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Chapter XI
MoreoverIhavepromisedtodeliverCornwallfromthisancientburden,ortodie.Also,thoushouldsthaveknown,SirMarhaus,thatthyvalourandthymightarebutthebetterreasonswhyIshouldassailthee;forwhetherIwinorloseIshallgainhonourtohavemetsogreataknightasthouart.”
Thentheybeganthebattle,andtiltedattheirhardestagainsteachother,sothatbothknightsandhorsesfelltotheearth.ButSirMarhaus’spearsmoteSirTristramagreatwoundintheside.Then,springingupfromtheirhorses,theylashedtogetherwiththeirswordsliketwowildboars.Andwhentheyhadstrickentogetheragreatwhiletheyleftoffstrokesandlungedatoneanother’sbreastsandvisors;butseeingthisavailednottheyhurtledtogetheragaintobeareachotherdown.
Thusfoughttheymorethanhalftheday,tillbothweresorelyspentandbloodranfromthemtothegroundoneveryside.ButbythistimeSirTristramremainedfresherthanSirMarhausandbetterwinded,andwithamightystrokehesmotehimsuchabuffetascutthroughhishelmintohisbrain-pan,andtherehisswordstuckinsofastthatthriceSirTristrampullederehecouldgetitfromhishead.ThenfellSirMarhausdownuponhisknees,andtheedgeofSirTristram’sswordbrokeoffintohisbrain-pan.Andsuddenlywhenheseemeddead,SirMarhausroseandthrewhisswordandshieldawayfromhimandranandfledintohisship.
