willing at once
to fight with you in her defence." Then the old knight remarked: "Did I
not know it? Fair son, detain the damsel no longer, but let her go." He
does not relish this advice, and swears that he will not give her up:
"May God never grant me joy if I give her up to him! I have her, and I
shall hold on to her as something that is mine own. The shoulder-strap
and all the armlets of my shield shall first be broken, and I shall have
lost all confidence in my strength and arms, my sword and lance, before
I will surrender my mistress to him." And his father says: "I shall not
let thee fight for any reason thou mayest urge. Thou art too confident
of thy bravery. So obey my command." But he in his pride replies: "What?
Am I a child to be terrified? Rather will I make my boast that there is
not within the sea-girt land any knight, wheresoever he may dwell, so
excellent that I would let him have her, and whom I should not expect
speedily to defeat." The father answers: "Fair son, I do not doubt that
thou dost really think so, for thou art so confident of thy strength.
But I do not wish to see thee enter a contest with this knight." Then
he replies: "I shall be disgraced if I follow your advice. Curse me if
I heed your counsel and turn recreant because of you, and do not do
my utmost in the fight. It is true that a man fares ill among his
relatives: I could drive a better bargain somewhere else, for you are
trying to take me in. I am sure that where I am not known, I could act
with better grace. No one, who did not know me, would try to thwart my
will; whereas you are annoying and tormenting me. I am vexed by your
finding fault with me. You know well enough that when any one is blamed,
he breaks out still more passionately. But may God never give me joy if
I renounce my purpose because of you; rather will I fight in spite of
you!" "By the faith I bear the Apostle St. Peter," his father says, "now
I see that my request is of no avail. I waste my time in rebuking thee;
but I shall soon devise such means as shall compel thee against thy will
to obey my commands and submit to them." Straightway summoning all the
knights to approach, he bids them lay hands upon his son whom he cannot
correct, saying: "I will have him bound rather than let him fight. You
here are all my men, and you owe me your devotion and service: by all
the fiefs you hold from me, I hold you responsible, and I add my prayer.
It seems to me that he must be m