With that came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he thrust in with his spear
in the thickest of the press, and there he smote down with one spear
five knights, and of four of them he brake their backs. And in that
throng he smote down the King of Northgalis, and brake his thigh in
that fall. All this doing of Sir Launcelot saw the three knights of
Arthur’s. Yonder is a shrewd guest, said Sir Mador de la Porte,
therefore have here once at him. So they encountered, and Sir Launcelot
bare him down horse and man, so that his shoulder went out of lith. Now
befalleth it to me to joust, said Mordred, for Sir Mador hath a sore
fall. Sir Launcelot was ware of him, and gat a great spear in his hand,
and met him, and Sir Mordred brake a spear upon him, and Sir Launcelot
gave him such a buffet that the arson of his saddle brake, and so he
flew over his horse’s tail, that his helm butted into the earth a foot
and more, that nigh his neck was broken, and there he lay long in a
swoon.
Then came in Sir Gahalantine with a great spear and Launcelot against
him, with all their strength that they might drive, that both their
spears to-brast even to their hands, and then they flang out with their
swords and gave many a grim stroke. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of
measure, and then he smote Sir Gahalantine on the helm that his nose
brast out on blood, and ears and mouth both, and therewith his head
hung low. And therewith his horse ran away with him, and he fell down
to the earth. Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat a great spear in his
hand, and or ever that great spear brake, he bare down to the earth
sixteen knights, some horse and man, and some the man and not the
horse, and there was none but that he hit surely, he bare none arms
that day. And then he gat another great spear, and smote down twelve
knights, and the most part of them never throve after. And then the
knights of the King of Northgalis would joust no more. And there the
gree was given to King Bagdemagus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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