第 三百三十九 章 · How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they fought

. How Sir Percivale met 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 name is Sir Percivale de Galis that hath made my

quest to seek Sir Launcelot, and now I am siker that I shall never

finish my quest, for ye have slain me with your hands. It is not so,

said Sir Ector, for I am slain by your hands, and may not live.

Therefore I require you, said Sir Ector unto Sir Percivale, ride ye

hereby to a priory, and bring me a priest that I may receive my

Saviour, for I may not live. And when ye come to the court of King

Arthur tell not my brother, Sir Launcelot, how that ye slew me, for

then he would be your mortal enemy, but ye may say that I was slain in

my quest as I sought him. Alas, said Sir Percivale, ye say that never

will be, for I am so faint for bleeding that I may unnethe stand, how

should I then take my horse?