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Chapter IX
“Bymyfaith,”criedSirEwaine,“yonderisastrongknight,andmusthaveslainSirKey,andtakenhisarmour!Byhisstrength,Iseeitwillbehardtomatchhim.”SosayingherodetowardsSirLancelot,whomethimhalfwayandstruckhimsofiercely,thatatoneblowheoverthrewhimalso.
“Now,”saidSirGawain,“willIencounterhim.”Sohetookagoodspearinhishand,andguardedhimselfwithhisshield.AndheandSirLancelotrodeagainsteachother,withtheirhorsesatfullspeed,andfuriouslysmoteeachotheronthemiddleoftheirshields;butSirGawain’sspearbrokeshortasunder,andSirLancelotchargedsomightilyuponhim,thathishorseandhebothfell,androlledupontheground.
“Ah,”saidSirLancelot,smiling,asherodeawayfromthefourknights,“heavengivejoytohimwhomadethisspear,forneverheldIbetterinmyhand.”
Butthefourknightssaidtoeachother,“Trulyonespearhathfelledusall.”
“Idarelaymylife,”saidSirGawain,“itisSirLancelot.Iknowhimbyhisriding.”
Sotheyalldepartedforthecourt.
AndasSirLancelotrodestillintheforest,hesawablackbloodhound,runningwithitsheadtowardstheground,asifittrackedadeer.Andfollowingafterit,hecametoagreatpoolofblood.Butthehound,everandanonlookingbehind,ranthroughagreatmarsh,andoverabridge,towardsanoldmanorhouse.SoSirLancelotfollowed,andwentintothehall,andsawadeadknightlyingthere,whosewoundsthehoundlicked.
