But he presently
returned, and his household, which was well-ordered, ran to meet
him outside the door. Quickly they untie and unpack the game he
brings, and tell him the news: "Sire, sire, you do not know that
you have three knights for guests." "God be praised for that,"
he says. Then the knight and his two sons extend a glad welcome
to their guests. The rest of the household were not backward,
for even the least among them prepared to perform his special
task. While some run to prepare the meal, others light the
candles in profusion; still others get a towel and basins, and
offer water for the hands: they are not niggardly in all this.
When all had washed, they take their seats. Nothing that was
done there seemed to be any trouble or burdensome. But at the
first course there came a surprise in the form of a knight
outside the door. As he sat on his charger, all armed from head
to feet, he looked prouder than a bull, and a bull is a yew proud
beast. One leg was fixed in the stirrup, but the other he had
thrown over the mane of his horse's neck, to give himself a
careless and jaunty air. Behold him advancing thus, though no
one noticed him until he came forward with the words: "I wish to
know which is the man who is so foolish and proud a numskull that
he has come to this country and intends to cross the sword-
bridge.
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