The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc Read online

  CHAPTER IV

  CONSTANTINOPLE

  After a week, while the king was in council, he remembered aletter the emperor of Constantinople had sent him, telling aboutcertain troubles. He summoned Tirant, and had it read in hispresence, and it said the following:

  "We, Frederick, Emperor of the Empire of Greece by the immenseand divine majesty of the sovereign and eternal God, extendhealth and honor to you, King of the great and abundant island ofSicily. By the pact made by our ancestors, sealed, signed andsworn by you and by me through our ambassadors: We do notify yourroyal personage that the sultan, the Moorish renegade, is insideour empire with a great army, and in his company is the GrandTurk. They have overpowered a large part of our realm, and wehave been unable to lend assistance, for because of my old age Icannot bear arms. After the great loss we have suffered ofcities, towns and castles, the dearest possession I had in thisworld was killed -- my first born son who was my consolation, anda guardian of the holy Catholic faith -- doing battle against theinfidel, to his great honor and glory and to mine, And as agreater misfortune, he was killed by his own men. That sad,painful day was the perdition of the imperial house and of myhonor. It is known to me and is common knowledge that in yourcourt you have a valiant knight, whose name is Tirant lo Blanc;he belongs to the brotherhood of that singular order of chivalrysaid to be founded on that glorious saint, the father ofchivalry, Saint George, on the island of England. Many singularacts worthy of great honor are told about this knight and arecelebrated throughout the world, and they are the reason we askyou to beg him on your behalf and mine to come to my service, forI shall give him all my possessions he may desire. And if hewill not come I pray Divine Justice to make him suffer my pain.Oh, blessed King of Sicily! As you are a crowned king, have pityon my pain so that the immense goodness of God will keep you froma similar situation, for we are all subject to the wheel offortune, and there is no one who can detain it."

  When the emperor's letter was finished, and Tirant had heard it,the king said:

  "You should thank Almighty God, Tirant, my brother, for He hasgiven you such perfection that your name reigns throughout theworld. I place my trust in your generosity, and so I dare to begyou on behalf of the Emperor of Constantinople and myself. Andif my pleas have no effect on you, at least have pity on thatunfortunate emperor so that he will not lose his imperialthrone."

  When the king had said this, Tirant replied:

  "If Your Majesty commands me to go serve that prosperous emperorwho reigns in Greece, I will do it because of the great love Ihold for Your Highness. But, Sire, I can only do as much as aman can do; that is plain to God and to the whole world. And Iam even more astonished at that great emperor--who has passedover all the excellent kings, dukes, counts, and marquis in theworld who are more knowledgeable and more valiant than I am inthe art of chivalry--that he should pass over them for me."

  "Tirant," said the king, "I know very well that there are goodknights in the world, and you should not be forgotten among them.If, by chance, their honor should be examined, among theemperors, kings, and expert knights, the prize, honor and glorywould be given to you as the best of them all. So I beg you as aknight to go and serve the imperial state, and I advise you to doso as if you were my son."

  "Since Your Majesty commands and advises me to do this," saidTirant, "I will go."

  The king ordered all the galleys to be stocked with everythingthey would need. And when the king told the emperor'sambassadors that Tirant was willing to go, they were the happiestmen in the world, and they heartily thanked the king.

  As soon as the ambassadors had reached Sicily they were ready tooffer a salary to the men. They gave half a ducat each day tothe crossbowmen, and a ducat to the soldiers. And since therewere not enough men in Sicily, they went on to Rome and Naples,and there they found many men who accepted wages very willingly,and they also bought many horses.

  Tirant took his leave of the king and queen, and of Philippe andthe infanta. And with all the men on board, they let a favorablewind fill the sails, and they sailed quickly over a calm seauntil one morning they found themselves before the city ofConstantinople.

  When the emperor heard that Tirant had arrived, he was happierthan he had ever been, and he said that he felt as if his son hadcome back to life. As the eleven galleys neared shore, all thecries of happiness made the entire city resound. The emperorwent up on a great cenotaph to watch the galleys come in. WhenTirant learned where the emperor was, he had two large flags ofthe King of Sicily brought out, and one of his own. He had threeknights come out in armor, each of them with a flag in his hand,and every time they passed in front of the emperor they loweredthe flags until they nearly touched the water, while Tirant'stouched it each time.

  This was a sign of greeting, and because of the emperor's dignitythey humbled themselves so lowly before him. When the emperorsaw this, which was something that he had never seen before, hewas very pleased.

  When Tirant was on land he found the Count of Africa waiting forhim on shore with many men, and he welcomed him with great honor.They then made their way to the platform where the emperor was.As soon as Tirant saw him he knelt to the ground, along with allhis men, and when they reached the middle of the platform theybowed again. When he was six feet away he knelt and tried tokiss his foot, and the worthy lord would not permit it. Hekissed his hand, and the emperor kissed him on the mouth.

  When they had all bowed to him, Tirant gave him the letter fromthe King of Sicily. After the emperor had read it in everyone'spresence, he spoke to Tirant:

  "This is no small happiness I feel at your arrival, virtuousknight. So that everyone will know how grateful I am to you, Iam bestowing on you the imperial and general captaincy over thesoldiers and over justice."

  He offered him a rod made of solid gold, and on its enamel headwas painted the coat of arms of the empire. When Tirant saw thatit was the emperor's will he accepted the rod and the captaincy,and kissed his hand. The trumpets and minstrels began to play byorder of the emperor, and they announced throughout the city byimperial proclamation how Tirant lo Blanc had been chosen captainby command of their lord, the emperor.

  After all this the emperor came down from the cenotaph to go backto the palace, and they passed by a very beautiful lodging thathad been prepared for Tirant and his men. The emperor said:

  "Captain, since we are here, go into your chambers so that youcan rest a few days from the hardships you have endured at sea."

  "What, my lord! Do you imagine that I would be so ill manneredas to leave you? My consolation is to accompany Your Majesty--toHell itself, and even better, to the palace."

  The emperor had to laugh at what Tirant had said. And Tirantcontinued:

  "My lord, if it please Your Majesty, when we are in the palace,allow me to go and pay my respects to the empress and to yourbeloved daughter, the infanta."

  The emperor gave his consent. When they were in the palace theemperor took him by the hand and led him to the empress'schamber. They found her in the following condition: the chamberwas very dark, for there was no light at all, and the emperorsaid:

  "My lady, here is our captain who has come to pay you hisrespects."

  She replied in a very weak voice:

  "Very well. He is welcome."

  Tirant said:

  "My lady, it is by faith that I must believe that the onespeaking to me is the empress."

  "Captain," said the emperor, "whoever holds the captaincy of theGreek Empire has the power to open windows, and to look everyonein the face, to remove the mourning they bear for a husband,father, son or brother."

  Tirant asked for a lighted torch to be brought, and it was doneimmediately. When the light was cast on the room the captaindiscovered a pavilion entirely in black. He went up to it,opened it, and saw a woman dressed in coarse cloth with a largeblack veil over her head that covered her entirely, down to herfeet. Tirant removed the veil from her head so that her face wasuncovered, and
when he saw her face he knelt to the ground andkissed her foot and then her hand. She held a rosary in herhand, made of gold and enamel; she kissed it and then had thecaptain kiss it. Then he saw a bed with black curtains. Theinfanta was reclining on the bed, dressed in a black satin skirtand covered with a velvet garment of the same color. A woman anda maiden were sitting at her feet on the bed. The maiden was thedaughter of the Duke of Macedonia, and the woman was calledWidow Repose, and she had nursed the infanta with her own milk.In the back of the room he saw one hundred seventy women andmaidens, all with the empress and the infanta Carmesina.

  Tirant approached the bed, made a deep bow to the infanta, andkissed her hand. Then he opened the windows. And it seemed asthough all the women were coming out of a long period ofcaptivity: they had been plunged into darkness a long whilebecause of the death of the emperor's son. Tirant said:

  "My lord, speaking by your leave I will tell Your Highness andthe empress my idea. I see that the people in this notable cityare very sad and troubled for two reasons. The first is becauseof the loss of the prince, your son. Your Majesty should not betroubled, for he died in the service of God, upholding the holyCatholic faith. Instead you should praise and give thanks to theimmense goodness of God, our Lord, because He gave him to you andit was His wish to take him from you for His own good, and He hasplaced him in the glory of paradise. The second reason they aresad is because all the Moors are so nearby that they are afraidof losing their possessions and their lives, and as a lesser evilthat they will become captives of the infidel. That is why YourHighness and the empress must show smiling faces to everyone whosees you: to console them in their grief so that they will gathercourage to fight against the enemy."

  "The captain's advice is good," said the emperor. "It is my wishand my command that men as well as women shed their mourningimmediately."

  While the emperor was talking, Tirant's ears were attentive towhat he was saying, but his eyes were contemplating the greatbeauty of Carmesina. As the windows had been closed it was verywarm, so her blouse was partly open, exposing her breasts liketwo apples from the garden of Eden.

  They were like crystal and allowed Tirant's eyes to gainentrance, and they remained prisoners of this free personforever, until death separated them. The emperor took hisdaughter Carmesina by the hand and led her from the room. Thecaptain took the empress's arm, and they went into the other roomwhich was very nicely decorated and completely covered with worksof art depicting the following love-stories: Floris andBlanchfleur, Thisbe and Pyramus, Aeneas and Dido, Tristram andIsolde, Queen Guinevere and Lancelot, and many more whose loveswere displayed in very subtle and artistic paintings. And Tirantsaid to Ricart:

  "I never thought there could be as many wondrous things on thisearth as I am seeing."

  By this he meant, more than anything, the great beauty of theprincess. But Ricart did not understand him.

  Tirant took his leave of the others and went to his chambers. Heentered a bedroom and put his head on a pillow at one end of thebed. It was not long before someone came to ask him if he wishedto dine. Tirant said he did not, and that he had a headache. Hewas wounded by that passion that traps many. Diafebus, seeingthat he was not coming out, went into the room and said:

  "Captain, please, tell me what's the matter. I'll be glad tohelp you if I can."

  "My cousin," said Tirant, "the only thing wrong is that the seaair has left me with ardor."

  "Oh, captain! Are you going to keep things hidden from me? Ihave been the archive of all your good and bad fortune, and noware you keeping secrets from me? Tell me, I beg you. Don't hideanything from me."

  "Don't torment me even more," said Tirant. "I have never felt aworse illness than I do now."

  He turned over from shame, not daring to look Diafebus in theface, and no other words could come out of his mouth except:

  "I am in love."

  As he said this, tears flowed from his eyes. When Diafebus sawhow ashamed Tirant was he understood why, because Tirant hadalways reprimanded all of his kinsmen and all his friends on thesubject of love. And as Diafebus thought of the remedies forthis illness, he said:

  "Although you may think that it is difficult and strange to besubjugated by the yoke of love, you may be sure that no one canresist it. And so, my captain, the more intelligent a man is,the more he should hide his thoughts, and not reveal the pain andanguish that are attacking his mind."

  When Tirant saw the good advice that Diafebus was giving him, hegot up, feeling ashamed, and they went in to dinner, which wasexcellent, because the emperor had planned it. But Tirant couldnot eat. The others thought he was still feeling the ill effectsof the sea. And because of his great passion, Tirant left thetable and went into his room, sighing and ashamed of theconfusion that was overcoming him.

  Diafebus took another knight, and they went to the palace, not tosee the emperor but to see the ladies. The emperor, who wassitting near a window, saw them passing by, and sent word forthem to come up. Diafebus and the other knight went up to theemperor's rooms, and found him with all the ladies. The emperorasked what had become of their captain, and Diafebus told himthat he felt a little ill. When he heard it he was veryconcerned, and told his doctors to go at once to see him.

  When they returned, the doctors told the emperor that his illnesshad only been caused by the change of air. The magnanimousemperor begged Diafebus to tell him about all the celebrationsthat had taken place in England with the marriage of the king tothe daughter of the King of France, and about all the knights whohad jousted, and which ones had been victorious in the field.

  "My lord," said Diafebus, "I would be very grateful if YourMajesty would excuse me from telling about these things. Iwouldn't want Your Highness to think that because I'm a relativeof Tirant I would favor him. I will tell you what trulyhappened. And as proof, I have all the acts signed by the king,and the judges of the camp, and by many dukes, counts andmarquis, kings-of-arms, and heralds."

  The emperor begged him to have them brought immediately.Diafebus sent for them and told the emperor extensively about allthe celebrations, and he did the same about the jousts.Afterward they read the acts and they saw that Tirant had beenthe best of all the knights. The emperor was very pleased, andhis daughter Carmesina even more so, as were all the ladies whowere listening very attentively to all the magnificentchivalresque acts of Tirant. Afterward they wanted to knowabout the wedding of the princess of Sicily and the liberating ofthe Grand Master of Rhodes.

  When everything had been explained the emperor held counsel, ashe usually did for a half hour in the morning and one hour in theevening. Diafebus wanted to go with him, but the valiant lordwould not permit it and told him:

  "It is a well known fact that young knights have a greater desireto be with the ladies."

  He left, and Diafebus stayed behind, and they spoke of manythings.

  Princess Carmesina begged her mother, the empress, to let them goto another room where they could enjoy themselves, since they hadbeen inside a long while in mourning for her brother. Theempress said:

  "My child, you may go wherever you please."

  They all went to a marvelous hall built completely withbrick-work, done artfully and with delicate craftsmanship. Whenthe princess was in the hall, she drew apart from the others withDiafebus, and they began to talk about Tirant. When Diafebus sawthat she was speaking of Tirant with such interest, he quicklysaid:

  "Take everything that I say as a loyal servant, and keep it inthe most secret part of your heart: It was only the fame of YourHighness that brought Tirant here to see you and serve you.Don't imagine, Your Highness, that we have come at the request ofthe valiant King of Sicily, or because of the letters yourfather, the emperor, sent to the King of Sicily. And YourHighness should not imagine that we have come to test ourselvesin the exercise of arms, or because of the beauty of the land, orto see the imperial palaces. Your Highness, the reason for ourcoming was none other than the desire to
see you and to serveYour Majesty. And if wars and battles take place, it will all beto win your love and admiration."

  "Oh, wretched me," said the princess. "What are you saying tome? Shall I grow vain, thinking that all of you have comebecause of love of me, and not for the love of my father?"

  "In faith," said Diafebus, "on that I could swear that Tirant,our brother and lord, begged us to come with him to this land tosee the daughter of the emperor, whom he desired to see more thananything in the world. And the first time his eyes rested onYour Highness he was so overcome by the vision of Your Excellencythat he took to his bed."

  When Diafebus said these things to the princess she becamewithdrawn and remained deep in thought, and could not speak. Shewas half beside herself, her angelic face blushing, for femininefragility had so overtaken her that she could not utter a word.

  At that instant the emperor arrived and called Diafebus, and theyspoke of many things until the emperor wished to dine. Diafebusexcused himself, approached the princess, and asked Her Majestyif she would like to command him to do anything.

  "Yes," she said, "take these embraces of mine and keep them foryourself, and give part of them to Tirant."

  Diafebus drew near to her and did what she commanded.

  When Tirant heard that Diafebus had gone to the palace and wastalking to the princess, he wanted very much for him to come backso that he could have news of his lady. When he came into theroom, Tirant got up from the bed and said:

  "My good brother, what news do you bring me of the lady who hascaptured my heart?"

  When Diafebus saw Tirant's great love, he embraced him on behalfof his lady, and told him their entire conversation. Then Tirantwas happier than if he had been given a kingdom, and herecuperated so well that he ate well and was happy, and longedfor morning to come so he could go and see her.

  After Diafebus had left the princess, she remained lost inthought, and she had to leave her father's side and go into herchambers. The daughter of the Duke of Macedonia was namedStephanie. She was a young lady whom the princess loved deeply,because they had been raised together from the time they werevery small, and they were both the same age. When she saw thatthe princess had gone into her chambers, she left the table andfollowed her. When they were together the princess told hereverything Diafebus had said to her, and about the great passionshe felt from Tirant's love.

  "I tell you that I have been more pleased by the vision of thisman than all the men I have ever seen in the whole world. He istall, of excellent disposition, and he shows his great spirit byhis manners, and the words that come out of his mouth aredelightful. I think he is more courteous and agreeable thananyone I have ever known. Who wouldn't love a man like that?And to think that he came here more out of love for me than formy father's sake! Truly, my heart is inclined to obey all hiscommands, and the signs indicate that he will be my life and mysalvation."

  Stephanie said:

  "My lady, from among those who are good, choose the best.Knowing his extraordinary feats of chivalry, there is no lady ormaiden in the world who would not love him and obey his everywish."

  While they were engaged in this delightful conversation, theother maidens came in, along with Widow Repose, who was veryconcerned with Carmesina since she had suckled her. She askedthem what they were discussing, and the princess said:

  "We were talking about what that knight was saying--about thegreat celebrations and honors that were given in England to allthe foreigners who were there."

  And they spent the night speaking of these and other things sothat the princess slept neither a little nor a great deal.

  The following day Tirant put on a cloak of gold braid, and in hishand he carried the gold captain's stick. All the rest of hiscountrymen dressed in brocades and silks, and they all went tothe palace.

  When the emperor heard that his captain had come, he told them tolet him enter. As he came in the emperor was dressing and theprincess was combing his hair. Then she brought him water towash his hands, as she did every day. The princess was dressedin a skirt of gold thread.

  When the emperor had finished dressing he said to Tirant:

  "Tell me, captain, what was the illness you were suffering fromyesterday?"

  "Your Majesty, my affliction was brought about entirely by theardor of the sea, for the winds of these lands are finer than arethose of the west."

  The princess replied before the emperor could speak:

  "Sire, that ardor does no harm to foreigners if they behave asthey should; instead it brings them health and a long life."

  As she spoke these words she looked steadfastly at Tirant,smiling at him so that he could see she had understood him.

  The emperor and the captain left the chamber together, talking asthey went, and the princess took Diafebus' hand, and holding himback, she said:

  "After what you told me yesterday I have not slept all nightlong."

  "My lady, what can I tell you? We've had our share as well. ButI am very happy that you understood Tirant."

  "How could you think," said the princess, "that Greek women areof less worth than the French? In this land all women understandyour Latin, no matter how obscurely you speak."

  "That is why," said Diafebus, "we are more content havingconversations with intelligent people."

  "As far as conversations go," said the princess, "you will soonsee the truth, and you'll see if we understand your wiles."

  The princess ordered Stephanie to bring other maidens to keepDiafebus company, and many young ladies quickly appeared. Whenthe princess saw him well engaged, she went back into her chamberto finish dressing. Meanwhile Tirant accompanied the emperor tothe great church of Saint Sophia, and then left him there sayingprayers, and returned to the palace to be with the empress andCarmesina. When he was in the great hall he found his cousinDiafebus there, surrounded by many maidens, and telling themabout the love between Philippe and the daughter of the King ofSicily. Diafebus was so accustomed to being in the company ofmaidens, that it seemed as though he had been raised with themfrom birth.

  When they saw Tirant come in they all stood up and welcomed him;then they made him sit with them, and they talked of many things.Then the empress came out, and she took Tirant aside and askedhim about his illness. Tirant told her that he was much betternow. It was not long before the princess came out.

  Tirant took the empress's arm because, as captain, he heldprecedence over the others. There were many counts and marquisthere, men of high position, and they went to the princess totake her arm, and she said:

  "I want no one at my side except my brother Diafebus."

  They all left her, and he took her arm. But God knows thatTirant would much rather have been near the princess than nearthe empress. As they went to the church, Diafebus told theprincess:

  "Look, Your Highness, how spirits attract."

  The infanta said:

  "Why do you say that?"

  "My lady," said Diafebus, "because Your Excellency has on asequined dress, embroidered with large pearls, and thesentimental heart of Tirant brings what it needs. Oh, howfortunate I would feel if I could place that cloak over thisdress!"

  As they were very near the empress, he pulled Tirant's cloak.When he felt his cloak being tugged, he stopped, and Diafebusplaced the cloak over the princess's dress, and said:

  'My lady, now the stone is in its place."

  "Oh, wretched me!" said the princess. "Have you gone mad, orhave you lost your senses?" Are you so shameless that you saythese things in front of so many people?"

  "No, my lady," said Diafebus. "No one hears or notices or seesanything, and I could say the Pater Noster backward and no onewould understand me."

  "You must," said the princess, "have learned about honor inschool, where they read that famous poet, Ovid, who speaks oftrue love in all his books. If you knew what tree the fruits oflove and honor are plucked from, and if you knew the customs ofthis land, you would be a very fortunate man."


  As she was saying this they reached the church. The empress wentbehind the curtain, but the princess did not want to go in,saying that it was very hot. The truth was that she did not goin so that she could observe Tirant at her pleasure. He wentnear the altar where there were many dukes and counts, and theyall gave him the honor of being first because of his station. Hesaid mass on his knees, and when the princess saw him kneeling onthe ground, she took one of the brocade pillows that had beenplaced there for her, and gave it to one of the maidens to giveto Tirant. The emperor saw his daughter performing thatcourteous act, and he was very pleased. When Tirant saw thepillow that the maiden was giving him to kneel on, he stood upand then, with his cap in his hand, he bowed deeply on one kneeto the princess.

  Do not imagine that during the entire mass the princess couldfinish saying her Hours as she looked at Tirant and all his mendressed in the French fashion. When Tirant had gazed at thestriking beauty of the princess, he let his mind play over allthe ladies and maidens he could remember seeing, and he thoughtto himself that he had never seen or hoped to see anyone as wellendowed by nature as she, for in lineage, in beauty, in grace, inwealth, along with infinite wisdom, she seemed more angelic thanhuman.

  When mass was finished they returned to the palace, and Tiranttook his leave of the emperor and of the ladies, and went to hisquarters with his men. As they reached their quarters he wentinto his chamber and fell upon the bed, thinking of theprincess's great beauty. And her beautiful features only servedto make him feel worse: so that while he had felt one painbefore, he now felt one hundred. Diafebus went into the chamber,and when he saw him with such a sad face he said:

  "My captain, you are the most extraordinary knight I have everseen in my life. Anyone else would hold a great celebration forall the joy they had when they saw their lady. And the flatteryand honor she paid you--more than to all the great lords there.And then she presented the brocade pillow to you with such graceand love in everyone's presence. Here, when you should feel likethe most fortunate man in the world, you seem to have lost allreason."

  When Tirant heard Diafebus' comforting words he said in amournful voice:

  "The reason my heart is grieving is that I am in love, and Idon't know if my love will be returned. This is what torments memost, and makes my heart colder than ice. I have no hope ofgaining my desire, because fortune always opposes those who arein love."

  When Diafebus saw how tormented Tirant was, he would not let himcontinue, and he said:

  "If you keep on behaving that way, infamy will follow you therest of your life. And if this should reach the emperor's ears,God forbid, what would happen to you and the rest of us? Hewould say that you fell in love with his daughter the day youarrived in order to bring shame to his entire realm, the crownand the empire. So, my captain, use your discretion, and don'tlet anyone guess you're in love."

  Tirant listened to the wise words of Diafebus, and he was veryglad to have the advice of his good friend and relative. Hethought for a moment, and then got out of bed and went to thehall to join his men who had been surprised at Tirant'sdiscourteous behavior.

  After they had eaten he begged Diafebus to go to the palace andgive the infanta some very singular Hours he had, from Paris,which had solid gold covers and were very delicately decorated.They also had an ingenious lock so that when the key was removedno one could see where it opened. Diafebus wrapped the Hours andgave them to a page to carry. When Diafebus was in the palace hefound the emperor in the ladies' chamber, and following Tirant'sinstructions, he told him:

  "Your Majesty, your captain begs your permission to go see theMoorish camp within a few days. And he also sends Your Highnessthese Hours. If you don't care for them, he says they should begiven to one of the infanta's maidens."

  As soon as the emperor saw them he was astonished at theiruniqueness. "This," said the emperor, "can only belong to amaiden of the royal family."

  He gave them to his daughter, Carmesina. She was very happybecause the Hours were so beautiful, and also because they wereTirant's, and she stood up and said:

  "Sire, would Your Majesty approve if we sent for the captain andthe minstrels, and had a small party? The mourning and thissadness have lasted such a long time."

  "My dearest daughter, don't you know that I have no otherconsolation in this world except you and Isabel, the Queen ofHungary who, for my sins, is absent from my sight? And since myson died I have no other worldly good but you. All the happinessyou can have will bring me peace in my old age."

  The infanta quickly sent a page for Tirant and had Diafebus sitnext to her. When Tirant received his lady's command he left hisquarters and went to the emperor, who asked him to dance with hisdaughter, Carmesina. The dancing lasted nearly till evening whenthe emperor wanted to dine. Then Tirant returned to his lodgingvery happily, because he had danced continuously with the infantaand she had said many delightful things to him.

  The following day the emperor held a great banquet for Tirant.All the dukes, counts and marquis ate at the table with him, theemperor and his daughter. The rest ate at other tables. Whenthe meal was over there was dancing. After they had danced for awhile came the collation. Then the emperor had them mount theirhorses so he could show Tirant the entire city.

  Afterward the emperor called for a general council, and he toldhis daughter to be there because many times he had said to her:

  "My daughter, why don't you come to the council often so that youwill know how it is conducted? After I die you will need to knowhow to rule your land."

  The princess went, both to see how the council was run and tohear Tirant talk. And when everyone was seated at the council,the emperor spoke to Tirant.

  "I beg you, captain, to prepare for battle with our enemies, theGenoese. We have received news that Genoese ships, coming fromTuscany and Lombardy, have reached the port of Aulis, filled withsoldiers, horses and provisions. Our own ships have reached theisland of Euboea, and I believe they will soon be here."

  Tirant took off his cap and said:

  "Command me to go against the Genoese whenever you wish, YourMajesty. I am ready."

  "I'll tell you what you must do for now," said the emperor. "Goto where my judgment seat is. I want you to sit on it, listen tothe cases brought before you and judge them with mercy."

  One of the members of the council named Montsalvat stood up andsaid:

  "Sire, Your Majesty should take a closer look at these matters,for there are three obstacles. First, the Duke of Macedoniashould not be deprived of his rights: he has the captaincy, andit is his privilege since he is closer to the throne. Second, itshould not be given to a foreigner who has no official positionin the empire. Third, before the soldiers leave here they shouldmake a pilgrimage, bearing gifts to the island where Paris stoleHelen, for that is how the Greeks were victorious over theTrojans in ancient times."

  The emperor could not tolerate the knight's foolish words, and hesaid very angrily:

  "If it were not for the respect I have for our Heavenly Father Iwould have you beheaded. It would fit all your merits, and itwould be a sacrifice to God and an example to this world, becauseyou are a wicked Christian. It is my command that Tirant, who isour captain now, be above all our captains: he deserves itbecause of his virtue and shining chivalry. The Duke ofMacedonia, who is cowardly and inept at war, never knew how towin a battle. The person I designate will be captain, and anyonewho contradicts him will receive my punishment in such a way thatthey will be remembered throughout the world."

  The emperor stood up, and would not hear another word fromanyone. He had a proclamation read throughout the city thatanyone having a complaint against anyone else should go to thehall of justice the following day and from that day forward, andjustice would be meted out.

  The following day the captain sat on the imperial judgment seat,and heard everyone with a complaint, and made judgments on themall. For from the time the Grand Turk and the Moorish sultanhad come into the empir
e no justice at all had been given.

  Two weeks after Tirant came, all the emperor's ships arrived,carrying men, wheat and horses. Before the arrival of the shipsthe emperor presented the captain with eighty-three large andbeautiful horses, and many suits of armor. Tirant had Diafebuscome up first so he could choose from the weapons and horses.Then Ricart made his choice, and finally all the others, whileTirant took nothing for himself.

  Tirant was deeply in love with the princess, and his sufferingincreased daily. His love was so great that when he was with herhe did not dare talk to her about anything concerning love. Andthe day for his departure was drawing near, for they were waitingonly for the horses to recover from the hardships they hadendured at sea.

  The discreet princess knew about Tirant's love. She sent a pageto ask Tirant to be at the palace at noon because that was thetime when all the others would be resting. When Tirant receivedhis lady's command, he was the happiest man in the world. Heimmediately sent for Diafebus, to give him the news, and to tellhim that she wanted only the two of them to go. Diafebus said:

  "Captain, I am very pleased at this beginning, even though Idon't know what the end will bring."

  At the appointed hour the two knights went up to the palace andquietly entered the princess's chamber, hoping to have victory.When she saw them she was very happy. She stood up and tookTirant's hand, and made him sit next to her. Then Diafebus tookStephanie by one arm and Widow Repose by the other, and led themaside so they would not hear what the princess was saying toTirant. The princess smiled and softly said:

  "Since you are a foreigner I would not want you to come to anyharm unknowingly. I know you came to this land at the bidding ofthe King of Sicily, because he had confidence in your merits.But he could not tell you of the danger that might befall you,because he did not know about it."

  Tirant answered:

  "So that you will not think me ungrateful for what you aretelling me, I kiss your hands and feet, and I promise to doeverything Your Highness commands me."

  Tirant begged her to give him her hand so he could kiss it, butshe would not. Then he insisted several times, and when he sawthat she still would not, he called Widow Repose and Stephanie.To satisfy the captain they begged her to allow him to kiss herhand. She did it this way: not wanting to let him kiss the backof her hand, she opened it so he would kiss the palm. Becausekissing the palm is a sign of love, and kissing the back of thehand is a sign of dominance. Then the princess said to him:

  "Blessed knight, may merciful God keep you from the hands of thatravenous lion, the Duke of Macedonia: he is a cruel and enviousman, and very knowledgeable about treachery. He is infamous forthe fact that he has only killed people wickedly. It is wellknown that he killed that valiant knight, my brother. When mybrother was fighting courageously against the enemy, he came upbehind him and cut the straps of his helmet so that his headwould be uncovered, and he was killed by the Moors. A greattraitor like him should be feared. And so, virtuous knight, Iadvise you, when you are in battle, be wary of him. Don't trusthim even while you are eating or sleeping."

  It happened one day at dinner time that Tirant found the empressand the princess still at the table. He came into the hall andserved the empress and her daughter as steward and cup-bearer,since this was his privilege as captain. When Tirant saw thatthe meal was nearly over, he asked the empress to clear up amatter he was uncertain about. The empress answered that if shecould she would do it very gladly.

  "Tell me, my lady," said Tirant, "for a knight, which is mosthonorable, to die well or to die badly, since he must die?"

  And he said not a word more. The princess said:

  "Holy Mother of God! What a question to ask my mother. Everyoneknows it's better to die well than to die badly."

  Then Tirant struck the table with his clenched fist and muttered,"So be it," so softly that they could barely hear him. Withoutanother word he got up and went to his lodgings. And everyonewas left astonished at Tirant's behavior.

  The following day the princess was feeling very upset by whatTirant had said. In the morning, while the emperor was at masswith all the ladies, Tirant went into the church for prayer, andhe told the emperor:

  "Sire, the galleys are ready to go to Cyprus to bring backprovisions. Does Your Majesty want them to leave?"

  The emperor said:

  "I wish they were one hundred miles out to sea right now!"

  Tirant quickly went to the port to give the order for them to setsail. When the princess saw Tirant leaving, she called Diafebusand asked him to give Tirant the message that after he had eatenhe should come to see her immediately, because she wanted verymuch to talk to him, and that later they would dance.

  When Tirant heard the news he considered at once what it mightmean. He had the most beautiful mirror bought that could befound, and put it inside his sleeve. When he thought it wasabout time, they went to the palace and found the emperor talkingto his daughter. The emperor saw them coming and sent for hisminstrels, and they danced for a good while. After watching themfor a time the emperor withdrew to his chambers. The princessimmediately stopped dancing, and taking Tirant by the hand theysat at a window. The princess said:

  "Virtuous knight, I have great pity for you, seeing how disturbedyou are. Tell me, I beg you, what is troubling you."

  "My lady, since Your Highness is forcing me to tell you, I canonly say that I am in love."

  He said nothing more, and lowered his eyes.

  "Tell me, Tirant," said the princess, "who is the lady that iscausing you so much pain? If I can help you in any way, I willbe very glad to."

  Tirant put his hand in his sleeve, drew out the mirror, and said:

  "My lady, the face you will see here can bring me life or death."

  The princess quickly took the mirror, and with hurried steps shewent into her chamber, thinking she would find a portrait of somewoman in the mirror. But she saw only her own face. Then shewas astonished that a lady could be courted in this way, withoutwords.

  While she was happily reflecting on what Tirant had done, WidowRepose and Stephanie came in. They found the princess sittingwith the mirror in her hands, and they said to her: "My lady,where did you get such a pretty mirror?"

  The princess told them about the way Tirant had declared his lovefor her, and she said she had never heard of it being donebefore:

  "Not even in all the story books I've read have I ever found sucha graceful declaration. How knowledgeable these foreigners are!"

  Widow Repose answered:

  "Tell me, my lady, should Your Highness be paying as muchattention as you are to a servant your father has taken into hishouse nearly out of charity, and who was thrown out by thatfamous king of Sicily, along with other foreigners wearing goldand silk clothes they've borrowed? Do you want to lose your goodreputation for a man like him?"

  The princess was very upset by what the Widow had said, and shewent into her chambers nearly crying. Stephanie went with her,telling her not to be so upset, and consoling her as best shecould.

  "Isn't it terrible?" said the princess. "Here I am, scolded bythe very mistress who nursed me! What if she had seen me doingsomething really bad? I believe she would have sent out a crierto advertise it in the court and to the entire city. I trust Godthat her wicked, dishonest, cursing tongue will have thepunishment it deserves."

  "It's normal," said Stephanie, "for maidens in the court to beloved and courted, and for them to have three kinds of love:virtuous, profitable and vicious. The first one, which isvirtuous, is when some grandee loves a maiden, and she feels veryhonored when others know that he dances, jousts, or goes intobattle for her love. The second is profitable, and it is whensome gentleman or knight of ancient and virtuous lineage loves amaiden and sways her to him with gifts. The third is vicious,when the maiden loves the gentleman or knight for her ownpleasure, and he is generous in words that give her life for ayear, but if they go too far they can end in a heavily curtainedbed
among perfumed sheets where she can spend an entire winter'snight. This last kind of love seems much better to me than theothers."

  When the princess heard Stephanie say such witty things, shebegan to smile and most of her melancholy left her. While theywere talking the empress asked where her daughter was, since shehad not seen her for a long time. She went out into the hall andmet the empress who asked her why her eyes were red.

  "My lady," said the princess, "all day long today I've had aheadache."

  She made her sit on her knees, and kissed her at length.

  The following day Tirant said to Diafebus:

  "My brother, go to the palace, I beg you, and talk to theprincess.

  See if you can find out how she felt about the mirror."

  Diafebus went at once and met the emperor going to mass. When itwas over Diafebus went up to the princess, and she asked him whathad become of Tirant.

  "My lady," said Diafebus, "he left his lodging to go sit in thejudgment seat."

  "If you only know," said the princess, "the trick he played onme! He declared his love for me with a mirror. Just let me seehim and I'll tell him a few things he won't like "

  "Oh my good lady!" said Diafebus. "Tirant brought a flaming logand found no wood to burn here."

  "Yes," said the princess, "but the log has gotten wet. However,here in this palace you'll find a bigger and better one thatgives much more warmth than the one you're talking about. It's alog called Loyalty, and it's very tender and dry, and it giveshappiness to anyone who can warm themselves by it."

  "My lady, let us do this," said Diafebus. "If it pleases YourHighness, let us take some of yours which is good and dry, andsome of ours which is wet and moist, and let us make a shape inyour likeness and Tirant's "

  "No," said the princess, "it isn't a good idea to make twoopposites into one."

  And they joked in this way until they had returned to herchamber. Then Diafebus took his leave and went back to hislodgings where he told Tirant everything he and the princess hadsaid.

  After they had eaten Tirant knew that the emperor must be asleep,so he and Diafebus went to the palace. Through a windowStephanie saw them coming, and she quickly went to tell theprincess:

  "My lady, our knights are coming now."

  The princess came out of the chamber. When Tirant saw his lady,he made a deep bow before her. The princess returned hisgreeting with a less pleasant expression than usual. Tirant wasnot very happy at the lady's expression, and in a low voice, hesaid:

  "Lady, full of perfection, I beg Your Excellency to tell me whatyou are thinking. I don't believe I have seen Your Highnessbehave this way for many days."

  "My behavior," said the princess, "cannot please God, and muchless the world, but I will tell you the reason, and your lack ofknowledge and goodness will be revealed. What will people sayabout you when they hear of this? That the emperor's daughter,who is in such a lofty position, has been courted by his captainwhom he loved deeply and trusted. You have not kept the honorand reverence you are obligated to have for me. Instead you haveacted with bad faith and dishonest love."

  She got up to go back into her chambers. When Tirant saw thatshe was leaving he caught up to her, took hold of her shawl, andbegged her to listen to him. Stephanie and Diafebus pleaded withher so much that she sat down again, and Tirant said:

  "If there was any fault, you must forgive me, for love hasabsolute control over me. Doesn't Your Highness remember the daywhen the empress was present and I asked if it was better to diewell or to die badly? And Your Majesty answered that it wasbetter to die well than badly. I knew that if I did not let youknow of my suffering, one night they would find me dead in thecorner of my room, and if I did tell you, I would come to thepoint where I am now. And so, on my knees, I ask only that aftermy death your angelic hands dress me, and that you write letterson my tomb that say this: Here Lies Tirant lo Blanc Who Died ofGreat Love."

  His eyes became a sea of tears, and sighing painfully he got upfrom the princess's feet, and left the chamber to go to hislodging. When the princess saw him leaving so disconsolately,she began to cry uncontrollably, and she sighed and sobbed sothat none of her maidens could console her. Then she said:

  "Come here, my faithful maiden, you know how to have pity on mytorment. Poor me, what shall I do? I think he is going to killhimself. That's what he told me, and his heart is so lofty andnoble that he will do it.

  Have pity on me, my Stephanie; go run to Tirant and beg him forme not to do anything, for I am very displeased at what he toldme."

  The princess was crying helplessly while she said this. To carryout her lady's wishes, Stephanie took a maiden with her and wentto Tirant's lodging, which was very near the palace. She went tohis room and found him taking off a brocade cloak, with Diafebusat his side, consoling him.

  When Stephanie saw him in his doublet she thought he had takenoff his clothes to place his body in the grave. Stephanie threwherself at Tirant's feet as if he were her real lord, and shesaid to him:

  "My lord, Tirant, what are you trying to do to yourself? HerMajesty was saying all that just to tease you, I swear it."

  She was silent and said no more. When Tirant saw Stephaniekneeling down, he at once knelt beside her. He did this becauseshe was a maiden who served the emperor's daughter, and even morebecause she was the emperor's niece, daughter of the Duke ofMacedonia, the greatest duke in all Greece.

  Tirant replied:

  "Death does not bother me when I think I'll be dying for such alady. By dying I will come back to life in glorious fame, forpeople will say that Tirant lo Blanc died of love for the mostbeautiful and virtuous lady in the world. So, my lady, I beg youto go away and leave me with my pain."

  The princess was in undescribable anguish when she saw thatStephanie was not coming back with news of Tirant. Not beingable to endure it, she called one of her maidens, namedPlaerdemavida. She took a veil and put it over her head so shewould not be recognized, and went down the stairs to the garden.With the garden door open, she went to the house where Tirantwas, without being seen by anyone. When she saw Tirant andStephanie on their knees, talking, she knelt down too and said:

  "I beg you, Tirant, if my tongue said things that offended you,do not keep them in your heart. I want you to forget everythingI told you in anger, and I beg your forgiveness."

  When Tirant saw his lady speaking with so much love, he was thehappiest man in the world. Stephanie said

  "Since peace has been made, my lady, I promised him that YourHighness would let him kiss your hair."

  "I will be very happy," said the princess, "to have him kiss myeyes and my forehead if he promises me, upon his word as aknight, not to do anything untoward."

  Tirant promised very willingly, and swore it, and their sadnessturned into great happiness and contentment. The princess,accompanied by Tirant and Diafebus, quickly went to the garden.The princess told Plaerdemavida to have all the other maidenscome, and in a short time they were all in the garden, and WidowRepose with them. She had seen all the moves and suffered deeplybecause of the princess, and with her own involvement in thematter she had even more to think about. The emperor soon sawTirant and his daughter in the garden. He went down to thegarden and said to Tirant:

  "Captain, I sent for you at your lodging, but they didn't findyou there. I'm glad to see you here."

  "My lord," said Tirant, "I asked for Your Majesty, but they toldme Your Highness was sleeping. So that I wouldn't awaken you Icame here with these knights to dance or practice some sport."

  "What a black, evil sport we have!" said the emperor. "We musthold a council: it is very important."

  He gave the order for the council bell to be rung. When everyonein the imperial council was together, the emperor had theemissary come forward, and said that everyone should know the badnews because it was not something that could be kept secret.Then he ordered the emissary to explain his mission. Making ahumble bow he said:

  "M
ost excellent lord, last Thursday night, fourteen thousand mencame on foot and concealed themselves in a large meadow. Becauseof all the water there the grass grew very tall, and no onecould see them. When the sun rose we saw horses and Turkishhorsemen who must have numbered, in all, one thousand fourhundred, more or less, together in a part of the water. The Dukeof Macedonia, a very haughty man of little intelligence as hisactions show, had the trumpets blow so that everyone would mounttheir horses. The constable and the others, who know more aboutwar than he does, protested and told him not to leave. But nomatter what they said he would not obey anyone. He went up tothe river with all his men, and he ordered them to cross, boththose on horseback and those on foot. The water came up to thehorses' cinches and there were even places where they had toswim.

  "Near the enemy's side there was a bank that the horses had greatdifficulty in climbing, and the enemy met them there. At theslightest advance that the soldiers or their horses made, theyquickly fell into the water and were not able to get up, and theywere all swept down river. If the duke had only gone one mileupstream all his men would have been able to get across withoutgetting wet. The enemy drew back a little so that the men wouldcome across, and they pretended to retreat to a small hill there,and the duke used all his forces to try to take them. When themen in ambush saw the Greeks fighting so boldly, they came outfuriously and fell into the thick of the Christians, spillingtheir blood. The duke could not take the fierce battle anylonger and he secretly fled without doing much harm to the enemy.And those who were able to escape went with him.

