“Nathless they stay not me: as to thy threats,” he said, “I hold them as the wind, or nothingness.” Pricking his charger as he spoke the words, he passed along the path.
The hag, however, had but told the truth. For as he reached a chapel small, a holy hermit served, a knight of sable hue, mounting a sable horse, with sable arms, assailed him with such strength and unawares, that horse and knight were on the turf o'er-thrown. Jaufry, all red with shame, at once upsprang, and, sword in hand, wished to avenge his fall; but, lo, no foe was there. He looked about, above, around, below, but horse and knight had vanished quite away. Again he mounted on his charger's back, when, at the instant, his strange foe returned, with lowered lance to strike at him again. Jaufry, prepared, now flew at him in turn; they midway met with shock so terrible, each rolled upon the earth. Half-wild with anger then, quick as the lightning Jaufry was afoot, with shield on guard and ready for the fight; but ne'er a foe was there.
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“I will yet find him out,” Sir Jaufry said, as in his saddle he again did leap. But scarce was foot in stirrup firmly set when back returned the sable knight, hissing and growling as the thunder doth when tempests vex the air, and for the third time bore him to the ground. Jaufry, on his side, had so aimed his lance, it pierced his foe right through, and cast him on the turf. But when he wished to give the coup-de-grace, in vain he sought the knight, he neither saw nor heard.
“Good Heaven!” Jaufry cried, “where hath this recreant, this demon, fled? I drive my lance a fathom through his breast, I hurl him to the ground; and yet he flies, and doth escape my wrath! O gracious Lord, in Thee I put my trust!”
Again he mounted as he spoke these words; when the invisible once more appeared, unhorsing him anew. Why re-describe the scene? While daylight lasted, still this game went on. When off his horse, no creature did he see; but as he sat him on his charger's back the sable knight appeared to strike and hew. Weary of fight, Sir Jaufry then resolved to go on foot into the chapel-gate; but as he took his way, the spectre then his onward footsteps barred, so that the battle did again commence, and in the darkness without pause went on.
For half that night their swords and lances clashed, so that bright sparks of fire upward flew; fatigued at length to hear such din of arms, the hermit rose, and with his stole and cross and holy water, chanting a psalm, forth issued from his cell. The sable knight did not attend his coming; shrieking aloud, at once he disappeared, albeit behind him leaving such a storm as suffered no allay, until the chapel-bell rang out the matin hour.