e worst of your urgent need." Then
the lady replies at once: "Damsel, speak now of something else! Say no
more of the people of my household; for I cherish no further expectation
that the spring and its marble brim will ever be defended by any of
them. But, if it please God, let us hear now what is your opinion
and plan; for people always say that in time of need one can test his
friend." [330] "My lady, if there is any one who thinks he could find
him who slew the giant and defeated the three knights, he would do
well to go to search for him. But so long as he shall incur the enmity,
wrath, and displeasure of his lady, I fancy there is not under heaven
any man or woman whom he would follow, until he had been assured upon
oath that everything possible would be done to appease the hostility
which his lady feels for him, and which is so bitter that he is dying
of the grief and anxiety it causes him." And the lady said: "Before you
enter upon the quest, I am prepared to promise you upon my word and to
swear that, if he will return to me, I will openly and frankly do all
I can to bring about his peace of mind." Then Lunete replies to her:
"Lady, have no fear that you cannot easily effect his reconciliation,
when once it is your desire to do so; but, if you do not object, I will
take your oath before I start." "I have no objection," the lady says.
With delicate courtesy, Lunete procured at once for her a very precious
relic, and the lady fell upon her knees. Thus Lunete very courteously
accepted her upon her oath. In administering the oath, she forgot
nothing which it might be an advantage to insert. "Lady," she says, "now
raise your hand! I do not wish that the day after to-morrow you should
lay any charge upon me; for you are not doing anything for me, but you
are acting for your own good. If you please now, you shall swear that
you will exert yourself in the interests of the Knight with the Lion
until he recover his lady's love as completely as he ever possessed it."
The lady then raised her right hand and said: "I swear to all that thou
hast said, so help me God and His holy saint, that my heart may never
fail to do all within my power. If I have the strength and ability,
I will restore to him the love and favour which with his lady he once
enjoyed."

(Vv. 6659-6716.) Lunete has now done well her work; there was nothing
which she had desired so much as the object which she had now attained.
They had already got out for h