Thereupon he seizeth him by the bridle and thinketh to lead him away,
but the knights and the force of Briant rescue him. The clashing of
arms lasted great space betwixt Briant of the Isles and Lancelot, and
each was mightily wrath for that each was wounded. Either seized other
many times by the bridle, and each was right fain to lead the other to
his own hold, but the force of knights on the one side and the other
disparted them asunder. Thus the stour lasted until evening, until that
the night sundered them. But Briant had nought to boast of at
departing, for Lancelot and his men carried off four of his by force
right sore wounded, besides them that remained dead on the field.
Briant of the Isles and Meliant betook them back all sorrowful for
their knights that are taken and dead. Lancelot cometh back to
Cardoil, and they of the castle make him right great joy of the knights
that they bring taken, and say that the coming of the good knight
Lancelot should be great comfort to them until such time as King Arthur
should repair back and Messire Gawain. The wounded knights that were
in the castle turned to healing of their wounds, whereof was Lancelot
right glad. They were as many as five and thirty within the castle.
Of all the King's knights were there no more save Lancelot and the
wounded knight that he brought along with him.