being able to do so, she decided to continue mounting guard on this
spot in hopes of catching another glimpse of the suffering lady. But
only twenty-four hours later the door reopened and the same procession
appeared; it was about to vanish a second time when Britomart, by a
violent effort, broke the spell and dashed into the next apartment
before the door closed.

There, finding the magician Brusirane on the point of binding Amoret
fast to a post, she struck him so powerful a blow that he was obliged
to recognize he was in her power. Britomart was about to slay him when
Amoret reminded her he alone could heal her wound and free the other
inmates of the castle from magic thraldom. At the point of her sword,
therefore, Britomart compelled the magician to undo his spells, and,
when he had pronounced the necessary words, Amoret stood before her as
whole and as well as on her wedding-morn when snatched away from her
bridegroom. Seeing this, Britomart bade Amoret follow her out of the
castle, assuring her that her husband was waiting without and would be
overjoyed to see her once more. But, although the rescued lady now
gladly followed her deliverer, she was sorely dismayed on reaching the
forest to find that Sir Scudamore and Britomart's nurse and squire
had gone away, evidently deeming them both lost. To comfort poor
Amoret, Britomart suggested that they ride after their companions, a
proposal which Amoret gladly accepted.


BOOK IV. LEGEND OF COMBEL AND TRIAMOND, OR OF FRIENDSHIP

As Britomart conjectured, Sir Scudamore, deeming it impossible she
should survive the heat of the flames which had so sorely scorched
him, persuaded the nurse to ride on with him, in hopes of encountering