This knight was fair to see, of heavy build and large of body, neither
very tall nor yet short, and well-formed; he had wide shoulders, a
deep chest, hips high on his body, thighs thick and strong, arms long
and well made, thick buttocks, a hard fist, a well-turned leg and a
slim delicate waist, that became him very well.  He had a low and
pleasant voice and lively and gracious speech.

He always dressed well, with care and thought, making the most of what
he wore. He had a better understanding of new fashions than any tailor
or robe-maker, so that the finely dressed always took him as their
pattern.

In point of armour he had much knowledge and understanding: he himself
used to show the armourers the fairest shapes and tell them how they
might make armour lighter without the loss of strength.

He knew horses; he sought for them, tended them and made much of them.
In his time had no man in Castille so many good horses; he rode them
and trained them to his liking, those which were for war, and those
which were for parade and for jousting.  Hard did he strike with his
sword and strong and signal blows did he make with its point; never
did he meet a man who cut and thrust so well as he.

He excelled in all other exercises which asked for boldness and
nimbleness, in sports of lance-thrusting and dart-throwing.  He was a
mighty player at bowls and with the disc, as well as at hurling
stones.  He was also a mighty player with a spar and threw it better
than other men; in all these sports he was rarely surpassed by those
who tried their strength with him.