ather than live a life of shame! If my path
were unobstructed, and if these men gave me leave to pass through
without restraint, what honour would I gain? Truly, in that case the
greatest coward alive would pass through; and all the while I hear
this poor creature calling for help constantly, and reminding me of my
promise, and reproaching me with bitter taunts." Then he steps to the
door, thrusting in his head and shoulders; glancing up, he sees two
swords descending. He draws back, and the knights could not check their
strokes: they had wielded them with such force that the swords struck
the floor, and both were broken in pieces. When he sees that the swords
are broken, he pays less attention to the axes, fearing and dreading
them much less. Rushing in among them, he strikes first one guard in
the side and then another. The two who are nearest him he jostles and
thrusts aside, throwing them both down flat; the third missed his stroke
at him, but the fourth, who attacked him, strikes him so that he cuts
his mantle and shirt, and slices the white flesh on his shoulder so
that the blood trickles down from the wound. But he, without delay,
and without complaining of his wound, presses on more rapidly, until he
strikes between the temples him who was assaulting his hostess. Before
he departs, he will try to keep his pledge to her. He makes him stand up
reluctantly. Meanwhile, he who had missed striking him comes at him as
fast as he can and, raising his arm again, expects to split his head to
the teeth with the axe. But the other, alert to defend himself, thrusts
the knight toward him in such a way that he receives the axe just where
the shoulder joins the neck, so that they are cleaved apart. Then the
knight seizes the axe, wresting it quickly from him who holds it; then
he lets go the knight whom he still held, and looks to his own defence;
for the knights from the door, and the three men with axes are all
attacking him fiercely. So he leaped quickly between the bed and the
wall, and called to them: "Come on now, all of you. If there were
thirty-seven of you, you would have all the fight you wish, with me so
favourably placed; I shall never be overcome by you." And the damsel
watching him, exclaimed: "By my eyes, you need have no thought of that
henceforth where I am." Then at once she dismisses the knights and the
men-at-arms, who retire from there at once, without delay or objection.
And the damsel continues: "Sire you h