“How came she to her death?”

“Certes, lady,” said the Count, “because for once she received her deserts.”

“Tell me of these deservings,” said the dame.

Then the Count began to tell, with tears, of how she was wedded, but was yet a barren wife; how the good knight vowed pilgrimage to my lord St. James in Galicia, and how the lady prayed that she might go with him, which prayer he granted willingly.  He told how they went their way with joy, till alone, in the deep wood, they met with sturdy felons who set upon them.  The good knight might do nothing against so many, for he was a naked man; but despite of all, he slew three, and five were left, who killed his palfrey, and spoiling him to the very shirt, bound him hands and feet, and flung him into a thorn bush.  They spoiled the lady also and stole her palfrey from her.  When they looked upon her, and saw that she was fair, each would have taken her.  Afterwards they accorded that she should be to all, and having had their will in her despite, they departed and left her weeping bitterly.  This the good knight saw, so he besought her courteously to unloose his hands, that they might get them from the wood.  But the lady marked a sword belonging to one of these felons that were slain.  She handselled it, and hastening where he lay, cried in furious fashion, “You are unbound already.”  Then she raised the naked sword, and struck at his body.  But by the loving kindness of God, and the vigour of the knight, she but sundered the bonds that bound him, so that he sprang forth, and wounded as he was, cried, “Dame, by the grace of God it is not to-day that you shall kill me with the sword.”

At this word that fair lady, the wife of the Soudan, spoke suddenly, and said,

“Ah, sir, you have told the tale honestly, and very clear it is why she would have slain him.”

“For what reason, lady?”

“Certes,” answered she, “for reason of the great shame which had befallen her.”

When Messire Thibault heard this he wept right tenderly, and said, “Alas, what part had she in this wickedness!  May God keep shut the doors of my prison if I had shown her the sourer face therefore, seeing that her will was not in the deed.”

“Sir,” said the lady, “she feared your reproach.  But tell me which is the more likely, that she be alive or dead?”

“Lady,” said Thibault, “we know not what to think.”

“Well I know,” cried the Count, “of the great anguish we have suffered, by reason of the sin I sinned against her.”

“If it pleased God that she were yet living,” inquired the lady, “and tidings were brought which you could not doubt, what would you have to say?”

“Lady,” said the Count, “I should be happier than if I were taken from this prison, or were granted more wealth than ever I have had in my life.”

“Lady,” said Messire Thibault, “so God give me no joy of my heart’s dearest wish, if I had not more solace than if men crowned me King of France.”