ter was not at home, being out in the woods with two
of his sons. But he presently returned, and his household, which was
well-ordered, ran to meet him outside the door. Quickly they untie and
unpack the game he brings, and tell him the news: "Sire, sire, you do
not know that you have three knights for guests." "God be praised for
that," he says. Then the knight and his two sons extend a glad welcome
to their guests. The rest of the household were not backward, for even
the least among them prepared to perform his special task. While some
run to prepare the meal, others light the candles in profusion; still
others get a towel and basins, and offer water for the hands: they are
not niggardly in all this. When all had washed, they take their seats.
Nothing that was done there seemed to be any trouble or burdensome.
But at the first course there came a surprise in the form of a knight
outside the door. As he sat on his charger, all armed from head to feet,
he looked prouder than a bull, and a bull is a yew proud beast. One leg
was fixed in the stirrup, but the other he had thrown over the mane of
his horse's neck, to give himself a careless and jaunty air. Behold him
advancing thus, though no one noticed him until he came forward with the
words: "I wish to know which is the man who is so foolish and proud
a numskull that he has come to this country and intends to cross the
sword-bridge. All his pains will come to naught, and his expedition
is in vain." Then he, who felt no fear at all, thus replies with
confidence: "I am he who intends to cross the bridge." "Thou? Thou?
How didst thou dare to think of such a thing? Before undertaking such
a course, thou oughtest to have thought of the end that is in store for
thee, and thou oughtest to have in mind the memory of the cart on which
thou didst ride. I know not whether thou feelest shame for the ride
thou hadst on it, but no sensible man would have embarked on such an
enterprise as this if he had felt the reproach of his action."

(Vv. 2615-2690.) Not a word does he deign to reply to what he hears the
other say; but the master of the house and all the others express their
surprise openly: "Ah, God, what a misfortune this is," each one of them
says to himself; "cursed be the hour when first a cart was conceived or
made! For it is a very vile and hateful thing. Ah, God, of what was he
accused? Why was he carried in a cart? For what sin, or for what crime?
He will always suffer th