Scarce could the youthful knight evade the stroke and leap behind a column; the monster struck it with such dire strength, the massive iron crushed the marble plinth, and all the castle groaned.
Meanwhile the damsel fervently prayed Heaven, as humbly on the blood-stained stones she knelt:
“O, mighty Lord, who in Thy image didst great Adam make; Thou who hast done so much to save us all,—now save me from this wretch, and let yon knight withdraw me from his hands!”
Her orison scarce o'er, Jaufry stepped out, and ere the giant could again his heavy club let fall, he with his trenchant blade had severed his right arm. Being thus lopped, the monster in his wrath and agony so loudly groaned, the palace trembled to its very base and shook the outer air. In vain did Jaufry dodge his falling mace, it struck him to the ground; so that from nostrils, eyes, and mouth, the purple stream burst forth. The mace, in falling on the marble flags, now brake in twain, which Jaufry seeing, he uprose in haste, and newly struck the leper; at the knee-joint he aimed; the monster reeled, then fell like some great tree.
Prone as the leper lay, Jaufry ran up, his sword in air, and said:
“Methinks that peace will soon be made 'twixt you and me.”
Then letting fall his sword with both his hands, he clove the monster's head e'en to the teeth. In the convulsions of his agony still fiercely strove the wretch, and with his foot hurled him so madly 'gainst the distant wall, Sir Jaufry fell deprived of sound and sight. His trembling hand no longer clutched his sword; like ruby wine, from nostrils and from mouth burst forth his blood, and motion made he none.*
* E l'mezel a si repennat,
Que tal cop l'a del pe donat,
For an instant's space the damsel thought her champion was gone. In grief she hastened to undo the straps which bound his polished casque. The freshness drawing from his breast a sigh, she ran for water, and his face she bathed. His senses half-re-turned, he staggered up, and thinking still to hold his trusty blade, he struck the damsel,—deeming her the foe,—to such effect that both rolled on the ground. Like madman then he sped around the hall, and ran behind a column, where he crouched and trembled 'neath his shield.
'Twas there the damsel came; and in a voice of dulcet tone, she said: