperor heard the noise, got up quickly and mounted his +horse, along with the few who were in the palace at that time. +He went through the streets asking all the people to be ready to +defend the city if necessary. The Moors were so upset by the +lost ships and afraid of a landing that they paid little +attention to the city. They were trapped and could not turn +back, and they thought they would all be dead or taken captive. +They carefully watched the shoreline so that no one from +Tirant's armada could come ashore. + +When the day was bright and clear, Tirant had his men board all +the ships that he had taken from the Moors, then they raised +their sails and the entire armada left the port of Constantinople +and made for the Black Sea along the Bosphorus. Tirant thought +that if he cut off their way by land he could do whatever he +wanted with them. So he pretended to be leaving with the booty, +taking all the Moorish ships. + +That day Tirant sailed toward the Black Sea until, in the +evening, the Moors lost sight of the ships. Tirant did this so +that the Moors would think he was leaving and would not try to +stop them when they went ashore. When the night was dark, Tirant +had his entire squadron turn back toward land. He touched land +four leagues from the Moorish camp, and the men disembarked with +all the horses and artillery they needed, and enough food for +their encampment. The Moors were completely unaware that they +were there and they left their ships well supplied. + +When all the men were ready and on horseback, they took several +mules and went at least half a league from their ships along the +basin of a river, until they reached a large stone bridge. Here +Tirant had all the men set up camp at the head of the bridge next +to the river. They had the river between them and the enemy so +that the Moors would not fall upon them during the night. Tirant +had his tent set up on the bridge so that no one could go past, +and he had many bombards installed on the bridge so that if the +enemy came they would be well met. He also sent his spies toward +the Moors' camp so that he would be forewarned if anyone came. + +As soon as they were settled, Tirant took a foot soldier and +dressed him like a Moor to deliver a letter to the emperor in +Constantinople. The letter told about his victories over the +ships of the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk. It said they had +captured three hundred ships filled with food, and that he wanted +to send the food to the emperor. And finally it asked the +emperor how much food the city had. + +When Tirant had finished the letter he gave it to the man he had +chosen to go to Constantinople. His name was Carillo, and he was +Greek, a native of Constantinople, so he knew very well how to +get there. By night he took back roads to the city so that the +Moors in the camp did not see him. When he was at the gate the +guards seized him and took him to the emperor. He bowed, and +kissed his hand and foot, and gave him Tirant's letter. The +emperor was very happy to get it, and he read it immediately, and +then praised God for His mercy. He called the empress and his +daughter, the princess, and showed them Tirant's letter, and they +were very pleased that Tirant had captured the Moors' ships. + +The emperor summoned his captain, Hippolytus, and showed him +Tirant's letter. Hippolytus immediately left the emperor and +with other men a search was made, and they found that they still +had provisions for three months. Hippolytus returned to the +emperor and told him: + +"Sire, we have enough supplies in the city to last three months, +or even four, if necessary. So, my lord, before we use up these +supplies, Tirant will have lifted the siege of the city." + +The emperor called his secretary, and had him write a letter to +Tirant, explaining in detail what he had decided. Then he called +Sinegerus, and said: + +"Knight, I want you to take this letter to Tirant, and also to +tell him everything you have seen." + +He replied that he would. When the ambassador Sinegerus had +taken the emperor's letter, he kissed his hand and foot and took +his leave. Then he went to say goodbye to the empress and the +princess, and he found her in her chamber. She begged him to +tell Tirant about her, and she hoped he would think of her. She +wanted him to think of how many hardships they had suffered since +she had seen him. In any case, she wanted to see him as soon as +possible, and if she couldn't, she was sure she would die. The +knight answered that he would do everything she commanded, and he +kissed her hand. The princess embraced him, and he bowed and +left the palace. He dressed as a Moor and took Carillo, who had +brought the letter to the emperor, as his companion. They left +the city at twelve o'clock midnight, and took the same roads by +which Carillo had come secretly, and no one in the Moorish camp +saw them. At dawn they reached the bridge where Tirant had his +camp. When the guards recognized them they let them pass, and +they went directly to Tirant's tent and found him already up. + +Tirant was very happy to see them, and he asked Sinegerus for +news about the emperor and the empress, and his heart, the +princess. He told him about everything he had seen, and what the +emperor told him. He also told him what the princess had said. + +When the sultan and the Turk discovered that Tirant had +disembarked and that he had set up camp on the stone bridge, they +were sure they were lost, for they saw that they could not escape +by sea or by land without falling into Tirant's hands. At the +same time, if they stayed there long they would die of hunger, +because they did not even have enough food to last two months +since their ships had not been able to unload their cargo. When +they saw the fate that was to befall them, like bold knights and +without showing the least faintness of heart they held council to +see what could be done. + +In this council there were terrible arguments. Some advised them +to attack the city: if they could take it they could hold fast +there until they received aid, for they could not imagine that +the city would not be well supplied. Others said they should set +up battle stations in front of Tirant's camp, because he was such +a valiant knight that he would be certain to do battle. And they +had so many excellent cavalry that they could not help but defeat +them. And even if they did not, it was better to die as knights +than to let themselves be trapped like sheep. And if fortune +smiled on them and allowed them to be the victors in battle they +could go past safely and stay there until they had taken the +city. + +Others were of the opinion that it would be better to send an +embassy to Tirant so he would grant them a truce and let them go +past. They would all go to their land and leave the Empire of +Greece behind, and they would also give back all the fortresses +they had taken, and all the prisoners and captives. At the end +of the council they decided to send an embassy to Tirant, and if +he would not let them go by, then they could take other measures: +First they could attack the city, and if they could not take it +then their last recourse would be to die like knights with their +swords in their hands. + +So the council ended, and they chose as their ambassadors the son +of the Grand Caramany and the Prince of Scythia, who were very +knowledgeable about war. They told them to estimate how many men +Tirant had and how many were ready and armed, and they gave them +instructions about everything they were to say and do. + +With the ambassadors went two hundred unarmed men on horses. +Before they left they sent a messenger to Tirant's camp to ask +for safe passage, and it was granted to them. The ambassadors +then set out on the road to the camp. + +Meanwhile, Tirant called the Marquis of Lizana, his admiral, and +told him to pay what was due to the hired ships. And he was to +divide their provisions into three parts, taking some to the +castle of Sinopoli, and others to the castle of Pera, and the +last to the city of Pera, along with five hundred soldiers. Then +the ships could return to their home ports. He also commanded +him to arm the ships that had been taken from the Moors and his +remaining ships, and to supply them well, and that were to go to +the city of Constantinople. + +"And after they have unloaded their cargo, let them appear +constantly in view of the Moors' encampment and bombarded them +and cause them as much harm as they can." + +The admiral did this, and also ordered two well armed galleys to +remain in the river, near Tirant's camp, in case he needed to +send them somewhere. Then Tirant went to the tent of the Queen +of Fez, and told her: + +"My sister, I beg you to go with these ships to Constantinople, +so that you can console the lady who holds my soul captive. I am +afraid that during this time, while I'm not able to go to her, +some harm may befall her, and that would be worse than death for +me." + +The gracious queen would not allow Tirant to speak. Instead, +with a kindly face and soft voice, she said: + +"My brother, to me your requests are commands. I am deeply in +your debt because of the great benefits and honors I've received +from you." + +Then Tirant embraced her and kissed her on the cheek, and said to +her: + +"My sister, I cannot thank you enough for the great love I see in +you." + +The queen tried to kiss his hands, and Tirant would not allow it. + +Later, the morning of the following day, the queen went to depart +with all her maidens; and the King of Sicily, along with Tirant +and five hundred armed men, accompanied her to the sea. When the +queen had boarded a ship they took their leave of her and +returned to camp. The admiral had all the ships set sail, and +they started on their way to Constantinople. + +Then the Moorish ambassadors reached Tirant's camp, and were +astonished at all the horses and men there. In Tirant's tent the +son of the Grand Caramany explained his mission: + +"You know, great captain, how many people are lost in battles of +this sort. And many more would be lost in this one where graves +are prepared for so many soldiers. So, to avoid all that +inhumanity we, ambassadors of our lord the sultan, and the Grand +Turk, have come to learn what your lordship's intention is in +this matter. If it please you, we would ask for a truce of three +or more months, and if your generous person should wish it, a +lasting peace for one hundred and one years. They will be very +happy to be friends of your friends and enemies of your enemies, +in brotherhood. If this is done they will leave the empire of +Greece, restoring to your dominion all cities, castles, towns and +lands within the boundaries of Greece. In addition, they will +free all Christian prisoners held in our power, and they will +comply with any other reasonable demand. But if you do not wish +to come to an agreement with them, you may be certain that they +will very quickly give you a terrible lesson with cruel weapons." + +And that was the end of his speech. + +Tirant saw immediately that he had finally achieved the glory he +desired so much. But with great discretion he did not agree at +once; he told them to rest, and that he would soon give them a +reply. So they took their leave, and Tirant's knights took them +back to their tents with honor. + +Like a virtuous captain, Tirant sent word for his illustrious +kings and dukes and noble chivalry to come to his tent the next +day, for after mass he wanted to hold counsel concerning the +embassy. And as they all loved Tirant deeply, they quickly went +to his tent. After they had heard mass they each sat down +according to their rank, and when there was silence in the +council, Tirant said: + +"Most illustrious and magnificent lords, your lordships are aware +of the embassy sent by the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk, +asking us for a truce. In the first place we must consider that +they are in bad straits. We know that we have them in a position +where they need food and other things necessary to survive. My +opinion is that we could not give greater service to His Majesty +the emperor than if we did not grant them a truce or any +agreement at all. Instead we should have them place themselves +in our power with no assurances concerning their property or +their lives. And if they do not agree to this, let them do all +the harm they can, for we are certain we can make them perish +from hunger. Furthermore, if we want to do battle with them it +is in our power, because we are much more powerful than they. +However, I believe it would be great madness for us to battle +them, for they are desperate, and we could lose many of our own +men and put the entire country in danger. My lords and brothers, +my opinion is this: we should give them no reply at all without +consulting His Majesty, the emperor, so that if anything of the +sort should happen, we would not be blamed. So I beg all your +lordships, my brothers, to advise me about the reply that should +be given." + +And he finished his speech. + +*** + + + +In the meantime the fleet left Tirant's camp to go to the +illustrious city of Constantinople, and the wind and weather were +so favorable that on that same day, two hours before Phoebus +ended his journey, they reached the city. The noble citizens and +the townspeople, hearing the cries of happiness, ran to the wall +to see the help they wanted so much. The fleet came in, flying +the flags of His imperial Majesty and the valiant captain, +Tirant. There was no less happiness inside the city, as they +rang the bells and praised divine Providence. + +When the princess saw Plaerdemavida, her servant, coming so +triumphantly as a queen, she dismounted in order to pay her +honor. The queen threw herself at her feet to honor her, but the +lady would not allow that, and instead kissed her many times on +the mouth as a sign of her great love. The night the virtuous +Queen of Fez arrived at Constantinople the princess wanted her to +sleep with her so they could talk at their leisure. When they +were in bed the princess said: + +"My virtuous sister and lady, my heart has been very anxious all +the time you were gone. I couldn't write down all the reasons +for this, for I loved you more than all the ladies and maidens in +the world. I found it impossible to live without you, especially +when I thought that because of me you had died a frightening +death at the terrible hands of the sea. I beg you, my sister and +lady, please tell me how I offended virtuous Tirant who so +cruelly left the one who loved him more than her own life. And +don't think that I am the way I was when you left me, because +love has won over me so that I am beside myself. And I'm afraid +that if I don't see my Tirant soon my life will not last long." + +The lady ended her pitiful words, weeping uncontrollably. The +virtuous queen comforted her with tender words, and when the +princess had recovered, the queen said: + +"My lady, Your Highness should rejoice at one thing: you are not +at all to blame. I told Tirant everything. When he knew the +truth he was very confused and ashamed, and through me he asks +Your Majesty to pardon him. My lady, Your Highness should +forgive him because he was deceived by someone who was deeply +trusted, and Your Majesty is unaware of her cruelty. Trust me, +my lady, I have never failed you when you needed me. I will soon +have him come here to pay you homage, for I know that he truly +has no other desire than to honor you and offer his services to +Your Majesty." + +"My sister," said the princess, "I can see now that in the past +when you were in my service, you gave me good advice and I didn't +realize it. From now on I will do what you advise me." + +When the princess had finished, the queen said: + +"My lady, if Your Highness will do this I promise to fulfill your +desire very quickly--even more than you wish." + +And with these words and others like them, they spent most of the +night. The princess took great pleasure in the queen's words, +for it had been a long time since they had seen each other and +they had a great deal to talk about. The queen said: + +"My lady, let us give ourselves up to the night so that Your +Highness will not grow tired." + +And they did. + + *** + + + +When virtuous Tirant held council with the great kings, dukes, +counts and barons about the reply they would give to the +ambassadors of the sultan and the Turk, the council decided +unanimously that His Majesty the emperor should be consulted. +Tirant thought he had reached the end he so much desired to have +a justifiable reason for going and paying homage to the lady who +held his heart captive. + +Thinking that this business was of great importance, and that it +affected his honor more than it did the others', he decided to go +alone, secretly, to the noble, beloved city to talk with His +Majesty, the emperor, and to know his decision. In that way +peace could be brought to the Empire of Greece, and he could +enjoy restful tranquility in the arms of his lady. + +When darkness of night fell, he spoke to the King of Sicily and +the King of Fez, and left the camp in their hands. Then he went +on board a galley and sailed to Constantinople, which was some +twenty miles from Tirant's camp. When Tirant reached the port +and the galley was anchored, it was ten o'clock at night. He +ordered the ship's commander not to leave. Then he disguised +himself, and disembarked, and when he was at the city gates, he +told the guards to open them, that he was a servant of Tirant who +had come to speak to His Majesty, the emperor. The guards let +him pass, and he went to the emperor's palace. When he was +inside they told him that the emperor had gone to bed. Tirant +went to the Queen of Fez's chamber and found her praying. When +the queen saw him she quickly recognized him and ran to embrace +him and kiss him, and she said: + +"Lord Tirant, I can't tell you how happy I am that you are here, +and now I have even more reason to thank God for hearing my +prayers. Come, my lord, so worthy of glory. It is time now for +you to receive the payment for your honorable deeds in the arms +of the lady who is your real happiness. And if you don't do what +I tell you to this time, I swear that you'll never have my help +again. Instead I'll go back to my land as quickly as I can." + +Tirant did not let the queen go on. He said: + +"My lady and sister, if I have disobeyed you in the past, I beg +you to forgive me. I promise and swear to you, on the order of +chivalry that I hold, that there will be nothing in the world +that you will command of me that I will not obey, even if I am +certain it will bring me death. For I am very sure that you +always gave me good advice, if only I had taken advantage of it." + +"Now then," said the queen, "we shall see what you are able to +do. You will have to go into a list in a closed field of battle, +because I won't consider you a knight if I don't see you as the +victor in a delicious battle. Wait here, and I will go talk to +the princess. I'll ask her to come here tonight to sleep with +me." + +The queen quickly left Tirant and went to the princess's chamber, +and found her ready to go to bed. When the princess saw the +queen, she said: + +"What has happened, sister, to bring you here in such a hurry?" + +The queen pretended to be very happy, and she put her head close +to the princess's and said: + +"My lady, please come sleep with me in my bed tonight. I have +many things to tell Your Majesty. A galley has come from +Tirant's camp, and a man came ashore and talked to me." + +The princess very happily told her she would do it, because she +had slept with her other times, and the queen had also slept in +her bed. They did this when they wanted to talk freely without +awakening the suspicion of the empress and the maidens. The +princess took the queen's hand, and they went to her chamber. +They found it in good order and well perfumed, as the queen had +prepared it. The princess quickly got into bed because of her +great desire to have news about Tirant, and her maidens helped +her undress. When the princess was in bed, they bade her a good +night--which they did not know was already prepared for her. + +When the maidens had left the bedroom the queen bolted the door +herself and told her maidens to go to sleep because she was going +to pray a little while, and she would go to bed later and did not +want anyone there. + +All the maidens went into another chamber where they slept. When +the queen had dismissed them all she went into the sitting room +and said to Tirant: + +"Glorious knight, strip yourself to your nightshirt, and go lie +beside the lady who loves you more than her own life. Apply the +spurs strongly and without mercy, as befits a knight. And don't +come to me with any squeamishness, because I swear to you on my +word as a queen that if you don't do it now you'll never get +another chance to have this much glory for the rest of your +life." + +When Tirant heard such beautiful words from the queen he knelt +down on the floor and kissed her hands and feet. Then he said: + +"My lady and my sister, you've bound my liberty with strong +chains. + +What you are doing for me is so great that, even if I were your +captive for the rest of my life, I don't believe I could repay +what I owe you." + +"My lord, Tirant," said the queen, "don't waste time. Take your +clothes off right now." + +The virtuous Tirant flung his clothes into the air, and in a +trice he was naked and barefoot. The queen took him by the hand +and led him to the bed where the princess was. The queen said to +the princess: + +"My lady, here is your adventurous knight whom Your Majesty loves +so much. Be a good companion to him, your grace, as one would +expect from Your Excellency. You're not unaware of how many +trials and hardships he has gone through to win your love. Make +wise use of him, for you are the discretion of the world, and he +is your husband. And Your Majesty should think of nothing but +the present, because one never knows what the future will bring." + +The princess answered: + +"False sister, I never thought you would betray me like this. +But I have confidence in the virtue of my lord, Tirant, who will +make up for your great lack." + +And don't imagine that during this conversation Tirant was idle; +instead he applied himself to his labor. The queen left them and +went to a bed in the chamber, to sleep. When the queen had gone, +the princess turned to Tirant who was pushing forward in his +battle, and she said: + +"Calm yourself, my lord, and don't try to use your bellicose +strength, because the strength of a delicate maiden is not so +great that she can resist such a knight. Upon your mercy, don't +treat me like this. The struggle of love doesn't require great +force; it is not won by strength, but by ingenious flattery and +sweet deception. Stop your insistence, my lord; don't be cruel: +don't think that this is a camp or list of infidels; don't try to +conquer someone who is already conquered by your goodness. Let +me have part of your manliness so that I may resist you. Oh, my +lord! + +How can something which is forced give you pleasure? Oh! Can +love allow you to harm the thing that is loved? Restrain +yourself, my lord, upon your virtue and nobility. Wait, poor +thing! The arms of love should not cut, nor should the enamored +lance break or wound! Have pity, have compassion on this +solitary maiden. Oh, false and cruel knight! I will cry out! +Wait, for I want to scream. Lord Tirant, will you have no +compassion on me? You are not Tirant. Wretched me! Is this +what I desired so? Oh, hope of my life, here is your dead +princess!" + +And do not think that Tirant refrained from doing his work +because of the pitiful words of the princess, for in a short time +Tirant was the conqueror in the delicious battle, and the +princess gave up her arms and swooned. Tirant jumped out of bed, +thinking he had killed her, and he went to call the queen so that +she would come and help him. The queen got up quickly and took a +jar of water and sprinkled it on the princess's face, and rubbed +her temples. She recovered her senses, and giving a deep sigh, +she said: + +"Even if these are the signs of love, they should not be used +with so much force and cruelty. Now, lord Tirant, I must believe +that you did not love me with a virtuous love. If only you had +waited for the day of solemnity and the ceremonial festivities to +lawfully enter the doors of my chastity." + +The queen did not wait for the princess to say any more, and with +a smiling face she said: + +"Oh, my blessed lady! How well you know how to act like you're +hurt! A knight's arms do no harm to a maiden. May God give me a +death like the one you pretend he's giving you! May I be +attacked by the illness you're talking about if by morning you +don't feel completely cured." + +The princess was not entirely consoled at the loss of her +virginity, and since she did not want to answer the queen's +insane words, she kept quiet. The two lovers spent the entire +night playing that happy sport that lovers play. + + CHAPTER XIII + +THE WEDDING + + During the night Tirant told the princess about all the +misfortunes he had suffered because of her love. Then he took +great pleasure in telling her about his prosperity and victory, +but finally he told her that he felt less glory in any of it than +he did in conquering her illustrious person. When she had +gathered her strength and her sweet anger was over, she told +Tirant about the life she had led while he was gone, and how +during this time she had never seen anyone laugh or take joy in +anything. Withdrawn from all delights, alone in continual +prayer, deep in religion because of her love, she had been able +to survive until they brought her the happy news of his arrival. +And they exchanged many other delicious words, full of loving +sighs. + +The queen, who was responsible for this affair, saw that daylight +was near, and she realized that when people in love have some +pleasure, they do not think of anything that would disturb them. +She got up from her bed, anxiously, and went to where the lovers +were. She told them that since their night had been good she +hoped God would give them a good morning. They returned her good +wishes very graciously, and she found them very happy, taking joy +in one another. The queen said to Tirant: + +"Lord of the Empire of Greece: Get up, it's already day. You +must leave as secretly as you can so that no one will see you." + +Tirant would have liked that night to last a year. Many times, +while kissing the princess, he begged her to forgive him. The +princess answered: + +"My lord Tirant, love obliges me to forgive you, on the condition +that you come back soon, for I cannot live without you. Now I +know what love is, and before I did not know." + +The lady had barely uttered the last syllable of her loving words +when Tirant said: + +"Your Highness will see how short the war will become so that I, +your captive, can wait on you with loving service." + +And with a kiss of deepest love they parted. The queen took him +by the hand and led him through a back door into the orchard. +Saying very courteous words, they each went their way. Tirant +went to Hippolytus' quarters, and the queen went back to the +princess, and took Tirant's place in the bed. And there they +slept peacefully until well into the day. + +Hippolytus' happiness was by no means slight when he saw his +master and lord Tirant. With the great love he had for him, he +threw himself at his feet, attempting to kiss them. Tirant would +not allow it, and lifted him from the floor, and embraced and +kissed him. They greeted each other at length, for they had not +seen each other since fate had carried off Tirant. Tirant told +Hippolytus to go to the palace and tell the emperor that he had +come and wished to speak with him secretly. + +Hippolytus quickly went to the emperor and told him of Tirant's +arrival. The emperor thought Tirant must have come because of +very important matters, and he told Hippolytus to have him come +immediately. Hippolytus went to his quarters and told Tirant +what the emperor had said. The two relatives left Hippolytus' +lodging in disguise and went to the palace. They found the +emperor in his chamber as he was finishing dressing. + +When Tirant was before His Majesty he threw himself at his feet, +to kiss them. The great lord would not permit it, and instead +took Tirant by the hand, lifted him from the floor and kissed him +on the mouth. Tirant kissed his hand, and the emperor took his +hand and led him to another chamber where he made him sit at his +side. Tears ran down the emperor's cheeks because of his great +happiness, and because of all the losses he had suffered--which +he knew well would not have happened if Tirant had been there. +Tirant said: + +"Most excellent Sire, the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk have +sent me on this mission which has many conditions that affect +Your Majesty. + +Since it would be very presumptuous of me to give a reply without +the express license of Your Majesty, I entreat your grace that it +be examined carefully in the council and a decision be reached +about what is to be done, so that if it should be brought up in +the future, I would not be held to blame. The Moorish sultan and +the Grand Turk are asking Your Majesty for a truce of three +months, or for longer if Your Majesty wishes. And if you want a +lasting peace for one hundred one years, they will be happy to +form an alliance with Your Majesty to be friends of your friends +and enemies of your enemies." + +The emperor answered: + +"Our virtuous captain and son: We hold you in such high esteem +and trust that we would have accepted whatever you decided. But +to please you, I will hold counsel on the matter." + +The great emperor ordered the council to meet quickly so that +Tirant could return to camp. Taking his leave of the emperor, +Tirant went to pay his respects to the empress and the princess. +He found them together in the princess's chamber because she was +pretending to be sick, and the empress had come to be with her. +The empress was very glad to see Tirant. The princess pretended +to greet him coldly so as not to arouse suspicions about what had +happened the night before. They spoke of many things, and the +princess especially asked Tirant if he had any news about the +arrival of the Queen of Ethiopia. Tirant answered: + +"My lady, three days ago I received a letter, by messenger, from +King Escariano. He asked me not to do battle with the Moors +until he arrived. And he assured me that he would be here in two +weeks." + +The princess answered: + +"Captain, there is nothing I desire more than to see this queen. +I hear that her beauty is greater than that of anyone in the +world." + +Tirant answered: + +"My lady, they told you the truth. After Your Majesty I don't +think a more beautiful or more virtuous woman can be found +anywhere. She has the same desire you do: her only reason for +coming here is because of all the perfection she has heard about +Your Majesty." + +While Tirant, the empress and the princess were speaking, +Stephanie, Duchess of Macedonia, came into the chamber. With the +absence of her husband, she had entered religion and did not want +to leave it until that fortunate day when she hoped all her +troubles would end. She threw herself at Tirant's feet and cried +aloud, tears flowing down her cheeks. Tirant would not allow the +duchess to kneel. He took her arm and raised her from the floor. +Then he embraced her and kissed her, and said: + +"I promise you, on my order of chivalry, that before a month has +gone by the Duke of Macedonia and all the others will be out of +prison and they will be here. That is the sole reason I came." + +When the Duchess of Macedonia heard Tirant's words, she threw +herself at his feet, wanting to kiss them. Tirant would not +allow it, and lifting her from the floor he kissed her again. +Then, taking her hands, they sat down and told each other about +their past difficulties. + +While the captain was entertaining the ladies and consoling the +Duchess of Macedonia, the emperor called for a council meeting +and explained the mission that the sultan and the Turk had sent +Tirant on, just as Tirant had told it to him. When all the +council members learned the good news there were arguments and +disagreements among them. Finally, after much deliberation, they +sent for the emperor and said to him: + +"Your Majesty, we advise you to make a lasting peace with the +sultan and with the Turk and with all the other great lords in +their company, with the stipulation that they put themselves in +Your Excellency's power as your prisoners. And they must not be +released until they have carried out all their promises, and the +other Moors have left, unarmed and on foot." + +The emperor was very happy with this decision since it was such +good advice. He went to the princess's chamber where he found +Tirant, and taking him by the hand, he had him sit by his side in +great friendship, and told him what he wanted. + +"Tirant, my captain and son, our council has come to the decision +we mentioned. So, I beg you to depart as quickly as you can to +give reply to the embassy." + +Tirant said he would do as he was ordered, and he took his leave +of the emperor. He went to the empress and the princess and bade +them farewell, and they begged him to do everything he could to +liberate the Empire of Greece. Tirant replied: + +"My ladies, may Our Lord grant that it be done as quickly as Your +Excellencies wish." + +He took his leave of the princess, and the queen accompanied him +to the door of his chamber to tell him that as soon as it was +dark he should go through the orchard door and come to her room +where he could talk to the princess. Tirant said he would do as +she commanded. + +After Tirant had left the ladies he went to Hippolytus' room to +wait for the dark of night so he could have his heart's desire. +Alone and in disguise, when the time was right he crept softly +through the familiar orchard toward the queen's chamber, and +there he found the princess, with the queen, waiting for him. +The princess greeted him with great happiness, and the three of +them went into the chamber. + +Tirant gamboled with the princess and they passed the time in +amorous solace and delicious chatter until it was time for bed. +The princess got into bed first, and the queen dismissed all the +ladies and put valiant Tirant at the side of his lady, who +treated him with more love than she had the night before. After +the queen had placed them in the list and they were in delicious +battle, she left to go to sleep, trusting that they would be in +such agreement that the battle would never come to an end. + +Tirant did not sleep the entire night, like a brave knight who +understands that one who is valiant in battle must be valiant in +bed. As day drew near Tirant said to the princess: + +"My lady and my life, I must go. I promised His Majesty the +emperor that tomorrow, at break of day, I would be in my camp." + +The princess answered: + +"My lord and my love, your departure grieves me deeply. If it +were possible I would never let you out of my sight. If I felt +pain before, now it will be a thousand times worse. Do me the +grace, my lord, not to delay your return unless you want to cut +short my life, for I cannot live without you." + +When Tirant had her permission he got up from the bed and +dressed, and with kisses of deep-felt love along with tears he +left the princess. Going out the back gate of the orchard, he +went to Hippolytus' lodging. Hippolytus got up, and quickly +escorted Tirant to the city gates so they would be opened for +him. Tirant went to the ocean and boarded the galley that left +the port secretly and rowed to the encampment. + +The sun had been up scarcely an hour when the galley was in sight +of the camp. The entire camp knew the captain had returned, and +the King of Sicily and the King of Fez rode with their men to +escort Tirant, and they took him to his triumphal tent with great +honor. Tirant explained to them everything His Majesty the +emperor had decided, and they were all very content. + +The morning of the following day the captain asked the kings and +grandees to come to mass. They all quickly went to his tent with +many knights. After mass he sent word to the ambassadors of the +sultan and the Turk to come, as he wanted to give them an answer. +The ambassadors were very glad to receive the news. Dressed in +Moorish fashion, and accompanied by many noble knights from +Tirant's camp, the great lords went with great pomp and gravity +to the tent of the valiant captain. Before they left their tent +the ambassadors put their mounts and servants in readiness so +that when they had the reply from Tirant they could return to +their camp. + +When the ambassadors were in the presence of the valiant captain +they bowed deeply to him and Tirant paid them as much honor as he +thought they deserved. When they were seated before him, Tirant +gave the following reply: + +"Do not be astonished that the answer has been so long in coming, +for I wanted to consult His Majesty, the emperor, about your +embassy. He, with great benignity and clemency, has had +compassion on you. As you well know, your life or death is in +our hands. So that you may know how great is the humanity and +clemency of the emperor, he is content to spare your lives and +grant you mercy in this fashion: The sultan and Turk, with all +the kings and lords in your camp, will place themselves in the +emperor's power as prisoners. There you will stay until such a +time as you have restored all the lands you have taken from the +empire. At the same time you will bring to him all the prisoners +and captives in the lands of the sultan as well as the Turk. And +His Majesty the emperor is willing to let all the Moors leave who +are in your camp, but on foot and unarmed. And if you are not +satisfied with the emperor's mercy, you can all prepare to die, +for I promise you that not one of you will be spared." + +On the morning of the following day the Moors held council +regarding the reply they should give to Tirant, and the council +decided to acquiesce to everything Tirant asked for. The +ambassadors delivered the reply to Tirant, saying that the sultan +and the Turk, with the counsel and will of all the rest, were +content to do everything his lordship had asked. + +Soon all those who were to be hostages rode in, and there were +twenty-two in all, all titled and of high nobility. I will not +give their names here so that I will not take up too much space, +but I can tell you that because of their great hunger they were +hardly slow in coming down the road. They all presented +themselves to Tirant, and bowed deeply. Tirant welcomed them, +paying them great honor, and gave them a magnificent banquet. + +After the banquet, Tirant put all the prisoners on two galleys, +and then he went on board himself to go with them. + +The two galleys sailed away from the camp, and quickly reached +Constantinople. When the captain was near the port of +Constantinople, and the people in the town heard that Tirant was +coming in triumph, bringing the highest lords of the Moorish +people as prisoners, they were the happiest people in the world. +Everyone ran to the ocean to see the prisoners. An immense crowd +gathered, both men and women, shouting: + +"Long live our blessed captain! May God protect and prolong his +life, for he has freed us from so much misery!" + +Tirant refused to leave the galleys until the emperor sent +Hippolytus along with other knights. When Hippolytus was on the +galley with Tirant, he told him: + +"My lord, His Majesty, the emperor, has sent me to your lordship, +and he begs you to come on land." + +Tirant said he would be happy to do what he commanded. The +captain quickly had the galleys draw near to land and they +lowered the ladders. Then Tirant had all the prisoners disembark +with him. When they were on land they met all the officials and +magistrates of the city who received them with great honor, and +Tirant with great reverence. They all left the shore together +and went to the emperor's palace, and the populace followed them. + +When they were in the palace square they saw the emperor up above +on the cenotaph, seated in the imperial chair, with the empress +to his left, and the princess to the right of the emperor, but a +little lower, as a sign that she would be the successor to the +empire. When Tirant and the prisoners were in view of the +emperor, they all knelt to the ground; then they went up to the +cenotaph where the emperor was. They made another deep bow, and +Tirant moved to the front. + +When he stood before the emperor he threw himself at his feet to +kiss them, but the emperor would not allow it. Instead he took +him by the arm, lifted him from the ground and kissed him on the +mouth, and Tirant kissed his hand. The Turk and the other great +lords did the same. The emperor received them with great +humanity, and ordered them taken to the other cenotaph. + +The tables were prepared immediately, and each was seated +according to his station. The emperor wanted Tirant to eat at +his table, and the five of them ate there: the emperor, the +empress, the princess and Tirant, and the Queen of Fez. The +emperor ordered the prisoners to be served with great honor and +reverence, for even though they were infidels they were still men +of great dignity and station. And it was all done well, with a +great abundance of precious foods and wines of different kinds. +They were astonished, and they said that the Christians were more +experienced than the Moors in eating. + +When they had eaten, Tirant asked the emperor's permission to go +to the Moorish camp and have the Moors sent to Turkey. The +emperor agreed. Tirant took his leave of the empress and the +princess, and he withdrew to the galleys, and sailed to the fleet +in front of the Moorish camp. When the admiral saw Tirant +approaching he commanded the trumpets, pipes and horns to be +blown, and they greeted the captain with loud cries. The admiral +went on board the captain's ship and said to him: + +"Sir, what does your lordship require?" + +Tirant answered: + +"Have all the ships come near shore, and all the Moors will go to +Turkey." + +The admiral said he would carry out the order. He returned to +his ship and gave the signal for all the ships to draw in to +shore. And it was done very quickly. Tirant had a man that he +had brought from the sultan put ashore, and he told the Moors to +go aboard the ships without fear, and that they would go to +Turkey. The Moors, who wanted nothing else in the world because +of their great hunger, quickly gathered and left behind their +horses and arms, with their tents still standing, containing all +their booty. When the ships were loaded with Moors, they carried +them over to their land: It was very near as they only had to +cross the Bosphorus; then they returned for more. You can +imagine how many men there were, for four hundred vessels, +including ships and galleys and other vessels made ten crossings. + +When the men of Tirant's camp learned that all the Moors were +gone, they all ran as fast as they could to take a share of the +booty. After the men on the vessels had taken the Moors across, +they went ashore and they still had time to take part of the +booty. It could truly be said that that camp was the richest one +there had ever been, for they had captured and robbed the entire +Empire of Greece, and they had it all right there, and a lot of +good it did them! And the men who found themselves with that +booty were rich for the rest of their lives. + +When the entire Moorish camp had been sacked, Tirant ordered all +the men back to their camp. He kept only the King of Sicily and +the King of Fez with him, along with some other barons who wanted +to pay homage to the emperor. They left the Moors' camp and went +overland to the illustrious city of Constantinople, while the +ships sailed into the port of the city. + +After the emperor had left the table and the prisoners had eaten +their fill, he ordered Hippolytus to take all the prisoners to +the top of the palace towers which were prepared for them. +Hippolytus went to the cenotaph where the prisoners were and told +them to go with him. They came down from the cenotaph and +followed Hippolytus as he led them up to the towers. Hippolytus +put the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk in a beautiful chamber. +Then he told them: + +"Sirs, His Majesty the emperor commands your lordships to rest +here, and to be a little patient if you are not being treated as +befits your worthiness." + +The sultan replied: + +"Virtuous knight, we are grateful to His Majesty the emperor for +the great honor he is doing us, because he is not treating or +regarding us as prisoners, but as brothers. We are deeply +obligated to him for this, and when we are given our liberty and +our power again, we shall serve him in everything he commands." + +Afterward Hippolytus ordered the four pages never to leave the +chamber, and to serve them with all respect in everything they +commanded. Then he ordered guards to keep watch over the tower. +Hippolytus took the rest of the prisoners and placed them in the +other towers where they were given very nice chambers and +servants to serve them, and they were very content. And he gave +them good guards so that they would be well served and well +guarded. + +The emperor went to the palace with all the ladies and gave +orders that nothing on the square should be touched, because he +had been advised by Tirant that the King of Sicily and the King +of Fez would be coming to pay him their respects. He ordered +Hippolytus to arrange for good lodgings in the city, and +Hippolytus, who was virtuous and discreet, carried out everything +the emperor commanded him. + +A few days later the emperor was told that Tirant was coming with +the King of Sicily and other lords, and that they were a league +away from the city. The emperor had Hippolytus and all the +officials from the city, along with the nobles and knights who +were there, go out to receive them. When they were at the +palace, Tirant, the King of Sicily and the others dismounted. +The new guests were astonished at the great beauty of the ladies, +especially of the princess. + +After they had entertained the ladies, the emperor was told that +the dinner was ready. Later they cleared the tables, and the +dances began. The square was full of people from the city who +were looking at such a beautiful celebration. Others were +dancing, and it was lovely to see such a victory celebration. In +the city there were also other kinds of dances and games, for the +emperor had ordered celebrations held for a week. + +Tirant would not leave the side of the King of Sicily during all +these festivities. Instead they slept and ate together +continuously-- the better to cover up what had taken place +between him and the princess. The others spent the eight days +celebrating. Every day Tirant told the princess of his love, and +begged Her Highness to arrange the marriage so that they could +enjoy its delights without fear. + +The princess answered: + +"Oh, most virtuous of all men! Don't beg me for the one thing I +want most in the whole world, and don't think me so ungrateful +that I've forgotten what your great nobility has brought us. +Please, my lord, do not become angry because you have to wait for +the culmination of our happiness, for you have already won a +glorious victory over me. Just think how it has been to your +glory and that of your men that you have recovered the entire +empire, and conquered and killed so many Moorish kings and lords. +Now the only thing your lordship lacks is to have dominion over +all the empire as part of your matrimony. Since you have +returned to me, and you are the mainstay of my life, I promise to +renounce the crown in your favor, and to complete our wedding +vows with you as emperor since my father, being advanced in +years, wants me to rule in his stead." + +Tirant would not allow the lady to continue, and with a loving +heart he said: + +"Even if I could, I find it difficult to accept your gracious and +generous offer. May the Divine Power not permit me to commit +such great folly as to take the crown of the empire during the +emperor's lifetime. I only ask His Majesty to keep me as a son +and servant, and the captive of his daughter. I want nothing +else in this world." + +When Tirant finished these words of love, tears sprang from his +lady's eyes. Throwing herself into his arms, and clinging from +his neck, she kissed him many times. After a moment she said: + +"My lord and my life, no tongue could express the perfection and +virtues of your noble person, and now I truly understand that you +are unique in all the world. May you long possess the crown of +the Greek Empire, and may I be able to serve you all your life." + +And they departed with many words of mutual love. + +Tirant spent the night in amorous thoughts, waiting for Phoebus +to arrive in the east, spreading its luminous rays over our +horizon. At the proper time the captain went before the emperor, +and said: + +"Your Majesty remembers the promise given by the sultan and the +Turk to Your Excellency, of restoring to your power all the lands +they occupy in the Greek Empire. So, great lord, if Your +Majesty will grant me permission, I will leave to take possession +of them for Your Majesty. If fortune favors us, Sire, Your +Excellency will command all the land that your predecessor, the +emperor Justine, commanded." + +The emperor answered: + +"We are well aware of the many services and honors you have done +for us and for the entire empire, and we are greatly indebted to +you. We would therefore like to give you and your people the +entire empire while we are still alive, and furthermore we wish +to give you our daughter Carmesina as your wife, if you will +accept her. For we are at such an age that we are no longer able +to rule, much less to defend the empire." + +When Tirant heard the emperor's kind words he threw himself at +his feet and kissed them with great humility and love, and he +said: + +"My lord, may heaven never permit Tirant lo Blanc, Your Majesty's +humble servant, to commit such an error as to allow Your Highness +to lose the command of your empire during your lifetime; before +that should happen I would rather die. But Sire, if you would do +me the grace of giving me something that is worth much more, as +Your Majesty has offered, I would value it more than if you gave +me ten empires." + +Seeing his great gentility, the emperor took him by the arm, +lifted him from the floor and kissed him on the mouth, and Tirant +kissed his hand. The emperor took Tirant's hand and led him to +the chambers of the princess, who was with all her ladies, +entertaining the King of Sicily. When the great emperor came +into the room everyone stood up and bowed to him. As the emperor +sat down he made the princess sit at his right, Tirant at his +left, and the King of Sicily in front of them. The emperor then +turned to his daughter, and said: + +"My daughter, you're aware of the great service and high honors +Tirant here has bestowed on us. And that he has liberated the +entire empire from all the hardships that the Moors have +inflicted on us. As we realize that we do not have enough to +offer him for all he has done for us, we have decided that we +have nothing dearer or of greater value or that we love more than +you yourself. So we have offered you to him, and I beg and +command you, my dear daughter, to take him as your husband and +lord: that will be the way you can best serve me." + +The lady answered with a gracious and modest continence: + +"Most merciful and kind lord, it is to my glory that Your Majesty +has placed me in such high esteem that I am a worthy reward for +all the services and honors which valiant Tirant has done for +Your Majesty and for everyone in the empire. Even though I am +not worthy to remove his shoe, when one thinks of all the unique +qualities and virtues he possesses, I hope he will accept me as +his servant and his captive, for I am ready to do whatever Your +Majesty or he commands me." + +The emperor sent for the archbishop of the city to betroth them +immediately. And this gracious union was a matter of no slight +happiness, for during a long while Tirant and the princess could +not speak, so inflamed with true love were they. As soon as the +archbishop arrived, the emperor ordered him to betroth his +daughter and Tirant, and he did so. + +When the betrothal was completed, there was much celebrating and +great happiness throughout the city. A marvelous feast was +prepared as suited such a betrothal, and music was performed by +many groups from the towers and through windows of the great +halls. The foreigners and everyone in general took great +pleasure in this betrothal, for they had faith that the bold +spirit of Tirant would allow them to live in peace. And the +celebrations, both in the palace and in the city, lasted a week. + +The emperor sent a proclamation throughout the city, with many +trumpets and drums, that they should all consider Tirant his +successor and the Caesar of the empire. And he made them swear +that after his death they would hold him as their emperor and +lord. And from that time forward the new Prince Tirant was named +Caesar of the Greek Empire. + + CHAPTER XIV + +DEATH + + Tirant decided to leave as soon as he could in order to recover +all of the Greek Empire, and put it in the emperor's power. At +the same time it hurt him to think of being away from the +princess, for life without her was impossible. He was tired of +war now, and he wanted peace and tranquility. When he received +news that the magnanimous King Escariano was coming with many +men, and that he was in Pinxenais which borders on Greece, and is +ten days journey from Constantinople, he decided to go out to +meet him. + +After he had taken his leave of the emperor, the empress, and of +his princess and wife, he left the city of Constantinople, and +went to his camp with grandees and other nobles. When the Caesar +reached his camp he had the trumpets blow for the camp to be +raised. Everyone got ready, and the following morning they left +the bridge and went toward the place where King Escariano was. + +As the powerful army was going along, many castles and villas +delivered themselves over to the Caesar (We omit their names to +avoid being prolix.). Finally they reached the city of Strenes +where King Escariano's army was resting. + +When King Escariano knew that his dear friend and brother at arms +was coming, he rode out with his grandees and met him on the +road. They dismounted quickly, embraced and kissed very warmly. +Tirant told King Escariano that the King of Sicily and the King +of Fez were with him. King Escariano went to the other kings, +and embraced and kissed them very courteously. Then they mounted +their horses again and went toward the city. When they reached +King Escariano's tents, Prince Tirant and the kings dismounted in +front of the tent of the illustrious Queen of Ethiopia who +welcomed them, and embraced and kissed them all. + +They decided to send the beautiful queen to the city of +Constantinople, and five hundred soldiers made ready to go, +accompanied by many nobles and knights. The illustrious queen +took leave of her lord, King Escariano, Tirant, and the other +kings and lords who escorted her for a league. Then Tirant and +the others bade the queen farewell, and she continued on to +Constantinople while Tirant and the others returned to the city. + +Tirant and King Escariano immediately commanded their camps to be +raised and each of them put their men in order. They left the +city and went toward the province of Thrace. They reached a city +called Stagira, which is surrounded by walls adorned with +beautiful towers. The city immediately opened all the gates to +them. After all the renegade Greeks had been made good +Christians again, they swore fidelity to the emperor. And all +the Moors who did not want to be baptized were thrown out of the +city. It was in this same city that the great philosopher +Aristotle had been born, and he was considered a saint. + +While Prince Tirant had his tents set up in this city and was +resting, he sent two Moorish ambassadors through the outlying +territories, and to all the cities, castles and villas of the +neighboring provinces. They delivered up their keys and rendered +homage to Prince Tirant, and he replaced the captain of every +city, villa and castle. + +They then left the city of Stagira and headed for Macedonia, +stopping at a city called Olympus. This city takes its name from +a nearby mountain, one of the highest in the world. Here they +were better received than in any of the places they had been, +because they knew that the Caesar was the cousin of Diafebus, +their duke and lord. + +The prince left the duchy of Macedonia, and they went to the city +of Trebizond which delivered itself over immediately. They +brought all the knights who were held prisoner here, and with +them was Captain Diafebus, Duke of Macedonia. Prince Tirant +asked for the Duke of Macedonia, and he was brought to him. But +he was so changed that Tirant would never have recognized him: +His beard had grown down to his waist, and the hair on his head +reached past his shoulders; he was thin and discolored, and his +appearance was very different; he wore a yellow cloak, with a +blue turban around his head. All the other knights were dressed +the same way. When the Duke of Macedonia was before the Caesar, +he threw himself at his feet, wanting to kiss them. The Caesar +lifted him up, and with tears running from his eyes, he kissed +him on the mouth. + +Soon the Marquis of Saint George presented himself before Tirant, +and kneeling, he thanked him for freeing them. Prince Tirant, +with great affection, lifted him from the ground and kissed him +on the mouth. After the marquis, came the Duke of Pera, his +brother, and the prior of Saint John, and all the other knights. +The Caesar received them with great love, and honored them as +they deserved. + +After the illustrious Queen of Ethiopia left the city of Strenes, +she journeyed quickly to the renowned city of Constantinople. +When the queen stood before the princess, she began to kneel, but +the princess caught her by the arm, raised her up, and kissed her +warmly three times. Then she took her hand and made her sit at +her side. + +The princess was astonished at the queen's great beauty. At the +same time the Queen of Ethiopia was startled by the beauty of the +princess. Everyone in the court was impressed by the queen's +beauty, and they whispered about Tirant's great virtue in turning +down such a beautiful lady, for they were sure that she had asked +him to be her husband and lord of the kingdom of Tunis and of all +Barbary, and he had left it all for love of the princess. + +After the Caesar had held celebrations for the Duke of Macedonia +and his companions, he gave them their leave. They left the city +of Trebizond and went to the illustrious city of Constantinople. +There they were welcomed with honor by His Majesty the emperor, +by the empress and all the ladies. And the Duke of Macedonia was +especially welcomed by the duchess, his wife, who loved him more +than her life. With the arrival of the prisoners, great +celebrations were held in the court. + +After the Duke of Macedonia had left the city of Trebizond with +all his companions, Tirant quickly had all the others break camp, +and he had King Escariano and all his men, and each captain with +his squadron, depart. So one squadron left after another, in an +orderly fashion, and they went to the land of Bendin, six days +journey away, and when the Caesar arrived there with his entire +army, they surrendered to him by order of the sultan and the +Turk. + +When the captains had been placed in the city and in the +fortress, they advanced and recovered the entire province of +Blagay and all the land of Brina and all the land of Foxa and all +the land of Bocina, for each of these is a large province with +many cities, castles and villas, and they all surrendered +willingly to the Caesar. They were accustomed to being subject +to the Greek Empire, and they wanted to be so again because of +the bad treatment they had received from the Moors. + +The Caesar left these provinces and recovered many other cities. +From here he went to the Kingdom of Persia, and he took it by +force of arms, for it did not belong to the sultan or the Turk +and it had its own king. The virtuous Prince Tirant conquered +many other provinces and lands, and joined them under the +dominion and power of the empire with such great triumph and +victory that it would be tiring to tell it all. He recovered all +of Greece, Asia Minor, all of Persia, all Selonich (which is +Galipoli), Morea, Arca, the Cape of Arca, Valona. And by sea he +sent the fleet he had in Constantinople to take the islands, with +his admiral, the Marquis of Lizana, as its captain. And he took +all the islands which had belonged to the empire: Calistres, +Colcos, Oritige, Tesbrie, Nimocha, Flaxen, Meclotapace, and many +other islands the book does not mention to avoid prolixity. + +After the admiral had conquered all the islands that once formed +part of the empire, he had his entire fleet return to +Constantinople, and they entered the city firing their bombards +and shouting their greetings to the illustrious city. The +townspeople ran to the sea wall to greet the fleet with joy. The +admiral disembarked, accompanied by many well dressed knights and +noblemen, and they went to bow to His Majesty the emperor who +received them very cordially, and they all kissed his foot and +his hand. + +Wanting to reward many nobles and knights who had been released +from their imprisonment, he gave them over in matrimony to +maidens of high station, all of them servants of the empress and +the princess, and he also gave them large estates so they could +live out their lives honorably. When the engagements had been +made, their weddings were postponed until the day Prince Tirant +would be wed to the princess. + +But Fortune would not permit a mortal body to have so much +delight and glory in this world. For God did not create human +nature to reach bliss and glory in this world, but instead to +enjoy the glory of paradise. No one ponders this: everyday +virtuous men perform illustrious acts worthy of immortal memory, +as did this magnanimous and virtuous prince and valiant knight, +Tirant lo Blanc. For with his great skill at arms and high +degree of intelligence, he conquered so many kingdoms and brought +uncountable numbers of people in Barbary and in Greece into the +Holy Catholic faith. And yet, he was unable to see the finality +of all that he had so desired and labored for. + +Among so many other sorrows, I find it impossible to free my +weary hands from setting down on white paper how fortune lets man +go unrewarded. This, despite the fact the glorious actions of +Tirant bring me renewed anguish, for they did not bring him the +prize he so richly deserved. + +So then, after the Caesar had defeated and recovered the entire +empire, and subjugated many other nearby provinces, he started +back in great triumph to the city of Constantinople. In his +company went the magnanimous King of Fez and many other kings, +dukes, counts, and marquis, and innumerable knights (who came +with him to share in the enormous celebration that would take +place upon his return, and out of love for King Escariano, and to +celebrate Tirant's wedding), and no one would leave his side. +When the emperor received word that he was coming, he prepared an +enormous celebration. + +When Tirant was one day's journey from Constantinople, in a city +called Andrinopol, he stopped because the emperor had sent word +to him not to come to the city until he should tell him. While +the virtuous Caesar was enjoying himself in that city, finding +sport and pleasure, and strolling with King Escariano and the +King of Sicily at a river's edge which ran alongside the walls of +the city, he felt such a great and powerful pain in his side that +they had to take him in their arms and carry him back into the +city. + +When Tirant was in his bed the six doctors who accompanied him +came to him--the best in the world--and four of King Escariano's. +They gave him many kinds of medicine, but these brought no +relief to his pain. Then Tirant realized he was dying, and he +asked for confession. They had the confessor who accompanied him +come quickly. He was a good priest of the Order of Saint +Francis, a teacher of holy theology, and a man of great +knowledge. While the Caesar was making confession the King of +Fez sent an urgent message to the emperor, giving His Majesty to +know that the Caesar was very ill, and that his doctors could not +help him. He begged his grace to send his own doctors very +quickly, as he had great doubts that they would arrive in time. + +After the Caesar had confessed, he had the precious body of Jesus +Christ brought to him. He looked at it with great devotion, and +with tears in his eyes he prayed: + +"Almighty Lord, humble, sweet and benign! How can I thank You +for all the love You have shown to me, a weak creature? I give +You infinite thanks, Lord, for all Your gifts. And I humbly +beseech You, Lord, since You have saved me so many times from +danger (and You are now giving me death, which I accept most +obediently, since it is Your holy will, in remission and penance +for my weaknesses), that You will grant me, Lord, forgiveness of +my sins in order to have Your absolution and mercy." + +After he had said these words, he received the holy body of Jesus +Christ. And the people in the room with him whispered that he +did not seem to be a knight, but rather a holy man. When he had +given restitution to his soul, he had his secretary come, and he +gave his last will and testament in the presence of all those who +were with him. + +"I, Tirant lo Blanc, of the lineage of Rocasalada and the House +of Brittany, knight of the Garter, and Prince and Caesar of the +Greek Empire, with an illness from which I fear I will die, but +with full knowledge, and firm and manifest word: with my lords +and brothers at arms present, King Escariano, the King of Sicily, +and my cousin-german, the King of Fez, and many other kings, +dukes, counts and marquis, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I +do make and leave the following final will and testament. + +"I name as executors of this testament the virtuous and most +excellent Carmesina, Princess of the Greek Empire and my wife, +and my dear cousin-german Diafebus, the Duke of Macedonia. + +"I wish that one hundred thousand ducats be taken from my estate, +and be distributed according to the wishes of my executors. +Moreover, I encharge the said executors to take my body to +Brittany, to the Church of Our Lady, where lie all those of my +lineage of Rocasalada. + +"I also desire and command that from my estate one hundred +thousand ducats be given to each of the men of my lineage who are +here. And of all my other property and rights which I have +gained with Divine help, and which have been given to me by His +Majesty, the emperor, I make as my beneficiary my servant and +nephew Hippolytus of Rocasalada. It is my wish that he take my +place, and be my successor." + +After Tirant had made his testament, he told the secretary to +write a note to the princess with these words: + +"Since death is so near to me, I want to write to you, dear lady, +my last, sad farewell. + +"Fortune has not allowed me to have you--the prize for my deeds. +And death would not be so painful to me if I could have ended my +life in your arms. + +"But I beg Your Highness to go on living, so that you will keep +the great love that I have had for you. + +"And since fortune has not allowed me to speak to you or to see +you--for I believe you would have cured me and saved my life--I +have decided to write you this letter, because death will not +grant me more time, so that at least you will be certain of my +great love. I cannot tell you more, for the great pain I am +suffering will not allow it. I only beg of you to take in your +charge my relatives and servants. + +"Your Tirant, who kisses your feet and hands, commends to you his +soul." + +After Prince Tirant had made his testament, he begged King +Escariano, the King of Sicily and the King of Fez to carry him to +Constantinople before his life ended. For the greatest pain he +felt was that he might die without seeing the princess. And he +was of the belief that if he saw her she would give him health +and life. + +The doctors gave their approval because, since they considered +him as good as dead, they thought that with the great consolation +he would feel if he saw the princess, whom he loved deeply, +nature could have a more beneficial effect than all the medicines +in the world. They quickly put him on a litter, and he was +carried on men's shoulders very comfortably. He was accompanied +by all the kings and grandees, with only five hundred soldiers. +All the others remained in the city. + +When the emperor received the King of Fez's letter, he fell into +deep anguish and concern. As secretly as he could he sent for +his doctors and the Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus. He showed +them the King of Fez's letter, and begged them to ride there +quickly. The Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus left the imperial +palace without a word to anyone, and went off with the doctors, +for the emperor feared that if the princess heard of it she would +faint and it could be very dangerous for her. + +When the Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus, along with the +doctors, were half a day's journey from Constantinople, they met +Tirant on the road. They dismounted, and the litter was laid on +the ground. The Duke of Macedonia went up to Tirant and said: + +"Cousin, my lord, how is your lordship?" + +Tirant answered: + +"Cousin, I am most pleased that I have seen you before I died, +for my life is ending. I beg you to kiss me, you and Hippolytus, +for this will be the last farewell I shall have from you." + +The duke and Hippolytus kissed him, crying openly. Then Tirant +told them that he commended his soul to them, and that he wished +them to hold more love for the princess, his wife, than they did +for himself. The duke answered: + +"My lord and cousin, is a knight as valiant as your lordship +growing weak hearted? Have faith in Our Lord, that He, in His +mercy, will help you and bring you back to health." + +As he was saying these words, Tirant cried out, loudly: + +"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me! Virgin Mary, guardian +angel, angel Michael, defend me! Jesus, into Your hands, Lord, I +commend my spirit." + +And with these words, he delivered up his noble soul, while his +beautiful body lay in the arms of the Duke of Macedonia. The +tears and wailing were so great from all who were there, that it +was a pity to hear them. For Prince Tirant was loved by all. + +After they had cried for some time, King Escariano called the +King of Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia, +Hippolytus, and some of the others, and they held counsel about +what they had to do. They all agreed that King Escariano, along +with the others in his company, should accompany Tirant's body to +the city, but that they should not go in, for as King Escariano +had not yet seen the emperor, it was not the time or place for +them to meet. In addition, they decided to embalm Tirant's body, +for they had to take it to Brittany. + +They departed with Tirant's body from the place where he had +died, and made their way toward the city of Constantinople. By +the time they arrived it was well into the night. They gathered +at the city gate, and King Escariano took his leave of the King +of Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus, +and he returned with his men to the city he had come from, +lamenting loudly, for King Escariano loved Tirant deeply. The +others placed Tirant's body in a house within the city, where it +was embalmed by the doctors. + +After they had embalmed it, they dressed it and took it to the +main church of the city: Saint Sofia. There a very large and +tall cenotaph was prepared for him, covered entirely with +brocade, and on the cenotaph was a large bed. There they placed +Tirant's body, stretched out on the bed, with his sword at his +side. + +When the emperor learned that Tirant was dead, he rent his royal +garments. Coming down from his imperial seat and lamenting over +Tirant's death, he said: + +"Today is the day when our scepter is lost, and I see the crown +taken from my head and dashed to the ground. Let everyone dress +in deep black mourning, let all the bells ring at once, and let +everyone wail over this loss, which is so terrible that my voice +is scarcely able to speak of it." + +The emperor spent the greater part of the night lamenting, and +when day came he went to the church to pay him honor, and to make +a large tomb for him with the funeral rites that are normally +given to great lords. When the princess saw everyone crying she +was very surprised. She wondered what the people in the palace +and her maidens were crying about. She thought her father, the +emperor, might have died, and she got up quickly, dressed in her +chemise, and looked out the window. She saw the Duke of +Macedonia, crying and tearing at his hair, and Hippolytus and +many others clawing at their faces, and hitting their heads +against the walls. + +"By the one God," said the princess, "I beg you to tell me the +truth. What is the cause of all this uproar and sadness?" + +The Widow of Montsant said: + +"My lady, it is inevitable that you will hear of it at any +moment. Tirant has passed from this life to the other. At +midnight they took him to the church to give him a holy funeral +as he deserves. The emperor is there, crying and bemoaning his +death, and is inconsolable." + +The princess was left numb: She did not cry, she could not speak. +She could only moan softly and sigh, and after a moment she said: + +"Give me the clothes my father had made for my wedding." + +They were quickly brought. When she had them on, the Widow of +Montsant said: + +"But my lady! At the death of such an admirable knight who died +in the service of His Majesty, the emperor, and of yours, are you +going to dress that way, as if you were going to your wedding? +Everyone else is dressed in mourning and sadness, because they +cannot stop crying, and Your Highness, who should be the saddest +and for whom it should mean the most, has dressed yourself in an +unheard-of way." + +"Don't worry yourself, Widow," said the princess. "You will know +the meaning of this when it is time." + +When she had dressed, the sad lady of the imperial palace came +down with all the ladies and maidens, and with steps hastened by +the anguish she felt, she went to the church where Tirant's body +lay. She stepped to the top of the great cenotaph, and when she +saw Tirant's body she felt her heart would break, and yet passion +lifted her spirit and she went over to his bed with warm tears +flowing from her eyes, and threw herself upon Tirant's body. The +suffering woman kissed his cold body. Everyone who heard her +weep shed great tears of grief. Then she said: + +"I want to go looking for the soul of the one who was my Tirant +in the blessed places where it rests. And I do so want to keep +you company in death since in life, where I loved you so much, I +have not been able to serve you. Oh, you ladies and maidens, do +not cry! Save your tears for a more opportune time. It's enough +for me to cry and lament, since these are my sorrows." + +When she had said these words, she fell upon the body in a faint. +She was quickly lifted away from the body, and the doctors helped +her regain consciousness. When she had recovered her senses, the +lady again threw herself upon the body, kissing Tirant's cold +mouth. She tore at her hair and clothing, along with the skin of +her breasts and her face, this sad lady, more grievous than any +other. Stretched out on his body, she kissed his cold mouth, +mixing her warm tears with Tirant's cold ones. She wanted to +talk, but could not, and she knew no words sad enough to express +her grief. With trembling hands she opened Tirant's eyes which +she kissed first with her mouth, and then filled with all the +tears flowing from her own eyes. And it seemed as though Tirant, +while dead, was crying for the grief of the living Carmesina. +And she was crying blood, for she had exhausted all her tears. +So she cried over his body-- she who had lost everything to him +who lost his life for her-- and with words that would be enough +to break precious stones, diamonds and steel itself, she cried +grievously: + +"Don't think, my soul, that I will keep you from Tirant for long. +I will give burial to your body and to mine. The dead bodies +will be embraced in one grave, and together we will share the +same glory in heaven." + +The emperor, distressed by his daughter's words, said: + +"My daughter's sorrow and tears will never end. My good knights, +pick her up, and take her to my palace, and leave her in her +chambers, either with her consent or by force." + +And so it was done. Her father, desperate, went with her, +saying: + +"My daughter, you are the lady of all I possess. Do not go to +such an extreme, for your grief is death to me. Stop your crying +and put on a happy face for the people to see." + +The princess answered: + +"Oh emperor, my lord, life-giver of this miserable daughter! +Your Majesty truly wants to console my grief! Oh, poor me, I +cannot hold back my tears!" + +When the poor father saw his daughter and the other women crying, +he could not bear to remain in her chambers, and with his +terrible anguish he left. Then the princess sat on the bed and +said: + +"Come, my faithful maidens, and help me undress, for there will +be time enough to cry." + +And she prepared her body in the most comely way she could, and +said: + +"I am the infanta who hoped to rule over the entire empire of +Greece. It is my duty to move everyone here to grief and +compassion for the death of the virtuous and blessed knight, +Tirant lo Blanc. Oh, my Tirant, out of grief for your death let +our right hands wound our breasts and tear at our faces so that +our misery will be so much greater, for you were our shield and +the shield of the whole empire. Oh sword of virtue, great was +the sorrow that was prepared for us! And don't think, Tirant, +that I have wiped you from my memory: As long as I am alive I +will weep for your death. Now, my dear maidens, help me to cry +this short time that is left of my life, for I cannot remain +with you long." + +The crying and wailing was so great that it made the entire city +resound. When they saw the princess nearly more dead than alive, +they cursed fortune which had brought them such anguish. The +doctors came and said she had all the signs of a dying woman: She +felt such grief for Tirant's death that blood was coming from her +mouth. + +The grieving empress came into the chamber, knowing that her +daughter was not well. When she saw her in that state she +suffered such a shock that she could not speak. When she had +recovered, she said: + +"Oh, my daughter! Is this the joy and happiness I hoped to have +from you? Is this the wedding your father and I and all the +people hoped to be consoled by? Everywhere I turn I see nothing +but grief and sorrow! + +I see the poor emperor, lying on the floor; I see the ladies and +maidens, their hair unkempt, their skin covered with blood, their +breasts uncovered and scratched, crying throughout the palace, +revealing their grief to everyone. I see the knights and +grandees, all in mourning, all lamenting, twisting their hands, +tearing the hair from their head. What a bitter day, so filled +with sadness! I see all the orders of friars coming with pain in +their voices, and not one of them can sing. Tell me, what kind +of celebration is this for everyone to run from it? Scarcely +anyone can talk without a grieving face. Oh, sad is the mother +who bears such a daughter! I beg you, my daughter, be happy and +put an end to all this sadness. This way you will give +consolation to your old and grieving father, and your sad, +unfortunate mother who has raised you so delicately." + +And she could say no more, such was the grief that held her. + +"How can Your Excellency tell me, my lady, to find consolation +and rejoice if I have lost such a knight who was my husband and +lord, and had no equal in the world? Have my protector, my +father and lord, come so that he can see my death and my end, and +so that part of his daughter will be left for him." + +When the sad father was there, she begged him kindly to sit at +one side and the empress at the other. With her between them, +she said these words: + +"I beg you all to have my father confessor come quickly." + +When he was there the princess told him: + +"Father, I wish to make a general confession in the presence of +all who are here." + + Then the confessor had her make a general confession, and +afterward he absolved her of all punishment and guilt. When +absolution had been granted the princess asked that the precious +body of Jesus Christ be brought to her, and with great devotion +and contrition she received it. And all those in the chamber +were astonished at the great constancy and firmness of spirit the +princess had, and at the many prayers she said before the Corpus. +There was no heart of steel in the world who, hearing her words, +would not burst into tears. + +When the princess had given restitution to her soul she had the +emperor's secretary come, and turning to her father, she said: + +"Father and lord, if it please Your Majesty, I would like to +dispose of my possessions and my soul." + +The emperor answered: + +"My daughter, I give you my leave to do whatever pleases you. +For if I lose you I lose my life and all good things on this +earth." + +The princess thanked him, and turning to the secretary, she +dictated her will: + +"I make, as executors of my will, Diafebus, Duke of Macedonia and +Stephanie, his wife. And I beg and command them to place my body +together with Tirant's in the place he will be buried. For, as +we were not able to remain together in life, at least in death +our bodies will be united until the end of the world. + +"In addition, all my clothing and jewelry shall be sold, and the +proceeds will be given to my maidens for their weddings. As for +all the other rights I have in the Greek Empire, I make the +empress, my mother, the successor in my place." + +When the princess had put her possessions and her soul in order, +she said farewell to her father, the emperor, kissing his hands +and his mouth again and again, and she did the same to her +mother, the empress, asking their forgiveness and their blessing +with great humility. + +"Oh unfortunate and miserable me!" said the princess. "I see the +emperor more dead than alive because of me. On the one hand the +death of Tirant pulls me, and on the other my father's death +pulls me: Each of them is winning me over." + +Her miserable father, his face wet with tears, saw that his +daughter was ready to die and could barely speak. He heard her +say such painful words, and saw all the wailing that was going on +in the chamber and throughout the palace. He felt greatly +disturbed and was beside himself. He tried to get up from the +bed to go out, but he fell to the ground, senseless. They picked +him up, unconscious, and put him on a bed in another chamber, and +there he ended his days before his daughter, the princess. + +Because of the emperor's death there was loud wailing, and the +news reached the empress and the princess. The empress ran as +quickly as she could, but the emperor had already passed from +this life. Imagine how the poor lady must have felt: to see her +husband, her daughter, and her son-in-law all dead! And don't +ask me what grief there was in the palace. So much +tribulation--all in one day! + +The princess said: + +"Help me sit down on my bed, and you will hear my words. You all +know that with the death of the emperor, my father, I am the +successor to the Greek Empire. And so my knights, I command you, +by the allegiance you owe to His Majesty, the emperor, and now to +me, to bring my father's and Tirant's body here to me." + +And they had to do it. The emperor was put on the right, and +Tirant on the left, while she was in between them. She kissed +her father many times, and Tirant many times more, and she cried +in a miserable voice: + +"Look, knights, you who suffer from love. Take note of me and +see if I am not fortunate! On one side I have an emperor, and on +the other the best knight in the world. Look and see if I should +not go into the next world happy, for I will have such good +company. Come to me, my loyal sisters and companions, and kiss +me, one by one. Then you will feel a part of my misery." + +And they did. First came the Queen of Ethiopia, then the Queen +of Fez, then the Duchess of Macedonia, and then all her other +maidens and her mother's maidens. They kissed her hand and her +mouth, and they sadly bade the princess farewell, shedding many +tears. She had them bring her the cross, and looking at it +steadfastly, she said these words with great devotion: + +"Receive the soul of Your servant, oh Lord, and free me from +infernal bonds and pains. May I feel, oh Lord, the blessed rest +of heaven and of eternal light, and may I deserve to have, among +Your chosen saints, everlasting life and glory. Oh God, full of +pure love and goodness. You Who know only how to forgive. Grant +me, oh Lord, that my soul, drawn apart and stripped of earthly +vices, may be placed in the company of those redeemed by You. I +give myself to God Who created me." + +Saying these words, the princess gave up her spirit to her +creator. + + CHAPTER XV + +AFTERMATH + + The destruction of the very last of the lineage of the royal +house of Greece was complete. After going through so much past +misery with all its trials and hardships, they would have +obtained a happy peace--if fortune had allowed it. And so, no +one should depend on worldly prosperity, for it fails when it is +most unexpected. + +When the princess had passed on from this life, the wailing and +crying in the palace was so loud that it echoed throughout the +entire city. And the heartache felt for Tirant and the emperor +was renewed and redoubled. The poor empress fell into such a +deep faint that the doctors could not revive her, and Hippolytus +beat his head and face, believing that she was dead. Finally, +with all the remedies they tried, after more than an hour, she +seemed to awaken slightly. Hippolytus remained steadfast at her +side in great anguish, rubbing her wrists and wetting her face +with rose water. When she regained consciousness, they picked +her up in their arms and carried her to her chamber, putting her +on a bed. + +Hippolytus was always at her side, comforting her, and kissing +her often to bring to mind the love they had continually had for +each other. The empress loved him more than her daughter and +herself because of the great kindness and genteelness she had +found in Hippolytus who had always obeyed her every wish. And +don't think that at that moment Hippolytus was feeling great +pain, for as soon as Tirant was dead he realized that he would be +emperor, especially after the death of the emperor and his +daughter, for he had great confidence in the love the empress had +for him. Putting aside all shame, she would take him as her +husband. + +After the empress had spoken a short while with Hippolytus, and +their pain had been somewhat alleviated with kisses, she said to +him: + +"My son and my lord, I beg you, as lord here, to order funerals +held for the emperor, my daughter, and Tirant, so that afterward +your desire and mine can be carried out." + +When Hippolytus heard such loving words he kissed her hand and +her mouth, and said he would do everything Her Majesty commanded. +Hippolytus went to the princess's chamber where the three bodies +were lying, and on behalf of the empress he ordered them to take +Tirant to his cenotaph in the church immediately. And it was +quickly done. + +Then he ordered the surgeons to embalm the bodies of the emperor +and the princess. Hippolytus had another cenotaph put up in the +Church of Saint Sofia, much more beautiful and higher than +Tirant's, and he had the emperor's body brought to the cenotaph. +He had the princess put in Tirant's bed, on his right hand side. + +He ordered a proclamation read throughout the city that all those +who wished to dress in mourning should go to a certain house in +the city, and there mourning cloth would be given to men as well +as to women. In the space of one day everyone in the palace and +the city, and all the foreigners were dressed in mourning. In +addition, Hippolytus decreed that all the clergy--friars, +chaplains and nuns--within two days journey from Constantinople +should come to participate in the funerals of the dead, and one +thousand two hundred were counted. + +They decided that the burial should take place two weeks after +the emperor's death, and all the barons of Greece were summoned, +so that they could be present for the emperor's funeral rites. +Then he sent a message to King Escariano on behalf of himself and +the empress, inviting him to come and honor the burial of the +emperor and his daughter, and his dear friend and brother Tirant. +For, since he had not been able to honor their wedding he would +be able to honor his burial. King Escariano sent word to him +that he would do so, but that he had hoped to enter +Constantinople with happier news. And he left for Constantinople +with one hundred knights. + +While the people were arriving, Hippolytus had the King of +Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia, the Marquis of +Lizana, and the Viscount of Branches and some others gather in a +chamber. Then he said to them: + +"My lords and brothers, your lordships are not unaware of the +great danger that has befallen us with the death of our father +and lord, Tirant. He expected to be emperor, and he would have +ennobled and enriched all those of our lineage. Now that there +is no hope of that, we must take counsel about what should be +done. Your lordships realize that the entire empire is in the +empress's power. Although she is advanced in years, some great +lord will be very pleased to marry her, and he will find it very +agreeable to be emperor. After her death, he will be the ruler, +and he may treat foreigners (which is what we are) badly. I am +of the opinion that we should make one of us emperor, and all of +us should help him; and the one who is elected will enrich the +others very well. Now, I beg you, let each of you give your +opinion." + +Then the King of Sicily said he felt it was a good idea that one +of them should be made emperor, and that they should select +whoever was willing. The King of Fez spoke, because he was the +eldest of their line, and he said: + +"My lords and brothers, it seems to me good advice that one of us +should be chosen emperor. But it is my opinion that we should +follow the dictates of Tirant's will, then the princess's, and +with these two wills we shall see who among us is indicated." + +Everyone agreed with what the King of Fez had said. They sent +for the secretaries of Tirant and the emperor, and had the wills +read. When they had read them, they made the secretaries leave +the room, and the Duke of Macedonia spoke: + +"My lords and brothers, as I see it, our selection is very clear +and cannot be disputed. I see that our good relative and lord +leaves as recipient of all the rights he has earned in the Greek +Empire, Hippolytus here. Further, I see that the princess has +bestowed the entire empire on her mother. + +So from what I see there is no other action we can take, +considering the friendship we all know Hippolytus has with the +empress, than for him to take her as his wife. In that way he +will become emperor, and he will keep each of us in our station, +for he is our relative." + +Then the Marquis of Lizana spoke: + +"Lords, I find the Duke of Macedonia's advice to be good, and +praise it, for we all have wives, and furthermore it is Tirant's +command." + +All the rest praised him and agreed that Hippolytus should be +chosen emperor and husband of the empress. When Hippolytus saw +the gentility of his relatives, he praised them, and gave them +many thanks for their great love. And he made a vow before God +and Our Lady that if God granted that he become emperor, he would +repay them in such a way that they would all be very happy. And +they decided that after the funeral rites were held for the dead, +they would raise him to the status of emperor, and would hold the +wedding for him and the empress. + +Tirant's relatives agreed, and the following night King Escariano +entered Constantinople, dressed in mourning, with all his men. +He was received with great honor by Hippolytus, and by his wife, +the queen, who was very happy to see him. Hippolytus placed him +in the emperor's palace, in a beautiful apartment. The King of +Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia, and many other +knights came to see him, and a great celebration was held. + +After this, King Escariano took his leave of them, and taking the +queen, his wife, by the hand, he went with Hippolytus to pay +honor to the empress. When they were in her chamber, King +Escariano bowed before the empress, and she warmly embraced him. +She took him by the hand, and had him sit at her side. Then King +Escariano said: + +"I left my land in order to help Tirant lo Blanc recover the +empire, and the queen, my wife, came only to attend the wedding +of my brother Tirant and the virtuous princess. Their deaths +have made me both sad and angry. Now that they are gone, I am +ready to serve you for the rest of my life." + +The empress hesitated, and then said softly: + +"It is great glory for me that so magnanimous a king should say +such words to me. I thank you very much for coming, and even +more for helping us put an end to this conquest. But with it I +have lost three of the best people in the world, and because of +this the rest of my life will be filled with sadness." + +The empress could speak no more, and tears sprang from her eyes. +King Escariano also began to cry. + +That night Hippolytus went to sleep with the empress, and he told +her about his conversation with his relatives, and what they had +all decided: + +"That I should take you as my wife. My lady, I know that I am +not worthy of being your husband, or even your servant. But I +trust in Your Highness' love and virtue, and I hope that you will +accept me as Your Majesty's captive. And trust me, my lady, to +do well. I will be so obedient to you that you can command me +more than ever before, for I never wanted anything but to serve +you." + +The empress answered: + +"Hippolytus, my son, you know how much I love you, and I will be +very pleased if you will take me as your wife. But remember, my +son and lord, even though I'm old you will never find anyone who +loves you as much as I do." + +Then Hippolytus knelt to kiss her hands and feet, but she lifted +him up and embraced him and kissed him. And they spent that +delicious night with little thought about those who were lying on +the cenotaphs for burial. + +In the morning, before Phoebus had spread its shiny rays over the +earth, the knight got up, full of new joy, for that night +Hippolytus had entertained his lady very well. He arranged +everything that was necessary for the burial. + +On the appointed day all the barons and knights who were invited +went to the city of Constantinople. On the first day they buried +the emperor with the most beautiful sacramental lights ever given +to a prince. To exalt the occasion there were many kings, dukes, +counts and marquis, and many noble knights. All the people from +the city were there, lamenting over their good lord, and the +clergy performed the ceremony, singing so that all were weeping. +And on that day the emperor's body was solely buried. The second +day was reserved for the princess's burial, and the third for +Tirant's. + +There was so much wailing and lamenting during those three days +that no one felt like crying for the rest of the year. When the +funeral rites for the emperor were over, the emperor's body was +placed in a beautiful tomb which the emperor had ordered made +some time before. The bodies of Tirant and the princess were +placed in a wooden coffin, for they had to be taken to Brittany. + +When this was done, the King of Sicily, the King of Fez, and the +Duke of Macedonia went to King Escariano and told him all about +the council they had held with Tirant's relatives, and how they +had decided to raise Hippolytus to the status of emperor. King +Escariano said: + +"I am very pleased by your decision. I think Hippolytus is a +good and virtuous knight, and he deserves to be emperor." + +Then they asked him to go with them and carry the news to the +empress, and he was glad to do so. The three kings left with the +Duke of Macedonia, and it was the noblest embassy that had ever +been made to a man or a woman. They entered the empress's +chamber, and she welcomed them with great honor. She took the +hand of King Escariano and the King of Sicily, and they sat down +in the imperial throne room, with the empress between the two +kings. They had agreed that King Escariano should explain their +mission, and he began: + +"As we deeply appreciate the honor of your illustrious person, we +hope it will be agreeable to you to take a husband. And we beg +Your Majesty not to be angry at what I am going to tell you. +Your Majesty knows what good condition the Greek Empire is in +because of that singular knight, Tirant. You know the rights +that His Majesty, the emperor, granted to him, and you know that +he left those rights to his nephew, Hippolytus. And so we beg +and advise Your Majesty to take Hippolytus as your husband and +lord. He is such a virtuous knight that Your Majesty will be +greatly loved and revered by him, and he is such a knight that he +will be able to rule and defend the empire, which has been +reconquered through so much effort." + +The empress then said very graciously: + +"Great lords, I realize that you are my brothers, and I trust +that you would never advise me to do anything that would be +harmful to me or my honor. So I freely place myself in your +lordships' hands to deal with me and my empire as though it were +your own." + +They all bowed deeply to the empress and gave her many thanks. +And they left, very satisfied with the empress' reply. The three +kings went with the Duke of Macedonia to Hippolytus' chamber, and +he received them very warmly. They told him about the entire +conversation they had had with the empress, and how she had +agreed to do everything they wanted. + +Hippolytus knelt, and thanked them, and he was very happy. They +quickly took him to the empress's chamber, and then had the +bishop come from the city and marry them. In attendance were the +Queen of Ethiopia, the Queen of Fez, the Duchess of Macedonia, +and all the ladies of the court. They were all very pleased +because of all the hard times they had had, and which they were +afraid would continue. + +The news that the empress had married Hippolytus ran through the +city, and everyone was glad. They all gave thanks to God for +giving them such a good lord. Everyone in the city liked +Hippolytus because in times of need he had been their captain, +and he had treated them very well. + +Soon afterward the King of Sicily departed, and the emperor +entreated the King of Fez and the Viscount of Branches to carry +the bodies of Tirant and the princess to Brittany. They said +they would do it very willingly out of love for His Majesty and +Tirant. The emperor commanded the admiral to put forty galleys +in order so they would go in his honor. And they were quickly +armed and put in order. + +The emperor had ordered a very beautiful wooden coffin made, all +covered with gold, and decorated so that it looked like the +sepulcher of a great lord. And he had the bodies of Tirant and +the princess placed inside, all dressed in brocade, with their +faces uncovered so that they seemed to be sleeping. + +He had the coffin put on board a galley with all of Tirant's +weapons and flags on it so that they could be placed upon the +sepulcher where Tirant would lie, to serve as a perpetual +memorial. And the emperor gave the King of Fez two hundred +thousand ducats so that the sepulcher of Tirant and the princess +could be made in Brittany in accord with their great merit. When +everything was in order the King of Fez and the Queen set sail, +and they had such good weather that in a few short days they +reached Brittany very safely. + +The King of Fez, the queen, and the Viscount of Branches, along +with many noblemen and knights, made port in a city called +Nantes, and here they were well received and entertained by the +Duke of Brittany, and the Duchess. They took the coffin with +Tirant and the princess, and with a great procession of many +clerics, friars and monks they carried it to the high church of +the city, and it was placed in a tomb held up by four lions. +This tomb was worked in a very clear alabaster, and molded in +fine gold were these words: + + The knight who in arms was phoenix + + And the lady most beautiful of all, + + Lie dead in this tomb, + + While their living fame resounds throughout the world: + + Tirant lo Blanc and noble Carmesina. + +And above the tomb these three verses were sculpted in gold: + + Cruel love that united them in life + + And has taken their life in great pain, + + After their death, encloses them in the sepulcher. + +Words could not express the mourning that took place in Brittany. +There was great mourning over his death by the Duke of Brittany +and the Duchess and all Tirant's relatives when they learned of +the actions of everlasting renown he had performed and the great +prosperity he had achieved. The King of Fez had large amounts of +money given in charity for the souls of Tirant and the princess. +He spent the two thousand ducats the emperor had given him very +well. And he decided to return to his homeland, for he had +stayed in Brittany six months to carry out everything the emperor +had encharged to him. + +The King and Queen of Fez took their leave of the duke and +duchess and all the relatives who were very sad to see them +leave. And the Viscount of Branches also took his leave of +everyone. They embarked on the galleys and set their course +toward the lands of the King of Fez. Our Heavenly Father gave +them such good weather that in a few days they reached the port +of Tangier. And the King of Fez and the Queen disembarked with +all their people. The Viscount of Branches returned to +Constantinople with the forty galleys, and was well received by +the emperor who was greatly desirous of knowing what had happened +in Brittany. + +The Viscount of Branches very discreetly told the emperor about +everything that had been done, just as it had been directed by +his majesty. The emperor was highly pleased, and immediately +bought the county of Benaixi, which belonged to the princess, for +three hundred thousand ducats, and gave it to the Viscount of +Branches as a reward for his works, Then he gave a large +inheritance to all those who had married servants of the empress +and the princess so that they could live well and honorably, +each according to his station, and all were very happy. Then he +arranged marriages for all his other knights. + +Fortune favored Emperor Hippolytus so much, and he was such a +virtuous knight that he greatly increased the Empire of Greece, +and he added to it many provinces that he conquered, and due to +his great diligence he amassed a very large treasure. He was +deeply loved and feared by his subjects and also by the +neighboring lords who lived near the empire. + +A few days after he was made emperor he had the Moorish sultan +and the Grand Turk released from prison, along with all the other +kings and lords who had been imprisoned with them. They made +peace and a truce for one hundred one years, and they were so +content that they said they would come to his aid against the +entire world. Afterward the emperor had them go to Turkey aboard +two galleys. + +This Emperor Hippolytus had a long life. But after the death of +her daughter, the empress lived only three years. After a short +time the emperor took another wife, who was the daughter of the +King of England. This empress was extremely beautiful, humble, +and a very virtuous and devout Christian. The genteel lady bore +Emperor Hippolytus three sons and two daughters, and the sons +were exceptional and valiant knights. The eldest son was named +Hippolytus, like his father, and he lived his entire life a +magnanimous man and performed singular acts of chivalry which +this book does not relate, but defers to the books that were +written about him. But the emperor, his father, left all his +relatives and servants well provided for before he died. + +And when the emperor and the empress passed from this life they +were very old. They both died on the same day, and were placed +in a very luxurious tomb which the emperor had ordered made. And +you may be sure that because of their excellent rule and their +good and virtuous life they are in the glory of paradise. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + DEO GRATIAS + + + +Here ends the book of the valiant and singular knight, Tirant lo +Blanc, Prince and Caesar of the Greek Empire of Constantinople, +which was translated from English into the Portuguese language, +and afterward into the Valencian tongue by the magnificent and +virtuous knight, Johanot Martorell who, because of his death, was +able to finish the translation of only the first three parts. +The fourth part, which is the end of the book, was translated at +the behest of the noble Isabel de Loris by the magnificent knight +Marti Johan d' Galba. If any defect should be found he wishes it +to be attributed to his ignorance, and may Our Lord Jesus Christ, +in His great goodness, grant him the glory of paradise as a +reward for his works. And he protests that if he has put some +things in this book that are not Catholic, he retracts them and +submits them to the correction of the Holy Catholic Church. + +This work was printed in the city of Valencia, the 20th day of +the month of November in the year of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus +Christ 1490. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc, by +Joanot Martorell and Marti Johan d'Galba + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WHITE KNIGHT: TIRANT LO BLANC *** + +***** This file should be named 378.txt or 378.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/378/ + +Produced by Robert S. 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Money should be paid to +"Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois Benedictine College". + +*SMALL PRINT! Ver.04.29.93 FOR COPYRIGHT PROTECTED ETEXTS*END* + + + +The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc +written and copyrighted by Robert S. Rudder + + + +Joanot Martorell and Marti Johan d'Galba. The White Knight: +Tirant lo Blanc. etext number 378C; filename whitk10.txt or .zip + +Robert S. Rudder. 1556 Lafayette Rd. Claremont, CA. 91711. +rrudder@lausd.k12.ca.us + + + + THE WHITE KNIGHT: TIRANT LO BLANC + + + + + +by + +Johanot Martorell + +and + +Marti Johan d'Galba + + Edited and Translated + +by + +Robert S. Rudder + + For + +Jose Rubia Barcia + +Friend and colleague at UCLA + +A true "caballero andante" + + TABLE OF CONTENTS: + +INTRODUCTION + + + +CHAPTER I. COUNT WILLIAM OF WARWICK +CHAPTER II. THE TOURNAMENT +CHAPTER III. SICILY +CHAPTER IV. CONSTANTINOPLE +CHAPTER V. THE BATTLEFIELD +CHAPTER VI. A TRUCE +CHAPTER VII. IN THE PRINCESS'S BED +CHAPTER VIII. THE BETROTHAL +CHAPTER IX. WIDOW REPOSE +CHAPTER X. THE BARBARY COAST +CHAPTER XI. PLAERDEMAVIDA +CHAPTER XII. CONQUEST +CHAPTER XIII. THE WEDDING +CHAPTER XIV. DEATH +CHAPTER XV. AFTERMATH DEO GRATIAS + + + +INTRODUCTION + + "Tirant lo Blanc is the best European novel of the fifteenth +century," says Damaso Alonso in his excellent study.(1) Miguel +de Cervantes, writing from the 17th century, affirms: "as far as +style is concerned, this is the best book in the world."(2) If +this is so, why has the novel all but disappeared from view? + +Some place the blame on the language of the original: Catalan, +whose literature is not widely read in the original tongue. +Others say it is the fault of the erotic scenes ~~ too shameful +for the polite society of earlier times. To my mind, a heavily +contributing factor is its rhetoric. As Joseph Vaeth says: +"Within this work may be found religious and philosophical +discourses, speeches and disputations...; formal debates...; +documents and papers...; formal challenges and replies...; +dramatic lamentations; long and fervent prayers; and allusions to +classical Latin authors, to biblical characters and to figures +prominent in medieval literature." He goes on to say that if the +novelist had omitted many of these elements, "his book would in +that case have been reduced to approximately one-fourth of its +present size, but quite probably it would now be considered a +masterpiece of narration and dialogue."(3) + +Such has been the aim of this translation: The story line has +been slightly abridged, but the most dramatic change is that most +of the rhetoric has been eliminated. If the reader's literary +palate is tickled by this version, and if he would like to read +the entire manuscript in English, he is referred to the version +by David Rosenthal or to the even more complete translation by +Ray La Fontaine.(4) + +Who was the author of this spicy, brutally realistic novel of +kings and knights of the fifteenth century? We know that Joanot +Martorell, son of the king's chamberlain, Francesc Martorell, was +born in Valencia in about 1413. He lived in England during the +years 1438 and 1439, and also traveled to Naples. Death came to +him in 1468. During his life he wrote several letters of combat, +and he began to write his novel Tirant lo Blanc in about 1460. +Whether or not he actually finished the book is still a matter of +debate, for it was not published during his lifetime. Another +writer, Marti Joan de Galba, adds his name as a second author, +and says that he wrote the last one-fourth of the book. But he +died six months before it was published, and his contribution, if +any, is questionable. + +And what was the success of this novel? Only 715 copies were +printed on its initial run in 1490, and apparently all were sold. +A second edition did not appear until 1497. An abridged +translation into Spanish was finally produced in 1511, and no +further Spanish editions appeared until the 20th century.(5) It +was translated into Italian in the 16th century, into French in +the 17th century, and finally into English late in the 20th +century. + +Of interest is the fact that soon after the appearance of Tirant +lo Blanc, and throughout the 16th century, Spain was flooded with +novels of chivalry. But these were of quite a different nature. +Although the major characters are also knights highly instilled +with the code of chivalry, they become involved in fantastic +adventures filled with dragons, enchanters, and the like, +following the lead of the French romances that were translated +into Spanish beginning in the 13th century. These Spanish novels +of chivalry were produced in such great numbers and read so +widely that no less than Spain's great mystic, Saint Teresa of +Avila, was for a time a voracious reader of them. + +While Tirant lo Blanc had no literary followers until Cervantes +more than one hundred years later, it does have the honor of +being "the earliest existing romance of chivalry printed in the +Peninsula."(6) This being so, from where did Joanot Martorell +receive his inspiration? Although Professor Henry Thomas notes +that "the tracing of sources...(may be only) one degree higher +than the hunting of cats,"(7) we feel impelled to relate some of +the more important discoveries of literary scholarship. The +first section of the book is in imitation of an English romance, +"Guy of Warwick", in which England fights off a Danish invasion. +When Tirant lo Blanc appears for the first time, asleep on his +horse, and stumbles upon the hermit who explains at great length +the order of chivalry, the entire section (which this present +translation omits) is taken from Ramon Lull's Libre del Orde +d'Cauayleria.(8) Tirant himself may be an amalgamation of +several historical figures: Roger de Flor, Richard Beauchamp, +Louis IX, Peter II of Aragon, Joan Hunyadi lo Blanch of Hungary, +etc. Tirant's adventures in Africa closely parallel many people, +events and place names from Ramon Muntaner's Chronica.(9) + +More important than any of these "sources", however, is this +question: What did Martorell do with the material that came to +him from books, from life, and from his imagination? + +Cervantes, writing more than one hundred years after Tirant lo +Blanc was published, was sufficiently impressed to talk about it +in his Don Quixote not once, but on two separate occasions, in +fairly glowing terms.(10) Furthermore, some readers have pointed +out scenes that appear to be similar in both books: both Philippe +and Don Quixote find holes in their stockings, which leads one +into great searching for a lost needle, and the other into even +deeper depression; there is a cat-howling episode in both books, +etc. And there is one other way that Tirant lo Blanc points the +way toward the Quixote: in the framework. Cervantes uses a +device often found in the novels of chivalry that preceded his +work, stating that his book is no more than a "translation" from +another language. (While, in fact, the authors of those books +are simply advertising the next novels they intend to write in +the series, much as the "Hardy Boys" or "Nancy Drew" series +advertise in the final pages of each novel.) But in the Quixote +the device has a far deeper purpose: Cervantes informs us that +Don Quixote is a flesh and blood figure whose real-life +adventures appear in several Arabic histories, and one in +particular, by a certain Cide Hamete Benengeli. With the aid of +a translator, Cervantes says, he is now bringing the story of Don +Quixote's life back into the Spanish tongue. What we have here +is, of course, a ploy to make the characters seem more real, and +Cervantes makes this assertion with a broad wink, for while we +are "suspending our disbelief," we also know that it is nothing +more than his artistry. + +And what of Tirant lo Blanc? According to Martorell's +dedication, his book is also a translation: from the English +original, he is translating into Portuguese, and from the +Portuguese into Catalan. But where is the English original from +which this book is simply a translation? There is no character +in English literature or history named Tirant lo Blanc, and +discounting the beginning pages, taken from the "Guy of Warwick" +romance, there is no book in English from which this one has +been translated. As for the translation into Portuguese, there +is no book about Tirant in that language. So why does Martorell +tell us all this? (Although, as we have noted, other novels of +chivalry speak of themselves as "translations", all were printed +after the publication of Tirant lo Blanc.) Is this novel then, +which Cervantes so admired, also presenting us with a "true +history" which has been "translated" in a way similar to the +Quixote? Within Tirant lo Blanc we also find allusions to +historians who have "originally" set these words down. For +example: "Here the book returns to the emperor..." +"Hippolytus... performed singular acts of chivalry which this +book does not relate, but defers to the books that were written +about him." Is there any difference between this and the +statements of Cervantes about his characters? ("Here Cide Hamete +Benengeli leaves him for an instant and returns to Don +Quixote..." "The history goes on to tell that when Sancho +saw...") But we are given no broad wink from Martorell. It is +all true, he tells us, and there is nothing more to be said. +That Martorell died before the work was published, and that Marti +Joan de Galba may have made some additions before it was finally +published, does not clarify the matter. For De Galba also +affirms that the book is no more than a translation from the +English to the Portuguese, and from that language into the +Valencian tongue, and that he is merely finishing what Martorell +was unable to complete. + +There are no broad winks. But the characters belie the +"history": They come to life as no straight-forward, factual +history can bring its subjects to life. As Damaso Alonso so +accurately puts it: this fifteenth century work "is precisely +that whip that could excite Cervantes' imagination. Tirant was +not yet the modern novel, but in it were many elements, and +furthermore, essential elements of what would become the modern +novel."