and their shields so hacked, that there is actually not enough of
them left to serve as a protection. So they fight all exposed.
Each one loses a deal of blood, and both grow weak. He strikes
Erec and Erec strikes him. Erec deals him such a tremendous blow
upon the helmet that he quite stuns him. Then he lets him have
it again and again, giving him three blows in quick succession,
which entirely split the helmet and cut the coif beneath it. The
sword even reaches the skull and cuts a bone of his head, but
without penetrating the brain. He stumbles and totters, and
while he staggers, Erec pushes him over, so that he falls upon
his right side. Erec grabs him by the helmet and forcibly drags
it from his head, and unlaces the ventail, so that his head and
face are completely exposed. When Erec thinks of the insult done
him by the dwarf in the wood, he would have cut off his head, had
he not cried for mercy. "Ah! vassal," says he, "thou hast
defeated me. Mercy now, and do not kill me, after having
overcome me and taken me prisoner: that would never bring thee
praise or glory. If thou shouldst touch me more, thou wouldst do
great villainy. Take here my sword; I yield it thee." Erec,
however, does not take it, but says in reply: "I am within an ace
of killing thee." "Ah! gentle knight, mercy! For what crime,
indeed, or for what wrong shouldst thou hate me with mortal
hatred? I never saw thee before that I am aware, and never have
I been engaged in doing thee any shame or wrong." Erec replies:
"Indeed you have." "Ah, sire, tell me when! For I never saw
you, that I can remember, and if I have done you any wrong, I
place myself at your mercy." Then Erec said: "Vassal, I am he
who was in the forest yesterday with Queen Guinevere, when thou
didst allow thy ill-bred dwarf to strike my lady's damsel. It is
disgraceful to strike a woman. And afterwards he struck me,