art. And he who well knew her heart, said to her: "Fair sister dear,
gentle, loyal, and prudent lady, I am acquainted with your thoughts.
You are in fear, I see that well, and yet you do not know for what; but
there is no reason for your dismay until you shall see that my shield is
shattered and that my body is wounded, and until you see the meshes of
my bright hauberk covered with blood, and my helmet broken and smashed,
and me defeated and weary, so that I can no longer defend myself, but
must beg and sue for mercy against my will; then you may lament, but now
you have begun too soon. Gentle lady, as yet you know not what this
is to be; no more do I. You are troubled without cause. But know this
truly: if there were in me only so much courage as your love inspires,
truly I should not fear to face any man alive. But I am foolish to vaunt
myself; yet I say it not from any pride, but because I wish to comfort
you. So comfort yourself, and let it be! I cannot longer tarry here, nor
can you go along with me; for, as the King has ordered, I must not take
you beyond this point." Then he kisses her and commends her to God, and
she him. But she is much chagrined that she cannot follow and escort
him, until she may learn and see what this adventure is to be, and
how he will conduct himself. But since she must stay behind and cannot
follow him, she remains sorrowful and grieving. And he went off alone
down a path, without companion of any sort, until he came to a silver
couch with a cover of gold-embroidered cloth, beneath the shade of
a sycamore; and on the bed a maiden of comely body and lovely face,
completely endowed with all beauty, was seated all alone. I intended to
say no more of her; but whoever could consider well all her attire and
her beauty might well say that never did Lavinia of Laurentum, who was
so fair and comely, possess the quarter of her beauty. Erec draws near
to her, wishing to see her more closely, and the onlookers go and sit
down under the trees in the orchard. Then behold, there comes a knight
armed with vermilion arms, and he was wondrous tall; and if he were not
so immeasurably tall, under the heavens there would be none fairer than
he; but, as every one averred, he was a foot taller than any knight he
knew. Before Erec caught sight of him, he cried out: "Vassal, vassal!
You are mad, upon my life, thus to approach my damsel. I should say
you are not worthy to draw near her. You will pay dearly for your