and valorous. He cometh right in the midst of the
tent, where the ground was fair and level, and found Meilot of Logres
all armed upon his horse, and a right comely knight was he and a
deliver. And the ladies and damsels were round about the
tilting-ground.

"Sir," saith the Queen to Perceval, "I will that you keep the field for
these knights."

"Lady," saith he, "At your pleasure."

Meliot moveth toward Clamados right swiftly and Clamados toward him,
and they melled together on their shields in such sort that they
pierced them and cleft the mail of their habergeons asunder with the
points of their spears, and the twain are both wounded so that the
blood rayeth forth of their bodies. The knights draw asunder to take
their career, for their spears were broken short, and they come back
the one toward the other with a great rush, and smite each other on the
breast with their spears so stiffly that there is none but should have
been pierced within the flesh, for the habergeons might protect them
not. They hurtle against each other so strongly that knights and
horses fall together to the ground all in a heap. The Queen and the
damsels have great pity of the two knights, for they see that they are
both so passing sore wounded. The two knights rise to their feet and
hold their swords naked and run the one on the other right wrathfully,
with such force as they had left.

"Sir," saith the Queen to Perceval, "Go part these two knights asunder
that one slay not the other, for they are sore wounded."

Perceval goeth to part them and cometh to Meliot of Logres. "Sir,"
saith he, "Withdraw yourself back; you have done enough."

Clamados felt that he was sore wounded in two places, and that the
wound he had in his breast was right great. He draweth himself back.
The Queen is come thither. "Fair nephew," saith she, "Are you badly
wounded?"

"Yea, Lady," saith Clamados.

"Certes," saith the Queen, "this grieveth me, but never yet saw I
knight and he were desirous of fighting, but came at some time by
mischance. A man may not always stand on all his rights."

She made him be carried on his shield into a tent, and made search his
wounds, and saw that of one had he no need to fear, but that the other
was right sore perilous.

XVII.

"Lady," saith Clamados, "Once more do I pray and require you that you
allow not the knight that slew my father to issue forth from hence,
save he deliver good hostage that he will come