ed from his heart.

Strange events soon followed. Two ladies of Isolde's train, who envied
and hated Dame Bragwaine, laid a plot for her destruction. She was sent
into the forest to obtain herbs, and there was met by men sent by her
enemies, who bound her hand and foot to a tree, where she remained for
three days. By good fortune, at the end of that time, she was found by
Palamides, who saved her from death, and took her to a nunnery that she
might recover from her pain and exhaustion.

The disappearance of Dame Bragwaine troubled the queen greatly, for she
loved her most of all women, and as the days went by and she returned
not, the grief of Isolde grew deep. She wandered into the forest, which
had been searched in vain for the lost lady, and, plunged in sad
thought, seated herself by a woodland spring, where she moaned bitterly
for her favorite.

As she sat there Palamides appeared, and, after listening awhile to her
sad complaining, said,--

"Queen Isolde, I know well the cause of your grief, and if you will
grant the boon I shall ask, I promise to bring you Dame Bragwaine, safe
and sound."

The queen was so glad to hear this, that without thought she agreed to
grant his wish, thinking more of the lost lady than of what he might
demand.

"I trust to your promise," said Palamides. "Remain here half an hour and
you shall see her."

"I shall remain," said the queen.

Palamides then rode away, and within the time mentioned returned with
the maiden, whom Isolde clasped to her heart with happy tears.

"Now, madam, I have kept my word," said Palamides; "you must keep
yours."

"I promised you hastily," answered the queen; "and I warn you now that I
will grant you nothing evil; so beware of your asking."

"My boon will keep till I meet you before the king," said Palamides.
"What it is I shall not tell you now."

Then the queen rode home with her maiden, and Palamides followed close
after, entering the court while Isolde was telling the king of what had
happened.

"Sir king," said the knight, "your lady has told you of the boon she
proffered me. The honor of knighthood requires that you shall make her
word good."

"Why made you this promise, my lady?" asked the king.

"I did so for grief at the loss of Dame Bragwaine, and for joy to
recover her."

"Then what you have hastily proffered you must truly perform. The word
of king and queen is not to be lightly spoken or lightly broken."

"What I demand is t