The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 524 (Color Image)

0524	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

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MARCO POLO BOOK IV.

Now it carne to pass in the year of Christ i280 that

there presented himself a noble young gallant, the son of

a rich and puissant king, a man of prowess and valiance

and great strength of body, who had heard word of the

damsel's challenge, and came to match himself against

her in the hope of vanquishing her and winning her to

wife. That he greatly desired, for the young lady was

passing fair. He, too, was young and handsome, fear-

less and strong in every way, insomuch that not a man in

all his father's realm could vie with him. So he came

full confidently, and brought with him I 000 horses to be

forfeited if she should vanquish him. Thus might she

gain woo horses at a single stroke ! But the young

gallant had such confidence in his own strength that he

counted securely to win her.

Now ye must know that King Caidu and the Queen

his wife, the mother of the stout damsel, did privily

beseech their daughter to let herself be vanquished.

For they greatly desired this prince for their daughter,

seeing what a noble youth he was, and the son of a great

king. But the damsel answered that never would she

let herself be vanquished if she could help it ; if, indeed,

he should get the better of her then she would gladly be

his wife, according to the wager, but not otherwise.

So a day was named for a great gathering at the

Palace of King Caidu, and the King and Queen were

there. And when all the company were assembled, for

great numbers flocked to see the match, the damsel first

came forth in a strait jerkin of sammet ; and then came

forth the young bachelor in a jerkin of sendal ; and a

winsome sight they were to see. When both had taken

Post in the middle of the hall they grappled each other

by the arms and wrestled this way and that, but for a long

time neither could get.the better of the other. At last, how-

ever, it so betel that the damsel threw him right valiantly

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