“Taulat to Melyan shall be given up; who, month by month, shall bind him to like stake, and by like hands on him inflict like punishment. The court doth grant this power unto Melyan for seven years; with liberty albeit in him to set his prisoner free whene'er he feel inclined to grant him grace.”
At the same hour the legists sentence passed, Sir Jaufry, riding quickly with the maid, before the towers of Augier arrived. Warned of his coming by the vassals' cries, who gave him joyful welcome and warm thanks for having set their lord and suzerain free, Augier mounted quickly on his horse, and with his sons came out to meet the knight. Beside Sir Jaufry he perceived the maid, guiding with sweeter grace than I can tell her gentle palfrey; but he knew her not, for she was veiled. Descending from his horse as he approached the knight, who eke alighted as he saw him come, he seized his hand, and with a trembling voice,—“My lord,” he said, “within my castle come, as you did promise me. We will most gladly there a welcome give, albeit my heart is melting with its woe. Since last we two did meet, a monster hath my daughter carried off, and with her all my joys.”
“You did not guard her with sufficient care,” Sir Jaufry mildly said, “since she is gone. What now remains to do? It was to be. None can avert his fate; so be consoled, and dry at once your tears. Some days agone I won a maid in fight, gentle and lovely as a maid can be; and if you will, to you I'll give her up, that she may take the place of her that's lost.”
“Alas, my lord,” good Augier replied, “where is the damsel or the dame that can compete with her in grace, in gentle manners, gaiety, and love? Her like is still unborn; and for my rest of days this world to me can naught, alas, afford of happiness or ease.”
“And I do still the contrary affirm; and more than that, declare that you this damsel shall her equal find in beauty and in love.”
In speaking thus Sir Jaufry raised her veil; and Augier looking, his sweet daughter knew. When he had pressed her often in his arms, a thousand grateful thanks bestowed on Jaufry, and listed to the tale of his exploits with Taulat and the giant, he to the castle led the way, the serfs and vassals following in troops.
Great was the honour they there showed the knight: the brothers poured the water for his use, the damsel served him with her own fair hands a roasted peacock nobly bedecked, and Augier fain had kept him there a month; but Jaufry, frankly owning that his heart allured him to Montbrun, set out the morrow mom. Escorted by his host and his two sons he took his way, musing on Brunissende; when, at the hour of noon, he met her seneschal, just then returned from fair Carlisle, where he had Taulat seen and Melyan and the five hundred knights from bondage freed.
He still was seeking by his dame's command brave Dovon's son; but half-despaired success. Scarcely, however, did he learn the truth, that Melyan's saviour and the weary knight who in the orchard slumbered were the same, when, urging his horse, ne'er did he stop until Montbrun was reached, where travel-soiled he came to Brunissende.
“Where is the knight?” asked she before the man could e'en unclose his lips. “Cometh he on? shall I soon see him here?”
“He follows me, fair lady,” he replied; “but such his deeds, whereof the saving of our lord from pain and torment is but one, that I do think 'twere well you met the knight, and with a hundred damsels formed escort.”