(11) + +Having read this novel, who could forget the characters that +Martorell has brought to life? Who would not feel grief at the +death of Tirant and the princess, no less united in soul than +Calisto and Melibea in Spain (making their appearance a few short +years later in Fernando de Rojas' masterpiece, La Celestina), +than Romeo and Juliet in England, and no less tragic. And in +remembering Tirant, who would not smile at the thought of him +serving as a go-between for Prince Philippe and the infanta, +Ricomana. Could anyone be more delightful than the forthright +Plaerdemavida (whose name translates literally as +"Pleasure-of-My-Life") -- surely one of the best delineated +characters in any literature. Or anyone more villainous than the +odious Widow Repose -- a figure stamped indelibly on our minds, +wearing her ridiculous red stockings and hat in the bath. + +As Cervantes says: "In (Tirant lo Blanc) knights eat and drink, +sleep and die in their own beds, and make their wills before they +die..." And his praise for Tirant is also borne out by the +characters in the Quixote. For in many of that book's most +memorable episodes, they too eat and drink (and regurgitate), +they sleep (when someone or something does not awaken them to a +new adventure), Don Quixote makes out his will (to the +contentment of some of the beneficiaries), and finally he dies in +his bed (and Cervantes warns us that no one should try to revive +him: "For me alone Don Quixote was born, and I for him... We two +alone are as one." This identification of the author with his +work was felt no less keenly by Martorell. As he says in his +dedication: "And so that no one else may be blamed if errors are +found in this work, I, Johanot Martorell, knight, alone wish to +bear the responsibility, and no one else with me, for this work +has been set down by myself alone..." + +If Don Quixote's Dulcinea did not exist until she took form in +his (or in Cervantes') mind, or the windmill that was a giant, or +the Cave of Montesinos, they have now come into existence in the +mind of every reader of that novel. So may Tirant and his men, +the princess, the emperor, Plaerdemavida, also come to life +alongside the gentle and not so gentle folk of Cervantes, in +every reader's imagination. Let me leave the reader with these +words about Tirant lo Blanc by Cervantes: "Take him home and read +him, and you will see that what I have said of him is true." (12) + +Finally, a word about this English translation which brings +Martorell's work full circle, back into the English language from +which he says he has translated it. My work was begun in 1976, +and completed in 1982. Shortly afterward, the English +translation by David Rosenthal appeared, which includes most of +the "philosophical discourses, speeches", etc. that I have +purposefully omitted. So my translation lay unmolested in a box +during these past several years while the computer has been +developing at breakneck speed, now allowing this great 15th +century novel to be read, electronically, throughout the world. +(What would Joanot Martorell say...?) And more "finally", +thanks to the many people who have supported me on this project +and on others in the past: To Walter Pattison who awakened me to +the excitement and beauty of Spanish literature; to my late +friend, Arturo Serrano Plaja, who made a valiant attempt to +refine my taste, and who guided me throughout the years; to my +many colleagues and friends at the University of Minnesota; and +also to good memories of several of my colleagues at UCLA: my +dear friend, the late Richard Reeve, John Crow, the late Donald +Fogelquist, Julio Rodgriguez Puertolas, Enrique Rodriguez Cepeda, +Carlos Otero, Paul Smith, and of course the incredibly fine man +to whom I dedicate this translation, and who helped me in my +darkest hours: Jose Rubia Barcia. There being so many, if I have +neglected anyone in particular, I pray and know that they will be +more than understanding. Vale + +Robert S. Rudder Claremont, California Nov. 1995 + + + +NOTES + + (1) Primavera de la literatura europea (Madrid: Ediciones +Guadarrama, 1961). p. 237. + +(2) Don Quixote. Tr. Walter Starkie. (London: Macmillan, 1957), +pp. 89-90. + +(3) Tirant lo Blanc: A Study of Its Authorship, Principal Sources +and Historical Setting (N.Y.: AMC, 1966), pp. 159-60. + +(4) David H. Rosenthal (N.Y.: Shocken, 1984). Ray La Fontaine +(New York: Peter Lange, 1993). Although Rosenthal's translation +appeared in print first, the fact is that La Fontaine's more +complete translation preceded it, lying in hibernation, much as +my own manuscript, since 1974. + +(5) Madrid: Alianza, 1969. Tr. by J. F. Vidal Jove. +Introduction by Mario Vargas Llosa. Also, further editions of +the 1511 translation by Martin de Riquer (1947-49; 1974) and by +F. Buendia (1954). + +(6) Henry Thomas, Spanish and Portuguese Romances of Chivalry +(Cambridge: University Press, 1920), pp. 32-33. It should also +be noted that El cavallero Cifar, although not in print until +1512, was probably composed at the beginning of the 14th century. +Amadis de Gaula, the model for so many imitations, and not +printed until 1508, was in manuscript form in the 14th century. + +(7) p. 277 + +(8) See the English translation by William Caxton: The Book of +the Ordre of Chyualry. Westminster: William Caxton, 1484? And +reprinted several times. For these and other medieval +translations from the Spanish, the reader may wish to consult my +bibliography: The Literature of Spain in English Translation. New +York: Ungar, 1975. + +(9) See the English translation by Lady Goodenough: The Chronicle +of Muntaner. London: Hakluyt Society, 1920-21. + +(10) After his initial words of praise ("a treasure of delight, a +mine of entertainment,... the best book in the world"), Cervantes +adds this puzzling phrase: "the author deserves to be praised, +for he did not deliberately commit all these follies, which had +they been intentional would send him to the galleys for the rest +of his life." [Starkie's trans., p. 90] Here, he is apparently +condemning the book, although, in the next breath, the curate +recommends the book to the barber: "Take him home and read +him..." And in a later chapter Cervantes speaks of "the never +enough to be praised Tirante the White." So what are we to make +of this apparently condemnatory phrase about the "galleys"? +Scholarship has provided some ingenious theories to negate the +condemnation, to wit: it is not a statement, but a question; the +galleys are less a punishment than a death sentence would be; it +is not Cervantes' opinion, but the curate's; the word galleys +actually refers to "galley-proofs" and mean that the work should +remain in print forever, etc. (See, for example, Patricia J. +Boehne, The Renaissance Catalan Novel [Boston: Twayne, 1989], +Antonio Torres Alcala, El realismo del Tirant lo Blanch y su +influencia en el Quijote [Barcelona: Puvill, 1979?], and the +studies by Martin de Riquer.) Very interesting theories, but we +are no more certain of the meaning behind Cervantes' words than +when we first read them: they remain a puzzle. However, the +novel Tirant lo Blanc also speaks to us: Do we feel that the +novel is utter nonsense and badly written, or is it moving, at +times exciting, often humorous? In short, is it good literature? +Through our own eyes we can make a judgement about the meaning of +those apparently incongruous words of Cervantes. + +(11) Footnote: pp. 203-204. + +(12) p. 90. + + + +CHAPTER I + +COUNT WILLIAM OF WARWICK + + In the fertile, rich and lovely island of England there lived a +most valiant knight, noble by his lineage and much more for his +courage. In his great wisdom and ingenuity he had served the +profession of chivalry for many years and with a great deal of +honor, and his fame was widely known throughout the world. His +name was Count William of Warwick. This was a very strong knight +who, in his virile youth, had practiced the use of arms, +following wars on sea as well as land, and he had brought many +battles to a successful conclusion. + +The count found himself at the advanced age of fifty-five, and +moved by divine inspiration he decided to withdraw from the +practice of arms and make a pilgrimage to the holy land of +Jerusalem. This virtuous count wanted to go, because he felt +sorrow and contrition for the many deaths he had caused in his +youth. + +That evening he told the countess, his wife, about his plans, and +although she was virtuous and discreet, she became very upset at +the news because she loved him so much. In the morning the count +had all his servants, both men and women, come to him, and he +said: + +"My children and most faithful servants, it is the will of His +Divine Majesty that I should leave you, and the time of my return +is uncertain. Since the journey will be very dangerous, I want +to pay each of you now for all the good services you have +rendered to me." + +He had a large chest full of money brought out, and to each of +his servants he gave much more than he owed, so that they were +all very satisfied. Then he gave the countess all his land and +all his rights. And he ordered that a ring of gold be made with +his and the countess's coat of arms on it, and this ring was made +in such away that it was divided into two parts. Each part was a +complete ring in itself, showing half the coat of arms of each of +them, and when the two halves were joined together the entire +coat of arms could be seen. + +When all this had been done, he turned to the virtuous countess, +and said kindly: + +"I know that you will accept my departure with love and patience, +and if it is God's will, my journey will soon be over. I am +leaving in your charge everything I have. And here is half of +the ring I had made. I beg you dearly to hold it in my stead, +and to guard it until I return." + +"Oh, dear!" cried the countess. "Then it's true, my lord, that +you are leaving without me? At least allow me to go with you so +that I can serve you. I would rather die than go on living +without you. Just when I was thinking that all my misfortunes +were over, I see that my unhappiness is only increasing. I'm +left with only this poor son as a pledge from his father, and his +sad mother must be consoled with him." + +She seized her small son by the hair and pulled it, and then +slapped his face, saying: + +"Cry, my child, for your father's departure, and you will be good +company to your mother." + +The tiny infant, who had been born only three months before, +burst out crying. The count, seeing both mother and child in +tears, felt deeply grieved, and he could not hold back his own +tears. And for some time he could not speak, while all three of +them wept. + +The count took his leave of her, kissing her again and again, +tears running freely from his eyes. He said farewell to the +other ladies, and when he left he took only one squire with him. + +Leaving his city of Warwick, he boarded a ship, and sailed with a +good wind, and as time passed he arrived safely at Alexandria. +There he disembarked and made his way to Jerusalem. When he +reached Jerusalem he confessed his sins, and with great devotion +he received the precious body of Jesus Christ. Then he entered +the holy sepulchre of Jesus Christ and prayed there fervently and +tearfully, with great contrition for his sins. + +After visiting all the other sanctuaries, he returned to +Alexandria. Then he boarded a ship and went to Venice. When he +was near Venice he gave all the money still in his possession to +his squire who had served him well, and he arranged a marriage +for him so that he would not want to return to England. Then he +had his squire spread the news that he had died, and he arranged +for merchants to write to England that Count William of Warwick +had died while returning from the Holy Land of Jerusalem. + +When the countess heard the news, she felt deeply grieved, and +went into mourning, and she arranged for the funeral rites that +such a virtuous knight deserved. With the passing of time, the +count returned alone to his own land, having let his hair grow +down to his shoulders, while his beard, completely white, reached +to his waist. He was dressed in the habit of the glorious Saint +Francis, and lived from charity, and he secretly entered a devout +hermitage of Our Lady which was very close to his city of +Warwick. + +This hermitage was in a lovely spot on a high mountain, with a +dense thicket of trees, and a clear running spring. The count +retired to this solitary place, and lived alone to escape the +materialistic world and to do penance for his sins. Living from +charity, he went to his city of Warwick once a week to beg for +alms. With his thick beard and long hair the people there did +not recognize him, and he went to the countess, his wife, to beg. +When she saw him asking for charity so humbly, she made them give +him more than they gave any of the others. And he spent his +poor, miserable life this way for some time. + +Some time later the great King of Canary was filled with anger +because some pirate ships had plundered a village that belonged +to him. He left his land with a large armada, and sailing with a +favorable wind he reached the fertile, peaceful shores of +England. + +In the dark of night the entire fleet entered the port of +Southampton and all the Moors went ashore very quietly. When +they were on land, they put their troops in order and began to +attack the island. + +When the peace-loving king received the news, he gathered as many +men as he could to put up a resistance, and went into battle with +the Moors. The fighting was great, indeed: many men died, +especially the Christians. Because the Moors were greater in +number, the forces of the English king were destroyed. He had to +retreat with his remaining men, and he took refuge in a city +called Saint Thomas of Canterbury where that holy body now rests. + +The King of England mustered more men, and he learned that the +Moors were conquering the island, killing many Christian men and +dishonoring the women and young girls, making captives of them +all. When this Christian king discovered that the Moors held the +pass near a watercourse, he placed his forces in a passage at the +hour of midnight. But he did not do it very secretly, and the +Moors heard of it, and held back until it was broad daylight. +Then they pressed them in a very cruel battle where many +Christians died, and those whose lives were spared fled with the +unfortunate king, while the Moorish king remained in the camp. + +Great was the misfortune of this Christian king who lost nine +battles, one after another, and had to withdraw to the city of +London. When the Moors learned of it they laid siege to the +city. Every day there was heavy fighting until finally the poor +king was forced to leave London, and he went toward the +mountains, passing through the city of Warwick. + +When the countess heard that the king was fleeing to that city, +she had food and everything necessary prepared for the night. +The countess, who was a very prudent woman, began to think of how +she could strengthen her city so that it would not be lost so +quickly, and as soon as she saw the king she said to him: + +"Virtuous king, I see that your grace, and all of us on this +island, are in great danger. But Sire, if Your Highness would +like to remain in this city, you will find it abundant in +provisions and everything necessary for war. My lord and +husband, William of Warwick, who was count in this land, +provided this city and his castle with arms as well as bombards, +cross-bows and culverins, and many other kinds of artillery. And +divine Providence, in its mercy, has given us a great abundance +of fruit from the land for the last four years. So your grace +may be safe here." + +"I am very happy", said the king, "to stay here, and I pray you, +countess, to arrange things so that my army will have everything +they need." + +The countess and two of her ladies immediately left the king, and +went with the magistrates of the city through the houses, making +them bring wheat and barley and everything necessary. When the +king and his men saw what a great abundance there was of +everything, they were very pleased. + +When the Moors discovered that the king had left the city of +London, they pursued him until they learned that he had taken +refuge in the city of Warwick. On the way the Moors attacked and +took a castle called Killingworth, two leagues from where the +king was. Since they had now conquered a great part of the +kingdom, the Moorish king appeared with all his forces before the +city of Warwick. The wretched Christian king, seeing that there +was no hope, did not know what to do: he climbed to the top of a +tower in the castle, and watched the huge body of Moors burning +and destroying villas and castles, killing as many Christians as +they could, both women and men. Those who were able to escape +came running and shouting toward the city. Their terrible +screams could be heard a good half league away, and it would have +been better for them to die than to become captives of the +infidels. + +As the king watched the immense suffering and destruction, he +thought he would die from all the grief he felt. Unable to look +any longer at the desolation, he came down from the tower and +went into a small chamber where he began to sigh deeply. Tears +ran from his eyes, and he lamented more gravely than any man had +ever done. The stewards were outside the chamber listening to +the king's agony, and when he had cried and lamented at length, +he said: + +"Lord, Thy compassion and pity will not allow for this. Thy +mercy will not allow Thy Christian people, great sinners though +they may be, to be afflicted by the scourge of the Moors. +Rather, defend and preserve them and let them be returned to Thy +holy service so that they may serve Thee and praise Thee and +return glory unto Thee." + +While the poor king was lamenting, he put his head down on the +bed, and it seemed to him that he saw a very beautiful lady +coming through the doorway to his chamber, dressed in white +damask, holding a small child in her arms. Following her were +many other ladies, all singing the Magnificat. When he had +finished his prayer, the lady walked toward the king, and placing +her hand upon his head, she said: + +"Oh, king, be doubtful of nothing. Be very confident that the +Son and the Mother will help you in this great trial. The first +man you see with a long beard who asks you for alms in the name +of God, kiss him on the mouth as a sign of peace, and beg him +graciously to put aside the habit, and make him captain over all +the people." + +The poor king awoke and saw nothing. He was astonished at the +dream, and he thought about it a great while, remembering +everything he had seen. Then he left the chamber, and there +stood all the principal knights, who told the king: + +"Your grace, all the Moors have set up their tents in front of +the city." + +The king did everything possible to have the city well guarded +that night. + +The following morning the hermit-count climbed the high mountain +to gather herbs for his sustenance, and he saw the great number +of Moors teeming over all the land. He left his desert +habitation and went into the city. + +The poor old man, who had spent several days on a diet of nothing +but herbs, saw that the city was in deep sorrow, and he went to +the castle to beg alms from the countess. When he was inside the +castle he saw the king coming from mass, and when he saw him so +nearby, he sank to his knees and begged him in God's name to give +him alms. The king remembered the dream and helped him up. Then +he kissed him on the mouth, took hold of his hand and led him +into a room. When they had sat down, the king said to him: + +"I beg you to help and advise us in our time of need, for I see +that you are a holy man and a friend of Jesus Christ. I beg you +dearly, if you love God and if you have charity in your heart, +cast off the clothing you are wearing for penance, and dress +yourself in the clothes of charity, which are arms. For with +God's help and your command we will have a glorious victory over +our enemies." + +When the king had finished these words, the hermit began to +speak: + +"My lord, I am astonished that your grace is asking me, a poor, +weak man, for advice and help. As Your Excellency can see, my +old, weak body is in a state of decrepitude because of its many +years and the harsh life I've led so long on the mountain, eating +only herbs and bread. I don't have the strength to bear arms. I +beg Your Excellency to allow me to decline." + +The king became very pained at this answer, and said: + +"Reverend Father, I kneel at your feet and with these tears I +again beg you, if you are a steadfast Christian, to have +compassion on me, a miserable king, and on all Christians. All +their hope and mine is in the mercy of God and in your great +virtue. Don't refuse me this." + +The painful tears of the king moved the hermit to pity, and his +heart softened. + +After a brief pause while the hermit made the king rise, he said: + +"Out of love for you, my king, I will obey your commands and try +to save you and your kingdom. And, if necessary, I will place +myself in the thick of battle, old as I am, to defend +Christianity and bring the haughty Mohammedan sect to its knees, +with the understanding that Your Excellency will be guided by my +advice." + +The king answered: "Reverend Father, since you grant me so much +grace, I promise you, on my word as king, that I will not go one +step beyond your orders." + +"Now, my lord," said the hermit, "when you are outside in the +great hall, show a happy and very content face to the knights and +all the people, and speak to them very complacently. And when +you dine, eat well and enjoy yourself, and show much more +happiness than you ordinarily do, so that all those who have lost +hope will regain it. For a lord or a captain should never wear a +sad face, no matter how great an adversity there may be, so that +his people will not be discouraged. Have some Moorish garments +brought to me, and you shall see what I am going to do. When I +was on my way to the Holy Land of Jerusalem I stayed in +Alexandria, and in Beirut they taught me the Moorish tongue, +because I was there many days. In Beirut I learned to make +explosives of certain materials that delay six hours before they +ignite, but when they do, they could burn up the entire world, +and all the water in the world would not be able to extinguish +them, unless oil and pine resin is used." + +"It is astonishing," said the king, "that they can only be +extinguished with oil or pine resin. I thought water would put +out any fire in the world." + +"No, my lord," said the hermit. "If your grace will allow me to +go to the castle gate, I will bring you a special substance, and +with clear water or wine you will be able to light a torch." + +"In faith," said the king, "I will take great pleasure in seeing +it." + +The hermit immediately went to the castle gate since, when he +entered, he had seen quicklime there, and he picked up a little +sod and came back to the king. Then he took some water, and +throwing it on the quicklime he lighted it the way a straw lights +a candle. + +The king said: "I would never have been able to believe such a +thing if I had not seen it with my own eyes. Now I am certain +there is nothing that men cannot do. I beg you, Reverend Father, +please tell me what we need to make the explosives." + +"My lord," said the hermit, "I will go and buy it, because it is +much better to know if the materials are good, and I have made +them many times with my own hands. When they are made, Sire, I +will go to the Moors' camp alone, and put the explosives near the +king's tent. At the hour of midnight the explosives will ignite +and all the Moors will run there to put out the fire, and your +grace will be armed and waiting with all your men. When you see +the huge fire, attack them with all your forces, and your +lordship may be sure that ten thousand of your men will cause +confusion among one hundred thousand of theirs." + +The hermit's words pleased the king, and he gave deep thanks for +his offer, and was very happy. He immediately gave orders that +everything the hermit had commanded should be carried out. + +The hermit, who had left the king, soon returned with the things +they needed for the explosives, and he said to the king: + +"My lord, there is only one element we lack, but I know that the +countess has it. When her husband, William of Warwick, was +alive, he had a great deal of it since it can be used for many +things." + +The king said: "Then I want both of us to go to the countess now +to get it." + +The king sent word to the countess that he wanted to speak with +her. When the countess came out of her room she saw the king and +the hermit. + +"Countess," said the king, "by your grace and virtue, be so kind +as to give me a little sulfur, the kind which causes heat and +does not burn itself up, the kind that the count, your husband, +put into the torches so that no matter how much the wind blew +they would not go out." + +The countess answered: "Who told your grace that my husband, +William of Warwick, could make torches like that with that kind +of flame?" + +"Countess," said the king, "this hermit standing here." + +And the countess quickly went to the weapons chamber, and she +brought back so much of it that the king was highly pleased. + +When the king had returned to the great hall where the meal was +already prepared, he took the hermit by the hand and sat down at +the table, making the hermit sit at his side, honoring him as he +deserved. The king's courtiers were astonished at the great +honor the king was bestowing upon the hermit, and the countess +was even more astonished because she was accustomed to giving him +alms. And she said to her ladies: + +"Oh, how angry I am at my great ignorance! Why did I not honor +this poor hermit much more? Now I see that he must be a man who +has led a very holy life." + +Rising from the table, the King of England gave the hermit +permission to go and make the explosives. A few days later, when +they were finished, the hermit went to the king and said to him: + +"Sire, if your grace will give me leave, I will carry out our +plan. + +Your Excellency should have all the men get ready."' + +The king said that he would. In the dark of night the hermit +changed into the Moorish clothing that was prepared for him. He +went out through a back door of the castle very secretly, and no +one saw him. Then he went into the Moors' camp. + +When he thought the time right, he threw the explosives into the +camp, near the tent of a great captain who was a relative of the +Moorish king. And when it was almost midnight the fire broke +out, and it grew so great and so terrible that everyone was +astonished at the enormous flames. The king and the other Moors, +unarmed, hurried to where the fire was greatest in order to put +it out. But instead of being extinguished, the more water they +threw on it, the more brightly it burned. + +When the King of England saw the huge fire, he went out of the +city, armed, and with the few men he still had he attacked the +Moors. And they brought such great destruction to them that it +was fearful, and they spared no one. + +When the Moorish king saw such a large fire and so many of his +men dead, he mounted a horse and fled. He took shelter in a +castle he had taken, named Killingworth, together with all those +who had escaped the camp, and they recovered their resolve. + +He and all the other Moors were astonished at how they had been +defeated, and they could not understand what had caused such a +great disaster, because their forces were fifty times greater +than those of the Christians. When the Moors fled, the +Christians pillaged their camp, and day was upon them when they +entered the city victoriously. + +After four days had passed, the Moorish king sent his emissaries +with a letter challenging the King of England, and it said the +following: + +"To you, Christian king who rules the isle of England, I, Abraim, +king and lord of Canaria, say that if you wish the war between +you and me to end, and the killing between your people and mine +to cease, let us have a joust, king against king, under the +following pacts and agreements: If I should defeat you, you will +hold all England under my power and command, and you shall give +me two hundred thousand pieces of gold in tribute each year. And +if fortune decides that you are the conqueror, I shall return to +my own land, and you will remain in yours in peace, and you and +all your people will enjoy full peace and tranquility. And in +addition I shall restore to you all the cities and castles that I +have won and conquered by my own victorious hand. + +"These words are not spoken for vainglory or out of disdain for +the royal crown, but so that God Who is great may give to each +that share which, by his merits, he will deserve." + +Two great Moorish knights, whom the King of Canary was sending to +the city of Warwick as envoys to the King of England, left the +castle of Killingworth, and before they departed, they sent a +messenger to the city to request safe conduct. + +When the messenger came to the gates of the city the guards told +him to wait a little while, and they would return with the reply. +One of the guards quickly went to the king to tell him. After +the king had held a brief counsel, he told the guard to let him +in. When the messenger was inside the city, the Count of +Salisbury spoke to him and said: + +"Messenger, on behalf of His Majesty, the king, I can tell you +that the envoys may come without danger and in safety, for they +will not be harmed in any way." + +And the count gave him a silk garment and one hundred pieces of +gold. The messenger departed, very content, and before the +envoys came, the hermit said to the king: + +"My lord, let us put fear into the hearts of these Moors. Your +Majesty should order two grandees to go out to the gate and +receive the envoys. And let many men, very well armed, but +without helmets, go with them. Have three hundred men at the +gate to guard it, armed like the others. And let all the ladies +and maidens who are able, old as well as young, hang banners in +the windows and on the roofs, as tall as the women's chests, and +each of these women should put armor on her head. When the +envoys pass by they will see the coats of mail shining, and will +think they are all warriors. Have the three hundred guarding the +gate follow them by other streets, and let them appear in the +square and on the corner. Then, after the envoys have passed by, +let them do the same again and again until they reach Your +Highness. And you may be sure that they will be frightened when +they see so many soldiers after the battle they have lost. +Seeing the great number of men, they will believe that many have +come from Spain or France or Germany to help us." + +The king and all his council thought very highly of the hermit's +words. It was decided that the Duke of Lancaster and the Count +of Salisbury should receive the envoys, and that four thousand +men should go with them, each wearing a garland of flowers on his +head. They went a good mile out of the city to receive the +envoys. + +Then the Duke of Bedford said: + +"Tell us, Father, since there are so many ceremonies to be +performed for the envoys, how should they find the king, clothed +or naked, armed or unarmed?" + +"That would be a good question," said the hermit, "if there were +not so much anger behind your words. But I see the meaning of +your words, and that they are intended more for malice than good. +It is because I am old and a hermit that you are trying to +besmear my advice and belittle me before my lord the king. Hold +your tongue. If you do not, I shall put a bridle in your mouth +that will make you stop at every turn." + +At this, the duke rose to his feet, drew his sword, and said: + +"If it were not because you are so old and you wear the habit of +Saint Francis, I would take this sword and cut your skirts right +up to the waist." + +Then the king rose angrily to his feet, seized the duke and took +the sword out of his hand, and had him imprisoned in the tower. +All the other noble lords there calmed the hermit, telling him +that because of his age and the habit he wore he should be +forgiving, and he was content to forgive. But the king would +not, in spite of all the pleas of the hermit and the other noble +lords. + +In the midst of these troubles, news was brought to the king that +the Moorish envoys were approaching, and those who had been +chosen went out quickly as they had arranged. + +When the envoys stood before the king, they gave him the letter, +and the king commanded that it be read in everyone's presence. +The hermit drew near to the king and said to him: + +"Your Highness, accept the challenge." + +Then the king said: + +"I agree to the battle, in accordance with the conditions your +king sets down." + +He begged the envoys to remain there until the following day when +he would give them the formal reply. He showed them to very +comfortable chambers and gave them everything they needed. + +Then the king convoked a general council, and while it was being +prepared, the hermit, along with the other lords, went to the +king. + +He knelt at the king's feet and kissed his hands and feet, and +very humbly begged him to give him the keys to the tower so that +he could release the duke. The hermit pleaded so much, as did +the other lords, that the king was obliged to give them to him. +Then the hermit went with the others to the tower where the duke +was imprisoned, and there they found a friar hearing his +confession, because he was certain he would be killed. When he +heard the door open he was so startled that he felt he was losing +his mind, for he thought they were coming to take him out to +execute him. + +When the hermit saw him he said: + +"My lord, duke, if you and I have spoken harmful words to each +other, I beg you to forgive me, for I most willingly pardon you." + +When they had made their peace they all returned to the council +where the king and all the dukes, counts and marquis were, and +they read the letter from the Moorish king once more. Because +the king and all the others loved and revered the hermit and they +saw that he led a saintly life, and that he expressed himself +well and was knowledgeable about arms, they all agreed that he +should be the first to speak, and this led to the following +discourse. + +"I will tell you my opinion, although I realize that I am not +worthy to speak of such things since I know little of the use of +arms. Because of the weak disposition of my lord, the king, who +is young and has a weak constitution and is sickly, although he +has the courage of a virtuous knight, it would not be fitting or +just for him to do battle with a man as robust as the Moorish +king. Instead, let the Duke of Lancaster, who is the uncle of my +lord king, undertake this battle, and let our king grant to him +the scepter and the royal crown so that the Moorish king will not +be deceived and so that he may combat a true king." + +Scarcely had the hermit spoken these last words when three dukes +sprang to their feet in great anger: the Duke of Gloucester, the +Duke of Bedford, and the Duke of Exeter. And they began to cry +loudly that they would not consent for the Duke of Lancaster to +enter into battle and be made king, because each of them was more +closely related to the king, and it was more just for them to do +battle than the Duke of Lancaster. + +The king would not permit any further discussion, and he said: + +"It is not my pleasure that any of you should take my place in +battle. Since I have accepted, I wish to carry it out alone." + +A baron stood up and said the following: + +"Sire, may Your Excellency forgive me for what I am about to say. +We will never consent to what Your Highness has said. If our +Heavenly Father has indeed given you the desire, he has taken +from you the strength. We all know that Your Highness is not +ready for such a formidable and arduous battle as this will be. +Let your grace be ruled by our counsel and will. If we believed +that Your Excellency were disposed for such an undertaking, we +would very willingly have agreed to what Your Highness has +commanded." + +All the other barons and knights praised what this baron had +said. + +"My most faithful vassals and subjects," said the king, "since it +is not to your liking, and you see that I am not fit to combat +the Moorish king, I give you my thanks for the great love you +have shown me, and I submit to your will. But it is my wish and +my command that no one, under pain of death, shall be so bold as +to say that he will take my place in battle, except the one I +shall choose. Unto him I shall give the crown, the kingdom and +the royal scepter." + +Then the king said: + +"Dukes, counts and marquis, and all the rest of my most faithful +subjects, I am relinquishing my station, the scepter and the +royal crown, and my title to my beloved father hermit." + +He removed the garments, and said: + +"As I relinquish these royal robes, and put them on the father +hermit, in the same way I relinquish my throne and my station to +him. I beg him to accept, and to do battle for me with the +Moorish king." + +When the hermit heard the king say these words, he arose quickly +because he wished to speak, and all the great lords who were +there also stood and gathered so closely to the hermit that they +would not let him speak, but instead removed the habit he was +clothed in and made him dress in the royal robes. As the king +turned over all his power to the hermit, it was duly noted in the +presence of all the council and with the consent of all the +barons. When the hermit king heard the pleas of all those in the +council, he accepted the kingdom and the battle, and quickly +asked them to bring him armor that would fit him well. They +brought him many suits of armor, but of all the ones they +brought him there was none he was pleased with. + +"In faith," said the hermit king, "nothing will stop this battle, +even if I have to go dressed in only my shirt. I beg you, my +lords," said the hermit king, "to be so good as to go to the +countess and entreat her by her great virtue and kindness, to +lend me the armor of her husband, Sir William of Warwick, which +he wore when he went into battle." + +When the countess saw so many dukes, counts and marquis, and the +entire council of the king approaching, and she heard the reason +they had come, the virtuous countess gave them a suit of armor +of little value. When the king saw it, he said, "This is not the +one I asked for. There is another that is much better." + +All the barons returned once more to the countess and asked for +the other armor, and the countess told them that there was no +other. When the king heard the answer, he said: + +"My lords and my brothers, let us all go, and we shall try our +luck." + +When they were all before the countess, the king said: + +"Countess, out of your great kindness and gentility, I beg you to +lend me the armor of your husband, Sir William of Warwick." + +"Sire," said the countess, "may God take this child from me, for +I have no other dear thing in the world: I have already sent the +armor to you." + +"That is true," said the king, "but this is not what I asked for. +Lend me the armor that is in the small chamber in your bedroom, +covered by green and white damask." + +The countess knelt, and said: + +"Sire, by your mercy and your grace, I beg Your Majesty to tell +me your name and how you came to know my lord and husband, Count +William of Warwick." + +The king answered: "My lady, because you wish me to tell you, I +will. I was in his company continually, for in the wars we were +brothers in arms." + +The countess immediately replied: + +"I beg your lordship to forgive me for not doing all that I could +have for Your Highness when you were a hermit. If I had known +how close you were to my lord, William of Warwick, I would have +honored you much more and given you more of my possessions than I +did." + +The king was very content with the words of the countess: + +"Where there is no error there is no need to beg forgiveness. I +only ask you, out of your great virtue and genteelness, to lend +me the armor I have asked you for." + +The countess immediately had other armor brought to him, covered +with blue brocade. When the king saw it, he said: + +"Countess, my lady, how well you have kept the arms of your +husband! In spite of all the supplications that these lords and +I have made to you, you have been unwilling to lend them to us. +These are the ones which William of Warwick used in tournaments; +the ones I want are hanging in the alcove, and are covered with +white and green damask, with the emblem of a lion wearing a +golden crown. And if my entering there would not anger you, +countess, I am sure that I would find them." + +"Oh, wretched me!" said the countess. "It's as though you had +been raised in this house! Your grace may indeed go in and look, +and take everything you wish." + +When the king saw her willingness he thanked her, and they all +went into her chamber and saw them hanging there. The king had +them brought to him, and he had them repaired. + +The battle was arranged for the following day. In the evening +the king went to the main church and stayed there all night, +kneeling before the altar of the holy Mother of God, Our Lady, +with all his armaments upon the altar. When it was full +daylight, he very devoutly heard mass. After mass he had himself +fitted with armor inside the church, and ate a partridge in order +to fortify himself. Then he went out to the field. + +When the hermit king was in the field he saw the Moorish king +with all his foot soldiers and horsemen. All the Moors climbed +to the top of a hill to view the battle, and the Christians +remained near the city. The hermit king held a well sharpened +lance and had a small shield on his arm, along with his sword and +a dagger. The Moorish king had a bow and arrow, a sword, and on +his head was a helmet wrapped with a turban. + +When the two brave kings were in the field, they charged at each +other. The Moorish king quickly shot an arrow which hit the +center of the hermit king's shield, passing freely by him near +his arm, and at once the Moorish king shot another which hit him +in the thigh, but with the armor the hermit king was wearing the +arrow could not penetrate it completely. The hermit king hurled +the lance at him when they were near. The Moorish king was very +skillful with his arms: when he saw the lance coming he deflected +it with his bow. By this time the hermit king had drawn so near +that the Moorish king could not shoot more arrows. When he was +so close that he could almost touch him with his hand, the hermit +king cried out in a loud voice: + +"If You help me, Lord, it will not matter if all the Moors in the +world attack me." + +When the Moorish king saw him so near, and realized that he could +not shoot any arrows, he felt that he had lost. + +After the hermit king had thrown the lance, he quickly reached +for his sword, and drawing as close to the Moorish king as he +could, he gave him a mighty blow on the head. But he did him +little harm because of the thick turban the Moorish king wore! +Then the hermit king struck him a mighty blow with his sword, +cutting off his arm, and as he plunged his sword fully into his +side the Moorish king fell to the ground. As quickly as he +could, the hermit king cut off his head. Then he picked up his +lance and stuck the head on the end of it, and rode back into the +city in triumph. + +Imagine what rejoicing there was among the Christians, the women +and the young girls, when they thought they were now released +from their captivity! When the king was inside the city he had +the doctors brought to him, and they ministered to his wounds. + +On the morning of the following day the king held his council in +the bed where he lay, and it was decided that two knights would +be sent as envoys to the Moors, to tell them that they wished to +observe the pacts they had all agreed to and sworn to, and that +they could go to their own lands in safety, with all their ships +and clothing and jewelry, and that no one in the kingdom would +harm them. + +The envoys departed, and when they were with the Moors they +explained their mission to them. They were given lodging, and +were asked to await the reply. The Moors told them this in order +to do them great harm, for they were now very vengeful because of +the death of their king. + +Among them a great dispute arose over whom they would make king. +Some wanted Cale-ben-Cale, others wanted Aduqueperec, +cousin-german of the dead king. Cale-ben-Cale was chosen king, +and he immediately ordered the envoys seized, along with all who +had come with them, and he had them put to death. They cut off +their heads, put them inside a packsaddle, and sent them to the +city on a mule. The guards who were in the city towers saw two +horsemen driving the mule on. When they were near the city they +abandoned the mule and galloped away. The captain of the guards +saw them and ordered ten men on horseback to go and see what it +was all about. When they got there they wished they had not gone +out to see such a terrible thing, and they immediately went to +tell the king and his entire council. When the king heard the +news he was very much taken aback, and he said: + +"Oh, cruel infidels: you who have little faith, for you cannot +give what you do not have! Now I make a solemn vow, wounded as I +am, never to enter a covered building, except to hear mass at a +church, until I have driven these Moors from the entire kingdom." + +He quickly had his clothing brought to him, and he left his bed +and had the trumpets sound. The first to leave the city was the +king, and he had all the men who were more than eleven years old +and less than seventy summoned, and under penalty of death they +all had to follow him. That day his tents were raised on the +very spot where the Moors had been defeated, and the king had a +great deal of artillery for war brought out. + +When the virtuous countess learned that the king had proclaimed +such a summons, and that those who were more than eleven years +old were to follow him, she was very upset, for she realized that +her son was included. So she hurried to where the king was, and +fell to her knees on the hard ground. Then, with a grieving +voice, she began to say: + +"Have pity on me. I have nothing of value except this son who is +so young that he cannot help you. Grant me this favor in memory +of your great friendship and love for my virtuous husband. And +let me remind your grace of the alms that I used to give you when +you were a hermit. Please hear my supplications, and leave my +son with me. His father is dead, and the only thing I have to +console me is this poor son." + +The king saw the countess's error, and quickly replied: + +"I would very much like to obey you, Countess, if your petition +were honorable and just. But it is well known that men must +learn to use arms, and they must know the practice of war, and +the gentle ways of this blessed order of chivalry. It is +customary for men of honor to begin to use arms when they are +very young, for they learn better at that age than at any other. +And because he is now at the best age in the world to see and +understand the great honors that knights achieve, I wish to keep +him in my company as my own son. He must come with me, and +tomorrow I shall dub him a knight so that he may imitate the +virtuous actions of his father, William of Warwick." + +"I am called mother only by this son of mine," said the countess, +"and if he dies in battle, what will become of me, for I shall +have lost my husband and my son and all that I had in this +miserable world?" + +When the countess had finished, her son began to speak: + +"Madam, I beg you, please do not cry for me. You know that I +have now reached an age when I have to leave the protection of my +mother's wings, and that I am worthy of bearing arms and going +into battle to show the mettle I am made of, and who my father +was. If it is God's will, He will keep me from harm and will +allow me to carry out such actions that He will be pleased, and +they will give consolation to my father's soul, and your grace +will be made happy." + +When her son had gone, the countess went into the city, weeping, +and many virtuous women of the city went with her, consoling her +as best they could. + +That night the king had the camp well guarded, and he allowed no +one to take off their armor. In the morning, when the sun came +out, he had the trumpets sound, and they moved the camp to within +half a league of where the Moors were. When the tents were set +up he let the men rest. This happened after the noon hour. + +When the Moors learned that the Christians had come out of the +city, they were astonished, because a short time before they had +not dared take a step outside the city, and now they came looking +for them. Some captains said this was because of the great +cruelty of their king, Cale-ben-Cale, who had killed the +Christian ambassadors so cruelly, and they said that they might +be recruiting men from Spain or France: + +"That is why they are coming so near, and you can be sure that +any of us they capture will be cut to shreds." + +One of the ambassadors who had taken the letter to convene the +joust, said: + +"They paid us many honors, and as soon as we were in the city we +saw great numbers of men in the towers, the squares, in the +windows and on the rooftops. It was astonishing to see so many +armed men. By Mohammed, I would guess there were two hundred +thousand soldiers. And this wicked king killed their ambassadors +without reason." + +After all the captains had heard the words of this ambassador, +they talked to the other Moors who had gone into the city with +him, and when they knew the truth of the situation, they killed +Cale-ben-Cale and chose a new king. Nonetheless, they armed +themselves for battle and went in sight of the Christians. + +The sun was nearly down, but they still decided to go up a nearby +hill. When the hermit king saw them, he said: + +"In faith, they're afraid of us. That's why they've gone up to +such a high place. Let everyone do what I do, and with Divine +help we will have vengeance on our enemies." + +He took a basket in one hand, and a spade in the other, and went +in front of them all. When the great lords saw the king do this, +each of them did the same, and followed him. + +Before leaving the city, the virtuous king had procured +everything necessary for the war. Around the palisade he dug a +deep ditch that led to a large water hole, and they left a great +entryway in the middle, through which one hundred fifty men could +pass at one time. On the other side they dug another ditch that +led to a high cliff. + +The king said: + +"Since we've finished, and there are only two hours left till +dawn, you, Duke of Gloucester, and you, Count of Salisbury, go +quickly to the countess, and ask her to give me two large barrels +that belong to William of Warwick. They are full of copper +spikes, and she will find them upstairs, in the weapons room." + +They went there quickly and begged and commanded her, on the +king's behalf, so that she gave them to them, even though she was +upset with the king because he had not given her son back to her. +But she realized how great their needs were, and so she did it, +although she could not help saying: + +"Lord, have mercy on me! What's going on that this king knows so +much about my house? There's nothing I have that has to do with +weapons or war that he doesn't know about. I don't know if he is +only guessing or if he's a wizard." + +The barons had the barrels of spikes loaded onto carts, and took +them to the camp. When they were before the king, they told him +everything the countess had said, and the virtuous king burst out +laughing, and he smiled and joked with them at length. + +Afterward he had the spikes taken to the gate, and they placed +them on the ground so that when the Moors came through, they +would stick into their feet. He also had many holes, like wells, +dug, so that if they escaped one danger they would fall into +another. And the Christians worked at this all night long. + +When daylight broke, the Moors began to beat drums, and they blew +trumpets and pipes, and shouted their battle-cries, and with +great joy they streamed down the mountain to attack the +Christians. The hermit king ordered all the men to lie down on +the ground, and pretend to be asleep. When they were almost +within range of bombards they all got up, and gave signs of being +unprepared for battle. When the Moors were inside the entryway, +the king said: + +"Gentlemen, do not dismay, I beg you. Let's turn our backs, and +pretend to run away." + +When the Moors saw them fleeing, they rushed forward as quickly +as they could. They ran inside the entryway which, as we have +mentioned, they could not pass through because the copper spikes +stuck into their feet. When the virtuous hermit king saw the +Moors inside the entryway he made his men slow down, like an +expert in war and weaponry, and he saw the Moors stopping because +of the wounds from the spikes, while others were falling into the +wells that were covered by branches with dirt piled on top. Then +the king began to shout with a loud voice: + +"Oh knights of honor, take your eyes from the city, and turn your +faces to the enemies of the Christian faith. Let us attack with +great courage, for this day is ours. Give them a cruel battle, +and grant mercy to no one!" + +The king was the first to strike a blow; then the others +followed. The Moors saw the Christians doing battle savagely +while they were all unable to move because of their wounds, and +so they were forced to die, and great destruction was wrought +unto them. Those who were coming behind saw how the Christians +were slaughtering the Moors, and they fled back to the castle +they had come from, without offering resistance. + +The king pursued them, killing and beheading as many as he could +catch. When the king was worn out from his wounds, he stopped +for a moment and they captured a very tall Moor of enormous +proportions. After the king had knighted the countess's son, he +wanted him to kill that Moor. And very bravely the boy stabbed +him with his sword until he killed him. When the king saw that +the Moor was dead he took the boy by the hair and threw him on +top of the Moor, and rubbed him hard against the man, filling his +eyes and face with blood, and he made him stick his hands into +the wounds, and in that way he baptized him in the blood of the +Moor. He grew up very bravely, and in his time in a large part +of the world there could not be found so worthy a knight. + +When the good king saw that the battle was won, he began to +pursue the Moors, and he killed all those he caught. This was +the greatest destruction and slaughter of men that took place in +that time, for ninety-seven thousand Moors died in the space of +ten days. Since the king could not walk well because of his +wounds, they brought him a horse so he could ride. + +"In truth, I shall not," said the king. "All the others are +going on foot, and if I went on horseback it would be very +unjust." + +They went along slowly until they came to the castle where the +Moors had barricaded themselves, and here they made camp and +rested that night. In the morning, when it was broad daylight, +the king ordered the trumpets blown, and all the men armed +themselves. The king put on his royal tunic and went in front of +all the rest, and they charged the castle. They were met by +cross bows and spears and rocks that were thrown down on them +from the top of the castle. And the king pressed on so hard +that he went ahead alone, without anyone being able to help him. +The countess's son shouted loudly: + +"Run, knights of honor! Let us run and help our king and lord +who has placed himself in great danger!" + +And he took hold of a small shield that a page was carrying, and +jumped into the moat to go to where the king was. The others, +seeing the small boy going by, all rushed forward at the same +time to get to the other side, and many knights died or were +wounded. But the small boy, with the aid of Our Lord, suffered +no harm. + +When they had all crossed over they gathered a great deal of +wood, and they set fire to the door of the castle. The boy began +to shout as loudly as he could, and he said: + +"Oh, English ladies! Come out, and regain your lost liberty: the +day of your redemption has come." + +Three hundred nine women were inside the castle. When they heard +that voice they all ran to the back door of the castle, for there +was a huge fire at the other one and all the women were welcomed +by the Christians, and among them were many noblewomen. + +When the Moors saw the great fire, and that the entire castle was +burning, they wanted to surrender, but the valiant king would not +permit it. + +Instead, he wanted them all to die by fire and the sword. And +those who came running out of the castle were either quickly +killed, or the spears forced them back inside. In this way +twenty-two thousand Moors were killed and burned that day. + +The hermit king left the castle with all his men, and they went +through all the kingdom to those places the Moors had taken. +They did not find one Moor that they wanted to spare, and they +went all the way to the port of Southampton where they found all +the vessels and ships on which they had come. Afterward the king +ordered that any Moor who came to the island of England, no +matter what his business might be, should die without mercy. + +When they had retaken the entire kingdom, the king's vow was +fulfilled and all the people went into the city of Warwick. When +the countess learned that the king was coming she went out to +welcome him with all the ladies and maidens of the city, since +not one man had stayed there except the sick and wounded. When +the countess was near the king, she fell to her knees, and all +the other women shouted with a loud voice: + +"Welcome, victorious King!" + +The virtuous gentleman embraced them all, one by one, and took +the countess's hand, and they walked along, talking, until they +were inside the city. The countess thanked him profusely for all +the honor he had bestowed on her son, and then she thanked all +the other great lords. + +Having rested for a few days, the hermit king was in his chamber +one day, thinking to himself. Since he had ended the war, and +the entire kingdom was at peace, he decided to reveal who he was +to his wife, the countess, and to all the others, so that he +could return the royal scepter to the first king, and go back to +his penance. + +He called his chamberlain, and giving him the half-ring he had + +divided with the countess before going to Jerusalem, he told him +to speak to her and give her the ring. The chamberlain quickly +went to the countess, and kneeling before her, he said: + +"My lady, one who has loved and continues to love you sends you +this ring." + +The countess took the ring, and when she looked at it she turned +pale. She ran into her chamber and opened a box where she kept +the other part of the ring. She put the two parts together, and +saw that they were one piece, revealing the family arms. She +understood that it belonged to her husband, the count, and she +cried out: + +"Tell me, sir, where is my husband, the Count of Warwick?" + +And she tried to find the door to leave the chamber, but in her +confusion she could not. Then she fell to the floor in a faint. + +When the chamberlain saw what a state the countess was in, he ran +to the king in fright. The king said: + +"My friend, what's wrong? What news do you bring me?" + +The chamberlain fell to his knees before him, and said: + +"I dearly wish you had not sent me. I don't know what special +power that ring has, or if it was made by sorcery and your +worship took it from the Moors, because as soon as the countess +placed it on her finger she fell to the floor, dead." + +The king got up from his seat and quickly went to her chamber +where he found her more dead than alive, with all the doctors at +her side. As soon as the countess regained consciousness, and +saw her husband and king, she quickly got up and knelt before him +to kiss his feet and his hands. But he would not allow it, and +instead he took her arm and lifted her from the floor, and +embraced and kissed her many times. Then he revealed who he was +to all the lords in the kingdom, and to the entire town. And all +the lords and ladies came to honor the king and their new queen. +When the son learned that the king was his father, he hurried to +the chamber and knelt and kissed his hands and feet many times +over. + +There were great celebrations, and after nine days four hundred +carts arrived, loaded with gold and silver, jewels, and very +valuable items which they had found in the Moors' possession. +The king ordered the jewels, the gold, and the silver to be given +to four lords: the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Bedford, the +Count of Salisbury, and the Count of Stafford. + +After this had been done the king called a general council for +the following day. When they were all present, the king came +into the council chamber in his royal robes, the crown on his +head and the scepter in his hand, and sitting down, he said: + +"My lord and king, Your Highness must be content with the grace +that almighty God has given you, for with the help of your +vassals you have recovered the entire isle of England. And so, +in the presence of all these worthy lords, I return to you the +kingdom, the crown, the scepter and the royal robes." + +He immediately removed the garments and dressed again in his +habit. + +The king and all the barons recognized his great virtue and +gentility, and gave him many thanks. The king asked him to +remain in his court, and offered to make him Prince of Wales, but +he excused himself, saying that he would not leave God's service +for the vanities of this world. Then he left the king and those +in the court, and went to his village, about a league from the +city, and there he rested for a few days. + +When the countess learned that her husband had gone, she left the +castle without saying a word to the king or to anyone, and went +with her ladies and maidens to be with her husband. + +Within a few days the king and his people were ready to leave. +Then the hermit-count told his son to go with the king, and to +serve him fully. And if disagreements arose in the kingdom, in +no case should he turn against his king and lord. + +After the king had left for London, the countess begged her +husband: + +"My lord, let me stay with you so that I may serve you. Let us +make a hermitage separated into two parts, with a church in +between." + +So much did the countess implore him that the count was forced to +obey her. The countess then wanted to go to another site that +was lovely, with many trees and a beautiful, clear spring, and in +the middle of that fine meadow was a pine tree of striking +beauty. And everyday all the wild beasts of the forest came to +drink from that clear spring. + +When the hermitage was finished, and the count and countess were +about to go and live in it, the Count of Northumberland arrived, +as an ambassador of the king, to ask them to go to London, for +the king was to marry the daughter of the King of France. And if +the count could not go, the countess was requested to go, for she +was needed to teach the queen the customs of England. + +The count-hermit answered: + +"Ambassador, tell His Majesty, the king, that I would he very +happy to serve His Excellency, but I cannot abandon the vow I +have made to serve God. As for the countess, her presence there +can take the place of both of us." + +The countess would have preferred to remain behind and serve her +husband, but when she saw her husband's wishes, and realized her +duty to the king, she agreed to go. The count left them with +many tears and went to the hermitage. And every day, after +prayer, he went underneath the beautiful tree to see the animals +drink from the clear spring. + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE TOURNAMENT + + Day after day the English knights were languishing. Abandoning +themselves to idleness, they spent many days in peace, +tranquility, rest and enjoyment. So they would not be completely +idle and fall into languor, the King of England decided that as +the wedding had been arranged he would invite everyone to his +court and have a display of arms. The news of the great +celebration that the king was preparing was spread throughout all +the Christian kingdoms. + +It happened that a gentleman of ancient lineage, a native of +Brittany, was traveling in the company of many other gentlemen +who were going to the celebration. He fell behind the others, +and went to sleep on his horse, because he was so weary from the +long journey he had made. His horse left the road and took a +path that led him to the delightful spring of the hermit, who at +this moment was finding pleasure in a book entitled Tree of +Battles. As he read this book he constantly gave thanks to God, +our Heavenly Father, for the singular favors he had won in this +world by serving the order of chivalry. + +While he was at this task he saw a man coming along the plain on +horseback, asleep. He stopped reading, and decided not to wake +him. When the horse was in front of the spring and saw the +water, it drew closer, wanting to drink, but because the reins +were tied to the saddle bow, it could not. And it struggled so +much that it was inevitable that the gentleman should awaken. As +he opened his eyes, he found himself confronted by a hermit with +a very long and completely white beard, his clothing torn, +revealing a thin body. + +The gentleman was astonished at such a sight, but with his good +sense he realized that it must be some man who led a saintly +life, and who had withdrawn to that place to do penance and save +his soul. He quickly dismounted and bowed deeply to him. The +hermit received him cordially, and they sat down in the +delightful, green meadow. The hermit began to speak: + +"Gentle sir, I beg you upon your courtesy and gentility to tell +me your name and upon what business you have come to this lonely +spot." + +The gentleman quickly answered: + +"Reverend Father, since your holiness wants to know my name, I +will be very happy to tell it to you: I am called Tirant lo +Blanc. My father was lord of the March of Tirania, which faces +England along the sea, and my mother was daughter of the Duke of +Brittany, and her name is Blanca, and so they decided to name me +Tirant lo Blanc. The news has spread among all the Christian +kingdoms that the King of England has called for a court to be +held in the city of London, and that he has arranged a marriage +with the daughter of the King of France, who is the most +beautiful maiden in all Christendom and has qualities that no one +else possesses. I can give you an example: While I was in the +court of the King of France, in the city of Paris, last +Michaelmas, the king was holding a great celebration because that +day the wedding had been agreed to. The king, the queen and the +infanta were all eating at the same table, and I can tell you +truly, sir, that as the infanta drank red wine, it could be seen +as it passed down her throat because her skin is so very fair, +and everyone there was astonished. Afterward it was said that +the King of England wishes to become a knight, and that he will +then make knights of everyone who wishes to enter the order of +chivalry. I asked kings-of-arms and heralds why the king had not +been made a knight during his wars with the Moors. And I was +told that it was because he had been defeated in all the battles +he undertook against the Moors until the appearance of that +famous knight and conqueror, Count William of Warwick, who +quickly defeated the Moors and put all his kingdom at peace. +They say, moreover, that on Saint John's day the queen will be in +the city of London and great celebrations will be held that will +last a year and a day, and so we thirty gentlemen in name and in +arms have left Brittany, prepared to enter the order of chivalry. +And as I came along the road, fortune decided that I would fall +somewhat behind because of my horse's weariness and because of +the great hardships I have endured on the long journeys I have +made--for I left after the others. As I was thinking to myself I +fell asleep, and my horse left the main road and brought me +before your reverence." + +When the hermit heard the gentleman say that he was going in +order to receive the order of chivalry, he heaved a deep sigh and +began to think, remembering the great honor chivalry had bestowed +upon him for so long. + +"I tell your lordship," continued Tirant, "even if there were +many more dangers in it than there are, that would not stop me +from receiving the order of chivalry. No matter what happens to +me, I will consider my death worthwhile if I die loving and +defending the order of chivalry and serving it with all my +strength so that I won't be reprimanded by good knights." + +"My son," said the hermit, "because you so desire to receive the +order, do it with renown and fame. On the day you receive it +perform a show of arms so that all your relatives and friends +will know that you are ready to maintain and serve the order of +chivalry. Now because the hour is late and your company is going +far ahead, I think you should leave: you are in a foreign land +and do not know the roads, and you run the danger of becoming +lost in the great forests hereabouts. I beg you to take this +book and show it to my lord, the king, and to all the good +knights so that they may know about the order of chivalry. And +when you return, I pray you, my son, come by here and tell me who +have been made new knights, and about all the celebrations and +festivities that take place, so that I will know about them, and +I will be very grateful to you." + +And he gave him the book, taking his leave at the same time. + +Tirant took the book with great joy, giving him many thanks and +promising to return, and Tirant said, as he left: + +"Tell me, my lord: if the king or the other knights ask me who is +sending the book, what shall I say?" + +The hermit answered: + +"If you are asked such a question, say that it was someone who +has always loved and honored the order of chivalry." + +Tirant bowed deeply to him, mounted his horse, and went on his +way. + +Meanwhile his companions were wondering what could have become of +him and why he was delayed. They were afraid that he might have +become lost in the forest, and many of them turned back to look +for him. They found him on the road, reading about the +chivalresque acts written down in the book, and of all the order +of chivalry. + +When Tirant reached the town where his companions were staying, +he told them about the beautiful adventure Our Lord had taken him +on, and how the saintly hermit had given him that book. And they +read all that night until morning when it was time to leave. + +They traveled a day at a time until they reached the city of +London,where the king was with many knights. Many had come, both +from his own kingdom and from foreign lands, and no more than +thirteen days remained before the celebration of Saint John's +day. + +When Tirant and his friends had gathered together they went to +pay homage to the king, who received them very cordially. The +infanta was two days journey from there in a city named +Canterbury where the body of Saint Thomas of Canterbury lies. On +Saint John's day the celebrations began, and that day the king +was seen with the infanta, his bride. These celebrations lasted +a year and a day. + +When the celebrations were over the king was married to the +infanta of France, and all the foreigners took their leave of the +king and queen and returned to their own lands. + +After Tirant left the city of London with his companions, he +remembered the promise he had made to the hermit, and when they +were near the place where he lived, he said to them: + +"Gentlemen, my brothers, I must go to where the hermit is." + +And everyone in his company begged him to let them go too, for +they had a great desire to see the saintly hermit. Tirant was +most content that they should, and they all set out on the road +toward the hermit. At the time they arrived, the hermit was +under the tree, in prayer. + +When he saw so many people arriving he wondered who they could +be. Tirant drew closer than the others, and when he was near he +dismounted, and all the rest with him, and they approached the +hermit with deep humility, kneeling and paying him the honor he +deserved. Tirant wished to kiss his hand, as did all the others, +but he would not permit it. + +The hermit, very attentive and courteous, paid them great honor, +embracing them all and begging them to sit on the grass near him. +And they answered that he should sit down and they would all +remain standing, but the valorous gentleman would not allow it +and made them all sit next to him. When they were all seated, +they waited for the hermit to speak. The hermit, understanding +the honor they were paying him, said: + +"I could not possibly tell you, magnificent gentlemen, how +content I am at seeing so many good people. Please tell me if +you are now coming from the court of my lord, the king. I would +like to know who became new knights, and about the celebrations +that have taken place. And I beg you, Tirant lo Blanc, tell me +the names of all these gentlemen here." + +And he paused. Tirant turned to his companions, for there were +many of higher lineage and wealth, and he said to them: + +"Oh, valiant knights! I pray you to answer the questions that +the reverent hermit has asked us. I have told you many times of +his wisdom and holiness; and he is a father of chivalry and +deserves great honor, so I beg you to speak to him." + +They all answered: + +"You speak, Tirant. Speak for us all, for the holy father met +you first." + +"Then, since that is your pleasure," said Tirant, "and the father +commands it, if I am wrong about anything, please correct me." + +They all said they would. + +Then the hermit said: + +"I beg you, please tell me who was judged the best of the knights +and who was given the honor of this festive occasion?" + +"My lord," said Tirant, "many gentlemen of great authority and +power came to these celebrations. There were kings, dukes, +counts and marquis, nobles and knights and many gentlemen of +ancient lineage; and almost all those who were not knights were +given the order of chivalry. The Duke of Acquaviva put on a +display of arms with great knightly spirit and many men were with +him, and from among them more than sixty gentlemen were knighted. +This duke jousted on foot and on horseback, and he was always +victorious. The brother of the Duke of Burgundy went into battle +with great courage like the virtuous knight that he is. Next the +Duke of Cleve jousted, and he was highly praised. Many other +gentlemen who came jousted like noble knights, and I can tell +you, sir, in all truth, that more than one hundred fifty knights +were killed. + +"And I will tell your grace something astonishing: One day a boy +(It looked to me like he was no more than fourteen or fifteen +years old, and everyone honored him, including the king, and they +called him the high constable of England) came to the lodging of +these gentlemen here and asked for me. He did not know my name, +but he recognized me, and he begged me very graciously to lend +him my horse and arms because the king and the countess, his +mother, did not want him to joust on foot or on horseback on +account of the danger. He begged me so much and with such good +grace, that I could not refuse him, and I told him that I would +be very pleased to give them to him. + +"I tell you, sir, of all the knights who took up arms, there was +no one who performed as beautifully or as well as he did. The +first time he went out he caught his adversary in the middle of +the headpiece so that most of the lance went through him. When +the knight was dead and the king heard that it was his constable +who had jousted so well, he sent for him. And the constable was +so frightened that he made excuses not to go, but finally he went +to the king, and the king reprimanded him severely. His +Excellency showed that he loved him very much, indeed, telling +him that he had fought without his permission against a man of +enormous strength, the Lord of Escala Rompuda. And furthermore, +he told him not to dare to joust anymore without his permission." + +When the constable saw how severely the king was reprimanding +him, he angrily said: 'Well, my lord, is it true then that even +though I've received the order of chivalry, I must be held as the +least of all knights because Your Majesty will not let me joust +for fear that I might die? Since I am a knight I must do the +works of a knight, the same as all good knights. If Your Majesty +doesn't want me to face the danger of weapons, order me to go +around dressed like a woman with the queen's maidens. Doesn't +Your Majesty know that when my father and lord, William, Count of +Warwick, held the royal scepter he conquered the Moors? And he +took me by the hair and made me kill a Moor even when I was +young, because he wanted to make me a conqueror, soaked with +blood, and leave me that for a legacy? My lord, if I want to +imitate my father in chivalry, Your Highness should not stop me. +I beg Your most serene Majesty to give me leave to combat a +knight tomorrow, hand to hand, to the death.' + +"Then the king said: + +"'I truly believe that this will be the best knight in the world, +or he will be the worst, because his life will not last long. +And by the faith I owe to chivalry, I will not allow that to +happen. Since fortune has allowed you to be victorious, you +should content yourself with the battle prize.' And he would not +hear another word." + +Then the hermit said: + +"Tell me, since you have spoken so much about this constable, who +was honored above all the knights?" + +Tirant was quiet,and would not reply. + +"Tirant, my son," said the hermit, "why don't you answer my +question?" + +A knight named Diafebus stood up and said: + +"Sir, I will tell you the truth: the one judged best of all the +battles was Tirant lo Blanc. He was also the first to receive +the order of chivalry from the king, and he was the first to +joust. On that day he was taken to a hall and given a chair made +entirely of silver. Then the Archbishop of England came before +him, and with the king and all the others there, he said: + +"'You, sir, who are receiving the order of chivalry, do you swear +that you will defend ladies and maidens, widows, orphans, and +even married women with all your power if they should ask your +aid?' + +"When he had sworn the oath, two great lords, the mightiest +there, took hold of his arms and led him before the king. The +king laid the sword on his head and said: 'May God and my lord, +Saint George, make you a good knight' And he kissed him on the +mouth. + +"Then seven maidens came in, dressed in white, representing the +seven joys of Virgin Mary, and they strapped his sword on him. +Then came four knights, the most dignified to be found, +representing the four evangelists, and they put spurs on him. +Afterward the queen came, and she took him by one arm, and a +duchess took the other, and they led him to a beautiful platform +and seated him in the royal chair. Then the king sat on one +side, and the queen on the other, and all the maidens and knights +sat around them, below. Next a very abundant collation was +brought. And this, sir, is the procedure that was held for all +those who were made knights." + +"Tell me, if you will, about the jousts Tirant participated in." + +"My lord, on the eve of the appointed day, Tirant went to where +the twenty-six knights were. When he was at their door he +delivered a document stating that any knight who wanted to joust +against him would have to battle until one of them had drawn +blood twenty times, or until either of them gave up. His +conditions were immediately accepted, and we returned to our +lodging. The next day all the maidens came for him and took him +to the list, fully dressed in his armor. The king and queen were +already on the cenotaphs when Tirant came in completely covered +with armor, except for his head. In his hand he held a fan that +had the crucifixion of Jesus Christ painted on one side, and the +figure of Our Lady painted on the other. + +"When Tirant was in the middle of the field he made a deep bow to +the king and the queen, and then he went to each of the four +corners of the list, and made the sign of the cross at each +corner with the fan. He found the defender at the far end of the +list, and Tirant went to the other end of the field. When +everyone was quiet the king ordered them to begin. Quickly they +dug in their spurs, lances in the sockets, and they clashed so +fiercely that their lances flew to pieces. Afterward they turned +and charged many times with many singular encounters. On their +twentieth turn the defender struck the beaver of Tirant's helmet +and bent it, wounding him in the neck, and if the lance had not +broken our knight would be dead. He and the horse fell to the +ground. Tirant quickly got up and another horse was brought to +him that was better than the first, and he begged the judges to +give him permission to get another lance. Tirant had a very +thick lance brought to him, and the other man did the same, and +they clashed with a mighty blow, and Tirant's lance passed +completely through the other man so that he fell to the ground, +dead. The maidens took Tirant's horse by the reins, and led him +with honor back to his lodging. They removed his armor and +looked at the wound on his neck, and they made the doctors come +to care for him. The maidens tended to Tirant very well because +they were very happy that the first knight to joust for a maiden +had been the victor. + +"The king and all the great lords went into the palisade where +the dead knight lay, and with a great procession they carried him +to the Church of Saint George where they had made a chapel for +those who died jousting. And in this chapel only knights could +be buried. + +"My lord, when Tirant was well again, he gathered all his company +once more, and we went to the twenty-five knights. He gave them +a written document stating that he wished to fight a knight on +foot and to the death, and they accepted. Tirant went into the +list armed in the normal fashion, with an ax, a sword, and a +dagger. When they were inside the pavilion everything necessary +was prepared. The sunlight was divided so that it would not +shine into one man's eyes any more than into the other's. + +The king came with the other assistants and they went up to the +cenotaphs, while each of the knights stood armed at the gate of +his pavilion, their axes in their hands. When they saw the king, +they knelt to the ground on one knee, paying deep reverence to +the king and queen, which showed plainly that they were very +worthy knights, and all the maidens knelt on the ground and +begged our Lord to give victory to their knight. + +"When the people were quiet, the trumpets sounded and the heralds +cried out that no man or woman should dare speak, cough, or make +any noise at all under penalty of losing their life. + +"When the announcement had been made, the two men came at each +other, using their weapons so valiantly that it was impossible to +know who was winning. The battle lasted a long time, and +because the defender was so hard pressed he grew short of breath. +Finally he reached a point where he could no longer hold up his +ax, and his face showed that he would prefer to make peace rather +than do battle. When Tirant saw the condition his adversary was +in, he took his ax with both hands, and gave him such a blow on +the helmet that he stunned him and the man could not keep his +footing. Then Tirant went up to him and gave him a mighty push +that knocked him to the ground. When he saw him in such a +pitiful state, he removed the helmet from his head, using his +dagger to cut the cords it was tied with, and he said: + +"'You can see, virtuous knight, that your life is in my hands, so +you command me. Tell me if you want to live or die. I will have +more consolation from good than from evil, so command my right +hand to have mercy on you and forgive you, and not to harm you as +much as it could." + +"'I am more hurt,' said the knight, 'by your cruel words, full of +vainglory, than I would be of losing my life. I would rather die +than ask forgiveness from your haughty hand.' + +"'My hand is accustomed to forgiving conquered men,' said Tirant, +'and not to harming them. If you wish, I will very willingly +free you from all the harm I could cause you.' + +"'Oh, what a wonder it is,' said the knight who was lying on the +ground, 'when men are victorious because of luck, or someone +else's misfortune. Then they're loose with all kinds of words. +I am the knight of Muntalt, reproachless, loved and feared by +many, and I have always had mercy on men.' + +"'I want to use these things you've mentioned in your favor,' +said Tirant, 'because of your great virtue and goodness. Let us +go before the king, and on your knees, at my feet, you will have +to ask me for mercy, and I will forgive you.' + +"In a great rage the knight began to speak: + +"'God forbid that I should commit an act that's so shameful to me +or mine, or to that eminent lord of mine, Count William of +Warwick, who gave me this bitter order of chivalry. Do whatever +you please with me, because I would rather die well than live +badly.' + +"When Tirant saw his ill will, he said: + +"'All knights who want to use arms to acquire renown and fame are +cruel, and have their seat in the middle of hell.' + +"He pulled out a dagger and stuck the point of it in his eye, and +with his other hand he gave a mighty blow to the hilt of the +dagger that made it come out the other side of his head. What a +valorous knight this one was, preferring death to shame and the +vituperation of the other knights! + +"After some days it happened that their Majesties, the king and +queen, were resting in a meadow near the river, dancing and +enjoying themselves. A relative of the queen, named Fair Agnes, +was there. She was the daughter of the Duke of Berri, and the +most graceful maiden I have ever seen. My lord, on that day this +Fair Agnes wore a very pretty bauble between her breasts. When +the dances were over, in the presence of the king and queen and +all the knights, Tirant went up to the genteel lady and kneeling, +he said: + +"'My lady, knowing of your great worth in lineage as well as +beauty, grace and wisdom, and all the other virtues that can be +found in a body more angelical than human, I would like to serve +you. I would consider it a great favor if you gave me the bauble +you're wearing between your breasts. If you give it to me, I +will accept it and wear it in your honor and service. And I +swear before the altar and on the order of chivalry, to combat a +knight on foot or on horseback, to the death, armed or unarmed.' + +"'Oh Holy Mary be with me!' said Fair Agnes. 'You want to joust +to the death for such a small thing of so little value? So that +you will not lose the prize of your good works and the order of +chivalry, I shall willingly consent in the presence of the king +and the queen. Take the bauble with your own hands.' + +"Tirant was very happy with the reply of Fair Agnes. Since the +bauble was tied on with her dress straps, it could not be removed +without untying them, and when he did, his hands could not help +touching her breasts. Tirant took the bauble in his hand and +kissed it. Then he fell to his knees, and said: + +"'I give you many thanks, my lady, for this great gift. I am +happier with it than if you had given me the entire kingdom of +France. And I swear to God that whoever takes the bauble from me +will leave his life in my hands.' + +"And he put it on the crest of the cap he wore. + +"The next day, while the king was at mass, a French knight named +Lord Vilesermes came. He was a very brave man and very +experienced in weapons, and he said to Tirant: + +"'Knight, wherever you are from, you have been far too daring in +touching the glorified body of Fair Agnes, and no knight in the +world ever made such a wicked request. You must return the +bauble to me willingly or by force. It is my right to possess it +because since infancy I've loved, served and venerated this lady. +And if you will not give it to me, your life will not last long.' + +"'To my way of thinking,' said Tirant, 'it would be a great +offense if I gave away what was given to me freely, and what my +own hands untied. In truth, I would be considered the most vile +knight ever born if I did such a thing. And yet, knight, your +evil tongue shows that you are far too haughty, and I will have +to pull you down.' + +"The knight attempted to take the bauble away from him, but +Tirant was ready. He pulled out a dagger he carried, and all the +others lay hold of their weapons. A fight broke out, and before +they could be separated twelve of the knights and gentlemen were +dead. The queen, who was nearest to them and heard the noise and +the loud cries the people were making, placed herself between the +men to separate them. And I can give you a good account because +I was wounded four times and many others were wounded too. When +the king found out about it, everything had quieted down. But +before three days had gone by, the French knight sent a page with +a letter for Tirant, and it said the following: + +"'To you, Tirant lo Blanc. + +"'If you dare to confront the danger of weapons that are +customary among knights, let us make an agreement: armed or +unarmed, on foot or on horseback, dressed or naked, in whatever +way you feel most comfortable, your sword and mine will fight to +the death. -- Written by my hand and sealed with the secret seal +of my arms. + +"'Lord Vilesermes.' + +"After Tirant had read the letter, he took the page into a room, +and giving him one thousand gold coins he made him promise not to +tell anyone about this. When the page had gone, Tirant went +alone to see a king-of-arms, and he took him three miles away and +said to him: + +"'King-of-arms, by the trust that has been given to you and by +the oath you swore on the day you were given this office, you are +bound to hold secret what I am going to tell you, and to advise +me well and faithfully about the use of weapons.' + +"The king-of-arms, whose name was Jerusalem, answered: + +"'My lord, Tirant, I promise you by the office I hold and by the +oath I have sworn, to keep everything you tell me secret.' + +"Then Tirant showed him the letter, and made him read it. When +he had finished, Tirant said to him: + +"My good friend, Jerusalem, I will be very honored to satisfy the +desire of that virtuous knight, Lord Vilesermes. But since I am +young and I know nothing about the practice and custom of +chivalry (for I've just turned twenty years old), and I trust +your great discretion, I want your advice. And don't think that +I've told you this out of cowardice or fear. I wouldn't want to +be condemned by the king who has instituted certain laws about +the jousts in his kingdom, or by good knights for being weak in +this matter.' + +"The king-of-arms answered: + +"Oh, knight, virtuous young man, beloved by everyone! I will +give you the advice you are asking me for. You, Tirant lo Blanc, +can fight this knight without any reproach from the king, judges +or knights, since you are the defender and he is the one who +began this wickedness. Do you know when you would be at fault? +If you had been the challenger. So perform like a good knight, +and always show the bold spirit of a knight to the people. Go +into battle quickly, and have no fear of death.' + +"'I feel very comforted by your advice,' said Tirant. 'Now I +want to beg you earnestly, Jerusalem, by the office you hold, to +be judge of the battle between Lord Vilesermes and me, and to +have jurisdiction over it all so that you will bear true witness +about everything that happens between him and me.' + +"Jerusalem said: + +"'I will be very happy to arrange it. But according to the +requirements of our office I could not be your judge, and I will +tell you why: No knight, king-of-arms or herald who gives advice +can be a judge. Not even my lord, the King of England, if he is +the judge of a battle, should say favorable words about anyone. +And if he did he could be called an unjust judge, and that battle +should not take place. But so that neither you nor he will lose +the battle prize, I will find you a competent judge who will be +suspect in nothing. He is a member of our office, and his name +is Claros of Clarence--a man who is very knowledgeable about +arms.' + +"'I know him well,' said Tirant, 'and I am satisfied with him if +Lord Vilesermes agrees, because he is a good king-of-arms and he +will give the honor to the one who earns it. I want him to be +informed about everything because Lord Vilesermes sent a page to +me with this letter, and if I sent him an answer in the same way +it could be found out easily and the battle would not come to the +conclusion that he and I want. So let us do this: let us go back +to my lodgings, and I will give you a 'carte blanche' signed by +my hand, and sealed with my coat of arms. And you will arrange +the battle so that it's all to his advantage. Since he is the +challenger and I am the defender, and he is giving me the choice +of weapons, as he says in the letter, I willingly renounce the +choice, and I will let him choose whatever pleases him most. I +will do only what you say and order. And no matter how cruel the +weapons he chooses, you will tell him that I agree: that way my +glory will be even greater.' + +"Tirant went back to his lodging with the king-of-arms, and he +immediately drew up the 'carte blanche.' That is, it was signed +by his hand and sealed with his arms; and he gave it to +Jerusalem, the king-of-arms. + +"The king-of-arms departed to arrange the battle, and he searched +throughout all the king's and queen's estates. When he saw that +he could not find Lord Vilesermes he went into the city and found +him in a monastery of friars, where he was making confession. +After he had confessed, Jerusalem called him aside and asked him +to come outside the church so that they could talk, for in such a +place it is not fitting to speak of criminal things. They left +the church and the consecrated ground at once, and Jerusalem +began to speak: + +"'Lord Vilesermes, I would feel very honored if I could arrange +peace and harmony between you and Tirant lo Blanc. But if you do +not wish to come to an agreement, here is your letter and his +answer, a 'carte blanche,' sealed and signed by his hand. He +commanded me, as part of my office, to come to you to arrange the +battle in this way: concerning the weapons, he says that you are +to be given the power to choose whatever pleases you, provided +they are equal and without trickery. And the battle should take +place this evening, if possible.' + +"'I am very satisfied,' said Lord Vilesermes, 'with Tirant. +Nothing but complete virtue could be expected of him. I accept +the power that you give me on his behalf to choose the weapons +and the battle. It will be this way: + +"'It is my decision that the battle will be on foot, in shirts +made with cloth from France, both of us having paper shields, and +on our heads a garland of flowers, with no other clothing at all +on our bodies. The offensive weapons for both of us will be +Genoese knives with a cutting edge on both sides, and very sharp +points. In this way I will combat him to the death. And I am +astonished at you, king-of-arms, when you try to make peace out +of discord. Our minds are made up to go into battle, and you +talk to me of peace.' + +"'What I said,' said the king-of-arms, 'is part of my office: not +to want the death of any honorable knight.' + +"'Since we agree, I accept the battle with Tirant.' + +"'I am happy that you are in agreement,' said the king-of-arms. +'Let us go get the weapons and everything you need before +nightfall.' + +"They both went immediately to buy the knives, and they had them +well keened, with very sharp points. Then they found cloth from +France, and they quickly had the shirts cut and sewn. They made +them a little long, and the sleeves cut short--up to the +elbow--so that their movements in battle would not be hindered. +Then they took a sheet of paper, and cut it down the middle and +with each half they made a shield. Imagine what sort of defense +a half sheet of paper could make! + +"When they had finished it all, the knight said to the +king-of-arms: + +"'You have arranged the battle, and you are here on Tirant's +behalf. But I want no one to take my side except God alone, and +my own hands which are used to bathing themselves in the noble +blood of war. So you take some of the weapons, and I will take +the ones you've left.' + +"'Lord Vilesermes, I'm not here to take anyone's side. Even if +you were to give me all that you have, I wouldn't defraud my +honor or my office. Let's do what we have to do; otherwise, give +me my leave and find someone else you trust.' + +"'Upon my Lord and Creator, king-of-arms, my words didn't have +the meaning you're giving them. I only wanted us to go to +battle, because I see nighttime coming on. Since you're our +judge, arrange things quickly.' + +"'My lord, I'll tell you how it's going to be,' said the +king-of-arms, 'I can't be a judge between you since I've advised +you and Tirant, and I could be reprimanded as an unjust judge if +I did. But I'll get another competent judge that both you and he +can trust, whose name is Claros of Clarence. He's a +king-of-arms, and he knows a great deal about war and arms. He +came a short while ago with the Duke of Clarence, and he is a man +who would rather die than do anything against his honor.' + +"'I'm satisfied with everything,' said the knight, 'as long as +the matter is equal and it is secret.' + +"'I give you my word,' said the king-of-arms, 'not to tell this +to anyone at all except to Claros of Clarence.' + +"'Now,' said the knight, 'take the weapons and give them to +Tirant, and let him choose the ones he likes best. I will wait +for you in the hermitage of Saint Mary Magdalene. So that if +anyone in my company should see me, I can pretend that I'm there +to pray.' + +"Jerusalem left and went looking everywhere for Claros of +Clarence, king- of-arms. When he found him he told him +everything, and the man said he was very willing to do it. But +the sun had already gone down, and it was growing late now, and +he did not want to endanger two knights in the dark night. +Instead he would be willing to be judge the morning of the next +day, when the king was at mass and everyone was resting. + +"Jerusalem went back to Tirant and told him how the battle was to +take place and about the weapons he had chosen, and he said that +he was to take whichever of the two he liked better. And in the +morning while the king was at mass, the battle would take place. + +"'Since the battle will not take place this evening,' said +Tirant, 'I don't want to have the weapons in my possession. If I +should defeat or kill him I would not want people to say that I +had performed some trickery on the weapons while I had them +during the night, and that that was the reason I defeated him. +Give them back to Lord Vilesermes, and tomorrow when the battle +takes place, have him bring them.' + +"When Jerusalem heard Tirant speak that way, he looked into his +face and said: + +"'Oh, virtuous knight, versed in arms! You are worthy of wearing +a royal crown: I cannot believe that you will not be victorious +in this battle.' + +"The king-of-arms left Tirant and went to the hermitage where the +other knight was, and he told him that the hour was growing late, +and the judge could not decide the battle well if it was not +daytime, but that they had arranged it for the following day when +the king would be at mass. Lord Vilesermes said that he was +satisfied with that. + +"Early in the morning the kings-of-arms got the two knights and +took them to the middle of a forest where no one would be able to +see them. When they saw that they were ready, Jerusalem said: + +"'Knights of great virtue, this is your death, and your +sepulcher. These are the weapons chosen by this knight and +accepted by Tirant. Let each take whichever ones he pleases.' + +"And he placed them on the lovely meadow grass. + +"'Now,' said Claros of Clarence, 'gentlemen of great nobility and +chivalry, you are in this isolated place. Expect no help from +relatives or friends. You are at the point of death, so place +your hope only in God and in your virtue. I want to know who you +wish to serve as judge of this battle.' + +"'What?' said Lord Vilesermes. 'Didn't we agree that it would be +you?' + +"'And you, Tirant, who do you want to be judge?' + +"'I want it to be the one Lord Vilesermes wants.' + +"'Since you want to have me as your judge, you must swear by the +order of chivalry to obey all my commands.' + +"They swore that they would. After the oath, the knight said to +Tirant: + +"'Take the weapons you like and I will go into battle with the +ones you leave behind.' + +"'No,' said Tirant. 'You have been holding them, and they were +brought here in your name. You are the challenger, so you choose +first, and then I will take mine.' + +"And the knights stood there, arguing about ceremony; the judge +picked up the weapons to put an end to the dispute. He put some +of them on the right side and the others on the left. Then he +picked up two straws, one of them long, and the other short. The +judge said: + +"'Whoever gets the longest one, take the weapons on the right; +and whoever gets the short one, the weapons on the left.' + +"When they had each picked up the weapons, they quickly took off +all their clothes and put on the painful shirts that could well +be called hair-cloths of sorrow. The judge made two lines on the +field and he placed one of the men on one line and the other man +on the other, and he ordered them not to move until he said to. +They cut a tree's branches so that the judge could be on a sort +of cenotaph. When everything was ready the judge went to Lord +Vilesermes and said: + +"'I am judge by the authority you have given to me, and it is my +duty to warn you and beseech you not to come to such a narrow +strait as this. Remember God and don't die so desperately. As +you know, the justice of our Lord does not pardon a man who +brings on his own death, and he is condemned for all eternity.' + +"'Let's stop all the talk now,' said the knight. 'Each of us +knows his worth and what he can do, both in the temporal life and +in the spiritual one. Have Tirant come here to me, and it might +be possible for us to come to an understanding.' + +"'I don't think that what you're asking is reasonable,' said the +judge. 'You are equals: why should he come to you? But in any +case, Jerusalem, go and ask Tirant if he wants to come and talk +to this knight.' + +"Jerusalem went to Tirant, and asked him if he wanted to go +there. Tirant answered: + +'"'If the judge is commanding me to go, I will, but for that +knight over there I wouldn't take a step backward or forward for +everything he's worth.' + +"Jerusalem told him how the judge was obligated to do everything +possible to make peace between the knights. Then Tirant said: + +"'Jerusalem, tell the knight that I see no reason why I should +have to go to him. If he wants something from me, let him come +here.' + +"He took the answer to him, and then the judge said: + +"'All right. It seems to me that Tirant is doing what he should +do. But, knight, you can go to the middle of the field, and +Tirant will come there.' + +"So it was done that way. When they were facing each other, Lord +Vilesermes said: + +"'Tirant, if you want to have peace with me, and if you want me +to forgive you because of your youth, I'll do it--on condition +that you hand over the bauble of that illustrious lady, Dona +Agnes of Berri, to me, along with the knife and the paper shield +so that I can show it to the ladies. Because you know very well +that you're not worthy of having anything at all from such a +lofty and virtuous lady as she is. Your station, lineage and +condition aren't good enough even to allow you to take off her +left slipper. They're not even enough to raise you to my rank; +in fact, it was out of kindness that I decided to do combat with +you.' + +"'Knight,' said Tirant, 'I'm not unaware of who you are, or what +you can do. But this is not the time or place for us to discuss +the merits of our lineages. I am Tirant lo Blanc: when a sword +is in my hand, no king, duke, count, or marquis can deny me. +That is known throughout the world. But anyone can easily find +the seven capital sins in you. Let's go to battle and do what we +came here for, and let's not go on with unnecessary and worthless +words: if even one of my hairs fell to the ground, I wouldn't +surrender it to you, much less allow you to pick it up.' + +"'Since you don't want to reach an agreement,' said the judge, +'do you want life or death?'" + +Lord Vilesermes said: + +"'I am very sorry about the death of this haughty young man. +Let's go to battle, and let each one go back to his place.' + +"The judge got up on the cenotaph that had been made with +branches, and he shouted: + +"'Go now, knights, and let each of you act like a valiant and +good knight!' + +"They went at each other in a fury. The French knight carried +his knife high, in front of his head, and Tirant held his just +above his chest. When they were close to each other, the French +knight struck hard at the middle of Tirant's head. Tirant +parried and struck back, and he dealt him a blow on top of his +ear that almost dug into his brain. The other man struck Tirant +in the middle of his thigh, and the wound gaped about a +handsbreadth. He quickly stabbed him again in his left arm, and +the knife sunk in as far as the bone. They both fought so hard +that it was dreadful. And they were so close to each other that +with every swing they took they drew blood. It was a pitiful +sight for anyone who saw the wounds of the two men: their shirts +had become completely red from all the blood they lost. +Jerusalem repeatedly asked the judge if he wanted him to make +them stop fighting, and the cruel judge answered: + +"'Let them come to the end of their cruel days, since that's what +they want.' + +"'I am convinced that at that very moment both of them would +rather have had peace than war. But since they were very brave +and very courageous knights they fought ceaselessly, without +mercy. Finally Tirant saw that he was near death because of all +the blood he was losing, so he drew as close to the other man as +he could, and stabbed him in the left breast, straight into his +heart. The other man dealt him a mighty slash to his head, +causing him to lose the sight of his eyes, and he fell to the +ground before the other one. And if the Frenchman had been able +to hold himself up when Tirant fell, he could easily have killed +him if he had wanted. But he did not have enough strength, and +he immediately fell dead on the ground. + +"When the judge saw that the knights were lying there so still, +he got down from the cenotaph, and going up to them, he said: + +"'Upon my word, you two have behaved like good and very honorable +knights: no one could find fault with you.' + +"And he made the sign of the cross twice over each of them, and +taking two sticks he made a cross and laid it over the two +bodies. Then he said: + +"'I see that Tirant's eyes are still open a little, and if he +isn't dead he's very near to it. Jerusalem, I charge you to stay +here and guard these bodies, and I'll go to the court to give the +news to the king.' + +"He found the king leaving mass, and in everyone's presence, he +said: + +"'My lord, in truth, there were two most valiant knights in Your +Majesty's court in the morning, and now they are so near death +that there is no hope for them.' + +"'Who are these knights?' + +"'My lord,' said Claros of Clarence, 'one is Lord Vilesermes and +the other is Tirant lo Blanc.' + +"'I am very displeased,' said the king, 'by this news. Let us go +out there before we eat to see if we can help them.' + +"'In faith,' said Claros, 'one has already departed from this +world, and I believe the other will soon join him--that is how +badly they were wounded.' + +"When the relatives and friends of the knights heard the news +they gathered up their arms and rushed as quickly as they could, +on foot and on horseback, and our Lord God gave us the grace to +get there before the others. We found Tirant so covered with +blood that he was unrecognizable, and he had his eyes slightly +open. + +"When the others saw their lord lying dead, they quickly ran +toward our knight, wanting to take his life, and we defended him +very well. We split our group into two parts, and, with our +backs to each other, we kept his body between our lines. There +were many more of them than of us, but every place they advanced +they found their way blocked. At the same time they shot arrows +and one of them struck poor Tirant, who was lying on the ground. + +"The high constable arrived immediately, with many men, and he +separated us. Soon afterward the king came with the tournament +judges. When they saw the knights, one dead and the other +seemingly in the throes of death, they ordered no one to move +them until they had held counsel. + +"While the king was in council, listening to the tale of Claros +of Clarence and Jerusalem, the kings-of-arms, the queen arrived +with all the ladies and maidens. When they saw them they wept +for the deaths of two such singular knights. Fair Agnes turned +to Tirant's relatives, and said: + +"'Knights who love Tirant, are you doing so little for your good +friend and relative that you let him leave life like this? +That's the way he'll die, lying on the cold ground, his blood +pouring out. A half hour more, and he won't have a drop of blood +left in his body.' + +"'My lady, what would you have us do?' said a knight. 'The king +has commanded, under penalty of death, that no one should dare to +touch them or move them from here.' + +"'Oh, poor me!' said Fair Agnes. 'Our Lord does not want a +sinner to die, and the king does? Have a bed brought, and put +him on it until the king finishes his counsel: the wind is +getting into his wounds and will make him worse.' + +"The relatives immediately sent for a bed and a tent. While they +were getting it, Tirant was continually nauseous because of the +wounds and because of all the blood he was losing. When Agnes +saw how much pain Tirant was in, she said: + +"'In all conscience, I should not be blamed by father or mother, +by brothers and sisters, or other relatives, or by our lords the +king and queen, because I am doing this with pure intentions.' + +"She removed the clothes she was wearing, which were of white +velvet, and she put them on the ground, and had Tirant placed on +top of the clothing. Then she begged many of her maidens to take +off their clothes and lay them over Tirant. When Tirant felt the +warmth of the clothes he opened his eyes wider than before. Fair +Agnes sat down and took his head and put it in her lap, saying: + +"'Oh, poor me, Tirant! What an unlucky bauble it was that I gave +you. If I had known that something like this would happen, I +wouldn't have given it to you for anything in the world. I beg +you, knights, bring the body of Lord Vilesermes here, next to me. +Even though I did not love him while he was alive, I do want to +honor him in his death.' + +"They quickly brought him to her, and putting his head on the +left side of her lap, she said: + +"'Lord Vilesermes spent seven years of his life trying to win me, +and this is his reward. He performed extraordinary acts of +chivalry out of love for me, and he wanted to marry me. But I am +of greater lineage and wealth, and I refused to consent to +something that was for his pleasure and satisfaction. And now +the poor knight is dead because of jealousy.' + +"The king came out of his council, having heard the complete +story from the kings-of-arms, and he had the three archbishops, +the bishops and all the clergy come in a solemn procession from +the city, to honor the dead knight. Tirant's relatives had +doctors and a bed and tent brought, and everything else that was +needed. They found that he had eleven wounds in his body, and +four of them were critical. + +"After Tirant had been treated and all the clergy had arrived, +the king and the judges ordered the dead knight placed in the box +that the dead are carried in, covered with a beautiful gold cloth +that was used for knights who die in battle. Tirant went behind +him, carried on a large shield. Even though his hand was useless +and he could not use it or hold it up, it was decided to tie it +to a stick, with the bare sword that he had killed him with in +his hand. + +"In this fashion the clergy went first, and afterward came the +dead knight with all the knights on foot. Then came the king +with all the great titled lords. Then came Tirant the way I have +described, with the queen following, and all the ladies and +maidens. Then came the High Constable with three thousand armed +men. They went to the Church of Saint George, and here they very +solemnly held a requiem mass. + +"When the king and queen left the church with all the others, +they accompanied Tirant to his lodging, and every day the king +went to see Tirant until he had completely recovered. That is +what was done to all the wounded. And thirty maidens were given +to Tirant to serve him continually. + +"At the hour of vespers the king and the queen went to the Church +of Saint George, and had Tirant brought there, and after vespers +the king had the following proclamation read: + +'As we, judges of the tournament, have been given license by the +king to judge all the battles that will be held within the time +established by His Majesty we state and declare: + +'Lord Vilesermes died like a good knight and we declare that he +is to be buried and admitted to the holy mother Church, and that +the glory of the battle will be given to Tirant lo Blanc.' + +"When the judgement was published, the clergy sang a very +beautiful litany over the knight's sepulcher, and the honors +given him lasted till nearly midnight. + +"Afterward they took Tirant to his lodging, with the king and +queen and all the others paying him great honor. And they also +honored all the other victorious knights." + + + +"May you have joy and consolation from what you most love," said +the hermit. "For you have told me how Tirant has been the victor +over three knights he defeated." + +"My lord," said Diafebus, "he has done even more singular deeds +that I have not yet told your grace." + +"I would be very pleased," said the hermit, "if you would tell me +about them." + +"My lord, your holiness should know that two months after Tirant +had gotten out of his bed and could bear arms again, something +very strange happened to him. + +"The Prince of Wales came to the celebration with a large retinue +of noblemen. His lodgings were near the city wall, and as he is +a great hunter he had many greyhounds. One day the king went to +his lodging with three or four knights to greet him, because when +they were children they had been great friends and they were very +close relatives. The prince wanted to joust, and when he saw the +king he begged him to have the tournament judges come to counsel +him. Tirant was returning from the city, and when he was in +front of the prince's lodgings a greyhound broke its chain and +got out of its cage, and it was so fierce that no one dared to go +near it. + +"As Tirant was passing through the middle of the square he saw +the greyhound running swiftly toward him to attack him. He +quickly dismounted and pulled out his sword. When the greyhound +saw the sword, it turned back and Tirant said: + +"'I don't want to lose my life or my honor for an animal.' + +"And he mounted his horse again. The king and the judges were +standing where they could see him. The Prince of Wales said: + +"'In faith, my lord, I recognize that evil tempered greyhound, +and since he's loose, if the knight that just went by is brave, +we'll see a pretty battle between them.' + +"'I believe,' said the king, 'that that is Tirant lo Blanc, and +since he's made it run away one time I don't think it will dare +to go near him again.' + +"When Tirant had gone twenty steps further, the greyhound again +ran at him in a rage, so Tirant had to dismount again, and he +said: + +"'I don't know whether you're a devil or under a spell.' + +"He took out his sword, and ran toward it, and the greyhound ran +in circles around him, but it didn't dare go near him for fear of +the sword. + +"Now, said Tirant, 'since I see that my weapons make you afraid, +I don't want anyone to say that I fought you with superior arms.' +"He threw his sword behind him. The greyhound made two or three +leaps, and ran as swiftly as it could. It picked up the sword +with its teeth and carried it off a distance. Then it came +running back at Tirant. + +"'Now,' said Tirant, 'I'll attack you with the same weapons you +want to use against me.' + +"They struggled together in a fury, and bit each other mortally. + +"The greyhound was huge and sublime, and it made Tirant fall to +the ground three times, and three times it nearly knocked him +down. This struggle of theirs lasted half an hour, and the +Prince of Wales commanded his men not to go near to separate them +until one of them was defeated. + +"Poor Tirant had many bites on his legs and on his arms. Finally +Tirant grabbed it around the neck with his hands and squeezed as +tightly as he could, sinking his teeth into its throat with such +ferocity that it fell to the ground, dead. + +"The king quickly came out with his judges and picked Tirant up +and carried him to the prince's house, and there they had the +doctors come to minister to him. + +"When the queen and the maidens heard about Tirant, they quickly +came to see him. When the queen saw how badly he was hurt, she +told him: + +"'Tirant, honors are won by danger and work. You get out of one +bad situation, and you fall into another.' + +"'Most serene lady, full of all human and angelic perfection, let +Your Majesty be the judge of my sin,' said Tirant.' I was not +intending to bring harm to anyone when a devil in the form of a +dog appeared before me with his master's consent, and decided to +satisfy my desire.' + +"'You shouldn't be sad at all, no matter how many misfortunes +befall you,' said the queen, 'for here you show your virtue all +the more.' + +"At this moment the king and the judges came out, and they told +Tirant that as they had seen the battle between him and the +greyhound, and since he had thrown away his sword and the two +were equal in arms, the judges were giving him the honor and the +prize in battle, as if he had defeated a knight. And they +commanded the kings-of-arms, heralds, and messengers to announce +throughout the city the honor that was bestowed on Tirant that +day. And when they took him to his lodging they gave him those +honors that are given in other battles." + + "I am very content with everything you have told me," said the +hermit. "As long as I have lived in this miserable world I have +never heard of such great celebrations." + +When they thought it was time to go, they all took their leave of +the father-hermit, each thanking the other. + +And from this time forward the hermit is never mentioned again. + + + +CHAPTER III + +SICILY + + Tirant and his companions journeyed until they reached the city +of Nantes. When the Duke of Brittany heard that Tirant was +coming with his relatives, he went out to welcome him with all +the city magistrates and many knights, and they paid him the +highest honor they could, for he had been the best knight of all +those who had been at the festivities in England. The duke feted +him, and Tirant was held in high esteem by all the people in the +land. + +One day while Tirant was with the duke and many other knights, +relaxing and talking, two knights came from the King of France. +The duke asked if there was any news from the court, and they +told him that the Genoese had invaded the island of Rhodes, and +that the Christians there were in need of help. + +The news had reached the King of France, and he had lamented +loudly, but did very little. Then the knights left the court of +the King of France, and came to the Duke of Brittany. The duke +showed compassion for the Grand Master and the religious at +Rhodes, and he told everyone there that he would send ambassadors +to the King of France. Then, if the king wanted to send +assistance to the Grand Master of Rhodes, and if he wanted him to +go as captain, he would do it very willingly and he would spend +two hundred thousand crowns of his own money on it. + +The morning of the following day they chose four to be +ambassadors: an archbishop, a bishop, a viscount, and Tirant lo +Blanc. When the ambassadors were before the King of France, they +explained their mission, and he told them that in four days he +would give them an answer. A month went by and they still did +not know what he intended to do. Finally he told them that at +the moment he could not intervene in these things because he was +occupied with other matters that were more important to him. The +ambassadors returned with the reply. + +When Tirant saw that so many Moors were on Rhodes and that no one +was sending help, he talked to many sailors, asking if he could +do something. They told him that if he would go, he could help +them very much, and that he would not have to enter the castle of +Rhodes from the dock, but would be able to go in another way. + +Tirant bought a large ship, and had it well stocked and armed. +It happened that Tirant had become a good friend of the five sons +of the King of France. The youngest of them all, whose name was +Philippe, was somewhat unlearned, and was considered gauche, so +the king thought very little of him, and no one ever spoke about +him. A gentleman who served him, knowing that Tirant had a ship +and was going to Rhodes and then to Jerusalem, wanted to go there +very much. So he told Philippe: + +"My lord, knights who want honor should not stay in their +parents' home while they're young and able, especially if they +are younger than their brothers, and their father ignores them. +Think of that famous knight, Tirant lo Blanc: After the great +honor he received in the battles he won in England, he is now +preparing a large ship to go to Rhodes and to the holy land of +Jerusalem. Oh, what glory it would be for you if you and I would +leave here secretly, without saying a word to anyone until we +were on the ship, one hundred miles out to sea! And Tirant is +such a virtuous knight that he will obey you and honor you as +someone from your house deserves." + +"My good friend, Tenebroso, I know that the advice you are giving +me is good," said Philippe, "and I will be very happy if we can +do it." + +"It seems to me," said the gentleman, "that I should go to +Brittany first, to where Tirant is preparing the ship. We are +such good friends that I will ask him to let me go along to the +holy land of Jerusalem, and I'll ask him what things will be +needed for me and two squires. After we have his decision we'll +put everything we need on the ship," + +Philippe was very satisfied with this, and he said: + +"Tenebroso, while you go talk to Tirant I'll get all the money I +can, and clothing and jewels," + +The following day the gentleman left with two squires, and +Tenebroso journeyed until he came to where Tirant was. They were +very happy to see each other, and Tenebroso told him the reason +for his visit. Tirant was highly pleased, for he knew that +Tenebroso was a very valiant gentleman and very discreet, and he +valued his company. He answered him: + +"My lord and brother, Tenebroso, my worldly goods, myself, the +ship, and everything I have are at your service." + +When Tenebroso heard Tirant say this, he was the happiest man in +the world, and he gave many thanks to Tirant for his great +gentility. + +He left one of his servants there to prepare a room inside the +ship where they could eat and sleep, and where Philippe could +stay secretly. Tenebroso set out again, riding until he was back +with Philippe who was waiting for him in great anticipation. +Philippe was very pleased at Tirant's answer. Tenebroso told him +to get ready to leave, and Philippe said that he already had +everything he needed to take. + +The following day Philippe went to his father, the king, and in +the queen's presence he begged him to allow him to go to Paris to +see the fair, which was two days' journey from there. The king +told him coolly: + +"Do whatever you like." + +He kissed his hand, and then the queen's hand. They set out on +their journey very early in the morning, and finally they reached +the sea port. Philippe slipped into a room on the ship without +letting anyone see him. When the ship had weighed anchor and +they were two hundred miles out to sea, Philippe revealed his +presence to Tirant. Tirant was very surprised at this, but +because they were so far out to sea, they had to continue on +their course toward Portugal, and they arrived at the city of +Lisbon. When the King of Portugal learned that Philippe, son of +the King of France, was on the ship, he sent a knight who +graciously begged him to come ashore to rest from the long sea +voyage. Tirant and Philippe dressed in their finery, and +accompanied by many knights and gentlemen who had come with +Tirant, they left the ship and went to the palace. When the king +saw Philippe he embraced him and paid him great honor, and did +the same to the others. They remained in the king's court ten +days. + +When they decided to leave, the king had them fill the ship with +everything they needed. From there Tirant sent a gentleman to +the King of France with letters explaining what had happened to +his son. When the King of France learned that his son was in +such good company he was very pleased, and the queen was +especially happy, because so much time had passed with them +knowing nothing that they thought he was either dead or had +entered some monastery. + +Philippe took his leave of the King of Portugal, and the ship set +sail, reaching the Cape of Saint Vincent to pass through the +Straits of Gibraltar. There they encountered many Moorish +vessels, and when they saw the ship, all the vessels went into +formation. They attacked it fiercely, and the combat lasted half +a day, with many men from both sides dying. After Tirant's men +had rested, they renewed the battle, and it was very fierce. Now +Tirant's ship was much larger and lighter than any of those of +the Moors, but it was alone, while there were fifteen of the +others, large and small, and all of them carried weapons. + +One very able sailor on the ship, named Cataquefaras, had sailed +a great deal, and he was very clever and valiant. When he saw +that the situation was taking a turn for the worse, he took many +ropes from the ship and made a net. He placed those ropes from +stern to prow and around the mast, and he put them up so high +that the men did not find their weapons hindered in any way; +instead it kept them from being taken prisoner. For the missiles +that the Moors launched were so many and so thick that it was a +great marvel to see, and if the ship had not been covered by that +net of ropes, it would have been completely filled with stones +and iron bars. In that way it was protected so that no stone +could pass through it; instead, when a stone hit against the +ropes, it bounced into the sea. What else did this sailor do? +He took up all the mattresses that he found on the ship, and he +covered the forecastles and the sides of the ship, and as the +missiles fell on top of the mats they could not damage the ship. +And he did still more. He took boiling oil and tar, and when +the ships drew alongside, they threw the oil and boiling tar with +ladles, causing grave injuries to the Moors, who had to draw +apart from the ship. But still they passed through the entire +Straits of Gibraltar, fighting night and day. There were so many +missiles, darts and spikes that the sails were pinned to the +ship's mast when the Moors left them. They were very near land, +and certain that the ship would run aground, stern first, near +the city of Gibraltar. But the sailors were so capable that they +quickly put the ship around and raised the sails. Then they +passed out of the Straits and entered the great sea. + +Philippe, Tirant and many others were wounded in these battles. +They went to a deserted island near the land of the Moors, and +there they tended to their wounds and repaired the ship as well +as they could. Then they sailed along the Barbary Coast where +they fought many battles with Genoese and Moorish vessels until +they were close to Tunis. There they decided to go to the island +of Sicily to take on wheat. They went to the port of Palermo +where the king and queen were, with their two sons and a very +beautiful daughter named Ricomana, a very intelligent maiden of +many virtues. When the ship was in port, they made a scribe +disembark along with five or six men, with orders to tell no one +about Philippe or Tirant, but rather to say that their ship had +come from the west and was on its way to Alexandria with some +pilgrims who were going to the Holy Sepulcher. + +When the king learned that they had come from the west he had the +scribe from the ship and all the others called before His Majesty +so he could have news of those lands. Before the king, they told +about the great battles they had had with the Moors and Genoese +in the Straits of Gibraltar, and forgetting at that moment +Tirant's words, they mentioned that Philippe, son of the King of +France, was there, in the company of Tirant lo Blanc. When the +king heard that Philippe was on that ship, he had a great wooden +bridge, covered with cloth and satin, constructed from land to +the ship. And to pay him honor, the king went on board the ship +with his two sons, and implored Philippe and Tirant to come on +land and rest a few days from the great hardships they had +endured at sea, and from their battles with the Moors. Philippe +and Tirant thanked him and told him that, to please him, they +would go with His Majesty. + +The king brought them to the city, furnished them with very nice +quarters, and had them served excellent dishes and other things +men need who have been at sea. + +Philippe, following Tirant's counsel, told the king that they +would not stay in their room until they had seen the queen. And +the king was very pleased. When they were upstairs in the +palace, the queen, along with her daughter, the princess, +received them very graciously. And when they returned to their +lodgings they decided that she was everything a king's daughter +should be. + +Afterward, everyday at mass or after eating, they were with the +king and especially with the infanta, who was so pleasant to the +foreigners who came and went, that everyone spoke of her great +virtue. And by speaking with the infanta everyday at the king's +court, Philippe grew very enamored of her, as she did of him. +But Philippe was so shy when he was in her presence that he +scarcely dared speak, and when she asked him questions, he did +not know how to respond to some of them. Tirant quickly answered +for him and said to the infanta: + +"Oh, my lady, what a thing love is! That Philippe! When we are +in our lodgings or away from here his lips never tire of praising +Your Majesty, and when you are present he is overcome with love, +and finds it difficult to speak. In truth, I tell you, if I were +a woman and I found someone with his genteel quality, and I knew +he was of a long and good lineage, I would forget everyone else +and would love only him." + +"Oh, Tirant," said the infanta. "Your words sound nice, but if +it turns out that he is vulgar by nature, what pleasure would it +be for a maiden to have everyone laugh at him. For love's sake, +don't tell me such things; I would prefer a man who was prudent +and discreet, rather than for him to be vulgar and avaricious." