This knight was fair to see, of heavy build and large of body, neither

This knight was fair to see, of heavy build and large of body, neither

very tall nor yet short, and well-formed; he had wide shoulders, a

deep chest, hips high on his body, thighs thick and strong, arms long

and well made, thick buttocks, a hard fist, a well-turned leg and a

slim delicate waist, that became him very well. He had a low and

pleasant voice and lively and gracious speech.

He always dressed well, with care and thought, making the most of what

he wore. He had a better understanding of new fashions than any tailor

or robe-maker, so that the finely dressed always took him as their

pattern.

In point of armour he had much knowledge and understanding: he himself

used to show the armourers the fairest shapes and tell them how they

might make armour lighter without the loss of strength.

He knew horses; he sought for them, tended them and made much of them.

In his time had no man in Castille so many good horses; he rode them

and trained them to his liking, those which were for war, and those

which were for parade and for jousting. Hard did he strike with his

sword and strong and signal blows did he make with its point; never

did he meet a man who cut and thrust so well as he.

He excelled in all other exercises which asked for boldness and

nimbleness, in sports of lance-thrusting and dart-throwing. He was a

mighty player at bowls and with the disc, as well as at hurling

stones. He was also a mighty player with a spar and threw it better

than other men; in all these sports he was rarely surpassed by those

who tried their strength with him.