spears."

"I will well," said Arthur, "an I had any more spears."

"I have enow," said the knight, so there came a squire and brought two
good spears, and Arthur chose one and he another; so they spurred their
horses and came together with all their mights, that either brake their
spears to their hands. Then Arthur set hand on his sword. "Nay," said
the knight, "ye shall do better. Ye are a passing good jouster as ever I
met withal, and once more for the love of the high order of knighthood
let us joust once again."

"I assent me," said Arthur.

Anon there were brought two great spears, and every knight gat a spear,
and therewith they ran together that Arthur's spear all to-shivered. But
the other knight hit him so hard in midst of the shield that horse and
man fell to the earth, and therewith Arthur was eager, and pulled out
his sword and said, "I will assay thee, sir knight, on foot, for I have
lost the honor on horseback."

"I will be on horseback," said the knight.

Then was Arthur wroth, and dressed his shield toward him with his sword
drawn. When the knight saw that, he alit, for him thought no worship to
have a knight at such avail, he to be on horseback and he on foot, and
so he alit and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there began a strong
battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with their swords that the
cantels flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both, that all the
place there as they fought was overbled with blood, and thus they fought
long and rested them, and then they went to battle again, and so hurtled
together like two rams that either fell to the earth. So at the last
they smote together that both their swords met even together. But the
sword of the knight smote King Arthur's sword in two pieces, wherefore
he was heavy. Then said the knight unto Arthur, "Thou art in my daunger
whether me list to save thee or slay thee, and but thou yield thee as
overcome and recreant, thou shalt die."

"As for death," said King Arthur, "welcome be it when it cometh, but to
yield me unto thee as recreant I had liefer die than be so shamed."

And therewithal the king leaped unto Pellinore, and took him by the
middle and threw him down, and raised off his helm. When the knight felt
that, he was adread, for he was a passing big man of might, and anon he
brought Arthur under him, and raised off his helm and would have smitten
off his head.

Therewithal came Merlin and said, "Knight, hold thy han