Page:Stilfrid and Brunswik (1879).pdf/54

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44
BRUNSWIK.

others with dog’s heads, others half grey and half white, others humped like camels and others red like foxes. Then fear began to take possession of Brunswik, for the cry and noise from them was great; for some howled, others growled and others screamed, thus serving their king. Brunswik began to retire, wishing to quit the castle. Olibrius, seeing this, saith to him: “Brunswik! I know thy good name, although it hath never come to pass in our regions, that such a man hath been seen among us; hast thou therefore come voluntarily or perforce?” Saith Brunswik: “Dear king! of my own will indeed did I ride abroad out of mine own country, but now, alas! this mine unhappy adventure befalleth me perforce.” Saith King Olibrius: “Brunswik! I believe that thou must abide with us perforce; nevertheless, if thou wilt bind thyself to one thing and recover my daughter Africa, who hath been imprisoned three years by the dragon Basiliscus in a castle named Arabia on a desolate sea three hundred miles hence, know that I will help thee to thy country and let thee go through the iron gate,”—over which King Olibrius had