our
general advantage, and that I may be advanced upon my way." Then each
one exclaims at once: "That is my house, or, No, it is mine," until the
knight replies: "Follow my advice and say nothing more; the wisest of
you is foolish to contend this way. You ought to be concerned to further
my affairs, and instead you are seeking to turn me aside. If you had
each individually done me all the honour and service it is possible to
do, and I had accepted your kindness, by all the saints of Rome I
swear that I could not be more obliged to you than I am now for your
good-will. So may God give me joy and health, your good intentions
please me as much as if each one of you had already shown me great
honour and kindness: so let the will stand for the deed!" Thus he
persuades and appeases them all. Then they take him quickly along the
road to a knight's residence, where they seek to serve him: all rejoice
to honour and serve him throughout the evening until bedtime, for they
hold him very dear. Next morning, when the time came to separate, each
one offers and presents himself, with the desire to accompany him; but
it is not his will or pleasure that any one shall go with him except the
two whom he had brought with him. Accompanied by them alone, he
resumed his journey. That day they rode from morn till evening without
encountering any adventure. When it was now very late, and while they
were riding rapidly out of a forest, they saw a house belonging to a
knight, and seated at the door they saw his wife, who had the bearing of
a gentle lady. As soon as she espied them coming, she rose to her feet
to meet them, and greeted them joyfully with a smile: "Welcome! I wish
you to accept my house; this is your lodging; pray dismount" "Lady,
since it is your will, we thank you, and will dismount; we accept your
hospitality for the night." When they had dismounted, the lady had the
horses taken by members of her well-ordered household. She calls
her sons and daughters who come at once: the youths were courteous,
handsome, and well-behaved, and the daughters were fair. She bids the
lads remove the saddles and curry the horses well; no one refused to do
this, but each carried out her instructions willingly. When she ordered
the knights to be disarmed, her daughters step forward to perform this
service. They remove their armour, and hand them three short mantles
to put on. Then at once they take them into the house which was very
handsome. The mas