his two hinder feet, setteth
his fore feet on his shoulders, then huggeth him toward him like as one
man doth another. But the grip was sore grievous, for he rendeth his
habergeon in twain and so teareth away as much flesh as he can claw
hold on.

V.

When Clamados felt himself wounded, he redoubled his hardihood, and
grippeth the lion so straitly to him that he wringeth a huge roar out
of him, and then flingeth him to the ground beneath him. Then he
draweth his sword and thrusteth it to the heart right through the
breast. The lion roareth so loud that all the mountains resound
thereof. Clamados cutteth off his head and goeth to hang it at the
door of the hall. Then he cometh back to his horse and mounteth the
best he may. And the Damsel saith to him, "Sir, you are sore wounded."

"Damsel," said he, "please God, I shall take no hurt thereof."

Thereupon, behold you a squire that issueth forth of the hall and
cometh after him full speed. "Hold, Sir Knight," saith he; "Foul wrong
have you wrought, for you have slain the lion of the most courteous
knight that may be known, and the fairest and most valiant of this
kingdom, and in his despite have you hung the head at his door! Right
passing great outrage have you done hereby!"

"Fair sweet friend," saith Clamados, "it may well be that the lord is
right courteous, but the lion was rascal and would have slain me and
them that were passing by. And your lord loved him so much he should
have chained him up, for better liketh me that I slew him than that he
should slay me."

"Sir," saith the squire, "there is no road this way, for it is a
forbidden land whereof certain would fain reave my lord, and it was
against the coming of his enemies that the lion was allowed forth
unchained."

"And what name hath your lord, fair friend?" saith Clamados.

"Sir, he is called Meliot of Logres, and he is gone in quest of Messire
Gawain, of whom he holdeth the land, for right dear is he to him."

"Messire Gawain," saith Clamados, "left I at the court of King Arthur,
but behoveth him depart thence or ever I return thither."

"By my head," saith the squire, "faith would I you might meet them both
twain, if only my lord knew that you had slain him his lion."

"Fair friend," saith Clamados, "and he be as courteous as you say, no
misliking will he have of me thereof, for I slew him in defending mine
own body, and God forbid I should meet any that would do me evil
therefor."