\"LadyMatilda，\"saidJohn，\"yieldyourselfmyprisoner。\"
\"Ifyouwouldwearme，prince，\"saidMatilda，\"youmustwinme：\"
andwithoutgivinghimtimetodeliberateonthecourtesyoffightingwiththeladyofhislove，sheraisedherswordintheair，andlowereditonhisheadwithanimpetusthatwouldhavegonenightofathomeventhatextraordinarydepthofbrainwhichalwaysbydivinegracefurnishestheinteriorofahead-royal，ifhehadnotverydexterouslyparriedtheblow。PrinceJohnwishedtodisarmandtakecaptive，notinanywaytowoundorinjure，leastofalltokill，hisfairopponent。
Matildawasonlyintenttogetridofherantagonistatanyrate：
theedgeofherweaponpaintedhiscomplexionwithstreaksofveryunloverlikecrimson，andshewouldprobablyhavemarredJohn’shandforeversigningMagnaCharta，butthathewasbackedbytheadvantageofnumbers，andthatherswordbrokeshortonthebossofhisbuckler。