him down upon the bed. And
right so he saw come in a light, that he might well see a spear great
and long that came straight upon him pointling, and to Sir Bors seemed
that the head of the spear brent like a taper. And anon, or Sir Bors
wist, the spear head smote him into the shoulder an hand-breadth in
deepness, and that wound grieved Sir Bors passing sore. And then he laid
him down again for pain; and anon therewithal there came a knight armed
with his shield on his shoulder and his sword in his hand, and he bade
Sir Bors: Arise, sir knight, and fight with me. I am sore hurt, he said,
but yet I shall not fail thee. And then Sir Bors started up and dressed
his shield; and then they lashed together mightily a great while; and
at the last Sir Bors bare him backward until that he came unto a chamber
door, and there that knight yede into that chamber and rested him a
great while. And when he had reposed him he came out freshly again, and
began new battle with Sir Bors mightily and strongly.

CHAPTER V. How Sir Bors made Sir Pedivere to yield him, and of
marvellous adventures that he had, and how he achieved them.

THEN Sir Bors thought he should no more go into that chamber to rest
him, and so Sir Bors dressed him betwixt the knight and that chamber
door, and there Sir Bors smote him down, and then that knight yielded
him What is your name? said Sir Bors. Sir, said he, my name is Pedivere
of the Straight Marches. So Sir Bors made him to swear at Whitsunday
next coming to be at the court of King Arthur, and yield him there as
a prisoner as an overcome knight by the hands of Sir Bors. So thus
departed Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches. And then Sir Bors laid
him down to rest, and then he heard and felt much noise in that chamber;
and then Sir Bors espied that there came in, he wist not whether at
the doors nor windows, shot of arrows and of quarrels so thick that he
marvelled, and many fell upon him and hurt him in the bare places.

And then Sir Bors was ware where came in an hideous lion; so Sir Bors
dressed him unto the lion, and anon the lion bereft him his shield, and
with his sword Sir Bors smote off the lion's head. Right so Sir Bors
forthwithal saw a dragon in the court passing horrible, and there seemed
letters of gold written in his forehead; and Sir Bors thought that the
letters made a signification of King Arthur. Right so there came an
horrible leopard and an old, and there they fought long, and did gre