A certain Englishman, when he saw a lone man out of so many thousands move off at a distance, juggling with his sword, was fired with the ardour proper to a soldier's heart-heedless of life, he sprang forward to meet his death. The mummer, surnamed Taillefer, as soon as he had been reached, pricked his horse with the spurs; he pierced the Englishman's shield with his keen lance and hewed the head from the prostrate body with his sword. Turning his eyes on his comrades, he displayed this trophy and showed that the beginning of the battle favoured them. All rejoiced and at the same time called upon the Lord.They exulted that the first blow was theirs, both a tremor and a thrill ran through brave hearts and at once the men hastened to close shields. Return to Main Index