  "After their victory the Moors laid siege to the city. The GrandTurk himself came, along with the Moorish sultan and all thekings that had come to aid them, and all the dukes, counts andmarquis of Italy and Lombardy who were mercenaries. As soon asthe sultan heard the news he gave himself the title of Emperor ofGreece, and said he would not lift the siege until he had takenthe duke and all those with him prisoner, and that he would thencome here to attack this city. I can tell you, Sire, that theduke has provisions for only one month, a month and a half atmost.

  So, my lord, Your Majesty must look into what we should do aboutall this."

  Tirant said:

  "Tell me, knight, upon your honor, how many men were lost inbattle?"

  The knight answered:

  "Captain, it is known that of the men killed in battle, those whowere drowned and those taken prisoner, we've lost eleven thousandseven hundred twenty-two men."

  The emperor said:

  "Captain, I beg you to do whatever has to be done, out ofreverence for God and love of me, so that you can leave infifteen or twenty days with all your men to help those miserablepeople."

  "Oh, Sire!" said Tirant. "How can Your Majesty say that we won'thave left in twenty days? In that time the enemy could attackthe city, and they are so powerful that they could invade it."

  Tirant again asked the emissary how many men there might be inthe enemy's forces. The emissary answered:

  "In faith, there are many Turks and they are very skillful inwarfare, and are cruel, ferocious men. In our opinion andaccording to what some prisoners say, they number more than eighthundred thousand."

  "My feeling," said Tirant, "is that a royal proclamation shouldbe read throughout the city. All those who have hired themselvesout, and those who want to, should go to the Imperial House toreceive their payment, and they should all be ready to leave insix days."

  The emperor thought that was good advice, and he thanked Tirant.As soon as the proclamation was read, all the grandees outsidethe city were notified and they were all soon there with theirhorses rested. And those who had come from Sicily were ready.The bad news of the losses that had been sustained ran throughoutthe city, and many of the townsfolk, both men and women, gatheredin the market square. Some were crying for their brothers,others for their sons, some for their friends and relatives, andstill others for the destruction of the empire. Most of theempire was lost, and the hope of the emperor and those around himwas placed only in God. They were afraid there would be greatstarvation and thirst because of the enemy's victory, and thatthe city would be burned, and they could imagine themselves incaptivity and miserable slavery. Two of the empire's baronstold the emperor that he should send his daughter Carmesina toHungary to be with her sister.

  When Tirant heard these words, his face turned pale as death.All the maidens and even the emperor noticed, and he asked Tirantwhat had made his color change so much.

  "Sire," said Tirant, "I've had a bad stomachache all day today."

  The emperor had his doctors come immediately to give him somemedicine. When the emperor saw that Tirant was all right, heturned to Carmesina and said to her:

  "My daughter, what do you think of the things the council hassaid about you? In my opinion, it would be a good idea, becauseif the empire and all its people were lost, you would be safe."

  The discreet lady answered her father, saying:

  "Oh, merciful father! Your Highness should not allow me to beseparated from you. I prefer to die near Your Majesty and in myown land than to be wealthy and living a life of pain and sorrowin a foreign land."

  When the emperor heard such discreet and loving words from hisdaughter he was very pleased.

  On the morning of the following day the banners were blessed witha great procession and celebration. All the men armed themselvesand mounted their horses to depart.

  When the emperor saw all the men outside he called the captainfrom his window and told him not to leave. He wanted to talk tohim, and he had some letters for him to give to the Duke ofMacedonia and a few others. As soon as the foot soldiers andthose on horseback were outside the city, Tirant returned andwent upstairs to the emperor's chambers. He found him in hischamber with the secretary, writing, and did not want to disturbhim.

  When the princess saw Tirant, she called to him and said:

  "Captain, I see that you are ready to leave. I pray that Godwill give you an honorable victory."

  Tirant knelt before her and thanked her for her words. And hekissed her hand as a token of good luck. Then the princess said:

  "Is there anything you would like from me, Tirant, before youleave? Tell me if there is, for I will grant you whatever youwish."

  "My lady," said Tirant, "I would only like Your Highness to do methe favor of giving me this blouse you are wearing, because it isclosest to your precious skin. And I would like to take it offwith my own hands."

  "Holy Mary, protect me!" said the princess. "What are youtelling me? I'll be very happy to give you my blouse, my jewels,my clothes, and everything I have. But it would not be right foryour hands to touch me where no one else has ever touched."

  She quickly went to her room, and took off the blouse and put onanother. She went out to the great hall where she found Tirantjoking with the maidens. She took him aside and gave him theblouse, kissing it many times to make him more content. Tiranttook it very happily and went to his lodging. And he told themaidens:

  "If the emperor calls me, tell him I'll be right back, that I'vegone to arm myself so that I can leave quickly."

  When Tirant was at his lodging he finished arming himself, and hefound Diafebus and Ricart there. They had come back to put onthe coats of arms that had been made, of metal plates.

  Then the three knights went to take their leave of the emperorand of all the ladies. When they went upstairs they found theemperor waiting for the captain to come, because he wanted todine with him. When the emperor saw Tirant, he said:

  "Captain, what coat of arms is this that you're wearing?"

  "My lord," said Tirant, "if you knew what was in it, you would beastonished."

  "I would like very much to know about it," said the emperor.

  "Its force," said Tirant, "is to do well. When I left my land amaiden gave it to me, and she is the most beautiful maiden in theworld. I'm not speaking in offense of the princess here, or ofthe other ladies of honor."

  The emperor s
aid:

  "It is true that no good feat of arms was ever accomplishedunless it was for love."

  "I promise you," said Tirant, "on my word as a knight, that in myfirst battle I will make friends and enemies marvel at it."

  The emperor sat down to eat, as did the empress and her daughter,and the captain sat beside her. And he had the two knights sitat another table with all the ladies and maidens. Then they allate with great pleasure, and especially Tirant who shared a platewith his lady.

  CHAPTER V

  THE BATTLEFIELD

  Tirant then took his leave of all the ladies and the othersthere. When the three knights were outside the city they gavetheir chargers to the pages and mounted other horses. Within ashort time they reached the soldiers. Each knight went to hissquadron, and Tirant went from one squadron to another, directingthem constantly to stay in order.

  That day they traveled five leagues. They set up their tents ina beautiful meadow where there was water. After they had eaten,Tirant had two thousand pikesmen keep watch until midnight, andhe sent men along the road to see if they heard soldiers oranything else. Tirant kept watch over the camp, moving fromplace to place. At the hour of midnight he had two thousandother pikesmen take the place of those on watch, and he would notlet them have pages, but made them all arm as if they were goinginto battle at any moment.

  When Tirant was in a war he never took off his clothes except tochange his shirt. Every morning, two hours before sunrise, hehad the trumpets blow for the men to saddle their horses and tohold mass. Then the entire camp would arm themselves and quicklymount. At dawn they would all be ready to leave. They kept upthis routine until they were a league and a half from the enemy,in a city named Pelidas, which was in danger daily ofsurrendering to the powerful Turks.

  When they found out that soldiers were coming to their aid theywere very happy, and they opened the gates to the city. Thecaptain did not want to go in during the day so they would not beseen, but he did not do it secretly enough to avoid being heard.And the first to be notified that soldiers had gone into the cityof Pelidas was the Grand Turk, but he did not know how many therewere. The Grand Turk went at once to tell the Moorish sultan,who sent four men toward the city of Pelidas as spies to find outwhat they could about the men who had gone in.

  The next day Tirant took a man with him who knew the countrysidevery well, and they rode out as secretly as they could, and drewnear the camp by back roads. From a hill they could see both thecity and the camp.

  The Moorish sultan was at one end, and the Grand Turk at theother.

  They recognized him by the large, painted tents they saw. Whenthey had looked the situation over very carefully, they returnedto the city. On the way back they saw the Moorish guards.

  When they were back in the city and had dismounted, Tirant wentto the square where he found most of the townspeople, and he toldthem:

  "Come here, my brothers. We have just been spying on the enemycamp, and on our way back we saw four of the camp guards. Foreach guard you bring to me alive I'll give you five hundredducats, and if you bring his head I'll give you three hundred.How many of you want to go?"

  Seven men who knew the land well volunteered immediately. Theyleft at night so no one would see them, and when they hadtraveled a good distance one of them said:

  "Why don't we go to the spring near here, and cover ourselveswith branches? The Moors are certain to come here to drinkaround noon with all this heat, and that way they'll fall intoour hands."

  They agreed to do that, and they kept a very close watch fromtheir hiding place. When the sun came out they saw the Moors ontop of the hill. As the sun grew hotter they became thirsty andwent to the spring for water. When they arrived one of theChristians who was hidden said:

  "Let's not move until they have drunk and are full of water: thatway they won't be able to run very fast."

  And that is what they did. When the Moors had drunk and eatentheir fill the Christians fell upon them with loud cries, andimmediately caught three of them. One tried to escape. Whenthey saw that they could not catch him they shot at him with acrossbow. The arrow pierced his side, and he fell to the ground.They cut off his head and stuck it to the point of a lance. Thenthey tied the hands of the others and took them to their captain.When Tirant saw them he was very pleased, and he took the threeMoors and had them closely guarded.

  Tirant had ordered everyone to eat early that day, and to saddlethe horses and arm themselves so they would be ready to leave.He had all the men go out of the city in order, both the footsoldiers and those riding horses. Behind them came threethousand men with the mares. When they were near the Moors' camphe had all the soldiers go to one side so the mares could pass bywithout the other horses sensing them.

  When the mares were at the entrance to the camp all the footsoldiers went in with them, and they divided into two groups: onewent toward the Moorish sultan and the other toward the GrandTurk. Then the camp horses noticed the mares: some got loose,others broke their halters, and others tore out the stakes thatheld them fast. You should have seen the horses running loosethrough the camp: some here, some there, and all of them afterthe mares.

  When this melee had gone on for a good while and the entire campwas in confusion because of the horses, Tirant came and fell onpart of it with half his men. Then the Duke of Pera and his menattacked the other side, calling on that glorious knight, SaintGeorge.

  Finally the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk and their men fledto the mountain while the others went to the plain. Tirantpursued them relentlessly, and he and his men killed everyonethey caught, giving quarter to no one. All those who went to themountain reached it safely, and those who went to the plain wereeither killed or taken prisoner.

  They pursued them for three leagues, and those heading for themountain (where the road was shorter) came to a river with awooden bridge where they could cross safely. When the sultan andsome of his men had crossed over and they saw the Christiansclose behind, they broke the bridge in the middle. Then thosewho had not yet crossed were lost while those who had alreadycrossed the bridge were safe.

  The Duke of Macedonia heard of Tirant's victory, and how none ofthe enemy were left except those who were badly wounded and couldnot flee. So he and his men went out and sacked the camp, andthey found large amounts of gold and silver, clothing, weaponsand many jewels. When they had taken everything, they put theirbooty in the town. The duke left soldiers to guard it, and hegave orders that if Tirant or any of his men came, they shouldnot be allowed inside. When they had put away everything theyhad stolen, the duke took the route to the plain, and he and hismen were astonished at all the dead bodies they saw.

  The guards at the camp told the captain that armed men wereapproaching quickly. Tirant had all his soldiers mount theirhorses, and he prepared for battle, thinking that the enemy hadregrouped in the villages that belonged to them. They went outto meet them, and when they were near they recognized each other.Tirant took the helmet off his head and gave it to a page, andall the other captains did the same. When they were close to theduke, Tirant dismounted and walked up to him, paying him greathonor. The duke did not move at all except to put his hand onhis head without saying a word. This made all the others veryangry, and none of them would dismount for him. Tirant remountedhis horse and tried many times to talk to him, but the dukescarcely uttered a word. But all the other knights and gentlemenpaid great honor to the dukes and to Tirant. Then they rodetogether until they were near the tents.

  Tirant said to the duke:

  "Sir, if your lordship would like to stay in that meadow wherethere are very beautiful trees and you would be near the river,I'll have the men who are there move to another place."

  The duke answered:

  "I don't want to be near you. I prefer to go to a place fartheraway."

  "You can do that," said Tirant, "but I said what I did out ofkindness, thinking that you deserved it."

  The duke would not liste
n to him, and turned his horse aboutwithout a word. He set up his tents a mile upriver.

  After he dismounted Tirant sent three of his knights to the duke,and when they were there they said to him:

  "Sir, our captain has sent us to your lordship to ask if youwould like to eat with him. He knows that your lordship willhave better food here, but you can have his more quickly, becauseall you have to do is wash your hands and sit down to eat."

  "Oh, what a bother for nothing!" said the duke. "Tell him that Idon't want to."

  And he turned his back to them very haughtily. When theemissaries had mounted their horses to go, the duke told them:

  "Tell Tirant that if he wants to come and eat with me, I wouldprefer that to eating with him."

  "Sir," said Diafebus, "if there is no fire lit in your entirecamp, what could you offer him? You couldn't give him anythingbut food for chickens and drink for oxen."

  The duke answered angrily:

  "I can give him chickens, capons, partridge and pheasant."

  The knights refused to listen to him anymore, and they wheeledabout.

  After they had gone, a knight said to the duke:

  "You didn't understand, sir, what that knight said to you. Hetold you that you would serve his captain food for chickens anddrink for oxen. Do you know what he meant by that? Food forchickens is grain, and what oxen drink is water."

  "On my father's grave!" said the duke. "You're right. I didn'tunderstand. Those foreigners are very haughty. If I hadunderstood him I would have made him leave with his hands on hishead."

  When Tirant heard what the reply was, he sat down to dine withthe dukes, counts and marquis who were already there.

  The morning of the following day the captain had a large andbeautiful tent raised, with a bell on top. That tent was onlyfor mass and council meetings, and he had it set up in a meadowbetween the duke's camp and his own. When the time came to saymass, Tirant courteously sent word to the duke to see if he wouldlike to come to mass. The duke haughtily answered no, but theother grandees came very happily. After mass they held council,and it was decided that the Marquis of Saint George, the Count ofAcquaviva, and two barons should go to the Duke of Macedonia asambassadors. When they were with him the Marquis of Saint Georgesaid:

  "Duke, you should not be surprised to see us: our captain and theillustrious dukes, counts and marquis have sent us here. We wantyou to give us a share of the treasure you took from the enemycamp."

  And he said no more.

  "How overjoyed I am," said the duke, "to hear idiotic words fromsuch ignorant people! How could you think I would do such athing when we have been battling day and night with sweat andblood against our enemy?"

  The ambassadors got back on their horses, and in the camp theyfound the captain and the grandees holding a meeting in thecouncil tent. Then the marquis told them about the duke's reply,and he said:

  "Let us all mount our horses: an insult like this can't beforgotten!"

  The marquis quickly left the tent and armed himself, as did allthe others.

  When the captain saw the disturbance in his camp, he was veryupset and he immediately had a proclamation made that no one,under penalty of death, should mount their horses. Then he wentup and down, seizing the knights, and he begged the dukes andmarquis not to do this, because if they became involved in aquarrel, the Turks they had taken prisoner would fall upon them.

  When the disturbance had subsided, Tirant ordered them to go tothe battle site, and take the clothing from all the dead bodiesthey found and to keep it. Some of the knights asked why, and hetold them that at some time they might be able to use it.

  As the Moors were being defeated in battle and were fleeing,Diafebus thought about how to bring renown and fame to Tirant, inthe present and the future. He went to him and asked him for thecaptain's ring. Tirant removed his glove, took off the ring andgave it to him. Diafebus halted for a moment even though theothers were pressing forward, and he stopped one of his squireswho was a good and faithful man, and gave him the ring. Heinstructed him about everything he was to say to the emperor andto Carmesina, and then to all the others.

  To carry out his master's order, the squire wheeled his horseabout, dug in his spurs and galloped away without stopping untilhe was in Constantinople.

  When he stood before the emperor, he knelt and said:

  "My lord, I have good news. Give me my reward."

  After the emperor promised to do so, Pyramus gave him the ring,and told him all about the battle, and how they had conquered theTurks--which had been like a miracle.

  The following day the sultan sent three ambassadors to Tirant.They put a sheet of paper on a stick and held it up as a signalfor safe-conduct. When they were inside the tent the ambassadorswere welcomed by the captain and all the others, and they gavethe sultan's letter to Tirant. He had it read in everyone'spresence, and it said the following:

  "I, Armini, great sultan of Babylonia, and lord of three empires.Glorious Tirant lo Blanc, Captain of the Greeks and defender ofthe Christian faith, we salute you. And we declare to you, bycounsel and deliberation of the Grand Turk and the five kingshere under my power and command, with another ten who are in myown land, that if you ask me for a lasting peace or a treaty ofsix months, we will offer you our "white face" to show ourhonesty and the six months of peace, out of reverence for allpowerful God, in the old manner. Written in our camp on theeastern shore on the second day of the moon and of the birth ofour holy prophet Mohammed, etc."

  After the letter had been read, Tirant told the ambassadors toexplain their embassy. One of the ambassadors, Abdalla Salomon,stood up, bowed, and said:

  "We have been sent to you, Tirant lo Blanc, captain of the Greekpeople, as representatives of the magnanimous and glorious lords,the Grand Turk and the sultan. After the great number of deathsyou brought to our soldiers, you imprisoned a small child, thebrother in law of our sovereign lord, the great sultan, hiswife's brother, along with many other virtuous knights. We beg ofyou, on behalf of the thing you love most in this world, to giveus the child. If you will not do this for love, ask a ransom forhim, in silver or gold, and it will be granted."

  Tirant replied:

  "Since you hold up to me the thing I love most in the world, andyou ask for a prisoner, I'll give him to you and forty more alongwith him. As for the other part of your embassy, I'll hold ameeting with my men, and then I will give you an answer."

  Tirant summoned his constables and told them to go with theambassadors to select forty-one prisoners for release.

  Then Tirant addressed all the great lords there:

  "Illustrious princes and lords. We've seen the request of thesultan and the Turk. Do you think we should grant them the trucethey are asking for?"

  First the Duke of Macedonia spoke:

  "Most egregious and noble lords. This is more my business thatit is the rest of yours because I am closer to the imperialcrown. It's my advice and my demand that we grant them thesix-month truce they're asking for, and even longer if they wish,and even peace if they want it, whether the emperor likes it ornot."

  The Duke of Pera couldn't stand to hear anything more from theDuke of Macedonia--for they were at odds with each other becauseeach of them wanted to take the princess as his wife--and hesaid:

  "Gentlemen, it seems to me that for His Majesty the emperor'sbenefit, and for the well being of the entire empire and therepublic, we shouldn't offer them peace or a truce."

  Many felt they should accept a truce, but most agreed with theDuke of Pera.

  Then Tirant said:

  "Since His high Majesty, the emperor has given me the right tospeak in his place, I tell your lordships that I don't think itwould help anyone to have a truce with these evil people. Alltheir blood that's been spilled is because of your might, andthat's the reason they're asking for peace or for a six- monthtruce. Because during that time, gentlemen, you know thatthey'll be waiting for the Genoese ships to bring foot soldiersand cava
lry. And in that time they would fill this land withsuch great numbers of men that afterward all the power ofChristianity wouldn't be enough to throw them out."

  The Duke of Macedonia spoke up and said:

  "Tirant, if you don't want to have a truce, I do, and I'll makeone. And I advise everyone to make it with me."

  "Duke," said Tirant, "don't make disorder out of what the emperorhas ordered. If you try to do that, I'll have you seized andtaken to His Majesty, the emperor."

  Then the duke stood up, his eyes moist, and he left the tent andwent to his camp, and Tirant and his men went to their own.

  Next to a spring of very fresh water that ran beside their camp,Tirant set up a canopy, with many tables placed around thecrystalline spring.

  Tirant had the ambassadors served at one table, and the prisonersthat had been released to them at a lower table on the left; allthe dukes and lords, low on the right. And they were servedsplendidly with chickens and capons, pheasant, rice and couscous,and many other dishes and very fine wines. The ambassadors werevery pleased, seeing how Tirant had the dukes and himself servedwith such ceremony.

  Then they all went to the council tent, and Tirant gave them thefollowing reply:

  "You tell the Moorish sultan and the Grand Turk that I will in noway give them peace now unless they face Mecca and swear in thepresence of all the good knights that in six months they and alltheir men will leave the empire and will return the lands of theempire that they have occupied."

  Then Ambassador Abdalla Salomon stood up and said: "Since youdon't want to give us peace, wait for the fifteenth day of themoon. For on that day such a multitude of Moorish soldiers willcome here that the earth will not be able to hold them up."

  After they had departed Tirant ordered Diafebus to go toConstantinople that night with many soldiers, on foot and onhorseback, and all the prisoners.

  When Diafebus reached the city, the emperor and all the othersacknowledged Tirant as the victor, and all the knights werepraised, and the victory was celebrated with great joy. Diafebusdelivered four thousand three hundred prisoners to the emperor onTirant's behalf so that the Greeks would see his virtue and greatgenerosity. The emperor had them taken and carefully guarded.The following day the emperor took fifteen ducats for eachprisoner from his treasury, and delivered them to Diafebus togive to Tirant.

  When the princess knew that Diafebus was free from his duties shesent word to him to come to her chambers. There was nothingDiafebus wanted more than to be able to talk to her and toStephanie with whom he was very much in love. When the princesssaw him she quickly said to him:

  "My good brother, what news do you bring me from that virtuousknight who holds my heart captive? When will the time come thatI can see him and have him near me without being afraid? Youknow that I want to see him more than anything in the world."

  Diafebus answered:

  "Your Excellency's loving words would have turned that famousknight's sadness to joy if he had heard them, and would lift hisspirit to the highest heaven."

  The princess was very pleased by what Diafebus said about Tirant.Then Stephanie said:

  "You've spoken, and now it's my turn. Please listen to what Ihave to say. Tell me, my lady, who but Tirant is worthy ofwearing the crown of an emperor? Who else but Tirant deserves tobe your husband? Why didn't God make me the emperor's daughter?Why didn't he make you Stephanie and me Carmesina? I can assureyou that I wouldn't refuse him anything. If he lifted up myskirt I would lift up my blouse for him, and I would satisfy himin every way I could. If Your Highness takes some foreign king,how do you know that he won't give you a life of pain? And ifyou want someone from this land, I'll talk against my father.Because with his rank he should be your husband, but when youwant to play, he'll be snoring; and when you want to talk he'llbe asleep. If you take the Duke of Pera, why he's not even yourage. This is what Your Highness needs: Someone who knows how tokeep you and your whole empire from danger. Who else can defendand increase it the way he is doing? He's the one who will makeyou run all around your bedroom, sometimes completely naked andother times in your nightshirt."

  The princess laughed, delighted at what Stephanie was saying.Diafebus said:

  "Lady Stephanie, by your nobility, tell me the truth: if it wereTirant's good fortune for the princess to take him as a husband,who would you take?"

  "My lord Diafebus," said Stephanie, I can assure you that iffortune had the princess become Tirant's wife, I would take hisnearest blood relative."

  "If it were by blood line, it would have to be me, especiallybecause I am as obedient to your grace as Tirant has been to theprincess who, with her beauty and dignity, deserves to rule theworld. So please accept me as steward of your chamber, and kissme as a token of faith."

  "It would be neither honest or just," said Stephanie, "for me togrant you anything without the command of my lady who has raisedme from an early age, especially in Her Majesty's presence."

  Diafebus knelt on the floor, and with his hands pressed togetherbegged the princess, devoutly and with humility, as if she were asaint in paradise, to permit him to kiss her. But for all hispleading, she would not give him permission. Stephanie said:

  "Oh, hardened and cruel heart! Your Majesty never wants to leantoward mercy no matter how much you are begged. I will never behappy until I see Tirant with my own eyes."

  "Oh, brother Diafebus!" said the princess. "Don't ask me forunjust things now."

  While they were saying these pleasant words, the emperor sent forDiafebus to have him go quickly back to the camp.

  The guards then came from their watch at sea and told the emperorthat five large ships were coming from the east. The emperor,afraid that they were Genoese, stopped Diafebus from going thatday, and had many men board their own ships and galleys in port.When the other ships approached, the emperor learned that theyhad been sent by the Grand Master of Rhodes, with soldiers onboard.

  The good prior leapt down to the land along with many knights ofthe white cross. Diafebus was at the port, near the sea, waitingfor them. When they met they recognized each other, and Diafebuspaid them great honor. Together they went to the great palace ofthe emperor, and found him seated on his throne. Bowing, theprior of Saint John said:

  "Your Excellency, knowing that the greatest of all knights,Tirant lo Blanc, is in the service of Your Majesty ascaptain-general of all the empire, the Grand Master of Rhodes hassent two thousand paid soldiers, on foot and on horseback, toserve Your Highness for the space of fifteen months."

  The emperor was very happy at their arrival. After they hadrested for four days they left with Diafebus for the camp. Whenthey were five leagues away, they learned that Tirant had goneforward to take a well- defended plaza, and they heard the loudpounding of bombards. When Tirant saw a part of the wall broken,he dismounted and gave battle on foot, and he went so near thewall that a large rock was thrown at his head, and he was felled.His men struggled to pull him out of the moat, and at this momentDiafebus and the prior came to the villa.

  The Turks, inside, were terrified when they saw so many mencoming, and they lost all hope. After Ricart had taken Tirant tosafety, he again attacked the villa mightily, and they brokethrough by sheer force.

  The Turks, far from any hope of victory, fell into a rage andprepared to die fighting. But as the Christians took the villa,they killed every Turk they saw without mercy, and so they wereall given the terrible knife. The Prior of Saint John arrived intime for the attack on the villa, and his men shared in thebooty, and this indicated to them that they would be victorious.They went to the cot where Tirant was lying, and explained to himeverything the Master had commanded them.

  Tirant thanked them and the Grand Master for the noble help theywere bringing. But he said these words very wearily: he couldbarely speak because of the great pain he felt in his head. Thedoctors came, and they took sheep's heads and cooked them inwine, and applied this to Tirant's head with cloths. And thefollowing morning he was
well.

  For a few days the men in the field rested. When the moon was inits fifteenth day, the Turks came just as the ambassador had saidthey would. They came up next to a bridge, with their encampmentremaining on one side, and Tirant's camp on the other side, thebridge being broken in the middle. When all the men weretogether, they numbered two hundred seventy battalions.

  When they were all ready, they had the bombards set in place.The following day their firing was so loud and came so often thatTirant found it necessary to shift his encampment to the top of ahill, very close to the river, where there were springs of purewater and large expanses of meadowland. At times all thebombards fired together. And although it was a very clear day,the sky grew dark, for they had more than six hundred bombards,both small and large, despite the fact that they had lost so manywhen they were defeated.

  When Tirant's men so saw many of them, they were frightened atthe large number of men on horseback and on foot. There weremany who wished they were one hundred leagues from there.

  When the sultan saw that he could not cross the river to engagethe Christians in battle, he quickly had the bridge repaired.When Tirant saw them repairing the bridge, he took four of hismen a league distant to a large stone bridge, and at each end ofthe bridge there was rocky ground and a castle. When the sultanhad conquered all that land, he saw that bridge, but Lord Malvei,the gentleman who was lord of the two castles, would never make apact with him, no matter how much he promised. For he neverwanted to deny or be ungrateful to God or to his naturallord--the emperor. Instead, from those castles at the bridge,they often waged war against the villas and cities the Turks hadtaken. As a result, the sultan was forced to make a woodenbridge so that his men could cross over to carry out the conquestof the empire.

  When Tirant reached the castle, he spoke with the knight whosename was Malvei and who had a very valiant son. The fatheroccupied one castle, and his son the other. They each had thirtyhorsemen, and with the war they had become very wealthy. Theson, whose name was Hippolytus, became a great friend of Tirantand almost never left his side. The father and son begged Tirantto grant him the honor of chivalry, and he did so.

  Then Tirant had many trees in the woods cut down, the driest theycould find. They measured the width of the river and they madebeams, nailing them together with heavy spikes, and they madethem so long that they reached across the river. And they putthose beams underneath the stone bridge, and from one beam toanother they nailed heavy joists, and over the joists they nailedwooden slabs. It was smooth from one end to the other, and itwas well caulked with pitch. When this raft was finished, theyput a chain at each end and attached it to the stone bridge. Andthey covered it well with green branches in order to hide it.

  When the Turks had finished repairing their bridge, the men beganto cross it on foot, little by little. But they readied thebombards so that, if the Christians came, they could defend thebridge and the soldiers who had already gone across. When Tirantsaw the Turkish soldiers crossing, the men in his camp were verydisheartened, but he encouraged them and raised their spirits.He had the trumpets blown so that everyone would mount theirhorses, and they shifted their camp near the stone bridge. Whenthe Turks saw Tirant's camp being raised, they assumed that theywere fleeing out of fear, and they went across moreenthusiastically.

  When the sultan and the Grand Turk had gone across with all theirarmies, their battalions in order, one after the other, they madetheir way toward the Christians. When Tirant saw that they werenear, he crossed over the stone bridge and waited for them. TheMoors, seeing them on the other side, quickly returned to theirwooden bridge. When they had crossed it, they made their wayupriver to meet him and wage battle. And Tirant, when he sawthem near, raised camp and went back to the other side.

  This went on for three days.

  The Turks held council, and the King of Egypt said:

  "Give me one hundred thousand soldiers and I'll go to one side ofthe river, and all of you can stay on the other side, and at thesame time that I engage them in battle, as quickly as you can,you must come to my aid. This way, we will be victorious."

  All the captains and nobles praised the wise words of the King ofEgypt, but the sultan answered:

  "It's foolish to say that you will take them on with one hundredthousand men, even though they have even fewer. You take halfour men, and I will take the other half. And whoever engagesthem first will do so, and if the other half will bravely helpus, we will have true glory and honor."

  And the discussion ended.

  The kings took one half of the men, and the sultan took the otherhalf and crossed the bridge. When Tirant saw how their forceswere divided, with the river in between, he said:

  "This is exactly what I wanted."

  He raised his encampment that was on the side of the kings andhad all the tents and carts placed inside the two castles withall the pages. And Tirant held his men back until nightfall.And before the sun had passed the columns of Hercules, Tirantcrossed the bridge to the side where he had first been, and hehad the foot soldiers climb a hill that was in line with the headof the bridge. When the foot soldiers were up, he had the menwith weapons also go up, one squadron behind the other. Thesultan, who was on that side, seeing that almost all the men hadgone up the side of the hill to give battle, and that there wereonly four squadrons remaining, went swiftly toward them andattacked them, making them flee up the hill, and sixty Christianswere killed. Tirant retreated, battling all the time, and nightfell. The Turks came down to the foot of the hill and set uptheir tents.

  When Tirant went up the hill, he found all the knights and noblesabsolutely disconsolate. They were running here and there,crying and moaning, with sad, woeful countenances. When Tirantsaw them acting that way, he called them all together and said:

  "I only want to tell you that if you will put your effort intothis, with the aid of Our Lord and His Holy Mother, Our Lady, Iwill make you victorious over your enemies within three hours."

  Nearly all were consoled by the captain's words, except for theDuke of Macedonia who, before the battles were finished, sent asquire of his with instructions about what he should tell theemperor. When he reached the city, he dismounted and left hishorse, indicating that he had fled the battle-site and that hehad tears in his eyes. When he was in the palace, he found manypeople there, and he said:

  "Where is that poor man they call the emperor?"

  When he was informed that Albi, the Duke of Macedonia's squire,had arrived, the emperor quickly came out of his chambers. WhenAlbi saw the emperor he fell to the ground, pulling his hair andlowering his eyes and face, and he said mournfully:

  "It has been your will to degrade your captains and vassals, andto honor foreigners of ill repute, men who are known for nodeeds, and who wear shoddy tunics. Oh, Emperor! You are lostand so are all your people, for it has been your wish to takeaway the succession of the empire from that famous andillustrious nobleman, the Duke of Macedonia, to give it to a vileforeigner who has led himself and all the men in the camp totheir destruction, and has run away, and we don't know where heis. This is what the person who was the emperor deserved! Forthe Moors have them trapped on a small hill, and they have nobread or wine, or even water for the horses. By now they mustall be dead. I am going to leave with my great pain, and you,who were the emperor, must remain with your own."

  "Oh, woe is me!" cried the emperor. And he went into hischambers and fell upon his bed, lamenting.

  The princess approached her father to comfort him, but there wasno one to console the empress and the other maidens. Rumors ofthe bad news ran throughout the city, and everyone broke intoloud wailing for the friends and relatives they believed had beenkilled. Let us leave them to their weeping and see what ishappening to Tirant.

  Having bolstered his men's spirits with his words, they were veryoptimistic, trusting the great judgement of the captain. Tirantleft the encampment at the top well guarded, and took a man withhim and went down the
back side of the mountain without beingseen. When he was at the bottom, he left his armor under a tree,and cautiously stole up to the castle of Lord Malvei. He pickedup two stones, one in each hand, and just as they had agreed, hesignaled by hitting them together. When Lord Malvei heard thesignal, he opened the gates of the bridge. Tirant went in, andfound everything that had been prepared. First he had a greatdeal of oil and tar poured into a wooden bucket, along with pitchand quicklime and other things that would help make a fire, andhe gathered a good deal of dry wood, and he had it all spread ontop of the wooden raft he had made, and tied two long ropes toeach of the chains of the raft. The two men got into a smallfishing boat, and each of them held one of the ropes. When theraft was untied, the current carried it downriver, and wheneverit would become stuck on one side of the river one of the menwould pull on a rope to free it. Tirant told them not to lightthe fire until they were near the bridge.

  When the Turks saw such huge flames in the river, they believedthey were lost, and the sultan and all his men abandoned theircamp. Fleeing as quickly as they could, they ran toward thewooden bridge. As the sultan had a good horse, he first waiteduntil the fire reached the bridge, and then he went across, andmany men followed him. And if the two men had followed thecaptain's orders and waited to light the fire, all would havebeen killed or taken prisoner. In their rush to cross to theother side, many Moors and their horses fell into the water. Thefire was so great that the entire bridge quickly burned down.And twenty-two thousand or more men were unable to cross thebridge.

  When Tirant observed the fire going down the river, he cautiouslyworked his way back to his troops. He found nearly all of themmounted, wanting to get their enemies' booty. But Tirant wouldnot allow it, telling them:

  "We would gain no honor now. Tomorrow we will have the honor andthe booty."

  In spite of all that had happened, Tirant had a very tight watchset that night, saying:

  "Not all of them could have gotten across. In their desperation,couldn't they fall on us?"

  When the clear day broke and the sun appeared on our horizon, thecaptain had the trumpets blown, and everyone mounted. They hadthe carts and the pages brought out, and all the men went backdown to their former camp, and from there they saw what was leftof the enemy.

  Diafebus, seeing the pitiful state of the Turks, took the ringfrom Tirant's hand, and Tirant said to him:

  "Cousin, what are you doing?"

  Diafebus said:

  "I want to send Pyramus to the emperor. They haven't had wordfrom us for so long!"

  "I beg you, cousin," said Tirant, "send word to him that we needflour and supplies before we run out."

  Pyramus left. When he reached the city of Constantinople, he saweveryone looking very said and oppressed, and all the women werecrying. He went into the palace, and it was worse: their faceswere scratched, their clothing torn. Of all those who saw him,no one said a word to him. When he spoke to anyone, they wouldnot answer. He thought the emperor must have died, or theempress, or their daughter.

  He went further inside, into a hall, and recognized the emperor'schamberlain, and he ran to him, laughing. The chamberlain said:

  "With all your unbridled happiness, how dare you come to theemperor's chamber?"

  "Friend," said Pyramus, "don't be angry with me: I don't knowwhat is making everyone sad here. Let me talk to the emperor,and if he is sad, I will make him happy."

  Without saying another word, the chamberlain went into theempress's chamber where he found the emperor with his daughterand the maidens, the windows closed and all of them in mourning.The chamberlain said:

  "Sire, one of those reprobate traitors with that reprobateknight, Tirant lo Blanc, is at the door. His name is Pyramus,and I am certain he has fled the battle with his lord. He sayshe wants to talk to Your Majesty."

  The emperor said:

  "Tell him to get out of here, and to leave my lands. And if Ifind him or any of his master's men, I will have them thrown downfrom the highest tower in the palace."

  And as the emperor spoke these words, imagine how the pain in theprincess's heart grew twofold. For no matter how much harmTirant might have done, she could not completely forget him.

  After the chamberlain told Pyramus about the emperor's response,Pyramus said:

  "In faith, I will not leave. For my lord Tirant has committed notreachery, nor have any of his men. If the emperor will notlisten to me, tell the princess to come out here to the chamberdoor, and I will tell her things that will make her very happy."

  The chamberlain told the emperor what Pyramus had said. Then theemperor told Carmesina to go out and talk to him, but that shewas not to let him come inside the chamber. When the princesscame out to the hall with such a sad face, Pyramus knelt andkissed her hand, and then he began to speak:

  "My most excellent lady, I am startled by the great change I seein Your Majesty, in everyone in the palace and in the entirecity. I'm very astonished because I don't know what has causedthis, and no one I've asked has been willing to tell me. If HisMajesty, the emperor, doesn't want that famous knight, Tirant loBlanc, to be his captain, tell me, and we will quickly leave theempire."

  When the distressed princess had listened to Pyramus words, withtears in her eyes she told him everything the duke's squire hadsaid. When Pyramus heard such wickedness, he put his hands tohis head and answered:

  "My lady, have the ones who brought you such news, and caused theemperor so much pain, put into prison. And arrest me if thetruth isn't that Tirant has been victorious and caused the sultanto flee, and burned down the bridge, and has more than twentythousand of the enemy trapped near the river. If all this isn'ttrue, let them cut me to pieces.

  And as greater proof, here is the captain's seal that Tirant gaveme."

  When the princess heard such glorious news, she quickly ran intothe chamber where her father was, and told him everything Pyramushad said. The poor emperor, with all the excessive happiness hefelt, fainted and fell from his chair. The doctors weresummoned, and they restored him to consciousness. He had Pyramusbrought in, and as soon as he heard the news from his lips, hehad all the bells in the city rung, and everyone went to thechurch, and there they gave praise and thanks to God, Our Lord,and to His Holy Mother, for the victory that had been achieved.When they returned to the palace, the emperor had the duke'ssquire imprisoned. Then Pyramus begged him to have the shipsleave quickly with provisions for the encampment. The followingday Pyramus left with many words of praise for Tirant and formany others. When this emissary returned with the news, Tirantwas amazed at what the Duke of Macedonia had done.

  The day Pyramus left, the Turks, having lost all hope, realizedthat they could not carry on the battle. So to choose the lesserof two evils, they decided to let themselves be taken prisoner.

  Luckily, the wise Moor, Abdalla Salomon, was still with them, andthey decided to send him as ambassador to Tirant once more. Heput a rag on the end of a lance, and when Tirant saw it, heanswered immediately. Abdalla Salomon went up to Tirant's camp,presented himself, and very humbly said:

  "If your lordship, magnanimous captain, would do us the grace ofsparing our lives, you would be regarded as glorious among yourenemies. I beg you to act with all the virtue you have in you."

  The captain had the Moor and all who were with him come into histent, and he fed them. And they certainly needed it. Then thecaptain met with all the great lords, and they agreed with whatTirant said to them. He had Ambassador Abdalla summoned, and gavehim the following reply:

  "I don't think it will be very long before I'll give the sultanand all the others a fitting punishment, but so that they willsee that I don't wish to harm them as much as I could, I'll besatisfied if they will bring all their offensive and defensiveweapons to the middle of that meadow. And I don't want them allbrought together, but one hundred at a time, and then they canbring the horses. That's the way I want it done."

  The ambassador took his leave of the cap
tain, and went back anddid everything Tirant had ordered.

  When all the weapons had been laid down, the captain had them allbrought to the camp, and then all the horses were brought up.The Turks were very pleased that he didn't have them all killed,because they thought that even if they were held captive, theycould be ransomed. Tirant had them come, unarmed, to the foot ofthe mountain, and there he gave them food in abundance while hismen kept them guarded. Then Tirant went down to them and seizedthe Christian dukes, counts and knights, among them, and he hadthem come with him up to his camp. He made them go into a tent,and they were well-served with everything necessary for humansustenance. But many were not pleased that the captain waspaying them so much honor when they did not deserve it, for theyhad come to help Moors against Christians. And when Tirant's mensaid so to their faces, they recognized their error, and stoppedeating.

  Tirant held the prisoners this way until the ships arrived.

  Two days later the ships came loaded with provisions. After theyhad unloaded everything, the captain consulted with the others,and they decided to transfer all the prisoners to the ships andhave them taken to the emperor. The High Constable was put incharge of them, and they set out. The constable had the sailsraised, and with a favorable wind they reached the port ofConstantinople in only a few days. The emperor and all theladies were at the windows, watching the vessels as theyapproached. The constable had the prisoners disembark, and hetook them to the palace. The constable went up to where theemperor was, and kissed his hands and feet. And delivering thegood wishes of the captain, he presented the prisoners.

  The magnanimous lord received them very happily, and indicatedhow pleased he was with the captain. And placing the prisonersunder heavy guard, the emperor had the constable go into thischambers where the empress and the princess were. He asked himabout everything at the encampment, and the constable told him,adding:

  "Tonight or tomorrow, Diafebus will be here, with the noblementhat he is bringing as prisoner."

  "What!" said the emperor. "Are there still more?" And hishappiness grew greater than ever.

  The following day Diafebus entered the center of the city withhis prisoners, while his trumpets and tambourines played. Theemperor and all the people were astonished at the great multitudeof prisoners.

  When they were at the square in front of the palace, the emperorwas at a window. Diafebus bowed deeply to him, and quickly wentup to his chambers to kiss his hand, and then did the same to theempress and the princess. After he had embraced all the ladies,he turned back to the emperor and gave him the good wishes Tiranthad sent. When the emperor had spoken at length with Diafebus,he had the prisoners placed in the strongest towers they had.

  When Diafebus had the opportunity, he went to the princess'schamber and found her with all the maidens. When the princesssaw him, she got up to go to him. Diafebus hurried toward her,and knelt and kissed her hand, saying:

  "This kiss is from someone whom Your Highness has condemned to astronger prison than the one that the prisoners I have broughtare in."

  As the maidens approached, he could say nothing further for fearthat they might hear him. But she took him by the hand and theywent to a window- seat. Then the princess summoned Stephanie,and Diafebus said:

  "Your Highness should not forget such a noble knight, and thelack of liberty he has had since the moment he saw you."

  Smiling, the princess answered:

  "Oh Diafebus, my brother! I receive your words as the vassal ofyour lord, and I return his wishes just as strongly, and evenmore so."

  As they were speaking, the emperor came in and saw Diafebusdeeply involved in conversation with his daughter, and he said:

  "Upon my father's bones, what a wonderful sight to see how thesemaidens like to hear of the exploits of these good knights."

  And he told his daughter to leave the room and go out to the mainplaza in the market-place. Diafebus went with the emperor; thenhe came back to escort the empress and the princess. When theywere in the market-place they saw a large cenotaph that theemperor had made, entirely covered with cloth of gold and silk.When all the ladies had been seated, the emperor commanded thatall the prisoners be brought out, and they were ordered to sit onthe ground, Moors as well as Christians.

  Then the people were silenced, and the following proclamation wasread:

  "We, Frederick, by divine grace Emperor of the Greek Empire ofConstantinople. So that it may be known and made manifest to thewhole world how these wicked knights and unfaithful Christianshave accepted payment from the infidel, and taking up arms haveunited with them in waging war against Christianity. They aredeserving of great punishment, and of being removed from theorder of chivalry and disinherited by the nobility from whichthey are descended. So that it may be a punishment for them andan example for all others, we pronounce them traitors to allChristians here present. And we sentence them to be dealt withas all such traitors against God and the world."

  When the sentence had been read, twelve knights came out dressedin long robes and hoods, and the emperor dressed in a similarfashion. Then they had the men rise from the ground, and theywere brought up to the cenotaph where they were armed and thendegraded as is done with evil knights, and then they werereturned to prison. Then the emperor said:

  "Let there be justice, and let us show mercy to no one."

  The Duke of Macedonia's squire was brought out with a large chainaround his neck. And he was condemned to die, hanging upsidedown, for all the anguish he had caused. When Diafebus saw thesquire, he hurried to the emperor and knelt at his feet, begginghim not to have the squire killed so that wicked people could notsay that it was done because he had spoken badly about hiscaptain. When the princess saw that Diafebus' words were futile,she too came and knelt at the emperor's feet to beg him. Andwhen that proved futile, the empress and all the maidens came toplead for his life as well. The emperor said:

  "Who has ever seen a death sentence revoked that has been handeddown by the general council? I have never done it, nor will I doit now."

  The princess caught his hands, pretending to kiss them, and shestealthily removed the ring from his finger without his noticingit, and said to him:

  "It is not Your Majesty's custom to be so cruel as to sentenceanyone to die with such pain."

  The emperor said:

  "My child, change his death sentence as you wish."

  The princess handed the ring to Diafebus, and he rode swiftly towhere they were holding the execution, and gave the ring to theconstable. The squire was already on the ladder, about to beexecuted, and Diafebus grabbed him and took him to his lodging.When Diafebus left to go to the palace, the squire quickly ran tothe monastery of San Francisco where he became a friar.

  The next day, the emperor sent all the Turks who had not beenransomed to other places to be sold: Venice, Sicily, Rome andItaly. Those that could not be sold were traded for arms, horsesor food.

  When it came time for the constable and Diafebus to leave, theemperor took as much gold from his treasury as he had receivedfrom the ransom of the prisoners, and sent it along with them forthe captain.

  The day before they were to leave, Diafebus discovered that theemperor had retired, and he went to the princess's chamber. Thefirst one he met there was Stephanie, and he bowed deeply on oneknee and said:

  "Gentle lady, I would consider myself the most fortunate manalive if you would accept me as your closest servant. I love youabove all the ladies in the world."

  At that moment the emperor's chamberlain came in and told himthat the emperor wished to speak with him. Diafebus beggedStephanie to wait for him there, and said that he would return asquickly as he could.

  When the emperor saw Diafebus, he told him that he and theconstable were to leave before nightfall. Diafebus returned tothe chamber and found his lady deep in thought and with tears inher eyes, because she knew that the emperor summoned him only totell him that he must leave. Diafebus, seeing her sodisconsolate, tr
ied to show her that it was hurting him even moreto leave.

  While they were consoling each other this way, the princess cameinto the chamber from the treasure tower, wearing a blouse and askirt of white damask, her hair falling down to her shouldersbecause it was so warm. When she saw Diafebus she tried to turnback, but Diafebus blocked her way.

  "Shall I tell you something?" said the princess. "I don't carewhat happens in your presence. You are like a brother to me."

  Plaerdemavida spoke up:

  "My lady, can Your Highness see Stephanie's face? It looks likeshe's been blowing on a fire: her face is as red as a rose inMay. I can't imagine that Diafebus' hands were idle while wewere in the tower. We should have known he'd be here! She washere with the thing she loves most. I tell you, if I had alover, I'd play with him too, the way both of you do. But I'm abarren woman, and I have no one to love. Lord Diafebus, do youknow who I love with all my heart? Hippolytus--Tirant's page.And if he were a knight, I'd love him even more."

  "I promise you," said Diafebus, "that in the next battle I takepart in, he will be made a knight."

  And they joked this way for a long while. Then the princesssaid:

  "Do you know something, Diafebus? When I turn around and lookeverywhere in the palace and I don't see Tirant, I feel as thoughI'm dying. I want you to take him all my good wishes, and alongwith them--wrapped up so that no one will see them--half the loadof gold a horse can carry so that he may spend it as he wishes.And when it is gone, I will give him even more. I don't want himor his men to lack for anything. Also, an aunt of mine left me acounty called Sant Angel in her will. I want Tirant to have it,and for him to be named the Count of Sant Angel. So if itbecomes known that I love Tirant, at least they will say that Iam in love with a count."

  Diafebus was astonished when he heard the princess uttering wordsfilled with so much love, and he said:

  "I don't feel capable of thanking you for the honor you arebestowing on Tirant. So I beg you, on behalf of that famousknight and then on behalf of all of us of his lineage, allow meto kiss your hands and feet."

  Stephanie was so bursting with love that she could not containherself any longer, and she said:

  "I'm envious of what Your Excellency is doing for that gloriousknight, Tirant. And since I must imitate Your Highness, allow meto give everything I have to Diafebus here."

  And she got up and went into her chamber. There she wrote out adocument that she placed in her bosom, and then she went back outto the princess.

  Meanwhile, Diafebus had been pressing the princess to allow himto kiss her. But the princess would not give her consent. ThenDiafebus said:

  "Oh, how blind I've been! I would have given my life a hundredtimes to do some service for Your Majesty. And Your Highnesswill not allow me the pleasure of even a small part of the fruit!From now on, find yourself another brother and servant to be atyour side. And don't imagine for a minute that I'll say anythingto Tirant on your behalf, and even less that I'll take him themoney. As soon as I reach camp, I'll take my leave of him and goback to my own country. But someday you'll be sorry I left."

  Just then the emperor came into the chamber and told Diafebusthat he should get ready to leave that same evening.

  "Sire," said Diafebus, "I've just come from our lodging, andeveryone is ready to leave."

  The emperor then brought him out of the chamber and led himthrough the palace, reminding both him and the constable of whatthey were to do.

  "Oh, poor me!" said the princess. "Look how angry Diafebus was!I don't think he'll want to do anything for me now. Stephanie,beg him for my love not to be angry."

  "I certainly will," said Stephanie.

  Plaerdemavida spoke up:

  "Oh what a strange one you are, my lady. At a time when we're atwar, you don't know how to hold the friendship of these knights.They put themselves in danger to defend Your Highness and theentire empire, and you raise a ruckus over a kiss! What's wrongwith kissing? In France it doesn't mean anything more than ahandshake. If he wanted to kiss you, you should have let him.And you should have done the same even if he had wanted to puthis hand under your skirts, when there are times of great needlike we have now. Later on, when we have peace, then you canmake virtue out of vice. Good woman, good woman, how deceivedyou are!"

  Stephanie had already left, so the princess went to her room andbegged her to go and bring back Diafebus:

  "Now I'm afraid he really will leave just the way he said hewould.

  And if he goes away, it won't be surprising if Tirant leaves too.And even if he doesn't, because of his love for me, many otherswill go too. And then, just when we thought we were winning, wewould lose."

  "Don't make things so hard," said Plaerdemavida. "Don't sendanyone else, Your Highness. It would be better if you wentyourself on the pretext of seeing the emperor. Then talk to him,and his anger will disappear quickly."

  The princess hurried to her father and found him talking. Whenhe had finished, she took Diafebus aside and pleaded with him notto be angry with her. Diafebus replied:

  "Madam, it has to be one of two things: either kiss or leave. Ifyou give me what I'm asking for, then you can command me to doanything, just or unjust, and I will do it."

  "Since you won't wait for the one who holds my heart captive,"said the princess, "kiss, kiss."

  Diafebus knelt on the hard floor and kissed her hand. Then hewent over to Stephanie and kissed her three times on the lips forthe Holy Trinity.

  Stephanie said:

  "Since at your great insistence, and by command of my lady, Ihave kissed you, I give you my permission to take possession ofme, but only from the waist up."

  Diafebus was not slow to follow her request. He immediately puthis hands on her breasts, touching her nipples and everythingelse that he could. His hands then found the document, andthinking it was a letter from a rival suitor, he stopped cold,almost losing his senses.

  "Read what is written there," said Stephanie, "and lose yoursuspicions."

  The princess took the document from Diafebus' hand and read it:

  "I, Stephanie of Macedonia, daughter of the illustrious PrinceRobert, Duke of Macedonia, promise you, Diafebus of Muntalt, totake you as my husband and lord. And looking toward ourmarriage, I bring you the duchy of Macedonia with all the rightsbelonging thereto. In testimony of which I sign and seal my namein my own blood.

  "Stephanie of Macedonia."

  This Stephanie was not the Duke's daughter. Her father was aglorious prince, and a very worthy and wealthy knight. He wasthe emperor's first cousin, and this was his only child. When hedied, he left the duchy to her, stating in his will that it wasto be given to her when she was thirteen years old. In order tohave more children, her mother had then married the Count ofAlbi, and he had taken the title of Duke of Macedonia.

  By now this maiden was fourteen years old.

  When night fell and they were all ready to leave, Diafebus,happier than we can say, took his leave of the emperor and allthe ladies, and especially of Stephanie, begging her to think ofhim while he was away. And she kissed him many times, in frontof the princess and Plaerdemavida.

  When they were back again with Tirant, he was very glad to seethem. Diafebus and the constable gave him the money the emperorhad sent.

  By now the Turks were desperate, and they cursed the world andfortune that had brought them so much pain. By theircalculations they had lost, between the dead and those takenprisoner, more than one hundred thousand men. In their angerthey held counsel to decide how they might kill Tirant. It wasdecided that the King of Egypt should kill him, because he wasmore skilled at arms than any of the others.

  The following day he called a council of all the great kings,dukes, counts, and all the Christians, and they gathered in themiddle of a large meadow. When they were all there, the King ofEgypt said:

  "If you want me to challenge him to a battle to the death, he isa very spirited knight and he will not be able to ref
use. Then,when he's here, we'll fight. If you see me getting the better ofhim, leave us alone, and I will kill him. But if he is beatingme, shoot him down with an arrow. In either case, he will dieand so will everyone who comes with him."

  They were all pleased by what the king said. When the councilwas over, the King of Egypt went into his tent and prepared towrite a letter.

  Now the sultan had a servant who had been born a Christian in thecity of Famagosta, and who had been taken prisoner at sea when hewas very young. And with his youth and lack of discretion, theyhad made him become a Moor. When he grew older, he realized thatthe Christian law was better than the Mohammedan sect, and hedecided to go back to the Christian faith. He did it thefollowing way. He prepared his arms and a good horse, and setout for the bridge of stone were Lord Malvei was. When he was anarrow shot away, he put his headdress on the tip of his lance,asking for safety. When the men in the castle saw that it wasonly one man, they offered him safety. But when the Moor wasnear, an archer who knew nothing about the guarantee of safety,shot an arrow that wounded the horse.

  Lord Malvei was very upset, and he promised the Moor that if thehorse died they would give him a better one. The Moor told himhow he had come there to become a Christian, and that he wantedto talk to the great captain. They agreed that he should returnthe following day and that Lord Malvei would advise Tirant. TheMoor was very pleased, and went back to the camp. The sultanasked him where he had been and how his horse had been wounded.The Moor replied:

  "Sir, I was bored here, so I went over to the bridge. I saw aChristian on horseback and rode toward him. When I was close tohim, he shot an arrow at me. I spurred my horse on and caught upto him and knocked him to the ground. Then I dismounted andprepared to kill him. On his knees he begged my forgiveness. SoI pardoned him and we became good friends. And he has promisedto tell me everything that is happening in the Christian camp."

  "This is excellent news to me!" said the sultan. "Go backtomorrow and find out if they intend to fight more, or if theyare going back to the city of Constantinople."

  The next day the Moor took one of the sultan's best horses androde to the bridge, where he was taken inside the castle. Tirantsoon arrived and paid reverence to Lord Malvei and his son, andthen embraced Lady Malvei, and gave honor to the Moor. The Moortold him that he wanted to become a Christian and to serve him.They went to the church, and there he was baptized with the nameCipres of Paterno. Then he said:

  "Sir, now that I have been baptized a true Christian, I wish tolive and die in this holy faith. I will stay here if you like,or I will go back to the camp and tell you what is happeningevery day. No one in all our camp knows what is going on betterthan I, because all the council meetings are held in the sultan'stent, and I am a member of the council."

  Tirant begged him to go back, and to advise Lord Malvei as oftenas he could about the Turk's plans. He agreed, and said:

  "I beg you, captain, let me have some sort of sweetmeats so I cangive them to the sultan. For he likes to eat these things, andwith this as an excuse, I'll be able to come and go easily, andhe won't suspect me."

  The Lord of Malvei said:

  "I can give them to you."

  And he had dates and sweetmeats brought in a box, and gave themto Cipres de Paterno.

  When he had returned, the sultan asked him for news about theChristians. He replied that his friend had told him that theydid not intend to leave.

  "Until your lordship changes your camp site. And sir, I wasgiven these dates and sweetmeats."

  The sultan was very pleased at what he had brought, and had himgo often. So he went and told Lord Malvei everything he knew,and Lord Malvei kept Tirant informed. Cipres of Paterno sworenever again to serve the sultan.

  When the King of Egypt had the letter of battle drawn up, heordered a messenger to take it to Tirant, the captain of theGreek army. It said the following:

  "From Abenamar, by the will of God, King of Egypt, to you, Tirantlo Blanc, captain of the Greek army.

  "I challenge you to battle, man to man, on foot or on horsebackwhichever you desire to your own advantage, before a competentjudge. We will do combat until one of us is dead, so that I maypresent your head to my lady. If you wish to answer this letter,give your reply to Egypt, my messenger, and that will suffice toshow your agreement, and to bring our battle to the end that Idesire.

  "Written in our camp on the eastern shore, the first day of thismoon, and signed.

  "King of Egypt"

  After Tirant held counsel in his tent, he answered the King ofEgypt's letter in the following way:

  "I vow to God and my lady, and to the honor of chivalry, thattwenty days into August, four days before or after, I will be onthe eastern shore, before your camp, with all the power to dobattle if you should wish it. Written by my hand and sealed withmy coat of arms in the camp called Transimeno. The fifth ofAugust.

  "Tirant lo Blanc."

  Here the book returns to the emperor who wanted very much tohave news of the camp. He saw seven sailing ships approaching,and when they had docked he learned that they came from Sicily,and that they were bringing four thousand soldiers and manyhorses which the King of Sicily was sending. The reason for thisI shall now relate.

  As we have said previously, the eldest son of the King of Sicilywas in France, married to the daughter of the King of France. Hewas virtuous and discreet, and his father-in-law would not allowhim to leave the court because of his great love for him. Ithappened then that this son fell ill, and died. When his father,the King of Sicily, learned of his death he was very sad. Theother son who had become a friar, did not want to leave thereligious life to be king after the death of his father. The kingwas very upset when he saw that his son would not obey him, andhe fell sick to his bed. Realizing that he was dying, he put hissoul and his kingdom in order, and in his will he named hisdaughter, Philippe's wife, to be his successor.

  When Philippe found himself king, remembering Tirant's help andhonor, he decided to go to his aid with the greatest forces hecould muster. But his wife, the queen, and everyone in hiskingdom pleaded with him not to go that year, because the queenwas with child. Seeing their great opposition, he decided tostay. He sent in his place, as captain, the Duke of Messina,with five thousand soldiers on foot and on horseback. Because ofher dealings with Tirant, the queen sent him two thousandsoldiers and made the Lord of Pantanalea their captain.

  When the soldiers had been given lodging, the emperor said:

  "I have decided to go to the camp to make peace between the Dukeof Macedonia and our captain. If I don't, they'll kill eachother some day. Since this sort of thing has happened twicealready, we have to guard against a third time. If I get theDuke of Macedonia in my hands, I swear I'll cut off his head."

  Then the emperor ordered all his men to prepare to leave.

  "What, my lord!" said the empress. "Are you going with so fewmen?"

  The emperor replied:

  "These barons from Sicily are here, and they'll go with me."

  All the emperor's servants quickly made ready.

  The following night, while the princess was asleep, Stephaniecame to her bed. She woke her and said:

  "My lady, I dreamt that I saw Diafebus, and that he told me:'Stephanie, my love, Tirant and I are so fortunate to have youhere! Just being able to see you makes us sure we'll defeat theTurks.' So, my lady, when I woke up I came here to tell YourHighness that, if you wish, we can quickly satisfy your desires.And they'll know first hand how great our love is: we will go tothem when they can't come to us."

  The princess said:

  "Give me my chemise, and don't say another word."

  She quickly dressed, and then she went to the emperor's chambers.He had not yet gotten up, and she told him:

  "My lord, the maidens are afraid, hearing about the war, andespecially about the battles. So, Your Majesty, please don'trefuse me a favor. You should grant it to me for two reasons:First, Your Majes
ty should not go anywhere without me because ofyour age, for I love you more than anyone, and if Your Majestygot sick I could serve you and be at your bedside, because I knowyour nature better than anyone. The second reason is that it'snature's course that whoever is born first should die first,although sometimes we see the contrary. And if I go with YourMajesty I could see and know about war, and in case the needshould arise in the future I would not be afraid."

  At first the emperor tried to dissuade her, but when sheinsisted, he said:

  "My daughter, since you want it so much, I'll give my consent."

  On the day they left, the princess dressed in a skirt with goldbraid, and armed herself in a coat of mail she had had made forher. She mounted a large white horse, and with a staff in herhand she went as captain over her people. In her company weresixty of the most beautiful and elegant maidens in the entirecourt. She made Stephanie the commander, while the Duke ofPera's daughter, Saladria, had the position of marshal.Comtesina was lord constable, and Plaerdemavida carried theemblem. Eliseu carried the large banner, Widow Repose was usherof the chamber, and each of the others had their own office. Andthis is how they rode until they reached Tirant's tent.

  When the emperor was situated in the camp tents, he sent word toLord Malvei, asking him to come talk with him. As soon as hereceived the request, he quickly went to pay homage to theemperor. He told him all about Tirant and the virtuous acts thathe did every day, and the princess was very pleased to hear thepraises of Tirant. Lord Malvei asked him if he would like tostay at his castle, because he would be very safe there. So hewent, while all the Sicilian barons set up their tents near theriver.

  Lord Malvei covertly sent one of his men to the Valley ofEspinosa to tell the captain that the emperor had come with hisdaughter and with the barons of Sicily. Tirant kept it secretuntil the following day so that no one would leave with theexcuse of going to see the emperor or their relatives. He toldonly Diafebus in great secrecy.

  When it was midnight, or very near it, everyone mounted theirhorses. He had the foot soldiers go first, with Diafebus astheir captain, and with 400 lancers, their horses completelydecorated. Tirant earnestly charged Diafebus to stay behind somerocks about a league from the enemy camp, and for him and his mennot to show themselves even if they saw that the battle was lost.Even if he saw that they were killing him, they were not to comeout to help. Still not satisfied, he made him swear not to moveuntil he gave the command.

  Each division put their men in order. Tirant did the following:All the horses were put in a row so that not one head was infront of another. And everyone was in order except the Duke ofMacedonia who refused to obey any of the captain's orders. Theemperor's flags were in the middle. The Duke of Sinop was at theend of one wing, and the Duke of Pera was at the other end.Meanwhile the captain went up and down the line urging the men tokeep in order, for if they did, with the help of Our Lord hewould make them victorious that day.

  When the sultan saw the Christians preparing for battle, hequickly put all his forces in order: All the men with lances wereput in front; next came the archers and crossbowmen; then theChristians that the Grand Turk had hired to fight for him, onhorses which were nicely covered and with large plumes, and theywere more than fifteen paces behind the crossbowmen. The Turkswere last of all, and they had more than four hundred bombards.They thought that with the bombards they would kill more thanseven hundred men. When all the men were in place the King ofEgypt sent a messenger to Tirant to thank him for keeping hispromise, and to tell him that he would kill him or take himprisoner on that day. He said Tirant would taste the point ofhis lance very soon, and he would see how bitter it tasted.Tirant answered that he would be very happy to see how it tastedbecause he had so much sugar that he would not notice any bittertaste at all, but that that day he would engage him in battle,and he would spill his blood.

  Tirant again urged his men on. He took away their fear, and gavethem hopes of having a glorious victory. The Turks shot onebombard, and the blast went wide without touching anyone. Tiranthad a small axe tied to his arm with a silk cord, and in his handhe held a small banner, and he signaled with it. The Duke ofPera, who commanded one wing, turned his men toward the flags ina very slow and orderly way, so that their backs were to theenemy. At the other end of the wing was the Duke of Sinop, andhe held his men steady. When the men under the Duke of Pera hadturned and were in order again, Tirant signaled with the smallbanner, and the men under the Duke of Sinop turned around in thesame orderly way. Then they were all facing the mountain, whereDiafebus was, with their backs to the enemy. They spurred theirhorses forward at a gallop, always in a very orderly way, withnone of the horses going ahead of the others, When the Turks sawthem going back, they began to shout:

  "They're running away! They're running away!"

  The foot soldiers threw away their shields, others their lances,and others their crossbows, to run after their Christian enemies.The men on horseback threw off the coverings so that their horsescould run more swiftly. From time to time Tirant turned and sawall the men coming, wave after wave, in confusion, and so he wasunconcerned about anything except for his troops to continuemoving in a very orderly way. And the Moors with good horsescame close enough to throw their lances at their backs.

  When the emperor, who was up in the tower, saw his men fleeing,he believed that the battle was lost. All that night the maidensdid not take off their clothes, and prayed earnestly, begging theConqueror of Battles and His Holy Mother to give the Christiansvictory.

  When Tirant saw the foot soldiers falling far behind, and thatthey had passed the place where Diafebus was, Tirant raised thebanner he was carrying and they all stopped. Then each squadrondrew a stone's throw apart from the one next to it. When theTurks saw them stop, they realized they had been tricked. Tirantordered the Duke of Pera to attack first, and he charged into theenemy. When Tirant saw the enemy coming with reinforcements, hehad the Marquis of Saint George lead an attack, then the Duke ofSinopoli. And so many men were killed that it was an astonishingsight to see.

  Tirant saw that half his men had been involved in the attacks,and they were still winning. Then, in the melee, he saw the Kingof Cappadocia killing many Christians (He recognized him by hiscoat of arms: a gold lion with a banner), and he took a lance andspurred toward him. When the king saw him coming he did not turnhis back, but waited for him in anticipation. And when they met,it was with such force that both they and their horses fell tothe ground. They both got up bravely, and slashed at each otherwith their swords. But so many men were fighting aground themthat they could not fight well. Then the Turks helped their kingmount again. Pyramus went in front of the king so Tirant couldmount, and the others surrounded him, defending him until thesquadron of Count Plegamans could attack. This squadron came towhere the captain was, and they helped him mount behind LordAgramunt who took him out of the thick of battle. Since manyhorses had lost their riders and were running loose, they caughtone and gave it to their captain, and he quickly went back intothe fray.

  The captain commanded all the squadrons to attack, some on theright and some on the left. Then they saw helmets falling to theground, and many knights from both sides were being killed orwounded. It was a startling sight to see. Tirant attacked too,first in one place, then in another. And he did not fight inonly one place, but in many, helping wherever he was needed.

  The King of Egypt was able to see Tirant fighting very bravely.He drew apart from the battle, and the Kings of Cappadocia andAfrica came out with him. The King of Egypt asked them to leavethe others and try to kill only Tirant. And with this accordthey returned to the battle. While Tirant was fighting, the Dukeof Macedonia came up behind Tirant, and plunged his sword intohis neck, under the helmet. Hippolytus and Pyramus saw it, andcried:

  "You traitor! Why are you trying to kill one of the best knightsin the world?"

  The three kings had lances, and they worked their way forwarduntil they saw Tirant.
They galloped toward him, but only theKing of Egypt and the King of Cappadocia were able to reach him.The clash was so great that both Tirant and his horse fell to theground. The horse had seven wounds.

  The King of Africa attacked the Duke of Macedonia who wasfighting near Tirant, and the king plunged his lance into theduke's chest with such force that it came out the other side, andthat is how he paid for his wickedness.

  Tirant was on the ground with his horse lying on his leg, and hecould barely get up. But with a great effort he stood up, andthe beaver fell from his helmet, for a lance hit him there, andanother hit his left vambrace. If it had not been for his ownsoldiers then, he would have been killed. The King of Egypt sawhim on the ground, and quickly tried to dismount. When his legwas on the saddlebow Lord Agramunt plunged a lance into histhigh, and it came out the other side. The wound left him ingreat pain, and he fell to the ground. When Tirant saw himstretched out on the ground like that he ran toward him, but withall the men fighting he could not reach him. The king stood upagain and picked up a lance that he found lying on the ground,and he made his way forward until he was able to hurl his lanceat Tirant. Tirant was hit in the cheek, and since he had nobeaver, four of his teeth were knocked out, and he lost a greatdeal of blood, but that did not stop him, and he continued tofight. Hippolytus saw him on foot, wounded, and he made his wayto him. Then he dismounted as quickly as he could, and said:

  "My lord, take my horse, I beg you."

  Tirant was fighting at one end of the wing, moving away from thethick of battle little by little. He mounted, and said toHippolytus:

  "What will you do?"

  Hippolytus answered:

  "Sir, save yourself. Even if they kill me, my love for you issuch that I will consider it worthwhile."

  Tirant turned back to the fighting, looking to see if he couldfind the King of Egypt, but because of his painful wound the kinghad left the battle. When Tirant saw that he could not find him,he fought the others. It was much later, while he was stillfighting, that he encountered the King of Cappadocia. When thisking saw him he went out to meet him, and with his sword heslightly cut the hand that held the axe. Then Tirant drew sonear to him that he struck him on the head with his axe, andcaved in his helmet, and the king fell to the ground, half dead.Tirant quickly dismounted, and cut the straps of his helmet.

  A knight came up and cried out:

  "My lord, do not kill the king. Since he is mortally wounded andis near death, be merciful and give him the short time he hasleft to live.

  You have done enough by defeating him."

  Tirant said:

  "What moved you to want mercy on our enemy who has doneeverything possible to kill me? Now is the time only forcruelty."

  And he removed the helmet and cut off his head. Tirant's axestood out from all the others, for it was red, dripping bloodfrom the men he had killed. The ground was covered with deadmen, and was completely red from all the blood that had beenspilled. Tirant mounted his horse again, and when the Turks sawtheir king killed, they fell upon him in great numbers, trying tokill him. Tirant was badly wounded, and was again knocked fromhis horse. He quickly stood up, not at all overcome by the fallor frightened because of his wounds. He went into the thick ofthe fray on foot, fighting to help his men, and he again mountedhis horse.

  This was a harsh and terrible battle, and by now it was nearlytime for vespers.

  Diafebus was cursing Tirant for putting him there, and he said:

  "He always wants the honors for himself, and he won't share themwith anyone else. He's left me here as though I weren't good foranything. But by God, I want part of the honor. Let's go!" hesaid. "Let's go into battle without being afraid of any danger."

  He and his men came out from their concealment and they attackedvery boldly. The Turks saw so many men coming out (when they hadthought there were no more), and they became very dejected.

  The sultan left the battle because he was slightly wounded, andhe said to his men:

  "I see that our forces are losing. I think it's better for us toflee than to die."

  When Tirant saw the sultan and his men fleeing with their bannershe rode after them and killed many of them. This battle lastedfrom daybreak until three hours after noon. There were so manyMoors that the Christians grew weary from killing them.

  The captain and most of his men reached the city that formerlybelonged to the Marquis of Saint George. It had been lost to theKing of Egypt, and he kept it well supplied. When the King ofEgypt saw that the battle was lost, he had fled with the others,and he felt so much pain from the wound in his thigh that he hadto leave the sultan and his men, and stop there. When Tirantarrived it was nearly dark. They stayed in camp until thefollowing day. That evening they all had their wounds attendedto, and many died during the night. But on that eastern shorethere had never been such a harsh and deadly battle: many womenbecame widows, and many young maidens lost their fathers, butthey were filled with the hope of being set free from slavery.

  The following day Tirant had the men take up arms, and theyattacked the city, but the Turks defended themselves very well,for they had very good men inside. After four unsuccessfulattacks, the Marquis of Saint George rode around the entire cityand came to the Jewish quarter. There he called out to a Jewnamed Jacob. When the Jew heard the marquis' voice, he realizedit was his lord, and he ran to open the gate for him. Themarquis and his men quickly rode into the city, and they tookhalf of it before the King of Egypt or the other Moors knew whathad happened.

  The marquis sent word to Tirant to stop fighting and to come inthrough the Jewish quarter because the city had already beentaken. When Tirant and his men came in through that gate, hefound that the marquis' forces had already defeated all theTurks, and that he had the King of Egypt trapped in a thicket oftrees where he was continuing to fight, wounded as he was. Whenthe marquis had captured the king, he sent word to the captain tocome and behead his enemy, the King of Egypt. The captainreplied that he would never kill a man who was being heldprisoner. Whereupon the marquis seized the king by the hair, andslit his throat with a knife.

  Even though Tirant was victorious that day, he would allow nocelebrations to take place. He only said in everyone's presence:

  "If Diafebus had done what I ordered him to, I would have killedthe sultan and taken prisoner all the great dukes who were there,and I would be lord of the entire empire."

  Getting back to the emperor, the great pain he felt when hethought Tirant had lost the battle was changed into reliefbecause Lord Malvei sent one of his men on horseback for news ofthe battle. He returned with the news of what had happened, andhow the captain had gone after the fleeing Turks.

  A few moments later the emperor mounted his horse to go with thebarons of Sicily, and the princess wanted to go with him. Whenthey were in the Moorish camp they found all the tents with allthe wealth inside, and the men wanted to loot them, but theemperor would not allow it. Instead he had the Lord ofPantanalea and Lord Malvei hold all the booty for safekeepinguntil the men who had conquered the camp were notified.

  While the emperor was in the Moors' camp, the princess saw alittle black boy at a distance. She rode toward him and quicklydismounted and went into the tent where the little black boy hadgone to hide. Grabbing him by the hair, she took him out to theemperor and said:

  "Now I can boast in front of our captain about how I have been avaliant lady-knight, who went boldly into the enemy camp, andtook a Turk prisoner."

  The emperor and all the others were very amused at his daughter'swit.

  Diafebus saw that Tirant was angry with him, and so he did notdare show himself out of shame. When the emperor heard of theglorious battle from others but not from Diafebus, he told theprincess:

  "Since I've had no news from Diafebus, I fear that he may bedead."

  When Stephanie heard this, she burst into tears. On their returnto the castle of Malvei, she sent a man to find out what hadhappened to Diafebus, along w
ith a letter that said:

  "My love for you demands that I have news from you. For I haveheard that you may be dead. So I beg you, my lord, to come herequickly.

  And if something has happened to you, I want to die with you."

  When Diafebus saw this letter from his lady, he was overjoyed.He took the letter to Tirant's room. When Tirant had read it, hesent for the messenger and asked him about the emperor and thevirtuous princess. The messenger told him everything that hadhappened in the camp, and how the princess had gone armed intothe Moors' tents and had captured a black, and that she washolding him under guard.

  "To show him to your lordship, as soon as she can see you."

  Tirant was very pleased, and he ordered Diafebus to go to HisMajesty, the emperor. And Diafebus rode off very quickly.

  When he reached the castle of Malvei, he went directly to theemperor. The entire castle heard that Diafebus had come, and themaidens quickly went to see him--especially Stephanie. Theyfound him in the emperor's chamber, talking about the battle.

  The emperor asked how many men were killed, and Diafebus said:

  "I don't know the number of Turks who are dead, but from here tothe city of Saint George you can't travel on the main road: it'stoo full of corpses. But of our forces I can give you an exactaccount, because the captain has had all their bodies gatheredand buried. We found the Duke of Macedonia dead from a lancewound, and the Duke of Babylonia, the Marquis of Ferrara, and theMarquis of Guast, Count Plegamans. These are the main ones.There are also many other knights who were killed, among them theHigh Constable. In all, one thousand two hundred thirty-four mendied."

  The emperor was very pleased with Tirant's accomplishments, anddid not know how to reward him. Diafebus remained there,pretending he was ill, and the emperor had him taken care of aswell as he would have his own daughter. Tirant stayed in thecamp, guarding it well.

  Meanwhile the sultan and all those who had escaped with him wentinto the city of Bellpuig. The sultan remained there, feelingsafe, but for two weeks he kept to his room, crying over thebattle they had lost, and lamenting the death of the King ofCappadocia. But he still knew nothing of the death of the Kingof Egypt and he was anxious to hear any news. Cipres of Paternosaid to him:

  "Sir, does your lordship want me to go? If I can talk to myfriend, I'll know everything there is to know."

  The sultan begged him very much, in front of all who were there,to go.

  Under his jubbah Cipres wore a tunic of white damask that Tiranthad given him with the cross of Saint George embroidered on it.When he was on the road and the Moors couldn't see him, he tookoff the jubbah and sat on it while he rode. When the Christianspies along the road saw him, they thought he was one of theirown, and they did not stop him. In the city, he asked where thecaptain's lodgings were. The captain was very glad to see him,and asked what news there was.

  "Sir," said Cipres of Paterno, "they've found 103,700 men missingfrom their ranks, who have either been killed or taken prisoner.If you had pursued them, you would have taken them all, for theirhorses were too tired to go on. They had to stop halfway alongthe road to Bellpuig and spend the night: many were wounded, manywere fatigued, and many died that night since there were nodoctors to attend them: the cold entered their wounds, and therethey died."

  "Do you have any other news?"

  "Yes, sir," said Cipres of Paterno. "Seven ships have come fromTurkey, loaded with wheat, barley and other foods. And they sayfor a certainty that the Grand Caramany is on them with fiftythousand soldiers and horsemen, and that he's bringing hisdaughter to give her as a wife to the sultan, and that in hiscompany is the King of Upper India."

  "Have they unloaded those seven ships yet?" asked Tirant.

  "No, sir," said Cipres. "The wind has been against them, andthey haven't been able to make port."

  They spoke of many other things, and after Cipres of Paterno hadreturned to the sultan, he told him about the death of the Kingof Egypt. And there was great wailing among the Moors, for hewas much loved.

  Tirant took a man with him who knew the land well, and whichsecret roads they could travel by to avoid difficulties. Whenthey were in sight of the sea, they saw the city of Bellpuig atthe top of a high mountain, and the ships, their sails turning toand fro in the wind, unable to make port. Tirant returnedquickly, and learned that the emperor, along with all the baronsfrom Sicily, had gone out to conquer the many villas and castlesnearby. Then he and the Duke of Pera left with a party ofsoldiers, and he left the rest with the Marquis of Saint Georgeas their captain. When Tirant was near the castle of Malvei, helearned that the princess had remained inside with her maidens,and with Diafebus as their protector. So he sent Hippolytusinside with a message. When Hippolytus was before the princess,he knelt and kissed her hand and said:

  "Your Majesty, my lord sends me to beg Your Highness to give himsafe- conduct so that he may come and go from here freely."

  The princess replied, "Oh, new knight. Doesn't the good captainknow that we are all under his captaincy and in his care?"

  Then Hippolytus stood and embraced all the maidens. And don'tthink that Plaerdemavida was displeased to see Hippolytus.Meanwhile the princess took pen and ink, and wrote:

  "With my own hand I sign this document. I will in no way limityour freedom to come and go as you wish. September 7, in theCastle of Malvei."

  When he had the document in hand, Tirant quickly went up to thecastle where he found the princess in a great hall. She took theDuke of Pera by one hand, and Tirant by the other, and satbetween them. And they spoke of many things. They talked abouthow the emperor had been taking villas and castles, and theydecided to go and help the emperor in the morning. And theprincess said:

  "If you go to where the emperor is, I'm going too." And she hadthem bring out her prisoner, saying: "Do you think that when I'vebeen in hard- fought battles the way you have, I don't know howto take prisoners from among our cruel enemies?"

  And saying these things, they went in to dine. But the princessate very little, for she could not keep her eyes off Tirant. Theduke began to talk to the lady of the castle and to Widow Repose,telling them about the battles they had won under Tirant'sleadership. And Widow Repose's love of Tirant grew evenstronger, but she was afraid to show it. While they were talkingPlaerdemavida came up, and sitting at Tirant's feet, she said:

  "My lord and captain, no one loves you as I do. I feelcompassion for you, for none of these ladies has told you to laydown your weapons. In faith, that shirt you are wearing is welltrampled. I saw it being put on and taken off, well-perfumed,and now I see it all torn and smelling of iron and steel."

  The princess said:

  "Give me that hand that has not had mercy on the deaths of theMoorish Kings, our enemies."

  Stephanie took his hand and placed it in the princess's lap.When she saw it on her knees, she bent over and kissed it.

  Tirant said:

  "If Your Highness would give me leave to kiss your hands wheneverI wished, oh how fortunate I'd be. And I would be even more soif I could kiss your feet and your legs."

  The princess took his hands again, and said:

  "From now on, Captain, I want your hands to do as they will withme: that is your right."

  She quickly got up because they had spent the greater part of thenight there. And so that the duke and the others would have noreason to gossip, they went with her to her room where she bidthem all a good night. And the duke and Tirant slept in the samebed.

  The following morning the trumpets blew, and they all armedthemselves and mounted their horses. The princess wanted to gowith them, and they rode until they found the emperor, who wasattacking a well fortified city. With Tirant's men helping, theyentered the villa and killed and made prisoner of many.

  The following day the emperor held council to decide where theyshould attack next. The captain spoke, and said:

  "Sire, it would be better if Your Highness would go with thebarons of Sicil
y back to the palace with all the prisoners we'vetaken. The Duke and I will take charge of guarding andconquering the nearby cities and villas. And Your Majesty cansend us the supplies we need."

  When they were back in the castle, the emperor summoned Tirant,and then had the princess and the other maidens come, and hesaid:

  "Captain, since fortune has been so contrary to our HighConstable, the Count of Bitinua, who is dead, who do you think weshould choose as our next constable?"

  Tirant knelt and said:

  "My lord, if Your Majesty would be pleased to give the office ofHigh Constable to Diafebus, I would consider it a great favor."

  "I will do as you wish," said the emperor. "Because of myaffection for you, and because of his many merits, from thismoment on, I grant to Diafebus the office of High Constable. Andto you I give the County of Sant Angel, which I take from mydaughter and bestow upon you. Tomorrow I will have a celebrationwhere you will take the title of count."

  Tirant replied:

  "Sire, I give you infinite thanks for doing me such a greathonor, but I will accept it only if I can give the title in turnto Diafebus, my closest relative."

  "It makes no difference to me what you do with it afterward, aslong as I have offered it and you have accepted it."

  Then Tirant knelt and kissed the emperor's hands and feet for hishonor.

  The morning of the next day the emperor wanted mass held in themiddle of a meadow, and he wanted Diafebus between himself andhis daughter. After mass the emperor put the ring on Diafebus'hand and kissed him on the mouth. Then all the trumpets began topeal very loudly, and a king- of-arms cried out in a loud voice:"This is the most eminent and virtuous knight, Count of SantAngel and High Constable of the Greek Empire."

  Afterward the dances and festivities began, and all day long theprincess did nothing but dance with the High Constable. When itwas time to eat the emperor had the High Constable sit at hisright, and the duke sat on his left, while the princess sat tothe right of the constable. Tirant acted as steward since he wasgiving the celebration. The ladies ate at other tables, and thebarons and knights ate at their right. Next were all thesoldiers. And that day all the prisoners ate at tables to honorthe celebration. Tirant even had the horses eating barley mixedwith bread.

  When the dinner was half finished, Tirant summoned thekings-of-arms and heralds, and gave them a thousand ducats. Andall the trumpets were pealing, and they came before the emperor'stable and cried out, "Largesse, largesse!"

  After the meal the repast was held with many sugared dainties.Then they all rode, armed and holding the constable's banners,jousting before the emperor. They held a beautiful display ofarms without getting hurt. And they went like this up to theplace where the sultan usually held camp, and came back veryhappily.

  When they thought it was time to have the evening meal, they heldthe festivities in that same place, and they were very wellserved with many varied dishes. During the entire meal, asTirant was serving it, he seemed very sad. The princess had himcome over to her, and she whispered in his ear:

  "Tell me, Tirant, why are you so sad? Your face shows thatsomething is wrong. Tell me, what it is, please!"

  "My lady, I have so many troubles that they could not be counted.My life is worth nothing. Your Highness is leaving tomorrow, andI will be left behind in great sadness, knowing that I will notsee you."

  "It is only right," said the princess, "that anyone who causesmisfortune should suffer for it. You are the one who brought iton: You advised the emperor to go back to the city with all theprisoners. I've never seen such bad advice given by any man whowas in love. But if you would like me to pretend I am sick fortwo or three weeks, I will do it because of my love for you, andI'm sure the emperor will wait because of his love for me."

  "But what will we do," said Tirant, "with all these prisoners wehave here? I can't find any way to relieve my pain. Sometimes Ifeel like taking poison, or dying a sudden death, to escape thisanguish."

  "Don't do any such thing, Tirant," said the princess. "Go talkto Stephanie, and see if she can do something to help that won'tbe difficult for me, and will bring you relief."

