“Yea, lord, by the faith!”
“Since yours' the right, I'll battle with this foe; but you have wrong'd me, and fair Brunissende hath certes her thoughts on death.”
“She,” said the lady, “fear not, will not die; and you will me have saved.”
As thus discoursing, they the castle reached; a building strong, surrounded by good walls, with fosses, cut from out the solid rock, filled with a living stream. Jaufry was there most grandly entertained by that fair lady's vassals; and mom come, when he had dressed and armour buckled on, bathed well his face and hands, and prayed to Heaven to give him grace that day and strength to uphold the right of the oppressed, he with humility attended mass, and gave seven marks of silver.
When mass was done, he to the terrace mounted with the dame and with her damsels, and watched for Felon's coming. Short space elapsed during their stopping there, he suffering in his heart for Brunissende's just grief, ere a bright band of knights appeared upon the plain.
“Lady,” he then inquired, “is this our foe?”
“'Tis he, my lord, with all his train. He rides ahead of them.”
“Let him then come, and we will hear his cause.” Felon came gently on, bearing upon his fist a hawk most rare as it was beautiful. It had a slender neck, a large beak sharper than a razor's edge, long wings, a tail a palm at least in length, a sinewy leg, and strong and shapely foot.
Just as he came beneath the castle-walls, Felon perceived some hundred cranes all grouped about the grass of a small verdant close; at once he loosed the hawk, which flying off, began to wheel about the grassy spot, then rose up in the air to such vast height, scarce could the eye detect his presence there. Some time elapsed, then straightway down he shot, and pounced upon the cranes with cry so dread, that, fluttering and hiding in the grass, they let themselves by Felon's men be caught without attempting to escape away.
When they had thus some dozens of them ta'en, Felon recalled the bird, which on his fist again returned to perch.