ouldst run away as soon as thou hadst escaped
my grip." Hearing this, he was much ashamed, and said: "Knight, mount
thy horse, in confidence for I will pledge thee loyally my word that I
shall not flinch or run away." Then once again he answers him: "First,
thou wilt have to swear to that, and I insist upon receiving thy oath
that thou wilt neither run away nor flinch, nor touch me, nor come near
me until thou shalt see me on my horse; I shall be treating thee very
generously, if, when thou art in my hands, I let thee go." He can
do nothing but give his oath; and when the other hears him swear, he
gathers up his shield and lance which were floating in the ford and by
this time had drifted well down-stream; then he returns and takes his
horse. After catching and mounting him, he seizes the shield by the
shoulder-straps and lays his lance in rest. Then each spurs toward the
other as fast as their horses can carry them. And he who had to defend
the ford first attacks the other, striking him so hard that his lance is
completely splintered. The other strikes him in return so that he throws
him prostrate into the ford, and the water closes over him. Having
accomplished that, he draws back and dismounts, thinking he could drive
and chase away a hundred such. While he draws from the scabbard his
sword of steel, the other jumps up and draws his excellent flashing
blade. Then they clash again, advancing and covering themselves with the
shields which gleam with gold. Ceaselessly and without repose they
wield their swords; they have the courage to deal so many blows that the
battle finally is so protracted that the Knight of the Cart is greatly
ashamed in his heart, thinking that he is making a sorry start in the
way he has undertaken, when he has spent so much time in defeating a
single knight. If he had met yesterday a hundred such, he does not think
or believe that they could have withstood him; so now he is much grieved
and wroth to be in such an exhausted state that he is missing his
strokes and losing time. Then he runs at him and presses him so hard
that the other knight gives way and flees. However reluctant he may
be, he leaves the ford and crossing free. But the other follows him in
pursuit until he falls forward upon his hands; then he of the cart runs
up to him, swearing by all he sees that he shall rue the day when he
upset him in the ford and disturbed his revery. The damsel, whom the
knight had with him, upon hearing t