  Tirant quickly went to Stephanie and told her his troubles. Andthey, and the constable, agreed that when everybody was restingand the maidens were asleep, the two men would come to thechamber and there they would decide what they could do to giverelease to their passion.

  When it was night, and time for everyone in the castle to beasleep, the maidens had gone to bed. All the ladies weresleeping with Widow Repose; there were only five sleeping in theroom they had to pass through.

  The princess and Stephanie were in their chamber, and whenPlaerdemavida saw that the princess did not want to go to sleep,and then she heard her putting perfume on, she quickly thoughtthat there was going to be a night of merry-making.

  When the time came, Stephanie picked up a lighted candlestick inone hand, and went to the bed where the five maidens weresleeping, and she looked at them all, one at a time, to see ifthey were asleep. Plaerdemavida wanted to see and heareverything that would happen, and she tried to stay awake. Andwhen Stephanie came with the candlestick, she closed her eyes andpretended to be sleeping. When Stephanie saw that all the ladieswere asleep, she quietly opened the door so that no one wouldhear her, and she found the two knights already waiting at thedoor more devoutly than the Jews await the Messiah. As they camein, she put out the light and took the constable's hand. She ledthe way, with Tirant following the constable, until they came tothe door of the chamber where the princess was waiting for them,alone.

  When Tirant saw how beautifully she was dressed, he bowed deeplyto her, and with one knee on the ground, he kissed her hands manytimes, and they exchanged amorous words. Later, when they feltthat it was time for them to go, they said goodnight and wentback to their room. Who could sleep that night, some because oflove, and others because of pain.

  As soon as it was light everyone got up, because the emperor hadto leave that day. When Plaerdemavida was up she went to theprincess's chamber and found her dressing. Stephanie wassitting on the floor, not yet finished dressing, because herhands would not help her tie on her hat, and her eyes were halfclosed so that she could scarcely see.

  "Holy Mary, help me!" said Plaerdemavida. "Tell me, Stephanie,what kind of behavior is this. What's wrong with you? I'll goget the doctors so they can bring you back to health."

  "That's not necessary," said Stephanie. "My illness won't lastlong. It's only a headache. The air from the river last nightmade me ill."

  "Be careful about what you're saying," said Plaerdemavida. "I'mafraid you may die. And if you die, your death will be criminal.Be careful about pain in your heels, I've heard doctors say aboutus women that pain comes to our heels first, then our feet, thenit comes up to our knees, and our thighs, and sometimes it goesinto our secret place. There it brings us a great deal of pain,and it goes up to our head from there. And don't think that thissickness comes often, as the great philosopher Galen says--a verywise doctor, for it only comes once in a lifetime. Even thoughit's an incurable illness, it is never deadly, and there are manytreatments if a person wants to try them. What I'm telling youis true, and you shouldn't be astonished that I know aboutsickness. If you show me your tongue I'll be able to tell youwhat your illness is."

  Stephanie stuck out her tongue. When Plaerdemavida had seen itshe said to her:

  "I would swear by everything my father taught me that you lostblood last night."

  Stephanie quickly answered:

  "You're right. I had a nosebleed."

  "I don't know if it came out of your nose or your heel," saidPlaerdemavida, "but you've lost blood. And my lady, if YourMajesty would like, I'll tell you a dream I had last night, aslong as Your Highness will promise me that if I say somethingthat annoys you, you'll forgive me."

  The princess was delighted by what Plaerdemavida had said, andlaughing, she told her to say whatever she liked, that sheforgav
e her. And Plaerdemavida began to tell about her dream.

  "I'll tell Your Majesty everything I dreamed. As I was asleep ina side chamber with four maidens, I saw Stephanie come in with alighted candle so that it wouldn't shine too brightly, and shecame up to our bed and saw us all sleeping. The truth is that Iwas half asleep: I don't know if I was asleep or awake. In mydream I saw how Stephanie opened the chamber door very quietly sothat she wouldn't make any noise, and she found my lord Tirantand the constable there, waiting. They were dressed in theirdoublets, with cloaks and swords, and they wore woolen stockingson their feet so they wouldn't make any noise when they walked.When they came in, she put out the light, and went in front,holding the constable's hand. After him came your knight. Shewas like a blindman's guide, and she put them in your chamber.Your Highness was all perfumed, dressed and not naked. Tirantheld you in his arms and carried you around the room, kissing youover and over again, and Your Highness was saying, 'Stop it,Tirant, stop it!' And he put you on a bed. And Plaerdemavidawent up the bed and said, 'Oh, in the bed! If only the peoplewho knew you before could see you now!' And it seemed to me thatI got out of bed in my chemise and went up to that hole in thedoor, and that I watched everything you were doing."

  The princess laughed, and said:

  "Was there more to your dream?"

  "Holy Mary, yes!" said Plaerdemavida. "Let me go on, and I'lltell you the whole thing. My lady, you said, 'Tirant, I let youcome here so you could have a little rest, because of the greataffection I feel for you.'

  And Tirant wasn't sure he would do what you told him. And yousaid: 'Don't refuse me what I'm asking of you, because mychastity that I've kept can pride itself on being free of allsin.' 'I felt sure,' said Tirant, 'that you would be inagreement with my wishes without being afraid of any futuredanger, but since Your Highness is displeased, I will do whateverYour Majesty desires.' And you made him swear that he would notanger you in any way: 'And even if you wanted to, the anguishyou would give me would be enormous--I would curse you all thedays of my life, for when virginity is lost it cannot beregained.' I dreamed that you and he said all these things toeach other. Then, in my vision, I saw how he kissed you againand again and untied the cord over your bosom, and that hequickly kissed your breasts. After he had spent some timekissing you he tried to put his hands under your skirts, and you,my good lady, would not permit it. And I think that if you hadallowed it his oath would have been in danger. Your Highnesssaid to him, 'The time will come when what you want so much willbe given to you, and my virginity, intact, will be yours.' Thenhe put his face next to yours, and with his arms around yourneck, and yours around his, like vines on a tree, he receivedyour loving kisses. Later, still dreaming, I saw how Stephaniewas on that bed, and it seemed to me that her legs were turningwhite, and she said many times, 'Oh, my lord, you're hurting me!Have a little pity on me; don't kill me.' And Tirant was sayingto her, 'Stephanie, why do you want to put your honor in jeopardyby screaming so loudly? Don't you know that walls sometimes haveears?' And she grabbed the sheet and stuffed it in her mouth andbit down on it with her teeth so she wouldn't scream. But aftera short while she couldn't help giving out a loud shriek andsaying, 'Poor me, what shall I do? The pain is making me scream.From what I can see you've decided to kill me.'

  "Then the constable closed her mouth. When I heard that sweetmoan I cursed my misfortune because I wasn't the third one withmy Hippolytus. The more I thought about it, the more it grievedme, and it seems to me that I took a little water, and washed myheart, my breasts, and my stomach to take away pain. And as mysoul looked through the hole I saw how, after a second, Stephanieheld out her arms and gave up, in surrender. But still she said:'Go away, you cruel, unloving man. You have no pity or mercy onmaidens until you've taken away their chastity. Oh, youfaithless man! If I decided not to forgive you, what punishmentwould you deserve? And all the while I'm complaining about you,the more I love you.'

  "She called to the princess and Tirant, and showing them theshirt, she said: 'Love must make amends for this blood of mine.'She said this with tears in her eyes. After all this, when daywas approaching, Your Majesty and Tirant consoled her as well asyou could. Then, when the roosters started to crow again, YourHighness begged Tirant to go so that you would not be seen byanyone in the castle. And Tirant begged Your Highness to releasehim from his oath so that he could achieve the glorious triumphthat he desired, as his cousin had done. Your Highness refused,and you were victorious in the battle. When they had gone I wokeup. I didn't see a thing, not Hippolytus or anyone else, but Ibegan to think that it might really have happened, because Ifound my breasts and my belly wet with water. My pain increasedso much that I began to toss and turn in bed like a sick man whois about to die. So I decided to love Hippolytus with all myheart, and pass my life in pain, just as Stephanie is doing.Shall I keep my eyes closed with no one coming to give me relief?Love has disturbed my feelings so much that I'll die ifHippolytus doesn't come to my aid. If I could at least spend mylife sleeping! By heaven, it's a trial to wake up when you'rehaving a good dream."

  The other maidens had gotten up, and they came into the chamberto help their lady dress. After mass the emperor left with thebarons of Sicily, and the Duke of Pera, and all the prisoners.Tirant and the constable accompanied them a good league. Theemperor told them to go back, and since he had told them oncealready, they had to do it. After Tirant had taken his leave ofthe emperor and the barons, he approached the princess and askedif Her Majesty wanted something. The princess lifted the veilshe wore in front of her face and her eyes could not helpshedding tears, and she could say nothing but:

  "Perhaps..."

  And she could say no more because the words would not come, andeverything was sobs and sighs of farewell. She let the veil fallcompletely over her face so that her sadness would not reach theears of the emperor or the rest of the people.

  No one could remember anything ever having happened to any knightlike what happened to Tirant who, after he had said farewell tothe princess, fell off the horse he was riding. As soon as hehad fallen he got up and raised his hand toward the horse, sayingthat it was the one that was hurt. The emperor and many otherssaw it and ran to him. And he pretended to be looking at thehorse's hoof.

  The emperor said to him:

  "How did you happen to fall?"

  And Tirant told him:

  "My lord, I thought my horse was hurt, and I started getting downto see what was wrong with it, and the stirrup broke. But it'snothing to be surprised at, my lord, to see a man fall: a horsehas four feet and it falls down: all the more reason for a man tofall since he has only two."

  He quickly mounted again, and each went his way. Tirant came tothe castle of the Lord of Malvei. He ordered the constable andhalf of the men, both those on horse and on foot, to go to thecamp and guard it.

  "I'll go," said Tirant, "to the port where the ships are, andhave them unloaded. And if I see that there isn't enough I'llsend them to the city again, or to Rhodes."

  By night Tirant was in the port, and he found the ships almostunloaded. The ships' masters and the sailors were very happy atthe captain's visit, and they told him that the seven Genoeseships had sailed into the port of Bellpuig.

  "We have all been very cautious because we were afraid they wouldcome here and attack us."

  Tirant said:

  "That shows they are afraid of you, since they haven't dared toattack. Shall we make them more afraid than they already are?"

  They took a fishing boat and armed it. And they sent it out tosee how many men there could be, more or less, on the ships, andhow many vessels were in port. That night he had all the wheatunloaded. By morning the spy-boat returned with the news thatthere were seven large ships, and that they had unloaded all thehorses; that all the men were on land, and that now they hadbegun to unload the wheat and other food.

  "By the Lord who sustains the whole world," said Tirant, "I willdo everything I can, since they've
taken off the horses, to eatof their wheat."

  He quickly had the ships prepared, and many soldiers and bowmenboarded them. Tirant struck out to sea that night. It was nomore than thirty miles from one port to another. When day broke,clear and beautiful, the men on land saw Tirant's five ships, andthinking that they were part of those coming with the GrandCaramany they paid no attention to them at all. As the shipscame into port each of them attacked another ship, and many menjumped aboard the others. Then they attacked the two remainingships, and since few men were aboard they took them all with verylittle trouble and without anyone being killed. Then theybrought back all the ships loaded with wheat and barley, saltedoxen and wine from Cyprus. I can assure you that in theChristian camp it was very helpful and timely since, because ofall the fighting, they had no wheat or meat unless it came tothem by sea. Tirant gave the wheat to the Lord of Malvei; allthe rest he had transported to the camp at the city of SaintGeorge.

  When Tirant returned from the attack he spoke to the Turks whohad been made his prisoners on the ship, and asked them for newsabout Turkey. They told him that it was true that the GrandCaramany was coming with a great armada, along with the King ofUpper India, and that the Caramany was bringing his daughter, whowas a maiden of great beauty, to give to the sultan for his wife.

  "And he is bringing many maidens with him, of high station, andthe betrothed of the Great Turk's son is with them."

  One of the Turks said:

  "When we docked at the port they told us that a devil of aFrenchman was here as captain of the Greeks and that he iswinning all their battles, and they say he is called Tirant. Infaith, he may do all those great things they say he does, but hisname is ugly and vile because Tirant means a robber of goods, ormore properly, a thief. And believe me, his actions will dojustice to his name. Because according to a letter that the Kingof Egypt wrote, he didn't dare fight him man to man, and it alsosaid that he was in love with the emperor's daughter. When he'swon the battles, he'll get the emperor's daughter pregnant, andthen the wife, and then he'll kill the emperor. That's the waythe French are: they're evil people! And then you'll see that,if the Turks and the Christians let him live long, he'll makehimself emperor."

  "Upon my word," said Tirant, "you have spoken the truth: theseFrench are very evil people. And he'll do even worse than you'vesaid, because he's a real thief, and he travels the roads to rob.And you'll certainly see him get the emperor's daughter pregnant,and he'll take the throne, and afterward who will stop him fromraping all the maidens?"

  "By heaven," said the sailor, "I see that you know him well, andyou know about the treachery he's done and that he will do."

  Hippolytus was standing there, and he drew his sword to cut offthe man's head, but Tirant got up quickly and took the sword awayfrom him. And Tirant, continuing to speak badly of himself, madehim talk more. The sailor said:

  "I swear by the water I was baptized with that if I could catchthat traitor, Tirant, the way I've caught many others, I'd havehim hanged from the highest mast on the entire ship."

  Tirant laughed, and was very amused by what the sailor said. Ifit had been someone else instead of Tirant, they would have dealtseverely with him, or would have hanged him. But Tirant took asilk jacket and thirty ducats and gave them to him, and as soonas they were on land, he freed him. Imagine how the poor sailormust have felt when he discovered that it was Tirant! He knelt,and begged his forgiveness. And Tirant very willingly forgavehim.

  The following day the barons from Sicily came to the camp. Whenthey were at the castle of Malvei they saw many carts carryingbombards to the port. They were told that the captain was at theport, and they went there, knowing that he wanted to go to sea.They begged him to allow them to go along. The captain was gladto, precisely because they were from the islands, and they knewhow to sail. He gave orders to his captains and had many men goon board the ships, both soldiers and crossbowmen. Although theships were not very large, they were armed with good men, andthey were well supplied. Other ships were loaded with wheat,horses, and as many men as they could carry.

  Soon they saw a galley with sails unfurled and oars driving iton, and they quickly realized that enemy ships were approaching.The captain had all the men go on board, and the carried thebombards and everything they needed on board. When it was nearlyvespers the ships could be seen from the port. Then thecaptain's ship moved out in front of all the others. When theTurks saw it they shouted with joy, saying that that ship wouldsoon be theirs. The Grand Caramany had his daughter and all theother women come out on deck so they could see the ship theywould capture. A few minutes later the Lord of Pantanalea's shipmoved out, and then the Duke of Messina's ship. And the Turks'and Genoese's shouts of joy grew louder.

  The Grand Caramany said to his daughter:

  "Choose one of the ships you see. I'll give it to you; I want itto be yours."

  She asked for the first one she had seen, and it was promised toher. Then Lord Agramunt's ship came out, then Hippolytus's, andthey all came out, in order, one at a time. The good Prior ofSaint John came out last because he was captain of the rearguard. When he came out it was nearly dark of night. When theGenoese saw the twelve large ships, they were astonished,wondering where they had come from. Afterward came all thewhaling ships, and all the ship's boats; then the fishing boats.The boats that had no mast raised a long staff or an oar, andfastened it down tightly, and at the top of the staff they put alight inside a lantern. The captain's ship first raised a lampat the stern. Then all the other vessels, large and small, didthe same, following the captain's orders, and when all the lightswere lit there were seventy-four. The enemy saw all the lights,and thinking every light was a large ship, they said:

  "This must be the armada of the Grand Master of Rhodes, and thearmada of the King of Sicily. When they heard we were here theymust have gotten together this great armada to try to destroyus."

  So they decided to flee and go back to Turkey.

  When morning came Tirant did not see any of the vessels, exceptthe Grand Caramany's ship. When it was nearly noon he reachedthe ship, and they went into battle. The Turks threw quicklimeat them to blind them.

  Then they hurled boiling oil with iron ladles. Both sides threwboiling pitch at each other, and they did not stop day or night.Many men on both ships died, and there were so many brokenlances, shields, darts, arrows and spears that the dead bodiesthrown in the sea could not sink.

  Now let us leave them fighting, and see what the other barons andknights are doing. The eleven ships did not see the captain'sship because he had put out his light. But they sighted tenships within reach of a bombard, and they pulled alongside.

  Hippolytus did not want to draw close to any of them; instead hesailed windward and observed the battle. He saw that LordPantanalea's ship was being defeated, and that so many Turks hadclimbed on board that they outnumbered the Christians. ThenHippolytus attacked the enemy ship, and since most of the Turkswere now on the other ship and had taken everything except thepoop castle, Hippolytus and his men went on board the Turks'ship, and all the dead and wounded Turks and Genoese they found,they threw into the sea. Then they assisted Lord Pantanalea, andtheir help was like a dose of medicine. Hippolytus consoledthem, urging them to take heart, and he removed fear from thefearful, and gave them all courage and new hope. Soon he left,and went back to his ship to help those who most needed his aid.

  When Lord Pantanalea saw that there was no one left on the Turk'sship, he divided his men between the two ships, and he set sailin pursuit of the ships that were fleeing, and was the first toreach them. He attacked one ship, and while they were in combatanother ship arrived. It surrendered immediately, so that he hadthree ships. The eleven ships did the same to the two galleys sothat they took fourteen ships, and there were two that they madebeach themselves. The others escaped.

  Now let us see what Tirant is doing, for I can still see them inbattle. They began fighting at noon and continued all n
ight longuntil the following day. They fought twenty-seven times, andTirant, alone and without help, fearlessly attacked time aftertime.

  "I will take you," said Tirant, "or I will die trying."

  During the fighting Tirant was wounded in the arm by a spear.Then, when he tried to climb the forecastle an arrow struck himin the thigh.

  The Turks well needed to wound him, for in great desperationthree Turks leaped inside the forecastle, but they were no soonerinside than they were thrown into the water.

  When the Grand Caramany saw that his men were losing badly, hehad a case full of money, jewelry and clothing brought up. He hadhis daughter dressed in a jubbah with gold brocade, and he tied agolden silk rope around her neck. He had the case full of jewelryand all their riches tied to the other end of the rope, and hethrew his daughter and the case into the sea. Then he threw allthe other maidens on board into the waters.

  Then he and the King of Upper India went into the daughter'schamber, leaving the ship entirely deserted. They lay theirheads on the bed, and covering themselves, they awaited theirdeath.

  When the ship was completely taken, Tirant, wounded as he was,went on board and asked for the Grand Caramany.

  "Captain," said one of the gentlemen from the captain's ship,"he's hiding below decks with his head covered, waiting to bekilled. And the King of Upper India is with him."

  "The king is here?" asked the captain.

  "Yes, sir. Both of them are here."

  "Have them come up," said the captain. "I want to talk to them."

  And the gentleman carried out the captain's order. But the GrandCaramany refused to go, saying that he preferred to die in hisdaughter's chamber instead of on deck.

  "No," said the king. "Let us go up and die like men."

  But he wouldn't go until the gentleman had to use a little forcewith him. Tirant honored them like kings because he was such ahumane knight.

  He had them sit while he stood, but with the wound in his thighhe could not remain standing long, so he had to sit down.

  And very kindly, he said:

  "Your cruelty has been very great, and the most cruel death wouldnot be enough for what you deserve--and especially you, GrandCaramany, for you have killed your daughter and other Moorishwomen so cruelly and with such inhumanity. They would havefallen into the hands of a man who would have given them theirfreedom. And although you are not worthy of forgiveness, theemperor is such a man that he will spare your lives."

  And he said no more.

  The Grand Caramany replied:

  "You say I killed my daughter. I don't have to answer for thatto you or to anybody. I would rather see her dead thandishonored by you or any of your men. And I don't want anyoneenjoying my jewelry or my treasure. And don't think you're goingto sway my heart, because I'm ready to throw my body into thebitter sea or give it up to the earth before I would do anythingyou told me to."

  Instead of answering the Grand Caramany, Tirant politely askedthem to go on board his ship, and they had to do it in spite ofthemselves. When the captain had them inside, he divided up thefew men he had left between the two ships, and they set sail. Heunplugged the ship's scuppers, and such a gush of blood camepouring out that it seemed as though the ship was full of it. Onthe Turk's ship there wasn't a living soul except for the twokings. And on the captain's ship, out of four hundred eight men,only fifty-four survived, and sixteen of those were wounded.

  CHAPTER VI

  A TRUCE

  As Tirant came near the port of Transimeno they saw the whalingships that had been with the Turkish armada quickly entering theport of Bellpuig, shouting out the bad news about the capture ofthe kings, and the loss of the armada and all its men. WhenTirant reached port, he found many of his ships there, and manyof the enemy's that had been captured. After Tirant had beenthere for two days, all his men had returned except Hippolytus.

  Earlier, when Hippolytus had not been able to find his captain,he thought Tirant must have gone toward Turkey, so he ordered hispilot to set that course. While not finding the captain, he didsee a new ship from the armada. When he followed the ship, itfled and stopped at an island that was nearly unpopulated. Thewind was against it, and the men abandoned ship and made land byboat. When Hippolytus drew alongside, he captured the ship thatwas empty of men but full of riches, and took possession of it.

  When the captain saw that everyone was there except Hippolytus,he sent out three ships to search for him. And they found himcoming back with his prize. When the captain got news of it, andsaw that he was returning with such great honor, he was verycontent.

  This Hippolytus turned out to be a very valiant knight, generousand courageous. And he accomplished singular acts in his lifebecause he tried to imitate his master and lord.

  When Lord Malvei learned that Tirant had come back triumphant andvictorious, he was very glad, and he rode out to meet him. Butbefore going, he sent one messenger to the emperor and another tothe camp, and then everyone rejoiced. On hearing the news, theemperor had all the bells in the city rung, and there were greatcelebrations.

  When Lord Malvei found Tirant, he advised him to go to theemperor as soon as he could. And there was nothing Tirant wantedmore, because he wanted to see the princess. He assembled allthe men who had been with him, and they set sail.

  When they were in sight of the city of Constantinople, theemperor was told that their captain was coming with the entirearmada, and the ships were already in sight. The emperor quicklyhad a wooden bridge constructed that extended thirty paces outover the water, entirely covered with rich satin cloths. And hehad a cenotaph placed in the center of the marketplace, coveredwith brocade and silk, for himself, the empress, the princess andall the maidens. And from the cenotaph to the end of the bridgewhere they would disembark, he had cloth of red velvet put downso that the captain would step on silk instead of on the ground.(And when it was over, whoever managed to take a piece of silkwas able to keep it, and many hands were wounded with swords andknives as they tried to cut a piece of silk.)

  As the ships came into port, the captain's ship drew alongsidethe wooden bridge, and he came out with the Grand Caramany on hisright, the King of Upper India on his left, and all the barons infront. They were met by all the townspeople, and led in a greatprocession to the marketplace where the emperor and all theladies were.

  When Tirant was up on the cenotaph with the emperor, he knelt andkissed his hand, and he told the Grand Caramany to kiss his hand.But the Caramany answered that he would not; then Tirantimmediately dealt him such a hard blow to the head with hisgauntlet that the Caramany was forced to put his head to theground, and Tirant said to him:

  "Dog, you son of a dog, now you're going to kiss his feet and hishand whether you want to or not."

  "I won't do it of my own free will, or even by force," said theGrand Caramany. "And if you and I were in a different place, I'dshow you what it means to come close to a king. You still don'tknow how far my power extends. But I swear to you by our holyprophet, Mohammed, and by this beard, that if I ever get myfreedom back, I'll make you kiss the feet of one of my blacks."

  And he said no more. But his companion, the other king, so thathe would not be dealt the blow too, knelt on the hard ground andkissed his hand and foot. Then the emperor had them seized andplaced under a stiff guard inside an iron cell.

  The emperor and all the ladies came down from the cenotaph, andthey went to the great church of Saint Sophia. Tirant took theempress by the arm and escorted her, and she said to him:

  "Captain, you are the most glorious man in the world. If onlyyou had come to the kingdom of Germany in my time, when my fatherwas emperor of Rome, in those days when I was wooed by a thousandsuitors. If I had seen you, out of the thousand I would havechosen you. But now that I am old and belong to another, my hopecomes along too late."

  The princess heard all these things, and when they got to thepalace, she said to Tirant:

  "That old mother of mine is pitying he
rself, and she would liketo play too. She thinks that if you had come in her day, shewould be worthy of your love."

  Then the emperor came out and asked the captain about his wounds.Tirant answered that they felt a little feverish:

  "And I think the sea voyage has made my fever rise."

  The emperor ordered the doctors to take him to his quarters.When they had treated him they told him to stay in bed so thathis arm would not be permanently injured. Tirant followed thedoctors' advice, and the emperor visited him every day, and toldthe empress and his daughter to visit him twice a day, in themorning and in the afternoon. Widow Repose, moved more by lovethan mercy, served him continually.

  Now let us go back and see how the Turks are dealing with theChristians who stayed in the camp. After they heard of the cruelbattle between the captain and the Grand Turk, they often came tothe city of Saint George and killed or captured many Christians.They made many forays, engaging them in a cruel war, so that veryfew survived if they fell into their hands. How the Christianssuffered when they thought about Tirant not being there, and thatthey would have to go out and fight without him. Not even wiseDiafebus or Lord Agramunt could save their lives by placingthemselves in the most dangerous positions during the battles.And they all cried out for Tirant as if he were a saint. Theynever felt safe, but were terrified of the Turks, because thegreat courage they had had during their victories when Tirant hadbeen there, was lost now that he was gone. And they offered aspecial prayer to Our Lord to help Tirant, for they felt that alltheir hope lay with him.

  At this time, in the palace, the doctors were coming to Tirant'sroom. The empress had finished her hours, and she and theprincess and other ladies went to Tirant and asked the doctorswhen they would allow Tirant to come to the palace.

  "My lady," answered the doctors, "he'll be able to walk in threeor four days."

  When the princess was back in her chamber, a sweetness came intoher heart because of her great love for Tirant, and she fell tothe floor in a swoon. When the maidens saw her lying on thefloor they raised such a cry that it reached the emperor's ears,and he came running, thinking the world was about to collapsearound him.

  He saw his daughter sprawled on the ground as though dead, and hethrew himself over her, crying piteously. The mother had placedher daughter's head in her lap, and was crying and wailing sothat the entire palace heard her, and her face and clothing werebathed in tears. Word was quickly sent to the doctors who werein Tirant's lodging. A gentleman came who told them, in secret:

  "Come quickly. The princess is in such a state that you'll belucky to find her still alive!"

  The doctors hurried to the princess's chamber. Tirant sensedthat something had happened to the princess because of the outcrythe men and women were making. He got up quickly, sick as hewas, and went to the princess's chambers, where he found herconscious and lying in bed.

  He learned that the doctors had used all their efforts to bringback her health. When the emperor saw that his daughter hadrecovered, he went to his rooms with the empress, and the doctorswent with him because they saw that he was exhausted from whathad happened to his daughter. Tirant went into the chamber,nearly out of his mind, and when he saw the princess lying on thebed, he said, pitifully:

  "I have never felt greater pain than now, when I thought I mightlose the greatest treasure I had in the world. I heard shouts,and as soon as I thought of Your Majesty I said to myself, 'Ifsomething is wrong with her, she'll let me know.' But I've comemyself to see what Your Highness' illness is.

  The princess quickly replied:

  "Tirant, my lord, you alone were the cause of my illness: it wasbrought on by the thought of your love. Love already has morepower over me than I would like. I beg you to go see the emperorso that he won't know that you came to see me before you didhim."

  She put her head under the covers, and told Tirant to put histhere too. Then she told him:

  "Kiss my breasts to bring me consolation and to give you peace."

  And he did it very willingly. After he had kissed her breasts,he kissed her eyes and her face. Then Tirant left, very content.When he was in the emperor's chambers, and the doctors saw him,they reprimanded him soundly because he had gotten out of bedwithout their consent. Tirant answered:

  "Even if it cost me my life, I wouldn't refrain from coming tosee His Majesty, the emperor, for anything in the world. When Isaw you leaving my side so quickly, I could only suppose that hewas in some great difficulty."

  Meanwhile, the men in Tirant's camp were desperate because of hisillness, and they had no hope for victory without him. Thesultan sent ambassadors to the camp to deal with Tirant. Whenthey arrived the captain was not there, and they weredisappointed. They sent a message to the emperor, and he toldthem to come and see him, for they would be allowed to come andgo safely.

  So they went to the emperor, and he welcomed them verygraciously. He honored them highly because the King of Armeniawas with them as an ambassador, and he was the brother of theGrand Caramany. Abdalla Salomon, who was more knowledgeable thanthe others, was asked to speak, and he said:

  "My lord, we are sent to Your Majesty by that feared and mostexcellent and great lord of the Mohammedan sect, the great Sultanof Babylonia, and also by the Grand Turk and Lord of the Indies,and the other kings in his camp. We come before Your perfectMajesty for three things (not counting the first, which is toknow about your health, life, honor and condition). The firstis: a three month truce will be given to you, on land and sea, ifyou would like it. The second: knowing that this virtuouscaptain of the Christians has captured that powerful lord, theGrand Caramany, with his mighty sword, and the King of UpperIndia who was with him, if you would like to give him to us, wewill pay three times his weight in gold as ransom. And we willgive you one and a half times the weight of the King of UpperIndia. Let us come to the third item: If Your Excellency wouldlike a treaty of peace (with no iniquity or ill will; but onlypeace and love), he will think of you as a father, and you canthink of him as a son. And as a token of that peace you wouldgive him your daughter, Carmesina, as his wife--under thiscondition: if a son is born to them he will have to be raised inthe sect of our holy prophet, Mohammed; and if a daughter isborn, she will be given to the mother to live under Christianlaw. He will live under his law, and the princess under hers.In this way we can put an end to all our misfortunes, and as areward for such a marriage he will give you all the cities, townsand castles that he has taken in your empire. In addition, hewill make a lasting peace with you and your people. And he willdefend you against anyone who tries to harm you."

  The emperor held counsel, and then invited all the ambassadorsin. He told them that out of love and consideration for theMoorish sultan and the Grand Turk, he would sign the three monthpeace treaty, but about the other things he would reservejudgment.

  One day, while Tirant was in the princess's chamber, with manyother maidens there, he said:

  "Oh, Tirant! Why are you hesitant about dying when you see thefather in alliance with his council against his daughter? Tothink that so much beauty, virtue and grace, along with greatnessof lineage, will be subject to a Moorish enemy of God and ourholy law, and it will be destroyed and fall into decay!"

  The princess quickly answered:

  "How could you think that I would subject myself to a Moor, orthat I would stoop to be a friend of a Moorish dog? They have asmany wives as they like and not one of them is really a wife,because they can leave them whenever they wish. Forget all thosethoughts, virtuous knight, and trust your Carmesina. She willdefend all your rights just as you have defended hers. And youcan command me in everything you wish, as if you were my lord."

  Another day Tirant was going to the princess's chamber and he metPlaerdemavida. He asked her what the princess was doing, and sheanswered:

  "Oh, you saint! Why do you want to know what my lady is doing?If you had come earlier you would have found her in bed. And ifyou had seen her the way I've seen her
, your soul would be inparadise. The more a person sees what he loves, the more hewants it. That's why I think it's more delightful to seesomething than to imagine it. Come in if you'd like: you'll findher dressed in her skirt. I want to talk to you about my owndesire: Why doesn't my Hippolytus come with you? It's hard tothink that I hurt inside when today's pleasure shouldn't be putoff for later."

  "Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you to tell me in all truth if theempress or anyone else I should fear is inside."

  "I wouldn't tell you one thing if it were something else," saidPlaerdemavida. "It would be bad for both of us: You for goingin, and me for letting you go. I know that the princess doesn'twant your love for her to go unrewarded. And since I know howmuch you hunger for your heart's desire, I want to help you."

  Then Tirant went into the chamber and found the princess combingher hair. When she turned and saw him she said:

  "Who gave you the right to come in here? You shouldn't come intomy room without my permission: if the emperor knew about this hecould charge you with disloyalty. I beg you to leave: my breastis trembling in fear."

  Tirant paid no attention to the princess's words, but took her inhis arms and kissed her again and again on her breasts, her eyesand her mouth. When the maidens saw Tirant playing with theirlady that way they were silent, but when they saw Tirant puttinghis hand under her skirt they came to her aid. While they werefrolicking this way the empress was coming to her daughter'schamber to see what she was doing, and with their games they didnot hear her until she was at the chamber door.

  Tirant quickly lay on the floor and they spread clothes over him.Then the princess sat on top of him, and began combing her hair.The empress sat down at her side, nearly on Tirant's head. OnlyGod knows how shamefully afraid Tirant was then! He was inanguish while they talked about the celebrations they wereplanning, until a maiden came with the Hours. Then the empressgot up and withdrew to one side of the room to say the Hours.The princess was afraid the empress might see him, and did notdare move. When the princess had finished combing her hair, sheput her hand under the clothes and combed Tirant's hair, and fromtime to time he kissed her hand and took the comb away. All themaidens went in front of the empress, and then Tirant got upquietly and left with the comb the princess had given him.

  When he was outside the room, thinking he was safe and that noone had seen him, he saw the emperor and a chamberlain comingdirectly to the princess's chamber. When Tirant saw them passingthrough the great hall he panicked and quickly went back into theprincess's chamber and said to her:

  "My lady, help me. The emperor is coming."

  "Oh!" said the princess. "We get out of one bad situation, andthen go into one that's even worse. I told you what wouldhappen, but you're always coming at the worst times."

  She quickly had the maidens stand in front of the empress again,and they quietly led him to another chamber. There they putmattresses on top of him so that if the emperor came in, as heoften did, he would not see him. When the emperor came into thechamber he found his daughter combing her hair. He stayed thereuntil she had finished and the empress had said her Hours, andall the maidens were dressed. When the princess was at thechamber door she asked where her gloves were. Then she said:

  "Oh, I put them in a place none of you knows about."

  She and her maidens went back inside the chamber where Tirantwas, and took off all the mattresses covering him. Then hejumped up and caught the princess in his arms, dancing around theroom with her and kissing her again and again.

  "Oh, how beautiful you are! I have never seen a maiden asperfect as you. Your Majesty is so superior to all women inknowledge and discretion that I'm not surprised the Moorishsultan would want to have you in his arms."

  "Appearances are deceiving," said the princess. "I'm not asperfect as you say I am. That light shining in your eyes islove. Kiss me and let me go; the emperor is waiting for me."

  Tirant could not answer her because the maidens were holding ontohis hands so he could not muss her hair with his playing around.When he saw her leaving, and that he could not touch her with hishands, he stretched out his leg and put it under her skirt sothat his shoe touched her where it should not, and he put his legbetween her thighs. Then the princess ran out of his chamber tobe with the emperor, and Widow Repose took Tirant out through thegarden door.

  When Tirant was in his own lodging he took off his shoes andstockings. Then he had the stocking and shoe that had touchedthe princess embroidered with pearls, diamonds and rubies worthmore than twenty-five thousand ducats.

  On the day of the joust he wore the shoe and stocking, andeveryone who saw it was amazed at the fine jewels, for a shoelike that had never been seen before. And on that foot he woreno armor, but only on the left foot. As a crest for his helmet,he wore four golden rods, the Holy Grail. And upon that was thecomb the princess had given him, with a motto that read: "Thereis no virtue but that which exists in her."

  Everyday Tirant was in the court, talking and taking his easewith the emperor and much more so with the ladies. And hechanged clothes every day, but he always wore the same stocking.One day the princess said to him in a mocking tone:

  "Tell me, Tirant this custom you have of wearing an embroideredstocking on one foot but not on the other, is it something theydo in France or in some other place?"

  This was the day the festival had ended, and they were on theirway to Pera. And the princess said these words with Stephanieand Widow Repose close by.

  "What, my lady! Doesn't Your Majesty know what this custommeans? Doesn't Your Excellency remember that day when theempress came in and I was hidden with your maiden's clothing ontop of me, and the empress nearly sat on my head? Afterward yourfather came in, and you hid me in the little chamber under themattresses, and when they were gone, while I was playing withYour Highness, since I couldn't reach you with my hands, my foothad to take their place, and I put my leg between your thighs,and my foot touched higher up, where my soul wishes to find itshappiness."

  "Oh, Tirant!" said the princess. "I remember very well what youtold me that day, and my body still bears the marks. But the daywill come when, just as you have one leg embroidered today, youwill be able to embroider both of them, and you may place themwhere you will, at your pleasure."

  When Tirant heard her saying these words so full of love, hequickly dismounted from his horse, saying that his gloves hadfallen, and he kissed her leg above her skirt, and said:

  "The place were grace was granted should be kissed."

  As soon as they reached the city of Pera, and when they wereabout to don their armor, they saw nine galleys approaching land.The emperor would not allow the tournament to begin until theyfound out where the galleys were from. The galleys put into portin less than an hour, and they turned out to be French. Theircaptain was a cousin of Tirant. He had been a page to the king,and the king had made him Viscount of Branches. This viscounthad decided to come and help his cousin in his battles againstthe infidel, and he and other nobles had come, along with fivethousand French archers that the King of France had given tothem. And each of the archers had a page and a squire. And whenthe galleys had docked at Sicily, the king there had given themmany horses.

  The emperor postponed the tournament for the following day. Theneight hundred knights with gold spurs came out to the grounds,and no one was allowed to participate if he had not been dubbed aknight and unless he wore silk or brocade or gold trappings. TheDuke of Pera was captain of half the men, and Tirant commandedthe other half. So that each would know who the other was, theyhad small flags attached to their helmets, some green and otherswhite. Tirant had ten knights enter the field of battle, and theduke ten others, and they began to fight very well.

  Then twenty entered, then thirty, and they began to mix together.Each of them did as well as he possibly could in using hisweapons. Tirant kept an eye on his men, and when he saw thatthey were not doing well, he entered the fray with his lancepoised, and he went
against another knight so ferociously that hethrust his lance completely through him and it came out the otherside. Then he drew his sword and dealt terrible blows all aroundso that he seemed like a ravenous lion, and all the onlookerswere amazed at his great strength and spirit.

  The emperor was very satisfied at this singular display of arms.When it had gone on for nearly three hours, the emperor came downfrom the cenotaph, mounted a horse and quickly rode into the frayto separate the men, because he saw that tempers were rising, andmany were wounded. After all the knights had disarmedthemselves, they went to the palace. There they talked abouttheir singular display of arms, and the foreigners said they hadnever seen such valiant men. The sultan's ambassadors, who hadseen them, were filled with wonder.

  That night the emperor returned with his men and all the ladiesto the city of Constantinople. The following day, after mass,they all went to the market place which was as nicely decoratedas it had been the first day. When the sultan's ambassadorsarrived, and everyone was present, the emperor gave them thisreply:

  "Nothing brings greater anguish than to have His Majesty hearabominable words that offend God and the world. I pray that Hisimmense goodness will not permit me to do things against His holycatholic faith, like giving my daughter as wife to a man who isoutside our law. For all the treasure that the Grand Caramanyand the King of Upper India could pay, they cannot have theirliberty unless they restore all my empire to me."

  When they had heard these words the ambassadors stood up and tooktheir leave, and went back to the sultan.

  After the celebration was over and the ambassadors had gone, theemperor held war councils many times. Tirant fostered hisromance, and was very insistent about staying near the princessbecause he saw that the end of the truce was approaching. Theemperor indicated that he wanted the captain to be in camp totake charge of the men, and the captain showed that he wasattending to the men going with him so that they would be ready,since he was very eager to confront the Turks.

  Tirant pleaded insistently with the princess to give him thesatisfaction he wanted. The princess saw how great Tirant'spassion was, and she said:

  "Tirant, I know full well what you want, but my reputation isspotless. Tell me, what gave you the hope of being in my bed?Just to imagine it is great infamy. If I gave in to you, Icouldn't hope that it would not be known. What could I use toexcuse my transgression? I beg you, Tirant, my lord, do not robme lightly of my tender virginity."

  And she would say no more. Tirant was rather stunned by theprincess's words which showed how little she loved him. For hethought he had progressed in his love affair, and now he found itwas entirely the opposite.

  While they were talking the emperor came into the chamber, andtook his daughter Carmesina by the hand. They went upstairstogether to the treasure-tower to take out money and give it toTirant so that he would go to the camp.

  When they had gone Tirant was left with the maidens. He thoughtabout what the princess had said to him, and he realized thatWidow Repose had overheard his secret, and everything he had saidto her. Tirant decided to see if he could win the Widow overwith promises, and with warm and tender words he said:

  "I believe I have been offended by my lady. I want to do greatservices for the princess so that she will see that I am worthyof her love. Although Stephanie already has many possessions andgreat wealth, I would like to give her even more. I would giveWidow Repose a duke or count or marquis for a husband, and asmany possessions as would make her happy. And I would like to dothe same for Plaerdemavida and all the other ladies."

  Stephanie thanked Tirant for herself and for all the other women.Widow Repose said to Stephanie:

  "You thank him for yourself. I know how to thank him on my own."

  And, smiling, she turned to Tirant and said:

  "Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. But I want noother husband, no matter how great a lord he is, except the one Iadore day and night. He has not killed me yet, but he has givenme reason to die. I won't say any more about that because thisisn't the time or place."

  When Widow Repose finished, Plaerdemavida said:

  "My lord and captain, don't you know that repentance follows sin?You've come to my lady's rooms, and found them like a tomb, sinceyou can find no mercy in them. Please don't lose hope, I begyou. Rome wasn't built in a day. Are you discouraged because ofsome trifle my lady said to you? When you're in a hard-foughtbattle, you're like a lion, and you always come out victorious,and yet are you afraid of a lone woman who, with our help, you'llconquer? Do you remember that pleasant night in the castle ofMalvei when I was dreaming? You saw how mercifully you dealtwith that situation. I'm only trying to tell you that we'll allhelp you in this affair. And I know what the solution is: youhave to mix in a little force, because your fear--which comesfrom ignorance--stops you from using it. It's a terrible thingfor maidens to have to say those awful words: 'I like it.' I'llwork as hard as I can for you in this affair, I promise you. AndI think that as a just reward--very inferior to my work--Ideserve to have your grace help with the love of my Hippolytus.But I'm more than a little afraid, because I can see where hiswayward steps are taking him, and I don't like the way he's goingat all. I'm afraid of the danger he'll place himself in, becausehe is a very good swordsman, and he strikes not at the legs butat the head. And he knows much more than I have shown him."

