are not worth two coats of bark: the leather tears, and they
split the wood, and they shatter the meshes of the hauberks. Both are
pierced to the vitals by the lances, and the horses fall to earth. Now,
both the warriors were doughty. Grievously, but not mortally, wounded,
they quickly got upon their feet and grasped afresh their lances, which
were not broken nor the worse for wear. But they cast them away on the
ground, and drawing their swords from the scabbard, they attack each
other with great fury. Each wounds and injures the other, for there
is no mercy on either side. They deal such blows upon the helmets
that gleaming sparks fly out when their swords recoil. They split and
splinter the shields; they batter and crush the hauberks. In four places
the swords are brought down to the bare flesh, so that they are greatly
weakened and exhausted. And if both their swords had lasted long without
breaking, they would never have retreated, nor would the battle have
come to an end before one of them perforce had died. Enide, who was
watching them, was almost beside herself with grief. Whoever could
have seen her then, as she showed her great woe by wringing her hands,
tearing her hair and shedding tears, could have seen a loyal lady. And
any man would have been a vulgar wretch who saw and did not pity her.
And the knights still fight, knocking the jewels from the helmets and
dealing at each other fearful blows. From the third to the ninth hour
the battle continued so fierce that no one could in any wise make out
which was to have the better of it. Erec exerts himself and strives; he
brought his sword down upon his enemy's helmet, cleaving it to the inner
lining of mail and making him stagger; but he stood firmly and did not
fall. Then he attacked Erec in turn, and dealt him such a blow upon the
covering of his shield that his strong and precious sword broke when he
tried to pull it out. When he saw that his sword was broken, in a spite
he threw as far away as he could the part that remained in his hand. Now
he was afraid and must needs draw back; for any knight that lacks his
sword cannot do much execution in battle or assault. Erec pursues
him until he begs him, for God's sake, not to kill him. "Mercy, noble
knight," he cries, "be not so cruel and harsh toward me. Now that I am
left without my sword, you have the strength and the power to take my
life or make me your prisoner, for I have no means of defence." Erec
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