and esteemed, without envying his superior intelligence and accomplishments.  At length, the king having summoned a plenar at court, his barons flocked from all quarters, and, among the rest the husband of the false lady.  No one had thought of paying the least attention to Bisclaveret, whose gentleness was even more remarkable than his sagacity; but no sooner did the knight make his appearance than the animal attacked him with the greatest fury, and was scarcely prevented, even by the interposition of the king himself, from tearing him to pieces.  The same scene occurred a second time, and occasioned infinite surprise.  Not long after this, the king went to hunt in the same forest, and the wicked wife, as lady of the manor, having sent before her a magnificent present, set forth to pay her court to her sovereign.  Bisclaveret saw her approach, flew upon her, and instantly tore her nose from her face.  This act of discourtesy to a lady excited universal indignation:  even the king took part against his favourite, who would have been punished with instant death, but for the interference of an aged counsellor.  “This lady, Sir,” said he to the king, “is wife of that knight whom you so tenderly loved, and whose unaccountable disappearance you have so long regretted.”  The baron whom Bisclaveret first assaulted is her present husband.  He becomes ferocious only on the appearance of these two; there is some mystery in this, which the lady, if imprisoned and interrogated would probably discover.  Britany is the country of wonders—­

    Mainte marveille avuns veu
    Qui en Bretaigne est avenu.

In compliance with this advice the lady was put in close confinement, the whole secret extorted, and the clothes of Bisclaveret duly restored.  But when they were brought before him the animal appeared to survey them with listlessness and inattention; and the king had again recourse to his sapient counsellor, by whose advice they were transferred to the royal bed-chamber, where Bisclaveret was left, without witnesses, to effect, if possible, his metamorphosis.  In due time the king, attended with two of his barons, repaired to the chamber, and found the knight in his natural form, asleep on the royal bed.  His master immediately embraced him with the utmost affection, restored all his estates; added more, and banished the wicked wife, together with her paramour, from the country.  It is remarkable that afterwards she had several children, all of whom were females, and distinguished by the disagreeable singularity of being born without noses.  Be assured that this adventure is strictly true, and that the Lay of Bisclaveret was composed for the purpose of making it known to the latest posterity.

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No.  V.—­The Lay of SIR LANVAL.