ame and fear, he defends himself with all his strength. He strains
every nerve, and exerts himself to deal heavy, and telling blows; they
lost nothing by his gifts, for he returned their attentions with
double measure. In his room, the lion's heart is heavy and sad, for he
remembers the kind deed done for him by this noble man, who now must
stand in great need of his service and aid. If now he could escape
from there, he would return him the kindness with full measure and
full bushel, without any discount whatsoever. He looks about in all
directions, but sees no way of escape. He hears the blows of the
dangerous and desperate fight, and in his grief he rages and is beside
himself. He investigates, until he comes to the threshold, which was
beginning to grow rotten; and he scratches at it until he can squeeze
himself in as far as his haunches, when he sticks fast. Meanwhile, my
lord Yvain was hard pressed and sweating freely, for he found that the
two fellows were very strong, fierce, and persistent. He had received
many a blow, and repaid it as best he could, but without doing them any
harm, for they were well skilled in fencing, and their shields were not
of a kind to be hacked by any sword, however sharp and well tempered
it might be. So my lord Yvain had good reason to fear his death, yet he
managed to hold his own until the lion extricated himself by continued
scratching beneath the threshold. If the rascals are not killed now,
surely they will never be. For so long as the lion knows them to be
alive, they can never obtain truce or peace with him. He seizes one of
them, and pulls him down to earth like a tree-trunk. The wretches are
terrified, and there is not a man present who does not rejoice. For he
whom the lion has dragged down will never be able to rise again, unless
the other succours him. He runs up to bring him aid, and at the same
time to protect himself, lest the lion should attack him as soon as he
had despatched the one whom he had thrown down; he was more afraid of
the lion than of his master. But my lord Yvain will be foolish now if
he allows him longer life, when he sees him turn his back, and sees his
neck bare and exposed; this chance turned out well for him. When the
rascal exposed to him his bare head and neck, he dealt him such a blow
that he smote his head from his shoulders so quietly that the fellow
never knew a word about it. Then he dismounts, wishing to help and save
the other one from the l