, crying: "Halt, maiden, what do you want here? You
shall advance no farther." "Dwarf," says she, "let me pass. I wish to
speak with yonder knight; for the Queen sends me hither." The dwarf, who
was rude and mean, took his stand in the middle of the road, and said:
"You have no business here. Go back. It is not meet that you should
speak to so excellent a knight." The damsel advanced and tried to pass
him by force, holding the dwarf in slight esteem when she saw that he
was so small. Then the dwarf raised his whip, when he saw her coming
toward him and tried to strike her in the face. She raised her arm
to protect herself, but he lifted his hand again and struck her all
unprotected on her bare hand: and so hard did he strike her on the back
of her hand that it turned all black and blue. When the maiden could do
nothing else, in spite of herself she must needs return. So weeping she
turned back. The tears came to her eyes and ran down her cheeks. When
the Queen sees her damsel wounded, she is sorely grieved and angered and
knows not what to do. "Ah, Erec, fair friend," she says, "I am in great
sorrow for my damsel whom that dwarf has wounded. The knight must be
discourteous indeed, to allow such a monster to strike so beautiful a
creature. Erec, fair friend, do you go to the knight and bid him come
to me without delay. I wish to know him and his lady." Erec starts
off thither, giving spurs to his steed, and rides straight toward
the knight. The ignoble dwarf sees him coming and goes to meet him.
"Vassal," says he, "stand back! For I know not what business you have
here. I advise you to withdraw." "Avaunt," says Erec, "provoking dwarf!
Thou art vile and troublesome. Let me pass." "You shall not." "That
will I." "You shall not." Erec thrusts the dwarf aside. The dwarf had no
equal for villainy: he gave him a great blow with his lash right on
the neck, so that Erec's neck and face are scarred with the blow of
the scourge; from top to bottom appear the lines which the thongs have
raised on him. He knew well that he could not have the satisfaction of
striking the dwarf; for he saw that the knight was armed, arrogant, and
of evil intent, and he was afraid that he would soon kill him, should he
strike the dwarf in his presence. Rashness is not bravery. So Erec acted
wisely in retreating without more ado. "My lady," he says, "now matters
stand worse; for the rascally dwarf has so wounded me that he has badly
cut my face. I did not