We
were born your countrymen, and we should like to see you win
honour and fortune and joy in this country; for we should profit
by it as well as you, and it would be to the advantage of many
others, if you should gain honour and fortune in the enterprise
you have undertaken in this land." And he makes answer: "May God
hear your desire."
(Vv. 2979-3020.) When the host had dropped his voice and ceased
speaking, one of his sons followed him and said: "Sire, we ought
to place all our resources at your service, and give them
outright rather than promise them; if you have any need of our
assistance, we ought not to wait until you ask for it. Sire, be
not concerned over your horse which is dead. We have good strong
horses here. I want you to take anything of ours which you need,
and you shall choose the best of our horses in place of yours."
And he replies: "I willingly accept." Thereupon, they have the
beds prepared and retire for the night. The next morning they
rise early, and dress, after which they prepare to start. Upon
leaving, they fail in no act of courtesy, but take leave of the
lady, her lord, and all the rest. But in order to omit nothing,
I must remark that the knight was unwilling to mount the borrowed
steed which was standing ready at the door; rather, he caused him
to be ridden by one of the two knights who had come with him,
while he took the latter's horse instead, for thus it pleased him
best to do.
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