Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/105

Rh Hardly had this mock-valiant gone a single stage of his journey when he met Sir Blandamour, who was also on his way to join the knights. Without delay he challenged Braggadochio’s right to the lady whom he bore with him. The boasting knight at once accepted the challenge. But before they rode at each other in the encounter, he proposed to his opponent that they should turn their horse’s heads, and ride back a few yards in order that they might return, and ride at each other with greater force. To this Blandamour agreed, and when they had turned back to back, to ride a little apart, Braggadochio, sticking his spurs deep into his horse’s sides, rode away swifter than ever he had ridden before, leaving Sir Blandamour in possession of the fair cause of the dispute.

As Blandamour rode away with his prize, he was joined by a party of knights, all on their way to the meeting-place. Then, by her wicked arts, the sprite who inhabited the semblance of Florimel was able to stir up evil rancor, and breed all sorts of dissensions among them; so that all the time of their journey to the tournament, they were full of quarrelings, and hard words more bitter than blows, and many friendships were uprooted which had stood the buffetings of long years.

When they came to the place which Sir