132 THE KNIGHT, THE HERMIT,

 

Ten knights as brave as Sir Guy, and
possessing as many noble and generous
qualities, had fallen beneath his superior
strength and skill in arms; and for this, the
bright eyes of beauty looked admiringly
upon him—fair lips smiled when he ap-
peared, and minstrels sang of his prowess,
in lady’s bower and festive hall. -

Ata great tournament given in honour
of the marriage of the king’s daughter, Sir
Guy sent forth his challenge to single and
deadly combat; but, for two days, no one
accepted this challenge, although it was
three times proclaimed by the herald. On
the third day, a young and strange knight
rode, with vizor down, into the lists, and
accepted the challenge. His slender form,
his carriage, and all that appertained to
him, showed him to be no match for Guy
de Montfort—and so it proved. They met
—and Sir Guy’s lance, at the first tilt, pe-
netrated the corslet of the brave young
knight and entered his heart. As he rolled
upon the ground, his casque flew off, and