第24章

DeBracy，andotherknightsattachedtoPrinceJohn，inobediencetoahintfromhim，hadjoinedthepartyofthechallengers，Johnbeingdesiroustosecure，ifpossible，thevictorytothatside。Ontheotherhand，manyotherknights，bothEnglishandNorman，nativesandstrangers，tookpartagainstthechallengers，themorereadilythattheoppositebandwastobeledbysodistinguishedachampionastheDisinheritedKnighthadapprovedhimself。

AssoonasPrinceJohnobservedthatthedestinedQueenofthedayhadarriveduponthefield，assumingthatairofcourtesywhichsatwelluponhimwhenhewaspleasedtoexhibitit，herodeforwardtomeether，doffedhisbonnet，and，alightingfromhishorse，assistedtheLadyRowenafromhersaddle，whilehisfollowersuncoveredatthesametime，andoneofthemostdistinguisheddismountedtoholdherpalfrey。

``Itisthus，’’saidPrinceJohn，``thatwesetthedutifulexampleofloyaltytotheQueenofLoveandBeauty，andareourselvesherguidetothethronewhichshemustthisdayoccupy——Ladies，’’

hesaid，``attendyourQueen，asyouwishinyourturntobedistinguishedbylikehonours。’’

Sosaying，thePrincemarshalledRowenatotheseatofhonouroppositehisown，whilethefairestandmostdistinguishedladiespresentcrowdedafterhertoobtainplacesasnearaspossibletotheirtemporarysovereign。

NosoonerwasRowenaseated，thanaburstofmusic，half-drownedbytheshoutsofthemultitude，greetedhernewdignity。Meantime，thesunshonefierceandbrightuponthepolishedarmsoftheknightsofeitherside，whocrowdedtheoppositeextremitiesofthelists，andheldeagerconferencetogetherconcerningthebestmodeofarrangingtheirlineofbattle，andsupportingtheconflict。

Theheraldsthenproclaimedsilenceuntilthelawsofthetourneyshouldberehearsed。Thesewerecalculatedinsomedegreetoabatethedangersoftheday；aprecautionthemorenecessary，astheconflictwastobemaintainedwithsharpswordsandpointedlances。

Thechampionswerethereforeprohibitedtothrustwiththesword，andwereconfinedtostriking。

Aknight，itwasannounced，mightuseamaceorbattle-axeatpleasure，butthedaggerwasaprohibitedweapon。Aknightunhorsedmightrenewthefightonfootwithanyotherontheoppositesideinthesamepredicament；butmountedhorsemenwereinthatcaseforbiddentoassailhim。

Whenanyknightcouldforcehisantagonisttotheextremityofthelists，soastotouchthepalisadewithhispersonorarms，suchopponentwasobligedtoyieldhimselfvanquished，andhisarmourandhorsewereplacedatthedisposaloftheconqueror。

Aknightthusovercomewasnotpermittedtotakefarthershareinthecombat。Ifanycombatantwasstruckdown，andunabletorecoverhisfeet，hissquireorpagemightenterthelists，anddraghismasteroutofthepress；butinthatcasetheknightwasadjudgedvanquished，andhisarmsandhorsedeclaredforfeited。ThecombatwastoceaseassoonasPrinceJohnshouldthrowdownhisleadingstaff，ortruncheon；anotherprecautionusuallytakentopreventtheunnecessaryeffusionofbloodbythetoolongenduranceofasportsodesperate。

Anyknightbreakingtherulesofthetournament，orotherwisetransgressingtherulesofhonourablechivalry，wasliabletobestriptofhisarms，and，havinghisshieldreversedtobeplacedinthatpostureastrideuponthebarsofthepalisade，andexposedtopublicderision，inpunishmentofhisunknightlyconduct。Havingannouncedtheseprecautions，theheraldsconcludedwithanexhortationtoeachgoodknighttodohisduty，andtomeritfavourfromtheQueenofBeautyandofLove。

Thisproclamationhavingbeenmade，theheraldswithdrewtotheirstations。Theknights，enteringateitherendofthelistsinlongprocession，arrangedthemselvesinadoublefile，preciselyoppositetoeachother，theleaderofeachpartybeinginthecentreoftheforemostrank，apostwhichhedidnotoccupyuntileachhadcarefullymarshalledtheranksofhisparty，andstationedeveryoneinhisplace。

Itwasagoodly，andatthesametimeananxious，sight，tobeholdsomanygallantchampions，mountedbravely，andarmedrichly，standreadypreparedforanencountersoformidable，seatedontheirwar-saddleslikesomanypillarsofiro