fully promised that henceforth he would not stay his hand. After
that he avoided none that came against him, though for very sorrow he
could have wept when some knight, with whom in happier times he had
drunk wine and jested at the board in Camelot, rushed at him with
shrewd strokes to slay him.

As the fight went on, the lust of battle grew in Sir Lancelot's heart,
and manfully he fought, and with all his strength and skill he lay
about him. By the time of evensong his party stood very well, and the
king's side seemed dispirited and as if they would avoid the fierce
rushes with which Sir Lancelot's knights attacked them.

Staying his horse, Sir Lancelot looked over the field, and sorrowed to
see how many dead there were--dead of whom many may have been slain by
their own kindred. He saw how the horses of his knights were splashed
with the blood that lay in pools here and there, and grief was heavy
upon him.

Sir Palom, a very valiant knight, came up to him.

'See, lord,' he cried, 'how our foes flinch from the fierce hurtling of
our knights. They are dispirited by the wounding of Sir Gawaine. Sir
Kay is also wounded, and Sir Torre is slain. Now, if ye will take my
advice, this day should cease this war once for all. Do ye gather all
your forces, lord, and I think with one great dash together ye should
scatter their wavering knights, and this field would be won.'

'Alas!' said Sir Lancelot, 'I would not have it so. It cuts me to my
heart to war as I do against my lord Arthur, and to trample him and his
people in the mire of defeat--nay, I should suffer remorse till my last
day.'

'My lord,' said Sir Palom, 'I think ye are unwise. Ye spare them thus
to come again against ye. They will give ye no thanks, and if they
could get you and yours at so great a disadvantage, wit you well they
would not spare you.'

But Sir Lancelot would not be moved, and in pity he ordered the
trumpeters to sound the retreat. King Arthur did likewise, and each
party retired in the twilight from the field, where the wounded lay
groaning till death or succour came; and the dead lay still and pale,
until the kindly earth was thrown over them.

Some weeks passed in which the armies did not meet; for the host of
King Arthur was not now so proud as they had been, seeing that they had
lost many good knights; and Sir Lancelot would not of his own will
sally out from his castle to fall upon the king.

But ever Sir Gawaine tried to inflame the