第65章

``Nay，’’saidtheFriar，``ifthoudostretractvowsmadeinfavourofholyChurch，thoumustdopenance。’’

Accordingly，heraisedhishalberd，andwouldhavelaidthestaffofitlustilyontheJew’sshoulders，hadnottheBlackKnightstoppedtheblow，andtherebytransferredtheHolyClerk’sresentmenttohimself。

``BySaintThomasofKent，’’saidhe，``anI

buckletomygear，Iwillteachthee，sirlazylover，tomellwiththineownmatters，maugrethineironcasethere！’’

``Nay，benotwrothwithme，’’saidtheKnight；

``thouknowestIamthyswornfriendandcomrade。’’

``Iknownosuchthing，’’answeredtheFriar；

``anddefytheeforameddlingcoxcomb！’’

``Nay，but，’’saidtheKnight，whoseemedtotakeapleasureinprovokinghisquondamhost，``hastthouforgottenhow，thatformysake(forI

saynothingofthetemptationoftheflagonandthepasty)thoudidstbreakthyvowoffastandvigil?’’

``Truly，friend，’’saidtheFriar，clenchinghishugefist，``Iwillbestowabuffetonthee。’’

``Iacceptofnosuchpresents，’’saidtheKnight；

``Iamcontenttotakethycuff*asaloan，butIwill*NoteG。RichardCur-de-Lion。

repaytheewithusuryasdeepaseverthyprisonerthereexactedinhistraffic。’’

``Iwillprovethatpresently，’’saidtheFriar。

``Hola！’’criedtheCaptain，``whatartthouafter，madFriar?brawlingbeneathourTrysting-tree?’’

``Nobrawling，’’saidtheKnight，``itisbutafriendlyinterchangeofcourtesy——Friar，strikeanthoudarest——Iwillstandthyblow，ifthouwiltstandmine。’’

``Thouhasttheadvantagewiththatironpotonthyhead，’’saidthechurchman；``buthaveatthee——Downthougoest，anthouwertGoliathofGathinhisbrazenhelmet。’’

TheFriarbaredhisbrawnyarmuptotheelbow，andputtinghisfullstrengthtotheblow，gavetheKnightabuffetthatmighthavefelledanox。Buthisadversarystoodfirmasarock。Aloudshoutwasutteredbyalltheyeomenaround；fortheClerk’scuffwasproverbialamongstthem，andtherewerefewwho，injestorearnest，hadnothadtheoccasiontoknowitsvigour。

``Now，Priest，’’said，theKnight，pullingoffhisgauntlet，``ifIhadvantageonmyhead，Iwillhavenoneonmyhand——standfastasatrueman。’’

``_Genammeamdedivapulatori_——Ihavegivenmycheektothesmiter，’’saidthePriest；``anthoucanststirmefromthespot，fellow，IwillfreelybestowontheetheJew’sransom。’’

SospoketheburlyPriest，assuming，onhispart，highdefiance。Butwhomayresisthisfate?ThebuffetoftheKnightwasgivenwithsuchstrengthandgood-will，thattheFriarrolledheadoverheelsupontheplain，tothegreatamazementofallthespectators。Buthearoseneitherangrynorcrestfallen。

``Brother，’’saidhetotheKnight，``thoushouldsthav