Page 488 - Child's own book

knight herself. She had been accustomed to fence and ride,
and was greatly accomplished in all the manly exercises. She
contrived to steal away the armour of Valentine while he slept*
and equipping herself in it, mounted a fiery courser; and
attended only by her favourite maid, in quality of a page, she
proceeded to the castle which the green knight inhabited, and
where he kept the lady Fezon a prisoner.
Valentine, meanwhile, missing his armour, when he arose at
the dawn of day, and learning that the princess had taken it,
and was gone on the perilous enterprise, was almost distracted
with his terrors for her safety. He ordered his horse to be pre­
pared, and, followed by Orson, set out in search of the princess.
Haufray and Henry, disappointed in their former purpose, now
resolved to waylay and kill Valentine. Accordingly, in a nar­
row alley of a dark wood, they sprang upon him, and seized
him before he had power to draw his sword. Orson chanced to
be a little way lnhind, hut, upon hearing Valentine's voice, he
rushed upou Henry who was about to stab Valentine in the
back, and seized him in his arms. Orson’s grasp almost crushed
Henry to death, and Valentine would have killed Haufray, but
fust tearing their matks from their faces, and seeing they were
the king s sons, lie left them to the shame and disgrace iheir base
conduct would hring upon them. He had some difficulty to pre­
vail on Orson to let them live ; but, having prevailed, they left
the wicked brothers in the wood, and continued their journey ;
fortunately arriving at the eastleof Agrantoot (that of the green
knight), just as the princess Eglantine was almost overpowered
in the combat. Valentine now rushed with dreadful fury upon
the green knight, and the fight was long and equal. At length
Agramont demanded a parley: -tt Knight,” said he to Valen­
tine, “ thou art brave and noble. Behold; yonder hang twenty
knights whom 1 have subdued and executed : such will be thy
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