hou
well, Sir Marhaus, that this is the greatest cause that thou couragest
me to have ado with thee, for thou art called one of the most renowned
knights of the world, and because of that noise and fame that thou hast
thou givest me courage to have ado with thee, for never yet was I proved
with good knight; and sithen I took the order of knighthood this day, I
am well pleased that I may have ado with so good a knight as thou art.
And now wit thou well, Sir Marhaus, that I cast me to get worship on
thy body; and if that I be not proved, I trust to God that I shall
be worshipfully proved upon thy body, and to deliver the country of
Cornwall for ever from all manner of truage from Ireland for ever.

When Sir Marhaus had heard him say what he would, he said then thus
again: Fair knight, sithen it is so that thou castest to win worship of
me, I let thee wit worship may thou none lose by me if thou mayest stand
me three strokes; for I let thee wit for my noble deeds, proved and
seen, King Arthur made me Knight of the Table Round.

Then they began to feutre their spears, and they met so fiercely
together that they smote either other down, both horse and all. But Sir
Marhaus smote Sir Tristram a great wound in the side with his spear, and
then they avoided their horses, and pulled out their swords, and threw
their shields afore them. And then they lashed together as men that were
wild and courageous. And when they had stricken so together long, then
they left their strokes, and foined at their breaths and visors; and
when they saw that that might not prevail them, then they hurtled
together like rams to bear either other down. Thus they fought still
more than half a day, and either were wounded passing sore, that the
blood ran down freshly from them upon the ground. By then Sir Tristram
waxed more fresher than Sir Marhaus, and better winded and bigger; and
with a mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhaus upon the helm such a buffet
that it went through his helm, and through the coif of steel, and
through the brain-pan, and the sword stuck so fast in the helm and in
his brain-pan that Sir Tristram pulled thrice at his sword or ever he
might pull it out from his head; and there Marhaus fell down on his
knees, the edge of Tristram's sword left in his brain-pan. And suddenly
Sir Marhaus rose grovelling, and threw his sword and his shield from
him, and so ran to his ships and fled his way, and Sir Tristram had ever
his shield and his swor