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Another minute and there arose a great clamour from the marl-pit in front of them a noise of shoutings, of sword-strokes, and then a heavy groan as from the lips of a dying man. "An ambush!" exclaimed Christopher. "Can we get round?" asked Cicely, and there was terror in her voice. "Nay," he answered, "the stream is in flood; we should be bogged. Hark! they charge us.
But the knight, feeling that he was taking a noble adversary at unfair advantage, dismounted, and advanced to meet Arthur on foot. Then began a mighty battle, in which many great sword-strokes were made, and much blood was lost by both antagonists.
But when after the banquet Arthur began, according to the ancient royal custom, to bestow great boons and fiefs on whom he would, they all with one accord rose up, and scornfully refused his gifts, crying that they would take nothing from a beardless boy come of low or unknown birth, but would instead give him good gifts of hard sword-strokes between neck and shoulders.
"By reason of a sword-stroke at Stainishawbank Fair," I answered boldly. "Faith, then, I see no cause why, as your will is so good, you should not soon have your bellyful of sword-strokes. I felt my face reddening at these ill words, so I stooped, as if to clear my spur of mire.
"O my son," replied she, "of a truth the goods of men are not as a wastril camel, ready to thy hand; but between thee and them are sword-strokes and lance-thrusts and men that eat wild beasts and lay waste countries and snare lions and trap lynxes." Quoth he, "God forbid that I should turn from my purpose, till I have attained my desire!"
But the father's eyes rolled, his cheeks glowed, his words were sword-strokes, and must make an impression on any disposition as gentle as his son's; but the son stood quiet, with a firm look and with a smile on his lips, such as the moral bestows. "You were in the adjoining room!" said he. "Where it is proper for you to be there may I also come."
"Minstrels will be lying, Lady," he said, "and they gather old tales wherever they go. Paris may have worn my arms, or another man. I bought them from a chapman in Crete, and asked nothing of their first master. As for Ilios, I fought there in my youth, and served the Cretan Idomeneus, but I got little booty. To the King the wealth and women, to us the sword-strokes.
I am but dimly conscious of what followed, for sword-strokes were showered upon me, and all grew black before my eyes. I only know what I thought then, face to face with death." "Well ?" asked Stephanus. "I thought," said Paulus reddening, "of my fighting-quails at Alexandria, and whether they had had any water.
There are worse places than a king's court, when a man is young, and light of heart, full of hope, and with money in his purse. I looked that we should take the field again in the spring; and having gained some gold, and even some good words, as one not backward where sword-strokes were going, I know not what dreams I had of high renown, ay, and the Constable's staff to end withal.
"Is this thine, my son?" he asked, taking it in his hand, while his voice trembled. "It is my own," said the Wanderer, "though the spear-point in it was lent me of late, in return for arrows not a few and certain sword-strokes," and he smiled. The ancient priest bade the Temple servants retire, and as they went they heard him murmuring a prayer.
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