abidest thou here, that there may no knight ride this way but if
he joust with thee? said the king. I rede thee leave that
custom, said Arthur. This custom, said the knight, have I used
and will use maugre who saith nay, and who is grieved with my
custom let him amend it that will. I will amend it, said Arthur.
I shall defend thee, said the knight. Anon he took his horse and
dressed his shield and took a spear, and they met so hard either
in other's shields, that all to-shivered their spears. Therewith
anon Arthur pulled out his sword. Nay, not so, said the knight;
it is fairer, said the knight, that we twain run more together
with sharp spears. I will well, said Arthur, an I had any more
spears. I have enow, said the knight; so there came a squire and
brought two good spears, and Arthur chose one and he another; so
they spurred their horses and came together with all their
mights, that either brake their spears to their hands. Then
Arthur set hand on his sword. Nay, said the knight, ye shall do
better, ye are a passing good jouster as ever I met withal, and
once for the love of the high order of knighthood let us joust
once again. I assent me, said Arthur. Anon there were brought
two great spears, and every knight gat a spear, and therewith
they ran together that Arthur's spear all to-shivered. But the
other knight hit him so hard in midst of the <43>shield, that
horse and man fell to the earth, and therewith Arthur was eager,
and pulled out his sword, and said, I will assay thee, sir
knight, on foot, for I have lost the honour on horseback. I will
be on horseback, said the knight. Then was Arthur wroth, and
dressed his shield toward him with his sword drawn. When the
knight saw that, he alighted, for him thought no worship to have
a knight at such avail, he to be on horseback and he on foot, and
so he alighted and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there