f he had at this moment been victor
in a tournament, he would not have so highly esteemed himself, nor
thought he had won such honour and renown. Being now more confident of
his worth, he grasped the bridle rein, and said: "Now I shall lead you
away: I have to-day sailed well on my course to have arrived at last
at so good a port. Now my troubles are at an end: after dangers, I have
reached a haven; after sorrow, I have attained happiness; after pain, I
have perfect health; now I have accomplished my desire, when I find
you in such case that I can without resistance lead you away with me
at once." Then she says: "You have no advantage; for I am under this
knight's escort." "Surely, the escort is not worth much," he says, "and
I am going to lead you off at once. This knight would have time to eat a
bushel of salt before he could defend you from me; I think I could never
meet a knight from whom I should not win you. And since I find you here
so opportunely, though he too may do his best to prevent it, yet I will
take you before his very eyes, however disgruntled he may be." The other
is not angered by all the pride he hears expressed, but without any
impudence or boasting, he begins thus to challenge him for her: "Sire,
don't be in a hurry, and don't waste your words, but speak a little
reasonably. You shall not be deprived of as much of her as rightly
belongs to you. You must know, however, that the damsel has come hither
under my protection. Let her alone now, for you have detained her long
enough!" The other gives them leave to burn him, if he does not take her
away in spite of him. Then the other says: "It would not be right for
me to let you take her away; I would sooner fight with you. But if we
should wish to fight, we could not possibly do it in this narrow road.
Let us go to some level place--a meadow or an open field." And he
replies that that will suit him perfectly: "Certainly, I agree to
that: you are quite right, this road is too narrow. My horse is so much
hampered here that I am afraid he will crush his flank before I can turn
him around." Then with great difficulty he turns, and his horse
escapes without any wound or harm. Then he says: "To be sure, I am much
chagrined that we have not met in a favourable spot and in the presence
of other men, for I should have been glad to have them see which is the
better of us two. Come on now, let us begin our search: we shall find in
the vicinity some large, broad, and