tance, however, I shall accept the battle,
since it is inevitable." Thereupon, the two hideous, black sons of
the devil come in, both armed with a crooked club of a cornelian
cherry-tree, which they had covered with copper and wound with brass.
They were armed from the shoulders to the knees, but their head and
face were bare, as well as their brawny legs. Thus armed, they advanced,
bearing in their hands round shields, stout and light for fighting. The
lion begins to quiver as soon as he sees them, for he sees the arms they
have, and perceives that they come to fight his master. He is aroused,
and bristles up at once, and, trembling with rage and bold impulse, he
thrashes the earth with his tail, desiring to rescue his master before
they kill him. And when they see him they say: "Vassal, remove the lion
from here that he may not do us harm. Either surrender to us at once, or
else, we adjure you, that lion must be put where he can take no part in
aiding you or in harming us. You must come alone to enjoy our sport, for
the lion would gladly help you, if he could." My lord Yvain then replies
to them: "Take him away yourselves if you are afraid of him. For I shall
be well pleased and satisfied if he can contrive to injure you, and I
shall be grateful for his aid." They answer: "Upon my word that will
not do; you shall never receive any help from him. Do the best you can
alone, without the help of any one. You must fight single-handed against
us two. If you were not alone, it would be two against two; so you must
follow our orders, and remove your lion from here at once, however much
you may dislike to do so." "Where do you wish him to be?" he asks, "or
where do you wish me to put him?" Then they show him a small room, and
say: "Shut him up in there." "It shall be done, since it is your will."
Then he takes him and shuts him up. And now they bring him arms for his
body, and lead out his horse, which they give to him, and he mounts. The
two champions, being now assured about the lion, which is shut up in
the room, come at him to injure him and do him harm. They give him such
blows with the maces that his shield and helmet are of little use, for
when they hit him on the helmet they batter it in and break it; and the
shield is broken and dissolved like ice, for they make such holes in
it that one could thrust his fists through it: their onslaught is truly
terrible. And he--what does he do against these two devils? Urged on
by sh