From that time till evening fell he
continued to do as badly as possible in accordance with the
Queen's desire. But the other, who fought with him, did not miss
his thrust, but struck him with such violence that he was roughly
handled. Thereupon he took to flight, and after that he never
turned his horse's head toward any knight, and were he to die for
it, he would never do anything unless he saw in it his shame,
disgrace, and dishonour; he even pretends to be afraid of all the
knights who pass to and fro. And the very knights who formerly
esteemed him now hurled jests and jibes at him. And the herald
who had been saying: "He will beat them all in turn!" is greatly
dejected and discomfited when he hears the scornful jokes of
those who shout: "Friend, say no more! This fellow will not take
any one's measure again. He has measured so much that his
yardstick is broken, of which thou hast boasted to us so much."
Many say: "What is he going to do? He was so brave just now; but
now he is so cowardly that there is not a knight whom he dares to
face. The cause of his first success must have been that he
never engaged at arms before, and he was so brave at his first
attack that the most skilled knight dared not withstand him, for
he fought like a wild man.
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