f." Then that lord
said, "What is thy estate?" To the which, Sir Ewaine, speaking with
great pride and haughtiness, made reply: "It matters not that I tell
thee at this present, but I may assure thee of this, that mine is a
higher estate and a greater credit than thine own." Then the knight
said, "Wouldst thou fight against us who are seven?" And Sir Ewaine
said, "Yea, verily." And the knight said, "Thou art very foolish, but be
it so."

So Sir Ewaine withdrew himself a little, and made himself ready in all
wise for battle. Meantime that knight who had bespoken him withdrew to
his party and he said to a knight who was the champion of his party, "Go
thou forth against yon fellow." And the champion of that party did so.

Now that knight was the greatest and most powerful knight in all the
country in which he dwelt. And he was very huge of girth and thick of
limb, and so great had been his success at arms that he made sure that
he could easily be able to overthrow his opponent. Wherefore he made him
ready very proudly and took his station with great confidence. And when
he was in all wise prepared, he shouted aloud and launched his horse
against the horse of Sir Ewaine with full expectation that he would
overthrow his enemy.

So they two rushed together like thunder and so met in the very middle
of the course with such a crash of encounter that those who heard it
stood appalled at the sound. But in that encounter the spear of the
champion of that wicked lord's party broke all into splinters, but the
spear of Sir Ewaine held so that the other was cast to earth with such
force that he lay stunned and altogether devoid of life and motion.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Ewaine overthrew the enemies of the lady._]

Then when the other knights of that party beheld how their champion had
been overthrown so violently to earth, all they were greatly amazed at
the result of that encounter; for as was said, there was no knight in
all of that region who was so strong as that champion. Then they were
filled with rage, and dropping their lances in rest, they all rushed
upon Sir Ewaine together, with intent to overthrow him by force of
numbers and might of metal, and afterward to slay him when he was
unhorsed. But Sir Ewaine did not give them their will, but wheeled his
horse with great address and dexterity and in such a wise as to separate
those who thus came upon him in a body. Then suddenly he wheeled about
again, and ere they were prepar