“'Tis an ill answer, savouring great pride. But all injustice doth not win its end. You would abuse your strength against a woman having no defence. Go arm yourself; for Heaven hath sent her one who will maintain her right.”
“An the saints help me,” Felon then replied, “you shall pay dearly for those words of yours.”
Giving his squire the hawk without delay, he donned his hauberk and his armour rich, buckled his helm, and seized his lance and shield; when out he cried:
“Let that pert knave descend who wants to fight: we soon shall see upon this very spot how he doth wield his arms.”
Sir Jaufry went to put his armour on, and as he did so, made to God his prayer; crossed he the drawbridge without noise or vaunt, while the fair lady and her vassals knelt and made this orison:
“Thou, Lord, who didst Thy hands upon the cross permit Thy foes to nail, and let an infidel pierce through Thy side, now grant to Jaufry strength to conquer Felon!”
The champions met within the verdant close where the hawk chased the cranes. And when the giant did Sir Jaufry see, fiercely he cried:
“Hast thou thy senses, fool, to dare meet such as I?—I, who could vanquish full a score like thee?”
“High vaunts like these,” Sir Jaufry calmly said, “I hold as little worth; for idle words are but as empty wind. Now list: if thou wilt render back unto the dame who owns yon castle even the smallest thing thou hast unjustly filched from her away, thou mayst depart without a scratch or wound.”
“Fine bargain, on my faith,” the giant said; “thou dost pretend to grant me thy good grace: and I affirm I will not quit this spot till with this hand I've torn thee limb from limb.”