A large steed is brought to him, upon which he
springs by the stirrup, and he rides off with some of his men:
three knights and two squires he bade to go with him. They did
not stop their ride downhill until they came to the bridge, where
they see him stanching his wounds and wiping the blood from them.
The king expects to keep him as his guest for a long time while
his wounds are healing; but he might as well expect to drain the
sea. The king hastens to dismount, and he who was grievously
wounded, stood up at once to meet him, though he did not know
him, and he gave no more evidence of the pain he felt in his feet
and hands than if he had been actually sound. The king sees that
he is exerting himself, and quickly runs to greet him with the
words: "Sire, I am greatly amazed that you have fallen upon us in
this land. But be welcome, for no one will ever repeat the
attempt: it never happened in the past, and it will never happen
in the future that any one should perform such a hardy feat or
expose himself to such peril. And know that I admire you greatly
for having executed what no one before ever dared to conceive.
You will find me very kindly disposed, and loyal and courteous
toward you. I am the king of this land, and offer you freely all
my counsel and service; and I think I know pretty well what you
have come here to seek.
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