hey both had prepared themselves in all ways they let go their
horses the one against the other, in very violent assault, rushing
together like a whirlwind. And so they met together in the midst of the
course with an uproar as of thunder; the one smiting against the other
with such violence that the spear of each was burst all into pieces unto
the very truncheon thereof. And in that assault both knights would
assuredly have been overthrown excepting for the wonderful address of
each. For each drave spur into steed and shouted aloud so that each
charger recovered his feet and fell not. Then each knight threw away the
truncheon of his spear and each drew his sword and straightway fell to
battle with might and main. And in that combat each knight gave the
other many sore buffets and, for a long while, no one could have told
how that encounter was like to go.

But at last Sir Ewaine waxed very furious with the opposition of that
other knight, wherefore he arose in his stirrups and lashed at that
black knight such a buffet that nor guard nor shield nor helm could
withstand the stroke. For under that blow the black Knight of the
Fountain reeled in his saddle as though he would fall from his horse.
Then he drooped his shield and hung his head full low and catched at the
horn of his saddle as though to stay himself from falling. Herewith Sir
Ewaine lashed another buffet at him, and with that blow the sword of Sir
Ewaine pierced through the helmet of the black knight and deep into his
brain pan and with that stroke the black knight received his mortal
hurt.

Then Sir Ewaine, perceiving that the black knight was so sorely hurt,
repented him of what he had done in the heat of his battle and stayed
his hand, though all too late. And he cried out: "Sir Knight, I fear me
that I have given thee a very woeful hurt. I repent me of that, so yield
thou thyself to me, and forthwith I will look to thy wound and will give
thee such ease as I may."

[Sidenote: _The Knight of the Fountain fleeth from Sir Ewaine._]

But to this the black Knight of the Fountain made no reply. Otherwise he
immediately wheeled his horse about, and set spurs to flank, and drove
away with all speed from that place. And so rapidly did he race away
from the field of battle that he appeared to fly, as it were, like to
the shadow of a bird across the plain.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine pursueth the Black Knight._]

At first Sir Ewaine was altogether amazed at the sudde