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At the close of a summer's day, sometime near the end of the fourteenth
century, a party of young knights, seven in number, were returning to their
several countries from attending a great tournament held in the lists of the
Moorish palace of the Alhambra, then occupied by John, king of Castile.
This tournament was held in honor of the nuptials of the Prince with the
Infanta, and from its magnificence had drawn together the flower of the
chivalry of many lands. The company of knights alluded to, consisted of
one of Spain, whose castle lay northward, near the Pyrennees; one of
France; one of England; one of Germany; one of Rome; of a Scottish
knight, and a knight of Venice, all journeying homeward from the jousts,
with their esquires and retinues.

At the end of the first day's travel, they pitched their tent near the banks
of a pleasant river; and after having removed their heavier armor, and refreshed
themselves, holding the whilst much pleasant discourse touching
the feats of knighthood that had been done at the tournament, each began
to laud the prowess of the chivalry of his own land. After some dispute,
it was agreed between them that each should recount some achievement of
his own knights; and the palm of knightly honor be awarded to that country
which furnished the knight of greatest prowess and skill in arms. The
lot to commence the narration, fell upon the Spanish knight, whose name
was Don Fernando de Valor, who, though young in years, had performed
many deeds of great bravery, both in the lists and in the field.

The rich Castilian moonlight fell pleasantly upon the group of knights
seated upon the verdant sward before their tent, the door of which was
hung with burnished shields and casques, which gleamed resplendent in its
beams, while their spears and lances were stacked in the gleaming moonshine
on either side of the entrance. At their feet was the bright stream
beside which they were encamped, moving past in alternate light and shadow,
like gliding steel. Behind them reclined their esquires, and others of
their retainers, prepared to listen to the recounting of deeds of arms, while
farther in the rear, beneath a group of majestic cork trees, were tethered
the unharnessed steeds, their steel saddles and chain armor hanging about

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upon the branches, or piled upon the ground. To the south, the lofty Sierras
of Granada, shining with snow, rose sublimely like marble pillars, upholding
the sky; and in the midst of this scene, Don Fernando thus began
his story.

The Achievement of the young Count Alarcos in winning
his Spurs.

“The sun of an autumn evening was gilding the towers of Seville, when
a youthful knight, attended by a stout esquire, reined up his road-worn steed
upon the summit of a hill. Before him, lay the fair city, with its Moorish
banners topped with the silver crescent, floating above her battlements.—
The lofty walls were lined with steel-clad men-at-arms, whose spearheads
gleamed in the western sun like points of flame. Eucircling the walls,
having a fair verdant space of three good bow-shots' breadth between, were
pitched the christian tents, looking like a snowy girdle woven with red banners,
in which was emblazoned the cross; while burning shields of gold
and silver hanging at the numerous tent doors, seemed to the eye of the
young cavalier, meet gems for this warlike cincture. Knights in resplendent
armor were riding hither and thither; and before the king's tent, which
was conspicuous by its height and magnificence, a tournament was in progress;
for there were visible, from the distance at which he stood, two
knights in shining casques, with scarlet mantles waving in the wind, tilting
at each other within lists formed on the green, before the royal tent door;
while ladies were discovered seated around, gracing with their presence
and beauty this martial pastime.

Over all the mingled and varied prospect of battlement, tent and plain,
of warriors, banners and steel, glowed the refulgence of the mellow sunset,
peculiar to the south of Spain, the whole fair scene looking as if bathed in
an atmosphere of liquid gold.

`Now, by the golden girdle of our lady of Bivar! but this is a fair sight,
good Perico,' said the young knight, addressing his attendant, yet without
turning his head from the scene. `See how bravely the accursed banner
of the infidel floats over our good christian city of Seville. They are strongly
shut up there, and methinks it will be many a long week, ere the cross
takes the place of the crescent on yon high towers. But God wot, our good
king will be sure ne'er to leave her gates till he hath the key in his guantlet.'

