forgotten in the very land which they occupied, with all the authority
of feudal proprietors and feudal lords. What, then, would it avail the reader to
know their names, or the evanescent symbols of their martial rank?
    Now, however, no whit anticipating the oblivion which awaited their names
and feats, the champions advanced through the lists, restraining their fiery
steeds, and compelling them to move slowly, while, at the same time, they
exhibited their paces, together with the grace and dexterity of the riders. As
the procession entered the lists, the sound of a wild Barbaric music was heard
from behind the tents of the challengers, where the performers were concealed.
It was of Eastern origin, having been brought from the Holy Land; and the
mixture of the cymbals and bells seemed to bid welcome at once, and defiance, to
the knights as they advanced. With the eyes of an immense concourse of
spectators fixed upon them, the five knights advanced up the platform upon which
the tents of the challengers stood, and there separating themselves, each
touched slightly, and with the reverse of his lance, the shield of the
antagonist to whom he wished to oppose himself. The lower orders of spectators
in general - nay, many of the higher class, and it is even said several of the
ladies, were rather disappointed at the champions choosing the arms of courtesy.
For the same sort of persons, who, in the present day, applaud most highly the
deepest tragedies, were then interested in a tournament exactly in proportion to
the danger incurred by the champions engaged.
    Having intimated their more pacific purpose, the champions retreated to the
extremity of the lists, where they remained drawn up in a line; while the
challengers, sallying each from his pavilion, mounted their horses, and, headed
by Brian de Bois-Guilbert, descended from the platform, and opposed themselves
individually to the knights who had touched their respective shields.
    At the flourish of clarions and trumpets, they started out against each
other at full gallop; and such was the superior dexterity or good fortune of the
challengers, that those opposed to Bois-Guilbert, Malvoisin, and Front-de-Boeuf,
rolled on the ground. The antagonist of Grantmesnil, instead of bearing his
lance-point fair against the crest or the shield of his enemy, swerved so much
from the direct line as to break the weapon athwart the person of his opponent -
a circumstance which was accounted more disgraceful than that of being actually
unhorsed; because the latter might happen from accident, whereas the former
evinced awkwardness and want of management