s that
it is he who has been defeated. Now leave it all to me! For I think I
can arrange it in such a way that it will redound to your honour, and
every one will give consent." Then they both promised him that they
would do his will in every particular. And the King says that he will
decide the quarrel fairly and faithfully. "Where is the damsel," he
inquires, "who has ejected her sister from her land, and has forcibly
and cruelly disinherited her?" "My lord," she answers, "here I am." "Are
you there? Then draw near to me! I saw plainly some time ago that you
were disinheriting her. But her right shall no longer be denied; for you
yourself have avowed the truth to me. You must now resign her share to
her." "Sire," she says, "if I uttered a foolish and thoughtless word,
you ought not to take me up in it. For God's sake, sire, do not be hard
on me! You are a king, and you ought to guard against wrong and error."
The King replies: "That is precisely why I wish to give your sister her
rights; for I have never defended what is wrong. And you have surely
heard how your knight and hers have left the matter in my hands. I shall
not say what is altogether pleasing to you; for your injustice is well
known. In his desire to honour the other, each one says that he has been
defeated. But there is no need to delay further: since the matter has
been left to me, either you will do in all respects what I say, without
resistance, or I shall announce that my nephew has been defeated in the
fight. That would be the worst thing that could happen to your cause,
and I shall be sorry to make such a declaration." In reality, he would
not have said it for anything; but he spoke thus in order to see if he
could frighten her into restoring the heritage to her sister; for he
clearly saw that she never would surrender anything to her for any
words of his unless she was influenced by force or fear. In fear and
apprehension, she replied to him: "Fair lord, I must now respect your
desire, though my heart is very loath to yield. Yet, however hard it may
go with me, I shall do it, and my sister shall have what belongs to her.
I give her your own person as a pledge of her share in my inheritance,
in order that she may be more assured of it." "Endow her with it, then,
at once," the King replies; "let her receive it from your hands, and
let her vow fidelity to you! Do you love her as your vassal, and let
her love you as her sovereign lady and as her sister."