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "you are right, but he doesn't fit that +description. He's young and of tender years, but he's old in the +best sense, generous, more valiant than anyone, and very amiable +and gracious. During the night he gets up and doesn't let me +rest the way I would like. If I want to give him pleasure I have +only to speak of Your Majesty. If this isn't love, tell me, what +could it be? My lady, love someone who loves you. He is the son +of a king, like you, and he loves you more than his life. If he +does not talk as much as Your Grace would like, that is a virtue. +Guard yourself, my lady, from those men who boldly dare to court +a maiden. That kind of love is not good love: it comes and goes. +And men like those are called corsairs, because they make booty +of everything. My lady, give me a man who appears before his +lady with great fear and shame, with his hands trembling, and who +can scarcely utter a word." + +"Tirant," said the infanta, "because of your great friendship +with Philippe, you are right to honor him so much. With your +noble order of chivalry, you can do nothing but what is expected +of you, and that's why I think highly of you. But don't imagine +that I'm a woman who is easily convinced. I have to put my hands +in up to the elbows in the sense of knowing his manners, his +station and condition, and if he could bring me happiness. +Although I'm happy when I see him, experience tells me that he +seems vulgar and avaricious, and both of those vices are +incurable." + +"I beg Your Highness to give me an audience, and not to be angry +at what I say to you. I see ambassadors from the Pope coming to +the court to arrange a marriage between Your Highness and his +nephew (and some wonder if he isn't his son). And I also see +ambassadors from the King of Naples, the King of Hungary, and the +King of Cyprus. Although I may not have the power of the most +Christian King of France, I would like to talk to your father and +Your Highness about the wedding. I see that you are wise and +discreet, my lady. But because of your perfection you deserve to +be on the imperial throne and subject to the crown of France: it +is of greater height than the Roman Empire." + +At this time the queen arrived and interrupted their delightful +conversation. After a few moments the queen said to Tirant: + +"Virtuous knight, scarcely an hour ago the king and I were +speaking of you and your chivalrous deeds, and the king wishes to +place an undertaking in your charge that is very important to him +and to me. + +And I regard you so highly that if you attempt it you will surely +come out of it with honor. But to avoid all doubts I will put +forth all the obstacles there that I can." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "Your Excellency speaks in such a covert +manner that I don't know what to reply, unless Your Highness can +give me a clearer explanation. But whatever I can do for Your +Excellency, with the consent of the king, I'll do it most +willingly, even if it should be to carry the cross on my back." + +The queen gave him many thanks. Tirant took leave of the queen +and the infanta, and when he was at his lodgings he was sorry +that the ship was not repaired so that he could depart +immediately. + +Tirant saw a ship on the high seas. He wanted to have news +before going to dine, and he sent an armed brigantine that left +very swiftly and then returned. They told him that this ship +came from Alexandria and Beirut, and that it had touched on the +island of Cyprus, but that it had not been able to land at +Rhodes, because there were so many Moors that held it besieged on +land and sea. Many Genoese vessels were guarding the port, and +the city of Rhodes was in such straits that they had no bread to +eat. It had been three months now since the Grand Master or +anyone in the castle or the city had eaten. They ate nothing but +horse meat, and the day they could find even that was a +fortunate one. They truly believed that in a few short days they +would have to surrender to the Moors. + +When Tirant heard this news, he reflected at length. And he +decided to load the ship entirely with wheat and other victuals, +and embark to give aid to Rhodes. He quickly sent for merchants, +and he gave them so much money that they loaded the ship with +wheat, wine and salted meat. + +When the king learned of this he sent for Tirant, and said: + +"The glory of your undertaking puts all the princes of +Christianity to shame who have refused to aid the master of +Rhodes. I would like to go with you to Jerusalem (in disguise so +that no one would recognize me). That would please me more than +if you gave me a kingdom, and I would be in your debt for the +rest of my life. So I beg you with great love, don't refuse this +to me." + +When the king had finished, Tirant said: + +"If it should become necessary, I will treat Your Highness as my +own lord, as though I had served you all my life. As for going +on my ship, my lord, the ship, my possessions, and myself all +belong to Your Excellency, and you may command and order +everything as if it were your own." + +And so they agreed. When the king had seen the ship, he asked +for his room to be prepared near the mast, because a ship is +safer there when disaster strikes. + +Every day the king and Tirant discussed many things, and finally +they spoke about Philippe. Tirant wanted to arrange a marriage +between him and the infanta, and for him to have the dowry the +king had mentioned. The king favored a union with the house of +France, but he said: + +"Tirant, I won't make a decision about any of these things until +I know what my daughter thinks. If she agrees, then I will +consent to the marriage. I will be very happy to talk to the +queen and to my daughter, and if they agree, the wedding will be +held before we leave." + +The king had the queen and his daughter brought to his chambers, +and he said to them: + +"The reason that I had you come here, my queen and my daughter, +was to tell you about a journey I will be making soon. I have +decided to go with Tirant to Jerusalem, and so that no one will +know me I am taking along only one gentleman to serve me. And +because my life and death are in the hands of God, our Heavenly +Father, I would like to see you well married, my daughter. If +you like the king's son who is here, and who would unite us with +the greatest king in Christianity, I am certain that with +Tirant's aid and counsel and Philippe's willingness, everything +can be arranged satisfactorily." + +"It seems to me," said the infanta, "that Your Majesty knows it +will be two weeks before the ship's cargo is loaded and it's +ready to weigh anchor. In that time, Your Highness, with the +counsel of my uncle and your brother, the Duke of Messina, you +can take care of the matter, because the duke is expected here +tonight or tomorrow." + +"You speak well, my daughter," said the king, "and what you say +is reasonable." + +"Pardon me, Your Highness," said the infanta, "but since Your +Excellency has decided to go on this saintly journey, you should +hold a great celebration so that Tirant and all the men with him +will be more willing to serve you when you are at sea, and +besides if it reaches the ears of the King of France, he will +know that Your Highness is showing consideration to his son, +Philippe. Next Sunday a celebration could be held that would +last three days; the tables could he set night and day, and +there would always be enough food on them for everyone who wanted +to attend.' + +"In faith, my child," said the king, "you've thought it out +better than I could have, and I am very happy to do it, But I'm +very busy planning my journey, and I want to leave the kingdom in +such a good state that no one will note my departure, and besides +there could be many problems when we are in the land of the +Moors. So I would like you, my child, to plan this and be in +complete charge of it ." + +The king immediately had the steward and the purchasers brought +in, and he told them to do everything his daughter, Ricomana, +commanded, and they said they would be happy to. + +The infanta planned everything very well, and many different +dishes were chosen. Now the infanta held this celebration solely +to see how Philippe would conduct himself at the table. + +The infanta gave instructions that on the day of the great feast +the king, the queen, Philippe and she would eat together at a +table above the others, and that the Duke of Messina, Tirant, and +all the counts and barons and others would eat at a table below +the king's. The evening before the celebration the king sent two +knights to Philippe and Tirant, asking them to go with him to +mass and to dinner the following day. And they humbly accepted +the invitation. + +In the morning they dressed in their finest clothing, and all +their men did the same, and then they went to the palace and paid +homage to the king. The king received them very kindly, and he +took Philippe's hand, as did the Duke of Messina to Tirant, and +they went to the church. When the king was at his chapel, they +asked his permission to accompany the queen and his daughter, and +the king gave his consent. As they walked with the ladies, +Philippe took the infanta's arm so that he could be closer to +her, and Tirant never left Philippe's side for fear that he would +do or say something foolish that would annoy the infanta. + +When the mass was finished and the king and all the others had +gone back to the palace, the dinner was ready. The king sat in +the center of the table with the queen at his side. To honor +Philippe, the king had him sit at the head of the table, with the +infanta facing him. Tirant wanted to remain standing in order to +be near Philippe, but the king said to him: + +"Tirant, my brother, the Duke of Messina is waiting for you, and +he doesn't want to sit down without you." + +"My lord," said Tirant, "if you please, tell him to take a seat, +because at a feast like this it's fitting that I should serve the +king's son." + +The infanta was impatient, and with a rather cross look on her +face she said to him: + +"Don't bother yourself about being at Philippe's skirts all the +time, Tirant. In my father, the king's house, there are enough +knights to serve him so that you don't have to do it." + +When Tirant heard the infanta speaking so heatedly and saw that +he had to leave, he put his mouth to Philippe's ear and said to +him: + +"When water is brought to the king, and you see the infanta +getting up and then kneeling and holding the vessel for him, you +do what she does, and be careful not to do anything gauche." + +He said that he would, and Tirant left him. When they were all +seated, the king's water bowel was brought, and the infanta knelt +and held the laver. Philippe tried to do the same, but the king +would not allow it. And the same happened with the queen. When +it was the infanta's time to wash, she took Philippe's hand so +that they could wash together, and Philippe courteously and with +gentility, said that it was not seemly. Then he knelt and +attempted to hold the dish for her, but she refused to wash until +they both washed together. Then the bread was brought and placed +before the king and the others, and no one touched it as they +waited for the dinner to be brought. When Philippe saw the bread +before him he quickly took a knife, and picking up a loaf of +bread he cut through it and made twelve large pieces. When the +infanta saw such a sight she could not contain her laughter. The +king and everyone there, including the serving boys, made great +sport of Philippe, and since the infanta was laughing too, it was +inevitable that it should come to Tirant's attention, because he +did not take his eyes from Philippe for a moment. Standing up, +he ran from the table and said: + +"By heaven, Philippe must have stained his honor with some great +foolishness." + +He went to his side at the king's table, and saw the slices of +bread that Philippe had cut. When he saw that neither the king +nor anyone else had touched their bread, he immediately +understood the reason for the outbursts of laughter. Tirant +quickly picked up the slices of bread; then he reached into his +pocket, took out twelve gold ducats and put one ducat on each +slice, and he had them given to the poor. When the king and the +infanta saw what Tirant had done, they all stopped laughing. +The king asked Tirant the meaning of what he had done. + +"My lord," said Tirant, "when I have finished what I must do I +will tell Your Highness." + +Tirant gave out all the bread slices, each one with its ducat, +and he put the last one to his mouth, said an Ave Maria over it, +and gave it away. The queen said: + +"I would like very much to know about this ceremony." + +Tirant answered: + +"My lord, Your Excellency and all the others are astonished at +what Philippe began and I have finished, and you've all mocked +him. The reason for it, since Your Highness wants to know, is +that the most Christian kings of France, because of all the +blessings they've received from the immense goodness of Christ +our Lord, began this tradition: Before any of their children +entered the order of chivalry, they were not allowed to eat the +first loaf of bread that was put in front of them at dinner until +they had cut it into twelve slices, and placed a silver "real" on +each one, and had given it to the poor in memory of the twelve +apostles. Then, after the order of chivalry had been bestowed on +them they would put a piece of gold on each slice. And even down +to today everyone in the house of France continues the custom. +And, my lord, that's why Philippe cut the bread and made twelve +slices, one for each apostle." + +"Praise God," said the king, "that sort of charity is the most +beautiful I've ever heard of. I'm a crowned king and I don't +give as much in alms in a month." + +Dinner came, and the infanta told Tirant to go back and eat. +Philippe saw what he had done wrong and how discreetly Tirant had +remedied it, and he was very careful with the meal, and ate only +as the infanta did. + +When they left the table, the infanta began to talk to one of her +ladies whom she deeply trusted, and with a little anger mixed +with love, she began to lament: + +"Look at what a sad state I'm in, to have this Tirant as the +enemy of my desires: I can't talk alone to Philippe for even an +hour. Tell me, Tirant, why do you make me so mad? You must know +how nice it is to be alone with the person you love. Now, poor +me, when I want to sleep I cannot, night is longer than I would +like it to be, nothing that I eat tastes sweet to me--instead +it's as bitter as gall. If this is life, what can death be?" + +And the love-struck maiden lamented, tears flowing from those +eyes that had sparked many flames in Philippe's heart. While the +infanta had this sad face, the king and his brother, the Duke of +Messina, came into her chambers. + +When they were in the room the king, seeing such grief in her +face, said to her: + +"What's wrong, my daughter? Why are you crying?" + +"And don't I have reason to, Sire? Your Grace is about to leave. +What am I to do all alone? Who will be here to console me? How +will my soul find peace? + +The king tenderly consoled his daughter as best he could. Then +they went to the queen. The four held counsel, and the king +said: + +"I beg you, Duke, tell me what you think of this marriage with +Philippe." + +"Sire," said the duke, "since Your Highness and Philippe are +going on this holy pilgrimage, I feel that this marriage should +take place only with the consent of his father and mother." + +Tirant was then put in charge of writing letters to the King of +France, and he explained all the details of the marriage pact, if +the king would agree. The King of Sicily then prepared a +brigantine to go to the mainland with the letters. + +At the same time, Tirant's ship was loaded with wheat and other +provisions. When the brigantine was ready to depart, the king +pretended he was going on it, and he had the news spread that he +was going to Rome to talk to the Pope. That night Tirant had the +king and Philippe brought on his ship, and when all the men were +on board, Tirant went to take his leave of the princess and +everyone in the court. Tirant then set sail at night, and in +four days he was within sight of Rhodes. + +When the Genoese saw the ship coming, they thought it was one of +the two they had sent to bring provisions to their camp. They +could not imagine that any other ship would dare to come into the +midst of as many ships as were in the port. The ship approached, +and as it drew near it unfurled all its sails. This, and the +shape of the ship, made the Genoese realize that it was not one +of theirs, and they hurried to prepare to attack. But the ship +was so close that none of their ships had time to raise their +sails, and this ship swiftly sailed through all of them at full +mast. However, they used lances, spikes and bombards, and all +the weapons used at sea. Then Tirant ordered the helmsman and +the pilot not to turn the ship, but to head the prow straight +into land. And they did, at full speed. + +When the people in the city saw the ship beach itself, they +thought it was the Genoese coming to take the city. All the men +ran there and bravely attacked it. They were also being attacked +by the ships at sea, and they were in dire straits until a sailor +quickly took one of Tirant's flags and raised it. When the +people from the city saw the flag they stopped fighting. Then +one of the men told them that the ship had come to help them. +Hearing that the captain of the ship was French, and that the +ship was loaded with wheat for them, the people on land went to +tell the Grand Master. + +When the Grand Master discovered that it was Tirant, he was very +anxious to see him, because he had heard of his fame. He sent +two knights of the Order to the ship, to ask Tirant to come on +land. Tirant told them to tell the Grand Master confidentially +that the King of Sicily and Philippe, son of the King of France, +were on his ship and that they were going on a holy pilgrimage to +Jerusalem, and to ask if they would be safe on his land. The +Grand Master promised to keep their presence secret. Then the +king and Philippe disembarked, in disguise, and went to the rooms +that were prepared for them. Tirant then went on land, +well-outfitted. When Tirant was with the Grand Master they +talked at length. The Grand Master told him how the sultan was +besieging them on land, day and night, and that the Genoese were +doing the same by sea; that they were at the point of +surrendering because of their great hunger, and they could not +last much longer. They had eaten all the horses and other +animals, including the cats, and it would be a wonder to find one +still alive. + +Tirant then had many barrels of wheat brought from the ship, and +he asked the Grand Master to have it distributed among all the +people, and he said there was still more for the castle. They +also gave them the oils and the vegetables and meat, and all the +other supplies. + +That night Tirant and his men stood watch over the port. The +Genoese ships--especially the captain's ship--were very close to +land. It was nearly midnight when a sailor approached Tirant and +said: + +"Sir, what would your grace give to someone who, tomorrow night, +set fire to the ship that's so close to shore, and that they say +belongs to the Genoese captain?" + +"If anyone could do that," said Tirant, "I would gladly give him +three thousand gold crowns." + +"Sir," said the sailor, "if you promise me, on your word as a +knight, to give them to me, I will do everything I can. And if +I'm not able to do it I will become your slave." + +"My friend," said Tirant, "I don't want you to put any +obligations on yourself: the shame you will bring if you don't do +it, will be punishment enough for you. As for me, I promise you +on my order of chivalry, that if you set it on fire tomorrow, I +will give you everything I said I would, and more." + +The sailor was very satisfied because he knew he could do it, +with all the skill he had both on sea and land. In the morning +he prepared everything he needed. + +When the Grand Master had heard mass, he went to see the king, +Philippe and Tirant, and they spoke at length about the war and +about many things regarding the city which I will not go into so +as not to be tiresome. A very old knight of the Order, who had +come with the Grand Master, said: + +"It seems to me, gentlemen, since you have brought enough +supplies to last the city several days, that my lord, the Grand +Master, should make a gift for the sultan of many different kinds +of foods, in order to make him lose any hope he has of taking us +by hunger." + +All the great lords praised the old knight's advice, and the +order was immediately given to send him four hundred hot loaves +of bread straight from the oven, wine, honey and sugar +sweetmeats, three turkeys, chickens and capons, honey, oil, and +all the other things they had brought. + +When the sultan saw the present, he said to his men: + +"Damn this present and the traitor who sent it! This will bring +the perdition of my honor, and will be my ruin." + +When it was nearly midnight, and very dark, the sailor had +everything ready to set the captain's ship on fire, and he did it +this way: + +The sailor had fixed a very strong capstan into the ground near +the sea. Then he put a thick rope in a boat along with a hemp +cord as thick as a man's finger. He got into the boat, and two +men rowed for him. When they were so near the ship that they +could hear the men on the poop deck talking, they stopped rowing. +He took off all his clothes and tied a cord around his waist. +Then he took a very sharp knife so that he could cut any cords he +needed to, and he put it in back of him so it wouldn't bother him +when he swam. He attached one end of the cord to the knife +sheath, and he told the men in the boat to keep feeding him line. +When everything was ready he slipped into the water, and swam +until he was so close to the ship that he could hear the men on +watch talking. Then he swam underwater so that no one would see +him, and he reached the rudder. He looped the cord through an +iron ring under the rudder, and swam underwater back to his boat. +He took the end of the cord and tied it to one end of the thick +rope and he held it up and greased it thoroughly. Then he took a +chunk of grease for the bar, to let it slide through easily and +noiselessly. + +Finally he gave orders to the men, and swam back to the ship and +greased the bar. The men on the boat stuck an iron pin through +the cord and pulled until the pin caught on the ring. And the +sailor knew that the other end of the rope was in the boat. When +he thought it was time, they rowed back to land. He tied one end +of the rope to the capstan, and the other end was tied to a large +boat, a type of whaling boat, that had been filled with firewood +and candlewood, all soaked with oil so it would burn well. + +They set it afire, and let it catch well. Then one hundred men +were set at the capstan, and they began to turn it with all their +strength. And with the power from the capstan it all happened so +quickly that the large boat had barely started to move when +suddenly it was flush against the side of the ship. With the +huge fire on it sending out enormous tongues of flame, it quickly +set fire to the ship with such a fury that nothing in the world +could have put it out. The men on the ship thought only of +getting away in small boats. Others threw themselves into the +sea to swim to the other ships, while many were burned to death +because they did not have time enough to get off, and the fire +caught many others sleeping. + +When it was daylight Tirant took three thousand crowns and gave +them to the sailor, along with a silk garment lined with martens +and a brocade doublet. The sailor thanked him very much and was +very pleased. + +Then the sultan summoned his captains, both on sea and land. He +told them what had happened, and also about the present the Grand +Master had sent him to show how well supplied the city was with +everything it needed and more. And as winter was setting in, the +cold weather and rain were beginning to bother them. So they +decided to raise camp and go back, but with the intention of +returning another year. + +He quickly ordered the camp trumpets and pipes to play, and the +ships to raise their sails and come near the island, because he +would be there to get all the men. + +When Tirant saw the Moors raising camp, he armed himself, and +with all his men he left the city and went to the camp. He set +fire to the palisades and huts so that if they came back they +would have to build them again. + +Then the sultan set sail and returned to his land. The lords +there were well informed about the reason he was returning, and +they went together to see him. They took him prisoner, and put +him in a lion's den where he died horribly. Then they chose +another sultan. The new sultan ordered all the Genoese ships to +form a large armada with all the men who had come from Rhodes, +along with many more, and he had them advance on Greece. And so +it was done. And the Grand Turk was also invited, and he came +with many soldiers on horseback and on foot. In the two armies +were seventeen thousand Moors. + +And as soon as they set foot in Greece, they took over many +villas and castles, and seized sixteen thousand small children, +and sent them all to Turkey, to the land of the sultan, to be +raised in the Mohammedan sect. And they sent many ladies and +maidens into perpetual captivity. + +And the Island of Rhodes was freed from the power of the infidel. + +When the people at Cyprus knew that the sultan's armada had left +the city of Famagusta, they quickly loaded many ships with wheat, +oxen, sheep and other victuals, and they took it all to Rhodes +because of the great hunger there. Many other places also sent +supplies. And in a short time the city and the island had so +much that all the elders said they had never seen or heard their +ancestors tell of so great an abundance on the Island of Rhodes. + +A few days after the sultan had gone, two galleys arrived from +Venice, loaded with wheat, and carrying pilgrims to the holy land +of Jerusalem. When Tirant learned about it he went to tell the +king and Philippe, and they were very happy to hear it. + +That night the king and Philippe and Tirant said farewell to the +Grand Master and boarded the Venetian galleys with the few people +who came with them, for all the others stayed at Rhodes. +Diafebus, Tirant's relative, did not want to stay behind; nor did +Tenebroso, so he could serve Philippe. + +They made such good time that in a few days they reached the port +of Jaffa, and leaving there, as the weather was fair and the sea +was calm, they reached Beirut with no trouble. All the pilgrims +disembarked there and found good guides: there was a guide for +every ten people. When they were in Jerusalem together, they +stayed two weeks to visit all the holy places. Then they boarded +the galleys again and raised the sails, and they had such good +weather that they reached the island of Sicily in only a few +days. + +There was great rejoicing among the Sicilians at the return of +their lord, and a courier was sent to the queen to tell her of +the king's arrival. The king asked about the queen's health, and +about his daughter and two sons, and his brother, the duke. They +answered that they were all very well, and they told him how the +King of France had sent forty knights as ambassadors, with a +company of gentlemen. + +They rested there a few days because they were very tired from +the sea voyage. After they had rested, the king and all the +company set off for Palermo where the queen was staying. + +On the day that he was to arrive, his brother, the duke, came out +first, accompanied by very fine people. Then came the +archbishop, with all the clergy. Then came the queen, +accompanied by all the ladies of honor in the city; then, after a +moment, the infanta Ricomana came with all her maidens and those +of the city, very well dressed, and they were a wonderful sight +to behold; then came the forty ambassadors of the King of France, +wearing gold chains and dressed in garments of crimson velvet +which reached to their feet. + +When the king had greeted the queen, and his daughter had paid +him reverence, Philippe and Tirant bowed to the queen. Philippe +took the infanta's arm, and they went to the palace. On the way +the forty ambassadors came to pay their respects to Philippe +before they did to the king, and Tirant said to Philippe: + +"My Lord, tell the ambassadors to go and pay reverence to the +king before they speak with you." + +Philippe told them, and the ambassadors replied that they had +been instructed by their lord, the King of France, his father, to +go to the king and give him the letters they were bringing after +they had paid obeisance to him. And Philippe again told them +that above all they should go to the king before speaking with +him. + +"Since Philippe wishes it," said the ambassadors, "we will do as +he commands." + +When the king reached the palace with all the people, the +ambassadors from the King of France went to pay him reverence, +and they gave him the letters. The king received them very +warmly, and paid them great honor. Then they went to Philippe +and honored him, as was their duty, because he was the son of +their own ruler. Philippe regaled them, and there was great +rejoicing. + +After the celebration for the king's arrival was over, the +ambassadors explained their mission, which had three parts. +First, that the King of France was very pleased to have his son +Philippe marry the infanta Ricomana, as Tirant had arranged. +Second, that if the King of Sicily had a son, he would give a +daughter of his to him as his wife, together with one hundred +thousand crowns as a dowry. Third, that he had asked the pope, +the emperor, and all the princes of Christianity to send him aid, +because he had decided to march against the infidel, and all +those to whom he had sent word had offered to help him. And on +behalf of their lord, the King of France, they were asking him +to give assistance, and if his lordship decided to send an armada +he should make Philippe captain and send him too. + +The king's reply was that as far as the marriage was concerned he +was very pleased, but as to the rest he would hold counsel. + +When the infanta learned that her father had consented to her +marriage with Philippe, she said to herself: + +"If I can find some defect in Philippe that shows that he's +gauche or avaricious, he will never be my husband. From now on I +intend to devote every moment to discovering the truth." + +And while the infanta was deep in thought, a maiden in whom she +had complete confidence came into her chambers, and said to her: + +"Tell me, my lady, what is Your Highness thinking about that +makes you look so disturbed?" + +The infanta answered her: + +"I'll tell you. My father, the king, has given his consent to +the ambassadors from France for the wedding, and I have a deep +suspicion that Philippe is gauche, and that he may even be +avaricious. And if he is, in the slightest, I wouldn't be able +to stay in the same bed with him for an hour; instead I would +become a nun or go into a convent. I've done everything I could +to get to know him, but because of that traitor, Tirant, fortune +hasn't been with me. Yes; I Pray God that I'll see him boiled +and fried because that day when the bread was cut I would really +have known Philippe if it hadn't been for him." + +When Philippe received the money his father had sent, he dressed +up in elegant clothing, and he wore many jewels and gold chains +and other valuable jewelry. + +On the day of Our Lady, in August, the king invited Philippe and +all the ambassadors, and everyone who held a title in his land to +dine. When the king was sitting at the table it began to rain +very hard. The infanta was very pleased, and she said: + +"Now I can find out what I want to know." + +When the tables were cleared the minstrels came, and they danced +a while before the king and queen. Then came the collation. The +king went into his chambers to rest, but the infanta would not +stop dancing for fear that Philippe would leave. + +When it was nearly time for vespers the skies cleared and the sun +came out, and then the infanta said: + +"It's such a nice day, wouldn't it be a fine idea for us to go +riding through the city?" + +Philippe quickly answered: + +"My lady, why would you want to ride through the city in this +terrible weather? If it starts to rain again you'll get +drenched." + +Tirant saw through the infanta's wiles, and he tugged at +Philippe's coattails to make him be quiet. The infanta caught a +glimpse of the signal Tirant was making, and she became very +angry. She ordered the horses brought out, and they all sent for +the animals. When the infanta was mounted she almost turned her +back on Philippe, but kept sight of him out of the corner of her +eye. And Philippe said to Tirant: + +"Send for another suit of clothes so that this one won't be +ruined!" + +"Oh," said Tirant, "the clothes be damned! Don't worry about +your clothing. If this suit gets dirty, there will be another +one." + +"At least," said Philippe, "see if there aren't two pages who +will carry my coattails so they won't drag along the ground." + +"For the son of a king," said Tirant, "you're very stingy! Hurry +along now, the infanta is waiting." + +Then Philippe, very troubled, started out. While the infanta, +who had been watching them talk, wasn't able to make out their +words. + +So they rode through the city, and the infanta enjoyed herself +immensely, seeing how the clothes of that miserly Philippe were +getting wet, and how he was always looking at them. The infanta, +to have more pleasure, told them to bring the falcons and they +would go a little way out to the outskirts and hunt some quail. + +"Don't you see, my lady?" said Philippe. "This is no time for +hunting. There's nothing but mud and water everywhere." + +"Oh, you niggardly fellow!" said the infanta. "This oaf still +won't do anything that I want.' + +But she paid no attention to him, and went out of the city and +found a peasant. She took him aside and asked him if some river +or canal was not close by. The peasant answered: + +"My lady, straight ahead, not far from here, you'll find a large +canal that will come up to a mule's groin." + +"That's just what I'm looking for." + +The infanta went ahead, and they all followed her. When they +came to the water, the infanta rode through it, and Philippe +stayed behind and asked Tirant if there were any servants who +would hold up the tails of his clothing. + +"I'm tired of your prattle. Don't worry: I'll give you mine. +The infanta has gone through and she's riding ahead. Hurry, and +go to her side." + +And Tirant laughed out loud so that it would look as though +Philippe had been telling him a joke. When they had gone through +the water, the infanta asked Tirant what he was laughing at. + +"In faith, my lady," said Tirant, "I was laughing at a question +Philippe has been asking me all day long, before we left Your +Highness's chambers, then when we were riding, and now as we went +through the water. He asked me what love is and where it comes +from. The second thing he said to me is: Where does love abide? +I tell you, on my word, that I don't know what love is or where +it comes from, but, my lady, the true and loyal love that +Philippe feels for you does not retreat from anything." + +"Let's go back to the city," said the infanta. + +As they went through the water, she watched to see if the two men +were talking together again. Philippe, seeing that his clothes +were already soaked, was unconcerned as they rode through the +water. And the infanta was very much relieved, and believed +everything Tirant had said to her. But her soul was still not +entirely at ease, and she went to Tirant and said to him: + +"I'm in a situation where fortune holds me in its hands. I would +rather renounce my life and possessions than take a husband who +is gauche, vile and avaricious. And I want to tell you in all +truth, Tirant, that my fortune has always been adverse. Now if I +take this man for a husband, and he turns out not to please me, I +would find myself having to do very desperate things, because it +is my opinion that it's better to live alone than to live with a +bad companion." + +Tirant quickly replied: + +"Philippe is one of the best knights in the world today. He is +young, more genteel than any other man, courageous, generous and +more wise than gauche. That's been his reputation wherever we've +gone, among knights, duennas and maidens. Even the Moorish women +who saw him, loved him and wanted to serve him. If you doubt it, +look at his face, his hands, his feet, and his entire body. And +if you would like to see him completely naked, I can arrange that +too, my lady. I know that Your Highness loves him deeply, for he +is loved by all people. You are to blame, my lady, if you don't +have him by your side in a bed perfumed with benjamin, civet, and +pure musk, and on the following day if you complain to me about +him I will suffer whatever torment Your Highness decides." + +"Oh, Tirant," said the princess. "I would be very happy if I +could have someone who would please me. But what use would it be +if I had a statue at my side who could only give me pain and +desperation?" + +At this moment they reached the palace and found the king in the +hall, speaking with the ambassadors from France. When he saw his +daughter he took her by the hand and asked where she had been. +Dinner was ready, and Philippe and the ambassadors took their +leave of the king and the infanta, and went to their chambers. + +After dinner they began to dance, and the infanta purposefully +caused the dancing to continue until late at night. The king saw +that it was past midnight, and he left without a word so that he +would not disturb his daughter's pleasure. And as it began to +rain the infanta sent word to the king, asking him to permit +Philippe to remain that night, and to sleep in the palace with +her brother, the infante. The king answered that that was +agreeable to him. + +After the king had left, the dancing ended and the infante begged +Philippe to stay there that night to sleep because most of the +night was already past. Philippe answered that he was deeply +grateful, but that he would go to his lodgings. + +The infanta took hold of his clothes and said: + +"Since it is my brother, the infante's, wish for you to stay +here, this will be your lodging tonight." + +Tirant said: + +"Since they are so fond of you, stay here to give them pleasure, +and I'll stay with you so that I can serve you." + +"That won't be necessary, Tirant," said the infanta, "because in +the house of my father, my brother, the infante, and myself, +there will be no lack of people to serve him." + +Seeing how angrily she spoke, Tirant realized that they did not +want him, and he left with the others for his lodging. When they +had gone, two pages came with torches and asked Philippe if it +was his desire to go to sleep. And he answered that he would do +whatever his lady, the infanta, and her brother commanded. They +said that it was time now. Philippe bowed to the infanta and +followed the pages, who led him to a room where there were two +beds. + +The king had ordered a very special canopy made entirely of +brocade, to be given to his daughter on her wedding day, and he +had another placed in a room to serve as its model. When the +brocade canopy was finished, the two beds were placed next to +each other, and the coverlet was of the same brocade. And on it +they put the sheets for the wedding, with embroidered pillows, so +that it was an exceptional bed. The other bed in the same room +was entirely white, and there was a great difference between the +two. + +When Philippe saw such a luxurious bed he was astonished, and he +thought it better to lie down on the other one. That evening, +while dancing, he had slightly torn his stocking, and he thought +that his servants would not come as soon as he would get up in +the morning. The pages had been well instructed by the infanta, +who was in a place where she could see very well what Philippe +would do. Philippe said to one of the pages: + +"Please go bring me a needle and a little bit of white thread." + +The infanta had seen him give orders to the page but she did not +know what he was asking for. Then the page went to the infanta, +and she had them give him a needle with a little thread. The +page took it to him, and found him pacing from one end of the +room to the other, and he did not say one word to the second page +who was there. + +When Philippe had the needle he went to a torch and opened a +blister that was on his hand. The infanta immediately thought he +had asked for the needle because of the blister. He put it on +the bed where he had decided to sleep. Philippe then took off +his clothing and sat on the bed. After the pages had removed his +stockings, Philippe told them to go to sleep and to leave a torch +lit for him. + +They did so, closing the door. Philippe got up from where he was +sitting in order to get the needle and sew his stocking, and he +began to look for it from one end of the bed to another. He +gloomily lifted the coverlet, and he twisted and turned it so +much that it fell on the floor. Then he lifted up the sheets and +tore the entire bed apart without finding the needle. He thought +about making up the bed again and sleeping in it; but when he saw +it all undone, he said to himself: + +"Oh well. Won't it be better for me to sleep in the other one +instead of making this one up again?" + +A very singular needle was that for Philippe. He lay down in the +bed of rich covers. The infanta, who had seen the entire +display, said to her maidens: + +"Upon your life, look how great the knowledge of foreigners is, +especially Philippe. It was my intention to test him, as I have +done other times, with these two beds. I thought that if +Philippe were gauche and avaricious he would not dare sleep in a +bed like this one, but instead would lie down in the other which +is more plain. He has done something quite different: he has +torn apart the plainest one and has thrown its covers on the +floor, and he has gone to bed in the best one to show that he is +the son of a king. Now I can see that Tirant is a loyal knight +who has always told me the truth." + +And with this thought, she left to go to bed. + +Very early in the morning Tenebroso came to Philippe's chambers +with his pages, and brought him more clothing so that he could +change. When the infanta was dressed and still fastening her +skirt, she sent for Tirant and with a show of great happiness she +told him: + +"I have come to realize how special Philippe is. I have seen +with my own eyes his speech and royal manners, and that he is +very generous. Until now I felt very hesitant about giving my +consent to this marriage, but from now on I will do everything +His royal Majesty, my father, commands me." + +Tirant heard the infanta's words, and he was the happiest man in +the world. He quickly answered: + +"I am very happy that Your Excellency has come to know the truth. +I am going to speak with my lord, the king, immediately in order +to bring the matter to a swift conclusion." + +Tirant took his leave of the infanta and went to the king and +told him: + +"I see the ambassadors from France in great anguish about this +wedding so I have come to Your Majesty to beg you to either have +it take place, or give the ambassadors your leave so that they +can return to their king. And if it will not make Your Majesty +angry to have me speak with my lady, the infanta, on Your +Highness' behalf, I believe that she will be inclined to do +whatever Your Majesty commands." + +"If God gives health to my soul and my body," said the king, +"that will please me. I beg you to go to her and make the +request on my behalf and your own." + +Tirant left the king and went back to the infanta. He found her +combing her hair, and he told her about the conversation he had +had with the king. Then the infanta said: + +"My lord Tirant, I have complete confidence in your nobility and +virtue, so I am putting this entire matter in your hands, and I +will agree to everything. If you want it done now, I will do +it." + +Tirant saw how willing she was, and he saw Philippe at the door, +waiting to accompany the infanta to mass. He asked the infanta +to have the maidens leave because he wanted to tell her other +things in Philippe's presence. The infanta ordered the maidens +to go, and they were very surprised to see the infanta speaking +so docilely to Tirant. + +When all the maidens were gone, Tirant opened the door to the +chamber and had Philippe enter. + +"My lady," said Tirant, "here is Philippe who has a greater +desire to serve your ladyship than all the princesses in the +world, and so I beg your grace, here on my knees, to kiss him as +a sign of good faith." + +"Oh, Tirant!" said the infanta. "These are the words you wanted +to tell me? Your face reveals what you bear in your heart. When +my king and my father commands it of me, then I will do it." + +Tirant motioned to Philippe, who quickly took her up in his arms, +and carried her to a lounge that was there, and kissed her five +or six times. The infanta said: + +"Tirant, I placed no little trust in you. What have you made me +do? I thought of you as a brother and you have put me in the +hands of someone I am still unsure of--I do not know whether he +will turn out to he my friend or my enemy." + +"Your words are cruel, my lady. How can Philippe be an enemy to +Your Excellency if he loves you more than his own life, and +desires to hold you in that bed where he slept this evening, +completely nude, or in your chemise? You can be certain that +this would be the greatest blessing in the world. So, my lady," +continued Tirant, "allow Philippe, who is dying of love for you, +to enjoy part of the glory that he has desired so much." + +"May God not permit it," said the infanta, "and may He keep me +from an error like that. I would think of myself as vile if I +gave my consent to such a thing." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "Philippe and I are here only to serve +you. + +Let your benign grace have a little patience." + +And Tirant caught her hands while Philippe attempted to make use +of his own resources. The infanta cried out, and the maidens +came and calmed them down. + +When the infanta had laced up her garments, she dressed very +elegantly, and Philippe and Tirant accompanied her and the queen +to mass. And there, before mass, they were engaged. The +following Sunday the wedding was held with great ceremony, and +celebrations took place which lasted a week, with jousts, +tournaments, dances, and buffoonery, night and day. + +In this way the infanta was entertained, and she was very pleased +with Tirant, and much more with Philippe whose work was so +wonderful that she never forgot it. + +When the wedding celebrations were over, the King of Sicily +decided to lend his assistance to the King of France, and he had +ten galleys and four large ships armed, and gave the men six +months' wages. Tirant bought a galley, but he refused to accept +wages or to associate with anyone, because he intended to act on +his own. When the galleys were armed and well stocked with food, +they received word that the King of France was in Aigues-Mortes +with all the vessels of the King of Castile, of Aragon, Navarre +and Portugal. + +Philippe was chosen captain, and the infante of Sicily went with +him, and they found themselves in the port of Savona with ships +from the pope, the emperor, and everyone who had offered their +aid. They all left together and sailed until they came to the +island of Corsica where they found the King of France. There +they took on water, and they approached the great city of Tripoli +in Libya before dawn, and no one in the entire armada knew where +they were going with the exception of the king. But when they +saw the king's ship turning and everyone taking up arms, they +realized that that was their destination. Then Tirant, who was +on his galley, went to the king's ship on a skiff. He climbed +aboard with many others, and they found the king arming himself +and preparing for mass. + +During the reading of the Gospel, Tirant knelt before the king +and begged him to let him make a vow, and the king gave his +consent. Tirant placed himself at the feet of the priest who was +saying mass, and knelt down, and the priest took up the missal +and turned it toward the king. Tirant, while kneeling, put his +hands on the book and said: + +"By the grace of Almighty God, I belong to the order of chivalry. +As a knight who wants to attain honor, I make my vow to God and +all the saints in paradise, and to my lord, the Duke of Brittany, +captain-general of this armada, that I will be the first to touch +land and the last to return." + +Afterward Diafebus vowed to write his name on the gates to the +city of Tripoli. + +Then another knight made a vow that he would go so near the wall +that he would put an arrow inside the city. + +Another knight stood up and vowed that he would enter the city +and take a Moorish maiden from her mother's side, that he would +put her on the ship and give her to Philippa, the daughter of the +King of France. + +Another knight vowed that he would place a flag on the highest +tower in the city. + +On the king's ship there were many knights--more than four +hundred fifty. And where there are many, envy and ill will are +engendered, for the sin of envy has many branches. Many were +moved by the desire to make Tirant break his vow, and they made +preparations with boats and vessels and small galleys to be the +first to reach land. + +There were so many Moors that when they saw such a great armada +they positioned themselves near the sea to stop the Christians +from reaching land. All the galleys pressed forward toward land, +and they were so close that their sides nearly touched. + +When they were so near to land that they could throw down the +ladders, all the ships turned about so the men could disembark. +But Tirant ordered his galley to head in to land, prow first. +When he felt the ship touch land, Tirant, who was standing, +armed, on the prow, jumped into the water. The Moors saw him and +ran toward him to kill him; but Diafebus and others defended him. +Many armed men and many sailors leapt after him in order to go to +his aid. + +As soon as the king's galley and the others had turned about, +they lowered their ladders. But who dared disembark when they +saw so many Moors? The greatest fight was where Tirant stood. +Virtue, goodness, strength and wisdom were in the king and his +men who, as valiant knights, climbed down the ladders, and their +haste to attack the Moors was so great that many fell into the +sea. When all the men were on land, they gave the Moors great +battle, and many men from both sides died. + +As soon as the Moors attempted to take refuge in the city, many +good knights went in and took five streets of the city, but they +were unable to take more. All the knights fulfilled their vows +on those five streets that they took, and they loaded the ships +and the galleys with the great booty that they had taken. But so +great was the aid that the Moors received that they could not +push on. + +When they had to withdraw, therein lay the great danger, and many +of them died. + +When they were all on board, Tirant remained behind, because he +had not yet fulfilled his vow. His galley had now debeached, and +its ladder was on land, waiting for Tirant to board. A knight +who was searching for honor, and who well deserved it for his +virtues, was named Ricart lo Venturos, and he remained behind +with Tirant. Ricart said to Tirant: + +"All the men are on board or are dead. Only you and I are still +here. You had the glory of being the first of the conquerors, +because your feet were the first to touch this cursed land. But +don't forget how I defended you many times from danger. Let me +go on board the galley first, so that we can be equals in honor +and fame and brotherhood, for at times a person who wants all +worldly glory loses everything." + +"There is no time to waste on words," said Tirant. "Life or +death is in your hands. I will be considered victorious if both +of us die at the hand of these infidels, and I'm sure that our +souls will be saved if we die with our faith firm, like good +Christians, defending ourselves. So give me your hand, Ricart, +and let us die like knights." + +The two knights were in the sea up to their chests because of the +lances, darts, spears and stones that were being hurled at them. +When Ricart saw that Tirant was going up to the shore to attack +the Moors, he caught him by the coat and brought him back into +the water, and said: + +"I know of no knight in the world as fearless as you are. And +since I see how great your courage is, do this: Put your foot on +the ladder first, and then I will be first to climb up." + +The king was in great anguish, afraid that those two knights +would be lost. Tirant wanted to give him part of the honor, so +he put his right foot on the ladder. Then Ricart went up first, +and Tirant was the last of all, and so he fulfilled his vow. + +There was much discussion about these two knights: some said that +Tirant had fulfilled his vow, and the king and many others paid +him high honor. When Ricart saw that they all were honoring +Tirant, he said: + +"If the matter is duly judged by the code of chivalry, who should +the honor and glory be given to, if not to me? Tirant was a +coward in battle even when fortune aided him, so the prize for +this act should be given to no one but me. I am barefoot, and I +will never again put shoes on my feet until His Majesty, the +king, and the noble knights make a decision about this. It is +well known that after all the men had retreated, Tirant and I +stayed behind alone on the shore. He and I argued at length +about who would be the first to go on board. When he saw that I +did not want to, he put his foot on the ladder before I did. And +so, my lord, may it please Your Highness to summon your sacred +council, and let Your Majesty give the honor to the one it +belongs to, as it rightfully and justly belongs to me. And if +Your Highness does not want to judge this case, I say in the +presence of everyone that I am a better knight than Tirant, and I +will fight him, man to man, to the death.'" + +The king answered: + +"Ricart, no good judge can decide anything if he does not listen +to all sides first, and this cannot be done without Tirant here." + +This conversation came to Tirant's attention, and he brought his +galley alongside the king's ship. When he came aboard, the king +was in his chambers, sleeping. When Ricart heard that Tirant had +come, he went up to him and said: + +"Tirant, if you dare to say that I'm not a better knight than you +are, I offer to do battle with you to the death." And he threw +his gloves at him as a challenge. + +When Tirant saw that he wanted to fight him with so little +provocation, he raised his hand and dealt him a hard blow. The +noise they raised was so loud that the king had to come up with +his sword in hand. When Tirant saw the king, he went up to the +forecastle, and from there he defended himself, and he said to +the king: + +"Sire, Your Majesty should punish this shameless knight who is +the instigator of all evil. He has never found himself in a +joust, much less seen the flash of an angry sword before his +eyes, and now he wants to fight me to the death over nothing. If +he defeats me he will have defeated all the chivalresque acts I +have accomplished to my glory and honor. And if I am the victor +I will have conquered a man who has never borne arms." + +After he had said these words he swung safely down to his galley +on a rope. If the king had been able to put his hands on him at +that moment, because he committed such an outrageous act on his +ship, it would not have been surprising if he'd had his head +removed from his shoulders. + +The king departed with the entire armada from Tripoli in Libya, +and went toward Cyprus, sacking the Turkish coast and setting it +red with blood and flames, and they loaded all the ships with the +many riches they had taken. When they reached Cyprus they went +to the city of Famagusta, took provisions of food and turned +toward Tunis. There the king disembarked and they pressed the +city hard in combat. Tirant and his men attacked a tower which +had a deep moat at its foot, and Tirant fell into it. Ricart was +heavily armed to see if he could take revenge on Tirant. When he +reached the tower he saw Tirant lying in the moat. Ricart leapt +into the moat, wearing all his armor, and helped Tirant get up. +Then he said: + +"Tirant, here stands your mortal enemy who can give you death or +life. God forbid that I should let you die at the hands of the +Moors, when I can give you aid." + +And he pulled him out, for they would surely have killed him if +they had found him there. When he was out, Ricart said to him: + +"Now you are free, Tirant. Protect yourself from death as well +as you can, because you can be sure that I will do everything in +my power to kill you." + +"Virtuous knight," said Tirant, "I have seen your great goodness +and courtesy, and I know that you saved me from a cruel death. I +kneel to the ground and beg your forgiveness for the way I +offended you. I give you my sword so that you can take whatever +vengeance you like on me." + +When the knight heard such humble words, he forgave him and was +happy to be his friend, and from that time on they were good +friends, and were inseparable in life, until death. + +After the king had taken and sacked the city of Tunis, Ricart +would not go onto the king's ship, but went on Tirant's galley +instead. When the king and the knights heard what had happened, +they praised both of them because each had shown great gentility, + +After the King of France left the city of Tunis, they turned +toward Sicily to see his daughter-in-law and to disembark in +Palermo. When the King of Sicily learned of his arrival, he had +a great celebration prepared for the King of France. The King of +Sicily went on board his ship, and when they met they were both +delighted. They went on land where the daughter-in-law was +waiting, and the father-in-law and daughter-in-law met joyfully. +The king gave her many presents and held her hand all day long +and would not let her leave his side. And as long as the King of +France remained there, each day, before the infanta arose, he +would send her some expensive gift: one day brocades, another +silks, gold chains, trinkets, and other jewels of great value. +The King of Sicily presented the King of France with one hundred +very beautiful and unique horses, which the King of France made a +great show of appreciation over. And the King of Sicily had his +daughter go on board the ships personally and inspect them to see +how well they were stocked with food, and to supply them with +everything they needed. The King of France thought highly of +what his daughter-in-law was doing, and he was very pleased to +see that she was a very discreet and diligent woman who was on +board the ships from morning to night, and that she did not eat +until they had been supplied. + +When the ships were filled and the horses were put on board, the +King of France took his leave of the King of Sicily, the queen +and the infanta, and departed, taking the Prince of Sicily with +him, and when they were in France he gave him one of his +daughters for a wife. + +The armada left the port of Palermo and turned toward Barbary, +and moving along the shore line they came to Malaga, Oran and +Tlemcen. They passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, then went +to Ceuta, Alcazar Segur, and Tangier. As they turned along the +other coast of Cadiz, Tarifa and Gibraltar, they went by +Cartagena, for in those days the entire coast was in the hands of +the Moors. From there they went by the islands of Ibiza and +Majorca, and then they went to the port of Marseille to +disembark. The king gave liberty to all the ships except the +ones belonging to his son, Philippe; he wanted him to go along +and see his mother, the queen. Tirant went with them, and from +there he went to Brittany to see his father and mother and his +relatives. + +After a few days, while the King of France held the wedding for +his daughter and the prince of Sicily, he wanted Philippe to +return to his wife. Philippe received word that the King of +Sicily's other son had renounced the world, and become a friar. +Philippe begged his father, the King of France, to send for +Tirant to accompany him to Sicily. The king wrote letters to the +Duke of Brittany and to Tirant, asking him to go with Philippe to +Sicily, and asking the duke to plead with him earnestly. When +Tirant saw the petitions of two such great lords, he was obliged +to obey their commands, so he left Brittany and went to the court +of the king. The king and queen begged him earnestly to go with +Philippe; and he very graciously gave his consent. + +Philippe and Tirant left the court and went to Marseille where +they found the galleys well stocked. They boarded them, and had +such a good voyage that in a few days they reached Sicily. The +king, the queen and the infanta were very happy to see them. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CONSTANTINOPLE + + After a week, while the king was in council, he remembered a +letter the emperor of Constantinople had sent him, telling about +certain troubles. He summoned Tirant, and had it read in his +presence, and it said the following: + +"We, Frederick, Emperor of the Empire of Greece by the immense +and divine majesty of the sovereign and eternal God, extend +health and honor to you, King of the great and abundant island of +Sicily. By the pact made by our ancestors, sealed, signed and +sworn by you and by me through our ambassadors: We do notify your +royal personage that the sultan, the Moorish renegade, is inside +our empire with a great army, and in his company is the Grand +Turk. They have overpowered a large part of our realm, and we +have been unable to lend assistance, for because of my old age I +cannot bear arms. After the great loss we have suffered of +cities, towns and castles, the dearest possession I had in this +world was killed -- my first born son who was my consolation, and +a guardian of the holy Catholic faith -- doing battle against the +infidel, to his great honor and glory and to mine, And as a +greater misfortune, he was killed by his own men. That sad, +painful day was the perdition of the imperial house and of my +honor. It is known to me and is common knowledge that in your +court you have a valiant knight, whose name is Tirant lo Blanc; +he belongs to the brotherhood of that singular order of chivalry +said to be founded on that glorious saint, the father of +chivalry, Saint George, on the island of England. Many singular +acts worthy of great honor are told about this knight and are +celebrated throughout the world, and they are the reason we ask +you to beg him on your behalf and mine to come to my service, for +I shall give him all my possessions he may desire. And if he +will not come I pray Divine Justice to make him suffer my pain. +Oh, blessed King of Sicily! As you are a crowned king, have pity +on my pain so that the immense goodness of God will keep you from +a similar situation, for we are all subject to the wheel of +fortune, and there is no one who can detain it." + +When the emperor's letter was finished, and Tirant had heard it, +the king said: + +"You should thank Almighty God, Tirant, my brother, for He has +given you such perfection that your name reigns throughout the +world. I place my trust in your generosity, and so I dare to beg +you on behalf of the Emperor of Constantinople and myself. And +if my pleas have no effect on you, at least have pity on that +unfortunate emperor so that he will not lose his imperial +throne." + +When the king had said this, Tirant replied: + +"If Your Majesty commands me to go serve that prosperous emperor +who reigns in Greece, I will do it because of the great love I +hold for Your Highness. But, Sire, I can only do as much as a +man can do; that is plain to God and to the whole world. And I +am even more astonished at that great emperor--who has passed +over all the excellent kings, dukes, counts, and marquis in the +world who are more knowledgeable and more valiant than I am in +the art of chivalry--that he should pass over them for me." + +"Tirant," said the king, "I know very well that there are good +knights in the world, and you should not be forgotten among them. +If, by chance, their honor should be examined, among the +emperors, kings, and expert knights, the prize, honor and glory +would be given to you as the best of them all. So I beg you as a +knight to go and serve the imperial state, and I advise you to do +so as if you were my son." + +"Since Your Majesty commands and advises me to do this," said +Tirant, "I will go." + +The king ordered all the galleys to be stocked with everything +they would need. And when the king told the emperor's +ambassadors that Tirant was willing to go, they were the happiest +men in the world, and they heartily thanked the king. + +As soon as the ambassadors had reached Sicily they were ready to +offer a salary to the men. They gave half a ducat each day to +the crossbowmen, and a ducat to the soldiers. And since there +were not enough men in Sicily, they went on to Rome and Naples, +and there they found many men who accepted wages very willingly, +and they also bought many horses. + +Tirant took his leave of the king and queen, and of Philippe and +the infanta. And with all the men on board, they let a favorable +wind fill the sails, and they sailed quickly over a calm sea +until one morning they found themselves before the city of +Constantinople. + +When the emperor heard that Tirant had arrived, he was happier +than he had ever been, and he said that he felt as if his son had +come back to life. As the eleven galleys neared shore, all the +cries of happiness made the entire city resound. The emperor +went up on a great cenotaph to watch the galleys come in. When +Tirant learned where the emperor was, he had two large flags of +the King of Sicily brought out, and one of his own. He had three +knights come out in armor, each of them with a flag in his hand, +and every time they passed in front of the emperor they lowered +the flags until they nearly touched the water, while Tirant's +touched it each time. + +This was a sign of greeting, and because of the emperor's dignity +they humbled themselves so lowly before him. When the emperor +saw this, which was something that he had never seen before, he +was very pleased. + +When Tirant was on land he found the Count of Africa waiting for +him on shore with many men, and he welcomed him with great honor. +They then made their way to the platform where the emperor was. +As soon as Tirant saw him he knelt to the ground, along with all +his men, and when they reached the middle of the platform they +bowed again. When he was six feet away he knelt and tried to +kiss his foot, and the worthy lord would not permit it. He +kissed his hand, and the emperor kissed him on the mouth. + +When they had all bowed to him, Tirant gave him the letter from +the King of Sicily. After the emperor had read it in everyone's +presence, he spoke to Tirant: + +"This is no small happiness I feel at your arrival, virtuous +knight. So that everyone will know how grateful I am to you, I +am bestowing on you the imperial and general captaincy over the +soldiers and over justice." + +He offered him a rod made of solid gold, and on its enamel head +was painted the coat of arms of the empire. When Tirant saw that +it was the emperor's will he accepted the rod and the captaincy, +and kissed his hand. The trumpets and minstrels began to play by +order of the emperor, and they announced throughout the city by +imperial proclamation how Tirant lo Blanc had been chosen captain +by command of their lord, the emperor. + +After all this the emperor came down from the cenotaph to go back +to the palace, and they passed by a very beautiful lodging that +had been prepared for Tirant and his men. The emperor said: + +"Captain, since we are here, go into your chambers so that you +can rest a few days from the hardships you have endured at sea." + +"What, my lord! Do you imagine that I would be so ill mannered +as to leave you? My consolation is to accompany Your Majesty--to +Hell itself, and even better, to the palace." + +The emperor had to laugh at what Tirant had said. And Tirant +continued: + +"My lord, if it please Your Majesty, when we are in the palace, +allow me to go and pay my respects to the empress and to your +beloved daughter, the infanta." + +The emperor gave his consent. When they were in the palace the +emperor took him by the hand and led him to the empress's +chamber. They found her in the following condition: the chamber +was very dark, for there was no light at all, and the emperor +said: + +"My lady, here is our captain who has come to pay you his +respects." + +She replied in a very weak voice: + +"Very well. He is welcome." + +Tirant said: + +"My lady, it is by faith that I must believe that the one +speaking to me is the empress." + +"Captain," said the emperor, "whoever holds the captaincy of the +Greek Empire has the power to open windows, and to look everyone +in the face, to remove the mourning they bear for a husband, +father, son or brother." + +Tirant asked for a lighted torch to be brought, and it was done +immediately. When the light was cast on the room the captain +discovered a pavilion entirely in black. He went up to it, +opened it, and saw a woman dressed in coarse cloth with a large +black veil over her head that covered her entirely, down to her +feet. Tirant removed the veil from her head so that her face was +uncovered, and when he saw her face he knelt to the ground and +kissed her foot and then her hand. She held a rosary in her +hand, made of gold and enamel; she kissed it and then had the +captain kiss it. Then he saw a bed with black curtains. The +infanta was reclining on the bed, dressed in a black satin skirt +and covered with a velvet garment of the same color. A woman and +a maiden were sitting at her feet on the bed. The maiden was the +daughter of the Duke of Macedonia, and the woman was called +Widow Repose, and she had nursed the infanta with her own milk. +In the back of the room he saw one hundred seventy women and +maidens, all with the empress and the infanta Carmesina. + +Tirant approached the bed, made a deep bow to the infanta, and +kissed her hand. Then he opened the windows. And it seemed as +though all the women were coming out of a long period of +captivity: they had been plunged into darkness a long while +because of the death of the emperor's son. Tirant said: + +"My lord, speaking by your leave I will tell Your Highness and +the empress my idea. I see that the people in this notable city +are very sad and troubled for two reasons. The first is because +of the loss of the prince, your son. Your Majesty should not be +troubled, for he died in the service of God, upholding the holy +Catholic faith. Instead you should praise and give thanks to the +immense goodness of God, our Lord, because He gave him to you and +it was His wish to take him from you for His own good, and He has +placed him in the glory of paradise. The second reason they are +sad is because all the Moors are so nearby that they are afraid +of losing their possessions and their lives, and as a lesser evil +that they will become captives of the infidel. That is why Your +Highness and the empress must show smiling faces to everyone who +sees you: to console them in their grief so that they will gather +courage to fight against the enemy." + +"The captain's advice is good," said the emperor. "It is my wish +and my command that men as well as women shed their mourning +immediately." + +While the emperor was talking, Tirant's ears were attentive to +what he was saying, but his eyes were contemplating the great +beauty of Carmesina. As the windows had been closed it was very +warm, so her blouse was partly open, exposing her breasts like +two apples from the garden of Eden. + +They were like crystal and allowed Tirant's eyes to gain +entrance, and they remained prisoners of this free person +forever, until death separated them. The emperor took his +daughter Carmesina by the hand and led her from the room. The +captain took the empress's arm, and they went into the other room +which was very nicely decorated and completely covered with works +of art depicting the following love-stories: Floris and +Blanchfleur, Thisbe and Pyramus, Aeneas and Dido, Tristram and +Isolde, Queen Guinevere and Lancelot, and many more whose loves +were displayed in very subtle and artistic paintings. And Tirant +said to Ricart: + +"I never thought there could be as many wondrous things on this +earth as I am seeing." + +By this he meant, more than anything, the great beauty of the +princess. But Ricart did not understand him. + +Tirant took his leave of the others and went to his chambers. He +entered a bedroom and put his head on a pillow at one end of the +bed. It was not long before someone came to ask him if he wished +to dine. Tirant said he did not, and that he had a headache. He +was wounded by that passion that traps many. Diafebus, seeing +that he was not coming out, went into the room and said: + +"Captain, please, tell me what's the matter. I'll be glad to +help you if I can." + +"My cousin," said Tirant, "the only thing wrong is that the sea +air has left me with ardor." + +"Oh, captain! Are you going to keep things hidden from me? I +have been the archive of all your good and bad fortune, and now +are you keeping secrets from me? Tell me, I beg you. Don't hide +anything from me." + +"Don't torment me even more," said Tirant. "I have never felt a +worse illness than I do now." + +He turned over from shame, not daring to look Diafebus in the +face, and no other words could come out of his mouth except: + +"I am in love." + +As he said this, tears flowed from his eyes. When Diafebus saw +how ashamed Tirant was he understood why, because Tirant had +always reprimanded all of his kinsmen and all his friends on the +subject of love. And as Diafebus thought of the remedies for +this illness, he said: + +"Although you may think that it is difficult and strange to be +subjugated by the yoke of love, you may be sure that no one can +resist it. And so, my captain, the more intelligent a man is, +the more he should hide his thoughts, and not reveal the pain and +anguish that are attacking his mind." + +When Tirant saw the good advice that Diafebus was giving him, he +got up, feeling ashamed, and they went in to dinner, which was +excellent, because the emperor had planned it. But Tirant could +not eat. The others thought he was still feeling the ill effects +of the sea. And because of his great passion, Tirant left the +table and went into his room, sighing and ashamed of the +confusion that was overcoming him. + +Diafebus took another knight, and they went to the palace, not to +see the emperor but to see the ladies. The emperor, who was +sitting near a window, saw them passing by, and sent word for +them to come up. Diafebus and the other knight went up to the +emperor's rooms, and found him with all the ladies. The emperor +asked what had become of their captain, and Diafebus told him +that he felt a little ill. When he heard it he was very +concerned, and told his doctors to go at once to see him. + +When they returned, the doctors told the emperor that his illness +had only been caused by the change of air. The magnanimous +emperor begged Diafebus to tell him about all the celebrations +that had taken place in England with the marriage of the king to +the daughter of the King of France, and about all the knights who +had jousted, and which ones had been victorious in the field. + +"My lord," said Diafebus, "I would be very grateful if Your +Majesty would excuse me from telling about these things. I +wouldn't want Your Highness to think that because I'm a relative +of Tirant I would favor him. I will tell you what truly +happened. And as proof, I have all the acts signed by the king, +and the judges of the camp, and by many dukes, counts and +marquis, kings-of-arms, and heralds." + +The emperor begged him to have them brought immediately. +Diafebus sent for them and told the emperor extensively about all +the celebrations, and he did the same about the jousts. +Afterward they read the acts and they saw that Tirant had been +the best of all the knights. The emperor was very pleased, and +his daughter Carmesina even more so, as were all the ladies who +were listening very attentively to all the magnificent +chivalresque acts of Tirant. Afterward they wanted to know +about the wedding of the princess of Sicily and the liberating of +the Grand Master of Rhodes. + +When everything had been explained the emperor held counsel, as +he usually did for a half hour in the morning and one hour in the +evening. Diafebus wanted to go with him, but the valiant lord +would not permit it and told him: + +"It is a well known fact that young knights have a greater desire +to be with the ladies." + +He left, and Diafebus stayed behind, and they spoke of many +things. + +Princess Carmesina begged her mother, the empress, to let them go +to another room where they could enjoy themselves, since they had +been inside a long while in mourning for her brother. The +empress said: + +"My child, you may go wherever you please." + +They all went to a marvelous hall built completely with +brick-work, done artfully and with delicate craftsmanship. When +the princess was in the hall, she drew apart from the others with +Diafebus, and they began to talk about Tirant. When Diafebus saw +that she was speaking of Tirant with such interest, he quickly +said: + +"Take everything that I say as a loyal servant, and keep it in +the most secret part of your heart: It was only the fame of Your +Highness that brought Tirant here to see you and serve you. +Don't imagine, Your Highness, that we have come at the request of +the valiant King of Sicily, or because of the letters your +father, the emperor, sent to the King of Sicily. And Your +Highness should not imagine that we have come to test ourselves +in the exercise of arms, or because of the beauty of the land, or +to see the imperial palaces. Your Highness, the reason for our +coming was none other than the desire to see you and to serve +Your Majesty. And if wars and battles take place, it will all be +to win your love and admiration." + +"Oh, wretched me," said the princess. "What are you saying to +me? Shall I grow vain, thinking that all of you have come +because of love of me, and not for the love of my father?" + +"In faith," said Diafebus, "on that I could swear that Tirant, +our brother and lord, begged us to come with him to this land to +see the daughter of the emperor, whom he desired to see more than +anything in the world. And the first time his eyes rested on +Your Highness he was so overcome by the vision of Your Excellency +that he took to his bed." + +When Diafebus said these things to the princess she became +withdrawn and remained deep in thought, and could not speak. She +was half beside herself, her angelic face blushing, for feminine +fragility had so overtaken her that she could not utter a word. + +At that instant the emperor arrived and called Diafebus, and they +spoke of many things until the emperor wished to dine. Diafebus +excused himself, approached the princess, and asked Her Majesty +if she would like to command him to do anything. + +"Yes," she said, "take these embraces of mine and keep them for +yourself, and give part of them to Tirant." + +Diafebus drew near to her and did what she commanded. + +When Tirant heard that Diafebus had gone to the palace and was +talking to the princess, he wanted very much for him to come back +so that he could have news of his lady. When he came into the +room, Tirant got up from the bed and said: + +"My good brother, what news do you bring me of the lady who has +captured my heart?" + +When Diafebus saw Tirant's great love, he embraced him on behalf +of his lady, and told him their entire conversation. Then Tirant +was happier than if he had been given a kingdom, and he +recuperated so well that he ate well and was happy, and longed +for morning to come so he could go and see her. + +After Diafebus had left the princess, she remained lost in +thought, and she had to leave her father's side and go into her +chambers. The daughter of the Duke of Macedonia was named +Stephanie. She was a young lady whom the princess loved deeply, +because they had been raised together from the time they were +very small, and they were both the same age. When she saw that +the princess had gone into her chambers, she left the table and +followed her. When they were together the princess told her +everything Diafebus had said to her, and about the great passion +she felt from Tirant's love. + +"I tell you that I have been more pleased by the vision of this +man than all the men I have ever seen in the whole world. He is +tall, of excellent disposition, and he shows his great spirit by +his manners, and the words that come out of his mouth are +delightful. I think he is more courteous and agreeable than +anyone I have ever known. Who wouldn't love a man like that? +And to think that he came here more out of love for me than for +my father's sake! Truly, my heart is inclined to obey all his +commands, and the signs indicate that he will be my life and my +salvation." + +Stephanie said: + +"My lady, from among those who are good, choose the best. +Knowing his extraordinary feats of chivalry, there is no lady or +maiden in the world who would not love him and obey his every +wish." + +While they were engaged in this delightful conversation, the +other maidens came in, along with Widow Repose, who was very +concerned with Carmesina since she had suckled her. She asked +them what they were discussing, and the princess said: + +"We were talking about what that knight was saying--about the +great celebrations and honors that were given in England to all +the foreigners who were there." + +And they spent the night speaking of these and other things so +that the princess slept neither a little nor a great deal. + +The following day Tirant put on a cloak of gold braid, and in his +hand he carried the gold captain's stick. All the rest of his +countrymen dressed in brocades and silks, and they all went to +the palace. + +When the emperor heard that his captain had come, he told them to +let him enter. As he came in the emperor was dressing and the +princess was combing his hair. Then she brought him water to +wash his hands, as she did every day. The princess was dressed +in a skirt of gold thread. + +When the emperor had finished dressing he said to Tirant: + +"Tell me, captain, what was the illness you were suffering from +yesterday?" + +"Your Majesty, my affliction was brought about entirely by the +ardor of the sea, for the winds of these lands are finer than are +those of the west." + +The princess replied before the emperor could speak: + +"Sire, that ardor does no harm to foreigners if they behave as +they should; instead it brings them health and a long life." + +As she spoke these words she looked steadfastly at Tirant, +smiling at him so that he could see she had understood him. + +The emperor and the captain left the chamber together, talking as +they went, and the princess took Diafebus' hand, and holding him +back, she said: + +"After what you told me yesterday I have not slept all night +long." + +"My lady, what can I tell you? We've had our share as well. But +I am very happy that you understood Tirant." + +"How could you think," said the princess, "that Greek women are +of less worth than the French? In this land all women understand +your Latin, no matter how obscurely you speak." + +"That is why," said Diafebus, "we are more content having +conversations with intelligent people." + +"As far as conversations go," said the princess, "you will soon +see the truth, and you'll see if we understand your wiles." + +The princess ordered Stephanie to bring other maidens to keep +Diafebus company, and many young ladies quickly appeared. When +the princess saw him well engaged, she went back into her chamber +to finish dressing. Meanwhile Tirant accompanied the emperor to +the great church of Saint Sophia, and then left him there saying +prayers, and returned to the palace to be with the empress and +Carmesina. When he was in the great hall he found his cousin +Diafebus there, surrounded by many maidens, and telling them +about the love between Philippe and the daughter of the King of +Sicily. Diafebus was so accustomed to being in the company of +maidens, that it seemed as though he had been raised with them +from birth. + +When they saw Tirant come in they all stood up and welcomed him; +then they made him sit with them, and they talked of many things. +Then the empress came out, and she took Tirant aside and asked +him about his illness. Tirant told her that he was much better +now. It was not long before the princess came out. + +Tirant took the empress's arm because, as captain, he held +precedence over the others. There were many counts and marquis +there, men of high position, and they went to the princess to +take her arm, and she said: + +"I want no one at my side except my brother Diafebus." + +They all left her, and he took her arm. But God knows that +Tirant would much rather have been near the princess than near +the empress. As they went to the church, Diafebus told the +princess: + +"Look, Your Highness, how spirits attract." + +The infanta said: + +"Why do you say that?" + +"My lady," said Diafebus, "because Your Excellency has on a +sequined dress, embroidered with large pearls, and the +sentimental heart of Tirant brings what it needs. Oh, how +fortunate I would feel if I could place that cloak over this +dress!" + +As they were very near the empress, he pulled Tirant's cloak. +When he felt his cloak being tugged, he stopped, and Diafebus +placed the cloak over the princess's dress, and said: + +'My lady, now the stone is in its place." + +"Oh, wretched me!" said the princess. "Have you gone mad, or +have you lost your senses?" Are you so shameless that you say +these things in front of so many people?" + +"No, my lady," said Diafebus. "No one hears or notices or sees +anything, and I could say the Pater Noster backward and no one +would understand me." + +"You must," said the princess, "have learned about honor in +school, where they read that famous poet, Ovid, who speaks of +true love in all his books. If you knew what tree the fruits of +love and honor are plucked from, and if you knew the customs of +this land, you would be a very fortunate man." + +As she was saying this they reached the church. The empress went +behind the curtain, but the princess did not want to go in, +saying that it was very hot. The truth was that she did not go +in so that she could observe Tirant at her pleasure. He went +near the altar where there were many dukes and counts, and they +all gave him the honor of being first because of his station. He +said mass on his knees, and when the princess saw him kneeling on +the ground, she took one of the brocade pillows that had been +placed there for her, and gave it to one of the maidens to give +to Tirant. The emperor saw his daughter performing that +courteous act, and he was very pleased. When Tirant saw the +pillow that the maiden was giving him to kneel on, he stood up +and then, with his cap in his hand, he bowed deeply on one knee +to the princess. + +Do not imagine that during the entire mass the princess could +finish saying her Hours as she looked at Tirant and all his men +dressed in the French fashion. When Tirant had gazed at the +striking beauty of the princess, he let his mind play over all +the ladies and maidens he could remember seeing, and he thought +to himself that he had never seen or hoped to see anyone as well +endowed by nature as she, for in lineage, in beauty, in grace, in +wealth, along with infinite wisdom, she seemed more angelic than +human. + +When mass was finished they returned to the palace, and Tirant +took his leave of the emperor and of the ladies, and went to his +quarters with his men. As they reached their quarters he went +into his chamber and fell upon the bed, thinking of the +princess's great beauty. And her beautiful features only served +to make him feel worse: so that while he had felt one pain +before, he now felt one hundred. Diafebus went into the chamber, +and when he saw him with such a sad face he said: + +"My captain, you are the most extraordinary knight I have ever +seen in my life. Anyone else would hold a great celebration for +all the joy they had when they saw their lady. And the flattery +and honor she paid you--more than to all the great lords there. +And then she presented the brocade pillow to you with such grace +and love in everyone's presence. Here, when you should feel like +the most fortunate man in the world, you seem to have lost all +reason." + +When Tirant heard Diafebus' comforting words he said in a +mournful voice: + +"The reason my heart is grieving is that I am in love, and I +don't know if my love will be returned. This is what torments me +most, and makes my heart colder than ice. I have no hope of +gaining my desire, because fortune always opposes those who are +in love." + +When Diafebus saw how tormented Tirant was, he would not let him +continue, and he said: + +"If you keep on behaving that way, infamy will follow you the +rest of your life. And if this should reach the emperor's ears, +God forbid, what would happen to you and the rest of us? He +would say that you fell in love with his daughter the day you +arrived in order to bring shame to his entire realm, the crown +and the empire. So, my captain, use your discretion, and don't +let anyone guess you're in love." + +Tirant listened to the wise words of Diafebus, and he was very +glad to have the advice of his good friend and relative. He +thought for a moment, and then got out of bed and went to the +hall to join his men who had been surprised at Tirant's +discourteous behavior. + +After they had eaten he begged Diafebus to go to the palace and +give the infanta some very singular Hours he had, from Paris, +which had solid gold covers and were very delicately decorated. +They also had an ingenious lock so that when the key was removed +no one could see where it opened. Diafebus wrapped the Hours and +gave them to a page to carry. When Diafebus was in the palace he +found the emperor in the ladies' chamber, and following Tirant's +instructions, he told him: + +"Your Majesty, your captain begs your permission to go see the +Moorish camp within a few days. And he also sends Your Highness +these Hours. If you don't care for them, he says they should be +given to one of the infanta's maidens." + +As soon as the emperor saw them he was astonished at their +uniqueness. "This," said the emperor, "can only belong to a +maiden of the royal family." + +He gave them to his daughter, Carmesina. She was very happy +because the Hours were so beautiful, and also because they were +Tirant's, and she stood up and said: + +"Sire, would Your Majesty approve if we sent for the captain and +the minstrels, and had a small party? The mourning and this +sadness have lasted such a long time." + +"My dearest daughter, don't you know that I have no other +consolation in this world except you and Isabel, the Queen of +Hungary who, for my sins, is absent from my sight? And since my +son died I have no other worldly good but you. All the happiness +you can have will bring me peace in my old age." + +The infanta quickly sent a page for Tirant and had Diafebus sit +next to her. When Tirant received his lady's command he left his +quarters and went to the emperor, who asked him to dance with his +daughter, Carmesina. The dancing lasted nearly till evening when +the emperor wanted to dine. Then Tirant returned to his lodging +very happily, because he had danced continuously with the infanta +and she had said many delightful things to him. + +The following day the emperor held a great banquet for Tirant. +All the dukes, counts and marquis ate at the table with him, the +emperor and his daughter. The rest ate at other tables. When +the meal was over there was dancing. After they had danced for a +while came the collation. Then the emperor had them mount their +horses so he could show Tirant the entire city. + +Afterward the emperor called for a general council, and he told +his daughter to be there because many times he had said to her: + +"My daughter, why don't you come to the council often so that you +will know how it is conducted? After I die you will need to know +how to rule your land." + +The princess went, both to see how the council was run and to +hear Tirant talk. And when everyone was seated at the council, +the emperor spoke to Tirant. + +"I beg you, captain, to prepare for battle with our enemies, the +Genoese. We have received news that Genoese ships, coming from +Tuscany and Lombardy, have reached the port of Aulis, filled with +soldiers, horses and provisions. Our own ships have reached the +island of Euboea, and I believe they will soon be here." + +Tirant took off his cap and said: + +"Command me to go against the Genoese whenever you wish, Your +Majesty. I am ready." + +"I'll tell you what you must do for now," said the emperor. "Go +to where my judgment seat is. I want you to sit on it, listen to +the cases brought before you and judge them with mercy." + +One of the members of the council named Montsalvat stood up and +said: + +"Sire, Your Majesty should take a closer look at these matters, +for there are three obstacles. First, the Duke of Macedonia +should not be deprived of his rights: he has the captaincy, and +it is his privilege since he is closer to the throne. Second, it +should not be given to a foreigner who has no official position +in the empire. Third, before the soldiers leave here they should +make a pilgrimage, bearing gifts to the island where Paris stole +Helen, for that is how the Greeks were victorious over the +Trojans in ancient times." + +The emperor could not tolerate the knight's foolish words, and he +said very angrily: + +"If it were not for the respect I have for our Heavenly Father I +would have you beheaded. It would fit all your merits, and it +would be a sacrifice to God and an example to this world, because +you are a wicked Christian. It is my command that Tirant, who is +our captain now, be above all our captains: he deserves it +because of his virtue and shining chivalry. The Duke of +Macedonia, who is cowardly and inept at war, never knew how to +win a battle. The person I designate will be captain, and anyone +who contradicts him will receive my punishment in such a way that +they will be remembered throughout the world." + +The emperor stood up, and would not hear another word from +anyone. He had a proclamation read throughout the city that +anyone having a complaint against anyone else should go to the +hall of justice the following day and from that day forward, and +justice would be meted out. + +The following day the captain sat on the imperial judgment seat, +and heard everyone with a complaint, and made judgments on them +all. For from the time the Grand Turk and the Moorish sultan +had come into the empire no justice at all had been given. + +Two weeks after Tirant came, all the emperor's ships arrived, +carrying men, wheat and horses. Before the arrival of the ships +the emperor presented the captain with eighty-three large and +beautiful horses, and many suits of armor. Tirant had Diafebus +come up first so he could choose from the weapons and horses. +Then Ricart made his choice, and finally all the others, while +Tirant took nothing for himself. + +Tirant was deeply in love with the princess, and his suffering +increased daily. His love was so great that when he was with her +he did not dare talk to her about anything concerning love. And +the day for his departure was drawing near, for they were waiting +only for the horses to recover from the hardships they had +endured at sea. + +The discreet princess knew about Tirant's love. She sent a page +to ask Tirant to be at the palace at noon because that was the +time when all the others would be resting. When Tirant received +his lady's command, he was the happiest man in the world. He +immediately sent for Diafebus, to give him the news, and to tell +him that she wanted only the two of them to go. Diafebus said: + +"Captain, I am very pleased at this beginning, even though I +don't know what the end will bring." + +At the appointed hour the two knights went up to the palace and +quietly entered the princess's chamber, hoping to have victory. +When she saw them she was very happy. She stood up and took +Tirant's hand, and made him sit next to her. Then Diafebus took +Stephanie by one arm and Widow Repose by the other, and led them +aside so they would not hear what the princess was saying to +Tirant. The princess smiled and softly said: + +"Since you are a foreigner I would not want you to come to any +harm unknowingly. I know you came to this land at the bidding of +the King of Sicily, because he had confidence in your merits. +But he could not tell you of the danger that might befall you, +because he did not know about it." + +Tirant answered: + +"So that you will not think me ungrateful for what you are +telling me, I kiss your hands and feet, and I promise to do +everything Your Highness commands me." + +Tirant begged her to give him her hand so he could kiss it, but +she would not. Then he insisted several times, and when he saw +that she still would not, he called Widow Repose and Stephanie. +To satisfy the captain they begged her to allow him to kiss her +hand. She did it this way: not wanting to let him kiss the back +of her hand, she opened it so he would kiss the palm. Because +kissing the palm is a sign of love, and kissing the back of the +hand is a sign of dominance. Then the princess said to him: + +"Blessed knight, may merciful God keep you from the hands of that +ravenous lion, the Duke of Macedonia: he is a cruel and envious +man, and very knowledgeable about treachery. He is infamous for +the fact that he has only killed people wickedly. It is well +known that he killed that valiant knight, my brother. When my +brother was fighting courageously against the enemy, he came up +behind him and cut the straps of his helmet so that his head +would be uncovered, and he was killed by the Moors. A great +traitor like him should be feared. And so, virtuous knight, I +advise you, when you are in battle, be wary of him. Don't trust +him even while you are eating or sleeping." + +It happened one day at dinner time that Tirant found the empress +and the princess still at the table. He came into the hall and +served the empress and her daughter as steward and cup-bearer, +since this was his privilege as captain. When Tirant saw that +the meal was nearly over, he asked the empress to clear up a +matter he was uncertain about. The empress answered that if she +could she would do it very gladly. + +"Tell me, my lady," said Tirant, "for a knight, which is most +honorable, to die well or to die badly, since he must die?" + +And he said not a word more. The princess said: + +"Holy Mother of God! What a question to ask my mother. Everyone +knows it's better to die well than to die badly." + +Then Tirant struck the table with his clenched fist and muttered, +"So be it," so softly that they could barely hear him. Without +another word he got up and went to his lodgings. And everyone +was left astonished at Tirant's behavior. + +The following day the princess was feeling very upset by what +Tirant had said. In the morning, while the emperor was at mass +with all the ladies, Tirant went into the church for prayer, and +he told the emperor: + +"Sire, the galleys are ready to go to Cyprus to bring back +provisions. Does Your Majesty want them to leave?" + +The emperor said: + +"I wish they were one hundred miles out to sea right now!" + +Tirant quickly went to the port to give the order for them to set +sail. When the princess saw Tirant leaving, she called Diafebus +and asked him to give Tirant the message that after he had eaten +he should come to see her immediately, because she wanted very +much to talk to him, and that later they would dance. + +When Tirant heard the news he considered at once what it might +mean. He had the most beautiful mirror bought that could be +found, and put it inside his sleeve. When he thought it was +about time, they went to the palace and found the emperor talking +to his daughter. The emperor saw them coming and sent for his +minstrels, and they danced for a good while. After watching them +for a time the emperor withdrew to his chambers. The princess +immediately stopped dancing, and taking Tirant by the hand they +sat at a window. The princess said: + +"Virtuous knight, I have great pity for you, seeing how disturbed +you are. Tell me, I beg you, what is troubling you." + +"My lady, since Your Highness is forcing me to tell you, I can +only say that I am in love." + +He said nothing more, and lowered his eyes. + +"Tell me, Tirant," said the princess, "who is the lady that is +causing you so much pain? If I can help you in any way, I will +be very glad to." + +Tirant put his hand in his sleeve, drew out the mirror, and said: + +"My lady, the face you will see here can bring me life or death." + +The princess quickly took the mirror, and with hurried steps she +went into her chamber, thinking she would find a portrait of some +woman in the mirror. But she saw only her own face. Then she +was astonished that a lady could be courted in this way, without +words. + +While she was happily reflecting on what Tirant had done, Widow +Repose and Stephanie came in. They found the princess sitting +with the mirror in her hands, and they said to her: "My lady, +where did you get such a pretty mirror?" + +The princess told them about the way Tirant had declared his love +for her, and she said she had never heard of it being done +before: + +"Not even in all the story books I've read have I ever found such +a graceful declaration. How knowledgeable these foreigners are!" + +Widow Repose answered: + +"Tell me, my lady, should Your Highness be paying as much +attention as you are to a servant your father has taken into his +house nearly out of charity, and who was thrown out by that +famous king of Sicily, along with other foreigners wearing gold +and silk clothes they've borrowed? Do you want to lose your good +reputation for a man like him?" + +The princess was very upset by what the Widow had said, and she +went into her chambers nearly crying. Stephanie went with her, +telling her not to be so upset, and consoling her as best she +could. + +"Isn't it terrible?" said the princess. "Here I am, scolded by +the very mistress who nursed me! What if she had seen me doing +something really bad? I believe she would have sent out a crier +to advertise it in the court and to the entire city. I trust God +that her wicked, dishonest, cursing tongue will have the +punishment it deserves." + +"It's normal," said Stephanie, "for maidens in the court to be +loved and courted, and for them to have three kinds of love: +virtuous, profitable and vicious. The first one, which is +virtuous, is when some grandee loves a maiden, and she feels very +honored when others know that he dances, jousts, or goes into +battle for her love. The second is profitable, and it is when +some gentleman or knight of ancient and virtuous lineage loves a +maiden and sways her to him with gifts. The third is vicious, +when the maiden loves the gentleman or knight for her own +pleasure, and he is generous in words that give her life for a +year, but if they go too far they can end in a heavily curtained +bed among perfumed sheets where she can spend an entire winter's +night. This last kind of love seems much better to me than the +others." + +When the princess heard Stephanie say such witty things, she +began to smile and most of her melancholy left her. While they +were talking the empress asked where her daughter was, since she +had not seen her for a long time. She went out into the hall and +met the empress who asked her why her eyes were red. + +"My lady," said the princess, "all day long today I've had a +headache." + +She made her sit on her knees, and kissed her at length. + +The following day Tirant said to Diafebus: + +"My brother, go to the palace, I beg you, and talk to the +princess. + +See if you can find out how she felt about the mirror." + +Diafebus went at once and met the emperor going to mass. When it +was over Diafebus went up to the princess, and she asked him what +had become of Tirant. + +"My lady," said Diafebus, "he left his lodging to go sit in the +judgment seat." + +"If you only know," said the princess, "the trick he played on +me! He declared his love for me with a mirror. Just let me see +him and I'll tell him a few things he won't like " + +"Oh my good lady!" said Diafebus. "Tirant brought a flaming log +and found no wood to burn here." + +"Yes," said the princess, "but the log has gotten wet. However, +here in this palace you'll find a bigger and better one that +gives much more warmth than the one you're talking about. It's a +log called Loyalty, and it's very tender and dry, and it gives +happiness to anyone who can warm themselves by it." + +"My lady, let us do this," said Diafebus. "If it pleases Your +Highness, let us take some of yours which is good and dry, and +some of ours which is wet and moist, and let us make a shape in +your likeness and Tirant's " + +"No," said the princess, "it isn't a good idea to make two +opposites into one." + +And they joked in this way until they had returned to her +chamber. Then Diafebus took his leave and went back to his +lodgings where he told Tirant everything he and the princess had +said. + +After they had eaten Tirant knew that the emperor must be asleep, +so he and Diafebus went to the palace. Through a window +Stephanie saw them coming, and she quickly went to tell the +princess: + +"My lady, our knights are coming now." + +The princess came out of the chamber. When Tirant saw his lady, +he made a deep bow before her. The princess returned his +greeting with a less pleasant expression than usual. Tirant was +not very happy at the lady's expression, and in a low voice, he +said: + +"Lady, full of perfection, I beg Your Excellency to tell me what +you are thinking. I don't believe I have seen Your Highness +behave this way for many days." + +"My behavior," said the princess, "cannot please God, and much +less the world, but I will tell you the reason, and your lack of +knowledge and goodness will be revealed. What will people say +about you when they hear of this? That the emperor's daughter, +who is in such a lofty position, has been courted by his captain +whom he loved deeply and trusted. You have not kept the honor +and reverence you are obligated to have for me. Instead you have +acted with bad faith and dishonest love." + +She got up to go back into her chambers. When Tirant saw that +she was leaving he caught up to her, took hold of her shawl, and +begged her to listen to him. Stephanie and Diafebus pleaded with +her so much that she sat down again, and Tirant said: + +"If there was any fault, you must forgive me, for love has +absolute control over me. Doesn't Your Highness remember the day +when the empress was present and I asked if it was better to die +well or to die badly? And Your Majesty answered that it was +better to die well than badly. I knew that if I did not let you +know of my suffering, one night they would find me dead in the +corner of my room, and if I did tell you, I would come to the +point where I am now. And so, on my knees, I ask only that after +my death your angelic hands dress me, and that you write letters +on my tomb that say this: Here Lies Tirant lo Blanc Who Died of +Great Love." + +His eyes became a sea of tears, and sighing painfully he got up +from the princess's feet, and left the chamber to go to his +lodging. When the princess saw him leaving so disconsolately, +she began to cry uncontrollably, and she sighed and sobbed so +that none of her maidens could console her. Then she said: + +"Come here, my faithful maiden, you know how to have pity on my +torment. Poor me, what shall I do? I think he is going to kill +himself. That's what he told me, and his heart is so lofty and +noble that he will do it. + +Have pity on me, my Stephanie; go run to Tirant and beg him for +me not to do anything, for I am very displeased at what he told +me." + +The princess was crying helplessly while she said this. To carry +out her lady's wishes, Stephanie took a maiden with her and went +to Tirant's lodging, which was very near the palace. She went to +his room and found him taking off a brocade cloak, with Diafebus +at his side, consoling him. + +When Stephanie saw him in his doublet she thought he had taken +off his clothes to place his body in the grave. Stephanie threw +herself at Tirant's feet as if he were her real lord, and she +said to him: + +"My lord, Tirant, what are you trying to do to yourself? Her +Majesty was saying all that just to tease you, I swear it." + +She was silent and said no more. When Tirant saw Stephanie +kneeling down, he at once knelt beside her. He did this because +she was a maiden who served the emperor's daughter, and even more +because she was the emperor's niece, daughter of the Duke of +Macedonia, the greatest duke in all Greece. + +Tirant replied: + +"Death does not bother me when I think I'll be dying for such a +lady. By dying I will come back to life in glorious fame, for +people will say that Tirant lo Blanc died of love for the most +beautiful and virtuous lady in the world. So, my lady, I beg you +to go away and leave me with my pain." + +The princess was in undescribable anguish when she saw that +Stephanie was not coming back with news of Tirant. Not being +able to endure it, she called one of her maidens, named +Plaerdemavida. She took a veil and put it over her head so she +would not be recognized, and went down the stairs to the garden. +With the garden door open, she went to the house where Tirant +was, without being seen by anyone. When she saw Tirant and +Stephanie on their knees, talking, she knelt down too and said: + +"I beg you, Tirant, if my tongue said things that offended you, +do not keep them in your heart. I want you to forget everything +I told you in anger, and I beg your forgiveness." + +When Tirant saw his lady speaking with so much love, he was the +happiest man in the world. Stephanie said + +"Since peace has been made, my lady, I promised him that Your +Highness would let him kiss your hair." + +"I will be very happy," said the princess, "to have him kiss my +eyes and my forehead if he promises me, upon his word as a +knight, not to do anything untoward." + +Tirant promised very willingly, and swore it, and their sadness +turned into great happiness and contentment. The princess, +accompanied by Tirant and Diafebus, quickly went to the garden. +The princess told Plaerdemavida to have all the other maidens +come, and in a short time they were all in the garden, and Widow +Repose with them. She had seen all the moves and suffered deeply +because of the princess, and with her own involvement in the +matter she had even more to think about. The emperor soon saw +Tirant and his daughter in the garden. He went down to the +garden and said to Tirant: + +"Captain, I sent for you at your lodging, but they didn't find +you there. I'm glad to see you here." + +"My lord," said Tirant, "I asked for Your Majesty, but they told +me Your Highness was sleeping. So that I wouldn't awaken you I +came here with these knights to dance or practice some sport." + +"What a black, evil sport we have!" said the emperor. "We must +hold a council: it is very important." + +He gave the order for the council bell to be rung. When everyone +in the imperial council was together, the emperor had the +emissary come forward, and said that everyone should know the bad +news because it was not something that could be kept secret. +Then he ordered the emissary to explain his mission. Making a +humble bow he said: + +"Most excellent lord, last Thursday night, fourteen thousand men +came on foot and concealed themselves in a large meadow. Because +of all the water there the grass grew very tall, and no one +could see them. When the sun rose we saw horses and Turkish +horsemen who must have numbered, in all, one thousand four +hundred, more or less, together in a part of the water. The Duke +of Macedonia, a very haughty man of little intelligence as his +actions show, had the trumpets blow so that everyone would mount +their horses. The constable and the others, who know more about +war than he does, protested and told him not to leave. But no +matter what they said he would not obey anyone. He went up to +the river with all his men, and he ordered them to cross, both +those on horseback and those on foot. The water came up to the +horses' cinches and there were even places where they had to +swim. + +"Near the enemy's side there was a bank that the horses had great +difficulty in climbing, and the enemy met them there. At the +slightest advance that the soldiers or their horses made, they +quickly fell into the water and were not able to get up, and they +were all swept down river. If the duke had only gone one mile +upstream all his men would have been able to get across without +getting wet. The enemy drew back a little so that the men would +come across, and they pretended to retreat to a small hill there, +and the duke used all his forces to try to take them. When the +men in ambush saw the Greeks fighting so boldly, they came out +furiously and fell into the thick of the Christians, spilling +their blood. The duke could not take the fierce battle any +longer and he secretly fled without doing much harm to the enemy. +And those who were able to escape went with him. + +"After their victory the Moors laid siege to the city. The Grand +Turk himself came, along with the Moorish sultan and all the +kings that had come to aid them, and all the dukes, counts and +marquis of Italy and Lombardy who were mercenaries. As soon as +the sultan heard the news he gave himself the title of Emperor of +Greece, and said he would not lift the siege until he had taken +the duke and all those with him prisoner, and that he would then +come here to attack this city. I can tell you, Sire, that the +duke has provisions for only one month, a month and a half at +most. + +So, my lord, Your Majesty must look into what we should do about +all this." + +Tirant said: + +"Tell me, knight, upon your honor, how many men were lost in +battle?" + +The knight answered: + +"Captain, it is known that of the men killed in battle, those who +were drowned and those taken prisoner, we've lost eleven thousand +seven hundred twenty-two men." + +The emperor said: + +"Captain, I beg you to do whatever has to be done, out of +reverence for God and love of me, so that you can leave in +fifteen or twenty days with all your men to help those miserable +people." + +"Oh, Sire!" said Tirant. "How can Your Majesty say that we won't +have left in twenty days? In that time the enemy could attack +the city, and they are so powerful that they could invade it." + +Tirant again asked the emissary how many men there might be in +the enemy's forces. The emissary answered: + +"In faith, there are many Turks and they are very skillful in +warfare, and are cruel, ferocious men. In our opinion and +according to what some prisoners say, they number more than eight +hundred thousand." + +"My feeling," said Tirant, "is that a royal proclamation should +be read throughout the city. All those who have hired themselves +out, and those who want to, should go to the Imperial House to +receive their payment, and they should all be ready to leave in +six days." + +The emperor thought that was good advice, and he thanked Tirant. +As soon as the proclamation was read, all the grandees outside +the city were notified and they were all soon there with their +horses rested. And those who had come from Sicily were ready. +The bad news of the losses that had been sustained ran throughout +the city, and many of the townsfolk, both men and women, gathered +in the market square. Some were crying for their brothers, +others for their sons, some for their friends and relatives, and +still others for the destruction of the empire. Most of the +empire was lost, and the hope of the emperor and those around him +was placed only in God. They were afraid there would be great +starvation and thirst because of the enemy's victory, and that +the city would be burned, and they could imagine themselves in +captivity and miserable slavery. Two of the empire's barons +told the emperor that he should send his daughter Carmesina to +Hungary to be with her sister. + +When Tirant heard these words, his face turned pale as death. +All the maidens and even the emperor noticed, and he asked Tirant +what had made his color change so much. + +"Sire," said Tirant, "I've had a bad stomachache all day today." + +The emperor had his doctors come immediately to give him some +medicine. When the emperor saw that Tirant was all right, he +turned to Carmesina and said to her: + +"My daughter, what do you think of the things the council has +said about you? In my opinion, it would be a good idea, because +if the empire and all its people were lost, you would be safe." + +The discreet lady answered her father, saying: + +"Oh, merciful father! Your Highness should not allow me to be +separated from you. I prefer to die near Your Majesty and in my +own land than to be wealthy and living a life of pain and sorrow +in a foreign land." + +When the emperor heard such discreet and loving words from his +daughter he was very pleased. + +On the morning of the following day the banners were blessed with +a great procession and celebration. All the men armed themselves +and mounted their horses to depart. + +When the emperor saw all the men outside he called the captain +from his window and told him not to leave. He wanted to talk to +him, and he had some letters for him to give to the Duke of +Macedonia and a few others. As soon as the foot soldiers and +those on horseback were outside the city, Tirant returned and +went upstairs to the emperor's chambers. He found him in his +chamber with the secretary, writing, and did not want to disturb +him. + +When the princess saw Tirant, she called to him and said: + +"Captain, I see that you are ready to leave. I pray that God +will give you an honorable victory." + +Tirant knelt before her and thanked her for her words. And he +kissed her hand as a token of good luck. Then the princess said: + +"Is there anything you would like from me, Tirant, before you +leave? Tell me if there is, for I will grant you whatever you +wish." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "I would only like Your Highness to do me +the favor of giving me this blouse you are wearing, because it is +closest to your precious skin. And I would like to take it off +with my own hands." + +"Holy Mary, protect me!" said the princess. "What are you +telling me? I'll be very happy to give you my blouse, my jewels, +my clothes, and everything I have. But it would not be right for +your hands to touch me where no one else has ever touched." + +She quickly went to her room, and took off the blouse and put on +another. She went out to the great hall where she found Tirant +joking with the maidens. She took him aside and gave him the +blouse, kissing it many times to make him more content. Tirant +took it very happily and went to his lodging. And he told the +maidens: + +"If the emperor calls me, tell him I'll be right back, that I've +gone to arm myself so that I can leave quickly." + +When Tirant was at his lodging he finished arming himself, and he +found Diafebus and Ricart there. They had come back to put on +the coats of arms that had been made, of metal plates. + +Then the three knights went to take their leave of the emperor +and of all the ladies. When they went upstairs they found the +emperor waiting for the captain to come, because he wanted to +dine with him. When the emperor saw Tirant, he said: + +"Captain, what coat of arms is this that you're wearing?" + +"My lord," said Tirant, "if you knew what was in it, you would be +astonished." + +"I would like very much to know about it," said the emperor. + +"Its force," said Tirant, "is to do well. When I left my land a +maiden gave it to me, and she is the most beautiful maiden in the +world. I'm not speaking in offense of the princess here, or of +the other ladies of honor." + +The emperor said: + +"It is true that no good feat of arms was ever accomplished +unless it was for love." + +"I promise you," said Tirant, "on my word as a knight, that in my +first battle I will make friends and enemies marvel at it." + +The emperor sat down to eat, as did the empress and her daughter, +and the captain sat beside her. And he had the two knights sit +at another table with all the ladies and maidens. Then they all +ate with great pleasure, and especially Tirant who shared a plate +with his lady. + +CHAPTER V + +THE BATTLEFIELD + + Tirant then took his leave of all the ladies and the others +there. When the three knights were outside the city they gave +their chargers to the pages and mounted other horses. Within a +short time they reached the soldiers. Each knight went to his +squadron, and Tirant went from one squadron to another, directing +them constantly to stay in order. + +That day they traveled five leagues. They set up their tents in +a beautiful meadow where there was water. After they had eaten, +Tirant had two thousand pikesmen keep watch until midnight, and +he sent men along the road to see if they heard soldiers or +anything else. Tirant kept watch over the camp, moving from +place to place. At the hour of midnight he had two thousand +other pikesmen take the place of those on watch, and he would not +let them have pages, but made them all arm as if they were going +into battle at any moment. + +When Tirant was in a war he never took off his clothes except to +change his shirt. Every morning, two hours before sunrise, he +had the trumpets blow for the men to saddle their horses and to +hold mass. Then the entire camp would arm themselves and quickly +mount. At dawn they would all be ready to leave. They kept up +this routine until they were a league and a half from the enemy, +in a city named Pelidas, which was in danger daily of +surrendering to the powerful Turks. + +When they found out that soldiers were coming to their aid they +were very happy, and they opened the gates to the city. The +captain did not want to go in during the day so they would not be +seen, but he did not do it secretly enough to avoid being heard. +And the first to be notified that soldiers had gone into the city +of Pelidas was the Grand Turk, but he did not know how many there +were. The Grand Turk went at once to tell the Moorish sultan, +who sent four men toward the city of Pelidas as spies to find out +what they could about the men who had gone in. + +The next day Tirant took a man with him who knew the countryside +very well, and they rode out as secretly as they could, and drew +near the camp by back roads. From a hill they could see both the +city and the camp. + +The Moorish sultan was at one end, and the Grand Turk at the +other. + +They recognized him by the large, painted tents they saw. When +they had looked the situation over very carefully, they returned +to the city. On the way back they saw the Moorish guards. + +When they were back in the city and had dismounted, Tirant went +to the square where he found most of the townspeople, and he told +them: + +"Come here, my brothers. We have just been spying on the enemy +camp, and on our way back we saw four of the camp guards. For +each guard you bring to me alive I'll give you five hundred +ducats, and if you bring his head I'll give you three hundred. +How many of you want to go?" + +Seven men who knew the land well volunteered immediately. They +left at night so no one would see them, and when they had +traveled a good distance one of them said: + +"Why don't we go to the spring near here, and cover ourselves +with branches? The Moors are certain to come here to drink +around noon with all this heat, and that way they'll fall into +our hands." + +They agreed to do that, and they kept a very close watch from +their hiding place. When the sun came out they saw the Moors on +top of the hill. As the sun grew hotter they became thirsty and +went to the spring for water. When they arrived one of the +Christians who was hidden said: + +"Let's not move until they have drunk and are full of water: that +way they won't be able to run very fast." + +And that is what they did. When the Moors had drunk and eaten +their fill the Christians fell upon them with loud cries, and +immediately caught three of them. One tried to escape. When +they saw that they could not catch him they shot at him with a +crossbow. The arrow pierced his side, and he fell to the ground. +They cut off his head and stuck it to the point of a lance. Then +they tied the hands of the others and took them to their captain. +When Tirant saw them he was very pleased, and he took the three +Moors and had them closely guarded. + +Tirant had ordered everyone to eat early that day, and to saddle +the horses and arm themselves so they would be ready to leave. +He had all the men go out of the city in order, both the foot +soldiers and those riding horses. Behind them came three +thousand men with the mares. When they were near the Moors' camp +he had all the soldiers go to one side so the mares could pass by +without the other horses sensing them. + +When the mares were at the entrance to the camp all the foot +soldiers went in with them, and they divided into two groups: one +went toward the Moorish sultan and the other toward the Grand +Turk. Then the camp horses noticed the mares: some got loose, +others broke their halters, and others tore out the stakes that +held them fast. You should have seen the horses running loose +through the camp: some here, some there, and all of them after +the mares. + +When this melee had gone on for a good while and the entire camp +was in confusion because of the horses, Tirant came and fell on +part of it with half his men. Then the Duke of Pera and his men +attacked the other side, calling on that glorious knight, Saint +George. + +Finally the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk and their men fled +to the mountain while the others went to the plain. Tirant +pursued them relentlessly, and he and his men killed everyone +they caught, giving quarter to no one. All those who went to the +mountain reached it safely, and those who went to the plain were +either killed or taken prisoner. + +They pursued them for three leagues, and those heading for the +mountain (where the road was shorter) came to a river with a +wooden bridge where they could cross safely. When the sultan and +some of his men had crossed over and they saw the Christians +close behind, they broke the bridge in the middle. Then those +who had not yet crossed were lost while those who had already +crossed the bridge were safe. + +The Duke of Macedonia heard of Tirant's victory, and how none of +the enemy were left except those who were badly wounded and could +not flee. So he and his men went out and sacked the camp, and +they found large amounts of gold and silver, clothing, weapons +and many jewels. When they had taken everything, they put their +booty in the town. The duke left soldiers to guard it, and he +gave orders that if Tirant or any of his men came, they should +not be allowed inside. When they had put away everything they +had stolen, the duke took the route to the plain, and he and his +men were astonished at all the dead bodies they saw. + +The guards at the camp told the captain that armed men were +approaching quickly. Tirant had all his soldiers mount their +horses, and he prepared for battle, thinking that the enemy had +regrouped in the villages that belonged to them. They went out +to meet them, and when they were near they recognized each other. +Tirant took the helmet off his head and gave it to a page, and +all the other captains did the same. When they were close to the +duke, Tirant dismounted and walked up to him, paying him great +honor. The duke did not move at all except to put his hand on +his head without saying a word. This made all the others very +angry, and none of them would dismount for him. Tirant remounted +his horse and tried many times to talk to him, but the duke +scarcely uttered a word. But all the other knights and gentlemen +paid great honor to the dukes and to Tirant. Then they rode +together until they were near the tents. + +Tirant said to the duke: + +"Sir, if your lordship would like to stay in that meadow where +there are very beautiful trees and you would be near the river, +I'll have the men who are there move to another place." + +The duke answered: + +"I don't want to be near you. I prefer to go to a place farther +away." + +"You can do that," said Tirant, "but I said what I did out of +kindness, thinking that you deserved it." + +The duke would not listen to him, and turned his horse about +without a word. He set up his tents a mile upriver. + +After he dismounted Tirant sent three of his knights to the duke, +and when they were there they said to him: + +"Sir, our captain has sent us to your lordship to ask if you +would like to eat with him. He knows that your lordship will +have better food here, but you can have his more quickly, because +all you have to do is wash your hands and sit down to eat." + +"Oh, what a bother for nothing!" said the duke. "Tell him that I +don't want to." + +And he turned his back to them very haughtily. When the +emissaries had mounted their horses to go, the duke told them: + +"Tell Tirant that if he wants to come and eat with me, I would +prefer that to eating with him." + +"Sir," said Diafebus, "if there is no fire lit in your entire +camp, what could you offer him? You couldn't give him anything +but food for chickens and drink for oxen." + +The duke answered angrily: + +"I can give him chickens, capons, partridge and pheasant." + +The knights refused to listen to him anymore, and they wheeled +about. + +After they had gone, a knight said to the duke: + +"You didn't understand, sir, what that knight said to you. He +told you that you would serve his captain food for chickens and +drink for oxen. Do you know what he meant by that? Food for +chickens is grain, and what oxen drink is water." + +"On my father's grave!" said the duke. "You're right. I didn't +understand. Those foreigners are very haughty. If I had +understood him I would have made him leave with his hands on his +head." + +When Tirant heard what the reply was, he sat down to dine with +the dukes, counts and marquis who were already there. + +The morning of the following day the captain had a large and +beautiful tent raised, with a bell on top. That tent was only +for mass and council meetings, and he had it set up in a meadow +between the duke's camp and his own. When the time came to say +mass, Tirant courteously sent word to the duke to see if he would +like to come to mass. The duke haughtily answered no, but the +other grandees came very happily. After mass they held council, +and it was decided that the Marquis of Saint George, the Count of +Acquaviva, and two barons should go to the Duke of Macedonia as +ambassadors. When they were with him the Marquis of Saint George +said: + +"Duke, you should not be surprised to see us: our captain and the +illustrious dukes, counts and marquis have sent us here. We want +you to give us a share of the treasure you took from the enemy +camp." + +And he said no more. + +"How overjoyed I am," said the duke, "to hear idiotic words from +such ignorant people! How could you think I would do such a +thing when we have been battling day and night with sweat and +blood against our enemy?" + +The ambassadors got back on their horses, and in the camp they +found the captain and the grandees holding a meeting in the +council tent. Then the marquis told them about the duke's reply, +and he said: + +"Let us all mount our horses: an insult like this can't be +forgotten!" + +The marquis quickly left the tent and armed himself, as did all +the others. + +When the captain saw the disturbance in his camp, he was very +upset and he immediately had a proclamation made that no one, +under penalty of death, should mount their horses. Then he went +up and down, seizing the knights, and he begged the dukes and +marquis not to do this, because if they became involved in a +quarrel, the Turks they had taken prisoner would fall upon them. + +When the disturbance had subsided, Tirant ordered them to go to +the battle site, and take the clothing from all the dead bodies +they found and to keep it. Some of the knights asked why, and he +told them that at some time they might be able to use it. + +As the Moors were being defeated in battle and were fleeing, +Diafebus thought about how to bring renown and fame to Tirant, in +the present and the future. He went to him and asked him for the +captain's ring. Tirant removed his glove, took off the ring and +gave it to him. Diafebus halted for a moment even though the +others were pressing forward, and he stopped one of his squires +who was a good and faithful man, and gave him the ring. He +instructed him about everything he was to say to the emperor and +to Carmesina, and then to all the others. + +To carry out his master's order, the squire wheeled his horse +about, dug in his spurs and galloped away without stopping until +he was in Constantinople. + +When he stood before the emperor, he knelt and said: + +"My lord, I have good news. Give me my reward." + +After the emperor promised to do so, Pyramus gave him the ring, +and told him all about the battle, and how they had conquered the +Turks--which had been like a miracle. + +The following day the sultan sent three ambassadors to Tirant. +They put a sheet of paper on a stick and held it up as a signal +for safe-conduct. When they were inside the tent the ambassadors +were welcomed by the captain and all the others, and they gave +the sultan's letter to Tirant. He had it read in everyone's +presence, and it said the following: + +"I, Armini, great sultan of Babylonia, and lord of three empires. +Glorious Tirant lo Blanc, Captain of the Greeks and defender of +the Christian faith, we salute you. And we declare to you, by +counsel and deliberation of the Grand Turk and the five kings +here under my power and command, with another ten who are in my +own land, that if you ask me for a lasting peace or a treaty of +six months, we will offer you our "white face" to show our +honesty and the six months of peace, out of reverence for all +powerful God, in the old manner. Written in our camp on the +eastern shore on the second day of the moon and of the birth of +our holy prophet Mohammed, etc." + +After the letter had been read, Tirant told the ambassadors to +explain their embassy. One of the ambassadors, Abdalla Salomon, +stood up, bowed, and said: + +"We have been sent to you, Tirant lo Blanc, captain of the Greek +people, as representatives of the magnanimous and glorious lords, +the Grand Turk and the sultan. After the great number of deaths +you brought to our soldiers, you imprisoned a small child, the +brother in law of our sovereign lord, the great sultan, his +wife's brother, along with many other virtuous knights. We beg of +you, on behalf of the thing you love most in this world, to give +us the child. If you will not do this for love, ask a ransom for +him, in silver or gold, and it will be granted." + +Tirant replied: + +"Since you hold up to me the thing I love most in the world, and +you ask for a prisoner, I'll give him to you and forty more along +with him. As for the other part of your embassy, I'll hold a +meeting with my men, and then I will give you an answer." + +Tirant summoned his constables and told them to go with the +ambassadors to select forty-one prisoners for release. + +Then Tirant addressed all the great lords there: + +"Illustrious princes and lords. We've seen the request of the +sultan and the Turk. Do you think we should grant them the truce +they are asking for?" + +First the Duke of Macedonia spoke: + +"Most egregious and noble lords. This is more my business that +it is the rest of yours because I am closer to the imperial +crown. It's my advice and my demand that we grant them the +six-month truce they're asking for, and even longer if they wish, +and even peace if they want it, whether the emperor likes it or +not." + +The Duke of Pera couldn't stand to hear anything more from the +Duke of Macedonia--for they were at odds with each other because +each of them wanted to take the princess as his wife--and he +said: + +"Gentlemen, it seems to me that for His Majesty the emperor's +benefit, and for the well being of the entire empire and the +republic, we shouldn't offer them peace or a truce." + +Many felt they should accept a truce, but most agreed with the +Duke of Pera. + +Then Tirant said: + +"Since His high Majesty, the emperor has given me the right to +speak in his place, I tell your lordships that I don't think it +would help anyone to have a truce with these evil people. All +their blood that's been spilled is because of your might, and +that's the reason they're asking for peace or for a six- month +truce. Because during that time, gentlemen, you know that +they'll be waiting for the Genoese ships to bring foot soldiers +and cavalry. And in that time they would fill this land with +such great numbers of men that afterward all the power of +Christianity wouldn't be enough to throw them out." + +The Duke of Macedonia spoke up and said: + +"Tirant, if you don't want to have a truce, I do, and I'll make +one. And I advise everyone to make it with me." + +"Duke," said Tirant, "don't make disorder out of what the emperor +has ordered. If you try to do that, I'll have you seized and +taken to His Majesty, the emperor." + +Then the duke stood up, his eyes moist, and he left the tent and +went to his camp, and Tirant and his men went to their own. + +Next to a spring of very fresh water that ran beside their camp, +Tirant set up a canopy, with many tables placed around the +crystalline spring. + +Tirant had the ambassadors served at one table, and the prisoners +that had been released to them at a lower table on the left; all +the dukes and lords, low on the right. And they were served +splendidly with chickens and capons, pheasant, rice and couscous, +and many other dishes and very fine wines. The ambassadors were +very pleased, seeing how Tirant had the dukes and himself served +with such ceremony. + +Then they all went to the council tent, and Tirant gave them the +following reply: + +"You tell the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk that I will in no +way give them peace now unless they face Mecca and swear in the +presence of all the good knights that in six months they and all +their men will leave the empire and will return the lands of the +empire that they have occupied." + +Then Ambassador Abdalla Salomon stood up and said: "Since you +don't want to give us peace, wait for the fifteenth day of the +moon. For on that day such a multitude of Moorish soldiers will +come here that the earth will not be able to hold them up." + +After they had departed Tirant ordered Diafebus to go to +Constantinople that night with many soldiers, on foot and on +horseback, and all the prisoners. + +When Diafebus reached the city, the emperor and all the others +acknowledged Tirant as the victor, and all the knights were +praised, and the victory was celebrated with great joy. Diafebus +delivered four thousand three hundred prisoners to the emperor on +Tirant's behalf so that the Greeks would see his virtue and great +generosity. The emperor had them taken and carefully guarded. +The following day the emperor took fifteen ducats for each +prisoner from his treasury, and delivered them to Diafebus to +give to Tirant. + +When the princess knew that Diafebus was free from his duties she +sent word to him to come to her chambers. There was nothing +Diafebus wanted more than to be able to talk to her and to +Stephanie with whom he was very much in love. When the princess +saw him she quickly said to him: + +"My good brother, what news do you bring me from that virtuous +knight who holds my heart captive? When will the time come that +I can see him and have him near me without being afraid? You +know that I want to see him more than anything in the world." + +Diafebus answered: + +"Your Excellency's loving words would have turned that famous +knight's sadness to joy if he had heard them, and would lift his +spirit to the highest heaven." + +The princess was very pleased by what Diafebus said about Tirant. +Then Stephanie said: + +"You've spoken, and now it's my turn. Please listen to what I +have to say. Tell me, my lady, who but Tirant is worthy of +wearing the crown of an emperor? Who else but Tirant deserves to +be your husband? Why didn't God make me the emperor's daughter? +Why didn't he make you Stephanie and me Carmesina? I can assure +you that I wouldn't refuse him anything. If he lifted up my +skirt I would lift up my blouse for him, and I would satisfy him +in every way I could. If Your Highness takes some foreign king, +how do you know that he won't give you a life of pain? And if +you want someone from this land, I'll talk against my father. +Because with his rank he should be your husband, but when you +want to play, he'll be snoring; and when you want to talk he'll +be asleep. If you take the Duke of Pera, why he's not even your +age. This is what Your Highness needs: Someone who knows how to +keep you and your whole empire from danger. Who else can defend +and increase it the way he is doing? He's the one who will make +you run all around your bedroom, sometimes completely naked and +other times in your nightshirt." + +The princess laughed, delighted at what Stephanie was saying. +Diafebus said: + +"Lady Stephanie, by your nobility, tell me the truth: if it were +Tirant's good fortune for the princess to take him as a husband, +who would you take?" + +"My lord Diafebus," said Stephanie, I can assure you that if +fortune had the princess become Tirant's wife, I would take his +nearest blood relative." + +"If it were by blood line, it would have to be me, especially +because I am as obedient to your grace as Tirant has been to the +princess who, with her beauty and dignity, deserves to rule the +world. So please accept me as steward of your chamber, and kiss +me as a token of faith." + +"It would be neither honest or just," said Stephanie, "for me to +grant you anything without the command of my lady who has raised +me from an early age, especially in Her Majesty's presence." + +Diafebus knelt on the floor, and with his hands pressed together +begged the princess, devoutly and with humility, as if she were a +saint in paradise, to permit him to kiss her. But for all his +pleading, she would not give him permission. Stephanie said: + +"Oh, hardened and cruel heart! Your Majesty never wants to lean +toward mercy no matter how much you are begged. I will never be +happy until I see Tirant with my own eyes." + +"Oh, brother Diafebus!" said the princess. "Don't ask me for +unjust things now." + +While they were saying these pleasant words, the emperor sent for +Diafebus to have him go quickly back to the camp. + +The guards then came from their watch at sea and told the emperor +that five large ships were coming from the east. The emperor, +afraid that they were Genoese, stopped Diafebus from going that +day, and had many men board their own ships and galleys in port. +When the other ships approached, the emperor learned that they +had been sent by the Grand Master of Rhodes, with soldiers on +board. + +The good prior leapt down to the land along with many knights of +the white cross. Diafebus was at the port, near the sea, waiting +for them. When they met they recognized each other, and Diafebus +paid them great honor. Together they went to the great palace of +the emperor, and found him seated on his throne. Bowing, the +prior of Saint John said: + +"Your Excellency, knowing that the greatest of all knights, +Tirant lo Blanc, is in the service of Your Majesty as +captain-general of all the empire, the Grand Master of Rhodes has +sent two thousand paid soldiers, on foot and on horseback, to +serve Your Highness for the space of fifteen months." + +The emperor was very happy at their arrival. After they had +rested for four days they left with Diafebus for the camp. When +they were five leagues away, they learned that Tirant had gone +forward to take a well- defended plaza, and they heard the loud +pounding of bombards. When Tirant saw a part of the wall broken, +he dismounted and gave battle on foot, and he went so near the +wall that a large rock was thrown at his head, and he was felled. +His men struggled to pull him out of the moat, and at this moment +Diafebus and the prior came to the villa. + +The Turks, inside, were terrified when they saw so many men +coming, and they lost all hope. After Ricart had taken Tirant to +safety, he again attacked the villa mightily, and they broke +through by sheer force. + +The Turks, far from any hope of victory, fell into a rage and +prepared to die fighting. But as the Christians took the villa, +they killed every Turk they saw without mercy, and so they were +all given the terrible knife. The Prior of Saint John arrived in +time for the attack on the villa, and his men shared in the +booty, and this indicated to them that they would be victorious. +They went to the cot where Tirant was lying, and explained to him +everything the Master had commanded them. + +Tirant thanked them and the Grand Master for the noble help they +were bringing. But he said these words very wearily: he could +barely speak because of the great pain he felt in his head. The +doctors came, and they took sheep's heads and cooked them in +wine, and applied this to Tirant's head with cloths. And the +following morning he was well. + +For a few days the men in the field rested. When the moon was in +its fifteenth day, the Turks came just as the ambassador had said +they would. They came up next to a bridge, with their encampment +remaining on one side, and Tirant's camp on the other side, the +bridge being broken in the middle. When all the men were +together, they numbered two hundred seventy battalions. + +When they were all ready, they had the bombards set in place. +The following day their firing was so loud and came so often that +Tirant found it necessary to shift his encampment to the top of a +hill, very close to the river, where there were springs of pure +water and large expanses of meadowland. At times all the +bombards fired together. And although it was a very clear day, +the sky grew dark, for they had more than six hundred bombards, +both small and large, despite the fact that they had lost so many +when they were defeated. + +When Tirant's men so saw many of them, they were frightened at +the large number of men on horseback and on foot. There were +many who wished they were one hundred leagues from there. + +When the sultan saw that he could not cross the river to engage +the Christians in battle, he quickly had the bridge repaired. +When Tirant saw them repairing the bridge, he took four of his +men a league distant to a large stone bridge, and at each end of +the bridge there was rocky ground and a castle. When the sultan +had conquered all that land, he saw that bridge, but Lord Malvei, +the gentleman who was lord of the two castles, would never make a +pact with him, no matter how much he promised. For he never +wanted to deny or be ungrateful to God or to his natural +lord--the emperor. Instead, from those castles at the bridge, +they often waged war against the villas and cities the Turks had +taken. As a result, the sultan was forced to make a wooden +bridge so that his men could cross over to carry out the conquest +of the empire. + +When Tirant reached the castle, he spoke with the knight whose +name was Malvei and who had a very valiant son. The father +occupied one castle, and his son the other. They each had thirty +horsemen, and with the war they had become very wealthy. The +son, whose name was Hippolytus, became a great friend of Tirant +and almost never left his side. The father and son begged Tirant +to grant him the honor of chivalry, and he did so. + +Then Tirant had many trees in the woods cut down, the driest they +could find. They measured the width of the river and they made +beams, nailing them together with heavy spikes, and they made +them so long that they reached across the river. And they put +those beams underneath the stone bridge, and from one beam to +another they nailed heavy joists, and over the joists they nailed +wooden slabs. It was smooth from one end to the other, and it +was well caulked with pitch. When this raft was finished, they +put a chain at each end and attached it to the stone bridge. And +they covered it well with green branches in order to hide it. + +When the Turks had finished repairing their bridge, the men began +to cross it on foot, little by little. But they readied the +bombards so that, if the Christians came, they could defend the +bridge and the soldiers who had already gone across. When Tirant +saw the Turkish soldiers crossing, the men in his camp were very +disheartened, but he encouraged them and raised their spirits. +He had the trumpets blown so that everyone would mount their +horses, and they shifted their camp near the stone bridge. When +the Turks saw Tirant's camp being raised, they assumed that they +were fleeing out of fear, and they went across more +enthusiastically. + +When the sultan and the Grand Turk had gone across with all their +armies, their battalions in order, one after the other, they made +their way toward the Christians. When Tirant saw that they were +near, he crossed over the stone bridge and waited for them. The +Moors, seeing them on the other side, quickly returned to their +wooden bridge. When they had crossed it, they made their way +upriver to meet him and wage battle. And Tirant, when he saw +them near, raised camp and went back to the other side. + +This went on for three days. + +The Turks held council, and the King of Egypt said: + +"Give me one hundred thousand soldiers and I'll go to one side of +the river, and all of you can stay on the other side, and at the +same time that I engage them in battle, as quickly as you can, +you must come to my aid. This way, we will be victorious." + +All the captains and nobles praised the wise words of the King of +Egypt, but the sultan answered: + +"It's foolish to say that you will take them on with one hundred +thousand men, even though they have even fewer. You take half +our men, and I will take the other half. And whoever engages +them first will do so, and if the other half will bravely help +us, we will have true glory and honor." + +And the discussion ended. + +The kings took one half of the men, and the sultan took the other +half and crossed the bridge. When Tirant saw how their forces +were divided, with the river in between, he said: + +"This is exactly what I wanted." + +He raised his encampment that was on the side of the kings and +had all the tents and carts placed inside the two castles with +all the pages. And Tirant held his men back until nightfall. +And before the sun had passed the columns of Hercules, Tirant +crossed the bridge to the side where he had first been, and he +had the foot soldiers climb a hill that was in line with the head +of the bridge. When the foot soldiers were up, he had the men +with weapons also go up, one squadron behind the other. The +sultan, who was on that side, seeing that almost all the men had +gone up the side of the hill to give battle, and that there were +only four squadrons remaining, went swiftly toward them and +attacked them, making them flee up the hill, and sixty Christians +were killed. Tirant retreated, battling all the time, and night +fell. The Turks came down to the foot of the hill and set up +their tents. + +When Tirant went up the hill, he found all the knights and nobles +absolutely disconsolate. They were running here and there, +crying and moaning, with sad, woeful countenances. When Tirant +saw them acting that way, he called them all together and said: + +"I only want to tell you that if you will put your effort into +this, with the aid of Our Lord and His Holy Mother, Our Lady, I +will make you victorious over your enemies within three hours." + +Nearly all were consoled by the captain's words, except for the +Duke of Macedonia who, before the battles were finished, sent a +squire of his with instructions about what he should tell the +emperor. When he reached the city, he dismounted and left his +horse, indicating that he had fled the battle-site and that he +had tears in his eyes. When he was in the palace, he found many +people there, and he said: + +"Where is that poor man they call the emperor?" + +When he was informed that Albi, the Duke of Macedonia's squire, +had arrived, the emperor quickly came out of his chambers. When +Albi saw the emperor he fell to the ground, pulling his hair and +lowering his eyes and face, and he said mournfully: + +"It has been your will to degrade your captains and vassals, and +to honor foreigners of ill repute, men who are known for no +deeds, and who wear shoddy tunics. Oh, Emperor! You are lost +and so are all your people, for it has been your wish to take +away the succession of the empire from that famous and +illustrious nobleman, the Duke of Macedonia, to give it to a vile +foreigner who has led himself and all the men in the camp to +their destruction, and has run away, and we don't know where he +is. This is what the person who was the emperor deserved! For +the Moors have them trapped on a small hill, and they have no +bread or wine, or even water for the horses. By now they must +all be dead. I am going to leave with my great pain, and you, +who were the emperor, must remain with your own." + +"Oh, woe is me!" cried the emperor. And he went into his +chambers and fell upon his bed, lamenting. + +The princess approached her father to comfort him, but there was +no one to console the empress and the other maidens. Rumors of +the bad news ran throughout the city, and everyone broke into +loud wailing for the friends and relatives they believed had been +killed. Let us leave them to their weeping and see what is +happening to Tirant. + +Having bolstered his men's spirits with his words, they were very +optimistic, trusting the great judgement of the captain. Tirant +left the encampment at the top well guarded, and took a man with +him and went down the back side of the mountain without being +seen. When he was at the bottom, he left his armor under a tree, +and cautiously stole up to the castle of Lord Malvei. He picked +up two stones, one in each hand, and just as they had agreed, he +signaled by hitting them together. When Lord Malvei heard the +signal, he opened the gates of the bridge. Tirant went in, and +found everything that had been prepared. First he had a great +deal of oil and tar poured into a wooden bucket, along with pitch +and quicklime and other things that would help make a fire, and +he gathered a good deal of dry wood, and he had it all spread on +top of the wooden raft he had made, and tied two long ropes to +each of the chains of the raft. The two men got into a small +fishing boat, and each of them held one of the ropes. When the +raft was untied, the current carried it downriver, and whenever +it would become stuck on one side of the river one of the men +would pull on a rope to free it. Tirant told them not to light +the fire until they were near the bridge. + +When the Turks saw such huge flames in the river, they believed +they were lost, and the sultan and all his men abandoned their +camp. Fleeing as quickly as they could, they ran toward the +wooden bridge. As the sultan had a good horse, he first waited +until the fire reached the bridge, and then he went across, and +many men followed him. And if the two men had followed the +captain's orders and waited to light the fire, all would have +been killed or taken prisoner. In their rush to cross to the +other side, many Moors and their horses fell into the water. The +fire was so great that the entire bridge quickly burned down. +And twenty-two thousand or more men were unable to cross the +bridge. + +When Tirant observed the fire going down the river, he cautiously +worked his way back to his troops. He found nearly all of them +mounted, wanting to get their enemies' booty. But Tirant would +not allow it, telling them: + +"We would gain no honor now. Tomorrow we will have the honor and +the booty." + +In spite of all that had happened, Tirant had a very tight watch +set that night, saying: + +"Not all of them could have gotten across. In their desperation, +couldn't they fall on us?" + +When the clear day broke and the sun appeared on our horizon, the +captain had the trumpets blown, and everyone mounted. They had +the carts and the pages brought out, and all the men went back +down to their former camp, and from there they saw what was left +of the enemy. + +Diafebus, seeing the pitiful state of the Turks, took the ring +from Tirant's hand, and Tirant said to him: + +"Cousin, what are you doing?" + +Diafebus said: + +"I want to send Pyramus to the emperor. They haven't had word +from us for so long!" + +"I beg you, cousin," said Tirant, "send word to him that we need +flour and supplies before we run out." + +Pyramus left. When he reached the city of Constantinople, he saw +everyone looking very said and oppressed, and all the women were +crying. He went into the palace, and it was worse: their faces +were scratched, their clothing torn. Of all those who saw him, +no one said a word to him. When he spoke to anyone, they would +not answer. He thought the emperor must have died, or the +empress, or their daughter. + +He went further inside, into a hall, and recognized the emperor's +chamberlain, and he ran to him, laughing. The chamberlain said: + +"With all your unbridled happiness, how dare you come to the +emperor's chamber?" + +"Friend," said Pyramus, "don't be angry with me: I don't know +what is making everyone sad here. Let me talk to the emperor, +and if he is sad, I will make him happy." + +Without saying another word, the chamberlain went into the +empress's chamber where he found the emperor with his daughter +and the maidens, the windows closed and all of them in mourning. +The chamberlain said: + +"Sire, one of those reprobate traitors with that reprobate +knight, Tirant lo Blanc, is at the door. His name is Pyramus, +and I am certain he has fled the battle with his lord. He says +he wants to talk to Your Majesty." + +The emperor said: + +"Tell him to get out of here, and to leave my lands. And if I +find him or any of his master's men, I will have them thrown down +from the highest tower in the palace." + +And as the emperor spoke these words, imagine how the pain in the +princess's heart grew twofold. For no matter how much harm +Tirant might have done, she could not completely forget him. + +After the chamberlain told Pyramus about the emperor's response, +Pyramus said: + +"In faith, I will not leave. For my lord Tirant has committed no +treachery, nor have any of his men. If the emperor will not +listen to me, tell the princess to come out here to the chamber +door, and I will tell her things that will make her very happy." + +The chamberlain told the emperor what Pyramus had said. Then the +emperor told Carmesina to go out and talk to him, but that she +was not to let him come inside the chamber. When the princess +came out to the hall with such a sad face, Pyramus knelt and +kissed her hand, and then he began to speak: + +"My most excellent lady, I am startled by the great change I see +in Your Majesty, in everyone in the palace and in the entire +city. I'm very astonished because I don't know what has caused +this, and no one I've asked has been willing to tell me. If His +Majesty, the emperor, doesn't want that famous knight, Tirant lo +Blanc, to be his captain, tell me, and we will quickly leave the +empire." + +When the distressed princess had listened to Pyramus words, with +tears in her eyes she told him everything the duke's squire had +said. When Pyramus heard such wickedness, he put his hands to +his head and answered: + +"My lady, have the ones who brought you such news, and caused the +emperor so much pain, put into prison. And arrest me if the +truth isn't that Tirant has been victorious and caused the sultan +to flee, and burned down the bridge, and has more than twenty +thousand of the enemy trapped near the river. If all this isn't +true, let them cut me to pieces. + +And as greater proof, here is the captain's seal that Tirant gave +me." + +When the princess heard such glorious news, she quickly ran into +the chamber where her father was, and told him everything Pyramus +had said. The poor emperor, with all the excessive happiness he +felt, fainted and fell from his chair. The doctors were +summoned, and they restored him to consciousness. He had Pyramus +brought in, and as soon as he heard the news from his lips, he +had all the bells in the city rung, and everyone went to the +church, and there they gave praise and thanks to God, Our Lord, +and to His Holy Mother, for the victory that had been achieved. +When they returned to the palace, the emperor had the duke's +squire imprisoned. Then Pyramus begged him to have the ships +leave quickly with provisions for the encampment. The following +day Pyramus left with many words of praise for Tirant and for +many others. When this emissary returned with the news, Tirant +was amazed at what the Duke of Macedonia had done. + +The day Pyramus left, the Turks, having lost all hope, realized +that they could not carry on the battle. So to choose the lesser +of two evils, they decided to let themselves be taken prisoner. + +Luckily, the wise Moor, Abdalla Salomon, was still with them, and +they decided to send him as ambassador to Tirant once more. He +put a rag on the end of a lance, and when Tirant saw it, he +answered immediately. Abdalla Salomon went up to Tirant's camp, +presented himself, and very humbly said: + +"If your lordship, magnanimous captain, would do us the grace of +sparing our lives, you would be regarded as glorious among your +enemies. I beg you to act with all the virtue you have in you." + +The captain had the Moor and all who were with him come into his +tent, and he fed them. And they certainly needed it. Then the +captain met with all the great lords, and they agreed with what +Tirant said to them. He had Ambassador Abdalla summoned, and gave +him the following reply: + +"I don't think it will be very long before I'll give the sultan +and all the others a fitting punishment, but so that they will +see that I don't wish to harm them as much as I could, I'll be +satisfied if they will bring all their offensive and defensive +weapons to the middle of that meadow. And I don't want them all +brought together, but one hundred at a time, and then they can +bring the horses. That's the way I want it done." + +The ambassador took his leave of the captain, and went back and +did everything Tirant had ordered. + +When all the weapons had been laid down, the captain had them all +brought to the camp, and then all the horses were brought up. +The Turks were very pleased that he didn't have them all killed, +because they thought that even if they were held captive, they +could be ransomed. Tirant had them come, unarmed, to the foot of +the mountain, and there he gave them food in abundance while his +men kept them guarded. Then Tirant went down to them and seized +the Christian dukes, counts and knights, among them, and he had +them come with him up to his camp. He made them go into a tent, +and they were well-served with everything necessary for human +sustenance. But many were not pleased that the captain was +paying them so much honor when they did not deserve it, for they +had come to help Moors against Christians. And when Tirant's men +said so to their faces, they recognized their error, and stopped +eating. + +Tirant held the prisoners this way until the ships arrived. + +Two days later the ships came loaded with provisions. After they +had unloaded everything, the captain consulted with the others, +and they decided to transfer all the prisoners to the ships and +have them taken to the emperor. The High Constable was put in +charge of them, and they set out. The constable had the sails +raised, and with a favorable wind they reached the port of +Constantinople in only a few days. The emperor and all the +ladies were at the windows, watching the vessels as they +approached. The constable had the prisoners disembark, and he +took them to the palace. The constable went up to where the +emperor was, and kissed his hands and feet. And delivering the +good wishes of the captain, he presented the prisoners. + +The magnanimous lord received them very happily, and indicated +how pleased he was with the captain. And placing the prisoners +under heavy guard, the emperor had the constable go into this +chambers where the empress and the princess were. He asked him +about everything at the encampment, and the constable told him, +adding: + +"Tonight or tomorrow, Diafebus will be here, with the noblemen +that he is bringing as prisoner." + +"What!" said the emperor. "Are there still more?" And his +happiness grew greater than ever. + +The following day Diafebus entered the center of the city with +his prisoners, while his trumpets and tambourines played. The +emperor and all the people were astonished at the great multitude +of prisoners. + +When they were at the square in front of the palace, the emperor +was at a window. Diafebus bowed deeply to him, and quickly went +up to his chambers to kiss his hand, and then did the same to the +empress and the princess. After he had embraced all the ladies, +he turned back to the emperor and gave him the good wishes Tirant +had sent. When the emperor had spoken at length with Diafebus, +he had the prisoners placed in the strongest towers they had. + +When Diafebus had the opportunity, he went to the princess's +chamber and found her with all the maidens. When the princess +saw him, she got up to go to him. Diafebus hurried toward her, +and knelt and kissed her hand, saying: + +"This kiss is from someone whom Your Highness has condemned to a +stronger prison than the one that the prisoners I have brought +are in." + +As the maidens approached, he could say nothing further for fear +that they might hear him. But she took him by the hand and they +went to a window- seat. Then the princess summoned Stephanie, +and Diafebus said: + +"Your Highness should not forget such a noble knight, and the +lack of liberty he has had since the moment he saw you." + +Smiling, the princess answered: + +"Oh Diafebus, my brother! I receive your words as the vassal of +your lord, and I return his wishes just as strongly, and even +more so." + +As they were speaking, the emperor came in and saw Diafebus +deeply involved in conversation with his daughter, and he said: + +"Upon my father's bones, what a wonderful sight to see how these +maidens like to hear of the exploits of these good knights." + +And he told his daughter to leave the room and go out to the main +plaza in the market-place. Diafebus went with the emperor; then +he came back to escort the empress and the princess. When they +were in the market-place they saw a large cenotaph that the +emperor had made, entirely covered with cloth of gold and silk. +When all the ladies had been seated, the emperor commanded that +all the prisoners be brought out, and they were ordered to sit on +the ground, Moors as well as Christians. + +Then the people were silenced, and the following proclamation was +read: + +"We, Frederick, by divine grace Emperor of the Greek Empire of +Constantinople. So that it may be known and made manifest to the +whole world how these wicked knights and unfaithful Christians +have accepted payment from the infidel, and taking up arms have +united with them in waging war against Christianity. They are +deserving of great punishment, and of being removed from the +order of chivalry and disinherited by the nobility from which +they are descended. So that it may be a punishment for them and +an example for all others, we pronounce them traitors to all +Christians here present. And we sentence them to be dealt with +as all such traitors against God and the world." + +When the sentence had been read, twelve knights came out dressed +in long robes and hoods, and the emperor dressed in a similar +fashion. Then they had the men rise from the ground, and they +were brought up to the cenotaph where they were armed and then +degraded as is done with evil knights, and then they were +returned to prison. Then the emperor said: + +"Let there be justice, and let us show mercy to no one." + +The Duke of Macedonia's squire was brought out with a large chain +around his neck. And he was condemned to die, hanging upside +down, for all the anguish he had caused. When Diafebus saw the +squire, he hurried to the emperor and knelt at his feet, begging +him not to have the squire killed so that wicked people could not +say that it was done because he had spoken badly about his +captain. When the princess saw that Diafebus' words were futile, +she too came and knelt at the emperor's feet to beg him. And +when that proved futile, the empress and all the maidens came to +plead for his life as well. The emperor said: + +"Who has ever seen a death sentence revoked that has been handed +down by the general council? I have never done it, nor will I do +it now." + +The princess caught his hands, pretending to kiss them, and she +stealthily removed the ring from his finger without his noticing +it, and said to him: + +"It is not Your Majesty's custom to be so cruel as to sentence +anyone to die with such pain." + +The emperor said: + +"My child, change his death sentence as you wish." + +The princess handed the ring to Diafebus, and he rode swiftly to +where they were holding the execution, and gave the ring to the +constable. The squire was already on the ladder, about to be +executed, and Diafebus grabbed him and took him to his lodging. +When Diafebus left to go to the palace, the squire quickly ran to +the monastery of San Francisco where he became a friar. + +The next day, the emperor sent all the Turks who had not been +ransomed to other places to be sold: Venice, Sicily, Rome and +Italy. Those that could not be sold were traded for arms, horses +or food. + +When it came time for the constable and Diafebus to leave, the +emperor took as much gold from his treasury as he had received +from the ransom of the prisoners, and sent it along with them for +the captain. + +The day before they were to leave, Diafebus discovered that the +emperor had retired, and he went to the princess's chamber. The +first one he met there was Stephanie, and he bowed deeply on one +knee and said: + +"Gentle lady, I would consider myself the most fortunate man +alive if you would accept me as your closest servant. I love you +above all the ladies in the world." + +At that moment the emperor's chamberlain came in and told him +that the emperor wished to speak with him. Diafebus begged +Stephanie to wait for him there, and said that he would return as +quickly as he could. + +When the emperor saw Diafebus, he told him that he and the +constable were to leave before nightfall. Diafebus returned to +the chamber and found his lady deep in thought and with tears in +her eyes, because she knew that the emperor summoned him only to +tell him that he must leave. Diafebus, seeing her so +disconsolate, tried to show her that it was hurting him even more +to leave. + +While they were consoling each other this way, the princess came +into the chamber from the treasure tower, wearing a blouse and a +skirt of white damask, her hair falling down to her shoulders +because it was so warm. When she saw Diafebus she tried to turn +back, but Diafebus blocked her way. + +"Shall I tell you something?" said the princess. "I don't care +what happens in your presence. You are like a brother to me." + +Plaerdemavida spoke up: + +"My lady, can Your Highness see Stephanie's face? It looks like +she's been blowing on a fire: her face is as red as a rose in +May. I can't imagine that Diafebus' hands were idle while we +were in the tower. We should have known he'd be here! She was +here with the thing she loves most. I tell you, if I had a +lover, I'd play with him too, the way both of you do. But I'm a +barren woman, and I have no one to love. Lord Diafebus, do you +know who I love with all my heart? Hippolytus--Tirant's page. +And if he were a knight, I'd love him even more." + +"I promise you," said Diafebus, "that in the next battle I take +part in, he will be made a knight." + +And they joked this way for a long while. Then the princess +said: + +"Do you know something, Diafebus? When I turn around and look +everywhere in the palace and I don't see Tirant, I feel as though +I'm dying. I want you to take him all my good wishes, and along +with them--wrapped up so that no one will see them--half the load +of gold a horse can carry so that he may spend it as he wishes. +And when it is gone, I will give him even more. I don't want him +or his men to lack for anything. Also, an aunt of mine left me a +county called Sant Angel in her will. I want Tirant to have it, +and for him to be named the Count of Sant Angel. So if it +becomes known that I love Tirant, at least they will say that I +am in love with a count." + +Diafebus was astonished when he heard the princess uttering words +filled with so much love, and he said: + +"I don't feel capable of thanking you for the honor you are +bestowing on Tirant. So I beg you, on behalf of that famous +knight and then on behalf of all of us of his lineage, allow me +to kiss your hands and feet." + +Stephanie was so bursting with love that she could not contain +herself any longer, and she said: + +"I'm envious of what Your Excellency is doing for that glorious +knight, Tirant. And since I must imitate Your Highness, allow me +to give everything I have to Diafebus here." + +And she got up and went into her chamber. There she wrote out a +document that she placed in her bosom, and then she went back out +to the princess. + +Meanwhile, Diafebus had been pressing the princess to allow him +to kiss her. But the princess would not give her consent. Then +Diafebus said: + +"Oh, how blind I've been! I would have given my life a hundred +times to do some service for Your Majesty. And Your Highness +will not allow me the pleasure of even a small part of the fruit! +From now on, find yourself another brother and servant to be at +your side. And don't imagine for a minute that I'll say anything +to Tirant on your behalf, and even less that I'll take him the +money. As soon as I reach camp, I'll take my leave of him and go +back to my own country. But someday you'll be sorry I left." + +Just then the emperor came into the chamber and told Diafebus +that he should get ready to leave that same evening. + +"Sire," said Diafebus, "I've just come from our lodging, and +everyone is ready to leave." + +The emperor then brought him out of the chamber and led him +through the palace, reminding both him and the constable of what +they were to do. + +"Oh, poor me!" said the princess. "Look how angry Diafebus was! +I don't think he'll want to do anything for me now. Stephanie, +beg him for my love not to be angry." + +"I certainly will," said Stephanie. + +Plaerdemavida spoke up: + +"Oh what a strange one you are, my lady. At a time when we're at +war, you don't know how to hold the friendship of these knights. +They put themselves in danger to defend Your Highness and the +entire empire, and you raise a ruckus over a kiss! What's wrong +with kissing? In France it doesn't mean anything more than a +handshake. If he wanted to kiss you, you should have let him. +And you should have done the same even if he had wanted to put +his hand under your skirts, when there are times of great need +like we have now. Later on, when we have peace, then you can +make virtue out of vice. Good woman, good woman, how deceived +you are!" + +Stephanie had already left, so the princess went to her room and +begged her to go and bring back Diafebus: + +"Now I'm afraid he really will leave just the way he said he +would. + +And if he goes away, it won't be surprising if Tirant leaves too. +And even if he doesn't, because of his love for me, many others +will go too. And then, just when we thought we were winning, we +would lose." + +"Don't make things so hard," said Plaerdemavida. "Don't send +anyone else, Your Highness. It would be better if you went +yourself on the pretext of seeing the emperor. Then talk to him, +and his anger will disappear quickly." + +The princess hurried to her father and found him talking. When +he had finished, she took Diafebus aside and pleaded with him not +to be angry with her. Diafebus replied: + +"Madam, it has to be one of two things: either kiss or leave. If +you give me what I'm asking for, then you can command me to do +anything, just or unjust, and I will do it." + +"Since you won't wait for the one who holds my heart captive," +said the princess, "kiss, kiss." + +Diafebus knelt on the hard floor and kissed her hand. Then he +went over to Stephanie and kissed her three times on the lips for +the Holy Trinity. + +Stephanie said: + +"Since at your great insistence, and by command of my lady, I +have kissed you, I give you my permission to take possession of +me, but only from the waist up." + +Diafebus was not slow to follow her request. He immediately put +his hands on her breasts, touching her nipples and everything +else that he could. His hands then found the document, and +thinking it was a letter from a rival suitor, he stopped cold, +almost losing his senses. + +"Read what is written there," said Stephanie, "and lose your +suspicions." + +The princess took the document from Diafebus' hand and read it: + +"I, Stephanie of Macedonia, daughter of the illustrious Prince +Robert, Duke of Macedonia, promise you, Diafebus of Muntalt, to +take you as my husband and lord. And looking toward our +marriage, I bring you the duchy of Macedonia with all the rights +belonging thereto. In testimony of which I sign and seal my name +in my own blood. + +"Stephanie of Macedonia." + +This Stephanie was not the Duke's daughter. Her father was a +glorious prince, and a very worthy and wealthy knight. He was +the emperor's first cousin, and this was his only child. When he +died, he left the duchy to her, stating in his will that it was +to be given to her when she was thirteen years old. In order to +have more children, her mother had then married the Count of +Albi, and he had taken the title of Duke of Macedonia. + +By now this maiden was fourteen years old. + +When night fell and they were all ready to leave, Diafebus, +happier than we can say, took his leave of the emperor and all +the ladies, and especially of Stephanie, begging her to think of +him while he was away. And she kissed him many times, in front +of the princess and Plaerdemavida. + +When they were back again with Tirant, he was very glad to see +them. Diafebus and the constable gave him the money the emperor +had sent. + +By now the Turks were desperate, and they cursed the world and +fortune that had brought them so much pain. By their +calculations they had lost, between the dead and those taken +prisoner, more than one hundred thousand men. In their anger +they held counsel to decide how they might kill Tirant. It was +decided that the King of Egypt should kill him, because he was +more skilled at arms than any of the others. + +The following day he called a council of all the great kings, +dukes, counts, and all the Christians, and they gathered in the +middle of a large meadow. When they were all there, the King of +Egypt said: + +"If you want me to challenge him to a battle to the death, he is +a very spirited knight and he will not be able to refuse. Then, +when he's here, we'll fight. If you see me getting the better of +him, leave us alone, and I will kill him. But if he is beating +me, shoot him down with an arrow. In either case, he will die +and so will everyone who comes with him." + +They were all pleased by what the king said. When the council +was over, the King of Egypt went into his tent and prepared to +write a letter. + +Now the sultan had a servant who had been born a Christian in the +city of Famagosta, and who had been taken prisoner at sea when he +was very young. And with his youth and lack of discretion, they +had made him become a Moor. When he grew older, he realized that +the Christian law was better than the Mohammedan sect, and he +decided to go back to the Christian faith. He did it the +following way. He prepared his arms and a good horse, and set +out for the bridge of stone were Lord Malvei was. When he was an +arrow shot away, he put his headdress on the tip of his lance, +asking for safety. When the men in the castle saw that it was +only one man, they offered him safety. But when the Moor was +near, an archer who knew nothing about the guarantee of safety, +shot an arrow that wounded the horse. + +Lord Malvei was very upset, and he promised the Moor that if the +horse died they would give him a better one. The Moor told him +how he had come there to become a Christian, and that he wanted +to talk to the great captain. They agreed that he should return +the following day and that Lord Malvei would advise Tirant. The +Moor was very pleased, and went back to the camp. The sultan +asked him where he had been and how his horse had been wounded. +The Moor replied: + +"Sir, I was bored here, so I went over to the bridge. I saw a +Christian on horseback and rode toward him. When I was close to +him, he shot an arrow at me. I spurred my horse on and caught up +to him and knocked him to the ground. Then I dismounted and +prepared to kill him. On his knees he begged my forgiveness. So +I pardoned him and we became good friends. And he has promised +to tell me everything that is happening in the Christian camp." + +"This is excellent news to me!" said the sultan. "Go back +tomorrow and find out if they intend to fight more, or if they +are going back to the city of Constantinople." + +The next day the Moor took one of the sultan's best horses and +rode to the bridge, where he was taken inside the castle. Tirant +soon arrived and paid reverence to Lord Malvei and his son, and +then embraced Lady Malvei, and gave honor to the Moor. The Moor +told him that he wanted to become a Christian and to serve him. +They went to the church, and there he was baptized with the name +Cipres of Paterno. Then he said: + +"Sir, now that I have been baptized a true Christian, I wish to +live and die in this holy faith. I will stay here if you like, +or I will go back to the camp and tell you what is happening +every day. No one in all our camp knows what is going on better +than I, because all the council meetings are held in the sultan's +tent, and I am a member of the council." + +Tirant begged him to go back, and to advise Lord Malvei as often +as he could about the Turk's plans. He agreed, and said: + +"I beg you, captain, let me have some sort of sweetmeats so I can +give them to the sultan. For he likes to eat these things, and +with this as an excuse, I'll be able to come and go easily, and +he won't suspect me." + +The Lord of Malvei said: + +"I can give them to you." + +And he had dates and sweetmeats brought in a box, and gave them +to Cipres de Paterno. + +When he had returned, the sultan asked him for news about the +Christians. He replied that his friend had told him that they +did not intend to leave. + +"Until your lordship changes your camp site. And sir, I was +given these dates and sweetmeats." + +The sultan was very pleased at what he had brought, and had him +go often. So he went and told Lord Malvei everything he knew, +and Lord Malvei kept Tirant informed. Cipres of Paterno swore +never again to serve the sultan. + +When the King of Egypt had the letter of battle drawn up, he +ordered a messenger to take it to Tirant, the captain of the +Greek army. It said the following: + +"From Abenamar, by the will of God, King of Egypt, to you, Tirant +lo Blanc, captain of the Greek army. + +"I challenge you to battle, man to man, on foot or on horseback +whichever you desire to your own advantage, before a competent +judge. We will do combat until one of us is dead, so that I may +present your head to my lady. If you wish to answer this letter, +give your reply to Egypt, my messenger, and that will suffice to +show your agreement, and to bring our battle to the end that I +desire. + +"Written in our camp on the eastern shore, the first day of this +moon, and signed. + +"King of Egypt" + +After Tirant held counsel in his tent, he answered the King of +Egypt's letter in the following way: + +"I vow to God and my lady, and to the honor of chivalry, that +twenty days into August, four days before or after, I will be on +the eastern shore, before your camp, with all the power to do +battle if you should wish it. Written by my hand and sealed with +my coat of arms in the camp called Transimeno. The fifth of +August. + +"Tirant lo Blanc." + + Here the book returns to the emperor who wanted very much to +have news of the camp. He saw seven sailing ships approaching, +and when they had docked he learned that they came from Sicily, +and that they were bringing four thousand soldiers and many +horses which the King of Sicily was sending. The reason for this +I shall now relate. + +As we have said previously, the eldest son of the King of Sicily +was in France, married to the daughter of the King of France. He +was virtuous and discreet, and his father-in-law would not allow +him to leave the court because of his great love for him. It +happened then that this son fell ill, and died. When his father, +the King of Sicily, learned of his death he was very sad. The +other son who had become a friar, did not want to leave the +religious life to be king after the death of his father. The king +was very upset when he saw that his son would not obey him, and +he fell sick to his bed. Realizing that he was dying, he put his +soul and his kingdom in order, and in his will he named his +daughter, Philippe's wife, to be his successor. + +When Philippe found himself king, remembering Tirant's help and +honor, he decided to go to his aid with the greatest forces he +could muster. But his wife, the queen, and everyone in his +kingdom pleaded with him not to go that year, because the queen +was with child. Seeing their great opposition, he decided to +stay. He sent in his place, as captain, the Duke of Messina, +with five thousand soldiers on foot and on horseback. Because of +her dealings with Tirant, the queen sent him two thousand +soldiers and made the Lord of Pantanalea their captain. + +When the soldiers had been given lodging, the emperor said: + +"I have decided to go to the camp to make peace between the Duke +of Macedonia and our captain. If I don't, they'll kill each +other some day. Since this sort of thing has happened twice +already, we have to guard against a third time. If I get the +Duke of Macedonia in my hands, I swear I'll cut off his head." + +Then the emperor ordered all his men to prepare to leave. + +"What, my lord!" said the empress. "Are you going with so few +men?" + +The emperor replied: + +"These barons from Sicily are here, and they'll go with me." + +All the emperor's servants quickly made ready. + +The following night, while the princess was asleep, Stephanie +came to her bed. She woke her and said: + +"My lady, I dreamt that I saw Diafebus, and that he told me: +'Stephanie, my love, Tirant and I are so fortunate to have you +here! Just being able to see you makes us sure we'll defeat the +Turks.' So, my lady, when I woke up I came here to tell Your +Highness that, if you wish, we can quickly satisfy your desires. +And they'll know first hand how great our love is: we will go to +them when they can't come to us." + +The princess said: + +"Give me my chemise, and don't say another word." + +She quickly dressed, and then she went to the emperor's chambers. +He had not yet gotten up, and she told him: + +"My lord, the maidens are afraid, hearing about the war, and +especially about the battles. So, Your Majesty, please don't +refuse me a favor. You should grant it to me for two reasons: +First, Your Majesty should not go anywhere without me because of +your age, for I love you more than anyone, and if Your Majesty +got sick I could serve you and be at your bedside, because I know +your nature better than anyone. The second reason is that it's +nature's course that whoever is born first should die first, +although sometimes we see the contrary. And if I go with Your +Majesty I could see and know about war, and in case the need +should arise in the future I would not be afraid." + +At first the emperor tried to dissuade her, but when she +insisted, he said: + +"My daughter, since you want it so much, I'll give my consent." + +On the day they left, the princess dressed in a skirt with gold +braid, and armed herself in a coat of mail she had had made for +her. She mounted a large white horse, and with a staff in her +hand she went as captain over her people. In her company were +sixty of the most beautiful and elegant maidens in the entire +court. She made Stephanie the commander, while the Duke of +Pera's daughter, Saladria, had the position of marshal. +Comtesina was lord constable, and Plaerdemavida carried the +emblem. Eliseu carried the large banner, Widow Repose was usher +of the chamber, and each of the others had their own office. And +this is how they rode until they reached Tirant's tent. + +When the emperor was situated in the camp tents, he sent word to +Lord Malvei, asking him to come talk with him. As soon as he +received the request, he quickly went to pay homage to the +emperor. He told him all about Tirant and the virtuous acts that +he did every day, and the princess was very pleased to hear the +praises of Tirant. Lord Malvei asked him if he would like to +stay at his castle, because he would be very safe there. So he +went, while all the Sicilian barons set up their tents near the +river. + +Lord Malvei covertly sent one of his men to the Valley of +Espinosa to tell the captain that the emperor had come with his +daughter and with the barons of Sicily. Tirant kept it secret +until the following day so that no one would leave with the +excuse of going to see the emperor or their relatives. He told +only Diafebus in great secrecy. + +When it was midnight, or very near it, everyone mounted their +horses. He had the foot soldiers go first, with Diafebus as +their captain, and with 400 lancers, their horses completely +decorated. Tirant earnestly charged Diafebus to stay behind some +rocks about a league from the enemy camp, and for him and his men +not to show themselves even if they saw that the battle was lost. +Even if he saw that they were killing him, they were not to come +out to help. Still not satisfied, he made him swear not to move +until he gave the command. + +Each division put their men in order. Tirant did the following: +All the horses were put in a row so that not one head was in +front of another. And everyone was in order except the Duke of +Macedonia who refused to obey any of the captain's orders. The +emperor's flags were in the middle. The Duke of Sinop was at the +end of one wing, and the Duke of Pera was at the other end. +Meanwhile the captain went up and down the line urging the men to +keep in order, for if they did, with the help of Our Lord he +would make them victorious that day. + +When the sultan saw the Christians preparing for battle, he +quickly put all his forces in order: All the men with lances were +put in front; next came the archers and crossbowmen; then the +Christians that the Grand Turk had hired to fight for him, on +horses which were nicely covered and with large plumes, and they +were more than fifteen paces behind the crossbowmen. The Turks +were last of all, and they had more than four hundred bombards. +They thought that with the bombards they would kill more than +seven hundred men. When all the men were in place the King of +Egypt sent a messenger to Tirant to thank him for keeping his +promise, and to tell him that he would kill him or take him +prisoner on that day. He said Tirant would taste the point of +his lance very soon, and he would see how bitter it tasted. +Tirant answered that he would be very happy to see how it tasted +because he had so much sugar that he would not notice any bitter +taste at all, but that that day he would engage him in battle, +and he would spill his blood. + +Tirant again urged his men on. He took away their fear, and gave +them hopes of having a glorious victory. The Turks shot one +bombard, and the blast went wide without touching anyone. Tirant +had a small axe tied to his arm with a silk cord, and in his hand +he held a small banner, and he signaled with it. The Duke of +Pera, who commanded one wing, turned his men toward the flags in +a very slow and orderly way, so that their backs were to the +enemy. At the other end of the wing was the Duke of Sinop, and +he held his men steady. When the men under the Duke of Pera had +turned and were in order again, Tirant signaled with the small +banner, and the men under the Duke of Sinop turned around in the +same orderly way. Then they were all facing the mountain, where +Diafebus was, with their backs to the enemy. They spurred their +horses forward at a gallop, always in a very orderly way, with +none of the horses going ahead of the others, When the Turks saw +them going back, they began to shout: + +"They're running away! They're running away!" + +The foot soldiers threw away their shields, others their lances, +and others their crossbows, to run after their Christian enemies. +The men on horseback threw off the coverings so that their horses +could run more swiftly. From time to time Tirant turned and saw +all the men coming, wave after wave, in confusion, and so he was +unconcerned about anything except for his troops to continue +moving in a very orderly way. And the Moors with good horses +came close enough to throw their lances at their backs. + +When the emperor, who was up in the tower, saw his men fleeing, +he believed that the battle was lost. All that night the maidens +did not take off their clothes, and prayed earnestly, begging the +Conqueror of Battles and His Holy Mother to give the Christians +victory. + +When Tirant saw the foot soldiers falling far behind, and that +they had passed the place where Diafebus was, Tirant raised the +banner he was carrying and they all stopped. Then each squadron +drew a stone's throw apart from the one next to it. When the +Turks saw them stop, they realized they had been tricked. Tirant +ordered the Duke of Pera to attack first, and he charged into the +enemy. When Tirant saw the enemy coming with reinforcements, he +had the Marquis of Saint George lead an attack, then the Duke of +Sinopoli. And so many men were killed that it was an astonishing +sight to see. + +Tirant saw that half his men had been involved in the attacks, +and they were still winning. Then, in the melee, he saw the King +of Cappadocia killing many Christians (He recognized him by his +coat of arms: a gold lion with a banner), and he took a lance and +spurred toward him. When the king saw him coming he did not turn +his back, but waited for him in anticipation. And when they met, +it was with such force that both they and their horses fell to +the ground. They both got up bravely, and slashed at each other +with their swords. But so many men were fighting aground them +that they could not fight well. Then the Turks helped their king +mount again. Pyramus went in front of the king so Tirant could +mount, and the others surrounded him, defending him until the +squadron of Count Plegamans could attack. This squadron came to +where the captain was, and they helped him mount behind Lord +Agramunt who took him out of the thick of battle. Since many +horses had lost their riders and were running loose, they caught +one and gave it to their captain, and he quickly went back into +the fray. + +The captain commanded all the squadrons to attack, some on the +right and some on the left. Then they saw helmets falling to the +ground, and many knights from both sides were being killed or +wounded. It was a startling sight to see. Tirant attacked too, +first in one place, then in another. And he did not fight in +only one place, but in many, helping wherever he was needed. + +The King of Egypt was able to see Tirant fighting very bravely. +He drew apart from the battle, and the Kings of Cappadocia and +Africa came out with him. The King of Egypt asked them to leave +the others and try to kill only Tirant. And with this accord +they returned to the battle. While Tirant was fighting, the Duke +of Macedonia came up behind Tirant, and plunged his sword into +his neck, under the helmet. Hippolytus and Pyramus saw it, and +cried: + +"You traitor! Why are you trying to kill one of the best knights +in the world?" + +The three kings had lances, and they worked their way forward +until they saw Tirant. They galloped toward him, but only the +King of Egypt and the King of Cappadocia were able to reach him. +The clash was so great that both Tirant and his horse fell to the +ground. The horse had seven wounds. + +The King of Africa attacked the Duke of Macedonia who was +fighting near Tirant, and the king plunged his lance into the +duke's chest with such force that it came out the other side, and +that is how he paid for his wickedness. + +Tirant was on the ground with his horse lying on his leg, and he +could barely get up. But with a great effort he stood up, and +the beaver fell from his helmet, for a lance hit him there, and +another hit his left vambrace. If it had not been for his own +soldiers then, he would have been killed. The King of Egypt saw +him on the ground, and quickly tried to dismount. When his leg +was on the saddlebow Lord Agramunt plunged a lance into his +thigh, and it came out the other side. The wound left him in +great pain, and he fell to the ground. When Tirant saw him +stretched out on the ground like that he ran toward him, but with +all the men fighting he could not reach him. The king stood up +again and picked up a lance that he found lying on the ground, +and he made his way forward until he was able to hurl his lance +at Tirant. Tirant was hit in the cheek, and since he had no +beaver, four of his teeth were knocked out, and he lost a great +deal of blood, but that did not stop him, and he continued to +fight. Hippolytus saw him on foot, wounded, and he made his way +to him. Then he dismounted as quickly as he could, and said: + +"My lord, take my horse, I beg you." + +Tirant was fighting at one end of the wing, moving away from the +thick of battle little by little. He mounted, and said to +Hippolytus: + +"What will you do?" + +Hippolytus answered: + +"Sir, save yourself. Even if they kill me, my love for you is +such that I will consider it worthwhile." + +Tirant turned back to the fighting, looking to see if he could +find the King of Egypt, but because of his painful wound the king +had left the battle. When Tirant saw that he could not find him, +he fought the others. It was much later, while he was still +fighting, that he encountered the King of Cappadocia. When this +king saw him he went out to meet him, and with his sword he +slightly cut the hand that held the axe. Then Tirant drew so +near to him that he struck him on the head with his axe, and +caved in his helmet, and the king fell to the ground, half dead. +Tirant quickly dismounted, and cut the straps of his helmet. + +A knight came up and cried out: + +"My lord, do not kill the king. Since he is mortally wounded and +is near death, be merciful and give him the short time he has +left to live. + +You have done enough by defeating him." + +Tirant said: + +"What moved you to want mercy on our enemy who has done +everything possible to kill me? Now is the time only for +cruelty." + +And he removed the helmet and cut off his head. Tirant's axe +stood out from all the others, for it was red, dripping blood +from the men he had killed. The ground was covered with dead +men, and was completely red from all the blood that had been +spilled. Tirant mounted his horse again, and when the Turks saw +their king killed, they fell upon him in great numbers, trying to +kill him. Tirant was badly wounded, and was again knocked from +his horse. He quickly stood up, not at all overcome by the fall +or frightened because of his wounds. He went into the thick of +the fray on foot, fighting to help his men, and he again mounted +his horse. + +This was a harsh and terrible battle, and by now it was nearly +time for vespers. + +Diafebus was cursing Tirant for putting him there, and he said: + +"He always wants the honors for himself, and he won't share them +with anyone else. He's left me here as though I weren't good for +anything. But by God, I want part of the honor. Let's go!" he +said. "Let's go into battle without being afraid of any danger." + +He and his men came out from their concealment and they attacked +very boldly. The Turks saw so many men coming out (when they had +thought there were no more), and they became very dejected. + +The sultan left the battle because he was slightly wounded, and +he said to his men: + +"I see that our forces are losing. I think it's better for us to +flee than to die." + +When Tirant saw the sultan and his men fleeing with their banners +he rode after them and killed many of them. This battle lasted +from daybreak until three hours after noon. There were so many +Moors that the Christians grew weary from killing them. + +The captain and most of his men reached the city that formerly +belonged to the Marquis of Saint George. It had been lost to the +King of Egypt, and he kept it well supplied. When the King of +Egypt saw that the battle was lost, he had fled with the others, +and he felt so much pain from the wound in his thigh that he had +to leave the sultan and his men, and stop there. When Tirant +arrived it was nearly dark. They stayed in camp until the +following day. That evening they all had their wounds attended +to, and many died during the night. But on that eastern shore +there had never been such a harsh and deadly battle: many women +became widows, and many young maidens lost their fathers, but +they were filled with the hope of being set free from slavery. + +The following day Tirant had the men take up arms, and they +attacked the city, but the Turks defended themselves very well, +for they had very good men inside. After four unsuccessful +attacks, the Marquis of Saint George rode around the entire city +and came to the Jewish quarter. There he called out to a Jew +named Jacob. When the Jew heard the marquis' voice, he realized +it was his lord, and he ran to open the gate for him. The +marquis and his men quickly rode into the city, and they took +half of it before the King of Egypt or the other Moors knew what +had happened. + +The marquis sent word to Tirant to stop fighting and to come in +through the Jewish quarter because the city had already been +taken. When Tirant and his men came in through that gate, he +found that the marquis' forces had already defeated all the +Turks, and that he had the King of Egypt trapped in a thicket of +trees where he was continuing to fight, wounded as he was. When +the marquis had captured the king, he sent word to the captain to +come and behead his enemy, the King of Egypt. The captain +replied that he would never kill a man who was being held +prisoner. Whereupon the marquis seized the king by the hair, and +slit his throat with a knife. + +Even though Tirant was victorious that day, he would allow no +celebrations to take place. He only said in everyone's presence: + +"If Diafebus had done what I ordered him to, I would have killed +the sultan and taken prisoner all the great dukes who were there, +and I would be lord of the entire empire." + +Getting back to the emperor, the great pain he felt when he +thought Tirant had lost the battle was changed into relief +because Lord Malvei sent one of his men on horseback for news of +the battle. He returned with the news of what had happened, and +how the captain had gone after the fleeing Turks. + +A few moments later the emperor mounted his horse to go with the +barons of Sicily, and the princess wanted to go with him. When +they were in the Moorish camp they found all the tents with all +the wealth inside, and the men wanted to loot them, but the +emperor would not allow it. Instead he had the Lord of +Pantanalea and Lord Malvei hold all the booty for safekeeping +until the men who had conquered the camp were notified. + +While the emperor was in the Moors' camp, the princess saw a +little black boy at a distance. She rode toward him and quickly +dismounted and went into the tent where the little black boy had +gone to hide. Grabbing him by the hair, she took him out to the +emperor and said: + +"Now I can boast in front of our captain about how I have been a +valiant lady-knight, who went boldly into the enemy camp, and +took a Turk prisoner." + +The emperor and all the others were very amused at his daughter's +wit. + +Diafebus saw that Tirant was angry with him, and so he did not +dare show himself out of shame. When the emperor heard of the +glorious battle from others but not from Diafebus, he told the +princess: + +"Since I've had no news from Diafebus, I fear that he may be +dead." + +When Stephanie heard this, she burst into tears. On their return +to the castle of Malvei, she sent a man to find out what had +happened to Diafebus, along with a letter that said: + +"My love for you demands that I have news from you. For I have +heard that you may be dead. So I beg you, my lord, to come here +quickly. + +And if something has happened to you, I want to die with you." + +When Diafebus saw this letter from his lady, he was overjoyed. +He took the letter to Tirant's room. When Tirant had read it, he +sent for the messenger and asked him about the emperor and the +virtuous princess. The messenger told him everything that had +happened in the camp, and how the princess had gone armed into +the Moors' tents and had captured a black, and that she was +holding him under guard. + +"To show him to your lordship, as soon as she can see you." + +Tirant was very pleased, and he ordered Diafebus to go to His +Majesty, the emperor. And Diafebus rode off very quickly. + +When he reached the castle of Malvei, he went directly to the +emperor. The entire castle heard that Diafebus had come, and the +maidens quickly went to see him--especially Stephanie. They +found him in the emperor's chamber, talking about the battle. + +The emperor asked how many men were killed, and Diafebus said: + +"I don't know the number of Turks who are dead, but from here to +the city of Saint George you can't travel on the main road: it's +too full of corpses. But of our forces I can give you an exact +account, because the captain has had all their bodies gathered +and buried. We found the Duke of Macedonia dead from a lance +wound, and the Duke of Babylonia, the Marquis of Ferrara, and the +Marquis of Guast, Count Plegamans. These are the main ones. +There are also many other knights who were killed, among them the +High Constable. In all, one thousand two hundred thirty-four men +died." + +The emperor was very pleased with Tirant's accomplishments, and +did not know how to reward him. Diafebus remained there, +pretending he was ill, and the emperor had him taken care of as +well as he would have his own daughter. Tirant stayed in the +camp, guarding it well. + +Meanwhile the sultan and all those who had escaped with him went +into the city of Bellpuig. The sultan remained there, feeling +safe, but for two weeks he kept to his room, crying over the +battle they had lost, and lamenting the death of the King of +Cappadocia. But he still knew nothing of the death of the King +of Egypt and he was anxious to hear any news. Cipres of Paterno +said to him: + +"Sir, does your lordship want me to go? If I can talk to my +friend, I'll know everything there is to know." + +The sultan begged him very much, in front of all who were there, +to go. + +Under his jubbah Cipres wore a tunic of white damask that Tirant +had given him with the cross of Saint George embroidered on it. +When he was on the road and the Moors couldn't see him, he took +off the jubbah and sat on it while he rode. When the Christian +spies along the road saw him, they thought he was one of their +own, and they did not stop him. In the city, he asked where the +captain's lodgings were. The captain was very glad to see him, +and asked what news there was. + +"Sir," said Cipres of Paterno, "they've found 103,700 men missing +from their ranks, who have either been killed or taken prisoner. +If you had pursued them, you would have taken them all, for their +horses were too tired to go on. They had to stop halfway along +the road to Bellpuig and spend the night: many were wounded, many +were fatigued, and many died that night since there were no +doctors to attend them: the cold entered their wounds, and there +they died." + +"Do you have any other news?" + +"Yes, sir," said Cipres of Paterno. "Seven ships have come from +Turkey, loaded with wheat, barley and other foods. And they say +for a certainty that the Grand Caramany is on them with fifty +thousand soldiers and horsemen, and that he's bringing his +daughter to give her as a wife to the sultan, and that in his +company is the King of Upper India." + +"Have they unloaded those seven ships yet?" asked Tirant. + +"No, sir," said Cipres. "The wind has been against them, and +they haven't been able to make port." + +They spoke of many other things, and after Cipres of Paterno had +returned to the sultan, he told him about the death of the King +of Egypt. And there was great wailing among the Moors, for he +was much loved. + +Tirant took a man with him who knew the land well, and which +secret roads they could travel by to avoid difficulties. When +they were in sight of the sea, they saw the city of Bellpuig at +the top of a high mountain, and the ships, their sails turning to +and fro in the wind, unable to make port. Tirant returned +quickly, and learned that the emperor, along with all the barons +from Sicily, had gone out to conquer the many villas and castles +nearby. Then he and the Duke of Pera left with a party of +soldiers, and he left the rest with the Marquis of Saint George +as their captain. When Tirant was near the castle of Malvei, he +learned that the princess had remained inside with her maidens, +and with Diafebus as their protector. So he sent Hippolytus +inside with a message. When Hippolytus was before the princess, +he knelt and kissed her hand and said: + +"Your Majesty, my lord sends me to beg Your Highness to give him +safe- conduct so that he may come and go from here freely." + +The princess replied, "Oh, new knight. Doesn't the good captain +know that we are all under his captaincy and in his care?" + +Then Hippolytus stood and embraced all the maidens. And don't +think that Plaerdemavida was displeased to see Hippolytus. +Meanwhile the princess took pen and ink, and wrote: + +"With my own hand I sign this document. I will in no way limit +your freedom to come and go as you wish. September 7, in the +Castle of Malvei." + +When he had the document in hand, Tirant quickly went up to the +castle where he found the princess in a great hall. She took the +Duke of Pera by one hand, and Tirant by the other, and sat +between them. And they spoke of many things. They talked about +how the emperor had been taking villas and castles, and they +decided to go and help the emperor in the morning. And the +princess said: + +"If you go to where the emperor is, I'm going too." And she had +them bring out her prisoner, saying: "Do you think that when I've +been in hard- fought battles the way you have, I don't know how +to take prisoners from among our cruel enemies?" + +And saying these things, they went in to dine. But the princess +ate very little, for she could not keep her eyes off Tirant. The +duke began to talk to the lady of the castle and to Widow Repose, +telling them about the battles they had won under Tirant's +leadership. And Widow Repose's love of Tirant grew even +stronger, but she was afraid to show it. While they were talking +Plaerdemavida came up, and sitting at Tirant's feet, she said: + +"My lord and captain, no one loves you as I do. I feel +compassion for you, for none of these ladies has told you to lay +down your weapons. In faith, that shirt you are wearing is well +trampled. I saw it being put on and taken off, well-perfumed, +and now I see it all torn and smelling of iron and steel." + +The princess said: + +"Give me that hand that has not had mercy on the deaths of the +Moorish Kings, our enemies." + +Stephanie took his hand and placed it in the princess's lap. +When she saw it on her knees, she bent over and kissed it. + +Tirant said: + +"If Your Highness would give me leave to kiss your hands whenever +I wished, oh how fortunate I'd be. And I would be even more so +if I could kiss your feet and your legs." + +The princess took his hands again, and said: + +"From now on, Captain, I want your hands to do as they will with +me: that is your right." + +She quickly got up because they had spent the greater part of the +night there. And so that the duke and the others would have no +reason to gossip, they went with her to her room where she bid +them all a good night. And the duke and Tirant slept in the same +bed. + +The following morning the trumpets blew, and they all armed +themselves and mounted their horses. The princess wanted to go +with them, and they rode until they found the emperor, who was +attacking a well fortified city. With Tirant's men helping, they +entered the villa and killed and made prisoner of many. + +The following day the emperor held council to decide where they +should attack next. The captain spoke, and said: + +"Sire, it would be better if Your Highness would go with the +barons of Sicily back to the palace with all the prisoners we've +taken. The Duke and I will take charge of guarding and +conquering the nearby cities and villas. And Your Majesty can +send us the supplies we need." + +When they were back in the castle, the emperor summoned Tirant, +and then had the princess and the other maidens come, and he +said: + +"Captain, since fortune has been so contrary to our High +Constable, the Count of Bitinua, who is dead, who do you think we +should choose as our next constable?" + +Tirant knelt and said: + +"My lord, if Your Majesty would be pleased to give the office of +High Constable to Diafebus, I would consider it a great favor." + +"I will do as you wish," said the emperor. "Because of my +affection for you, and because of his many merits, from this +moment on, I grant to Diafebus the office of High Constable. And +to you I give the County of Sant Angel, which I take from my +daughter and bestow upon you. Tomorrow I will have a celebration +where you will take the title of count." + +Tirant replied: + +"Sire, I give you infinite thanks for doing me such a great +honor, but I will accept it only if I can give the title in turn +to Diafebus, my closest relative." + +"It makes no difference to me what you do with it afterward, as +long as I have offered it and you have accepted it." + +Then Tirant knelt and kissed the emperor's hands and feet for his +honor. + +The morning of the next day the emperor wanted mass held in the +middle of a meadow, and he wanted Diafebus between himself and +his daughter. After mass the emperor put the ring on Diafebus' +hand and kissed him on the mouth. Then all the trumpets began to +peal very loudly, and a king- of-arms cried out in a loud voice: +"This is the most eminent and virtuous knight, Count of Sant +Angel and High Constable of the Greek Empire." + +Afterward the dances and festivities began, and all day long the +princess did nothing but dance with the High Constable. When it +was time to eat the emperor had the High Constable sit at his +right, and the duke sat on his left, while the princess sat to +the right of the constable. Tirant acted as steward since he was +giving the celebration. The ladies ate at other tables, and the +barons and knights ate at their right. Next were all the +soldiers. And that day all the prisoners ate at tables to honor +the celebration. Tirant even had the horses eating barley mixed +with bread. + +When the dinner was half finished, Tirant summoned the +kings-of-arms and heralds, and gave them a thousand ducats. And +all the trumpets were pealing, and they came before the emperor's +table and cried out, "Largesse, largesse!" + +After the meal the repast was held with many sugared dainties. +Then they all rode, armed and holding the constable's banners, +jousting before the emperor. They held a beautiful display of +arms without getting hurt. And they went like this up to the +place where the sultan usually held camp, and came back very +happily. + +When they thought it was time to have the evening meal, they held +the festivities in that same place, and they were very well +served with many varied dishes. During the entire meal, as +Tirant was serving it, he seemed very sad. The princess had him +come over to her, and she whispered in his ear: + +"Tell me, Tirant, why are you so sad? Your face shows that +something is wrong. Tell me, what it is, please!" + +"My lady, I have so many troubles that they could not be counted. +My life is worth nothing. Your Highness is leaving tomorrow, and +I will be left behind in great sadness, knowing that I will not +see you." + +"It is only right," said the princess, "that anyone who causes +misfortune should suffer for it. You are the one who brought it +on: You advised the emperor to go back to the city with all the +prisoners. I've never seen such bad advice given by any man who +was in love. But if you would like me to pretend I am sick for +two or three weeks, I will do it because of my love for you, and +I'm sure the emperor will wait because of his love for me." + +"But what will we do," said Tirant, "with all these prisoners we +have here? I can't find any way to relieve my pain. Sometimes I +feel like taking poison, or dying a sudden death, to escape this +anguish." + +"Don't do any such thing, Tirant," said the princess. "Go talk +to Stephanie, and see if she can do something to help that won't +be difficult for me, and will bring you relief." + +Tirant quickly went to Stephanie and told her his troubles. And +they, and the constable, agreed that when everybody was resting +and the maidens were asleep, the two men would come to the +chamber and there they would decide what they could do to give +release to their passion. + +When it was night, and time for everyone in the castle to be +asleep, the maidens had gone to bed. All the ladies were +sleeping with Widow Repose; there were only five sleeping in the +room they had to pass through. + +The princess and Stephanie were in their chamber, and when +Plaerdemavida saw that the princess did not want to go to sleep, +and then she heard her putting perfume on, she quickly thought +that there was going to be a night of merry-making. + +When the time came, Stephanie picked up a lighted candlestick in +one hand, and went to the bed where the five maidens were +sleeping, and she looked at them all, one at a time, to see if +they were asleep. Plaerdemavida wanted to see and hear +everything that would happen, and she tried to stay awake. And +when Stephanie came with the candlestick, she closed her eyes and +pretended to be sleeping. When Stephanie saw that all the ladies +were asleep, she quietly opened the door so that no one would +hear her, and she found the two knights already waiting at the +door more devoutly than the Jews await the Messiah. As they came +in, she put out the light and took the constable's hand. She led +the way, with Tirant following the constable, until they came to +the door of the chamber where the princess was waiting for them, +alone. + +When Tirant saw how beautifully she was dressed, he bowed deeply +to her, and with one knee on the ground, he kissed her hands many +times, and they exchanged amorous words. Later, when they felt +that it was time for them to go, they said goodnight and went +back to their room. Who could sleep that night, some because of +love, and others because of pain. + +As soon as it was light everyone got up, because the emperor had +to leave that day. When Plaerdemavida was up she went to the +princess's chamber and found her dressing. Stephanie was +sitting on the floor, not yet finished dressing, because her +hands would not help her tie on her hat, and her eyes were half +closed so that she could scarcely see. + +"Holy Mary, help me!" said Plaerdemavida. "Tell me, Stephanie, +what kind of behavior is this. What's wrong with you? I'll go +get the doctors so they can bring you back to health." + +"That's not necessary," said Stephanie. "My illness won't last +long. It's only a headache. The air from the river last night +made me ill." + +"Be careful about what you're saying," said Plaerdemavida. "I'm +afraid you may die. And if you die, your death will be criminal. +Be careful about pain in your heels, I've heard doctors say about +us women that pain comes to our heels first, then our feet, then +it comes up to our knees, and our thighs, and sometimes it goes +into our secret place. There it brings us a great deal of pain, +and it goes up to our head from there. And don't think that this +sickness comes often, as the great philosopher Galen says--a very +wise doctor, for it only comes once in a lifetime. Even though +it's an incurable illness, it is never deadly, and there are many +treatments if a person wants to try them. What I'm telling you +is true, and you shouldn't be astonished that I know about +sickness. If you show me your tongue I'll be able to tell you +what your illness is." + +Stephanie stuck out her tongue. When Plaerdemavida had seen it +she said to her: + +"I would swear by everything my father taught me that you lost +blood last night." + +Stephanie quickly answered: + +"You're right. I had a nosebleed." + +"I don't know if it came out of your nose or your heel," said +Plaerdemavida, "but you've lost blood. And my lady, if Your +Majesty would like, I'll tell you a dream I had last night, as +long as Your Highness will promise me that if I say something +that annoys you, you'll forgive me." + +The princess was delighted by what Plaerdemavida had said, and +laughing, she told her to say whatever she liked, that she +forgave her. And Plaerdemavida began to tell about her dream. + +"I'll tell Your Majesty everything I dreamed. As I was asleep in +a side chamber with four maidens, I saw Stephanie come in with a +lighted candle so that it wouldn't shine too brightly, and she +came up to our bed and saw us all sleeping. The truth is that I +was half asleep: I don't know if I was asleep or awake. In my +dream I saw how Stephanie opened the chamber door very quietly so +that she wouldn't make any noise, and she found my lord Tirant +and the constable there, waiting. They were dressed in their +doublets, with cloaks and swords, and they wore woolen stockings +on their feet so they wouldn't make any noise when they walked. +When they came in, she put out the light, and went in front, +holding the constable's hand. After him came your knight. She +was like a blindman's guide, and she put them in your chamber. +Your Highness was all perfumed, dressed and not naked. Tirant +held you in his arms and carried you around the room, kissing you +over and over again, and Your Highness was saying, 'Stop it, +Tirant, stop it!' And he put you on a bed. And Plaerdemavida +went up the bed and said, 'Oh, in the bed! If only the people +who knew you before could see you now!' And it seemed to me that +I got out of bed in my chemise and went up to that hole in the +door, and that I watched everything you were doing." + +The princess laughed, and said: + +"Was there more to your dream?" + +"Holy Mary, yes!" said Plaerdemavida. "Let me go on, and I'll +tell you the whole thing. My lady, you said, 'Tirant, I let you +come here so you could have a little rest, because of the great +affection I feel for you.' + +And Tirant wasn't sure he would do what you told him. And you +said: 'Don't refuse me what I'm asking of you, because my +chastity that I've kept can pride itself on being free of all +sin.' 