who were intent upon their orisons and prayers. Those who
were prisoners were praying for their lord, for to God and to him they
entrusted their succour and deliverance. Then the combatants without
delay make all the people stand aside; then they clash the shields with
their elbows, and thrust their arms into the straps, and spur at each
other so violently that each sends his lance two arms' length through
his opponent's shield, causing the lance to split and splinter like a
flying spark. And the horses meet head on, clashing breast to breast,
and the shields and helmets crash with such a noise that it seems like
a mighty thunder-clap; not a breast-strap, girth, rein or surcingle
remains unbroken, and the saddle-bows, though strong, are broken to
pieces. The combatants felt no shame in falling to earth, in view of
their mishaps, but they quickly spring to their feet, and without waste
of threatening words rush at each other more fiercely than two wild
boars, and deal great blows with their swords of steel like men whose
hate is violent. Repeatedly they trim the helmets and shining hauberks
so fiercely that after the sword the blood spurts out. They furnished
an excellent battle, indeed, as they stunned and wounded each other with
their heavy, wicked blows. Many fierce, hard, long bouts they sustained
with equal honour, so that the onlookers could discern no advantage on
either side. But it was inevitable that he who had crossed the bridge
should be much weakened by his wounded hands. The people who sided with
him were much dismayed, for they notice that his strokes are growing
weaker, and they fear he will get the worst of it; it seemed to them
that he was weakening, while Meleagant was triumphing, and they began
to murmur all around. But up at the window of the tower there was a wise
maiden who thought within herself that the knight had not undertaken the
battle either on her account or for the sake of the common herd who had
gathered about the list, but that his only incentive had been the Queen;
and she thought that, if he knew that she was at the window seeing and
watching him, his strength and courage would increase. And if she had
known his name, she would gladly have called to him to look about him.
Then she came to the Queen and said: "Lady, for God's sake and your
own as well as ours, I beseech you to tell me, if you know, the name of
yonder knight, to the end that it may be of some help to him." "Damsel,"
the Q