Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/318

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306
OF THE DISCOMFITURE

the wonderful occurrence, before alluded to; and our knight, not satisfied with the report, determined to prove the truth of what he had heard, before he implicitly trusted it. Accompanied, therefore, by a squire of noble blood, he hastened to the spot, armed in a coat of mail. He ascended the mount, and then dismissing his attendant, entered the plain. He shouted, and an antagonist, accoutred at all points, met him in an instant. What followed? Extending their shields, and directing their lances at each other, the steeds were driven to the attaint; and both the knights shaken by the career. Their lances brake, but from the slipperiness of the armour, the blow did not take effect[1]. Albert, however, so resolutely pressed his adversary, that he fell; and rising immediately, beheld Albert making a prize of his horse. On which, seizing the broken lance, he cast it in the manner of a missile weapon, and cruelly wounded Albert in the thigh. Our knight, overjoyed at his victory, either felt not the

  1. "Ictuque evanescenti per lubricum."