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sister, who had tho keeping of the magical head of brass: and after many days’ travel, came to an island upon which there was a tower of burnished brass; to which they directed their march, and arrived at the gates, they were told it was kept by Clerimond, sister to the giant Ferragus, and the green knight; and having demanded entrance, wero refused it by the sentinel who guarded the posts; which provoked Valcntine to that degree, he ran against him with such fury, that he fclled him to the ground.
The lady Clerimond beheld tho combat, and seeing them to be brave and hardy knight’s, she reccivedthem very courteously; to whom Valentine having pretended tokens to the green knight, told her, that he came there for the love of her, and to discourse with the all-knowing head concerning his parents. So a banquet being prepared, they refreshed themselves plenteously: and after they had so done, the lady taking them by the hand, led them into the chamber of rarities, where the head was placed between four pillars of pure jasper. As soon as they entered, the head made the following speech.
Thou famous Knight, of royal extraction, art called Valentino the valiant, who of right ought to marry the lady Clerimond, thou art son to the emperor of Greece, and the empress Bellifant, who is now in the castlo of Ferragus, in Portugal, where she has resided these twenty years: King Pepin is thy uncle, and the wild man thy brother; the empress Bellifant brought forth ye two in the forest of Orleans; he was taken away by a ravenous bear, and thou wast takcn up by thy unclo Pepin, who brought thee up to man’s estate; moreover, I likewise tell thee, that thy brother shall never, bo able
