is threats are not heard, and he calls out to
him a third time: "Knight, do not enter the ford against my will and
prohibition; for, by my head, I shall strike you as soon as I see you in
the ford." But he is so deep in thought that he does not hear him. And
the horse, quickly leaving the bank, leaps into the ford and greedily
begins to drink. And the knight says he shall pay for this, that his
shield and the hauberk he wears upon his back shall afford him no
protection. First, he puts his horse at a gallop, and from a gallop he
urges him to a run, and he strikes the knight so hard that he knocks
him down flat in the ford which he had forbidden him to cross. His
lance flew from his hand and the shield from his neck. When he feels the
water, he shivers, and though stunned, he jumps to his feet, like one
aroused from sleep, listening and looking about him with astonishment,
to see who it can be who has struck him. Then face to face with the
other knight, he said: "Vassal, tell me why you have struck me, when I
was not aware of your presence, and when I had done you no harm." "Upon
my word, you had wronged me," the other says: "did you not treat me
disdainfully when I forbade you three times to cross the ford, shouting
at you as loudly as I could? You surely heard me challenge you at least
two or three times, and you entered in spite of me, though I told you
I should strike you as soon as I saw you in the ford." Then the knight
replies to him: "Whoever heard you or saw you, let him be damned, so far
as I am concerned. I was probably deep in thought when you forbade me
to cross the ford. But be assured that I would make you reset it, if I
could just lay one of my hands on your bridle." And the other replies:
"Why, what of that? If you dare, you may seize my bridle here and now. I
do not esteem your proud threats so much as a handful of ashes." And he
replies: "That suits me perfectly. However the affair may turn out, I
should like to lay my hands on you." Then the other knight advances
to the middle of the ford, where the other lays his left hand upon his
bridle, and his right hand upon his leg, pulling, dragging, and pressing
him so roughly that he remonstrates, thinking that he would pull his
leg out of his body. Then he begs him to let go, saying: "Knight, if
it please thee to fight me on even terms, take thy shield and horse
and lance, and joust with me." He answers: "That will I not do, upon my
word; for I suppose thou w