Beyond the town of Aix a plain extends: And here our Barons will the combat try. Most valiant knights are both; the steeds they ride Are swift and stout; with spurs in flanks, and freed Of rein, they dash.--The warriors all their might And skill unite to strike the surest blow. Bucklers beneath the shock are torn and crushed, White hauberks rent in shreds, asunder bursts Each courser's girth, the saddles, turning, fall. One hundred thousand men look weeping on.... Aoi. CCLXXXIV. Both knights leap on the earth, and, quick as light, Stand face to face.--Strong, fiery Pinabel And Tierri for each other seek. Their steeds Are fled.--But their gold-hilted swords they wield; And on the helms of steel they shower such blows As rashed the thongs. Loudly the knights lament, And Carle exclaims:--"Show thou the right, O God!" Aoi. CCLXXXV. Cried Pinabel:--"Tierri, surrender thou! Thy vassal I will be in faith and love, And to thy pleasure will I yield my wealth; But let the King forgive Count Ganelon!" Tierri replied:--"Thy offers all are vain; Vile treason were it such a pact to make; But God shall judge us and make plain the right." Aoi. CCLXXXVI. Then Tierri spake:--"I hold thee, Pinabel, As Baron true, great, strong, of handsome mold; Thy peers acknowledge thee as valiant knight; Well, let this combat cease, between the King And thee a covenant I will strive to make. On Ganelon such justice shall be done That future ages shall record the doom." They grasp again their swords and hew Each other's gold-encrusted helm with rage So rash that sparkling fires spurt through the air. No power will now disjoint the combatants: The death of one can only close the strife. Aoi. CCLXXXVII. No braver man than Pinabel.--Such blows He deals on Tierri's helmet of Provence, That the sparks fly in showers, and, falling, set The grass ablaze. Then aiming at his foe His keen-edged brand, down to the brow cuts through His helm; the blade glides down across his face, And plows his right cheek with a deep red gash; Unto his stomach is the haubert rent, But God protects him, and averts his death. Aoi. CCLXXXVIII. Tierri, on seeing blood gush from his brow And tinge the grassy field, strikes Pinabel On his steel-burnished helmet, and cuts through To the nose-plate. His head is cleft in twain And gushes forth the brain. This fatal blow Gives Pinabel his death, and ends the fight. The French exclaim:--"O wondrous work of God! Full right it is that Ganelon be hanged With all his kin who sureties were for him!" Aoi. CCLXXXIX.