But the Lord of Utterbol cried out:
"Bring forth some one who doth not eat my meat for nothing:
and set that wretch and dastard aside till the tilting be over,
and then he shall pay a little for his wasted meat and drink."
Ralph got into his saddle again, and saw a very big man
come forth at the other end of the lists, and wondered
if he should be overthrown of him; but noted that his horse
seemed not over good. Then the horn blew up and he spurred on,
and his foeman met him fairly in the midmost of the lists:
yet he laid his spear but ill, and as one who would thrust
and foin with it rather than letting it drive all it might,
so that Ralph turned the point with his shield that it
glanced off, but he himself smote the other full on
the shoulder, and the shaft brake, but the point had pierced
the man's armour, and the truncheon stuck in the wound:
yet since the spear was broken he kept his saddle.
The Lord cried out, "Well, Black Anselm, this is better done;
yet art thou a big man and a well-skilled to be beaten
by a stripling."
So the man was helped away and Ralph went back to his place again.
Then another man was gotten to run against Ralph, and it went
the same-like way: for Ralph smote him amidst of the shield,
and the spear held, so that he fell floundering off his horse.
Six of the stoutest men of Utterbol did Ralph overthrow or hurt
in this wise; and then he ran three courses with Otter,
and in the first two each brake his spear fairly on the other;
but in the third Otter smote not Ralph squarely, but Ralph smote
full amidst of his shield, and so dight him that he well-nigh fell,
and could not master his horse, but yet just barely kept his saddle.
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