n
was never more than this. To such relations with her he will for ever be
condemned if indeed he can lead her to his own land; but before he can
get her to safety, I judge that there is trouble in store for him. For
while he is on his journey home, the duke, to whom his bride had been
betrothed, will appear upon the scene. The duke gathered a numerous
force, and garrisoned the frontiers, while at court he had his spies to
inform him each day of the emperor's doings and preparations, and how
long they are going to stay, and by what route they intend to return.
The emperor did not tarry long after the marriage, but left Cologne in
high spirits. The German emperor escorted him with a numerous company,
fearing and dreading the force of the Duke of Saxony.

(Vv. 3395-3424.) The two emperors pursued their journey until they were
beyond Regensburg, where one evening they were encamped in a meadow by
the Danube. The Greeks were in their tents in the fields bordering upon
the Black Forest. Opposite to them the Saxons were lodged, spying
upon them. The duke's nephew stood alone upon a hill, whence he could
reconnoitre for a chance to inflict some loss or harm on the enemy.
From that point of vantage he espied Cliges with three of his young men
disporting themselves with lances and shields, eager for a conflict and
shock of arms. If he could get the chance the duke's nephew would gladly
attack them and do them harm. Starting out with five companions he
concealed them in a valley close by a wood, so that the Greeks never saw
them until they emerged from the valley; then the duke's nephew made an
attack, and striking Cliges, wounded him slightly in the back. Cliges,
bending over, avoids the lance which passed him, inflicting only a
slight hurt.

(Vv. 3425-3570.) When Cliges felt himself wounded, he charged the youth,
and struck him with such force that he drove his lance quite through his
heart, and stretched him dead. Then all the Saxons in fear of him betook
themselves to flight through the woods. And Cliges, ignorant of the
ambuscade, courageously but imprudently leaving his companions behind,
pursues them to the place where the duke's troops were in force
preparing to attack the Greeks. Alone he goes in hot pursuit after the
youths, who, in despair over their lord whom they had lost, come running
to the duke and tell him weeping of his nephew's death. The duke saw
no joke in this affair; and, swearing by God and all His saints