“Now I no more can list; pride blinds thy sense. Henceforth, then, beware of me!”
And Jaufry at these words wheeled round his horse to give him a broad field, when at full gallop he did rush at Felon. Seeing him come, the latter grasped his shield, and flew to strike him with such dire shock, both horse and knight were thrown. But in the encounter Jau-fry's steady lance had broken his shield and pierced the arm right through. Like lightning Dovon's son was on his feet, his good sword firmly grasped. Mad with his wound, Felon came running up, and loudly cried:
“'Eore Heaven, villain, thy last hour is come, and without mercy shall thy carcass swing!”
It was his thought to pin him to the earth; but Jaufry dealt his horse so true a blow, it clean shaved off his head. So both were now afoot, and front to front with the same arms: now we shall shortly learn which is the better knight.
Felon, all pale, with foam upon his lips, struck with his sword upon Sir Jaufry's helm a blow so strong, it pared the visor off; the latter dealt him in his turn a stroke which made his shield-arm droop. But such the force with which he gained this point his sword escaped his hand. This Felon seeing, he his foot placed on't, so that the knight might not resume the blade; then he again assailed him with such strength, fire flew from out his helm.
“Yield thee, sir knight!” the giant fiercely cried, “since thou art now disarmed.”
Sir Jaufry answered not, but raised his shield to ward a blow that seemed intended to conclude the fight; for Felon's sword fell on it with such force, it shivered it in bits, and full two feet the blade struck in the earth.
Quick as the lightning's flash the youthful knight darted to raise his own, which when he held, he turned again on Felon. He, humbled in his pride, exclaimed aloud:
“Mercy, sir knight; O, mercy! pray restrain thine hand, and hold me at a ransom!”
“Since you speak thus,” Sir Jaufry made reply, dragging the giant's sword from out the ground, “render yourself to her you have so oppressed. As for myself, no ransom do I wish saving yon hawk which chased erewhile the cranes.”