`And that key, Master Alarcos, will have more steel than iron in it, and
a good cross for the handle,' said the esquire, speaking through the bars of
his shut visor.

`Thou meanest his sword, Perico, and so do I. But save me, if you camp
is not a brave show for a youth who hath never, till now, seen a martial
host a-field, larger than a castle's retainers.

`Let us spur! The sun is touching the summits of the Sierras, and I
would fain get to the camp ere the night set in.'

The two horsemen then put their animals to their speed, and rapidly descended
the winding road into the plain, on their way to the christian camp.
In the meanwhile, we will describe their general appearance and bearing.
The young cavalier was not above twenty years of age, and of handsome
person, and possessed a noble,though youthful countenance. His hair was
of a dark brown hue, and escaping beneath his blue riding bonnet, flowed
in waves over his shapely shoulders. His eye was large, full, and very
dark, and, while he surveyed the embattled plain beneath, beamed with the
proud spirit of ambitious youth, while his cheek flushed with excitement
and hope. He was clad in a suit of russet link armor, that yielded to
his body as pliantly as the velvet surcoat he wore above it. His fine

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neck was bare, save that a white linen band, clasped by a cross of diamonds,
encircled it close to the border of his surcoat. A short horseman's mantle
hung loosely off his left shoulder, and his mailed boots were encased in
buff-colored overhauls of chamois leather. At his belt, in a steel scabbard,
hung a sword, with a jewelled cross for the hilt. He carried, in his uncovered
hand, an ivory riding switch, to which was attached a white silken ribbon.
His gauntlets hung dangling by their chain wristhands over his saddle
bow, on which also was suspended a light shield, richly embossed and inlaid,
and bearing for its device the crest and talons of a black eagle. His
casque hung by its chainlets also to his saddle, while his esquire carried his
spear and the heavy war garniture, needful for camp service. The horse
of the young knight was securely mailed in scale armor for the breast and
head, and in chain armor for his body. Though slight of limb, and elegant
rather than strong, he was harnessed like a knight's steed intended for service;
and the youth himself, though wearing a jewelled throat clasp, and
displaying diamonds on his sword bilt, was harnessed like an experienced
warrior, rather than like young cavaliers of his age and day, who much delighted
to glitter in gowns of soye with gold profusely ornamenting their
arms and armor; wore gloves of kid skin delicately perfumed within their
guantlets, and donned bonnets when the helmet was laid aside, richly broidered
and set off with gay and flaunting plumes. His man-at-arms was all
in iron; no gold was upon his crest or crosslet, but from gauntlet to heel he
sat upon his steed a bulwark of iron mail; while his stout brown steed was
black with the heavy proof mail that was laid upon him.

The young knight was the youthful count Alarcos, nearly allied to the
royal blood of Castile. He had passed his youth in retirement with his
mother, who only the week previous had given her consent that he should
don armor and join the king's army at the leaguer of Seville. Sad had been
the parting between the noble parent and the young soldier; and when we
now encounter him on his way, through three days' journey have separated
him from his paternal roof, the thoughts of her lonely state in the castle of
Lanuza had cast such a heavy cloud over his spirits that the sight of the
christian camp and the beleagured city alone had power to dissipate it.

The road by which they descended the summit, wound for some distance
along the mountain side, and ere it turned into the valley towards the camp,
approached within long cross-bow shot of the walls, so that travellers at that
point were placed in great danger from any bolt sped from the battlements.
There was no way to turn aside from this menacing peril, as a precipice rose
to a great height no one hand, and a deep and angry river foamed on the
other. The only alternative, therefore, was to ride bravely forward, or turn
cowardly back, and gain the camp by going many leagues about and approaching
it from the south quarter. This peril the young count and his
esquire did not discover until they came near the bottom of the hill, when
they saw several travellers on horseback, and peasants on mules, grouped
beneath a large cork tree that overhung the way, and seeming to be in fearful
and anxious consultation. The young knight and his esquire were riding
by them at a round pace, when one of them, who by his costume and
the bales with which his nag was laden, was a bujonero, or travelling merchant,
rode out into the path, and said, in a loud tone of warning,

