r
their own horses, that they may escort and accompany them. Erec said to
them: "Be not angry! but you shall not accompany me a single step. I'll
thank you if you'll stay behind!" His horse was brought to him, and he
mounts without delay. Taking his shield and lance, he commends them all
to God, and they in turn wish Erec well. Then Enide mounts, and they
ride away.

(Vv. 4308-4380.) Entering a forest, they rode on without halting till
hour of prime. While they thus traversed the wood, they heard in the
distance the cry of a damsel in great distress. When Erec heard the cry,
he felt sure from the sound that it was the voice of one in trouble and
in need of help. Straightway calling Enide, he says: "Lady, there is
some maiden who goes through the wood calling aloud. I take it that she
is in need of aid and succour. I am going to hasten in that direction
and see what her trouble is. Do you dismount and await me here, while
I go yonder." "Gladly, sire," she says. Leaving her alone, he makes his
way until he found the damsel, who was going through the wood, lamenting
her lover whom two giants had taken and were leading away with very
cruel treatment. The maiden was rending her garments, and tearing her
hair and her tender crimson face. Erec sees her and, wondering greatly,
begs her to tell him why she cries and weeps so sore. The maiden cries
and sighs again, then sobbing, says: "Fair sire, it is no wonder if I
grieve, for I wish I were dead. I neither love nor prize my life, for my
lover has been led away prisoner by two wicked and cruel giants who are
his mortal enemies. God! what shall I do? Woe is me! deprived of the
best knight alive, the most noble and the most courteous. And now he
is in great peril of death. This very day, and without cause, they will
bring him to some vile death. Noble knight, for God's sake, I beg you to
succour my lover, if now you can lend him any aid. You will not have to
run far, for they must still be close by." "Damsel," says Erec, "I will
follow them, since you request it, and rest assured that I shall do all
within my power: either I shall be taken prisoner along with him, or
I shall restore him to you safe and sound. If the giants let him live
until I can find him, I intend to measure my strength with theirs."
"Noble knight," the maiden said, "I shall always be your servant if you
restore to me my lover. Now go in God's name, and make haste, I beseech
you." "Which way lies their path?" "T