Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/102

80 While the creature thus gloated over his prey, it chanced that Sir Satyrane, one of the bravest of all the knights of Faery, at that moment rode along the shore. At one glance he saw the mangled steed of the maiden, and descried also her golden girdle lying coiled upon the sand.

As quickly as the red lightning rushes from the clouds on some hoary monarch of the forest, and rives its ancient trunk with its forked darts, so quickly did Sir Satyrane ride upon the horrid monster and fell him to the trembling earth.

But by the witch’s magic arts no sword had power to end his unclean life; and after many blows which would have put an end to him, if it had not been for the charms by which he was protected, the knight sent him howling back to his mistress.

Then picking up the girdle which Florimel had dropped off in the haste with which she had dismounted, the knight bore it sadly away, as a proof that its sweet owner had been devoured by a huge monster whom he had encountered on the sea-shore.

Now when the monster carried the news of Florimel’s escape to his mistress, the witch’s rage knew no bounds. At once she summoned to her counsel all the malicious imps and sprites