  Tirant brightened up a little at Plaerdemavida's jokes, and hestood up to tell her:

  "Maiden, it looks to me as though, instead of hiding youradvances toward Hippolytus, you don't care who knows about them."

  "What do I care if everybody knows?" said Plaerdemavida. "Youmen think that just because we're maidens we won't dare to sayanything. It's your nature to be good at first, and then badafterward. You're like the ocean: when someone starts to go inthe water it seems soft, and then later, when he's all the wayin, it's a torrent. That's the way love begins: at first you'resoft, and later on you're harsh and terrible."

  While they were talking, the emperor came in. He took Tirant bythe hand and led him out of the room, and they talked at greatlength about the war. When it was time to eat, Tirant and hismen went to their quarters.

  That night, when the princess wanted to go to bed, Widow Reposesaid to her:

  "My lady, if Your Majesty knew about the things Tirant said to usladies, you would be amazed. He took me aside and told me thingsabout Your Excellency that I an loathe to repeat, because hiswords show how little he cares for you."

  Widow Repose's words had a great effect on the princess. Withoutletting her say another word, she put her cloak back on, and theywent into a tiny chamber where no one could overhear them. Firstthe Widow told her what Tirant had said to all the ladies, andhow he wanted to arrange honorable marriages for them all. Then,with great wickedness and deceit, the evil Widow gave vent to hermalice:

  "Tirant is a cruel man. He doesn't have the good sense of theothers, but he is more shameless and daring. If Your Highnessknew what he says about you, you would never be able to lovehim."

  "Tell me at once," said the princess, "and don't make me sufferso."

  "He spoke to me secretly," said Widow Repose, "and he made meswear on the Gospel that I wouldn't say a word to anyone. Butsince you are my mistress, and I would be going against theloyalty I owe you, any oath I've made is worthless. First, hetold me that Stephanie and Plaerdemavida are in alliance with himso that, with your consent or by force, he will possess YourMajesty. And if you don't do it of your own free will, he'llplunge his sword through your neck and kill you cruelly, and thenhe will do the same thing to your father. He will steal all yourtreasure and they'll get on their ships and go back to theirland. And with the treasure they carry off, the clothing andjewels, they'll find maidens there who are much more beautifulthan Your Highness, for he says that you don't look any betterthan a serving girl and that you are completely shameless: thatyou'll give it to anyone who wants it. Watch out for yourvirtue, my lady. You
can see what that mad traitor thinks ofYour Highness! And that faithless man says even more: that hedidn't come to this land to fight, and that he has been hurt toomany times because of his misfortune of knowing you and yourfather. Do you think, my lady, that that way of talking isproper for knights? Look at what he thinks of the honor of YourExcellency and the emperor, who have granted him so many benefitsand honors. Anyone who says things like that should burn inflames! Do you know what other things he says? That he doesn'tlove any woman alive, unless it's for her wealth. He says manyother wicked things too. I remember he told me that if he everhad another night like that one in Malvei, even if he made you athousand promises, he wouldn't keep any of them. With yourconsent or by force, he would take you, and then he would say toyou, 'You evil woman, I don't thank you, now that I've had mypleasure.' Oh, my lady, my heart cries blood when I think of allthe terrible things he said about Your Highness! That's why, mylady, I want to give you some advice even though you haven'tasked me for it. There's no one who has more compassion for youthan I have. I cradled you in my arms and fed you from my ownbreast, and Your Highness has hidden from me to entertain thatwicked Tirant. You've had more faith in Stephanie andPlaerdemavida than in me: and they have betrayed you and soldyou. Oh, poor you! How they've defamed you, and they'll do iteven more from now on! Keep away from friendships like thosesince you know the truth, because what I tell you is the Gospelitself. You must swear that you'll never tell a soul about thesethings I've told Your Majesty. I'm afraid that if that traitor,Tirant, hears about it, he'll have me killed and then he'llleave. So, my lady, make pretenses, and break off yourfriendship with him little by little, because if Your Highnesssuddenly stopped seeing him, he would think that I told you. Andthose two ladies deserve to be whipped. Don't you see how bigStephanie's belly is? I'm astonished that the emperor hasn'tnoticed it. And the same will happen to Plaerdemavida."

  The princess was very upset. With tears flowing from her eyes,she began to lament angrily:

  "Oh, God! Where is Your justice? How is it that fire does notdescend from heaven to turn that cruel, ungrateful Tirant intoashes? He was the first knight that I considered my master. Ithought he would bring an end to all my troubles, and now I seeeverything turned around. Oh, who would ever have thought thatwords like these could come from the mouth of such a virtuousknight? What have I done to him, to make him want the deaths ofmy father and my mother and their miserable daughter? Oh,Tirant! What happened to the love we shared? What crime did Icommit for you to think me vile and abominable? Did you reallysay that you love no lady or maiden unless it's for her wealth,and that you want to take my virginity by force? Oh, if I wantedto be cruel, before the sun came up your chamber would be full ofblood; yours and the blood of all your men."

  And she said no more. But hearing the call for matins, sheadded:

  "Widow, let's go to bed, even though I'll get little sleeptonight with the great hate I have for Tirant--the one I used tolove so much."

  The Widow answered:

  "My lady, I beg you, please. Don't say a word about this toanyone. Who knows what might happen?"

  "Don't worry," said the princess. "I'll protect you."

  When they were in their chamber, Stephanie saw them come in, andsaid:

  "It looks to me, my lady, as though you've had a great deal ofpleasure listening to the Widow--you've been with her so long.I'd like to know what you're thinking about."

  The princess climbed into bed without answering, and began to crybitterly. When the Widow had gone, Stephanie asked her why shewas crying. The princess told her:

  "Stephanie, let me be, and take care that this doesn't happen toyou."

  Stephanie was surprised at this, not knowing what it could mean.She did not reply, but drew close to her as she usually did. Allthat night the princess could not sleep a wink and cried andlamented continually.

  In the morning she got up, ill, because of her lack of sleep.Nonetheless, she forced herself to go to mass.

  When Tirant learned of her condition, and when Stephanie told himabout her tears and crying all night long, he was very surprised,and wondered what he had done. Going up to the princess, hesaid:

  "If Your Excellency would like to tell me what is wrong, I wouldbe very pleased."

  Tirant could say no more because of the great emotion that hefelt, and the princess softly began to say the following words:

  "I will spend the rest of my life hiding the cause of my grief.And don't think that it doesn't cost me a great deal of effort tokeep such terrible pain hidden."

  She could say no more because the doctors came, along with theempress. Tirant took his leave to go to his lodgings, immersedin thought about what the princess had told him, and he feltdistressed. He could not eat, and did not want to leave hischamber until the constable went to the palace and spoke atlength with Stephanie and Plaerdemavida. He told them what greatanguish Tirant was in because of what the princess had said tohim.

  "How can we help him," said Stephanie, "if everything I mend byday the Widow tears apart at night? If it weren't for the Widow,I would have had him in her chambers, not once, but a hundredtimes, like it or not, the way I did that night in the castle ofMalvei."

  As they finished talking, they went into the princess's chamber.She was deeply involved in conversation with Widow Repose, andStephanie could not talk to her. The emperor, knowing that theconstable was there, thought that Tirant must be there too. Sohe had them summoned, and as they had to hold counsel, theemperor said:

  "Let us go to Carmesina's chambers, and we will see how she is,because she has not felt well all day long."

  The constable went first, then came the emperor and Tirant, andthen everyone in the council who wished to go. They found theprincess playing cards with the Widow, withdrawn to a corner ofthe chamber. The emperor sat at her side, asking about herillness, and she quickly answered him:

  "Sire, as soon as I see Your Majesty, my illness suddenlydisappears."

  Then she turned her eyes on Tirant and smiled. The emperor wasvery happy at Carmesina's words, and much more so when he saw herin such a good mood. They spoke of many things, and the princessanswered everything Tirant said to her, because Widow Repose hadadvised her to be nice to Tirant.

  What the Widow wanted was not for Tirant to return to hiscountry, but to lose hope of having the princess, and for him tolove the Widow instead. That is why she spoke so wickedly to theprincess.

  When it was nearly night, the emperor and all his men went totheir chambers, and the next day the emperor expressed his regretthat all the men had to leave for the camp. Tirant and his mengot ready as quickly as they could. While Stephanie was talkingwith the princess that evening, she gave her the news aboutTirant, and the princess quickly said to her:

  "Be quiet, Stephanie. Don't make me any angrier. All those whomake appearances of love are not made exactly of gold."

  Stephanie tried to talk but she would not let her.

  So two or three days went by, and the princess showed a smilingface to everyone, including Tirant, because she knew that soonthey would have to leave. And to the emperor she said:

  "Sire, here is Tirant, your virtuous captain, who will shortly doto the sultan what he did to the Caramany and the King of UpperIndia, or what he did to the King of Egypt. If everyone in theworld went into battle, he would certainly be the only one to winhonor and lasting fame. And that is worthy of a singular prize,for he is a great warrior, and he has gone into battle with truecourage."

  The emperor said:

  "Virtuous captain, I thank you for all the honors you havebrought me, and I beg you to do the same from now on, or better,for this is the hope I place in you."

  When Tirant heard so many superfluous words, and saw that theprincess had brought them on, almost in mockery, he could utteronly:

  "Perhaps."

  Tirant wanted to go to his chambers, and he went down astaircase, into a room where he found the High Constable
,Stephanie and Plaerdemavida in animated conversation. Tirantwent to them and said:

  "My sisters, what are you talking about?"

  "My lord," answered Stephanie, "about how little love theprincess is showing your lordship when you are about to leave.Now, more than ever, she should be showering you with love.Then, my lord, we talked about what will happen to me if you goaway. Because the empress said to me last night, 'Stephanie, youare in love.' I blushed and shamefully lowered my eyes. Thatwas a sign of assent, since I was silent, because at first Ididn't know what love was, except for that night at Malvei. Andif you leave there will be little good fortune and a miserablegift of love for me except for all the pain I'll have forcompany. Oh, poor me! That's the way I will bepunished--because of your wrongdoing."

  "My lady," said Tirant, "didn't I tell you that the day we left Iwould beg the emperor, in the presence of the empress and theprincess, to give his consent to this marriage? The constablewill be here, and then we will hold your wedding."

  "And how will I get along," said Stephanie, "when you aren'there? There won't be any celebration or dancing or festivitiesat all without your lordship here."

  "Who wants festivities at a wedding if there weren't any at theengagement?" said Tirant, "Leave the partying and merrymaking forthe bed."

  While they were talking, the emperor came down with Carmesina.Tirant thought that this was a good time to tell the emperor. Sohe went over to the emperor, and in Carmesina's presence he sankto one knee, and humbly began the following plea:

  "With deep humility I beg Your Majesty, and the empress, and theprincess, to hold the marriage of the maiden Stephanie ofMacedonia to my singular brother, the Count of Sant Angel and theHigh Constable of Your Highness, because marriages like these area union of the deepest kind of love."

  The emperor replied:

  "I am going to delegate my power to my daughter here so that shecan ask her mother's consent."

  And he left without another word, while the princess stayedbehind with them. When Stephanie saw that the emperor had goneso quickly, she assumed that he did not approve of the marriage,and she left the princess, Tirant, the constable andPlaerdemavida, and went into a chamber alone and began to cry.

  Tirant took the princess's arm, and went with the constable andPlaerdemavida to the empress's chambers. There Tirant and theprincess asked the empress to give her consent to this marriage,since the emperor had agreed, and she answered that she would bevery happy to. They immediately called all the court toStephanie's betrothal. They all gathered in the great hall,along with a cardinal who had been summoned to marry them. Thenthey sent word for the bride to come, and they found her stillcrying because she had heard no news until they came looking forher and told her that the emperor and all the others were waitingfor her.

  The betrothal was celebrated with dances and a sumptuous feast.The emperor wanted the wedding to take place the following day sothat Tirant's departure would not be delayed, and so it was done.Great celebrations were held with jousts and dances and gaiety.And everyone was happy except poor, miserable Tirant.

  The night of the wedding, Plaerdemavida caught five littlekittens and put them by the window where the bride was sleeping,and they meowed all night long. After Plaerdemavida had put thecats there she went to the emperor's chambers and said to him:

  "My lord, come to the bride's chamber quickly: the constable musthave hurt her terribly because I heard some loud cries. I amreally afraid that he may have killed your dear niece, or atleast hurt her badly; and since Your Majesty is such a closerelative of hers it's you who should go to her side."

  Plaerdemavida's words were so amusing that the emperor dressedagain and the two of them went to the door of the bridal chamberand listened. When Plaerdemavida saw that they were not talking,she quickly called out:

  "My lady, my bride, how is it that you aren't crying out ortalking now? It must be because in that battle your pain (Thatpain that reaches down to your heels, and won't let you shoutthat delightful 'Oh!') and your even greater haste are over.It's a great pleasure, if you listen to what the maidens say.Since you're so quiet, that's a sign that you've finished themeal, bone and all. It will be bad for you if you don't do itagain. The emperor is right here, listening for you to cry outbecause he's afraid you might be hurt."

  The emperor told her to be quiet, and not to say he was there.

  "I certainly will not," said Plaerdemavida. "I want them to knowthat you're here."

  Then the bride began to cry out and to say that he was hurtingher and for him to be still, and Plaerdemavida said:

  "My lord, everything the bride is saying is a lie. Her wordsdon't come from the heart. They sound false to me, and they'renot to my liking."

  The emperor could not contain his laughter at Plaerdemavida'sdelicious remarks. Then, when the bride heard them laughing sohard she said:

  "Who put those wretched cats out there? Put them somewhere else,I beg you: they won't let me sleep."

  Plaerdemavida replied:

  "That I certainly won't do. Didn't you know that I can get livekittens out of a dead cat?"

  "Oh, what a lively young lady!" said the emperor. "How my heartis warmed by the things you say. I swear to you by the Almightythat if I didn't already have a wife I would have no other girlbut you."

  The empress had gone to the emperor's chamber and found the doorclosed, and no one was there but a page who told her that theemperor was at the door of the bridal chamber. Then she wentthere and found him with four maidens. Plaerdemavida saw theempress coming, and before anyone could talk she said:

  "Hope to die quickly, my lady: listen to what my lord the emperorsaid to me--that if he didn't already have a wife he would haveno one but me. And since you're in my way, fall down dead rightnow--as quickly as you can."

  "Oh, you wicked child!" said the empress. "Is that the sort ofthing you say to me?" And turning to the emperor: "And you, youblessed saint, what do you want another wife for? To give hertaps instead of thrusts? Don't you know that no lady or maidenever died from being tapped?"

  And, joking, they went back to their chambers happily, and theempress and the maidens returned to theirs.

  The next day, in the morning, everyone was happy, and they highlyhonored the constable and the bride. They took them to the mainchurch where they heard mass with great honor. When they hadread the scripture the preacher mounted the pulpit and gave asolemn sermon.

  When the sermon and the mass were finished, they had theconstable put on the clothing of the duchy of Macedonia, and theydisplayed the flags of that duchy. On his head they put a crownmade entirely of fine silver, and they crowned Stephanie in thesame way.

  When these things were finished they left the church, ridingthrough the city with flags flying in the wind. The emperor,with all the ladies and all the grandees, dukes, counts andmarquis, and many others on horseback, rode around the entirecity. Afterward they all went outside the city to a beautifulmeadow where there was a shining spring called Holy Spring.After the flags were blessed, they baptized the duke and duchessof the kingdom of Macedonia by pouring perfumed water on theirheads.

  The duke went to the Holy Spring, and the emperor took water fromthe spring and baptized him again, giving him the title of Dukeof Macedonia. Then the trumpets sounded, and the heraldsshouted:

  "This is the illustrious Duke of Macedonia, of the great lineageof Rocasalada."

  At that moment three hundred knights with golden spurs came, andthey all made a deep bow to the emperor, and paid great honor tothe Duke of Macedonia. And from this moment on he was no longercalled Constable. These three hundred knights separated into twogroups, and each knight took the most beautiful lady or the onethat was most to his liking. They held them with the reins ofthe horses they were riding on. And each of them, in order, rodeforward: first those of highest station and lineage, and thenthose who wished to joust. And when they met, one would tell theother to give up the lady they had, or he would have
to joustwith him, and the one who broke the other's lance first wouldtake his lady.

  While the knights were engaged in these games, the emperor wentto the city of Pera where the celebration was prepared. It wasalready past noon, and the knights had not yet returned, so theemperor went to the top of a high tower. He had a great hornblown that could be heard more than a league away, and when theknights heard the horn, they all set out on the road to Pera.Then three hundred other knights came out, dressed in the samecolor of garments, and they blocked the road. A very singulardisplay of arms took place there which greatly pleased theemperor.

  All the ladies and maidens who had been taken prisoner fled tothe city and left the knights.

  The combat between the knights lasted more than two hours as theemperor did not want to stop it, and when they had broken alltheir lances they fought with swords. The emperor called for thetrumpets to sound, and they all separated, each group to adifferent side. When the knights were separated, each sought outhis lady, and they could not find them. Then they began to saythat the other knights had taken them prisoner, and each of themcomplained to the empress and the princess about the ladies theyhad lost. They answered that they knew nothing, and that theybelieved the other knights had them hidden. Then these knights,very furious, raised their swords and spurred toward the others,and they began to fight again.

  When it had gone on for a good spell, they saw the ladies on thepalace walls. A trumpet sounded, and they all gathered togetherand attacked the palace mightily, and the women defended it. Butthe men outside broke in by force of their arms. When they wereinside the great patio they divided into two groups, and taking aking-of-arms, they sent him to the knights who had come mostrecently, demanding that they leave, for they were each there toget back their lady, along with the ones they had won. Theyanswered that they would not leave for anything in the world.They wanted their share of what was due to them, as they hadplaced themselves in such grave danger of death. After this,they held combat on foot inside the palace, and it was adelicious sight to see, for some were falling here and othersthere. Others delivered marvelous blows with their axes, andwhoever lost his axe could not fight again, nor could anyonewhose body or hand touched the floor. They fought in such a waythat it became a fight of ten against ten, and then it wasbeautiful to see. Finally the emperor had them separated, andthen they were all disarmed in the great hall, and there theydined. When it was a half hour before sunset they began todance, and they held a long and pretty dance. They took theprincess and all the ladies, and dancing, they went to the cityof Constantinople.

  After the meal Tirant gathered all those of his lineage,thirty-five knights and gentlemen who had come with him or theViscount of Branches. They went to kiss the foot and hand of theemperor, thanking him for the great kindness he had done them ingiving his beautiful niece to Diafebus for his bride. And afterthey had all thanked him, the emperor smiled and said:

  "Because of the great virtue I see in you, Tirant, I love youdeeply. And I would not want anyone to marry a relative of mineif he were not of the lineage of Rocasalada. I would have beggedyou to take Stephanie, my niece, as your wife, along with theduchy of Macedonia, so that you would be more united with thecrown of the Empire of Greece, and I would have given you manyother things. At the time that I offered it, you did not want tobe a count; instead you gave it to your relative. And now Iwould have given you the duchy, along with a lady who is arelative of mine, and you did not want that either. I don't knowwhat you're waiting for! If you want me to give you my empire,don't count on it: I need it."

  Tirant replied:

  "The greatest glory I could have is to leave an inheritance to myrelatives and friends. As an inheritance of my own I wantnothing more than a horse and arms, so Your Highness will have towork a great deal to make me rich."

  The old emperor was pleased by Tirant's words. Turning to hisdaughter, the emperor said:

  "I have never known a knight with as much virtue as Tirant. IfGod gives me life I will see him crowned a king."

  CHAPTER VII IN THE PRINCESS'S BED

  After the celebrations were over, Diafebus, the Duke ofMacedonia, lived in the emperor's palace. The following day theduke invited all those of his lineage, Rocasalada, to dine.While the guests were eating, the emperor told his daughter to goto the duchess' chamber since all the foreigners from Brittanywere there.

  "The duke is attempting to pay them honor, and celebrations likethis are useless if there are no maidens present."

  The princess replied:

  "My lord, I will obey Your Majesty's command."

  Accompanied by many ladies and maidens she started toward theduchess' chamber. With great malice Widow Repose went up to her,and said:

  "Oh, my lady! Why does Your Highness want to go where theseforeigners are? Do you want to disturb their dinner? When theysee Your Excellency no one will dare eat in your presence. Youand your father want to honor them and give them pleasure, andyet you do them great harm. For all of them would prefer to seethe wing of a partridge than all the maidens in the world. YourHighness should not act so freely, going to such a place, sinceyou are the emperor's daughter. Think highly of yourself if youwant to be well thought of by other people. It's a bad sign whenI see Your Excellency always with that fool, Tirant."

  "Don't I have to obey what my father, the emperor, orders me todo?" said the princess. "I don't think anyone would blame me forobeying my father's command."

  But she went back to her own chamber without visiting theduchess. When everyone had eaten, Plaerdemavida decided to seeTirant and talk to the duchess. Seeing Tirant sitting there,deep in thought, she went over to him, and to console him shesaid:

  "Captain, my lord, my soul suffers deeply when it sees you so sadand lost in thought. Tell me, your grace, how I can help, for Iwill not fail you even if my life were in the balance."

  Tirant was very grateful to her. The duchess approached them,and asked Plaerdemavida why the princess had not come.Plaerdemavida answered that Widow Repose was the cause, for shehad scolded her at length.

  And she would not tell what the Widow had said about Tirant sothat he would not explode in anger.

  "I wish," said Tirant, "that she were a man. Then I could repayher for all the wicked things she says."

  "Would you like to do it properly?" asked Plaerdemavida. "Let'sleave the wickedness aside and get right down to business; theremedies will come later. I'm well aware that we won'taccomplish anything if we don't mix in a little force, so I'lltell you what I think. Her Highness told me to prepare a bathfor her the day after tomorrow. So when everyone is eating I'lltake you into the chamber where she takes her bath in such a waythat no one will see you. When she comes out of the bath andgoes to sleep I'll be able to place you by her side in the bed.And just as you are serious and skillful on the battlefield youmust be the same way in bed. This is the quickest road forgetting what you want. If you know a better one, speak up, don'thold your tongue."

  The duchess said:

  "Let me talk to her first, and I'll see what sort of answer shegives. Your idea will have to be the last thing we do to getwhat we want."

  Tirant spoke:

  "I wouldn't want to do anything that would offend my lady. Whatgood would it do me to have my desire with Her Highness if it'sagainst her will? I would rather undergo a cruel death than makeHer Majesty angry in any way, or do anything against her wishes."

  "In God's faith, I don't like what I'm hearing from you," saidPlaerdemavida. "If the desire to love exists in you, you won'trun away from the narrow path I'm offering you. My experiencespeaks for itself, and it desires to serve you and bring you allthe good I can--even more than I can. But I see that you'regoing off in a strange direction. You want to go down a dead-endstreet. From now on you go find someone else to take care ofyour problem. I don't want to have anything more to do with it."

  "Maiden," said Tirant, "I beg you, please, don't be angry. Let'sput our min
ds together and do what's best. If you fail me inthis, there's nothing left for me to do but go off, hopeless,like a madman."

  "Not even the angels," said Plaerdemavida, "could give you betteradvice than I have."

  They decided that the duchess should go to the princess's chamberto see if it was possible for him to talk to her. When they gotthere they found her in her room, combing her hair. Then theduchess thought up some youthful mischief: she went into a roomthat the princess would have to pass through when she came out ofher chamber. She lay down at the foot of the bed and leaned onher elbow, very dejected. When the princess heard that she wasthere, she sent word for her to come into the chamber, but theduchess did not want to go. And Plaerdemavida, who had contrivedit all this way, told her:

  "Leave her alone. She can't come. She's very sick and I don'tknow what's wrong with her. She's very sad."

  When the princess had combed her hair, she came out of thechamber and saw the duchess with a very sad face. She went overto her and said:

  "Oh, my dear sister! What's wrong? Please, I beg you, tell mequickly, for I feel very bad about your illness, and if I canhelp you in any way, I will."

  "I'll tell Your Highness what hurts me, for I am prepared to losemy life in this matter. It's impossible for me to go back on thepromise I made, by your command, to Tirant in the castle ofMalvei. So, my lady, I beg Your Excellency not to allow me toremain a perjurer or for you to be the cause of my downfall, forI will have to be on bad terms with the duke and with Tirant."

  As the duchess said this, tears flowed from her eyes. Thepainful tears of the duchess moved the princess to pity, and sheforgot much of the anger she felt for Tirant. With a humblevoice she answered tenderly:

  "Duchess, you have to realize that I am just as sad as you are.But, my lady and sister, don't grieve any longer, for you knowthat I love you more than anyone in the world, and I will behavefrom now on as God wills. Since you want me to talk to Tirant, Iwill, out of love for you, even though I have little desire to doanything for him. If you knew how he treats me and all thethings he's said about me, you would be astonished. I'll put upwith him because of the great danger we're in, and because we allneed him. But I swear to you by this blessed day that if itweren't for that I would never allow him in my presence again.Who would think that such ingratitude could exist in such avirtuous knight."

  The duchess replied with the following words:

  "My lady, I am astonished that Your Highness could believe that aknight as noble and virtuous as Tirant could have said even oneword to offend Your Majesty. If his ears had heard anythingspoken against you, he would have killed everyone includinghimself. So don't even think, Your Highness, that Tirant is theway he's been described to you. Some miserable person has ledyou to believe a false story, and is trying to destroy thereputation of the best knight in all the world."

  Plaerdemavida stepped in and said:

  "My lady, take that vice of having bad thoughts about Tirant outof your head, for if anyone in the world deserves merit, it'sTirant. Who is the half-wit who could make Your Majesty believethat a knight exists who can even compare to him in glory, honorand virtue? There is no one (unless they wanted to lie) whocould say (unless it's with great wickedness) that Tirant wouldsay anything but good things about Your Excellency. Forget whatwicked people say, and love the one you should love, for it willbe to your great glory to possess such a virtuous knight. Loveone who loves you, my lady, and leave the wicked talk to thatdevil, Widow Repose. She's the one who's causing all thistrouble, and I trust God that it will all fall back on her. Ihave only one hope in this world: to see her whipped through thestreets of the city, naked, with cow entrails hanging down hershoulders, her eyes and her face."

  "Be quiet," said the princess. "You just think Widow Repose istelling me all this, but she's not. I'm the one who can see allthe terrible things that could happen. But in spite of it all,I'll do whatever you tell me."

  "If you listen to my advice," said Plaerdemavida, "I'll tell youto do only things that will bring you honor."

  And so they left. The duchess went back to her chambers andfound Tirant there, and she told him everything that hadhappened. Tirant, very happy, went to the great hall where theemperor, the princess and the empress were, with all the ladies,and they danced there for a good while. And the princesscontinually entertained Tirant.

  After the dancing was over, when the princess withdrew to dine,Widow Repose approached her. With no one around to hear, shesaid:

  "It hurts me to see how much love permits, and I curse the dayyou were born. For many people constantly turn their eyes toYour Majesty, and then to me, and they say to me three times:'Oh, Widow! Oh, Widow Repose! How can you allow a man who is aforeigner to carry off Carmesina's virginity?' Just imagine ifsomeone who hears words like those doesn't have the right togrieve and to despair of their life? How could you think, mylady, that such a thing could be done without bishops andarchbishops knowing of it? I'm only telling you all this, mylady, to bring it to mind again, for I've already told you aboutit several times."

  She decided to say no more, and waited to see what the princesswould say. The princess was brimming with emotion at thismoment, but she had no time to reply to the poisonous words ofthe wicked Widow because the emperor was at his table, waitingfor the princess, and he had sent word for her to come twicealready.

  The princess said:

  "Madam Widow, to be able to give an answer to everything you havetold me would be a delicious meal for me."

  She left the chamber, and when the duchess, who was waiting tofind out if Tirant could go to her that night, saw her come outso agitated and flushed, she did not dare say a word to her. Butwhen Plaerdemavida saw her in that state too, and also saw theWidow following behind, she said to her:

  "Oh, my lady, I've always noticed that when the sky turns redit's the sign of a storm."

  "Shut up, you madwoman," said the princess. "You're alwaysspouting nonsense."

  You can imagine how the princess must have appeared, for when theemperor saw her he asked her why she looked that way, and ifanyone had made her angry. The princess answered:

  "No, my lord. Since I left Your Majesty's side I've been lyingdown in my bed, because my heart has been in pain. But thanks toOur Heavenly Father I have found a cure for my ache."

  The emperor commanded the doctors to oversee her diet, and theyordered pheasant for dinner, which is gentle meat for the heart.The duchess sat at her side, not to eat, but to be able to talkto her and to tell her that Tirant was waiting for her in hischamber with good news. When the meal was over, the duchessleaned toward her and whispered:

  "What is open has the seal of truth, and what is done secretly,as the Widow does, shows evil. A vassal cannot deceive hismaster, and since the Widow is my vassal, I want her death, forher actions deserve great punishment."

  "My duchess," said the princess, "I love you very much, and Iwill do as much for you as one can reasonably do for hersister--even more. Leave Widow Repose alone, because even thoughshe's your vassal, she's not to blame for anything."

  The duchess said:

  "Give me an answer to that matter of Tirant: Do you want him tocome tonight? I'm sure that's what he's hoping for so anxiously.Don't tell me no, upon your life."

  "I'll be very happy for him to come this evening," said theprincess. "I'll wait for him here and we shall dance, and if hewishes to tell me anything, I'll listen to him."

  "Oh, my dear girl," said the duchess. "Now you want to changethe game on me. I'm only telling you that if you want thatvirtuous man, Tirant (without whom you can gain neither blessingsor honor) to come see you, the same way he did that pleasantnight in the castle of Malvei-- let's see if you can catch mymeaning now!"

  "I can't think at all when you mention Tirant's name to me," saidthe princess. "You may certainly tell Tirant that I beg him, asa knight full of faith and virtue, to stop tempting my soul whichhas been crying tears of blood for many
days. But after he comeshere it will be I who will consent, and in a greater way than heimagines."

  "Oh, my lady!" said the duchess. "If Your Excellency wishes todo battle with Tirant, place yourself in his arms again with thesame fear you felt that night at Malvei, with the promises andoaths you swore to him."

  "Shall I tell you something, my sister and my lady?" said theprincess. "I want to keep my reputation and my honor as I valuemy life. And this I intend to do with God's help."

  The duchess left very angrily, and when she saw Tirant she toldhim about her lady's bad disposition. Tirant's anguish increasedto an even greater degree than usual.

  When the emperor had dined, knowing that Tirant was in the duke'schamber, he sent for him and said to the princess:

  "Send for the minstrels so that the knights can enjoy themselves.The time for their departure has been set."

  "No," said the princess. "I feel more like going to bed thandancing."

  She immediately took leave of her father and withdrew to herchamber so that she would not have to talk to Tirant. WidowRepose, who had heard her say these words, was very satisfiedwith what she had done. Plaerdemavida went to the duchess'chamber and said to Tirant:

  "Captain, put no hope in this lady as long as Widow Repose isaround her. They've already withdrawn to her chamber, and arespeaking together about your affairs. You'll never get your waywith her unless you do what I'm going to tell you: Tomorrowshe'll take her bath, and I will be so clever that at night I'llput you in her bed. You'll find her completely naked. Do whatI'm telling you, for I know she'll never say a word. Where theduchess used to sleep, I've taken her place now that she's nolonger there. Since this is the case, let me take care of it."

  "Maiden," said Tirant, "I am extremely grateful to you for allyour gentility, and for what you are telling me, but there is onething you should know about me: I wouldn't use force against alady or maiden for anything in the world, even if it should costme the crown of the Empire of Greece, or of Rome, or of theentire Kingdom of Earth. I prefer to go through the pain andtrial of pleading with her, for I am completely convinced thatshe was created in Paradise. Her gracefulness shows that she ismore angelic than human."

  He said no more. Plaerdemavida, showing her anger to Tirant,said:

  "Tirant, Tirant, you will never be brave or feared in battle ifyou don't mix a little bit of force in when you love a lady or amaiden. Since you have a good and genteel hope, and you love amaiden valiantly, go into her room and throw yourself down on herbed when she's naked or in her nightshirt, and wound her boldly,because among friends no towel is necessary. And if you don't doit, I won't be your ally any longer, for I know many knights whohave deserved honor, glory and fame from their ladies becausethey had their hands ready and valiant. Oh Lord, how wonderfulto have a tender maiden, about fourteen years old and completelynaked, in your arms! Oh Lord, how wonderful to be in her bed,kissing her all the while! Oh Lord, how wonderful if she's ofroyal blood! Oh Lord, how wonderful to have an emperor as herfather! Oh Lord, how wonderful to have her rich and generous,and free of all infamy!... Now what I want most of all is foryou to do what I tell you."

  By this time most of the night was gone and they wanted to lockup the palace, so Tirant had to leave. When he had saidgoodnight to the duchess and was already going out, Plaerdemavidasaid:

  "Captain, my lord, I wouldn't be able to find anyone who would doas much for me: Go to sleep, and don't come back from the otherside."

  Tirant burst out laughing and said to her:

  "You have such an angelic nature, you're always giving goodadvice."

  And so they went their separate ways.

  That night Tirant thought about everything the maiden had said tohim. The next morning the emperor sent for the captain, and heimmediately went and found him dressing, and the princess hadcome to wait on him. She was wearing a brocade skirt, with nocloth covering her breasts, and her hair, loosened somewhat,almost reached to the ground. When Tirant approached the emperorhe was astonished to see as much perfection in a human body as hesaw in her then. The emperor said to him:

  "Captain, in God's name, I beg you to do everything possible sothat you can leave with your men soon."

  Tirant was so impressed by the vision of this striking lady thathe was stupefied and could not speak. After some time had passedhe recovered and said:

  "I was thinking about the Turks when I saw Your Majesty, so Ididn't hear you. Your Highness, tell me what you want me to do,I beg you."

  The emperor was surprised to see him so distracted, but since hehad understood so little he thought that that must be the case,for he had seemed entranced for half an hour. The emperorrepeated what he had said, and Tirant answered:

  "My lord, Your Majesty should know that the crier is runningthroughout the city, telling everyone that the departure is setfor Monday, and today is Friday. So we will be leaving verysoon, my lord, and nearly everyone is already prepared."

  Tirant stood behind the emperor so that he would not see him, andcovering his face with his hands, he looked at the princess. Sheand the other maidens laughed out loud while Plaerdemavida stoodin front of the emperor, and taking the emperor's arm, she turnedhim toward her and said:

  "If you have done anything noteworthy it's because of Tirant, whoconquered the Grand Turk and made him lose the false and terriblemadness he had about ruling the entire Greek empire. He alsointended to conquer the old emperor here with pretty words, andinstead the Turkish kings and the sultan desperately ran forsafety to the great fortress in the city of Bellpuig. And not attheir leisure, but swept along by the fear that took control oftheir feet. He has won renown by his own virtue, and if I hadthe royal scepter and were lord of the Greek empire, and ifCarmesina had come from my body, I know very well whose wife Iwould make her. But all of us girls are foolish like this: wewant nothing but honor, position, and dignity, and as a resultmany of us come to a bad end. What good would it do for me tobelong to the line of David if I lost what I had for lack of agood man? And you, my lord, try to save your soul, since you'vespared your body in battles in the past, and don't even thinkabout giving any other husband to your daughter but... Do I haveto say it? I won't... I must: the virtuous Tirant. Take thisconsolation while you're alive, and don't expect it to be doneafter your blessed days are over, because the things that naturewills and that are ordered by God must be consented to. That wayyou'll have glory in this world and paradise in the next."

  Then she turned to the princess, and said:

  "You who are of such lofty blood, take a husband soon--very soon.If your father won't give you one, I will, and I'll give you noneother than Tirant. For it's a wonderful thing to have both ahusband and a knight, whoever can have one. This man is greaterthan all the others in prowess. If you don't think so, YourMajesty, look at the disorder of your empire and the point it hadreached before Tirant came to this land."

  "Please be quiet, girl," said Tirant, "and don't say suchoutlandish things about me."

  "Go on out to your battles," said Plaerdemavida, "and let me be."

  The emperor answered:

  "By the bones of my father, the emperor Albert, you are the mostextraordinary maiden in the world, but the further you go, themore I like you. And now, as a present, I'm going to give youfifty thousand ducats."

  She knelt to the ground and kissed his hand. The princess wasvery disturbed by what she had said, and Tirant was somewhatembarrassed. When the emperor had finished dressing he went tomass. As they came out from mass Tirant had an opportunity totalk to the princess, and he said to her:

  "Anyone who makes a promise puts himself in debt."

  "The promise," said the princess, "was not made in the presenceof a notary."

  Plaerdemavida, who was standing nearby, heard the princess'sreply, and quickly said to her:

  "Let's have none of that: a promise to fulfill love doesn'trequire any witnesses, and even less a notary. What a miserablestate we'd be in if
we had to have it in writing every time!There wouldn't be enough paper in the world! Do you know howit's done? In the dark and without witnesses, because thelodging is never missed."

  "Oh, this madwoman!" said the princess. "Do you always have totalk to me about the same thing?"

  No matter how much Tirant spoke to her, no matter how he pleaded,she would do nothing for him.

  When they were in the chambers, the emperor called Carmesina andsaid to her:

  "Tell me, my daughter, those things Plaerdemavida said--where dothey come from?"

  "I'm sure I don't know, my lord," said the princess. "I neverspoke of such a thing to her. But this madwoman is impertinentand she says anything that comes into her head."

  "She's no madwoman," said the emperor. "In fact, she's the mostsensible maiden in my court. She's a good girl, and she alwaysgives good advice. Haven't you noticed when you've come to thecouncil chambers that when you make her talk she is always verydiscreet? Would you like to have our captain for your husband?"

  The princess blushed shamefully, and could not utter a word.After a moment, when she had recovered, she said:

  "My lord, when your captain has finished conquering the Moors,then I will do whatever Your Majesty commands me."

  Tirant went to the duchess' chamber, and sent for Plaerdemavida.When she was there, he said:

  "Oh, genteel lady! I don't know what help you can give me: Mysoul is in discord with my body, and unless you can cure myillness I don't care whether I live or die."

  "I'll do it tonight," said Plaerdemavida, "if you do as I say."

  "Command me, maiden," said Tirant, "and may God increase yourhonor. The things you said when the emperor was here, about theprincess and me: who told you to say them?"

  "You, and my lady, and the emperor too: You're all thinking thesame thing," said Plaerdemavida. "When he asked me, I gave himeven better reasons why you're worthy of having the princess as awife. To what better man could she be given than to you? And heagrees with everything that I say. I'll tell you why, in strictconfidence: He's in love with me, and he would pull up my chemiseif I'd let him. He's sworn to me on the Bible that if theempress was dying, he would take me as a wife in a minute. Andhe told me: 'As a sign of our pact, let's kiss; this kiss will bevery little, but it's better to have something than nothing.'And I answered him: 'Now that you are old, you're a lecher. Whenyou were young, were you virtuous?' Only a few hours ago he gaveme this string of fat pearls, and now he's with his daughter,asking her if she wants you for a husband. Do you know why Isaid that to him? Because if you go to her chamber at night andit's your bad fortune to cause a commotion, and they try tocharge me with something, I'll have an alibi. I'll say: 'Mylord, I already told Your Majesty. The princess ordered me tolet him in.' And that way no one will be able to say anything.So that you can see my good will and how much I want to help andhonor your grace, when the emperor is dining, come to me. Ipromise to put you in my lady's bed, and in the refreshing nightyou'll see how solace comes to those who are in love."

  While they were talking, the emperor, knowing that Tirant was inthe duchess' chamber, sent for him, and interrupted theirconversation.

  When Tirant held counsel with the emperor, they spoke at lengthabout war and what things would be needed, and at that time theywere all dressed in readiness for battle. When the dark shadowsof night had fallen, Tirant came to the duchess' chamber, andwhile the emperor was with the ladies, Plaerdemavida went intothe chamber very happily, took Tirant by the hand and led himaway. He was dressed in a jacket of red satin, with a cloak overhis shoulders and a sword in his hand. Plaerdemavida put him inthe chamber. A large box was there with a hole she had made sohe could breathe. The bath had been prepared, and it stood infront of the box. After the ladies had eaten, they danced withthe gallant knights. When they saw that Tirant was not therethey stopped dancing, and the emperor retired to his chamberwhile the ladies departed, and left the princess alone with herladies-in-waiting in her chamber where Tirant was. Plaerdemavidaopened the box under the pretext of taking out a sheet ofdelicate linen for the bath, and she left it slightly open,putting clothing on top so that none of the other women would seehim. The princess began to take off her clothes, andPlaerdemavida prepared her seat which had been placed directly infront so that Tirant could see her clearly.

  When she was completely naked Plaerdemavida brought a lightedcandle to give pleasure to Tirant, and looking at all of her bodyand everything that was in view, she said:

  "In faith, my lady, if Tirant were here and could touch you withhis hands the way I am, I believe he would prefer that to beingmade ruler of the kingdom of France."

  "Don't believe it," said the princess. "He would rather be kingthan touch me the way you are."

  "Oh, my lord Tirant! Where are you now? Why aren't you standinghere, nearby, so that you can see and touch the thing you lovemost in this world and in the world beyond? Look, my lordTirant, here are the locks of my princess; I kiss them in yourname, for you are the best of all knights in the world. Here areher eyes and her mouth: I kiss them for you. Here are hercrystalline breasts: I hold one in each hand, and I kiss them foryou. See how small, how firm, how white and smooth they are.Look Tirant, here is her belly, her thighs and her secret place.Oh, wretched me, if I were a man I would want to spend my lastdays here. Oh, Tirant! Where are you now? Why don't you cometo me when I call you so tenderly? Only the hands of Tirant areworthy to touch where I am touching, and no one else, becausethis is a morsel that there is no one who would not like to chokeon."

  Tirant was watching all this, and could not have been morepleased by the fine wit of Plaerdemavida's comments, and he feltsorely tempted to come out of the box.

  When they had been there some time, joking, the princess steppedinto the bath and told Plaerdemavida to remove her clothes andjoin her.

