ile armour of
Montreal, (adorned only with his lady's scarf,) and the common and rude
mail of his charger. This contrast, however, was not welcome to the
Provencal, whose vanity was especially indulged in warlike equipments;
and who, had he foreseen the "pastime" that awaited him, would have
outshone even the Colonna.

The trumpeters of either party gave a short blast--the Knights remained
erect as statues of iron; a second, and each slightly bent over his
saddle-bow; a third, and with spears couched, slackened reins, and
at full speed, on they rushed, and fiercely they met midway. With the
reckless arrogance which belonged to him, Montreal had imagined, that at
the first touch of his lance Adrian would have been unhorsed; but to his
great surprise the young Roman remained firm, and amidst the shouts of
his party, passed on to the other end of the lists. Montreal himself was
rudely shaken, but lost neither seat nor stirrup.

"This can be no carpet knight," muttered Montreal between his teeth,
as, this time, he summoned all his skill for a second encounter; while
Adrian, aware of the great superiority of his charger, resolved to bring
it to bear against his opponent. Accordingly, when the Knights again
rushed forward, Adrian, covering himself well with his buckler, directed
his care less against the combatant, whom he felt no lance wielded by
mortal hand was likely to dislodge, than against the less noble animal
he bestrode. The shock of Montreal's charge was like an avalanche--his
lance shivered into a thousand pieces, Adrian lost both stirrups, and
but for the strong iron bows which guarded the saddle in front and rear,
would have been fairly unhorsed; as it was, he was almost doubled back
by the encounter, and his ears rung and his eyes reeled, so that for a
moment or two he almost lost all consciousness. But his steed had well
repaid its nurture and discipline. Just as the combatants closed, the
animal, rearing on high, pressed forward with its mighty crest against
its opponent with a force so irresistible as to drive back Montreal's
horse several paces: while Adrian's lance, poised with exquisite skill,
striking against the Provencal's helmet, somewhat rudely diverted the
Knight's attention for the moment from his rein. Montreal, drawing the
curb too tightly in the suddenness of his recovery, the horse reared
on end; and, receiving at that instant, full upon his breastplate, the
sharp horn and mailed crest of Adria