Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XI CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they fought
long, and each had almost slain other.

SIR, said Sir Persides, on my life he shall prove a noble
knight as any now is living.  And when he saw Sir Kay
and Sir Mordred, Sir Persides said thus:  My fair lords
both, Sir Percivale greeteth you well both, and he sent you
word by me that he trusteth to God or ever he come to
the court again to be of as great noblesse as ever were ye
both, and mo men to speak of his noblesse than ever
they did of you.  It may well be, said Sir Kay and Sir
Mordred, but at that time when he was made knight he
was full unlike to prove a good knight.  As for that, said
King Arthur, he must needs prove a good knight, for his
father and his brethren were noble knights

And now will we turn unto Sir Percivale that rode
long; and in a forest he met a knight with a broken
shield and a broken helm; and as soon as either saw other
readily they made them ready to joust, and so hurtled
together with all the might of their horses, and met together
so hard, that Sir Percivale was smitten to the earth.  And
then Sir Percivale arose lightly, and cast his shield on his
shoulder and drew his sword, and bade the other knight
Alight, and do we battle unto the uttermost.  Will ye
more? said that knight.  And therewith he alighted, and
put his horse from him; and then they came together an
easy pace, and there they lashed together with noble
swords, and sometime they struck and sometime they
foined, and either gave other many great wounds.  Thus
they fought near half a day, and never rested but right
little, and there was none of them both that had less wounds
than fifteen, and they bled so much that it was marvel
they stood on their feet.  But this knight that fought
with Sir Percivale was a proved knight and a wise-fighting
knight, and Sir Percivale was young and strong, not
knowing in fighting as the other was.

Then Sir Percivale spoke first, and said:  Sir knight,
hold thy hand a while still, for we have fought for a
simple matter and quarrel overlong, and therefore I require
thee tell me thy name, for I was never or this time matched.
So God me help, said that knight, and never or this time
was there never knight that wounded me so sore as thou
hast done, and yet have I fought in many battles; and now
shalt thou wit that I am a knight of the Table Round, and
my name is Sir Ector de Maris, brother unto the good
knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake.  Alas, said Sir Percivale,
and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis that hath made
my quest to seek Sir Launcelot, and now I am siker
that I shall never finish my quest, for ye have slain me
with your hands.  It is not so, said Sir Ector, for I am
slain by your hands, and may not live.  Therefore I
require you, said Sir Ector unto Sir Percivale, ride ye hereby
to a priory, and bring me a priest that I may receive my
Saviour, for I may not live.  And when ye come to the
court of King Arthur tell not my brother, Sir Launcelot,
how that ye slew me, for then he would be your mortal
enemy, but ye may say that I was slain in my quest as I
sought him.  Alas, said Sir Percivale, ye say that never
will be, for I am so faint for bleeding that I may unnethe
stand, how should I then take my horse?