rebounded to the air, at which same time the Christian shouted again with them, as if they would have committed a battle with voices, and surely their voices did fight in the wide coasts and shores of the air. This done the Emperors prepared themselves to the fight. [Footnote 79: A kind of foot-soldier.] [Footnote 80: Keen.] [Footnote 81: Brazil wood.] [Footnote 82: Tusks.] CHAPTER XXII _The Combat_ And when they were sworn that neither of them had any magic herb, charm or incantation whereby they might prevail in their fight on their adversary, and had solemnized the accustomable ceremonies in like matters of combat. The Heralds gave their words of encounter, then with loud voice and shrill Trumpets’ courageous blast, whilst all the people were in dead night expecting the demeanour of these renowned Princes. Now we have brought you to behold these two champions, arrived thither with their brave followers, ready to prove their valiance in the face of so great a multitude. Now if you will stand aside lest their ragged spears endamage you, I will give you leave to look through the Lattice, where you shall even now see the two Emperors, with their brave shock, press Doubt betwixt their cruel encounterings. Now you may see the two combatants, or but as yet champions, coming from the ends of the field, the excellent Christian Emperor with incomparable valour, visiting his Horse sides with his spurs, carrying his spear in the rest with an even level, so that the thundering of the brave Steed presaged ye dint[83] of the great thunder-clap. When Ali Chan, gently galloping with his huge beast, came forward with more swift pace still as he drew nearer to the Emperor. All this while you may behold them hastening in their course, like as you see two great waves galloping from the corners of the sea driven by contrary winds, meeting together by long random, to make the neighbours’ shores to quake and dimmed with their boisterous career. The Emperor being now with his greatest fury ready to fasten his lance upon his adversary, and his adversary ready to fasten his Javelin on him, when the Turk suddenly stepped aside, and the Emperor thrusted his void lance into the Air, (for he mought easily do it), for though the Elephant be but low, yet he was higher than his horse by a yard, and yet his horse was the fairest and tallest to be found in all Christendom, so that needs he must lay his spear in an uneven height to break it on him. Suddenly ye Turk stopped and with his nimble Beast followed the Emperor as he had fled, whereat all the whole army of Turks shouted horribly clapping their hands, and the Christian stood still in great silence, struck with just wonder of this strange Quiddity[84] in combat, and ere the Emperor could make his stop with a short turn, the Turk had hit him upon the shoulder with his Javelin, which being denied entrance, for very anger rent itself in forty pieces, and chid[85] in the Air till they broke