The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc

So they would not be completely idle and fall into languor, the King of England decided that as the wedding had been arranged he would invite everyone

ep on his horse, because he was so weary from the long journey he had made. His horse left the road and took a path that led him to the delightful spring of the hermit, who at this moment was finding p

and saw the water, it drew closer, wanting to drink, but because the reins were tied to the saddle bow, it could not. And it struggled so much that it was inevitable that th

intly life, and who had withdrawn to that place to do penance and save his soul. He quickly dismounted and bowed deeply

gentility to tell me your name and upon what

man quickl

ast Michaelmas, the king was holding a great celebration because that day the wedding had been agreed to. The king, the queen and the infanta were all eating at the same table, and I can tell you truly, sir, that as the infanta drank red wine, it could be seen as it passed down her throat because her skin is so very fair, and everyone there was astonished. Afterward it was said that the King of England wishes to become a knight, and that he will then make knights of everyone who wishes to enter the order of chivalry. I asked kings-of-arms and heralds why the king had not been made a knight during his wars with the Moors. And I was told that it was because he had been defeated in all the battles he undertook against the Moors until

eceive the order of chivalry, he heaved a deep sigh and began to think,

me from receiving the order of chivalry. No matter what happens to me, I will consider my death worthwhile if I die lovi

is late and your company is going far ahead, I think you should leave: you are in a foreign land and do not know the roads, and you run the danger of becoming lost in the great forests hereabouts. I beg you to take this book and show it to my lord, the king, and to all the good knig

book, taking his lea

giving him many thanks and promising

the other knights ask me who is se

rmit a

that it was someone who has always lo

him, mounted his hors

id that he might have become lost in the forest, and many of them turned back to look for him. They found hi

e beautiful adventure Our Lord had taken him on, and how the saintly hermit had given

as with many knights. Many had come, both from his own kingdom and from foreign land

ta was two days journey from there in a city named Canterbury where the body of Saint Thomas of Canterbury lies. On Saint John's d

he infanta of France, and all the foreigners took their l

e remembered the promise he had made to the hermit, and whe

hers, I must go to

ee the saintly hermit. Tirant was most content that they should, and they all set out on th

was near he dismounted, and all the rest with him, and they approached the hermit with deep humility, kneeling and

answered that he should sit down and they would all remain standing, but the valorous gentleman would not allow it and made them all sit n

if you are now coming from the court of my lord, the king. I would like to know who became new knights, and about th

panions, for there were many of higher

it has asked us. I have told you many times of his wisdom and holiness; and he

ll ans

k for us all, for the ho

Tirant, "and the father commands it, if I

said th

e hermi

d the best of the knights and who was gi

he Duke of Acquaviva put on a display of arms with great knightly spirit and many men were with him, and from among them more than sixty gentlemen were knighted. This duke jousted on foot and on horseback, and he was always victorious. The brother of the Duke of Burgundy went

of England) came to the lodging of these gentlemen here and asked for me. He did not know my name, but he recognized me, and he begged me very graciously to lend him my horse and arms because the king and the countess, his

the knight was dead and the king heard that it was his constable who had jousted so well, he sent for him. And the constable was so frightened that he made excuses not to go, but finally he went to the king, and the king reprimanded him severely. His E

night, the same as all good knights. If Your Majesty doesn't want me to face the danger of weapons, order me to go around dressed like a woman with the queen's maidens. Doesn't Your Majesty know that when my father and lord, William, Count of Warwick, held the royal scepter he conquered the Moors? And he took me by the hair and

the ki

l not last long. And by the faith I owe to chivalry, I will not allow that to happen. Since fortune has allowed

e hermi

o much about this constable, who

uiet,and wou

the hermit, "why don't

Diafebus stoo

e the order of chivalry from the king, and he was the first to joust. On that day he was taken to a hall and given a chair m

that you will defend ladies and maidens, widows, orphans, and ev

rms and led him before the king. The king laid the sword on his head and said: 'May G

, and they put spurs on him. Afterward the queen came, and she took him by one arm, and a duchess took the other, and they led him to a beautiful platform and seated him in the royal chair. Then the king sat on one s

, about the jousts Ti

drawn blood twenty times, or until either of them gave up. His conditions were immediately accepted, and we returned to our lodging. The next day all the maidens came for him and took him to the list, fully dressed in his armor. The king and

d they turned and charged many times with many singular encounters. On their twentieth turn the defender struck the beaver of Tirant's helmet and bent it, wounding him in the neck, and if the lance had not broken our knight would be dead. He and the horse fell to the ground. Tirant quickly got up and another horse was brought to him that was better than the first, and he begged the judges to give him permission to get another lance. Tirant had a very thick lance brought to him, and t

with a great procession they carried him to the Church of Saint George where they had ma

ished to fight a knight on foot and to the death, and they accepted. Tirant went into the list armed in the normal fashion, with an ax, a sword, and a dagger. When th

their axes in their hands. When they saw the king, they knelt to the ground on one knee, paying deep reverence to the king and queen, which

