Abundel Castle.*)

DE ALIUXI—AUUNDEL CASTLE.

335

beautiful woman, became mucli in love with a knight of that country, whowas a comely person, and in the ilower of his youth: and because she thoughtthat no man excelled him in valour, she caused a 'tToutnamcitt to be pro-claimed throughout her dominions, promising to reward those who should

Mi

V-20

exercise themselves therein, according to their respective merits; and con-cluding, that if the person whom she so affected should act his part better thanOthers in these military exercises, she might marry him without any dishonourto herself. Hereupon divers gallant men from foreign parts hasting intopart's, amongst others came this our William de 2Utunt, bravely accoutred;and in the tournament excelled all others, overcoming many, and woundingone mortally with his lance, which being observed by the ©UCtn, she becameexceedingly enamoured of him, and forthwith invited him to a costly banquet;and afterwards bestowing upon him certain jewels, offered him marriage.But, having plighted his troth to the Queen of ISttglflnlJ, then (also) a widow,he refused her; whereat she grew so much discontented, that she consultedwith her maids how to take away his life; and in pursuance of that designenticed him into a garden, where there was a secret cave, and in it a fiercelion, into which she descended by divers steps under colour of showing himthe beast. And when she told him of his fierceness, Albini merely answered,1 that it was a womanish, and not a manly quality, to be afraid thereof.’ Buthaving him there, by the advantage of a folding door, she thrust him into thelion’s den. Being therefore in this danger, he folded his mantle about his