affair of yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each
other in contest on account of those irritating words which escaped
the lips of Don Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you
have hitherto received are not sufficient compensation for the angry
expression, there is still your common fight before Tunis, and the
rescue in the desert afforded by Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don
Fadrique Mendez, after he had gained his bride for him. From all
this, I consider that the Knight of Waldhausen is entitled to pardon
any offence of an adversary to whom he has shown himself so well
inclined. Old Roman history tells us of two captains of the great
Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cemented a hearty friendship
with each other when engaged in the same bold fight, delivering each
other in the midst of a Gallic army. I affirm, however, that you two
have done more for each other: and therefore I declare your affair of
honor to be settled, and at an end. Sheathe your swords, and embrace
each other in my presence."

Obedient to the command of their general, the young knights for the
present sheathed their weapons; but anxious lest the slightest
possible shadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the
reconciling embrace.

The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air, and
said, "Do you then suppose, young knights, that I could wish to save
the lives of two heroes at the expense of their honor? I would
rather at once have struck you dead, both of you at once. But I see
plainly that with such obstinate minds one must have recourse to
other measures."

And, dismounting from his horse, he fastened it to a tree, and then