ike you I
will speak with them, because I am a knight of King Arthur's, and I will
entreat them with fairness; and if they will not, I shall do battle
with them, and in the defence of your right. Gramercy said the lady, and
thereas I may not acquit you, God shall. So on the morn the two knights
were sent for, that they should come thither to speak with the Lady of
the Rock, and wit ye well they failed not, for they came with an hundred
horse. But when this lady saw them in this manner so big, she would
not suffer Sir Uwaine to go out to them upon no surety nor for no fair
language, but she made him speak with them over a tower, but finally
these two brethren would not be entreated, and answered that they would
keep that they had. Well, said Sir Uwaine, then will I fight with one of
you, and prove that ye do this lady wrong. That will we not, said they,
for an we do battle, we two will fight with one knight at once, and
therefore if ye will fight so, we will be ready at what hour ye will
assign. And if ye win us in battle the lady shall have her lands again.
Ye say well, said Sir Uwaine, therefore make you ready so that ye be
here to-morn in the defence of the lady's right.

CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights and overcame them.

SO was there sikerness made on both parties that no treason should be
wrought on neither party; so then the knights departed and made them
ready, and that night Sir Uwaine had great cheer. And on the morn he
arose early and heard mass, and brake his fast, and so he rode unto the
plain without the gates, where hoved the two brethren abiding him. So
they rode together passing sore, that Sir Edward and Sir Hue brake their
spears upon Sir Uwaine. And Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward that he fell
over his horse and yet his spear brast not. And then he spurred his
horse and came upon Sir Hue and overthrew him, but they soon recovered
and dressed their shields and drew their swords and bade Sir Uwaine
alight and do his battle to the uttermost. Then Sir Uwaine devoided his
horse suddenly, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword, and
so they dressed together, and either gave other such strokes, and there
these two brethren wounded Sir Uwaine passing grievously that the Lady
of the Rock weened he should have died. And thus they fought together
five hours as men raged out of reason. And at the last Sir Uwaine smote
Sir Edward upon the helm such a stroke that his sword carved unto