, nor I him!"

II.

Therewithal, he looketh before him, and seeth the knight issue from the
forest and enter into the launde. The knight was armed and had at his
neck a white shield with a cross of gold. He carried his lance low,
and sate upon a great destrier and rode at a swift pace. As soon as
Perceval seeth him, he steadieth him in his stirrups and setteth spear
in rest and smiteth his horse with his spurs, right joyous, and goeth
toward the knight a great gallop. Then he crieth: "Sir Knight, cover
you of your shield to guard you as I do of mine to defend my body, for
you do I defy on this side slaying, and our Lord God grant that I find
you so good knight as shall try what hardihood of heart I may have, for
I am not such as I have been aforetime, and better may one learn of a
good knight than of a bad."

With that he smiteth the knight upon his shield with such a sweep that
he maketh him lose one of his stirrups and pierceth his shield above
the boss, and passeth beyond full speed. And the knight marvelleth
much, and maketh demand, saying, "Fair Sir, what misdeed have I done
you?"

Perceval is silent, and hath no great joy of this that he hath not
overthrown the knight, but not so easy was he to overthrow, for he was
one of the knights of the world that could most of defence of arms. He
goeth toward Perceval as fast as his horse may carry him and Perceval
toward him. They mell together upon their shields right stiffly, so
that they pierce and batter them with the points of their spears. And
Perceval thrusteth his spear into the flesh two finger-breadths, and
the knight doth not amiss, for he passeth his spear right through his
arm so that the shafts of the lances were splintered. They hurtle
together either against other at the passing so mightily, that the
flinders of iron from the mail of their habergeons stick into their
foreheads and faces, and the blood leapeth forth by mouth and nose so
that their habergeons were all bloody. They drew their swords with a
right great sweep. The knight of the white shield holdeth Perceval's
rein and saith: "Gladly would I know who you are and wherefore you hate
me, for you have wounded me right sore, and sturdy knight have I found
you and of great strength."

Perceval saith not a word to him and runneth again upon him sword
drawn, and the knight upon him, and right great buffets either giveth
other on the helm, so that their eyes all sparkle of stars and the