Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series B - 01.10.1965, Qupperneq 138

78
the fairest Tyoung lady (girl) which 1 have earned with my
spear.” At this request there arose great discord, so that
things almost reached the point that all the retainers would
come to blows, because each called his sweetheart the fairest.
And Twhen things stood in this danger (thus in this dangerous
spot), the queen asks for silence and gets it. (+ She) now
10 tells King Arthur about those events which had occurred in
the forest rconcerning (and) Erex’ departure, (+ and) asked
him to wait concerning this kiss until news was heard. He
agreed to that gladly and all the retainers.
Chapter III
(+ Erex pursues Sir Malpirant.)
Erex rides now, las was said before after the knight
until evening, until they came into a Tstrong and large (very
strong) castle. There there were many people and much merri-
ment, but each Tof them (man) gave up his rmerriment (enter-
tainment), when they saw this Tarmed (large) knight, and
(+ now all men) followed him to his lodgings. No fone (man)
acted as if he saw Erex. He rode now forward to where an
old man was sitting on the steps of the castle—poorly clothed
and handsome in appearance and somewhat sorrowful. This
old man bids Erex (+ be) welcome with him, and that he
accepts gladly, dismounts Tthere (-y), and the master of the
ii house calls his daughter to take his horse. The girl was in an
old and torn linen dress, but Tnone the less (not in that manner
[?]) all her body was so lovely that Erex thought he had not
seen any such girl. Along with this went (+ also) Tall (~) her
body’s bearing and (+ all) her fine manners, so that Nature
herself Twould [not] choose a different way as to how (mar-
velled that) she was (+ so) beautiful in form. (+ And immedia-
tely he turned all his love to her.) And when she saw Erex,
then she turned all her love to him, and it seemed nevertheless
strange, that she should Ibe able (desire) to love an unknown
man. Each stood now and looked at the other. This the master
of the house sees, takes Tnow (-h) his horse, and leads it to
the stall, and gives it grain and beer. And the young lady
serves Erex and leads him to a seat, and each entertains the
other with gentleness.
When the master of the house comes in, Erex welcomes him
Tin a very friendly way (well) and speaks to him: “Your daugh-
ter is the most beautiful girl in all the world, but that I