He set his hands to her waist, and found that the secret belt was yet about her sides.

“Fair sweet friend, tell me now by what adventure I find you here, and who has brought you to this tower?”

So the lady told over to her friend the pain and the anguish and the dolour of the prison in which she was held; of how it chanced that she fled from her dungeon, and lighting upon a ship, entered therein, and came to this fair haven; of how Meriadus took her from the barge, but kept her in all honour, save only that ever he sought for her love; “but now, fair friend, all is well, for you hold your lady in your arms.”

Gugemar stood upon his feet, and beckoned with his hand.

“Lords,” he cried, “hearken now to me.  I have found my friend, whom I have lost for a great while.  Before you all I pray and require of Meriadus to yield me my own.  For this grace I give him open thanks.  Moreover I will kneel down, and become his liege man.  For two years, or three, if he will, I will bargain to serve in his quarrels, and with me, of riders, a hundred or more at my back.”

Then answered Meriadus, “Gugemar, fair friend, I am not yet so shaken or overborne in war, that I must do as you wish, right humbly.  This woman is my captive.  I found her:  I hold her:  and I will defend my right against you and all your power.”

When Gugemar heard these proud words he got to horse speedily, him and all his company.  He threw down his glove, and parted in anger from the tower.  But he went right heavily, since he must leave behind his friend.  In his train rode all those knights who had drawn together to that town for the great tournament.  Not a knight of them all but plighted faith to follow where he led, and to hold himself recreant and shamed if he failed his oath.

That same night the band came to the castle of the prince with whom Meriadus was at war.  He welcomed them very gladly, and gave them lodging in his tower.  By their aid he had good hope to bring this quarrel to an end.  Very early in the morning the host came together to set the battle in array.  With clash of mail and noise of horns they issued from the city gate, Gugemar riding at their head.  They drew before the castle where Meriadus lay in strength, and sought to take it by storm.  But the keep was very strong, and Meriadus bore himself as a stout and valiant knight.  So Gugemar, like a wary captain, sat himself down before the town, till all the folk of that place were deemed by friend and sergeant to be weak with hunger.  Then they took that high keep with the sword, and burnt it with fire.  The lord thereof they slew in his own hall; but Gugemar came forth, after such labours as you have heard, bearing his lady with him, to return in peace to his own land.

From this adventure that I have told you, has come the Lay that minstrels chant to harp and viol—­fair is that song and sweet the tune.

III