Ivanhoe

"Have you confessed yourself, brother," said the Templar, "and have you

heard mass this morning, that you peril your life so frankly?"

"I am fitter to meet death than thou art" answered the Disinherited

Knight; for by this name the stranger had recorded himself in the books

of the tourney.

"Then take your place in the lists," said Bois-Guilbert, "and look your

last upon the sun; for this night thou shalt sleep in paradise."

"Gramercy for thy courtesy," replied the Disinherited Knight, "and to

requite it, I advise thee to take a fresh horse and a new lance, for by

my honour you will need both."

Having expressed himself thus confidently, he reined his horse backward

down the slope which he had ascended, and compelled him in the same

manner to move backward through the lists, till he reached the

northern extremity, where he remained stationary, in expectation of his

antagonist. This feat of horsemanship again attracted the applause of

the multitude.

However incensed at his adversary for the precautions which he

recommended, Brian de Bois-Guilbert did not neglect his advice; for

his honour was too nearly concerned, to permit his neglecting any means

which might ensure victory over his presumptuous opponent. He changed

his horse for a proved and fresh one of great strength and spirit. He

chose a new and a tough spear, lest the wood of the former might have

been strained in the previous encounters he had sustained. Lastly,

he laid aside his shield, which had received some little damage, and

received another from his squires. His first had only borne the general

device of his rider, representing two knights riding upon one horse, an

emblem expressive of the original humility and poverty of the Templars,

qualities which they had since exchanged for the arrogance and wealth

that finally occasioned their suppression. Bois-Guilbert's new shield

bore a raven in full flight, holding in its claws a skull, and bearing

the motto, "Gare le Corbeau".

When the two champions stood opposed to each other at the two

extremities of the lists, the public expectation was strained to the

highest pitch. Few augured the possibility that the encounter could

terminate well for the Disinherited Knight, yet his courage and

gallantry secured the general good wishes of the spectators.

The trumpets had no sooner given the signal, than the champions vanished

from their posts with the speed of lightning, and closed in the centre

of the lists with the shock of a thunderbolt. The lances burst into

shivers up to the very grasp, and it seemed at the moment that both

knights had fallen, for the shock had made each horse recoil backwards

upon its haunches. The address of the riders recovered their steeds

by use of the bridle and spur; and having glared on each other for an

instant with eyes which seemed to flash fire through the bars of their

visors, each made a demi-volte, and, retiring to the extremity of the

lists, received a fresh lance from the attendants.