Northern mythology

310 NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS.
dressing Oriant, who was sitting with his dogs by his
side, she said :
" Sir, why do you hunt in my domain,
and who has given you permission so to do ? I saw how
the hart you were in chase of escaped from you and leapt
into the water ; but had you taken it, it would not have
been yours. I desire that you will withdraw from lience.^^
When King Oriant heard the fair Beatrix speaking so
wisely, he formed the design of making her his wife, and
said in a soft voice "
: Beautiful damsel, I would not
willingly act in opposition to your will, but here I may
lawfully hunt, for I am Oriant, king of Lillefort, and all
things hereabout are at my disposal When .^^
the knight,
who was named Samari, heard this, he sprang from his
horse, fell on his knees, greeted the king and said "
: Sir
king, forgive my lady for that wherein she has erred towards
you ; for she knew you not, and is now fully sensible
of her fault.^''
^^ It is already forgiven,^^ answered
the king, "but she must, nevertheless, atone for it.^^
Then addressing himself to the lady, he said :
" Fair
maiden, if you will be my bride, I will crown you as queen
of Lillefort. ^^ And having made this promise and confirmed
it by oaths, he conducted the beautiful Beatrix to
his palace, where the marriage should be solemnized with
great pomp and rejoicings.
When Matabruna heard that Oriant was about to marry
the damsel that he had met while hunting, she went to
him boiling with anger. But Oriant laughed when he
saw her, and said :
" Rejoice, for I have found the most
beautiful female that lives on the earth.^' ^Matabruna
filled with rage answered :
" My dear son, it causes me
unutterable grief, that you, who could have to wife the
greatest lady in the world, should marry a simple individual.*^
But Oriant persisted, and the wicked mother also
appeared content, though in her heart there rankled the
bitterest malice against Beatrix.