  "I will, under one condition."

  "What's that?" asked the princess.

  Plaerdemavida answered:

  "That you consent to have Tirant in your bed for one hour whileyou're in it."

  "Hush! You're mad!" said the princess.

  "If you please, my lady, tell me what you would say if Tirantcame here one night without any of us knowing it?"

  "What else could I tell him," said the princess, "but beg him toleave, and if he wouldn't go, I would keep quiet rather than bedefamed."

  "In faith, my lady," said Plaerdemavida, "that's what I would dotoo."

  While they were saying these things, Widow Repose came in, andthe princess begged her to join her in the bath. The Widowremoved all her clothing except her red stockings and a linen haton her head; and although she was very pretty and well endowed,the red stockings and the hat on her head made her so ugly thatshe looked like a devil, and it is true that any lady or maidenyou see in that sort of attire will look very ugly to you nomatter how genteel she may be.

  When the bath was finished they brought the repast to theprincess, which was a pair of partridges, and then a dozen eggswith sugar and cinnamon. Afterward she lay down in her bed tosleep.

  The Widow went to her chamber with the other ladies except fortwo who slept in the chamber. When they were all asleep,Plaerdemavida got up from the bed and she led Tirant from the boxin her nightshirt, and made him take off all his clothing,quietly, so that no one would hear him. And Tirant's heart,hands and feet were trembling.

  "What's this?" said Plaerdemavida. "There's not a man in theworld who is valiant with weapons, but who isn't afraid when he'swith women. In battle there's not a man alive you're afraid of,and here you tremble at the sight of one lone maiden. Don'tworry, I'll be with you the whole time. I won't leave yourside."

  "By the faith I owe our Heavenly Father, I would be happier tojoust ten knights to the death than commit an act like this."

  The maiden took him by the hand, and he followed her, trembling,and said:

  "Maiden, all my fear is really shame, because of the extreme goodwill that I desire
for my lady. I would much rather go back thancontinue on when I think that Her Majesty knows nothing about anyof this. When she sees what's happening she will be completelyfrightened, and I would rather die than offend Her Majesty."

  Plaerdemavida was very angry with Tirant's words, and she said:

  "Oh, you faint-hearted knight. Does a maiden frighten you somuch that you're afraid to go near her? Oh, unlucky captain. Doyou have so little courage that you dare say such words to me?Pluck up your courage.

  When the emperor comes, what story will you invent to tell him?I'll have you discovered, and God and the whole world will knowthat you have spoken ill, and let me remind you that this timeyou'll lose your honor and your fame. Do what I tell you andI'll give you a secure life and have you wearing the crown of theGreek Empire, because the time has come when I can tell you onlyone thing: to go quickly and take those steps that will lead youto the princess."

  Seeing the frankness in Plaerdemavida's words, Tirant said:

  "Let's go on without delay, I beg you, and let me see thatglorified body. And since there's no light I'll see her onlywith the eyes of the imagination."

  "I've used great ingenuity to bring you here," saidPlaerdemavida, "so conduct yourself in a proper way."

  And she let go his hand. Tirant discovered that Plaerdemavidahad left him, and he did not know where she was because there wasno light in the room. She made him wait half an hour, barefoot,and in his shirt-sleeves. He called to her as softly as hecould, and she heard him perfectly well but did not answer. WhenPlaerdemavida saw that she had made him grow quite cold, she hadpity on him, and going up to him she said:

  "That's the way people who aren't in love are punished. Howcould you imagine that any lady or maiden of high or low station,wouldn't want to be loved? Anyone who can go in by honest orsecret roads, by night or by day, through a window, a door or aroof, is thought of highly. I wouldn't be unhappy if Hippolytuswould do it to me. And I wouldn't be upset if he would take meby the hair, and drag me through the room, with my consent orwithout it, and make me be quiet, and I would let him do anythinghe wanted. I would rather know that he's a man. In other thingsyou should honor, love and serve her; but when you're alone in aroom with her, that's no time to be polite."

  "In faith, maiden," said Tirant, "you've pointed out my defectsto me better than any confessor could, no matter how great ateacher of theology he might be. Take me to my lady's bedquickly, I beg you."

  Plaerdemavida took him there, and made him lie down beside theprincess. The head of the bed did not touch the wall, and whenTirant was lying down, the maiden told him to be still and not tomove until she said so. Then she stood at the end of the bed,and she put her head between Tirant and the princess, facing theprincess. Because the sleeves of her blouse bothered her, sherolled them up, and taking Tirant's hand, she placed it on theprincess' breasts, and he touched her nipples, and her belly, andbelow. The princess awoke, and said:

  "My heaven, what a bother you are! Can't you let me sleep?"

  Plaerdemavida, with her head on the pillow, said:

  "Oh! You're a very difficult lady to take. You've just come outof the bath, and your skin is so smooth and nice that it makes mefeel good just to touch it."

  "Touch all you like," said the princess, "but don't put your handso far down."

  "Go back to sleep," said Plaerdemavida, "and let me touch thisbody that's mine, because I'm here in Tirant's place. Oh,Tirant, you traitor!

  Where are you? If you had your hand where I have mine, wouldn'tyou be unhappy!"

  Tirant had his hand on the princess' belly, and Plaerdemavida hadher hand on Tirant's head, and when she saw that the princess wasasleep, she loosened her grip, and then Tirant touched at will,and when she was about to wake up, the girl squeezed Tirant'shead, and he stopped. They spent more than an hour at this play,and he did not cease touching her. When Plaerdemavida saw thatshe was deep in sleep she removed her hand completely fromTirant, and he carefully tried to accomplish his desire. But theprincess began to wake up, and half asleep, she said:

  "But what are you doing, you wretched girl? Can't you let mesleep? Have you gone mad, trying to do what's against yournature?"

  It was not long until she knew that it was more than a woman, andshe refused to surrender to him and began to cry out.Plaerdemavida covered her mouth and whispered in her ear so thatnone of the other girls would hear her:

  "Hush, my lady, you don't want to be dishonored. I'm terriblyafraid that the empress will hear you. Be quiet: this is yourknight who is ready to die for you."

  "Oh, you wicked girl!" said the princess. "You've had no fear ofme or shame of the world. Without my consent you've put me in avery bad situation and defamed me."

  "What's done is done, my lady," said Plaerdemavida. "It seems tome that being quiet is the only solution for you and me: it's thesafest thing, and what's best in this case."

  Tirant softly pleaded with her as well as he could. She foundherself in a difficult situation, because love was conquering heron the one hand, and fear on the other, but since fear wasstronger than love, she decided to be still and she said nothing.

  When the princess first screamed, Widow Repose heard her, and shewas fully aware that the cause of that scream had beenPlaerdemavida, and that Tirant must be with her. And she thoughtthat if Tirant was seducing the princess, she couldn't accomplishher own desire with him. Now everyone was silent and theprincess was not saying a thing, but instead was defendingherself with graceful words so that the pleasant battle would notcome to an end. The Widow sat bolt upright in her bed and criedout:

  "My daughter, what's wrong?"

  She woke up all the girls, shrieking loudly and making so muchnoise that the empress heard it. They all got up, some entirelynaked and others in their nightshirts, and quickly ran to thedoor of the bedchamber which they found closed fast, and theycried out for a light. At the very moment that they werepounding on the door and calling for light, Plaerdemavida seizedTirant by the hair, and pulled him from the place where he wouldhave liked to end his life. She led him to a small chamber andmade him jump to a rooftop there. Then she gave him a hemp ropeso that he could drop down to the garden and from there couldopen the gate. She had it very well prepared so that when hecame he could leave by another door before daybreak. But thedisturbance and the cries of the Widow and the girls were so loudthat she could not let him out the way she had planned, and shewas forced to let him out by the roof. So, giving him the longrope, she quickly turned and closed the window and then went backto her lady.

  Tirant turned around and tied the rope securely, and in his hasteto leave without being seen or heard, he did not watch carefullyto see whether or not the rope reached the ground. He lethimself slide down the rope which hung more than thirty-five feetfrom the ground. He had to let go because his arms could nothold the weight of his body, and he hit the ground so hard thathe broke his leg.

  Let us leave Tirant stretched out on the ground, unable to move.

  When Plaerdemavida returned, they brought the light, and all thewomen came in with the empress who immediately asked what thedisturbance was and why she had cried out.

  "Madam," said the princess, "a huge rat jumped up on my bed andran over my face, and I was so frightened that I screamed. Hescratched my face with his claws, and if he had gotten my eye,you can imagine what damage he would have done!"

  Now that scratch had been made by Plaerdemavida when she coveredher mouth so she would not scream. The emperor had gotten up,and he entered the princess's chamber with his sword in his hand,and hearing about the rat, he looked through all the rooms. Butthe maiden had been discreet: When the empress came in and wastalking to her daughter, she jumped out onto the roof and quicklyremoved the rope. She heard Tirant moaning, and immediatelyrealized that he had fallen, and she went back to the chamberwithout saying a word. There was so much noise throughout thepalace, between the guards and the palace officials, that it wasa wonder to hea
r and to behold; and if the Turks had entered thecity the disturbance would not have been any greater. Theemperor, who was a very discreet man, suspected that this had tobe more than a rat, and he even looked into the coffers. Then hehad all the windows opened, so that if the maiden had not beenquick about removing the rope he would have found it.

  When the duke and duchess, who knew what was going on, heard allthe noise, they thought Tirant had been discovered. Imagine howthe duke must have felt, thinking that Tirant was in such adifficult situation, and that he must have been killed orimprisoned. He quickly armed himself to help Tirant since he hadhis weapons there, and he said:

  "Today I'll lose my entire kingdom because Tirant is in such abad situation."

  "And look at me," said the duchess. "I don't have enoughstrength in my hands to put on my blouse."

  When the duke was armed he left his room to see what washappening, and to find out where Tirant was. And as he was goingout he saw the emperor returning to his chamber. The duke askedhim:

  "What is it, Sire? What's the cause of this disturbance?"

  The emperor answered:

  "Those foolish maidens who aren't afraid of anything. Accordingto what they say, a rat climbed over my daughter's face, and shesays it left a scratch on her cheek. Go back to sleep, you'renot needed here."

  The duke went back to his room and told the duchess, and theywere both very relieved that nothing had happened to Tirant.Then the duke said:

  "For the love of Our Lady, I went out of here in such a statethat if the emperor had imprisoned Tirant I would have killed himand everyone who came to his aid, and then Tirant or I would havebeen emperor."

  "But it's best that it turned out as it did," said the duchess.

  She quickly got up and went to the princess's chamber. WhenPlaerdemavida saw her, she said:

  "My lady, please, I beg you, stay here, and don't let anyonespeak badly of Tirant. I'll go and see how he is."

  When she was out on the roof she did not dare speak for fear thatsomeone would hear her, and she heard him moaning loudly, andsaying:

  "I can feel myself descending toward the dark and gloomy palaces.And since I cannot restore my miserable life with all my sighs,I'm content to die, because life without you, dear princess, iscompletely unbearable. Oh Lord and eternal God! You who are allmerciful, grant me the grace of dying in the arms of that mostvirtuous princess, so that my soul may be more content in thenext world."

  At this moment Hippolytus knew nothing about Tirant's actions,but he was aware of the great uproar in the palace that wasspreading throughout the city. Seeing that Tirant was inside thepalace and that he had told everyone he was sleeping in theduke's chamber that night, and with the viscount and Hippolytusknowing about his love for the princess, they had all the mentake up arms. Lord Agramunt said:

  "I can only think that Tirant must have done some mischief in theprincess's chamber, and news of it has reached the emperor, andall of us will take part in the wedding along with him. So wemust prepare ourselves quickly to help him if we have to.Because in all the nights he's slept here nothing unusual hashappened, and as soon as he's outside you see what a great outcrythere is in the palace."

  Hippolytus said:

  "While you're arming yourself I'll go to the palace gate to seewhat's happening."

  "Hurry," said the others.

  When they were all outside, the viscount followed Hippolytus.

  "My lord," said Hippolytus, "you go to the main gate and I'll goto the one in the garden. Whoever discovers what is reallyhappening--what all this noise is about--will go and tell theother one."

  The viscount said he thought that was a good idea. WhenHippolytus was at the gate to the garden, thinking he would findit locked, he stood, listening, and he heard a mournful voicecrying. It sounded like a woman's voice, and he said to himself:

  "I would much rather hear Tirant than this woman's voice, whoevershe is."

  He stood, looking to see if he could scale the wall. When he sawthat it was impossible, he went back to the gate with an easyheart, thinking it must be a woman.

  "Let her wail, whoever she is--lady or maiden," said Hippolytus,"for this has nothing to do with my lord Tirant."

  He left and went to the plaza where he found the viscount andothers who wanted to know what had caused the disturbance. Butby now the cries had subsided a great deal, and the disturbancehad been quelled. Then Hippolytus explained to the viscount howhe had been at the garden gate and had not been able to go in,and that he had heard what seemed to be a woman's voice moaning,and he did not know who it was, but that he thought the woman wasthe cause of all the outcry.

  "If it please you, let's go there," said the viscount, "and ifshe's a lady or a maiden who needs help, let's give it to her ifwe can, because it's our obligation under the 'laws ofchivalry.'"

  They went to the garden gate, and heard the loud laments comingfrom inside the garden, but they could not understand what wasbeing said or recognize the voice: with all the pain she was in,her voice was altered. The viscount said:

  "Let's break down the gate. It's night, and no one will know wedid it."

  But the gate was unlocked, because during the night, notimagining that so much harm would be done, Plaerdemavida had leftit that way so that Tirant could open it easily whenever heliked.

  And they both pushed against the gate with all their might, andit flew open easily. The viscount went in first and walkedtoward the voice which sounded so strange.

  The viscount said:

  "Whoever you are, I beg you in God's name, tell me if you're anerrant spirit or a mortal body who needs help."

  Tirant thought it must be the emperor and his men, and so that hewould not be recognized, and they would leave, he disguised hisvoice, even though the pain he was in had already disguised it,and he said:

  "In my time I was a baptized Christian, and I am condemned towander because of my sins. I am an invisible spirit, and if yousee me, the reason will be that I am taking on form. The evilspirits here are stripping off my flesh and my bones and throwingthem in the air piece by piece. Oh, what a cruel torture I amsuffering. If you come any closer to me, you will share in mypain."

  They were very frightened when they heard these words, and theymade the sign of the cross and recited the Gospel of Saint John.The viscount spoke so loudly that Tirant heard him:

  "Hippolytus, do you think we should go to our chambers and getall our armed men and some holy water, and then come back here tosee what this is?"

  "No," said Hippolytus, "we don't need to go back to our chambersfor anything. We both have the sign of the cross on our swords:let me go there."

  When Tirant heard the viscount call Hippolytus' name, he said:

  "If you are Hippolytus, a native of France, come to me and haveno fear."

  Then Hippolytus took out his sword, and holding the handle infront of him, he made the sign of the cross and said:

  "As a true Christian, I fully believe in the articles of theCatholic faith, and everything that the holy Roman churchteaches: in this holy faith I want to live and die."

  He went closer in great fear, but the viscount was even moreafraid, and did not dare to approach. And in a soft voice Tirantcalled to him and said:

  "Come closer. I am Tirant."

  At that he became even more frightened, and was ready to go back.Tirant saw this, and raising his voice he said:

  "Oh, what a cowardly knight you are!"

  Hippolytus recognized him when he spoke, and ran up to him andsaid:

  "Oh, my lord, is it you? What misfortune brought you here?"

  "Don't be worried, and don't say anything," said Tirant. "Butwho is that with you? If he's of the lineage of Brittany, havehim come here."

  "Yes, my lord," said Hippolytus. "It's the viscount."

  He called him, and when the viscount saw Tirant he was amazed atthe adventure and at everything he had said to them during thetime they had not recognized him.

&n
bsp; "Let's not waste words," said Tirant. "Hurry and take me awayfrom here."

  Together they lifted him in their arms and took him out of thegarden and closed the gate. Then they carried him to his lodgingand lay him under the portico.

  "I'm in more pain than I've ever felt before," said Tirant. "Ofall the times I've been wounded and near death, my body has neverfelt so much pain. I'll need to have doctors without the emperorknowing about it."

  "My lord," said Hippolytus, "may I give you some advice? You areso badly hurt that it can't be kept hidden, especially with thedisturbance in the palace. Mount your horse if you can, my lord,and let's go to the palaces of Bellestar where your horses are.We'll make everyone think that your horse fell on you and brokeyour leg "

  The viscount answered:

  "It's true, my cousin and lord, Hippolytus is right. Otherwisethe emperor will certainly hear about it. I would be happy if,after you're cured and we've accomplished our aims, we returnedto our lands."

  "My lord viscount," said Tirant, "this is no time to talk aboutthese things, but you, Hippolytus, have them bring the animalshere secretly, and bring the horse with the smoothest gait."

  Let us return to the princess. Plaerdemavida stayed out on theroof until she saw them carry Tirant away. Then she went intothe room where the princess was with the duchess and all theladies. The empress was astonished that there should be such agreat uproar in the palace over a rat, and sitting on her bed shesaid:

  "Do you know the best thing for us to do, ladies? Since thepalace is calmed down again, let's go back to sleep."

  The princess called Plaerdemavida and whispered to her, askingwhere Tirant was.

  "My lady, he's gone," said Plaerdemavida, "and he's in greatpain."

  But she did not dare tell her that he had a broken leg, or whathe had said. She was very pleased that they had not seen orfound him. The empress got up, and Widow Repose said:

  "It would be a good idea, my lady, to tell your daughter to sleepwith you, so that if the rat came back it wouldn't frighten hereven more."

  The empress answered:

  "What the Widow says is true. Come, my child: you will sleepbetter with me than by yourself."

  "No, my lady. Let Your Excellency go on: the duchess and I willsleep together. Don't spend a bad night on my account."

  The empress said:

  "Come with me. I'm getting cold standing here."

  "My lady, since you insist," said the princess, "you go on, andI'll come soon."

  The empress left, telling her to come right away. The princessturned to the Widow and said angrily:

  "Now I know how much you're to blame. Who gave you the right totell my mother that I should go and sleep with her, and todeprive me of my pleasure? From what I can see, you don't liveby virtue, but by envy and malice."

  The Widow replied

  "I'll tell you what I've done wrong. I honored and loved youmore than you liked: that's how I'm to blame. Do you imagine, mylady, that I have no feelings for Tirant, and that I didn't seehim letting himself down by the rope, and it breaking, and himfalling so hard I think he broke his legs and his ribs?..."

  She began to cry miserably, and threw herself to the ground, andpulled her hair, saying:

  "The best of all knights is dead!"

  When the princess heard these words, she said three times:

  "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"

  And she fell to the floor in a faint. She had cried out the nameof Jesus so loudly that the empress, who was in her chamber,asleep in her bed, heard it. She quickly got up and hurried toher daughter's chamber. She found her there, unconscious, andnothing helped to revive her. The emperor had to get up, and allthe doctors came. But still the princess did not regainconsciousness, and three hours passed before she did. Theemperor asked how his daughter had come to such a state. Theytold him:

  "My lord, she saw another tiny rat, and because her imaginationwas dwelling on the one she had seen on her bed, when she sawthis one she suffered a terrible shock."

  "Oh, old emperor, sad and embittered! In my last days must Isuffer so much pain? Oh, cruel death! Why don't you come to mewhen I want you so?"

  When he had said this he lost consciousness and fell in a faintbeside his daughter. The cries and shouts were so greatthroughout the whole palace that it was astonishing to see andhear the laments the people were making: and this disturbance wasgreater than the first.

  Tirant, standing before the portico waiting for the animals to bebrought, heard such loud cries that he thought the sky wasfalling in. He quickly mounted, full of pain and anguish, andthe pain grew as he became fearful that the princess might havecome to some harm. Hippolytus took a cloth and wrapped his legso that the cold would not get into it. So, as best they could,they rode to the gates of the city. The guards recognized Tirantand asked him where he was going at this hour. He answered thathe was going to Bellestar to look after his horses because hewould soon be leaving for the camp. The gates were quicklyopened for him and Tirant went on his way. When they had riddenhalf a league, Tirant said:

  "I am deeply afraid that the emperor has done the princess someharm because of me. I want to go back and help her in case sheneeds me."

  The viscount said

  "In faith, you're in fine condition to help her!"

  "My dear viscount," said Tirant, "I feel no pain now! You knowthat a greater injury makes a lesser one diminish. I beg you,please, let's go back to the city so that we can help her in caseshe needs us."

  "You've lost your mind," said the viscount. "You want to go backto the city so that the emperor will find out what you've done.We'll be doing well enough if we can keep this from the people sothat they won't blame you for it. You can be certain that if yougo back you won't escape injury or death if things are the wayyou say they are."

  "Since I'm the cause of all the trouble," said Tirant, "is itunreasonable for me to have the punishment? I'll consider mydeath worthwhile if I die for such a virtuous lady."

  "God help me," said the viscount, "I won't let you go back evenif I have to use force. Isn't the duke there, and if he hearssomething that puts the princess in danger or dishonors her,won't he go and help her? Now you see what sad love-affairs leadto. Let's not stay here any longer.

  The more time we lose, the worse it is for you."

  "Since you don't want to let me go back," said Tirant, "do me afavor. You go, and if anyone harms her, kill them all and showmercy to no one."

  Tirant begged the viscount so much that he had to return to thecity, and as he turned back he said softly so that Tirant didn'thear, but so Hippolytus could understand:

  "By Heaven, I wish I didn't have to concern myself with any ladyor maiden, but only arrange for the doctors to come."

  Tirant went on ahead with Hippolytus.

  CHAPTER VIII

  THE BETROTHAL

  When the viscount was at the gates of the city, the guards wouldnot let him in until he said that the captain had fallen from hishorse and he was in a hurry to summon the doctors. He couldn'tfind them as quickly as he wanted because they were all with theemperor and his daughter. When they had taken care of theemperor they took everything they needed for Tirant, and they didnot dare tell the emperor that his captain was injured. But theviscount did everything he could to see the princess, so that hecould tell Tirant how she was.

  When she had regained consciousness, she opened her eyes andsaid:

  "Is the one who holds my soul captive dead? Tell me quickly, Ibeg you. Because if he's dead, I want to die with him "

  The empress, who was upset by all the anguish she felt for herdaughter, could not understand her, and she asked what she hadsaid. The duchess was holding her on her knees, and she answeredthe empress:

  "My lady, the princess is asking if the rat is dead."

  The princess, her eyes closed, again said:

  "I didn't say that. I asked if the one who is my hope is dead."

  The duchess answered
in a loud voice:

  "He's not dead: they never caught him." And turning to theempress, she said: "She's delirious. This illness has the effectof turning the wisest people into madmen who don't know whatthey're saying."

  Her delirium subsided, and two doctors went with the viscount andthe duke. When the princess found out, she cried:

  "Oh, my lord Tirant! Father of chivalry! Now the lineage ofRocasalada has fallen, and the house of Brittany has lost somuch. You are dead! Dead! For anyone who has fallen from asgreat a height as you cannot hope to live long. Why couldn't Ihave suffered the harm, since I was the cause, and you would findyourself free from these dangers?"

  The duchess was very agitated, both because of the princess'sillness and Tirant's injury. She did not want to say anythingmore for fear of the maidens who were nearby. The doctors leftquickly without saying anything to the emperor so that he wouldnot have a relapse, because his constitution was very delicate.

  When the doctors reached Tirant they found him lying on a bed ingreat pain. They looked at his leg and found it completelybroken, the bones protruding from the flesh. With theirministrations Tirant fainted three times, and each time they hadto revive him. The doctors treated him as best they could thefirst time and said that under no circumstances should he bemoved from his bed, because his life was in danger. Then theywent back to the palace. The emperor asked them where they hadbeen, since he had not seen them at mealtime. One of themanswered:

  "My lord, your captain has been injured, and we went to Bellestarto minister to him."

  The emperor said;

  "And how was he hurt?"

  "My lord," said the doctor, "they say that early this morning heleft the city to go to where his horses are so that Mondaymorning everyone would be ready to leave. He was riding aSicilian horse and, galloping along the road, he fell in a trenchand hurt his leg."

  "Holy Virgin Mary," said the emperor. "Tirant has no lack oftroubles. I want to go see him immediately."

  When the doctors heard the emperor's decision--that he wanted toleave--they detained him for a day so that he would have time torecover. The emperor saw that the doctors advised against it, sohe decided to stay. He went to the princess's chambers to askabout her illness and to explain what had happened to Tirant.What grief the princess felt in her heart! But she did not dareshow it for fear of her father, and her own pain seemed asnothing when she thought of Tirant's suffering.

  The emperor stayed with his daughter until dinnertime. Thefollowing day, seeing the doctors pass by from a window andknowing that they were going to see Tirant, he called to them towait. Then he mounted and went with them and saw their secondtreatment. From what he saw he understood at once that Tirantwould not be able to go to the encampment for a long time. Whenthey had finished their treatment, the emperor said:

  "I can't begin to tell you how much grief I feel. As soon as Iheard about your injury I knew how great my misfortune was,because I had placed all my hope in your leadership. I hadenvisioned the blood of those cruel enemies of mine and of theholy Catholic faith being shed by the strength of your arm, andthe blow of your sword. But now, when they hear that you are notthere, they will be afraid of no one and will overrun my entireempire."

  Tirant weakly said:

  "My lord, you don't need my sword and my leadership. In yourempire you have courageous knights who can take on the enemyright now. But it only seems right to me, since you are pressingme so much, that I should go to the camp. My lord, I will beready to go on the day we had set."

  When the emperor heard him say that, he was very happy, and hetook his leave and returned to the city. When the empress sawhim she said:

  "My lord, tell us the truth about our captain. How is he? Is henear death, or is there hope for him?"

  In the presence of the princess and the maidens the emperor saidto the empress:

  "My lady, I don't think he's in danger of dying, but there is nodoubt that he's in a bad way. The bones in his leg are stickingout through the skin, and it's a terrible sight to see. But hesays he will be ready to leave Monday."

  "Holy Mother of Jesus!" said the princess. "What is Your Majestytrying to do? You want a man who is so badly hurt that he's atdeath's door to go to the encampment and end his days while he'son the road? How could he help the soldiers? Do you want to puthis life and the entire empire in danger too? No, my lord;that's no way to fight these battles. It's better to have himalive than dead, because with him living all your enemies will beafraid, and once he's dead they won't be afraid of anything."

  The emperor went into the council chamber where they were waitingfor him, and they all agreed from what he had seen of Tirant thathe should not be moved.

  After the emperor had left Bellestar, where Tirant was, Tirantimmediately ordered a box made so that he could be carried in it.When it was Sunday evening and the duke and all the others hadgone back to the city, and without anyone knowing of it exceptHippolytus, Tirant ordered the viscount and Lord Agramunt not todisturb him until they were ready to depart. They had not aninkling that Tirant would commit such an act of folly as toleave.

  Tirant gave one doctor a large amount of money to go with him,but the other doctor ordered him not to move and would not goalong. Tirant had them put him in the box, and using shafts tocarry it on their shoulders, they left for the encampment.Before he left he ordered them to tell everyone who came from thecity that since he had not been able to sleep at night he wasresting. Some who came to see him went back, and others stayed,waiting for him to awaken. When it was noon the Duke ofMacedonia who was a close relative, as was the viscount, wantedto go inside.

  Saying that anyone who was wounded should not sleep so much, theyforced their way in and discovered that he was gone. Theyquickly mounted their horses and rode after him, and they sentword to the emperor, telling how his captain had obeyed hiscommand, and cursing the emperor and all of his kind. When theemperor heard the news, he said:

  "By the living God, he carries out his promises!"

  When the duke and the viscount overtook him and learned that hehad passed out on the road five times, they reprimanded thedoctor and Hippolytus, and said they cared nothing for him.

  "And you, Hippolytus," said the duke, "of our lineage ofRocasalada and of the kindred of Brittany, to allow our masterand lord to leave! The day his life ends we will all be lost andno one will ever hear of us again. You deserve the worst sort ofreprimand. If I had no fear of God or felt no sense of worldlyshame, I'd do worse to you with this sword than Cain did to Abel:You miserable knight! Get away from me, or upon my word of honoryou'll get the punishment you deserve."

  And turning to the doctor he gave vent to his anger.

  "I lose all patience when I think of the outrageous act of thisdoctor who put the light of Rocasalada in mortal danger."

  And the duke rode furiously at the doctor, his sword raised,while the doctor attempted to flee to save his miserable skin,but it gained him nothing because when he reached him he broughtthe sword down on his head so hard that it split in half, down tohis shoulders, and his brains flew out.

  When the emperor received news of the death of such a singulardoctor he quickly rode to Tirant, and found him in a hermitagewhere the duke had put him: there he was being given everythinghe needed. When the emperor saw Tirant's condition he took greatpity and had all his doctors come there to see how his leg was.The doctors found it much worse and they told him that if he hadgone one league further, either he would have died or had to havehis leg cut off.

  All the barons in the empire came to see him. The emperor heldcouncil there and they decided that since Tirant could not go,all the men should leave the next day. Tirant said:

  "My lord, I think Your Majesty should give two months' wages toall the men, and since they will only serve one and a halfmonths, everyone will be happy, and they'll put up a betterfight."

  The emperor answered that he would do it immediately, and hesaid:

 
"This evening I've received letters from the Marquis of SaintGeorge in our camp, telling me that great numbers of Moors havecome. It says here that the King of Jerusalem, who is a cousinof the Grand Caramany has come, and with him are his wife andchildren and some sixty thousand soldiers from the land ofEnedast, a very fertile and abundant province. As soon as a malechild is born there, he is raised with great care. When he isten years old they teach him to ride and to fence. Then theyteach him to fight, and throw a lance. And last, they teach himhow to butcher, so that he will get used to cutting up meat andwill not be afraid of spilling blood. This makes them cruel, andwhen they are in battle and capture Christians, they quarter themand haven't the slightest feeling of pity about flesh or blood.The King of Lower India has come here, and they say he is thebrother of the prisoner from Upper India; he is a very rich manand he's bringing forty-five thousand soldiers with him. Anotherking, called Menador, has come with thirty-seven thousandsoldiers. The King of Damascus has come with fifty-fivethousand. King Veruntament has come with forty-two thousand.And many others have come with them."

  Tirant replied:

  "Let them come, my lord. I have so much faith in the divinemercy of Our Lord and in His most Holy Mother, Our lady, that,even if there were twice as many as there are, with the help ofthe singular knights Your Majesty has, we would be victoriousover them."

  When they had finished their conversation, the emperor commendedTirant to God, and ordered the doctors to leave him alone and toallow him to depart.

  The princess was very upset by Tirant's injury. When it wasMonday, all the soldiers were ready to leave. The Duke of Peraand the Duke of Macedonia were in charge of leading all the men.When they reached the camp of the Marquis of Saint George, theothers were very happy to see them. Tirant stayed in thehermitage, waiting for the doctors to give him permission to gointo the city. Lord Agramunt who never wanted to leave himalone, remained with him, for he said that he had left hiscountry only for love of him, and that he would not leave himwhile he was injured. Hippolytus stayed in his company, and wentto the city every day for whatever he needed, but especially tobring news about the princess to Tirant. And when they wanted tomake him eat or do other things the doctors prescribed, theywould say it was for the princess, and he would do itimmediately.

  After this had happened to Tirant, the princess often reprimandedPlaerdemavida for what she had done, and wanted to shut her up ina dark room to have her do penance there; but she defendedherself with choice words, or with jokes, saying:

  "What will your father say if he finds out? Do you know whatI'll tell him? That it was you who told me what to do, and thatTirant has stolen your virginity. Your father wants me to beyour stepmother, and I can assure you that when I am I'll punishyou. When that valiant knight, Tirant, comes again, you won'tcry out the way you did the last time. Instead you'll be quiet,and you won't move."

  The princess became very angry, and told her to shut her mouth.

  "Since you're speaking to me so harshly, my lady, I want to leaveYour Highness' service, and I'm going to go back to my father,the count."

  She immediately left the chambers and gathered up all herclothing and jewels. Leaving the Widow of Montsant, who was inthe court, in charge, and without saying a word to anyone, shemounted a horse and with five squires she rode to where Tirantwas.

  When the princess discovered that Plaerdemavida had gone, she wasvery upset and wanted her to return. She sent men in alldirections to make her come back.

  Plaerdemavida rode by back roads to the hermitage where Tirantwas, and when he saw her he forgot his pain. When Plaerdemavidawent up to him and saw how much his appearance had changed, shewould not hold back her tears. And with a weak voice she said:

  "Oh, I am the most miserable person in the world! I am so sorrywhen I think of your injury, because I am to blame for all theharm that has come to the best knight in the world. I can onlyask you for mercy."

  With a sigh Tirant said:

  "Virtuous maiden, there is no reason at all for you to ask myforgiveness: you're not to blame for anything, and even if youwere, I would pardon you not just once but a thousand times,because I know how much affection you've always had for me. Iwon't say another word about this because I want to know what theprincess has been doing while I've been gone.

  I'm sure Her Highness's love has grown weak, and she probablydoesn't want to see me again."

  Plaerdemavida, with a smile, told him she was very happy to dohim such a service, and in a soft voice she said:

  "After you left there was so much shouting and such a tumult inthe palace that the emperor got out of bed. He went lookingthrough all the rooms furiously, with a sword in his hand, sayingwhether it was a mouse or a man he would kill it without mercy.The empress went back to her chambers to sleep. The love-sickWidow went to the princess with her own wickedness, because sheis related to the old witch who brings only harm to those wholove her. With a false expression of compassion on her face shetold her: 'My lady, I saw Tirant lower himself by a rope, andhalf-way down it broke; and he fell from such a height that hewas smashed to pieces.' And she began to wail very loudly.When the princess heard the news she could say only, 'Jesus,Jesus, Jesus,' three times, and immediately her spirit left her.I don't know where it went or on what business, because she wassenseless for three hours. All the doctors came, but theycouldn't revive her, and at that moment the emperor thought hewas losing everything that nature and fortune had given him. Andthe tumult and cries in the palace were even greater than theyhad been the first time."

  Then she told him everything she and the princess had said toeach other.

  "All her anger is feigned. She can't make up her mind about howto behave the first time she sees you: Whether or not to showthat she is bothered by your injury. Because she says that ifshe smiles at you, you'll want to come back every day, and if shedoesn't, you will be angry with her."

  Tirant replied:

  "What crime does Her Highness say that I've committed besidesloving her? Her Majesty would do me a great favor if she wouldjust grant me a visit. I believe that then most of her angerwould disappear."

  Plaerdemavida answered:

  "My lord, do me a favor. Write her a letter, and I'll work withher so that she'll give you an answer. That way you'll be ableto know what she is thinking."

  As they were talking, the men that the princess had sent insearch of Plaerdemavida entered the chamber. When they saw herthey told her what the princess had ordered them to do.Plaerdemavida answered:

  "Tell my lady that she can't force me to serve her. I want to goto my parents' home."

  "If I had found you someplace else," said the knight, "I wouldhave forced you to go back. But I don't imagine the captain willbe happy if the princess's will isn't carried out, and as avirtuous knight he will take care of the situation."

  "Don't doubt for a minute," said Tirant, "that my lady will beserved in every way. This maiden will quickly go with you."

  Tirant had ink and paper brought, and with the great pain he feltin his leg he could not write as well as he wanted to, but inspite of his injury he wrote the following words of love:

  "Who knows the great perfection that I see in Your Majesty, andin no one else? The fear I have of not having Your Highness'love makes me feel twice as much pain, because if I lost YourMajesty I would lose everything. You must know that in you allperfection is contained. My petition is based on that momentwhen you heard about my injury and said, 'Jesus, Jesus,Jesus!'--which has moved me deeply."

  When Plaerdemavida had left Tirant, and the princess knew thatshe was coming, she ran to the landing of the stairs and said toher:

  "Oh, my beloved sister! What made you so angry that you wantedto leave me?"

  "Why, my lady!" said Plaerdemavida: "Your Excellency swept mefrom your mind and didn't want to see me again."

  The princess took her by the hand, and led her to herbedchambers. She turned to the men who had brought her, andthank
ed them. When they were inside the chambers the princesssaid:

  "Don't you know, Plaerdemavida, that disagreements betweenparents and their children often reach heights of anger, and thatthe same thing happens between brothers or sisters? Even if youand I had words, that's no reason for you to be angry with me.You know very well that I love you more than all the maidens inthe world, and you know all my secrets as you do my heart."

  "Your Majesty spins very fine words," said Plaerdemavida, "butyour actions are bad. You want to believe Widow Repose and allher wickedness, and you won't listen to me or anyone else. Shewas the cause of all this trouble. I remember that night when mylord Tirant broke his leg and Your Highness fainted: there wasnothing but tears and anguish. But the Widow was the only onewho was glad. Your Excellency has many virtues, but you lackpatience."

  "Let's stop talking about these things now," said the princess."Tell me about Tirant: How is he? When can I see him? Thehappiness he brings me makes me think about him more than I wouldlike to."

  "Since the time he left you, all the memories of Your Excellencymake him sigh and grieve. You can be sure that no one deservesyou as much as Tirant does. And he sends you this letter."

  The princess took it very happily, and when she had read it shedecided to write an answer:

  "I tried to beg you several times not to steal my chastity; andif my words did not move you to pity, my tears should have. Butyou brought so much pain to your princess. The sound of my lastwords was carried to the ears of Widow Repose, and the empresscame. I don't know how it was that I said, 'Jesus, Jesus,Jesus,' and I threw myself in the duchess' lap because I hatedlife..."

  When she had finished her answer she gave it to Hippolytus. WhenHippolytus returned to Tirant, he gave him the letter. Tirantwas very pleased to get it. He had paper and ink brought to him,and despite his injury he wrote the following letter:

  "Now is the time when all things are at rest, except I who amawake, thinking of Your Highness and how you have forgotten aboutall the years I have been in love with you. But I give thanks toGod for allowing me to know a maiden who is so full ofperfection. And I see full well that no one but myself deservesYour Majesty's beauty. If you feel that I am worthy of reply, Iam prepared to obey everything Your Excellency commands me."

  When Tirant had finished writing the letter he gave it toHippolytus and begged him to give it to the princess inPlaerdemavida's presence, and to get a reply if possible.Hippolytus gave the letter to the princess as he had beencommanded, and the princess took it, very pleased. As theempress came to see her daughter at that moment, she could notread it immediately. But when she saw that the empress wasengaged in conversation with Hippolytus, asking him aboutTirant's injury, and him answering her, the princess got up fromwhere she had been sitting and went into her chamber withPlaerdemavida to read the letter.

  After they had spoken at length about Tirant's illness, theempress said to Hippolytus:

  "Your face looks quite altered, Hippolytus, thin and discolored.The illness of such a valiant knight as Tirant must bring griefto all his relatives. I have been suffering greatly too. Atnight I wake up, filled with anxiety. Then, after I remember hisinjury, I go back to sleep."

  Hippolytus quickly answered:

  "If I were near a lady, and found myself in her bed, I wouldn'tlet her have as much rest as Your Majesty gets, no matter howdeeply she slept. But it doesn't surprise me in Your Majesty:you sleep alone, and no one says a word to you. That's what ismaking my face so thin, not Tirant's illness. Everyday I ask OurLord with all my heart to take away these painful thoughts that Ikeep having. Only those who know what love is have a realknowledge of what suffering means."

  The empress presumed that Hippolytus must be in love and that allthe sadness in his face was nothing but the passion of love. Shethought also that since Plaerdemavida had said many times thatshe loved Hippolytus, she must be the one he was troubled about.And the empress unhesitatingly asked Hippolytus who the lady wasthat was causing him so much grief.

  "Tell me, who is bringing you so much sadness?"

  "My bitter misfortune," said Hippolytus. "And here, where I am,don't let Your Majesty think that my life is in less danger thanTirant's."

  "In case you should tell me," said the empress, "I would keep itto myself always."

  "Who would dare reveal his grief," said Hippolytus, "to a lady ofsuch excellence?"

  "There is no one," said the empress, "who should not listen towhat another wants to say. And the loftier one's position, themore humbly he should listen."

  "My lady," said Hippolytus, "since you want to know: love, it'slove that I have, and it's not clothing that I can remove." "I'mnot lacking in knowledge," said the empress, "about what you'resaying. You say you're in love, and I ask you: With whom?"

  "I don't have my five senses," said Hippolytus, "to tell you."

  "Oh, man of little understanding" said the empress. "Why don'tyou say what it is that's making you suffer?"

  "There are four things," said Hippolytus, "that surpass allothers in excellence, and the fifth is the knowledge of truth.It is Your Majesty whom the heavens have foretold that I shouldlove all the days of my life..."

  Having said this he did not dare raise his face again, and hesaid nothing more. As he was leaving, the empress called him,but because of his shame he did not dare turn around. Hippolytusthought to himself that if she asked him why he didn't stop hewould say he did not hear her. He went to his room thinking thathe had spoken wrongly and acted even worse, and he was deeplyrepentant of what he had said.

  The empress stood there, thinking about what Hippolytus had toldher.

  When Hippolytus knew that the empress had gone back to herchambers, he felt both ashamed and frightened at how daring hehad been. He wished he were already gone so that he would nothave to face the empress again. But he had to return to thepalace for the princess's reply. He went into her chambers andfound her on Plaerdemavida's knees, with other maidens who feltaffection for Tirant. Hippolytus begged her for a reply to theletter he had brought. The princess said to Hippolytus:

  "Since the messenger is faithful, I beg you to excuse me fromwriting my reply. You may tell him that I will make arrangementswith the emperor for us to go and see him one day this week, andif it pleases the Divine Being he will soon he well again, and wewill be excused from this task."

  Hippolytus answered:

  "My lady, your heart shows that you have no compassion. From allthe harm you have caused him you could tell him just this littlebit of good news that he hopes to hear from you."

  The princess replied:

  "Since I don't want to show my lack of knowledge, I will keepquiet, but your over-loose tongue ought to be answered.Plaerdemavida, pull out three hairs from my head, and give themto Hippolytus so that he will give them to my master, Tirant.And tell him, since I cannot write to him, to take the hairs ashis answer."

