be hurt of thy hands;
therefore wit thou well I am come this day to make amends, for I ween
this day to lay thee as low as thou laidest me. Jesu defend me, said Sir
Launcelot, that ever I be so far in your danger as ye have been in mine,
for then my days were done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, ye
shall not think that I tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly call
me of treason, ye shall have both your hands full of me. And then Sir
Launcelot armed him at all points, and mounted upon his horse, and gat
a great spear in his hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the hosts
were assembled, of them without and of them within, and stood in array
full manly. And both parties were charged to hold them still, to see and
behold the battle of these two noble knights. And then they laid their
spears in their rests, and they came together as thunder, and Sir
Gawaine brake his spear upon Sir Launcelot in a hundred pieces unto
his hand; and Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater might, that Sir
Gawaine's horse's feet raised, and so the horse and he fell to the
earth. Then Sir Gawaine deliverly avoided his horse, and put his shield
afore him, and eagerly drew his sword, and bade Sir Launcelot: Alight,
traitor knight, for if this mare's son hath failed me, wit thou well a
king's son and a queen's son shall not fail thee.

Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his shield afore
him, and drew his sword; and so stood they together and gave many sad
strokes, that all men on both parties had thereof passing great
wonder. But when Sir Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine's might so marvellously
increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and kept himself
wonder covert of his might; and under his shield he traced and traversed
here and there, to break Sir Gawaine's strokes and his courage; and Sir
Gawaine enforced himself with all his might and power to destroy Sir
Launcelot; for as the French book saith, ever as Sir Gawaine's might
increased, right so increased his wind and his evil will. Thus Sir
Gawaine did great pain unto Sir Launcelot three hours, that he had right
great pain for to defend him.

And when the three hours were passed, that Sir Launcelot felt that Sir
Gawaine was come to his own proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said
unto Sir Gawaine: Now have I proved you twice, that ye are a full
dangerous knight, and a wonderful man of your might; and many wonderful
deeds have ye done in your days, for by your