, and fashioned the red
sleeve upon his helm. But it was in his mind to see which party fared
the worse before he would choose his part; for ever Sir Lancelot liked
a task which was not easy.

So he rode forth with Sir Lavaine into a little wood upon a knoll,
whence they could look into the lists and see the knights hurtle and
crash together. Soon they saw the knights of King Arthur's band come
against the northern knights, and many of the latter were smitten down.
Then he saw how the King of the Northgales and the King of Swordlands
with a few knights made a bold and brave stand against the many knights
of King Arthur's Round Table.

'See,' said Sir Lancelot to Sir Lavaine, 'how that company of knights
hold out against that great press! They are like brave boars in the
midst of the hounds.'

'Ye say truth,' said Sir Lavaine; 'they are indeed brave souls.'

'Now,' said Sir Lancelot, 'if you will help me a little, you may see
that great company go back more quickly than they came forward.'

'Sir, spare not,' said the young knight, 'and I will do what I may.'

Sir Lancelot spurred forward into the lists, and so fierce was his
onslaught and so hard was his blow that with one spear he overthrew Sir
Sagramore, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet and Sir Saffre, and with another spear
he smote down five others. Thereupon the northern knights were much
comforted, and greeted the strange knight full courteously, though they
wondered that he had but a white shield.

Then the band of Arthur's knights took counsel and gathered together
Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir Blamore and five others.
These were all mighty knights and all were great fighters and close kin
to Sir Lancelot. They resolved to rebuke the two stranger knights with
white shields whom they knew not; and chiefly him with the lady's
sleeve upon his helm did they seek to bring to the dust.

Again the knights hurtled mightily together, and Sir Bors, Sir Ector,
and Sir Lionel drove at Sir Lancelot, and so great was their force that
they smote Sir Lancelot's horse to the ground. By ill hap, the spear of
Sir Bors pierced through his cousin's shield into his side, and the
head of the lance broke off and remained in the wound.

Then Sir Lavaine, seeing his friend prone, did mightily assault Sir
Mordred, who was on the other side, and hurled him to the ground; and,
bringing Sir Mordred's horse to Sir Lancelot, he helped him to mount.

Sir Lancelot was exceeding wro