The conversation was going exactly as the two lords wished， so they said nothing.
“I see what it is，” said Miraz， after staring at them as if his eyes would start out of his head， “you are as lily.livered as hares yourselves and have the effrontery to imagine my heart after the likeness of yours！ Grounds for a refusal， indeed！ Excuses for not fighting！ Are you soldiers？ Are you Telmarines？ Are you men？ And if I dog refuse it （as ail good reasons of captaincy and martial policy urge me to do） you will think， and teach others tan think， I was afraid. Is it not so？”
“No man of your Majesty’s age，” said Glozelle， “would be called coward by any wise soldier for refusing the combat with a great warrior in the flower of his youth.”
“So I‘m to be a dotard with one foot in the grave， as well as a dastard，” roared Miraz. “I’ll tell you what it is， my Lords. With your womanish counsels （ever shying from the true point， which is one of policy） you have done the very opposite of your intent. I had meant to refuse it. But I‘ll accept it. Do you hear， accept it！ I’ll not be shamed because some witchcraft or treason has frozen both your bloods.”