alds cried out that no man or woman should dare speak, cough,

d a point where he could no longer hold up his ax, and his face showed that he would prefer to make peace rather than do battle. When Tirant saw the condition his adversary was in, he took his ax with both hands, and gave him such a blow on the helmet that he stunned h

you want to live or die. I will have more consolation from good than from evil, so command

full of vainglory, than I would be of losing my life. I wo

Tirant, 'and not to harming them. If you wish, I will ve

because of luck, or someone else's misfortune. Then they're loose with all kinds of words. I am

cause of your great virtue and goodness. Let us go before the king, and on you

ge the knight

eminent lord of mine, Count William of Warwick, who gave me this bitter order of chiva

saw his ill w

acquire renown and fame are cruel, and

mighty blow to the hilt of the dagger that made it come out the other side of his head. What a v

med Fair Agnes, was there. She was the daughter of the Duke of Berri, and the most graceful maiden I have ever seen. My lord, on that day this Fair Agnes wore a very pretty

I would like to serve you. I would consider it a great favor if you gave me the bauble you're wearing between your breasts. If you give it to me, I will accept it and w

so little value? So that you will not lose the prize of your good works and the order of chivalry, I

aps, it could not be removed without untying them, and when he did, his hands could not help touchin

it than if you had given me the entire kingdom of France. And I swear to G

on the crest of

ght named Lord Vilesermes came. He was a very brave man

world ever made such a wicked request. You must return the bauble to me willingly or by force. It is my right to possess it bec

, and what my own hands untied. In truth, I would be considered the most vile knight ever born if I did such a

ights and gentlemen were dead. The queen, who was nearest to them and heard the noise and the loud cries the people were making, placed herself between the men to separate them. And I can give you a good account because I was wou

, Tirant

armed or unarmed, on foot or on horseback, dressed or naked, in whatever way you feel most comfortable, yo

Viles

and gold coins he made him promise not to tell anyone about this. When the page had gone,

e on the day you were given this office, you are bound to hold secret what I am

whose name was Je

ffice I hold and by the oath I have sworn

r, and made him read it. When he

e and custom of chivalry (for I've just turned twenty years old), and I trust your great discretion, I want your advice. And don't think that I've told you this out of cowa

-of-arms

proach from the king, judges or knights, since you are the defender and he is the one who began this wickedness. Do you know when you would be at fault? If you ha

the office you hold, to be judge of the battle between Lord Vilesermes and me, and to have jurisdict

salem

my lord, the King of England, if he is the judge of a battle, should say favorable words about anyone. And if he did he could be called an unjust judge, and that battle should not take place. But so that neither

be found out easily and the battle would not come to the conclusion that he and I want. So let us do this: let us go back to my lodgings, and I will give you a 'carte blanche' signed by my hand, and sealed with my coat of arms. And you will arrange the battle so that it's all to his advantage. Since he is the challenger and I a

tely drew up the 'carte blanche.' That is, it was signed by his hand a

the city and found him in a monastery of friars, where he was making confession. After he had confessed, Jerusalem called him aside and asked him to come outside the church so

r and his answer, a 'carte blanche,' sealed and signed by his hand. He commanded me, as part of my office, to come to you to arrange the battle in this way: concerning the weapons,

mplete virtue could be expected of him. I accept the power that you give m

er clothing at all on our bodies. The offensive weapons for both of us will be Genoese knives with a cutting edge on both sides, and very sharp points. In this way I will comb

s, 'is part of my office: not to wan

I accept the bat

d the king-of-arms. 'Let us go get the weapo

the shirts cut and sewn. They made them a little long, and the sleeves cut short-up to the elbow-so that their movements in battle would not be hindered. Th

d it all, the knight s

ake my side except God alone, and my own hands which are used to bathing themselves in the

e me all that you have, I wouldn't defraud my honor or my office. Let's do wha

ning you're giving them. I only wanted us to go to battle, because I s

d as an unjust judge if I did. But I'll get another competent judge that both you and he can trust, whose name is Claros of Clarence. He's a king-of-arms, and he k

said the knight, 'as long as the

of-arms, 'not to tell this to anyone

the ones he likes best. I will wait for you in the hermitage of Saint Mary Magdalene.

id he was very willing to do it. But the sun had already gone down, and it was growing late now, and he did not want to endanger two knight

the weapons he had chosen, and he said that he was to take whichever of the two he li

t or kill him I would not want people to say that I had performed some trickery on the weapons while I had them during the night, and th

nt speak that way, he look

orthy of wearing a royal crown: I cannot believe

was growing late, and the judge could not decide the battle well if it was not daytime, but that they had arrang

took them to the middle of a forest where no one would be able

pulcher. These are the weapons chosen by this knight and a

them on the lov

ed place. Expect no help from relatives or friends. You are at the point of death, so place your h

sermes. 'Didn't we agre

t, who do you wa

e the one Lord V

judge, you must swear by the order o

would. After the oat

ra

and I will go into battle wi

hey were brought here in your name. You are the challe

put an end to the dispute. He put some of them on the right side and the others on the

