his way, my lord. Here is the path
with the footprints." Then Erec started at a gallop, and told her to
await him there. The maid commends him to the Lord, and prays God very
fervently that He should give him force by His command to discomfit
those who intend evil toward her lover.

(Vv. 4381-4579.) Erec went off along the trail, spurring his horse in
pursuit of the giants. He followed in pursuit of them until he caught
sight of them before they emerged from the wood; he saw the knight with
bare limbs mounted naked on a nag, his hands and feet bound as if he
were arrested for highway robbery. The giants had no lances, shields or
whetted swords; but they both had clubs and scourges, with which they
were beating him so cruelly that already they had cut the skin on his
back to the bone. Down his sides and flanks the blood ran, so that the
nag was all covered with blood down to the belly. [132] Erec came along
alone after them. He was very sad and distressed about the knight whom
he saw them treat so spitefully. Between two woods in an open field he
came up with them, and asks: "My lords," says he, "for what crime do you
treat this man so ill and lead him along like a common thief? You are
treating him too cruelly. You are driving him just as if he had been
caught stealing. It is a monstrous insult to strip a knight naked, and
then bind him and beat him so shamefully. Hand him over to me, I beg of
you with all good-will and courtesy. I have no wish to demand him of you
forcibly." "Vassal," they say, "what business is this of yours? You must
be mad to make any demand of us. If you do not like it, try and improve
matters." Erec replies: "Indeed, I like it not, and you shall not lead
him away so easily. Since you have left the matter in my hands, I say
whoever can get possession of him let him keep him. Take your positions.
I challenge you. You shall not take him any farther before some blows
have been dealt." "Vassal," they reply, "you are mad, indeed, to wish
to measure your strength with us. If you were four instead of one,
you would have no more strength against us than one lamb against two
wolves." "I do not know how it will turn out," Erec replies; "if the sky
fails and the earth melts, then many a lark will be caught. Many a man
boasts loudly who is of little worth. On guard now, for I am going
to attack you." The giants were strong and fierce, and held in their
clenched hands their big clubs tipped with iron. Erec went