a combat

"good launcelot, i trust that good fortune shall be with us and that our adventures be many and the knights we meet bold and brave."

"of that, gawaine, we need have no fear. for adventure ever follows where one seeks and often enough overtakes the seeker. let us rather hope that we shall find sir tristram and sir dinadian, both of cornwall. for myself i would joust with sir tristram than whom braver and bolder knight does not live."

"and as for me," spoke gawaine, "my anxiety is to see mark, the king of cornwall, and tell him to his face that i deem him a scurvy hound since he promised protection to beatrice of banisar as she passed through his lands and yet broke his promise and so holds her for ransom."

"and there shall i help you, dear gawaine. for bitterly shall mark rue his unknightly act. shall i even wait for my event with sir tristram until your business is done."

"aye, and gladly will sir tristram wait, i wot, if he deems it honor to meet with sir launcelot du lake. for no knight there is who doth not know of your prowess and repute, sir tristram least of all."

"kind words, gawaine, for which i thank you. yet, if i mistake not, yonder, adventure seems to wait. and we but a little more than two score miles from our gates."

ahead of them and barring their way were ten knights. launcelot and gawaine stopped not a moment their pace but rode boldly forward.

"and wherefor do you, strange knights, dispute our passage?" asked sir gawaine.

"safely may you both pass unless you be gentlemen of king arthur's court," quote the leader who stepped forward to answer.

"and what if we be, sir knight?" replied sir launcelot mildly.

"and if you be then must you battle to the uttermost. for we owe loyalty to king ryence who is enemy of king arthur. therefore, are we his enemies too, and enemies also of all of king arthur's subjects. and thus, we flaunt our enmity. we here and now call king arthur an upstart and if you be of his court you cannot do aught else but fight with us."

"keep you your words," said sir gawaine, "until we have ceased our quarrel. then if you will you may call arthur any names. prepare you."

boldly sir launcelot and sir gawaine charged upon the foe. nor did the knights who met them know who these two were, else milder were their tone. such was the valor of the two and such their strength that four men were thrown from their horses in that first attack and of these two were grievously wounded.

together and well they fought. easily did they withstand the men of king ryence. four men were slain by their might, through wondrous and fearful strokes, and four were sorely wounded. there lay the four against an oaken tree where they had been placed in a moment's lull. but two knights were left to oppose launcelot and gawaine but these two were gallant men and worthy, the very best of all the ten.

so they fought again each with a single foe. hard pressed were the two men of king ryence, yet stubbornly they would not give way. and as each side gave blow for blow, so each called "for arthur" or "for ryence," whichever the case might be. many hours they fought until at last sir launcelot by a powerful blow crashed both foe and foe's horse to the ground.

and as the other would further combat, though exceedingly weak, sir launcelot, upraised lance in hand by a swift stroke smote sword from out of his weakened grasp.

"thou art a brave knight, friend. and having fought so well, i ask no further penance but this, that you do now declare king arthur no upstart. i care not for your enmity but i will abide no slander."

"so must i then declare, since you have proven better man than i," declared the conquered knight. "and for your leniency i owe you thanks. wherefore then to whom am i grateful? i pray your name?"

"that i shall not tell until i hear your own," replied launcelot.

"i am known as ronald de lile," the other replied in subdued tone.

"truly and well have i heard of you as a brave knight," was the reply, "and now i know it to be so. i am sir launcelot du lake."

"then indeed is honor mine and glory, too. for honor it is to succumb to sir launcelot."

but now both heard the voice of gawaine. weak had he grown, but weaker still his foe. gawaine had brought the other to earth at last with swift and mighty blow and such was the force of his stroke the fallen man could not rise although he made great ado so to do.

"so must i yield," this knight declared. "now will i admit arthur no upstart, but though i die for it i do declare no greater king than ryence ever lived."

"by my faith, your words are but such as any knight must hold of his own sovereign prince. i cannot take offense at brave words, sir knight. now, give me your name, for you are strong and worthy."

"i am marvin, brother of him who fought with your comrade. and never have we met bolder and greater knights."

"i am gawaine and he who fought your brother is none other than launcelot."

"then truly have we met no mean foes," replied the other.

conquered and conquerers now turned to make the wounded as comfortable as they well could be. after which, our two knights debated going on their journey or tarrying where they were until the morn.

"let us wend our way until we find fit place for food and rest. there can we tarry." so spoke launcelot and the other agreed.

then they took leave of sir marvin and sir ronald and so on their way. not many miles did they go however before they found suitable place. late was the hour and weary and much in need of rest were the two knights. so they slept while, half his journey covered, allan sped onward, making fast time because he was but light of weight and his horse exceeding swift.