Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/106

84 had appointed, they found many brave Knights and dainty dames already assembled. The eye was dazzled with the many-hued silken streamers, the glitter of freshly polished armor, the gay trappings of the horses, and the bright-colored canopies which were draped over the seats where the ladies would sit to witness the affray. On a carved and glittering pole, reared aloft in the centre of the vast field where they were to strive for victory, hung the peerless girdle which was to be the prize.

This was a girdle of rare virtue, forged for Venus by her cyclops husband, out of the purest gold, inlaid with rare stones, and ornamented with fret-work, the like of which could be equaled by no earthly artificer. But its virtue lay in the fact that none but a woman of rarest goodness and most spotless heart could wear the ornament. If she who fastened it about her waist, hid in her soul aught that could sully its whiteness, or concealed a thought which was not manifestly noble and good, then the strange cestus unclasped and stole to her feet; and no fastening or clasping could ever force it to hold its place upon the person.

This very girdle Venus had given to Florimel when she was cradled on Mount Helicon, and the innocent girl had always worn it until the fatal day of its loss.