The trumpets sounded and the Cid's three champions leapt upon their impatient destriers, first having made the sign of the Cross upon their saddles. The Infantes of Carrión also mounted, but none so blithely. The marshals or heralds who were to decide the rules of the combat, and give judgment in case of dispute, took their places. Then said King Alfonso: "Hear what I say, Infantes of Carrión. This combat ye should have fought at Toledo, but ye would not, so I have brought these three cavaliers in safety to the land of Carrión. Take your right; seek no wrong: who attempts it, ill betide him." The description of the scene that follows has more than once been compared with Chaucer's description of the combat between Palamon and Arcite in The Knight's Tale, and, as will be seen, a resemblance certainly exists. [34] And now the marshals quit the lists and leave them face to face; Their shields are dressed before their breasts, their lances are in place. Each charger's flank now feels the spur, each helm is bending low, The earth doth shake as horse and man hurl them upon the foe. The echo of their meeting is a sound of meikle dread, And all who hear the deadly shock count them as good as sped. The false Ferrando and Bermuez strike lance on either's shield, The Infant's spear goes through the boss, but the stout shaft doth yield And splinters ere the point can pass thorough the other's mail. But Pero's shaft struck home, nor did the seasoned timber fail; It pierced Ferrando's corselet and sank into his breast, And to the trampled ground there drooped the Infant's haughty crest. Bermuez then drew Tizon's bright blade; ere ever he could smite The Infant yielded him and cried, "Thou hast the victor's right." While this combat was proceeding Antolinez and the other Infante came together. Each of their lances smote the other's shield and splintered. Then, drawing their swords, they rode fiercely against one another. Antolinez, flourishing Colada, struck so mightily at Diego that the good blade shore its way clean through the steel plates of his casque, and even cut half the hair from Diego's head. The terrified princeling wheeled his courser and fled, but Antolinez pursued him with mock fury and struck him across the shoulders with the flat of his sword. So had the hound the chastisement of cowards. As he felt the blade across his withers Diego shrieked aloud and spurred past the boundaries of the lists, thus, according to the rules of the combat, admitting himself vanquished.