“Lady,” replied a tall and proper knight of great renown,—Simon the Red by name,—“I will go seek him out, if such your wish; and trust, alive or dead, to bring him here.”
“So be it,” said Brunissende.
Added the seneschal:
“My troth, good friend, I bid thee shield thyself. He can most sturdily defend his sconce; and brave indeed I'll hold the happy knight who takes it off by force.”
Simon, without a word, went on his way, and Jaufry found still sleeping; rudely he cried:
“Up, up, sir knight; arouse!”
Jaufry, who moved not more than any rock, received from Simon then so strong a kick, it woke him up in haste.
“Nathless, thou promisedst to let me sleep,” he then exclaimed; “and 'tis a villain's act to break thy faith, when thus I'm overcome.”
“Come, speak then to my lady,” Simon said; “or I by force must take thee to the hall.”
“We first will see who's strongest,—thou or I,” said Jaufry in low tone; when, springing on his horse, he ran at Simon, who like haste displayed.