  "God help me if I'll take them," said Hippolytus, "unless youtell me what they mean and why there are three of them and notfour, or ten instead of twenty. For God's sake, my lady! DoesYour Highness think we are following the old customs when theseniceties were the rule? Back then a maiden who had a love-sickswain, and who was in love with him, would give him a bouquet ofperfumed flowers or a hair or two from her head, and the poorfellow considered himself very fortunate. I know very well thatmy lord Tirant would like to take hold of you in bed, naked or inyour nightgown, and he wouldn't care a jot if your bed wasn'tperfumed. But if Your Majesty is going to give me three hairs totake to Tirant, well, I'm not used to carrying things like that:send them with someone else, and let Your Excellency tell me withwhat hope they've come out of your head.''

  "I'll be glad to tell you," said the princess. "One hair standsfor the great love I've always had for him above all people inthe world, and it was so much that I forgot my father and mymother, and if you press me, I nearly forgot God; and I wanted tooffer him my body along with everything I own. The sec
ond onestands for all the grief he is causing me. The third one meansthat I know well how little he loves me. Now you know completelywhat the hairs mean, and with your wickedness you won't take themwith you."

  She took them out of his hands, and very angrily tore them apartand threw them on the ground, and tears burst from her eyes andran down her breasts. When Hippolytus saw that the princess hadbecome angry over such a slight matter, he said with a humbleexpression:

  "It's true that you were held in your mother's chamber, but youwere not violated. Tell me, my lady, how can you blame Tirantfor having attempted such a singular act? Who could condemn himto any punishment? If he is lost, more than ten thousandsoldiers will be lost, and they will be sorely needed to bringthe war to a successful conclusion. Look how many men the Kingof Sicily has at the service of Your Highness; and theGrand-Master of Rhodes, the Viscount of Branches--how many menhe's brought. Well, if Tirant weren't here, none of those menwould stay. Then you'll see if Widow Repose will fight thebattles for you and your father."

  To help Hippolytus in Tirant's favor, Plaerdemavida said:

  "It would have been better for me if I had never known of YourMajesty's existence. You don't love the person who deserves itas you should. How can I serve you with a willing spirit if Isee such ingratitude in you? If Your Excellency could feel thatglory that many maidens have experienced, if God would grant thatI might show you the glory that lovers feel in this life, and thepleasure it brings with it, then you would be worthy of beingamong the privileged ones who have loved well, and you would bedeserving of eternal praises in this life. But Your Excellencyis like a person who smells the odor of meat but does not tasteit. If Your Highness would taste its sweetness and the pleasureit brings in this instance, when you died you would rise again inglorious renown. But my lady, since I see that you don't love mylord Tirant, there's no reason for you to love any of his men.There will come a time when you will cry over him and hisfriends, and you'll tear your eyes from your face, and curse theday and night for the rest of your life. I know that the dayTirant can ride again, seeing Your Highness' great unhappiness hewill go back to his country, and all the others will follow himbecause of the affection they have for him. You will be left allalone as you deserve, and the entire empire will be lost. Andwhen you're dead and you appear before the judgment seat of yourLord, He will ask for an account of your life with words likethese:

  "'It was by My command that man was made in My image, and fromman's rib a female companion was made. And, moreover, I said:Increase and multiply and fill the earth. Carmesina, I havetaken your brother from you so that you would be at the head ofthe empire. Now tell me, what account do you give to meconcerning that which I encharged to you? Have you left behindsons to defend the Catholic faith and increase the numbers ofChristians?' What are you going to answer?" said Plaerdemavida."Oh, my lady, you will not be able to give a good reply! I'lltell you what your reply will be: 'Oh Lord, full of mercy andpity! You Who are so merciful, forgive me!' And the guardianangel will make you say these words: 'It is true, Lord, that Iloved a knight who was very virtuous in arms, whom Your HolyMajesty sent to us to rescue Your Christian people from the handsof the infidel. I loved him and I held him in great devotion,and I wanted him for a husband, as my beloved. And I had amaiden in my service whose name was Plaerdemavida, who alwaysgave me good advice and I did not want to accept it. She put himin my bed one night and, like a fool, I cried out. And when Irealized what was happening I stopped shouting, and was quiet. Awidow who heard me scream began to cry out and woke up the entirepalace, so a great deal of anguish and pain followed because ofmy fear. Later they begged me to give in to the knight, but Inever would.' And they'll have to leave you in hell along withWidow Repose. And when I leave this life there will be a greatcelebration in paradise, and they will give me a seat in theeternal glory of the Highest, and as an obedient daughter I willbe crowned with the other saints."

  The emperor entered the room without anyone seeing him. Hestayed near his daughter for a little while, and then he tookHippolytus by the hand, and they spoke of the war and of thecaptain's illness. As they were talking they passed through aroom where the empress was, and at that moment Hippolytus wouldhave liked to have been a day's journey away. When she saw himshe smiled and looked at him fondly. Then she got up from whereshe was sitting and approached the emperor, and the three of themstood, talking of many things. They dwelt especially on thecruel misfortune in which their son departed from this miserableworld in the flower of his youth, and the empress began to cry.

  Many old knights who formed part of the council entered thechamber, and they consoled the empress. Then they toldHippolytus of the great valor the emperor had shown when theybrought him the news that his son had died. The good man, onhearing of the death of his son, had answered the cardinal andthe others who brought him the news:

  "Be assured that what you are telling me is nothing new, becauseI bore him to die. It is the law of nature to receive life, andto relinquish it when it is asked of us."

  The emperor withdrew to one side of the chamber to speak withsome of his council, and Hippolytus remained with the empress.When she saw that he was silent she thought it must be because hefelt embarrassed. And she said:

  "Although I can't speak to you in as fine a manner as I wouldlike, you will understand it much better than my lips couldexpress it. I beg you to tell me who made you say what you did.Tell me if it came from your master Tirant, so that if I decidedto love you he could make better use of the power that he wants.I'm dying to know."

  Hippolytus quickly replied, lowering his voice:

  "I'll tell you everything. I was with the emperor, and we cameinto these chambers, and when I saw Your Majesty I nearly fell tothe ground. I was afraid the emperor would notice, because atthat moment fear and shame were battling within me. Afterward Isighed, and I saw that Your Highness was laughing pleasantly atmy sigh. My lady, I beg you not to make me say anything further,but command me to do anything dangerous, and Your Majesty willsee how steadfast Hippolytus is. As for what Your Majesty saidabout Tirant, I swear to you that neither Tirant nor my confessor(which is even worse) knew any such thing about me."

  "Hippolytus, you must tell me your thoughts openly. Love doesn'trecognize nobility, lineage or equality; it doesn't differentiatebetween people in high and low positions. You can be sure thatno matter how criminal your words were, I wouldn't tell them tothe emperor or to anyone else on earth."

  Hippolytus plucked up his courage, and in a whisper, he said:

  "Because of my great attraction for you, my lady, I often wantedto reveal my deep love for Your Majesty. But fear stopped mefrom telling you my feelings until now, since you are the mostexcellent of all things excellent. But if love makes me speakindiscreetly, you must suffer it patiently, and must punish mewith tender words. Tell me, I beg you, how I must behave in yourhonor."

  The empress replied:

  "You've given my heart many worries and cares. I'm wonderingwhat has given you hope of having me since the distance betweenour ages is so great. If it became known, what would they sayabout me? That I've fallen in love with my grandson. Any maidenwould be overjoyed to be loved by you. But I would rathersomeone else had your love, without any crime or infamy, than forme to perish because of love."

  The empress could say no more since the emperor had gotten upfrom where he was sitting. He went over to the empress and tookher by the hand, and they went in to dine.

  That night Hippolytus could not talk to the princess, but hespoke with Plaerdemavida, and she said to him:

  "What were you talking to the empress about for so long? You twoare always together."

  "It's nothing," said Hippolytus. "She was just asking about ourcaptain."

  Early the next day, Hippolytus left without a reply from theprincess. When Tirant saw him, he said:

  "It's been five days since I've seen you."

  "My lord," said Hippolytus, "the emp
eror made me stay there, andso did the princess, and while we were out walking we talkedabout you. Everyone intends to come see you. That's why theprincess decided not to give you any answer, because her visitwill be so soon."

  Tirant said:

  "That is very good news."

  He had the doctors come, and begged them to take him to the citysince he was feeling so well.

  "I can tell you, truly, that I'll get better in one day in thecity than I could here in ten. Do you know why? I was born andraised near the sea, and sea air is very healthy for me."

  All the doctors agreed, and two of them went to tell the emperor.The emperor then rode to where the captain was, and Tirant wastaken to the city in four days in a bier carried on the shouldersof four men.

  When he was in his chambers, the empress and all her ladies wentto see him. They were very happy that he was feeling better, andall the ladies from the palace as well as the city often visitedhim. But the empress, who was warned by one of her maidens shetrusted much more than the others, seldom left her daughter alonewhen she was in Tirant's room, and so they had little time totalk about their love. In the meantime Plaerdemavida came everyday, trying to find a way for the battle to come to a conclusion.

  Let us stop talking about Tirant now, and return to theencampment.

  When the truce ended, the war began, cruel and savage, for theTurks knew about Tirant's injury. Every day they came near thecity of Saint George where the camp was, and every day therewere fierce battles, and many men from both sides were killed.Each day the emperor wrote to them to tell them how Tirant was,and to encourage them. He told them that Tirant was getting outof bed now to strengthen his leg and to help him recover. Theyall felt comforted, especially the Duke of Macedonia, who lovedhim dearly.

  Tirant was getting better daily, and he could walk through hischambers with the aid of a staff. Almost every day the ladiescame to see him and keep him company, and the princessentertained him. And do not think that Tirant wanted to behealed very soon; this was because of the lovely sight that hehad daily of the princess. He had few thoughts about going towar; instead it was his wish to fulfill his desire with his lady,and as for the war--let someone go there who wanted to.

  As the emperor and the empress were in Tirant's room, he couldnot talk to the princess without being overheard by the empress.So he called Hippolytus and quietly said to him:

  "Go outside and then come back in shortly and go to the empress'sside. Start talking to her about whatever you think will pleaseher most, and I will see if I can talk to the princess about mylove for her."

  Hippolytus returned as he had agreed, and went to the empress,and quietly said to her:

  "I always want to be near Your Excellency. This is because Ilove you so much, and I beg you to grant me a boon that willincrease my honor and my fame. If I am loved by Your Majesty,then there will be no one more fortunate than I."

  And he said no more.

  The empress replied:

  "Your great virtue is making me go beyond the bounds of chastity.If you swear to me by all that is holy that you will say nothingof this to the emperor or to anyone, you will have everything youlike. In the still of night wait for me quietly on the roof nearmy chamber. And if you come, have no doubts, for I love youdearly, and I will not be late unless death itself stands in myway."

  Hippolytus tried to tell her about one thing he was afraid of,and the empress told him that to think of every possible dangerwas a sign of weakness in spirit.

  "Do what I tell you, and don't worry about another thing now."

  Hippolytus answered:

  "My lady, I will be happy to do everything Your Majesty commandsme."

  When they had finished their conversation the empress leftTirant's lodgings with all the other ladies. And when they werein the palace, the empress said:

  "Let us go visit the emperor."

  When they were together with him they conversed pleasantly.Afterward the empress stood up, feeling the anguish of her newlove, and she said to Carmesina:

  "Stay here with these maidens and keep your father company."

  The empress then went to her chambers and told her maidens tohave the stewards come, as she wanted to change the satincurtains and put up others fringed in silk, saying:

  "The emperor told me that he would like to come here, and I wantto entertain him a little since he has not come for a long time."

  She quickly had the entire chamber furnished with linens of silkbrocade. Then she had the chamber and the bed sprinkled withperfume.

  After they had eaten, the empress retired, saying she had aheadache, and in everyone's presence a maiden named Eliseu saidto her:

  "My lady, does Your Highness want me to call the doctors to helpminister to you?"

  "Do as you like," said the empress, "but summon them in such away that the emperor does not find out, so that he will have noexcuse for not coming tonight,"

  The doctors came quickly and took her pulse, and they found itvery rapid, because she hoped to do battle with a young knight,and she was fearful. The doctors said:

  "My lady, Your Majesty should take should take a few sweetenedhemp-seeds with a glass of malmsey: that will help your headacheand make you sleep."

  "As far as sleeping is concerned, I don't think I'll do much ofthat with my illness. The way I'm feeling I'll probably betossing and turning all over the bed."

  "My lady," said the doctors, "if that happens to Your Majesty,send for us right away. Or if you wish we'll stand watch at thedoor to your chamber or there inside so that we can look at yourface from time to time.

  And we'll do this all night long."

  "I won't accept that offer right now," said the empress. "I wantthe whole bed to myself, and I don't want any of you looking atmy face. The illness I have won't stand for anybody to bewatching."

  The doctors left. When they were at the door they told her notto forget the comfits and to moisten them well with malmsey. Theempress was so obedient that she ate a large box of them. Thenshe had her bed sprinkled with perfume, and she had civet put onthe sheets and pillows. When this was done and she was perfumed,she told her maidens to go to sleep and to close the door totheir chamber.

  In the empress's chamber there was a sitting room where shealways went to dress, and in the sitting room was a door thatopened out to the roof where Hippolytus was. When she got out ofbed Eliseu heard her and quickly got up, thinking something waswrong, and when she was in the chamber she said:

  "Why did Your Highness get out of bed? Are you feeling worse?"

  "No," said the empress. "I'm fine, but I forgot to say thedevout prayer that I always pray every night."

  Eliseu said:

  "My lady, would you be so kind as to tell it to me?"

  "I'll be happy to," said the empress. "This is it: At night, atthe first star you see, you must kneel down on the ground and saythree 'Our Fathers' and three 'Hail Marys' in reverence to thethree Kings of the Orient, that just as they were guided andguarded while they were watching and sleeping, and when they werein the hands of King Herod, that they will give you grace to befree from infancy and so that all your affairs will be prosperousand increase in all that is good. Now don't disturb me in mydevotions."

  The maiden went to her bed and the empress went into the sittingroom. When she saw that the maiden was in bed she put a dress ofgreen velvet lined with sable on over her chemise. Then sheopened the door to the roof and saw Hippolytus crouched down sothat no one would see him. That made her very pleased as shethought that her honor would be safe. When Hippolytus saw her,he got up quickly and went to her. He knelt on the ground andkissed her hands and tried to kiss her feet. But the worthy ladywould not permit it, and instead kissed him again and again onthe mouth. She then took his hand and showed him great love andtold him to come to her chamber. Hippolytus said:

  "My lady, Your Majesty must excuse me, but I will not go to yourchamber until my desire has a taste of its future glory."
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br />   And he took her in his arms, and lay her on the floor, and therethey enjoyed the climax of their love.

  Afterward they went into the sitting room very happily.Hippolytus, with great joy, gave her true peace, and with a happyspirit and loving expression, he said:

  "If I dared to say what glory I feel at this moment with thegreat perfection I've found in Your Majesty, I don't believe mytongue would have enough power to express it."

  The empress, smiling, replied:

  "Although my mind finds itself tormented, I will not complainabout you, or even less about God or myself, because I have beenable to win you."

  "My lady," said Hippolytus, "now is not the time for words. Letus go to bed, and there we will speak of other matters that willincrease your delight, and will be of great consolation to me."

  After he had said this, Hippolytus quickly stood naked. Then hewent to the genteel lady and removed the clothing she had on sothat she was left in her chemise. And whoever saw her in thisway would recognize that she was like a maiden, and that shepossessed as much beauty as can be found in this world. Herdaughter, Carmesina, resembled her in many ways, but not in all,for this lady's beauty, in her time, surpassed that of herdaughter. The young gallant took her by the arm and placed heron the bed, and there they remained, talking and sporting aslovers do. When half the night had passed, the lady heaved adeep sigh.

  "Why is Your Majesty sighing" said Hippolytus. "Is it because Idid not satisfy you?"

  "It is quite the opposite," said the empress. "The feelings Ihave toward you have increased even more. At first I thought ofyou as a good man, and now I find you much better and morevaliant. The reason for my sighing has been only that I amgrieved because they will hold you as a heretic."

  "What, my lady!" said Hippolytus. "Why should I be considered aheretic?"

  "Because," said the empress, "you have fallen in love with yourmother."

  "'My lady,"' said Hippolytus, "no one knows how worthy you arebut me."

  The two lovers spoke of these things and of many others, with allthe delights and sweet words that two people in love enjoy. Theydid not sleep the whole night through, and morning was nearlyupon them. The empress had spoken the truth when she told thedoctors that she would sleep very little that night. Now, tiredfrom staying awake, they slept, for the new day had arrived.When the day was fully upon them the maiden Eliseu, who wascompletely dressed by now, entered the empress's chambers to askher how she was, and if she wanted anything. When she approachedthe bed she saw a man lying at the side of the empress, her armunder the gallant's head, and his mouth to her breast.

  "Oh, Holy Mary help me!" said Eliseo. "Who is this traitor whohas deceived my lady?" She was tempted to cry out, loudly: "Killthe traitor who, by cunning and deception, has entered thischamber to possess the delights of this bed!" Then she thoughtthat no one would be so bold as to enter there against theempress's will. She tried as hard as she could to see who itwas, but it was impossible because he had his head hidden. Shewas afraid that the other maidens might enter the chamber to waiton the empress as they usually did, so Eliseu went in to wherethey were sleeping, and said to them:

  "My lady bids you not to leave the room so that you will not makeany noise, because sleep has not yet satisfied her eyes."

  After half an hour had passed the doctors came to see how theempress was. The maiden went to the door and said the lady wasresting because during the night she had been a little ill.

  "We will stay here," said the doctors, "until Her Majestyawakens. That is the emperor's command."

  The maiden did not know how to remedy the situation, nor whethershe should awaken her or not. She was filled with indecisionuntil the emperor knocked on the chamber door. The maiden,upset, and without sufficient patience or discretion, wentanxiously to the bed and cried out, softly:

  "Wake up, my lady, wake up! Death is approaching! Your poorhusband is knocking at the door and he knows that you haveoffended him. Who is this cruel man who lies at your side andbrings so much grief? Is he an unknown king? I pray to GodAlmighty that I will see him with a crown of fire on his head.If he is a duke I hope to see him end his days in prison. If heis a marquis, I hope to see his hands and feet eaten. If he is acount, he should die by evil weapons. If he is a viscount, may aTurk's sword slice him through from his head down to his navel.And if he is a knight, sailing at the sea's will, may he end hisdays in the deep."

  When the empress found herself awakened by such an evil noise,which was worse than a trumpet, she lay motionless, unable toutter a word. Hippolytus did not understand the maiden's words,but he did understand her tone of voice. And so that no onewould recognize him, he put his head under the blanket. When hesaw what great anguish his lady was in he put his arm around herand made her duck under the blanket, asking her why she was sofrightened.

  "Oh, my son!" said the empress. "Get up: the emperor is at thedoor, and your life and mine are in God's hands at this verymoment. And if I cannot speak to you, or you to me, forgive mewith all your heart, as I do you, because now I see that this dayhas been the beginning and the end of all happiness and delight,and the final hour of your life and mine."

  When Hippolytus heard the empress saying these words, he began tofeel very sorry for himself, because he had never been in asituation like this before. Young as he was, he joined theempress, serving her up tears instead of advice and aid. But hebegged the maiden to bring him the sword that was in the sittingroom, and plucking up his courage, he said:

  "Here I shall become a martyr before Your Majesty, and deliver upmy spirit."

  At that instant the empress heard no noise whatsoever, and shesaid to Hippolytus:

  "Go hide in that sitting room, my son. I will delay them, andyou can escape with your life."

  "I wouldn't abandon Your Majesty even if they gave me the wholeGreek Empire four times over. I will give my life and everythingI have before I leave Your Highness, and I beg you to kiss me asa token of faith," said Hippolytus.

  When the empress heard these words her pain increased, and withthe increase of pain she felt her love increasing. As she heardno noise at all she went to the chamber door to see if she couldhear soldiers or some other bad sign. Through a small crack inthe door she saw the emperor and the doctors discussing herillness, and she realized that there was no danger. She ran backto Hippolytus and pulling his ears, she kissed him hard. Thenshe said:

  "My son, by the great love I have for you I beg you to go intothat sitting room until I can make up an excuse for the emperorand the doctors."

  "My lady," said Hippolytus, "in all things I will be moreobedient to you than if you had bought me as a captive, but don'task me to leave here, because I don't know if they will harmyou."

  "Don't worry," said the empress. "It's not what Eliseu told me,at all. There would be a great uproar in the palace if it were."

  Hippolytus quickly went into the sitting room, and the empressgot back into her bed and had the doors to the chamber opened.The emperor and the doctors went to her bed and asked about herillness and how she had spent the night. The empress answeredthat her headache and the pain in her stomach had not let hersleep all night long, and she had not been able to rest until thestars in the sky had disappeared.

  "Then, since I could no longer stay awake, I slept, and now Ifeel much happier than before. And I believe that if thatpleasant dream had lasted longer, I would feel even better. Butin this world a person cannot be completely happy: with thepainful awakening this maiden has given me, my spirit is in moreanguish than I can say. If I could go back to the way I was, itwould be a great consolation to me. I could touch and hold in myarms the things I love and have loved most in this world."

  The emperor said:

  "Tell me, my lady, what was it that you held in your arms?"

  The empress answered:

  "My lord, the greatest blessing that I have ever had in theworld. I fell asleep, and soon it seemed to me that I was up onthe roo
f in my chemise, saying the prayer that I always pray tothe three Kings of the Orient. And when I had finished theblessed prayer, I heard a voice telling me: 'Do not go, for inthis place you will possess the grace you are asking for.' Andsoon I saw my beloved son coming toward me, accompanied by manygentlemen, all dressed in white, and they held Hippolytus by thehand. Surrounding me, the two of them caught up my hands andkissed them, and they wanted to kiss my feet, but I would not letthem. And as we sat on the roof we exchanged many words whichgave me great delight, and they were so many and so deliciousthat they will always remain in my heart. Afterward we enteredthe chamber, and I held him by the hand. My son and I got intobed, and I put my right arm around his shoulders, and his mouthkissed my breasts. I have never had such a pleasant sleep. Andmy son said to me, 'My lady, since you cannot have me in thismiserable world, take my brother Hippolytus as your son, for Ilove him as much as I love Carmesina.' And when he said thesewords he was lying beside me, and Hippolytus was obedientlykneeling in the middle of the chamber. I asked him where hisroom was, and he told me that he was among the martyred knightsin paradise, because he had died in battle against the infidel.And I could not ask him more because Eliseu woke me up with asound more strident than a trumpet."

  "Didn't I say," said the emperor, "that all her talk was onlyabout her son?"

  "Oh, my lord," said the empress, "it has hurt no one more thanme. I held him in this arm; his pleasant mouth was touching mybreasts; and the dreams you have in the morning often come true.I think he still may not have left. I would like to try to goback to sleep to see if he will talk to me again."

  "I beg you," said the emperor, "put this madness out of yourhead, and get up out of bed."

  "I beg you, my lord," said the empress, "for my health andpleasure, let me rest a little. My eyes are clouded from lack ofsleep."

  "My lord," said the doctors, "it would be better if Your Majestywould leave and we let her sleep, because if we take thispleasure from her it would not be surprising if her illness gotmuch worse."

  The emperor left, and so did all the maidens in the chamberexcept Eliseu. When the doors were closed the empress hadHippolytus come back in, and she said to the maiden:

  "Since fortune has permitted you to know about this matter, Icommand you to serve Hippolytus, even more than myself, with allyour heart. Stay in that sitting room until we have slept alittle. I shall favor you more highly than all the others, and Iwill marry you to a man of higher station than the others.Afterward Hippolytus will give you so many of his possessionsthat you will be very satisfied."

  "Heaven help me," said Eliseu, "but I have no desire to serveHippolytus, and even less to love and honor him, but since YourMajesty commands me, I'll do it. Otherwise I wouldn't stoop tothe floor to pick up a needle for him. I tell you, since thetime I saw him lying next to Your Majesty, I have never felt moreill will for any man in the world than I feel for him. I wouldlike to see a lion eat up his eyes, his face, and all the rest ofhim!"

  Hippolytus answered:

  "Maiden, I never meant to make you angry. I want to love you anddo more for you than for all the other maidens in the world."

  "Do it for the others," said Eliseu, "but don't bother with me.I don't want anything that belongs to you."

  And she quickly went into the sitting room, and began to cry.The two lovers stayed in bed so long that it was nearly time forVespers when they got up, and they found the maiden still crying.When she saw them coming into the sitting room she stopped herwailing, and the empress consoled her and begged her not to sayanything about what Hippolytus had done.

  "My lady," said the maiden, "Your Majesty needn't worry about me.I would die before I'd tell anybody anything without yourcommand. As for the second thing, have no fear: I will serveHippolytus in every way I can, out of consideration for YourMajesty."

  The empress was satisfied, and she left Hippolytus in the sittingroom and went back to her bed. Then she commanded the chamberdoors to be opened. Soon her daughter was there, along with allthe maidens, the emperor and the doctors. And again she toldthem about her pleasant dream.

  The meal was served, and the empress ate like someone who wastired from walking a long distance. The maiden was diligent inserving Hippolytus, and she gave him some pheasants to eat. Andwhen he did not want to eat, she begged him on behalf of herlady. Hippolytus spoke to her and joked, but she would notanswer him unless it was something to do with her service.

  Here was the empress, not moving from her bed until the followingday when the emperor had already eaten lunch. After she haddressed she went to chapel to hear mass, and there was a greatdispute among the priests as to whether they should read thescriptures, because it was already past noon.

  Hippolytus remained in the sitting room with this pleasure for aweek. When the lady saw that he was quite exhausted, she askedhim to leave, telling him to return to her chamber another dayafter he had rested, and he could take her as he pleased. Andfrom a box where she kept her jewelry the empress took out a goldchain, and put it around his neck, saying:

  "Pray God that I may live, Hippolytus, because I will besurprised if I don't put a crown on your head before many yearshave passed. Now, for love of me, wear this. Since it will bein view you will remember someone who loves you as much as shedoes her own life."

  Hippolytus knelt to the ground, thanked her, and kissed her handand her mouth and said:

  "My lady, how could Your Majesty deprive yourself of such anexquisite jewel to give it to me? If it were mine I would giveit to Your Highness where it would be put to better use. I begyou to keep it."

  The empress answered:

  "Hippolytus, never refuse what your lover gives you."

  "Then, my lady, how will you command my life? What do you wantme to do?"

  "I beg you to leave. I am terribly afraid that tomorrow theemperor may enter this sitting room and find you here. Go now,and let this fear of mine pass. There will be other days whenyou can return."

  Let us leave these endearments of hers for Hippolytus now, andreturn to Tirant to see how his love is doing. When his leg wasmended he often went to the palace without anyone's help. Hisonly obstacle was that the doctors would not let him go as oftenas he would have liked. The emperor often asked them how manydays it would be before he would be entirely well so that hecould leave for battle. They told him that he would soon be wellenough to ride. When Tirant knew how much the emperor wanted himto go, he felt great anguish because he could not have his desireor at least some contact with the princess.

  The passion that the Widow carried inside had not been revealeduntil that time. But when she learned from the emperor thatTirant would be leaving soon, she thought that she might be ableto persuade him to take her along to the camp with the excusethat she would serve him there. And if this was impossible, herdiabolical plans were to spread a seed throughout the courtcalled discord. She went to the princess and said:

  "Did you know, my lady, that Tirant told me as we were leavingmass that he wanted to talk to me. I told him that I would beglad to talk to him if I could have Your Majesty's permission. Ithink he realizes that he will be leaving soon, and he wants tosee if he can commit some treachery against Your Highness. He isthinking to himself: If he can do it, well and good, and if hecan't, then when he's gone he'll forget all about you. He toldme the other day that that's the way he is, and he laughed asthough he had said something wonderful."

  "Then let's do this," said the princess. "You go talk to him,and we'll see if there is some treachery in his heart. Youradvice is good: I should be careful with him."

  "But, my lady," said the Widow, "if I'm to find out what's reallyin his heart, you must not leave this room until I come back."

  The Widow went out, called a page and told him:

  "Tell Tirant that the princess is here, in this chamber, and isvery anxious to talk to him."

  The page quickly went to tell him. When Tirant heard that hislady had asked him to com
e, he did not wait for anyone to go withhim. The Widow was watching carefully to see when he would come,and as soon as she saw him she pretended to be coming out of theprincess's chamber at that very moment, and she went up to himand said:

  "Unfortunately, the empress just took the princess to herchambers, and they are talking right now. I asked her to sendfor you because just as Jesus Christ enlightened his disciples,so you spread light to everyone whenever you are in the palace,and as soon as you leave we feel sad. The princess told me tocome and keep you company until the empress is gone. So let'ssit down until Her Highness comes: I don't want you to hurt yourleg on my account."

  They sat in the drawing room, and Tirant said:

  "Calling to mind, my lady, what you just said to me, theconsolation you feel when you see me, I thank you very much forsaying that. Take this chain as proof of my affection, I begyou, so that when you look at it you'll think of me, because Iwant to do a great deal for you."

  The Widow answered:

  "There's no one who doesn't know how you hurt your leg, butbecause of their situation they don't want to offend you or makeyou angry, and because of the war they hide their feelings andpretend not to know anything. If they were certain there wouldbe peace, Carmesina would be the first to throw you intoeverlasting and bitter grief. Are you so blind that you can'tsee the dishonest things that are plotted and carried out in thispalace? It all seems so vile and abominable to me that I won'tagree to any of it. That's why they don't like me. I know for afact that you're not highly regarded the way you should be. Tellme, wouldn't it be better for you to love a woman who was expertin the art of loving, and very honest, even if she weren't avirgin? She would follow you across the sea and over land, inwar and in peace. She would serve you in your tents both nightand day, and would never think of anything but how to pleaseyou."

  "Tell me, my lady," said Tirant, "who is the woman who wouldperform such remarkable services for me?"

  "Oh, wretched me!" said the Widow. "Why are you trying to makeme suffer more than I already do? Haven't I said enough? Don'tpretend that you don't understand what's so clear. I've tried tofind a time when we wouldn't be interrupted by anyone to revealmy pain to you. It seems to me that I've made my intention knownto you very clearly, and the knight who is so graciously offeredsuch a gift can feel very fortunate."

  Tirant did not hesitate to reply:

  "To satisfy you, I'll answer your kind words. It makes me angrythat I can't do what you are asking because your words are filledwith so much love. But my free will is captive, and even if Iwanted to, my five senses would not allow it."

  "Everything I've told you was only to test your patience, and toshow you, Lord Tirant, how much I want to serve you. I think youshould be aware of all the things you don't know. I don't wantyou to be deceived by the princess's actions: she no longer hasany honor, and she has none of her father's or her mother's honoreither. She could have satisfied her appetites honestly with avaliant and virtuous knight like you, or with many others who arein love with her, but the sky, the earth, the sea and the sandsabominate the sin she has committed (and still commits daily).Only Our Lord would permit such an abominable crime of adulterywithout punishing her! If you knew what I know you would spit inher face.

  But why should I try to exaggerate such an ugly crime withunnecessary words? She has become involved with Lauseta--that'shis name. He's a black slave, a Moorish gardener who takes careof the orchard. And don't think, your grace, that all thesethings I've told you are simply fables, because I'll let you seeit with your own eyes. She has made me live with this enormouspain for a long time. How many kinds of herbs have I gone topick, and then placed them inside her to destroy the fetus in herinfamous stomach! Oh wretch, the poor thing was punished becauseof my sin! And its body wasn't buried, but instead made its tripdown the river. What else could I do so that the grandchildwould not be seen by the emperor, its grandfather? She has thepleasure, if it can be called that, and I have the blame."

  Tirant, with all the melancholy he felt, said:

  "Widow, your words have gone straight to my miserable heart.They hurt me more deeply than I have ever been hurt before. Ibeg you, virtuous lady, show me the cause of my pain, becauseotherwise I couldn't believe words that sound so unreasonable.It seems impossible that such a celestial person would freelyplace her beauty in the hands of a black savage."

  Then he was silent. Widow Repose was very worried because Tirantdid not fully believe her false words. During this conversationthe emperor came into the chamber, and when he saw Tirant, hetook him by the hand, and they both went into a room to talkabout the war. The Widow was left alone, and she began to say toherself:

  "Since Tirant did not believe me, this deception I have plannedwon't succeed. But I'll make him give in to me, even if I haveto sell my soul to the devil to do it."

  Furious, she swept into the princess's chamber. Then, feigninglaughter, she showed her the gold chain Tirant had given her, andshe said:

  "You'd be astonished, my lady, if you knew his latest whim. Hewants to bring a galley here, and carry you off to his land byforce."

  And she continued to invent stories almost in mockery. When theprincess saw that she was mocking Tirant, she became inwardlyvery angry, and she left and went to her sitting room. She beganto think a great deal about Tirant and how deeply she loved him,and of the gifts that he gave to her ladies because of her. Thethought of how much she loved him made her reflect deeply, andbrought her bitter pain. After thinking for a long time, shedressed and went out to the hall to talk to Tirant, because sheknew that he would soon have to leave for the field of battle.

  Widow Repose waited for Tirant, and said to him:

  "My captain, I would like to have your word that you will nottell the princess, even in jest, what I said to you. Beforetwenty-four hours have gone by I will let you see it with yourown eyes."

  "Widow," said Tirant, "I will be very happy if you show me. Andso that you will have complete confidence in me, I promise by theblessed Saint George, in whose name I hold the honor ofchivalry, not to tell a soul."

  As the emperor turned he saw the Widow, and said to her:

  "Go quickly and tell the empress and my daughter to go to theorchard right away. I'll be waiting for them there."

  Soon all the ladies were with the emperor, and they talked aboutmany things, including how the emperor had sent the order to thecamp for two thousand lancers to come and accompany the captain.When the princess heard the news she became very agitated, andpretending that she had a headache, she said:

  "I will not deprive myself just because the captain is here; I'lllet my hair down even though he's present."

  Then she let down all her hair, allowing it to hang loose--and itwas the most beautiful hair any maiden ever had. When Tirant sawit in all its splendor he was astonished, and his love doubled instrength. The princess was dressed that day in a skirt of whitedamask. At that moment her hands were struggling with the cordof her skirt, and she seemed to be in great anguish as she walkedalone through the orchard. The emperor tried to question herabout her illness, and asked if she wanted the doctors to come.She answered no, that:

  "My illness requires neither doctors nor medicine."

  At this moment Widow Repose got up from where she was sitting,and taking a companion and two squires along as her escorts, shewent to a painter's house and told him:

  "Since the festival of Corpus Christi is near, I would like toput on a play. You're the best painter in the world: Could youmake a mask of flesh color according to my instructions? Itshould be over a fine, black skin that would look like Lauseta,the gardener of our orchard. It should have hair on its face,some white and some black, and I'll put gloves on my hands sothat I will appear entirely black."

  "Madam," answered the painter, "that can be done, but I have agreat deal of work right now. However, if you pay me well, I'llput aside all my other work so that I can serve you."

  The Wido
w reached into her purse and gave him thirty ducats ingold so that he would do a good job. And he made it with theexact shape and features of Lauseta.

  When the princess had strolled through the garden at length, shesaw Lauseta pruning an orange tree, because it was his job towork in the garden, and she went up to him to talk to him. TheWidow, who had returned by now, was watching Tirant, and she madea sign to him so that he would notice that his lady was talkingto the Negro, Lauseta. Tirant turned around (for he was at theemperor's side), and saw the princess speaking animatedly withthe black gardener, and he said to himself:

  "Oh, that wicked Widow! She's still trying to make me believethat what she told me is the truth! No matter what she says ordoes, no one can tell me that the princess would do such aterrible thing, and nothing in the world will make me believe itunless I see it with my own eyes."

  At that moment the emperor called a maiden and said to her:

  "Come here, Praxidis,"--for that was her name. "Go over to mydaughter and ask her to call the captain and tell him that shewants him to leave for the camp soon. Often young knights willdo more for ladies than they will for themselves."

  The princess replied that she would, since His Majesty had askedher to. After she had spent a while talking with Lauseta aboutthe orange trees and the myrtles, she went back to strollingthrough the garden. When she was near the emperor she called toTirant and told him that she was tired, and she asked him to takeher arm so they could walk through the garden together. Godknows how happy Tirant felt when the princess said this to him.And when they were some distance from the others, Tirant said:

  "I have only you in my thoughts now, and I spend day and nightthinking of you. If fortune would like to have a little pity onme, let it allow me to have only a part of my desire, becausethen I will become the most glorious knight who ever lived. AllI need is a little hope from Your Excellency."

  The virtuous lady kept her pain secret, and replied:

  "Tirant, my lord, harbor no doubt whatsoever about what I tellyou, because even if I have occasionally been cruel with you, Idon't want you to think I have not always been with you inspirit. I have always loved you and looked on you as a god, andI can tell you that as my age increases so does my love. And nowthe time has come when you can know fully whether I love you,for I want to give you the prize of your love. And I beg you,please, to guard my honor as you do your own life."

  Tirant's heart was filled with happiness when he saw that thislofty lady had shown her great love for him, and that he was onthe path of possessing the crown of the Empire of Greece. Hefelt that he could conquer the entire world, and he wanted totell his cousin Diafebus, the Duke of Macedonia, about it,because he thought everyone would feel just as delighted as hedid. And as a greater pledge, he took out a reliquary hecarried, and he made the princess place her hands there, askingher to declare that she would marry him, and she very happilyswore it. Then Tirant said:

  "My lady, I make the same oath to be faithful and true to you andnever to forget you for anyone else in the world."

  When all this had been done, Tirant knelt down on the ground tokiss her hands because he was more afraid of offending her thanof a saint. The princess said:

  "To keep my honor and my reputation I am holding back what youmost desire. After your great victory, we will take that sweet,delicious fruit of love which is plucked in matrimony, and youwill wear the crown of the Empire of Greece."

  In a trembling voice, Tirant said:

  "I am so anxious to have what I desire most in the world thatevery hour I wait seems like a thousand years. I would like tochange that future time to the present."

  The princess, with a kind face, quickly answered:

  "I cannot completely resist your entreaties without offendingyou. But shame and fear hold me back, telling me to keep myselffrom losing what I will never be able to recover. I beg you, letus leave this conversation so the emperor will not begin towonder about me. You talk to Plaerdemavida, and whatever youdecide I will agree to."

  They kissed many times without anyone seeing them, because theorange trees were between them and the emperor, and protectedthem from everyone's view. When they returned to the emperor,the princess saw him deep in thought and said to him:

  "My lord, what are you thinking about?"

  The emperor answered:

  "My daughter, I want to hold a celebration tomorrow in Tirant'shonor. For every battle he has won on land and on sea, I wantthat many flags placed in our Church of Santa Sofia, and forevery castle, villa and city he has conquered, I want that manystandards placed around the high altar with Tirant's coat ofarms. For he has brought this empire so many benefits, showinghimself to be truly a lover of the public good and a conqueror ofthe world."

  The emperor sent for all those in his council and told them whathe wanted, and they all praised him, saying it would be a verygood thing to do. When they had made their calculations theyfound that in four and one half years he had conquered threehundred seventy-two villas, cities and castles.

  When the emperor held his council and Tirant found out that hewas discussing these things, he did not want to be present, andhe went to his chambers. On leaving the orchard, Tirant said toHippolytus:

  "Tell Plaerdemavida to go out to the great hall. I have to talkto her."

  Hippolytus took the message, and she quickly went there. Tirantembraced her, and smiling, he took her hand. When they had satdown by a window he said:

  "I have been with Her Highness and we have exchanged many wordsof love, and she promised to do whatever you and I decided. Iwas to tell you all my concerns, and tonight I would speak withHer Majesty. We held hands and solemnly swore that as long asshe and I should live I would be her servant, husband and lord,and I would have a resting place of perpetual glory and delightin her chambers, in her bed."

  Plaerdemavida listened to Tirant. She thought for a moment, andthen said:

  "I was not born among the lower classes in Rome. My mother wasborn in that city, and my ancestors were noble citizens of Rome.Tirant, lord of the world, why did you speak to me so timidly?Is your grace unaware of what you have in me? My heart, my body,my will and all my thoughts have no other purpose in this worldthan to serve your grace. I won't say anything more to youbecause a knight who is waiting to go into battle shouldn't beworn out by words. But when the emperor is dining I'll go toyour rooms and give you news that will please you very much."

  Then Tirant kissed her eyes and her face with great joy. He lefther, and Plaerdemavida went back to the garden where she foundthe princess with the emperor. The emperor went into the upperchambers, and Plaerdemavida and the princess entertainedthemselves and decided what time Tirant should come. Theprincess told her everything that she had said and done withTirant, and Plaerdemavida was very glad to see how happy her ladywas.

  The hour arrived when the emperor was to dine, and Tirant did notforget to go to the palace quickly. He met Plaerdemavida comingdown the stairs to his quarters. She told him how it was to bedone, and what time he should come. Then they went back the waythey had come.

  After everyone in the palace had retired and was asleep, theprincess got up from her bed, and the only ones with her werePlaerdemavida and another named Lady Montblanc who knew all aboutthe affair. The princess put on a dress that the emperor hadordered made for her wedding. Neither he nor anyone else hadever seen it, and it was the most beautiful dress anyone had everseen at that time. Her gown was of crimson satin embroideredwith pearls. Her mantle was lined with ermine, and on her headshe wore a stunning imperial crown. Plaerdemavida and LadyMontblanc took lighted torches in their hands, and waited forTirant to come. When the clock struck eleven (which was thehour that he was awaiting so anxiously), he quickly went to thegarden gate. Climbing the stairs to the sitting room, he foundLady Montblanc with the lighted torch, and as soon as she saw himshe knelt before him and said:

  "Of knights, the best, and the most beloved in the world by abeautif
ul lady."

  And Tirant replied:

  "Maiden, may your wishes be fulfilled."

  They both went up to the sitting room and waited there untilPlaerdemavida came in, happier and more content than Paris waswhen he carried off Helen. They went into one chamber while theprincess was coming in from another door, and they met veryhappily, and Tirant knelt on the ground, and she did likewise.They remained like this for some time. Then they kissed, andtheir kiss was so delicious that one could have walked a milewhile they had their lips pressed together. Plaerdemavida sawthe danger in their dilatoriness, and went up to them and said:

  "I declare you good and loyal lovers, but I will not leave thisbattlefield until you are lying in bed together. And I won'tdeem you a knight if you make peace before spilling blood."

