“This ring gives to the wearer the power to know the language of all birds that are, and to answer them again so that they can understand.  It also tells its owner how to use all grasses and herbs—­which can heal wounds and which can cure sickness.  This ring and mirror my liege lord sends to Canacee.

“This naked sword has these special virtues.  It can bite through the thickest and toughest armour, and if a man is hurt by it, the wound cannot heal until it is touched again with the flat side of the same sword.  It will not fail its wielder.  This gift my lord sends to Cambuskan, together with this same steed of brass.”

At the end of his message the knight dismounted and led the horse out of the hall to the courtyard where it stood still, shining in the bright sunlight, for it was beyond the power of any to move it.  The sword was carried to the strong tower, and placed amongst the most precious treasures.  The ring and mirror were given to Canacee, where she sat at the high table.

Great was the talk among high and low, and many the arguments about these presents.  None understood them; each was eager to give his opinion of how they were made, whence they came, their dangers and uses.  The horse, some said, was like that of Greek legends, Pegasus, who had wings to fly.  “Nay,” said others, “it might harbour soldiers, come to destroy our city, like the great wooden horse of Troy in which the Greeks hid themselves to enter the city.”  “It must be a fairy horse,” said others, “made by magic.  Have not the minstrels at the feasts sung of such steeds?” Others spoke of the mirror.  “It can be made by cutting the glass in different ways,” said some.  “There was one like it at Rome.”  “Nay,” said others who could read and wanted to show off their learning, “if you read Vitulon or Aristotle, you will see that many such mirrors have been made before.”  “As for the sword,” said some, “Achilles had one like it at Troy.”  Others spoke of different ways of hardening metal so that you would have supposed they knew all about the matter.  Others said that Moses and Solomon had a ring such as Canacee had been given, and tried to explain how it would tell birds’ language.  “Cease this jangling,” said others in a lordly tone.  “One cannot explain anything till one knows the true cause.  Why, see how many wondered at the ebb and flow of the tide, or the thunder, until men knew their causes!” So the talk went on, till the feast was ended and the king rose from the table.

Then the dance began to the sound of jolly minstrelsy.  Canacee and the ladies of the court were there, and seldom has such graceful dancing been seen.  The strange knight danced with Canacee for a partner.  I wish I could tell you all the beauty and gaiety of the revelry, but I cannot.  I do not know enough of such matters.  Then came the supper, with wine and spices and plenty for all, for at a king’s feast no man lacks anything.  Canacee stayed not to the supper, but went early to bed, with her maidens, for she wanted to be fresh and happy the next morning, not heavy with fumes of wine.