They took their iron maces in hand, and there began between them a cruel and bitter battle, as they traded such great blows that their helmets rang on their heads. They shattered each other's shields one after the other, right off their arms. When they had fought for a long time they rested from the first assault.

During the second, they took their swords in hand and began to cut the armor off each other's backs so that soon most of it lay scattered over the ground. Fighting in this way, in the third assault each one wounded the other very much, and their flesh was nearly bare, colored by blood and sweat. In the fourth assault, their horses could no longer stand, and each of them marveled at the strength of the other, for each one still struck vigorously and well.

Amoroldo, with great skill, struck Tristano such a blow on his helmet that it made him bow down. Then he said, "Tristano, Tristano, how is your head? I'll make you know my sword is greater than yours!"

La Tavola Ritonda