open space." Then they proceed to a
meadow, where there were maids, knights, and damsels playing at divers
games in this pleasant place. They were not all engaged in idle sport,
but were playing backgammon and chess or dice, and were evidently
agreeably employed. Most were engaged in such games as these; but
the others there were engaged in sports, dancing, singing, tumbling,
leaping, and wrestling with each other.

(Vv. 1661-1840.) A knight somewhat advanced in years was on the other
side of the meadow, seared upon a sorrel Spanish steed. His bridle and
saddle were of gold, and his hair was turning grey. One hand hung at
his side with easy grace. The weather being fine, he was in his shirt
sleeves, with a short mantle of scarlet cloth and fur slung over his
shoulders, and thus he watched the games and dances. On the other side
of the field, close by a path, there were twenty-three knights mounted
on good Irish steeds. As soon as the three new arrivals come into view,
they all cease their play and shout across the fields: "See, yonder
comes the knight who was driven in the cart! Let no one continue his
sport while he is in our midst. A curse upon him who cares or deigns
to play so long as he is here!" Meanwhile he who loved the damsel and
claimed her as his own, approached the old knight, and said: "Sire, I
have attained great happiness; let all who will now hear me say that God
has granted me the thing that I have always most desired; His gift would
not have been so great had He crowned me as king, nor would I have been
so indebted to Him, nor would I have so profited; for what I have gained
is fair and good." "I know not yet if it be thine," the knight replies
to his son. But the latter answers him: "Don't you know? Can't you see
it, then? For God's sake, sire, have no further doubt, when you see that
I have her in my possession. In this forest, whence I come, I met her as
she was on her way. I think God had fetched her there for me, and I have
taken her for my own." "I do not know whether this will be allowed by
him whom I see coming after thee; he looks as if he is coming to demand
her of thee." During this conversation the dancing had ceased because of
the knight whom they saw, nor were they gaily playing any more because
of the disgust and scorn they felt for him. But the knight without
delay came up quickly after the damsel, and said: "Let the damsel alone,
knight, for you have no right to her! If you dare, I am