Rinaldo and Isolier, now become friends, proceeded together to the attack of the horse.  They found Bayard, and stood a long time, concealed by the wood, admiring his strength and beauty.

A bright bay in color (whence he was called Bayard), with a silver star in his forehead, and his hind feet white, his body slender, his head delicate, his ample chest filled out with swelling muscles, his shoulders broad and full, his legs straight and sinewy, his thick mane falling over his arching neck,—­he came rushing through the forest, regardless of rocks, bushes, or trees, rending everything that opposed his way, and neighing defiance.

He first descried Isolier, and rushed upon him.  The knight received him with lance in rest, but the fierce animal broke the spear, and his course was not delayed by it for an instant.  The Spaniard adroitly stepped aside, and gave way to the rushing tempest.  Bayard checked his career, and turned again upon the knight, who had already drawn his sword.  He drew his sword, for he had no hope of taming the horse; that, he was satisfied, was impossible.

Bayard rushed upon him; fiercely rearing, now on this side, now on that.  The knight struck him with his sword, where the white star adorned his forehead, but struck in vain, and felt ashamed, thinking that he had struck feebly, for he did not know that the skin of that horse was so tough that the keenest sword could make no impression upon it.

Whistling fell the sword once more, and struck with greater force, and the fierce horse felt it, and drooped his head under the blow, but the next moment turned upon his foe with such a buffet that the Pagan fell stunned and lifeless to the earth.

Rinaldo, who saw Isolier fall, and thought that his life was reft, darted towards the horse, and, with his fist gave him such a blow on the jaws that the blood tinged his mouth with vermilion.  Quicker than an arrow leaves the bow the horse turned upon him, and tried to seize his arm with his teeth.

The knight stepped back, and then, repeating his blow, struck him on the forehead.  Bayard turned, and kicked with both his feet with a force that would have shattered a mountain.  Rinaldo was on his guard, and evaded his attacks, whether made with head or heels.  He kept at his side avoiding both; but, making a false step, he at last received a terrible blow from the horse’s foot, and at the shock almost fainted away.  A second such blow would have killed him, but the horse kicked at random, and a second blow did not reach Rinaldo, who in a moment recovered himself.  Thus the contest continued until by chance Bayard’s foot got caught between the branches of an oak.  Rinaldo seized it and putting forth all his strength and address, threw him on the ground.

No sooner had Bayard touched the ground than all his rage subsided.  No longer an object of terror, he became gentle and quiet, yet with dignity in his mildness.