The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc

owing day the duke invited all those of his lineage, Rocasalada, to dine. While the guests were eating, th

nor, and celebrations like this are us

ncess r

l obey Your Maj

arted toward the duchess' chamber. With great

to honor them and give them pleasure, and yet you do them great harm. For all of them would prefer to see the wing of a partridge than all the maidens in the world. Your Highness should not act so freely, go

rders me to do?" said the princess. "I don't think a

d eaten, Plaerdemavida decided to see Tirant and talk to the duchess. Seeing Tirant

sad and lost in thought. Tell me, your grace, how I can help

ed Plaerdemavida why the princess had not come. Plaerdemavida answere

Widow had said about Tirant so t

ere a man. Then I could repay her

hat I think. Her Highness told me to prepare a bath for her the day after tomorrow. So when everyone is eating I'll take you into the chamber where she takes her bath in such a way that no one will see you. When she comes out of the bath and goes to sleep

uches

ort of answer she gives. Your idea will have t

nt s

have my desire with Her Highness if it's against her will? I would rather undergo a c

g you. My experience speaks for itself, and it desires to serve you and bring you all the good I can-even more than I can. But I see that you're going off in a strange

t our minds together and do what's best. If you fail me in this, th

Plaerdemavida, "could give y

hought up some youthful mischief: she went into a room that the princess would have to pass through when she came out of her chamber. She lay down at the foot of the bed and leaned on her elbow, very

he's very sick and I don't know wha

e out of the chamber and saw the duchess with

u, tell me quickly, for I feel very bad about your

the promise I made, by your command, to Tirant in the castle of Malvei. So, my lady, I beg Your Excellency not to allow me to

s of the duchess moved the princess to pity, and she forgot much of th

o talk to Tirant, I will, out of love for you, even though I have little desire to do anything for him. If you knew how he treats me and all the things he's said about me, you would be astonished. I'll put up with him because of the grea

lied with the f

his ears had heard anything spoken against you, he would have killed everyone including himself. So don't even think, Your Highness, that Tirant is the way he's

da stepped

o lie) who could say (unless it's with great wickedness) that Tirant would say anything but good things about Your Excellency. Forget what wicked people say, and love the one you should love, for it will be to your great glory to possess such a virtuous knight. Love one who loves you, my lady, and leave

all this, but she's not. I'm the one who can see all the terrible things

laerdemavida, "I'll tell you to do o

t had happened. Tirant, very happy, went to the great hall where the emperor, the princess and the empress were

ss withdrew to dine, Widow Repose approache

se! How can you allow a man who is a foreigner to carry off Carmesina's virginity?' Just imagine if someone who hears words like those doesn't have the right to grieve and to despair of their life? How could you

emotion at this moment, but she had no time to reply to the poisonous words of the wicked Widow because

incess

answer to everything you have told m

that night, saw her come out so agitated and flushed, she did not dare say a word to her. But when

iced that when the sky turns

aid the princess. "You're

hen the emperor saw her he asked her why she looked that w

ng down in my bed, because my heart has been in pain. But th

or the heart. The duchess sat at her side, not to eat, but to be able to talk to her and to tell her that Tirant wa

w does, shows evil. A vassal cannot deceive his master, and since the Widow

for you as one can reasonably do for her sister-even more. Leave Widow Repose

uches

nt him to come tonight? I'm sure that's what he's hopi

he princess. "I'll wait for him here and we shall dance,

you want that virtuous man, Tirant (without whom you can gain neither blessings or honor) to come see you,

hat I beg him, as a knight full of faith and virtue, to stop tempting my soul which has been crying tears of blo

e with Tirant, place yourself in his arms again with the same fear you

the princess. "I want to keep my reputation and my honor a

she told him about her lady's bad disposition. Tirant's

at Tirant was in the duke's chamber, h

ls so that the knight

heir departure

. "I feel more like goi

t have to talk to Tirant. Widow Repose, who had heard her say these words, was very satis

with her unless you do what I'm going to tell you: Tomorrow she'll take her bath, and I will be so clever that at night I'll put you in her bed. You'll find her completely naked. Do what

force against a lady or maiden for anything in the world, even if it should cost me the crown of the Empire of Greece, or of Rome, or of the entire Kingdom of Earth. I prefer t

demavida, showing her

ause among friends no towel is necessary. And if you don't do it, I won't be your ally any longer, for I know many knights who have deserved honor, glory and fame from their ladies because they had their hands ready and valiant. Oh Lord, how wonderful to have a tender maiden, about fourteen years old and completely naked, in

up the palace, so Tirant had to leave. When he had said goodni

anyone who would do as much for me: Go to sl

ut laughing an

lic nature, you're alw

went their s

essing, and the princess had come to wait on him. She was wearing a brocade skirt, with no cloth covering her breasts, and her hair, loosened somewhat, almost rea

to do everything possible so that

king lady that he was stupefied and could not spea

ur Majesty, so I didn't hear you. Your Highne

d so little he thought that that must be the case, for he had seemed entranced

, telling everyone that the departure is set for Monday, and today is Friday. So

nds, he looked at the princess. She and the other maidens laughed out loud while Plaerdemavida

