Then each knight voided his saddle and each drew his sword and set his shield before him.  Therewith they came to battle on foot like two wild boars—­so fiercely and felly that it was terrible to behold.  For they traced this way and that and foined and struck at one another so that whole pieces of armor were hewn from the bodies of each.

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram overcomes Sir Blamor] But in all this battle Sir Tristram had so much the better that, by and by after they had fought for above an hour, Sir Blamor de Ganys began to bare back before him, and to give ground, holding his shield low for weariness.  This Sir Tristram perceived, and, running in suddenly upon Sir Blamor, he struck him so terrible a blow upon the right shoulder that Sir Blamor’s arm was altogether benumbed thereby, and he could no longer hold his sword in his hand.

So the sword of Sir Blamor fell down into the grass, and Sir Tristram, perceiving this, ran and set his foot upon it.  Then Sir Blamor could not stand any longer, but fell down upon his knees because of a great weariness and faintness that lay upon him like the weariness and faintness of approaching death.

Then Sir Tristram said:  “Sir Knight, thou canst fight no longer.  Now I bid thee for to yield thyself to me as overcome in this battle.”

Thereunto Sir Blamor made reply, speaking very deep and hollow from out of his helmet:  “Sir Knight, thou hast overcome me by thy strength and prowess, but I will not yield myself to thee now nor at any time.  For that would be so great shame that I would rather die than endure it.  I am a knight of the Round Table, and have never yet been overcome in this wise by any man.  So thou mayst slay me, but I will not yield myself to thee.”

Then Sir Tristram cried out:  “Sir Knight, I beseech thee to yield thyself, for thou art not fit to fight any more this day.”

Sir Blamor said, “I will not yield, so strike and have done with it.”

So Sir Tristram wist not what to do, but stood there in doubt looking down upon Sir Blamor.  Then Sir Blamor said, again:  “Strike, Sir Knight, and have done with it.”

Upon this Sir Tristram said:  “I may not strike thee, Sir Blamor de Ganys, to slay thee, for thou art very nigh of blood to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and unto him I have sworn brotherhood in arms; wherefore I pray thee now to yield thyself to me.”

Sir Blamor said, “Nay, I will not yield me to thee.”

“Well,” said Sir Tristram, “then I must fain act this day in a manner like as I acted yesterday.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram gives Sir Blamor back his sword] Therewith speaking, he took his sword into both his hands and he swung it several times around his head and when he had done that he flung it to a great distance away, so that he was now entirely unarmed saving only for his misericordia.  After that he gave Sir Blamor his hand and lifted him up upon his feet.  And he stooped and picked up Sir Blamor’s