CHAPTER II. ESTOUT DE VERFEIL.
The {033}charger, which was fleet and fair to view, started off like anarrow from its bow. So that, as Jaufry left the castle-gates, he hopedhe yet should overtake the knight; and therefore cried aloud to two menon the way:
"Good fellows, if you can, tell me the road just taken by the lord wholeft the castle yonder even now. If naught prevent you, point me out theway."
One of those men replied:
"Speak you of him whose armour was so bright?"
"The same," quoth Jaufry.
"He is on before; you start too late, sir knight, to catch him up."
"By Heaven!" murmured Jaufry, much aggrieved, "he cannot flee so far,or sink so deep, but I will reach {034}him. I'll seek him the worldthrough, where land and sea are found, and will discover his retreateven beneath the earth!"
This said, he held his course; and spurring, came to a broad causewaywhere fresh prints of horses' hoofs appeared upon the dust.
"Methinks," said Jaufry, "that a knight ere-while hath passed this way:so I will follow up this selfsame road while thus the trail is seen."
Putting his horse into an ambling pace, he rode on all that day withouta town or castle being met. At eventide he still continued on, when aloud cry, followed by din of arms and clash of steel on helm, suddenlyrose from out the heavy shade.
Jaufry spurred readily towards the spot, and cried:
"Who are ye, lords, who at this hour do fight? Reply, since eyes of mancannot behold you."
But no one replied; and when, as fits a bold and venturous man, hereached the place whence came the clashing noise, the fight was over andthe din had ceased. Whilst then he listened, seeing naught, and at thesilence wondering, there rose from out the shade deep sighs and moans;when, stooping forward, he made out {035}a knight so sadly hurt the soilwas bathed in blood.
"Knight," cried Jaufry to the corpse, "it grieves me not to know thyslayer, or whether thou wert wrong or whether right: thou art now dead;but if I can, I even will learn why, and by whose hand.
"Knight," he exclaimed, "speak, and inform me for what, and by whom,thou hast been so sorely used." The wounded man could not e'en stir hislips or move a limb; his arms grew stiff; and, with two fearful groans,he yielded up the ghost.
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"Knight," then cried Jaufry to the corpse, "it grieves me not to knowthy slayer, or whether thou wert wrong or whether right: thou now artdead; but if I can, I even will learn why and by whose hand." He thendeparted, and resumed his way, now on the trot and now at ambling pace,stopping at intervals to bend his ear and give a look around. For sometime nothing met his ear or eye; but, after having ridden for a space, anoise of battle once again assailed him. Steel, wood, and iron met withsuch dread force, it seemed as though the thunder vexed the air, andthat this din proclaimed the bursting storm. At once, then, to the sidefrom whence it came Sir Jaufry turned his horse; and, with his shieldabout his neck, his lance in rest prepared, he spurred with ardour on,for, in his mood, it seemed as though he ne'er should learn who slew theknight and who were they that fought. On, then, to {036}that affray hehotly came; but to behold, stretched stiff upon the ground, a knight allarmed, whose casque and head beside had by a single blow been clovento the teeth, while his steel hauberk was all red with gore. Jaufry hisvisor raised, and touched him with his lance; but, seeing no life wasthere, exclaimed with grief:
"Heaven! shall I, then, never know whose hand hath slain these knights?"
Full of impatience he resumed his course; and when he far had ridden,lit upon another knight, whose body was so shattered with his hurts thatblood and life were oozing fast away. Moved deeply at his cries and sadlaments, Jaufry drew near, and kindly asked what hand had dealt suchmeasure to himself and the two others slain, and which side was moreoverin the wrong?
"Alas!" the wounded man made answer with a sigh, "I will explain to youthe simple truth. It is Estout, the master of Verfeil, who has reducedus to the state you see, to feed his pride. This knight is known soquarrelsome and fierce, that without mercy and without a cause he dothassault all comers far and near."
"Tell {037}me," said Jaufry, "was he wrong in this?"
"I will, my lord, with Heaven's help, and that without e'en lying bya word. I and my friends were going to our rest, when Estout to mycastle-gates, hard by, rode up, and bade us high defiance. Had it beenday, we should have tarried long ere venturing forth; for we did knowhim master of such skill, that few as yet could e'er make head againsthim,--so merciless beside, as never in his lifetime ever known to granthis foeman grace: seeing him not, the bridge was lowered, and at oncewas passed. He, having drawn us far upon the road,--the better for thetreacherous ends he had,--suddenly stopped, and turning, with lancecouched on him who pressed him nearest, stretched him dead upon theearth.
