Guesclin is honour enough. This cut will be a matter of boasting
to my dying day; but, to take him prisoner--"

"Nay, that was no merit of mine. Had not the rest come up, my wars
had soon been over, and I had been spared this grief."

"I know what most youths would have done in your place, and been
esteemed never the worse. Dropped the pennon at that first round
blow that brought you to your knee, and called for quarter. Poor
pennon, I deemed it gone, and would have come to your aid, but
before I could recover my feet, the fight was over, and I am glad
the glory is wholly yours. Knighted under a banner in a stricken
field! It is a chance which befalls not one man in five hundred,
and you in your first battle! But he heeds me not. He thinks only
of his brother! Look up, Sir Eustace, 'tis but the chance of war.
Better die under sword and shield, than like a bed-ridden old woman;
better die honoured and lamented, than worn out and forgotten.
Still he has not a word! Yea, and I could weep too for company,
for never lived better Knight, nor one whom Squire had better
cause to love!"






CHAPTER V