Itinerary
225
Chapter XXXI. Ñ
Of the fight between King Richard and a boar that he met, and
of the kingÕs boldness in the contest
On the Wednesday before the feast of St. Mark the evangelist, the
king and his army set out to Gadida to protect the city, but found no one
there, for the enemy had taken to flight when they heard of his coming. On
their way back, the king attacked a fierce boar, which, hearing the noise of
the
party passing by, had come out and stood in the way. The fierce
animal, foaming at the mouth with rage, and with his shaggy hair bristling
up, and his ears erect, seemed to be collecting all his strength and fury to
receive or make an attack. He did not move from his place when the king
shouted; nay, when the king made a circuit round him, he also turned
himself in his astonishment round in a circle,
and kept in the same place
which he had first occupied. The king now making use of his lance for a
hunting spear, moved on to pierce him; and the boar, turning a little to one
side, prepared to meet him. The animal was of enormous size, and terrible
aspect, and the lance which was boldly thrust against his broad breast
broke in two, from not being strong enough to bear the pressure of both, as
they were closing with each other. The boar,
now rendered furious by his
wound, rushed with all his might upon the king, who had not an inch of
room, or a moment of time to turn away; so putting spurs to his horse, he
fairly leapt over the animal unharmed, though the boar tore away the
hinder trappings of his horse; but the activity of the latter frustrated the
blow; and the part of the lance which was fixed in the animalÕs breast
prevented him from coining to closer quarters.
They then make a
simultaneous attack on each other, and the boar made a rapid movement,
as if to close with the king; but he, brandishing his sword, smote him with
it as he passed, and stunned him with the blow; then wheeled round his
horse, and cutting the boarÕs sinews, he consigned the animal to the care of
his huntsmen.
Chapter XXXII. Ñ
Of the capture of some Turks by our men.