Page:Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting (IA cu31924026512263).pdf/131

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cut off the sultan's head, seized it, and hurried away on his steed. He was pursued and attacked by a multitude of Saracens, but they were unable to take or to slay him. When Guy reached the city, he gave the head to the emperor, and

Whan thei of the Citee wiste of his comynge
For ioye they ganne all the belles rynge.[1]

The following day, the emperor said to Guy:

                    Gij, make the redi;
Tomorwe thou schalt mi doughter weddi.[2]

And so the next day Guy and his companions went to the church, where they met the imperial family. The archbishop was there to perform the marriage ceremony. The emperor addressed Guy with these words:

Mi douhter ich giue the here,
And thritti castels with hir also,
With the worthschip that lith ther-to
And half my lond ich giue the,
Befor mi barons that here be.
Thou schalt ben emperour after me:
Biforn them all y graunt it the.[3]

But when the wedding-ring was brought forth a feeling of distress came over Guy, and this was caused by his love for Felice. He fell in a swoon, and when he had recovered consciousness, he asked that the ceremony be postponed. He was in torment for two weeks. Finally he resolved to remain true to Felice. Now it happened that Morgadour slew a certain lion that Guy had rescued from a dragon, and which thereafter followed him as a faithful and grateful companion. This act so enraged Guy that in a quarrel he killed the treacherous steward. He then decided to leave Constantinople. When the

  1. Caius MS., p. 235.
  2. Ibid., p. 240.
  3. Auchinleck MS., p. 238.