“And wherefore so? what harm have I e'er wrought thee?'
“Dost thou not wish to pass this gorge, and bilk the toll that's due save I use force to get it?”
“And what's the force thou'lt use?”
“That thou shalt briefly see; meantime I bid thee 'ware my hand!”
“I will do so,” quoth Jaufry.
The yeoman now prepared himself for fight, and seized his dart as though in act to strike; but Jaufry, fearing for his horse, awaited not the blow, but gal-loped off amain. As o'er the road he sped, the man let fly the missile with just aim; it hit the shield, and that with force so great, red fire and flame forth issued at the stroke, which did not pierce it through. The sharpened point curled upwards on the steel, and the wood flew in shivers.
Sir Jaufry turned his steed at once and bore down on his foe, counting full surely that the fight was done; but, lo, at that instant he had leapt aside, and in the act discharged a second dart, which lighted on his helm; so fierce the stroke, the casque seemed all on fire; yet it resisted, though its lord was stunned.
The yeoman, seeing his second blow had failed, was as a man possessed; so dread his rage as neither to have hurt the knight or broken his bright arms. Jaufry, whose senses had now back returned, thought only of his horse, which he rode here and there to guard it from the blow of the third dart. Not this, however, was his foe's intent, for he still thought to take the beast alive; like lightning swift he came, and whirling round the dart, launched the fell weapon with these haughty words:
“By Heaven, slave, thou now shalt leave the horse, nor shall thy hauberk, helm, or shield protect thyself!” Jaufry wheeled round his horse at this stem threat; and as the dart came hissing to its prey, he deftly bowed him down; it harmed him not, but striking on his mail, tore from the goodly arms a palm away, then bounded out of view.
“And now,” cried Jaufry, the third dart being flung, “my lance's point shall give me my revenge.” With lowered lance he flew towards the man, trusting this time to pierce him through and through; but he was nimble as a roe or deer, and leapt from place to place to such effect, that Jaufry missed his aim; and as he passed, the yeoman seized a rock and hurled it at the knight, who, but for his shield, must fain have bit the ground. The mass in atoms flew; but such the force with which the blow was struck, it battered-in the shield. Jaufry, enraged at following such a foe, now doubly maddened at this fresh attack, in wrath exclaimed: