Sir Knights, you will think that I have wronged you--ay, and your uncle, Sir Andrew, who was once my friend, although an older man than I, and who, by stealing away my sister, laid the foundations of this house of love and war and woe, and perchance of happiness unforeseen.
"Now listen.

The tale that those two Frankish knaves, the priest and the false knight Lozelle, told to you was true.

As I wrote to your uncle in my letter, I dreamed a dream.

Thrice I dreamed it; that this niece of mine lived, and that if I could bring her here to dwell at my side she should save the shedding of much blood by some noble deed of hers--ay, of the blood of tens of thousands; and in that dream I saw her face.

Therefore I stretched out my arm and took her from far away.