“The Twa Knights”
Description
A squire bets a knight that, if the knight leaves home for a time, he can seduce the knight's wife. He traps the wife into offering to come to his bed, but she sends her neice instead. When the truth is revealed, the niece weds the squire
Long description
A squire bets a knight that, if the knight leaves home for a time, he can seduce the knight's wife. He traps the wife into offering to come to his bed, but she sends her neice instead. He cuts off the ring and finger to prove his victory. The knight's wife demonstrates that she still has her finger. The niece is offered the right to either kill the squire or marry him for his abuse. After much hesitation, the niece weds the squire
Notes
The notion of wagering over a woman's fidelity is common in folklore; in the Child canon, cf. e.g. "The Boy and the Mantle" [Child 29]. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Boy and the Mantle" [Child 29] (theme)
- cf. "The Fiddler's Bitch" (plot)
- cf. "Redesdale and Wise William" [Child 246] (plot)
References
- Child 268, "The Twa Knights" (1 text)
- Roud #303
- BI, C268