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Chapter VII
”“Nay,”saidKingArthur,“thatmayInot,forIhavepromisedtodobattletotheuttermostbythefaithofmybodywhilemylifelasteth;andIhadratherdiewithhonourthanlivewithshame;andifitwerepossibleformetodieanhundredtimes,Ihadratherdieasoftenthanyieldmetothee,forthoughIlackweapons,Ishalllacknoworship,anditshallbetothyshametoslaymeweaponless.”“Aha,”shoutedthenSirAccolon,“asfortheshame,Iwillnotspare;looktothyself,sirknight,forthouartevennowbutadeadman.”Therewithhedroveathimwithpitilessforce,andstruckhimnearlydown;butArthurevermorewaxinginvalourashewanedinblood,pressedonSirAccolonwithhisshield,andhitathimsofiercelywiththepommelinhishand,ashurledhimthreestridesbackwards.
This,therefore,soconfusedSirAccolon,thatrushingup,alldizzy,todeliveronceagainafuriousblow,evenashestruck,Excalibur,byVivien’smagic,fellfromouthishandsupontheearth.Beholdingwhich,KingArthurlightlysprangtoit,andgraspedit,andforthwithfeltitwashisowngoodsword,andsaidtoit,“Thouhastbeenfrommealltoolong,anddonemetoomuchdamage.”ThenspyingthescabbardhangingbySirAccolon’sside,hesprangandpulleditfromhim,andcastitawayasfarashecouldthrowit;forsolongashehadwornit,Arthurnewhislifewouldhavebeenkeptsecure.
