rushed upon the other with a great rage for battle, smiting and
slashing with their swords, and dealing such dreadful buffets that those
who beheld that battle were affrighted at the vehemence with which those
two champions fought. So they did combat for a great while and in all
that time neither suffered any great harm from the buffets of the other.
Then, at last, that knight who did battle against Sir Launcelot cried
out, "Stay thy hand for a little, Sir Knight, while I hold speech with
thee!"

So Sir Launcelot ceased his battle and each knight-champion stood
panting, leaning the while upon his sword. Then the Knight of the
Fountain said: "I pray thee, Sir Knight, if so be thou wilt do me that
courtesy for to tell me thy name. For I declare unto thee that never
before this day have I ever met so great a champion in battle."

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot declareth himself._]

Then said Sir Launcelot: "Sir, wit you that I am Sir Launcelot of the
Lake. As for you, I know not who you are, only know I for a certainty
that you must be some very puissant champion, for never did I encounter
a more worthy battle than this that I have met with to-day."

Now when the Knight of the Fountain heard the name that Sir Launcelot
declared, and when he wist who it was against whom he had been doing
battle, he cried out in a loud and piercing voice, "What say you?" And
again he cried out, saying: "Art thou indeed Sir Launcelot of the Lake?
Then have I been fighting against him whom I love very dearly and whom I
have sought for both long and far." So crying out, he threw aside his
sword and his shield and ran to Sir Launcelot where he was. And he cast
his arms around the body of Sir Launcelot and embraced him as with a
great passion of joy.

Then Sir Launcelot was greatly astonished to find himself embraced by
that strange knight, wherefore he said: "Messire, who art thou, and why
dost thou embrace me in this wise?"

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine declareth himself._]

Upon this the Knight of the Fountain uplifted the umbril of his helmet
and he said: "Behold me! I am thy one-time companion in arms. I am
Ewaine, the son of King Uriens of Gore." Therewith Sir Launcelot beheld
the face of Sir Ewaine and knew him, and thus knowing him, he cried out
with astonishment even as Sir Ewaine had cried out, saying: "Ewaine, is
it thou against whom I have contended? Alas, what have I been doing to
fight against thee in this wise!" Therewith he also cast