than it had yet subtracted from his vigour, he hoped to prove, by
the overthrow of this unknown, that his high renown was owing to the
absence of Milun. After this exploit he meant to go in quest of his son,
whose departure into foreign countries he had lately learnt, and having
obtained the permission of his mistress, embarked for Normandy, and
thence proceeded into Bretagne. The tournaments did not begin till the
festival of Easter; Milun, therefore, who arrived before the end of
winter, spent the interval in travelling from place to place, in
exercising hospitality, and searching out the most meritorious knights,
whom he attached to himself by his liberality. At length the festival
took place, at Mont St. Michel, and was attended by a crowd of French,
Flemish, Norman and Breton, knights, though by very few English. Milun
enquired minutely into the arms and devises of the unknown knight, and
had no difficulty in procuring ample information. The tournament began:
the two rivals separately acquired a manifest superiority, and bore down
all who opposed them, but the opinions of the assembly were divided
between the two. The strength and address of the veteran appeared
invincible, yet the suppleness and activity of the youth attracted still
more admiration. Even Milun himself beheld him with a mixture of wonder
and delight, and summoned all his skill and strength when he rode to
encounter this formidable adversary. His spear was too well-directed to
miss its aim; but it flew into a thousand splinters, while that of the
youth remained entire, and threw him at some distance upon the ground.
By the violence of the shock the ventail of his helmet was broken off,
and displayed his beard and hair, gray with age; when the youth,
bringing back his horse, courteously requested him to remount,
expressing his regret at having, by his accidental victory, sullied the
fame of a respectable veteran. Milun, surveying him with increased
admiration, discovered on his finger, while he held the rein, his own
ring, and earnestly conjured him to relate his history, and the names of
his parents. He obeyed, and was proceeding to tell all he knew, when the
old knight again springing from his horse, and catching him by the
skirts of his coat of mail, hailed him as his son, and received him in
his arms as he dismounted to request the paternal benediction. The
tournament being over, they retired amidst the tears and applauses of
the assembly, and retr