  They stood up, and the princess took the crown from her head andplaced it on Tirant's head. Then she fell to her knees and said:

  "Oh Lord God, Jesus Christ, all powerful and merciful, Who,having pity on mankind, came down from heaven to earth and tookon human form in the virgin womb of the most Holy Virgin Mary,Your Mother and Our Lady, and Who died on the tree of the truecross to redeem the sins of mankind, and came back to life on thethird day by Your own power, in a glorified body, true God andtrue man! May it please Your most Holy Majesty to allow my lordTirant to possess this crown, with the title and reign over allthe Empire of Greece, after the death of my father, inasmuch asYour divine goodness has granted him the grace to have retaken itand freed it from the infidel. And may this be done in honor,praise and glory of Your most Holy Majesty and of Your most HolyMother, and for the benefit of the holy Catholic faith."

  When she had finished her prayer, the princess got up and tooksome scales that the emperor used for weighing gold coins, andshe said:

  "My lord Tirant, good fortune has decided that on this day I willsubmit to your power of my own free will, and without my mother'sand father's consent, or that of the people of Greece. Here Ihold some scales of perfection: on the right side is love, honorand chastity; on the other side is shame, infamy and grief.Choose which of these pleases you most, Tirant."

  As one who always wished to serve honor, Tirant took the scale onthe right hand side, and said:

  "Before I was given news of Your Majesty I had heard of yourvirtues, which as I now know would be too many to mention. ForYour Highness practices virtue continually and has such greatbeauty that it is far greater than that of all other ladies inthe world."

  Then, holding up the scale on the right, he said:

  "I place love and honor above the crown and the scale with allthe firmness that it has. And I beg you dearly to speak no moreof this. Rather, with true will, let our marriage take place."

  The princess answered:

  "You have embraced the scale of love and honor. Now I beg you topreserve my chastity, and for the present do not violate it.Otherwise, what will the emperor say, and my mother, and theentire country who think of me as a saint? What will they say ofme? There will be no one who can trust Carmesina. And when youare gone away, if I am offended by anyone, who will I go to forhelp? A brother or a husband? And if I become with child, whatcounsel could I take?"

  Tirant could no longer withstand the tears of the princess, and,smiling, he replied:

  "My lady, I have been waiting so long to see you in yournightgown or completely naked on a bed. I don't want your crownor your kingdom. But give me all my rights which belong to me,as our Holy Mother Church commands with the following words: 'Ifa maiden gives herself in true matrimony, he who is able but doesnot have copulation after marriage is in mortal sin.' As for me,my lady, if you love my body you should love my soul too, andYour Majesty should not willfully cause me to sin. You know verywell that if a man goes into battle while he's in mortal sin, Godwill not come to his aid."

  And as he was saying these words Tirant was not slow aboutremoving her clothing: he unfastened her skirt while he kissedher again and again, saying:

  "Every hour that we're not in bed is like a year to me. SinceGod has given me such a treasure, I don't want to lose it."

  Plaerdemavida exclaimed:

  "Oh, my lord! Why wait until you are in bed? Do it on top ofher clothes so that they can be a more certain witness. We'llclose our eyes and say that we saw nothing. If you wait for HerHighness to take off her clothes you'll have to wait untilmorning. Afterward Our Heavenly Father could punish you as aknight unworthy of love. Heaven help you if you should fail at atime like this. Seeing that you were such a polite lover, OurHeavenly Father wouldn't want to give you a morsel like thisagain, nor would He have anything to give you. There's no man inthe world who wouldn't swallow it, even if he knew for acertainty that he would choke to death."

  The princess answered:

  "Be quiet, you enemy of all goodness! I would never havethought, Plaerdemavida, that you could be so cruel. Up to todayI've always thought of you as a mother or a sister, but now youare like a stepmother because of the reprehensible advice you'regiving about me."

  At this point Tirant had finished removing her clothing, and hetook her in his arms and placed her on the bed. When theprincess saw herself in such a situation, and that Tirant, whohad taken off his clothes, was at her side working with theartillery to penetrate the castle, she saw that she could notdefend it by the strength of her arms. She thought that perhapswith feminine arms she could resist him, and with her eyespouring forth tears she began to lament:

  "You are trying to keep me from loving you. You want to use yourabsolute power over me and make me very angry. Tirant, open theeyes of your understanding, and look at the misfortune thatawaits you, and when you recognize it, give way to reason, andrestrain your lustful appetite."

  The princess made all these and other laments with her eyespouring forth tears. Tirant saw all the tears and the discreetwords of his lady, and he decided to make her content that nightand to follow her will. Although all night long the two loversslept very little, but rather played and found amusement now nearthe head of the bed and now near its foot, caressing each othercontinually, both of them very content. When it was nearlydaybreak and the people in the palace were beginning to stir, theprincess said:

  "For my own satisfaction I would that the day had not come soquickly, and it would be my pleasure if this delight could last ayear, or never end. Arise, Tirant, lord of the Empire of Greece,for tomorrow, or whenever it pleases you, you may return to thesame place."

  Tirant got up very reluctantly, and said:

  "I shall do what you command, but I fear that my desire willnever be satisfied, and my thoughts are very restless."

  So that no one should see or hear him, he left full of passionand anguish, kissing her wildly at the moment of their parting.When he was gone Plaerdemavida was so distraught that she couldbear no more. The princess sent for her and had Lady Montblancsummoned, and both knew what had taken place between her andTirant.

  "God help me!" said Plaerdemavida. "Your Highness had thepleasure and Tirant the delight, and I the sin. But it grievesme so much that there was no consummation that I feel I shall diefrom anger. Bring that skinny, spineless knight to me, andyou'll see what I say to him! I shall never again do anythingfor him; instead I will try to stand in his way whenever I can."

  "In faith," said Lady Montblanc, "he has shown great virtue asthe most valiant and courteous knight he is, for he has wished toforego his pleasure rather than anger my mistress."

  They spoke of this at length until it was bright daylight and theemperor sent word to the empress and to his daughter that all theladies should dress in their finery, and then they should allcome to the festivities being held for Tirant. He also sent wordto all the knights and ladies of the city so that they would goto the palace. God knows well that in that instance the princesswould have liked more to sleep than to leave her chambers. Butfor love of Tirant and so that the celebration could take place,she left her bed and dressed very beautifully, and they went outfrom the
great hall where they found the emperor with all hisretinue of nobles and knights and ladies of the city.

  When the procession was ready, they went through the city withthe two hundred seventy-two flags in front, until they came tothe church. Tirant went up to the princess, and she received himwarmly, but she could only say:

  "Tirant, my lord, all that I have is yours."

  Tirant did not dare answer her because the empress and the otherswere near. The mass was begun with great solemnity. Onadministering the holy water they set up one flag; afterconfession another was put in place; then, at psalm or scripturereading they put up another one. Finally, when the mass wasover, all the flags were in place. Tirant did not want to sit inhis usual place, or even next to the emperor. Instead he wentinto a chapel with his Hours in his hand, and from there he couldsee the princess very well. In truth, Tirant said very few Hoursat that mass. I could not tell you about the princess, but aslong as the holy service lasted she did not take her eyes fromTirant.

  CHAPTER IX WIDOW REPOSE

  After the service was over and everyone had eaten, there wasdancing in the square. While they were dancing the princess wentto the palace, to her chamber, to change clothes, and she hadthem close the door. When she was in her tunic she went up tothe treasure tower with two maidens. There the three of themweighed out a load of ducats. The princess gave them toPlaerdemavida to carry to Tirant's rooms. When she had dressedagain she went back to where the emperor was. She went up to himand to Tirant who was nearby. She whispered in Tirant's ear sothat the emperor would not hear:

  "Your hands have caressed me so much that there is no part of mybody that does not remember your touch."

  Tirant answered:

  "It is very fortunate for me that my hands have learned somethingnew."

  The emperor said:

  "What are you two talking about so secretly."

  "My lord," said the princess, "I was asking Tirant if there wouldbe jousts at this celebration. He told me there would not, andthat they were waiting to hold them against the Turks."

  "That is the best news I could possibly hear," said the emperor."Do you feel well enough to be able to leave?"

  "Yes, by the Holy Virgin!" said Tirant. "When the celebration isover, I will take the doctors with me, and I'll be able to go."

  They spoke of other things until Plaerdemavida came and signaledfrom a distance. When the emperor began to talk to other peopleTirant quietly went to Plaerdemavida to ask her what she wanted.She answered:

  "It is only logical that you've lost the prize of all yourefforts so many times, my lord, with your neglect and lack ofpersistence. You don't deserve to be rewarded any further sinceyou're satisfied with what you have, and you've lost it throughyour own fault. As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to beinvolved in your love affairs any longer. You don't need me--youneed Widow Repose: she'll give you what you deserve. I'm notbound to do anything more for you: you are the most disloyal,unworthy knight who was ever born. And that you can't deny. IfI were a knight, I would fight you. You were in bed with amaiden in your arms--the most beautiful, most pleasing, theworthiest lady who ever lived--and you shouldn't have left herjust because she begged you to or because she shed tears. And ifshe went there a virgin, I saw her leave a virgin--to your shameand confusion. The great error you committed will hurt me all mylife. There is no lady or maiden in the world who wouldn'tconsider you the lowest of men if she knew what you have done. Idon't want to talk about this anymore: I've already said enough.I only want to tell you that when the emperor sits down todinner, you'll have to be there. I've just now come from yourchambers, and here's the key to your room. I beg you to go therequickly. I brought the keys so that no one could read whatyou'll find written there."

  Tirant took the keys, and wanted to reply to what Plaerdemavidahad told him, but it was impossible because the emperor wastelling him to come right away. When he was there the emperortold him that he was to sit alone at the table. The emperor, theempress, the princess, and all the maidens waited on him. Andthere was no knight or lady who dared approach to serve him,because they were all in their seats waiting to hear what an oldknight who was very experienced in arms would say. He was a veryeloquent and great reader who began to recite all thechivalresque deeds that Tirant had performed. The men and womenforgot to eat as they listened to the great honors that Tiranthad achieved up to that day. When Tirant had finished eating,the knight stopped reading-- and his recitation had lasted morethan three hours.

  When evening arrived, the dinner was as abundant as the afternoonmeal had been. After the dancing there were farces and shortplays, as were required at such festivities. These festivitieslasted almost the whole night through, and the emperor did notwant to leave until dawn. The princess was never bored at thecelebration because she could see and talk to Tirant. And Tirantbarely dared to talk to the princess for fear of the emperor whowas very near, but he told her quietly:

  "My lady, last night was certainly more enjoyable to me thantonight is."

  Plaerdemavida quickly interjected:

  "My lord, your words are fine, but not your actions."

  Then, when the emperor saw that dawn was breaking he got up andwanted everyone to go with him to escort Tirant to his chambers.Tirant thanked him for the great honor he was paying him, and hewanted to escort the emperor to his chambers, but the worthy lordwould not permit it.

  When Tirant was in his chambers he thought that becausePlaerdemavida was so unhappy with him she had probably writtenhim some letter, but when he went into his room he saw a heap ofgold on the floor. He was astonished at the princess's greatvirtue, and he thought more highly of her good will than he didof the gift. He had Hippolytus come, and ordered him tosafeguard it.

  When it was time for mass all the lords went, and Tirant found noway to talk to the princess, to thank her for what she had senthim, until after dinner. After eating they told the emperor thatsince he had slept so little the night before he should go andrest, and that when it was time for the festivities they wouldall return. As the ladies went back to the palace Tirant drewnear to the princess and told her:

  "I haven't the spirit to talk, nor can my tongue express all thewords of love that befit the works of honor that Your Majestybestows on me every day."

  She quickly replied, although she did not dare to speak muchbecause the emperor was passing by. She only said to him:

  "You are my lord; I am in your power. Decide what you will dowith me: make war or peace. If I don't help you, who are mylord, whom would I help? What I do now is little, if youconsider what I plan to do. But if you want more, the doors tothe treasure are open for you, and closed for anyone else."

  With Tirant again thanking her, they reached the emperor'schambers, and the emperor went inside with the ladies. OnlyWidow Repose remained outside. She stood at the head of thestairs, waiting for Tirant. With her feminine malice she wasprepared to commit an unspeakable crime. When she saw Tirant sheput on a sympathetic face, and with graceful gestures designed tomake him love her, she said:

  "I'm not surprised that you want to conquer the world: you'vealready captivated me. With the pity I have for your grace, Iwant to help you. So, my lord Tirant, if you'd like to be in acertain secret place after two o'clock, you'll be able to seeeverything I've told you about."

  Tirant said that was agreeable to him, and that he would beready. The Widow left Tirant at once. Behind the garden she anda very old woman had a house already prepared, and she had herfurnish it nicely with a bed, as would befit Tirant. When theraging Widow saw that the time had come, she went looking forTirant secretly, and she made him swear at length, and thendisguise himself. Then they went to the old lady's chambers. Inthe chamber was a small window overlooking the garden, andthrough it a person could see everything that went on in thegarden; but the window was very high, and only by climbing aladder could you see out. The Widow brought two large mirrors,and put one at the window and the ot
her one lower, in front ofTirant, facing the first mirror. And everything that appeared inthe top one was reflected in the lower one.

  When the Widow had done this and had left Tirant in the room, shewent quickly to the palace, and found the princess sleeping inher bed. The Widow said to her:

  "Get up, my lady. My lord, the emperor, sent me to tell you thatthe doctors want you to get out of your bed and not to sleep solong. After you stayed up so late last night, and having eatenlunch, if you sleep now with this warm weather it could endangeryour health."

  She opened the windows of the chamber so that she would notsleep, and the princess permitted her to because of her father'stender words.

  When she was up she put on a brocade tunic with the topcompletely unbuttoned, no kerchief over her breast, and her hairhanging loose over her shoulders. Then the Widow said to her:

  "The doctors think it would be good for you to go down to thegarden and see all the greenery, and we'll entertain ourselvesthere with some games so that your drowsiness will pass. I havea costume for the festival of Corpus Christi that looks like yourgardener. Plaerdemavida likes these things very much and shewill put it on, and will tell you her usual witty things."

  The princess went down to the garden with the Widow and twomaidens while Tirant was watching the mirror carefully. He sawthe princess coming with the maidens, and watched as they satdown near a small stream. The Widow had foreseen everything, andshe had sent the black gardener to the city of Pera so that hewould not be in the garden.

  The Widow helped dress Plaerdemavida, and put the mask on herthat had been made to look exactly like the black gardener; andshe went into the garden wearing his clothing. When Tirant sawher coming he thought that it was in fact the Moorish gardener,carrying a spade over his shoulder. He began to dig, and soonapproached the princess. He sat at her side, and took her handsand kissed them. Then he put his hands on her breasts andtouched her nipples, and made overtures of love. The princessbroke into great peals of laughter, and all her weariness lefther. Then he drew her even closer and put his hands under herskirts, while all the maidens laughed, as they listened toPlaerdemavida's amusing words. The Widow turned toward Tirantand twisted her hands as she spat on the ground, indicating theloathing and pain she felt for what the princess was doing.

  Imagine poor, miserable Tirant, who the day before had been sopleased at having won a lady of such high rank as his betrothed,the thing he desired most in the world, and then to see hismisery, his affliction and his pain with his own eyes. And whenhe began to think, he wondered if the mirrors were reflecting afalse image, and he broke them and looked inside to see if theycontained something evil made by the art of necromancy, but hefound nothing of the sort. He wanted to get up to the window tofind out if he could see more, and to discover how those gameswould end, and he saw that there was no ladder, because the Widowhad been afraid that he might do this and she had hidden it.Tirant, finding no other recourse, took the bench from in frontof the bed and stood it up. Then, taking a cord that he cut fromthe curtains, he passed it over a beam and pulled himself up byit. He saw how the black gardener had taken the princess by thehand, and was leading her to a hut in the garden where he kepthis gardening tools and a bed to sleep on. Plaerdemavida led herinto that room, where they looked through everything, includingthe clothing which the black man kept in a chest. After a timethe princess came out, as the Widow and a maiden were walkingnear the hut. When they saw her, the Widow went over to themaiden and gave her a scarf. To go ahead with the game and makeeveryone laugh, she said to her:

  "Put it under the princess's skirts."

  When she was in front of Her Highness, the maiden knelt on theground as the Widow had instructed her, and put the rag under herskirts. And the princess' naivete played into the hands of theWidow's malice. When Tirant saw such a heinous thing, he wascompletely aghast, and with a voice full of anguish, he began tolament:

  "Oh, fortune, enemy of all who want to live upright in thisworld: Now, when I had achieved such a marriage, you have let mebe dishonored by a man of the most vile condition and nature thatcould be found. Oh, princess, my lady! I would never havebelieved that in a maiden of such tender years there could be solittle shame and boldness that you would commit such anabominable sin."

  At this moment Widow Repose came in. She had waited a short timeat the door, and when she heard Tirant's lament, she said:

  "Now all the things I have begun are coming to pass."

  When she entered the room she saw that Tirant was in greatanguish, his pillow full of tears, continuing his lamentations.She sat down near him to see if Tirant wanted to say anything toher, and ready to do whatever he said. When the Widow saw thatTirant was not changing his tone, she said to him:

  "That lover of all dishonesty won't leave her abominable life, nomatter how much you beg or threaten her. Her only desire is tosatisfy her lust. What can I do, poor me? With these breasts,"and she pulled them out so that Tirant would see them, "I nursedthat lady."

  She let them hang out like this for a good while, pretending thatwith her lamentations she had forgotten to cover them. Then sheadded:

  "Lord Tirant, take comfort from me. Oh, Almighty God, HolyTrinity! With great anguish in my soul, with great anger andmany tears, I revealed those thoughts that ran through my mindalmost every day. But at night, alone in my room, I would findmyself drying my tearful eyes--with sackcloth so that I wouldfeel the pain even more."

  Tirant quickly replied:

  "Your love, Widow Repose, can't be compared to mine, becauseyours is diminishing: It grows smaller and smaller, while mine isincreasing. But I have more reason to grieve than any loverbecause in one day's time I have reached the highest peak of lovethat fortune could grant me, and the next day I have been themost confused and downtrodden lover in the entire world. My eyeshave seen a black Moor easily possess what I have not been ableto have by supplications or by all the dangers and hardships Ihave endured. A man as unlucky as I should not go on living, sothat he will not have to trust any maid or maiden."

  He got up from the bed as though to leave, and the Widow said tohim:

  "My lord, rest a while. There are many people outside, and Ivalue my life so much that I would not want anyone to see youleaving. I'll go to the window and tell your grace when it issafe to go."

  Tirant went slowly back to the bed, never ceasing to ponder hisgrief. The Widow went into the room of the old mistress of thehouse and quickly took off her clothing and dressed in a perfumedblouse, and a skirt of black velvet. With her blouse completelyunfastened she went into the bedchamber and lay down besideTirant very boldly and shamelessly, and said:

  "If you knew the hardships my soul endures for love, you couldnot help but have pity on me. Where will you find greateraffection than mine in any woman? It would be more to your gloryto have me always in your chambers or in your tents, serving youin every way that I can, than to love a false maiden who is givenover to a black captive Moor. Take me as a servant and as onewho loves you more than her own life."

  "My lady," said Tirant, "please don't torment my sad soul. Ican't give an answer to anything you've said. I can only tellyou that I could not forget Her Majesty any more than I couldrenounce my faith."

  The Widow said:

  "Since you don't want to love me, at least let me lie next to youa while, completely naked."

  She quickly removed her tunic, which was already unfastened.When Tirant saw her in her chemise, he leapt out of bed, flungopen the door, and went back to his quarters with great pain.And the Widow was left with no less.

  When Tirant was in his room his emotion was so great that he didnot know what to do, and as he walked back and forth tears flowedfrom his eyes. And so he did nothing for three hours but pace,lie down and get up again. Then he left the room full of anger.As secretly as he could he went in disguise to the garden gate,and in the orchard he found the black gardener who had arrivedonly shortly before. He saw him in the doorw
ay of his room,putting on a pair of red pants. When Tirant saw him, he lookedaround, and no one else was in sight. Then he seized him by thehair, pushed him into the room and cut off his head. He returnedto his room without anyone seeing him, because everyone was inthe square where the celebration was taking place. Tirant thensaid:

  "Oh, just and true God! You who correct our faults, I ask of youvengeance and not justice for this lady. Tell me, pitilessmaiden, was my disposition less agreeable to your desires thanthis black gardener? If you had loved as I thought you did, youwould still be mine. But you never did love me."

  Let us leave Tirant in his lament now, and return to the emperorwho, with all the ladies, was getting ready for the celebration.At this moment a message arrived, telling him about anunfortunate event that had happened in the camp three dayspreviously.

  The Duke of Macedonia and the Duke of Pera were captains of thecamp, and they often went out to do battle against the Turks.But the Turks were afraid of all the water that the Christiansreleased. They often fought, and many men from both sides died.But for every ten Christians who died, three hundred Turks died.The reason for this was that when the Turks came into the city ofSaint George, the Christians released all the river waters, andfrom the canals the ground was like clay so that the horses couldnot get out of it, and the men on foot could not escape.

  But one day the Turks decided to come four thousand strong, armedwith spades and baskets, and picks, vinegar and fire to cutthrough the mountain so that the water would spread down the dryriver bed, and would leave them free. Further on, a league fromwhere the Turks were, was a large section of a toppled wall wherethere was no one. All the Moorish soldiers went there at night.The foot soldiers stayed in that deserted place while those onhorseback went into a forest half a league away so they would notbe seen. In the morning the spies came and told the captainsthat the Turks had arrived. They held council, and they allagreed to mount and ride against the Turks.

  First they sent out scouts, who came back with the news that theenemy was going to try to cut through the mountain to control thewater. The Christians went there. As soon as they arrived thefoot soldiers began skirmishes that lasted a long time, so thatmany men from both sides died. Finally, when it was nearly noon,the Turks found themselves too tightly pressed, and theyabandoned their tools and took flight. The Christians quicklywent to the pass half a league away, and there was so much waterthere that they could not cross it except at great effort anddanger. Then, when they did make their way across, the otherswere at a great advantage. At a gallop the Moors left all thefoot soldiers behind, with about five thousand men following themuntil they took refuge in the unpopulated village. But it wastoo heavily populated for the Christians! When the Turksregrouped at the broken wall, the Duke of Macedonia said:

  "Gentlemen, I don't think we should go any further. We don'tknow what kind of an ambush may be in store for us: the enemy isalways thinking of how they can do us the most harm."

  The Duke of Pera, who was the other captain, was very envious,and he said maliciously:

  "Duke of Macedonia, you have very little experience in arms, andhere you are telling us about the danger we could run into. Turnback and flee: you would be better off with women in the citythan here!"

  The Duke of Macedonia did not want to create discord among themen, and have them start fighting among themselves. So he triedto hold his tongue, but he could not restrain himself, and heanswered:

  "Duke of Pera, you would be better off if you kept quiet. Whohas been honored in battle? I, the Duke of Macedonia, am knownas a conqueror, while the Duke of Pera is held in low esteembecause of the battles he has engaged in."

  The other knights and grandees interrupted the argument, and madethem stop. Some wanted to advance and others to retreat. But inthe end they had to go on, because the Duke of Pera said:

  "Whoever wants to come with me or go back is free to do so."

  And he started out, so all the others felt they had to followhim. When they reached the deserted village, the Turks on top ofthe wall defended it bravely. There was a ditch there, and theyhad to dismount and fight with lances, because they had no otherarms. While they were doing this, the forces of the sultan andthe Turk came out, some through one gate and some throughanother, and they caught them in the middle. There was a greatslaughter, and they captured many of them. I can say about thissad adventure that everyone who dismounted was killed or takenprisoner, and only one knight was able to escape. With thisvictory the Turks returned to the city of Bellpuig and put theircaptives in strong prisons.

  This news reached the emperor while he was in the hall waitingfor the ladies to come so they could go to the square for thecelebrations.

  The emperor, in the presence of all who were there, cried:

  "Oh, disconsolate widows, lament, tear out your hair, scratchyour faces, dress in mourning! For the flower of chivalry hasdied, and it will never be recovered."

  The crying, the wailing, was so great in the palace that it soonspread throughout the city. And the festivities turned intomourning and lamentations.

  Then the emperor sent for Tirant to give him the sad news andshow him the letters he had received. When the chamberlain cameto Tirant's door, he heard him crying out:

  "Oh, poor me! Oh, cruel fortune! Why have you done these thingsto me? To think that that excellent lady would give herself to ablack Moor, the enemy of our faith. Would that I had never seensuch a thing--the woman I loved most in the world and hoped toserve. Oh, you wicked Widow! I wish I had never known you, foryou will be the cause of my death and destruction!"

  The emperor's chamberlain heard him talking and crying, but hecould not make out the words because the door was closed. But todo the emperor's bidding, he called out:

  "Oh, captain! The emperor is calling you and wishes to see you."

  When the chamberlain returned to the emperor, he said:

  "Sire, your captain already knows about the terrible things thathave happened. I heard him grieving piteously!"

  The captain came to the chamber and saw the princess lying on theground with the doctors gathered around her. When he saw herlike this, he could not help but exclaim, "Why are you allowingthis lady to die without helping her? Even though her guiltcannot be excused, I still pray God that she will live longerthan I."

  The doctors didn't understand him, and thought he was bewailingthe bad news. And Tirant thought everyone was crying because ofthe princess. Then he turned and saw the empress who had tornall the veils from her head. At another side he saw the emperorsitting on the floor, still as a statue. He had the letters inhis hand, and motioned Tirant over and gave them to him. WhenTirant read them, he said:

  "It's worse than I thought."

  Then he began to console the emperor. At this moment theprincess regained consciousness. She opened her eyes, and beggedTirant to come to her. The princess made him sit next to her andsaid:

  "Oh, my last hope! If you truly love me, don't let your life andmine be taken from this world until the day that all the dukes,counts and marquis are recovered who have been killed or placedin cruel prisons."

  While she was speaking, two men who had fled the camp came in,and she could say no more, nor could Tirant answer. They toldthem in detail about the destruction, and about the terribleargument between the Duke of Macedonia and the Duke of Pera, andhow five thousand knights had been killed or taken prisoner. Theemperor, his eyes brimming with tears and barely able to speak,began to lament:

  "Oh, unlucky captains! You, more willful than wise, have ignoredmy counsel. Find comfort in a cruel prison, thinking that youwill never again see your emperor, for your actions have not beenwell thought out."

  The emperor got up from his seat, and went into a chamber, tearsspringing from his eyes, his head in his hands. When theprincess saw how he was grieving, she lost consciousness. Thewisest doctor of them all said:

  "I have little hope for this lady's life. She has
fainted threetimes and now I cannot feel her pulse."

  When Tirant heard the doctor say these words, he quickly said:

  "Oh, cruel death! Wouldn't it be better and more just for you tocome to me first, instead of letting me see her die? Even thoughshe has deeply hurt me, I want to keep her company."

  And with extreme grief he fell to the ground and all the weightof his body fell on the leg which had been broken, and it brokeagain, and was even worse than before. Blood came out of hisnose and his ears, and especially from his leg, and it was awonder that he did not lose his life. They quickly went to tellthe emperor, and he said:

  "It is not at all surprising, for of all his relatives there isnot one left who is not dead or being held prisoner. But this ismy consolation, because to get his relatives and friends out ofprison he will perform admirable feats."

  The emperor began to go to Tirant when he saw his daughter lyinghalf dead. And he said:

  "God help me, I don't know which of them to help first."

  But he had his daughter lifted up and placed in her bed, and thenTirant was put in a beautiful room. They quickly removed hisclothing and treated his leg, straightening it a little. And hewas completely unaware of everything they did for him, because hewas unconscious for thirty-six hours. When he regainedconsciousness, he asked who had brought him there, and Hippolytustold him:

  "What, my lord! Don't you know what a great fright you broughtus?

  You've been unconscious for two days, and haven't had anything toeat. Your body can't hold up that way, so please take what thedoctors order you to have."

  "I don't want anything that will bring my health back," saidTirant. "I want only death."

  They quickly went to tell the emperor, and the princessoverheard, for she had now regained consciousness. Then Tirantsaid:

  "Tell me how the princess is."

  Hippolytus answered:

  "Very well, my lord. She's recovered now."

  "I'm sure she is," said Tirant. "Her illness could not be great.A few days ago she had things she wanted a great deal, but now Idon't think she will brag much about them. She's not the firstto do this, nor will she be the last. I know very well thatshe's not made of iron. Oh, how painful it is for a man not to beable to share his grief."

  At this moment the emperor came in, followed by all the ladieswith the empress, and they all asked him how he was. But he didnot want to answer anyone. They were all astonished that he hadnot answered the greetings of the emperor or the ladies, andcontinuing to show his grief he began to lament:

  "Oh, Son of God, all powerful Jesus. I am dying of love, and Youwished to die for love, to free mankind. You suffered so muchpain, lashings, wounds and torments, and my pain was the sight ofa black Moor. Outside of You, Lord, who can compare with mylove? Lord, Your Holy Mother, and Our Lady, suffered great painat the foot of the cross, and I stood with a cord in my hand,with two mirrors that represented, Lord, the greatest pain thatany Christian has ever endured."

  The emperor and all the ladies were in the room, along with thecardinal and many other clergymen, and they were all astonishedat the pious words they heard Tirant saying.

  Then Tirant lowered his head, and began to lament again, becausedeath was calling him. The doctors ordered many things for him,but they did not help. Hearing of his illness, an old Jewesscame to the emperor, and very boldly said:

  "Your Majesty sees that Tirant's life is near its end, all thedoctors have given up hope, and I am the only one who can helphim. Call the soldiers together, and have them start shoutingand go into his chambers and beat their swords against theirshields. When he wakes up and sees so many armed men and hearsthem shouting, and he asks what is happening, you can tell himthe Turks are at the gates of the city. Then all those thoughtsof his will disappear, and with that virtue he has and out offear of being shamed, he will get up."

  The emperor sent for his doctors and his wise men and explainedwhat the Jewess had advised. They all agreed that it would beworth trying.

  The shouting and the uproar were so loud in the city that Tirantheard it even before they came into his chamber. The Jewess, whostood at the head of the bed, told him:

  "Get up, my captain. Don't be afraid of death. Here are yourenemies, the Turks, at the gates to the city, and they're comingto take revenge on you."

  When Tirant heard the old lady saying this, he said:

  "Is it true that the Turks are so close?"

  "They're even closer than you think," said the Jewess. "Get up.Go to the window, and you'll see what they plan to do to you."

  Tirant immediately called for his clothes, and he had his legbound with towels. Then he put his armor on as best he could andmounted his horse, along with many other men. He was so readyand willing to fight that his illness went almost entirely away.The emperor and the doctor who were there told him to take somerestoratives, and that would make him better able to do battle.He did everything they advised him, and then he realized that ithad all been contrived to help him get over his illness. Tirantsaid:

  "Praise be to God: a woman has delivered me from the arms ofdeath, for another woman had killed me."

  With all the noise the soldiers raised, the princess ran to hermother's chamber. They saw the emperor coming back with Tirant,and all the ladies looked out the windows to see what hadhappened. When Tirant was in front of the princess's window helifted his head and put both hands over his face. The empressasked her daughter why Tirant had covered his face, because theonly reason that was ever done was when a love affair had gonewrong. The princess answered that she didn't have any idea.

  After they had gone by and were at the palace door, the emperordismounted, and Tirant begged his leave to go to his lodging.The emperor did everything he could to make Tirant dismount,telling him he would be given everything he needed in the palace,but Tirant insisted on leaving. The princess wondered why Tirantdid not want to stay in the palace despite all the emperor'spleas, for he had wanted to many times before. She also wonderedwhy he had covered his face.

  When Tirant reached his lodging, he immediately went to his roomand called Lord Agramunt and Hippolytus. He begged them to armand provision ten galley ships. They said they would, andleaving Tirant, they stocked the galleys.

  After Tirant had eaten, he arranged everything for his departure.He ordered all his men to go by land to the castle of Malvei, andsaid he would go by sea and they would meet there. When it wasevening and the doctors had left, they told the emperor thatTirant was all right. When it was nearly the hour for prayer,the princess, upset that she did not see Tirant, askedPlaerdemavida and Lady Montblanc to go to Tirant's lodging tofind out what was wrong. As the maidens were coming, one ofTirant's pages saw them and quickly went into Tirant's chambersand said:

  "Cheer up, my lord, two gallant ladies are coming with a messagefrom the princess."

  "Go right away," said Tirant, "and tell them I am all right butthat I'm sleeping."

  The page did what he was told, for Tirant did not want to seethem.

  When the maidens returned to the palace with the reply, theprincess insisted so much that her mother and the emperor went toTirant's lodging, and when Tirant heard that the emperor wascoming he gave two pages instructions about what to do. When theemperor was at the door to his chamber, the more clever of thepages said:

  "Your Majesty should not come into the chamber because of thecaptain's sickness. He has not rested for so many days that heis catching up on all the rest he needs now. He is nearlydrenched with sweat, and it would be good for a doctor to come inwithout awakening him."

  Tirant quickly got into bed, and he moistened his face with a wetcloth and pretended to be asleep. The doctor came in, and whenhe left again he told the emperor:

  "My lord, it would be very harmful for us to awaken him now. Whydoesn't Your Highness go now. Tomorrow morning you can come backand visit him."

  The princess could not take it calmly when she was not able tosee Tiran
t, but she had to return with the emperor. When Tirantknew that they had all gone, he quickly got up and had all hisclothing gathered and taken to the galley. At midnight hesecretly went on board, and he would have liked to cast anchorthen, but the ship was not ready.

  In the morning, when the sun came up, the emperor heard thegalley trumpets giving the signal for the men to go on board.Tirant sent Lord Agramunt to the emperor as his courier, and whenhe was before him he gave him the following message:

  "Your captain has gone on board one of the galleys, and hasordered the ships to go to the port of Transimeno. He will go byship to the castle of Malvei while the soldiers go there by land.I have been sent here to tell Your Highness about his decision toleave."

  The emperor answered:

  "Knight, I am very happy to have this good news, and I give manythanks to Divine Goodness for bringing health to our captain sothat he can leave. This is what I wanted most in the world afterthe salvation of my soul."

  Lord Agramunt kissed his hand and begged his leave. Then he wentto the empress's chamber and bade her farewell, and did the sameto the princess. When the empress saw that Hippolytus would haveto go, and the princess saw that Tirant was leaving, they shedbitter tears, especially the princess because Tirant was goingwithout a word to her. They quickly went to the emperor'schamber to see if it was true that they were leaving, and theemperor told them everything. The princess urged the emperor togo to the water's edge so that she could go along, and theempress did not dally. The emperor reached the sea before theydid, and he went on board the ship, begging Tirant to doeverything he could for the empire. Tirant spoke to him verykindly, and said he would do everything he could, and the emperorfelt very relieved.

  All the soldiers advised the emperor to go back on land quicklybecause a black cloud with thunder and lightning was coming theirway. So the emperor went on land. The princess was sorry thatshe had not been there when her father went on the galley so thatshe could have gone too and talked with Tirant. By now the seawas so choppy that the women were not allowed on board, nor wouldher father have given his permission. The princess, sighingdeeply, and with tears streaming from her eyes, had no recourseother than to beg Plaerdemavida to go on board the galley andfind out why Tirant had left so secretly, without saying anythingto her, and why he had placed his hands over his face as hepassed by, and also why he had not wanted to stay in thepalace--which he had wanted to do so many times before.

  Plaerdemavida understood exactly what her lady wanted, and shegot on a boat with Hippolytus and some others who were with him.The pain that the empress felt as she saw Hippolytus going onboard the galley cannot be described. When Plaerdemavida was onboard, Tirant paid no attention to her. But she insisted, andsaid to him:

  "Oh, cruel knight! Who has turned your thoughts? To leave sucha virtuous lady, who has more dignity and virtue than anyone inthe world, without so much as telling her goodbye! If you wanther life to be sad and to hasten her death, don't go back onland, and don't look at her. But if you want to restore herbitter life, let her see your lordship for a short time."

  When she had said this she could no longer hold back her tears,and she wrapped her cloak around herself, and moaned softly butwould say no more. Tirant wanted to reply to what Plaerdemavidahad told him, and very softly so that no one could hear him hesaid:

  "Her beauty and discretion so far surpasses all the others thatonly a madman could compare anyone else with her. But I saw thislady with the black gardener, Lauseta, and she was not thinkingof me at all. First I saw them kissing, and I was offended bythe sight. Then I was even more shocked when I saw themembracing like lovers and going into a chamber. When they cameback out Widow Repose knelt down at her feet and put a silk scarfhigh under her skirt. Painful thoughts attacked my mind when Isaw how he treated her. I don't know why I didn't kill someoneright then, but the wall was in my way. But I could not take theterrible jealousy of the black gardener out of my mind, and I cutthrough his neck with my sword. Still the pain kept increasingso much that I was beside myself, and I went into my chamber,pretending to be terribly tired so I would be left alone. Andnow I want to be in the sea; I want my body to float, unburied,on the waves until it reaches the princess, so that she can dressme in my shroud with her delicate hands."

  Then he would say no more. When Plaerdemavida heard what wasbothering Tirant and that the black gardener had been killed, andno one would know who did it unless she told them, she was veryagitated. Still she forced herself to smile, and with Hippolytusthere, she said:

  "Even if you did see it, it was all a game to cheer up theprincess. Widow Repose got some costumes from the plays for theCorpus Christi festivals, and I dressed up like our gardener."

  And she told him everything that had happened.

  Tirant was astonished by it all, and said he could not believeit. The maiden laughed, and said:

  "My lord, the best thing would be for me to stay here whileHippolytus goes to my room. Under my bed he will find all theclothing of the black gardener. And if I'm not telling thetruth, you can throw me into the ocean."

  Tirant told Hippolytus to take the keys and go, and to come backquickly because the sea was very choppy. Hippolytus did whatTirant commanded. When he came back with the clothing, the oceanswells were so high that Hippolytus could not board the galley,and Plaerdemavida could not go back on land. They threw a ropeto the ship and tied the clothing of the black gardener to it sothat it could be pulled up to the galley. When Tirant saw themask and the clothing, he saw all the wickedness of Widow Repose.He then swore in everyone's presence that if he could go on landjust then, he would have her burned before the emperor, or hewould do to her what he had done with the black man. Then Tirantbegged Plaerdemavida to forgive the bad thoughts he had had aboutthe princess, and about her, and when she was with Her Highnessto beg her forgiveness. Plaerdemavida agreed, very graciously.

  Suddenly the sea became so stormy that the people who saw theboat Hippolytus was on, began to pray that it would not sink. Itheaded back to land, and the men on it were drenched while theboat was half-filled with water. The wind and rain were sostrong and the waves were so high that the galley's ropes broke,and they were swept out to sea. Two of the galleys remainedthere; the people on them were saved, but the ships were lost.The three galleys that found themselves in the middle of thetempestuous sea had their masts broken and their sails tornapart. A gust of wind threw one of the galleys into a smallisland, and its men took refuge there. Tirant's galley and theother one were leeward. They could not make it to the island,and Tirant's galley found itself with its rudder smashed. Theother galley was nearby, and it split apart. The men on boardfell into the bitter sea, and all of them drown.

  Tirant's galley continued toward Barbary, and the sailors losttheir bearings and did not know what seas they were in, and theylamented loudly. Tirant heard the great cries the sailors weremaking, and he saw the galley's boatswain, who was the best ofall the sailors, commending his soul to God because atackle-block had fallen on his head. A galley slave got up andwent to Tirant, and with a great effort he said:

  "My lord, order the men to bale out the water in the galley.Here is your staff of authority. Hold it in your hand and runthrough the galley: the boatswain is dead, and all the men seethat they are very near death, and are fainting. Do everythingyou can to make them bale, because if we can get beyond the cape,we can save our lives. It is better for us to be captives of theMoors than to die."

  Tirant lifted his head, and said:

  "What seas are we in?"

  "My lord," said the galley-slave, as he pointed, "those are theseas of Sicily, and these are the seas of Tunis. And because youare a virtuous man I'm sorrier for you than I am for myself. Itis Fortune's will that we shall perish on this Barbary Coast, andin a case like this every man should beg forgiveness of theothers."

  Tirant quickly got up, although the dreadful sea was crashingabout him so that he was barely able to stand.
Then he broughtout the best clothing he had, and he dressed in it. He took asack containing a thousand ducats, and put a note inside thatsaid: "I beg whomsoever should find my body to give it anhonorable burial. I am Tirant lo Blanc from Brittany, and ofthat singular lineage of Roca Salada, High Captain of the GreekEmpire."

  By now it was already past noon, and the further the galley wentthe more water it took on. The cries increased and death drewnear. As they were near land the Moors saw the galleyapproaching, and they realized that it would run aground justwhere they wanted it, while the Christians knew that they couldnot escape death or being captured.

  The galley came close to land, and all the men threw themselvesinto the sea to save their lives. By this time it was nearlydark of night. When Tirant saw the sailors jumping overboard hedecided not to leave the ship, no matter what might happen. Andby then there was no boat, rope or oar that had not been lost.Tirant begged two sailors, faithful friends of his who had comeon the ship with him when it was stocked in Brittany, to takecare of the maiden. They took off all her clothes, and by thistime nearly all the galley was underwater. Taking up a corkwoodplank, the sailor tied it across her breasts while the other manhelped her stand up. The sea sent a wave crashing intoPlaerdemavida and the sailors, and hurled them about. The mancarrying the plank drowned in order to save her. The othersailor helped the maiden as long as he could, and finally wasforced to abandon her. It was her good fortune to find herselfnear land at night, and she could hear the loud noise the Moorswere making as they captured the Christians. The maiden's feettouched bottom, and since she was all alone she stopped anddecided not to go ashore. Instead she went closer to land sothat she would not be in such deep water, but waves sometimescame crashing over her head. As she walked through the waterclose to shore, she moved away from the shouts, afraid that shewould be killed. For she saw that the Moors were killing eachother as each one tried to capture the most prisoners. And whenlightning flashed, she could see the reflection of swords nearthe sea. She continued to walk in the water, completely naked,following the shoreline, and whenever she heard anyone she wouldduck underwater, and stay there until they were gone.

  CHAPTER X

  THE BARBARY COAST