Repeatedly
they trim the helmets and shining hauberks so fiercely that after
the sword the blood spurts out. They furnished an excellent
battle, indeed, as they stunned and wounded each other with their
heavy, wicked blows. Many fierce, hard, long bouts they
sustained with equal honour, so that the onlookers could discern
no advantage on either side. But it was inevitable that he who
had crossed the bridge should be much weakened by his wounded
hands. The people who sided with him were much dismayed, for
they notice that his strokes are growing weaker, and they fear he
will get the worst of it; it seemed to them that he was
weakening, while Meleagant was triumphing, and they began to
murmur all around. But up at the window of the tower there was a
wise maiden who thought within herself that the knight had not
undertaken the battle either on her account or for the sake of
the common herd who had gathered about the list, but that his
only incentive had been the Queen; and she thought that, if he
knew that she was at the window seeing and watching him, his
strength and courage would increase. And if she had known his
name, she would gladly have called to him to look about him.
Then she came to the Queen and said: "Lady, for God's sake and
your own as well as ours, I beseech you to tell me, if you know,
the name of yonder knight, to the end that it may be of some help
to him.
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