`Hold rein, fair knight, and you my good esquire, for there is peril in the
way. We were journeying toward the christian camp, and on our way, not
many paces in advance, we were shot at from the walls, and one of our number
was wounded. He lies there beneath the tree, where you see the group,
nigh his death, without priest to shrive him. So we turned hastily back,
and are in consultation what to do. If you ride forward, brave cavalier,
you will surely be shot with shaft a good yard and ell long. We have commodities
in our packs for the king's camp, and sorry are we our way is
stopped.'

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`Thou, thyself, dealest in yards and ells, bujonero; therefore, thou should'st
little heed thine own measuring rods, though the Moor may give something
more honest length of measure in his steel-headed yard than thou and thy
eraft art wont to dispense to thy customers. `But,' added the young cavalier,
riding a little forward, when an opening through the trees gave him a
view of the walls, towering skyward, and of the road before him, after passing
near them, making an abrupt turn up the valley, `the highway, as you
say, cometh full nigh to you battlements. By the red rood! But there is
temptation for a maiden knight to win his spurs by a little bold venture.—
See the green turbans, and the serried spear-heads how they bristle above
the rampart. They are watching us, Perico. I can see their glittering eyes
even at this distance! `Heaven save us,' said the pedlar; if they should
make a sally from yonder gate —'

`Thy rich goods then,' said Count Alarcos, laughing, `would shortly deck
the infidels' bodies; and thy head and those of thy comrades grace the iron
pinnacles of yonder gate-head.'

`Holy Saint Peter and his sword defend us,' exclaimed the bujonero in
alarm, which was equally shared by the promiscuous company with which
he travelled; and laying his staff stoutly across his nag's back he took the
lead of a general escapade that soon left the knight and his esquire sole occupants
of the spot.

`There goes a brave company of christians,' said the esquire, `first calling
on St. Peter's sword for aid, and then trusting to their beasts' legs for safety.
We are well rid of them. Now, good master, how shall we get to the king's
camp without being shot at like deer from the walls?'

`I do confess, Perico, that I should have been better pleased had the road
given wider space for the Moor's shafts to fly across. As it is we may not
turn back like yon scampering horde of Jews, pedlars and other money-getting
rogues. Let us keep the road at an easy trot, like cavaliers journeying
unsuspicious of danger. It will be a far shot-bolt that reaches us, and we
can so watch them as they fly, as to receive them in time upon our shields.
Let us on, but not quicken our pace one jot beyond the ordinary gait of
travellers.'

`Our Lady guard you, my noble master,' said the esquire. `It is a dangerous
ride we have to take, but I would rather see thee perish, and lie myself
by thy side, than have thee turn back for a Moorish lance.'

`At my first outset in a knightly career, it might never be without infamy.
Were an old and tried soldier here, he could choose his own way,
without dishonor. My way lies in the path before me. Let us on, good
Perico, putting our trust in Heaven.'

`Don your casque, my lord, and brace your shield,' said the esquire, as
they prepared to move forward.

`No, I will ride in unsuspecting guise. If danger come I will be soon
ready.' Thus speaking, the fearless and adventurous young knight, true to
the principles of chivalry, which enjoin its devotees to court rather than
turn aside from danger that lay in the path, rode easily forward, followed a
few paces behind by his faithful esquire. They soon came to the foot of the
hill, and entered upon the level ground, over which the road wound, approaching
in one of its angles very near the walls. They trotted forward
some time in silence, intently watching the battlement lined with armed
Moors, over whose heads floated the standard of the Prophet.

`I yet hope to live, my good Perico,' said the young cavalier, as the shadow
of a tower before them fell across their road, `to see the day, when yon
green banner, with its haughty crescent, emblem of a false faith, shall no
more flash back the setting sun's beams in all the fair land of Spain. How
calmly the blue sky bends over it. Methinks over the standard of the infiel,
the heavens should ever lower black and menacing. But God is good;

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and, as the priests tell us, hath wisdom in sending rain and sunshine, both
upon Christian and infidel.

