Lancelot smiteth him amidst the breast so grimly that he maketh him
bend backwards over the saddle behind, and so beareth him to the
ground, legs uppermost, over his horse's croup, and trampleth him under
his horse's feet. Lancelot was minded to alight to the ground to take
him, but Briant of the Isles cometh and maketh him mount again
perforce. The numbers grew on the one side and the other of knights
that came from Cardoil and from the Hard Rock. Right great was the
frushing of lances and the clashing of swords and the overthrow of
horses and knights. Briant of the Isles and Lancelot come against each
other so stoutly that they pierce their shields and cleave their
habergeons, and they thrust with their spears so that the flesh is
broken under the ribs and the shafts are all-to-splintered. They
hurtle against each other so grimly at the by-passing that their eyes
sparkle as it were of stars in their heads, and the horses stagger
under them. They hold their swords drawn, and so return the one toward
the other like lions. Such buffets deal they upon their helms that
they beat them in and make the fire leap out by the force of the
smiting of iron by steel. And Meliant cometh all armed toward Lancelot
to aid Briant of the Isles, but Lucan the Butler cometh to meet him,
and smiteth him with his spear so stoutly that he thrusteth it right
through his shield and twisteth his arm gainst his side. He breaketh
his spear at the by-passing, and Meliant also breaketh his, but he was
wounded passing sore.