“And is't because thou fearest,” asked Sir Jaufry, red with rage, “thou counsell'st flight to me? By holy faith, I hold thee fool, and worse.”
As he spoke thus, a leper came in sight, who sped along, a child within his arms. Its wretched mother, with dishevelled hair, followed with piercing cries. When she beheld the knight, she knelt down at his feet, and in a tone of agony exclaimed:
“Mercy, my lord; O, mercy! For the love of Heaven, grant me help, and get me back the child yon leper bears.”
“Woman,” responded Jaufry, “wherefore takes he it?”
“My lord, because it is his wicked will.”
“Had he no other cause?”
“No, by your glorious sire!”
“Since it is thus,” quoth Jaufry, “he is wrong; and I will try to win it back for you.”
He spurred at once his horse, she following; and cried aloud, with all the strength he had:
“Halt, leprous, wicked wretch! and bring thou back the child!”