has won renown by his own virtue, and if I had the royal scepter and were lord of the Greek empire, and if Carmesina had come from my body, I know very well whose wife I would make her. But all of us girls are foolish like this: we want nothing but honor, position, and dignity, and as a result many of us come to a bad end. What good would it do for me to belong to the line of David if I lost what I had for lack of a good man? And you, my lord, try to save

d to the princ

Tirant. For it's a wonderful thing to have both a husband and a knight, whoever can have one. This man is greater than all the others in pro

d Tirant, "and don't say suc

ttles," said Plaerdem

eror an

rdinary maiden in the world, but the further you go, the more I like yo

d, and Tirant was somewhat embarrassed. When the emperor had finished dressing he went to mass.

s a promise puts

rincess, "was not made in

g nearby, heard the princess's

at a miserable state we'd be in if we had to have it in writing every time! There wouldn't be enough paper in

incess. "Do you always have to t

to her, no matter how he plead

mbers, the emperor called

se things Plaerdemavida sa

ever spoke of such a thing to her. But this madwoman is i

girl, and she always gives good advice. Haven't you noticed when you've come to the council chambers tha

shamefully, and cou

when she had rec

hed conquering the Moors, then I will

chess' chamber, and s

was there

don't know what hel

with my body, and u

t care whether

said Plaerdemavida,

your honor. The things you said when the emperor was he

as a wife in a minute. And he told me: 'As a sign of our pact, let's kiss; this kiss will be very little, but it's better to have something than nothing.' And I answered him: 'Now that you are old, you're a lecher. When you were young, were you virtuous?' Only a few hours ago he gave me this string of fat pearls, and now he's with his daughter, asking her if she wants you for a husband. Do you know why I said that to him? Because if you go to her chamber at night and it's yo

that Tirant was in the duchess' chamber, sen

a cloak over his shoulders and a sword in his hand. Plaerdemavida put him in the chamber. A large box was there with a hole she had made so he could breathe. The bath had been prepared, and it stood in front of the box. After the ladies had eaten, they danced with the gallant knights. When they saw that Tirant was not there they stopped dancing, and the emperor retired to his chamber while the ladies departed, and left the pri

ghted candle to give pleasure to Tirant, and looking at

you with his hands the way I am, I believe he would pr

incess. "He would rather be kin

he world. Here are her eyes and her mouth: I kiss them for you. Here are her crystalline breasts: I hold one in each hand, and I kiss them for you. See how small, how firm, how white and smooth they are. Look Tirant, here is her belly, her thighs and her secret place. Oh, wretched me, if I wer

more pleased by the fine wit of Plaerdemavida's commen

he princess stepped into the bath and told Pl

nder one c

t?" asked t

mavida

Tirant in your bed for one

e mad!" said

you would say if Tirant came here on

s, "but beg him to leave, and if he wouldn't g

id Plaerdemavida, "that

red stockings and a linen hat on her head; and although she was very pretty and well endowed, the red stockings and the hat on her head made her so ugly tha

ess, which was a pair of partridges, and then a dozen eggs with

asleep, Plaerdemavida got up from the bed and she led Tirant from the box in her nightshirt, and made him take

sn't afraid when he's with women. In battle there's not a man alive you're afraid of, and here you trembl

I would be happier to joust ten knights t

he hand, and he followed

much rather go back than continue on when I think that Her Majesty knows nothing about any of this. When s

y angry with Tirant's

you're afraid to go near her? Oh, unlucky captain. Do you have so lit

nd let me remind you that this time you'll lose your honor and your fame. Do what I tell you and I'll give you a secure life and have you wearing the crown

s in Plaerdemavida'

ee that glorified body. And since there's no light

ingenuity to brin

o conduct yoursel

he room. She made him wait half an hour, barefoot, and in his shirt-sleeves. He called to her as softly as he could, and she heard him perfec

gh a window, a door or a roof, is thought of highly. I wouldn't be unhappy if Hippolytus would do it to me. And I wouldn't be upset if he would take me by the hair, and drag me through the room, with my consent or without it,

me better than any confessor could, no matter how great a teacher o

nd not to move until she said so. Then she stood at the end of the bed, and she put her head between Tirant and the princess, facing the princess. Because the sleeves of her blouse b

bother you are! Can

ith her head on

st come out of the bath, and your skin is so smooth

the princess, "but don't

t me touch this body that's mine, because I'm h

your hand where I have min

at will, and when she was about to wake up, the girl squeezed Tirant's head, and he stopped. They spent more than an hour at this play, and he did not cease touching her. When Plaerdemavi

