And then began they a strong battle, with many great strokes and grievous blows, and so hewed with their swords that the fragments of their armour flew about the fields, and both so bled that all the ground around was like a marsh of blood.  Thus they fought long and mightily, and anon, after brief rest fell to again, and so hurtled together like two wild boars that they both rolled to the ground.  At last their swords clashed furiously together, and the knight’s sword shivered the king’s in two.

Then said the knight, “Now art thou in my power, to save thee or to slay.  Yield therefore as defeated, and a recreant knight, or thou shall surely die.”

“As for death,” replied King Arthur, “welcome be it when it cometh; but as for yielding me to thee as a recreant because of this poor accident upon my sword, I had far liefer die than be so shamed.”

So saying, he sprang on the knight, and took him by the middle and threw him down, and tore off his helm.  But the knight, being a huge man, wrestled and struggled in a frenzy with the king until he brought him under, and tore off his helm in turn, and would have smitten off his head.

At that came Merlin and said, “Knight, hold thy hand, for if thou slayest yonder knight, thou puttest all this realm to greater loss and damage than ever realm was in; for he is a man of greater worship than thou dreamest of.”

“Who then is he?” cried the knight.

“Arthur Pendragon!” answered Merlin.

Then would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, but Merlin cast a spell upon the knight, so that he fell suddenly to the earth in a deep sleep.  Then raising up the king, he took the knight’s horse for himself and rode away.

“Alas,” said King Arthur, “what hast thou done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts?  There never lived a better knight; I had rather lose my kingdom for a year than have him dead.”

“Be not afraid,” said Merlin; “he is more whole and sound than thou art, and is but in a sleep, wherefrom in three hours’ time he will awake.  I told thee what a knight he was, and how near thou wast to death.  There liveth not a better knight than he in all the world, and hereafter he shall do thee good service.  His name is King Pellinore, and he shall have two sons, who shall be passing valiant men, and, save one another, shall have no equal in prowess and in purity of life.  The one shall be named Percival, and the other Lamoracke of Wales.”

So they rode on to Caerleon, and all the knights grieved greatly when they heard of this adventure, that the king would jeopardise his person thus alone.  Yet could they not hide their joy at serving under such a noble chief, who adventured his own life as much as did the poorest knight among them all.

CHAPTER IV

King Arthur Conquers Ireland and Norway, Slays the Giant of St. Michael’s Mount, and Conquers Gaul—­The Adventures of Sir Balin