The Hand-kissingIf only I could without reservation and heavy foreknowledge share the citizen’s delirious joy, the air-filling jubilation, the delight, and thankfulness, when through Grigorss’s absoluteness the country was freed from the dragon, the ravager was disarmed and lay bound in the dungeon of the gate-tower! I would embrace the so youthful victor and kiss stout Sturmi on the nose, but in the first place the thought of all the horrors to come keeps me back and in the second one might not embrace Grigorss at all, for he was wounded by spear and sword, his garb ran this time with his own blood, and he sank, when the folk brought him home in triumph to his lodge in the Mayor’s house, unconscious from his horse’s back. Balsam and tendence did steed and rider need, and they were given.
