e side. Then he called
upon those knights to make them ready. Then in another little while, and
beholding that they were both ready in all wise, he blew a loud blast
upon his trumpet, whereupon in an instant they quitted each his post and
launched the one against the other like to two bulls rushing together in
a charge. So they two met in the midst of the course with such an uproar
of encounter that the ears of those who stood near by were stunned with
the noise thereof.

In that encounter each knight splintered his lance to the very butt
thereof, and at the violence of the blow that each gave the other, the
horse of each tottered back upon his haunches and would have fallen but
for the address of the knight rider, who quickly recovered him with spur
and voice and rein.

Then each knight voided his saddle and leaped to the ground, and each
drew his sword from its sheath for an encounter afoot. Then flashed
their swords like lightning in the sunlight, and blow followed blow with
such great spirit and good will that the sound thereof deafened the ears
of those who looked down upon that encounter from the balcony. And ever
these two champions lashed at the other such buffets that it was a
wonder that any skill and address at arms could have turned aside such
strokes as fell in that friendly battle.

So they two fought for so long a time that those who onlooked were
astonished at the strength and the courage and the endurance of those
two champions, and in all that while neither knight had suffered aught
of harm and neither had had aught of advantage over the other.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival and the champion stint their battle._]

Then at last the champion of the castle cried out, "Sir Knight, hold thy
hand!" and thereupon Sir Percival ceased his battle and stood leaning
upon the pommel of his sword, panting because of the great endeavor
which he had put forth during that conflict. Then the knight-champion of
the castle said: "Messire, I have met many knights in my day and amongst
them I have encountered those who were regarded to be the best knights
in the world, yet I make my vow that never until this time have ever I
met any knight who hath proved himself to be so strong and so powerful
as you have shown yourself to be in this battle. Now I pray you,
Messire, that you of your courtesy will declare your name and degree,
for I doubt me not that you are one whom we shall find to have conferred
great honor upon us by co