Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series B - 01.10.1983, Page 255

147
íii Partalopi answered: “Sooner shall you lose your virgin- a1
ity than I my life. I do not fear your knights, and it seems
better to me to lose my life in your bed, than that your
114 knights call me cowardly. Well I know, lady, that through
your magic art I came here, but nevertheless I shall not give
up this room before your knights while I can defend myself.”
117 She spoke: “You must be daring at home in France, when
you are such a one here in Greece. It seems to me likely
that that must be true which hither [i.e. has come to us]
120 has been said about you.”
After she saw that he did not lose courage at her words,
then she told it like it was—that by her plans he came
123 there, “because I was told,” she said, “that there was prob-
ably no one now alive who was more valiant than you. I
am the daughter of the emperor of Constantinople, Marmo-
126 ria, whom you must have heard mentioned. If I should marry
any man, then I would want most of all to marry such a
Partalopi answered: “It seems to me of little worth to B1
lose my life, and I am not frightened1 by your words. It
seems to me the same way here as at my father’s table,
because I am as happy in the shouting of knights as in my
sweetheart2, and it seems better to me to lose my life in
your bed than that men call me cowardly. Neverthelcss,
know that for certain, that I came here through your magic
art, but I shall not give up before your men while I can
defend myself.”
She answered: “You must be daring at home in France,
when you are such a one here that you dare here to defend
yourself against such a great number as will come at you
here.”
He said he did not fear that. When she saw that he did
not tremble at her words, then she told him how it was—
that he came there through her devices. “Because,” she said,
“I was told that that man was probably not born in this
world who would be more accomplished in all things than
you. To tell you the truth, then my name is Marmoria,
daughter of the king of Constantinople, of whom you must
have heard. I have now inherited the kingdom from my
father. Now if I should marry some man, then I would
1 conjecture, see note to the text.
2 the text is corrupt.