Page:Omniana 2.djvu/239

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OMNIANA.
229

the knight,") I will not have it said of me that I have combated thee with that advantage;" so he throws away his sword, grapples with the dog, and gives him bite ror bite till he kills him. And then the King went out with the Judges, and they said unto Tirante, that because they had seen the combat between him and the dog, which had been fought with equal arms, inasmuch as he had thrown away his sword, they gave him the same meed and honour for that battle as if he had conquered a knight in the lists; and they give order to the Kings at Arms, Heralds, and Pursuivants, that the honour which had been awarded to Tirante that day, should be proclaimed in all the Courts, and through the city.

The morals of the book are such as might be expected to accompany such notions of chivalry. The only instance which can be adduced without coming under the cognizance of the Society for