TILT A L'OUTRANCK. 65 



claration of accusation and defiance. These last words were uttered 

 by Jacques Legris in a firm, sonorous voice, while the Sire de 

 Carrouges, whose body seemed to tremble, articulated them in a hesi- 

 tating tone. 



" Gossip," said Sebastian Quimbel to Marcoquet in a whisper, 

 " methinks the Sire de Carrouges would rather be in his orchard at 

 Capomesnil, than at such a feast as this. The poor man seems to 

 tremble and shake like a dry nut in its shell." ' Don't think, how- 

 ever," replied Marcoquet, " that he is tainted with fear or cowardice, 

 for fame gives him the reputation of a renowned and noble knight; 

 but they say he suffers from a fever which he caught in Scotland, 

 and perhaps at this moment he may have an access of the disease." 

 " Methinks, then," said the squire,, " that in this case the joust out to 

 be deferred." "I have always heard," answered the host, <f that 

 three causes alone can arrest the course of the combat leprosy, the 

 falling sickness, or madness ; but even these cannot excuse the 

 appellant, since by him the gage of battle has been required. The 

 champions ought, besides, to be sound men to defend their bodies in 

 good earnest ; but if one has a broken arm or is blind, the other 

 must tie his arm behind his back, or have an eye bandaged, to render 

 the match equal. But in all likelihood the poor knight will soon be 

 cured of all his ills, for see, he issues on horseback from his tent, which 

 the poursuivants remove outside the lists." 



The Baron de Ners, and the Sire Ambrose de Lore having now 

 declared that they had redeemed their respective pledges by pro- 

 ducing the champions in the field, were released from their guaran- 

 tee, and with the Marshal and his attendants retired from the lists, 

 leaving the space free for the combatants. While they waited for 

 the order from the king to begin the combat, each knight holding his 

 lance elevated in the air, turned round to gaze the Sire de Carrouges 

 on his lady, and Jacques Legris on one of the galleries where it 

 was said his mistress sat to witness his valour. The marshal of the 

 field, having at length received the king's commands, approached the 

 barrier, and raising his baton, threw his gauntlet into the lists, and 

 cried with a loud voice " Laissez aller !" three several times. At this 

 signal the knights, who had already taken up their ground, dashed 

 the rowels in their steeds and spurred eagerly towards each other, 

 but without taking much effect their lances glanced aside and they 

 careered through the field. A silence so profound reigned through- 

 out the lists and amid the galleries, that the paces of the horses 

 might have been counted, and the clock of St. Dennis at that moment 

 striking the hour, it was heard as distinctly as if on the parois of the 

 abbey. A second time the champions prepared for the onset, and in 

 this shock they encountered so rudely that their horses staggered 

 beneath them. At the third encounter the sparkles of fire flew from 

 their helms and shields, so fierce was the encounter ; and at the fourth, 

 the lance of the Sire de Carrouges pierced the acton of Jacques 

 Legris, while the latter unhelmed the Sire de Carrouges, with such 

 violence, that the blood gushed from his nostrils ; the shock was so 

 tremendous that both horses reared upright, and the saddles of the 

 knights remained empty, while the riders rolled upon the plain. 



M.M. No. 91. K 



