sons should regain their liberty, but if, on the other hand, he returned without Guy or Heraud, they should all be hanged. Jonas had made a diligent search for the English knights, not only on the continent, but even in England. Alas! it was all in vain. The period of the respite was one year and forty days, and the end of the term was near. Guy, without revealing his identity, offered to undertake the fight with the giant. They went to Alexandria and Guy was presented to the king as a pilgrim who was willing to meet the black giant in mortal combat. In response to the king's invocation, "Mahoun me helpe and turmegaunte," Guy replied:
"Nay, but Mary is sonne,
That for us on the rode was done:
He be myn helpe for his mercye;
For I the sey well sikerlye
That Mahoun hath no poweste
Nother to helpe the ne me."
Quod the kyng, my frende so dere,
I wyll make a covenaunte here.
If thou myght the Geaunte sloo,
And bring me out of my woo,
Thi god for the love of the
Grete honour shall haue of me.
All crysten that I haue taken here
Shall be delyuered with good chere.
In all my lond of Alexaundre
Men shall not the Crysten dere.
There shall be none in hethenes,
Man ne woman more ne lesse,
That is of crystiante
But he here shall delyuered be.[1]
The combat took place at the sultan's court. When Guy beheld the horrible giant, he declared that it was the devil and no man. After a long and fierce fight, Guy
- ↑ Caius MS., p. 451.