'I felt sure,' said Tirant, 'that you would be in +agreement with my wishes without being afraid of any future +danger, but since Your Highness is displeased, I will do whatever +Your Majesty desires.' And you made him swear that he would not +anger you in any way: 'And even if you wanted to, the anguish +you would give me would be enormous--I would curse you all the +days of my life, for when virginity is lost it cannot be +regained.' I dreamed that you and he said all these things to +each other. Then, in my vision, I saw how he kissed you again +and again and untied the cord over your bosom, and that he +quickly kissed your breasts. After he had spent some time +kissing you he tried to put his hands under your skirts, and you, +my good lady, would not permit it. And I think that if you had +allowed it his oath would have been in danger. Your Highness +said to him, 'The time will come when what you want so much will +be given to you, and my virginity, intact, will be yours.' Then +he put his face next to yours, and with his arms around your +neck, and yours around his, like vines on a tree, he received +your loving kisses. Later, still dreaming, I saw how Stephanie +was on that bed, and it seemed to me that her legs were turning +white, and she said many times, 'Oh, my lord, you're hurting me! +Have a little pity on me; don't kill me.' And Tirant was saying +to her, 'Stephanie, why do you want to put your honor in jeopardy +by screaming so loudly? Don't you know that walls sometimes have +ears?' And she grabbed the sheet and stuffed it in her mouth and +bit down on it with her teeth so she wouldn't scream. But after +a short while she couldn't help giving out a loud shriek and +saying, 'Poor me, what shall I do? The pain is making me scream. +From what I can see you've decided to kill me.' + +"Then the constable closed her mouth. When I heard that sweet +moan I cursed my misfortune because I wasn't the third one with +my Hippolytus. The more I thought about it, the more it grieved +me, and it seems to me that I took a little water, and washed my +heart, my breasts, and my stomach to take away pain. And as my +soul looked through the hole I saw how, after a second, Stephanie +held out her arms and gave up, in surrender. But still she said: +'Go away, you cruel, unloving man. You have no pity or mercy on +maidens until you've taken away their chastity. Oh, you +faithless man! If I decided not to forgive you, what punishment +would you deserve? And all the while I'm complaining about you, +the more I love you.' + +"She called to the princess and Tirant, and showing them the +shirt, she said: 'Love must make amends for this blood of mine.' +She said this with tears in her eyes. After all this, when day +was approaching, Your Majesty and Tirant consoled her as well as +you could. Then, when the roosters started to crow again, Your +Highness begged Tirant to go so that you would not be seen by +anyone in the castle. And Tirant begged Your Highness to release +him from his oath so that he could achieve the glorious triumph +that he desired, as his cousin had done. Your Highness refused, +and you were victorious in the battle. When they had gone I woke +up. I didn't see a thing, not Hippolytus or anyone else, but I +began to think that it might really have happened, because I +found my breasts and my belly wet with water. My pain increased +so much that I began to toss and turn in bed like a sick man who +is about to die. So I decided to love Hippolytus with all my +heart, and pass my life in pain, just as Stephanie is doing. +Shall I keep my eyes closed with no one coming to give me relief? +Love has disturbed my feelings so much that I'll die if +Hippolytus doesn't come to my aid. If I could at least spend my +life sleeping! By heaven, it's a trial to wake up when you're +having a good dream." + +The other maidens had gotten up, and they came into the chamber +to help their lady dress. After mass the emperor left with the +barons of Sicily, and the Duke of Pera, and all the prisoners. +Tirant and the constable accompanied them a good league. The +emperor told them to go back, and since he had told them once +already, they had to do it. After Tirant had taken his leave of +the emperor and the barons, he approached the princess and asked +if Her Majesty wanted something. The princess lifted the veil +she wore in front of her face and her eyes could not help +shedding tears, and she could say nothing but: + +"Perhaps..." + +And she could say no more because the words would not come, and +everything was sobs and sighs of farewell. She let the veil fall +completely over her face so that her sadness would not reach the +ears of the emperor or the rest of the people. + +No one could remember anything ever having happened to any knight +like what happened to Tirant who, after he had said farewell to +the princess, fell off the horse he was riding. As soon as he +had fallen he got up and raised his hand toward the horse, saying +that it was the one that was hurt. The emperor and many others +saw it and ran to him. And he pretended to be looking at the +horse's hoof. + +The emperor said to him: + +"How did you happen to fall?" + +And Tirant told him: + +"My lord, I thought my horse was hurt, and I started getting down +to see what was wrong with it, and the stirrup broke. But it's +nothing to be surprised at, my lord, to see a man fall: a horse +has four feet and it falls down: all the more reason for a man to +fall since he has only two." + +He quickly mounted again, and each went his way. Tirant came to +the castle of the Lord of Malvei. He ordered the constable and +half of the men, both those on horse and on foot, to go to the +camp and guard it. + +"I'll go," said Tirant, "to the port where the ships are, and +have them unloaded. And if I see that there isn't enough I'll +send them to the city again, or to Rhodes." + +By night Tirant was in the port, and he found the ships almost +unloaded. The ships' masters and the sailors were very happy at +the captain's visit, and they told him that the seven Genoese +ships had sailed into the port of Bellpuig. + +"We have all been very cautious because we were afraid they would +come here and attack us." + +Tirant said: + +"That shows they are afraid of you, since they haven't dared to +attack. Shall we make them more afraid than they already are?" + +They took a fishing boat and armed it. And they sent it out to +see how many men there could be, more or less, on the ships, and +how many vessels were in port. That night he had all the wheat +unloaded. By morning the spy-boat returned with the news that +there were seven large ships, and that they had unloaded all the +horses; that all the men were on land, and that now they had +begun to unload the wheat and other food. + +"By the Lord who sustains the whole world," said Tirant, "I will +do everything I can, since they've taken off the horses, to eat +of their wheat." + +He quickly had the ships prepared, and many soldiers and bowmen +boarded them. Tirant struck out to sea that night. It was no +more than thirty miles from one port to another. When day broke, +clear and beautiful, the men on land saw Tirant's five ships, and +thinking that they were part of those coming with the Grand +Caramany they paid no attention to them at all. As the ships +came into port each of them attacked another ship, and many men +jumped aboard the others. Then they attacked the two remaining +ships, and since few men were aboard they took them all with very +little trouble and without anyone being killed. Then they +brought back all the ships loaded with wheat and barley, salted +oxen and wine from Cyprus. I can assure you that in the +Christian camp it was very helpful and timely since, because of +all the fighting, they had no wheat or meat unless it came to +them by sea. Tirant gave the wheat to the Lord of Malvei; all +the rest he had transported to the camp at the city of Saint +George. + +When Tirant returned from the attack he spoke to the Turks who +had been made his prisoners on the ship, and asked them for news +about Turkey. They told him that it was true that the Grand +Caramany was coming with a great armada, along with the King of +Upper India, and that the Caramany was bringing his daughter, who +was a maiden of great beauty, to give to the sultan for his wife. + +"And he is bringing many maidens with him, of high station, and +the betrothed of the Great Turk's son is with them." + +One of the Turks said: + +"When we docked at the port they told us that a devil of a +Frenchman was here as captain of the Greeks and that he is +winning all their battles, and they say he is called Tirant. In +faith, he may do all those great things they say he does, but his +name is ugly and vile because Tirant means a robber of goods, or +more properly, a thief. And believe me, his actions will do +justice to his name. Because according to a letter that the King +of Egypt wrote, he didn't dare fight him man to man, and it also +said that he was in love with the emperor's daughter. When he's +won the battles, he'll get the emperor's daughter pregnant, and +then the wife, and then he'll kill the emperor. That's the way +the French are: they're evil people! And then you'll see that, +if the Turks and the Christians let him live long, he'll make +himself emperor." + +"Upon my word," said Tirant, "you have spoken the truth: these +French are very evil people. And he'll do even worse than you've +said, because he's a real thief, and he travels the roads to rob. +And you'll certainly see him get the emperor's daughter pregnant, +and he'll take the throne, and afterward who will stop him from +raping all the maidens?" + +"By heaven," said the sailor, "I see that you know him well, and +you know about the treachery he's done and that he will do." + +Hippolytus was standing there, and he drew his sword to cut off +the man's head, but Tirant got up quickly and took the sword away +from him. And Tirant, continuing to speak badly of himself, made +him talk more. The sailor said: + +"I swear by the water I was baptized with that if I could catch +that traitor, Tirant, the way I've caught many others, I'd have +him hanged from the highest mast on the entire ship." + +Tirant laughed, and was very amused by what the sailor said. If +it had been someone else instead of Tirant, they would have dealt +severely with him, or would have hanged him. But Tirant took a +silk jacket and thirty ducats and gave them to him, and as soon +as they were on land, he freed him. Imagine how the poor sailor +must have felt when he discovered that it was Tirant! He knelt, +and begged his forgiveness. And Tirant very willingly forgave +him. + + The following day the barons from Sicily came to the camp. When +they were at the castle of Malvei they saw many carts carrying +bombards to the port. They were told that the captain was at the +port, and they went there, knowing that he wanted to go to sea. +They begged him to allow them to go along. The captain was glad +to, precisely because they were from the islands, and they knew +how to sail. He gave orders to his captains and had many men go +on board the ships, both soldiers and crossbowmen. Although the +ships were not very large, they were armed with good men, and +they were well supplied. Other ships were loaded with wheat, +horses, and as many men as they could carry. + +Soon they saw a galley with sails unfurled and oars driving it +on, and they quickly realized that enemy ships were approaching. +The captain had all the men go on board, and the carried the +bombards and everything they needed on board. When it was nearly +vespers the ships could be seen from the port. Then the +captain's ship moved out in front of all the others. When the +Turks saw it they shouted with joy, saying that that ship would +soon be theirs. The Grand Caramany had his daughter and all the +other women come out on deck so they could see the ship they +would capture. A few minutes later the Lord of Pantanalea's ship +moved out, and then the Duke of Messina's ship. And the Turks' +and Genoese's shouts of joy grew louder. + +The Grand Caramany said to his daughter: + +"Choose one of the ships you see. I'll give it to you; I want it +to be yours." + +She asked for the first one she had seen, and it was promised to +her. Then Lord Agramunt's ship came out, then Hippolytus's, and +they all came out, in order, one at a time. The good Prior of +Saint John came out last because he was captain of the rear +guard. When he came out it was nearly dark of night. When the +Genoese saw the twelve large ships, they were astonished, +wondering where they had come from. Afterward came all the +whaling ships, and all the ship's boats; then the fishing boats. +The boats that had no mast raised a long staff or an oar, and +fastened it down tightly, and at the top of the staff they put a +light inside a lantern. The captain's ship first raised a lamp +at the stern. Then all the other vessels, large and small, did +the same, following the captain's orders, and when all the lights +were lit there were seventy-four. The enemy saw all the lights, +and thinking every light was a large ship, they said: + +"This must be the armada of the Grand Master of Rhodes, and the +armada of the King of Sicily. When they heard we were here they +must have gotten together this great armada to try to destroy +us." + +So they decided to flee and go back to Turkey. + +When morning came Tirant did not see any of the vessels, except +the Grand Caramany's ship. When it was nearly noon he reached +the ship, and they went into battle. The Turks threw quicklime +at them to blind them. + +Then they hurled boiling oil with iron ladles. Both sides threw +boiling pitch at each other, and they did not stop day or night. +Many men on both ships died, and there were so many broken +lances, shields, darts, arrows and spears that the dead bodies +thrown in the sea could not sink. + +Now let us leave them fighting, and see what the other barons and +knights are doing. The eleven ships did not see the captain's +ship because he had put out his light. But they sighted ten +ships within reach of a bombard, and they pulled alongside. + +Hippolytus did not want to draw close to any of them; instead he +sailed windward and observed the battle. He saw that Lord +Pantanalea's ship was being defeated, and that so many Turks had +climbed on board that they outnumbered the Christians. Then +Hippolytus attacked the enemy ship, and since most of the Turks +were now on the other ship and had taken everything except the +poop castle, Hippolytus and his men went on board the Turks' +ship, and all the dead and wounded Turks and Genoese they found, +they threw into the sea. Then they assisted Lord Pantanalea, and +their help was like a dose of medicine. Hippolytus consoled +them, urging them to take heart, and he removed fear from the +fearful, and gave them all courage and new hope. Soon he left, +and went back to his ship to help those who most needed his aid. + +When Lord Pantanalea saw that there was no one left on the Turk's +ship, he divided his men between the two ships, and he set sail +in pursuit of the ships that were fleeing, and was the first to +reach them. He attacked one ship, and while they were in combat +another ship arrived. It surrendered immediately, so that he had +three ships. The eleven ships did the same to the two galleys so +that they took fourteen ships, and there were two that they made +beach themselves. The others escaped. + +Now let us see what Tirant is doing, for I can still see them in +battle. They began fighting at noon and continued all night long +until the following day. They fought twenty-seven times, and +Tirant, alone and without help, fearlessly attacked time after +time. + +"I will take you," said Tirant, "or I will die trying." + +During the fighting Tirant was wounded in the arm by a spear. +Then, when he tried to climb the forecastle an arrow struck him +in the thigh. + +The Turks well needed to wound him, for in great desperation +three Turks leaped inside the forecastle, but they were no sooner +inside than they were thrown into the water. + +When the Grand Caramany saw that his men were losing badly, he +had a case full of money, jewelry and clothing brought up. He had +his daughter dressed in a jubbah with gold brocade, and he tied a +golden silk rope around her neck. He had the case full of jewelry +and all their riches tied to the other end of the rope, and he +threw his daughter and the case into the sea. Then he threw all +the other maidens on board into the waters. + +Then he and the King of Upper India went into the daughter's +chamber, leaving the ship entirely deserted. They lay their +heads on the bed, and covering themselves, they awaited their +death. + +When the ship was completely taken, Tirant, wounded as he was, +went on board and asked for the Grand Caramany. + +"Captain," said one of the gentlemen from the captain's ship, +"he's hiding below decks with his head covered, waiting to be +killed. And the King of Upper India is with him." + +"The king is here?" asked the captain. + +"Yes, sir. Both of them are here." + +"Have them come up," said the captain. "I want to talk to them." + +And the gentleman carried out the captain's order. But the Grand +Caramany refused to go, saying that he preferred to die in his +daughter's chamber instead of on deck. + +"No," said the king. "Let us go up and die like men." + +But he wouldn't go until the gentleman had to use a little force +with him. Tirant honored them like kings because he was such a +humane knight. + +He had them sit while he stood, but with the wound in his thigh +he could not remain standing long, so he had to sit down. + +And very kindly, he said: + +"Your cruelty has been very great, and the most cruel death would +not be enough for what you deserve--and especially you, Grand +Caramany, for you have killed your daughter and other Moorish +women so cruelly and with such inhumanity. They would have +fallen into the hands of a man who would have given them their +freedom. And although you are not worthy of forgiveness, the +emperor is such a man that he will spare your lives." + +And he said no more. + +The Grand Caramany replied: + +"You say I killed my daughter. I don't have to answer for that +to you or to anybody. I would rather see her dead than +dishonored by you or any of your men. And I don't want anyone +enjoying my jewelry or my treasure. And don't think you're going +to sway my heart, because I'm ready to throw my body into the +bitter sea or give it up to the earth before I would do anything +you told me to." + +Instead of answering the Grand Caramany, Tirant politely asked +them to go on board his ship, and they had to do it in spite of +themselves. When the captain had them inside, he divided up the +few men he had left between the two ships, and they set sail. He +unplugged the ship's scuppers, and such a gush of blood came +pouring out that it seemed as though the ship was full of it. On +the Turk's ship there wasn't a living soul except for the two +kings. And on the captain's ship, out of four hundred eight men, +only fifty-four survived, and sixteen of those were wounded. + +CHAPTER VI + +A TRUCE + + As Tirant came near the port of Transimeno they saw the whaling +ships that had been with the Turkish armada quickly entering the +port of Bellpuig, shouting out the bad news about the capture of +the kings, and the loss of the armada and all its men. When +Tirant reached port, he found many of his ships there, and many +of the enemy's that had been captured. After Tirant had been +there for two days, all his men had returned except Hippolytus. + +Earlier, when Hippolytus had not been able to find his captain, +he thought Tirant must have gone toward Turkey, so he ordered his +pilot to set that course. While not finding the captain, he did +see a new ship from the armada. When he followed the ship, it +fled and stopped at an island that was nearly unpopulated. The +wind was against it, and the men abandoned ship and made land by +boat. When Hippolytus drew alongside, he captured the ship that +was empty of men but full of riches, and took possession of it. + +When the captain saw that everyone was there except Hippolytus, +he sent out three ships to search for him. And they found him +coming back with his prize. When the captain got news of it, and +saw that he was returning with such great honor, he was very +content. + +This Hippolytus turned out to be a very valiant knight, generous +and courageous. And he accomplished singular acts in his life +because he tried to imitate his master and lord. + +When Lord Malvei learned that Tirant had come back triumphant and +victorious, he was very glad, and he rode out to meet him. But +before going, he sent one messenger to the emperor and another to +the camp, and then everyone rejoiced. On hearing the news, the +emperor had all the bells in the city rung, and there were great +celebrations. + +When Lord Malvei found Tirant, he advised him to go to the +emperor as soon as he could. And there was nothing Tirant wanted +more, because he wanted to see the princess. He assembled all +the men who had been with him, and they set sail. + +When they were in sight of the city of Constantinople, the +emperor was told that their captain was coming with the entire +armada, and the ships were already in sight. The emperor quickly +had a wooden bridge constructed that extended thirty paces out +over the water, entirely covered with rich satin cloths. And he +had a cenotaph placed in the center of the marketplace, covered +with brocade and silk, for himself, the empress, the princess and +all the maidens. And from the cenotaph to the end of the bridge +where they would disembark, he had cloth of red velvet put down +so that the captain would step on silk instead of on the ground. +(And when it was over, whoever managed to take a piece of silk +was able to keep it, and many hands were wounded with swords and +knives as they tried to cut a piece of silk.) + +As the ships came into port, the captain's ship drew alongside +the wooden bridge, and he came out with the Grand Caramany on his +right, the King of Upper India on his left, and all the barons in +front. They were met by all the townspeople, and led in a great +procession to the marketplace where the emperor and all the +ladies were. + +When Tirant was up on the cenotaph with the emperor, he knelt and +kissed his hand, and he told the Grand Caramany to kiss his hand. +But the Caramany answered that he would not; then Tirant +immediately dealt him such a hard blow to the head with his +gauntlet that the Caramany was forced to put his head to the +ground, and Tirant said to him: + +"Dog, you son of a dog, now you're going to kiss his feet and his +hand whether you want to or not." + +"I won't do it of my own free will, or even by force," said the +Grand Caramany. "And if you and I were in a different place, I'd +show you what it means to come close to a king. You still don't +know how far my power extends. But I swear to you by our holy +prophet, Mohammed, and by this beard, that if I ever get my +freedom back, I'll make you kiss the feet of one of my blacks." + +And he said no more. But his companion, the other king, so that +he would not be dealt the blow too, knelt on the hard ground and +kissed his hand and foot. Then the emperor had them seized and +placed under a stiff guard inside an iron cell. + +The emperor and all the ladies came down from the cenotaph, and +they went to the great church of Saint Sophia. Tirant took the +empress by the arm and escorted her, and she said to him: + +"Captain, you are the most glorious man in the world. If only +you had come to the kingdom of Germany in my time, when my father +was emperor of Rome, in those days when I was wooed by a thousand +suitors. If I had seen you, out of the thousand I would have +chosen you. But now that I am old and belong to another, my hope +comes along too late." + +The princess heard all these things, and when they got to the +palace, she said to Tirant: + +"That old mother of mine is pitying herself, and she would like +to play too. She thinks that if you had come in her day, she +would be worthy of your love." + +Then the emperor came out and asked the captain about his wounds. +Tirant answered that they felt a little feverish: + +"And I think the sea voyage has made my fever rise." + +The emperor ordered the doctors to take him to his quarters. +When they had treated him they told him to stay in bed so that +his arm would not be permanently injured. Tirant followed the +doctors' advice, and the emperor visited him every day, and told +the empress and his daughter to visit him twice a day, in the +morning and in the afternoon. Widow Repose, moved more by love +than mercy, served him continually. + +Now let us go back and see how the Turks are dealing with the +Christians who stayed in the camp. After they heard of the cruel +battle between the captain and the Grand Turk, they often came to +the city of Saint George and killed or captured many Christians. +They made many forays, engaging them in a cruel war, so that very +few survived if they fell into their hands. How the Christians +suffered when they thought about Tirant not being there, and that +they would have to go out and fight without him. Not even wise +Diafebus or Lord Agramunt could save their lives by placing +themselves in the most dangerous positions during the battles. +And they all cried out for Tirant as if he were a saint. They +never felt safe, but were terrified of the Turks, because the +great courage they had had during their victories when Tirant had +been there, was lost now that he was gone. And they offered a +special prayer to Our Lord to help Tirant, for they felt that all +their hope lay with him. + +At this time, in the palace, the doctors were coming to Tirant's +room. The empress had finished her hours, and she and the +princess and other ladies went to Tirant and asked the doctors +when they would allow Tirant to come to the palace. + +"My lady," answered the doctors, "he'll be able to walk in three +or four days." + +When the princess was back in her chamber, a sweetness came into +her heart because of her great love for Tirant, and she fell to +the floor in a swoon. When the maidens saw her lying on the +floor they raised such a cry that it reached the emperor's ears, +and he came running, thinking the world was about to collapse +around him. + +He saw his daughter sprawled on the ground as though dead, and he +threw himself over her, crying piteously. The mother had placed +her daughter's head in her lap, and was crying and wailing so +that the entire palace heard her, and her face and clothing were +bathed in tears. Word was quickly sent to the doctors who were +in Tirant's lodging. A gentleman came who told them, in secret: + +"Come quickly. The princess is in such a state that you'll be +lucky to find her still alive!" + +The doctors hurried to the princess's chamber. Tirant sensed +that something had happened to the princess because of the outcry +the men and women were making. He got up quickly, sick as he +was, and went to the princess's chambers, where he found her +conscious and lying in bed. + +He learned that the doctors had used all their efforts to bring +back her health. When the emperor saw that his daughter had +recovered, he went to his rooms with the empress, and the doctors +went with him because they saw that he was exhausted from what +had happened to his daughter. Tirant went into the chamber, +nearly out of his mind, and when he saw the princess lying on the +bed, he said, pitifully: + +"I have never felt greater pain than now, when I thought I might +lose the greatest treasure I had in the world. I heard shouts, +and as soon as I thought of Your Majesty I said to myself, 'If +something is wrong with her, she'll let me know.' But I've come +myself to see what Your Highness' illness is. + +The princess quickly replied: + +"Tirant, my lord, you alone were the cause of my illness: it was +brought on by the thought of your love. Love already has more +power over me than I would like. I beg you to go see the emperor +so that he won't know that you came to see me before you did +him." + +She put her head under the covers, and told Tirant to put his +there too. Then she told him: + +"Kiss my breasts to bring me consolation and to give you peace." + +And he did it very willingly. After he had kissed her breasts, +he kissed her eyes and her face. Then Tirant left, very content. +When he was in the emperor's chambers, and the doctors saw him, +they reprimanded him soundly because he had gotten out of bed +without their consent. Tirant answered: + +"Even if it cost me my life, I wouldn't refrain from coming to +see His Majesty, the emperor, for anything in the world. When I +saw you leaving my side so quickly, I could only suppose that he +was in some great difficulty." + +Meanwhile, the men in Tirant's camp were desperate because of his +illness, and they had no hope for victory without him. The +sultan sent ambassadors to the camp to deal with Tirant. When +they arrived the captain was not there, and they were +disappointed. They sent a message to the emperor, and he told +them to come and see him, for they would be allowed to come and +go safely. + +So they went to the emperor, and he welcomed them very +graciously. He honored them highly because the King of Armenia +was with them as an ambassador, and he was the brother of the +Grand Caramany. Abdalla Salomon, who was more knowledgeable than +the others, was asked to speak, and he said: + +"My lord, we are sent to Your Majesty by that feared and most +excellent and great lord of the Mohammedan sect, the great Sultan +of Babylonia, and also by the Grand Turk and Lord of the Indies, +and the other kings in his camp. We come before Your perfect +Majesty for three things (not counting the first, which is to +know about your health, life, honor and condition). The first +is: a three month truce will be given to you, on land and sea, if +you would like it. The second: knowing that this virtuous +captain of the Christians has captured that powerful lord, the +Grand Caramany, with his mighty sword, and the King of Upper +India who was with him, if you would like to give him to us, we +will pay three times his weight in gold as ransom. And we will +give you one and a half times the weight of the King of Upper +India. Let us come to the third item: If Your Excellency would +like a treaty of peace (with no iniquity or ill will; but only +peace and love), he will think of you as a father, and you can +think of him as a son. And as a token of that peace you would +give him your daughter, Carmesina, as his wife--under this +condition: if a son is born to them he will have to be raised in +the sect of our holy prophet, Mohammed; and if a daughter is +born, she will be given to the mother to live under Christian +law. He will live under his law, and the princess under hers. +In this way we can put an end to all our misfortunes, and as a +reward for such a marriage he will give you all the cities, towns +and castles that he has taken in your empire. In addition, he +will make a lasting peace with you and your people. And he will +defend you against anyone who tries to harm you." + +The emperor held counsel, and then invited all the ambassadors +in. He told them that out of love and consideration for the +Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk, he would sign the three month +peace treaty, but about the other things he would reserve +judgment. + +One day, while Tirant was in the princess's chamber, with many +other maidens there, he said: + +"Oh, Tirant! Why are you hesitant about dying when you see the +father in alliance with his council against his daughter? To +think that so much beauty, virtue and grace, along with greatness +of lineage, will be subject to a Moorish enemy of God and our +holy law, and it will be destroyed and fall into decay!" + +The princess quickly answered: + +"How could you think that I would subject myself to a Moor, or +that I would stoop to be a friend of a Moorish dog? They have as +many wives as they like and not one of them is really a wife, +because they can leave them whenever they wish. Forget all those +thoughts, virtuous knight, and trust your Carmesina. She will +defend all your rights just as you have defended hers. And you +can command me in everything you wish, as if you were my lord." + +Another day Tirant was going to the princess's chamber and he met +Plaerdemavida. He asked her what the princess was doing, and she +answered: + +"Oh, you saint! Why do you want to know what my lady is doing? +If you had come earlier you would have found her in bed. And if +you had seen her the way I've seen her, your soul would be in +paradise. The more a person sees what he loves, the more he +wants it. That's why I think it's more delightful to see +something than to imagine it. Come in if you'd like: you'll find +her dressed in her skirt. I want to talk to you about my own +desire: Why doesn't my Hippolytus come with you? It's hard to +think that I hurt inside when today's pleasure shouldn't be put +off for later." + +"Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you to tell me in all truth if the +empress or anyone else I should fear is inside." + +"I wouldn't tell you one thing if it were something else," said +Plaerdemavida. "It would be bad for both of us: You for going +in, and me for letting you go. I know that the princess doesn't +want your love for her to go unrewarded. And since I know how +much you hunger for your heart's desire, I want to help you." + +Then Tirant went into the chamber and found the princess combing +her hair. When she turned and saw him she said: + +"Who gave you the right to come in here? You shouldn't come into +my room without my permission: if the emperor knew about this he +could charge you with disloyalty. I beg you to leave: my breast +is trembling in fear." + +Tirant paid no attention to the princess's words, but took her in +his arms and kissed her again and again on her breasts, her eyes +and her mouth. When the maidens saw Tirant playing with their +lady that way they were silent, but when they saw Tirant putting +his hand under her skirt they came to her aid. While they were +frolicking this way the empress was coming to her daughter's +chamber to see what she was doing, and with their games they did +not hear her until she was at the chamber door. + +Tirant quickly lay on the floor and they spread clothes over him. +Then the princess sat on top of him, and began combing her hair. +The empress sat down at her side, nearly on Tirant's head. Only +God knows how shamefully afraid Tirant was then! He was in +anguish while they talked about the celebrations they were +planning, until a maiden came with the Hours. Then the empress +got up and withdrew to one side of the room to say the Hours. +The princess was afraid the empress might see him, and did not +dare move. When the princess had finished combing her hair, she +put her hand under the clothes and combed Tirant's hair, and from +time to time he kissed her hand and took the comb away. All the +maidens went in front of the empress, and then Tirant got up +quietly and left with the comb the princess had given him. + +When he was outside the room, thinking he was safe and that no +one had seen him, he saw the emperor and a chamberlain coming +directly to the princess's chamber. When Tirant saw them passing +through the great hall he panicked and quickly went back into the +princess's chamber and said to her: + +"My lady, help me. The emperor is coming." + +"Oh!" said the princess. "We get out of one bad situation, and +then go into one that's even worse. I told you what would +happen, but you're always coming at the worst times." + +She quickly had the maidens stand in front of the empress again, +and they quietly led him to another chamber. There they put +mattresses on top of him so that if the emperor came in, as he +often did, he would not see him. When the emperor came into the +chamber he found his daughter combing her hair. He stayed there +until she had finished and the empress had said her Hours, and +all the maidens were dressed. When the princess was at the +chamber door she asked where her gloves were. Then she said: + +"Oh, I put them in a place none of you knows about." + +She and her maidens went back inside the chamber where Tirant +was, and took off all the mattresses covering him. Then he +jumped up and caught the princess in his arms, dancing around the +room with her and kissing her again and again. + +"Oh, how beautiful you are! I have never seen a maiden as +perfect as you. Your Majesty is so superior to all women in +knowledge and discretion that I'm not surprised the Moorish +sultan would want to have you in his arms." + +"Appearances are deceiving," said the princess. "I'm not as +perfect as you say I am. That light shining in your eyes is +love. Kiss me and let me go; the emperor is waiting for me." + +Tirant could not answer her because the maidens were holding onto +his hands so he could not muss her hair with his playing around. +When he saw her leaving, and that he could not touch her with his +hands, he stretched out his leg and put it under her skirt so +that his shoe touched her where it should not, and he put his leg +between her thighs. Then the princess ran out of his chamber to +be with the emperor, and Widow Repose took Tirant out through the +garden door. + +When Tirant was in his own lodging he took off his shoes and +stockings. Then he had the stocking and shoe that had touched +the princess embroidered with pearls, diamonds and rubies worth +more than twenty-five thousand ducats. + +On the day of the joust he wore the shoe and stocking, and +everyone who saw it was amazed at the fine jewels, for a shoe +like that had never been seen before. And on that foot he wore +no armor, but only on the left foot. As a crest for his helmet, +he wore four golden rods, the Holy Grail. And upon that was the +comb the princess had given him, with a motto that read: "There +is no virtue but that which exists in her." + +Everyday Tirant was in the court, talking and taking his ease +with the emperor and much more so with the ladies. And he +changed clothes every day, but he always wore the same stocking. +One day the princess said to him in a mocking tone: + +"Tell me, Tirant this custom you have of wearing an embroidered +stocking on one foot but not on the other, is it something they +do in France or in some other place?" + +This was the day the festival had ended, and they were on their +way to Pera. And the princess said these words with Stephanie +and Widow Repose close by. + +"What, my lady! Doesn't Your Majesty know what this custom +means? Doesn't Your Excellency remember that day when the +empress came in and I was hidden with your maiden's clothing on +top of me, and the empress nearly sat on my head? Afterward your +father came in, and you hid me in the little chamber under the +mattresses, and when they were gone, while I was playing with +Your Highness, since I couldn't reach you with my hands, my foot +had to take their place, and I put my leg between your thighs, +and my foot touched higher up, where my soul wishes to find its +happiness." + +"Oh, Tirant!" said the princess. "I remember very well what you +told me that day, and my body still bears the marks. But the day +will come when, just as you have one leg embroidered today, you +will be able to embroider both of them, and you may place them +where you will, at your pleasure." + +When Tirant heard her saying these words so full of love, he +quickly dismounted from his horse, saying that his gloves had +fallen, and he kissed her leg above her skirt, and said: + +"The place were grace was granted should be kissed." + +As soon as they reached the city of Pera, and when they were +about to don their armor, they saw nine galleys approaching land. +The emperor would not allow the tournament to begin until they +found out where the galleys were from. The galleys put into port +in less than an hour, and they turned out to be French. Their +captain was a cousin of Tirant. He had been a page to the king, +and the king had made him Viscount of Branches. This viscount +had decided to come and help his cousin in his battles against +the infidel, and he and other nobles had come, along with five +thousand French archers that the King of France had given to +them. And each of the archers had a page and a squire. And when +the galleys had docked at Sicily, the king there had given them +many horses. + +The emperor postponed the tournament for the following day. Then +eight hundred knights with gold spurs came out to the grounds, +and no one was allowed to participate if he had not been dubbed a +knight and unless he wore silk or brocade or gold trappings. The +Duke of Pera was captain of half the men, and Tirant commanded +the other half. So that each would know who the other was, they +had small flags attached to their helmets, some green and others +white. Tirant had ten knights enter the field of battle, and the +duke ten others, and they began to fight very well. + +Then twenty entered, then thirty, and they began to mix together. +Each of them did as well as he possibly could in using his +weapons. Tirant kept an eye on his men, and when he saw that +they were not doing well, he entered the fray with his lance +poised, and he went against another knight so ferociously that he +thrust his lance completely through him and it came out the other +side. Then he drew his sword and dealt terrible blows all around +so that he seemed like a ravenous lion, and all the onlookers +were amazed at his great strength and spirit. + +The emperor was very satisfied at this singular display of arms. +When it had gone on for nearly three hours, the emperor came down +from the cenotaph, mounted a horse and quickly rode into the fray +to separate the men, because he saw that tempers were rising, and +many were wounded. After all the knights had disarmed +themselves, they went to the palace. There they talked about +their singular display of arms, and the foreigners said they had +never seen such valiant men. The sultan's ambassadors, who had +seen them, were filled with wonder. + +That night the emperor returned with his men and all the ladies +to the city of Constantinople. The following day, after mass, +they all went to the market place which was as nicely decorated +as it had been the first day. When the sultan's ambassadors +arrived, and everyone was present, the emperor gave them this +reply: + +"Nothing brings greater anguish than to have His Majesty hear +abominable words that offend God and the world. I pray that His +immense goodness will not permit me to do things against His holy +catholic faith, like giving my daughter as wife to a man who is +outside our law. For all the treasure that the Grand Caramany +and the King of Upper India could pay, they cannot have their +liberty unless they restore all my empire to me." + +When they had heard these words the ambassadors stood up and took +their leave, and went back to the sultan. + +After the celebration was over and the ambassadors had gone, the +emperor held war councils many times. Tirant fostered his +romance, and was very insistent about staying near the princess +because he saw that the end of the truce was approaching. The +emperor indicated that he wanted the captain to be in camp to +take charge of the men, and the captain showed that he was +attending to the men going with him so that they would be ready, +since he was very eager to confront the Turks. + +Tirant pleaded insistently with the princess to give him the +satisfaction he wanted. The princess saw how great Tirant's +passion was, and she said: + +"Tirant, I know full well what you want, but my reputation is +spotless. Tell me, what gave you the hope of being in my bed? +Just to imagine it is great infamy. If I gave in to you, I +couldn't hope that it would not be known. What could I use to +excuse my transgression? I beg you, Tirant, my lord, do not rob +me lightly of my tender virginity." + +And she would say no more. Tirant was rather stunned by the +princess's words which showed how little she loved him. For he +thought he had progressed in his love affair, and now he found it +was entirely the opposite. + +While they were talking the emperor came into the chamber, and +took his daughter Carmesina by the hand. They went upstairs +together to the treasure-tower to take out money and give it to +Tirant so that he would go to the camp. + +When they had gone Tirant was left with the maidens. He thought +about what the princess had said to him, and he realized that +Widow Repose had overheard his secret, and everything he had said +to her. Tirant decided to see if he could win the Widow over +with promises, and with warm and tender words he said: + +"I believe I have been offended by my lady. I want to do great +services for the princess so that she will see that I am worthy +of her love. Although Stephanie already has many possessions and +great wealth, I would like to give her even more. I would give +Widow Repose a duke or count or marquis for a husband, and as +many possessions as would make her happy. And I would like to do +the same for Plaerdemavida and all the other ladies." + +Stephanie thanked Tirant for herself and for all the other women. +Widow Repose said to Stephanie: + +"You thank him for yourself. I know how to thank him on my own." + +And, smiling, she turned to Tirant and said: + +"Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. But I want no +other husband, no matter how great a lord he is, except the one I +adore day and night. He has not killed me yet, but he has given +me reason to die. I won't say any more about that because this +isn't the time or place." + +When Widow Repose finished, Plaerdemavida said: + +"My lord and captain, don't you know that repentance follows sin? +You've come to my lady's rooms, and found them like a tomb, since +you can find no mercy in them. Please don't lose hope, I beg +you. Rome wasn't built in a day. Are you discouraged because of +some trifle my lady said to you? When you're in a hard-fought +battle, you're like a lion, and you always come out victorious, +and yet are you afraid of a lone woman who, with our help, you'll +conquer? Do you remember that pleasant night in the castle of +Malvei when I was dreaming? You saw how mercifully you dealt +with that situation. I'm only trying to tell you that we'll all +help you in this affair. And I know what the solution is: you +have to mix in a little force, because your fear--which comes +from ignorance--stops you from using it. It's a terrible thing +for maidens to have to say those awful words: 'I like it.' I'll +work as hard as I can for you in this affair, I promise you. And +I think that as a just reward--very inferior to my work--I +deserve to have your grace help with the love of my Hippolytus. +But I'm more than a little afraid, because I can see where his +wayward steps are taking him, and I don't like the way he's going +at all. I'm afraid of the danger he'll place himself in, because +he is a very good swordsman, and he strikes not at the legs but +at the head. And he knows much more than I have shown him." + +Tirant brightened up a little at Plaerdemavida's jokes, and he +stood up to tell her: + +"Maiden, it looks to me as though, instead of hiding your +advances toward Hippolytus, you don't care who knows about them." + +"What do I care if everybody knows?" said Plaerdemavida. "You +men think that just because we're maidens we won't dare to say +anything. It's your nature to be good at first, and then bad +afterward. You're like the ocean: when someone starts to go in +the water it seems soft, and then later, when he's all the way +in, it's a torrent. That's the way love begins: at first you're +soft, and later on you're harsh and terrible." + +While they were talking, the emperor came in. He took Tirant by +the hand and led him out of the room, and they talked at great +length about the war. When it was time to eat, Tirant and his +men went to their quarters. + +That night, when the princess wanted to go to bed, Widow Repose +said to her: + +"My lady, if Your Majesty knew about the things Tirant said to us +ladies, you would be amazed. He took me aside and told me things +about Your Excellency that I an loathe to repeat, because his +words show how little he cares for you." + +Widow Repose's words had a great effect on the princess. Without +letting her say another word, she put her cloak back on, and they +went into a tiny chamber where no one could overhear them. First +the Widow told her what Tirant had said to all the ladies, and +how he wanted to arrange honorable marriages for them all. Then, +with great wickedness and deceit, the evil Widow gave vent to her +malice: + +"Tirant is a cruel man. He doesn't have the good sense of the +others, but he is more shameless and daring. If Your Highness +knew what he says about you, you would never be able to love +him." + +"Tell me at once," said the princess, "and don't make me suffer +so." + +"He spoke to me secretly," said Widow Repose, "and he made me +swear on the Gospel that I wouldn't say a word to anyone. But +since you are my mistress, and I would be going against the +loyalty I owe you, any oath I've made is worthless. First, he +told me that Stephanie and Plaerdemavida are in alliance with him +so that, with your consent or by force, he will possess Your +Majesty. And if you don't do it of your own free will, he'll +plunge his sword through your neck and kill you cruelly, and then +he will do the same thing to your father. He will steal all your +treasure and they'll get on their ships and go back to their +land. And with the treasure they carry off, the clothing and +jewels, they'll find maidens there who are much more beautiful +than Your Highness, for he says that you don't look any better +than a serving girl and that you are completely shameless: that +you'll give it to anyone who wants it. Watch out for your +virtue, my lady. You can see what that mad traitor thinks of +Your Highness! And that faithless man says even more: that he +didn't come to this land to fight, and that he has been hurt too +many times because of his misfortune of knowing you and your +father. Do you think, my lady, that that way of talking is +proper for knights? Look at what he thinks of the honor of Your +Excellency and the emperor, who have granted him so many benefits +and honors. Anyone who says things like that should burn in +flames! Do you know what other things he says? That he doesn't +love any woman alive, unless it's for her wealth. He says many +other wicked things too. I remember he told me that if he ever +had another night like that one in Malvei, even if he made you a +thousand promises, he wouldn't keep any of them. With your +consent or by force, he would take you, and then he would say to +you, 'You evil woman, I don't thank you, now that I've had my +pleasure.' Oh, my lady, my heart cries blood when I think of all +the terrible things he said about Your Highness! That's why, my +lady, I want to give you some advice even though you haven't +asked me for it. There's no one who has more compassion for you +than I have. I cradled you in my arms and fed you from my own +breast, and Your Highness has hidden from me to entertain that +wicked Tirant. You've had more faith in Stephanie and +Plaerdemavida than in me: and they have betrayed you and sold +you. Oh, poor you! How they've defamed you, and they'll do it +even more from now on! Keep away from friendships like those +since you know the truth, because what I tell you is the Gospel +itself. You must swear that you'll never tell a soul about these +things I've told Your Majesty. I'm afraid that if that traitor, +Tirant, hears about it, he'll have me killed and then he'll +leave. So, my lady, make pretenses, and break off your +friendship with him little by little, because if Your Highness +suddenly stopped seeing him, he would think that I told you. And +those two ladies deserve to be whipped. Don't you see how big +Stephanie's belly is? I'm astonished that the emperor hasn't +noticed it. And the same will happen to Plaerdemavida." + +The princess was very upset. With tears flowing from her eyes, +she began to lament angrily: + +"Oh, God! Where is Your justice? How is it that fire does not +descend from heaven to turn that cruel, ungrateful Tirant into +ashes? He was the first knight that I considered my master. I +thought he would bring an end to all my troubles, and now I see +everything turned around. Oh, who would ever have thought that +words like these could come from the mouth of such a virtuous +knight? What have I done to him, to make him want the deaths of +my father and my mother and their miserable daughter? Oh, +Tirant! What happened to the love we shared? What crime did I +commit for you to think me vile and abominable? Did you really +say that you love no lady or maiden unless it's for her wealth, +and that you want to take my virginity by force? Oh, if I wanted +to be cruel, before the sun came up your chamber would be full of +blood; yours and the blood of all your men." + +And she said no more. But hearing the call for matins, she +added: + +"Widow, let's go to bed, even though I'll get little sleep +tonight with the great hate I have for Tirant--the one I used to +love so much." + +The Widow answered: + +"My lady, I beg you, please. Don't say a word about this to +anyone. Who knows what might happen?" + +"Don't worry," said the princess. "I'll protect you." + +When they were in their chamber, Stephanie saw them come in, and +said: + +"It looks to me, my lady, as though you've had a great deal of +pleasure listening to the Widow--you've been with her so long. +I'd like to know what you're thinking about." + +The princess climbed into bed without answering, and began to cry +bitterly. When the Widow had gone, Stephanie asked her why she +was crying. The princess told her: + +"Stephanie, let me be, and take care that this doesn't happen to +you." + +Stephanie was surprised at this, not knowing what it could mean. +She did not reply, but drew close to her as she usually did. All +that night the princess could not sleep a wink and cried and +lamented continually. + +In the morning she got up, ill, because of her lack of sleep. +Nonetheless, she forced herself to go to mass. + +When Tirant learned of her condition, and when Stephanie told him +about her tears and crying all night long, he was very surprised, +and wondered what he had done. Going up to the princess, he +said: + +"If Your Excellency would like to tell me what is wrong, I would +be very pleased." + +Tirant could say no more because of the great emotion that he +felt, and the princess softly began to say the following words: + +"I will spend the rest of my life hiding the cause of my grief. +And don't think that it doesn't cost me a great deal of effort to +keep such terrible pain hidden." + +She could say no more because the doctors came, along with the +empress. Tirant took his leave to go to his lodgings, immersed +in thought about what the princess had told him, and he felt +distressed. He could not eat, and did not want to leave his +chamber until the constable went to the palace and spoke at +length with Stephanie and Plaerdemavida. He told them what great +anguish Tirant was in because of what the princess had said to +him. + +"How can we help him," said Stephanie, "if everything I mend by +day the Widow tears apart at night? If it weren't for the Widow, +I would have had him in her chambers, not once, but a hundred +times, like it or not, the way I did that night in the castle of +Malvei." + +As they finished talking, they went into the princess's chamber. +She was deeply involved in conversation with Widow Repose, and +Stephanie could not talk to her. The emperor, knowing that the +constable was there, thought that Tirant must be there too. So +he had them summoned, and as they had to hold counsel, the +emperor said: + +"Let us go to Carmesina's chambers, and we will see how she is, +because she has not felt well all day long." + +The constable went first, then came the emperor and Tirant, and +then everyone in the council who wished to go. They found the +princess playing cards with the Widow, withdrawn to a corner of +the chamber. The emperor sat at her side, asking about her +illness, and she quickly answered him: + +"Sire, as soon as I see Your Majesty, my illness suddenly +disappears." + +Then she turned her eyes on Tirant and smiled. The emperor was +very happy at Carmesina's words, and much more so when he saw her +in such a good mood. They spoke of many things, and the princess +answered everything Tirant said to her, because Widow Repose had +advised her to be nice to Tirant. + +What the Widow wanted was not for Tirant to return to his +country, but to lose hope of having the princess, and for him to +love the Widow instead. That is why she spoke so wickedly to the +princess. + +When it was nearly night, the emperor and all his men went to +their chambers, and the next day the emperor expressed his regret +that all the men had to leave for the camp. Tirant and his men +got ready as quickly as they could. While Stephanie was talking +with the princess that evening, she gave her the news about +Tirant, and the princess quickly said to her: + +"Be quiet, Stephanie. Don't make me any angrier. All those who +make appearances of love are not made exactly of gold." + +Stephanie tried to talk but she would not let her. + +So two or three days went by, and the princess showed a smiling +face to everyone, including Tirant, because she knew that soon +they would have to leave. And to the emperor she said: + +"Sire, here is Tirant, your virtuous captain, who will shortly do +to the sultan what he did to the Caramany and the King of Upper +India, or what he did to the King of Egypt. If everyone in the +world went into battle, he would certainly be the only one to win +honor and lasting fame. And that is worthy of a singular prize, +for he is a great warrior, and he has gone into battle with true +courage." + +The emperor said: + +"Virtuous captain, I thank you for all the honors you have +brought me, and I beg you to do the same from now on, or better, +for this is the hope I place in you." + +When Tirant heard so many superfluous words, and saw that the +princess had brought them on, almost in mockery, he could utter +only: + +"Perhaps." + +Tirant wanted to go to his chambers, and he went down a +staircase, into a room where he found the High Constable, +Stephanie and Plaerdemavida in animated conversation. Tirant +went to them and said: + +"My sisters, what are you talking about?" + +"My lord," answered Stephanie, "about how little love the +princess is showing your lordship when you are about to leave. +Now, more than ever, she should be showering you with love. +Then, my lord, we talked about what will happen to me if you go +away. Because the empress said to me last night, 'Stephanie, you +are in love.' I blushed and shamefully lowered my eyes. That +was a sign of assent, since I was silent, because at first I +didn't know what love was, except for that night at Malvei. And +if you leave there will be little good fortune and a miserable +gift of love for me except for all the pain I'll have for +company. Oh, poor me! That's the way I will be +punished--because of your wrongdoing." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "didn't I tell you that the day we left I +would beg the emperor, in the presence of the empress and the +princess, to give his consent to this marriage? The constable +will be here, and then we will hold your wedding." + +"And how will I get along," said Stephanie, "when you aren't +here? There won't be any celebration or dancing or festivities +at all without your lordship here." + +"Who wants festivities at a wedding if there weren't any at the +engagement?" said Tirant, "Leave the partying and merrymaking for +the bed." + +While they were talking, the emperor came down with Carmesina. +Tirant thought that this was a good time to tell the emperor. So +he went over to the emperor, and in Carmesina's presence he sank +to one knee, and humbly began the following plea: + +"With deep humility I beg Your Majesty, and the empress, and the +princess, to hold the marriage of the maiden Stephanie of +Macedonia to my singular brother, the Count of Sant Angel and the +High Constable of Your Highness, because marriages like these are +a union of the deepest kind of love." + +The emperor replied: + +"I am going to delegate my power to my daughter here so that she +can ask her mother's consent." + +And he left without another word, while the princess stayed +behind with them. When Stephanie saw that the emperor had gone +so quickly, she assumed that he did not approve of the marriage, +and she left the princess, Tirant, the constable and +Plaerdemavida, and went into a chamber alone and began to cry. + +Tirant took the princess's arm, and went with the constable and +Plaerdemavida to the empress's chambers. There Tirant and the +princess asked the empress to give her consent to this marriage, +since the emperor had agreed, and she answered that she would be +very happy to. They immediately called all the court to +Stephanie's betrothal. They all gathered in the great hall, +along with a cardinal who had been summoned to marry them. Then +they sent word for the bride to come, and they found her still +crying because she had heard no news until they came looking for +her and told her that the emperor and all the others were waiting +for her. + +The betrothal was celebrated with dances and a sumptuous feast. +The emperor wanted the wedding to take place the following day so +that Tirant's departure would not be delayed, and so it was done. +Great celebrations were held with jousts and dances and gaiety. +And everyone was happy except poor, miserable Tirant. + +The night of the wedding, Plaerdemavida caught five little +kittens and put them by the window where the bride was sleeping, +and they meowed all night long. After Plaerdemavida had put the +cats there she went to the emperor's chambers and said to him: + +"My lord, come to the bride's chamber quickly: the constable must +have hurt her terribly because I heard some loud cries. I am +really afraid that he may have killed your dear niece, or at +least hurt her badly; and since Your Majesty is such a close +relative of hers it's you who should go to her side." + +Plaerdemavida's words were so amusing that the emperor dressed +again and the two of them went to the door of the bridal chamber +and listened. When Plaerdemavida saw that they were not talking, +she quickly called out: + +"My lady, my bride, how is it that you aren't crying out or +talking now? It must be because in that battle your pain (That +pain that reaches down to your heels, and won't let you shout +that delightful 'Oh!') and your even greater haste are over. +It's a great pleasure, if you listen to what the maidens say. +Since you're so quiet, that's a sign that you've finished the +meal, bone and all. It will be bad for you if you don't do it +again. The emperor is right here, listening for you to cry out +because he's afraid you might be hurt." + +The emperor told her to be quiet, and not to say he was there. + +"I certainly will not," said Plaerdemavida. "I want them to know +that you're here." + +Then the bride began to cry out and to say that he was hurting +her and for him to be still, and Plaerdemavida said: + +"My lord, everything the bride is saying is a lie. Her words +don't come from the heart. They sound false to me, and they're +not to my liking." + +The emperor could not contain his laughter at Plaerdemavida's +delicious remarks. Then, when the bride heard them laughing so +hard she said: + +"Who put those wretched cats out there? Put them somewhere else, +I beg you: they won't let me sleep." + +Plaerdemavida replied: + +"That I certainly won't do. Didn't you know that I can get live +kittens out of a dead cat?" + +"Oh, what a lively young lady!" said the emperor. "How my heart +is warmed by the things you say. I swear to you by the Almighty +that if I didn't already have a wife I would have no other girl +but you." + +The empress had gone to the emperor's chamber and found the door +closed, and no one was there but a page who told her that the +emperor was at the door of the bridal chamber. Then she went +there and found him with four maidens. Plaerdemavida saw the +empress coming, and before anyone could talk she said: + +"Hope to die quickly, my lady: listen to what my lord the emperor +said to me--that if he didn't already have a wife he would have +no one but me. And since you're in my way, fall down dead right +now--as quickly as you can." + +"Oh, you wicked child!" said the empress. "Is that the sort of +thing you say to me?" And turning to the emperor: "And you, you +blessed saint, what do you want another wife for? To give her +taps instead of thrusts? Don't you know that no lady or maiden +ever died from being tapped?" + +And, joking, they went back to their chambers happily, and the +empress and the maidens returned to theirs. + +The next day, in the morning, everyone was happy, and they highly +honored the constable and the bride. They took them to the main +church where they heard mass with great honor. When they had +read the scripture the preacher mounted the pulpit and gave a +solemn sermon. + +When the sermon and the mass were finished, they had the +constable put on the clothing of the duchy of Macedonia, and they +displayed the flags of that duchy. On his head they put a crown +made entirely of fine silver, and they crowned Stephanie in the +same way. + +When these things were finished they left the church, riding +through the city with flags flying in the wind. The emperor, +with all the ladies and all the grandees, dukes, counts and +marquis, and many others on horseback, rode around the entire +city. Afterward they all went outside the city to a beautiful +meadow where there was a shining spring called Holy Spring. +After the flags were blessed, they baptized the duke and duchess +of the kingdom of Macedonia by pouring perfumed water on their +heads. + +The duke went to the Holy Spring, and the emperor took water from +the spring and baptized him again, giving him the title of Duke +of Macedonia. Then the trumpets sounded, and the heralds +shouted: + +"This is the illustrious Duke of Macedonia, of the great lineage +of Rocasalada." + +At that moment three hundred knights with golden spurs came, and +they all made a deep bow to the emperor, and paid great honor to +the Duke of Macedonia. And from this moment on he was no longer +called Constable. These three hundred knights separated into two +groups, and each knight took the most beautiful lady or the one +that was most to his liking. They held them with the reins of +the horses they were riding on. And each of them, in order, rode +forward: first those of highest station and lineage, and then +those who wished to joust. And when they met, one would tell the +other to give up the lady they had, or he would have to joust +with him, and the one who broke the other's lance first would +take his lady. + +While the knights were engaged in these games, the emperor went +to the city of Pera where the celebration was prepared. It was +already past noon, and the knights had not yet returned, so the +emperor went to the top of a high tower. He had a great horn +blown that could be heard more than a league away, and when the +knights heard the horn, they all set out on the road to Pera. +Then three hundred other knights came out, dressed in the same +color of garments, and they blocked the road. A very singular +display of arms took place there which greatly pleased the +emperor. + +All the ladies and maidens who had been taken prisoner fled to +the city and left the knights. + +The combat between the knights lasted more than two hours as the +emperor did not want to stop it, and when they had broken all +their lances they fought with swords. The emperor called for the +trumpets to sound, and they all separated, each group to a +different side. When the knights were separated, each sought out +his lady, and they could not find them. Then they began to say +that the other knights had taken them prisoner, and each of them +complained to the empress and the princess about the ladies they +had lost. They answered that they knew nothing, and that they +believed the other knights had them hidden. Then these knights, +very furious, raised their swords and spurred toward the others, +and they began to fight again. + +When it had gone on for a good spell, they saw the ladies on the +palace walls. A trumpet sounded, and they all gathered together +and attacked the palace mightily, and the women defended it. But +the men outside broke in by force of their arms. When they were +inside the great patio they divided into two groups, and taking a +king-of-arms, they sent him to the knights who had come most +recently, demanding that they leave, for they were each there to +get back their lady, along with the ones they had won. They +answered that they would not leave for anything in the world. +They wanted their share of what was due to them, as they had +placed themselves in such grave danger of death. After this, +they held combat on foot inside the palace, and it was a +delicious sight to see, for some were falling here and others +there. Others delivered marvelous blows with their axes, and +whoever lost his axe could not fight again, nor could anyone +whose body or hand touched the floor. They fought in such a way +that it became a fight of ten against ten, and then it was +beautiful to see. Finally the emperor had them separated, and +then they were all disarmed in the great hall, and there they +dined. When it was a half hour before sunset they began to +dance, and they held a long and pretty dance. They took the +princess and all the ladies, and dancing, they went to the city +of Constantinople. + +After the meal Tirant gathered all those of his lineage, +thirty-five knights and gentlemen who had come with him or the +Viscount of Branches. They went to kiss the foot and hand of the +emperor, thanking him for the great kindness he had done them in +giving his beautiful niece to Diafebus for his bride. And after +they had all thanked him, the emperor smiled and said: + +"Because of the great virtue I see in you, Tirant, I love you +deeply. And I would not want anyone to marry a relative of mine +if he were not of the lineage of Rocasalada. I would have begged +you to take Stephanie, my niece, as your wife, along with the +duchy of Macedonia, so that you would be more united with the +crown of the Empire of Greece, and I would have given you many +other things. At the time that I offered it, you did not want to +be a count; instead you gave it to your relative. And now I +would have given you the duchy, along with a lady who is a +relative of mine, and you did not want that either. I don't know +what you're waiting for! If you want me to give you my empire, +don't count on it: I need it." + +Tirant replied: + +"The greatest glory I could have is to leave an inheritance to my +relatives and friends. As an inheritance of my own I want +nothing more than a horse and arms, so Your Highness will have to +work a great deal to make me rich." + +The old emperor was pleased by Tirant's words. Turning to his +daughter, the emperor said: + +"I have never known a knight with as much virtue as Tirant. If +God gives me life I will see him crowned a king." + + CHAPTER VII IN THE PRINCESS'S BED + +After the celebrations were over, Diafebus, the Duke of +Macedonia, lived in the emperor's palace. The following day the +duke invited all those of his lineage, Rocasalada, to dine. +While the guests were eating, the emperor told his daughter to go +to the duchess' chamber since all the foreigners from Brittany +were there. + +"The duke is attempting to pay them honor, and celebrations like +this are useless if there are no maidens present." + +The princess replied: + +"My lord, I will obey Your Majesty's command." + +Accompanied by many ladies and maidens she started toward the +duchess' chamber. With great malice Widow Repose went up to her, +and said: + +"Oh, my lady! Why does Your Highness want to go where these +foreigners are? Do you want to disturb their dinner? When they +see Your Excellency no one will dare eat in your presence. You +and your father want to honor them and give them pleasure, and +yet you do them great harm. For all of them would prefer to see +the wing of a partridge than all the maidens in the world. Your +Highness should not act so freely, going to such a place, since +you are the emperor's daughter. Think highly of yourself if you +want to be well thought of by other people. It's a bad sign when +I see Your Excellency always with that fool, Tirant." + +"Don't I have to obey what my father, the emperor, orders me to +do?" said the princess. "I don't think anyone would blame me for +obeying my father's command." + +But she went back to her own chamber without visiting the +duchess. When everyone had eaten, Plaerdemavida decided to see +Tirant and talk to the duchess. Seeing Tirant sitting there, +deep in thought, she went over to him, and to console him she +said: + +"Captain, my lord, my soul suffers deeply when it sees you so sad +and lost in thought. Tell me, your grace, how I can help, for I +will not fail you even if my life were in the balance." + +Tirant was very grateful to her. The duchess approached them, +and asked Plaerdemavida why the princess had not come. +Plaerdemavida answered that Widow Repose was the cause, for she +had scolded her at length. + +And she would not tell what the Widow had said about Tirant so +that he would not explode in anger. + +"I wish," said Tirant, "that she were a man. Then I could repay +her for all the wicked things she says." + +"Would you like to do it properly?" asked Plaerdemavida. "Let's +leave the wickedness aside and get right down to business; the +remedies will come later. I'm well aware that we won't +accomplish anything if we don't mix in a little force, so I'll +tell you what I think. Her Highness told me to prepare a bath +for her the day after tomorrow. So when everyone is eating I'll +take you into the chamber where she takes her bath in such a way +that no one will see you. When she comes out of the bath and +goes to sleep I'll be able to place you by her side in the bed. +And just as you are serious and skillful on the battlefield you +must be the same way in bed. This is the quickest road for +getting what you want. If you know a better one, speak up, don't +hold your tongue." + +The duchess said: + +"Let me talk to her first, and I'll see what sort of answer she +gives. Your idea will have to be the last thing we do to get +what we want." + +Tirant spoke: + +"I wouldn't want to do anything that would offend my lady. What +good would it do me to have my desire with Her Highness if it's +against her will? I would rather undergo a cruel death than make +Her Majesty angry in any way, or do anything against her wishes." + +"In God's faith, I don't like what I'm hearing from you," said +Plaerdemavida. "If the desire to love exists in you, you won't +run away from the narrow path I'm offering you. My experience +speaks for itself, and it desires to serve you and bring you all +the good I can--even more than I can. But I see that you're +going off in a strange direction. You want to go down a dead-end +street. From now on you go find someone else to take care of +your problem. I don't want to have anything more to do with it." + +"Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you, please, don't be angry. Let's +put our minds together and do what's best. If you fail me in +this, there's nothing left for me to do but go off, hopeless, +like a madman." + +"Not even the angels," said Plaerdemavida, "could give you better +advice than I have." + +They decided that the duchess should go to the princess's chamber +to see if it was possible for him to talk to her. When they got +there they found her in her room, combing her hair. Then the +duchess thought up some youthful mischief: she went into a room +that the princess would have to pass through when she came out of +her chamber. She lay down at the foot of the bed and leaned on +her elbow, very dejected. When the princess heard that she was +there, she sent word for her to come into the chamber, but the +duchess did not want to go. And Plaerdemavida, who had contrived +it all this way, told her: + +"Leave her alone. She can't come. She's very sick and I don't +know what's wrong with her. She's very sad." + +When the princess had combed her hair, she came out of the +chamber and saw the duchess with a very sad face. She went over +to her and said: + +"Oh, my dear sister! What's wrong? Please, I beg you, tell me +quickly, for I feel very bad about your illness, and if I can +help you in any way, I will." + +"I'll tell Your Highness what hurts me, for I am prepared to lose +my life in this matter. It's impossible for me to go back on the +promise I made, by your command, to Tirant in the castle of +Malvei. So, my lady, I beg Your Excellency not to allow me to +remain a perjurer or for you to be the cause of my downfall, for +I will have to be on bad terms with the duke and with Tirant." + +As the duchess said this, tears flowed from her eyes. The +painful tears of the duchess moved the princess to pity, and she +forgot much of the anger she felt for Tirant. With a humble +voice she answered tenderly: + +"Duchess, you have to realize that I am just as sad as you are. +But, my lady and sister, don't grieve any longer, for you know +that I love you more than anyone in the world, and I will behave +from now on as God wills. Since you want me to talk to Tirant, I +will, out of love for you, even though I have little desire to do +anything for him. If you knew how he treats me and all the +things he's said about me, you would be astonished. I'll put up +with him because of the great danger we're in, and because we all +need him. But I swear to you by this blessed day that if it +weren't for that I would never allow him in my presence again. +Who would think that such ingratitude could exist in such a +virtuous knight." + +The duchess replied with the following words: + +"My lady, I am astonished that Your Highness could believe that a +knight as noble and virtuous as Tirant could have said even one +word to offend Your Majesty. If his ears had heard anything +spoken against you, he would have killed everyone including +himself. So don't even think, Your Highness, that Tirant is the +way he's been described to you. Some miserable person has led +you to believe a false story, and is trying to destroy the +reputation of the best knight in all the world." + +Plaerdemavida stepped in and said: + +"My lady, take that vice of having bad thoughts about Tirant out +of your head, for if anyone in the world deserves merit, it's +Tirant. Who is the half-wit who could make Your Majesty believe +that a knight exists who can even compare to him in glory, honor +and virtue? There is no one (unless they wanted to lie) who +could say (unless it's with great wickedness) that Tirant would +say anything but good things about Your Excellency. Forget what +wicked people say, and love the one you should love, for it will +be to your great glory to possess such a virtuous knight. Love +one who loves you, my lady, and leave the wicked talk to that +devil, Widow Repose. She's the one who's causing all this +trouble, and I trust God that it will all fall back on her. I +have only one hope in this world: to see her whipped through the +streets of the city, naked, with cow entrails hanging down her +shoulders, her eyes and her face." + +"Be quiet," said the princess. "You just think Widow Repose is +telling me all this, but she's not. I'm the one who can see all +the terrible things that could happen. But in spite of it all, +I'll do whatever you tell me." + +"If you listen to my advice," said Plaerdemavida, "I'll tell you +to do only things that will bring you honor." + +And so they left. The duchess went back to her chambers and +found Tirant there, and she told him everything that had +happened. Tirant, very happy, went to the great hall where the +emperor, the princess and the empress were, with all the ladies, +and they danced there for a good while. And the princess +continually entertained Tirant. + +After the dancing was over, when the princess withdrew to dine, +Widow Repose approached her. With no one around to hear, she +said: + +"It hurts me to see how much love permits, and I curse the day +you were born. For many people constantly turn their eyes to +Your Majesty, and then to me, and they say to me three times: +'Oh, Widow! Oh, Widow Repose! How can you allow a man who is a +foreigner to carry off Carmesina's virginity?' Just imagine if +someone who hears words like those doesn't have the right to +grieve and to despair of their life? How could you think, my +lady, that such a thing could be done without bishops and +archbishops knowing of it? I'm only telling you all this, my +lady, to bring it to mind again, for I've already told you about +it several times." + +She decided to say no more, and waited to see what the princess +would say. The princess was brimming with emotion at this +moment, but she had no time to reply to the poisonous words of +the wicked Widow because the emperor was at his table, waiting +for the princess, and he had sent word for her to come twice +already. + +The princess said: + +"Madam Widow, to be able to give an answer to everything you have +told me would be a delicious meal for me." + +She left the chamber, and when the duchess, who was waiting to +find out if Tirant could go to her that night, saw her come out +so agitated and flushed, she did not dare say a word to her. But +when Plaerdemavida saw her in that state too, and also saw the +Widow following behind, she said to her: + +"Oh, my lady, I've always noticed that when the sky turns red +it's the sign of a storm." + +"Shut up, you madwoman," said the princess. "You're always +spouting nonsense." + +You can imagine how the princess must have appeared, for when the +emperor saw her he asked her why she looked that way, and if +anyone had made her angry. The princess answered: + +"No, my lord. Since I left Your Majesty's side I've been lying +down in my bed, because my heart has been in pain. But thanks to +Our Heavenly Father I have found a cure for my ache." + +The emperor commanded the doctors to oversee her diet, and they +ordered pheasant for dinner, which is gentle meat for the heart. +The duchess sat at her side, not to eat, but to be able to talk +to her and to tell her that Tirant was waiting for her in his +chamber with good news. When the meal was over, the duchess +leaned toward her and whispered: + +"What is open has the seal of truth, and what is done secretly, +as the Widow does, shows evil. A vassal cannot deceive his +master, and since the Widow is my vassal, I want her death, for +her actions deserve great punishment." + +"My duchess," said the princess, "I love you very much, and I +will do as much for you as one can reasonably do for her +sister--even more. Leave Widow Repose alone, because even though +she's your vassal, she's not to blame for anything." + +The duchess said: + +"Give me an answer to that matter of Tirant: Do you want him to +come tonight? I'm sure that's what he's hoping for so anxiously. +Don't tell me no, upon your life." + +"I'll be very happy for him to come this evening," said the +princess. "I'll wait for him here and we shall dance, and if he +wishes to tell me anything, I'll listen to him." + +"Oh, my dear girl," said the duchess. "Now you want to change +the game on me. I'm only telling you that if you want that +virtuous man, Tirant (without whom you can gain neither blessings +or honor) to come see you, the same way he did that pleasant +night in the castle of Malvei-- let's see if you can catch my +meaning now!" + +"I can't think at all when you mention Tirant's name to me," said +the princess. "You may certainly tell Tirant that I beg him, as +a knight full of faith and virtue, to stop tempting my soul which +has been crying tears of blood for many days. But after he comes +here it will be I who will consent, and in a greater way than he +imagines." + +"Oh, my lady!" said the duchess. "If Your Excellency wishes to +do battle with Tirant, place yourself in his arms again with the +same fear you felt that night at Malvei, with the promises and +oaths you swore to him." + +"Shall I tell you something, my sister and my lady?" said the +princess. "I want to keep my reputation and my honor as I value +my life. And this I intend to do with God's help." + +The duchess left very angrily, and when she saw Tirant she told +him about her lady's bad disposition. Tirant's anguish increased +to an even greater degree than usual. + +When the emperor had dined, knowing that Tirant was in the duke's +chamber, he sent for him and said to the princess: + +"Send for the minstrels so that the knights can enjoy themselves. +The time for their departure has been set." + +"No," said the princess. "I feel more like going to bed than +dancing." + +She immediately took leave of her father and withdrew to her +chamber so that she would not have to talk to Tirant. Widow +Repose, who had heard her say these words, was very satisfied +with what she had done. Plaerdemavida went to the duchess' +chamber and said to Tirant: + +"Captain, put no hope in this lady as long as Widow Repose is +around her. They've already withdrawn to her chamber, and are +speaking together about your affairs. You'll never get your way +with her unless you do what I'm going to tell you: Tomorrow +she'll take her bath, and I will be so clever that at night I'll +put you in her bed. You'll find her completely naked. Do what +I'm telling you, for I know she'll never say a word. Where the +duchess used to sleep, I've taken her place now that she's no +longer there. Since this is the case, let me take care of it." + +"Maiden," said Tirant, "I am extremely grateful to you for all +your gentility, and for what you are telling me, but there is one +thing you should know about me: I wouldn't use force against a +lady or maiden for anything in the world, even if it should cost +me the crown of the Empire of Greece, or of Rome, or of the +entire Kingdom of Earth. I prefer to go through the pain and +trial of pleading with her, for I am completely convinced that +she was created in Paradise. Her gracefulness shows that she is +more angelic than human." + +He said no more. Plaerdemavida, showing her anger to Tirant, +said: + +"Tirant, Tirant, you will never be brave or feared in battle if +you don't mix a little bit of force in when you love a lady or a +maiden. Since you have a good and genteel hope, and you love a +maiden valiantly, go into her room and throw yourself down on her +bed when she's naked or in her nightshirt, and wound her boldly, +because among friends no towel is necessary. And if you don't do +it, I won't be your ally any longer, for I know many knights who +have deserved honor, glory and fame from their ladies because +they had their hands ready and valiant. Oh Lord, how wonderful +to have a tender maiden, about fourteen years old and completely +naked, in your arms! Oh Lord, how wonderful to be in her bed, +kissing her all the while! Oh Lord, how wonderful if she's of +royal blood! Oh Lord, how wonderful to have an emperor as her +father! Oh Lord, how wonderful to have her rich and generous, +and free of all infamy!... Now what I want most of all is for +you to do what I tell you." + +By this time most of the night was gone and they wanted to lock +up the palace, so Tirant had to leave. When he had said +goodnight to the duchess and was already going out, Plaerdemavida +said: + +"Captain, my lord, I wouldn't be able to find anyone who would do +as much for me: Go to sleep, and don't come back from the other +side." + +Tirant burst out laughing and said to her: + +"You have such an angelic nature, you're always giving good +advice." + +And so they went their separate ways. + +That night Tirant thought about everything the maiden had said to +him. The next morning the emperor sent for the captain, and he +immediately went and found him dressing, and the princess had +come to wait on him. She was wearing a brocade skirt, with no +cloth covering her breasts, and her hair, loosened somewhat, +almost reached to the ground. When Tirant approached the emperor +he was astonished to see as much perfection in a human body as he +saw in her then. The emperor said to him: + +"Captain, in God's name, I beg you to do everything possible so +that you can leave with your men soon." + +Tirant was so impressed by the vision of this striking lady that +he was stupefied and could not speak. After some time had passed +he recovered and said: + +"I was thinking about the Turks when I saw Your Majesty, so I +didn't hear you. Your Highness, tell me what you want me to do, +I beg you." + +The emperor was surprised to see him so distracted, but since he +had understood so little he thought that that must be the case, +for he had seemed entranced for half an hour. The emperor +repeated what he had said, and Tirant answered: + +"My lord, Your Majesty should know that the crier is running +throughout the city, telling everyone that the departure is set +for Monday, and today is Friday. So we will be leaving very +soon, my lord, and nearly everyone is already prepared." + +Tirant stood behind the emperor so that he would not see him, and +covering his face with his hands, he looked at the princess. She +and the other maidens laughed out loud while Plaerdemavida stood +in front of the emperor, and taking the emperor's arm, she turned +him toward her and said: + +"If you have done anything noteworthy it's because of Tirant, who +conquered the Grand Turk and made him lose the false and terrible +madness he had about ruling the entire Greek empire. He also +intended to conquer the old emperor here with pretty words, and +instead the Turkish kings and the sultan desperately ran for +safety to the great fortress in the city of Bellpuig. And not at +their leisure, but swept along by the fear that took control of +their feet. He has won renown by his own virtue, and if I had +the royal scepter and were lord of the Greek empire, and if +Carmesina had come from my body, I know very well whose wife I +would make her. But all of us girls are foolish like this: we +want nothing but honor, position, and dignity, and as a result +many of us come to a bad end. What good would it do for me to +belong to the line of David if I lost what I had for lack of a +good man? And you, my lord, try to save your soul, since you've +spared your body in battles in the past, and don't even think +about giving any other husband to your daughter but... Do I have +to say it? I won't... I must: the virtuous Tirant. Take this +consolation while you're alive, and don't expect it to be done +after your blessed days are over, because the things that nature +wills and that are ordered by God must be consented to. That way +you'll have glory in this world and paradise in the next." + +Then she turned to the princess, and said: + +"You who are of such lofty blood, take a husband soon--very soon. +If your father won't give you one, I will, and I'll give you none +other than Tirant. For it's a wonderful thing to have both a +husband and a knight, whoever can have one. This man is greater +than all the others in prowess. If you don't think so, Your +Majesty, look at the disorder of your empire and the point it had +reached before Tirant came to this land." + +"Please be quiet, girl," said Tirant, "and don't say such +outlandish things about me." + +"Go on out to your battles," said Plaerdemavida, "and let me be." + +The emperor answered: + +"By the bones of my father, the emperor Albert, you are the most +extraordinary maiden in the world, but the further you go, the +more I like you. And now, as a present, I'm going to give you +fifty thousand ducats." + +She knelt to the ground and kissed his hand. The princess was +very disturbed by what she had said, and Tirant was somewhat +embarrassed. When the emperor had finished dressing he went to +mass. As they came out from mass Tirant had an opportunity to +talk to the princess, and he said to her: + +"Anyone who makes a promise puts himself in debt." + +"The promise," said the princess, "was not made in the presence +of a notary." + +Plaerdemavida, who was standing nearby, heard the princess's +reply, and quickly said to her: + +"Let's have none of that: a promise to fulfill love doesn't +require any witnesses, and even less a notary. What a miserable +state we'd be in if we had to have it in writing every time! +There wouldn't be enough paper in the world! Do you know how +it's done? In the dark and without witnesses, because the +lodging is never missed." + +"Oh, this madwoman!" said the princess. "Do you always have to +talk to me about the same thing?" + +No matter how much Tirant spoke to her, no matter how he pleaded, +she would do nothing for him. + +When they were in the chambers, the emperor called Carmesina and +said to her: + +"Tell me, my daughter, those things Plaerdemavida said--where do +they come from?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, my lord," said the princess. "I never +spoke of such a thing to her. But this madwoman is impertinent +and she says anything that comes into her head." + +"She's no madwoman," said the emperor. "In fact, she's the most +sensible maiden in my court. She's a good girl, and she always +gives good advice. Haven't you noticed when you've come to the +council chambers that when you make her talk she is always very +discreet? Would you like to have our captain for your husband?" + +The princess blushed shamefully, and could not utter a word. +After a moment, when she had recovered, she said: + +"My lord, when your captain has finished conquering the Moors, +then I will do whatever Your Majesty commands me." + +Tirant went to the duchess' chamber, and sent for Plaerdemavida. +When she was there, he said: + +"Oh, genteel lady! I don't know what help you can give me: My +soul is in discord with my body, and unless you can cure my +illness I don't care whether I live or die." + +"I'll do it tonight," said Plaerdemavida, "if you do as I say." + +"Command me, maiden," said Tirant, "and may God increase your +honor. The things you said when the emperor was here, about the +princess and me: who told you to say them?" + +"You, and my lady, and the emperor too: You're all thinking the +same thing," said Plaerdemavida. "When he asked me, I gave him +even better reasons why you're worthy of having the princess as a +wife. To what better man could she be given than to you? And he +agrees with everything that I say. I'll tell you why, in strict +confidence: He's in love with me, and he would pull up my chemise +if I'd let him. He's sworn to me on the Bible that if the +empress was dying, he would take me as a wife in a minute. And +he told me: 'As a sign of our pact, let's kiss; this kiss will be +very little, but it's better to have something than nothing.' +And I answered him: 'Now that you are old, you're a lecher. When +you were young, were you virtuous?' Only a few hours ago he gave +me this string of fat pearls, and now he's with his daughter, +asking her if she wants you for a husband. Do you know why I +said that to him? Because if you go to her chamber at night and +it's your bad fortune to cause a commotion, and they try to +charge me with something, I'll have an alibi. I'll say: 'My +lord, I already told Your Majesty. The princess ordered me to +let him in.' And that way no one will be able to say anything. +So that you can see my good will and how much I want to help and +honor your grace, when the emperor is dining, come to me. I +promise to put you in my lady's bed, and in the refreshing night +you'll see how solace comes to those who are in love." + +While they were talking, the emperor, knowing that Tirant was in +the duchess' chamber, sent for him, and interrupted their +conversation. + +When Tirant held counsel with the emperor, they spoke at length +about war and what things would be needed, and at that time they +were all dressed in readiness for battle. When the dark shadows +of night had fallen, Tirant came to the duchess' chamber, and +while the emperor was with the ladies, Plaerdemavida went into +the chamber very happily, took Tirant by the hand and led him +away. He was dressed in a jacket of red satin, with a cloak over +his shoulders and a sword in his hand. Plaerdemavida put him in +the chamber. A large box was there with a hole she had made so +he could breathe. The bath had been prepared, and it stood in +front of the box. After the ladies had eaten, they danced with +the gallant knights. When they saw that Tirant was not there +they stopped dancing, and the emperor retired to his chamber +while the ladies departed, and left the princess alone with her +ladies-in-waiting in her chamber where Tirant was. Plaerdemavida +opened the box under the pretext of taking out a sheet of +delicate linen for the bath, and she left it slightly open, +putting clothing on top so that none of the other women would see +him. The princess began to take off her clothes, and +Plaerdemavida prepared her seat which had been placed directly in +front so that Tirant could see her clearly. + +When she was completely naked Plaerdemavida brought a lighted +candle to give pleasure to Tirant, and looking at all of her body +and everything that was in view, she said: + +"In faith, my lady, if Tirant were here and could touch you with +his hands the way I am, I believe he would prefer that to being +made ruler of the kingdom of France." + +"Don't believe it," said the princess. "He would rather be king +than touch me the way you are." + +"Oh, my lord Tirant! Where are you now? Why aren't you standing +here, nearby, so that you can see and touch the thing you love +most in this world and in the world beyond? Look, my lord +Tirant, here are the locks of my princess; I kiss them in your +name, for you are the best of all knights in the world. Here are +her eyes and her mouth: I kiss them for you. Here are her +crystalline breasts: I hold one in each hand, and I kiss them for +you. See how small, how firm, how white and smooth they are. +Look Tirant, here is her belly, her thighs and her secret place. +Oh, wretched me, if I were a man I would want to spend my last +days here. Oh, Tirant! Where are you now? Why don't you come +to me when I call you so tenderly? Only the hands of Tirant are +worthy to touch where I am touching, and no one else, because +this is a morsel that there is no one who would not like to choke +on." + +Tirant was watching all this, and could not have been more +pleased by the fine wit of Plaerdemavida's comments, and he felt +sorely tempted to come out of the box. + +When they had been there some time, joking, the princess stepped +into the bath and told Plaerdemavida to remove her clothes and +join her. + +"I will, under one condition." + +"What's that?" asked the princess. + +Plaerdemavida answered: + +"That you consent to have Tirant in your bed for one hour while +you're in it." + +"Hush! You're mad!" said the princess. + +"If you please, my lady, tell me what you would say if Tirant +came here one night without any of us knowing it?" + +"What else could I tell him," said the princess, "but beg him to +leave, and if he wouldn't go, I would keep quiet rather than be +defamed." + +"In faith, my lady," said Plaerdemavida, "that's what I would do +too." + +While they were saying these things, Widow Repose came in, and +the princess begged her to join her in the bath. The Widow +removed all her clothing except her red stockings and a linen hat +on her head; and although she was very pretty and well endowed, +the red stockings and the hat on her head made her so ugly that +she looked like a devil, and it is true that any lady or maiden +you see in that sort of attire will look very ugly to you no +matter how genteel she may be. + +When the bath was finished they brought the repast to the +princess, which was a pair of partridges, and then a dozen eggs +with sugar and cinnamon. Afterward she lay down in her bed to +sleep. + +The Widow went to her chamber with the other ladies except for +two who slept in the chamber. When they were all asleep, +Plaerdemavida got up from the bed and she led Tirant from the box +in her nightshirt, and made him take off all his clothing, +quietly, so that no one would hear him. And Tirant's heart, +hands and feet were trembling. + +"What's this?" said Plaerdemavida. "There's not a man in the +world who is valiant with weapons, but who isn't afraid when he's +with women. In battle there's not a man alive you're afraid of, +and here you tremble at the sight of one lone maiden. Don't +worry, I'll be with you the whole time. I won't leave your +side." + +"By the faith I owe our Heavenly Father, I would be happier to +joust ten knights to the death than commit an act like this." + +The maiden took him by the hand, and he followed her, trembling, +and said: + +"Maiden, all my fear is really shame, because of the extreme good +will that I desire for my lady. I would much rather go back than +continue on when I think that Her Majesty knows nothing about any +of this. When she sees what's happening she will be completely +frightened, and I would rather die than offend Her Majesty." + +Plaerdemavida was very angry with Tirant's words, and she said: + +"Oh, you faint-hearted knight. Does a maiden frighten you so +much that you're afraid to go near her? Oh, unlucky captain. Do +you have so little courage that you dare say such words to me? +Pluck up your courage. + +When the emperor comes, what story will you invent to tell him? +I'll have you discovered, and God and the whole world will know +that you have spoken ill, and let me remind you that this time +you'll lose your honor and your fame. Do what I tell you and +I'll give you a secure life and have you wearing the crown of the +Greek Empire, because the time has come when I can tell you only +one thing: to go quickly and take those steps that will lead you +to the princess." + +Seeing the frankness in Plaerdemavida's words, Tirant said: + +"Let's go on without delay, I beg you, and let me see that +glorified body. And since there's no light I'll see her only +with the eyes of the imagination." + +"I've used great ingenuity to bring you here," said +Plaerdemavida, "so conduct yourself in a proper way." + +And she let go his hand. Tirant discovered that Plaerdemavida +had left him, and he did not know where she was because there was +no light in the room. She made him wait half an hour, barefoot, +and in his shirt-sleeves. He called to her as softly as he +could, and she heard him perfectly well but did not answer. When +Plaerdemavida saw that she had made him grow quite cold, she had +pity on him, and going up to him she said: + +"That's the way people who aren't in love are punished. How +could you imagine that any lady or maiden of high or low station, +wouldn't want to be loved? Anyone who can go in by honest or +secret roads, by night or by day, through a window, a door or a +roof, is thought of highly. I wouldn't be unhappy if Hippolytus +would do it to me. And I wouldn't be upset if he would take me +by the hair, and drag me through the room, with my consent or +without it, and make me be quiet, and I would let him do anything +he wanted. I would rather know that he's a man. In other things +you should honor, love and serve her; but when you're alone in a +room with her, that's no time to be polite." + +"In faith, maiden," said Tirant, "you've pointed out my defects +to me better than any confessor could, no matter how great a +teacher of theology he might be. Take me to my lady's bed +quickly, I beg you." + +Plaerdemavida took him there, and made him lie down beside the +princess. The head of the bed did not touch the wall, and when +Tirant was lying down, the maiden told him to be still and not to +move until she said so. Then she stood at the end of the bed, +and she put her head between Tirant and the princess, facing the +princess. Because the sleeves of her blouse bothered her, she +rolled them up, and taking Tirant's hand, she placed it on the +princess' breasts, and he touched her nipples, and her belly, and +below. The princess awoke, and said: + +"My heaven, what a bother you are! Can't you let me sleep?" + +Plaerdemavida, with her head on the pillow, said: + +"Oh! You're a very difficult lady to take. You've just come out +of the bath, and your skin is so smooth and nice that it makes me +feel good just to touch it." + +"Touch all you like," said the princess, "but don't put your hand +so far down." + +"Go back to sleep," said Plaerdemavida, "and let me touch this +body that's mine, because I'm here in Tirant's place. Oh, +Tirant, you traitor! + +Where are you? If you had your hand where I have mine, wouldn't +you be unhappy!" + +Tirant had his hand on the princess' belly, and Plaerdemavida had +her hand on Tirant's head, and when she saw that the princess was +asleep, she loosened her grip, and then Tirant touched at will, +and when she was about to wake up, the girl squeezed Tirant's +head, and he stopped. They spent more than an hour at this play, +and he did not cease touching her. When Plaerdemavida saw that +she was deep in sleep she removed her hand completely from +Tirant, and he carefully tried to accomplish his desire. But the +princess began to wake up, and half asleep, she said: + +"But what are you doing, you wretched girl? Can't you let me +sleep? Have you gone mad, trying to do what's against your +nature?" + +It was not long until she knew that it was more than a woman, and +she refused to surrender to him and began to cry out. +Plaerdemavida covered her mouth and whispered in her ear so that +none of the other girls would hear her: + +"Hush, my lady, you don't want to be dishonored. I'm terribly +afraid that the empress will hear you. Be quiet: this is your +knight who is ready to die for you." + +"Oh, you wicked girl!" said the princess. "You've had no fear of +me or shame of the world. Without my consent you've put me in a +very bad situation and defamed me." + +"What's done is done, my lady," said Plaerdemavida. "It seems to +me that being quiet is the only solution for you and me: it's the +safest thing, and what's best in this case." + +Tirant softly pleaded with her as well as he could. She found +herself in a difficult situation, because love was conquering her +on the one hand, and fear on the other, but since fear was +stronger than love, she decided to be still and she said nothing. + +When the princess first screamed, Widow Repose heard her, and she +was fully aware that the cause of that scream had been +Plaerdemavida, and that Tirant must be with her. And she thought +that if Tirant was seducing the princess, she couldn't accomplish +her own desire with him. Now everyone was silent and the +princess was not saying a thing, but instead was defending +herself with graceful words so that the pleasant battle would not +come to an end. The Widow sat bolt upright in her bed and cried +out: + +"My daughter, what's wrong?" + +She woke up all the girls, shrieking loudly and making so much +noise that the empress heard it. They all got up, some entirely +naked and others in their nightshirts, and quickly ran to the +door of the bedchamber which they found closed fast, and they +cried out for a light. At the very moment that they were +pounding on the door and calling for light, Plaerdemavida seized +Tirant by the hair, and pulled him from the place where he would +have liked to end his life. She led him to a small chamber and +made him jump to a rooftop there. Then she gave him a hemp rope +so that he could drop down to the garden and from there could +open the gate. She had it very well prepared so that when he +came he could leave by another door before daybreak. But the +disturbance and the cries of the Widow and the girls were so loud +that she could not let him out the way she had planned, and she +was forced to let him out by the roof. So, giving him the long +rope, she quickly turned and closed the window and then went back +to her lady. + +Tirant turned around and tied the rope securely, and in his haste +to leave without being seen or heard, he did not watch carefully +to see whether or not the rope reached the ground. He let +himself slide down the rope which hung more than thirty-five feet +from the ground. He had to let go because his arms could not +hold the weight of his body, and he hit the ground so hard that +he broke his leg. + +Let us leave Tirant stretched out on the ground, unable to move. + +When Plaerdemavida returned, they brought the light, and all the +women came in with the empress who immediately asked what the +disturbance was and why she had cried out. + +"Madam," said the princess, "a huge rat jumped up on my bed and +ran over my face, and I was so frightened that I screamed. He +scratched my face with his claws, and if he had gotten my eye, +you can imagine what damage he would have done!" + +Now that scratch had been made by Plaerdemavida when she covered +her mouth so she would not scream. The emperor had gotten up, +and he entered the princess's chamber with his sword in his hand, +and hearing about the rat, he looked through all the rooms. But +the maiden had been discreet: When the empress came in and was +talking to her daughter, she jumped out onto the roof and quickly +removed the rope. She heard Tirant moaning, and immediately +realized that he had fallen, and she went back to the chamber +without saying a word. There was so much noise throughout the +palace, between the guards and the palace officials, that it was +a wonder to hear and to behold; and if the Turks had entered the +city the disturbance would not have been any greater. The +emperor, who was a very discreet man, suspected that this had to +be more than a rat, and he even looked into the coffers. Then he +had all the windows opened, so that if the maiden had not been +quick about removing the rope he would have found it. + +When the duke and duchess, who knew what was going on, heard all +the noise, they thought Tirant had been discovered. Imagine how +the duke must have felt, thinking that Tirant was in such a +difficult situation, and that he must have been killed or +imprisoned. He quickly armed himself to help Tirant since he had +his weapons there, and he said: + +"Today I'll lose my entire kingdom because Tirant is in such a +bad situation." + +"And look at me," said the duchess. "I don't have enough +strength in my hands to put on my blouse." + +When the duke was armed he left his room to see what was +happening, and to find out where Tirant was. And as he was going +out he saw the emperor returning to his chamber. The duke asked +him: + +"What is it, Sire? What's the cause of this disturbance?" + +The emperor answered: + +"Those foolish maidens who aren't afraid of anything. According +to what they say, a rat climbed over my daughter's face, and she +says it left a scratch on her cheek. Go back to sleep, you're +not needed here." + +The duke went back to his room and told the duchess, and they +were both very relieved that nothing had happened to Tirant. +Then the duke said: + +"For the love of Our Lady, I went out of here in such a state +that if the emperor had imprisoned Tirant I would have killed him +and everyone who came to his aid, and then Tirant or I would have +been emperor." + +"But it's best that it turned out as it did," said the duchess. + +She quickly got up and went to the princess's chamber. When +Plaerdemavida saw her, she said: + +"My lady, please, I beg you, stay here, and don't let anyone +speak badly of Tirant. I'll go and see how he is." + +When she was out on the roof she did not dare speak for fear that +someone would hear her, and she heard him moaning loudly, and +saying: + +"I can feel myself descending toward the dark and gloomy palaces. +And since I cannot restore my miserable life with all my sighs, +I'm content to die, because life without you, dear princess, is +completely unbearable. Oh Lord and eternal God! You who are all +merciful, grant me the grace of dying in the arms of that most +virtuous princess, so that my soul may be more content in the +next world." + +At this moment Hippolytus knew nothing about Tirant's actions, +but he was aware of the great uproar in the palace that was +spreading throughout the city. Seeing that Tirant was inside the +palace and that he had told everyone he was sleeping in the +duke's chamber that night, and with the viscount and Hippolytus +knowing about his love for the princess, they had all the men +take up arms. Lord Agramunt said: + +"I can only think that Tirant must have done some mischief in the +princess's chamber, and news of it has reached the emperor, and +all of us will take part in the wedding along with him. So we +must prepare ourselves quickly to help him if we have to. +Because in all the nights he's slept here nothing unusual has +happened, and as soon as he's outside you see what a great outcry +there is in the palace." + +Hippolytus said: + +"While you're arming yourself I'll go to the palace gate to see +what's happening." + +"Hurry," said the others. + +When they were all outside, the viscount followed Hippolytus. + +"My lord," said Hippolytus, "you go to the main gate and I'll go +to the one in the garden. Whoever discovers what is really +happening--what all this noise is about--will go and tell the +other one." + +The viscount said he thought that was a good idea. When +Hippolytus was at the gate to the garden, thinking he would find +it locked, he stood, listening, and he heard a mournful voice +crying. It sounded like a woman's voice, and he said to himself: + +"I would much rather hear Tirant than this woman's voice, whoever +she is." + +He stood, looking to see if he could scale the wall. When he saw +that it was impossible, he went back to the gate with an easy +heart, thinking it must be a woman. + +"Let her wail, whoever she is--lady or maiden," said Hippolytus, +"for this has nothing to do with my lord Tirant." + +He left and went to the plaza where he found the viscount and +others who wanted to know what had caused the disturbance. But +by now the cries had subsided a great deal, and the disturbance +had been quelled. Then Hippolytus explained to the viscount how +he had been at the garden gate and had not been able to go in, +and that he had heard what seemed to be a woman's voice moaning, +and he did not know who it was, but that he thought the woman was +the cause of all the outcry. + +"If it please you, let's go there," said the viscount, "and if +she's a lady or a maiden who needs help, let's give it to her if +we can, because it's our obligation under the 'laws of +chivalry.'" + +They went to the garden gate, and heard the loud laments coming +from inside the garden, but they could not understand what was +being said or recognize the voice: with all the pain she was in, +her voice was altered. The viscount said: + +"Let's break down the gate. It's night, and no one will know we +did it." + +But the gate was unlocked, because during the night, not +imagining that so much harm would be done, Plaerdemavida had left +it that way so that Tirant could open it easily whenever he +liked. + +And they both pushed against the gate with all their might, and +it flew open easily. The viscount went in first and walked +toward the voice which sounded so strange. + +The viscount said: + +"Whoever you are, I beg you in God's name, tell me if you're an +errant spirit or a mortal body who needs help." + +Tirant thought it must be the emperor and his men, and so that he +would not be recognized, and they would leave, he disguised his +voice, even though the pain he was in had already disguised it, +and he said: + +"In my time I was a baptized Christian, and I am condemned to +wander because of my sins. I am an invisible spirit, and if you +see me, the reason will be that I am taking on form. The evil +spirits here are stripping off my flesh and my bones and throwing +them in the air piece by piece. Oh, what a cruel torture I am +suffering. If you come any closer to me, you will share in my +pain." + +They were very frightened when they heard these words, and they +made the sign of the cross and recited the Gospel of Saint John. +The viscount spoke so loudly that Tirant heard him: + +"Hippolytus, do you think we should go to our chambers and get +all our armed men and some holy water, and then come back here to +see what this is?" + +"No," said Hippolytus, "we don't need to go back to our chambers +for anything. We both have the sign of the cross on our swords: +let me go there." + +When Tirant heard the viscount call Hippolytus' name, he said: + +"If you are Hippolytus, a native of France, come to me and have +no fear." + +Then Hippolytus took out his sword, and holding the handle in +front of him, he made the sign of the cross and said: + +"As a true Christian, I fully believe in the articles of the +Catholic faith, and everything that the holy Roman church +teaches: in this holy faith I want to live and die." + +He went closer in great fear, but the viscount was even more +afraid, and did not dare to approach. And in a soft voice Tirant +called to him and said: + +"Come closer. I am Tirant." + +At that he became even more frightened, and was ready to go back. +Tirant saw this, and raising his voice he said: + +"Oh, what a cowardly knight you are!" + +Hippolytus recognized him when he spoke, and ran up to him and +said: + +"Oh, my lord, is it you? What misfortune brought you here?" + +"Don't be worried, and don't say anything," said Tirant. "But +who is that with you? If he's of the lineage of Brittany, have +him come here." + +"Yes, my lord," said Hippolytus. "It's the viscount." + +He called him, and when the viscount saw Tirant he was amazed at +the adventure and at everything he had said to them during the +time they had not recognized him. + +"Let's not waste words," said Tirant. "Hurry and take me away +from here." + +Together they lifted him in their arms and took him out of the +garden and closed the gate. Then they carried him to his lodging +and lay him under the portico. + +"I'm in more pain than I've ever felt before," said Tirant. "Of +all the times I've been wounded and near death, my body has never +felt so much pain. I'll need to have doctors without the emperor +knowing about it." + +"My lord," said Hippolytus, "may I give you some advice? You are +so badly hurt that it can't be kept hidden, especially with the +disturbance in the palace. Mount your horse if you can, my lord, +and let's go to the palaces of Bellestar where your horses are. +We'll make everyone think that your horse fell on you and broke +your leg " + +The viscount answered: + +"It's true, my cousin and lord, Hippolytus is right. Otherwise +the emperor will certainly hear about it. I would be happy if, +after you're cured and we've accomplished our aims, we returned +to our lands." + +"My lord viscount," said Tirant, "this is no time to talk about +these things, but you, Hippolytus, have them bring the animals +here secretly, and bring the horse with the smoothest gait." + +Let us return to the princess. Plaerdemavida stayed out on the +roof until she saw them carry Tirant away. Then she went into +the room where the princess was with the duchess and all the +ladies. The empress was astonished that there should be such a +great uproar in the palace over a rat, and sitting on her bed she +said: + +"Do you know the best thing for us to do, ladies? Since the +palace is calmed down again, let's go back to sleep." + +The princess called Plaerdemavida and whispered to her, asking +where Tirant was. + +"My lady, he's gone," said Plaerdemavida, "and he's in great +pain." + +But she did not dare tell her that he had a broken leg, or what +he had said. She was very pleased that they had not seen or +found him. The empress got up, and Widow Repose said: + +"It would be a good idea, my lady, to tell your daughter to sleep +with you, so that if the rat came back it wouldn't frighten her +even more." + +The empress answered: + +"What the Widow says is true. Come, my child: you will sleep +better with me than by yourself." + +"No, my lady. Let Your Excellency go on: the duchess and I will +sleep together. Don't spend a bad night on my account." + +The empress said: + +"Come with me. I'm getting cold standing here." + +"My lady, since you insist," said the princess, "you go on, and +I'll come soon." + +The empress left, telling her to come right away. The princess +turned to the Widow and said angrily: + +"Now I know how much you're to blame. Who gave you the right to +tell my mother that I should go and sleep with her, and to +deprive me of my pleasure? From what I can see, you don't live +by virtue, but by envy and malice." + +The Widow replied + +"I'll tell you what I've done wrong. I honored and loved you +more than you liked: that's how I'm to blame. Do you imagine, my +lady, that I have no feelings for Tirant, and that I didn't see +him letting himself down by the rope, and it breaking, and him +falling so hard I think he broke his legs and his ribs?..." + +She began to cry miserably, and threw herself to the ground, and +pulled her hair, saying: + +"The best of all knights is dead!" + +When the princess heard these words, she said three times: + +"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" + +And she fell to the floor in a faint. She had cried out the name +of Jesus so loudly that the empress, who was in her chamber, +asleep in her bed, heard it. She quickly got up and hurried to +her daughter's chamber. She found her there, unconscious, and +nothing helped to revive her. The emperor had to get up, and all +the doctors came. But still the princess did not regain +consciousness, and three hours passed before she did. The +emperor asked how his daughter had come to such a state. They +told him: + +"My lord, she saw another tiny rat, and because her imagination +was dwelling on the one she had seen on her bed, when she saw +this one she suffered a terrible shock." + +"Oh, old emperor, sad and embittered! In my last days must I +suffer so much pain? Oh, cruel death! Why don't you come to me +when I want you so?" + +When he had said this he lost consciousness and fell in a faint +beside his daughter. The cries and shouts were so great +throughout the whole palace that it was astonishing to see and +hear the laments the people were making: and this disturbance was +greater than the first. + +Tirant, standing before the portico waiting for the animals to be +brought, heard such loud cries that he thought the sky was +falling in. He quickly mounted, full of pain and anguish, and +the pain grew as he became fearful that the princess might have +come to some harm. Hippolytus took a cloth and wrapped his leg +so that the cold would not get into it. So, as best they could, +they rode to the gates of the city. The guards recognized Tirant +and asked him where he was going at this hour. He answered that +he was going to Bellestar to look after his horses because he +would soon be leaving for the camp. The gates were quickly +opened for him and Tirant went on his way. When they had ridden +half a league, Tirant said: + +"I am deeply afraid that the emperor has done the princess some +harm because of me. I want to go back and help her in case she +needs me." + +The viscount said + +"In faith, you're in fine condition to help her!" + +"My dear viscount," said Tirant, "I feel no pain now! You know +that a greater injury makes a lesser one diminish. I beg you, +please, let's go back to the city so that we can help her in case +she needs us." + +"You've lost your mind," said the viscount. "You want to go back +to the city so that the emperor will find out what you've done. +We'll be doing well enough if we can keep this from the people so +that they won't blame you for it. You can be certain that if you +go back you won't escape injury or death if things are the way +you say they are." + +"Since I'm the cause of all the trouble," said Tirant, "is it +unreasonable for me to have the punishment? I'll consider my +death worthwhile if I die for such a virtuous lady." + +"God help me," said the viscount, "I won't let you go back even +if I have to use force. Isn't the duke there, and if he hears +something that puts the princess in danger or dishonors her, +won't he go and help her? Now you see what sad love-affairs lead +to. Let's not stay here any longer. + +The more time we lose, the worse it is for you." + +"Since you don't want to let me go back," said Tirant, "do me a +favor. You go, and if anyone harms her, kill them all and show +mercy to no one." + +Tirant begged the viscount so much that he had to return to the +city, and as he turned back he said softly so that Tirant didn't +hear, but so Hippolytus could understand: + +"By Heaven, I wish I didn't have to concern myself with any lady +or maiden, but only arrange for the doctors to come." + +Tirant went on ahead with Hippolytus. + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE BETROTHAL + + When the viscount was at the gates of the city, the guards would +not let him in until he said that the captain had fallen from his +horse and he was in a hurry to summon the doctors. He couldn't +find them as quickly as he wanted because they were all with the +emperor and his daughter. When they had taken care of the +emperor they took everything they needed for Tirant, and they did +not dare tell the emperor that his captain was injured. But the +viscount did everything he could to see the princess, so that he +could tell Tirant how she was. + +When she had regained consciousness, she opened her eyes and +said: + +"Is the one who holds my soul captive dead? Tell me quickly, I +beg you. Because if he's dead, I want to die with him " + +The empress, who was upset by all the anguish she felt for her +daughter, could not understand her, and she asked what she had +said. The duchess was holding her on her knees, and she answered +the empress: + +"My lady, the princess is asking if the rat is dead." + +The princess, her eyes closed, again said: + +"I didn't say that. I asked if the one who is my hope is dead." + +The duchess answered in a loud voice: + +"He's not dead: they never caught him." And turning to the +empress, she said: "She's delirious. This illness has the effect +of turning the wisest people into madmen who don't know what +they're saying." + +Her delirium subsided, and two doctors went with the viscount and +the duke. When the princess found out, she cried: + +"Oh, my lord Tirant! Father of chivalry! Now the lineage of +Rocasalada has fallen, and the house of Brittany has lost so +much. You are dead! Dead! For anyone who has fallen from as +great a height as you cannot hope to live long. Why couldn't I +have suffered the harm, since I was the cause, and you would find +yourself free from these dangers?" + +The duchess was very agitated, both because of the princess's +illness and Tirant's injury. She did not want to say anything +more for fear of the maidens who were nearby. The doctors left +quickly without saying anything to the emperor so that he would +not have a relapse, because his constitution was very delicate. + +When the doctors reached Tirant they found him lying on a bed in +great pain. They looked at his leg and found it completely +broken, the bones protruding from the flesh. With their +ministrations Tirant fainted three times, and each time they had +to revive him. The doctors treated him as best they could the +first time and said that under no circumstances should he be +moved from his bed, because his life was in danger. Then they +went back to the palace. The emperor asked them where they had +been, since he had not seen them at mealtime. One of them +answered: + +"My lord, your captain has been injured, and we went to Bellestar +to minister to him." + +The emperor said; + +"And how was he hurt?" + +"My lord," said the doctor, "they say that early this morning he +left the city to go to where his horses are so that Monday +morning everyone would be ready to leave. He was riding a +Sicilian horse and, galloping along the road, he fell in a trench +and hurt his leg." + +"Holy Virgin Mary," said the emperor. "Tirant has no lack of +troubles. I want to go see him immediately." + +When the doctors heard the emperor's decision--that he wanted to +leave--they detained him for a day so that he would have time to +recover. The emperor saw that the doctors advised against it, so +he decided to stay. He went to the princess's chambers to ask +about her illness and to explain what had happened to Tirant. +What grief the princess felt in her heart! But she did not dare +show it for fear of her father, and her own pain seemed as +nothing when she thought of Tirant's suffering. + +The emperor stayed with his daughter until dinnertime. The +following day, seeing the doctors pass by from a window and +knowing that they were going to see Tirant, he called to them to +wait. Then he mounted and went with them and saw their second +treatment. From what he saw he understood at once that Tirant +would not be able to go to the encampment for a long time. When +they had finished their treatment, the emperor said: + +"I can't begin to tell you how much grief I feel. As soon as I +heard about your injury I knew how great my misfortune was, +because I had placed all my hope in your leadership. I had +envisioned the blood of those cruel enemies of mine and of the +holy Catholic faith being shed by the strength of your arm, and +the blow of your sword. But now, when they hear that you are not +there, they will be afraid of no one and will overrun my entire +empire." + +Tirant weakly said: + +"My lord, you don't need my sword and my leadership. In your +empire you have courageous knights who can take on the enemy +right now. But it only seems right to me, since you are pressing +me so much, that I should go to the camp. My lord, I will be +ready to go on the day we had set." + +When the emperor heard him say that, he was very happy, and he +took his leave and returned to the city. When the empress saw +him she said: + +"My lord, tell us the truth about our captain. How is he? Is he +near death, or is there hope for him?" + +In the presence of the princess and the maidens the emperor said +to the empress: + +"My lady, I don't think he's in danger of dying, but there is no +doubt that he's in a bad way. The bones in his leg are sticking +out through the skin, and it's a terrible sight to see. But he +says he will be ready to leave Monday." + +"Holy Mother of Jesus!" said the princess. "What is Your Majesty +trying to do? You want a man who is so badly hurt that he's at +death's door to go to the encampment and end his days while he's +on the road? How could he help the soldiers? Do you want to put +his life and the entire empire in danger too? No, my lord; +that's no way to fight these battles. It's better to have him +alive than dead, because with him living all your enemies will be +afraid, and once he's dead they won't be afraid of anything." + +The emperor went into the council chamber where they were waiting +for him, and they all agreed from what he had seen of Tirant that +he should not be moved. + +After the emperor had left Bellestar, where Tirant was, Tirant +immediately ordered a box made so that he could be carried in it. +When it was Sunday evening and the duke and all the others had +gone back to the city, and without anyone knowing of it except +Hippolytus, Tirant ordered the viscount and Lord Agramunt not to +disturb him until they were ready to depart. They had not an +inkling that Tirant would commit such an act of folly as to +leave. + +Tirant gave one doctor a large amount of money to go with him, +but the other doctor ordered him not to move and would not go +along. Tirant had them put him in the box, and using shafts to +carry it on their shoulders, they left for the encampment. +Before he left he ordered them to tell everyone who came from the +city that since he had not been able to sleep at night he was +resting. Some who came to see him went back, and others stayed, +waiting for him to awaken. When it was noon the Duke of +Macedonia who was a close relative, as was the viscount, wanted +to go inside. + +Saying that anyone who was wounded should not sleep so much, they +forced their way in and discovered that he was gone. They +quickly mounted their horses and rode after him, and they sent +word to the emperor, telling how his captain had obeyed his +command, and cursing the emperor and all of his kind. When the +emperor heard the news, he said: + +"By the living God, he carries out his promises!" + +When the duke and the viscount overtook him and learned that he +had passed out on the road five times, they reprimanded the +doctor and Hippolytus, and said they cared nothing for him. + +"And you, Hippolytus," said the duke, "of our lineage of +Rocasalada and of the kindred of Brittany, to allow our master +and lord to leave! The day his life ends we will all be lost and +no one will ever hear of us again. You deserve the worst sort of +reprimand. If I had no fear of God or felt no sense of worldly +shame, I'd do worse to you with this sword than Cain did to Abel: +You miserable knight! Get away from me, or upon my word of honor +you'll get the punishment you deserve." + +And turning to the doctor he gave vent to his anger. + +"I lose all patience when I think of the outrageous act of this +doctor who put the light of Rocasalada in mortal danger." + +And the duke rode furiously at the doctor, his sword raised, +while the doctor attempted to flee to save his miserable skin, +but it gained him nothing because when he reached him he brought +the sword down on his head so hard that it split in half, down to +his shoulders, and his brains flew out. + +When the emperor received news of the death of such a singular +doctor he quickly rode to Tirant, and found him in a hermitage +where the duke had put him: there he was being given everything +he needed. When the emperor saw Tirant's condition he took great +pity and had all his doctors come there to see how his leg was. +The doctors found it much worse and they told him that if he had +gone one league further, either he would have died or had to have +his leg cut off. + +All the barons in the empire came to see him. The emperor held +council there and they decided that since Tirant could not go, +all the men should leave the next day. Tirant said: + +"My lord, I think Your Majesty should give two months' wages to +all the men, and since they will only serve one and a half +months, everyone will be happy, and they'll put up a better +fight." + +The emperor answered that he would do it immediately, and he +said: + +"This evening I've received letters from the Marquis of Saint +George in our camp, telling me that great numbers of Moors have +come. It says here that the King of Jerusalem, who is a cousin +of the Grand Caramany has come, and with him are his wife and +children and some sixty thousand soldiers from the land of +Enedast, a very fertile and abundant province. As soon as a male +child is born there, he is raised with great care. When he is +ten years old they teach him to ride and to fence. Then they +teach him to fight, and throw a lance. And last, they teach him +how to butcher, so that he will get used to cutting up meat and +will not be afraid of spilling blood. This makes them cruel, and +when they are in battle and capture Christians, they quarter them +and haven't the slightest feeling of pity about flesh or blood. +The King of Lower India has come here, and they say he is the +brother of the prisoner from Upper India; he is a very rich man +and he's bringing forty-five thousand soldiers with him. Another +king, called Menador, has come with thirty-seven thousand +soldiers. The King of Damascus has come with fifty-five +thousand. King Veruntament has come with forty-two thousand. +And many others have come with them." + +Tirant replied: + +"Let them come, my lord. I have so much faith in the divine +mercy of Our Lord and in His most Holy Mother, Our lady, that, +even if there were twice as many as there are, with the help of +the singular knights Your Majesty has, we would be victorious +over them." + +When they had finished their conversation, the emperor commended +Tirant to God, and ordered the doctors to leave him alone and to +allow him to depart. + +The princess was very upset by Tirant's injury. When it was +Monday, all the soldiers were ready to leave. The Duke of Pera +and the Duke of Macedonia were in charge of leading all the men. +When they reached the camp of the Marquis of Saint George, the +others were very happy to see them. Tirant stayed in the +hermitage, waiting for the doctors to give him permission to go +into the city. Lord Agramunt who never wanted to leave him +alone, remained with him, for he said that he had left his +country only for love of him, and that he would not leave him +while he was injured. Hippolytus stayed in his company, and went +to the city every day for whatever he needed, but especially to +bring news about the princess to Tirant. And when they wanted to +make him eat or do other things the doctors prescribed, they +would say it was for the princess, and he would do it +immediately. + +After this had happened to Tirant, the princess often reprimanded +Plaerdemavida for what she had done, and wanted to shut her up in +a dark room to have her do penance there; but she defended +herself with choice words, or with jokes, saying: + +"What will your father say if he finds out? Do you know what +I'll tell him? That it was you who told me what to do, and that +Tirant has stolen your virginity. Your father wants me to be +your stepmother, and I can assure you that when I am I'll punish +you. When that valiant knight, Tirant, comes again, you won't +cry out the way you did the last time. Instead you'll be quiet, +and you won't move." + +The princess became very angry, and told her to shut her mouth. + +"Since you're speaking to me so harshly, my lady, I want to leave +Your Highness' service, and I'm going to go back to my father, +the count." + +She immediately left the chambers and gathered up all her +clothing and jewels. Leaving the Widow of Montsant, who was in +the court, in charge, and without saying a word to anyone, she +mounted a horse and with five squires she rode to where Tirant +was. + +When the princess discovered that Plaerdemavida had gone, she was +very upset and wanted her to return. She sent men in all +directions to make her come back. + +Plaerdemavida rode by back roads to the hermitage where Tirant +was, and when he saw her he forgot his pain. When Plaerdemavida +went up to him and saw how much his appearance had changed, she +would not hold back her tears. And with a weak voice she said: + +"Oh, I am the most miserable person in the world! I am so sorry +when I think of your injury, because I am to blame for all the +harm that has come to the best knight in the world. I can only +ask you for mercy." + +With a sigh Tirant said: + +"Virtuous maiden, there is no reason at all for you to ask my +forgiveness: you're not to blame for anything, and even if you +were, I would pardon you not just once but a thousand times, +because I know how much affection you've always had for me. I +won't say another word about this because I want to know what the +princess has been doing while I've been gone. + +I'm sure Her Highness's love has grown weak, and she probably +doesn't want to see me again." + +Plaerdemavida, with a smile, told him she was very happy to do +him such a service, and in a soft voice she said: + +"After you left there was so much shouting and such a tumult in +the palace that the emperor got out of bed. He went looking +through all the rooms furiously, with a sword in his hand, saying +whether it was a mouse or a man he would kill it without mercy. +The empress went back to her chambers to sleep. The love-sick +Widow went to the princess with her own wickedness, because she +is related to the old witch who brings only harm to those who +love her. With a false expression of compassion on her face she +told her: 'My lady, I saw Tirant lower himself by a rope, and +half-way down it broke; and he fell from such a height that he +was smashed to pieces.' And she began to wail very loudly. +When the princess heard the news she could say only, 'Jesus, +Jesus, Jesus,' three times, and immediately her spirit left her. +I don't know where it went or on what business, because she was +senseless for three hours. All the doctors came, but they +couldn't revive her, and at that moment the emperor thought he +was losing everything that nature and fortune had given him. And +the tumult and cries in the palace were even greater than they +had been the first time." + +Then she told him everything she and the princess had said to +each other. + +"All her anger is feigned. She can't make up her mind about how +to behave the first time she sees you: Whether or not to show +that she is bothered by your injury. Because she says that if +she smiles at you, you'll want to come back every day, and if she +doesn't, you will be angry with her." + +Tirant replied: + +"What crime does Her Highness say that I've committed besides +loving her? Her Majesty would do me a great favor if she would +just grant me a visit. I believe that then most of her anger +would disappear." + +Plaerdemavida answered: + +"My lord, do me a favor. Write her a letter, and I'll work with +her so that she'll give you an answer. That way you'll be able +to know what she is thinking." + +As they were talking, the men that the princess had sent in +search of Plaerdemavida entered the chamber. When they saw her +they told her what the princess had ordered them to do. +Plaerdemavida answered: + +"Tell my lady that she can't force me to serve her. I want to go +to my parents' home." + +"If I had found you someplace else," said the knight, "I would +have forced you to go back. But I don't imagine the captain will +be happy if the princess's will isn't carried out, and as a +virtuous knight he will take care of the situation." + +"Don't doubt for a minute," said Tirant, "that my lady will be +served in every way. This maiden will quickly go with you." + +Tirant had ink and paper brought, and with the great pain he felt +in his leg he could not write as well as he wanted to, but in +spite of his injury he wrote the following words of love: + +"Who knows the great perfection that I see in Your Majesty, and +in no one else? The fear I have of not having Your Highness' +love makes me feel twice as much pain, because if I lost Your +Majesty I would lose everything. You must know that in you all +perfection is contained. My petition is based on that moment +when you heard about my injury and said, 'Jesus, Jesus, +Jesus!'