Small Catechism 第19章

Knightsputontheirrattlingarmour，war-horsesbegantoneigh，themorningdraughtwentroundingoldandsilvergoblets，whilewar-songsandtheclangofharpsresoundedinthemidst.AjoyousmarchwasheardinBiornscamp，asMontfaucon，withhistroopsandretainers，cladinbrightsteelarmour，conductedtheirladyuptoaneighbouringhill，whereshewouldbesafefromthespearswhichwouldsoonbeflyinginalldirections，andwhenceshecouldlookfreelyoverthebattle-field.Themorningsun，asitwereinhomage，playedoverherbeauty;andasshecameinviewofthecampofJarlEric，hissoldiersloweredtheirweapons，whilstthechieftainsbentlowthecrestsoftheirhugehelmets.TwoofMontfauconspagesremainedinattendanceonGabrielle;forsonobleaservicenotunwillinglybridlingtheirloveoffighting.Botharmiespassedinfrontofher，salutingherandsingingastheywent;theythenplacedthemselvesinarray，andthefightbegan.

Thespearsflewfromthehandsofthestoutnorthernwarriors，rattlingagainstthebroadshieldsunderwhichtheyshelteredthemselves，orsometimesclatteringastheymetintheair;atintervals，ononesideortheother，amanwasstruck，andfellsilentinhisblood.ThentheKnightofMontfauconadvancedwithhistroopofNormanhorsemen--evenashedashedpast，hedidnotfailtolowerhisshiningswordtosaluteGabrielle;andthenwithanexultingwar-cry，whichburstfrommanyavoice，theychargedtheleftwingoftheenemy.Ericsfoot-soldiers，kneelingfirmly，receivedthemwithfixedjavelins--manyanoblehorsefellwoundedtodeath，andinfallingbroughthisriderwithhimtotheground;othersagaincrushedtheirfoesunderthemintheirdeath-fall.

Folkorushedthrough--heandhiswar-steedunwounded--followedbyatroopofchosenknights.Alreadyweretheyfallingintodisorder--alreadywereBiornswarriorsgivingshoutsofvictory--whenatroopofhorse，headedbyJarlErichimself，advancedagainstthevaliantbaron;andwhilsthisNormans，hastilyassembled，assistedhiminrepellingthisnewattack，theenemysinfantryweregraduallyformingthemselvesintoathickmass，whichrolledonandon.Allthesemovementsseemedcausedbyawarriorwhoseloudpiercingshoutwasinthemidst.Andscarcelywerethetroopsformedintothisstrangearray，whensuddenlytheyspreadthemselvesoutonallsides，carryingeverythingbeforethemwiththeirresistibleforceoftheburningtorrentfromHecla.

Biornssoldiers，whohadthoughttoenclosetheirenemies，lostcourageandgavewaybeforethiswondrousonset.Theknighthimselfinvainattemptedtostemthetideoffugitives，andwithdifficultyescapedbeingcarriedawaybyit.

Sintramstoodlookingonthissceneofconfusionwithmuteindignation;friendsandfoespassedbyhim，allequallyavoidinghim，anddreadingtocomeincontactwithonewhoseaspectwassofearful，nay，almostunearthly，inhismotionlessrage.Heaimednobloweithertorightorleft;hispowerfulbattle-axerestedinhishand;buthiseyesflashedfire，andseemedtobepiercingtheenemysranksthroughandthrough，asifhewouldfindoutwhoitwasthathadconjuredupthissuddenwarlikespirit.Hesucceeded.Asmallmanclothedinstrange-lookingarmour，withlargegoldenhornsonhishelmet，andalongvisoradvancinginfrontofit，wasleaningonatwo-edgedcurvedspear，andseemedtobelookingwithderisionattheflightofBiornstroopsastheywerepursuedbytheirvictoriousfoes."Thatishe，"criedSintram;"hewhowilldriveusfromthefieldbeforetheeyesofGabrielle!"Andwiththeswiftnessofanarrowheflewtowardshimwithawildshout.Thecombatwasfierce，butnotoflongduration.Tothewondrousdexterityofhisadversary，Sintramopposedhisfarsuperiorsize;andhedealtsofearfulablowonthehornedhelmet，thatastreamofbloodrushedforth，thesmallmanfellasifstunned，andaftersomefrightfulconvulsivemovements，hislimbsappearedtostiffenindeath.

HisfallgavethesignalforthatofallEricsarmy.Eventhosewhohadnotseenhimfall，suddenlylosttheircourageandeagernessforthebattle，andretreatedwithuncertainsteps，orraninwildaffrightonthespearsoftheirenemies.AtthesametimeMontfauconwasdispersingJarlEricscavalry，afteradesperateconflict--hadhurledtheirchieffromthesaddle，andtakenhimprisonerwithhisownhand.BiornoftheFieryEyesstoodvictoriousinthemiddleofthefieldofbattle.Thedaywaswon.