thy
silly mouth." And the knight thus answers him: "May it never please God
that I mount a cart!" "No?" he asks; "then you shall die." "Sire, you
can easily put me to death; but I beg and beseech you for God's sake
to show me mercy and not compel me to mount a cart. I will agree to
anything, however grievous, excepting that. I would rather die a hundred
times than undergo such a disgrace. In your goodness and mercy you can
tell me nothing so distasteful that I will not do it."

(Vv. 2793-2978.) While he is thus beseeching him, behold across the
field a maiden riding on a tawny mule, her head uncovered and her dress
disarranged. In her hand she held a whip with which she belaboured the
mule; and in truth no horse could have galloped so fast as was the pace
of the mule. The damsel called out to the Knight of the Cart: "May God
bless thy heart, Sir Knight, with whatever delights thee most!" And he,
who heard her gladly, says: "May God bless you, damsel, and give you joy
and health!" Then she tells him of her desire. "Knight," she says, "in
urgent need I have come from afar to thee to ask a favour, for which
thou wilt deserve the best guerdon I can make to thee; and I believe
that thou wilt yet have need of my assistance." And he replies: "Tell
me what it is you wish; and if I have it, you shall have it at once,
provided it be not something extravagant." Then she says: "It is the
head of the knight whom thou hast just defeated; in truth, thou
hast never dealt with such a wicked and faithless man. Thou wilt be
committing no sin or wrong, but rather doing a deed of charity, for he
is the basest creature that ever was or ever shall be." And when he who
had been vanquished hears that she wishes him to be killed, he says to
him: "Don't believe her, for she hates me; but by that God who was
at once Father and Son, and who chose for His mother her who was His
daughter and handmaiden, I beg you to have mercy upon me!" "Ah, knight!"
the maid exclaims, "pay no attention to what this traitor says! May God
give thee all the joy and honour to which thou dost aspire, and may
He give thee good success in thy undertaking." Then the knight is in
a predicament, as he thinks and ponders over the question: whether to
present to her the head she asks him to cut off, or whether he shall
allow himself to be touched by pity for him. [417] He wishes to respect
the wishes of both her and him. Generosity and pity each command him to
do their will; fo