Fight they must, and they fought as heroes, he who came and he who did wait, For jousting he made him ready, and the lance-point Gawain held straight, And he rested it on the saddle, (for thus did he counsel take,) 545 Then e'en as the joust was ridden the spears did in splinters break, And the knights, the one as the other, they fell in that goodly fray, For the better charger stumbled and by Gawain its rider lay. Then the twain to their feet upspringing their swords from the scabbard drew, Since alike they were keen for combat, and their shields in pieces flew, 550 For each hewed at the shield of the other till a hand's breadth alone, I ween, They held, for the pledge of conflict the shield it hath ever been. Flashed the sword-blades, fire sprang from the helmets, a venture brave I trow Was his who should here be victor, tho' stern conflict he first must know. Long space did they fight, those heroes, on the flowery meadow wide, 555 And as smiths, who all day have laboured, as it weareth to eventide Grow faint with their toil and weary with the mighty blows they smite, So weary and faint were those heroes who here did for honour fight. But for this none methinks shall praise them, unwise do I hold the twain, No cause had they here for battle, 'twas fame that they thought to gain; 560 And strangers unto each other, each other's life they sought, And yet, had they made confession, each owed to the other naught!