Having obtained her mantle and her horse, the maid set out from thence at the like hour, and with her went the leper and the rest; nor stayed she on the way, but only stopped when she had reached fair Carlisle's lofty towers.
There all regarded her with wonderment.
“Whence can proceed,” they said, “this strange cortège? whence come these people? and what want they here?” The curious crowd followed that damsel fair up to the castle-gates, and there the knights, who noble escort made, led her with all her troop before the king.
There bended she her knee, and as a dame of gentle breeding spoke:
“May He, the Lord of all and of all things, who in His hands doth justly hold the keys of good and ill, increase your fame, and keep in glory the knights of your Round Table!”
“And,” said the worthy king, “may Heaven save you, sweet damsel, who are fair and good as courteous and well-bred!”
“Sire, from Jaufry, Dovon's son, I come, to thank you for my life; which to his mighty valour do I owe. I am the daughter of the Count Passant, whose name perchance hath reached your royal ear. A knight of high esteem, who sought adventure to display his worth, brought me from Normandy to these fair shores. For seven long months, by valley and by hill we wandered on, full many a snare escaping, and without check full many a weary fight. This land did hold, alas, a giant dread, of hideous aspect, and of awful strength, eaten with leprosy and fearful sores, whose thought doth make my very soul to heave. Before us suddenly this wretch appeared; and taking from his neck a monstrous club, struck at my lord with force so terrible, he stunned him with the blow. Like as a child then, clutching at his arm, against a rock he fractured every bone; whilst me he seized from off my palfrey's back, and to his magic castle quickly bore. There I had lost my life, yea, more than life, but that high Heaven, whose justice I implored, in mercy sent Sir Jaufry to my aid. This doughty knight at length the monster slew; but ne'er can I with greater truth aver, such battle never did these eyes behold, or blows so great e'er given and received.”
The mother and the handless leper told their tale in turn. But whilst they thus their message each relates, we will to Jaufry go, who onward still his course doth slowly take, without he yet a single soul descried who could give tidings of the man he sought.