“Such a creature I myself saw,” said Sir Artegall, “after that I left the Savage Island. It seemed to have full a thousand tongues, and with all of these it bayed and barked at me; I heeded him not, and this seemed to move him to still greater rage.”
“Doubtless,” answered Sir Calidore, “that is the monster which I follow.”
“Go on and prosper,” said Sir Artegall; and so they parted in all friendship and amity.
After Sir Calidore had travelled a mile or so, he came upon a squire, a comely youth to behold, whom his enemies had bound to a tree. The same loudly called on him for help, which he, without waiting to ask questions, promptly rendered. When he had loosed his bonds he said: “Tell me, unhappy man, how you came into this evil plight; who was it that captured you and bound you in this fashion?”
“Sir Knight,” said the man, “be assured that it was by misfortune only, not by fault committed, that I came into this condition. Not far from this place there is a very strong castle, where they keep this evil custom. No man may pass along the road—and the road so lies that none may pass without leave obtained from them who hold the castle—without payment of toll. And the toll is this—from every lady her hair, and from every knight his beard.”
“As shameful a custom as ever came to my ears!” cried Sir Calidore, “and one speedily to be overthrown! But tell me how it came about, and what was its beginning?”
“In this castle,” the squire made reply, “there dwells a certain lady, Briana by name; there is no one on earth more proud, and it vexes her sorely that she loves a certain Sir Crudor, and that he will not deign to return love for love, until she shall make for him a mantle lined with the hair of ladies and the beards of knights. And she to gain this end uses the castle, having for her minister in the matter a certain Maleffort, who, indeed, does her will in the most cruel fashion. This very day, as I journeyed by the road with the lady whom I love, this Maleffort made an assault upon us. Me first he took prisoner, for I could not withstand him, so strong was he. This done, he pursued the damsel, binding me to this tree until he should come back. But whether he has found her or not, I know not.”
While he was yet speaking, they heard a loud shriek from hard by, and looking to the place saw the knave holding a lady by her garments and about to shear the tresses from her head. When Sir Calidore saw this he was greatly moved with wrath; the squire he left, and turned to pursue the villain. “Hold!” he cried, “leave that evil doing, and turn to answer me!”
The fellow, trusting in his strength, which, indeed, had never failed him, answered him scornfully. “Who,” said he, “are you that defy me in this fashion? You take this maiden’s part; will you then give your beard, though it be but little, for her locks? Nay, nay, you may not purchase them so cheaply.” So saying he ran at Sir Calidore in a mighty rage, and rained upon him a great shower of blows. The knight, who was well skilled in arms, held back awhile, standing on his defence, and let him spend his strength. But when he perceived that he was failing somewhat, then he began to press him; the more he gave way the more strongly he assailed him. At last the fellow lost heart, and turned to fly, hoping to gain the castle and find shelter. So he fled, Sir Calidore pursuing; and now he had reached the gate and cried aloud that they should open to him without delay. This indeed they who were within, seeing in what extremity he was, made haste to do, but even as he stood in the porch Sir Calidore dealt him a mighty blow with his sword, and cleft his head from the crown to the chin. He fell down dead where he stood, and when they would have shut the gate, they could not, for the carcase blocked the way, and Sir Calidore entering in, slew the porter where he stood. Then all who were in the castle set at him, but in vain; he swept them aside full easily, as an ox, standing in a meadow on a summer day, sweeps away the flies which trouble him. So he passed from the porch into the hall, where the Lady Briana met him, and assailed him with angry words, calling him villain because he had slain her steward, and was now come to rob her of her possessions.
“Nay, nay, fair lady,” he made answer, “I deserve not these reproaches. I came to abate an evil custom that you wot of. Such things do dishonour to the laws of courtesy. I pray you, therefore, of your own accord, to do away with this evil. Rather show kindness and hospitality to all such as pass by this way; so shall you gain a glory that is better far than earthly love.”