? Can't you let me sleep? Have you gone ma

sed to surrender to him and began to cry out. Plaerdemavida covered her mo

terribly afraid that the empress will hear you. Be qu

no fear of me or shame of the world. Without my consen

ems to me that being quiet is the only solution for you an

situation, because love was conquering her on the one hand, and fear on the other,

r. And she thought that if Tirant was seducing the princess, she couldn't accomplish her own desire with him. Now everyone was silent and the princess was not saying a

ter, what

for light, Plaerdemavida seized Tirant by the hair, and pulled him from the place where he would have liked to end his life. She led him to a small chamber and made him jump to a rooftop there. Then she gave him a hemp rope so that he could drop down to the garden and from there could open the gate. She had it very well prepared so that

o see whether or not the rope reached the ground. He let himself slide down the rope which hung more than thirty-five feet from the

tretched out on the g

all the women came in with the empress who immediately

e, and I was so frightened that I screamed. He scratched my face with his claws

daughter, she jumped out onto the roof and quickly removed the rope. She heard Tirant moaning, and immediately realized that he had fallen, and she went back to the chamber without saying a word. There was so much noise throughout the palace, between the guards and the palace officials, that it was a wonder to hear and to behold; a

d. Imagine how the duke must have felt, thinking that Tirant was in such a difficult situation, and that he must h

kingdom because Tirant is

s. "I don't have enough strength

ing, and to find out where Tirant was. And as he was going out

What's the cause of

eror an

at they say, a rat climbed over my daughter's face, and she says it l

hess, and they were both very relieved that not

the emperor had imprisoned Tirant I would have killed him and everyo

t turned out as it di

and went to the pri

ida saw he

e, and don't let anyone speak badly o

speak for fear that someone would hear her,

'm content to die, because life without you, dear princess, is completely unbearable. Oh Lord and eternal God! You who are all merc

roughout the city. Seeing that Tirant was inside the palace and that he had told everyone he was sleeping in the duke's chamber that ni

of us will take part in the wedding along with him. So we must prepare ourselves quickly to help him if we have to. Because in all the

lytus

lf I'll go to the palace ga

said th

utside, the viscount

to the one in the garden. Whoever discovers what is really happen

to the garden, thinking he would find it locked, he stood, listening, and he hear

r Tirant than this woman

hen he saw that it was impossible, he went back to the

maiden," said Hippolytus, "for this

reat deal, and the disturbance had been quelled. Then Hippolytus explained to the viscount how he had been at the garden gate and had not been able to go in,

he's a lady or a maiden who needs help, let's give it to her if

he garden, but they could not understand what was being said or recognize the

te. It's night, and no o

ing that so much harm would be done, Plaerdemavida had left it

ght, and it flew open easily. The viscount went in firs

scount

name, tell me if you're an errant spi

uld not be recognized, and they would leave, he disguised his voice,

e me, the reason will be that I am taking on form. The evil spirits here are stripping off my flesh and my bones and throwing th

hey made the sign of the cross and recited the Gospel of Sai

mbers and get all our armed men and some holy wat

to our chambers for anything. We both have the

e viscount call Hipp

a native of France, come

d holding the handle in front of him,

the Catholic faith, and everything that the holy Roman ch

s even more afraid, and did not dare to approach.

ser. I am

n more frightened, an

, and raising h

cowardly kni

him when he spoke, and

you? What misfortu

id Tirant. "But who is that with you? If he's

aid Hippolytus. "

s amazed at the adventure and at everything he had sa

said Tirant. "Hurry and

out of the garden and closed the gate. Then they car

times I've been wounded and near death, my body has never felt so much

specially with the disturbance in the palace. Mount your horse if you can, my lord, and let's go to the palace

count a

mperor will certainly hear about it. I would be happy if, after you'

t these things, but you, Hippolytus, have them bring the anima

Then she went into the room where the princess was with the duchess and all the ladies. The empress was as

do, ladies? Since the palace is calm

emavida and whispered to h

said Plaerdemavida, "a

what he had said. She was very pleased that they had not se

daughter to sleep with you, so that if the rat

ress an

ome, my child: you will sleep b

: the duchess and I will sleep together

mpres

I'm getting col

nsist," said the prin

come

come right away. The princess tur

other that I should go and sleep with her, and to deprive me of my pleasu

idow

e. Do you imagine, my lady, that I have no feelings for Tirant, and that I didn't see him letting himsel

nd threw herself to the groun

f all knigh

eard these words, s

Jesus,

got up and hurried to her daughter's chamber. She found her there, unconscious, and nothing helped to revive her. The emperor had to get up, and all the doctors came.

gination was dwelling on the one she had seen on her be

days must I suffer so much pain? Oh, cruel deat

ries and shouts were so great throughout the whole palace that it was astonishing to see a

might have come to some harm. Hippolytus took a cloth and wrapped his leg so that the cold would not get into it. So, as best they could, they rode to the gates of the city. The guards recognized Tirant and asked him where he was going at

the princess some harm because of me. I want

iscou

e in fine condit

a greater injury makes a lesser one diminish. I beg you, please, let

at you've done. We'll be doing well enough if we can keep this from the people so that they won't blame you for i

it unreasonable for me to have the punishment? I'll consi

he duke there, and if he hears something that puts the princess in danger or dishonors her, won

lose, the worse

irant, "do me a favor. You go, and if anyone har

to the city, and as he turned back he said softly so th

cern myself with any lady or maiden, bu

on ahead wit