`He hath put their judgment into the Christians' hand,' said the esquire,
devoutly; `and he who slayeth an infidel doeth God service. Don your
helm, my lord, I see them fitting shafts to their cross-bows. We are now
within range.'

`Nay,' said the young Count, stoutly, `I will not, by taking precaution,
show the Moor that I fear danger ere danger come.' They had now arrived
where the road made the nearest approach to the wall, and where blood upon
the ground, and a broken arrow lying near, indicated the spot where the
companion of the bujonero had fallen.

`These peddling varlets were full bold thus to come near a leaguered city
with its walls bristling with steel points,' said the knight; `but these men
will, for a score or two of bezants' value of merchandise, peril life and limb.
Shall not, then, forsooth, a cavalier, for his country, his faith and his knightly
troth, put himself in jeopardy. How is this? They have suffered us to
ride on, unmolested, for full three hundred paces. Do they mistake us for
their own?'

`They have ell yards for trading pedlers, and knight's weapons for knight's,'
said the esquire; for see, my lord. Yonder gate, before us, is thrown open,
and there ride forth two—nay five knights. Let us spur ere they place
themselves across our path between us and the Christian camp.'

`Nay, good esquire,' said Count Alarcos, turning his looks quietly towards
the sally port, whence a company of five Moorish knights had issued. `Neither
let us press nor slacken speed. They have withheld their cross bowmen's
shafts to give us reception due to our degree. We will not refuse
their hospitality, but meet them.'

`'Tis too great peril, my good lord; and I did swear upon my sword's
crosslet to thy lady mother as well not to advise thee to peril, as to defend
thee from danger. Let us ride forward while the way is open. See! to
the king's camp is not a third of a mile, and we can soon reach it in safety.'

`Nay, I have never seen a Moor close at hand, and fain would gratify my
curiosity. But! will not meet them without knightly covering to my head.'

Thus saying, the young Count removed his woolen cap, and placing his
helmet upon his head, closed the visor. He then braced his shield to his
arm, received from his esquire his lance, and placing it in easy rest, rode on
as before. In the meantime, the Moorish knights had left the gate, and galloping
across the plain, drew rein, and stood in the path by which the Count
and his esquire were approaching.

The advance of the knight and his esquire by the road beneath the walls,
had been observed from the Christian camp, and much interest was awakened
by their quiet and easy journeying in the face of such danger.

`By my halidom,' said the king, as his attention was drawn to them by
one near him while watching the jousts before his tent, `but yonder cavalier
taketh it coolly. The Moors do not molest him. He hath a charm. See!
the cross-bow-men are levelling their shafts, yet they do not launch them.
Who knoweth yonder gallant knight?'

`No one replied; when the princess Beatriz, his daughter, whose attention
had also been drawn from the lists by the approach of the two horsemen,
said, `He is youthful by his figure and carriage, sire, and doubtless
hath come to offer service in our camp.'

`He is a brave gallant. Look, caballeros—the gates are thrown open, and
five knights come forth to withstand his journey. Now, heaven favor his
escape from the infidel.'

`See, he flies not, sire!' said the beautiful Beatriz, who with her ladies, as
well as all the knights present, had turned their attention from the now
neglected lists, to watch the single knight's adventure.

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`No, by the mass,' cried Ferdinand, he hath donned his casque and braced
his shield; and now his esquire, fearless as his master, delivereth to him
his lance. 'Fore God he doth mean to give them battle. He thinketh one
christian knight an even match for five infidels. I would I knew him. But
such a brave cavalier must not fall by such odds. Ho! what four knights
will take stand by his side and help him give good account of these Moors?'

The king had hardly spoken ere half a score of cavaliers were in the saddle,
lance in rest.

`Hold!' cried the princess; `whoever he be, let him have, alone, the honor
of the field he hath so bravely challenged. If he be unhorsed, then,
brave knights, hie ye swift to his rescue.'

