ear, and therefore there
shall not pass but one of you at once; therefore choose you which of
you shall enter within this bridge first. Then Sir Launcelot proffered
himself first to enter within this bridge. Sir, said La Cote Male Taile,
I beseech you let me enter within this fortress, and if I may speed well
I will send for you, and if it happened that I be slain, there it goeth.
And if so be that I am a prisoner taken, then may ye rescue me. I am
loath, said Sir Launcelot, to let you pass this passage. Sir, said La
Cote Male Taile, I pray you let me put my body in this adventure. Now go
your way, said Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your speed.

So he entered, and anon there met with him two brethren, the one hight
Sir Plaine de Force, and the other hight Sir Plaine de Amours. And anon
they met with Sir La Cote Male Taile; and first La Cote Male Taile smote
down Plaine de Force, and after he smote down Plaine de Amours; and then
they dressed them to their shields and swords, and bade La Cote Male
Taile alight, and so he did; and there was dashing and foining with
swords, and so they began to assail full hard La Cote Male Taile, and
many great wounds they gave him upon his head, and upon his breast,
and upon his shoulders. And as he might ever among he gave sad strokes
again. And then the two brethren traced and traversed for to be of
both hands of Sir La Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force and knightly
prowess gat them afore him. And then when he felt himself so wounded,
then he doubled his strokes, and gave them so many wounds that he felled
them to the earth, and would have slain them had they not yielded them.
And right so Sir La Cote Male Taile took the best horse that there
was of them three, and so rode forth his way to the other fortress
and bridge; and there he met with the third brother whose name was Sir
Plenorius, a full noble knight, and there they jousted together, and
either smote other down, horse and man, to the earth. And then they
avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords,
and gave many sad strokes, and one while the one knight was afore on the
bridge, and another while the other. And thus they fought two hours and
more, and never rested. And ever Sir Launcelot and the damosel beheld
them. Alas, said the damosel, my knight fighteth passing sore and over
long. Now may ye see, said Sir Launcelot, that he is a noble knight,
for to consider his first battle, and his grievous woun