All this while the Lady Belgé watched the fortunes of the fight from the city wall, with her two sons standing on either hand. And when she saw the issue she hastened to greet him; the people of the city also, who had waited to see to whom the victory should fall, hastened to do him homage. Right glad were they to be rid of the giant’s tyranny.
When the Lady Belgé had rendered the prince her thanks, which he received with due modesty—“’Tis not the strength nor courage of the doer,” said he, “but the justice of his deed that should be looked to”—she said: “O noble sir, you have freed me from my chief foe; nevertheless there remains yet something to be done. I pray you not to stay your victorious arms till you have rooted out all that remains of this vile brood, and established my peace for ever.”
“Tell me, lady,” he answered, “what is this that remains?”
“Sir,” she answered, “in this temple hard by there is, as you have heard, a monstrous idol which this tyrant set up, and to which he offered up sacrifices, taking, alas! of my dear children, and many children also of this people. Now in a cavern underneath this idol there lies a most hideous monster, which is wont to feed upon the flesh of these sacrifices. No man, they say, has ever looked upon its shape, so fearful is it, and lived.”
When the prince heard this he was occupied with a great desire to deal with this same monster, and demanded that the queen should show him the place where it abode. “It is beneath the altar,” said she; and he uncovered his shield, for the need was such as to demand the help. The idol he saw, but not the monster. Then he took his sword, and with the naked blade he struck three times, as if in defiance, and at the third time the monster came from out its hiding-place. Hideous it was to see, huge of size, as long, it seemed, as the whole chapel, with the face of a woman and the body of a dog; its claws were like to lion’s claws; it had a tail with a deadly sting, and eagle’s wings. Nevertheless, for all its strength, it was dismayed to see the knight, and especially the burning brightness of his shield. It would have fled again to its hiding-place, but that the prince would not suffer. Seeing, then, that it had to fight, the monster flew at the prince’s shield, and caught it with its claws, purposing either to break it, or, if that might not be, to wrench it out of his hands. Long did they struggle together, but at the last the prince, with a stroke of his sword, shore off the monster’s claws. Exceeding loud was the bellowing which it made, seeming to make the whole chapel rock to its foundations. Next it struck at the prince with its great tail, and well-nigh brought him to the ground; but before it could strike a second blow, he had severed the last joint with his sword. Last of all, it raised itself on its great wings and flew at his head; doubtless it had hurt him sore but that he held his shield between. While he so warded off the attack, he struck full at the monster’s belly, and so did it to death.
Great was the rejoicing in the city when the people knew that the creature which had oppressed them so long was slain. They crowned the prince with bays, and led him through the streets with solemn pomp. After this he tarried awhile in the city, establishing Queen Belgé on her throne, and setting all things in due order, till the time came when he had to depart for the completing of his task.
CHAPTER XXXIV
OF SIR ARTEGALL AND GRANTORTO
While these things were doing, Sir Artegall set forth to accomplish his task, having Talus with him as before. After he had journeyed awhile, he overtook an old man who was travelling alone, and perceived that he was the same that had attended the Lady Irene when she came to the court of Queen Gloriana. He had been a famous knight in his day, but had long since foregone the use of arms, being stricken with age.
“Hail, Sir Sergis,” he cried, “there lives no truer knight, I know; but tell me, what is your errand? How fares the Lady Irene? How comes it that you have left her? Is she in prison? Does she yet live?”
“She lives,” answered the old knight, “but she is in sore trouble. Trusting to your promise that you would come to be her champion, and do battle with him who was oppressing her, she came at the appointed time, but found you not. And now Grantorto has thrown her into prison, and has appointed her a day, saying that if by that time no champion shall appear to justify her and prove her clear of the crimes of which she is accused, she shall suffer death.”