train of
unseemly jests were ready to follow. But Froda answered so firmly and
seriously with a negative that the Bohemian stopped short suddenly;
as when the beasts, after venturing to mock their king, the lion, are
subdued to quietness by one glance of his eye. But not so easily was
the Bohemian knight subdued; rather the more did he begin to mock young
Edwald for his delicate form and for his silence--all which he bore for
some time with great patience; but when at last the stranger used an
unbecoming phrase, he arose, girded on his sword, and bowing gracefully,
he said, "I thank you, Sir Knight, that you have given me this
opportunity of proving that I am neither a slothful nor unpractised
knight; for only thus can your behaviour be excused, which otherwise
must be deemed most unmannerly. Are you ready?"

With these words he moved towards the door; the Bohemian knight
followed, smiling scornfully; while Froda was full of care for his young
and slender companion, although his honour was so dear to him that he
could in no way interpose.

But it soon appeared how needless were the northman's fears. With equal
vigour and address did Edwald assault his gigantic adversary, so that to
look upon, it was almost like one of those combats between a knight and
some monster of the forest, of which ancient legends tell. The issue,
too, was not unlike. While the Bohemian was collecting himself for a
decisive stroke Edwald rushed in upon him, and, with the force of a
wrestler, cast him to the ground. But he spared his conquered foe,
helped him courteously to rise, and then turned to mount his own steed.
Soon after he and Froda left the hostelry, and once more their journey
led them on the same path as before.

"From henceforth this gives me pleasure," said Froda, pointing with
satisfaction to their common road. "I must own to you, Edchen"--he had
accustomed himself, in loving confidence, to call his young friend
by that childlike name--"I must own to you that hitherto, when I have
thought that you might perhaps be journeying with me to the tournament
held in honour of the fair Hildegardis, a heaviness came over my heart.
Your noble knightly spirit I well knew, but I feared lest the strength
of your slender limbs might not be equal to it. Now I have learned to
know you as a warrior who may long seek his match; and God be praised if
we still hold on in the same path, and welcome our earliest meeting in
the lists!"

But Edwald lo