`Ay,' said the king; if he wanted help he would make a signal. Let
him have the achievement. If he fall he could never do so in a better fray.
But, by my crown, it he do get worsted, yon infidel crew shall pay for his
life, if I have to take stirrup in person.'

In the meanwhile, the object of so great interest interest in the christian
camp, all eyes in which were watching him, rode on, with his visor down
and lance in rest, at the same quiet pace he held before the Moors appeared.
He came within fifty paces of them, and seeing that they quite closed
up the beaten path, he coolly turned his horse aside and took the sward,
but neither quickening nor slackening his pace. Steadily he rode on, as
unmoved as if turning out of his way to avoid a slough or mule drove that
blocked the road. The Moors, all five tall and iron harnessed knights, had
their visors raised and lances levelled. As he approached so coolly, and
turned aside so quietly, they surveyed him with surprise, wondering, and
expecting that each moment he should charge them or turn to flee. In this
expectation, and deceived by such unwonted conduct, they had let him ride
till he and his esquire were abreast of them; when seeing that he would
escape, one of them raised the Moorish war-cry and charged upon him.

`The villains have some courtesy,' said the king as he beheld this. `If
they set upon him but one at a time, I do not fear but he will make them
bite the dust. He is but a slight person—but God wot! but he has a true
soul. There rolls the Moor upon the ground, horse and rider! Brave lance!
skilful knight!' and a shout rung the air from the christian camp.

Two more of the Moors, then furiously charged the victorious young
Count Alarcos, one of whom his trusty esquire unhorsed and slew, the
knight himself, after breaking his lance, and taking his sword, overthrowing
the other. `Alla-il-allah!' shouted the remaining two Moors, and both rode
against the youth, who for a few moments was engaged with them ere his
esquire could extricate his sword from a crevice in the mail of him he had
slain, and come to his aid. The contest was brief, but terrific, and fatal to
the Moors; and Count Alarcos and his stout esquire, taking from the conquered
infidels their swords and shields, as trophies of their prowess, left
them, two of them slain and three of them wounded, lying at length upon
the path where they had drawn themselves up to oppose their progress.

`Now by the iron sword of El Cid,' cried the king, with animation, having
with his nobles and knights around him `witnessed with intense interest
the issue of this contest, `Christian knighthood hath had honor this
day! Ride forward, knights, and meet the victor, lest the Moors sally forth
to avenge on him their foul dishonor. 'Fore Heaven! but he and his esquire
ride on their way again at the same easy pace as if they had not rode
over the bodies of five infidels! But see, he turns back!'

Count Alarcos had not proceeded far towards the camp when he discovered
that in the contest he had lost his ivory riding switch, with the silken
ribbon appended to it. When he learned this, he stopped his horse and turning
round, said to his esquire, `I must not purchase knightly honor at the
expense of filial faith, good Perico. The scarf was given me by my noble

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mother as a guerdon and memento at parting from her not four days since.
I could not lose it so soon, and I did not make the effort to recover it, I
should be unworthy to replace it by a maiden's gift. I must go back. Halt
thou here.'

`Nay, I shall not leave thee, my noble master. But let us hasten and return
at speed—for the Moors will be upon us.'

`To please thee I will ride at thy own pace.'

Count Alarcos and his esquire then galloped back, and notwithstanding,
when the Moors on the walls darkened the air with arrows, they kept on
their course. The bolts, save two, fell far short of them; one of these piercing
the neck of Perico's horse, inflicting a slight wound; the other striking
against the Count's shield, and falling, its force being nearly spent,
harmlessly to the ground. On reaching the spot, they saw that one of the
Moors had raised himself up and was stanching with his mantle, a wound
in his side. Near him, on the ground, stained with drops of blood, lay the
white ribbon and switch, Count Alarcos ventured so much to recover. He
dismounted, and taking it up, pressed it to his lips breathing his mother's
name.

