Free The Nonexistent Knight by Italo Calvino Page B

virgin.”
    A bustle went the whole length of the table. The code of chivalry then holding prescribed that whoever saved from certain danger the virginity of a damsel of noble lineage was immediately dubbed knight. But saving from rape a noblewoman no longer a virgin only brought a mention in despatches and three month’s double pay.
    “How can you sustain that, which is an affront not only to my dignity as knight but to the lady whom I took under the protection of my sword?”
    “I do sustain it.”
    “Your proof?”
    “Sophronia is my mother.”
    A cry of surprise rose from all the paladins’ chests. Was young Torrismund, then, no son of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall?
    “Yes, Sophronia bore me twenty years ago, when she was thirteen years of age,” explained Torrismund. “Here is the medal of the royal house of Scotland,” and rummaging in his breast he took out a seal on a golden chain.
    Charlemagne, who till then had kept his face and beard bent over a dish of river prawns, judged that the moment had come to raise his eyes. “Young knight” said he, giving his voice the major Imperial authority, “do you realise the gravity of your words?”
    "Fully,” said Torrismund, "for me even more than for others.”
    There was silence all round. Torrismund was denying a connection to the Duke of Cornwall which bore with it the title of knight. By declaring himself a bastard, even of a princess of blood royal, he risked dismissal from the army.
    But much more serious was Agilulf's position. Before battling for Sophronia when she was attacked by bandits, and saving her virtue; he had been a simple nameless warrior in white armor wandering round the world at a venture; or rather (as was soon known) empty white armor, with no warrior inside. His deed in defense of Sophronia had given him the right to be an armed knight The knighthood of Selimpia Citeriore being vacant just then, he had assumed that title. His entry into service, all ranks and titles added later, were a consequence of that episode. If Sophronia's virginity which he had saved was proved nonexistent, then his knighthood went up in smoke too, and nothing that he had done afterwards could be recognized as valid at all, and his names and titles would be annulled, so that each of his attributions would become as nonexistent as his person.
    “When still a child, my mother became pregnant with me,” narrated Torrismund, “and fearing the ire of her parents when they knew her state, fled from the royal castle of Scotland and wandered throughout the highlands. She gave birth to me in the open air, on a heath, and while wandering over fields and woods of England raised me till I was five. Those first memories are of the loveliest period of my life, interrupted by this intruder. I remember the day. My mother had left me to guard our cave, while she went off as usual to rob fruit from the orchards. She met two roving brigands who wanted to abuse her. They might have made friends in the end, who knows, for my mother often lamented her solitude. Then along came this empty armor in search of glory and routed the brigands. Recognizing my mother as of royal blood, he took her under his protection and brought her to the nearest castle, that of Cornwall, where he consigned her to the duke and duchess. Meanwhile I had remained in the cave hungry and alone. As soon as my mother could she confessed to the duke and duchess the existence of her son whom she had been forced to abandon. Servants bearing torches were sent out to search for me and I was brought to the castle. To save the honor of the royal family of Scotland, linked to that of Cornwall by bonds of kinship, I was adopted and recognized as son of the duke and duchess. My life was tedious and burdened with restriction as the lives of cadets of noble houses always are. No longer was I allowed to see my mother, who took the veil in a distant convent. This mountain of falsehood has weighed me down and distorted the