weapons on the right; and whoever gets

rrow. The judge made two lines on the field and he placed one of the men on one line and the other man on the other, and he ordered them not to move until h

come to such a narrow strait as this. Remember God and don't die so desperately. As you know, the justi

d what he can do, both in the temporal life and in the spiritual one. Have Tira

e. 'You are equals: why should he come to you? But in any case, Jerus

and asked him if he wanted

ut for that knight over there I wouldn't take a s

gated to do everything possible to make pe

eason why I should have to go to him. If he

er to him, and th

what he should do. But, knight, you can go to the

way. When they were f

ermes

long with the knife and the paper shield so that I can show it to the ladies. Because you know very well that you're not worthy of having anything at all from such a lofty and virtuous lady as she is. Your stati

ord is in my hand, no king, duke, count, or marquis can deny me. That is known throughout the world. But anyone can easily find the seven capital sins in you. Let's go to battle and do wha

h an agreement,' said the judg

leserme

out the death of thi

and let each one g

notaph that had been made w

t each of you act like a

f his ear that almost dug into his brain. The other man struck Tirant in the middle of his thigh, and the wound gaped about a handsbreadth. He quickly stabbed him again in his left arm, and the knife sunk in as far as the bone. They both fought so hard that it was dreadful. And they were so close to eac

d of their cruel days, si

f all the blood he was losing, so he drew as close to the other man as he could, and stabbed him in the left breast, straight into his heart. The other man dealt him a mighty slash to his head, causing him to lose the sight of his eyes, and he

lying there so still, he got down from t

like good and very honorable knight

ch of them, and taking two sticks he made a cros

ad he's very near to it. Jerusalem, I charge you to stay here and guar

ing mass, and in everyo

hts in Your Majesty's court in the morning, and now t

e these

ence, 'one is Lord Vilesermes a

'by this news. Let us go out there bef

ed from this world, and I believe the other will

ickly as they could, on foot and on horseback, and our Lord God gave us the grace to get there before the

ur group into two parts, and, with our backs to each other, we kept his body between our lines. There were many more of them than of us, but every

he king came with the tournament judges. When they saw the knights, one dead and the other se

kings-of-arms, the queen arrived with all the ladies and maidens. When they saw them they wept

you let him leave life like this? That's the way he'll die, lying on the cold ground, hi

The king has commanded, under penalty of death, that no

d the king does? Have a bed brought, and put him on it until the king finish

it, Tirant was continually nauseous because of the wounds and because of all

by brothers and sisters, or other relatives, or by our lords th

op of the clothing. Then she begged many of her maidens to take off their clothes and lay them over Tirant. When Tirant felt the

d happen, I wouldn't have given it to you for anything in the world. I beg you, knights, bring the body of Lord Vi

r, and putting his head on the

cts of chivalry out of love for me, and he wanted to marry me. But I am of greater lineage and wealth, and I refused t

ps and all the clergy come in a solemn procession from the city, to honor the dead knight. Tirant's relatives had doctors and a bed an

d in, covered with a beautiful gold cloth that was used for knights who die in battle. Tirant went behind him, carried on a large shield. Even though his

e great titled lords. Then came Tirant the way I have described, with the queen following, and all the ladies and maidens. Then came th

dging, and every day the king went to see Tirant until he had completely recovered. That is wha

Church of Saint George, and had Tirant brought there, and

y the king to judge all the battles that will be held withi

e is to be buried and admitted to the holy mother Church, and

very beautiful litany over the knight's sepulcher,

ng and queen and all the others paying him great honor.

ove," said the hermit. "For you have told me how Tiran

done even more singular deeds th

said the hermit, "if you

after Tirant had gotten out of his bed and could bea

or four knights to greet him, because when they were children they had been great friends and they were very close relatives. The prince wanted to joust, and when he saw the king he begged him to have the tournament j

running swiftly toward him to attack him. He quickly dismounted and pulled ou

ose my life or my h

g and the judges were standing where the

yhound, and since he's loose, if the knight that just w

lo Blanc, and since he's made it run away one time

the greyhound again ran at him in a rage,

ther you're a devi

the greyhound ran in circles around him, but it

h superior arms.' "He threw his sword behind him. The greyhound made two or three leaps, and ran as swiftly as it

tack you with the same weapon

her in a fury, and bi

ree times it nearly knocked him down. This struggle of theirs lasted half an hour, and the Pri

it around the neck with his hands and squeezed as tightly as he could, sinking

d Tirant up and carried him to the prince's house, a

irant, they quickly came to see him. When the

and work. You get out of one bad si

of my sin,' said Tirant.' I was not intending to bring harm to anyone when a devil in the fo

many misfortunes befall you,' said the queen,

e two were equal in arms, the judges were giving him the honor and the prize in battle, as if he had defeated a knight. And they commanded the kings-of-arms, heralds, and messenger

aid the hermit. "As long as I have lived in this misera

they all took their leave of the fa

rward the hermit is n