Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/108

86 her face to view, that it might be chosen which was fairest of all the fair. Triamond led Candace, daughter of an Indian king; Britomart revealed the pure, sweet face of Lady Amoret, her beauty shining like an unclouded star, in spite of her long languishing in the dire prison from which she had just been released; Paridell displayed the wicked Duessa, whose false beauty was able to dazzle many eyes; and after scores of other lovely faces had been seen, Sir Blandamour unveiled the semblance of Florimel, whose deceit no one was yet able to detect. Indeed, so often does the vulgar mind prefer the false seeming to the simple truth, and permits itself to be deceived with glittering pretense, that even here the multitude cried out in admiration, and declared that Florimel was never before so radiantly fair.

But those who were not so easily beguiled, said that to their eyes no lady there was so lovely as the sad-eyed Amoret.

Then the umpires offered Florimel to Britomart, whom they supposed a valiant stranger knight. But she rather preferred to hold Amoret as her lady, and openly esteemed her the most beautiful of all. Then they proffered Florimel to Triamond, the second day's victor. But he had long since chosen the wise Candace to be his lady, and would have no other. Last came