the Isles, but Lucan the Butler cometh to meet him,
and smiteth him with his spear so stoutly that he thrusteth it right
through his shield and twisteth his arm gainst his side. He breaketh
his spear at the by-passing, and Meliant also breaketh his, but he was
wounded passing sore.

XX.

Thereupon he seizeth him by the bridle and thinketh to lead him away,
but the knights and the force of Briant rescue him. The clashing of
arms lasted great space betwixt Briant of the Isles and Lancelot, and
each was mightily wrath for that each was wounded. Either seized other
many times by the bridle, and each was right fain to lead the other to
his own hold, but the force of knights on the one side and the other
disparted them asunder. Thus the stour lasted until evening, until that
the night sundered them. But Briant had nought to boast of at
departing, for Lancelot and his men carried off four of his by force
right sore wounded, besides them that remained dead on the field.
Briant of the Isles and Meliant betook them back all sorrowful for
their knights that are taken and dead. Lancelot cometh back to
Cardoil, and they of the castle make him right great joy of the knights
that they bring taken, and say that the coming of the good knight
Lancelot should be great comfort to them until such time as King Arthur
should repair back and Messire Gawain. The wounded knights that were
in the castle turned to healing of their wounds, whereof was Lancelot
right glad. They were as many as five and thirty within the castle.
Of all the King's knights were there no more save Lancelot and the
wounded knight that he brought along with him.

BRANCH XXV.

TITLE I.

Here the story is silent of Lancelot and the knights that are at
Cardoil, and saith that King Arthur and Messire Gawain are in the
castle where the priest told Messire Gawain how he was born. But they
cannot depart thence at their will, for Ahuret the Bastard that was
brother of Nabigant of the Rock, that Messire Gawain slew on account of
Meliot of Logres, knoweth well that they are therewithin, and hath
assembled his knights and holdeth them within so strait that they may
not depart without sore damage. For he hath on the outer side a full
great plenty of knights, and the King and Messire Gawain have with them
but only five of the forest and the country that are upon their side,
and they hold them so strait within that they may not issue out from
thence; yea, the broth