arrived on the scene, and threatened the populace with a switch
which he held in his hand. The crowd drew back, and the knight
advanced and said quietly to his lady: "My lady, this bird, which
is so perfectly moulted and so fair, should be yours as your just
portion; for you are wondrous fair and full of charm. Yours it
shall surely be so long as I live. Step forward, my dear, and
lift the hawk from the perch." The damsel was on the point of
stretching forth her hand when Erec hastened to challenge her,
little heeding the other's arrogance. "Damsel," he cries, "stand
back! Go dally with some other bird, for to this one you have no
right. In spite of all, I say this hawk shall never be yours.
For a better one than you claims it--aye, much more fair and
more courteous." The other knight is very wroth; but Erec does
not mind him, and bids his own maiden step forward. "Fair one."
he cries, "come forth. Lift the bird from the perch, for it is
right that you should have it. Damsel, come forth! For I will
make boast to defend it if any one is so bold as to intervene.
For no woman excels you in beauty or worth, in grace or honour
any more than the moon outshines the sun." The other could
suffer it no longer, when he hears him so manfully offer himself
to do battle. "Vassal," he cries, "who art thou who dost thus
dispute with me the hawk?" Erec boldly answers him: "A knight I
am from another land. This hawk I have come to obtain; for it is
right, I say it in spite of all, that this damsel of mine should
have it." "Away!" cries the other, "it shall never be. Madness
has brought thee here. If thou dost wish to have the hawk, thou
shalt pay fight dearly for it." "Pay, vassal; and how?" "Thou
must fight with me, if thou dost not resign it to me." "You talk
madness," cries Erec; "for me these are idle threats; for little
enough do I fear you." "Then I defy thee here and now. The