hidest thou thyself within holes and walls like a coward? Look out
now, thou false traitor knight, and here I shall revenge upon thy body
the death of my three brethren."

All this language heard Sir Launcelot, and he wist well that he must
defend himself, or else be recreant. So he armed himself at all
points, and mounted upon his horse, and gat a great spear in his hand,
and rode out at the gate. And both the hosts were assembled, of them
without and of them within, and stood in array full manly. And both
parties were charged to hold them still, to see and behold the battle
of these two noble knights.

Then they laid their spears in their rests, and came together as
thunder. Sir Gawaine brake his spear upon Sir Launcelot in an hundred
pieces unto his hand, and Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater might,
so that Sir Gawaine's horse's feet raised, and the horse and he fell to
the earth. Then they dressed their shields and fought with swords on
foot, giving many sad strokes, so that all men on both parties had
thereof passing great wonder. But Sir Launcelot withheld his courage
and his wind, and kept himself wonderly covert of his might. Under his
shield he traced and traversed here and there, to break Sir Gawaine's
strokes and his courage, and Sir Gawaine enforced himself with all his
might to destroy Sir Launcelot.

At the first ever Sir Gawaine's power increased, and right so his wind
and his evil will. For a time Sir Launcelot had great pain to defend
himself, but when three hours were passed, and Sir Launcelot felt that
Sir Gawaine was come to his full strength, then Sir Launcelot said, "I
feel that ye have done your mighty deeds; now wit you well I must do my
deeds."

So he doubled his strokes, and soon smote such a buffet upon Sir
Gawaine's helm that he sank down upon his side in a swoon. Anon as he
did awake, he waved at Sir Launcelot as he lay, and said, "Traitor
knight, wit thou well I am not yet slain; come thou near me, and
perform this battle unto the uttermost."

"I will no more do than I have done," said Sir Launcelot. "When I see
you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I see you stand on
your feet; but to smite a wounded man, that may not stand, God defend
me from such a shame."

Then he turned and went his way towards the city, and Sir Gawaine,
evermore calling him traitor knight, said, "Wit thou well, Sir
Launcelot, when I am whole, I shall do battle with thee again; fo