"Ha, Sir," saith the Knight Coward, "Never shall it be challenged of
me!"
Perceval draweth him back. "Sir," saith he, "See here my champion that
I set in my place."
The robber knight moveth toward him, and smiteth him so sore on the
shield that he breaketh his spear, but he might not unseat the Coward
Knight, that sate still upright as aforehand in the saddle-bows. He
looketh at the other knight that hath drawn his sword. The Knight
Coward looketh on the one side and the other, and would fain have fled
and he durst. But Perceval crieth to him: "Knight, do your endeavour
to save my honour and your own life and the honour of these two
damsels!"
And the robber-knight dealeth him a great buffet of his sword so as
that it went nigh to stun him altogether. Howbeit the Coward Knight
moveth not. Perceval looketh at him in wonderment and thinketh him
that he hath set too craven a knight in his place, and now at last
knoweth well that he spake truth. The robber-knight smiteth him all
over his body and giveth him so many buffets that the knight seeth his
own blood.
"By my head," saith he, "You have wounded me, but you shall pay
therefor, for I supposed not that you were minded to slay me!"
He draweth his sword, that was sharp and strong, and smiteth his horse
right sore hard of his spurs, and catcheth the knight with his sword
right in the midst of his breast with a sweep so strong that he beareth
him to the ground beside his horse. He alighteth over him, unlaceth
his ventail and smiteth down his coif, then striketh off his head and
presenteth it to Perceval.
"Sir," saith he, "Here give I you of my first joust."
"By my head," said Perceval, "Right dearly love I this present! Now
take heed that you never again fall back into the cowardize wherein you
have been. For it is too sore shame to a knight!"
"Sir," saith he, "I will not, but never should I have believed that one
could become hardy so speedily, or otherwise long ago would I have
become so, and so should I have had worship and honour thereof, for
many a knight hath held me in contempt herein, that elsewise would have
honoured me."
Perceval answereth that right and reason it is that worshipful men
should be more honoured than the other.
"I commend these two damsels to your protection, and lead them to their
hold in safety, and be at their pleasure and their will, and so say
everywhere that you have for name the Knight Hardy, for more of
courtesy hath this name than the other."
"Sir," saith he, "You say true, and you have I to thank for the name."
The damsels give great thanks to Perceval, and take leave of him, and
so go their way with right good will toward the knight that goeth with
them on account of the knight he had slain, so that thereof called they
him the Knight Hardy.