"By this time we had recognised Estout, and turned our horses' heads;but he with threatening words pursued us close, and reaching mycompanion, slew him with a blow. He then his rage concentrated on me,and with such fierceness, thinking my end come, I missed my aim, thelance just glancing from his shield; but he with one stroke bore mefrom my horse, and three times struck me as I helpless lay, so that,{038}good faith, he little life hath left. This, my good lord, is howthe thing hath happed."
"Know you," asked Jaufry, full of thought, "the road he took, and wherehe may be met?"
"My lord, I cannot tell; but little do I doubt that you will find himearlier than you wish. Haste, then, to fly such presence; for believe,you cannot gain thereby aught else but iron: an you take my advice,you'll change your route."
"Change my route, say ye?" quoth Sir Jaufry; "no, by my troth; nay more,I will but follow him the closer up; and, should I catch this lord, wepart not, he may rest assured, without a struggle; and without learning,too, which of us twain doth bear the stouter heart, the stronger arm, orwield the better sword."
He took his leave, with these words, of the knight; the latter prayedhim to pass by his keep and send him aid from thence.
"I will not fail," said Jaufry.
Towards the manor of the dying man he took his way, and after some briefspace he saw high towers and two squires well armed, who mounted guardbefore a raised drawbridge.
"Friends," {039}he exclaimed to them, "God save you both!"
"And you, my lord, from every harm," they said.
"I have sad message for you," added Jaufry, "and bad news. Your lord islying yonder sorely hurt; and his two comrades are both slain. Estoutde Verfeil has misused them thus. So hasten to your lord, who wants yourhelp."
He then commended them to God, and parted in all haste. Jaufry resumedhis way, now trotting hard and now at ambling pace, until he reached avalley deep and dark. There he beheld the blaze of a great fire, roundwhich were met a numerous company. Trusting he might get tidings thereof Estout and of Taulat,--for truly counted he on fighting both,--hestraightway rode to where the fire was, and found there figures thatawaked surprise. Lords in rich vestments roasted a wild-boar; meanwhile,by dwarfs, stunted and out of shape, the spit was turned.
"Good sirs," said Jaufry civilly, "could I but learn from some of youwhere I may meet a lord I have followed this night through?"
"Friend," exclaimed one in answer, "it may be we can tell you when weknow his name."
"I {040}seek," said Jaufry, "Estout de Verfeil, and Taulat called theLord of Rugimon."
"Friend," said the knight with courtesy, "from hence depart, and thatwith greatest speed; for should Estout but chance to meet you here thusarmed, I would not give a denier for your life. He is so valiant andso stout of limb, that never yet hath he encountered foe who could makehead against him. All these you see around are knights of proof, and canmeet sturdy blows; natheless he hath subdued us all, and we are forcedto follow him on foot wherever choice or venture leads him on. We're nowengaged preparing him his food; so I advise you to depart at once."
"Not so, indeed," said Jaufry; "I came not here to flee. Before I turnmy face, my shield sha
ll be destroyed, my hauberk riven, and my arm sobruised it cannot wield a blade."
Whilst thus they held discourse, behold Estout arrived full spur, and,at the sight of Jaufry, cried aloud: "Who art thou, vassal, who thusdar'st to come and meddle with my men?"
"And who are you," said Jaufry in reply, "who use such pleasant words?"
"Thou shalt know that anon."
"Are {041}you Estout?"
"I am, indeed."
"Full long have I been seeking you throughout this weary night, withoute'er stopping in my course or closing eye."
"And for what end hast thou thus sought me out?"
"For that I wish to know why thou hast slain the three knights on theroad; which act I take to be a sin and wrong."
"And is it for this that thou art hither come? Thou wouldst have betterdone to stay behind, for to thy ruin do I meet thee here; thou shaltthis instant lose that head of thine, or follow me on foot like yonderknights who patter humbly at my horse's heels. Deliver, therefore, upto me thy shield, thy breastplate, and thy sword, and the bay horse thatbrought thy body here."
"My care shall be to guard them with my life," quoth Jaufry. "'Twas thegood king bestowed this courser on me when he armed me knight. As to theshield, thou shalt not have it whole; nor e'en the hauberk, withoutrent or stain. Thou tak'st me for a child, whom thy poor threats canfrighten: the shield, the hauberk, and the horse, are not yet thine; butif they {042}please thee, try a bout to win them. As to thy threats, Iscorn them: 'threats,' saith the proverb, 'often cover fear.'"
Estout drew off his horse at these bold words, and Jaufry nerved him tosustain the shock; then ran they at each other with their utmost speed.Estout struck Jaufry on the shield's bright boss, and with such mightystrength, that through the riven metal went the lance, breaking themail which guarded his broad chest, and grazing e'en the skin. Jaufrymeanwhile had struck his foe in turn, and with so just an aim, he lostat once his stirrups and his seat, and rolled halfstunned upon theground.
