gh they
were two and he was but one. For ever he rode forward very boldly, and
with great spirit, even though it would bring him to meet them in the
middle of the way.

There was no device of any sort upon the shield or the armor of that
knight, for it appeared that he was minded to travel unknown; so they
wist not who he was, but in his appearance they beheld that he was
strong and big and very lusty.

[Sidenote: _Sir Sagramore exchanges words with the knight on the
bridge._]

Then as they approached one another Sir Sagramore bespake that knight,
saying: "Sir, what mean you, coming so boldly thus against us? Would you
who are one against two dispute the passage of this bridge with us?"

To this the other said: "Messire, I have no mind to assume any dispute
with you; yet you must be aware that it would ill beseem any one of true
knightly courage to draw aside and to give you way. For, as you say, you
are two and I am but one; wherefore, if I should withdraw me from this
meeting it might be that you would impute a lack of courage to me. So,
meseems, it would be better for you to give way for me, for you could do
so without any impeachment of fear, whilst I would do an injury to the
pure nobility of my knighthood if I should give way to you."

Then Sir Sagramore said: "Sir Knight, it need not be that there should
be two of us against one. Let my companion withdraw to the farther side
of the bridge and let us two try a fall together. So it shall be decided
which of us shall of a verity have the right first to cross this
bridge."

"Well," said the stranger knight, "that falleth in with my will in the
matter; therefore let it be as you say."

So, it being thus decided, Sir Percival drew away from the bridge upon
his side, and those two knights-contestant made each himself ready for
combat. Each chose his station, and when they were in all wise
prepared, each set spur to horse and shouted to the assault and so
dashed together across the space of bridge, each in a cloud of dust and
with a noise like to thunder of horses' hoof beats upon the roadway of
the bridge.

[Sidenote: _The strange knight overthrows Sir Sagramore._]

So they met in the very centre of the bridge with a crash one might have
heard a furlong or more away. In that encounter the spear of Sir
Sagramore broke into many pieces but the spear of the other knight held
so that Sir Sagramore was hurtled with great violence over the crupper
of his horse, an