After carrying her some distance
from the tents, they send her on under escort of twelve of their
number whom they accompany but a short distance. While the
twelve led the damsel on, the others went to tell the duke how
successful they had been. The duke's desire being now satisfied,
he at once makes a truce with the Greeks until next day. The
truce was sworn by both parties. The duke's men then turned
back, while the Greeks without delay repaired each man to his own
tent. But Cliges stays behind alone, stationed upon a little
hill where no one caught sight of him, until he saw the twelve
pass by with her whom they were carrying off at topmost speed.
Cliges, in his thirst for glory, rides at them without delay; for
he thinks within himself, and his heart tells him, that it is not
for nothing that they flee. So, as soon as he espied them, he
spurred after them; and when they saw him coming on, a foolish
thought occurred to them: "It is the duke," they said, "who
comes. Let us rein in a little; for he has left the troops and
is riding hard after us alone." Every man thinks that so it is.
They all want to turn back to meet him, but each one wishes to go
alone. Meanwhile, Cliges must needs descend a deep valley
between two mountains. He would never have recognised their
blazons, if they had not come to meet him, or if they had not
awaited him.
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