{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart069.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart069.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart069.htm","text":"CHAPTER IX\nOf the battle between King Arthur and Accolon.\nAND then they dressed them on both parties of the field, and let\ntheir horses run so fast that either smote other in the midst of\nthe shield with their spear-heads, that both horse and man went\nto the earth; and then they started up both, and pulled out their\nswords. The meanwhile that they were thus at the battle, came\nthe Damosel of the Lake into the field, that put Merlin under the\nstone; and she came thither for love of King Arthur, for she knew\nhow Morgan le Fay had so ordained that King Arthur should have\nbeen slain that day, and therefore she came to save his life.\nAnd so they went eagerly to the battle, and gave many great\nstrokes, but always Arthur's sword bit not like Accolon's sword;\nbut for the most part, every stroke that Accolon gave he wounded\nsore Arthur, that it was marvel he stood, and always his blood\nfell from him fast.\nWhen Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was dismayed,\nand then he deemed treason that his sword was changed; for his\nsword bit not steel as it was wont to do, therefore he dreaded\nhim sore to be dead, for ever him seemed that the sword in\nAccolon's hand was Excalibur, for at every stroke that Accolon\nstruck he drew blood on Arthur. Now, knight, said Accolon unto\nArthur, keep thee well from me; but Arthur answered not again,\nand gave him such a buffet on the helm that it made him to stoop,\nnigh falling down to the earth. Then <116>Sir Accolon withdrew\nhim a little, and came on with Excalibur on high, and smote Sir\nArthur such a buffet that he fell nigh to the earth. Then were\nthey wroth both, and gave each other many sore strokes, but\nalways Sir Arthur lost so much blood that it was marvel he stood\non his feet, but he was so full of knighthood that knightly he\nendured the pain. And Sir Accolon lost not a deal of blood,\ntherefore he waxed passing light, and Sir Arthur was passing\nfeeble, and weened verily to have died; but for all that he made\ncountenance as though he might endure, and held Accolon as short\nas he might. But Accolon was so bold because of Excalibur that\nhe waxed passing hardy. But all men that beheld him said they\nsaw never knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the\nblood that he bled. So was all the people sorry for him, but the\ntwo brethren would not accord. Then always they fought together\nas fierce knights, and Sir Arthur withdrew him a little for to\nrest him, and Sir Accolon called him to battle and said, It is no\ntime for me to suffer thee to rest. And therewith he came\nfiercely upon Arthur, and Sir Arthur was wroth for the blood that\nhe had lost, and smote Accolon on high upon the helm, so\nmightily, that he made him nigh to fall to the earth; and\ntherewith Arthur's sword brast at the cross, and fell in the\ngrass among the blood, and the pommel and the sure handles he\nheld in his hands. When Sir Arthur saw that, he was in great\nfear to die, but always he held up his shield and lost no ground,\nnor bated no cheer.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IV CHAPTER IX","type":"page"}