mourn over the body
of Guillardun, and, returning, acquainted his lady with what he had
seen.

Guildeluec--for such, we will remember, was the name of Eliduc's
wife--set out for the shrine, and with astonishment beheld the
lifelike form of Guillardun laid on the altar. So pitiful was the
sight that she herself could not refrain from the deepest sorrow. As
she sat weeping a weasel came from under the altar and ran across
Guillardun's body, and the varlet who attended Guildeluec struck at it
with his staff and killed it. Another weasel issued, and, beholding
its dead comrade, went forth from the chapel and hastened to the wood,
whence it returned, bearing in its mouth a red flower, which it placed
on the mouth of its dead companion. The weasel which Guildeluec had
believed to be dead at once stood up. Beholding this, the varlet cast
his staff at the animals and they sped away, leaving the red flower
behind them.

[Illustration: ELIDUC CARRIES GUILLARDUN TO THE FOREST CHAPEL]

Guildeluec immediately picked the flower up, and returning with it to
the altar where Guillardun lay, placed it on the maiden's mouth. In a
few moments she heard a sigh, and Guillardun sat up, and inquired if
she had slept long. Guildeluec asked her name and degree, and
Guillardun in reply acquainted her with her history and lineage,
speaking very bitterly of Eliduc, who, she said, had betrayed her in a
strange land. Guildeluec declared herself the wife of Eliduc, told
Guillardun how deeply the knight had grieved for her, and declared her
intention of taking the veil and releasing Eliduc from his marriage
vow. She conducted Guillardun to her home, where they met Eliduc, who
rejoiced greatly at the restoration of his lady-love. His wife
founded a convent with the rich portion he bestowed upon her, and
Eliduc, in thankfulness for Guillardun's recovery, built a fair church
close by his castle and endowed it bountifully, and close beside it
erected a great monastery. Later Guillardun entered the convent of
which Guildeluec was the abbess, and Eliduc, himself feeling the call
of the holy life, devoted himself to the service of God in the
monastery. Messages passed between convent and monastery in which
Eliduc and the holy women encouraged each other in the pious life
which they had chosen, and by degrees the three who had suffered so
greatly came to regard their seclusion as far preferable to the world
and all its vanities.

_The Lay of Equitan_