ok the battle upon
him, for none knew him save Sir Bors.

'Sir,' said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the King, 'let me know the name
of him with whom I have to do.' But the King answered nothing, and
made a sign for the fight to begin. They rode to the end of the lists,
and couched their spears and rushed together with all their force, and
Sir Mador's spear broke in pieces. But the other Knight's spear held
firm, and he pressed on Sir Mador's horse till it fell backward with a
great fall. Sir Mador sprang from his horse, and, placing his shield
before him, drew his sword, and bade his foe dismount from his horse
also, and do battle with him on foot, which the unknown Knight did.
For an hour they fought thus, as Sir Mador was a strong man, and had
proved himself the victor in many combats. At last the Knight smote
Sir Mador grovelling to his knees, and the Knight stepped forward to
have struck him flat upon the ground. Therewith Sir Mador suddenly
rose, and smote the Knight upon the thigh, so that the blood ran out
fiercely. But when the Knight felt himself wounded, and saw his blood,
he let Sir Mador rise to his feet, and then he gave him such a buffet
on the helm that this time Sir Mador fell his length on the earth, and
the Knight sprang to him, to unloose his helm. At this Sir Mador
prayed for his life, acknowledging that he was overcome, and confessed
that the Queen's innocence had been proved. 'I will only grant you
your life,' said the Knight, 'if you will proclaim publicly that you
have foully slandered the Queen, and that you make no mention, on the
tomb of Sir Patrise, that ever Queen Guenevere consented to his
murder.' 'All that will I do,' said Sir Mador, and some Knights took
him up, and carried him away to heal his wounds. And the other Knight
went straight to the foot of the steps where sat King Arthur, and
there the Queen had just come, and the King and the Queen kissed each
other before all the people. When King Arthur saw the Knight standing
there he stooped down to him and thanked him, and so likewise did the
Queen; and they prayed him to put off his helmet, and commanded wine
to be brought, and when he unlaced his helmet to drink they knew him
to be Sir Lancelot du Lake. Then Arthur took the Queen's hand and led
her to Sir Lancelot and said, 'Sir, I give you the most heartfelt
thanks of the great deed you have done this day for me and my Queen.'

'My lord,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'you know well that I ou