led forth,--

"Sir Knight, thou hast conquered the steed, not the rider. We are now
foot to foot. The pole-axe, or the sword,--which? Speak!"

"I pray thee, noble sieur," quoth the Woodville, mildly, "to let the
strife close for this day, and when rest bath--"

"Talk of rest to striplings,--I demand my rights!"

"Heaven forefend," said Anthony Woodville, lifting his hand on high,
"that I, favoured so highly by the fair dames of England, should demand
repose on their behalf. But bear witness," he said (with the generosity
of the last true chevalier of his age, and lifting his vizor, so as
to be heard by the king, and even through the foremost ranks of the
crowd)--"bear witness, that in this encounter, my cause hath befriended
me, not mine arm. The Count de la Roche speaketh truly; and his steed
alone be blamed for his mischance."

"It is but a blind beast!" muttered the Burgundian.

"And," added Anthony, bowing towards the tiers rich with the beauty of
the court--"and the count himself assureth me that the blaze of yonder
eyes blinded his goodly steed." Having delivered himself of this
gallant conceit, so much in accordance with the taste of the day, the
Englishman, approaching the king's balcony, craved permission to finish
the encounter with the axe or brand.

"The former, rather please you, my liege; for the warriors of Burgundy
have ever been deemed unconquered in that martial weapon."

Edward, whose brave blood was up and warm at the clash of steel, bowed
his gracious assent, and two pole-axes were brought into the ring.

The crowd now evinced a more earnest and respectful attention than they
had hitherto shown, for the pole-axe, in such stalwart hands, was no
child's toy. "Hum," quoth Master Stokton, "there may be some merriment
now,--not like those silly poles! Your axe lops off a limb mighty
cleanly." The knights themselves seemed aware of the greater gravity of
the present encounter. Each looked well to the bracing of his vizor;
and poising their weapons with method and care, they stood apart some
moments, eying each other steadfastly,--as adroit fencers with the small
sword do in our schools at this day.

At length the Burgundian, darting forward, launched a mighty stroke at
the Lord Scales, which, though rapidly parried, broke down the guard,
and descended with such weight on the shoulder that but for the
thrice-proven steel of Milan, the benevolent expectation of Master
Stokton had been happily ful