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Updated: June 14, 2025
"'Twas a trick, Roger!" he panted, "I beat thee but by an artifice " "Yet beaten I am, master," quoth Roger, vastly rueful. "And art mightier than I thought thee, Roger." "Master, I have wrestled oft with Gefroi that was the Duke's wrestler." "Then art a better man than he, meseemeth," quoth Beltane. "Yet thou hast beaten me, master!" "So within the hour we will begone to our duty, Roger!"
"This Gefroi o' thine is a rare breaker of necks and hath o'er-thrown all the wrestlers in the three duchies; a man is he, set in his strength and experienced, but this forester, tall though he be, is but a beardless youth." The Duke smiled his slow smile, his curving nostrils quivered and were still, and he glanced toward Sir Jocelyn through veiling lids.
Now Beltane, misliking the matter, would fain have gone upon his way, but wheresoever he turned, there Gefroi was also, barring his path, wherefore Beltane's eye kindled and he raised his staff threateningly. "Fellow," quoth he, "stand from my way, lest I mischief thee." But Gefroi only laughed and looked to his lord, who, beckoning an archer, bid him lay an arrow to his string.
Would that our gracious lady of Mortain were here, nor had balked us of her wilful company. Ho! Gefroi!" he called, "come you and break me the back of this 'honest' rogue."
Straightway the air was full of shouts and cries, some praising, some condemning, while Gefroi stood with hanging arms and panted. But Beltane looking upon his hurt, laughed, short and fierce, and as Gefroi came upon him, stooped and caught him below the loins. Then Beltane the strong, the mighty, put forth his strength and, whirling Gefroi aloft, hurled him backwards over his shoulder.
So Beltane laid by his staff, and tightening his girdle, faced the hairy Gefroi; and there befell that, the which, though you shall find no mention of it in any chronicle, came much to be talked of thereafter; so that a ballade was writ of it the which beginneth thus: 'Beltane wrestled in the green With a mighty man, A goodlier bout was never seen Since the world began,
Here's for thee," and tossing a purse to Beltane's feet, he rode upon his way. So the gay cavalcade passed 'neath the leafy arches, with the jingle of bridle and stirrup and the sound of jest and laughter, and was presently lost amid the green; only Gefroi the wrestler lay there upon his back and groaned.
Then Gefroi the wrestler turned and plodded on his way, walking slow and with drooping head as one who knoweth not whither he goes, or careth. Now, as he watched, Beltane bethought him of the purse and taking it up, ran after Gefroi and thrust it into his hand. "'Twill help thee to find a new service, mayhap."
So saying, my lord Duke gave his horse the spur and, as he passed the prostrate form of Gefroi, leaned him down and smote the wrestler thrice with the whip he held and so rode on, bidding his followers let him lie. But Sir Jocelyn paused to look down at Beltane, who was setting his dress in order. "Sir forester, thou hast a mighty arm," quoth he, "and thy face liketh me well.
Then came Beltane and knelt and took his heavy head upon his knee, whereat Gefroi opened his eyes and groaned again. "Good fellow," said Beltane, "I had not meant to throw thee so heavily " "Nay, forester, would it had been a little harder, for a ruined man am I this day." "How so have you not life?" "I would 'twere death. And I bit you in the arm, I mind me?" "Aye, 'twas in the arm."
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