hing, I
must remark that the knight was unwilling to mount the borrowed steed
which was standing ready at the door; rather, he caused him to be ridden
by one of the two knights who had come with him, while he took the
latter's horse instead, for thus it pleased him best to do. When each
was seated on his horse, they all asked for leave to depart from their
host who had served them so honourably. Then they ride along the road
until the day draws to a close, and late in the afternoon they reach the
sword-bridge.

(Vv. 3021-3194.) At the end of this very difficult bridge they dismount
from their steeds and gaze at the wicked-looking stream, which is as
swift and raging, as black and turgid, as fierce and terrible as if
it were the devil's stream; and it is so dangerous and bottomless that
anything failing into it would be as completely lost as if it fell into
the salt sea. And the bridge, which spans it, is different from any
other bridge; for there never was such a one as this. If any one asks of
me the truth, there never was such a bad bridge, nor one whose flooring
was so bad. The bridge across the cold stream consisted of a polished,
gleaming sword; but the sword was stout and stiff, and was as long as
two lances. At each end there was a tree-trunk in which the sword
was firmly fixed. No one need fear to fall because of its breaking
or bending, for its excellence was such that it could support a
great weight. But the two knights who were with the third were much
discouraged; for they surmised that two lions or two leopards would be
found tied to a great rock at the other end of the bridge. The water
and the bridge and the lions combine so to terrify them that they both
tremble with fear, and say: "Fair sire, consider well what confronts
you; for it is necessary and needful to do so. This bridge is badly made
and built, and the construction of it is bad. If you do not change your
mind in time, it will be too late to repent. You must consider which of
several alternatives you will choose. Suppose that you once get across
(but that cannot possibly come to pass, any more than one could hold in
the winds and forbid them to blow, or keep the birds from singing,
or re-enter one's mother's womb and be born again--all of which is as
impossible as to empty the sea of its water); but even supposing that
you got across, can you think and suppose that those two fierce lions
that are chained on the other side will not kill you, and