第42章 BOOK IV(5)

Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontzlake,and bade make him ready by to-morn at the hour of prime,and to be in the field to fight with a good knight,for he had found a good knight that was ready to do battle at all points.When this word came unto Sir Ontzlake he was passing heavy,for he was wounded a little to-fore through both his thighs with a spear,and made great dole;but as he was wounded,he would have taken the battle on hand.So it happed at that time,by the means of Morgan le Fay,Accolon was with Sir Ontzlake lodged;and when he heard of that battle,and how Ontzlake was wounded,he said that he would fight for him.Because Morgan le Fay had sent him Excalibur and the sheath for to fight with the knight on the morn:this was the cause Sir Accolon took the battle on hand.Then Sir Ontzlake was passing glad,and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart that he would do so much for him.And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent word unto his brother Sir Damas,that he had a knight that for him should be ready in the field by the hour of prime.

So on the morn Sir Arthur was armed and well horsed,and asked Sir Damas,When shall we to the field?Sir,said Sir Damas,ye shall hear mass.And so Arthur heard a mass,and when mass was done there came a squire on a great horse,and asked Sir Damas if his knight were ready,for our knight is ready in the field.

Then Sir Arthur mounted upon horseback,and there were all the knights and commons of that country;and so by all advices there were chosen twelve good men of the country for to wait upon the two knights.And right as Arthur was on horse back there came a damosel from Morgan le Fay,and brought unto Sir Arthur a sword like unto Excalibur,and the scabbard,and said unto Arthur,Morgan le Fay sendeth here your sword for great love.

And he thanked her,and weened it had been so,but she was false,for the sword and the scabbard was counterfeit,and brittle,and false.

CHAPTER IX

Of the battle between King Arthur and Accolon.

AND then they dressed them on both parties of the field,and let their horses run so fast that either smote other in the midst of the shield with their spear-heads,that both horse and man went to the earth;and then they started up both,and pulled out their swords.The meanwhile that they were thus at the battle,came the Damosel of the Lake into the field,that put Merlin under the stone;and she came thither for love of King Arthur,for she knew how Morgan le Fay had so ordained that King Arthur should have been slain that day,and therefore she came to save his life.

And so they went eagerly to the battle,and gave many great strokes,but always Arthur's sword bit not like Accolon's sword;but for the most part,every stroke that Accolon gave he wounded sore Arthur,that it was marvel he stood,and always his blood fell from him fast.

When Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was dismayed,and then he deemed treason that his sword was changed;for his sword bit not steel as it was wont to do,therefore he dreaded him sore to be dead,for ever him seemed that the sword in Accolon's hand was Excalibur,for at every stroke that Accolon struck he drew blood on Arthur.Now,knight,said Accolon unto Arthur,keep thee well from me;but Arthur answered not again,and gave him such a buffet on the helm that it made him to stoop,nigh falling down to the earth.Then Sir Accolon withdrew him a little,and came on with Excalibur on high,and smote Sir Arthur such a buffet that he fell nigh to the earth.Then were they wroth both,and gave each other many sore strokes,but always Sir Arthur lost so much blood that it was marvel he stood on his feet,but he was so full of knighthood that knightly he endured the pain.And Sir Accolon lost not a deal of blood,therefore he waxed passing light,and Sir Arthur was passing feeble,and weened verily to have died;but for all that he made countenance as though he might endure,and held Accolon as short as he might.But Accolon was so bold because of Excalibur that he waxed passing hardy.But all men that beheld him said they saw never knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the blood that he bled.So was all the people sorry for him,but the two brethren would not accord.Then always they fought together as fierce knights,and Sir Arthur withdrew him a little for to rest him,and Sir Accolon called him to battle and said,It is no time for me to suffer thee to rest.And therewith he came fiercely upon Arthur,and Sir Arthur was wroth for the blood that he had lost,and smote Accolon on high upon the helm,so mightily,that he made him nigh to fall to the earth;and therewith Arthur's sword brast at the cross,and fell in the grass among the blood,and the pommel and the sure handles he held in his hands.When Sir Arthur saw that,he was in great fear to die,but always he held up his shield and lost no ground,nor bated no cheer.

CHAPTER X

How King Arthur's sword that he fought with brake,and how he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur,and overcame his enemy.

THEN Sir Accolon began with words of treason,and said,Knight,thou art overcome,and mayst not endure,and also thou art weaponless,and thou hast lost much of thy blood,and I am full loath to slay thee,therefore yield thee to me as recreant.Nay,said Sir Arthur,I may not so,for I have promised to do the battle to the uttermost by the faith of my body,while me lasteth the life,and therefore I had liefer to die with honour than to live with shame;and if it were possible for me to die an hundred times,I had liefer to die so oft than yield me to thee;for though I lack weapon,I shall lack no worship,and if thou slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame.Well,said Accolon,as for the shame I will not spare,now keep thee from me,for thou art but a dead man.And therewith Accolon gave him such a stroke that he fell nigh to the earth,and would have had Arthur to have cried him mercy.But Sir Arthur pressed unto Accolon with his shield,and gave him with the pommel in his hand such a buffet that he went three strides aback.