Thy crown bear firm and uprightly.”
After receiving these answers, though secretly encouraged, more by what her brother had purposely [[86]]refrained from saying, than from what he had said, this is what the maiden Quirina did:
She went up into that part of her father’s castle called the Virgin’s Bower, which, in ancient days, was a room upstairs and off from the main hall, or “house.” It was reached by a stairway built on the outside. There, in her room, she dressed herself in her finest robes.
First she put on a chemise, which was soft as silk. Over this, was a skirt and bodice, richly trimmed with lace, made of threads of gold. Her crimson petticoat, showing behind that part of her dress which was open in front, was studded with golden stars. Around her neck, she clasped strings of pearls. Finally, on her head, she placed a coronet, rich in precious stones. In her resplendent attire, she stood forth as fair in face, and form, and as gorgeously arrayed, as any queen on earth.
Then hieing to her father’s stable, she chose from the stalls a horse that was the finest and fleetest of them all. Leaping upon its back, she sat astride the steed, riding like a man. Clapping her ankles against its sides, she rode off in the direction of Halwyn’s castle, singing aloud, until the woods re-echoed her gladness. She had scarcely reached the middle of the forest, when Sir Halwyn, having heard her song, came riding along. [[87]]
He cantered up to her, swung off his big hat, which had a long feather in it and bowing low, twice cried out “gegroet,” which is the Flemish for “Greeting” and “Welcome.” He called her “Fair maid, with the clear brown eyes.”
Quirina smilingly returned his salutation and seemed pleased to ride with him. Then their horses cantered on, while they chatted by the way. Sir Halwyn never seemed more charming in his manners, or more brilliant in his conversation. She let him choose where they should ride and the hours passed very pleasantly.
Suddenly they came to an opening in the forest. Quirina looked over to the left, and beheld a frightful picture, which, revealed the true character of Sir Halwyn; for there, from the cross-beam of a long gallows frame, hung the bodies of no fewer than sixteen maidens, whom this brutish murderer had cruelly put to death.
The monster and magician Halwyn, for such he was, now appeared in his true character. With a scowl, he cried out:
“Most beautiful of all women, though you are, you are now to die; but, since you are so lovely, I shall allow you to choose the manner of your death. Yet decide quickly, for you have but a moment to live.”