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Chapter XI
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“Sir,”saidtheknight,“knowyenotthatthisiscalledtheCastlePluere,ortheweepingcastle,andthatitisanancientcustomherethatwhatsoeverknightabidethinitmustneedsfightthelordofit,SirBrewnor,andhethatistheweakestshalllosehishead.Andiftheladyhehathwithhimbelessfairthanthelord’swife,sheshallloseherhead;butifshebefairer,thenmusttheladyofthecastleloseherhead.”
“NowHeavenhelpme,”saidSirTristram,“butthisisafoulandshamefulcustom.YethaveIoneadvantage,formyladyisthefairestthatdothliveinalltheworld,sothatInothingfearforher;andasforme,Iwillfullgladlyfightformyownheadinafairfield.”
Thensaidtheknight,“Lookyebeupbetimesto-morrow,andmakeyoureadyandyourlady.”
AndonthemorrowcameSirBrewnortoSirTristram,andputhimandIsaultforthoutofprison,andbroughthimahorseandarmour,andbadehimmakeready,forallthecommonsandestatesofthatlordshipwaitedinthefieldtoseeandjudgethebattle.
ThenSirBrewnor,holdinghisladybythehand,allmuffled,cameforth,andSirTristramwenttomeethimwithLaBelleIsaultbesidehim,muffledalso.ThensaidSirBrewnor,“Sirknight,ifthyladybefairerthanmine,withthyswordsmiteoffmylady’shead;butifmyladybefairerthanthine,withmyswordIwillsmiteoffthylady’shead.AndifIovercometheethyladyshallbemine,andthoushaltlosethyhead.