`Now let us to horse and spur to preserve the glory won this day,' said
his esquire. `A troop of Moorish knights, seven in number, are galloping
from the gates towards us.'

Count Alarcos turned his head and seeing them approaching, mounted
his horse, saying:

`Softly, good esquire, let us not hasten our pace, but ride at ease. Shall
we one moment conquer, to flee the next? Those who come are but Moors,
like those we have just overthrown. If there be two more, there will be
two more swords and two more shields to carry away as trophies.'

`This is rash, my lord'

`It is cowardly to fly. I am just entering upon achievements of knighthood,
and while I am a Christian knight and Castilian gentleman,I will never
save my life by turning my back. They shout and mock us! Let us
turn and face them.'

The party of Moors were gallopping furiously towards the two horsemen,
when, seeing them stop and turn towards them, they were surprised at their
fearlessness; and suddonly reining up, seemed to hold a consultation. In
the meanwhile, Count Alarcos and his esquire, with their faces towards
their foes, backed their horses, and in this way step by step backwards, moved
in the direction of the royal camp. The king, seeing their bold procedure,
recalled the knights that were going forth, and bade them wait the
issue. `It were a pity,' he said to his nobles, `so brave a knight should not
have all the honor this propitious day chooses to bring him. By the rood!
I look to see him charge and discomfit the whole seven infidels and despoil
them of their armor; when he shall be called the knight of the Twelve
shields.'

The Moors, after a few moments' deliberation turned their horses' beads
and rode to the spot where their friends lay. A loud shout of triumph hereupon
broke from the christian host, while the silence of the Moors crowding
the battlements indicated their chagrin.

`Now, by my kingly faith, I will ride forth and meet this champion who
hath done such honor this day to knighthood, and brought such glory to the
christian arms,' said Ferdinand.

`I will accompany thee, royal sire,' said the princess Beatriz, and with
my own hands reward his chivalry.'

The king forthwith took horse and so did his daughter, and at the head of
a troop of knights they rode forth the camp to meet and receive the unknown
knight. When the Count Alarcos saw the approach of the king,
whom he knew by his stately bearing and the fashion of his helmet, as well

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as by the rank and circumstance of power with which he was attended, his
modesty would not let him harbor the thought that it was to do him honor
that this royal procession advanced. He therefore said to his esquire,

`We will turn aside, good Perico, and so avoid this meeting with such
royal and knightly company, in our present soiled and way-worn condition;
for, what with travel and fighting, we are in unseemly plight. I would fain
present myself with my mother's letter before the king in a more befitting
fashion. So we will ride aside.'

Ferdinand divining this intention by seeing them turn their horses to the
left as if to gain the camp by another direction, sent two gentlemen forward
who conveyed to him in courtly phrase, the king's command that he and his
esquire should forthwith ride forward to his presence.

Blushing with embarrassment, the brave Count Alarcos, bidding his
esquire keeep close to him, rode forward between the two gentlemen, wondering
what the king should want; for his humility would not let him believe
that he had done ought beyond a true knigt's duty, and had thus merited
reward. The king, seeing him advance, rode forward to meet him; the
princess riding on a milk-white palfrey by his side.

`I will reverse my shield, and the king shall not know me by its device,'
said the Count to himself; for as yet I know not the reception I shall have
at his hands, as there hath been long coldness between him and my noble
mother.'

`Thou art welcome, stranger knight,' said king Ferdinand. `Thou hast
achieved deeds this day worthy of Rodrigo de Bevar, the Cid, of whose
blood I will be sworn, thou hast somethidg in thy veins. Thou art welcome
to our camp, and to honor thy valor, which we have witnessed, we have
come out to meet thee. Wilt thou lift thy visor that we may know what renowned
knight we have with us.'

`My noble liege,' replied the youthful Count Alarcos, surprised yet pleased
at this gracious reception from his sovereign, `I fear when thou shalt
know my name, and that I have for the first time drawn a maiden sword to
win my spurs, thou wilt repent the honor thou hast unwittisgly done an unknown
youth.'

