Arthur vs fish knight

It was not long at all before they saw approaching on horseback far off the most hideous knight who could ever be seen, causing a commotion around him as great as any storm. They saw people fleeing before him in every direction to such an extent that when the dwarf and the damsel spotted the knight, they were also struck with fear and started to flee. And no wonder too; for his horse was as big as an Elephant, and the knight was as large as was needed to ride upon it. He approached, shouting so loudly that the mere sound of his yelling caused the rocks, trees, and the earth to resound all around him. When the parrot saw his dwarf and the damsel fleeing, he believed that he was about to die there, and so he cried: "Dwarf, do not leave me here to die! Remember the high honors which have come to you in foreign lands because of me!" But the dwarf wished only to escape, he in one direction and the damsel in another, for they were so overwhelmed by great fear that they felt they could not manage to stay together.

When the parrot lost his dwarf and could not see where he was any more, he began to entreat the knight to let him fly out of his cage in order to find a high perch on some tree so that the devil could not kill him. But the knight laughed and cried: "Parrot, have you so quickly forgotten the song which you began a while back? Remember it and do not be afraid; for we shall both sing it again tonight, if it pleases God, in our lodgings.

While both the parrot and his knight were speaking in this manner, there approached the creature who was the most hideous thing that mortal man could ever see! When the knight saw him coming, he crossed himself and commended himself to God and then went forward bravely to meet him, his shield at his neck and his lance in hand; and so they lunged head-on against each other without speaking a word. The Knight of the Parrot struck him with such great force that he pierced both the shield and the hauberk and put a part of the wood of his lance in his body. But the devil struck back at him with such a blow that, were he not protected by his shield, which made the blow glance off, the knight would have been in danger; but God protected him from it. The parrot, when he saw his knight survive the first encounter, was much encouraged, although he still did not feel like singing.

After the knights completed the first charge of the joust, they unsheathed their swords and struck mighty blows on each other's helm. The Knight of the Parrot was trained in fencing and knew how to turn and hold his guard, as he proved there, for he fought without a shield with the greatest monster ever seen anywhere. Know then that he was so noble that every blow he planned landed on the helmet of his opponent. Also, the Knight of the Parrot took great care to keep his own helmet safe, for he knew only too well he would surely die if the other struck even one blow upon it. When he hit his opponent's shield, the Knight of the Parrot saw hot, red blood gush forth, which made him marvel greatly, for he was not aware of having struck anything other than wood or iron. Again, he was careful to take aim and strike the arm that wielded the sword, and he measured the thing well and dealt the knight many arm blows. So the dangerous battle lasted two-thirds of the afternoon until sunset. At that time the Knight of the Parrot wounded that devil, for he cut off his right arm, which was holding his sword. Immediately, the parrot began to sing: "Who is it who has delivered me from the fear I have known?"

When the Knight of the Parrot heard him, he began laughing and felt encouraged, and continued to strike his opponent on the helm, shield, and hauberk. From each place where he struck, there poured out so much blood that it was a marvel to see how the knight could endure it all. Finally, that one was so weakened by this loss of blood and the loss of his right arm that he could hold the field no longer, and so he fled, as fast as his horse could carry him, toward his stronghold. The Knight of the Parrot gave him hot pursuit, striking him wherever he could, and so greatly weakened him further that he could no longer hold himself erect, but fell to the ground hke one in the grips of death; and he fought with death so hard that, if the Knight of the Parrot had not pulled back a bit, this last struggle could have been far worse than the first. But prudent judgment was worth more then than prowess, and so the Knight of the Parrot reined in his horse and fell back a little, since he saw that his opponent could not get up again. From a distance, he observed a feat that was one of the greatest marvels in the world, for the opposing knight ferociously cut down more than twenty trees, so big that four oxen would have had their work cut out to drag the thinnest away; and the knight moaned so loudly all the while that he caused the entire land about him to resound. The palfrey of the parrot, frightened by the murmurings of the trees, went straight over to the destrier of his knight, but the adversary expired and was dead.