--which has moved me deeply." + +When Plaerdemavida had left Tirant, and the princess knew that +she was coming, she ran to the landing of the stairs and said to +her: + +"Oh, my beloved sister! What made you so angry that you wanted +to leave me?" + +"Why, my lady!" said Plaerdemavida: "Your Excellency swept me +from your mind and didn't want to see me again." + +The princess took her by the hand, and led her to her +bedchambers. She turned to the men who had brought her, and +thanked them. When they were inside the chambers the princess +said: + +"Don't you know, Plaerdemavida, that disagreements between +parents and their children often reach heights of anger, and that +the same thing happens between brothers or sisters? Even if you +and I had words, that's no reason for you to be angry with me. +You know very well that I love you more than all the maidens in +the world, and you know all my secrets as you do my heart." + +"Your Majesty spins very fine words," said Plaerdemavida, "but +your actions are bad. You want to believe Widow Repose and all +her wickedness, and you won't listen to me or anyone else. She +was the cause of all this trouble. I remember that night when my +lord Tirant broke his leg and Your Highness fainted: there was +nothing but tears and anguish. But the Widow was the only one +who was glad. Your Excellency has many virtues, but you lack +patience." + +"Let's stop talking about these things now," said the princess. +"Tell me about Tirant: How is he? When can I see him? The +happiness he brings me makes me think about him more than I would +like to." + +"Since the time he left you, all the memories of Your Excellency +make him sigh and grieve. You can be sure that no one deserves +you as much as Tirant does. And he sends you this letter." + +The princess took it very happily, and when she had read it she +decided to write an answer: + +"I tried to beg you several times not to steal my chastity; and +if my words did not move you to pity, my tears should have. But +you brought so much pain to your princess. The sound of my last +words was carried to the ears of Widow Repose, and the empress +came. I don't know how it was that I said, 'Jesus, Jesus, +Jesus,' and I threw myself in the duchess' lap because I hated +life..." + +When she had finished her answer she gave it to Hippolytus. When +Hippolytus returned to Tirant, he gave him the letter. Tirant +was very pleased to get it. He had paper and ink brought to him, +and despite his injury he wrote the following letter: + +"Now is the time when all things are at rest, except I who am +awake, thinking of Your Highness and how you have forgotten about +all the years I have been in love with you. But I give thanks to +God for allowing me to know a maiden who is so full of +perfection. And I see full well that no one but myself deserves +Your Majesty's beauty. If you feel that I am worthy of reply, I +am prepared to obey everything Your Excellency commands me." + +When Tirant had finished writing the letter he gave it to +Hippolytus and begged him to give it to the princess in +Plaerdemavida's presence, and to get a reply if possible. +Hippolytus gave the letter to the princess as he had been +commanded, and the princess took it, very pleased. As the +empress came to see her daughter at that moment, she could not +read it immediately. But when she saw that the empress was +engaged in conversation with Hippolytus, asking him about +Tirant's injury, and him answering her, the princess got up from +where she had been sitting and went into her chamber with +Plaerdemavida to read the letter. + +After they had spoken at length about Tirant's illness, the +empress said to Hippolytus: + +"Your face looks quite altered, Hippolytus, thin and discolored. +The illness of such a valiant knight as Tirant must bring grief +to all his relatives. I have been suffering greatly too. At +night I wake up, filled with anxiety. Then, after I remember his +injury, I go back to sleep." + +Hippolytus quickly answered: + +"If I were near a lady, and found myself in her bed, I wouldn't +let her have as much rest as Your Majesty gets, no matter how +deeply she slept. But it doesn't surprise me in Your Majesty: +you sleep alone, and no one says a word to you. That's what is +making my face so thin, not Tirant's illness. Everyday I ask Our +Lord with all my heart to take away these painful thoughts that I +keep having. Only those who know what love is have a real +knowledge of what suffering means." + +The empress presumed that Hippolytus must be in love and that all +the sadness in his face was nothing but the passion of love. She +thought also that since Plaerdemavida had said many times that +she loved Hippolytus, she must be the one he was troubled about. +And the empress unhesitatingly asked Hippolytus who the lady was +that was causing him so much grief. + +"Tell me, who is bringing you so much sadness?" + +"My bitter misfortune," said Hippolytus. "And here, where I am, +don't let Your Majesty think that my life is in less danger than +Tirant's." + +"In case you should tell me," said the empress, "I would keep it +to myself always." + +"Who would dare reveal his grief," said Hippolytus, "to a lady of +such excellence?" + +"There is no one," said the empress, "who should not listen to +what another wants to say. And the loftier one's position, the +more humbly he should listen." + +"My lady," said Hippolytus, "since you want to know: love, it's +love that I have, and it's not clothing that I can remove." "I'm +not lacking in knowledge," said the empress, "about what you're +saying. You say you're in love, and I ask you: With whom?" + +"I don't have my five senses," said Hippolytus, "to tell you." + +"Oh, man of little understanding" said the empress. "Why don't +you say what it is that's making you suffer?" + +"There are four things," said Hippolytus, "that surpass all +others in excellence, and the fifth is the knowledge of truth. +It is Your Majesty whom the heavens have foretold that I should +love all the days of my life..." + +Having said this he did not dare raise his face again, and he +said nothing more. As he was leaving, the empress called him, +but because of his shame he did not dare turn around. Hippolytus +thought to himself that if she asked him why he didn't stop he +would say he did not hear her. He went to his room thinking that +he had spoken wrongly and acted even worse, and he was deeply +repentant of what he had said. + +The empress stood there, thinking about what Hippolytus had told +her. + +When Hippolytus knew that the empress had gone back to her +chambers, he felt both ashamed and frightened at how daring he +had been. He wished he were already gone so that he would not +have to face the empress again. But he had to return to the +palace for the princess's reply. He went into her chambers and +found her on Plaerdemavida's knees, with other maidens who felt +affection for Tirant. Hippolytus begged her for a reply to the +letter he had brought. The princess said to Hippolytus: + +"Since the messenger is faithful, I beg you to excuse me from +writing my reply. You may tell him that I will make arrangements +with the emperor for us to go and see him one day this week, and +if it pleases the Divine Being he will soon he well again, and we +will be excused from this task." + +Hippolytus answered: + +"My lady, your heart shows that you have no compassion. From all +the harm you have caused him you could tell him just this little +bit of good news that he hopes to hear from you." + +The princess replied: + +"Since I don't want to show my lack of knowledge, I will keep +quiet, but your over-loose tongue ought to be answered. +Plaerdemavida, pull out three hairs from my head, and give them +to Hippolytus so that he will give them to my master, Tirant. +And tell him, since I cannot write to him, to take the hairs as +his answer." + +"God help me if I'll take them," said Hippolytus, "unless you +tell me what they mean and why there are three of them and not +four, or ten instead of twenty. For God's sake, my lady! Does +Your Highness think we are following the old customs when these +niceties were the rule? Back then a maiden who had a love-sick +swain, and who was in love with him, would give him a bouquet of +perfumed flowers or a hair or two from her head, and the poor +fellow considered himself very fortunate. I know very well that +my lord Tirant would like to take hold of you in bed, naked or in +your nightgown, and he wouldn't care a jot if your bed wasn't +perfumed. But if Your Majesty is going to give me three hairs to +take to Tirant, well, I'm not used to carrying things like that: +send them with someone else, and let Your Excellency tell me with +what hope they've come out of your head.'' + +"I'll be glad to tell you," said the princess. "One hair stands +for the great love I've always had for him above all people in +the world, and it was so much that I forgot my father and my +mother, and if you press me, I nearly forgot God; and I wanted to +offer him my body along with everything I own. The second one +stands for all the grief he is causing me. The third one means +that I know well how little he loves me. Now you know completely +what the hairs mean, and with your wickedness you won't take them +with you." + +She took them out of his hands, and very angrily tore them apart +and threw them on the ground, and tears burst from her eyes and +ran down her breasts. When Hippolytus saw that the princess had +become angry over such a slight matter, he said with a humble +expression: + +"It's true that you were held in your mother's chamber, but you +were not violated. Tell me, my lady, how can you blame Tirant +for having attempted such a singular act? Who could condemn him +to any punishment? If he is lost, more than ten thousand +soldiers will be lost, and they will be sorely needed to bring +the war to a successful conclusion. Look how many men the King +of Sicily has at the service of Your Highness; and the +Grand-Master of Rhodes, the Viscount of Branches--how many men +he's brought. Well, if Tirant weren't here, none of those men +would stay. Then you'll see if Widow Repose will fight the +battles for you and your father." + +To help Hippolytus in Tirant's favor, Plaerdemavida said: + +"It would have been better for me if I had never known of Your +Majesty's existence. You don't love the person who deserves it +as you should. How can I serve you with a willing spirit if I +see such ingratitude in you? If Your Excellency could feel that +glory that many maidens have experienced, if God would grant that +I might show you the glory that lovers feel in this life, and the +pleasure it brings with it, then you would be worthy of being +among the privileged ones who have loved well, and you would be +deserving of eternal praises in this life. But Your Excellency +is like a person who smells the odor of meat but does not taste +it. If Your Highness would taste its sweetness and the pleasure +it brings in this instance, when you died you would rise again in +glorious renown. But my lady, since I see that you don't love my +lord Tirant, there's no reason for you to love any of his men. +There will come a time when you will cry over him and his +friends, and you'll tear your eyes from your face, and curse the +day and night for the rest of your life. I know that the day +Tirant can ride again, seeing Your Highness' great unhappiness he +will go back to his country, and all the others will follow him +because of the affection they have for him. You will be left all +alone as you deserve, and the entire empire will be lost. And +when you're dead and you appear before the judgment seat of your +Lord, He will ask for an account of your life with words like +these: + +"'It was by My command that man was made in My image, and from +man's rib a female companion was made. And, moreover, I said: +Increase and multiply and fill the earth. Carmesina, I have +taken your brother from you so that you would be at the head of +the empire. Now tell me, what account do you give to me +concerning that which I encharged to you? Have you left behind +sons to defend the Catholic faith and increase the numbers of +Christians?' What are you going to answer?" said Plaerdemavida. +"Oh, my lady, you will not be able to give a good reply! I'll +tell you what your reply will be: 'Oh Lord, full of mercy and +pity! You Who are so merciful, forgive me!' And the guardian +angel will make you say these words: 'It is true, Lord, that I +loved a knight who was very virtuous in arms, whom Your Holy +Majesty sent to us to rescue Your Christian people from the hands +of the infidel. I loved him and I held him in great devotion, +and I wanted him for a husband, as my beloved. And I had a +maiden in my service whose name was Plaerdemavida, who always +gave me good advice and I did not want to accept it. She put him +in my bed one night and, like a fool, I cried out. And when I +realized what was happening I stopped shouting, and was quiet. A +widow who heard me scream began to cry out and woke up the entire +palace, so a great deal of anguish and pain followed because of +my fear. Later they begged me to give in to the knight, but I +never would.' And they'll have to leave you in hell along with +Widow Repose. And when I leave this life there will be a great +celebration in paradise, and they will give me a seat in the +eternal glory of the Highest, and as an obedient daughter I will +be crowned with the other saints." + +The emperor entered the room without anyone seeing him. He +stayed near his daughter for a little while, and then he took +Hippolytus by the hand, and they spoke of the war and of the +captain's illness. As they were talking they passed through a +room where the empress was, and at that moment Hippolytus would +have liked to have been a day's journey away. When she saw him +she smiled and looked at him fondly. Then she got up from where +she was sitting and approached the emperor, and the three of them +stood, talking of many things. They dwelt especially on the +cruel misfortune in which their son departed from this miserable +world in the flower of his youth, and the empress began to cry. + +Many old knights who formed part of the council entered the +chamber, and they consoled the empress. Then they told +Hippolytus of the great valor the emperor had shown when they +brought him the news that his son had died. The good man, on +hearing of the death of his son, had answered the cardinal and +the others who brought him the news: + +"Be assured that what you are telling me is nothing new, because +I bore him to die. It is the law of nature to receive life, and +to relinquish it when it is asked of us." + +The emperor withdrew to one side of the chamber to speak with +some of his council, and Hippolytus remained with the empress. +When she saw that he was silent she thought it must be because he +felt embarrassed. And she said: + +"Although I can't speak to you in as fine a manner as I would +like, you will understand it much better than my lips could +express it. I beg you to tell me who made you say what you did. +Tell me if it came from your master Tirant, so that if I decided +to love you he could make better use of the power that he wants. +I'm dying to know." + +Hippolytus quickly replied, lowering his voice: + +"I'll tell you everything. I was with the emperor, and we came +into these chambers, and when I saw Your Majesty I nearly fell to +the ground. I was afraid the emperor would notice, because at +that moment fear and shame were battling within me. Afterward I +sighed, and I saw that Your Highness was laughing pleasantly at +my sigh. My lady, I beg you not to make me say anything further, +but command me to do anything dangerous, and Your Majesty will +see how steadfast Hippolytus is. As for what Your Majesty said +about Tirant, I swear to you that neither Tirant nor my confessor +(which is even worse) knew any such thing about me." + +"Hippolytus, you must tell me your thoughts openly. Love doesn't +recognize nobility, lineage or equality; it doesn't differentiate +between people in high and low positions. You can be sure that +no matter how criminal your words were, I wouldn't tell them to +the emperor or to anyone else on earth." + +Hippolytus plucked up his courage, and in a whisper, he said: + +"Because of my great attraction for you, my lady, I often wanted +to reveal my deep love for Your Majesty. But fear stopped me +from telling you my feelings until now, since you are the most +excellent of all things excellent. But if love makes me speak +indiscreetly, you must suffer it patiently, and must punish me +with tender words. Tell me, I beg you, how I must behave in your +honor." + +The empress replied: + +"You've given my heart many worries and cares. I'm wondering +what has given you hope of having me since the distance between +our ages is so great. If it became known, what would they say +about me? That I've fallen in love with my grandson. Any maiden +would be overjoyed to be loved by you. But I would rather +someone else had your love, without any crime or infamy, than for +me to perish because of love." + +The empress could say no more since the emperor had gotten up +from where he was sitting. He went over to the empress and took +her by the hand, and they went in to dine. + +That night Hippolytus could not talk to the princess, but he +spoke with Plaerdemavida, and she said to him: + +"What were you talking to the empress about for so long? You two +are always together." + +"It's nothing," said Hippolytus. "She was just asking about our +captain." + +Early the next day, Hippolytus left without a reply from the +princess. When Tirant saw him, he said: + +"It's been five days since I've seen you." + +"My lord," said Hippolytus, "the emperor made me stay there, and +so did the princess, and while we were out walking we talked +about you. Everyone intends to come see you. That's why the +princess decided not to give you any answer, because her visit +will be so soon." + +Tirant said: + +"That is very good news." + +He had the doctors come, and begged them to take him to the city +since he was feeling so well. + +"I can tell you, truly, that I'll get better in one day in the +city than I could here in ten. Do you know why? I was born and +raised near the sea, and sea air is very healthy for me." + +All the doctors agreed, and two of them went to tell the emperor. +The emperor then rode to where the captain was, and Tirant was +taken to the city in four days in a bier carried on the shoulders +of four men. + +When he was in his chambers, the empress and all her ladies went +to see him. They were very happy that he was feeling better, and +all the ladies from the palace as well as the city often visited +him. But the empress, who was warned by one of her maidens she +trusted much more than the others, seldom left her daughter alone +when she was in Tirant's room, and so they had little time to +talk about their love. In the meantime Plaerdemavida came every +day, trying to find a way for the battle to come to a conclusion. + +Let us stop talking about Tirant now, and return to the +encampment. + +When the truce ended, the war began, cruel and savage, for the +Turks knew about Tirant's injury. Every day they came near the +city of Saint George where the camp was, and every day there +were fierce battles, and many men from both sides were killed. +Each day the emperor wrote to them to tell them how Tirant was, +and to encourage them. He told them that Tirant was getting out +of bed now to strengthen his leg and to help him recover. They +all felt comforted, especially the Duke of Macedonia, who loved +him dearly. + +Tirant was getting better daily, and he could walk through his +chambers with the aid of a staff. Almost every day the ladies +came to see him and keep him company, and the princess +entertained him. And do not think that Tirant wanted to be +healed very soon; this was because of the lovely sight that he +had daily of the princess. He had few thoughts about going to +war; instead it was his wish to fulfill his desire with his lady, +and as for the war--let someone go there who wanted to. + +As the emperor and the empress were in Tirant's room, he could +not talk to the princess without being overheard by the empress. +So he called Hippolytus and quietly said to him: + +"Go outside and then come back in shortly and go to the empress's +side. Start talking to her about whatever you think will please +her most, and I will see if I can talk to the princess about my +love for her." + +Hippolytus returned as he had agreed, and went to the empress, +and quietly said to her: + +"I always want to be near Your Excellency. This is because I +love you so much, and I beg you to grant me a boon that will +increase my honor and my fame. If I am loved by Your Majesty, +then there will be no one more fortunate than I." + +And he said no more. + +The empress replied: + +"Your great virtue is making me go beyond the bounds of chastity. +If you swear to me by all that is holy that you will say nothing +of this to the emperor or to anyone, you will have everything you +like. In the still of night wait for me quietly on the roof near +my chamber. And if you come, have no doubts, for I love you +dearly, and I will not be late unless death itself stands in my +way." + +Hippolytus tried to tell her about one thing he was afraid of, +and the empress told him that to think of every possible danger +was a sign of weakness in spirit. + +"Do what I tell you, and don't worry about another thing now." + +Hippolytus answered: + +"My lady, I will be happy to do everything Your Majesty commands +me." + +When they had finished their conversation the empress left +Tirant's lodgings with all the other ladies. And when they were +in the palace, the empress said: + +"Let us go visit the emperor." + +When they were together with him they conversed pleasantly. +Afterward the empress stood up, feeling the anguish of her new +love, and she said to Carmesina: + +"Stay here with these maidens and keep your father company." + +The empress then went to her chambers and told her maidens to +have the stewards come, as she wanted to change the satin +curtains and put up others fringed in silk, saying: + +"The emperor told me that he would like to come here, and I want +to entertain him a little since he has not come for a long time." + +She quickly had the entire chamber furnished with linens of silk +brocade. Then she had the chamber and the bed sprinkled with +perfume. + +After they had eaten, the empress retired, saying she had a +headache, and in everyone's presence a maiden named Eliseu said +to her: + +"My lady, does Your Highness want me to call the doctors to help +minister to you?" + +"Do as you like," said the empress, "but summon them in such a +way that the emperor does not find out, so that he will have no +excuse for not coming tonight," + +The doctors came quickly and took her pulse, and they found it +very rapid, because she hoped to do battle with a young knight, +and she was fearful. The doctors said: + +"My lady, Your Majesty should take should take a few sweetened +hemp-seeds with a glass of malmsey: that will help your headache +and make you sleep." + +"As far as sleeping is concerned, I don't think I'll do much of +that with my illness. The way I'm feeling I'll probably be +tossing and turning all over the bed." + +"My lady," said the doctors, "if that happens to Your Majesty, +send for us right away. Or if you wish we'll stand watch at the +door to your chamber or there inside so that we can look at your +face from time to time. + +And we'll do this all night long." + +"I won't accept that offer right now," said the empress. "I want +the whole bed to myself, and I don't want any of you looking at +my face. The illness I have won't stand for anybody to be +watching." + +The doctors left. When they were at the door they told her not +to forget the comfits and to moisten them well with malmsey. The +empress was so obedient that she ate a large box of them. Then +she had her bed sprinkled with perfume, and she had civet put on +the sheets and pillows. When this was done and she was perfumed, +she told her maidens to go to sleep and to close the door to +their chamber. + +In the empress's chamber there was a sitting room where she +always went to dress, and in the sitting room was a door that +opened out to the roof where Hippolytus was. When she got out of +bed Eliseu heard her and quickly got up, thinking something was +wrong, and when she was in the chamber she said: + +"Why did Your Highness get out of bed? Are you feeling worse?" + +"No," said the empress. "I'm fine, but I forgot to say the +devout prayer that I always pray every night." + +Eliseu said: + +"My lady, would you be so kind as to tell it to me?" + +"I'll be happy to," said the empress. "This is it: At night, at +the first star you see, you must kneel down on the ground and say +three 'Our Fathers' and three 'Hail Marys' in reverence to the +three Kings of the Orient, that just as they were guided and +guarded while they were watching and sleeping, and when they were +in the hands of King Herod, that they will give you grace to be +free from infancy and so that all your affairs will be prosperous +and increase in all that is good. Now don't disturb me in my +devotions." + +The maiden went to her bed and the empress went into the sitting +room. When she saw that the maiden was in bed she put a dress of +green velvet lined with sable on over her chemise. Then she +opened the door to the roof and saw Hippolytus crouched down so +that no one would see him. That made her very pleased as she +thought that her honor would be safe. When Hippolytus saw her, +he got up quickly and went to her. He knelt on the ground and +kissed her hands and tried to kiss her feet. But the worthy lady +would not permit it, and instead kissed him again and again on +the mouth. She then took his hand and showed him great love and +told him to come to her chamber. Hippolytus said: + +"My lady, Your Majesty must excuse me, but I will not go to your +chamber until my desire has a taste of its future glory." + +And he took her in his arms, and lay her on the floor, and there +they enjoyed the climax of their love. + +Afterward they went into the sitting room very happily. +Hippolytus, with great joy, gave her true peace, and with a happy +spirit and loving expression, he said: + +"If I dared to say what glory I feel at this moment with the +great perfection I've found in Your Majesty, I don't believe my +tongue would have enough power to express it." + +The empress, smiling, replied: + +"Although my mind finds itself tormented, I will not complain +about you, or even less about God or myself, because I have been +able to win you." + +"My lady," said Hippolytus, "now is not the time for words. Let +us go to bed, and there we will speak of other matters that will +increase your delight, and will be of great consolation to me." + +After he had said this, Hippolytus quickly stood naked. Then he +went to the genteel lady and removed the clothing she had on so +that she was left in her chemise. And whoever saw her in this +way would recognize that she was like a maiden, and that she +possessed as much beauty as can be found in this world. Her +daughter, Carmesina, resembled her in many ways, but not in all, +for this lady's beauty, in her time, surpassed that of her +daughter. The young gallant took her by the arm and placed her +on the bed, and there they remained, talking and sporting as +lovers do. When half the night had passed, the lady heaved a +deep sigh. + +"Why is Your Majesty sighing" said Hippolytus. "Is it because I +did not satisfy you?" + +"It is quite the opposite," said the empress. "The feelings I +have toward you have increased even more. At first I thought of +you as a good man, and now I find you much better and more +valiant. The reason for my sighing has been only that I am +grieved because they will hold you as a heretic." + +"What, my lady!" said Hippolytus. "Why should I be considered a +heretic?" + +"Because," said the empress, "you have fallen in love with your +mother." + +"'My lady,"' said Hippolytus, "no one knows how worthy you are +but me." + +The two lovers spoke of these things and of many others, with all +the delights and sweet words that two people in love enjoy. They +did not sleep the whole night through, and morning was nearly +upon them. The empress had spoken the truth when she told the +doctors that she would sleep very little that night. Now, tired +from staying awake, they slept, for the new day had arrived. +When the day was fully upon them the maiden Eliseu, who was +completely dressed by now, entered the empress's chambers to ask +her how she was, and if she wanted anything. When she approached +the bed she saw a man lying at the side of the empress, her arm +under the gallant's head, and his mouth to her breast. + +"Oh, Holy Mary help me!" said Eliseo. "Who is this traitor who +has deceived my lady?" She was tempted to cry out, loudly: "Kill +the traitor who, by cunning and deception, has entered this +chamber to possess the delights of this bed!" Then she thought +that no one would be so bold as to enter there against the +empress's will. She tried as hard as she could to see who it +was, but it was impossible because he had his head hidden. She +was afraid that the other maidens might enter the chamber to wait +on the empress as they usually did, so Eliseu went in to where +they were sleeping, and said to them: + +"My lady bids you not to leave the room so that you will not make +any noise, because sleep has not yet satisfied her eyes." + +After half an hour had passed the doctors came to see how the +empress was. The maiden went to the door and said the lady was +resting because during the night she had been a little ill. + +"We will stay here," said the doctors, "until Her Majesty +awakens. That is the emperor's command." + +The maiden did not know how to remedy the situation, nor whether +she should awaken her or not. She was filled with indecision +until the emperor knocked on the chamber door. The maiden, +upset, and without sufficient patience or discretion, went +anxiously to the bed and cried out, softly: + +"Wake up, my lady, wake up! Death is approaching! Your poor +husband is knocking at the door and he knows that you have +offended him. Who is this cruel man who lies at your side and +brings so much grief? Is he an unknown king? I pray to God +Almighty that I will see him with a crown of fire on his head. +If he is a duke I hope to see him end his days in prison. If he +is a marquis, I hope to see his hands and feet eaten. If he is a +count, he should die by evil weapons. If he is a viscount, may a +Turk's sword slice him through from his head down to his navel. +And if he is a knight, sailing at the sea's will, may he end his +days in the deep." + +When the empress found herself awakened by such an evil noise, +which was worse than a trumpet, she lay motionless, unable to +utter a word. Hippolytus did not understand the maiden's words, +but he did understand her tone of voice. And so that no one +would recognize him, he put his head under the blanket. When he +saw what great anguish his lady was in he put his arm around her +and made her duck under the blanket, asking her why she was so +frightened. + +"Oh, my son!" said the empress. "Get up: the emperor is at the +door, and your life and mine are in God's hands at this very +moment. And if I cannot speak to you, or you to me, forgive me +with all your heart, as I do you, because now I see that this day +has been the beginning and the end of all happiness and delight, +and the final hour of your life and mine." + +When Hippolytus heard the empress saying these words, he began to +feel very sorry for himself, because he had never been in a +situation like this before. Young as he was, he joined the +empress, serving her up tears instead of advice and aid. But he +begged the maiden to bring him the sword that was in the sitting +room, and plucking up his courage, he said: + +"Here I shall become a martyr before Your Majesty, and deliver up +my spirit." + +At that instant the empress heard no noise whatsoever, and she +said to Hippolytus: + +"Go hide in that sitting room, my son. I will delay them, and +you can escape with your life." + +"I wouldn't abandon Your Majesty even if they gave me the whole +Greek Empire four times over. I will give my life and everything +I have before I leave Your Highness, and I beg you to kiss me as +a token of faith," said Hippolytus. + +When the empress heard these words her pain increased, and with +the increase of pain she felt her love increasing. As she heard +no noise at all she went to the chamber door to see if she could +hear soldiers or some other bad sign. Through a small crack in +the door she saw the emperor and the doctors discussing her +illness, and she realized that there was no danger. She ran back +to Hippolytus and pulling his ears, she kissed him hard. Then +she said: + +"My son, by the great love I have for you I beg you to go into +that sitting room until I can make up an excuse for the emperor +and the doctors." + +"My lady," said Hippolytus, "in all things I will be more +obedient to you than if you had bought me as a captive, but don't +ask me to leave here, because I don't know if they will harm +you." + +"Don't worry," said the empress. "It's not what Eliseu told me, +at all. There would be a great uproar in the palace if it were." + +Hippolytus quickly went into the sitting room, and the empress +got back into her bed and had the doors to the chamber opened. +The emperor and the doctors went to her bed and asked about her +illness and how she had spent the night. The empress answered +that her headache and the pain in her stomach had not let her +sleep all night long, and she had not been able to rest until the +stars in the sky had disappeared. + +"Then, since I could no longer stay awake, I slept, and now I +feel much happier than before. And I believe that if that +pleasant dream had lasted longer, I would feel even better. But +in this world a person cannot be completely happy: with the +painful awakening this maiden has given me, my spirit is in more +anguish than I can say. If I could go back to the way I was, it +would be a great consolation to me. I could touch and hold in my +arms the things I love and have loved most in this world." + +The emperor said: + +"Tell me, my lady, what was it that you held in your arms?" + +The empress answered: + +"My lord, the greatest blessing that I have ever had in the +world. I fell asleep, and soon it seemed to me that I was up on +the roof in my chemise, saying the prayer that I always pray to +the three Kings of the Orient. And when I had finished the +blessed prayer, I heard a voice telling me: 'Do not go, for in +this place you will possess the grace you are asking for.' And +soon I saw my beloved son coming toward me, accompanied by many +gentlemen, all dressed in white, and they held Hippolytus by the +hand. Surrounding me, the two of them caught up my hands and +kissed them, and they wanted to kiss my feet, but I would not let +them. And as we sat on the roof we exchanged many words which +gave me great delight, and they were so many and so delicious +that they will always remain in my heart. Afterward we entered +the chamber, and I held him by the hand. My son and I got into +bed, and I put my right arm around his shoulders, and his mouth +kissed my breasts. I have never had such a pleasant sleep. And +my son said to me, 'My lady, since you cannot have me in this +miserable world, take my brother Hippolytus as your son, for I +love him as much as I love Carmesina.' And when he said these +words he was lying beside me, and Hippolytus was obediently +kneeling in the middle of the chamber. I asked him where his +room was, and he told me that he was among the martyred knights +in paradise, because he had died in battle against the infidel. +And I could not ask him more because Eliseu woke me up with a +sound more strident than a trumpet." + +"Didn't I say," said the emperor, "that all her talk was only +about her son?" + +"Oh, my lord," said the empress, "it has hurt no one more than +me. I held him in this arm; his pleasant mouth was touching my +breasts; and the dreams you have in the morning often come true. +I think he still may not have left. I would like to try to go +back to sleep to see if he will talk to me again." + +"I beg you," said the emperor, "put this madness out of your +head, and get up out of bed." + +"I beg you, my lord," said the empress, "for my health and +pleasure, let me rest a little. My eyes are clouded from lack of +sleep." + +"My lord," said the doctors, "it would be better if Your Majesty +would leave and we let her sleep, because if we take this +pleasure from her it would not be surprising if her illness got +much worse." + +The emperor left, and so did all the maidens in the chamber +except Eliseu. When the doors were closed the empress had +Hippolytus come back in, and she said to the maiden: + +"Since fortune has permitted you to know about this matter, I +command you to serve Hippolytus, even more than myself, with all +your heart. Stay in that sitting room until we have slept a +little. I shall favor you more highly than all the others, and I +will marry you to a man of higher station than the others. +Afterward Hippolytus will give you so many of his possessions +that you will be very satisfied." + +"Heaven help me," said Eliseu, "but I have no desire to serve +Hippolytus, and even less to love and honor him, but since Your +Majesty commands me, I'll do it. Otherwise I wouldn't stoop to +the floor to pick up a needle for him. I tell you, since the +time I saw him lying next to Your Majesty, I have never felt more +ill will for any man in the world than I feel for him. I would +like to see a lion eat up his eyes, his face, and all the rest of +him!" + +Hippolytus answered: + +"Maiden, I never meant to make you angry. I want to love you and +do more for you than for all the other maidens in the world." + +"Do it for the others," said Eliseu, "but don't bother with me. +I don't want anything that belongs to you." + +And she quickly went into the sitting room, and began to cry. +The two lovers stayed in bed so long that it was nearly time for +Vespers when they got up, and they found the maiden still crying. +When she saw them coming into the sitting room she stopped her +wailing, and the empress consoled her and begged her not to say +anything about what Hippolytus had done. + +"My lady," said the maiden, "Your Majesty needn't worry about me. +I would die before I'd tell anybody anything without your +command. As for the second thing, have no fear: I will serve +Hippolytus in every way I can, out of consideration for Your +Majesty." + +The empress was satisfied, and she left Hippolytus in the sitting +room and went back to her bed. Then she commanded the chamber +doors to be opened. Soon her daughter was there, along with all +the maidens, the emperor and the doctors. And again she told +them about her pleasant dream. + +The meal was served, and the empress ate like someone who was +tired from walking a long distance. The maiden was diligent in +serving Hippolytus, and she gave him some pheasants to eat. And +when he did not want to eat, she begged him on behalf of her +lady. Hippolytus spoke to her and joked, but she would not +answer him unless it was something to do with her service. + +Here was the empress, not moving from her bed until the following +day when the emperor had already eaten lunch. After she had +dressed she went to chapel to hear mass, and there was a great +dispute among the priests as to whether they should read the +scriptures, because it was already past noon. + +Hippolytus remained in the sitting room with this pleasure for a +week. When the lady saw that he was quite exhausted, she asked +him to leave, telling him to return to her chamber another day +after he had rested, and he could take her as he pleased. And +from a box where she kept her jewelry the empress took out a gold +chain, and put it around his neck, saying: + +"Pray God that I may live, Hippolytus, because I will be +surprised if I don't put a crown on your head before many years +have passed. Now, for love of me, wear this. Since it will be +in view you will remember someone who loves you as much as she +does her own life." + +Hippolytus knelt to the ground, thanked her, and kissed her hand +and her mouth and said: + +"My lady, how could Your Majesty deprive yourself of such an +exquisite jewel to give it to me? If it were mine I would give +it to Your Highness where it would be put to better use. I beg +you to keep it." + +The empress answered: + +"Hippolytus, never refuse what your lover gives you." + +"Then, my lady, how will you command my life? What do you want +me to do?" + +"I beg you to leave. I am terribly afraid that tomorrow the +emperor may enter this sitting room and find you here. Go now, +and let this fear of mine pass. There will be other days when +you can return." + +Let us leave these endearments of hers for Hippolytus now, and +return to Tirant to see how his love is doing. When his leg was +mended he often went to the palace without anyone's help. His +only obstacle was that the doctors would not let him go as often +as he would have liked. The emperor often asked them how many +days it would be before he would be entirely well so that he +could leave for battle. They told him that he would soon be well +enough to ride. When Tirant knew how much the emperor wanted him +to go, he felt great anguish because he could not have his desire +or at least some contact with the princess. + +The passion that the Widow carried inside had not been revealed +until that time. But when she learned from the emperor that +Tirant would be leaving soon, she thought that she might be able +to persuade him to take her along to the camp with the excuse +that she would serve him there. And if this was impossible, her +diabolical plans were to spread a seed throughout the court +called discord. She went to the princess and said: + +"Did you know, my lady, that Tirant told me as we were leaving +mass that he wanted to talk to me. I told him that I would be +glad to talk to him if I could have Your Majesty's permission. I +think he realizes that he will be leaving soon, and he wants to +see if he can commit some treachery against Your Highness. He is +thinking to himself: If he can do it, well and good, and if he +can't, then when he's gone he'll forget all about you. He told +me the other day that that's the way he is, and he laughed as +though he had said something wonderful." + +"Then let's do this," said the princess. "You go talk to him, +and we'll see if there is some treachery in his heart. Your +advice is good: I should be careful with him." + +"But, my lady," said the Widow, "if I'm to find out what's really +in his heart, you must not leave this room until I come back." + +The Widow went out, called a page and told him: + +"Tell Tirant that the princess is here, in this chamber, and is +very anxious to talk to him." + +The page quickly went to tell him. When Tirant heard that his +lady had asked him to come, he did not wait for anyone to go with +him. The Widow was watching carefully to see when he would come, +and as soon as she saw him she pretended to be coming out of the +princess's chamber at that very moment, and she went up to him +and said: + +"Unfortunately, the empress just took the princess to her +chambers, and they are talking right now. I asked her to send +for you because just as Jesus Christ enlightened his disciples, +so you spread light to everyone whenever you are in the palace, +and as soon as you leave we feel sad. The princess told me to +come and keep you company until the empress is gone. So let's +sit down until Her Highness comes: I don't want you to hurt your +leg on my account." + +They sat in the drawing room, and Tirant said: + +"Calling to mind, my lady, what you just said to me, the +consolation you feel when you see me, I thank you very much for +saying that. Take this chain as proof of my affection, I beg +you, so that when you look at it you'll think of me, because I +want to do a great deal for you." + +The Widow answered: + +"There's no one who doesn't know how you hurt your leg, but +because of their situation they don't want to offend you or make +you angry, and because of the war they hide their feelings and +pretend not to know anything. If they were certain there would +be peace, Carmesina would be the first to throw you into +everlasting and bitter grief. Are you so blind that you can't +see the dishonest things that are plotted and carried out in this +palace? It all seems so vile and abominable to me that I won't +agree to any of it. That's why they don't like me. I know for a +fact that you're not highly regarded the way you should be. Tell +me, wouldn't it be better for you to love a woman who was expert +in the art of loving, and very honest, even if she weren't a +virgin? She would follow you across the sea and over land, in +war and in peace. She would serve you in your tents both night +and day, and would never think of anything but how to please +you." + +"Tell me, my lady," said Tirant, "who is the woman who would +perform such remarkable services for me?" + +"Oh, wretched me!" said the Widow. "Why are you trying to make +me suffer more than I already do? Haven't I said enough? Don't +pretend that you don't understand what's so clear. I've tried to +find a time when we wouldn't be interrupted by anyone to reveal +my pain to you. It seems to me that I've made my intention known +to you very clearly, and the knight who is so graciously offered +such a gift can feel very fortunate." + +Tirant did not hesitate to reply: + +"To satisfy you, I'll answer your kind words. It makes me angry +that I can't do what you are asking because your words are filled +with so much love. But my free will is captive, and even if I +wanted to, my five senses would not allow it." + +"Everything I've told you was only to test your patience, and to +show you, Lord Tirant, how much I want to serve you. I think you +should be aware of all the things you don't know. I don't want +you to be deceived by the princess's actions: she no longer has +any honor, and she has none of her father's or her mother's honor +either. She could have satisfied her appetites honestly with a +valiant and virtuous knight like you, or with many others who are +in love with her, but the sky, the earth, the sea and the sands +abominate the sin she has committed (and still commits daily). +Only Our Lord would permit such an abominable crime of adultery +without punishing her! If you knew what I know you would spit in +her face. + +But why should I try to exaggerate such an ugly crime with +unnecessary words? She has become involved with Lauseta--that's +his name. He's a black slave, a Moorish gardener who takes care +of the orchard. And don't think, your grace, that all these +things I've told you are simply fables, because I'll let you see +it with your own eyes. She has made me live with this enormous +pain for a long time. How many kinds of herbs have I gone to +pick, and then placed them inside her to destroy the fetus in her +infamous stomach! Oh wretch, the poor thing was punished because +of my sin! And its body wasn't buried, but instead made its trip +down the river. What else could I do so that the grandchild +would not be seen by the emperor, its grandfather? She has the +pleasure, if it can be called that, and I have the blame." + +Tirant, with all the melancholy he felt, said: + +"Widow, your words have gone straight to my miserable heart. +They hurt me more deeply than I have ever been hurt before. I +beg you, virtuous lady, show me the cause of my pain, because +otherwise I couldn't believe words that sound so unreasonable. +It seems impossible that such a celestial person would freely +place her beauty in the hands of a black savage." + +Then he was silent. Widow Repose was very worried because Tirant +did not fully believe her false words. During this conversation +the emperor came into the chamber, and when he saw Tirant, he +took him by the hand, and they both went into a room to talk +about the war. The Widow was left alone, and she began to say to +herself: + +"Since Tirant did not believe me, this deception I have planned +won't succeed. But I'll make him give in to me, even if I have +to sell my soul to the devil to do it." + +Furious, she swept into the princess's chamber. Then, feigning +laughter, she showed her the gold chain Tirant had given her, and +she said: + +"You'd be astonished, my lady, if you knew his latest whim. He +wants to bring a galley here, and carry you off to his land by +force." + +And she continued to invent stories almost in mockery. When the +princess saw that she was mocking Tirant, she became inwardly +very angry, and she left and went to her sitting room. She began +to think a great deal about Tirant and how deeply she loved him, +and of the gifts that he gave to her ladies because of her. The +thought of how much she loved him made her reflect deeply, and +brought her bitter pain. After thinking for a long time, she +dressed and went out to the hall to talk to Tirant, because she +knew that he would soon have to leave for the field of battle. + +Widow Repose waited for Tirant, and said to him: + +"My captain, I would like to have your word that you will not +tell the princess, even in jest, what I said to you. Before +twenty-four hours have gone by I will let you see it with your +own eyes." + +"Widow," said Tirant, "I will be very happy if you show me. And +so that you will have complete confidence in me, I promise by the +blessed Saint George, in whose name I hold the honor of +chivalry, not to tell a soul." + +As the emperor turned he saw the Widow, and said to her: + +"Go quickly and tell the empress and my daughter to go to the +orchard right away. I'll be waiting for them there." + +Soon all the ladies were with the emperor, and they talked about +many things, including how the emperor had sent the order to the +camp for two thousand lancers to come and accompany the captain. +When the princess heard the news she became very agitated, and +pretending that she had a headache, she said: + +"I will not deprive myself just because the captain is here; I'll +let my hair down even though he's present." + +Then she let down all her hair, allowing it to hang loose--and it +was the most beautiful hair any maiden ever had. When Tirant saw +it in all its splendor he was astonished, and his love doubled in +strength. The princess was dressed that day in a skirt of white +damask. At that moment her hands were struggling with the cord +of her skirt, and she seemed to be in great anguish as she walked +alone through the orchard. The emperor tried to question her +about her illness, and asked if she wanted the doctors to come. +She answered no, that: + +"My illness requires neither doctors nor medicine." + +At this moment Widow Repose got up from where she was sitting, +and taking a companion and two squires along as her escorts, she +went to a painter's house and told him: + +"Since the festival of Corpus Christi is near, I would like to +put on a play. You're the best painter in the world: Could you +make a mask of flesh color according to my instructions? It +should be over a fine, black skin that would look like Lauseta, +the gardener of our orchard. It should have hair on its face, +some white and some black, and I'll put gloves on my hands so +that I will appear entirely black." + +"Madam," answered the painter, "that can be done, but I have a +great deal of work right now. However, if you pay me well, I'll +put aside all my other work so that I can serve you." + +The Widow reached into her purse and gave him thirty ducats in +gold so that he would do a good job. And he made it with the +exact shape and features of Lauseta. + +When the princess had strolled through the garden at length, she +saw Lauseta pruning an orange tree, because it was his job to +work in the garden, and she went up to him to talk to him. The +Widow, who had returned by now, was watching Tirant, and she made +a sign to him so that he would notice that his lady was talking +to the Negro, Lauseta. Tirant turned around (for he was at the +emperor's side), and saw the princess speaking animatedly with +the black gardener, and he said to himself: + +"Oh, that wicked Widow! She's still trying to make me believe +that what she told me is the truth! No matter what she says or +does, no one can tell me that the princess would do such a +terrible thing, and nothing in the world will make me believe it +unless I see it with my own eyes." + +At that moment the emperor called a maiden and said to her: + +"Come here, Praxidis,"--for that was her name. "Go over to my +daughter and ask her to call the captain and tell him that she +wants him to leave for the camp soon. Often young knights will +do more for ladies than they will for themselves." + +The princess replied that she would, since His Majesty had asked +her to. After she had spent a while talking with Lauseta about +the orange trees and the myrtles, she went back to strolling +through the garden. When she was near the emperor she called to +Tirant and told him that she was tired, and she asked him to take +her arm so they could walk through the garden together. God +knows how happy Tirant felt when the princess said this to him. +And when they were some distance from the others, Tirant said: + +"I have only you in my thoughts now, and I spend day and night +thinking of you. If fortune would like to have a little pity on +me, let it allow me to have only a part of my desire, because +then I will become the most glorious knight who ever lived. All +I need is a little hope from Your Excellency." + +The virtuous lady kept her pain secret, and replied: + +"Tirant, my lord, harbor no doubt whatsoever about what I tell +you, because even if I have occasionally been cruel with you, I +don't want you to think I have not always been with you in +spirit. I have always loved you and looked on you as a god, and +I can tell you that as my age increases so does my love. And now +the time has come when you can know fully whether I love you, +for I want to give you the prize of your love. And I beg you, +please, to guard my honor as you do your own life." + +Tirant's heart was filled with happiness when he saw that this +lofty lady had shown her great love for him, and that he was on +the path of possessing the crown of the Empire of Greece. He +felt that he could conquer the entire world, and he wanted to +tell his cousin Diafebus, the Duke of Macedonia, about it, +because he thought everyone would feel just as delighted as he +did. And as a greater pledge, he took out a reliquary he +carried, and he made the princess place her hands there, asking +her to declare that she would marry him, and she very happily +swore it. Then Tirant said: + +"My lady, I make the same oath to be faithful and true to you and +never to forget you for anyone else in the world." + +When all this had been done, Tirant knelt down on the ground to +kiss her hands because he was more afraid of offending her than +of a saint. The princess said: + +"To keep my honor and my reputation I am holding back what you +most desire. After your great victory, we will take that sweet, +delicious fruit of love which is plucked in matrimony, and you +will wear the crown of the Empire of Greece." + +In a trembling voice, Tirant said: + +"I am so anxious to have what I desire most in the world that +every hour I wait seems like a thousand years. I would like to +change that future time to the present." + +The princess, with a kind face, quickly answered: + +"I cannot completely resist your entreaties without offending +you. But shame and fear hold me back, telling me to keep myself +from losing what I will never be able to recover. I beg you, let +us leave this conversation so the emperor will not begin to +wonder about me. You talk to Plaerdemavida, and whatever you +decide I will agree to." + +They kissed many times without anyone seeing them, because the +orange trees were between them and the emperor, and protected +them from everyone's view. When they returned to the emperor, +the princess saw him deep in thought and said to him: + +"My lord, what are you thinking about?" + +The emperor answered: + +"My daughter, I want to hold a celebration tomorrow in Tirant's +honor. For every battle he has won on land and on sea, I want +that many flags placed in our Church of Santa Sofia, and for +every castle, villa and city he has conquered, I want that many +standards placed around the high altar with Tirant's coat of +arms. For he has brought this empire so many benefits, showing +himself to be truly a lover of the public good and a conqueror of +the world." + +The emperor sent for all those in his council and told them what +he wanted, and they all praised him, saying it would be a very +good thing to do. When they had made their calculations they +found that in four and one half years he had conquered three +hundred seventy-two villas, cities and castles. + +When the emperor held his council and Tirant found out that he +was discussing these things, he did not want to be present, and +he went to his chambers. On leaving the orchard, Tirant said to +Hippolytus: + +"Tell Plaerdemavida to go out to the great hall. I have to talk +to her." + +Hippolytus took the message, and she quickly went there. Tirant +embraced her, and smiling, he took her hand. When they had sat +down by a window he said: + +"I have been with Her Highness and we have exchanged many words +of love, and she promised to do whatever you and I decided. I +was to tell you all my concerns, and tonight I would speak with +Her Majesty. We held hands and solemnly swore that as long as +she and I should live I would be her servant, husband and lord, +and I would have a resting place of perpetual glory and delight +in her chambers, in her bed." + +Plaerdemavida listened to Tirant. She thought for a moment, and +then said: + +"I was not born among the lower classes in Rome. My mother was +born in that city, and my ancestors were noble citizens of Rome. +Tirant, lord of the world, why did you speak to me so timidly? +Is your grace unaware of what you have in me? My heart, my body, +my will and all my thoughts have no other purpose in this world +than to serve your grace. I won't say anything more to you +because a knight who is waiting to go into battle shouldn't be +worn out by words. But when the emperor is dining I'll go to +your rooms and give you news that will please you very much." + +Then Tirant kissed her eyes and her face with great joy. He left +her, and Plaerdemavida went back to the garden where she found +the princess with the emperor. The emperor went into the upper +chambers, and Plaerdemavida and the princess entertained +themselves and decided what time Tirant should come. The +princess told her everything that she had said and done with +Tirant, and Plaerdemavida was very glad to see how happy her lady +was. + +The hour arrived when the emperor was to dine, and Tirant did not +forget to go to the palace quickly. He met Plaerdemavida coming +down the stairs to his quarters. She told him how it was to be +done, and what time he should come. Then they went back the way +they had come. + +After everyone in the palace had retired and was asleep, the +princess got up from her bed, and the only ones with her were +Plaerdemavida and another named Lady Montblanc who knew all about +the affair. The princess put on a dress that the emperor had +ordered made for her wedding. Neither he nor anyone else had +ever seen it, and it was the most beautiful dress anyone had ever +seen at that time. Her gown was of crimson satin embroidered +with pearls. Her mantle was lined with ermine, and on her head +she wore a stunning imperial crown. Plaerdemavida and Lady +Montblanc took lighted torches in their hands, and waited for +Tirant to come. When the clock struck eleven (which was the +hour that he was awaiting so anxiously), he quickly went to the +garden gate. Climbing the stairs to the sitting room, he found +Lady Montblanc with the lighted torch, and as soon as she saw him +she knelt before him and said: + +"Of knights, the best, and the most beloved in the world by a +beautiful lady." + +And Tirant replied: + +"Maiden, may your wishes be fulfilled." + +They both went up to the sitting room and waited there until +Plaerdemavida came in, happier and more content than Paris was +when he carried off Helen. They went into one chamber while the +princess was coming in from another door, and they met very +happily, and Tirant knelt on the ground, and she did likewise. +They remained like this for some time. Then they kissed, and +their kiss was so delicious that one could have walked a mile +while they had their lips pressed together. Plaerdemavida saw +the danger in their dilatoriness, and went up to them and said: + +"I declare you good and loyal lovers, but I will not leave this +battlefield until you are lying in bed together. And I won't +deem you a knight if you make peace before spilling blood." + +They stood up, and the princess took the crown from her head and +placed it on Tirant's head. Then she fell to her knees and said: + +"Oh Lord God, Jesus Christ, all powerful and merciful, Who, +having pity on mankind, came down from heaven to earth and took +on human form in the virgin womb of the most Holy Virgin Mary, +Your Mother and Our Lady, and Who died on the tree of the true +cross to redeem the sins of mankind, and came back to life on the +third day by Your own power, in a glorified body, true God and +true man! May it please Your most Holy Majesty to allow my lord +Tirant to possess this crown, with the title and reign over all +the Empire of Greece, after the death of my father, inasmuch as +Your divine goodness has granted him the grace to have retaken it +and freed it from the infidel. And may this be done in honor, +praise and glory of Your most Holy Majesty and of Your most Holy +Mother, and for the benefit of the holy Catholic faith." + +When she had finished her prayer, the princess got up and took +some scales that the emperor used for weighing gold coins, and +she said: + +"My lord Tirant, good fortune has decided that on this day I will +submit to your power of my own free will, and without my mother's +and father's consent, or that of the people of Greece. Here I +hold some scales of perfection: on the right side is love, honor +and chastity; on the other side is shame, infamy and grief. +Choose which of these pleases you most, Tirant." + +As one who always wished to serve honor, Tirant took the scale on +the right hand side, and said: + +"Before I was given news of Your Majesty I had heard of your +virtues, which as I now know would be too many to mention. For +Your Highness practices virtue continually and has such great +beauty that it is far greater than that of all other ladies in +the world." + +Then, holding up the scale on the right, he said: + +"I place love and honor above the crown and the scale with all +the firmness that it has. And I beg you dearly to speak no more +of this. Rather, with true will, let our marriage take place." + +The princess answered: + +"You have embraced the scale of love and honor. Now I beg you to +preserve my chastity, and for the present do not violate it. +Otherwise, what will the emperor say, and my mother, and the +entire country who think of me as a saint? What will they say of +me? There will be no one who can trust Carmesina. And when you +are gone away, if I am offended by anyone, who will I go to for +help? A brother or a husband? And if I become with child, what +counsel could I take?" + +Tirant could no longer withstand the tears of the princess, and, +smiling, he replied: + +"My lady, I have been waiting so long to see you in your +nightgown or completely naked on a bed. I don't want your crown +or your kingdom. But give me all my rights which belong to me, +as our Holy Mother Church commands with the following words: 'If +a maiden gives herself in true matrimony, he who is able but does +not have copulation after marriage is in mortal sin.' As for me, +my lady, if you love my body you should love my soul too, and +Your Majesty should not willfully cause me to sin. You know very +well that if a man goes into battle while he's in mortal sin, God +will not come to his aid." + +And as he was saying these words Tirant was not slow about +removing her clothing: he unfastened her skirt while he kissed +her again and again, saying: + +"Every hour that we're not in bed is like a year to me. Since +God has given me such a treasure, I don't want to lose it." + +Plaerdemavida exclaimed: + +"Oh, my lord! Why wait until you are in bed? Do it on top of +her clothes so that they can be a more certain witness. We'll +close our eyes and say that we saw nothing. If you wait for Her +Highness to take off her clothes you'll have to wait until +morning. Afterward Our Heavenly Father could punish you as a +knight unworthy of love. Heaven help you if you should fail at a +time like this. Seeing that you were such a polite lover, Our +Heavenly Father wouldn't want to give you a morsel like this +again, nor would He have anything to give you. There's no man in +the world who wouldn't swallow it, even if he knew for a +certainty that he would choke to death." + +The princess answered: + +"Be quiet, you enemy of all goodness! I would never have +thought, Plaerdemavida, that you could be so cruel. Up to today +I've always thought of you as a mother or a sister, but now you +are like a stepmother because of the reprehensible advice you're +giving about me." + +At this point Tirant had finished removing her clothing, and he +took her in his arms and placed her on the bed. When the +princess saw herself in such a situation, and that Tirant, who +had taken off his clothes, was at her side working with the +artillery to penetrate the castle, she saw that she could not +defend it by the strength of her arms. She thought that perhaps +with feminine arms she could resist him, and with her eyes +pouring forth tears she began to lament: + +"You are trying to keep me from loving you. You want to use your +absolute power over me and make me very angry. Tirant, open the +eyes of your understanding, and look at the misfortune that +awaits you, and when you recognize it, give way to reason, and +restrain your lustful appetite." + +The princess made all these and other laments with her eyes +pouring forth tears. Tirant saw all the tears and the discreet +words of his lady, and he decided to make her content that night +and to follow her will. Although all night long the two lovers +slept very little, but rather played and found amusement now near +the head of the bed and now near its foot, caressing each other +continually, both of them very content. When it was nearly +daybreak and the people in the palace were beginning to stir, the +princess said: + +"For my own satisfaction I would that the day had not come so +quickly, and it would be my pleasure if this delight could last a +year, or never end. Arise, Tirant, lord of the Empire of Greece, +for tomorrow, or whenever it pleases you, you may return to the +same place." + +Tirant got up very reluctantly, and said: + +"I shall do what you command, but I fear that my desire will +never be satisfied, and my thoughts are very restless." + +So that no one should see or hear him, he left full of passion +and anguish, kissing her wildly at the moment of their parting. +When he was gone Plaerdemavida was so distraught that she could +bear no more. The princess sent for her and had Lady Montblanc +summoned, and both knew what had taken place between her and +Tirant. + +"God help me!" said Plaerdemavida. "Your Highness had the +pleasure and Tirant the delight, and I the sin. But it grieves +me so much that there was no consummation that I feel I shall die +from anger. Bring that skinny, spineless knight to me, and +you'll see what I say to him! I shall never again do anything +for him; instead I will try to stand in his way whenever I can." + +"In faith," said Lady Montblanc, "he has shown great virtue as +the most valiant and courteous knight he is, for he has wished to +forego his pleasure rather than anger my mistress." + +They spoke of this at length until it was bright daylight and the +emperor sent word to the empress and to his daughter that all the +ladies should dress in their finery, and then they should all +come to the festivities being held for Tirant. He also sent word +to all the knights and ladies of the city so that they would go +to the palace. God knows well that in that instance the princess +would have liked more to sleep than to leave her chambers. But +for love of Tirant and so that the celebration could take place, +she left her bed and dressed very beautifully, and they went out +from the great hall where they found the emperor with all his +retinue of nobles and knights and ladies of the city. + +When the procession was ready, they went through the city with +the two hundred seventy-two flags in front, until they came to +the church. Tirant went up to the princess, and she received him +warmly, but she could only say: + +"Tirant, my lord, all that I have is yours." + +Tirant did not dare answer her because the empress and the others +were near. The mass was begun with great solemnity. On +administering the holy water they set up one flag; after +confession another was put in place; then, at psalm or scripture +reading they put up another one. Finally, when the mass was +over, all the flags were in place. Tirant did not want to sit in +his usual place, or even next to the emperor. Instead he went +into a chapel with his Hours in his hand, and from there he could +see the princess very well. In truth, Tirant said very few Hours +at that mass. I could not tell you about the princess, but as +long as the holy service lasted she did not take her eyes from +Tirant. + + CHAPTER IX WIDOW REPOSE + + After the service was over and everyone had eaten, there was +dancing in the square. While they were dancing the princess went +to the palace, to her chamber, to change clothes, and she had +them close the door. When she was in her tunic she went up to +the treasure tower with two maidens. There the three of them +weighed out a load of ducats. The princess gave them to +Plaerdemavida to carry to Tirant's rooms. When she had dressed +again she went back to where the emperor was. She went up to him +and to Tirant who was nearby. She whispered in Tirant's ear so +that the emperor would not hear: + +"Your hands have caressed me so much that there is no part of my +body that does not remember your touch." + +Tirant answered: + +"It is very fortunate for me that my hands have learned something +new." + +The emperor said: + +"What are you two talking about so secretly." + +"My lord," said the princess, "I was asking Tirant if there would +be jousts at this celebration. He told me there would not, and +that they were waiting to hold them against the Turks." + +"That is the best news I could possibly hear," said the emperor. +"Do you feel well enough to be able to leave?" + +"Yes, by the Holy Virgin!" said Tirant. "When the celebration is +over, I will take the doctors with me, and I'll be able to go." + +They spoke of other things until Plaerdemavida came and signaled +from a distance. When the emperor began to talk to other people +Tirant quietly went to Plaerdemavida to ask her what she wanted. +She answered: + +"It is only logical that you've lost the prize of all your +efforts so many times, my lord, with your neglect and lack of +persistence. You don't deserve to be rewarded any further since +you're satisfied with what you have, and you've lost it through +your own fault. As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to be +involved in your love affairs any longer. You don't need me--you +need Widow Repose: she'll give you what you deserve. I'm not +bound to do anything more for you: you are the most disloyal, +unworthy knight who was ever born. And that you can't deny. If +I were a knight, I would fight you. You were in bed with a +maiden in your arms--the most beautiful, most pleasing, the +worthiest lady who ever lived--and you shouldn't have left her +just because she begged you to or because she shed tears. And if +she went there a virgin, I saw her leave a virgin--to your shame +and confusion. The great error you committed will hurt me all my +life. There is no lady or maiden in the world who wouldn't +consider you the lowest of men if she knew what you have done. I +don't want to talk about this anymore: I've already said enough. +I only want to tell you that when the emperor sits down to +dinner, you'll have to be there. I've just now come from your +chambers, and here's the key to your room. I beg you to go there +quickly. I brought the keys so that no one could read what +you'll find written there." + +Tirant took the keys, and wanted to reply to what Plaerdemavida +had told him, but it was impossible because the emperor was +telling him to come right away. When he was there the emperor +told him that he was to sit alone at the table. The emperor, the +empress, the princess, and all the maidens waited on him. And +there was no knight or lady who dared approach to serve him, +because they were all in their seats waiting to hear what an old +knight who was very experienced in arms would say. He was a very +eloquent and great reader who began to recite all the +chivalresque deeds that Tirant had performed. The men and women +forgot to eat as they listened to the great honors that Tirant +had achieved up to that day. When Tirant had finished eating, +the knight stopped reading-- and his recitation had lasted more +than three hours. + +When evening arrived, the dinner was as abundant as the afternoon +meal had been. After the dancing there were farces and short +plays, as were required at such festivities. These festivities +lasted almost the whole night through, and the emperor did not +want to leave until dawn. The princess was never bored at the +celebration because she could see and talk to Tirant. And Tirant +barely dared to talk to the princess for fear of the emperor who +was very near, but he told her quietly: + +"My lady, last night was certainly more enjoyable to me than +tonight is." + +Plaerdemavida quickly interjected: + +"My lord, your words are fine, but not your actions." + +Then, when the emperor saw that dawn was breaking he got up and +wanted everyone to go with him to escort Tirant to his chambers. +Tirant thanked him for the great honor he was paying him, and he +wanted to escort the emperor to his chambers, but the worthy lord +would not permit it. + +When Tirant was in his chambers he thought that because +Plaerdemavida was so unhappy with him she had probably written +him some letter, but when he went into his room he saw a heap of +gold on the floor. He was astonished at the princess's great +virtue, and he thought more highly of her good will than he did +of the gift. He had Hippolytus come, and ordered him to +safeguard it. + +When it was time for mass all the lords went, and Tirant found no +way to talk to the princess, to thank her for what she had sent +him, until after dinner. After eating they told the emperor that +since he had slept so little the night before he should go and +rest, and that when it was time for the festivities they would +all return. As the ladies went back to the palace Tirant drew +near to the princess and told her: + +"I haven't the spirit to talk, nor can my tongue express all the +words of love that befit the works of honor that Your Majesty +bestows on me every day." + +She quickly replied, although she did not dare to speak much +because the emperor was passing by. She only said to him: + +"You are my lord; I am in your power. Decide what you will do +with me: make war or peace. If I don't help you, who are my +lord, whom would I help? What I do now is little, if you +consider what I plan to do. But if you want more, the doors to +the treasure are open for you, and closed for anyone else." + +With Tirant again thanking her, they reached the emperor's +chambers, and the emperor went inside with the ladies. Only +Widow Repose remained outside. She stood at the head of the +stairs, waiting for Tirant. With her feminine malice she was +prepared to commit an unspeakable crime. When she saw Tirant she +put on a sympathetic face, and with graceful gestures designed to +make him love her, she said: + +"I'm not surprised that you want to conquer the world: you've +already captivated me. With the pity I have for your grace, I +want to help you. So, my lord Tirant, if you'd like to be in a +certain secret place after two o'clock, you'll be able to see +everything I've told you about." + +Tirant said that was agreeable to him, and that he would be +ready. The Widow left Tirant at once. Behind the garden she and +a very old woman had a house already prepared, and she had her +furnish it nicely with a bed, as would befit Tirant. When the +raging Widow saw that the time had come, she went looking for +Tirant secretly, and she made him swear at length, and then +disguise himself. Then they went to the old lady's chambers. In +the chamber was a small window overlooking the garden, and +through it a person could see everything that went on in the +garden; but the window was very high, and only by climbing a +ladder could you see out. The Widow brought two large mirrors, +and put one at the window and the other one lower, in front of +Tirant, facing the first mirror. And everything that appeared in +the top one was reflected in the lower one. + +When the Widow had done this and had left Tirant in the room, she +went quickly to the palace, and found the princess sleeping in +her bed. The Widow said to her: + +"Get up, my lady. My lord, the emperor, sent me to tell you that +the doctors want you to get out of your bed and not to sleep so +long. After you stayed up so late last night, and having eaten +lunch, if you sleep now with this warm weather it could endanger +your health." + +She opened the windows of the chamber so that she would not +sleep, and the princess permitted her to because of her father's +tender words. + +When she was up she put on a brocade tunic with the top +completely unbuttoned, no kerchief over her breast, and her hair +hanging loose over her shoulders. Then the Widow said to her: + +"The doctors think it would be good for you to go down to the +garden and see all the greenery, and we'll entertain ourselves +there with some games so that your drowsiness will pass. I have +a costume for the festival of Corpus Christi that looks like your +gardener. Plaerdemavida likes these things very much and she +will put it on, and will tell you her usual witty things." + +The princess went down to the garden with the Widow and two +maidens while Tirant was watching the mirror carefully. He saw +the princess coming with the maidens, and watched as they sat +down near a small stream. The Widow had foreseen everything, and +she had sent the black gardener to the city of Pera so that he +would not be in the garden. + +The Widow helped dress Plaerdemavida, and put the mask on her +that had been made to look exactly like the black gardener; and +she went into the garden wearing his clothing. When Tirant saw +her coming he thought that it was in fact the Moorish gardener, +carrying a spade over his shoulder. He began to dig, and soon +approached the princess. He sat at her side, and took her hands +and kissed them. Then he put his hands on her breasts and +touched her nipples, and made overtures of love. The princess +broke into great peals of laughter, and all her weariness left +her. Then he drew her even closer and put his hands under her +skirts, while all the maidens laughed, as they listened to +Plaerdemavida's amusing words. The Widow turned toward Tirant +and twisted her hands as she spat on the ground, indicating the +loathing and pain she felt for what the princess was doing. + +Imagine poor, miserable Tirant, who the day before had been so +pleased at having won a lady of such high rank as his betrothed, +the thing he desired most in the world, and then to see his +misery, his affliction and his pain with his own eyes. And when +he began to think, he wondered if the mirrors were reflecting a +false image, and he broke them and looked inside to see if they +contained something evil made by the art of necromancy, but he +found nothing of the sort. He wanted to get up to the window to +find out if he could see more, and to discover how those games +would end, and he saw that there was no ladder, because the Widow +had been afraid that he might do this and she had hidden it. +Tirant, finding no other recourse, took the bench from in front +of the bed and stood it up. Then, taking a cord that he cut from +the curtains, he passed it over a beam and pulled himself up by +it. He saw how the black gardener had taken the princess by the +hand, and was leading her to a hut in the garden where he kept +his gardening tools and a bed to sleep on. Plaerdemavida led her +into that room, where they looked through everything, including +the clothing which the black man kept in a chest. After a time +the princess came out, as the Widow and a maiden were walking +near the hut. When they saw her, the Widow went over to the +maiden and gave her a scarf. To go ahead with the game and make +everyone laugh, she said to her: + +"Put it under the princess's skirts." + +When she was in front of Her Highness, the maiden knelt on the +ground as the Widow had instructed her, and put the rag under her +skirts. And the princess' naivete played into the hands of the +Widow's malice. When Tirant saw such a heinous thing, he was +completely aghast, and with a voice full of anguish, he began to +lament: + +"Oh, fortune, enemy of all who want to live upright in this +world: Now, when I had achieved such a marriage, you have let me +be dishonored by a man of the most vile condition and nature that +could be found. Oh, princess, my lady! I would never have +believed that in a maiden of such tender years there could be so +little shame and boldness that you would commit such an +abominable sin." + +At this moment Widow Repose came in. She had waited a short time +at the door, and when she heard Tirant's lament, she said: + +"Now all the things I have begun are coming to pass." + +When she entered the room she saw that Tirant was in great +anguish, his pillow full of tears, continuing his lamentations. +She sat down near him to see if Tirant wanted to say anything to +her, and ready to do whatever he said. When the Widow saw that +Tirant was not changing his tone, she said to him: + +"That lover of all dishonesty won't leave her abominable life, no +matter how much you beg or threaten her. Her only desire is to +satisfy her lust. What can I do, poor me? With these breasts," +and she pulled them out so that Tirant would see them, "I nursed +that lady." + +She let them hang out like this for a good while, pretending that +with her lamentations she had forgotten to cover them. Then she +added: + +"Lord Tirant, take comfort from me. Oh, Almighty God, Holy +Trinity! With great anguish in my soul, with great anger and +many tears, I revealed those thoughts that ran through my mind +almost every day. But at night, alone in my room, I would find +myself drying my tearful eyes--with sackcloth so that I would +feel the pain even more." + +Tirant quickly replied: + +"Your love, Widow Repose, can't be compared to mine, because +yours is diminishing: It grows smaller and smaller, while mine is +increasing. But I have more reason to grieve than any lover +because in one day's time I have reached the highest peak of love +that fortune could grant me, and the next day I have been the +most confused and downtrodden lover in the entire world. My eyes +have seen a black Moor easily possess what I have not been able +to have by supplications or by all the dangers and hardships I +have endured. A man as unlucky as I should not go on living, so +that he will not have to trust any maid or maiden." + +He got up from the bed as though to leave, and the Widow said to +him: + +"My lord, rest a while. There are many people outside, and I +value my life so much that I would not want anyone to see you +leaving. I'll go to the window and tell your grace when it is +safe to go." + +Tirant went slowly back to the bed, never ceasing to ponder his +grief. The Widow went into the room of the old mistress of the +house and quickly took off her clothing and dressed in a perfumed +blouse, and a skirt of black velvet. With her blouse completely +unfastened she went into the bedchamber and lay down beside +Tirant very boldly and shamelessly, and said: + +"If you knew the hardships my soul endures for love, you could +not help but have pity on me. Where will you find greater +affection than mine in any woman? It would be more to your glory +to have me always in your chambers or in your tents, serving you +in every way that I can, than to love a false maiden who is given +over to a black captive Moor. Take me as a servant and as one +who loves you more than her own life." + +"My lady," said Tirant, "please don't torment my sad soul. I +can't give an answer to anything you've said. I can only tell +you that I could not forget Her Majesty any more than I could +renounce my faith." + +The Widow said: + +"Since you don't want to love me, at least let me lie next to you +a while, completely naked." + +She quickly removed her tunic, which was already unfastened. +When Tirant saw her in her chemise, he leapt out of bed, flung +open the door, and went back to his quarters with great pain. +And the Widow was left with no less. + +When Tirant was in his room his emotion was so great that he did +not know what to do, and as he walked back and forth tears flowed +from his eyes. And so he did nothing for three hours but pace, +lie down and get up again. Then he left the room full of anger. +As secretly as he could he went in disguise to the garden gate, +and in the orchard he found the black gardener who had arrived +only shortly before. He saw him in the doorway of his room, +putting on a pair of red pants. When Tirant saw him, he looked +around, and no one else was in sight. Then he seized him by the +hair, pushed him into the room and cut off his head. He returned +to his room without anyone seeing him, because everyone was in +the square where the celebration was taking place. Tirant then +said: + +"Oh, just and true God! You who correct our faults, I ask of you +vengeance and not justice for this lady. Tell me, pitiless +maiden, was my disposition less agreeable to your desires than +this black gardener? If you had loved as I thought you did, you +would still be mine. But you never did love me." + +Let us leave Tirant in his lament now, and return to the emperor +who, with all the ladies, was getting ready for the celebration. +At this moment a message arrived, telling him about an +unfortunate event that had happened in the camp three days +previously. + +The Duke of Macedonia and the Duke of Pera were captains of the +camp, and they often went out to do battle against the Turks. +But the Turks were afraid of all the water that the Christians +released. They often fought, and many men from both sides died. +But for every ten Christians who died, three hundred Turks died. +The reason for this was that when the Turks came into the city of +Saint George, the Christians released all the river waters, and +from the canals the ground was like clay so that the horses could +not get out of it, and the men on foot could not escape. + +But one day the Turks decided to come four thousand strong, armed +with spades and baskets, and picks, vinegar and fire to cut +through the mountain so that the water would spread down the dry +river bed, and would leave them free. Further on, a league from +where the Turks were, was a large section of a toppled wall where +there was no one. All the Moorish soldiers went there at night. +The foot soldiers stayed in that deserted place while those on +horseback went into a forest half a league away so they would not +be seen. In the morning the spies came and told the captains +that the Turks had arrived. They held council, and they all +agreed to mount and ride against the Turks. + +First they sent out scouts, who came back with the news that the +enemy was going to try to cut through the mountain to control the +water. The Christians went there. As soon as they arrived the +foot soldiers began skirmishes that lasted a long time, so that +many men from both sides died. Finally, when it was nearly noon, +the Turks found themselves too tightly pressed, and they +abandoned their tools and took flight. The Christians quickly +went to the pass half a league away, and there was so much water +there that they could not cross it except at great effort and +danger. Then, when they did make their way across, the others +were at a great advantage. At a gallop the Moors left all the +foot soldiers behind, with about five thousand men following them +until they took refuge in the unpopulated village. But it was +too heavily populated for the Christians! When the Turks +regrouped at the broken wall, the Duke of Macedonia said: + +"Gentlemen, I don't think we should go any further. We don't +know what kind of an ambush may be in store for us: the enemy is +always thinking of how they can do us the most harm." + +The Duke of Pera, who was the other captain, was very envious, +and he said maliciously: + +"Duke of Macedonia, you have very little experience in arms, and +here you are telling us about the danger we could run into. Turn +back and flee: you would be better off with women in the city +than here!" + +The Duke of Macedonia did not want to create discord among the +men, and have them start fighting among themselves. So he tried +to hold his tongue, but he could not restrain himself, and he +answered: + +"Duke of Pera, you would be better off if you kept quiet. Who +has been honored in battle? I, the Duke of Macedonia, am known +as a conqueror, while the Duke of Pera is held in low esteem +because of the battles he has engaged in." + +The other knights and grandees interrupted the argument, and made +them stop. Some wanted to advance and others to retreat. But in +the end they had to go on, because the Duke of Pera said: + +"Whoever wants to come with me or go back is free to do so." + +And he started out, so all the others felt they had to follow +him. When they reached the deserted village, the Turks on top of +the wall defended it bravely. There was a ditch there, and they +had to dismount and fight with lances, because they had no other +arms. While they were doing this, the forces of the sultan and +the Turk came out, some through one gate and some through +another, and they caught them in the middle. There was a great +slaughter, and they captured many of them. I can say about this +sad adventure that everyone who dismounted was killed or taken +prisoner, and only one knight was able to escape. With this +victory the Turks returned to the city of Bellpuig and put their +captives in strong prisons. + +This news reached the emperor while he was in the hall waiting +for the ladies to come so they could go to the square for the +celebrations. + +The emperor, in the presence of all who were there, cried: + +"Oh, disconsolate widows, lament, tear out your hair, scratch +your faces, dress in mourning! For the flower of chivalry has +died, and it will never be recovered." + +The crying, the wailing, was so great in the palace that it soon +spread throughout the city. And the festivities turned into +mourning and lamentations. + + Then the emperor sent for Tirant to give him the sad news and +show him the letters he had received. When the chamberlain came +to Tirant's door, he heard him crying out: + +"Oh, poor me! Oh, cruel fortune! Why have you done these things +to me? To think that that excellent lady would give herself to a +black Moor, the enemy of our faith. Would that I had never seen +such a thing--the woman I loved most in the world and hoped to +serve. Oh, you wicked Widow! I wish I had never known you, for +you will be the cause of my death and destruction!" + +The emperor's chamberlain heard him talking and crying, but he +could not make out the words because the door was closed. But to +do the emperor's bidding, he called out: + +"Oh, captain! The emperor is calling you and wishes to see you." + +When the chamberlain returned to the emperor, he said: + +"Sire, your captain already knows about the terrible things that +have happened. I heard him grieving piteously!" + +The captain came to the chamber and saw the princess lying on the +ground with the doctors gathered around her. When he saw her +like this, he could not help but exclaim, "Why are you allowing +this lady to die without helping her? Even though her guilt +cannot be excused, I still pray God that she will live longer +than I." + +The doctors didn't understand him, and thought he was bewailing +the bad news. And Tirant thought everyone was crying because of +the princess. Then he turned and saw the empress who had torn +all the veils from her head. At another side he saw the emperor +sitting on the floor, still as a statue. He had the letters in +his hand, and motioned Tirant over and gave them to him. When +Tirant read them, he said: + +"It's worse than I thought." + +Then he began to console the emperor. At this moment the +princess regained consciousness. She opened her eyes, and begged +Tirant to come to her. The princess made him sit next to her and +said: + +"Oh, my last hope! If you truly love me, don't let your life and +mine be taken from this world until the day that all the dukes, +counts and marquis are recovered who have been killed or placed +in cruel prisons." + +While she was speaking, two men who had fled the camp came in, +and she could say no more, nor could Tirant answer. They told +them in detail about the destruction, and about the terrible +argument between the Duke of Macedonia and the Duke of Pera, and +how five thousand knights had been killed or taken prisoner. The +emperor, his eyes brimming with tears and barely able to speak, +began to lament: + +"Oh, unlucky captains! You, more willful than wise, have ignored +my counsel. Find comfort in a cruel prison, thinking that you +will never again see your emperor, for your actions have not been +well thought out." + +The emperor got up from his seat, and went into a chamber, tears +springing from his eyes, his head in his hands. When the +princess saw how he was grieving, she lost consciousness. The +wisest doctor of them all said: + +"I have little hope for this lady's life. She has fainted three +times and now I cannot feel her pulse." + +When Tirant heard the doctor say these words, he quickly said: + +"Oh, cruel death! Wouldn't it be better and more just for you to +come to me first, instead of letting me see her die? Even though +she has deeply hurt me, I want to keep her company." + +And with extreme grief he fell to the ground and all the weight +of his body fell on the leg which had been broken, and it broke +again, and was even worse than before. Blood came out of his +nose and his ears, and especially from his leg, and it was a +wonder that he did not lose his life. They quickly went to tell +the emperor, and he said: + +"It is not at all surprising, for of all his relatives there is +not one left who is not dead or being held prisoner. But this is +my consolation, because to get his relatives and friends out of +prison he will perform admirable feats." + +The emperor began to go to Tirant when he saw his daughter lying +half dead. And he said: + +"God help me, I don't know which of them to help first." + +But he had his daughter lifted up and placed in her bed, and then +Tirant was put in a beautiful room. They quickly removed his +clothing and treated his leg, straightening it a little. And he +was completely unaware of everything they did for him, because he +was unconscious for thirty-six hours. When he regained +consciousness, he asked who had brought him there, and Hippolytus +told him: + +"What, my lord! Don't you know what a great fright you brought +us? + +You've been unconscious for two days, and haven't had anything to +eat. Your body can't hold up that way, so please take what the +doctors order you to have." + +"I don't want anything that will bring my health back," said +Tirant. "I want only death." + +They quickly went to tell the emperor, and the princess +overheard, for she had now regained consciousness. Then Tirant +said: + +"Tell me how the princess is." + +Hippolytus answered: + +"Very well, my lord. She's recovered now." + +"I'm sure she is," said Tirant. "Her illness could not be great. +A few days ago she had things she wanted a great deal, but now I +don't think she will brag much about them. She's not the first +to do this, nor will she be the last. I know very well that +she's not made of iron. Oh, how painful it is for a man not to be +able to share his grief." + +At this moment the emperor came in, followed by all the ladies +with the empress, and they all asked him how he was. But he did +not want to answer anyone. They were all astonished that he had +not answered the greetings of the emperor or the ladies, and +continuing to show his grief he began to lament: + +"Oh, Son of God, all powerful Jesus. I am dying of love, and You +wished to die for love, to free mankind. You suffered so much +pain, lashings, wounds and torments, and my pain was the sight of +a black Moor. Outside of You, Lord, who can compare with my +love? Lord, Your Holy Mother, and Our Lady, suffered great pain +at the foot of the cross, and I stood with a cord in my hand, +with two mirrors that represented, Lord, the greatest pain that +any Christian has ever endured." + +The emperor and all the ladies were in the room, along with the +cardinal and many other clergymen, and they were all astonished +at the pious words they heard Tirant saying. + +Then Tirant lowered his head, and began to lament again, because +death was calling him. The doctors ordered many things for him, +but they did not help. Hearing of his illness, an old Jewess +came to the emperor, and very boldly said: + +"Your Majesty sees that Tirant's life is near its end, all the +doctors have given up hope, and I am the only one who can help +him. Call the soldiers together, and have them start shouting +and go into his chambers and beat their swords against their +shields. When he wakes up and sees so many armed men and hears +them shouting, and he asks what is happening, you can tell him +the Turks are at the gates of the city. Then all those thoughts +of his will disappear, and with that virtue he has and out of +fear of being shamed, he will get up." + +The emperor sent for his doctors and his wise men and explained +what the Jewess had advised. They all agreed that it would be +worth trying. + +The shouting and the uproar were so loud in the city that Tirant +heard it even before they came into his chamber. The Jewess, who +stood at the head of the bed, told him: + +"Get up, my captain. Don't be afraid of death. Here are your +enemies, the Turks, at the gates to the city, and they're coming +to take revenge on you." + +When Tirant heard the old lady saying this, he said: + +"Is it true that the Turks are so close?" + +"They're even closer than you think," said the Jewess. "Get up. +Go to the window, and you'll see what they plan to do to you." + +Tirant immediately called for his clothes, and he had his leg +bound with towels. Then he put his armor on as best he could and +mounted his horse, along with many other men. He was so ready +and willing to fight that his illness went almost entirely away. +The emperor and the doctor who were there told him to take some +restoratives, and that would make him better able to do battle. +He did everything they advised him, and then he realized that it +had all been contrived to help him get over his illness. Tirant +said: + +"Praise be to God: a woman has delivered me from the arms of +death, for another woman had killed me." + +With all the noise the soldiers raised, the princess ran to her +mother's chamber. They saw the emperor coming back with Tirant, +and all the ladies looked out the windows to see what had +happened. When Tirant was in front of the princess's window he +lifted his head and put both hands over his face. The empress +asked her daughter why Tirant had covered his face, because the +only reason that was ever done was when a love affair had gone +wrong. The princess answered that she didn't have any idea. + +After they had gone by and were at the palace door, the emperor +dismounted, and Tirant begged his leave to go to his lodging. +The emperor did everything he could to make Tirant dismount, +telling him he would be given everything he needed in the palace, +but Tirant insisted on leaving. The princess wondered why Tirant +did not want to stay in the palace despite all the emperor's +pleas, for he had wanted to many times before. She also wondered +why he had covered his face. + +When Tirant reached his lodging, he immediately went to his room +and called Lord Agramunt and Hippolytus. He begged them to arm +and provision ten galley ships. They said they would, and +leaving Tirant, they stocked the galleys. + +After Tirant had eaten, he arranged everything for his departure. +He ordered all his men to go by land to the castle of Malvei, and +said he would go by sea and they would meet there. When it was +evening and the doctors had left, they told the emperor that +Tirant was all right. When it was nearly the hour for prayer, +the princess, upset that she did not see Tirant, asked +Plaerdemavida and Lady Montblanc to go to Tirant's lodging to +find out what was wrong. As the maidens were coming, one of +Tirant's pages saw them and quickly went into Tirant's chambers +and said: + +"Cheer up, my lord, two gallant ladies are coming with a message +from the princess." + +"Go right away," said Tirant, "and tell them I am all right but +that I'm sleeping." + +The page did what he was told, for Tirant did not want to see +them. + +When the maidens returned to the palace with the reply, the +princess insisted so much that her mother and the emperor went to +Tirant's lodging, and when Tirant heard that the emperor was +coming he gave two pages instructions about what to do. When the +emperor was at the door to his chamber, the more clever of the +pages said: + +"Your Majesty should not come into the chamber because of the +captain's sickness. He has not rested for so many days that he +is catching up on all the rest he needs now. He is nearly +drenched with sweat, and it would be good for a doctor to come in +without awakening him." + +Tirant quickly got into bed, and he moistened his face with a wet +cloth and pretended to be asleep. The doctor came in, and when +he left again he told the emperor: + +"My lord, it would be very harmful for us to awaken him now. Why +doesn't Your Highness go now. Tomorrow morning you can come back +and visit him." + +The princess could not take it calmly when she was not able to +see Tirant, but she had to return with the emperor. When Tirant +knew that they had all gone, he quickly got up and had all his +clothing gathered and taken to the galley. At midnight he +secretly went on board, and he would have liked to cast anchor +then, but the ship was not ready. + +In the morning, when the sun came up, the emperor heard the +galley trumpets giving the signal for the men to go on board. +Tirant sent Lord Agramunt to the emperor as his courier, and when +he was before him he gave him the following message: + +"Your captain has gone on board one of the galleys, and has +ordered the ships to go to the port of Transimeno. He will go by +ship to the castle of Malvei while the soldiers go there by land. +I have been sent here to tell Your Highness about his decision to +leave." + +The emperor answered: + +"Knight, I am very happy to have this good news, and I give many +thanks to Divine Goodness for bringing health to our captain so +that he can leave. This is what I wanted most in the world after +the salvation of my soul." + +Lord Agramunt kissed his hand and begged his leave. Then he went +to the empress's chamber and bade her farewell, and did the same +to the princess. When the empress saw that Hippolytus would have +to go, and the princess saw that Tirant was leaving, they shed +bitter tears, especially the princess because Tirant was going +without a word to her. They quickly went to the emperor's +chamber to see if it was true that they were leaving, and the +emperor told them everything. The princess urged the emperor to +go to the water's edge so that she could go along, and the +empress did not dally. The emperor reached the sea before they +did, and he went on board the ship, begging Tirant to do +everything he could for the empire. Tirant spoke to him very +kindly, and said he would do everything he could, and the emperor +felt very relieved. + +All the soldiers advised the emperor to go back on land quickly +because a black cloud with thunder and lightning was coming their +way. So the emperor went on land. The princess was sorry that +she had not been there when her father went on the galley so that +she could have gone too and talked with Tirant. By now the sea +was so choppy that the women were not allowed on board, nor would +her father have given his permission. The princess, sighing +deeply, and with tears streaming from her eyes, had no recourse +other than to beg Plaerdemavida to go on board the galley and +find out why Tirant had left so secretly, without saying anything +to her, and why he had placed his hands over his face as he +passed by, and also why he had not wanted to stay in the +palace--which he had wanted to do so many times before. + +Plaerdemavida understood exactly what her lady wanted, and she +got on a boat with Hippolytus and some others who were with him. +The pain that the empress felt as she saw Hippolytus going on +board the galley cannot be described. When Plaerdemavida was on +board, Tirant paid no attention to her. But she insisted, and +said to him: + +"Oh, cruel knight! Who has turned your thoughts? To leave such +a virtuous lady, who has more dignity and virtue than anyone in +the world, without so much as telling her goodbye! If you want +her life to be sad and to hasten her death, don't go back on +land, and don't look at her. But if you want to restore her +bitter life, let her see your lordship for a short time." + +When she had said this she could no longer hold back her tears, +and she wrapped her cloak around herself, and moaned softly but +would say no more. Tirant wanted to reply to what Plaerdemavida +had told him, and very softly so that no one could hear him he +said: + +"Her beauty and discretion so far surpasses all the others that +only a madman could compare anyone else with her. But I saw this +lady with the black gardener, Lauseta, and she was not thinking +of me at all. First I saw them kissing, and I was offended by +the sight. Then I was even more shocked when I saw them +embracing like lovers and going into a chamber. When they came +back out Widow Repose knelt down at her feet and put a silk scarf +high under her skirt. Painful thoughts attacked my mind when I +saw how he treated her. I don't know why I didn't kill someone +right then, but the wall was in my way. But I could not take the +terrible jealousy of the black gardener out of my mind, and I cut +through his neck with my sword. Still the pain kept increasing +so much that I was beside myself, and I went into my chamber, +pretending to be terribly tired so I would be left alone. And +now I want to be in the sea; I want my body to float, unburied, +on the waves until it reaches the princess, so that she can dress +me in my shroud with her delicate hands." + +Then he would say no more. When Plaerdemavida heard what was +bothering Tirant and that the black gardener had been killed, and +no one would know who did it unless she told them, she was very +agitated. Still she forced herself to smile, and with Hippolytus +there, she said: + +"Even if you did see it, it was all a game to cheer up the +princess. Widow Repose got some costumes from the plays for the +Corpus Christi festivals, and I dressed up like our gardener." + +And she told him everything that had happened. + +Tirant was astonished by it all, and said he could not believe +it. The maiden laughed, and said: + +"My lord, the best thing would be for me to stay here while +Hippolytus goes to my room. Under my bed he will find all the +clothing of the black gardener. And if I'm not telling the +truth, you can throw me into the ocean." + +Tirant told Hippolytus to take the keys and go, and to come back +quickly because the sea was very choppy. Hippolytus did what +Tirant commanded. When he came back with the clothing, the ocean +swells were so high that Hippolytus could not board the galley, +and Plaerdemavida could not go back on land. They threw a rope +to the ship and tied the clothing of the black gardener to it so +that it could be pulled up to the galley. When Tirant saw the +mask and the clothing, he saw all the wickedness of Widow Repose. +He then swore in everyone's presence that if he could go on land +just then, he would have her burned before the emperor, or he +would do to her what he had done with the black man. Then Tirant +begged Plaerdemavida to forgive the bad thoughts he had had about +the princess, and about her, and when she was with Her Highness +to beg her forgiveness. Plaerdemavida agreed, very graciously. + +Suddenly the sea became so stormy that the people who saw the +boat Hippolytus was on, began to pray that it would not sink. It +headed back to land, and the men on it were drenched while the +boat was half-filled with water. The wind and rain were so +strong and the waves were so high that the galley's ropes broke, +and they were swept out to sea. Two of the galleys remained +there; the people on them were saved, but the ships were lost. +The three galleys that found themselves in the middle of the +tempestuous sea had their masts broken and their sails torn +apart. A gust of wind threw one of the galleys into a small +island, and its men took refuge there. Tirant's galley and the +other one were leeward. They could not make it to the island, +and Tirant's galley found itself with its rudder smashed. The +other galley was nearby, and it split apart. The men on board +fell into the bitter sea, and all of them drown. + +Tirant's galley continued toward Barbary, and the sailors lost +their bearings and did not know what seas they were in, and they +lamented loudly. Tirant heard the great cries the sailors were +making, and he saw the galley's boatswain, who was the best of +all the sailors, commending his soul to God because a +tackle-block had fallen on his head. A galley slave got up and +went to Tirant, and with a great effort he said: + +"My lord, order the men to bale out the water in the galley. +Here is your staff of authority. Hold it in your hand and run +through the galley: the boatswain is dead, and all the men see +that they are very near death, and are fainting. Do everything +you can to make them bale, because if we can get beyond the cape, +we can save our lives. It is better for us to be captives of the +Moors than to die." + +Tirant lifted his head, and said: + +"What seas are we in?" + +"My lord," said the galley-slave, as he pointed, "those are the +seas of Sicily, and these are the seas of Tunis. And because you +are a virtuous man I'm sorrier for you than I am for myself. It +is Fortune's will that we shall perish on this Barbary Coast, and +in a case like this every man should beg forgiveness of the +others." + +Tirant quickly got up, although the dreadful sea was crashing +about him so that he was barely able to stand. Then he brought +out the best clothing he had, and he dressed in it. He took a +sack containing a thousand ducats, and put a note inside that +said: "I beg whomsoever should find my body to give it an +honorable burial. I am Tirant lo Blanc from Brittany, and of +that singular lineage of Roca Salada, High Captain of the Greek +Empire." + +By now it was already past noon, and the further the galley went +the more water it took on. The cries increased and death drew +near. As they were near land the Moors saw the galley +approaching, and they realized that it would run aground just +where they wanted it, while the Christians knew that they could +not escape death or being captured. + +The galley came close to land, and all the men threw themselves +into the sea to save their lives. By this time it was nearly +dark of night. When Tirant saw the sailors jumping overboard he +decided not to leave the ship, no matter what might happen. And +by then there was no boat, rope or oar that had not been lost. +Tirant begged two sailors, faithful friends of his who had come +on the ship with him when it was stocked in Brittany, to take +care of the maiden. They took off all her clothes, and by this +time nearly all the galley was underwater. Taking up a corkwood +plank, the sailor tied it across her breasts while the other man +helped her stand up. The sea sent a wave crashing into +Plaerdemavida and the sailors, and hurled them about. The man +carrying the plank drowned in order to save her. The other +sailor helped the maiden as long as he could, and finally was +forced to abandon her. It was her good fortune to find herself +near land at night, and she could hear the loud noise the Moors +were making as they captured the Christians. The maiden's feet +touched bottom, and since she was all alone she stopped and +decided not to go ashore. Instead she went closer to land so +that she would not be in such deep water, but waves sometimes +came crashing over her head. As she walked through the water +close to shore, she moved away from the shouts, afraid that she +would be killed. For she saw that the Moors were killing each +other as each one tried to capture the most prisoners. And when +lightning flashed, she could see the reflection of swords near +the sea. She continued to walk in the water, completely naked, +following the shoreline, and whenever she heard anyone she would +duck underwater, and stay there until they were gone. + +CHAPTER X + +THE BARBARY COAST + + + +Poor