He rose again full quickly, pale with rage, and came with upraised swordtowards Jaufry. The latter, wishing his good horse to spare, at onceleapt on the sod and raised his shield. 'Twas just in time: Estout, inhis fierce rage, brandished his sword with both his hands, and made itthunder down with such effect the shield was cloven to the arm.
"St. Peter!" murmured Jaufry, "thou dost covet this poor shield; still,if naught stay me, it shall cost thee dear."
Suiting to such words the act, upon Estout's bright casque {043}he thenlet fly so fierce a downward stroke, that fire issued therefrom. But thegood helm of proof was not a whit the worse. With gathering fury Estoutcame again, and with one stroke pared from Sir Jaufry's shield thedouble rim, full half a palm of mail, and the left spur, which was cutthrough as the blade reached the ground.
Wondering at the vigour of his dreadful foe, Jaufry, on his side, strucka second time his burnished helm; and with such force, his swordin twain was broken, yet left it not upon the trusty steel even theslightest dent.
"Heaven!" thought Jaufry, "what doth this portend? confounded be thehand that helmet wrought, whereon my blade hath spent itself in vain!"
Then Estout, uttering a fearful cry as he beheld Sir Jaufry's sword intwo, flew straight towards him, and in his turn struck the son of Dovonon the helm, smashing the visor as the blow came down. Had he notraised in time the remnant of his shield, which that fell stroke for ayedestroyed, the combat had been done.
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"Knight," said Sir Jaufry, "thou dost press me sore; and I, good sooth,must be indeed bewitched; strike {044}as I will upon that helm of thine,I cannot crack its shell."
As thus he spoke, he launched a desperate blow with what was left him ofhis blade; which, falling on the casque of his stout foe like hammer onan anvil, for the time deprived him both of sight and sound. With dizzyeye and tottering step, Estout, thinking to strike at Jaufry, whom hewould have cloven to the heel had he received the blow, let fall hissword with such unbounded rage, it struck into the ground, and buriedhalf its blade. Before he could withdraw it, the young knight, castingaside the battered shield and broken sword, seized with both arms Estoutabout the waist, and that with such good-will, his very ribs were heardto crack within. To cast him to the ground, undo his helm, and seize hissword to strike off his foe's head, were but an instant's work.
Estout, who moved not, cried with feeble voice:
"Mercy, good knight! O, slay me not, but take of me such ransom as thouwilt; I own that thou hast vanquished me."
"Thou shalt have mercy," Jaufry then replied, "an thou do'st that whichI shall now command."
"It {045}shall be done most willingly, my lord; thou canst not ask athing I will not do."
"In the first place," said Jaufry, "thou shalt go and yield thyselfa captive to King Arthur, with all these knights, to whom thou mustrestore what thou hast ta'en from them; and thou shalt then relate tothat good king how I have thus o'ercome thee in the fight."
"I will do so full willingly, by Heaven!" Estout replied.
"And now," said Jaufry, "give to me thine arms; for mine have been allhacked and hewed by thee."
"Agreed, my lord. Give me your hand: the bargain shall be kept; and wellcan I aver, without a lie, that ne'er did knight boast armour suchas mine. Many's the blow may fall upon this helm, yet never pass itthrough; no lance can dim this shield or pierce this mail; and for thissword, so hard is it of temper, iron nor bronze nor steel resists itsedge."
Jaufry then donned these valuable arms; and whilst he buckled onthe shining helm and burnished shield and girded the good sword, thecaptives of Estout came up to do him homage. They were two score innumber, all of price and lofty lineage, who addressed him, 'mid warmsmiles of joy:
"Fair {046}lord, what answer will ye that we make when good King Arthurasks the name of him who sets us free?"
"You will reply that Jaufry is his name,--Jaufry the son of Dovon."
This said, he ordered that his horse be led; for still he burned toovertake Taulat. And though Estout and all the knights pressed himawhile to tarry, yet he stayed neither to eat nor take the least repose:from squires' hands receiving shield and lance, he took his leave, andwandered on his way.
The day came on both clear and beautiful; a bright sun rose on fieldshumect with dew; charmed with the spring-tide and the matin hour, thebirds sang merrily beneath the verdant shade and conned their latinnotes. * Jaufry, natheless, went straight upon his road, still bent onfinding Taulat; for to him nor peace nor rest nor pleasure can e'er cometill that proud lord be met.
* E l'jom e clars e bel gentz E l'solelz leva respondents Lo matin que span la rosada, E l's auzels per la matinada E per lo temps qn'es en dousor, Chantan desobre la verdor E s'alegron en or latin....
Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende: A Tale of the Times of King Arthur Page 5
