id with
the white shift, and was her own cousin the niece of my lord the Count.
When she heard how Erec intended to take her cousin in such very poor
array to the Queen's court, she spoke about it to the Count. "Sire,"
she says, "it would be a shame to you more than to any one else if this
knight should take your niece away with him in such sad array." And
the Count made answer: "Gentle niece, do you give her the best of your
dresses." But Erec heard the conversation, and said: "By no means, my
lord. For be assured that nothing in the world would tempt me to let
her have another robe until the Queen shall herself bestow it upon her."
When the damsel heard this, she replied: "Alas! fair sire, since you
insist upon leading off my cousin thus dressed in a white shift and
chemise, and since you are determined that she shall have none of
my dresses, a different gift I wish to make her. I have three good
palfreys, as good as any of king or count, one sorrel, one dappled, and
the other black with white forefeet. Upon my word, if you had a hundred
to pick from, you would not find a better one than the dappled mount.
The birds in the air do not fly more swiftly than the palfrey; and he is
not too lively, but just suits a lady. A child can ride him, for he
is neither skittish nor balky, nor does he bite nor kick nor become
unmanageable. Any one who is looking for something better does not know
what he wants. And his pace is so easy and gentle that a body is more
comfortable and easy on his back than in a boat." Then said Erec: "My
dear, I have no objection to her accepting this gift; indeed, I am
pleased with the offer, and do not wish her to refuse it." Then the
damsel calls one of her trusty servants, and says to him: "Go, friend,
saddle my dappled palfrey, and lead him here at once." And he carries
out her command: he puts on saddle and bridle and strives to make him
appear well. Then he jumps on the maned palfrey, which is now ready for
inspection. When Erec saw the animal, he did not spare his praise, for
he could see that he was very fine and gentle. So he bade a servant lead
him back and hitch him in the stable beside his own horse. Then they all
separated, after an evening agreeably spent. The Count goes off to his
own dwelling, and leaves Erec with the vavasor, saying that he will bear
him company in the morning when he leaves. All that night they slept
well. In the morning, when the dawn was bright, Erec prepares to start