Thetwochampionsbeingalikearmedwithquarter-staves，steppedforwardintothecentreoftheopenspace，inordertohavethefullbenefitofthemoonlight；thethievesinthemeantimelaughing，andcryingtotheircomrade，``Miller！bewarethytoll-dish。’’TheMiller，ontheotherhand，holdinghisquarter-staffbythemiddle，andmakingitflourishroundhisheadafterthefashionwhichtheFrenchcall_fairelemoulinet_，exclaimedboastfully，``Comeon，churl，anthoudarest：thoushaltfeelthestrengthofamiller’sthumb！’’
``Ifthoubestamiller，’’answeredGurth，undauntedly，makinghisweaponplayaroundhisheadwithequaldexterity，``thouartdoublyathief，andI，asatrueman，bidtheedefiance。’’
Sosaying，thetwochampionsclosedtogether，andforafewminutestheydisplayedgreatequalityinstrength，courage，andskill，interceptingandreturningtheblowsoftheiradversarywiththemostrapiddexterity，while，fromthecontinuedclatteroftheirweapons，apersonatadistancemighthavesupposedthattherewereatleastsixpersonsengagedoneachside。Lessobstinate，andevenlessdangerouscombats，havebeendescribedingoodheroicverse；butthatofGurthandtheMillermustremainunsung，forwantofasacredpoettodojusticetoitseventfulprogress。Yet，thoughquarter-staffplaybeoutofdate，whatwecaninprosewewilldofortheseboldchampions。
Longtheyfoughtequally，untiltheMillerbegantolosetemperatfindinghimselfsostoutlyopposed，andathearingthelaughterofhiscompanions，who，asusualinsuchcases，enjoyedhisvexation。
Thiswasnotastateofmindfavourabletothenoblegameofquarter-staff，inwhich，asinordinarycudgel-playing，theutmostcoolnessisrequisite；