nd himself, and put down his own sword
and shield, as if he could not put up arms against his king. At this
the king was abashed and put down his sword, and looked sorrowfully
upon Sir Lancelot.

Then the surging tide of battle poured between them and separated them,
until it happened that Sir Bors saw King Arthur at a little distance.
With a spear the knight rushed at the king, and so fierce was his
stroke and hardy his blow that the king was stricken to the ground.

Whereupon Sir Bors leapt from his horse and drew his sword and ran
towards the king. But some one called upon him, and looking up he saw
Sir Lancelot riding swiftly towards him.

Sir Bors held the king down upon the ground by the nose-piece of his
helm, and in his other hand he held his naked sword.

Looking up to Sir Lancelot, he cried in a fierce voice:

'Cousin, shall I make an end of this war? 'Twere easy done.'

He meant that, if the king were slain, Sir Gawaine would lose half his
forces, and could not hope to keep up the war against Sir Lancelot
singlehanded.

'Nay, nay,' said Sir Lancelot, 'on peril of thy head touch not the
king. Let him rise, man. I will not see that most noble king, who made
me knight and once loved me, either slain or shamed.'

Sir Lancelot, leaping from his horse, went and raised the king, and
held the stirrup of his horse while the king mounted again.

'My lord Arthur,' said Lancelot, looking up at the king, 'I would in
the name of Heaven that ye cause this war to cease, for none of us
shall get honour by it. And though I forbear to strike you and I try to
avoid my former brothers and friends of the Round Table, they do
continually seek to slay me and will not avoid me.'

King Arthur looked upon Lancelot, and thought how nobly courteous was
he more than any other knight. The tears burst from the king's eyes and
he could not speak, and sorrowfully he rode away and would fight no
more, but commanded the trumpets to cease battle. Whereupon Sir
Lancelot also drew off his forces, and the dead were buried and the
wounded were tended.

Next morning the battle was joined again. Very fiercely fought the
king's party, for Sir Gawaine had commanded that no quarter should be
given, and that whoever slew a knight of Sir Lancelot's should have his
helm filled with gold. Sir Gawaine himself raged like a lion about the
field, his spear in rest. He sought for Sir Lancelot; but that knight
always avoided him, and great was Gawaine