leads him away, will
pass through sorrow and heaviness. For it is possible that she will
love him so that she will not wish to part with him. As soon as he had
granted her wish and desire, she escorts him to a fortified place, than
which there was none fairer in Thessaly; for it was entirely enclosed by
a high wall and a deep moat, and there was no man within except him whom
she brought with her.

(Vv. 983-1042.) Here she had constructed for her residence a quantity of
handsome rooms, and a large and roomy hall. Riding along a river bank,
they approached their lodging-place, and a drawbridge was lowered to
allow them to pass. Crossing the bridge, they entered in, and found the
hall open with its roof of tiles. Through the open door they pass, and
see a table laid with a broad white cloth, upon which the dishes were
set, and the candles burning in their stands, and the gilded silver
drinking-cups, and two pots of wine, one red and one white. Standing
beside the table, at the end of a bench, they found two basins of warm
water in which to wash their hands, with a richly embroidered towel, all
white and clean, with which to dry their hands. No valets, servants, or
squires were to be found or seen. The knight, removing his shield from
about his neck, hangs it upon a hook, and, taking his lance, lays it
above upon a rack. Then he dismounts from his horse, as does the damsel
from hers. The knight, for his part, was pleased that she did not care
to wait for him to help her to dismount. Having dismounted, she runs
directly to a room and brings him a short mantle of scarlet cloth which
she puts on him. The hall was by no means dark; for beside the light
from the stars, there were many large twisted candles lighted there, so
that the illumination was very bright. When she had thrown the mantle
about his shoulders, she said to him: "Friend, here is the water and the
towel; there is no one to present or offer it to you except me whom you
see. Wash your hands, and then sit down, when you feel like doing so.
The hour and the meal, as you can see, demand that you should do so."
He washes, and then gladly and readily takes his seat, and she sits down
beside him, and they eat and drink together, until the time comes to
leave the table.

(Vv. 1043-1206.) When they had risen from the table, the damsel said to
the knight: "Sire, if you do not object, go outside and amuse yourself;
but, if you please, do not stay after you think I must be