When the Knight of the Parrot saw his opponent no longer moving, he went over to study the workmanship of his harness. He found him astride his horse, just as he was when alive, and studied his arms, which looked smoked and black. After he had looked him all over, he took hold of his helmet in order to see how light it was, inasmuch as it was so huge, and he found it to be hot to the touch. Afterwards, when he wanted to remove the helmet, he was amazed to find that he could not do so. After examining it well, he discovered that the helmet was held fast to the head and that everything was all of one piece-that the head was made like a helmet all round, and the leather on the oustide was black and very much like the skin of a snake. The hauberk was also the same, except that it seemed to be made of mail on the outside, just like any other hauberk. The Knight of the Parrot studied the dead knight so carefully that he soon discovered that the knight, destrier, hauberk, helmet, shield, sword, and lance were all one and the same thing. He marveled greatly at what had happened to the knight and wondered where he came from. After he looked the body all over, he turned to the direction where he first had seen the knight come from, chasing the palfrey that carried his parrot. He discovered the trail of the Beauty Without Villainy, and he rode off furiously, both he and his parrot, for fear that night would overtake them.
They had scarcely gone far along the road when they met four knights on four good destriers, armed at all points, whom the gracious fay had dispatched to assist the Knight of the Parrot. These recognized him, for the dwarf and the damsel, whom they had encountered, had told them at length about his adventure and the palfrey that carried the cage in which the parrot was to be found. When they came up to him, they greeted him gaily and with great honor, as he did them. Then they asked him about the huge knight, and he told them about the adventure from start to finish. No one could ever tell you about the joy and happiness the knights displayed when they heard that the wicked knight was dead. After they had sufficiently disported, they asked the Knight of the Parrot to lead them to where the battle had taken place, so that they could see the one who had been so feared by the people of the district.
After they had their fill of looking around, they left the place happy and joyous, and made their way toward the city. They were quite amazed that this young knight was endowed with such courage and prowess. They asked the Knight of the Parrot to please allow one of their number to go on ahead of them to bring the news to the lady. He told them they could do as they wished. So one of them made a dash for the city, riding as fast as his horse could carry him. On reaching the city, he found his lady in the middle of the palace and recounted the adventure of the Knight of the Parrot from start to finish. No one can ever describe how happy the lady was from it all!
Quickly she had silken draperies, all very richly worked in gold, taken from her chambers, and she commanded the palace to be decked out with them.
Then she mounted on a mule, fully caparisoned and covered by a rich silken cloth. She ordered the barons, knights, ladies, and damsels to mount also, and commanded that all the people of the city should go out in a procession with a cross to meet the best knight in all the world, who had delivered them from the knight who had ravaged the land and its people. She commanded that all the bells of the city should ring, and everyone did as she bade, and more. They all streamed out of the city, on horse and on foot, and they had not gone too far when they met the Knight of the Parrot and his party, who were giving him much praise.
When the Knight of the Parrot saw the procession, he dismounted before the cross; but the noise of the instruments, and the bravos and gaiety were so great that not even the thunder of God could have been heard then. In order to do him more honor, the lady herself dismounted, as did the others, and they all said with one voice: "Well met are you, who today have proved to be the best knight that may be found in all the world of chivalry!" He thanked the lady and the assembly for all the honor they were bestowing on him. Then the lady remounted, as did all the barony, and they made their way toward the city with great joy and delight. The Knight of the Parrot and the lady rode side by side—the lady on her mule and the Knight of the Parrot on a palfrey white as snow, which the lady had given him when she had greeted him. At his order, a squire carried his helmet and shield while another led his destrier on his right.

In the Amorous City, the feasting and the clamor of both the humble and the great was so spectacular that no one could ever hope to describe it to you. None could get their fill of looking at the Knight of the Parrot; in great joy, they had him dismount at the foot of the palace, and they led him up into the hall where they removed his armor with honor. When they had relieved him of his arms, they dressed him in a cloak made of costly silk cloth which the lady had sent to him. Then the Beauty Without Villainy came before him, together with two other damsels of her company, and obtained his pardon, after she very sweetly pleaded with him, for having fled with the dwarf. They conversed with one another until it was time to take supper.


Knight of the Parrot