{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart338.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart338.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart338.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XI CHAPTER XIII\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK XI\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER XIII\n \n How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they fought\n long, and each had almost slain other.\n \n \n SIR, said Sir Persides, on my life he shall prove a noble\n knight as any now is living. And when he saw Sir Kay\n and Sir Mordred, Sir Persides said thus: My fair lords\n both, Sir Percivale greeteth you well both, and he sent you\n word by me that he trusteth to God or ever he come to\n the court again to be of as great noblesse as ever were ye\n both, and mo men to speak of his noblesse than ever\n they did of you. It may well be, said Sir Kay and Sir\n Mordred, but at that time when he was made knight he\n was full unlike to prove a good knight. As for that, said\n King Arthur, he must needs prove a good knight, for his\n father and his brethren were noble knights\n \n And now will we turn unto Sir Percivale that rode\n long; and in a forest he met a knight with a broken\n shield and a broken helm; and as soon as either saw other\n readily they made them ready to joust, and so hurtled\n together with all the might of their horses, and met together\n so hard, that Sir Percivale was smitten to the earth. And\n then Sir Percivale arose lightly, and cast his shield on his\n shoulder and drew his sword, and bade the other knight\n Alight, and do we battle unto the uttermost. Will ye\n more? said that knight. And therewith he alighted, and\n put his horse from him; and then they came together an\n easy pace, and there they lashed together with noble\n swords, and sometime they struck and sometime they\n foined, and either gave other many great wounds. Thus\n they fought near half a day, and never rested but right\n little, and there was none of them both that had less wounds\n than fifteen, and they bled so much that it was marvel\n they stood on their feet. But this knight that fought\n with Sir Percivale was a proved knight and a wise-fighting\n knight, and Sir Percivale was young and strong, not\n knowing in fighting as the other was.\n \n Then Sir Percivale spoke first, and said: Sir knight,\n hold thy hand a while still, for we have fought for a\n simple matter and quarrel overlong, and therefore I require\n thee tell me thy name, for I was never or this time matched.\n So God me help, said that knight, and never or this time\n was there never knight that wounded me so sore as thou\n hast done, and yet have I fought in many battles; and now\n shalt thou wit that I am a knight of the Table Round, and\n my name is Sir Ector de Maris, brother unto the good\n knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Percivale,\n and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis that hath made\n my quest to seek Sir Launcelot, and now I am siker\n that I shall never finish my quest, for ye have slain me\n with your hands. It is not so, said Sir Ector, for I am\n slain by your hands, and may not live. Therefore I\n require you, said Sir Ector unto Sir Percivale, ride ye hereby\n to a priory, and bring me a priest that I may receive my\n Saviour, for I may not live. And when ye come to the\n court of King Arthur tell not my brother, Sir Launcelot,\n how that ye slew me, for then he would be your mortal\n enemy, but ye may say that I was slain in my quest as I\n sought him. Alas, said Sir Percivale, ye say that never\n will be, for I am so faint for bleeding that I may unnethe\n stand, how should I then take my horse?","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XI CHAPTER XIII","type":"page"}