Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/636

 198 to bow down to you, lord, and become acquainted, for no one respects famous knights more than he does."

Then he nodded to De Lorche, who had come near, and he, having asked previously who the knight was with whom Zbyshko was conversing, approached hurriedly, for indeed he had flushed up with desire to know a man so famous as Povala.

When Zbyshko had made them acquainted, the polished knight of Guelders bowed with the utmost elegance, and added,—

"There could be only one greater honor beyond pressing your hand, and that would be to meet you within barriers, or in battle."

At this the strong knight of Tachev smiled, for near the slender and small De Lorche he looked like a mountain.

"But l am glad," said he, "that we shall meet at full cups only; God grant never elsewhere!"

De Lorche hesitated somewhat, and then answered as if with a certain timidity,—

"But shouldst thou assert, noble lord, that the damsel Yagenka of Dlugolyas is not the most beautiful and most virtuous lady on earth, it would be for me a great honor—to contradict, and—"

Here he stopped and looked into the eyes of Povala with respect, nay, even with homage, but quickly and with attention.

Povala, whether it was because he knew that he could crush De Lorche with two fingers, as he might a nut, or because he had a soul which was immensely kind and gladsome, laughed aloud and said,—

"On a time I made a vow to the Princess of Burgundy, and she in those days was ten years older than I; but if you, sir, wish to assert that my princess is not older than your damsel Yagenka, we shall have to take to horse straightway."

When he heard this, De Lorche looked in amazement for a while at the lord of Tachev, then his face began to quiver, and at last he burst into kindly laughter.

Povala bent forward, put one arm around De Lorche's body, then raised him from the ground and swayed him back and forth as easily as if the man had been an infant.

"Pax! pax! as Bishop Kropidlo says!" exclaimed Povala. "You have pleased me, knight, and as God is true we will never fight for any lady."