All his pains will come to naught, and his expedition is
in vain." Then he, who felt no fear at all, thus replies with
confidence: "I am he who intends to cross the bridge." "Thou?
Thou? How didst thou dare to think of such a thing? Before
undertaking such a course, thou oughtest to have thought of the
end that is in store for thee, and thou oughtest to have in mind
the memory of the cart on which thou didst ride. I know not
whether thou feelest shame for the ride thou hadst on it, but no
sensible man would have embarked on such an enterprise as this if
he had felt the reproach of his action."
(Vv. 2615-2690.) Not a word does he deign to reply to what he
hears the other say; but the master of the house and all the
others express their surprise openly: "Ah, God, what a misfortune
this is," each one of them says to himself; "cursed be the hour
when first a cart was conceived or made! For it is a very vile
and hateful thing. Ah, God, of what was he accused? Why was he
carried in a cart? For what sin, or for what crime? He will
always suffer the reproach. If he were only clear of this
disgrace, no knight could be found in all the world, however his
valour might be proved, who would equal the merit of this knight.
If all good knights could be compared, and if the truth were to
be known, you could find none so handsome or so expert.
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