`Ne'er a bit! for if thou art young, so much more is thy credit. Lift thy
visor.'

The youthful warrior raised the bars of his visor, and showed the beholding
king and admiring princess the modest and conscious face of a youth of
scarce twenty summers. The king gave utterance to a round oath of surprise,
and Beatriz, with the ladies attending her, uttered exclamations of delight;
while the nobles and cavaliers around, in various ways manifested
their astonishment that such achievements as they had beheld, should have
been performed by a beardless youth.

`Thy face, as well it may be, for its youth is unknown to me,' at length
spoke Ferdinand. `What device bearest thou?'

Count Alarcos turned his shield and the king beheld the Black Eagle's
crest and talons, the insignia of the royal house of Castille.

`By the holy rood!' he exclaimed, `this device and thy deeds prove thee
none else than the son of my royal cousin, that brave knight Perez Garci,
Count of Alarcos. Art thou he?'

`I am, my liege,' answered the Count with diffidence at being the centre
of so many observing eyes. `I bear for your royal hands this packet from
the Countess of Alarcos.'

`Thou hast this hour ennobled even thy proud lineage, noble and youthful
Count. Thou art from this day a part of our royal household and near my
person. Give him thy hand, daughter, for he is thy blood cousin. I will
also honor him.'

The princess, scarce nineteen, extended her hand to the young knight

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who reverently pressed his lips to it; and then Ferdinand dismounting, unbuckled
his own spurs, and placed them with his own royal hands upon the
iron heels of the Count, who fain would have withheld him from conferring
upon him so great at honor.

`Now, knight in deed as well as in courtesy and by birth; come thou to
sup with us in our tent and tell me of my cousin, the fair Countess; who
hath so many years absented herself from court, we had well nigh forgot
her. But we forgive her, since she sends thee her representative. Pray
thee why didst thou return after thou and thy trusty esquire hadst overthrown
the Moors? I would fain know, for mere bravado could not make
so brave a man thrust himself back where he might endanger the laurels so
nobly won?'

`To recover this silken scarf which I had missed, and which had fallen
upon the ground in the fray.'

`The gift of some true maiden—thou art loyal in love as well as brave in
war,' said the king, smiling.

`Nay, my liege,' answered the youth, coloring, `I shall ne'er think of love
till I achieve something worthy a maiden's regard. The scarf is my mother's
parting gift, and I would not lightly lose it where a few paces return
would restore it to me.'

`Better still! By my knighthood thou art a good son, and filial honor is
great knightly merit, for he who honoreth his mother is worthy of a mistress.
Beatriz, were it not a shame to thee and thy ladies that so true a
knight should wear only a mother's gage?'

`Fair cousin,' said Beatriz, with downcast eyes, as he rode by her side,
the king being on the other hand, `you, who have so gallantly preserved a
mother's memento, knowest how to defend that of a maiden princess. Receive
this scarf and wear it in honor of her who bestows it. For never braver
knight wore maiden's favor.'

Thus speaking, the princess removed from her throbbing bosom her blue
scarf, and with a blush of virgin shame and pride, cast it across his mailed
breast. `Gallantly and fairly done, daughter,' said Ferdinand. `Behold!
knights and gentlemen, the reward beauty bestows upon valor.'

Thus speaking, the King and Beatriz escorted Count Alarcos into the
royal tent, where a kingly entertainment was provided, at which he sat down
on Ferdinand's right hand. Late at night he was conducted to a tent prepared
near by for him, where his faithful esquire Perico, waited to receive
him. Bewildered by the distinguished reception he had met with, the
young knight threw himself upon a sumptuous couch; and while listening
to the tales in his praise which Perico averred he had heard from every lip,
he fell asleep dreaming that the princess Beatriz was carried off by seven
Moorish knights, and that he and Perico had rescued her and brought her
back to the camp, for which deed the king gave him her hand in marriage,
shehaving beforehand, as he dreamed, given him her heart.

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