Plaerdemavida, raw naked, continually called on Our Lady, +the Mother of God, imploring her to bring her some good person +who would help her. She continued to walk nearly half a league +until she came upon some fishing boats. She went into a hut and +found two sheepskins, and she tied them together with a thin +string and put them on, one in front and one in back, and in this +way she found some protection from the cold. Then she lay down +to sleep a little while, for she was completely fatigued by her +travails in the ocean. + +When she awoke, finding herself alone, she began to weep and +lament, tears streaming from her eyes, which did harm to her eyes +and her voice, making her so hoarse that she could barely speak. +Then, with timorous steps, she began to search out the roads of +cruel fortune. Dawn began to break and she heard a Moor coming +along, singing. She hid near the road so that he would not see +her, and when he had passed she saw his pure white beard and +thought that perhaps this old Moor would give her counsel. So +she approached the old Moor and told him all about her +misfortune. The Moor was moved to compassion when he saw the +maiden who was young and nice looking, and he said to her: + +"Maiden, I want you to know that long ago I was a captive of +Christians in Spain, in a place called Cadiz. The lady who held +me captive was pleased with the services I performed for her. It +happened that she had a son whose enemies came to kill him. And +if it had not been for me, they would have done it, because I +lifted my lady's son from the ground, and with a sword in my hand +I wounded two of them and made the others flee. Because of this, +my lady gave me liberty. She provided me with new clothing, and +gave me money for my journey, and as I wished, she had me taken +to Granada. And because of the kindness that lady showed me, you +will have a place at my side. I have a daughter who is widowed, +and she will take you in with all the tenderness of a sister." + +Plaerdemavida immediately knelt on the ground and gave him many +thanks. The Moor removed his cloak and gave it to Plaerdemavida, +and the two of them went to a place near Tunis, called Rafal. + +When the Moor's daughter saw the maiden, so young and helpless, +she felt great compassion. Her father begged her to be the best +companion to her that she could, and he told her: + +"I want you to know, my daughter, that this girl is the daughter +of that lady who gave me my freedom, and I want to repay my debt +with this maiden." + +Because of the great love she had for him, his daughter took in +the poor maiden with deep affection. She gave her a blouse and a +Moorish garment with a head-dress. And anyone seeing her would +think she was Moorish. + +Let us return now to Tirant who, shortly after Plaerdemavida was +swept overboard with the two sailors in whose care Tirant had +placed her, stayed with a sailor until the galley was completely +filled with water and was going down. Then Tirant decided to +jump into the sea with the sailor, and with the sailor's help he +would be able to reach shore. Nevertheless, Tirant never thought +he would be able to avoid death, because when the Moors learned +that he was Tirant, the captain of the Greeks, who had done so +much damage to the Turks, they would not leave him alive for all +the treasure in the world. But with the aid of Divine Providence +and the sailor, they made it to shore, for it was now night, and +completely dark. Crawling quietly on their hands and knees, they +drew away from the sounds of the Moors. When they had gone some +distance, they no longer heard any people, and they went inland, +away from the sea, and they came upon a vineyard that at that +time was full of grapes. The sailor said: + +"My lord, for God's sake, let's stop here in this delicious +vineyard, and we can take a look at the land, and tomorrow we can +stay here all day long. Then tomorrow night, we can go wherever +your lordship commands, for I will not leave you in death or in +life." + +Tirant gave in to his entreaties. When their stomachs were full +of grapes they saw a cave and went inside to sleep, naked as they +were. When they awoke they felt very cold. They got up, and to +get warm they carried rocks from one place to another. When the +sun came out, Tirant's legs ached terribly. + +It happened then that the King of Tremicen was sending as his +ambassador to the King of Tunis his best and most trusted knight. +He was the captain-general of all his land, and everyone called +him the commander of commanders. This ambassador had been there +more than three months, and he and his men had been given lodging +in a place that was lovely and abundant with animals to hunt. It +so happened that that morning he went out for sport with falcons +and greyhounds. While hunting, they pursued a hare which was +very tired of running after being chased by dogs and falcons, and +since it could find no other place to run, it went inside the +cave where Tirant was. One of the hunters saw it go in, and he +dismounted at the entrance to the cave and saw Tirant stretched +out on the ground inside, with no desire to budge. The sailor +helped him catch the hare. Then the hunter went directly out to +the captain, and told him: + +"Sir, come with me. Inside a small cave there is a man whose +body must be the most perfect nature has every formed. But, +unless my eyes deceive me, he has been hurt badly, and he seems +more dead than alive." + +The ambassador went toward the cave, When the sailor saw so many +men coming, he left Tirant without saying a word, and fled very +quietly, and the Moors did not see him. + +When the ambassador reached the cave, he stood looking at Tirant +for a long while, and feeling pity for him, he said: + +"By our holy prophet, Mohammed, who has plucked you from such +grave danger and has brought you into my hands: since nature has +formed your body with such singularity, I am sure that He has +given you many virtues. I have three sons, and you will be the +fourth." He called his second son and told him: "Look on this +man as your brother." Then he said to Tirant: "If you want to +please me, tell me what brought you here. At the moment I am +engaged in an undertaking for my eldest son. They are trying to +take his betrothed from him, and I will not allow it, for she is +a very virtuous maiden, and the daughter of King Tremicen. If +Mohammed gives me success in this dangerous undertaking, do not +worry about your loss, no matter how great it may be, for I will +make you wealthy as soon as I return to my home." + +Tirant stood and replied: + +"Your Lordship, I am a gentleman, although I am not a prince or +lord. As a young man I went to seek my fortune in the Levant. +There I heard and believed the false and diabolical words of a +widow. She had me enter an orchard at mid-day, and there she +made me witness the most evil sight I would ever behold. I felt +such unbearable suffering that with my own hands I took vengeance +on the greatest enemy of my life. Then I boarded a ship and went +to the Holy Land of Jerusalem to make amends for my sins. +Sailing on a galley from there, you can see my misfortune. Saved +by Divine Mercy from the stormy sea, I now beg your lordship's +help." + +The ambassador said: + +"Take comfort. I have a great deal of land and am very wealthy. +As soon as we get to my home, you will have everything you wish." + +His son then took off his jubbah and gave it to him. And they +had him sit behind the son on the horse, and took him to their +village, where he was dressed in fine clothing of the Moorish +style. When Tirant found himself dressed so finely, and he had +heard the kind words of the commander, he felt very comforted. +They wanted to travel by night, and the sky was blue and the moon +full and it lit up everything very clearly; so when the wind died +down they started off. But the first step Tirant took as he left +the house, he fell flat on the ground, his arms outstretched. +Then all the Moors said: + +"This is a very bad sign. Since this Christian has fallen with +his arms out to the sides, his life will not last long." + +Tirant got up quickly, and hearing what the Moors were saying, he +said: + +"Your interpretation of this is wrong. I am called Blanc or +White. + +And the moon is clear, white and beautiful at this moment when I +fell. And the moon was straight over my head and arms, and it +was pointing to the road that I have to take, while my hands were +open and stretching out to the moon. And this shows that I, with +Divine Power, must conquer all of Barbary." + +Then all the Moors burst out laughing, and they took it as a joke +and proceeded on their way, and finally they came to a castle. +Now the ambassador's son (the one betrothed to the King of +Tremicen's daughter) was away; hearing that his father had sent +him a very good Christian prisoner, he ordered them to put Tirant +in chains. + +After two months the ambassador received the reply from the King +of Tunis and returned to the King of Tremicen whom he found +disconsolate. It happened that King Escariano's land was on the +border of the kingdom of Tremicen, and he wanted the King of +Tremicen to give him his daughter as a wife along with all his +wealth, and after his death he wanted his kingdom. King +Escariano was a very strong figure: He was completely black, and +a giant compared to other men. A very powerful king, he had +many men and a great deal of wealth. King Tremicen was weak in +spirit, and he had sent word to King Escariano that his daughter +was already betrothed to the son of his head commander. +Furthermore, she was with child, and he felt that he would not +want to raise another man's child in his house. However, if he +was doing this only for his treasure, he was prepared to divide +that with him if he would leave him and his sons in peace. +Finally, they could not come to an agreement, and King Escariano +had marched against him with all his forces: fifty-five thousand +strong, on horseback and on foot. + +Now this King of Tremicen had only about twenty thousand +warriors. Knowing that the other king was near and was coming +still closer, he took up position in the mountains and waited for +him. King Escariano came to a river, and as they forded it he +lost many men. But once across, they went up the mountains and +found the King of Tremicen at the highest part, and they besieged +him in a beautiful valley. In this valley were three castles +with large villas and very strong fortresses. This was where the +King of Tremicen lived with his wife and sons. + +Two castles were on one side of the river, and one was on the +other side, linked together by a huge stone bridge. King +Escariano attacked one castle repeatedly, and finally took it. +The King of Tremicen was in another castle that was much +stronger, but he felt that all was lost. The commander had fled +from the battle and came to his own castle where Tirant was. +There he told his son: + +"You would be better off dying than to see your beloved who is of +royal blood taken from you. Go to your lord and serve him as a +good knight." + +The son agreed, and rode off to the castle where he heard and saw +the battle. Then, very happily, he and fifteen of his horsemen, +went into the castle where the king was. + +The commander of commanders had fled out of fear, and he went +into the castle where Tirant was being held. After he had +dismounted, he asked his son about the Christian prisoner. When +he was told that Tirant was in a prison cell and being carefully +guarded, the commander became very angry. He remembered what +Tirant had said as he left and fell on the ground: that he would +conquer all of Barbary. He had thought about those words many +times, and he also considered that since Tirant was a Christian +he must be skillful at arms. He went in to see him. Realizing +that Tirant had more than enough reason to be angry with him, he +smiled and said: + +"I beg you, valiant Christian, not to be angry if my son has +treated you badly. I swear to you by the prophet Mohammed that +it was not done by my command or consent. Instead, it was my +intention to look on you as a son. I am hopeful that you will be +able to help me. And don't be surprised if I make a request of +you on behalf of my lord, even though you are a fugitive from +battle. From your scars, I am sure that you, Christian, must +know a great deal about weapons, and you must have been in many +wars." + +Tirant replied: + +"I won't hide my past from you. In Spain I practiced the noble +tradition of arms, and I can advise you and help you as much as +anyone, and I will be one of the first to go into combat. +Forgive me for praising myself, but my works will be their own +best witness. If this king has your king under siege you should +not be surprised, for that is the way with kings. If you are +afraid that the bombards will demolish the castle, I will destroy +every one they have." + +The commander was very pleased with what Tirant told him, and +helped him get ready to leave. He insisted that Tirant take +whatever materials he needed to destroy the bombards, and he also +gave Tirant the best horse he had, and weapons, and plenty of +money. + +Tirant bought some very old whale bile, and then he took +quicksilver, saltpeter, Roman sulfate and other materials, and +mixed them together to make an unguent, and he put it in a box. +Then they left the castle as secretly as they could, crossed the +river, and at night took refuge in the other castle. Now this +castle was about one fourth a league from the one where the king +was. When Tirant reconnoitered the land, he saw a stone bridge +going across the river, and the enemy was positioned in the +middle of the large orchard, so that no one dared cross over the +bridge for fear of falling into the hands of the enemy. Then +Tirant told the commander to give him a Moor who would not be +recognized and who could be trusted, and to deliver two hundred +sheep to the Moor, and they were brought immediately. Tirant +then dressed in a shepherd's cloak, as though he were the Moor's +servant. + +King Escariano knew that none of his adversaries could hurt him, +and he had thirty-seven bombards, large and small, firing +continually, three times a day; and they had already knocked down +half the castle. + +The Moor and Tirant went up a good league toward the bridge with +their sheep, and they came right into the encampment. They asked +a great deal more for each sheep than it was worth so that they +would not sell them quickly. They stayed there three days, +leading the sheep close to the bombards. Tirant, under the +pretext that he was simply looking, went near them, and spreading +some of the unguent he had prepared over his hand, he put it on +every one of the bombards. The unguent was made up of such +ingredients that whatever metal it came into contact with would, +in the space of three hours, turn to rust. So as soon as it was +fired, any bombard or crossbow would break apart. + +The following day, when they fired on the castle, all the +bombards broke apart, and not one of them was left intact. King +Escariano was very surprised at this, and he took it as a bad +sign. Tirant and the Moor went back to the castle where the +commander was. + +Then Tirant ordered them to destroy one of the arches on the +bridge, and there they put up a wooden drawbridge, with iron +chains to raise and lower it. When that was done huge beams were +placed on that part of the bridge and there they put up a +palisade. When that was ready, Tirant armed himself well and +mounted a good steed, and with a good lance in his hand he rode +right into the enemy's camp, and he found five Moors enjoying the +sun. Tirant rode toward them. The Moors were unconcerned, +seeing that he was coming alone, and they thought it was someone +from their own camp. And Tirant killed all five of them with his +lance. There was a great outcry, and the entire camp rushed into +action: they armed themselves and mounted their horses. Tirant +concerned himself only with killing anyone in his path. When he +saw that the men were armed and on horseback, and that they were +coming against him, he retreated to the palisade while using his +weapons continuously. Once he was in the palisade, he quickly +dismounted, and the Moors came up to him. The men in the castle +came down to help Tirant, and there was a great skirmish where +many men died. The men from the enemy camp pressed on so +forcefully that Tirant had to retreat, and they lifted the +drawbridge for fear of the Moors. Then the Moors broke apart the +palisade, and Tirant had it built again during the night. And +so, every day, at all hours, they fought and many men from both +sides were dying continually. + +One day Tirant said to the commander: + +"My lord, would you like me to rescue your king from the castle +and bring him here to you, or to some other place where he will +be safe?" + +The commander answered: + +"If you could do that for me, and bring my Moorish maiden and her +betrothed to me, I would make you the lord of everything I own. +And even if you forgot about the king, that would not matter a +great deal to me." + +"Then, my lord," said Tirant, "have two horses prepared, and +bring a page whose face is well known. Have them go under that +pine tree a half league from here with someone who can guide +them." + +It was quickly done. When day broke bright and clear, Tirant +mounted his horse and with one hundred armed men he rode out of +their stockade. + +The other camp saw them and rode toward them. The battle between +the two forces was fierce, and that day almost no one was left +behind in the enemy camp. Then Tirant said to the commander: + +"My lord, you stay here and show your face while I go where I +have to." + +He dug in his spurs and galloped to where the page was waiting +for him. When he got there his horse was spent. He dismounted, +gave it to the Moor, and took the fresh one that he had. Then he +and the page left, going through the orchard as cautiously as +they could so that no one would see them. And he made the page +go first because the people in the castle did not know Tirant. +Finally they came so close that the betrothed recognized the +page, his younger brother, and told the men not to fire. When +they were inside the castle the king came out to the hall to see +him and to pay him honor. + +"My lord," said Tirant, "you and your daughter mount our horses +immediately. I'll take you to safety." + +The king took the page's horse, and had the betrothed climb on +its back; Tirant had the maiden climb on the back of his own +horse. Then they raced out of the castle, galloping all the way, +until they were a league from camp. When night fell on them, +they rode more quickly. The king knew the terrain very well, and +he went directly toward his strongest city: Tremicen. + +When they reached the city of Tremicen there was great rejoicing +because the people had recovered their king. The king had a fine +room arranged for Tirant where he was well served. While he +stayed there the king presented him with many gifts, and all the +Moorish knights and others came to see him, and everyone was +impressed with his agreeable manner. + +One day Tirant came to the palace to ask the king's permission to +go back to his lord, the commander, because he had given his word +that he would return. The king answered: + +"Virtuous Christian, do not leave me, I beg you. I've sent for +your lord, the commander, and he will be here in ten days. Help +me prepare the city, and I promise to ransom you and give you +your freedom." + +Tirant kissed the king's hands and feet, and said: + +"My lord, I give you my word as a Christian that I will not leave +you until I have killed King Escariano, or taken him prisoner, or +until I've made him flee from your kingdom." + +The king's daughter, seeing the beautiful disposition of Tirant +and the virtuous acts he had done for the king, her father, and +for her, and the praises that were bestowed upon him in +everyone's presence, wished that God would do her the favor of +having her betrothed die so that she could take Tirant for her +husband. + +After a few days had gone by, the commander of commanders came, +and he was very happy when he learned that his son, and the king +and his daughter, were out of that very grave danger. After +bowing to the king, he praised Tirant highly. The king spoke to +the commander, asking him to give Tirant his freedom. When it +was done, Tirant kissed the king's hands and feet, and said: + +"Sir, I swear to you as a Christian that I will not leave Your +Grace until I have killed King Escariano or taken him prisoner, +or made him leave all your lands." + +The king and the others were very content. + +When King Escariano learned that the King of Tremicen had +escaped, his surprise turned to anger, and he set out to conquer +the entire kingdom. And with his great power there were no +cities, villas or castles that did not fall to him. + +Hearing of this, the King of Tremicen often called his council +together, and they reenforced the city, and gathered enough food +to last them five years. One day, during the council, Tirant +said to the king: + +"Sir, do this for me: let me go as an ambassador to see King +Escariano, and I'll find out what sort of situation his men are +in, and if we can somehow rout them." + +They all praised his advice, but most of the council were afraid +he would cross over to the enemy camp, as many others had done. + +Tirant got things ready, and with many men he went directly to +King Escariano. When he was in the king's presence, he explained +his mission: + +"The King of Tremicen has sent me here because on several +occasions he has heard people speak very highly of you, and he is +certain that you are one of the wisest kings in the world. For +that reason he is very astonished, and he wonders what has moved +you to take up arms against him." + +The king immediately replied: + +"I want your lord to know that I have attacked him for a just +reason. For no one, not your lord or anyone else, is unaware +that long ago a marriage pact was drawn up between his daughter +and me, signed and with the marriage date agreed upon. And now +your king has treated the matter lightly, and tried to shame me. +I have told you this so you will know that this maiden, whom I +love and adore, is the cause for this war. And it will end with +her and for no other reason. This is my reply to you." + +And he turned his back, wanting to hear no more from Tirant. So +Tirant left and went back to his lord, the King of Tremicen, and +told him of their entire conversation. Then the king asked +Tirant if the enemy had many men. + +"In faith," said Tirant, "there are many, and more come to their +aid every day. I wasn't able to see them all, but I would say +more than eighty thousand." + +They held council, and decided that Tirant and the commander +would take ten thousand soldiers to another city called Asinac. +Because if that city fell, the entire kingdom would be lost. So +Tirant went there and fortified that city well. + +The king stayed on in the city of Tremicen which was well +supplied with everything he needed. And in this way they waited +for the enemy to come. + +It happened one day that a Jew who lived in the city of Tremicen, +and was the wealthiest man in the city, left secretly and went to +King Escariano. Very cunningly he told him: + +"My lord, why are you plowing the sand? Everything you are doing +is useless unless you capture King Tremicen first. Once he has +fallen you will have power over the entire kingdom in two days. +You would not have to travel the dangerous roads in fear; instead +you and your men would be completely safe. If your lordship will +reach an agreement with me I will give you a victory over your +enemies, and I will also put the king and his daughter in your +hands." + +When King Escariano heard him say that, he took it as a joke, and +he answered: + +"How could you possibly do all that? But I'll tell you this: If +you do arrange it, I give you my word as king to make you the +most powerful man in my kingdom. But I can't believe that you +could do what you said. It would be better for you to go back: +instead of hurting them, you might bring me harm." + +The Jew quickly replied: + +"If Your Majesty will closely examine what I say, you'll +understand that it's not a dream, but an infallible plan. If it +will make you feel more secure, I will put my three sons in your +power, and if I fail you are free to put them to a horrible +death. I will do this for Your Majesty under the following +conditions: I have a daughter, and I want her to have an +honorable marriage (and I will give twelve thousand ducats as her +dowry) with a Jew who sells oil in your camp. If you will +arrange this for me, I promise to have you gain entry into the +city of Tremicen. In my house there's a door that's next to the +wall of the city, and it's under my care. I can put one hundred +thousand soldiers into the city through there." + +So they agreed, and the king arranged with the Jew that they +would be in front of the city of Tremicen on the seventeenth of +the month, and at midnight they would go inside under the cover +of darkness. + +At the proper time the king and all his captains were in front of +the city of Tremicen, and the Jew did not forget the promise that +was made concerning his daughter's marriage. He carefully opened +the door of the Jewry, and the king rushed in with all his men. +They went to the palace and fought, and finally they were able to +get inside. They killed the King of Tremicen, his sons, and all +the others. They took no prisoners except for the genteel lady. +Then they attacked the castle, but they were not able to take it. +King Escariano did not feel very safe there, so he left most of +his men inside the city to guard it, while he left with the King +of Tremicen's daughter who was crying over the deaths of her +father, her brothers, and her betrothed. Then he put her in an +impregnable castle. + +The cruel news reached the commander and Tirant, and the Moors +cried bitterly. They felt that they were lost, and they began to +say that they should surrender to King Escariano. + +Tirant told the commander: + +"Sir, that is not the thing to do. You have ten thousand +soldiers here, and you still have some castles and towns under +your command. We can defend ourselves well here." + +The commander agreed with Tirant's advice, but he still mourned +the death of his king, and that of his sons even more. They +wondered how the great destruction had happened, with the city +being so well guarded. And they learned the truth from a man who +had had his house looted, seven of his sons killed, while his +wife and other children were being held under guard. He told +them how the Jew had betrayed the city, and how King Escariano +had then ordered all the Jew's possessions taken. Then this +Jewish traitor was placed in prison and tied up. They removed +all his clothing, cudgeled him, poured honey over him, and the +next day had him quartered and left for the dogs to eat. For the +king had said: Who can protect himself from a traitor? The +treachery he had committed to his own lord, he could just as well +do to him and to the entire city if need be. + +Tirant then learned that King Escariano had taken the King of +Tremicen's daughter to the very strong castle of Mont Tuber. The +new queen was now being held in this castle with seventy men to +guard her. + +On a day following these cruel events, Tirant went to the city +gate, worn with care. He was thinking about what had happened to +his princess, and wondering what danger had befallen +Plaerdemavida, and about how all his relatives were captives of +the Moors. He did not know whether to leave, or even if the +Moors would allow him to go. While he was thinking of all this, +a Christian captive from Albania came out the gate, crying and +lamenting because his master had cruelly whipped him, and was +making him dig in an orchard of his near the city. Tirant knew +the captive because he had talked to him several times, and +considered him a discreet man. He felt pity for him, and +thinking that there was no one else he could trust, he called the +slave over, and said to him: + +"If you will do something for me, you will be given your freedom +to leave, or to stay here if you wish. However, you will have to +let yourself be whipped in our camp with a strap that will not +hurt you very much, and you will have to have your ears cut a +little. With your help, we'll be able to take the castle of Mont +Tuber where the king is. If it turns out as I think it will, +you'll be able to become a great lord. And if it does not turn +out well, I will still make sure you are given your liberty, and +that you have a good life." + +The Christian captive answered: + +"I want very much to have my freedom again, so I'll do what +you're asking." + +Tirant thanked him, and said: + +"I give you my word as a knight that I will not eat until you +have your freedom." + +Tirant immediately left the captive and went to talk to the +commander. With the money he had, he ransomed the captive for +one hundred ducats. + +One day it happened that the king sent two men who told Tirant's +forces that if they would come to terms with him he would be very +generous to them. The commander and Tirant told them that they +were not interested in any proposition; instead they wanted to +avenge the deaths of the King of Tremicen and his sons. After +they had this discussion, Tirant had a meal brought out for them +while the Albanian prepared to carry out the plan they had made. + +When the meal was over the Albanian went over to where the silver +was, and stole a large, gilded urn made of silver. The guard +began to shout so that Tirant, as he was talking with the men +from the town, asked what all the uproar was about. Then +everyone saw the Albanian running with many men behind him, and +they saw them catch him and take him to the captain. The guard +had hold of him by the hair, and he said: + +"My lord, I would like you to pass judgment on this thief. He +stole this silver urn." + +Tirant wanted the commander to speak first, and he said: + +"My sentence is for him to be hanged." + +Tirant then said: + +"Commander, this is no time for us to be killing people unless +it's in battle. I beg you to change the sentence, and have him +whipped and his ears cut." + +So they did what he said in the presence of the men from the +town. After they cut his ears they tied the urn to his neck and +whipped him around the camp. The third time around, when he was +in front of the town, he pulled away violently, untied his hands +and began running toward the town. + +The guard who was running after him fell down purposefully so +that the Albanian had time to go inside the town. The men on the +walls defended him with their crossbows so that no one could +catch him. The townspeople took him up to the castle where the +king was, and when they saw him naked and whipped, with his ears +cut and bleeding, they felt sorry for him. They gave him a shirt +and other clothes, and the king had so much pity on him that he +let him keep the urn, and received him into his household. + +Tirant pretended to be very angry at the Albanian's escape. He +told the men there to ask the king to give the man back, and he +said that if he would not do it, that he would cut off the hands +and feet, nose and ears of every man they caught, and then he +would kill them. The king answered that in no way would he give +him back, and that if he could catch Tirant he would do worse to +him than they had done to the captive. Tirant would listen to no +more, and he left with all his men for the city they had come +from. The Albanian then told King Escariano: + +"When I think of the cruel things they've done to me, and the +infamy that could come to me if it becomes known, my heart cries +out for revenge on that treacherous, mad captain who was starving +us to death. If I committed a crime it was because I needed the +money. But, my lord, if Your Excellency will give me permission +to come and go, I will bring you news every day about what your +enemies are doing, what they are planning and where they go. +That way Your Highness can do the same thing to them that you did +to that famous and illustrious King of Tremicen." + +The king said: + +"I will agree to that: You can come and go whenever you like." + +He ordered all the guards to let him pass by at will. The king +asked some of his knights for advice concerning this matter, and +they all told him: + +"My lord, this man has been hurt very badly by his own people, +and he'll do anything to bring about their total destruction. +But still, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on him." + +The Albanian left the castle by a back door so that no one would +see him, and went directly to Tirant and told him everything that +was said. Tirant gave him seven doubloons, three and one half +reals, and some loose change, a sword and a basket of peaches, +because there were none in that town since Tirant had had all the +trees cut down to level the orchard around the villa. And Tirant +told him: + +"Tell the king, in secret so that he'll be more inclined to +believe you, that I am having a great deal of bread kneaded +because I plan to be there in three or four days." + +The Albanian left Tirant, and when he was in the castle, King +Escariano welcomed him. The Albanian gave the peaches to the +queen, and the king was more pleased with them than if he had +given her a villa, because he knew that the queen liked them, and +he had not seen her laugh or smile since she had been with him. +After the Albanian had given her the gift he showed the king the +money he had, and said to him: + +"My lord, look at this money that I took from one of the men in +the enemy camp. If I go there often I can bring many things, +because a relative of mine is in the service of this wicked +captain, and he secretly tells me everything he does. My lord, +he told me that he is having a great deal of bread made and a +large supply of food stored up in order to come here. You have +time to get ready to attack and defeat him." + +The Albanian's words pleased the king a great deal, and he said: + +"Now I will see if your relative told you the truth." + +On the third day Tirant came and stayed in the same place that he +had the other times. The king placed great faith in the +Albanian's words and he decided to appoint him as one of the main +guards of the castle. As companions, he gave him six very loyal +men who had been in his service a long time. When it was this +Albanian's turn to stand guard, he bought some sweetmeats and +invited all the men who were with him to eat and drink. And he +stood guard-duty every five days. + +Tirant returned after having been away for three days, and they +continually discussed peace with the king, but Tirant drew out +finalizing a treaty as long as he could. This lasted two months, +and Tirant was always coming and going, and he seldom attacked +anyone. The king often made the Albanian go to Tirant's camp so +that he would bring back fruits and sweet-meats for the queen. +One day he brought a mule loaded with wine, and a bloody sword. +When he was before the king he said to him: + +"My lord, I learned that the captain was having a great deal of +wine brought to the city, and when I heard of it I went out to +the road. + +There, one muleteer fell behind the others. I hit him in the +side with a stone, and he fell to the ground. Then I struck him +so many times that I left him for dead. I took the sword and the +mule from him, and it was loaded with the finest wine I have seen +in many days. So I beg you, my lord, please give me permission +to set up a tavern here, and when this supply has run out, I will +steal or buy more, and I'll do all the harm, evil and dishonor to +them that I can." + +The king was well pleased, and many Moors came to drink every +day. And every night that the Moor stood guard he took a large +cask of wine up to the tower, and gave his companions a good deal +to drink, and all the Moors were very happy to have him there. + +Tirant talked with King Escariano and his men many times, going +back and forth often with an escort of soldiers. When he saw +with his own eyes how much King Escariano trusted the Albanian, +Tirant had a round container made of iron and put some holes in +it. When the night for the treachery arrived, and it was the +Albanian's turn to stand watch, the Albanian put hot coals inside +the container. The wind came in through the holes which were so +small that the fire did not go out. Then he wrapped the +container in a piece of leather and held it to his chest. When +they were in the tower, standing guard, and his companions began +drinking, the Albanian hid the container in a hole so that the +fire would not go out. They had some large drums, and they +stayed there drinking and beating them until it was nearly +midnight. There were special liqueurs in the wine to bring on +sleep. And with the pleasure of drink the guards slept so +soundly that they never awoke. When the Albanian saw that the +counter-round had gone by and the guards were sleeping, he took +out the fire-box, and hid its light with his cape. Then he lit a +straw, and put it in a niche in the wall that faced the camp. He +did this three times. Tirant soon saw this signal which they had +planned in advance, and he quickly left the camp with only a few +men. All the other men stayed behind, ready and armed, waiting +to be called, and the commander stayed with them as their +captain. Because of all the water there, Tirant and his men had +to pass near a tall tower, but the Albanian was making a great +deal of noise with the drums, and when Tirant passed close to the +tower they were not heard. When they were near and the guards +called out, "All clear, all clear," they quickly ran ten or +twelve steps, and when the guards were silent, they stopped. +They kept this up until they had passed by the first tower and +reached the other tower. Tirant made his men stop, and he went +to the foot of the tower alone and found a cord that the Albanian +had thrown down. He had tied the other end to his leg in case he +fell asleep, so that when the cord was pulled he would wake up. +But he never stopped beating on the drums, and when he felt the +cord moving he quickly went near the tower and pulled up a rope +ladder that he tied very tightly to the wall, and then he tied +another. Tirant climbed the first one, and when he saw the +guards sleeping he said to the Albanians: + +"What shall we do with these men?" + +"My lord," he answered, "leave them there. They're in no +condition to do any harm." + +However, Tirant wanted to see for himself, and he found the six +of them with their heads cut off, covered with blood. When he +saw this he had his men come up, and he put one of them in charge +of the drums. There were one hundred sixty men, and they spread +out over the tower. Then, with the Albanian going first, they +went down to the warden's chamber. When the warden saw all these +men coming he got up, completely naked, took a sword in his hand +and tried to defend himself. Tirant swung an axe down on his +head and split it in half, and his brains fell out onto the +ground. His wife began to scream, and the Albanian, who was +nearest did the same thing to her that Tirant had done to her +husband. Afterward they went through the castle, and shot the +bolts on the doors to the chambers, and the noise of the drums +was so loud that no one heard a sound. + +They went up to the towers and the guards there thought they were +the watch, and said nothing to them. And when they came near +they threw them off the castle through the merlons. One of them +fell onto the barbican and into the moat, and was saved. Soon he +got up and went shouting through the villa and everyone woke up. +The news spread through the villa, but in the castle they still +did not know, except for one man who was fishing. He heard the +noise and opened the windows of his chamber, and he heard many +people inside the castle. Then he began to cry out, and his +shouts were heard by those in the castle, but when they tried to +leave their chambers they found the doors bolted. The king, who +had been sleeping in the main tower, barricaded himself there +with the queen and a chamber-maid. + +When day broke they put many flags on the castle towers, and held +great celebrations. All the outsiders in the villa fled. When +the commander saw that the castle had been taken and saw the +others fleeing, he attacked them and took many prisoners. When +he returned, they stationed many men in the villa and others on +the barbicans and in the orchards near the villa. When the +commander went up to the castle he saw that none of his men had +been killed or wounded, and he was the most astonished man in the +world: he thought Tirant must be more angel than human, because +nothing that he tried turned out to be impossible. + +They searched the entire castle and found it full of many kinds +of food: millet and wheat, sorghum and panic-grass--enough to +last seven years, with a sparkling spring of water that came out +of a rock. That night the king took pity on the queen, and +calling down from a window in the tower, he said: + +"Which of you is the knight I can surrender to?" + +"Sir," said Tirant, "here is the commander, and a very virtuous +knight." + +The king realized that this was the ambassador he had talked with +so many times, and he said to him: + +"Since you have been sent to me as an ambassador, give me your +pledge of safety so that I can do my duty as a knight and a +crowned king." + +Tirant answered: + +"I will guarantee your safety for a month after you surrender to +me. I give you my word." + +The king felt as good about that as if he had been given absolute +freedom. He came down from the tower, opened the door, and stood +in the entryway, his sword in his hand. And he said: + +"Have them bring me that little child." (This was a boy of no +more than five years of age, the son of a woman who baked bread.) + +When the boy was near him, he knighted the boy and kissed him on +the mouth. Then, handing his sword to the boy, he placed himself +in his power. + +The commander then seized the king and took him to a room where +he had him put in chains. This made Tirant very angry, but he +said nothing so that he would not offend the commander. When the +king was in chains, they went into the main tower where they +found the queen in tears. + +Tirant had one hundred thousand doubloons sent to Tunis to the +commander's cousin who was magistrate of the king of that region. +He begged him to release Lord Agramunt and all the others who +were on his galley. The governor took them all out of captivity +and sent them to Tirant. When they were taken on land they lost +all hope of ever being freed--until they saw their captain. And +don't think they felt only a small mount of relief when they saw +him. Tirant immediately asked his cousin, Lord Agramunt, if he +had seen Plaerdemavida. He answered: + +"Since that day we lost sight of the galley, I never heard +anything about her again. I'm afraid she died in the stormy +sea." + +It happened one day that the queen called Tirant to her chamber. +Not knowing what she might want, Tirant went quickly. When he +was there, the queen smiled and had him sit at her side. Then +she said softly: + +"My eyes have found their lost light, and when I raise my head I +see you as lord of the world, for heaven and earth and all things +that God has created obey you. That night when you brought us +out of the terrible prison, I found such pleasure in your +virtuous appearance, so handsomely formed, that I detested my +betrothed and could not continue to look at him. + +I beg you, sir, do me the honor of ruling this land at my side." + +Tirant was astonished, and he immediately replied: + +"It fills me with great love to serve you, but I must confess my +sin: I have been in love with a maiden of high esteem for a long +while, as she has been with me. If I should betray her love, it +would be worse than death to me. And there is one more reason +that I must not forget: you are a Moor and I am a Christian, and +our marriage would not be lawful." + +With tears in her eyes, the queen replied: + +"You say that I am a Moor and you are a Christian, and that such +a marriage is impossible. Let me tell you how it can be done: +you can easily become a Moor, and then the marriage can take +place. As for the maiden you say you are in love with, I believe +that is simply an excuse, and the real reason is that I do not +please you." + +Tirant reflected for a moment, and he saw a way by which +Christianity would be exalted. He decided to show the queen +great love so that she would decide to become a Christian. And +smiling, he said: + +"My reason obliges me to keep the faith I have sworn. But I beg +of you, my lady, to receive baptism in the holy and true +Christian faith, and with my help you will regain your kingdom. +And for a husband I will give you a young and virtuous crowned +king. Although I cannot take you as a wife, since I already have +one, you would always be my friend." + +The queen dried her tears and sighed: + +"Your wise words have led me to this decision: give me baptism +quickly, for you are the flower of all those who are baptized." + +When Tirant saw that the queen wanted to become a Christian, he +quickly had a gold basin and a pitcher brought from the booty +they had taken from King Escariano. Tirant had the queen's head +uncovered, letting her hair fall loose, and it was so beautiful +that her face seemed more angelic than human. Tirant had her +kneel down, and he poured water over her head from the pitcher, +and said: + +"Maragdina, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and +the Holy Spirit." + +Then she declared herself to be a good Christian, and there, in +the presence of everyone, four ladies who served the queen +received holy baptism. And they led very saintly lives. + +When King Escariano heard that the queen had become a Christian, +he sent for Tirant and told him: + +"I tell you, Captain, since I see that my lady, the queen, has +become a Christian, I want to follow her virtuous works. So I +beg you to give me holy baptism, and to be my brother in arms for +as long as we live, being friends of our friends and enemies of +our enemies." + +After the queen had been baptized, and the king had been +instructed about Christianity, Tirant took the king out of prison +and had him go down to the city. There was a lovely square in +that villa, and Tirant had ordered them to make a pretty cenotaph +there, nicely decorated with brocade and satin cloths. The king +sat on a beautiful chair covered with brocade on the cenotaph, +and a large silver bowl filled with water was placed at one end +of the cenotaph. Tirant had a very wide ladder constructed so +that everyone who wanted to be baptized could go up and down. + +King Escariano's captains and all his men, peacefully and +unarmed, left the camp on foot because they were very near the +villa. When they came to the entrance, the captains and knights +went in first, then the others followed them. When they were in +the square before the king's cenotaph, they all bowed deeply to +him, and asked what his lordship wanted of them. With a strong +voice he said: + +"My faithful vassals, relatives and brothers: Divine Mercy has +had pity on me and on all of you--if you wish it--for He has +enlightened my soul and my understanding. I have received many +favors from this captain: First, he has taken me out of prison +and given me freedom. Second, he has instructed me about the +holy Catholic faith so that I know for a certainty that the sect +of Mohammed is false and wicked, and all those who believe in it +are going to total destruction and condemnation. So I beg you +and command you, as good vassals and brothers, to join me and +receive baptism. Trust me: you will be receiving baptism for the +salvation of your souls. Those who want baptism should not +move; those who do not want baptism, empty the square and leave +room for the others." + +After he had said this the king took off his outer garments in +everyone's presence, remaining in his shirt. Tirant led him to +the bowl, and pouring water from the pitcher over his head, he +baptized him, saying: + +"King Escariano, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the +Son, and the Holy Spirit." + +Then Tirant baptized almost all the prisoners, for most of them +were close relatives of the king. Afterward two captains and all +their lineage were baptized: one of their people was called +Bencarag and the other Capcani. On that day more than six +thousand Moors were baptized by Tirant. The others stayed there +the next day and the following days until they were all made +Christians. Few of them left, and the most vile were those who +did not receive baptism. + +The news of all this was soon spread throughout Barbary, so that +it reached the ears of the kings who were coming to King +Escariano's aid. Very angry, they advanced as quickly as they +could and took away his entire kingdom. They gave it to the King +of Persia, and immediately crowned him king. + +While these kings were conquering King Escariano's lands, +messengers came to him daily with the bad news that they were +taking his entire kingdom from him, and that he had only three +castles that were defending themselves and refusing to surrender. + +After King Escariano became a Christian, Tirant begged him to +give all the villas and cities he had taken from the King of +Tremicen back to the queen, to whom they belonged. The king very +generously did this, but then he begged Tirant, as a brother in +arms, to give the queen to him for his wife. So one day Tirant +approached the queen, and said: + +"I beg you to take this king for your husband. He loves you very +much. You already know him, and you would be much better off +with him than with someone who may not love you." + +The queen listened to Tirant, and replied: + +"I have complete trust in you, so I am putting myself and my +possessions in your power. I will do whatever you command me." + +Tirant knelt on the ground and gave her many thanks. He +immediately sent for the king and the friar, and in everyone's +presence they were betrothed. The following day they heard mass, +because they were Catholic Christians. After the wedding, which +took place with great solemnity--as corresponds to royalty--King +Escariano took possession of the entire kingdom of Tremicen, as +husband of the queen, and she was happy because it was at +Tirant's command. The king loved Tirant above all others, and +there was nothing that he would not do for him. And Tirant +likewise loved the king and queen. + +While the king and Tirant were celebrating this new marriage, +news reached the king daily that the Moorish kings would soon +take the three castles, and that they would fall on him and on +all the Christians, and would give them all cruel deaths. + +When Tirant heard of this, he said: + +"Sir, we need to think of how we can save our lives. Let's +gather all our men and see how many are prepared to go into +battle." + +"What?" said the commander. "Do you think you're the lord of the +whole world? You ought to be satisfied with imprisoning this +magnanimous king, and go on back to the land you came from. Let +us live according to our own law, and let the new Christians +forget about this so-called holy baptism. If these kings are +coming with so many troops, and they find us adhering to their +law, they'll have mercy on us." + +King Escariano turned to the commander in a rage, and he brought +his bare sword down on the commander's head so hard that his +brains spilled out onto the chamber floor, and he said: + +"Oh, you dog, you son of a dog, born into a wicked sect! This is +the payment such a vile person deserves!" + +Tirant was very displeased at the commander's death, and he felt +very angry. But he held himself back and did not reprimand the +king because he was afraid of causing more trouble. Some people +were glad the commander was dead, and others were not. But his +death served to restrain many. + +Tirant mustered all the men to see how many there were, and they +counted 18,230 horsemen and forty-five thousand foot soldiers. +Tirant paid them all. Then they enlisted twenty-five thousand +more. At the same time, four hundred forty horses and many arms +arrived from Tunis where they had disembarked after arriving from +Sicily. And now Tirant was unafraid of attacking three thousand +enemy horsemen. + +The king and Tirant left the city with all their men to meet the +enemy and see if they could resist them. When they were three +leagues away from them, at the top of a mountain, the Christians +could see all the Moorish forces that were coming. They set up +their tents in view of each other, and many embassies were sent +back and forth. The Moors sent word to King Escariano, telling +him and Tirant and all the other Christians to convert to +Mohammedanism, because if they did not, they would all die a +cruel death. When Tirant heard this, he mocked them and would +not give them a reply. Then the ambassadors became very angry +with Tirant. + +They had conquered all of King Escariano's realm, and now they +were going to attack him. Tirant said: + +"Sir, they've raised camp, so they'll be here tomorrow. Your +lordship can stay here in the city with half the men while I take +the other half, and we'll see how well organized they are." + +"Oh, Tirant! I would much rather go with you, and we can leave +Lord Agramunt here as the captain." + +Tirant agreed, and made Lord Agramunt captain, telling him: + +"Keep your horses saddled, and your men armed. When you see a +red flag with my arms painted on it, have all your men attack on +the right, and we'll destroy our enemy." + +To reach the Christians, the Moors had to cross over a tall +mountain that had many springs. During that night and the +following day, Tirant went around the mountain and he could see +all the Moors coming from a great distance. Tirant rode into a +dense thicket, and he had all the men dismount and take their +ease while he climbed a tall pine tree and watched the enemy come +up the mountain. They set up their tents near the springs, and +they were still a league away from the city. The ones who +followed behind set up camp at the foot of the mountain where +there were beautiful meadows and a canal. The men here had about +four thousand horses. + +When Tirant saw that nearly half the enemy had dismounted, he and +the king attacked their camp and killed so many Moors that the +number of corpses stretched out on the ground were a wonder to +behold. And there would have been even more if night had not +fallen. The Moors up on the mountain heard the cries, but they +did not think the Christians would dare come so close to their +camp. + +The morning of the following day, as soon as the sun came out, +King Meneador came down from the mountain, not suspecting that +King Escariano and Tirant would be there. He thought, instead, +that these must be thieving marauders. So he sent a messenger to +them, telling them to convert back to the Mohammedan faith or he +would hang as many of them as he found. + +Tirant told the messenger: + +"You tell your lord that I don't intend to answer his madness. +But if he's a crowned king, and brave enough to come down the +mountain with his men, I'll let him feel the strength of the one +he wants to hang." + +The messenger went back to his lord with the reply, and the king +was so enraged that he dug his spurs into his horse, and all his +men followed. The battle was harsh and cruel. After they had +fought for a time, and there were many deaths on both sides, King +Meneador retreated toward the mountain, and he sent for his +brother, the King of Lower India, to come to his aid. When he +was there, King Meneador told him: + +"Brother, these baptized Christians are fighting so hard that +I've lost most of my men, and I'm slightly wounded too. I won't +hold myself as a knight unless I kill with my own hands a great +traitor who is their captain. His armor and the vest he wears +are damask green with three stars on each side. On one side +they're gold and on the other side silver. Around his neck he +wears a gold Mohammed with a long beard. And this Mohammed +carries a small child holding onto his neck as he crosses a +river. And that must be the one who helps him in his battles." + +The King of Lower India haughtily replied: + +"Show him to me. I will avenge you even if he has ten Mohammeds +in his belly." + +His men quickly mounted their horses and bore down upon the +Christians. Shouting wildly, like madmen, they went into battle, +and soon you could see horses running around without riders. +When Tirant broke his lance, he made use of his ax, and he +wounded or gave death with every blow. The two kings drew up to +Tirant and wounded him with the point of a sword. Finding +himself wounded, Tirant cried out: + +"Oh, king, you who have dealt me a deadly wound according to the +great pain I feel, before I enter hell, you will go before me as +a messenger to open he gates, for I will send you there +quickly!" + +He brought his ax down on the king's head, splitting it into two +parts, and the king fell at the feet of his horses. When the +Moors saw his body on the ground, they struggled to pick it up. +This was the King of Lower India who had spoken so boastfully. +When the other king saw his brother dead, he fought desperately. + +The other kings were told of his death, the King of Bogia in +particular, for he had brought them together. Then they raised +camp and set up their tents at the foot of the mountain. + +The Christians, seeing how many men they had and that Tirant was +wounded and in great pain, decided to leave during the night. +The following morning the Moors prepared to give battle, but they +found no one. They followed the Christians' tracks and came to +the city where they had taken refuge. + +Tirant had Lord Agramunt take his men out and do battle with +them, and many men died on both sides. Then the Christians +retreated back into the city while the Moors pounded on the gates +with their lances. + +The following day Lord Agramunt led his men into battle, and many +died on both sides, and again they retreated into the city. +Tirant was troubled that he could not take part, and that they +were losing men, and he told the king: + +"Sir, I don't think we should go out and do battle so often. +We're only losing men." + +And so they waited until Tirant was healthy again. Then, when he +was nearly cured, he put on his armor and mounted his horse, and +with most of the men he attacked one side of the camp. The +Moors, in a tumult, came out to fight the Christians. And that +day, and many others that followed, Tirant came out the worst. +When Tirant saw his men fleeing that day, and that he could not +keep them in order, he went to the river. He saw the King of +Africa riding toward him wearing a helmet with a crown of gold +and many precious stones. His saddle was silver, and his +stirrups gold, while his jubbah was crimson and embroidered with +large oriental pearls. + +When the king saw Tirant's troubled face, he approached him and +said: + +"Are you the captain of the Christians?" + +Tirant did not reply, but instead looked at his men who had left +him, and all the dead bodies and banners scattered over the +ground. That day, they had scarcely defended themselves against +the Moors. + +In a loud voice that the Moors and the wounded could hear, he +cried out: + +"Oh, poor men! Why do you bear arms? Oh, sad, vile men: you +will be rightly condemned for this day on which you die so +miserably, and your reputation will suffer greatly!" + +When the King of Africa heard him crying this way, he called out +to his men: + +"I'm going to cross the river, and I'll put this Christian dog in +chains or I'll kill him. If I need any assistance, come and help +me." + +When the king had crossed over, he rode swiftly at Tirant, and +struck him so hard with his lance that Tirant's horse sank to its +knees. The lance passed through his brassard and his +breast-plate, and slightly pierced his chest. Tirant was feeling +such great pain for the dead men, and was thinking of the +princess, and he didn't notice the king until he had been +wounded. He drew his sword, since his lance had been broken at +the outset. And they fought for a long space of time. The king +fought valiantly, and when it had lasted a long while, Tirant +thrust hard at the king, but he could not reach him because the +king's horse suddenly turned. However, he caught the horse's +head and cut it off, so that the horse and the king tumbled to +the ground. The king's men came to his aid, and mounted him on +another horse, even though Tirant tried to stop them. + +When Tirant realized that he could not hold out any longer, he +seized a Moor and took away his lance. Then he wounded the +first, the second and the third men he encountered, and knocked +them to the ground; then he wounded the fourth, fifth and sixth +and also knocked them down. + +The Moors were astonished at the way one lone man bore arms. + +Lord Agramunt was at a window in the castle, and he recognized +Tirant by his coat of arms and saw that he was fighting alone. +And he cried out: + +"Men, go quickly and help our captain. He's about to lose his +life." + +Then the king went out with the few men he had. Tirant was +wounded in three places, and his horse had been struck many +times. For this reason Tirant was forced to retreat, but he did +so against his will, and they pursued him right up to the gates. + +The doctors arrived and had Tirant's armor removed, and they +found many wounds including three that were very dangerous. + +When the Moors saw that the Christians had withdrawn inside the +city, they tightened the siege and crossed over the river. They +brought so many oxen and camels that they could not be counted. +They used these as an obstacle to the Christians in battle, for +their horses could not run, and no one could enter or leave the +city. + +Tirant was afraid they might mine under the castle. He ordered +the men to make a countermine, and in all the lower rooms they +were to place brass basins. This was done so that if a pickaxe +was about to come through a wall in that room, all the brass +basins would clang together and make a great noise. After the +brass basins were set up, they began to work on the countermine. + +After a few days, when Tirant was well and ready to bear arms, a +serving girl inside the castle was kneading flour, and she heard +the basins moving around, making noise. She ran quickly to tell +her mistress: + +"I don't know what it is, but I've heard folks say that when +basins make a noise it's the sign of a storm or of bloodshed." + +The lady was the wife of the captain of the castle, and she +quickly went to tell her husband, and he told the king and +Tirant. + +Secretly, without making a sound, they went to the room, and saw +that what the girl had said was true. They quickly armed +themselves and went into a chamber, and not even an hour went by +before they saw light in the room. The Moors who were digging +thought no one in the castle had heard them, and they made the +hole much bigger. Then they began to come out of the mine. When +there were more than seventy Moors in the room, the men from the +castle went in and slew and quartered everyone they found. The +ones who could escape back through the mine certainly didn't +stand around waiting for each other, but Tirant had many bombards +fired into the mine, and everyone inside died. + +Tirant saw that his men were nearly faint from hunger, and he +decided to do battle. He told the king: + +"Sir, I'll take half the men we have left, and you can take the +other half. I'll go into the little forest there, and as soon as +the sun comes up, you go out through the gate of Tremicen and go +all around the city, and you attack the center of their camp +while I attack from the other side, and we'll see if we can't +confuse them. If we do, we can take over their camp. But what +disturbs me most are the cattle: we'll have to go right through +them, and every time we do, they'll kill many of our horses." + +A Genoese who had been a slave on Tirant's galley when the ship +went down spoke up. His name was Almedixer, and he was a very +discreet man and was knowledgeable about many things. He said: + +"Captain, do you want me to make all the cattle run off so that +there won't even be a sign of one around? The Moors will go +running after them to get them back, and that will be the time to +attack their camp and fall upon them." + +"If you can do that," said Tirant, "upon Carmesina's name I +promise to make you a great lord and give you villas and castles +and a great inheritance." + +The king said to Tirant: + +"Brother, if that's what you're going to do, I beg you to let me +go into the forest. And when I see the banner flying from the +highest tower I'll attack the center of the camp." + +Tirant agreed, and ordered everyone to shoe their horses and +repair their saddles. + +The Genoese took the hair of many goats, and mutton fat, and he +crushed it all together and put it in shallow pans, and he filled +more than seventy of them. + +Right at the hour of midnight the king went into the forest +without any of the Moors seeing him. Almedixer took the pans of +grease he had made and went out of the castle at dawn, and put +them one next to the other. + +Then he set them on fire. When the flames were going well, the +wind blew the smoke toward the cattle. And when they smelled the +odor they stampeded through the middle of the camp, bringing down +tents and injuring men and horses so that it seemed like all the +devils in hell were after them. They even ran into each other so +that hardly an ox or camel was left uninjured. Many Moors on +foot and on horseback pursued them to make them turn back, and +all the Moors were astonished, not understanding what had caused +the stampede. + +When the oxen were gone, Tirant had the white and green flag +raised. The king saw the flag and rode out of the forest, +crying: + +"Long live the Christians!" + +As they had planned, Tirant also attacked from the other side. +Then the terrible, cruel battle unrolled. Whoever saw it could +tell the goings on of it all, for you could see thrusts of lance +and sword being given and taken that brought awful grief, and in +a few hours excellent knights were lying dead on the ground. All +the battles came together and made such a noise that it sounded +like the earth would fall in. You could see Tirant here and +there, tearing helmets from men's heads and shields from their +bodies, killing and wounding and doing the most astonishing +things in the world in his ever-burning fury. King Escariano was +doing very well, for he was a very good knight, young and +courageous. As for the Moors, there were some very good and +valiant knights, the King of Africa in particular who, because of +the death of his brother, threw himself against the Christians +most cruelly. The King of Bogia was also a very courageous +knight. + +The battle was long and hard fought, and mercy was shown by none. +Everyone was using their weapons, and it was a wonder to behold. +We mustn't forget about Lord Agramunt, for he fought so well that +the enemy feared him. + +It happened that the King of Africa recognized Tirant by his +armor and rode toward him, and they ran at each other, and both +the king and Tirant were knocked to the ground. But Tirant +feared death and was the more spirited, and he got up first, +while the king was still lying on the ground. He reached down to +cut the straps of his helmet, but before he could do so the Moors +saw their king on the ground, and it was a wonder that they did +not kill Tirant. They pulled him off the king's body two times +and threw him on the ground. When Lord Agramunt saw Tirant in +such great danger, he rode over to him and saw that the camp +commander was doing everything he could to kill Tirant. Lord +Agramunt turned to the commander, and they engaged in such a hard +fought battle that every blow intended to bring death--one of +them to defend Tirant and the other to try to attack him--and +both of them were badly wounded. + +Almedixer was near and cried out in alarm. King Escariano raced +into the tumult and saw the King of Bogia standing over Tirant, +about to cut off his head. These two kings were brothers, and +King Escariano recognized his brother, but still, when he saw +Tirant in that situation, he immediately thrust his lance into +his brother's back so powerfully that it went right through his +armor and came out the other side, piercing his heart, and the +King of Bogia fell to the ground, dead. Then the battle grew +more cruel than it had ever been, and on that day many men from +both sides died. + +The battle went on very cruelly, throughout the day, but when +night fell, they broke apart. The Christians went back into the +city very happily, because they had been victorious on the field. +They knew for a certainty that three kings had died in the +battle: the King of Bogia, King Geber, and the King of Granada. +Among the wounded, mention is made only of the King of Damascus +and the King of Tana. + +That night the men and horses rested, and before dawn the +Christians were armed and ready, and the Moors were surprised +that they were eager to fight, because the Moors had not been +able to bury their dead. The battle took place on the second +day, and it was very cruel and bloody. Large numbers of Moors +died, but not very many Christians: for every Christian, one +hundred Moors died. The reason so many Moors were killed was +because they weren't as well armed as the Christians, and their +horses and trappings weren't as good. The battle lasted five +days, and the Moors couldn't endure it any longer because of the +stench from the corpses, so they sent messengers to the +Christians, asking for a truce. King Escariano and Tirant felt +very pleased, and they agreed willingly. + +The Moors then took their dead and threw them into the river, +each with a note of identification attached so that downriver +their relatives could bury them. But there were so many dead +bodies that the river was stopped up, and the water had to change +course. + +Then the Moors went up the mountain while the Christians went +back to the city. During this truce the Marquis of Luzana +arrived; he was a servant to the King of France. In Tunis he +heard of Tirant's great victories, and he decided to go to him. + +The Moors decided to leave one night before the truce was over, +and go to the mountains of Fez where they could defend themselves +against the Christians. So, very unexpectedly, nearly at the +hour of midnight, they broke camp and went on their way. Early +the next morning the guards came running to the city gates to +warn the captain that the Moors were leaving. When Tirant saw +that they had gone beyond the pass, he set himself to conquering +all the kingdoms and lands this side of the pass. After many +days had gone by, Lord Agramunt said to the captain: + +"My lord, it seems to me that if we want to end this conquest +quickly, I should go beyond the pass to conquer the villas, +castles and cities there. After your lordship has taken over +these kingdoms, you can go over to that land, and you will easily +be the master of all Barbary." + +Tirant was pleased with what Lord Agramunt told him. He +consulted King Escariano, and they agreed that he should leave +soon. Lord Agramunt departed with ten thousand men on horseback, +and eighteen thousand foot soldiers. When he had gone beyond the +pass he learned that the kings had left, and each had gone back +to his own land. Seeing that there were so few armed men in that +land, Lord Agramunt began to conquer it, and he took over many +cities, villas and castles, some willingly and others by force. + +They came near a city called Montagata which belonged to the +daughter of the King of Belamerin (This king had died at the +beginning of the war) and to her betrothed. When the people in +the city learned that the Christians were so nearby, they held a +council and decided to send the keys of the city to Lord +Agramunt, and, very kindly, he took them and granted them +everything they requested. But when they were near the city, the +rulers changed their minds and decided that they would die +before they would surrender. + +When Lord Agramunt saw that he had been mocked, he decided to go +into battle, for he was as bold and hard as he could be. As he +came close to a wall, they shot at him with a crossbow. The +arrow hit him in the mouth and came out the other side. When his +men saw him stretched out on the ground, badly wounded, they +thought he was dead. They put him on a shield and carried him to +his tent, and they fought no more that day. Then Lord Agramunt +made a vow to God and to the holy apostles that because of the +way they had deceived him and because of the great pain his wound +was causing him, he would not leave until the city was taken and +his sword had slain everyone: men and women, large and small, old +and young. And he quickly sent word to Tirant. + +When Tirant received the news that his cousin had been so badly +wounded, he and all his men went to the city. Before they could +dismount he ordered them to attack the city, and the battle was +so fierce and so harsh that they took a large tower--a +mosque--attached to the city walls. When night fell Tirant +ordered a halt to the fighting. In the morning the Moors sent +word to the captain that they would surrender on condition that +they be allowed to live by their own laws, and they would give +them thirty thousand gold crowns every year, and free all the +prisoners they held. Tirant answered that because of the act +they had committed against his cousin they would have to go to +Lord Agramunt, and whatever he decided would be done. + +When the Moors stood before Lord Agramunt, he would consent to +nothing, no matter how much they pleaded with him. Then the town +decided to send their lady and several maidens to see if they +could reach an agreement with him, since many times a maiden's +pleas are successful. At this point the book presents an +incident to relate the deeds of Plaerdemavida. + +CHAPTER XI + +PLAERDEMAVIDA + + By the great mercy of God, Plaerdemavida was saved from the +shipwreck and taken to the city of Tunis, to the house of a +fisherman's daughter, as was related previously. Then, after two +years had passed the fisherman's daughter took a husband near +that city. And while they held Plaerdemavida captive there, she +always lived very honestly, working gold and silk as the maidens +of Greece are accustomed to doing. It happened one day that her +mistress went to the city of Montagata, and left Plaerdemavida to +watch the house. She had gone to the city to make some +purchases, and while she was there she went to talk to the king's +daughter, and she told her: + +"My lady, I've been told that you are planning to marry, and that +you are supplying yourself with blouses embroidered with gold and +silk and other things proper for maidens. I have a young slave +who is able to do what I have taught her from the time she was an +infant: to embroider all manner of things as befits young women. +Here are some samples of what she can do. If you want her, I +will give her to you for one hundred doubloons, even though I +will be losing all the training I have given her." + +The princess, seeing the samples, wanted her very much, and she +said that she would be happy to give her the one hundred +doubloons. The Moor said: + +"I'll be glad to give her to you for that price, on one +condition: you must tell her that I have loaned her to you for +two months, because if she guessed that I had sold her, she would +be so sad that she would fall into despair." + +Plaerdemavida was placed in her hands and she came to love the +princess very much. It happened a short time later that the city +was attacked, and the Moors took many Christians prisoner. Among +the men they captured was a soldier who had been an oarsman on +Tirant's galley when it was lost. Plaerdemavida recognized him, +and she said: + +"Aren't you one of the Christians who were on Tirant's galley +when it went down at sea?" + +"My lady," said the man "it's true: I was there, and I nearly +drowned. I reached the shore half dead, and afterward I was +beaten, and bought and sold. I went through great trials in +those days." + +"What can you tell me about Tirant?" said Plaerdemavida. "Where +did he die?" + +"By the Virgin Mary!" said the prisoner. "He is very much alive. +He's right here. He's the commander, and he's using all his +might to conquer this land." + +He also told her that Lord Agramunt was wounded, and then she +asked him: + +"What became of Plaerdemavida?" + +"That maiden you're asking about," said the prisoner, "it's +believed that she died in the sea, and our captain has grieved +deeply over her." + +When she heard the news she ordered all the prisoners to flee. +Hearing that Tirant was alive and so near, she also wanted very +much to escape, but considering how Tirant had conquered so much +of the Barbary Coast, and thinking of the victories that were +told about the Christian captain, she was very happy. For she +had known nothing about him and believed that he had drowned in +the sea. She fell to her knees, raised her clasped hands to +heaven and gave thanks and praise to God Our Lord for the great +success He had given to Tirant and to the new Christianity, for +he was making war on the enemies of Jesus Christ so bravely. She +became very hopeful that soon she would be out of captivity, and +all the suffering she had gone through up to then seemed to be +nothing to her: the thought that she would see Tirant consoled +her that much. + +On the day her mistress had to go and talk to the captains, she +disguised herself so well that no one would recognize her. When +the lady was before the captain, she was accompanied by fifty +maidens, but Tirant would not listen to her and he sent her to +his cousin, Lord Agramunt. And if he had replied badly to the +ambassadors, he gave an even worse reply to the lady. Hopeless, +they went back, crying and lamenting loudly. All that night, men +as well as women did not cease their wailing and sighing. + +In the morning Plaerdemavida told her mistress and the honorable +men of the city that if they would give her liberty to go out, +she would talk to the captain, and would tell him such things +that he would do anything she wished. They agreed that she +should go, because they had lost all hope and had only that one +day left. That day Plaerdemavida dressed as a Moor, and painted +her eyes so that she would not be recognized. She took thirty +well dressed maidens with her. At noon they left the city and +went to the camp, and there they saw Tirant at the door of his +tent. When he saw them coming he sent word that they should go +to Lord Agramunt, and that he could do nothing since he had +turned all his power over to him. Plaerdemavida answered: + +"Tell the captain that he should not refuse to see us, and even +less to speak to us, because if that captain did such a thing he +would be cruel and unjust. Since he is a knight and we are +maidens, in accordance with the order of chivalry he must aid us, +and give us his advice and his support." + +The chamberlain immediately took the reply back to the captain: + +"Upon my word, my lord, there is a maiden with those Moors who is +very gracious. She speaks the Christian tongue most beautifully. +And if your grace would like to do me a very great favor for the +services I have performed for you, when we take the city I beg +you to make her a Christian and to give her to me for a wife." + +"Have them all come here," said the captain. + +When they stood before him, they made a deep bow to him. +Plaerdemavida, smiling, said: + +"My captain, your generous heart cannot fail to act according to +its custom. Your nobility is full of mercy, and you must forget +the great crime of the ignorant inhabitants of this city, who +will fold their hands and kneel down and kiss your feet, begging +you for mercy. Look, virtuous captain, I speak with the spirit +of prophecy. Do you remember that fortunate day when you were +given the honor of chivalry in that prosperous court of the King +of England? And the singular battles you fought at that time and +won with great honor, with no trickery? What should I say of +Philippe, son of the King of France? In your great wisdom you +made him King of Sicily, and now he possesses the daughter, the +kingdom, and the crown. And when that blessed lord, who is of +greater excellence than anyone in the world, the Emperor of +Constantinople, heard of your fame, he had you come to the city +of Constantinople. His high Majesty made you his captain, and +you showed the Turkish enemies your strength and power, +conquering them time and time again. I am a Moor who speaks by +prophecy, and my heart cries tears of blood for those worthy +knights, because now they are as good as dead. Cry, miserable +people and lament the fact that Tirant lo Blanc has forgotten +you! And it does not surprise me that he does not remember you, +for he has forgotten a lady (I won't say who she is, but I can +call her the greatest and best in all Christendom) in order to +conquer this cursed land." + +Tirant was quite astonished when he heard these words, and he +begged her to tell how she knew so much. + +"Oh Tirant, how little mercy you are showing. Go on pursuing +those fleeing kings so that you can have all of Barbary in your +lap, and let us live in blessed peace. Aren't you that prince of +the line of Roca Salada who went into battle that pleasant night +in the castle of Malvei with that most serene princess, the +beautiful Carmesina? And if my heart hasn't gone mad or I +haven't lost all my senses, it seems to me that I heard tell that +Her Highness let you into her chambers at a very late hour. She +put her father's crown--that of the Greek Empire--on your head, +and accepted you as her universal lord, with the help of a sad +maiden named Plaerdemavida. You have given so little thought to +either of them, it's as if you'd never known them. Her Highness, +with you forgetting about her, is more dead than alive in the +Monastery of Santa Clara, always calling out the name of Tirant +in whom she has placed all her hope. Oh, Tirant! How you have +shed all kindness. You know full well that the Turks have +overrun all of Greece, that all they have left to do is take the +city of Constantinople and seize the emperor, his wife and the +grieving princess." + +When Tirant heard the maiden say these things, he heaved a sigh +from the depths of his heart as he remembered the lady he loved +more than anyone in the world. He was so stricken that he fell +to the ground, senseless. When everyone saw their captain lying +there, his eyes filled with tears, they thought he had delivered +up his spirit to God and his body to the ground. + +The doctors came and said: + +"Our captain must be very ill. He looks as though he is near +death." + +King Escariano quickly had the maiden seized and her hands +tightly bound. When Plaerdemavida saw herself treated so badly, +she angrily said: + +"Let me go to the captain. I nourished him from my breast before +you ever heard of him. Let me use the remedies I know, because I +can see that these ignorant doctors don't know how to help him." + +The maiden quickly sat on the ground, unfastened her robes and +the blouse she was wearing down past her bosom, uncovering her +breasts. + +She took Tirant's body, placed it in her lap, and lay his head on +her breasts. When the maiden saw Tirant open his eyes and sigh +deeply, she was very happy, and she said: + +"Captain, my lord, for a long time you have been fighting us +night and day. I don't want your grace to suffer such terrible +hardships when I can free you from them. Begin with me. I am +right here, a defenseless maiden, and your sword is very sharp. +Now you can use your strong hand and bathe your sword with the +blood of someone who, after God, wants to serve only you." + +Tirant answered as well as he could: + +"Maiden, it seems to me that you are like the bee that carries +honey in its mouth and a stinger in its tail. I have heard +things from you that have left me astonished. I want very much +to know how news about that most serene princess has reached you. +Tell me, I beg you, and you can count on this: In consideration +of Her Majesty, I will do such things for you that you will all +leave here highly satisfied." + +Plaerdemavida was very happy at the captain's reply. While they +were talking, Lord Agramunt came into the tent in a rage, with a +bare sword in his hand. He had been misinformed by King +Escariano about how Tirant had fallen into a faint in the +maiden's arms. When he saw Tirant in her lap and without +noticing his captain's condition, with a fierce face and a +terrible voice, he cried: + +"What is this poisonous woman doing here, this devil-worshipper? +How can you all stand by, seeing how she's killed him, and not +behead her? Since the rest of you won't do it, I will." + +He grabbed her by the hair and jerked back her head. And he put +his sword by her neck to take away her life. When Tirant saw the +sword so close to the maiden, and heard her cry, he seized the +sword with his hands. Lord Agramunt, feeling the sword against +something hard, thought it was the maiden's neck. So he slashed +as hard as he could, and put a large gash in Tirant's hands. And +according to the doctors Tirant was very fortunate that he was +not badly injured. + +When Tirant saw that his cousin had shown him so little honor, he +became very angry. King Escariano made Lord Agramunt leave, and +Lord Agramunt lowered his eyes and became very ashamed. Then he +bowed deeply to the king and to Tirant, and left the tent. And +his humility and shame went a long way toward cooling Tirant's +anger and making him feel pity instead. + +Then Tirant turned toward the maiden and asked her very kindly if +she had been a captive in Constantinople, and he asked who had +told her so many things about the princess. She quickly got up, +and falling to her knees, she said: + +"What is this, captain! Have you lost your memory entirely? +There is a great deal of truth in the fact that where there is no +love there can be no remembrance. What! Aren't I poor, +miserable Plaerdemavida who, for your lordship, endured so much +pain and misery, and finally captivity?" + +Tirant's eyes flew open with recognition at once, and he would +not allow her to say another word, realizing full well at this +moment that she was Plaerdemavida. He knelt to the ground before +her, and embraced her and kissed her many times over. + +After they had embraced for a good while, Tirant ordered a +beautiful platform placed at the door of the tent, covered +entirely with brocade cloth above, and with satin on the sides +and floor. Plaerdemavida was seated at the top step of the +platform, and covered with a mantle of crimson brocade lined with +ermine--one belonging to Tirant that he had ordered put on her +since she had completely torn her robes. The lady of the city +was made to sit on the top step, and her maidens below, on the +satin cloths. In this situation it seemed that Plaerdemavida was +indeed a queen. + +Tirant had taken the head-dress off her head, and now her hair +hung loose over her shoulders. He paid her such great honor that +everyone thought Tirant was going to take her as his wife. He +had a proclamation read throughout the entire camp that everyone +should come and kiss Plaerdemavida's hand, under penalty of +death. Then he had another proclamation made that everyone in +the city, men and women, were pardoned, and that each of them +could live under any law they wished, and that no one in the camp +should dare harm anyone from the city. Afterward he had many +dishes prepared, and held a general banquet so that everyone +could come who wished. And the most singular celebration ever +held in a camp took place there, lasting eight days. + +Plaerdemavida begged the lady of the city to be baptized, and she +answered that she would do it. Then Tirant asked her if she +would marry Melquisedic. Plaerdemavida also pleaded with her, +and the others insisted so much that she consented. And the +wedding was held with great celebrations. + +Tirant often spent his time talking to Plaerdemavida. One day, +while they were talking about the princess and the emperor, +Plaerdemavida scolded him, and asked him why he did not forget +about conquering Barbary and help the emperor and his daughter. +Tirant answered that he wanted to know for certain what the +situation was in the empire before he moved. He begged +Plaerdemavida to tell him what had happened to her after she was +swept over the side of the galley. With tears in her eyes, +Plaerdemavida said: + +"I beg you, lord Tirant, don't make me talk about it. Whenever I +think about it I would rather die a hundred deaths than go on +living." + +When Tirant heard her speaking so painfully, he said: + +"Rejoice, valiant maiden. I promise you, by the lady who has +been the cause of your misfortune, that I will repay you. I will +mix your blood with that of Roca Salada, and you will be reckoned +among the women of Brittany, among whom you are certain to have +the title of queen." + +There was a long argument between Tirant and this maiden about +the marriage he had decided upon, which was between her and Lord +Agramunt. He gave her many different reasons, citing very holy +authorities, so that Plaerdemavida finally submitted to Tirant's +will, and replied in a few words: + +"Your servant is here, Lord Tirant. Do with me according to your +will." + +Tirant took a beautiful chain from his neck and placed it around +Plaerdemavida's neck as a sign of her future marriage. He had +brocade brought, and dressed her like a queen. Then Tirant sent +for Lord Agramunt, and he begged him at length not to refuse what +he would tell him, since he had already made a promise. Lord +Agramunt answered him: + +"Lord Tirant, I am astonished that you would plead with me about +anything. Just by commanding me you are doing me a great favor." + +Tirant said: + +"Cousin, I have decided to make you King of Fez and Bogia, and to +give Plaerdemavida to you as your wife. You know how indebted +all of us are to her for the work she has done for us. She is a +maiden of great discretion who has lead a virtuous life, and it +will be very good for both of you." + +Lord Agramunt answered: + +"Cousin and lord, I had no thought of taking a wife, but it is +too much grace and honor for your lordship to entreat me to do a +thing that I should beg you for. I kiss your hand and your +feet." + +Tirant would not allow it. Instead he took him by the arm, +lifted him up, and kissed him on the mouth. Afterward he thanked +him, both for the kingdoms and for the new wife. + +Tirant felt more satisfied at having arranged this marriage than +by all of his conquests in Barbary. He quickly had Lady +Montagata's palace decorated with beautiful gold and silk cloth, +and he had all the musicians from that area come, with every kind +of instrument that could be found. Then he had many dainties and +special wines brought to insure the success of the celebration. +Plaerdemavida was very richly dressed, and her presence and +appearance showed that she was a queen. She was taken to the +great hall where King Escariano and Tirant were, with many other +barons and knights, along with the wife of King Escariano and +many other ladies of rank. After the wedding vows were exchanged +there was a great celebration with dances of different types and +very singular foods. + +While the celebrations lasted, Tirant had the table prepared for +everyone who wished to eat, and for a week there was a great +abundance of everything. + + CHAPTER XII + +CONQUEST + + When the celebrations were over Tirant had a large ship armed, +and he had it loaded with wheat to send to Constantinople to help +the emperor. + +He had Melquisedic, Lord of Montagata, brought to him, and he +told him to go on that ship as a messenger to the emperor. He +told him to become well informed about the emperor's condition, +and how the empire was, and about the princess. He gave him +instructions and letters of credence, and he had him embark, well +outfitted and better escorted. + +Then Tirant ordered his men to break camp, and to get all the +cavalry and foot soldiers ready. They filled the carts with food +and all the supplies and weaponry necessary to fight the cities, +villas, and castles. + +They went toward the city of Caramen, at the edge of Barbary and +bordering on the black Kingdom of Borno. Because three kings who +fled from the battle scene had taken refuge in that city, while +the others had gone back to their own lands. So the great +numbers of cavalry and foot soldiers went through the land, +conquering castles, villas and cities. Some were taken by force, +and others surrendered willingly. Many became Christian, while +others remained in their sect, and they were not harmed or +wronged in any way. Finally they reached the city where the +kings had taken shelter. There, Tirant's forces set up their +tents and encircled the city at a distance of about two crossbow +shots. + +Tirant held council with King Escariano, Lord Agramunt, the +Marquis of Luzana, the Viscount of Branches, and many other +barons and knights in the camp. They chose a Spaniard from the +town of Oriola to be their envoy. His name was Lord Rocafort, +and he had been a captive on a Moorish galley until Tirant had +freed him. They told him to observe how many men might be in the +city, and what condition they were in, and they give him detailed +instructions about everything he should do and say. + +After receiving assurances of safe-conduct, the envoy went to the +castle where the kings were. These were the King of Fez, King +Menador of Persia, and the King of Tremicen. This last king was +nephew to the other King of Tremicen, and had been chosen king +when his uncle had been killed by King Escariano. The other +kings had died in the battles they had been waging. + +The envoy stood before the kings who had gathered to listen to +his embassy, and without greeting them or showing them any +reverence, he said: + +"I have come to you who were powerful kings on behalf of the most +Christian King Escariano and the magnanimous captain, Tirant lo +Blanc, to notify you of the will of their lordships. They say +that you and your forces must leave the city of Caramen and all +of Barbary within three days." + +King Menador of Persia gave the reply for the other kings: + +"You can tell that traitor and renegade, King Escariano, +Mohammed's enemy and ours, and his friend Tirant lo Blanc, that +we won't leave the city, much less Barbary, for them. And so +that they'll know how great our power is, let them be ready for +battle tomorrow because we'll come out of the city and give them +terrible destruction." + +As soon as King Menador had finished, Tirant's ambassador turned +his back and left without another word, and he went back to his +camp. When he was with King Escariano and Tirant, he told them +all about King Menador of Persia's reply. Tirant immediately +called together all the barons, knights and captains of both +cavalry and foot soldiers. When they were together, he told them +to get ready because the Moors were going to do battle with them. + +The following morning the Moors put their forces together in a +beautiful plain outside the city, and they began to move toward +Tirant's camp. The Christians' spy saw the Moors coming, and ran +to warn Tirant. Tirant had all his cavalry ready and his foot +soldiers in order, and they went toward the Moors. + +When the battalions drew near each other, the trumpets and pipes +began to sound, and the screams and shouts of both armies were so +great that it seemed like heaven and earth would come together. +Tirant ordered his first battalion to attack, and the good +captain Lord Rocafort went into battle so fiercely that it was a +wonder to behold. + +The King of Tremicen, who was captain of the first battalion of +Moors also attacked so powerfully that the best knight in the +world could have done no better, and they fought so fiercely +against the Christians that the Christians were beaten back. +Then the second squadron of Moors attacked very savagely, and one +could see lances breaking, and knights and horses falling, and +many men lying dead on the ground, both Christians and Moors. + +Tirant saw that the battle was going badly, and that his men were +being beaten. So he had four squadrons attack together, his +being the only one that held back. They attacked so powerfully +that in a few hours, before the enemy realized what had happened, +they had killed a great number of Moors. + +King Escariano came face to face with the King of Fez, and their +horses clashed so mightily that they broke their lances. They +both fell to the ground, and got up, fighting with their swords, +like lions. When the two sides saw their king on the ground, +they rushed in to help them, and in the harsh battle that +followed, many men died. + +Then Tirant attacked too, with his men, and you would have had to +see the great tumult and the terrible cries of the Moors who were +not able to resist the Christians. King Menador of Persia, who +had gone into battle like a raging dog, came against Tirant, and +hit his head with his sword so hard that he nearly knocked Tirant +from his horse. + +Tirant then raised his sword and brought it down so hard that he +cut the king's arm completely off at the shoulder, and the king +soon fell to the ground, dead. + +During the battle it happened that Tirant came upon the King of +Tremicen, and gave him such a blow to the head with his sword, +that he knocked the king to the ground. And if it had not been +for the king's good helmet, he would have been dead. Tirant went +on ahead, and the Moors picked up their king and lay him over a +horse, taking him quickly back to the city. + +When the battle had gone on for a long while, the Moors could not +stand up against the Christians, and they had to turn and flee. +When Tirant saw the Moors running away, he cried: + +"The time has come, good knights, the day is ours! Kill them +all!" + +They rushed after the Moors who were trying to take refuge inside +the city. But with all their efforts, the Moors could not avoid +the deaths of more than forty thousand of their men that day. + +With the battle won, Tirant immediately had a galley armed in the +port of One, and he entrusted a knight named Espercius as its +captain. This man was a native of Tremicen, and a good +Christian. Tirant charged him to go to Genoa, Venice, Pisa and +Majorca (which at this time was a great trading center), and to +enlist as many ships, galleys, caravels, and all kinds of +vessels, as could carry many men. He was to promise them a +year's wages, and take them to the port of Constantine in the +kingdom of Tunis. When Espercius was informed about everything +he was to do, he embarked on his journey. + + When Ambassador Melquisedic left Barbary he had such favorable +weather that he reached Constantinople in a few days. When the +emperor was informed that a ship was in port, he immediately +sent a knight to find out what ship it was, and what its purpose +was in coming. The knight went to the port, boarded the ship and +spoke with the ambassador. Then he returned to the palace and +told the emperor that the ship had come from Barbary, that Tirant +had sent it, stocked with wheat, to His Majesty, and that a +knight was on it whom Tirant had sent as his ambassador. + +When the emperor heard this news he felt very relieved because of +the straits they were in, and he gave thanks and praise to God, +Our Lord, that he had not been forgotten. The emperor +immediately commanded all the knights of the city to go and +escort the ambassador that Tirant had sent, and they all went to +the port, and had them disembark. + +The ambassador, accompanied by the people with him, came out, +very finely dressed. When they were on land, they were received +by the emperor's knights, who paid the ambassador high honors +because of their great desire for Tirant to come. They took him +to the emperor and the empress who were in the emperor's chamber. +The ambassador bowed to the emperor, and kissed his foot and +hand, and also the empress's hand. + +They received them, smiling, and showing great pleasure at their +arrival. + +The ambassador explained his mission to the emperor and his +council, and they were all astonished and comforted by Tirant's +great prosperity in conquering Barbary. Then the ambassador +asked permission to go see the princess. Hippolytus escorted him +to the convent where she was staying, and he presented her with a +letter from Tirant. She felt very comforted by his words, +convinced that he would be coming to her soon. Then she asked +the ambassador what news he had of Plaerdemavida: if she was dead +or alive. He told about her adventure in detail, and how she had +married Lord Agramunt, and how Tirant had promised to make her a +queen. Then he took his leave of the princess and went to the +lodging. + +A few days later the emperor had a letter composed to Tirant, +explaining in detail the situation his empire was in: that the +empire had been overrun by the Turks, and now all that remained +was the city of Constantinople, the city of Pera, and a few +castles. He had the ambassador come before him, and gave him the +letter. Then he begged him earnestly to press Tirant to remember +him and to have compassion on his old age, and on all the people +who were in danger of renouncing the faith of Jesus Christ, and +on the women and maidens who lived in fear of being dishonored +unless they had divine aid and his aid as well. The ambassador +took his leave, kissing his feet and hand, and likewise the +empress's. + +Afterward the ambassador went to the convent where the princess +was, and he told her that he had come to see Her Highness in case +she wished to command anything of him. The princess told him she +was very pleased that he would be returning so soon, for she +trusted his goodness and gentility that he would do everything +possible to make Tirant come quickly to free them from the great +danger they were in. And she earnestly begged him to do this. +Then she gave him a letter she was sending to Tirant. + +When their talk was over, the ambassador kissed the princess's +hand, and took his leave of her. As the ambassador had carried +out all the things Tirant had entrusted to him, he boarded the +ship, and had the sails raised so they could be on their way. In +a few days he reached the city where Tirant was, who received him +very happily. Bowing, he gave him the emperor's letter. + +When Tirant had read the emperor's letter, he felt great +compassion for him. His eyes filled with tears when he thought +of his anguish, and he remembered the Duke of Macedonia and his +other relatives and friends who were being held captive in the +hands of the infidels because of him, and that they had no hope +of escaping without him. He also thought about all he had +conquered in the Empire of Greece while he had been there, and +that it and much more had been lost in such a brief span of time. + +He asked the ambassador about all that he had seen, and he told +him everything. He also asked him about the princess and how she +was. He answered that he had found her in the convent of Santa +Clara (for with his absence she had given herself over to the +service of God) and about how she also wore a veil over her face +and led a very holy life, and how she had received him very +happily. + +"She asked me how you were and what had happened to you, and she +begged me at length to plead with you not to forget her, +especially now that they were in danger of becoming prisoners of +the Moors. And that if she had ever angered your lordship, she +begged you not to make her grieve for it. That, as you were +merciful toward your enemies, you would treat her, who was your +own, as well. That you should think of her as your own flesh, +and not forget her." + +And he told him many other things that the book does not relate. + +The ambassador gave him the princess's letter, and it said the +following: + +"After I read your letter, I was filled with infinite joy, and +great happiness softened my sad heart. The greatest peace, calm +and joy I have felt after I lost your presence is this outpouring +of my words, as I feel myself coming back to you. For I have +been, I am and will be your secret captive. I thank you with all +my heart, for I know all that you have suffered because of me. +And I forgive you for the false opinions you held about me, on +the sole condition that the African soil find itself abandoned by +you so that you will return to me and my deserted people. Let me +bring to your memory the crown of the Empire of Greece that +awaits you; and my virginity which you so desired, and that is +now in danger of being stolen by some infidel; and I, your wife, +who am in danger of being taken captive. I don't know what to +say, I don't know what to show you! Until now my thoughts have +been able to hold these deceptions: gazing at, kissing, adoring +some jewels and things that were yours, and finding my +consolation in them. Then, going to the doors of my room, +saying: 'Here is where my Tirant sat, here he caught me, here he +kissed me, here in this bed he held me naked.' And so, rambling +most of the night and day, I ease my troubled mind. Let these +thoughts cease, then, for they avail me very little, and let +Tirant come, for he will be my true consolation, my end, the +remedy and peace for my ills, and the redemption of the Christian +people." + +When Tirant had finished reading the princess's letter, he felt +great agony from the pain and compassion he had for the emperor +and for the princess, and in thinking of the Duke of Macedonia, +his cousin, being held prisoner, and of all his other relatives +and friends. + +Tirant then told King Escariano that they would leave and go to +Tunis. Before they left, he gave the kingdoms of Fez and Bogia +to Lord Agramunt. Then all the men set out for Tunis. + +When the kingdom of Tunis learned that King Escariano and Captain +Tirant were coming with such a mighty force, they sent word to +them, begging them not to harm them. Since their lord had died, +they would be happy to obey them and to do whatever they +commanded. They willingly accepted, and entered the city of +Tunis very peacefully. Tirant had them swear to accept King +Escariano as their lord, and all the cities, villas and castles +surrendered to him. + +While Tirant was feeling very content, the news reached him that +six large ships had docked at the port of Constantine. He +immediately sent Melquisedic, giving him many doubloons, and +ordered him to load the six ships with wheat, and send them to +Constantinople. + +Melquisedic departed and quickly carried out Tirant's orders, and +in a few days they were stocked, and they set sail. Then Tirant +had King Escariano take possession of the kingdom of Tunis, and +they swore their allegiance to him as their king and lord. + +When all these things had been done, he felt like the happiest +man in the world. He begged King Escariano to go with him to +Constantinople, with all his forces, to recover the Empire of +Greece that the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk had seized. +And King Escariano told him that he would be very happy to carry +out everything that he commanded. + +He also told Lord Agramunt, King of Fez and Bogia, to go to his +kingdoms and to enlist as many men as could go with him. Lord +Agramunt was very happy, and he left immediately. Then King +Escariano wrote letters to the entire kingdom of Tunis, to all +the captains and knights, telling them to be in the city of +Constantine on a certain day with all their arms and everything +they needed for battle. And in three months they were in the +city of Constantine. There were forty-four thousand men on +horseback and one hundred thousand on foot from the kingdom of +Tremicen and from Tunis. Then came the King of Fez and Bogia, +Lord Agramunt, with twenty thousand men on horseback and fifty +thousand foot soldiers. + +While these men were coming, the galley of Knight Espercius +arrived with many ships, galleys and other vessels, from Genoa, +Spain, Venice and Pisa, and there were even more. When Espercius +disembarked from the galley, he told Tirant that he had carried +out everything he had been charged with. Tirant was very +satisfied at all this. He quickly had the galley loaded, and he +told Espercius that he wanted him to go as his ambassador to the +King of Sicily, and he replied that he would do it gladly. +Tirant gave him instructions about what to say to the King of +Sicily, and Knight Espercius went aboard his galley and set out +for Sicily. + +A few days after the ambassador had left, all the ships were +together in the port of Constantine, and when Tirant saw that he +had enough vessels, and that he would need no more, he paid for +the fleet for one year. Then he immediately had thirty ships +stocked with wheat and supplies from the Barbary Coast. When the +ships were loaded, a day was set for all the armed men to meet. +Those on horseback and those on foot, and all the people in the +city and many others came to a beautiful spot in front of the +city of Constantine. Tirant had a very tall cenotaph made there +so that all the people could be around it. Then Tirant, King +Escariano, the King of Fez and many other barons and knights went +onto the cenotaph until it was completely filled. The others +stayed down below, and when the people were silent, Tirant spoke +briefly, and a friar gave a sermon. + +When the sermon was over, all the Moors who were not baptized +cried out, asking for baptism. Tirant immediately had large +basins filled with water, as well as conches, casks and tubs, and +all the friars and clerics came, for Tirant had had many +monasteries and even more churches built in the cities he had +taken, and many clerics and friars had come from the Christian +realms. Everyone was baptized--those who were leaving as well as +those who were staying behind--and in three days three hundred +thirty-four thousand Moors--men, women and children--were +baptized. + +Afterward, Tirant went to talk to King Escariano, and he said to +him: + +"I have been thinking, my lord and brother, that if it is to your +liking, instead of going with us by sea you could return to your +kingdom of Ethiopia, and enlist as many men as possible, foot +soldiers and cavalry, and I will go by sea with these men. And +with you on one side and me on the other, we will catch the +sultan and the Turk in the middle, and we will destroy them." + +King Escariano said he would prefer to go with him, but that he +understood how much aid he could give him with all his men, and +he was content to do so. The book explains that this King +Escariano was a very strong and valiant knight, and that he was +totally black. For he was lord of the Negritos of Ethiopia, and +was called King Jamjam. He was very powerful, owning many horses +as well as great treasures, and he was well loved by his vassals. +His kingdom was so large that it extended to Barbary, and the +kingdom of Tremicen, and on the other side to the Indies and +Abyssinia through which the River Tigris passes. + +Then King Escariano prepared to depart with five hundred knights, +and he and the queen took their leave of Tirant, and the King and +Queen of Fez, and all the other barons. Tirant accompanied him +more than a league, and then he returned to the city of +Constantine to give the order for the men to ready themselves +with their horses and their entire army. Here the history ceases +to speak of Tirant, and it returns to Ambassador Espercius who +was going to the island of Sicily. + +After Ambassador Espercius left the port of Constantine, he had +such favorable weather that in a few days he reached the island +of Sicily. He learned that the king was in the city of Messina, +and he went there. When he was near the port he dressed very +well and had all his men put on their finery. Then he +disembarked and went to the king's palace. + +When he was before the king, he bowed, and the king honored him +and asked the reason for his coming. The ambassador answered: + +"Most excellent sir, Tirant lo Blanc sends me to Your Majesty as +his ambassador." + +He immediately gave the ambassador a very fine room, and he had +everything he needed brought to him. He also sent beef of an ox +and pork and fresh bread to the galley for the men. + +On the morning of the following day, after the king had heard +mass, he summoned his council, and when they were seated in a +great hall he told the ambassador to explain his mission. The +ambassador said: + +"Most excellent sir, Your Excellency is aware that Tirant lo +Blanc was carrying on a war for the Emperor of Constantinople +against the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk. It happened that +they took from the emperor all the lands Tirant had conquered, +and so he has decided to take the mightiest force he can to +Constantinople. He begs Your Highness to go with him personally +with all your forces, to help carry out the conquest of the +Empire of Greece. And since he has so much confidence in your +lordship he will be here very soon." + +The ambassador said no more. The king quickly replied: + +"Knight, it makes me very happy to know of the good fortune of my +brother Tirant, and I am very pleased to be able to help him." + +The ambassador stood and thanked the king. When they left the +parley, the king had letters drawn up to all the barons and +knights of Sicily, and to all the cities and royal villas, that +on a certain day they should send all their magistrates to the +city of Palermo, because he had decided to hold a general +parliament there. + +On the appointed day the king and all those who were invited were +in Palermo, and when the parliament opened the king asked the +entire kingdom for aid. They were all happy to give their +assistance, and those who could decided to go with him. When the +parliament was over, all who had decided to go quickly made +ready, and in a short time the king gathered four thousand +horses, and he had at his disposal a large fleet of ships and +many provisions. + +Here the book ceases to speak of the King of Sicily, who is +putting all his ships in order, and gathering all the provisions +and the horses and arms, and it returns to the six ships Tirant +had sent to Constantinople, loaded with wheat. + +After the six ships had left the port of Constantine they had +such a favorable wind that in a few days they reached the Port of +Valona, which is in Greece. There they received news that the +sultan and the Turk had passed the Bosphorus with many ships and +galleys that they had sent for from Alexandria and Turkey, and +that they had laid siege to the city of Constantinople. The +emperor was extremely concerned, and all those in the city prayed +continually to Jesus Christ to send Tirant so that they could be +freed from their captivity. At the same time they felt very +confident because they were sure that Tirant was coming with all +his forces. The princess returned to the emperor's palace to +console her father, and she told him to gather courage, for Our +Lord would help them. The emperor had made Hippolytus his +captain-major, and every day he performed great acts of chivalry. +If it had not been for him, the sultan would have taken the city +before Tirant arrived. + +When the captains of the six ships learned that the sultan's +forces were about to fall on Constantinople they sent a courier +by land to the emperor, informing him that they were there, in +the port of Valona, but that they did not dare go on to aid His +Majesty out of fear of the Moorish army that was facing the city. +However, they notified His Majesty that Tirant had already left +the city of Constantine and that he was coming with great haste +to assist him. In addition, they armed a brigantine and sent it +to Tirant to warn him that the Turk and the sultan had laid siege +to the city of Constantinople. The brigantine left very secretly +and steered for Sicily, and it had such favorable weather that in +a few days it reached the port of Palermo. + +As soon as King Escariano had left Constantine, Tirant ordered +all the horses, the food supplies and the people brought +together. The thirty ships stocked with wheat arrived, and he +had them filled with men. When they were all on board, Tirant, +the King of Fez and Plaerdemavida went on the ship, along with +all the knights who had been on land with Tirant. When +everything was ready, they sailed toward Sicily. + +When the brigantine that had come from the port of Valona saw +Tirant's fleet, it sailed out of the port and steered toward +them, asking for the captain's ship, and it was pointed out to +them. When the brigantine was next to Tirant's ship they told +him that the six ships were in the port of Valona and that they +had not been able to pass by the sultan's fleet, and of the siege +that had been laid against the city. This made Tirant very +angry, and he sailed to the port of Palermo where he saw the +ships of the King of Sicily that began to celebrate with trumpets +and bombards. Those of Tirant answered them, and they raised +such a din that it seemed as though the world was going to cave +in. + +As soon as Tirant's armada was in port and had laid anchor, the +King of Sicily came on board Tirant's ship and there they +embraced and kissed. The King of Sicily honored all the barons +and knights who were on Tirant's ship, and he kissed and embraced +the King of Fez, and they all went on land together. Tirant +ordered that no one on the ships was to go on land, since he +wanted to leave the following day. The King of Sicily had his +queen come to the sea, and she honored Tirant and the King of Fez +and the queen, especially when she heard that she had been the +servant of so virtuous a lady as the princess. They all went to +the palace together, with a great multitude of ladies and +maidens, and other people who followed them. When they were in +the palace a splendid meal was prepared for them, and they ate +their fill with great pleasure from all sorts of victuals. + +When they left their tables, Tirant and the King of Sicily went +into a chamber. The Queen of Sicily and the King of Fez, along +with his wife, remained in the hall with many ladies and +gentlemen, and they began to dance and entertain themselves. +Tirant told the King of Sicily about all the misfortunes he had +suffered, and how afterward Our Lord had protected him and had +given him a great victory, and how he had conquered all of +Barbary. Then he told him of the condition the emperor was in, +and that he needed their aid immediately. The King of Sicily +answered him: + +"My brother and my lord, the horses and arms have been prepared, +along with most of the men." + +Tirant answered: + +"My brother and lord, I beg you to have a proclamation sent out +through the city that everyone shall gather, as you wish to +depart this evening." + +The King of Sicily immediately sent one of his chamberlains, and +the trumpeters went through the city commanding all those who +were to leave to gather together, and it was quickly done. +Tirant and the king went back to the hall with the queen, and +there they found a little diversion. The Queen of Sicily drew +apart with the Queen of Fez, and embraced her, asking her many +questions about the princess, about her beauty and about the love +between Tirant and the princess. The Queen of Fez praised the +princess, saying she would never be able to tell of all her +wonderful qualities. She passed lightly over the love affair +with great discretion. Then she began to flatter the queen--an +art at which she was a master--telling her that after Her +Highness, the princess, she was without equal in the world; that +she had never seen or heard of a lady with such a genteel mind or +so much beauty as Her Majesty, and that she was very much in love +with her and her singular qualities; and she told her many other +things, all of which gave the Queen of Sicily great pleasure. + +After the party and celebrations had ended it was time to dine, +and they ate with great satisfaction. When they had left the +table, Tirant begged the King of Sicily to make ready quickly, +and the king told him he would. They took their leave of the +Queen of Sicily and of all those who were staying with her. The +King of Sicily entrusted the regency of the kingdom to a +cousin-german of the queen, who was Duke of Messina, a good and +virtuous knight. He made him viceroy, and put the queen and his +entire household in his charge. + +When everything was done that was necessary, the king and Tirant +and all their company gathered together, and the entire fleet, +Tirant's as well as that of the King of Sicily, set sail. At the +port of Valona the six ships loaded with wheat were waiting, and +they were very pleased when they saw Tirant's fleet. + +Here the book ceases talking about Tirant and continues with the +story of King Escariano. As soon as King Escariano left Tirant, +he and his wife, the queen, rode until they came to his land--the +Kingdom of Ethiopia. After he had rested a few days, he called +all the barons and knights of his kingdom to the city of +Trogodita, and he told them: + +"It must have come to your knowledge that I was the prisoner of +the captain of the Christians: Tirant lo Blanc. He is the best +knight in the world, for he gave us our liberty and made us his +companion in arms. Furthermore, he has given me as my wife the +daughter of the King of Tremicen, along with that kingdom, and he +has also given to me the Kingdom of Tunis. Now he must carry out +the conquest of the Greek Empire for the Emperor of +Constantinople--because the sultan and the Grand Turk have taken +away his entire empire. So he has called on me, as his brother +and servant, to help him with