VII How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen,
and how he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the queen.

THEN the king called to that knight, and asked him if he would fight for
the queen. Then he answered to the king: Therefore came I hither, and
therefore, sir king, he said, tarry me no longer, for I may not tarry.
For anon as I have finished this battle I must depart hence, for I have
ado many matters elsewhere. For wit you well, said that knight, this
is dishonour to you all knights of the Round Table, to see and know so
noble a lady and so courteous a queen as Queen Guenever is, thus to be
rebuked and shamed amongst you. Then they all marvelled what knight that
might be that so took the battle upon him. For there was not one that
knew him, but if it were Sir Bors.

Then said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the king: Now let me wit with whom
I shall have ado withal. And then they rode to the lists' end, and there
they couched their spears, and ran together with all their might, and
Sir Mador's spear brake all to pieces, but the other's spear held, and
bare Sir Mador's horse and all backward to the earth a great fall. But
mightily and suddenly he avoided his horse and put his shield afore him,
and then drew his sword, and bade the other knight alight and do battle
with him on foot. Then that knight descended from his horse lightly like
a valiant man, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword; and so
they came eagerly unto battle, and either gave other many great strokes,
tracing and traversing, racing and foining, and hurtling together with
their swords as it were wild boars. Thus were they fighting nigh an
hour, for this Sir Mador was a strong knight, and mightily proved
in many strong battles. But at the last this knight smote Sir Mador
grovelling upon the earth, and the knight stepped near him to have
pulled Sir Mador flatling upon the ground; and therewith suddenly Sir
Mador arose, and in his rising he smote that knight through the thick of
the thighs that the blood ran out fiercely. And when he felt himself so
wounded, and saw his blood, he let him arise upon his feet. And then he
gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell to the earth flatling,
and therewith he strode to him to have pulled off his helm off his
head. And then Sir Mador prayed that knight to save his life, and so he
yielded him as overcome, and released the queen of his quarrel. I will
not grant thee thy life, said that