with Sir Ector, and how they fought
long, and each had almost slain other.

SIR, said Sir Persides, on my life he shall prove a noble knight as any
now is living. And when he saw Sir Kay and Sir Mordred, Sir Persides
said thus: My fair lords both, Sir Percivale greeteth you well both, and
he sent you word by me that he trusteth to God or ever he come to the
court again to be of as great noblesse as ever were ye both, and mo men
to speak of his noblesse than ever they did of you. It may well be, said
Sir Kay and Sir Mordred, but at that time when he was made knight he was
full unlike to prove a good knight. As for that, said King Arthur, he
must needs prove a good knight, for his father and his brethren were
noble knights.

And now will we turn unto Sir Percivale that rode long; and in a forest
he met a knight with a broken shield and a broken helm; and as soon as
either saw other readily they made them ready to joust, and so hurtled
together with all the might of their horses, and met together so hard,
that Sir Percivale was smitten to the earth. And then Sir Percivale
arose lightly, and cast his shield on his shoulder and drew his sword,
and bade the other knight Alight, and do we battle unto the uttermost.
Will ye more? said that knight. And therewith he alighted, and put his
horse from him; and then they came together an easy pace, and there they
lashed together with noble swords, and sometime they struck and sometime
they foined, and either gave other many great wounds. Thus they fought
near half a day, and never rested but right little, and there was none
of them both that had less wounds than fifteen, and they bled so much
that it was marvel they stood on their feet. But this knight that fought
with Sir Percivale was a proved knight and a wise-fighting knight, and
Sir Percivale was young and strong, not knowing in fighting as the other
was.

Then Sir Percivale spoke first, and said: Sir knight, hold thy hand
a while still, for we have fought for a simple matter and quarrel
overlong, and therefore I require thee tell me thy name, for I was never
or this time matched. So God me help, said that knight, and never or
this time was there never knight that wounded me so sore as thou hast
done, and yet have I fought in many battles; and now shalt thou wit that
I am a knight of the Table Round, and my name is Sir Ector de Maris,
brother unto the good knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir
Percivale, and my nam