all my power. Thus, I beg all of +you who are willing, to come with me to Constantinople." + +One by one, they each responded that they loved him with a great +love, and that they would follow him and die for him, not only in +Constantinople but to the ends of the world. + +King Escariano thanked them all. Then he sent messages to all +the cities and towns of his kingdom that all who wished to put +themselves at his service--both cavalry and foot soldiers, +citizens and foreigners--should come to the city of Trogodita. +When they had all gathered there, King Escariano found that as +part of his army he had at his command twenty thousand horsemen, +strong and able with weapons. The queen also made ready, and +they left the city of Trogodita with their entire army. + +Here the book returns to Tirant lo Blanc's armada as they are +going to Constantinople. + +When Tirant was at the port of Valona he sent a galley into the +port and commanded the captains of the six ships to come out of +the port and follow the armada. So they set sail and came out of +the port and followed the fleet. When the armada was in the +canal of Romania it set its course for the port of Gigeo, which +is the port of Troy, and there they waited for the rest of the +armada to join them. + +Tirant held counsel with the King of Sicily and the King of Fez +and all the other barons and knights, for he knew that the +sultan's entire armada was in the port of Constantinople, and +that they had more than three hundred vessels. It was decided to +send a man overland who knew the Moorish language, and who would +go into Constantinople at night to inform the emperor that Tirant +and his entire armada were in the port of Troy, a little more +than one hundred miles from Constantinople. They did not want to +give him any sort of letter, so that if he were taken prisoner +by the Moors they would not have any warning. So they would tell +him everything he should say to the emperor. + +When the council was over Tirant called a knight from Tunis who +had been a Moor of the royal house. His name was Sinegerus, and +he was a very ingenious and eloquent man, and a valiant knight. +He had been a captive in Constantinople, and knew the area well. +Tirant told him everything he was to say to the emperor and the +princess, and he gave him his seal so the emperor would have +faith in him. + +This knight dressed himself in Moorish fashion as a lackey. A +brigantine picked him up, and at night they put him ashore a +league from the Moorish camp that was laying siege to the city of +Constantinople. The knight carefully turned away from the +encampment and set out for the city, but before he could escape +he fell into the hands of spies from the Moorish camp. He spoke +to them very discreetly in their language, and told them he was +one of them, and they let him pass. When he reached the city, +the men who were guarding the gate seized him, thinking he was +from the Moorish encampment. He told them not to harm him +because he was Tirant's ambassador, and that he was coming to +talk to the emperor. The guards immediately took him to the +emperor who, at that moment, was getting up from the dinner +table. + +When Sinegerus was before the emperor, he knelt and kissed his +hand and foot, and gave him Tirant's seal. The emperor looked at +it and recognized Tirant's coat of arms. Then the emperor +embraced him, telling him he was very welcome. Sinegerus said: + +"Most excellent Sire, I was sent here by that great captain +Tirant lo Blanc who commends himself in grace and mercy to Your +Majesty, for soon, with the help of God our Lord, he will free +you from all your enemies. In addition, he begs you to put all +your cavalry in order, and have the city well guarded, for +tomorrow morning he will attack the Moorish armada, and he fears +that when the Moors see their squadron lost they will mount a +powerful attack against the city. Tirant is coming with enough +might to take them and kill them all, and of this Your Majesty +should not have the slightest doubt." + +"Friend," said the emperor, "we feel very relieved by what you +have told us. May our Lord grant us the grace that it will be as +you have said, for we have so much trust in the great virtue and +chivalry of Tirant, that with the help of God he will fulfill our +good desire and his own." + +The emperor immediately summoned Hippolytus, his high captain, +and when he was before him he said: + +"Our captain, you know that Tirant is in the port of Troy with a +great squadron. He has decided to attack the Moorish army +tomorrow morning, and so it is very important that you quickly +call all the cavalry in the city and all the constables and +captains of the foot soldiers, and that you have your men ready +in case the Moors decide to attack the city." + +After the ambassador, Sinegerus, had explained his mission, he +asked the emperor's permission to go pay reverence to the empress +and the princess, and the emperor gave his consent. When he had +received permission he went to the empress' chambers where he +found her daughter with all the ladies. The knight bowed to the +empress and kissed her hand, and then the princess's hand. Then, +kneeling, he said: + +"Ladies, my captain and lord Tirant lo Blanc sends me to kiss +your hands. And he offers to come here very soon to pay his +respects to you." + +When the princess heard that Tirant was coming and that he was so +close, she became so happy that she nearly fainted. For some +time she seemed delirious with happiness. When she had +recovered, the empress and the princess rejoiced with the +ambassador. They asked him about many things, especially what +men were coming in Tirant's company. + +The ambassador answered that the King of Sicily was coming with +him with all his forces, and the King of Fez with all his forces +and with his wife, the queen, whose name was Plaerdemavida. And +all the barons of the kingdoms of Tunis and Tremicen were coming. +Many other knights who had accepted payment for their services +were coming from Spain, France and Italy because of the great +fame and renown of Tirant. And also that magnanimous King +Escariano, the lord of Ethiopia, was coming overland. + +"He is coming with a mighty army of men on foot and on horseback, +and he is bringing his wife, the queen, with him. She is very +desirous of seeing Your Excellency, Princess, because of the +great beauty she has heard attributed to you. For this queen is +one of the most beautiful women in the world, and possesses all +virtues." + +He also told them how Plaerdemavida had married Lord Agramunt, +and that she was coming so His Majesty the emperor and the ladies +would honor her for the wedding. He explained to them at length +how Tirant had carried out the conquest of Barbary, and how he +had given away all that he had conquered and won, and had kept +nothing. And that everyone who saw him or heard of him adored +him. He told them many other virtuous and praiseworthy things +about Tirant, which neither ink nor words would suffice to +describe. + +When the empress and the princess heard about all Tirant's +virtues and singular acts, they were astonished at the great +grace that God, our Lord, had given him so that he was loved by +everyone. And they wept with happiness when they thought that he +would be the restorer and defender of the crown of the Empire of +Greece. For they were already beyond hope, and each of the women +thought they would be made captives and dishonored by the enemies +of the faith. And they were very pleased when he told them about +the coming of the Queen of Ethiopia, especially the princess, +because they had told her she was very beautiful and virtuous, +and she wanted very much to have her friendship. And they talked +late into the night. + +The empress remained in her chamber and the princess went to her +own. The ambassador took her by the arm and accompanied her, and +she asked him why he had kissed her hand three times. He +answered that it was by his lord Tirant's command, who begged her +to please pardon him, for he would never dare come to her because +of the great error he had committed. + +The princess answered: + +"Knight, tell my lord Tirant that where there is no error, there +is no need for forgiveness. But if he feels he has wronged me, I +beg him to correct it by coming here quickly, for it is the thing +I desire most in this world." + +The ambassador took his leave of the princess and went to the +lodging that the emperor had prepared for him. That night +Captain Hippolytus had a careful watch set up throughout the +city, and no one slept at all with their great fear of the Moors, +and because they were looking forward to the battle Tirant would +give the Moorish army. + +Here the book stops talking of the emperor who is having the city +well guarded, and goes back to tell about Widow Repose, alias the +Devil. + +When Widow Repose heard that Tirant was coming and that he was +already so nearby, she was stricken with such fear that she +thought she was going to die, and she said that her heart felt +terribly ill. She went into her chamber, and there she lamented +loudly, crying and striking her head and face, for at that moment +she felt she was dead, and she truly believed that Tirant would +deal a cruel sentence against her. Since she knew that he had +been informed by Plaerdemavida, she thought that if the princess +knew of the heinous crime she had accused her of, how could she +possibly face her? On the other hand, she was still terribly in +love with Tirant, and thus she was driven mad. + +She spent the entire night this way, fantasizing and struggling +within herself, for she did not know what to do. And it was not +something she dared tell to anyone, nor could she ask for advice, +because if she did they would all be her enemies. + +Finally she decided to poison herself in such a way that her +wickedness would not be known, so that her body would not be +burned or given to the dogs to eat. + +She immediately took some arsenic that she had for making a +depilatory, and she put it in a glass of water and drank it. She +left the door to her chamber open, undressed and lay down on the +bed. Then she began to cry loudly, saying that she was dying. +The maidens who were sleeping nearby heard the loud cries and +quickly got up and went to the Widow's chamber, and there they +found her screaming continuously. + +The empress and the princess got out of bed, and there was a +great uproar in the palace. The emperor got up quickly, thinking +the Moors had broken into the city with their weapons, or that +his daughter might have unexpectedly become ill. He fainted, and +the doctors were summoned. When the empress and the princess +heard that the emperor had fainted, they left Widow Repose and +went running to the emperor's chamber where they found him more +dead than alive. Then the princess began to wail loudly, and it +was terrible to see her anguish. The doctors came quickly and +immediately tended to him. As soon as he regained consciousness +he asked what had caused all the disturbance, and if the Moors +had entered the city. They told him no, but that Widow Repose +was having great dizzy spells, and that she was crying terribly +and was very close to death. The emperor ordered the doctors to +go, and to do whatever they could to save her. The doctors went +immediately, and at the very minute they reached her chambers, +she surrendered her soul to Pluto's realm. + +When the princess learned that Widow Repose had died, she wailed +loudly, because of her great love for her, for she had been +nursed by her. She had them place her in a beautiful coffin, +because she wanted her to be given a very honorable burial. In +the morning the emperor and all his court, the empress and the +princess and all the magistrates and honorable men of the city, +escorted the body of the Widow to the great church of Santa +Sofia, and there they held a very solemn funeral. Then the +emperor and all the people went back to the palace. + +Here the book leaves off speaking of Widow Repose and returns to +Tirant. After Tirant had put the knight Sinegerus ashore so that +he could warn the emperor, he had his entire fleet make ready. +He commanded his vessels to attack the ships, and the galleys to +attack the galleys. At the same time he ordered all the +captains, when they attacked the Moors, to create a tremendous +noise with trumpets, pipes and horns, and the others with +bombards and terrible cries to frighten them to death. + +When everything was ready he gave the order to set sail. All the +ships very quietly left the port of Troy at daybreak and sailed +all day and the following night. Our Lord favored them so much +that the entire day was foggy and misty and neither the Moors nor +the people in the city could see them. They came upon the +Moorish fleet two hours before daybreak while the Moorish armada +was completely unsuspecting. Then they attacked the Moorish +fleet mightily, with a great explosion of trumpets, pipes and +horns and loud cries, and many bombards that they shot +simultaneously. And the noise they made was so loud that it +seemed as though the earth and the sky would cave in. They built +great bonfires on each ship that lit up the heavens. When the +Moors heard such a loud noise and saw the light and the ships +bearing down on them, they were so frightened that they did not +know what they were doing, for they had been caught sleeping and +unarmed. All the ships were taken with little difficulty since +they were so alarmed that they gave no resistance. And there was +such a slaughter that it was a sight to see, for they beheaded +every man they found on the ships and spared no one. + +Those who threw themselves into the sea and swam ashore carried +the bad news to the sultan and the Turk. When the Moors in the +camp learned that all the ships had been seized and all the men +were dead, and they had heard the noise and seen the fires, they +did not know who had done it and they were frightened. They all +armed and mounted their horses and prepared for battle, because +they were afraid they would be tricked as the ships were. They +went down to the water's edge so that no one would come ashore. + +When Tirant saw that all the Moorish ships had been taken, he was +the happiest man in the world, and he knelt down, and with great +devotion he said: + +"Great Lord, full of infinite mercy and grace, I give thanks to +Your immense goodness for all the help You have given me. +Without losing one of my soldiers You have let me take three +hundred ships." + +This victory was won so quickly that when they had finished +taking the ships it had barely turned daylight. When those on +the city wall heard the loud noise of the bombards and the +trumpets and shouting near the port, and saw so many lights, they +were astonished, for it seemed that all the might in the world +was there. They realized that it was Tirant's armada that had +attacked the Moorish fleet, and they were surprised that at that +moment the Moorish camp had not attacked the city. And everyone +in the city became excited when they realized that Tirant was +attacking the Moorish ships. + +The emperor heard the noise, got up quickly and mounted his +horse, along with the few who were in the palace at that time. +He went through the streets asking all the people to be ready to +defend the city if necessary. The Moors were so upset by the +lost ships and afraid of a landing that they paid little +attention to the city. They were trapped and could not turn +back, and they thought they would all be dead or taken captive. +They carefully watched the shoreline so that no one from +Tirant's armada could come ashore. + +When the day was bright and clear, Tirant had his men board all +the ships that he had taken from the Moors, then they raised +their sails and the entire armada left the port of Constantinople +and made for the Black Sea along the Bosphorus. Tirant thought +that if he cut off their way by land he could do whatever he +wanted with them. So he pretended to be leaving with the booty, +taking all the Moorish ships. + +That day Tirant sailed toward the Black Sea until, in the +evening, the Moors lost sight of the ships. Tirant did this so +that the Moors would think he was leaving and would not try to +stop them when they went ashore. When the night was dark, Tirant +had his entire squadron turn back toward land. He touched land +four leagues from the Moorish camp, and the men disembarked with +all the horses and artillery they needed, and enough food for +their encampment. The Moors were completely unaware that they +were there and they left their ships well supplied. + +When all the men were ready and on horseback, they took several +mules and went at least half a league from their ships along the +basin of a river, until they reached a large stone bridge. Here +Tirant had all the men set up camp at the head of the bridge next +to the river. They had the river between them and the enemy so +that the Moors would not fall upon them during the night. Tirant +had his tent set up on the bridge so that no one could go past, +and he had many bombards installed on the bridge so that if the +enemy came they would be well met. He also sent his spies toward +the Moors' camp so that he would be forewarned if anyone came. + +As soon as they were settled, Tirant took a foot soldier and +dressed him like a Moor to deliver a letter to the emperor in +Constantinople. The letter told about his victories over the +ships of the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk. It said they had +captured three hundred ships filled with food, and that he wanted +to send the food to the emperor. And finally it asked the +emperor how much food the city had. + +When Tirant had finished the letter he gave it to the man he had +chosen to go to Constantinople. His name was Carillo, and he was +Greek, a native of Constantinople, so he knew very well how to +get there. By night he took back roads to the city so that the +Moors in the camp did not see him. When he was at the gate the +guards seized him and took him to the emperor. He bowed, and +kissed his hand and foot, and gave him Tirant's letter. The +emperor was very happy to get it, and he read it immediately, and +then praised God for His mercy. He called the empress and his +daughter, the princess, and showed them Tirant's letter, and they +were very pleased that Tirant had captured the Moors' ships. + +The emperor summoned his captain, Hippolytus, and showed him +Tirant's letter. Hippolytus immediately left the emperor and +with other men a search was made, and they found that they still +had provisions for three months. Hippolytus returned to the +emperor and told him: + +"Sire, we have enough supplies in the city to last three months, +or even four, if necessary. So, my lord, before we use up these +supplies, Tirant will have lifted the siege of the city." + +The emperor called his secretary, and had him write a letter to +Tirant, explaining in detail what he had decided. Then he called +Sinegerus, and said: + +"Knight, I want you to take this letter to Tirant, and also to +tell him everything you have seen." + +He replied that he would. When the ambassador Sinegerus had +taken the emperor's letter, he kissed his hand and foot and took +his leave. Then he went to say goodbye to the empress and the +princess, and he found her in her chamber. She begged him to +tell Tirant about her, and she hoped he would think of her. She +wanted him to think of how many hardships they had suffered since +she had seen him. In any case, she wanted to see him as soon as +possible, and if she couldn't, she was sure she would die. The +knight answered that he would do everything she commanded, and he +kissed her hand. The princess embraced him, and he bowed and +left the palace. He dressed as a Moor and took Carillo, who had +brought the letter to the emperor, as his companion. They left +the city at twelve o'clock midnight, and took the same roads by +which Carillo had come secretly, and no one in the Moorish camp +saw them. At dawn they reached the bridge where Tirant had his +camp. When the guards recognized them they let them pass, and +they went directly to Tirant's tent and found him already up. + +Tirant was very happy to see them, and he asked Sinegerus for +news about the emperor and the empress, and his heart, the +princess. He told him about everything he had seen, and what the +emperor told him. He also told him what the princess had said. + +When the sultan and the Turk discovered that Tirant had +disembarked and that he had set up camp on the stone bridge, they +were sure they were lost, for they saw that they could not escape +by sea or by land without falling into Tirant's hands. At the +same time, if they stayed there long they would die of hunger, +because they did not even have enough food to last two months +since their ships had not been able to unload their cargo. When +they saw the fate that was to befall them, like bold knights and +without showing the least faintness of heart they held council to +see what could be done. + +In this council there were terrible arguments. Some advised them +to attack the city: if they could take it they could hold fast +there until they received aid, for they could not imagine that +the city would not be well supplied. Others said they should set +up battle stations in front of Tirant's camp, because he was such +a valiant knight that he would be certain to do battle. And they +had so many excellent cavalry that they could not help but defeat +them. And even if they did not, it was better to die as knights +than to let themselves be trapped like sheep. And if fortune +smiled on them and allowed them to be the victors in battle they +could go past safely and stay there until they had taken the +city. + +Others were of the opinion that it would be better to send an +embassy to Tirant so he would grant them a truce and let them go +past. They would all go to their land and leave the Empire of +Greece behind, and they would also give back all the fortresses +they had taken, and all the prisoners and captives. At the end +of the council they decided to send an embassy to Tirant, and if +he would not let them go by, then they could take other measures: +First they could attack the city, and if they could not take it +then their last recourse would be to die like knights with their +swords in their hands. + +So the council ended, and they chose as their ambassadors the son +of the Grand Caramany and the Prince of Scythia, who were very +knowledgeable about war. They told them to estimate how many men +Tirant had and how many were ready and armed, and they gave them +instructions about everything they were to say and do. + +With the ambassadors went two hundred unarmed men on horses. +Before they left they sent a messenger to Tirant's camp to ask +for safe passage, and it was granted to them. The ambassadors +then set out on the road to the camp. + +Meanwhile, Tirant called the Marquis of Lizana, his admiral, and +told him to pay what was due to the hired ships. And he was to +divide their provisions into three parts, taking some to the +castle of Sinopoli, and others to the castle of Pera, and the +last to the city of Pera, along with five hundred soldiers. Then +the ships could return to their home ports. He also commanded +him to arm the ships that had been taken from the Moors and his +remaining ships, and to supply them well, and that were to go to +the city of Constantinople. + +"And after they have unloaded their cargo, let them appear +constantly in view of the Moors' encampment and bombarded them +and cause them as much harm as they can." + +The admiral did this, and also ordered two well armed galleys to +remain in the river, near Tirant's camp, in case he needed to +send them somewhere. Then Tirant went to the tent of the Queen +of Fez, and told her: + +"My sister, I beg you to go with these ships to Constantinople, +so that you can console the lady who holds my soul captive. I am +afraid that during this time, while I'm not able to go to her, +some harm may befall her, and that would be worse than death for +me." + +The gracious queen would not allow Tirant to speak. Instead, +with a kindly face and soft voice, she said: + +"My brother, to me your requests are commands. I am deeply in +your debt because of the great benefits and honors I've received +from you." + +Then Tirant embraced her and kissed her on the cheek, and said to +her: + +"My sister, I cannot thank you enough for the great love I see in +you." + +The queen tried to kiss his hands, and Tirant would not allow it. + +Later, the morning of the following day, the queen went to depart +with all her maidens; and the King of Sicily, along with Tirant +and five hundred armed men, accompanied her to the sea. When the +queen had boarded a ship they took their leave of her and +returned to camp. The admiral had all the ships set sail, and +they started on their way to Constantinople. + +Then the Moorish ambassadors reached Tirant's camp, and were +astonished at all the horses and men there. In Tirant's tent the +son of the Grand Caramany explained his mission: + +"You know, great captain, how many people are lost in battles of +this sort. And many more would be lost in this one where graves +are prepared for so many soldiers. So, to avoid all that +inhumanity we, ambassadors of our lord the sultan, and the Grand +Turk, have come to learn what your lordship's intention is in +this matter. If it please you, we would ask for a truce of three +or more months, and if your generous person should wish it, a +lasting peace for one hundred and one years. They will be very +happy to be friends of your friends and enemies of your enemies, +in brotherhood. If this is done they will leave the empire of +Greece, restoring to your dominion all cities, castles, towns and +lands within the boundaries of Greece. In addition, they will +free all Christian prisoners held in our power, and they will +comply with any other reasonable demand. But if you do not wish +to come to an agreement with them, you may be certain that they +will very quickly give you a terrible lesson with cruel weapons." + +And that was the end of his speech. + +Tirant saw immediately that he had finally achieved the glory he +desired to much. But with great discretion he did not agree at +once; he told them to rest, and that he would soon give them a +reply. So they took their leave, and Tirant's knights took them +back to their tents with honor. + +Like a virtuous captain, Tirant sent word for his illustrious +kings and dukes and noble chivalry to come to his tent the next +day, for after mass he wanted to hold counsel concerning the +embassy. And as they all loved Tirant deeply, they quickly went +to his tent. After they had heard mass they each sat down +according to their rank, and when there was silence in the +council, Tirant said: + +"Most illustrious and magnificent lords, your lordships are aware +of the embassy sent by the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk, +asking us for a truce. In the first place we must consider that +they are in bad straits. We know that we have them in a position +where they need food and other things necessary to survive. My +opinion is that we could not give greater service to His Majesty +the emperor than if we did not grant them a truce or any +agreement at all. Instead we should have them place themselves +in our power with no assurances concerning their property or +their lives. And if they do not agree to this, let them do all +the harm they can, for we are certain we can make them perish +from hunger. Furthermore, if we want to do battle with them it +is in our power, because we are much more powerful than they. +However, I believe it would be great madness for us to battle +them, for they are desperate, and we could lose many of our own +men and put the entire country in danger. My lords and brothers, +my opinion is this: we should give them no reply at all without +consulting His Majesty, the emperor, so that if anything of the +sort should happen, we would not be blamed. So I beg all your +lordships, my brothers, to advise me about the reply that should +be given." + +And he finished his speech. + +*** + + + +In the meantime the fleet left Tirant's camp to go to the +illustrious city of Constantinople, and the wind and weather were +so favorable that on that same day, two hours before Phoebus +ended his journey, they reached the city. The noble citizens and +the townspeople, hearing the cries of happiness, ran to the wall +to see the help they wanted so much. The fleet came in, flying +the flags of His imperial Majesty and the valiant captain, +Tirant. There was no less happiness inside the city, as they +rang the bells and praised divine Providence. + +When the princess saw Plaerdemavida, her servant, coming so +triumphantly as a queen, she dismounted in order to pay her +honor. The queen threw herself at her feet to honor her, but the +lady would not allow that, and instead kissed her many times on +the mouth as a sign of her great love. The night the virtuous +Queen of Fez arrived at Constantinople the princess wanted her to +sleep with her so they could talk at their leisure. When they +were in bed the princess said: + +"My virtuous sister and lady, my heart has been very anxious all +the time you were gone. I couldn't write down all the reasons +for this, for I loved you more than all the ladies and maidens in +the world. I found it impossible to live without you, especially +when I thought that because of me you had died a frightening +death at the terrible hands of the sea. I beg you, my sister and +lady, please tell me how I offended virtuous Tirant who so +cruelly left the one who loved him more than her own life. And +don't think that I am the way I was when you left me, because +love has won over me so that I am beside myself. And I'm afraid +that if I don't see my Tirant soon my life will not last long." + +The lady ended her pitiful words, weeping uncontrollably. The +virtuous queen comforted her with tender words, and when the +princess had recovered, the queen said: + +"My lady, Your Highness should rejoice at one thing: you are not +at all to blame. I told Tirant everything. When he knew the +truth he was very confused and ashamed, and through me he asks +Your Majesty to pardon him. My lady, Your Highness should +forgive him because he was deceived by someone who was deeply +trusted, and Your Majesty is unaware of her cruelty. Trust me, +my lady, I have never failed you when you needed me. I will soon +have him come here to pay you homage, for I know that he truly +has no other desire than to honor you and offer his services to +Your Majesty." + +"My sister," said the princess, "I can see now that in the past +when you were in my service, you gave me good advice and I didn't +realize it. From now on I will do what you advise me." + +When the princess had finished, the queen said: + +"My lady, if Your Highness will do this I promise to fulfill your +desire very quickly--even more than you wish." + +And with these words and others like them, they spent most of the +night. The princess took great pleasure in the queen's words, +for it had been a long time since they had seen each other and +they had a great deal to talk about. The queen said: + +"My lady, let us give ourselves up to the night so that Your +Highness will not grow tired." + +And they did. + + *** + + + +When virtuous Tirant held council with the great kings, dukes, +counts and barons about the reply they would give to the +ambassadors of the sultan and the Turk, the council decided +unanimously that His Majesty the emperor should be consulted. +Tirant thought he had reached the end he so much desired to have +a justifiable reason for going and paying homage to the lady who +held his heart captive. + +Thinking that this business was of great importance, and that it +affected his honor more than it did the others', he decided to go +alone, secretly, to the noble, beloved city to talk with His +Majesty, the emperor, and to know his decision. In that way +peace could be brought to the Empire of Greece, and he could +enjoy restful tranquility in the arms of his lady. + +When darkness of night fell, he spoke to the King of Sicily and +the King of Fez, and left the camp in their hands. Then he went +on board a galley and sailed to Constantinople, which was some +twenty miles from Tirant's camp. When Tirant reached the port +and the galley was anchored, it was ten o'clock at night. He +ordered the ship's commander not to leave. Then he disguised +himself, and disembarked, and when he was at the city gates, he +told the guards to open them, that he was a servant of Tirant who +had come to speak to His Majesty, the emperor. The guards let +him pass, and he went to the emperor's palace. When he was +inside they told him that the emperor had gone to bed. Tirant +went to the Queen of Fez's chamber and found her praying. When +the queen saw him she quickly recognized him and ran to embrace +him and kiss him, and she said: + +"Lord Tirant, I can't tell you how happy I am that you are here, +and now I have even more reason to thank God for hearing my +prayers. Come, my lord, so worthy of glory. It is time now for +you to receive the payment for your honorable deeds in the arms +of the lady who is your real happiness. And if you don't do what +I tell you to this time, I swear that you'll never have my help +again. Instead I'll go back to my land as quickly as I can." + +Tirant did not let the queen go on. He said: + +"My lady and sister, if I have disobeyed you in the past, I beg +you to forgive me. I promise and swear to you, on the order of +chivalry that I hold, that there will be nothing in the world +that you will command of me that I will not obey, even if I am +certain it will bring me death. For I am very sure that you +always gave me good advice, if only I had taken advantage of it." + +"Now then," said the queen, "we shall see what you are able to +do. You will have to go into a list in a closed field of battle, +because I won't consider you a knight if I don't see you as the +victor in a delicious battle. Wait here, and I will go talk to +the princess. I'll ask her to come here tonight to sleep with +me." + +The queen quickly left Tirant and went to the princess's chamber, +and found her ready to go to bed. When the princess saw the +queen, she said: + +"What has happened, sister, to bring you here in such a hurry?" + +The queen pretended to be very happy, and she put her head close +to the princess's and said: + +"My lady, please come sleep with me in my bed tonight. I have +many things to tell Your Majesty. A galley has come from +Tirant's camp, and a man came ashore and talked to me." + +The princess very happily told her she would do it, because she +had slept with her other times, and the queen had also slept in +her bed. They did this when they wanted to talk freely without +awakening the suspicion of the empress and the maidens. The +princess took the queen's hand, and they went to her chamber. +They found it in good order and well perfumed, as the queen had +prepared it. The princess quickly got into bed because of her +great desire to have news about Tirant, and her maidens helped +her undress. When the princess was in bed, they bade her a good +night--which they did not know was already prepared for her. + +When the maidens had left the bedroom the queen bolted the door +herself and told her maidens to go to sleep because she was going +to pray a little while, and she would go to bed later and did not +want anyone there. + +All the maidens went into another chamber where they slept. When +the queen had dismissed them all she went into the sitting room +and said to Tirant: + +"Glorious knight, strip yourself to your nightshirt, and go lie +beside the lady who loves you more than her own life. Apply the +spurs strongly and without mercy, as befits a knight. And don't +come to me with any squeamishness, because I swear to you on my +word as a queen that if you don't do it now you'll never get +another chance to have this much glory for the rest of your +life." + +When Tirant heard such beautiful words from the queen he knelt +down on the floor and kissed her hands and feet. Then he said: + +"My lady and my sister, you've bound my liberty with strong +chains. + +What you are doing for me is so great that, even if I were your +captive for the rest of my life, I don't believe I could repay +what I owe you." + +"My lord, Tirant," said the queen, "don't waste time. Take your +clothes off right now." + +The virtuous Tirant flung his clothes into the air, and in a +trice he was naked and barefoot. The queen took him by the hand +and led him to the bed where the princess was. The queen said to +the princess: + +"My lady, here is your adventurous knight whom Your Majesty loves +so much. Be a good companion to him, your grace, as one would +expect from Your Excellency. You're not unaware of how many +trials and hardships he has gone through to win your love. Make +wise use of him, for you are the discretion of the world, and he +is your husband. And Your Majesty should think of nothing but +the present, because one never knows what the future will bring." + +The princess answered: + +"False sister, I never thought you would betray me like this. +But I have confidence in the virtue of my lord, Tirant, who will +make up for your great lack." + +And don't imagine that during this conversation Tirant was idle; +instead he applied himself to his labor. The queen left them and +went to a bed in the chamber, to sleep. When the queen had gone, +the princess turned to Tirant who was pushing forward in his +battle, and she said: + +"Calm yourself, my lord, and don't try to use your bellicose +strength, because the strength of a delicate maiden is not so +great that she can resist such a knight. Upon your mercy, don't +treat me like this. The struggle of love doesn't require great +force; it is not won by strength, but by ingenious flattery and +sweet deception. Stop your insistence, my lord; don't be cruel: +don't think that this is a camp or list of infidels; don't try to +conquer someone who is already conquered by your goodness. Let +me have part of your manliness so that I may resist you. Oh, my +lord! + +How can something which is forced give you pleasure? Oh! Can +love allow you to harm the thing that is loved? Restrain +yourself, my lord, upon your virtue and nobility. Wait, poor +thing! The arms of love should not cut, nor should the enamored +lance break or wound! Have pity, have compassion on this +solitary maiden. Oh, false and cruel knight! I will cry out! +Wait, for I want to scream. Lord Tirant, will you have no +compassion on me? You are not Tirant. Wretched me! Is this +what I desired so? Oh, hope of my life, here is your dead +princess!" + +And do not think that Tirant refrained from doing his work +because of the pitiful words of the princess, for in a short time +Tirant was the conqueror in the delicious battle, and the +princess gave up her arms and swooned. Tirant jumped out of bed, +thinking he had killed her, and he went to call the queen so that +she would come and help him. The queen got up quickly and took a +jar of water and sprinkled it on the princess's face, and rubbed +her temples. She recovered her senses, and giving a deep sigh, +she said: + +"Even if these are the signs of love, they should not be used +with so much force and cruelty. Now, lord Tirant, I must believe +that you did not love me with a virtuous love. If only you had +waited for the day of solemnity and the ceremonial festivities to +lawfully enter the doors of my chastity." + +The queen did not wait for the princess to say any more, and with +a smiling face she said: + +"Oh, my blessed lady! How well you know how to act like you're +hurt! A knight's arms do no harm to a maiden. May God give me a +death like the one you pretend he's giving you! May I be +attacked by the illness you're talking about if by morning you +don't feel completely cured." + +The princess was not entirely consoled at the loss of her +virginity, and since she did not want to answer the queen's +insane words, she kept quiet. The two lovers spent the entire +night playing that happy sport that lovers play. + + CHAPTER XIII + +THE WEDDING + + During the night Tirant told the princess about all the +misfortunes he had suffered because of her love. Then he took +great pleasure in telling her about his prosperity and victory, +but finally he told her that he felt less glory in any of it than +he did in conquering her illustrious person. When she had +gathered her strength and her sweet anger was over, she told +Tirant about the life she had led while he was gone, and how +during this time she had never seen anyone laugh or take joy in +anything. Withdrawn from all delights, alone in continual +prayer, deep in religion because of her love, she had been able +to survive until they brought her the happy news of his arrival. +And they exchanged many other delicious words, full of loving +sighs. + +The queen, who was responsible for this affair, saw that daylight +was near, and she realized that when people in love have some +pleasure, they do not think of anything that would disturb them. +She got up from her bed, anxiously, and went to where the lovers +were. She told them that since their night had been good she +hoped God would give them a good morning. They returned her good +wishes very graciously, and she found them very happy, taking joy +in one another. The queen said to Tirant: + +"Lord of the Empire of Greece: Get up, it's already day. You +must leave as secretly as you can so that no one will see you." + +Tirant would have liked that night to last a year. Many times, +while kissing the princess, he begged her to forgive him. The +princess answered: + +"My lord Tirant, love obliges me to forgive you, on the condition +that you come back soon, for I cannot live without you. Now I +know what love is, and before I did not know." + +The lady had barely uttered the last syllable of her loving words +when Tirant said: + +"Your Highness will see how short the war will become so that I, +your captive, can wait on you with loving service." + +And with a kiss of deepest love they parted. The queen took him +by the hand and led him through a back door into the orchard. +Saying very courteous words, they each went their way. Tirant +went to Hippolytus' quarters, and the queen went back to the +princess, and took Tirant's place in the bed. And there they +slept peacefully until well into the day. + +Hippolytus' happiness was by no means slight when he saw his +master and lord Tirant. With the great love he had for him, he +threw himself at his feet, attempting to kiss them. Tirant would +not allow it, and lifted him from the floor, and embraced and +kissed him. They greeted each other at length, for they had not +seen each other since fate had carried off Tirant. Tirant told +Hippolytus to go to the palace and tell the emperor that he had +come and wished to speak with him secretly. + +Hippolytus quickly went to the emperor and told him of Tirant's +arrival. The emperor thought Tirant must have come because of +very important matters, and he told Hippolytus to have him come +immediately. Hippolytus went to his quarters and told Tirant +what the emperor had said. The two relatives left Hippolytus' +lodging in disguise and went to the palace. They found the +emperor in his chamber as he was finishing dressing. + +When Tirant was before His Majesty he threw himself at his feet, +to kiss them. The great lord would not permit it, and instead +took Tirant by the hand, lifted him from the floor and kissed him +on the mouth. Tirant kissed his hand, and the emperor took his +hand and led him to another chamber where he made him sit at his +side. Tears ran down the emperor's cheeks because of his great +happiness, and because of all the losses he had suffered--which +he knew well would not have happened if Tirant had been there. +Tirant said: + +"Most excellent Sire, the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk have +sent me on this mission which has many conditions that affect +Your Majesty. + +Since it would be very presumptuous of me to give a reply without +the express license of Your Majesty, I entreat your grace that it +be examined carefully in the council and a decision be reached +about what is to be done, so that if it should be brought up in +the future, I would not be held to blame. The Moorish sultan and +the Grand Turk are asking Your Majesty for a truce of three +months, or for longer if Your Majesty wishes. And if you want a +lasting peace for one hundred one years, they will be happy to +form an alliance with Your Majesty to be friends of your friends +and enemies of your enemies." + +The emperor answered: + +"Our virtuous captain and son: We hold you in such high esteem +and trust that we would have accepted whatever you decided. But +to please you, I will hold counsel on the matter." + +The great emperor ordered the council to meet quickly so that +Tirant could return to camp. Taking his leave of the emperor, +Tirant went to pay his respects to the empress and the princess. +He found them together in the princess's chamber because she was +pretending to be sick, and the empress had come to be with her. +The empress was very glad to see Tirant. The princess pretended +to greet him coldly so as not to arouse suspicions about what had +happened the night before. They spoke of many things, and the +princess especially asked Tirant if he had any news about the +arrival of the Queen of Ethiopia. Tirant answered: + +"My lady, three days ago I received a letter, by messenger, from +King Escariano. He asked me not to do battle with the Moors +until he arrived. And he assured me that he would be here in two +weeks." + +The princess answered: + +"Captain, there is nothing I desire more than to see this queen. +I hear that her beauty is greater than that of anyone in the +world." + +Tirant answered: + +"My lady, they told you the truth. After Your Majesty I don't +think a more beautiful or more virtuous woman can be found +anywhere. She has the same desire you do: her only reason for +coming here is because of all the perfection she has heard about +Your Majesty." + +While Tirant, the empress and the princess were speaking, +Stephanie, Duchess of Macedonia, came into the chamber. With the +absence of her husband, she had entered religion and did not want +to leave it until that fortunate day when she hoped all her +troubles would end. She threw herself at Tirant's feet and cried +aloud, tears flowing down her cheeks. Tirant would not allow the +duchess to kneel. He took her arm and raised her from the floor. +Then he embraced her and kissed her, and said: + +"I promise you, on my order of chivalry, that before a month has +gone by the Duke of Macedonia and all the others will be out of +prison and they will be here. That is the sole reason I came." + +When the Duchess of Macedonia heard Tirant's words, she threw +herself at his feet, wanting to kiss them. Tirant would not +allow it, and lifting her from the floor he kissed her again. +Then, taking her hands, they sat down and told each other about +their past difficulties. + +While the captain was entertaining the ladies and consoling the +Duchess of Macedonia, the emperor called for a council meeting +and explained the mission that the sultan and the Turk had sent +Tirant on, just as Tirant had told it to him. When all the +council members learned the good news there were arguments and +disagreements among them. Finally, after much deliberation, they +sent for the emperor and said to him: + +"Your Majesty, we advise you to make a lasting peace with the +sultan and with the Turk and with all the other great lords in +their company, with the stipulation that they put themselves in +Your Excellency's power as your prisoners. And they must not be +released until they have carried out all their promises, and the +other Moors have left, unarmed and on foot." + +The emperor was very happy with this decision since it was such +good advice. He went to the princess's chamber where he found +Tirant, and taking him by the hand, he had him sit by his side in +great friendship, and told him what he wanted. + +"Tirant, my captain and son, our council has come to the decision +we mentioned. So, I beg you to depart as quickly as you can to +give reply to the embassy." + +Tirant said he would do as he was ordered, and he took his leave +of the emperor. He went to the empress and the princess and bade +them farewell, and they begged him to do everything he could to +liberate the Empire of Greece. Tirant replied: + +"My ladies, may Our Lord grant that it be done as quickly as Your +Excellencies wish." + +He took his leave of the princess, and the queen accompanied him +to the door of his chamber to tell him that as soon as it was +dark he should go through the orchard door and come to her room +where he could talk to the princess. Tirant said he would do as +she commanded. + +After Tirant had left the ladies he went to Hippolytus' room to +wait for the dark of night so he could have his heart's desire. +Alone and in disguise, when the time was right he crept softly +through the familiar orchard toward the queen's chamber, and +there he found the princess, with the queen, waiting for him. +The princess greeted him with great happiness, and the three of +them went into the chamber. + +Tirant gamboled with the princess and they passed the time in +amorous solace and delicious chatter until it was time for bed. +The princess got into bed first, and the queen dismissed all the +ladies and put valiant Tirant at the side of his lady, who +treated him with more love than she had the night before. After +the queen had placed them in the list and they were in delicious +battle, she left to go to sleep, trusting that they would be in +such agreement that the battle would never come to an end. + +Tirant did not sleep the entire night, like a brave knight who +understands that one who is valiant in battle must be valiant in +bed. As day drew near Tirant said to the princess: + +"My lady and my life, I must go. I promised His Majesty the +emperor that tomorrow, at break of day, I would be in my camp." + +The princess answered: + +"My lord and my love, your departure grieves me deeply. If it +were possible I would never let you out of my sight. If I felt +pain before, now it will be a thousand times worse. Do me the +grace, my lord, not to delay your return unless you want to cut +short my life, for I cannot live without you." + +When Tirant had her permission he got up from the bed and +dressed, and with kisses of deep-felt love along with tears he +left the princess. Going out the back gate of the orchard, he +went to Hippolytus' lodging. Hippolytus got up, and quickly +escorted Tirant to the city gates so they would be opened for +him. Tirant went to the ocean and boarded the galley that left +the port secretly and rowed to the encampment. + +The sun had been up scarcely an hour when the galley was in sight +of the camp. The entire camp knew the captain had returned, and +the King of Sicily and the King of Fez rode with their men to +escort Tirant, and they took him to his triumphal tent with great +honor. Tirant explained to them everything His Majesty the +emperor had decided, and they were all very content. + +The morning of the following day the captain asked the kings and +grandees to come to mass. They all quickly went to his tent with +many knights. After mass he sent word to the ambassadors of the +sultan and the Turk to come, as he wanted to give them an answer. +The ambassadors were very glad to receive the news. Dressed in +Moorish fashion, and accompanied by many noble knights from +Tirant's camp, the great lords went with great pomp and gravity +to the tent of the valiant captain. Before they left their tent +the ambassadors put their mounts and servants in readiness so +that when they had the reply from Tirant they could return to +their camp. + +When the ambassadors were in the presence of the valiant captain +they bowed deeply to him and Tirant paid them as much honor as he +thought they deserved. When they were seated before him, Tirant +gave the following reply: + +"Do not be astonished that the answer has been so long in coming, +for I wanted to consult His Majesty, the emperor, about your +embassy. He, with great benignity and clemency, has had +compassion on you. As you well know, your life or death is in +our hands. So that you may know how great is the humanity and +clemency of the emperor, he is content to spare your lives and +grant you mercy in this fashion: The sultan and Turk, with all +the kings and lords in your camp, will place themselves in the +emperor's power as prisoners. There you will stay until such a +time as you have restored all the lands you have taken from the +empire. At the same time you will bring to him all the prisoners +and captives in the lands of the sultan as well as the Turk. And +His Majesty the emperor is willing to let all the Moors leave who +are in your camp, but on foot and unarmed. And if you are not +satisfied with the emperor's mercy, you can all prepare to die, +for I promise you that not one of you will be spared." + +On the morning of the following day the Moors held council +regarding the reply they should give to Tirant, and the council +decided to acquiesce to everything Tirant asked for. The +ambassadors delivered the reply to Tirant, saying that the sultan +and the Turk, with the counsel and will of all the rest, were +content to do everything his lordship had asked. + +Soon all those who were to be hostages rode in, and there were +twenty-two in all, all titled and of high nobility. I will not +give their names here so that I will not take up too much space, +but I can tell you that because of their great hunger they were +hardly slow in coming down the road. They all presented +themselves to Tirant, and bowed deeply. Tirant welcomed them, +paying them great honor, and gave them a magnificent banquet. + +After the banquet, Tirant put all the prisoners on two galleys, +and then he went on board himself to go with them. + +The two galleys sailed away from the camp, and quickly reached +Constantinople. When the captain was near the port of +Constantinople, and the people in the town heard that Tirant was +coming in triumph, bringing the highest lords of the Moorish +people as prisoners, they were the happiest people in the world. +Everyone ran to the ocean to see the prisoners. An immense crowd +gathered, both men and women, shouting: + +"Long live our blessed captain! May God protect and prolong his +life, for he has freed us from so much misery!" + +Tirant refused to leave the galleys until the emperor sent +Hippolytus along with other knights. When Hippolytus was on the +galley with Tirant, he told him: + +"My lord, His Majesty, the emperor, has sent me to your lordship, +and he begs you to come on land." + +Tirant said he would be happy to do what he commanded. The +captain quickly had the galleys draw near to land and they +lowered the ladders. Then Tirant had all the prisoners disembark +with him. When they were on land they met all the officials and +magistrates of the city who received them with great honor, and +Tirant with great reverence. They all left the shore together +and went to the emperor's palace, and the populace followed them. + +When they were in the palace square they saw the emperor up above +on the cenotaph, seated in the imperial chair, with the empress +to his left, and the princess to the right of the emperor, but a +little lower, as a sign that she would be the successor to the +empire. When Tirant and the prisoners were in view of the +emperor, they all knelt to the ground; then they went up to the +cenotaph where the emperor was. They made another deep bow, and +Tirant moved to the front. + +When he stood before the emperor he threw himself at his feet to +kiss them, but the emperor would not allow it. Instead he took +him by the arm, lifted him from the ground and kissed him on the +mouth, and Tirant kissed his hand. The Turk and the other great +lords did the same. The emperor received them with great +humanity, and ordered them taken to the other cenotaph. + +The tables were prepared immediately, and each was seated +according to his station. The emperor wanted Tirant to eat at +his table, and the five of them ate there: the emperor, the +empress, the princess and Tirant, and the Queen of Fez. The +emperor ordered the prisoners to be served with great honor and +reverence, for even though they were infidels they were still men +of great dignity and station. And it was all done well, with a +great abundance of precious foods and wines of different kinds. +They were astonished, and they said that the Christians were more +experienced than the Moors in eating. + +When they had eaten, Tirant asked the emperor's permission to go +to the Moorish camp and have the Moors sent to Turkey. The +emperor agreed. Tirant took his leave of the empress and the +princess, and he withdrew to the galleys, and sailed to the fleet +in front of the Moorish camp. When the admiral saw Tirant +approaching he commanded the trumpets, pipes and horns to be +blown, and they greeted the captain with loud cries. The admiral +went on board the captain's ship and said to him: + +"Sir, what does your lordship require?" + +Tirant answered: + +"Have all the ships come near shore, and all the Moors will go to +Turkey." + +The admiral said he would carry out the order. He returned to +his ship and gave the signal for all the ships to draw in to +shore. And it was done very quickly. Tirant had a man that he +had brought from the sultan put ashore, and he told the Moors to +go aboard the ships without fear, and that they would go to +Turkey. The Moors, who wanted nothing else in the world because +of their great hunger, quickly gathered and left behind their +horses and arms, with their tents still standing, containing all +their booty. When the ships were loaded with Moors, they carried +them over to their land: It was very near as they only had to +cross the Bosphorus; then they returned for more. You can +imagine how many men there were, for four hundred vessels, +including ships and galleys and other vessels made ten crossings. + +When the men of Tirant's camp learned that all the Moors were +gone, they all ran as fast as they could to take a share of the +booty. After the men on the vessels had taken the Moors across, +they went ashore and they still had time to take part of the +booty. It could truly be said that that camp was the richest one +there had ever been, for they had captured and robbed the entire +Empire of Greece, and they had it all right there, and a lot of +good it did them! And the men who found themselves with that +booty were rich for the rest of their lives. + +When the entire Moorish camp had been sacked, Tirant ordered all +the men back to their camp. He kept only the King of Sicily and +the King of Fez with him, along with some other barons who wanted +to pay homage to the emperor. They left the Moors' camp and went +overland to the illustrious city of Constantinople, while the +ships sailed into the port of the city. + +After the emperor had left the table and the prisoners had eaten +their fill, he ordered Hippolytus to take all the prisoners to +the top of the palace towers which were prepared for them. +Hippolytus went to the cenotaph where the prisoners were and told +them to go with him. They came down from the cenotaph and +followed Hippolytus as he led them up to the towers. Hippolytus +put the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk in a beautiful chamber. +Then he told them: + +"Sirs, His Majesty the emperor commands your lordships to rest +here, and to be a little patient if you are not being treated as +befits your worthiness." + +The sultan replied: + +"Virtuous knight, we are grateful to His Majesty the emperor for +the great honor he is doing us, because he is not treating or +regarding us as prisoners, but as brothers. We are deeply +obligated to him for this, and when we are given our liberty and +our power again, we shall serve him in everything he commands." + +Afterward Hippolytus ordered the four pages never to leave the +chamber, and to serve them with all respect in everything they +commanded. Then he ordered guards to keep watch over the tower. +Hippolytus took the rest of the prisoners and placed them in the +other towers where they were given very nice chambers and +servants to serve them, and they were very content. And he gave +them good guards so that they would be well served and well +guarded. + +The emperor went to the palace with all the ladies and gave +orders that nothing on the square should be touched, because he +had been advised by Tirant that the King of Sicily and the King +of Fez would be coming to pay him their respects. He ordered +Hippolytus to arrange for good lodgings in the city, and +Hippolytus, who was virtuous and discreet, carried out everything +the emperor commanded him. + +A few days later the emperor was told that Tirant was coming with +the King of Sicily and other lords, and that they were a league +away from the city. The emperor had Hippolytus and all the +officials from the city, along with the nobles and knights who +were there, go out to receive them. When they were at the +palace, Tirant, the King of Sicily and the others dismounted. +The new guests were astonished at the great beauty of the ladies, +especially of the princess. + +After they had entertained the ladies, the emperor was told that +the dinner was ready. Later they cleared the tables, and the +dances began. The square was full of people from the city who +were looking at such a beautiful celebration. Others were +dancing, and it was lovely to see such a victory celebration. In +the city there were also other kinds of dances and games, for the +emperor had ordered celebrations held for a week. + +Tirant would not leave the side of the King of Sicily during all +these festivities. Instead they slept and ate together +continuously-- the better to cover up what had taken place +between him and the princess. The others spent the eight days +celebrating. Every day Tirant told the princess of his love, and +begged Her Highness to arrange the marriage so that they could +enjoy its delights without fear. + +The princess answered: + +"Oh, most virtuous of all men! Don't beg me for the one thing I +want most in the whole world, and don't think me so ungrateful +that I've forgotten what your great nobility has brought us. +Please, my lord, do not become angry because you have to wait for +the culmination of our happiness, for you have already won a +glorious victory over me. Just think how it has been to your +glory and that of your men that you have recovered the entire +empire, and conquered and killed so many Moorish kings and lords. +Now the only thing your lordship lacks is to have dominion over +all the empire as part of your matrimony. Since you have +returned to me, and you are the mainstay of my life, I promise to +renounce the crown in your favor, and to complete our wedding +vows with you as emperor since my father, being advanced in +years, wants me to rule in his stead." + +Tirant would not allow the lady to continue, and with a loving +heart he said: + +"Even if I could, I find it difficult to accept your gracious and +generous offer. May the Divine Power not permit me to commit +such great folly as to take the crown of the empire during the +emperor's lifetime. I only ask His Majesty to keep me as a son +and servant, and the captive of his daughter. I want nothing +else in this world." + +When Tirant finished these words of love, tears sprang from his +lady's eyes. Throwing herself into his arms, and clinging from +his neck, she kissed him many times. After a moment she said: + +"My lord and my life, no tongue could express the perfection and +virtues of your noble person, and now I truly understand that you +are unique in all the world. May you long possess the crown of +the Greek Empire, and may I be able to serve you all your life." + +And they departed with many words of mutual love. + +Tirant spent the night in amorous thoughts, waiting for Phoebus +to arrive in the east, spreading its luminous rays over our +horizon. At the proper time the captain went before the emperor, +and said: + +"Your Majesty remembers the promise given by the sultan and the +Turk to Your Excellency, of restoring to your power all the lands +they occupy in the Greek Empire. So, great lord, if Your +Majesty will grant me permission, I will leave to take possession +of them for Your Majesty. If fortune favors us, Sire, Your +Excellency will command all the land that your predecessor, the +emperor Justine, commanded." + +The emperor answered: + +"We are well aware of the many services and honors you have done +for us and for the entire empire, and we are greatly indebted to +you. We would therefore like to give you and your people the +entire empire while we are still alive, and furthermore we wish +to give you our daughter Carmesina as your wife, if you will +accept her. For we are at such an age that we are no longer able +to rule, much less to defend the empire." + +When Tirant heard the emperor's kind words he threw himself at +his feet and kissed them with great humility and love, and he +said: + +"My lord, may heaven never permit Tirant lo Blanc, Your Majesty's +humble servant, to commit such an error as to allow Your Highness +to lose the command of your empire during your lifetime; before +that should happen I would rather die. But Sire, if you would do +me the grace of giving me something that is worth much more, as +Your Majesty has offered, I would value it more than if you gave +me ten empires." + +Seeing his great gentility, the emperor took him by the arm, +lifted him from the floor and kissed him on the mouth, and Tirant +kissed his hand. The emperor took Tirant's hand and led him to +the chambers of the princess, who was with all her ladies, +entertaining the King of Sicily. When the great emperor came +into the room everyone stood up and bowed to him. As the emperor +sat down he made the princess sit at his right, Tirant at his +left, and the King of Sicily in front of them. The emperor then +turned to his daughter, and said: + +"My daughter, you're aware of the great service and high honors +Tirant here has bestowed on us. And that he has liberated the +entire empire from all the hardships that the Moors have +inflicted on us. As we realize that we do not have enough to +offer him for all he has done for us, we have decided that we +have nothing dearer or of greater value or that we love more than +you yourself. So we have offered you to him, and I beg and +command you, my dear daughter, to take him as your husband and +lord: that will be the way you can best serve me." + +The lady answered with a gracious and modest continence: + +"Most merciful and kind lord, it is to my glory that Your Majesty +has placed me in such high esteem that I am a worthy reward for +all the services and honors which valiant Tirant has done for +Your Majesty and for everyone in the empire. Even though I am +not worthy to remove his shoe, when one thinks of all the unique +qualities and virtues he possesses, I hope he will accept me as +his servant and his captive, for I am ready to do whatever Your +Majesty or he commands me." + +The emperor sent for the archbishop of the city to betroth them +immediately. And this gracious union was a matter of no slight +happiness, for during a long while Tirant and the princess could +not speak, so inflamed with true love were they. As soon as the +archbishop arrived, the emperor ordered him to betroth his +daughter and Tirant, and he did so. + +When the betrothal was completed, there was much celebrating and +great happiness throughout the city. A marvelous feast was +prepared as suited such a betrothal, and music was performed by +many groups from the towers and through windows of the great +halls. The foreigners and everyone in general took great +pleasure in this betrothal, for they had faith that the bold +spirit of Tirant would allow them to live in peace. And the +celebrations, both in the palace and in the city, lasted a week. + +The emperor sent a proclamation throughout the city, with many +trumpets and drums, that they should all consider Tirant his +successor and the Caesar of the empire. And he made them swear +that after his death they would hold him as their emperor and +lord. And from that time forward the new Prince Tirant was named +Caesar of the Greek Empire. + + CHAPTER XIV + +DEATH + + Tirant decided to leave as soon as he could in order to recover +all of the Greek Empire, and put it in the emperor's power. At +the same time it hurt him to think of being away from the +princess, for life without her was impossible. He was tired of +war now, and he wanted peace and tranquility. When he received +news that the magnanimous King Escariano was coming with many +men, and that he was in Pinxenais which borders on Greece, and is +ten days journey from Constantinople, he decided to go out to +meet him. + +After he had taken his leave of the emperor, the empress, and of +his princess and wife, he left the city of Constantinople, and +went to his camp with grandees and other nobles. When the Caesar +reached his camp he had the trumpets blow for the camp to be +raised. Everyone got ready, and the following morning they left +the bridge and went toward the place where King Escariano was. + +As the powerful army was going along, many castles and villas +delivered themselves over to the Caesar (We omit their names to +avoid being prolix.). Finally they reached the city of Strenes +where King Escariano's army was resting. + +When King Escariano knew that his dear friend and brother at arms +was coming, he rode out with his grandees and met him on the +road. They dismounted quickly, embraced and kissed very warmly. +Tirant told King Escariano that the King of Sicily and the King +of Fez were with him. King Escariano went to the other kings, +and embraced and kissed them very courteously. Then they mounted +their horses again and went toward the city. When they reached +King Escariano's tents, Prince Tirant and the kings dismounted in +front of the tent of the illustrious Queen of Ethiopia who +welcomed them, and embraced and kissed them all. + +They decided to send the beautiful queen to the city of +Constantinople, and five hundred soldiers made ready to go, +accompanied by many nobles and knights. The illustrious queen +took leave of her lord, King Escariano, Tirant, and the other +kings and lords who escorted her for a league. Then Tirant and +the others bade the queen farewell, and she continued on to +Constantinople while Tirant and the others returned to the city. + +Tirant and King Escariano immediately commanded their camps to be +raised and each of them put their men in order. They left the +city and went toward the province of Thrace. They reached a city +called Stagira, which is surrounded by walls adorned with +beautiful towers. The city immediately opened all the gates to +them. After all the renegade Greeks had been made good +Christians again, they swore fidelity to the emperor. And all +the Moors who did not want to be baptized were thrown out of the +city. It was in this same city that the great philosopher +Aristotle had been born, and he was considered a saint. + +While Prince Tirant had his tents set up in this city and was +resting, he sent two Moorish ambassadors through the outlying +territories, and to all the cities, castles and villas of the +neighboring provinces. They delivered up their keys and rendered +homage to Prince Tirant, and he replaced the captain of every +city, villa and castle. + +They then left the city of Stagira and headed for Macedonia, +stopping at a city called Olympus. This city takes its name from +a nearby mountain, one of the highest in the world. Here they +were better received than in any of the places they had been, +because they knew that the Caesar was the cousin of Diafebus, +their duke and lord. + +The prince left the duchy of Macedonia, and they went to the city +of Trebizond which delivered itself over immediately. They +brought all the knights who were held prisoner here, and with +them was Captain Diafebus, Duke of Macedonia. Prince Tirant +asked for the Duke of Macedonia, and he was brought to him. But +he was so changed that Tirant would never have recognized him: +His beard had grown down to his waist, and the hair on his head +reached past his shoulders; he was thin and discolored, and his +appearance was very different; he wore a yellow cloak, with a +blue turban around his head. All the other knights were dressed +the same way. When the Duke of Macedonia was before the Caesar, +he threw himself at his feet, wanting to kiss them. The Caesar +lifted him up, and with tears running from his eyes, he kissed +him on the mouth. + +Soon the Marquis of Saint George presented himself before Tirant, +and kneeling, he thanked him for freeing them. Prince Tirant, +with great affection, lifted him from the ground and kissed him +on the mouth. After the marquis, came the Duke of Pera, his +brother, and the prior of Saint John, and all the other knights. +The Caesar received them with great love, and honored them as +they deserved. + +After the illustrious Queen of Ethiopia left the city of Strenes, +she journeyed quickly to the renowned city of Constantinople. +When the queen stood before the princess, she began to kneel, but +the princess caught her by the arm, raised her up, and kissed her +warmly three times. Then she took her hand and made her sit at +her side. + +The princess was astonished at the queen's great beauty. At the +same time the Queen of Ethiopia was startled by the beauty of the +princess. Everyone in the court was impressed by the queen's +beauty, and they whispered about Tirant's great virtue in turning +down such a beautiful lady, for they were sure that she had asked +him to be her husband and lord of the kingdom of Tunis and of all +Barbary, and he had left it all for love of the princess. + +After the Caesar had held celebrations for the Duke of Macedonia +and his companions, he gave them their leave. They left the city +of Trebizond and went to the illustrious city of Constantinople. +There they were welcomed with honor by His Majesty the emperor, +by the empress and all the ladies. And the Duke of Macedonia was +especially welcomed by the duchess, his wife, who loved him more +than her life. With the arrival of the prisoners, great +celebrations were held in the court. + +After the Duke of Macedonia had left the city of Trebizond with +all his companions, Tirant quickly had all the others break camp, +and he had King Escariano and all his men, and each captain with +his squadron, depart. So one squadron left after another, in an +orderly fashion, and they went to the land of Bendin, six days +journey away, and when the Caesar arrived there with his entire +army, they surrendered to him by order of the sultan and the +Turk. + +When the captains had been placed in the city and in the +fortress, they advanced and recovered the entire province of +Blagay and all the land of Brina and all the land of Foxa and all +the land of Bocina, for each of these is a large province with +many cities, castles and villas, and they all surrendered +willingly to the Caesar. They were accustomed to being subject +to the Greek Empire, and they wanted to be so again because of +the bad treatment they had received from the Moors. + +The Caesar left these provinces and recovered many other cities. +From here he went to the Kingdom of Persia, and he took it by +force of arms, for it did not belong to the sultan or the Turk +and it had its own king. The virtuous Prince Tirant conquered +many other provinces and lands, and joined them under the +dominion and power of the empire with such great triumph and +victory that it would be tiring to tell it all. He recovered all +of Greece, Asia Minor, all of Persia, all Selonich (which is +Galipoli), Morea, Arca, the Cape of Arca, Valona. And by sea he +sent the fleet he had in Constantinople to take the islands, with +his admiral, the Marquis of Lizana, as its captain. And he took +all the islands which had belonged to the empire: Calistres, +Colcos, Oritige, Tesbrie, Nimocha, Flaxen, Meclotapace, and many +other islands the book does not mention to avoid prolixity. + +After the admiral had conquered all the islands that once formed +part of the empire, he had his entire fleet return to +Constantinople, and they entered the city firing their bombards +and shouting their greetings to the illustrious city. The +townspeople ran to the sea wall to greet the fleet with joy. The +admiral disembarked, accompanied by many well dressed knights and +noblemen, and they went to bow to His Majesty the emperor who +received them very cordially, and they all kissed his foot and +his hand. + +Wanting to reward many nobles and knights who had been released +from their imprisonment, he gave them over in matrimony to +maidens of high station, all of them servants of the empress and +the princess, and he also gave them large estates so they could +live out their lives honorably. When the engagements had been +made, their weddings were postponed until the day Prince Tirant +would be wed to the princess. + +But Fortune would not permit a mortal body to have so much +delight and glory in this world. For God did not create human +nature to reach bliss and glory in this world, but instead to +enjoy the glory of paradise. No one ponders this: everyday +virtuous men perform illustrious acts worthy of immortal memory, +as did this magnanimous and virtuous prince and valiant knight, +Tirant lo Blanc. For with his great skill at arms and high +degree of intelligence, he conquered so many kingdoms and brought +uncountable numbers of people in Barbary and in Greece into the +Holy Catholic faith. And yet, he was unable to see the finality +of all that he had so desired and labored for. + +Among so many other sorrows, I find it impossible to free my +weary hands from setting down on white paper how fortune lets man +go unrewarded. This, despite the fact the glorious actions of +Tirant bring me renewed anguish, for they did not bring him the +prize he so richly deserved. + +So then, after the Caesar had defeated and recovered the entire +empire, and subjugated many other nearby provinces, he started +back in great triumph to the city of Constantinople. In his +company went the magnanimous King of Fez and many other kings, +dukes, counts, and marquis, and innumerable knights (who came +with him to share in the enormous celebration that would take +place upon his return, and out of love for King Escariano, and to +celebrate Tirant's wedding), and no one would leave his side. +When the emperor received word that he was coming, he prepared an +enormous celebration. + +When Tirant was one day's journey from Constantinople, in a city +called Andrinopol, he stopped because the emperor had sent word +to him not to come to the city until he should tell him. While +the virtuous Caesar was enjoying himself in that city, finding +sport and pleasure, and strolling with King Escariano and the +King of Sicily at a river's edge which ran alongside the walls of +the city, he felt such a great and powerful pain in his side that +they had to take him in their arms and carry him back into the +city. + +When Tirant was in his bed the six doctors who accompanied him +came to him--the best in the world--and four of King Escariano's. +They gave him many kinds of medicine, but these brought no +relief to his pain. Then Tirant realized he was dying, and he +asked for confession. They had the confessor who accompanied him +come quickly. He was a good priest of the Order of Saint +Francis, a teacher of holy theology, and a man of great +knowledge. While the Caesar was making confession the King of +Fez sent an urgent message to the emperor, giving His Majesty to +know that the Caesar was very ill, and that his doctors could not +help him. He begged his grace to send his own doctors very +quickly, as he had great doubts that they would arrive in time. + +After the Caesar had confessed, he had the precious body of Jesus +Christ brought to him. He looked at it with great devotion, and +with tears in his eyes he prayed: + +"Almighty Lord, humble, sweet and benign! How can I thank You +for all the love You have shown to me, a weak creature? I give +You infinite thanks, Lord, for all Your gifts. And I humbly +beseech You, Lord, since You have saved me so many times from +danger (and You are now giving me death, which I accept most +obediently, since it is Your holy will, in remission and penance +for my weaknesses), that You will grant me, Lord, forgiveness of +my sins in order to have Your absolution and mercy." + +After he had said these words, he received the holy body of Jesus +Christ. And the people in the room with him whispered that he +did not seem to be a knight, but rather a holy man. When he had +given restitution to his soul, he had his secretary come, and he +gave his last will and testament in the presence of all those who +were with him. + +"I, Tirant lo Blanc, of the lineage of Rocasalada and the House +of Brittany, knight of the Garter, and Prince and Caesar of the +Greek Empire, with an illness from which I fear I will die, but +with full knowledge, and firm and manifest word: with my lords +and brothers at arms present, King Escariano, the King of Sicily, +and my cousin-german, the King of Fez, and many other kings, +dukes, counts and marquis, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I +do make and leave the following final will and testament. + +"I name as executors of this testament the virtuous and most +excellent Carmesina, Princess of the Greek Empire and my wife, +and my dear cousin-german Diafebus, the Duke of Macedonia. + +"I wish that one hundred thousand ducats be taken from my estate, +and be distributed according to the wishes of my executors. +Moreover, I encharge the said executors to take my body to +Brittany, to the Church of Our Lady, where lie all those of my +lineage of Rocasalada. + +"I also desire and command that from my estate one hundred +thousand ducats be given to each of the men of my lineage who are +here. And of all my other property and rights which I have +gained with Divine help, and which have been given to me by His +Majesty, the emperor, I make as my beneficiary my servant and +nephew Hippolytus of Rocasalada. It is my wish that he take my +place, and be my successor." + +After Tirant had made his testament, he told the secretary to +write a note to the princess with these words: + +"Since death is so near to me, I want to write to you, dear lady, +my last, sad farewell. + +"Fortune has not allowed me to have you--the prize for my deeds. +And death would not be so painful to me if I could have ended my +life in your arms. + +"But I beg Your Highness to go on living, so that you will keep +the great love that I have had for you. + +"And since fortune has not allowed me to speak to you or to see +you--for I believe you would have cured me and saved my life--I +have decided to write you this letter, because death will not +grant me more time, so that at least you will be certain of my +great love. I cannot tell you more, for the great pain I am +suffering will not allow it. I only beg of you to take in your +charge my relatives and servants. + +"Your Tirant, who kisses your feet and hands, commends to you his +soul." + +After Prince Tirant had made his testament, he begged King +Escariano, the King of Sicily and the King of Fez to carry him to +Constantinople before his life ended. For the greatest pain he +felt was that he might die without seeing the princess. And he +was of the belief that if he saw her she would give him health +and life. + +The doctors gave their approval because, since they considered +him as good as dead, they thought that with the great consolation +he would feel if he saw the princess, whom he loved deeply, +nature could have a more beneficial effect than all the medicines +in the world. They quickly put him on a litter, and he was +carried on men's shoulders very comfortably. He was accompanied +by all the kings and grandees, with only five hundred soldiers. +All the others remained in the city. + +When the emperor received the King of Fez's letter, he fell into +deep anguish and concern. As secretly as he could he sent for +his doctors and the Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus. He showed +them the King of Fez's letter, and begged them to ride there +quickly. The Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus left the imperial +palace without a word to anyone, and went off with the doctors, +for the emperor feared that if the princess heard of it she would +faint and it could be very dangerous for her. + +When the Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus, along with the +doctors, were half a day's journey from Constantinople, they met +Tirant on the road. They dismounted, and the litter was laid on +the ground. The Duke of Macedonia went up to Tirant and said: + +"Cousin, my lord, how is your lordship?" + +Tirant answered: + +"Cousin, I am most pleased that I have seen you before I died, +for my life is ending. I beg you to kiss me, you and Hippolytus, +for this will be the last farewell I shall have from you." + +The duke and Hippolytus kissed him, crying openly. Then Tirant +told them that he commended his soul to them, and that he wished +them to hold more love for the princess, his wife, than they did +for himself. The duke answered: + +"My lord and cousin, is a knight as valiant as your lordship +growing weak hearted? Have faith in Our Lord, that He, in His +mercy, will help you and bring you back to health." + +As he was saying these words, Tirant cried out, loudly: + +"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me! Virgin Mary, guardian +angel, angel Michael, defend me! Jesus, into Your hands, Lord, I +commend my spirit." + +And with these words, he delivered up his noble soul, while his +beautiful body lay in the arms of the Duke of Macedonia. The +tears and wailing were so great from all who were there, that it +was a pity to hear them. For Prince Tirant was loved by all. + +After they had cried for some time, King Escariano called the +King of Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia, +Hippolytus, and some of the others, and they held counsel about +what they had to do. They all agreed that King Escariano, along +with the others in his company, should accompany Tirant's body to +the city, but that they should not go in, for as King Escariano +had not yet seen the emperor, it was not the time or place for +them to meet. In addition, they decided to embalm Tirant's body, +for they had to take it to Brittany. + +They departed with Tirant's body from the place where he had +died, and made their way toward the city of Constantinople. By +the time they arrived it was well into the night. They gathered +at the city gate, and King Escariano took his leave of the King +of Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia and Hippolytus, +and he returned with his men to the city he had come from, +lamenting loudly, for King Escariano loved Tirant deeply. The +others placed Tirant's body in a house within the city, where it +was embalmed by the doctors. + +After they had embalmed it, they dressed it and took it to the +main church of the city: Saint Sofia. There a very large and +tall cenotaph was prepared for him, covered entirely with +brocade, and on the cenotaph was a large bed. There they placed +Tirant's body, stretched out on the bed, with his sword at his +side. + +When the emperor learned that Tirant was dead, he rent his royal +garments. Coming down from his imperial seat and lamenting over +Tirant's death, he said: + +"Today is the day when our scepter is lost, and I see the crown +taken from my head and dashed to the ground. Let everyone dress +in deep black mourning, let all the bells ring at once, and let +everyone wail over this loss, which is so terrible that my voice +is scarcely able to speak of it." + +The emperor spent the greater part of the night lamenting, and +when day came he went to the church to pay him honor, and to make +a large tomb for him with the funeral rites that are normally +given to great lords. When the princess saw everyone crying she +was very surprised. She wondered what the people in the palace +and her maidens were crying about. She thought her father, the +emperor, might have died, and she got up quickly, dressed in her +chemise, and looked out the window. She saw the Duke of +Macedonia, crying and tearing at his hair, and Hippolytus and +many others clawing at their faces, and hitting their heads +against the walls. + +"By the one God," said the princess, "I beg you to tell me the +truth. What is the cause of all this uproar and sadness?" + +The Widow of Montsant said: + +"My lady, it is inevitable that you will hear of it at any +moment. Tirant has passed from this life to the other. At +midnight they took him to the church to give him a holy funeral +as he deserves. The emperor is there, crying and bemoaning his +death, and is inconsolable." + +The princess was left numb: She did not cry, she could not speak. +She could only moan softly and sigh, and after a moment she said: + +"Give me the clothes my father had made for my wedding." + +They were quickly brought. When she had them on, the Widow of +Montsant said: + +"But my lady! At the death of such an admirable knight who died +in the service of His Majesty, the emperor, and of yours, are you +going to dress that way, as if you were going to your wedding? +Everyone else is dressed in mourning and sadness, because they +cannot stop crying, and Your Highness, who should be the saddest +and for whom it should mean the most, has dressed yourself in an +unheard-of way." + +"Don't worry yourself, Widow," said the princess. "You will know +the meaning of this when it is time." + +When she had dressed, the sad lady of the imperial palace came +down with all the ladies and maidens, and with steps hastened by +the anguish she felt, she went to the church where Tirant's body +lay. She stepped to the top of the great cenotaph, and when she +saw Tirant's body she felt her heart would break, and yet passion +lifted her spirit and she went over to his bed with warm tears +flowing from her eyes, and threw herself upon Tirant's body. The +suffering woman kissed his cold body. Everyone who heard her +weep shed great tears of grief. Then she said: + +"I want to go looking for the soul of the one who was my Tirant +in the blessed places where it rests. And I do so want to keep +you company in death since in life, where I loved you so much, I +have not been able to serve you. Oh, you ladies and maidens, do +not cry! Save your tears for a more opportune time. It's enough +for me to cry and lament, since these are my sorrows." + +When she had said these words, she fell upon the body in a faint. +She was quickly lifted away from the body, and the doctors helped +her regain consciousness. When she had recovered her senses, the +lady again threw herself upon the body, kissing Tirant's cold +mouth. She tore at her hair and clothing, along with the skin of +her breasts and her face, this sad lady, more grievous than any +other. Stretched out on his body, she kissed his cold mouth, +mixing her warm tears with Tirant's cold ones. She wanted to +talk, but could not, and she knew no words sad enough to express +her grief. With trembling hands she opened Tirant's eyes which +she kissed first with her mouth, and then filled with all the +tears flowing from her own eyes. And it seemed as though Tirant, +while dead, was crying for the grief of the living Carmesina. +And she was crying blood, for she had exhausted all her tears. +So she cried over his body-- she who had lost everything to him +who lost his life for her-- and with words that would be enough +to break precious stones, diamonds and steel itself, she cried +grievously: + +"Don't think, my soul, that I will keep you from Tirant for long. +I will give burial to your body and to mine. The dead bodies +will be embraced in one grave, and together we will share the +same glory in heaven." + +The emperor, distressed by his daughter's words, said: + +"My daughter's sorrow and tears will never end. My good knights, +pick her up, and take her to my palace, and leave her in her +chambers, either with her consent or by force." + +And so it was done. Her father, desperate, went with her, +saying: + +"My daughter, you are the lady of all I possess. Do not go to +such an extreme, for your grief is death to me. Stop your crying +and put on a happy face for the people to see." + +The princess answered: + +"Oh emperor, my lord, life-giver of this miserable daughter! +Your Majesty truly wants to console my grief! Oh, poor me, I +cannot hold back my tears!" + +When the poor father saw his daughter and the other women crying, +he could not bear to remain in her chambers, and with his +terrible anguish he left. Then the princess sat on the bed and +said: + +"Come, my faithful maidens, and help me undress, for there will +be time enough to cry." + +And she prepared her body in the most comely way she could, and +said: + +"I am the infanta who hoped to rule over the entire empire of +Greece. It is my duty to move everyone here to grief and +compassion for the death of the virtuous and blessed knight, +Tirant lo Blanc. Oh, my Tirant, out of grief for your death let +our right hands wound our breasts and tear at our faces so that +our misery will be so much greater, for you were our shield and +the shield of the whole empire. Oh sword of virtue, great was +the sorrow that was prepared for us! And don't think, Tirant, +that I have wiped you from my memory: As long as I am alive I +will weep for your death. Now, my dear maidens, help me to cry +this short time that is left of my life, for I cannot remain +with you long." + +The crying and wailing was so great that it made the entire city +resound. When they saw the princess nearly more dead than alive, +they cursed fortune which had brought them such anguish. The +doctors came and said she had all the signs of a dying woman: She +felt such grief for Tirant's death that blood was coming from her +mouth. + +The grieving empress came into the chamber, knowing that her +daughter was not well. When she saw her in that state she +suffered such a shock that she could not speak. When she had +recovered, she said: + +"Oh, my daughter! Is this the joy and happiness I hoped to have +from you? Is this the wedding your father and I and all the +people hoped to be consoled by? Everywhere I turn I see nothing +but grief and sorrow! + +I see the poor emperor, lying on the floor; I see the ladies and +maidens, their hair unkempt, their skin covered with blood, their +breasts uncovered and scratched, crying throughout the palace, +revealing their grief to everyone. I see the knights and +grandees, all in mourning, all lamenting, twisting their hands, +tearing the hair from their head. What a bitter day, so filled +with sadness! I see all the orders of friars coming with pain in +their voices, and not one of them can sing. Tell me, what kind +of celebration is this for everyone to run from it? Scarcely +anyone can talk without a grieving face. Oh, sad is the mother +who bears such a daughter! I beg you, my daughter, be happy and +put an end to all this sadness. This way you will give +consolation to your old and grieving father, and your sad, +unfortunate mother who has raised you so delicately." + +And she could say no more, such was the grief that held her. + +"How can Your Excellency tell me, my lady, to find consolation +and rejoice if I have lost such a knight who was my husband and +lord, and had no equal in the world? Have my protector, my +father and lord, come so that he can see my death and my end, and +so that part of his daughter will be left for him." + +When the sad father was there, she begged him kindly to sit at +one side and the empress at the other. With her between them, +she said these words: + +"I beg you all to have my father confessor come quickly." + +When he was there the princess told him: + +"Father, I wish to make a general confession in the presence of +all who are here." + + Then the confessor had her make a general confession, and +afterward he absolved her of all punishment and guilt. When +absolution had been granted the princess asked that the precious +body of Jesus Christ be brought to her, and with great devotion +and contrition she received it. And all those in the chamber +were astonished at the great constancy and firmness of spirit the +princess had, and at the many prayers she said before the Corpus. +There was no heart of steel in the world who, hearing her words, +would not burst into tears. + +When the princess had given restitution to her soul she had the +emperor's secretary come, and turning to her father, she said: + +"Father and lord, if it please Your Majesty, I would like to +dispose of my possessions and my soul." + +The emperor answered: + +"My daughter, I give you my leave to do whatever pleases you. +For if I lose you I lose my life and all good things on this +earth." + +The princess thanked him, and turning to the secretary, she +dictated her will: + +"I make, as executors of my will, Diafebus, Duke of Macedonia and +Stephanie, his wife. And I beg and command them to place my body +together with Tirant's in the place he will be buried. For, as +we were not able to remain together in life, at least in death +our bodies will be united until the end of the world. + +"In addition, all my clothing and jewelry shall be sold, and the +proceeds will be given to my maidens for their weddings. As for +all the other rights I have in the Greek Empire, I make the +empress, my mother, the successor in my place." + +When the princess had put her possessions and her soul in order, +she said farewell to her father, the emperor, kissing his hands +and his mouth again and again, and she did the same to her +mother, the empress, asking their forgiveness and their blessing +with great humility. + +"Oh unfortunate and miserable me!" said the princess. "I see the +emperor more dead than alive because of me. On the one hand the +death of Tirant pulls me, and on the other my father's death +pulls me: Each of them is winning me over." + +Her miserable father, his face wet with tears, saw that his +daughter was ready to die and could barely speak. He heard her +say such painful words, and saw all the wailing that was going on +in the chamber and throughout the palace. He felt greatly +disturbed and was beside himself. He tried to get up from the +bed to go out, but he fell to the ground, senseless. They picked +him up, unconscious, and put him on a bed in another chamber, and +there he ended his days before his daughter, the princess. + +Because of the emperor's death there was loud wailing, and the +news reached the empress and the princess. The empress ran as +quickly as she could, but the emperor had already passed from +this life. Imagine how the poor lady must have felt: to see her +husband, her daughter, and her son-in-law all dead! And don't +ask me what grief there was in the palace. So much +tribulation--all in one day! + +The princess said: + +"Help me sit down on my bed, and you will hear my words. You all +know that with the death of the emperor, my father, I am the +successor to the Greek Empire. And so my knights, I command you, +by the allegiance you owe to His Majesty, the emperor, and now to +me, to bring my father's and Tirant's body here to me." + +And they had to do it. The emperor was put on the right, and +Tirant on the left, while she was in between them. She kissed +her father many times, and Tirant many times more, and she cried +in a miserable voice: + +"Look, knights, you who suffer from love. Take note of me and +see if I am not fortunate! On one side I have an emperor, and on +the other the best knight in the world. Look and see if I should +not go into the next world happy, for I will have such good +company. Come to me, my loyal sisters and companions, and kiss +me, one by one. Then you will feel a part of my misery." + +And they did. First came the Queen of Ethiopia, then the Queen +of Fez, then the Duchess of Macedonia, and then all her other +maidens and her mother's maidens. They kissed her hand and her +mouth, and they sadly bade the princess farewell, shedding many +tears. She had them bring her the cross, and looking at it +steadfastly, she said these words with great devotion: + +"Receive the soul of Your servant, oh Lord, and free me from +infernal bonds and pains. May I feel, oh Lord, the blessed rest +of heaven and of eternal light, and may I deserve to have, among +Your chosen saints, everlasting life and glory. Oh God, full of +pure love and goodness. You Who know only how to forgive. Grant +me, oh Lord, that my soul, drawn apart and stripped of earthly +vices, may be placed in the company of those redeemed by You. I +give myself to God Who created me." + +Saying these words, the princess gave up her spirit to her +creator. + + CHAPTER XV + +AFTERMATH + + The destruction of the very last of the lineage of the royal +house of Greece was complete. After going through so much past +misery with all its trials and hardships, they would have +obtained a happy peace--if fortune had allowed it. And so, no +one should depend on worldly prosperity, for it fails when it is +most unexpected. + +When the princess had passed on from this life, the wailing and +crying in the palace was so loud that it echoed throughout the +entire city. And the heartache felt for Tirant and the emperor +was renewed and redoubled. The poor empress fell into such a +deep faint that the doctors could not revive her, and Hippolytus +beat his head and face, believing that she was dead. Finally, +with all the remedies they tried, after more than an hour, she +seemed to awaken slightly. Hippolytus remained steadfast at her +side in great anguish, rubbing her wrists and wetting her face +with rose water. When she regained consciousness, they picked +her up in their arms and carried her to her chamber, putting her +on a bed. + +Hippolytus was always at her side, comforting her, and kissing +her often to bring to mind the love they had continually had for +each other. The empress loved him more than her daughter and +herself because of the great kindness and genteelness she had +found in Hippolytus who had always obeyed her every wish. And +don't think that at that moment Hippolytus was feeling great +pain, for as soon as Tirant was dead he realized that he would be +emperor, especially after the death of the emperor and his +daughter, for he had great confidence in the love the empress had +for him. Putting aside all shame, she would take him as her +husband. + +After the empress had spoken a short while with Hippolytus, and +their pain had been somewhat alleviated with kisses, she said to +him: + +"My son and my lord, I beg you, as lord here, to order funerals +held for the emperor, my daughter, and Tirant, so that afterward +your desire and mine can be carried out." + +When Hippolytus heard such loving words he kissed her hand and +her mouth, and said he would do everything Her Majesty commanded. +Hippolytus went to the princess's chamber where the three bodies +were lying, and on behalf of the empress he ordered them to take +Tirant to his cenotaph in the church immediately. And it was +quickly done. + +Then he ordered the surgeons to embalm the bodies of the emperor +and the princess. Hippolytus had another cenotaph put up in the +Church of Saint Sofia, much more beautiful and higher than +Tirant's, and he had the emperor's body brought to the cenotaph. +He had the princess put in Tirant's bed, on his right hand side. + +He ordered a proclamation read throughout the city that all those +who wished to dress in mourning should go to a certain house in +the city, and there mourning cloth would be given to men as well +as to women. In the space of one day everyone in the palace and +the city, and all the foreigners were dressed in mourning. In +addition, Hippolytus decreed that all the clergy--friars, +chaplains and nuns--within two days journey from Constantinople +should come to participate in the funerals of the dead, and one +thousand two hundred were counted. + +They decided that the burial should take place two weeks after +the emperor's death, and all the barons of Greece were summoned, +so that they could be present for the emperor's funeral rites. +Then he sent a message to King Escariano on behalf of himself and +the empress, inviting him to come and honor the burial of the +emperor and his daughter, and his dear friend and brother Tirant. +For, since he had not been able to honor their wedding he would +be able to honor his burial. King Escariano sent word to him +that he would do so, but that he had hoped to enter +Constantinople with happier news. And he left for Constantinople +with one hundred knights. + +While the people were arriving, Hippolytus had the King of +Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia, the Marquis of +Lizana, and the Viscount of Branches and some others gather in a +chamber. Then he said to them: + +"My lords and brothers, your lordships are not unaware of the +great danger that has befallen us with the death of our father +and lord, Tirant. He expected to be emperor, and he would have +ennobled and enriched all those of our lineage. Now that there +is no hope of that, we must take counsel about what should be +done. Your lordships realize that the entire empire is in the +empress's power. Although she is advanced in years, some great +lord will be very pleased to marry her, and he will find it very +agreeable to be emperor. After her death, he will be the ruler, +and he may treat foreigners (which is what we are) badly. I am +of the opinion that we should make one of us emperor, and all of +us should help him; and the one who is elected will enrich the +others very well. Now, I beg you, let each of you give your +opinion." + +Then the King of Sicily said he felt it was a good idea that one +of them should be made emperor, and that they should select +whoever was willing. The King of Fez spoke, because he was the +eldest of their line, and he said: + +"My lords and brothers, it seems to me good advice that one of us +should be chosen emperor. But it is my opinion that we should +follow the dictates of Tirant's will, then the princess's, and +with these two wills we shall see who among us is indicated." + +Everyone agreed with what the King of Fez had said. They sent +for the secretaries of Tirant and the emperor, and had the wills +read. When they had read them, they made the secretaries leave +the room, and the Duke of Macedonia spoke: + +"My lords and brothers, as I see it, our selection is very clear +and cannot be disputed. I see that our good relative and lord +leaves as recipient of all the rights he has earned in the Greek +Empire, Hippolytus here. Further, I see that the princess has +bestowed the entire empire on her mother. + +So from what I see there is no other action we can take, +considering the friendship we all know Hippolytus has with the +empress, than for him to take her as his wife. In that way he +will become emperor, and he will keep each of us in our station, +for he is our relative." + +Then the Marquis of Lizana spoke: + +"Lords, I find the Duke of Macedonia's advice to be good, and +praise it, for we all have wives, and furthermore it is Tirant's +command." + +All the rest praised him and agreed that Hippolytus should be +chosen emperor and husband of the empress. When Hippolytus saw +the gentility of his relatives, he praised them, and gave them +many thanks for their great love. And he made a vow before God +and Our Lady that if God granted that he become emperor, he would +repay them in such a way that they would all be very happy. And +they decided that after the funeral rites were held for the dead, +they would raise him to the status of emperor, and would hold the +wedding for him and the empress. + +Tirant's relatives agreed, and the following night King Escariano +entered Constantinople, dressed in mourning, with all his men. +He was received with great honor by Hippolytus, and by his wife, +the queen, who was very happy to see him. Hippolytus placed him +in the emperor's palace, in a beautiful apartment. The King of +Sicily, the King of Fez, the Duke of Macedonia, and many other +knights came to see him, and a great celebration was held. + +After this, King Escariano took his leave of them, and taking the +queen, his wife, by the hand, he went with Hippolytus to pay +honor to the empress. When they were in her chamber, King +Escariano bowed before the empress, and she warmly embraced him. +She took him by the hand, and had him sit at her side. Then King +Escariano said: + +"I left my land in order to help Tirant lo Blanc recover the +empire, and the queen, my wife, came only to attend the wedding +of my brother Tirant and the virtuous princess. Their deaths +have made me both sad and angry. Now that they are gone, I am +ready to serve you for the rest of my life." + +The empress hesitated, and then said softly: + +"It is great glory for me that so magnanimous a king should say +such words to me. I thank you very much for coming, and even +more for helping us put an end to this conquest. But with it I +have lost three of the best people in the world, and because of +this the rest of my life will be filled with sadness." + +The empress could speak no more, and tears sprang from her eyes. +King Escariano also began to cry. + +That night Hippolytus went to sleep with the empress, and he told +her about his conversation with his relatives, and what they had +all decided: + +"That I should take you as my wife. My lady, I know that I am +not worthy of being your husband, or even your servant. But I +trust in Your Highness' love and virtue, and I hope that you will +accept me as Your Majesty's captive. And trust me, my lady, to +do well. I will be so obedient to you that you can command me +more than ever before, for I never wanted anything but to serve +you." + +The empress answered: + +"Hippolytus, my son, you know how much I love you, and I will be +very pleased if you will take me as your wife. But remember, my +son and lord, even though I'm old you will never find anyone who +loves you as much as I do." + +Then Hippolytus knelt to kiss her hands and feet, but she lifted +him up and embraced him and kissed him. And they spent that +delicious night with little thought about those who were lying on +the cenotaphs for burial. + +In the morning, before Phoebus had spread its shiny rays over the +earth, the knight got up, full of new joy, for that night +Hippolytus had entertained his lady very well. He arranged +everything that was necessary for the burial. + +On the appointed day all the barons and knights who were invited +went to the city of Constantinople. On the first day they buried +the emperor with the most beautiful sacramental lights ever given +to a prince. To exalt the occasion there were many kings, dukes, +counts and marquis, and many noble knights. All the people from +the city were there, lamenting over their good lord, and the +clergy performed the ceremony, singing so that all were weeping. +And on that day the emperor's body was solely buried. The second +day was reserved for the princess's burial, and the third for +Tirant's. + +There was so much wailing and lamenting during those three days +that no one felt like crying for the rest of the year. When the +funeral rites for the emperor were over, the emperor's body was +placed in a beautiful tomb which the emperor had ordered made +some time before. The bodies of Tirant and the princess were +placed in a wooden coffin, for they had to be taken to Brittany. + +When this was done, the King of Sicily, the King of Fez, and the +Duke of Macedonia went to King Escariano and told him all about +the council they had held with Tirant's relatives, and how they +had decided to raise Hippolytus to the status of emperor. King +Escariano said: + +"I am very pleased by your decision. I think Hippolytus is a +good and virtuous knight, and he deserves to be emperor." + +Then they asked him to go with them and carry the news to the +empress, and he was glad to do so. The three kings left with the +Duke of Macedonia, and it was the noblest embassy that had ever +been made to a man or a woman. They entered the empress's +chamber, and she welcomed them with great honor. She took the +hand of King Escariano and the King of Sicily, and they sat down +in the imperial throne room, with the empress between the two +kings. They had agreed that King Escariano should explain their +mission, and he began: + +"As we deeply appreciate the honor of your illustrious person, we +hope it will be agreeable to you to take a husband. And we beg +Your Majesty not to be angry at what I am going to tell you. +Your Majesty knows what good condition the Greek Empire is in +because of that singular knight, Tirant. You know the rights +that His Majesty, the emperor, granted to him, and you know that +he left those rights to his nephew, Hippolytus. And so we beg +and advise Your Majesty to take Hippolytus as your husband and +lord. He is such a virtuous knight that Your Majesty will be +greatly loved and revered by him, and he is such a knight that he +will be able to rule and defend the empire, which has been +reconquered through so much effort." + +The empress then said very graciously: + +"Great lords, I realize that you are my brothers, and I trust +that you would never advise me to do anything that would be +harmful to me or my honor. So I freely place myself in your +lordships' hands to deal with me and my empire as though it were +your own." + +They all bowed deeply to the empress and gave her many thanks. +And they left, very satisfied with the empress' reply. The three +kings went with the Duke of Macedonia to Hippolytus' chamber, and +he received them very warmly. They told him about the entire +conversation they had had with the empress, and how she had +agreed to do everything they wanted. + +Hippolytus knelt, and thanked them, and he was very happy. They +quickly took him to the empress's chamber, and then had the +bishop come from the city and marry them. In attendance were the +Queen of Ethiopia, the Queen of Fez, the Duchess of Macedonia, +and all the ladies of the court. They were all very pleased +because of all the hard times they had had, and which they were +afraid would continue. + +The news that the empress had married Hippolytus ran through the +city, and everyone was glad. They all gave thanks to God for +giving them such a good lord. Everyone in the city liked +Hippolytus because in times of need he had been their captain, +and he had treated them very well. + +Soon afterward the King of Sicily departed, and the emperor +entreated the King of Fez and the Viscount of Branches to carry +the bodies of Tirant and the princess to Brittany. They said +they would do it very willingly out of love for His Majesty and +Tirant. The emperor commanded the admiral to put forty galleys +in order so they would go in his honor. And they were quickly +armed and put in order. + +The emperor had ordered a very beautiful wooden coffin made, all +covered with gold, and decorated so that it looked like the +sepulcher of a great lord. And he had the bodies of Tirant and +the princess placed inside, all dressed in brocade, with their +faces uncovered so that they seemed to be sleeping. + +He had the coffin put on board a galley with all of Tirant's +weapons and flags on it so that they could be placed upon the +sepulcher where Tirant would lie, to serve as a perpetual +memorial. And the emperor gave the King of Fez two hundred +thousand ducats so that the sepulcher of Tirant and the princess +could be made in Brittany in accord with their great merit. When +everything was in order the King of Fez and the Queen set sail, +and they had such good weather that in a few short days they +reached Brittany very safely. + +The King of Fez, the queen, and the Viscount of Branches, along +with many noblemen and knights, made port in a city called +Nantes, and here they were well received and entertained by the +Duke of Brittany, and the Duchess. They took the coffin with +Tirant and the princess, and with a great procession of many +clerics, friars and monks they carried it to the high church of +the city, and it was placed in a tomb held up by four lions. +This tomb was worked in a very clear alabaster, and molded in +fine gold were these words: + + The knight who in arms was phoenix + + And the lady most beautiful of all, + + Lie dead in this tomb, + + While their living fame resounds throughout the world: + + Tirant lo Blanc and noble Carmesina. + +And above the tomb these three verses were sculpted in gold: + + Cruel love that united them in life + + And has taken their life in great pain, + + After their death, encloses them in the sepulcher. + +Words could not express the mourning that took place in Brittany. +There was great mourning over his death by the Duke of Brittany +and the Duchess and all Tirant's relatives when they learned of +the actions of everlasting renown he had performed and the great +prosperity he had achieved. The King of Fez had large amounts of +money given in charity for the souls of Tirant and the princess. +He spent the two thousand ducats the emperor had given him very +well. And he decided to return to his homeland, for he had +stayed in Brittany six months to carry out everything the emperor +had encharged to him. + +The King and Queen of Fez took their leave of the duke and +duchess and all the relatives who were very sad to see them +leave. And the Viscount of Branches also took his leave of +everyone. They embarked on the galleys and set their course +toward the lands of the King of Fez. Our Heavenly Father gave +them such good weather that in a few days they reached the port +of Tangier. And the King of Fez and the Queen disembarked with +all their people. The Viscount of Branches returned to +Constantinople with the forty galleys, and was well received by +the emperor who was greatly desirous of knowing what had happened +in Brittany. + +The Viscount of Branches very discreetly told the emperor about +everything that had been done, just as it had been directed by +his majesty. The emperor was highly pleased, and immediately +bought the county of Benaixi, which belonged to the princess, for +three hundred thousand ducats, and gave it to the Viscount of +Branches as a reward for his works, Then he gave a large +inheritance to all those who had married servants of the empress +and the princess so that they could live well and honorably, +each according to his station, and all were very happy. Then he +arranged marriages for all his other knights. + +Fortune favored Emperor Hippolytus so much, and he was such a +virtuous knight that he greatly increased the Empire of Greece, +and he added to it many provinces that he conquered, and due to +his great diligence he amassed a very large treasure. He was +deeply loved and feared by his subjects and also by the +neighboring lords who lived near the empire. + +A few days after he was made emperor he had the Moorish sultan +and the Grand Turk released from prison, along with all the other +kings and lords who had been imprisoned with them. They made +peace and a truce for one hundred one years, and they were so +content that they said they would come to his aid against the +entire world. Afterward the emperor had them go to Turkey aboard +two galleys. + +This Emperor Hippolytus had a long life. But after the death of +her daughter, the empress lived only three years. After a short +time the emperor took another wife, who was the daughter of the +King of England. This empress was extremely beautiful, humble, +and a very virtuous and devout Christian. The genteel lady bore +Emperor Hippolytus three sons and two daughters, and the sons +were exceptional and valiant knights. The eldest son was named +Hippolytus, like his father, and he lived his entire life a +magnanimous man and performed singular acts of chivalry which +this book does not relate, but defers to the books that were +written about him. But the emperor, his father, left all his +relatives and servants well provided for before he died. + +And when the emperor and the empress passed from this life they +were very old. They both died on the same day, and were placed +in a very luxurious tomb which the emperor had ordered made. And +you may be sure that because of their excellent rule and their +good and virtuous life they are in the glory of paradise. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + DEO GRATIAS + + + +Here ends the book of the valiant and singular knight, Tirant lo +Blanc, Prince and Caesar of the Greek Empire of Constantinople, +which was translated from English into the Portuguese language, +and afterward into the Valencian tongue by the magnificent and +virtuous knight, Johanot Martorell who, because of his death, was +able to finish the translation of only the first three parts. +The fourth part, which is the end of the book, was translated at +the behest of the noble Isabel de Loris by the magnificent knight +Marti Johan d' Galba. If any defect should be found he wishes it +to be attributed to his ignorance, and may Our Lord Jesus Christ, +in His great goodness, grant him the glory of paradise as a +reward for his works. And he protests that if he has put some +things in this book that are not Catholic, he retracts them and +submits them to the correction of the Holy Catholic Church. + +This work was printed in the city of Valencia, the 20th day of +the month of November in the year of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus +Christ 1490. + + + + + +End of The White Knight: Tirant lo Blanc, by Robert S. Rudder + + diff --git a/old/whitk10.zip b/old/whitk10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..abc5db8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/whitk10.zip |