there were no others to oppose us in the town; so we set out for the
palace, spear in hand.

We had not gone far, before we heard some knights coming, and soon, in
a turn of the long street, we saw them riding towards us; when they
caught sight of us they seemed astonished, drew rein, and stood in
some confusion.

We did not slacken our pace for an instant, but rode right at them
with a yell, to which I lent myself with all my heart.

After all they did not run away, but waited for us with their spears
held out; I missed the man I had marked, or hit him rather just on the
top of the helm; he bent back, and the spear slipped over his head,
but my horse still kept on, and I felt presently such a crash that I
reeled in my saddle, and felt mad. He had lashed out at me with his
sword as I came on, hitting me in the ribs (for my arm was raised),
but only flatlings.

I was quite wild with rage, I turned, almost fell upon him, caught him
by the neck with both hands, and threw him under the horse-hoofs,
sighing with fury: I heard Arnald's voice close to me, "Well fought,
Florian": and I saw his great stern face bare among the iron, for he
had made a vow in remembrance of that blow always to fight unhelmed; I
saw his great sword swinging, in wide gyres, and hissing as it started
up, just as if it were alive and liked it.

So joy filled all my soul, and I fought with my heart, till the big
axe I swung felt like nothing but a little hammer in my hand, except
for its bitterness: and as for the enemy, they went down like grass,